The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-03-30
SulAay Rfahiug,
The Minister and the zEams.


had the following narrative from q
most reliable source, and as near AS NAV
be, will give it in the language of the mar.
rator:
l knew man who, until past ,he
meridian OF life, manifested in all his
transactions mean, miserIy spirit
Money was his God. lie Was proverbaI,
~ "a mean man. Between forty and
nifty years Of age, he became subject Of
sovereign grace His eyes we.e opened
TO see with great dis,inctness the truth of
that word, "A mans life consistent not in
the abundance Of the things which he
possesseth.' In word, he was truly
converted. AT the period of which |
speak, he was a wealthy farmer, on Que
OF our ricn praries. lie united with the
people of God, he confessed and most
deeply depiored the sin Of covetousness.
lie promised, with Divine help, to live no
longer unto himself He was sincere in
his promise and his purpose. Little did
The poor man know himself, the power Of
habit, of temptation, or OF the conflict be
fore him between the old and tho new
man.
As was then the custom in the Me,bo.
dist church in the country, and is, to some
extent. at this day, the minister in charge
was in the habit of receiving his dues in
provisions, etc. Soon after Old Covet
GUS united with the class, the preacher
got out OF meat; so he 'harnessed up.'
and rode over to Bro. C---'s house.
Good morning Bro. C
Good morning; glad to see you; won't
you 'iightr
NO, thank you. Wife says sc are ou,
Of meat, and thought-
(Old many Ont of meat, are We p
New MANI We'll. I'm glad to hear it ;
it will do me good to supply You. Go to
my smoke, house, yonder, and take the
best haneyou can find-mind and take
the biggest
On Wen, tho preacher, and soon return.
ed, bearing ham weighing twenty
pounds. He passed on to his wagon.
Now came the conflict.
(Old man i'll his heart, soius.) You old
TOOL {! that ham weighs twenty pounds
Hams are scarce-worth one shilling per
pound New man, solus) God loveth
the cheerful giver.' What shall it prof,
man. though he gain the whole world
anu lose his own soul ? o God, forgive
me ! Get thee behind me, Satan
here, Mr., come back . come back =
Now, said he. go again to my smoke
house, and this time get two hams. Ge
the very best-mind you get rousers.'
Soon he returned, bearing forty pounds
more O.! The precious meat; then came
over the poor man again the spirit Of GOV
e'ousness.
(OId mani well. you are foof!-
You will die in the Poor house We, -
Forty, sixty pounds-worlh eigh, dollar.
gone slick! New man, Honor tn,
Lord with :hy substance. Give, and i
shall be given unto you. Rejoice not a
galnst me, y mine enemy though fall
shall rise again Though wall
through the valley of tho shadow O
death, | will fear no evil O! am
am in the valley.
! Poor man, he was, and like Bunyan'
Christian, lie sheathed his sword, anc
cried to him who was 'aLIe aud willing
Lord save me-
New MANI Here, Mr., come back
come back ! Now his manly form trem
bIed! The water stood in his eyes, anc
then like little child, he wept and sob
bed as he told his minister OF the warfare
within. AUD Low, Mr.. Devil said he
1T you don't quit this business, I'll CIV,
away every ham I've got in the smoke
! house =
Then 'Apollyon spread his wings apl
left him for season.