Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-24
CAPT. BALLS EXPERIENCE.


ed so silently that he stood within a few
feet of me before was aware of his pres
ence.
sYou seem to be very busy this after
noon,'; he said. calling me by name.
I looked up and was not little aston
ished to see, standin gbefors me with an
embarrassed air, one of the most worldly
minded characters in the village.
Eyes Capt. Ball." I answered, II was
giving these young pea vines something to
climb up.''
"And very busy thinking, ALSO" he said
eyes, neighbor, I was thinking how
much like these pea vines-how much we
need something to climb upon-a Scriptu-
raj staff to lift us above the tangIes of
worldliness."
s'Mr. Rainsford, - said the visitor, in a
choked voice. I'll was trying to find
such STAFF
my brother!'' exclaimed, full of sym
pathy and joy, s'there is but one staff =
that Christ planted for u.s.. We may all
rest upon him as pillar of support, and
love, and tru1h. You have not far to seek;
you have only to reach out the tendrils Of
your heart in aspiration and faith and they
will clasp it. The command is, Repent
and believe"
He was middle-aged man, whose hair
had grown early gray with worldly cares;
whose eyes were unaceustomed to tears,
and it was affecting to see that hard face
soften and melt at last almost weep as be
grasped my hand.
II have had a strange experience" he
said. recovering himself, but still speaking
with much emotion; sit began about three
weeks ago. I had lately been making very
good trades, and one night as was riding
home, reckoning up my gains, and feeling
pride and triumph in the start had got
in the world by my own shrewdness and
exertlons-it was starlight and very still
I could scarcely hear noise but the field
crckets and the tramp of my horse on the
dark road, when suddenly voice said,
"What shall it profit a man if he gain the
whole world and lose his own soul.''
"Was it actually voice?" questioned,
as he hesitated.
''Ns; knew it wasn't at the time. It
was, have no doubt, my own mind. But
the expression was just as distinct and I'M
expected as if it had been spoken in my
ear by some person. The words l proba-
bly, learned when was child, but I had
forgotten them, and had to look into the
Bible afterwards to see if they were there.
1 found them. and I found good many
things beside, which seemed to have been
expressly for me to break up en-
tirely my way Of life, and to trouble all
my calculations. The thing has been
working ever since, and I can't stop its
working, and [ have come to the conclu-
sion that I must be different man and
live for different purpose, and 1 have
come to talk with you about it,
Having commenced giving the Captain's
story as he related it, shall continue it in
his own words, as well as I can remember
them. The reader, however. must mag
inc several weeks to have elapsed since my
first conversation with him, and the scene
to be changed to an evening meeting,
where the Captain after long struggle
with himself, got up to state his expert
snce.
II went to talk with the minister,' he.
continued, after having astonished many
others as he had me with the repetition of
the above narrative. II wanted to get |
into the church where I thought I would |
be safe. | had no conception of repen- |
lance and a change of heart. supposed |
our pastor would commence questioning |
me about doctrines, &C., to let me know |
what would have to understand and be-
lieve, before 1 could become church |
But he didn't take any such
course. He made me go into his house |
and sit down in his study, when he talked |
with me long time about the blessedness !
of religion, and its value above all things |
in this world, independent of its rewards
hereafter. Then he said, "Capt. Ball, do !
you know the fist thing requisite to be
done, if you would be Christian ?''
81 do not know
s'The Christian life-the life of the faith
full follower of Jesus Christ" said he, lean
be founded only on 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
which mean not only sor
row 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 done. Is
there a person in the world. Capt. Ball,
who can look you in the face, and say that
you have wronged him ?"
ssHe knew my weak point,' added the
Captain. II meant, however, to confess
.o,,aoth;nc. xxzhiol, I aunnnsad was known J