1853 Archive

Pg. 309

¶ 1 Leave a comment on paragraph 1 0 309] THE SPOILED CHILD. 21

¶ 2 Leave a comment on paragraph 2 0 ter in the pastoral charge of the church of B—; and when he came into the charge, the Pastor, and Mr. C., and his wife also, had all departed this life. They all died in great peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Mr. C. died first, and shortly after him his wife, after closing their often-renewed and solemn entreaties and admonitions to their only son, to return to the Lord God of his fathers, and avoid the miseries of the second death ; and enforcing these admonitions with many tears, and by all the solemnities of their trial and experience of a dying bed! The Pastor had accepted the invitation to take on him the presidency of a college, and died in a few months after entering on his official duties.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on paragraph 3 0 John C—, the son, was the husband of an amiable lady, and the father of several beautiful children, when I first visited his mansion. He had been, for a season, reformed, to appearance at least; and had sustained a tolerably decent character for about a year after he had been married to his excellent wife. But now he had added the crime of a boasted and obstinate infidelity to the most disgusting habits of intemperance. And having once returned to them, his latter end was worse than the beginning. He was now a miserable and degraded man, lost to all self-respect, and reckless of character and public opinion; his wife, once the most beautiful and happy woman in the valley, was now a broken-hearted and haggard being; and his own children, to complete his misery and degradation, fled at his approach, and hid themselves from his presence. His fine estate was now involved in debt, and every thing around him indicated the condition of one fast sinking into ruin. His person, formerly athletic and handsome, exhibited a revolting spectacle. He had been visited with several attacks of the delirium tremens, or the drunkard’s brain fever, and yet he would daily drink incredible quantities of the poisonous liquid which was drowning him in perdition!

¶ 4 Leave a comment on paragraph 4 0 I remember as distinctly as if it had been only yesterday, the last visit which I paid him. I was accompanied by an elder of the church, who had for some years filled the place of his venerable father. He received us kindly; he was sober, for it was rather early; he sat down on my left side,

¶ 5 Leave a comment on paragraph 5 0 Vol. 1. 3 O