The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1900-05-30

have lately experienced. 90 not neeu 10 ten
you that for the 25 years that | have been
member Of the church have been member only
in name. ! have seldom appeared in any OF the
spiritual or devotional services OF the church.
have often sat in attitude OF criticism TO the
best preaching. | have been a hard man with
those in my employ. ! have been cold and even
revengeful toward other members of this church.
l have been very proud, un-Christian, selfish
man.
In the sight q God | have been an altogether
unworthy member OF the church OF Christ. do not
take any pride TO myself in making this confess
sion but / feel that il is due 10 you, and some
thing tells me l shall have more peace Of mind If
i speak 10 you have lately pray ed TO God.
Ii is not necessary, neither have l time nor
strength, to tell you how have been brought to
see my selAshness in all its enormity. 1t is
enough II / say to you that most sincerely be-
lieve that l have misunderstood very largely the
right meaning Of human existence. | want 10
pray with you and for you. You will let me say
this also, bearing with me, as this may be my
last opportunity TO say 10 you what lies In my
heart: Serve the church OF C.u.-, all you who
have taken upon you its VOWS, ri,h enthusiasm
and loyalty. Stand 10y the superintendent OF the
Sunday school, attend this week night service
when you can making il the most important serv-
ice Of the week, una more than all, live true,
simple, loving Christian lives every day
Il may seem strange that am preaching like
I
better than / ever old, but l wish TO say what
lies deep in my heart to say tonight II there
are any young in the meeting tonight,
want to say 20 them, become Christians at the
core, not in simply, as | have been, and
above all, kneel down every morning, noon and
night and pray 10 God 10 keep you from selfish
lifc-such a life as / have Hyed-forgetful Of
church vowe, OF the rights Of the working poor, Of
the brother and sister in Christ. Yes, l would
be willing that any young might say, 30
Lord, keep me from living as selfish and useless
and proud a life as Robert Hardy once lived!'
For that is the truth No one but God knows
how l have suffered at the thought Of the past,
how am suffering at the present moment.
pray that any who are afflicted at this present
time may find peace In him who bore the worlds
sorrows in his great heart of love. II 1t were
not for my faith in my Saviour at this time, !
should be in despair AS it is, ! am suffering,
but it is not the suffering which follows an
eclipse of hope. believe in the eternal life and
in the forgiveness Of SINS yea, even such sins as
mine have been. Forgive 80 much about myself.
1t is necessary under the circumstances. ! ask
your prayers for as your petitions go up for
the afflicted and repentant everywhere. i am,
your brother in Christ ROBERT HARDY.
The impression made by the reading
/ of this letter was profound. The still
ness that followed was deathlike. Then
one of the oldest men in the room rose
and In a prayer of great power prayed
! for the absent man and thanked God
for his guided strength. The prayer
was followed by others, and then one
and another of the members who had
not been on really good terms with Mr..
| Hardy arose and confessed and asked
| forgiveness. The hearts Of the people
] Il.
| trary to his usual habit, asked as the
meeting drew to n close if there were
any present who wanted TO begin that
! Christian life at the core Of which Mr..
Hardy spoke.
81 see a number here not processing
! Christians. Are there any who would
| like TO say that they want to become
| Christians and will try to live the
! Christ life every dayW
In the pause that followed James
! Caxton, who had been sitting in the
back seat felt as If some power within
and without him were forcing him to
his feet. He grasped his chair as If to
hold himself down, but the II ,ly Spirit
whispered to him, "Son. this will be
! the beginning OF a new life to thee"
And so James CaXton arose and said
he wanted to be a Christian, and from
that moment he dated his strong, con-
secrated life, life that bids fair TO be-
come famous in the world yet, and his
action was the beginning Of new life
/ in that church and community, but we
/ cannot dwell on that in the course of
/ this history.
Oh. Robert Hardy, the good God is
blessing thee in this thy week of trial.