Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-09-01
TERMS $3.50 PER ANNUM

iton, In connection with all this, is the
type of what people felt in that extraor-
binary season.
have perfect recollection that, in the
fall OF 1916 and the succeeding winter
meetings for prayer and conference were
frequent, and were held extensively in
different parts of our region. Among
many appointments, one was 20 be filled
in Westhaven, then a constituent part of
Fairhaven, at the house of Dan Smith,
now the residence of William Preston.
On the way, as we passed the house OF
Hamilton, the subject of this article came
out for religious talk. Said he "You
take great pains TO assemble for mis-
taken purpose. Now l have carefully
considered my personal deeds, good
and bad, and have struck the balance.
L find 1T in my favor. judge my Maker
will consider this, and give me Heaven
on account of my benevolent acts" Here
then was self-righteousness III a lump.
Men as good as himself We're then crying
for mercy, being deeply humbled and self
abased.
"Matter of debt and credit" quoth
Hamilton. my Maker may produce the
key of Heaven and LET me in: my claim
is jndisputable; my ticket of salvation
the reward of merit This view of so
serious subject created a smile in the
listeners. The true nature and condition
of fallen being was hid from the boast
er. Will man presumptuously enter in
to Judgment with holy God, without
daysman between them +?
This state of mind was temporary.
| The prayers and exhortations of his
neighbors, their confessions of imperfect
lives and sinful thoughts and deeds, car
ried too much sincere conviction to be un-
needed. al found" said Hamilton, " at
ter while, that had never done truly
acceptable act, because the right motive
was wanting. The result of selfish
promptings could lay no claim to the full
filment of perfect law. The power of
the gospel lay in its proving a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Open as the day appeared my danger as
well as my guilt. The cry of the publi-
can alone became me, God be merciful to
me, sinner"
From this conclusion on his lost cOndi-
ton our subject sank into extreme dejec-
ton. 81 1t seemed" said he, "there could
be no mercy for me. 4 proud boaster,
righteous in my own eyes, sinner AVA
kened too late to the true sense Of what 1
am and what must be, despaired OF
forgiveness, and bade all hope of salvstion
a final farewell"
Indispensable business called him to
the house of Mr.. P, residing near Fid-
dleris Elbow. As he drew near the place,
the sound of music and dancing salnted
his ears. A gloomy revulsion struck ter
ror along his nerves, and, what gave in
tensity to his sufferings, an old man, on
the verge of the grave, sat scraping his
violin for his little grand child TO dance.
After his errand was accomplished, he
dropped a stern remonstranee against the
old mans present occupation and exhort-
ed him to better fashions Hamilton says
as he grasped the name of bis horse to
take his seat in the saddle, an awful
gloom, like the shadow of death, encom-
passed him, but as he gained his position,
Heaven and earth had changed their as
pect. "All was Glory 20 God" Hope IL
Illuminated the Universe; the birds and
trees, all animate and inanimate nature
praised God, and with his own lips, fOrev-
er after consecrated to the work, be also
praised God, who thus brought him ont
OF the depths or despair aud placed him
bon salvation's SUBMITS. CLIO.