Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-04-13
Tho Man in lhe Pit- 6ow he was Saved,
7uE ROPE OF FAITH.

Brethren, am now going to show you
how. poor sinner IS saved by grace; aud
am sure many of you have been so saved
Let us take the case of miserable man iu
pains OF conviction. lie is, we'll suppose,
down at the bottom OF the pit of dsspair.-
Now, let me ask hin how no got there. and
how he, means to get up" Then leaning
over the pulpit to the right hand, tho preach.
er curved aud followed his hand, aud, apply.
ing his mouth to it, spoke aloud his imaginary
cOllCquy. as if from tho surface down through
the pit shaft after the manner Of the "banks.
man" at the colliery
"Hnllo halo who's down there 2"
"Oh, minister. poor sinner miserable
sinner"
"HOw came you there, my poor brOthsrY
how came you thero!'
MY load Of sin weighed mo down, aud I
fell deeper aud deeper"
"0h, wretched man that you are ! how do
you mean to get spy"
II shall never get up. I am lost lost for
ever 1'vo been trying ever so long TO climb
up by the side Of the shaft, but cannot,
fall down again.
'YOur cannot succeed of yourself I'll
send you down tho rope of faith. Lay hold
of that and you will be got out Cling to it
cling to it; here It is (imitating tho paying
out OF rnpe) Now, then, it must be down
to you. Lay hold of the only hope set before
you Have you got hold now 2"
.l'm soieeble can hardly grasp it but I.
think have got good grip now"
Then pull ahoy, lads? Let us help this
poor sinncru Oh, how heavy ho is Why,
what hnte you got besides yourself hanging
to the rope 2"
'.ouly a. few good works of my own.".
Good works! Good works Throw them
down Down with them, or they will break
the rope
"WelI, if must, 1 must, but sure they
would do some good
The preacher continued 10 represent tho
lifting, but suddenly stopped, as If his nrms
had received n check, cxcuiminc to the inns
uginary attendant:
Why, what's the matter nowH What arc
you struggling with p
!"DOubt aud fears, sir l nm afraid l cam
not hold ou."
"Lay firmer hold of the ropo Doubts and
fears are nothing to strong fnith-but what
now Trembling sgnia Whit is it now Z"
"a great fight Of Affections, muster, aud I
cann"t bold on
'HoId on. sinucr-hold on; you'll como
out Of the oH ctions But what is this p
Sinking again? What can be the matter
now ?'
"s'ropg temptation master, Oh, shall
fall I'm falling Oh, help mol Oh, hoIp
me -
$50 We will. Bot. ab, what dreodfut
thing has happened now? Tho weight i.
three times as great. Whnt horrible noise
What have you got there p
It's the devil himself has gripped me- 10
is gripping me hard Oh, Minister TN lost =
I'm lost !"
HeroupOn the excitement in the congregs-
tion became intense. Women wcpt, mcn
rose uP, and tho minister seizug his opPor.
tunitv continued
''Now. lads. let MS oil pray ind pull togeth-
er. This poor sinner is in real danger. Bot
Satan cannot. long buffet him. TIE great
Captain is with us, aod he is too strong for
demon and devil"
strainiug at the Hiring of tho imaginary
load, the preacher greatly excited hinsef as
we'll as his hearers. Finally he appeared to
succeed in bringing the imperiIod and hard
grirped pcnitent to the surface. Then. with
great effect. he uttered the words. Lads. he's
safe he's saved There he is The rope cF
faith never broke. vet md knew II wou!du't
break now.-Dr. Guthrie.