Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-27
The Moonlight Heavens.

1t was most beautiful night as my
friend and drove back from distant town
where we had spent the day The harvest
noon was at the fyll, there was not a cloud
IN the sky, and the stars seemed TO twinkle
in delight at their own brightness and the
loveliness of the scene. The charming night
was for some time the subject of our conver-
sation; then the surprising glory of another
life exercised our imaginations, till we we're
lost in wonder and forgot to utter word
Each remained occupied with his own
thoughts, till my friend broke the silence
"This reminds me of one Just like it,
fourteen years ago. was a skeptic then
did not believe the Bible, and had long
since left off reading it. l did not believe
in God, and had rejected the doctrine of the
immortality Of the soul. | tried TO believe
that man was nothing different from other
animals that he grew up to eat drink and
be merry then passed off to leave room for
others to go through the same enjoyments.
| hated all religion with deadly hatred, be.
cause it cramped me in my worldly pur-
suits, and marred my sinful pleasures.
had abandoned myself to the enjoyment of
any sin might choose, and had joined the
company of scoffers.
"One glorious moonlight night like this,
as | returned from my usual haunts Of sin,
| felt overawed by the stiffness and loneli-
ness of the scene; and as If by chance, my
eyes turned upwards towards the sparkling
heavens. Countless stars twinkled in the
vast arch, the queenly moon in stately but
gentle beauty flooded the earth with her
silver beams, and the sky was absolutely
cloudless. gazed up into the heavens for
a moment, and my eyes seemed to penetrate
farther and farther among the shining
worlds, when the thought suddenly flashed
across my mind, Are all these burning orbs
there by the undesigning hand Of blind
chance, or have they been formed and placed
there by the almighty power and infinite
skill of an intelligent Being2' My lips
iDvoluntarily answered No, not by chance;
that is impossible. There must be Being
infinitely exalted above human power, who
planned, created, and set in order those vast
worlds of surprising splendor; and that
Being must be the Christians God And
what am / but the workmanship of the
same creative hand
81 then reflected on the life had lived,
and was greatly alarmed at the thought of
how l had dishonored and denied God
how unjust and wicked to try to dethrone
the Eternal, and blot his name out of exist
ence. Besides, l had encouraged others to
doubt the religion Of Christ, and had con-
firmed doubters in unbelief. Then the text
occurred to my mind, Let the wicked for
sake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him and to
our God, for he will abundantly pardon
Trembling in agony, tried to pray, kneel-
ing on the grass by the roadside. My prayer
was short, but it was a matter of vast mo-
ment to me. God be merciful to me, a
sinner | cried and blessed be his name,
| obtained that mercy which | then most
earnestly sought.
al broke away from my associates, and
thought | would be disciple of Christ in
secret. | tried hard for few months to
carry out my secret service but it was in
tolerable. The words of Jesus never seemed
to leave my mind, in sleep or when awake,
Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of
my words, of him shall the Son of Man be
ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his
father, with the holy angels This forced
me to make profession of religion at the
first opportunity and in my experience
since, | have been able TO cherish hope in
Christ which worlds cannot purchase from
me, and death and hell can never shake. 1t
is an anchor of my soul, sure and stead
fast.
"Since then often marvel at the real or
pTeltuutu Dtlltl VI Iucu WIN say Ill tutlT
heart that there is no Cod If they would
but act nationally, look around them, see
Gods handiwork in the stars, mark his foot
prints in creation, listen to his voice in the
thunder, and behold in the seed-time and
harvest the workings of his gracious provi-
dence, they would see enough to convince
them that there is God their own body
is witness, for we are fearfully and won
derfully made."
"Have doubts ever returned at any time :"
| asked.
"Yes, often" he replied, but never to
hurt me. | have the witness of Gods Spirit
in my heart, which quickly dissipates any
thoughts of unbelief, and maintains my
hope in Christ. Besides, my personal ex-
perience of Gods dealings in Providence
with me are enough to establish my faith
in him."
This conversation occurred more than ten
years ago, and my friend is still an earnest
Christian, and leading member, and a val
liable supporter of the same church to which
he then belonged.
"The heavens declare the glory of God
and the armament showeth his handiwork."
Rev. r. II. Craig.