10. Besetting Sins
Besetting Sins
SWEARER’S PRAYER.—Once, while crossing a bridge, a preacher met a man who in a fearful strain was calling upon God to damn his soul for Christ’s sake, the preacher laid his hand on the man’s shoulder and said: “My friend, God has done many thing’s for Christ’s sake, and perhaps he will do that too.”
SWEARER IN GRAVEYARD.—”I will give you ten shillings,” said a man to a profane swearer, “if you will go into the village graveyard at twelve o’clock tonight and swear the same oaths when alone with God.” The offer was accepted. Midnight came. It was a night of great darkness. As he entered the cemetery not a sound was heard; all was still as death. The gentleman’s words came to his mind: “Alone with God,” rang in his ears. He did not dare utter an oath, but fled from the place crying: God be merciful to me, a sinner.
SCATTERING FEATHERS.—A lady presented herself to Neri one day, accusing herself of being a slanderer. “Child,” he said, “your fault is great, but the mercy of God is greater. Go to market, purchase a chicken just killed, but still covered with the feathers; you will then walk to a certain distance, plucking as you go.” This was done as directed, and on her return to Neri, telling how faithfully she had carried out his instructions, he said: “Retrace your steps and gather up one by one all the feathers you have scattered.” “But, father,” exclaimed the poor woman, “I cast them carelessly on every side; the wind carried them in every direction!”
DRUNKARD’S DEED.—A young lawyer won and married a beautiful bride; all that heart could well wish was theirs. In a few years the husband began to ply the sparkling glass and against the pleadings of his wife and friends he pushed on his downward way. One fierce winter night he staggered home through the deep snow, and found his invalid wife in a cold room trying to keep her two babies warm. The drunken husband swore he would soon have it warm enough. It was midnight, the elements without were raging, and the drunken man was raving within. How he fired the house was not known; he was probably too drunk to know himself. The flames, fanned by the wind, drove out the wife with her babes to face that awful winter night. Soon becoming exhausted with her helpless babes clinging to her, the mother sank down into the snow. The house was reduced to ashes. In the morning, the now sobered author of this ruin, accompanied by his parents, searched among the snowdrifts for the lost ones. At length, wrapped in a spotless winding sheet of snow they were found. “White as marble the lovely features of the mother disclosed frozen tears on her cheeks, while the forms of her babes were clasped in her arms.
FAILED TO CONQUER THEMSELVES.—Peter the Great made a law that if any nobleman beat or illtreated his slaves, he should be looked upon as insane, and a guardian appointed to take care of his person and estate. This great monarch once struck his gardener, who, being a man of keen sensibility, took to his bed, and died in a few days. Peter, hearing of this, exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, “Alas! I have civilized my own subjects, I have conquered other nations, yet I have not been able to conquer or civilize myself.” Alexander could conquer Persia, but he could not conquer his passions. Cæsar triumphed in a hundred battles; but he fell a victim to the desire of being a king. Bonaparte the conqueror was no better.