Year: 1860

Nearly twenty years ago, there lived In
the interior of Michigan an elderly man,
who had been for forty years an avowed
Atheist. In his youth, in an Eastern State,
he had professed religion and married a
pious wife, but he soon after apostatized
and sunk through the various grades of er-
ror and infdelity, from Universalism to
blank Atheism. A family of children had
grown up around him, some of whom, un-
der the influence of their mother-whO
ciIng to her faith despite the example and
arguings of her husband-became follow
els of Christ, and some were skeptical like
their father.


About the time at which this narrative
begins, a young minister commenced his
labors with the church to which the moth
er belonged. He met the Atheist and in
vited him TO come TO the meeting. Be
ing courteous man and externally moral,
he preferred 10 make some excuse rather
than give the tue reason for declining
Therefore he replied, 81 live too far away
10 walk, have only an ox-team."


"But many of the congregation come to
meeting with ORLEANS, Why cannot you
Besides, you are here to-day with one, why
cannot you come on Sunday?"


"Oh, yes, l sometimes come twice on a
weekday.


As this latter confession had effectually
disposed of that excuse, he must find an
other. He looked down at bis patched
boots and said:


81 have no boots good enough to wear
to meetitg."


The minister pleasantly replied, 81 will
make bargain with you. If you will
come TO meeting, l will engage not to say
word about your boots, but only about
your heart"


The Atheist smiled at the odd reply, and
they parted in good humor; but he did not
Immediately attend public worship. Not
long after, the minister had an appoint
ment at the shool-house in the old mans
neigbborhood, and found him among the
hearers. He afterward remarked TO some
church member, that the minister wa as
good as his word, and did not preach about
boots, but about hearts.


A New Year came, and with it some
union services between evangelical denomi-
nations, and then the Atheist ventured to
the house Of God. The love of Christ was
the theme, and he was seen TO be affected.
A son of his encountered the young minis
ter, and fippantly answered kind inquiries
about his personal religion with, sI'm an
infdel." 'Nelson on Inhidelity" was Of
fered him, the son promising 10 take il
home and read it. The father also read
the book, and was again seen at the house
of God. The minister thought at the time
to make the family pastornal visit He
found the young man sileneed by Nelson
He had not word to say. Turning to the
father, the minister met to his great sur
prise, the face of serious, earnest man,
who told him with quivering chin and
falling tears:


"I have been reading the book you loan
ed to my son. 1t is a remarkable book
If that man is correct in the scientific facts
he states-and ] have no reason to doubt
it. for he writes like candid and well-in-
formed man-lhen must admit that there
Is God l cannot gainsay his reason
ing; and now, what shall do? l lay awake
last night thinking of the subject. am
getting to be an old man. My sands are
almost run. Whatis in the futures My
theory gives me no light, no hope. Oh
that could believe as my wife does
What shall | do?"


"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" was
the apostolic reply.


"But l don't know yet whether there is
any Christ. l have not got so far yet as
to believe the Bible. 1 am convinced thai
there must be God, but whether the Bible
is from him, don't know; can't lake but
one step at a time."


swell then," replied the minister, "thi:
you can do: There is a sentiment which, nj
matter now where il came from, will com
mend itself to you as reasonable, "If any
man will do Gods will, he shall know o
the doctrine whether it be of God.' You
acknowledge now, that there is great anc
good Being who made you and all things
lis it not reasonable TO suppose that if yol
are truly desirous to obey him, he will teacl
you his will?"


ayes, it would seem So


"Well, then promise me that you vii
set your heart steadfastly on finding ou
the will of the God that made you, tha
you may do it; and with this determine
tian take the Bible, begin at the beginning
read it carefully, and pray as you read, t
that God, that he will in some way satisf.
your mind whether the book is or is not
revelation from him.


: "This is reasonable" said the Deist, a
1 he had now became, al will do it," an
with this promise, the minister left him.
The reader will readily anticipate the resul
OF such reading, and will not be at all SUI