Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-09-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Final Struggle.

1t often happens with a convicted sinner,
that the rebellion of the heart centres itself
at last around a single point, aud contends
against duty to be done, or a sacrifice to be
made. The salvation or loss of the soul is
involved in the struggle, not because of the
inherent importance of the thing itself, but
because it involves the entire surrender of
selfto God. The Methodist gives an instance,
where the struggle turned on family prayer !:
''Why can you not perform daty so SIM
pie, so evidently proper in itself, and as you
yourself confess, so necessary to your attain
ment of peace of mind z" said his pastor TO
him. ''You are blessed with sound mind :;
you are not deficient in common sense you
have an ordinary share of moral courage and
selEpossessiOn you know what you need
Now you have only to feel your need, and
then, in the simplest words possible express
1t, in Jesus name, to Him who alone can
supply it"
fear, am too proud ever to try it. What
if l should fail, and expose myself by break
ing down! p
''As to your pride, dear sir, that ought to
be humbled, and must be; and as to your
praying, let me tell you that you must pray
yes, and in your family, and to God. 1t is
fearful not to do it, especially, when YOU have
such convictions of the duty"
''I know it," said he, land hope may
do it sometime, but l cannot now"
"Mr. Y, you ought to do it, tonight De-
lay will only make the matter worse and
you must now be necessarily wretched till it
is done"
Cant be a Christian and not do it ?" he
inquired, with the deepest emotion.
"As the case now stands with you" the
pastor replied, Il am free to say that think
you cannot"
"Then fear, I am lost forever" he re-
joined.
NAY" said the pastor, "you need not be
lost. You cau-I know you can pray, and
pray in your family"
''Did you ever know case like mine ?"
he eagerly asked.
''Yes, several; and with one exception,
they all did what they said they could not
do, and became happy in the discharge of
the duty"
"Aud what of the exception ,"
'He lived on in dogged neglect, lost at
length his conviction, though he was never
a happy man, and died, after a few wears.
hopeless and miserable. And now my friend.
let me bring this matter to point Will
you pray with your family, to.night?"
Il wish could, sir, but l cannot"
"Will you try to do it even though you
fail 2"
1t was easy to see that this last question
stirred the depth Of the fountain within. The
poor man groaned almost aloud, and his
strong frame convulsively shook in his seat
Mr.. Y, will you try to do your duty %
again asked the pastor.
There was moments quiet pause, and
! fha f,f of L., I I
what he was about to say, he calmly replied:
by the help of God, l will"
Gamer" !" said the pastor. "Now 20 and
do it"
In that family, consisting of several per-
sons, there was not a single praying soul, and
it was a matter of no small sOlictude in the
pastors mind what would be the result of the
evenings interview. With some hopes were
mingled many fears. 1t was therefore, with
no ordinary satisfaction that he listened, two
days afterward, to substantially the following
account from the lips of Mr.. Y. himself:
"After left your house, on the evening
of the interview, went directly home to INV
family. l sat doYn silent, and almost para.
lyZed with emotion. l resolved and falteted.
re-resolved and faltered again. remember,
ed my promise to you, and despised myself.
because had not the moral courage to fnI.
fill it And strange to say, retired after all
without even attempting to pray. But if
there was ever wretched man, 1 was thar
man. Hour after hour tossed, and groared,
and wePt, till could endure it no Longer. /
sPrang from my bed, told my wife she mast
also rise, and We must both pray. And
there, sir, in that still, midnight hour, we both
fell on our knees, aud both cried for mercy.
found could pray, and such was the re-
lief the attempt gave to my niEd, 1 soon felt
myself to be in new world. On returning,
at length, to bed, could hardly sleep for
JOY; but sank at last into such a sweet and