Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-02-07
Aunt Julia's Practical Sermon.

Seeking the quletnesS ana rest OIL DAY |
alone with God, my friend and hid our.
selves from the presence and pressure OF |
many friends, and with our boat, followed |
for miles one of the winding creeks that |
form 30 beautiful part of Floridian |
scenery. Finding a place to land for some |
hours rest under the trees, we sat quietly |
epjoyisg the peace of the strange surround. |
ings. Our colored boatman wandered on TO |
a neighboring cabin to gossip awhile with |
his friends But they were the Lords |
friends, and hearing of our immediate pres
ence left their corn-field and came to talk of |
God and his ways. After little, one old
auntie became chief speaker, and told her
life history of disturbance and unrest, and
of quiet and peace The sun broke in
shadows and glintings through the branches
of the old oaks-the wonderful old oaks
that had dallied with the breezes and been
swept with the storms of so many years, had
grown old and hard aud yet were crowned
with the beauties of youth The swsying
moss dropping almost to the ground made
movable walls of soft grey tapestry inter
woven with the wild profusion of the yellow
jessamine ard the wood honey-suckle. 1t was
to US Gods temple; and its worshipers gath
cred from north and south in the unity
of the spirit, forgot distinctions of color or
race, and were simply children of God list
ening to the words of his appointed speaker
She said al just tell my sperisnce as it
came. | was a wild young thing, fond of
the dance and caring for none of Gods
words or Gods people. But he was a huntin'
me, and dis is true, when God hunts, he
catches. He made me sick for long time,
till was like to die Then once when |
was alone on de bed, heard voice come
down fru de roof Julie, folio de Lord,
Julie, folio de Lord got right on my
feet and walked to the meetin'. For two
years done eberyting. wen to de mourn
ers bench | prayed talked to my ole
friends, but | done got no peace for you
see, dis was only conviction, dis was not con-
version. Peoples mix desc tings Dey tell
you dey's convarted when dey's only con-
victed. God is after dem, but dey is slip
pen roun' so he can't catch dem. Now af-
ter desc two years, | went down to the
spring one day TO some water. | was in a
big heap O. trubble, felt so bad. So l kneel
down by tree an prayed de Lord, an
prayed de Lord, to make me all right; an
prayed till de night come. Den after a
while, de Lor' Jesus come to me, JUS as
plain as you. An he looked at me wild his
big, sorrowful eyes, till JUS seemed like
to die. Den he came to me where had
ius' dropped down afore his look, and
he JUS cut me open as wild a knife and TUX
out my heart, aud held it up for me to
see. 1t was black-so black and bad looking
and as he turned it over, it was full of pock-
cts like-and ebery pocket was full. One
was full of pride; one was full OF hatred ;
one full of selfishness ; one full of laziness
all were full as they could be. Den l saw
at his feet was pool of blood an it was
| 4 .: af Ia ~ h
stopped down an washed my heart in dis
blood. 1t took him q long time to do it. He
emptied out each pocket, and turned it in
side out, and washed it very clean. Oh
how it hurt me All de time jus like run
min knife in you. But said Lor' Jesus
do it clean. When he was all fru, he helC
it up for me to see. Did you see the even
ing star las night ober de riber 1t looked
as you might walk straight fru into d.
Everlasting fields O glory an see God set
tin on his throne. Well when de Lord helt
, up my heart, could look right fru it an
J see his face a shinin' out. Den he wrapped
, it up in cover of his own, and put it bacl
inside O. me, an laid his hand on de plac
an dere was no cut lef'. Now dat was con
= version, an have always known my hear
' right with God ever since. What's dat
! don't eber sin ? Well, you see, when d
Lor' Jesus put my heart IN his cov'ring, HI
: put in suffin that could not bear sin. S
3 when de debil comes wild thought of hi
. own, dis cover kind of shivers and shakes
30 feel it. Den / know him an say, yo
st get de behind me ole Satan. Den whe
thought comes that soun's good, kind O
8 wait to hear what de Lord will say. Yo
q know de wolly sheep don't know much, al
. rs glad to JUS follow and have no 'spons
), bility. An know if he is callen' he can ca
o SO can hear, an l wait an listen an whe
|, Pm sure | up and do right smart. Blu
r. laws what's de use O. talking if de Lord
: God folio him-dat's just all.
Now children sing
:, De Lord is God, I'll folio on,
II Folio on, folio on,
. De Lord is God, I'll folio on
o o, glory hallelu
He's wash me clean, I'll folio on,
Folio on, folio on,
He's wash me Clean I'll folio on,
70 o. glory halleul