A SWEARER ALONE WITH GOD.
A CARRIER in a large town in Yorkshire heard his carter one day in the yard swearing dreadfully at his horses. The carrier was a man who feared God, spent the Lord’s days as a teacher in a Sunday-school, and endeavored to promote the spiritual good of his fellow-creatures. He was shocked to hear the terrible oaths that resounded through the yard. He went up to the young man, who was just setting off with his cart for Manchester, and kindly expostulated with him on the enormity of his sin, and then added: “But if thou wilt swear, stop till thou get through the turnpike on the moor, where none but God and thyself can hear.” The poor fellow cracked his whip and pursued his journey, but he could not get over his master’s words. Some time after, his master observed him in the yard, and was very much surprised to see him so altered. There was a seriousness and quietness about him which he had never seen before, and he often seemed as if he had something to say that he could not get out. At length his master was so much struck with his manner that he asked him if he wanted anything. “Ah! master,” said he, “do you know what you said to me about swearing? I was thunderstruck. I went on the road, and I got through the turnpike, and reached the moor; and there I thought that, though I was alone, yet God was with me; and I trembled to think how he had been with me, and had known all my sins and follies all my life long. My sins came to my remembrance, and I was afraid that he would strike me dead; and I thank God that I have been roused to seek after the salvation of my poor soul.” The master, as may be supposed, was overjoyed to hear the young man’s confession; and it is gratifying to know that his subsequent conduct gave proof of his having ceased to be a slave to sin. “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!”—Sel.