The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-06-13

No, 1 DON'T
"You talk so little, sir" replied
the guest, not 8 little abashed, "thai
no one can find out what you dc
mesn."
''1 talked enough onee," replied
the old man, rising to his feet, ''for
six praying Christians. Thirty years
ago got my heart humbled and my
tOngue bridled, and ever since that
pve walked softly before God. / then
made vows solemn as eternity and
don't you tempt me to break them!'
The troubler was startled at the
earnestness of the hitherto silent, i'm
movable man, and asked, "What hap
peRed to you thirty years ago p
swell, sir, I'll tell you. l was
drawn into scheme just like this o.
yours, to upIoot one of Gods serv
ants from the field in which he had
planted him. In my blindness 1 fan.
eied it little thing to remove one o
the stars which Jesus holds in hi:
right hand, if thereby my ear could
be tickled By more flowery words
and the pews filed with those who
turned away from the simplicity oi
the gospel. /, and the men that led
me--for l admit that I was q dupe
and q toOl--fisttered ourselves that
we were conscientious. We thought
we were doing Gods service when
VIC drove that holy man from his
pulpit and his work, and said we
considered his labors ended in B,
whore then lived. We groaned be-
cause there was no revival, while we
were gOssiping about and criticising,
and crushing instead OF upholding by
our efforts and our prayers the in
strument st whose hand we harshly
demanded the blessings. Well, sir,
be could not drag on the chariot OF
salvation with half dozen OF US
tauntiDg him for his weakness, while
we hung on as deal weight to the
wheels he had not the power of the
Spirit, and could not convert men 80
We hunted him like a deer, till, worn
and bleeding, he fled into q covert
TO die Scarcely had he gone, when
God came among US by his Spirit to
show that he had blessed the labOrs
Of his dear, rejected servant. Our
own hearts were broken and our
hayward children converted, and i
resolved st q convenient season to
visit my former pastor and confess
my sin, and thsnk him for his faith
iuluess to my wayward sons, which,
Ike long buried seed, had now sprung
up But God denied me that relief,
that he might teach me lesson every
child Of his ought to learn, that be
who toueheth one of his servants
touches the apple of his eye. l heard
nv pastor was i'll, and taking my
Oldest son with me, set out on a
twenty-five miles ride to see him.
II was evening when / arrived, and
his wife, with the spirit which any
woman ought to exhibit toward one
vino had so wronged her husband,
denied me admitrance to his chamber.
She said, and her words were arrows
to my soul, 'He may. be dying, and
the sight OF your face might add to
his anguish p
''Had it come to this, l said to my
SELF, that the man whose Iabors had,
though Christ, brought me into his
fold, whose hands had buried me in
baptism, who had consoled my spirit
in a terrible bereavement, and who
had, till designing men had alIenated
Us, been to me as q brother--that
this man could not die in peace with
my face before him. God pity me y
[ cried what have | dODel' / con
iessad my sins 10 that meek woman,
md implored her for Christ's sake to
let me kneel before his dying servant
aud receive his forgiveness. What
lid care then whether the pews by
he door were rented or not? /
would gladly have taken his whole
'amily TO my home forever as my
own flesh and blood, but NO such
happiness was before me.
-'As / entered the room of the
blessed warrior, whose armor was
alling from his limbs, he opened his
anguid eyes, and said, Brother Lee
brother Leep / bent over him, and
,obbed out, 'My pastor my pastor .
Then raising his white hand, he said
Z 4 dcep,impressive voice, Touch not
mine anointed, and do my prophets
10 barm!' spoke tenderly to him,
md t)ld him l had come 20 confess
ny sin, and bring some OF his fruit
70 him, calling my son to tell him
row he found Christ. But he was
Inct nsciOus Of all around the sight
1f EY face had brought the last pang
1f esrlh 10 his spirit.
81 kissed his brow, and told how
dear he had been TO me; i craved bis
pardon for my unfaitbfulness, and
promised to care for mis- widow and
ratheriess little ones, but his only
reply, murmured as if IN troubled
dream, was, Touch not mine anoint-
ed, aud do my prophets no HARM
II staid by him all night, and at
/ closed his eyes. / offered
his widow 4 house 20 live in the re-
mainder of her days ous like a hero
inc she said, Il freely forgive you
But nv children, who entered deeply
into their fatheT's anguish shall never
see me 60 regardless OF his memory
as to take anything from those who
caused ii lie hss lett up ell with
his covenant God, and he will care
for US
swell, sir, those dying words
sounded iu my ears from that coffin
and from that grave. When slept,
Christ stood before my dream, say
.ng; Touch not mine anointed, and
20 nv prophets no harm.' These
words followed ne till folly realized
me esteem in which Christ holds
hose men who had given up sll tor
Iis sake, and / vowed 70 love them
syernore for his sake, even il they
are not perfect. And since that
iay, sir, have talked less than be-
fore, and have supported my pastor,
even il ne is not q very extraOrdi
1arY man My tongue shsll eieaye
10 the roof Of my mouth, and my
righ, hand forget her cunning, before
I dare to put asunder what Cod mas
Joined together. When Il minister's
work Is done In place, / believe
God will show il TO him. will not
JON you, sir, in the scheme that
brought you here; and, moreover, if
hear another word from your lips, 1
shaIl ask my brethren to deal with
you ss with them who cause divisions
would give all / own to recall what
did thirty years ago. Stop where
you are, and pray God, il perchance
Jhe thought of your heart may be
forgiven yoU-''
This decided reply put an end to
the newcomers efforts TO get min
lister who eould make more stir, and
left hin free 20 lay out roads and
buiid hotels.
There d often great power in the
little word "no," but sometimes II
requires not little courage to speak
it as resolutely as did the silent
deacon.
IS rich and pretentious shoddylte
wa, looking at some paintings which
he purposed to buy,the de.ler pointed