Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-16
CAPTAIN Balls Experience

| was at work one afternoon in my
garden when a visitor entered and ap
preached so silently that he stood with
in few feet of me before l was aware
of his presence. You seem to be very
busy this afternoon, he said, calling my
name.
Hooked up, and was not d little as
tonished to see standing before me
with an embarrassed air, one OF the
most worldly-minded and irreveren'
characters in the village.
Yes, Capt. Ball. answered; !
was giving these young pea vines some
thing to climb up
And very busy thinking, Also
Yes, neighbor was thinking how
much we arc like these pea vines-ho~
much we need something to climb upon
"a Scrlptural staff to lit US above the
tangles of worldliness.'
MIR. Rainsford,' said the visitor, in a
choked voice, IL was trying to hno
such a staff
MY brother! l exclaimed, fall o.
sympathy and Joy. there is but one
staff that Christ planted for US. We
NAV all rest upon Him as a pillar ol
support, and love, and truth. You
have not far to seek; you have only tc
reach out the tendrils Of your heart in
aspiration and faith, and they will clasp
1t. The command is. Repent and be-
lieve.'
He was a middle-aged man, whose
hair had grown early gray with worldly
cares; whose eyes were unaccustomed
to tears, and it was affecting to see that
hard face soften, and melt at last almost
to weep, as he grasped my hand.
Il have had a strange experience he
said, recovering himself, but still speak
ing with much emotion 1T began
about three weeks ago. l had lately
been making very good trades, and one
night, as was walking home, reckoning
up my gains, and feeling a pride and
triumph in the start / had got in the
world by my own shrewdness and ex'
ertion-it was starlight, and very still
l could scarcely hear o noise but the
field crickets and the tramp OF my horse
on the dark road, when suddenly voice
said, What shall it profit a man il he
gain the whole world and lose his own
soul?'
WAS it actually voice?' Iquestion'
ed, as he hesitated.
No; 1 knew 1t wasn't at the time
1t was, have no doubt, my own mind
But the expression was just as distinct
and unexpected as ifit had been spoken
in my ear by some person. The words
1 probably learned when l was a child
but 1 had forgotten them, and bad to
look into the Bible afterwards to see II
they we're there. 1 found them, and
found a good many things besides, which
seemed to have been intended express
" for me to break up entirely my way
of life, and to trouble all my calcula-
tions. The thing has been working ever
since, and 1 can't stop Its working. l
have come to the conclusion that l
must be different man aud live for a
different purpose and have come to
talk with you about it,
Having commenced giving the Cap
tain's story as he related it, l shall con-
tinue it in his own words, as well as l
can remember them. The reader, how
ever, must imagine several weeks 10
have elapsed since my first conversation
with him, and the scene to be changed
to an evening meeting, where the Cap
tain, after long struggle with himself,
got up 10 state his experience.
Invent to talk with the minister
he continued, after having astonished
many others as much as he had me with
the repetition Of the above narrative.
: wanted TO get into the church where
I thought would be safe. l had no
conception Of repentance and a change
of heart. l supposed our pastor would
commence questioning me about doc
trines, and so forth, to let me know
what | would have to understand and
believe, before could become church
member. But he didn't take any such
course. He made me go into the house,
and sit down in his study, when he talk
ed with me long time about the bless
edness OF religion, and its value above
all things in this world, independently
of its rewards hereafter. Then he said {:
Capt. Ball, do you know the first thing
requisite to be done, if you would be q
Cbristian7'
Il do not know
The Christian life-the life OF a faith
full follower of Jesus Christ said he,
{ can be found only upon repcntanee.-
Nov 1t is easy to say we repent OF sins,
and even 10 think we repent, but the
only repentance that is worth anything
is an active repentance-by which !
mean not only sorrow for sin, and an
earnest desire TO avoid 1t in future, but
one that goes to work, and seeks az far
az it Ii in his power TO make amends
for every wrong Fe,have ever done: ls
there person IN the world Capt ball,
a.