The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-06-22
SUNDAY READING.
A Scoffer Rebuked.

/
ern Alabama TO spend the night Quite
company of travellers and village gossipers
We're seated around the glowing FIRE in the bar
room when | made my entry was soon
seated IN the midst Of the motley assembly,
and during the interval employed hy mine
host. IN making certain demands on his larder
for my especial benefit, | listened to their
chlt-ehat. 4 vaunting. self important disci-
pie OF Blackstone was holding forth an clo-
quent E TRADE against religion and Chris
tiaulty IN general The circumstances was
somewhat similar to one which happened to
Judge Marshall, Of Virginia while travelling
through the western portion Of the Old
Dominion
! had been seated but few moments, when
the attorney wound up with the following -
les, gentlemen, the whole system Of reli-
gion IS one grand humhug and its yotarics
are either monomanlacS or poor deluded be-
ing, 1t is the poor, unlearncd alone who
are its most numerous disciples Why is it,
ask, that the poor man is more susceptible
to religious influences than the rich man
One hundred poor men become converts to
the theory, to ten wealthy Would you have
proof? Look around YOU and why is it.
ask What say YOU, stranger, in answer to
the lntcrrogatory SAID the attorney. turn
ing abrnptlyt to III elderly. rather distinguish
CT locking gentleman, who SIT quietly smok
ing his pipe in Far corner Of the room and
had arrived 1T the inn hut All hour Or two
before me-
Nv hat the reason, you ask g Why, it
is simply because the wealthy are too much
occupied with the business. the cares and
pleasures Of life, to give thought to rcli-
glon. They won take time to give the sub
ject serious thought One said he had q
yoke Of oxen and that he wished to prove
them therefore he prayed to be excused
another piece Of land etc. The minds OF
/ the poor are not thus absorbed with the trash
Of the earth to the exclusion Of that which
is priceless True God has chosen the weak
and foolish to contound the strong and wise
ii many instances Yet, believe me, it il not
the illiteratc alone who arc 50 blessed of God
as to be the recipients Of his grace and mcr-
cics The Wiscst men the world has ever
seen, have acknowledged His supremacy and
bowed willing knee Where is an .unbe-
lever now, in this enlightened country, where
the majesty, goodness and glory Of tod have
been manifested so often, and 50 clearly de-
monstratcd, who il not weak vain upstart?
Thn rarll from a,,nnrrt,+.ar fr,,., .ln.s
has been changed BY the same religion which
you. anon revied to be almost a paradise.
The dark places Of the earth have been light
ed up the dominion Of the devil has been
subvcrtcd and civilizations By its instrument
tality, now blooms where ferocity once reiRn-
ed and the sound OF the Gospel is now
heard where Sc nes were enacted too dark
and revolving for gentle ears, and nations
which were once mantled with human gore
and stained with the blood Of martyrs and or
innoccnse. now watt Ill peace the glorious ban-
ncr Of the cross Beware, young man, how
You sneer at that which to secure for us.
Saviour offered np his life a. 4 willing sacri.
flee Did not know, young man, that il
was through ignorance on your part that you
thus reyilc, | would cxclaim to you, III the
language Of Paul, ~ full Of sublety, and All
mischief, thou child Of the devil, thou enemy
of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to
pervert the right way Of the Lord?'
Hal ha! hal" interrupted the lawyer,
had known that had walked up n old
Methodist preacher. ! would have taken time
by the forelock, and run in time.
Il am not 4 Methodist preacher, sir: I
have Mt that honorthey are piouS, uss-
full and revered cls-r Of people, whom
respect
Who -gou, then n insolcntly demand
ed the attorney
Sam Houston, Sir, Of Texas.
Had d thunderbolt fallen in their midst,
there would no: have been a more electric
motion In the crowd. In q second the hero
was surrounded, aod twenty welcome hands
were extended. made my exit just then to
the dining ROOM and as | looked back over
NY shoulder | -aw the little, crest fallen at
torney sneaking out Of the opposite door
A GOOD CONSCIENCE will look through the
blackest clouds, and see .miling God Look,
a. an evil conscience i attended with the
greatest fears and doubts, 70 good con
science is attended with the graatest clear
ness and sweetness
To Do GOOD and communicate forget not,
for with such sacrifices God Is well pleased
MUR4ERIxG i black garment, and il be-
comes none 70 ii = saints.