Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-12-19
8eli9iuas department.
A MAN WHO BELIEVED.


s.aE
/ saw him first as he presented HIM
self as candidate for church member
ship, aud when asked if he "believed in
Jesus, with a look Of mingled surprise
at the implied doubt and of joyful as
surance that lighted up his whole face,
he gave answer: DO believe in
Jesus T? Ay, sir, that do. with all my
soul, heart, mind and strength. be-
lieve in him, love, and | mean to
serve him to the very best of my ability
for the balance Of my days" Then,
springing to his feet and facing the con-
gregation, he added, "How can | help
believing in One who has broken the
letters of sin that had bound me fast for
so many years, and made free man Of
me; One who has routed out the terri
BILE, burning thirst for liquor that was
consuming me, body and soul, and CIV
en- me in its stead longing for himself,
for his forgiveness, his everlasting love,
and his blessed service? Don't talk to
me about antidotes, or pledges, or any
thing of that sort. They may be we'll
enough for some men, and l don't doubt
they have done a great deal of good in
the world but mine was desperate
case. | had lost all power over myself,
the Evil One led me captive at his will,
and nothing but Omnipotence itself
was strong enough to break the evil
yoke. Worse than all. | had lost all
hope of myself, and ceased to make any
effort to restrain my wicked propensi-
ties. | knew | was far on my way to
perdition, but | was too hardened in sin
and too stupeGed by strong drink, to be
very much troubled either by my guilt
or danger, till | was struck down, as
was Saul of Tarsus, and like him had
my eyes opened by Almighty power.
Then fell on my knees just where
was, and cried to God to save me from
myself, and help me to come to him.
saw my sins as had never seen them
before; | felt all my unworthiness, all
my weakness, all my utter inability
even to come to the great, mercifu
Savior | saw waiting to help and t.
save me. So | cried aloud, o Jesus
Master, save me in spite of myself: pu
out thy hand and snatch me from thu
Evil One who holds me fast bound, ant
give me, who have no power at all, tn
power and strength to cling only t
thee. And he did it From that hour
now nine months ago, he has held m
so fast that neither my old master
Satan, my own evil nature, nor my fol
mer burning thirst for liquor have ha
any power at all to separate me from m
Lord and Savior. And you ask me, sii
if | believe in Jesus? Do | believe i
the very breath | draw? do | beliey
that am alive to-day? that am o
earth and not IN hopeless perdltion
that have heaven before me and N
hell? Ay, ay, sir, you may be assure
l believe in my Lord and Master, an
that every throb of my heart is henc
forth hallelujah to his praise, for
stand here to-day monument of h
power to save the very worst sinner, ar
for his wonderful compassion for the
that are farthest lost in the mazes
their own iniquities." He wiped h
streaming eyes and sat down, and the
was many an older Christian prese
who felt that be could hardly ha
preached such sermon, or Dor
stronger testimony for his Lord al
Master. AS Jesus said of the Magd
len, ITO whom much is forgiven t
same loveth much "-,Selected.