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In perfect
harmony with what has been written in this sketch comes another occurrence of
kindred nature which transpired in a Southern State. We give it as related by
a Methodist preacher. |
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There
lived in a town where he was stationed as pastor a physician who was a moral blight
to the community by reason of his skeptical views and sinful life. His
influence was especially baneful among the young men, some of whom he led to
embrace infidelity, and a greater number to become openly and shamelessly
wicked. |
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One
Sabbath morning the preacher felt deeply impressed to preach from Proverbs 29:l: "He that being often reproved, hardeneth his
neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." His subject
was the swift and terrible judgments of God upon those who resisted His calls
and warnings. |
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While
opening up his discourse and in the act of glancing over the audience he was
profoundly surprised to see the infidel doctor sitting in the congregation.
No one had ever beheld him, or even heard of his attending a church before.
So there was not only genuine wonder with the pastor, but among the people at
the man's presence among them. |
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When first
observed he was about two-thirds of the way back towards the door, and in the
following peculiar position: His body was bent forward with his chin resting
on his hands that were folded one on top of the other, and laid on the edge
of the bench immediately in front of him. He had raven hair, a heavy mustache
of the same color, and coal black eyes which he fixed steadily upon the minister
in the pulpit. As the preacher proceeded with his discourse, enlarging upon
the calamities that befell men who strove with and against God, the big
mustache would curl and the teeth gleam for a moment under the incredulous
smile of the infidel. The whole mocking face seemed to say, "Do you
think you can frighten me with that kind of talk? Do you imagine for a moment
that I believe what you are saying?" |
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The
preacher said that he could scarcely go on with his sermon, the man's appearance
was so infernal, and his presence so paralyzing. He added that he never
looked into a countenance that seemed so Satanic. The horrible thought took
possession of him and could not be shaken off that the Devil was in the man
and looking at him through his eyes, and mocking him through his
hell-surrendered countenance. |
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To all
appearance the preacher was the more troubled of the two, and the skeptic was
having the best of the situation so far as mental burden and spiritual
distress were concerned. And yet at the same time, and all unconscious of the
fact, the doctor was hearing his last warning; and he was receiving it from
the lips of the very man whom he was jeering at in his heart, and scorning
with every line of his sinister face and position of the defiant body. |
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When the
sermon was finished, the doctor walked out of the church, mounted his horse
and rode away. Meantime the congregation scattered to their homes, while a
few of the stewards remained standing by the door conversing with the pastor. |
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While thus
engaged, suddenly the sharp report of a rifle or pistol rang out on the air
from some point several hundred yards distant down the road. All were
surprised at the sound and commented on its unusualness on a Sabbath morning
and near a quiet country town like their own. They had, however, dismissed
the thought, and were speaking of some church matter of common interest, when
they saw a man running up the road towards them and crying out, "The
Doctor's killed! The Doctor's killed!" |
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Hurrying
back with him they found the physician's horse browsing on the grass, and
close by, lying stone dead on the ground was the doctor with his face
upturned to the sky, his black eyes wide open and staring aloft, as if he was
watching the flight of his lost soul as it sped on its way to the Judgment
Bar of that God whom he had resisted and grieved and insulted up to the last
hour of his life. |
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A bullet
shot from a thicket had entered the back of the skull and came out through the
forehead, producing instant death. The victim evidently did not see his
murderer, nor is he known until this day. |
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The man
led a wicked life, and died as he lived, just as most people do, according to
the Bible and history, and our own observation. What possessed him to visit
the church that Sabbath no one ever knew. His contemptuous face and manner
showed that it was for no good. |
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From:
UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES Compiled by Duane V. Maxey |