32

ANOTHER DRUNKARD.

January 31st.

MR. L. BLEEKER, a distinguished member of the Baptist Church, was with me this evening at the Almshouse, offered a prayer after sermon, and made a few serious and pertinent remarks. While I was speaking, a drunkard, with a bloated face, sat beside me. I fixed my eyes sternly on him, and said, 'The man who is dead in trespasses and sins, will give abundant evidence of it, by following the sins to which he is addicted, If the love of intemperate drinking is his besetting sin, he will become intoxicated when he has the opportunity. Do you believe this?'

The drunkard looked at me full in the face, and nodded his head. I continued to fix my countenance on him, and said, It is not so difficult then as some imagine, to ascertain whether men are dead in sin, or alive to God. Will not the person, who is quickened by the Holy Ghost, give as good evidence that he is alive, as the drunkard that he is attached to his cups?'

Here the drunkard's fire kindled into new flames; a tear stood in each eye for a second, but Nature had become so degraded, that he immediately after smiled, and nodded assent again.

Instantaneously I quoted, Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.' At this his countenance was fallen, and I turned from him, that he might not be exasperated, while I continued to press the same subject home on his mind, by similar allusions.

When Mr. Bleeker began to speak, he said, 'I dare say that many of you do not believe a word of what

you have heard; but it is all solemn truth.' Then looking on this same drunkard, he asked, 'Do you believe that you are dead in trespasses and sins,--that you are without divine and spiritual life? The halfintoxicated man answered, "Yes, I do believe it; and think we have had a very fine sermon."

Mr. Bleeker. No, you do not believe it; for if you did, you could not lead such a life as you do.' Drunkard. 66 Why yes, I do believe that I am a

sinner, and that all are sinners."

Mr. Bleeker. If you believed in your heart that you are dead in sin, you could not act and feel as you do; but it is an easy thing to affirm that we believe.'

The poor wretch got up and staggered away five or six paces to another seat; and Mr. Bleeker, in continuance of his discourse, said, I must tell you plainly, from the evidence of my own senses, that I think some who are here are intoxicated now, and are habitually intemperate; and these persons are certainly dead in sins. Except they are born again, they must certainly be damned !'

An evil course of conduct is undoubtedly conclusive against any man, who asserts that he possesses faith. Let it be a settled principle that a miser loves money; let me inform him, that certain field, which is for sale, contains a pearl of immense value; and if he does not take measures to secure that field, it must be in consequence of his not believing my testimony. Should he say, Sir, I am eager for wealth, and I believe what you affirm, but shall take no measures to secure that pearl which you say is within my reach ;' I should feel at liberty to rejoin, "The truth is not in

6

you." In like manner, if sinners affirm that they believe the gospel, and do not act conformably to the spirit of faith, they deceive themselves, or they are liars who would delude others.

We descended into the filthy apartment of W-F—. "Well, William, how are you to-night? Do you find any thing to comfort you?"

Thank you, Mr. Ely; I am no better, but I trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Mr. Bleeker. "But what encourages you to trust in him, my friend?"

W. F. His word. I pray to him for mercy.'

Mr. Bleeker. "But you must not trust to your prayers. Do you think that you know God; and how long have you known him?"

W. F. Not till lately; since I was blind.'

Mr. Bleeker. "What makes you think that you have an interest in Christ?"

W. F. HIS SPIRIT TOUCHES MINE; I feel it; and he applies the precious blood of Christ to my conscience.'

This answer evinces that most of this blind man's notions are derived from the faculty of feeling. How forcible the expression, His Spirit touches mine!* Much similar language I have heard from him.

We ascended to one of the Hospital wards; and here I heard S. A. E- the young woman whom I addressed on the 24th instant, utter in whispers many sentiments suitable to her situation. She is mild and calm, and full of prayer, in the intervals of her frequently recurring fits. Her whisper to Christ affected me, and especially the expression of her gratitude for my first attempt to exhibit his salvation

for her acceptance. Really, she has a beautiful face, a countenance that speaks; and I cannot but wonder what should have brought her to this abode of misery.

In one day last week the Superintendant of the Almshouse relieved a thousand poor families, without the walls of the Institution. In this severity of cold, how many are the sufferers in this wide city!

GREAT GOD! how terrible thy frost!
Before its progress who could stand?
Continue it, and all are lost;

An icy death pervades the land.

Thou, who hast form'd the drops of dew,
And art the Father of the rain,
At whose command the white winds blew,
And cover'd all the rocky plain;

Regard the children of Distress,

And banish these congealing pains;

Let not stern Winter long oppress

The thousands who have felt his chains.

O bid the secret south wind rise,
With power to melt the rigid foe;
Then ev'ry storm, reluctant flies,
And all the streams of comfort flow!

But chiefly to the frozen heart,

O may the Spirit's quick'ning breath
Such penetrating warmth impart,
As saves it from the second death!

Let Spring return to polar skies,

Which once have felt the cheering light;
And Christ illume the sinner's eyes,
Long winters clos'd in dismal night.

36

ASTONISHING LOVE OF CHRIST.

February 2nd.

YOUNG C―r, the son of a poor widow, seems to enjoy a calm and heavenly frame of mind. The love of Christ appears to engross his feeble powers, and at times confound them. 'He wonders that so soon as Christ died for sinners, all men who heard of it, did not leave off sinning, and become perfectly holy. They ought to have done it, and I wonder they

did not.'

"But have you become perfectly holy since you believed in Jesus for your own salvation?"

Oh, no! I am a poor unworthy creature.'

"Does it not astonish you to think, that Christ died for such an offender as you are?"

Yes, Sir; but it more astonishes me, that when Christ once died for sinners, he should be willing to do it again.'

"I do not understand your meaning."

I mean, that if you had died for me, and I wou'd'n't thank you for it, and should reject you, it would be most astonishing if you would offer yourself to me again!

"Christ certainly does urge himself, again and again, upon many sinners, who long slight his proffers of peace, pardon, and sanctification. Yea, he persuades, and enables the sinner to receive him by faith; and this shows us that salvation, from beginning to end, is an unmerited gift."

'I feel that I have nothing to give him in return.' "True, my young friend, you have nothing to give but a sinful and broken heart. You can never make any payment to God, nor does he require it.