Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-09-03
Willing 10 Accept.

al can't. wish | could, but it's too
late" was the remark of young man 10 one
who, on New Years day, asked him to alb
stain from strong drink.
The manner in which the words were
spoken, the almost despairing look in the
old-young face, awoke sympathy and de-
sire to know something of the antecedents
Of one who felt that to do what he longed to
do was wholly beyond his ability to accom-
plish. Taking seat by his side, he said,
in voice husky with emotion;
al feel that cannot bear It much longer.
Life is burden to me. You do not know
anything about this terrible thirst for strong
drink When the desire possesses me, there
is nothing that / would not do to crafty It.
You cannot know what ] suffer. Talk of
the torments of the damned They cannot
suffer more than suffer. am a very hell
to myself. know what to do, but have
no power TO do it. | am lost-lost to every
thing but this uncomfortable thirst for
strong drink"
The ashen pallor of the face, the glitter
ing eyes aud unstrung nerves, were only so
many witnesses of the terrible struggle.
Moved to pity, we endeavored to suggest
words of comfort, but the reply came:
al have tried. You don't believe me,
perhaps, but ! know all you would say to
me. My father was public man, a lawyer,
and at one time he stood at the head of the
bar in his native state; strong drink brought
him down to poverty and drunkard's grave.
had sister older than myself. OF all the
women have ever seen she was the most
| gloriously endowed. | saw her day after
day go out after that father, bringing him
| home from dens of debauchery, reinstating
him in his office, keeping his appointments,
and doing, as far as she could do, so that the
world might not know how low he was fall
len. With this picture before me you would
not suppose that should follow in the same
path, but did. | broke that sisters heart.
Loving her as did, could not keep from
| drink. Bearing up, as my mother did after
| my fathers fall, she was stricken to the
earth when ] began to show the same in-
satiable appetite for strong drink"
Covering his face with his hands, he shook
like an aspen. Never did | so feel the pow.
erty of words TO bring reli #. Sill | could
not be silent. Here was soul for whom
| Christ died; soul bound with letters too
strong for any human being to unloose.
1nvoluntarily my hand reached out for his.
You feel that you are lost and you de-
sire to be saved from this terrible, devourng
appetite for strong drink 7"
| III you uouOb ~ upon "N q
look that shall never forget to my dying
day. ITO free myself from this fearful APP
petite would suffer torture"
| "You cannot free yourself ;but there is a
| physician to whom you can go and be
healed | answered.
"Tell me, where does this physician live?''
he asked earnestly.
"This physician knew just how hard it
would be for you to break away from the
thraldom of sinful appetite, and SO lett
it upon record that when you felt the need
of him you should ask him. Do you not
feel the need of him now, and will you not
at this very moment kneel with me aud ask
him to free you from the soul-devouring
curse for strong drink ?"
al will" came tremblngly.
How or what said know not; | only
know that the one desire of my heart was
that God would, for Christ's sake, give this
mau liberty. When we rose from our knees
the poor youth was trembling In every limb
al never felt so before. It seems to me
that God is here an awed look creeping
over his white face.
"Did you ask him for strength to resist
temptation ?" asked.
g asked him to take away this appetite
told him it was dragging me down to hell.
"And you believe that he will do it Z"
"You said he would" looking at me re
proachfully.
"And he will; do not distrust him.
This assertion served to give him assur
ance. He looked brighter Opening IN,
Testament, | said, listen to his gracious
words -
ASK and it shall be given you Mind
it doesn't say may be given you,' but i
shall be given YOU With what confidence
then, may we go to him For every ON
that asketh receiveth aud he that seeketl
fndeth; and to him that knocketh it shal
be opened"
Once more the saddened, despairing lool
came to his face.
alt may make some difference who ask
about receiving. | have never done any
thing good my whole life has been evil
was said sorrowfully.
For answer | again opened the book
" Aud the Spirit and the bride say, come
And let him that is athirst come. Au,
whatsoever will, let him take of the water o
life freely"
More than a twelvemonth after this wa
called on business to a distant part of tn
state. One day mention was made of a ris
ing young lawyer who was very effective a
temperance lecturer.
He has gone through some fearful expert
ences," my friend said, "and consequent
he can speak to the point. Shall we go ant
hear him 2"
assented. To tell the truth, had bee
thinking on my journey of the poor youn
man, and wondered il ! should come acros
him in my travels. 1t was hardly probable
still must go. 1t was late when we al
rived at the hall, and, as matter of cours,
We were led up quite near the speaker
stand. As might be expected, the tall, vel
knit figure, and fine, expressive face belonge
TO no one whom had before seen. Still, a
the speaker went on there was that qualit
in his voice that seemed to touch some hit
den memory. Could it be he? And hastene
to put away the thought as too absurd. A
length, in his attempt to persuade the drinl
ing man that his hope was in Christ, he r,
lated his own history, as far as have told it
"You see, my friends, was all this tim
trying to break the chains by my ow
might. This was a serious mistake. Th
} drinking man must be saved from appetite
and God alone can do this, and he will. II
saved me because | asked him, and he wi
save you in the same manner; only as
him. great number in these days hay
been saved from the appetite for alcohol
drink Dy applying 10 GOd alone III Jesl
Christ. Come, then, to the Great Physician
Come Immediately, persistently, trustingl
He will save; he says So"
As the assembly broke up, | started 10
ward but he met me with hands GU
2 stretched.
81 do not often tell my own story, but
was moved to it tonight, and before close
ielt sure the one was here whom God sci
,e to enlighten my poor, darkened heart. Yo
, did not know at the time that had ju
!. finished my law studies aud been admitted
r the bar but SO truly did feel that my ia
1. would be the same as my fathers that T
Il solved to go where was not known, al
70 there end my life by my own hand. &c
Z met me, and my friend, cannot be sui
q ciently thankful. And so as have oppo
$ tunity speak as spoke tonight. Aud
you pointed me to Christ as the only hol
for the drinking man, so do ! endeayor
hold him up as the only Saviour OF los
ruined, undone sinners"
Reader, let God fight your battle; he vi
win. He is almighty, and he is pledg,
TO win.