Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-02-05
Religious department.
OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.

IL hdo oOhCbllOo hopPOhOU NhoO
men have been converted into good men,
and conquered in the very best possible
way by seeing the patient Christian re-
turn good for evil Some years ago a
wicked, reprobate sailor was engaged in
tarring vessel, and while he was at
his work there came along an old man
we'll known in the district as a Chris
tian. One of the sailors mates stand |
ing by said to him, Jack, you could
not provoke that man; he is such
gentle spirited man you could not put |
him out of temper" Jack was quite
sure he could, and it became the subject
of wager. The wicked fellow took
his bucket of tar with which he was
right Sv che tEkss el and dared to throw it
most shameful assault, and the fellow
deserved the utmost penalty of the law.
The old man turned round and calmly
said to him, The Lord Jesus Christ
has said that he who offends one of his
little ones will find that it were better
for him that milestone had been tied
about his neck, and that he were cast
into the sea now, if am one of Christ's
little ones, it will be very bad for you
, Jack skunk back dreadfully ashamed of
= himself. What was more, the old mans
J quiet face haunted him; night after
5 night he woke up, and in his dreams he
{ saw that old man and those tremendous
words, that lit were better for him that
a milestone we're about his neck" broke
y him down before the mercy-seat of God.
He asked and found pardon he sought
II out the old man, confessed his fault
!; and received forgiveness. Who would
s not have a bucketful of tar thrown over
t. him if it would save a soul ? Now, sup
pose the old man had turned round on
n him, and uttered some fiery language,
er struck at him, who could have blamed
e him q? But then there would have been
e no triumph of grace in the Christian,
!; and no con version in the sinner. God
Of has often made use of a gentle, meek,
" quiet, forbearing spirit to be the power
with which he subdues the lionlike reb-
ell and turns the course of iildisposed
and ungodly men. He makes them see
o. how awful goodness is, how stroug is
0' gentleness, how omnipotent is love
Returning good for evil, again reflects
'y great honor upon Christ. l do not know
:. of anything which makes the blind
Y world see so much of the glory of Christ
=, as this. When one of the martyrs was
being tortured and tOrmented in hOr.
rible way, the tyrant who had caused
he his sufferings said to him, And what
'" has your Christ ever done for you thai
nd you should bear this ?" He replied
a. "a, HE has done this for me, that in thu
e. midst Of all my pains, l do nothing else
of but pray for you" All, Lord Jesus
ny thou hast taught us how to conquer, fol
thou hast conquered. There are many
y mighty names on the battle-roll of eartl
but thy name is not there; there is an
IS, other conflict sterner and nobler, ant
oct thou standest at the head of the heroe
t5 who are engaged in it. Read the name
my brethren, 1t is written in his owl
81 blood, "Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucifed
the chief of those who overcome evi
ny with good" Who among you will say
ny "Write down my name, Sir, beneath m
or Lord the Lamb, for in that battle
"a would have share, and on those line
i iih l would fight the foe % Recollect, yo
l M. must do it or you cannot be like him
rOr and if you are not like him. you hav
not his spirit, and IF any man hat
=, not the spirit of Christ, he is none O
his"