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Sketch of the life and oratory of John B. Gough
Sketch of the life and oratory of John B Gough Author:William Reid Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: SKETCH, PART FIRST. BOYHOOD, DOMESTIC PHIVATIONS, AND DISSIPATION. About forty years ago, a soldier, on passing along the street, picked up a shilling—a... more » glance was sufficient to excite suspicions as to its genuineness; but the temptation to make something of it prevented any farther examination. Entering a beer-shop, it was speedily exchanged for what did not certainly, intrinsically, exceed it in value; but it had no sooner changed hands than conscience told the finder he had done wrong. Days passed, and the day of rest came, but it brought no peace to a mind ill at ease. In desperation, the soldier sought refuge in the house of God. As the minister prayed, he might have been seen bowing his head; he felt and feared as if the preacher knew the workings of his troubled breast. The text which was announced only added to his agitation : ' Ye have sold yourselves for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money ;' but, ns the sermon proceeded, fear gave place to tranquillity, and that day impressions were made on one heart, at least, which all thevicissitudes and turmoil of a life spent in barracks, camps, and on the field of battle, could not efface. Next Sabbath found the soldier back again, and along with him several of his companions. Each new Sabbath gave the congregation more of a military aspect, till not fewer than forty or fifty soldiers were in regular attendance. The distance from the barracks being several miles, a place of meeting was opened in a village close by, and in that humble chapel not a few hearts yielded to the influence of the cross of Christ; and testimony was borne by more than one, when expiring amid the carnage of war, that ' this man, and that man were born there.' An intimacy sprung up between the soldier who had found the coin and the woman w...« less