Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-05-06

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got hold of YOU that | don't understand.
T heard Won were down at those religious
meetings. But the converted man
would not allow things to stand in that
wav. and SO the infidel said: "Well,
now, you can pay me the value of the
sheep, and per cent interest from that
time to this, and I shan't say anything
more about it. Just go away from me. .
What was the matter with the two farm
ers? In the one case convicted con-
science leading him to honesty, and in
the other case a convicted conscience
warming against infidelitY
Converted Conscience.
Thomas Oliver was one of John Yves
ley's preachers. The early part of his
life had been full Of recklessness, and he
had made debts wherever he could Dor
row. He was converted to God, and
then he went forth to preach and pay
his debts. He had a small amount Of
property left him, and Immediately set
out to pay his debts, and everybody
knew he was in earnest, and to consu1n-
mate the last payment he had to sell his
horse and saddle and bride That was
conscience That is converted conscience
That is religion. Frank Tiebout, con-
verified rUmseller, had a large amount Of
liquor on hand at the time Of his con-
version, and he put all the kegs and bar
rels and demijohns in wagon and took
them down in front of the old church
where he had been converted and had
everything emptied into the street. That
is religion, Why the thousands Of dol
lars sent every year to the United States
treasury at Washington as conscience
money!" Why, it simply means there
are postmasters and there are attorneys
and there are officials who sometimes
retain that which does not belong to
them, and these men are converted, or
under powerful pressure of conscience,
and make restitution. IF all the moneys
out Of which the state and the United
States treasures haye been defrauded
should come back to their rightful eX
chequers, there wouldabe money enough
to pay all the state debts and all the
United States debt by day after tomor
row.
Conversion amounts to nothing unless
the heart is converted, and the pocket
book is converted, and the cash drawer
is converted and the ledger is convert
ed, and the flZeprOOf safe is converted,
and the pigsOGhole containing the CORE
spondence is converted, and his i'm
provement is noticed even by the canary
bird that sings in the parlor, and the cat
that ticks the platter after the meal, and
the dog that comes bounding from the
kennel to greet him. A man half con-
verified, or quarter converted, or thou
sandth part converted is not converted
at all What will be the great book in
the day of Judgment? Conscience. Con-
science recalling misimproved OppOrtu-
mites Conscience recalling unforgive-
sins. Conscience bringing up all tie
past Alas, FOR this governor, Pontius
PLATE! That night after the court had
adjourned, and the sanhedrists had gone
home, and nothing was heard outside
the room but the step of the sentinel, [
see Pontius Pil,fe arise from his tapes
tried and sleepiSss couch and go to the
laver and begin to wash his hands, cry
ing "Out, out, crimson spot Tellest
thou to me, and to God, and to the
night, my crime? Is there no alkah to
remove these dreadful stains? Is there
no chemistry to dissolve this carnage?
Must to the day of my death carry the
blood of this innocent man on my heart
and hand? Out thou crimson spot -
The worst thing man can have is an
evil conscience, and the best thing
man can have is what Paul calls good
conscience.
A Sunlit Dispensation.
But is there 10 such thing as moral
publication? If a man is a sinner once,
must he always be sinner, and an I'M
forgiven sinner? We have all had coll
science after us. Or do you tell me that
all the words of your life have been just
right, and all the thoughts of your heart
have been just right, and all the actions
of your life just right? Then you do not
know yourself, and [ take the response
bility of saying you are a pharisee, you
are hypocrite, you are a Pontius Pi
late, and do not know it. You commit
the very same sin that Plate commit
ted. You have crucifed the Lord Of
Glory But if nine-tenths of this au-
dience are made up of thoughtful and
earnest people, then nine-tenths of this
audience are saying within themselves:
els there no such thing as moral Duri-
fication? Is there no LAYER in which the
soul may wash and be clean?' Yes, yes,
yes Tell it in song, tell it in sermon,
tell it in prayer, tell it to the hemi-
spheres. That is what David cried out