The Village in the Mountains; Conversion of Peter Bayssière; and History of a BibleWilder, Sampson Vryling Stoddard
Religion
The Village in the Mountains; Conversion of Peter Bayssière; and History of a Bible
Wilder, Sampson Vryling Stoddard
Bible -- Publication and distribution
After conducting William to the gates of the New Jerusalem, I was sent
for to reside with a young man in the middling ranks of life, who had
received a liberal and religious education from his parents, lately
removed from this poor world. The effects of their example and counsel
were evident in all his conduct. He lived what men call a _good
moral life_, his deportment was very agreeable, and his sobriety was
commended by many. He regularly conversed with me twice every day, and
prayed in his closet morning and evening. On Sabbath I talked to him
from dinner to tea, and from tea to supper.
An old uncle of his perpetually exhorted him to go abroad to amass a
fortune. He did not at first relish the advice. One day he consulted
me. I bluntly told him to be content with such things as he had; not
to hasten to be rich, for he would thereby pierce himself with many
sorrows: that numbers were ruined through the deceitfulness of riches.
Labour not for the meat that perisheth, said I, but for that which
endureth to everlasting life. After this conversation, he reasoned
with his uncle against leaving his country and friends merely to make
money in a foreign land: he declared that the object was a pitiful one
to an immortal creature, who must soon bid an eternal adieu to the
affairs of time. However, after standing his ground for some months,
he consented to go a voyage to the West Indies.
He set sail from Liverpool, and took me along with him. As there were
several passengers in the ship, all of whom were profane sinners, he
was ashamed to let me be seen; of course I was hid in a corner of the
state-room, completely masked. On the first Sabbath morning, he took
a single peep at me before the other passengers awoke. I hastily told
him to remember the Sabbath to keep it holy; that God was every where
present to witness the works of men. He resolved to abide by my
advice, and to keep at as great a distance from those on board as he
well could. They asked him to take a hand at cards, but he refused.
Pho! said they, we have got one of your superstitious Christians along
with us; we shall have nice sport with him. They teased him with his
religion the whole day, and poor George could not well bear it. One
bold sinner asserted, that before they reached their destination, they
would have all his enthusiasm hammered out of him.
George having none to encourage or countenance him, and not possessing
firmness sufficient for confessing me before men, resolved to dispense
with his religion during the voyage, and to comply with their
abandoned customs, while he continued in the ship. Thus he fell before
temptation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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