Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-07-04

story as ne r6laCeu IL, SilolA oonoAnuo ~ III
his own words, as well as can remember
them. The reader, however, must imag-
inc several weeks to have elapsed since nv
first conversation with him; and the scene
to be changed to an evening meeting.
where the Captain, after a long struggle
with himself, got up to state his expert
| ence,
II went to talk with the Minister" he
continued, after having astonished many
others as much as he had me with the rep
etition of the above narrative. Il wanted
to get into the Church; where / thought |
would be safe. had no conception of re-
pentance and change of heart. I sup
posed our pastor would commence ques-
| tioning me about doctrines. and SO forth,
| to let me know what I would have to un-'
derstand and believe, before could be-
come a Church member. But he did1 y
| take any such course. He made me GO in
to the house, and sit down in his study,
when he talked with me a long time about
| the blessedness of religion, and its value
above all things in this world, independ-
emily of its rewards hereafter. Then he
SAID Capt. Ball, do you know the first
thing requisite to be done. if you would
| be Christian ?"
ST do not know.''
"The Christian life-the life of faith
full follower of Jesus Christ, " said he, lean
be found only upon repentance. Now it
is easy to say we repent of sins, and even
to think we repent, but the only repent
ance that is worth anything is an active
repentance which 1 mean not only
sorrow for sin, and an earnest desire to
avoid it in future, but one that goes to
work, and seeks as far as it is in his power
to make amends for every wrong we have
ever done. Is there person in the world
| Capt. Ball, who can look you in the face
and say that you have wronged him ?"
"He knew my weak point" added the
Captain. II meant. however, to confess
something which supposed was known to
everybody who knew me-my horse trade
with Peter Simmonds last spring."
ibid you wrong Peter?" said the minis
| ter.
II shaved him little," said I.
"How much ?" said he. ssTell me hon
ly what you think"
81 let him have wind-broken and ring
boned nag that had physicked up to look
| pretty gay-worth for actual service, not
over ten dollars, and got in return sound,
steady beast, worth sixty dollars, and
twenty-five dollars to boot. So I honestly
think" said ssthat I shaved him out of
seventy-fve dollars.
"And with seventy-fve dollars in your
possession belonging to poor Peter Sim
monds do you think you can commence
the life of Christian purity? Do you
think that Christ will hear your prayers
for PARDON said the minister.
II said something about trade is a
trade, and men must look out for them
selves when they swap horses but he cut
me short.''
"Your own soul,' said he, Twill not adj
nit the excuses which your selfshnes in
vents.''
''But the rule you apply" said l, twill
cut off the heads of church members as
we'll as mine. There's Deacon Rich. he
trades horses, and shaves when he CAN"
sNo excuse" said he, ''whose head is
cut off-no matter what Deacon Rich does.
| You have to deal with your own soul, and
with your Lord. And I will tell you,
whether you are out of the Church or in
| it, single dollar which you have unjustly
or knowingly taken from any man, with
out rendering him it's full value to the best
Of your ability-a single dollar, l Say, will
| be like milestone hung upon your neck,
| to sink your soul into the sea of spiritual
DEATH"
81 couldn't stand that. The spirit of
God used those words with terrible effect
upon my heart. The truth spoken by the
pastor appealed to the understanding with
irresistible power. 1 went away, but l
couldn't rest. So took seventy-fve dol
lars, and went to Peter and paid him, ma
king him promise not to tell anybody, for
I was ashamed to have it known that l
was conscience-smitten, and had paid back
| the money. Then 1 went to the minister
and told him what had done. He didn't
praise me, as 1 thought he would. He took
it as matter of course. and as if it was
no more merit in me than it was to wash
my hands before I sit down to supper, On
the contrary he seemed to suspect that my
hands were not quite clean yet. He want
ed to know if I had wronged anybody else
besides Peter. tried to say no, but my
conscience wouldn't let me. I could have
| toll nj, 1ia fI,oo hot
out flinchlng-yes, and f1attered my own
heart to believe the lie. I was discourag-
ed ; felt bitterly disheartened. It was
indeed so much harder to be Christian
than I supposed, that 1 regretted going to
talk to the minister at at all. Like the
young man who had great possessions, i
was on the point Of going away sorrowful.
But my heart burned within me, and I
was forced to speak.
"In the way of business - said I, ''no
doubt 1 have taken advantage here and
there, as everybody does-as church men,
themselves do when they CAM
!. "What everybody does is no rule for you
and me, Capt Ball. said the minister. ut
IS to be Christians in the fullest sense-not
simply to be church members we
must strive with all our hearts. The fact
of being in the fold does not make the
lamb; there are wolves in the fold, alas !!
but we are by no means justited in doing
as the wolves do, even when they appear
in shee IS clothing"
81 felt the rebuke."
"Well,' said I, there is Deacon Rich.
think he paid me note twice. The first
time he paid it we we're transacting bust
ness, and by some mistake the note WASN'T
dnetrovod r found IL amOno NV nanars