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
One day in the midst of his merriment, he recollected an advice which
I had solemnly given him. It was this: When sinners entice thee,
consent thou not. Immediately he rushed out of the cabin, threw
himself on his bed, and wept bitterly. He cried out, (but not so loud
as to be heard,) I have ruined my soul, O what would my worthy mother
have said, had she witnessed my conduct for days past. On his return
to the cabin, the sadness of his countenance was observed by the
company; they laughed heartily and assured him that his reluctance to
join them in what they termed sociality, arose from the prejudices of
education: that he must endeavour to banish all his fears of futurity,
and mind present enjoyment. These and similar observations gradually
unhinged the principles of young George, and before reaching their
destined port, his checks of conscience were almost gone. What a
dreadful state, when man's conscience ceases to be his reprover! Men
are often glad when they obtain this deliverance, but the infatuation
is as shocking to a pious mind as to see a man in flames rejoicing in
the heat which will infallibly consume him. After the arrival of
the ship, we all went ashore; and George was soon fixed in a very
advantageous situation for money making. When the first Sabbath
arrived, he protested against transacting business on that day,
declaring that he had never been accustomed to any thing of that kind.
They advised him to labour hard seven days in the week, that he might
return sooner to the country from whence he came; and at length
prevailed on him to conform to their infidel practices. I told him
that for all these things God would bring him into judgment; that he
was like the rest of the wicked, who waxed worse and worse; that
he did not love Jesus Christ, else he would keep his commandments,
notwithstanding all the raillery and reproach to which he was exposed.
I warned him that whoever was ashamed to confess Christ before men,
of him would he be ashamed in the presence of his Father and the holy
angels.
In a few months he became as wicked and abandoned as any on the
island. He made a present of me to a poor native, who could read a
little English. I frequently conversed with him, but he could
not understand what I said. He often desired me to speak to his
companions. A few were greatly affected with what I said. They often
called upon me. Sometimes they pleasantly said my words made them very
happy, they desired to go to that happy world which I commended so
highly. They fervently prayed to Jesus to take them to it. An old
slave creeped in one day, inquiring if Jesus could do any thing for
very bad people. I replied, It is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. He is able to
save unto the very uttermost all who come unto God through him. The
black man, bathed in tears, exclaimed, Good book! tell me good news!
Like the Ethiopian eunuch, he went away rejoicing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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