Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-12


nothing that came from him, nor
would even suffer him to speak, |
finally concluded to try what effect
l might have. / accordingly COM
menced with observing:
"Mr. Paine, you will certainly
allow that there exists a God, that
this God cannot be Indifferent to
the conduct and action of his crea-
tures?"
g will allow nothing, sir" he
hastily replied; 81 shall make no
CONCESSIONS
"Well, sir, if you will listen
calmly for one moment" said |,
al will prove to you that there is
such Being; and l will demon
strate from His very nature that
He cannot be an idle spectator of
our conduct"
"Sir, l wish to hear nothing you
have to say; / see your object, gen.
tlemen, is to trouble me; wish
you would leave the room."
This he spoke in an exceedingly
angry tone, SO much SO that he
fOamed at the mouth.
"Mr. Paine" | continued, "I as
sure you our object in coming here
was purely to do you good; we had
no other motive. We had been
given to understand that you wished
to see us, and we have come accord
ingly; becauseit is a principle with
us never to refuse our services to a
dying man asking for them. But
for this, we would never have come,
for we never obtrude upon any in
dividual."
Paine, on hearing this, seemed to
relax a little; in a milder tone of
voice than any he had hitherto used,
he replied:
you can do me no good now
it is too late. | have tried different
physicians, and their remedies have
failed. | have nothing to- expect
(this he spoke with sign) but a
speedy dissolution. Ny physicians
have, indeed, told me as much"
"YOu have misunderstood me-"
said to him. eve have not come
to prescribe any remedies for your
bodily complaints; we only come to
make you an offer of our ministry
for the good of your immortal soul,
which is in great danger of being
forever cast off by the Almighty
on account of your sins, and espe-
cially for having villified and re-
jected His word and uttered bias
phemies against His Son."
Paine, on hearing this, was
aroused to fury. He gritted his
teeth, twisted and turned himself
in his bed, uttering all the while
the bitterest impreeations. | firmly
believe, such was the rage in which
he was at this time, that if he had
had a pistol he would have shot one
,of us; for he conducted himself
nore like a mailman than arational
Ceature. "Begone," says he, "and
puble me no more" He con-
tAued, "I was in peace before you
cAe."
Vie knows better than that,
reped Father Kohlman; eve
kl;n0\ that you cannot be in peace
therl can be no peace for the
wlckS God has said it."
Aay with you and your God,
too; leFe the room instantly" he
exclaimd, call that you have ut
tered an lies, filthy lies, and if l
had a lNle more time l would
prove it, \ l did about your impos-
tor, JesusVhrist."
Monstt u exclaimed Father
Kohlman, q burst of zeal. "You
will have ndnore time. Your hour
has arrived. \Tlink rather of the
awful account ytu will have to rem
der, and impSA pardon of God;
provoke no lohgE His indignation
upon your heads
Paine here orFed us again to
retire, IN the hlaest pitch Of his
voice, and seemeda very maniac
with rage and ma ness.
&" Let us CO." sd l to Father
kohlman, we ha4 nothing more
to do here. de secs to be entire
ly abandoned by Fod; further
words are lost on hi."
Upon this we witlrew from the
room, and left the unrtunate man
to his own thOughtslI II never be-
fore or since beheld lmore hard
ened wretch.
This, you may relylpon it, is
faithful and correct acEnt of this
transaction.
l remain your Fectionate
brother,
[Signed BENb1oT,
Bishop ofIoston