Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-10-07

You have no business to have such
customers" broke in Mr.. Gray. mo
righ, to take any goods and sell them
to men who are not honest enough to
pay their bills"
Zone OF them is your own son"
replied the mechanic, goaded beyond
endurance. His bill is equal to half
Of yours. | have sent for the amount
great many times. but he still puts
me OF with excuses. | Will send it TO
you. next time"
This was thrusting home with a
sharp sword, and the vanquished Mr.
Gray rctreated from the battle field,
bearing painful wound.
THAT wasn't right in me, | know"
said the mechanic, as Gray left the
shop. Il am sorry now, that said
it. But he pressed ME too closely !
am but human"
"He is a hard, exacting. money
loving man." was my remark.
They tell me he has become
Christian" said the mechanic. HAS
got religion-been converted. Is that
SOP"
ut is common report; but / think
common report must be in error. St.
Paul gives patience, forbearance. long
suffering, meekness. brotherly kind
ness, and charity, as some of the Chris
tian graces. Ido not see them in this
man. Therefore, common report must
bc in error"
Il have paid him good many hun
drcds of dollars. since | opened my
shop here" said the mechanic, with
the manner Of one who felt hurt IF
| am poor, hard working man. | try
to be honest. Sometimes get little
behind hand, as | am now, because
people work for don't pay up as they
should. 1t happened twice before
when l wasn't just square with Mr..
Gray, and he pressed down very hard
upon Inc, and talked just as you have
heard him to-day lie got his money,
every dollar of it; and hc will set his
money now. / did think, however,
that as he had joined the church and
made profession of religion. he wo'ld
bear little patiently with me, this
time That, as he had obtained for
sivcnoss, as alleged, of his sins towards
heaven, he would be mcrciful to his
fellow man. All WELL These things
make lis very sceptical about the hon
esty of men who call themselves rcli
gious. Ny experience with profess
ors, has not been very encouraging.
AS a general thing. | find them quite
as greedy Of gain as other men. We
outside people of the world get to be
very sharp sighted When man sets
himself up to be of better quality than
we, and calls himself 10y name sig
nificative of Heavenly virtue, we Judge
him naturally, by his own standard,
and watch him very closely. If he re-
mains as hard. as selfish, as exacting,
and as eager after money as before,
we do not put much faith in his pro-
lcssion, and are very apt to class him
with hypocrites. His praying, and
fine talk about faith, and Heavenly
Love. and being washed from all Sin,
excite in us contempt rather than re-
spcct. We ask for good works. and
are never satisfied with any thing else
BY their fruits We shall know them"
On the next Sunday saw Mr.. Gray
in church. Ny eyes were on him
when he entered. | noticed that all
the lines Of his face were drawn down.
and that the whole aspect and bearing
of the man were solemn and devotion
al. He moved to his place with a
slow step. his eyes cast to the floor
On taking his seat, he leaned his head
on the pew in front Of him, AMI con
tinucd for nearly minute in prayer.
During the services | heard his voice
in the singing; and through the servi-
ces. he maintained the most fixed at
tention.
1t was Communion Sabbath; and
he remained, after the Congregation
was dismissed, to join in the holicst
act of worship.
"Can this man indeed be selfde-
ceived?" | asked myself, as | walked
homcwarl. Can he really believe
that heaven is to be gained by pious
acts alone? That every Sabbath even
ing he can pitch his tent days march
nearer heaven, though all the week he
may have failed in the commonest
offices Of ncighborly love?"
1t so happened that l had many
opportunities for observing Mr. Gray,
who, after joining the church, became
an active worker in some Of the public
and prominent charities Of the day
he contributed literally in many ca
ses. and gave a good deal Of time to
the prosecution Of benevolent enter