Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09
Deacon Lee.

| Deacon Lee, VINO was kinuly, silent,
faithful gracious man, was one day waited
upon by a restless, ambitious, worldly
church member, who was laboring TO create
uneasiness in the church, and especially TO
drive away the minister
The deacon came In TO meet his visitor,
who, after the usual greetings, began TO la.
ment the low state of religion, and inquire
as TO the reason why there had been no re-
yival for the last two or three years past.
Now, what do you think is the cause OF
things being dull here ?"
The deacon was not ready 10 give his
opinion and after a little thought, frankly
answered " | don't know"
DO you think the church are alive to the
work before them -
No, ! don't"
DO you think the minister fully realizes
the solemnity of his work p
No, don't"
A twinkle was seen in the eye Of the
troubler in Zion. and taking courage, he
asked
do you think Mr. B. very extraordi-
nary man p
No, | don't"
ado you think his sermons, in their eyes,
are held anything wonderfully great ?"
No, don't"
"Then dent you think we had better dis
miss this man and hire another 2"
The old deacon started as if shot with an
arrow, and in tone louder than his wont,
shouted;
"No, don't
"You talk so little, sir, replied the ques-
toner, not little absshed, " that no one can
find out what you do mean"
talked enough once" 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 I've walked softly before God. ]
then made vows solemn as eternity; and
| don't tempt me to break them"
The trouber was startled at the earnest
ness Of the hitherto silent, immovable man,
and asked:
"What happened to you thirty years ago ?"
"Well, sir, III tell you. was drawn into
scheme Just like this OF yours, to uproot
one of Gods servants from the field in which
he had planted him. In my blindness,
| fancied it little thing to remove one Of the
stars which Jesus holds in his right hand.
| if thereby my ear could be tickled by more
flowing words, and the pews filled with those
who turned away from the simplicity Of the
| gospel and the men that led me-for
4 admit that was dupe aud afool-fattered
ourselves that we were doing Gods service
when we drove that holy man from the pull
pit aud his work, and said we considered his
work done in B., where | then lived.
We groaned because there was no revival
while we were gossiping about and CRITICS
ing aud crushing him, instead of upholding
| his hands by our efforts aud our prayers, the
very instrument at whose hand we harshly
demanded the blessings.
Wen, SIR he could not drag on the
/ chariot of salvation with half dozen of us
taunting him for his weakness, while we
hung as a dead weight 10 the wheels he
had not the spirit, as we thought, and could
not convert men; so we hunted him like a
deer, till worn and bleeding, he fed into a
covert TO die.
Scarcely had he gone, when God came in
among us by His Spirit, to show that lie had
blessed the labors Of His dear rejected ser
want. Our own hearts were broken, and our
wayward children converted and resolved
at convenient season to visit my former
pastor and confess my sin. and thank him
for his faithfulness TO my wayward sons,
which like long buried seed had now sprung
up But God denied me that relief, that
lie might teach me a lesson that every child
of His ought to learn-that lie who touch
eth one of His little ones, toucheth the ap-
pie Of His eye.
81 heard my pastor was i'll, aud taking
my oldest son with me, set out on u twenty
five miles ride to see him. 1t was evening
when arrived, and his wife, with the spirit
which any woman ought to exhibit toward
one who had so wronged her husband, de-
MED me admittance to his chamber. She
said (and her words were like arrows to my
ul)-' lie may be dying, and the sight of
your face might add to his anguish Had
il come to this, | said to myself that the
man whose labors had, through Christ,
brought me into His fold, who had consoled
my spirit in terrible bereavement, and who
had, till designing men alienated us, been to
me brother-that this man could not die
in peace with my face before him. God
pity me = | cried what have ! done ? !
confessed my sins TO that meek woman, and
implored her, for Christ's sake, to let me
kneel before His dying servant, and receive
his forgiveness.
"What did care then whether the pews
by the door were rented or not | would
gladly have taken his whole family 10 my
home forever, as my flesh and blood but no
such happiness was in store for me-
"As | entered the room of the blessed
warrior, whose armor was falling from his
limbs, he opened his languid eyes, and said
Brother Lee Brother Leer bent over
him, and sobbed out My pastorp Then
raising his white hand, he said, in deep, i'm
pressive voice Touch not mine anointed,
and do my prophets no harm
" | spoke tenderly to him. and told him |
had come TO confess my sin, and bring some
Of his fruit to him calling my son, to tell
him how he had found Christi But he was
unconscious OF III around him the sight OF
my face had brought the last pang of earth
TO his troubled spirit. | kissed his brow
and told him how dear he had been to me
crayed his pardon for my unfaithfulness,
and promised him TO care for his widow and
fatherless little ones but his only reply
murmured, as il in troubled dream, was
Touch not mine anointed, and do my
prophet no harm
81 stayed by him all night, and at daybreak
| closed his eyes.
q offered his widow a house TO live in
the remainder OF her days but, like hero
inc, she said freely forgive you; but my
children, who entered deeply into their fathers
anguish, shall never see me so regardless OF
his memory as to take anything from those
who caused it. lie has left us all with his
covenant God, and lie will care for u.s.
"Well, sir, those dying words sounded in
my ears from that coffin, aud from that
grave. When | slept, Christ stood before
my dream, saying Touch not mine
anointed, do my prophets no harm These
words followed me till ! fully realized the
7 esteem in which Christ holds those men who
have given up all for His sake and vowed
10 love them evermore for His sake, even II
> they are not perfect.
"And since that day, sir have talked
, less than before, and have supported my pas