Harry's emotion had become stronger and stronger, until the words
just quoted were read, when he was completely overpowered. Suddenly
turning on his seat, to hide as much as possible his feelings, he bent
forward and burst into a flood of tears; but they were tears of joy.
He anticipated his speedy peaceful departure and his final rest. This
state of feeling continued during the remainder of the service, and
when we rose from our knees, Uncle Harry's face seemed literally to
have been bathed in tears.
As soon as we had risen, the old man came toward me with a countenance
beaming with joy. "This," said Mr. W., addressing me, "is _Uncle
Harry_." He reached out his hand and said: "Oh, why did my God bring
me here to-day, to hear what I have heard, and see this salvation?" I
asked: "Are you as ready to depart, Uncle Harry, as good old Simeon
was, of whom we read in this chapter?" I shall never forget his look of
humble, joyful submission, when he replied, "Just when it shall please
my blessed Lord and Master." "You hope to go to heaven?" "Through
divine mercy, I do." "What is the foundation of that hope?" "The
righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
On perceiving that I wished to converse with the old man, Mr. W. said,
with a kindness which showed that he recognized Harry as a Christian
brother, and respected his age: "Come, take your seat again, Uncle
Harry, and sit up near the fire." He accepted the invitation, and I
entered into conversation, which afforded me higher pleasure than I
ever enjoyed in the circles of fashion, beauty, wit and learning. I
here send you some of the most interesting particulars.
"How old are you, Uncle Harry?" "Why, as nigh as I can tell, I am
eighty-nine or thereabout." "Where were you born?" "At Port Tobacco, in
Maryland." "And who had you to preach the gospel to you there?" "Ah, we
had no preacher of the gospel there at that time." "Then it was after
you left Port Tobacco that you embraced religion, was it?" "No, sir, it
was while I lived there, and I will tell you how it was: A great many
years ago there was one Dr. Whitefield, that travelled all through this
country, preaching the gospel everywhere; I dare say you have heard of
Dr. Whitefield, he was a most powerful preacher.
"Well, as I was saying, he went through Maryland, but his place of
preaching was so far off that I did not hear of it until he was gone.
But not long afterwards I met a man, an acquaintance of mine, who did
hear him. He told me about the sermon; and what I heard opened my eyes
to see that I was a poor lost sinner; and ever since that time I have
been determined to seek Jesus as my Saviour, and to spend my life in
His service."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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