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A society
of gentlemen, most of whom had enjoyed a liberal education, and were persons
of polished manners, but had unhappily imbibed infidel principles, used to assemble
at each other's house for the purpose of ridiculing the Scriptures, and of
hardening one another in their unbelief. At last they unanimously formed a
resolution solemnly to burn the Bible, and so to be troubled no more with a
book which was so hostile to their principles and disquieting to their
consciences. |
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The day
fixed upon arrived; a large fire was prepared, a Bible was laid on the table,
and a flowing bowl ready to drink its dirge. For the execution of their plan
they fixed upon a young gentleman of high birth, brilliant vivacity, and
elegance of manners. He undertook the task, and after a few enlivening
glasses, amidst the applause of his jovial compeers, he approached the table,
took up the Bible, and was walking leisurely forward to put it into the fire;
but, happening to give it a look, he was seized with trembling, paleness
overspread his countenance, and he seemed convulsed. |
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He
returned to the table, and, laying down the Bible said, with a strong
assertion, "We will not burn that book till we get a better." Soon
after this, the same lively young gentleman died, and on his deathbed was led
to true repentance, deriving unshaken hopes of forgiveness and of future
blessedness from that book which he was once going to burn. He found it, indeed,
the best book not only for a living but a dying hour. |
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From:
2700-PLUS SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS By Duane V. Maxey |