Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-27
o
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
MORE BLESSED TO GIVE;
THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN.

OH &4#aesF
. THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN.
In the August number of the Presbyterian Expos
itor of 1858, viii be found the following striking mar
rative. Says the writer:
had the following narrative from a reliable source,
and as near as may be viii give it in the language of
the narrator:
81 knew a man who, until past the meridian of
life, manifested in all his transactions a mean, miser'
" spirit. Money was his God. He was positively
"a mean man." Between forty and fifty years OF age,
he became a subject of sovereign grace" His eyes
were opened to see with great diStinctness the truth
of that word" A mans life consistent not in the
abundance of the things which be pursdeth." In a
word he was truly converted. At the period OF which
/ speak, he was a wealthy farmer, on one OF our rich
prairies. He united with the people of God. lie
confessed and most deeply deplored the sin of covet-
BUSINESS. He promised with Divine help to Live
no longer to himself" He was sincere in his promise
and purpose. Little did the poor man know himself;
the power of habit, of temptation, or of the conflict
before him between the "old' and the new man"
As was then in the Methodist church in the coun-
try, and is to some extent the custom of this day,
the minister in charge was in the habit of receiving
his dues in provisions, &c. Soon after sold Covet-
ous' united with the class, the preacher got out of
meat; so he 'harnessed up and rode over to Bro.
Cs house: @
Good morning, Bro. c.
Good morning, glad to see; won't you lightT
NO, thank you. Wife says we are out OF Hfeat,
and l thought
qua man. 'OuC Oh meat, are You lNeW ulduJ
Well, I'm glad to hear it; it will do me good to sup
ply you. Go to my smoke-house, yonder, and take
the best ham you can fnd-mind and take the big
gest'
On went the preacher, and soon returned, bearing
the ham weighing twenty pounds. He passed on to
his wagon.
Now came the conflict.
(Old man in his heart, solus) you old fool that
ham weighs twenty pounds! Hams scarcc-worth Is.
per pound New man, SoZus) God loveth the
cheerful giver.' What shall it profit a man, though
he gain the whole world and lose his own SOUL @
God forgive me! "Get thee behind me Satan."-
Here, Bro, come back come back Now, said he,
go again to my smoke.house, and this time get
taco hams. Get the very best-mind you get rousers.
Soon returned, bearing forty pounds more OF the
precious meat then came over the poor man again
the spirit of ooyetousness.
(Old many well you are a fooli You will die in
the poor house yet! Forty, sixty pounds-worth
$500. Eight dollars gone slick !! CHEW man, Hon.
or the Lord with thy substance. Give and it shall
enemy, though I far, I sfadff F Aat against gaR. me, Q MINIS
/ walk through the valley Of the shadow of death, ]
will fear no evil" Oh I am in the valley!
Poor man, he was, and like Bunyan's christian, he
sheathed his sword and cried to Him who vas able
and wiling-"Lord save me!'
New man, Here, Bro, come backl come back |
Now his manly form trembled The water stood in
his eyes, and then, like a little child, he wept anc
sobbed as he told his minister of the warfare within
And now, Mr.. Devil said he, "D you. don't qai1
this business, pHgioe o"Gy eOery ham Tee got i" tn
SN0Ee-h0useP
Then "Apollyon spread his wings and left him fc
o season."
Reader, did you ever know such a man 2 All thi
may be Greek to you, if SO, just turn to 1st Cor. 2
IL, and you will learn the simple reason. l person
ally know the man described above. I knew hin
when he boarded everything. know him mos, al
honor to his " new nature" and to the Saviour h
loves; building churches, profuse in his benevolence
"Given to hospitality" o, how does such a ma
"preach the .wordl" Talk of great p~reachersl tn
tongue of the ~eloquentl One such living example
the power of the cross, is as high above mere pulp
eloqWence, as we can well conceive