The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-15

exclusively on its merits, and the results
were such as only spiritual labor would
remove. For no special change was
noticeable In Joe; on Sunday he ad.
jured the world. but on Monday he
made things uncomfortablefost the Wild
ow Macnilty, whose husband had died
in the debt of Tucker 4 Cater. IA
customer bought some gingham, On
Joe's assurance that the colors were
fast, but the first wash-day failed to
confirm Joe'a statement. The proprie-
tor of the stage line between Bungfeld
and Cleopas Valley traded horses with
Joe, and was afterwards heard mention
ing his new property in language far
more scriptual than proper.
Still, Joe was a church member, and
that was a patent of responsibility.
And as he gained years. and building
lots, and horses, and commenced dis
counting notes, his responsibility grew
and waxed great in the minds of the
practical people of Bungfeld. Even
good women, real mothers in Israel,
could not help thinking as they sor-
rowed over the sand III the bottoms IF
their coff-e-cups, and grew wrathful at
"runney" flour bought for GA / SUPER
would make a valuable husband. So
thought some of the young ladies of
Bungfeld, and young ladies who
perpetual partner can also signify them
opinions, Joe began to comprehend that
he was in active demand. He regarded
the matter as he would a sudden de-
mand dor any commodity of trade, and
4b,l1 f111 Lot h. bat
he was Soon enabled to- choose from a
full supply.
Thenceforward Joe was.as happy as a
man of his nature could be. All his
investments were paying well the store
was prosperous, he was successful in all
his trading enterprises, he had pur-
chased at fearful shaves scores of per-
fectly good notes, he realized on loans
interest which would cause usury law
to shrivel and crack, his insurance pol
icies brought him fair dividends, and
his wife kept house with economy and
thrift. But the church the church
seemed an unmitigated drag. Joe at
tended all the church meetings-deter-
mined to get the worth of his money he
was compelled to contribute to the cur
rent expenses-he had himself appoin-
the church money /; but the interest,
even at the rates Joe generally obtained,
did not balance the amount of his con-
tribution.
Joe worried over the matter until he
became very peevish, yet he came no
nearer a business-like' adjustment of re-
ceipts and expenditures. One day
when his venerable partner presented
l. e h.
Patagonian Mutual, Joe remarked:
"Never got any dividends on that
other insurance you put me up to tax
ing, partner-tha5 'gainst fire-risks in
the next world, you know. Twill be
tough if there's any mistake-church
does take sight of money"
Joseph" said the Squire, in sor-
rowful tone, GIVE always been afeard
til Y didn't look enough into your evil
dences when they took you into that
church. How can man expect to es-
cape on the day of wrath if he's all the
time grumbling at the cost of his saliva
ton? Mistake? If you don't know in
your heart the truth of what you pro-
Tess there's mighty little hope for you,
church or no church.
"Know in my heart" cried Joe.
That's pretty kind of security. Is
that what I've been paying church dues
for? Better have known it in my heart
in the first place, and saved the money.
What's the use of believing all these
knotty points if they don't make a sure
thing for man?'
"If your belief don't make you any
better or happier, Joseph, reioined the
Squire, '.you'd better look again and
see if you've got a good hold of it
those that's got clear title don't find
their inv stment as slow in making re-
turns, while those that find fault are
generally the ones that's made a mis-
take"
Poor Joel He thought he had set
tied this whole matter but now, If his
partner was right, he was worse off than
if he hadn't begun. He believed IN
justification by faith; now, wasn't his
faith strong-frst-class, he might say?
To BE- sure of being safe, hadn't he be-
Iieved everything that all the ministers
had insisted upon as essential? And
what aUas faith, if it wasn't bell wing?
He would ask his partner; the old man
had got him into this scrape-now he
must see him through.
esquire" said he, "isn't faith the
same thing as believing
"Well, said the Squire, adjusting
his glasses, and taking from the desk
the little Testament upon which he ad-
ministered oaths, ''that depends on how
you believe. Here's a verse on the sub
ject: Thou believest in God; thou
doest well; the devils also believe, and
tremble.'"
Ugh Joe shivered. He wasn't an
but would any one fancy
such companionship as the Squire re-
ferred to?
Here" said the Squire, turning
the leaves, els another passage bearin'
on the subject. 'Oh, generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come? Bring forth,
therefore, fruits meet for repentance.
Vipers Joe uncomfortably wondered
who else the Squire was going to intro |
duce into the brotherhood of faith.
CHOW see what it says in another
place." continued the Squire. Not
every one that saith unto me Lord, |
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of |
heaven, but he that doeth the will of |
my Father which is in heaven.
eyes," said Joe, grateful for hearing
of no more horrible believers, Z" but |
what is His will but believing on Him
Don't the bible say that they that be-
lieve shall be saved?"
"Joseph," said the Squire, "when
you believed in my store, you put in
your time and money there. When you |
believed in hoss-tradin' you devoted |
yourself to practicing it. When you
believed life insurance was good thing |
you took out policies and paid for them,
though you hare complained of the |
dividends. Now, if you do |
believe in God, what have you done to
prove it ?"
I've paid over hundred dollars a
year church Dues" said Joe, wrathful-
", "not counting subscriptions to a
new bell and new organ"
"That wasn't for God, Joseph" said |
the Squire ;" twas all for you. God |
never1l thank you for running an asy--
lum for paupers fit to work. You'll |
find in the twenty-fifth chapter of Mat
thew a description of those that's going |
into the kingdom of heaven-they're
the people that give food and clothing
20 fbo poadv and tbot visit tha sick and |