Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-01-16

edly that week. On hearing OF the
arrangement that had been made, he
said to his curate, THAT evangelical
young Marsh shall not preach in my
church,
When this news was announced to
him on his arrival, he received 1t with
his usual serenity OF temper, merely
replying, "Then 1 am to be a listener
instead Of a preacher tomorrow. But
1 can pray as much as 1 wish-no man
forbidding mel'
The Master In whom he implicitly
trusted had otherwise planned that
Sundays work for him.
Early in the morning a messenger
came from clergyman, who had
small church in the suburbs of the
town, to say that he had been seized
with an attack of Inflammation in the
chest, and that he would be most
grateful If Mr.. Marsh would undertake
his duty.
Gladly accepting this opportunity,
he went forth to preach the Gospel OF
Christ, from these words, behold the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin OF the world"
at the conclusion OF the sermon he
offered to give the congregation an
afternoon service. Between the serv-
ices the news spread about the town
that the young clergyman, who had
been refused the pulpit OF the large
church, was to preach again in the
small one With the generous impulse
OF Englishmen to take the side of any
one whom they fancy to be injured,
the numbers who pressed to hear him
were so great that the congregation
overflowed until the churchyard was
crowded. Even the choir deserted
from the parish church, In order to
testify their sympathy with the young
clergyman who had fallen under the
rector's ban.
Amongst the crowd in the centre
aisle there stood a man so noted for his
ungodlinesS and profane language as
to be known in Baslngstoke by the
name of Swearing Tom" He was
leader in sin and profanity, and for
seventeen years he had never entered
a church. 1t was only curiosity which
brought him now.
The text was taken from Ezekiel:
81 will put a new spirit within you. ("
Toward the close of the sermon, the
preacher quoted the words, ''If ye
then. being evil, know how 10 give
good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask Him?"-remaTking that, con-
| trary to the conclusion which might
have been expected. "the offer was not
to children, bat simply TO those vino
asked. There was nothing. therefore,
| between the worst OF men and this
most blessed gift from Heaven, but 10
ask for IT. He then added, 'If the
most wicked man II this church would
/ 20 home and pray that God, for
| Christ's sake, woIld give him His
/ Holy Spirit to change his heart, God
would hear and answer that mans
prayer
These words went straight to the
heart of "Swearing Tom" 81 am the
worst man here, The said to himself; 81
will go home and pray" AS he went,
he had to pass by the familiar public
house, but, unmoved by the calls of
his companions, he refused to turn in.
On reaching his home, he threw him.
self upon his knees, and tried to pray
in the words which he had heard from
the pulpit. The prayer was answered.
From that time he became a changed
man, and his name OF "Swearing
Tom" was soon altered for that OF
"Praying Tom," by which he was
known until the day of his death. He
placed his leisure time at the disposal
of his clergyman for visits to the SIGH
and afflicted, and was made a great
blessing, for upwards OF half bentury
in his native town.
1t was not until Mr.. Mar sh
preached again in that church, after q
lapse of thirty years, that he became
aware of the blessed result of his firsI
Sundays sermon. when Tom himself
asked leave to speak to him in th'
vestry, and told him the story OF hi
conversion.
Many years later, as DR., Marsh wa!
going up the stairs of Exeter Hall TO
the last meeting there OF the British
and Foreign Bible Society at which Ii,
Wa, able to be present, a stranger me
him and asked il lie was not DR.. Marsh
on receiving the reply, he said, "Ah
dear sir, Praying Tom OF Bas!ng
stoke Is now 'Praislng Tom Il
! Heaven" His last hours were blesse,
indeed, for he died as he had lived
rejoicing in his Saviour.