The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-24

was as bad man as I ever knew. Now,
continued, if you don't stop your wicked
ness, you will be lost, and that without re
NEEDY. God has this day invited you by Hi
ministers, by your own child, and by Hi
Spirit, and if you reject these invitations
there is no help or hope for you. w '''.',''.
He listened to me while spoke, the power
of God got hold Of him, he trembled like &
man in fit Of ague, and said, believe there
is God; know that no man could make
me tremble like do now. There must be q
God know it; I feel His power has hold Of
me what ought to do? Ireplied, go back
to the church and kneel at the altar Of
prayer, and we will pray for you; and il
| you will repent Of your sins and believe id
the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved. !,
Well, said c., sit down here on this
log till I gain my strength, and will GO
back with you. We seated ourselves on a
huge log, I talking to and exhorting him,
and he weeping, Ny attention was directed
| to brother K, who was the son-in-law Of
c. who was walking through the woods
| looking for us. Knowing the character Of
his father-in-law, he had come out to help
me in case c. should attempt to ipjprre
me. As he drew nearer, he was astonished
| to see his father-in.law bathed in tears and
"lifting up his voice" he wept. ,sasd n,
We rose up and started for the church.
AS we entered it, an old and wicked COM
panion of C-'s looked at him with a look
Of scorn and contempt which seemed to
datlnt him. He walked up to the altar and
stood there till the meeting closed. When
the benediction was pronounced, I stepped
UP to him and said, g Mr.. c., men OF
your age are not often visited by such merci-
full influences such strivings Of the Spirit
If you do not yield to these wooings Of the
sinners friend, you may never again be
the subject Of such deep convictions while
you live. Now, sir, want you to promise
to come to our meeting tonight, and also,
| that you will not touch, taste or@handle any
thing that will intoxicate you.'' He saids
81 promise, and as bad man as I am, I
have never violated pledge when given in
good faith.'' 81 10 .ii.aageH sal aftgg stlf
True to his promise, c. was at the
church at the hour of service, seated imme-
diately below the pulpit, and listened: with
the most serious attention to the sermon.
When the invitation was given to the seekers
of salvation to approach the altar, he rose,
and throwing his slouclp hat under the
bench, knelt as an humble penitent at the
foot of the cross. His wife came forward
also, and knelt on one side, and his daugh-
ter on the other. Both ot'them were soundly
converted about an hour after approaching
the mourner's bench. Their conversion
seemed to affect him greatly, and he called
out with loud voice, !" God be merciful to
me sinner.h dr.. H.. j. siagielseo eil- hAa
] have seen many soul struggling in the
second birth, but never did I lwitness such
throes of agony as were endured by this Saul
Of Tarsus. The struggle was truly awful.
The singing had ceased, and no one was
praying audibly. Around were gathered
the praying men and women Of the church,
whose hearts were lifted up IN silent yet
fervent prayer to God in behalf OF the smit-I
ten penitent. And there, too, were his old
companions in sin, who had spent days and
nights with him at the gambling table, and
in scenes of drunken revelry.s Every couhl
tenance was as solemn as il they were stand
ing in the presence Of the Great Judge, and
were about to hear their final doom. Never
had witnessed so palpable a conflict be-
tween the powers Of light and darkness.
The believers felt that c. would be con-
verified, that God would answer us by fire.
The sinners believed that if c. was con-
verted, then there was truth and power in
religion; if not, there was no reality, in it.
The penitent had been kneeling at the
bench, but now in his strong agony be had
let 20, and was lying full length on the floor,
while in piteous strains he was calling on
God to have mercy on him, g the chiefest
and greatest Of sinners.'' While thus plead
ing that he might experience and enjoy the
pardoning love Of Him who died to save 70
the utterrnost, light from the upper world
broke in upon the midnight darkness of his
soul, and like the lame man at the gate of
the temple which is called Beautiful, he
''leaped and praised God, and catching his
companions in sin, he would thrust them
down on their knees at the altar, exclaim-
ing, g Pray, and God will have mercy on
you! Just say, God be merciful to me a
sinner! and he will hear that prayer. o!
that's my prayer lit Just suited melt sFr
The silence, that had only been broken by
the sobs and prayers OF the nporapenitent,
was now broken by the shouting and weep
ing Of Gods people as they gathered around
| and shook hands with the now truly con-
verted man. ;,.G ait ~ eteiu eHa. Goiiisa5t
| OF course, the conversion of the notorious
| c. caused great deal OF, excitement in
the neighborhood.5 One old landlord, who
had received many dollar OF the hard earn,
l ings Of, CIR for whisky. said heswas done
| with Methodist preachers after that; they
| were dangerous set Of men, for il they
could not convert men by fair means, they
would run them down like wild beasts oanG
4 convert them by pounding the gospel into
| them. tn aisT ii i!iv siia9lisiiq9d aEs
About the close Of the Conference year, a!
was passing by the big woods chapel, ]
met the son of our new convert. s. Well,'
said /. s'my little man, how;are you all do
4 ing at homea'.s sstoh, sir,'' he replied, 'swt
are doing first-rate at homie. See here, sir
said he, pointing to his clothes. HHere is,
new suit pap has bought me. and he ha
bought all the children new clothes, and ",
all 60 to schools And you ought to see how
nice we get along at our house. We hav
prayers every night and morning, and Sun
| day morning mother dresses US children Vi
and sends us to Sunday school, and afte
Sunday-school is out, father and mothe
| como to meeting, and when we 60 HON
father reads chapter and prays, and thel
mother reads a chapter and prays. An,
father has got mother two new frocks. An
he has not swore an oath. nor got drunk
nor whipped mother since he has joined tn
! -. - q.