,transcribed from the #aith century ,religious ,tract ,society edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,public domain cover ,no4 #hjc4 ,,narrative ,,series4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,dying ,,gipsy 99 99 99 99 99 8,be sure your sin will find you out40 ,,numb4 xxxii4 #bc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,conscience1 say some1 is a mere whim1 that frightens weak minds1 renders man a coward1 and cuts short half his purposes4 ,but is it not rather the candle of the ,lord shining in man's dark bosom1 to bring to light the hidden wickedness of the heart2 that well-known voice which gives no sound1 yet will be heard--that hand often felt1 though never seen8 ,reader6 it you regard this inward monitor1 7and ,i trust you do17 you will not then turn away from the following relation of facts4 ,several reports were brought to ,p--1 of a dying gipsy1 who was lying in a camp two miles off2 that his mind was greatly distressed at the prospect of death1 that he had offered a sum of money for a person to read to him a portion of the ,bible1 and that he had also offered money to a poor woman for reading to him part of the ,book of ,common ,prayer2 and further1 that he had declared he could not endure the thought of dying till ,god had forgiven him4 ,not being able that day to visit him myself1 ,i prevailed on a friend to go instead1 to whom the gipsy gave an account of himself in nearly the following words3-- 8,my name is ,stanley1 my ancestors were once respectable1 my great-grandfather was a principal officer in the army of the commonwealth2 but the family falling to decay1 my father took up with the wandering life of the gipsies2 among them ,i was born1 and have continued to the present time4 ,i am now in my eightieth year1 and have led a long and wicked life2 but there is one thing that troubles me above all the rest4 ,about forty years ago1 in the course of conversation with a brother of mine1 ,i cursed the ,almighty to his face6 ,from that time1 sir1 ,i have been a stranger to peace2 the recollection of my blasphemy has followed me ever since2 ,i cannot forget it2 it haunts me from place to place2 alone or in company1 it is the same4 ,i get no rest2 my wickedness fills me with horror2 ,i am indeed a monster2 often have ,i tried to remove the impression1 but it is impossible4 ,o1 sir1 my sin it too heavy for me to bear6 ,such has been its influence upon my spirits1 that the bare mention of ,god's name would bring a trembling upon me1 and fill my mind with anguish4 ,as long as ,i could1 ,i concealed the cause of my uneasiness1 till it became too painful to bear1 and ,i was at length induced1 about two years ago1 to reveal it to my family2 from that time ,i have earnestly sought for ,god's forgiveness1 but ,i still feel his hand heavy4 ,o might ,i but be pardoned6 ,i could then die in peace2 but1 sir1 with this burden upon my soul1 death will indeed be dreadful40 ,having heard his affecting relation1 my friend immediately spoke of ,jesus ,christ--of his death on the cross for the salvation of sinners1 and exhorted him to believe in the ,son of ,god1 who died for the sins of the world2 assuring him1 that there was mercy with ,god to pardon him2 that the divine compassion was like the boundless sea2 that the arms of ,christ's mercy were still extended to embrace and welcome all that come to him1 even the vilest2 that many great sinners had been pardoned upon repentance and were now shining in glory2 that there was room still for more1 and that if he repented and believed in ,christ as the only ,saviour1 salvation was as free for him as for others4 ,at these words his countenance brightened2 but as speaking had by this time greatly exhausted him1 my friend bade him farewell for the present4 ,the next evening we visited him together2 a small tent pitched upon the ground1 enclosing room just sufficient for a bed1 contained the sufferer4 ,as we drew near1 a young woman of about twenty1 in features1 dress1 and manners every way the gipsy1 came forward1 and 7as is frequently the case with unenlightened relatives7 wished us not to introduce the subject of eternity any more4 ,she said he had felt much more composed in consequence of my friend's preceding visit1 but still she feared if we mentioned the subject then1 it would again disturb him2 besides he was already much fatigued4 ,however1 on our replying that the tidings we brought were calculated to soothe1 instead of disturb1 a person in his circumstances1 she drew the curtain from the front of the tent1 and the object of our attention lay before us1 gasping for breath4 ,i confess ,i was much struck with the affectionate attention the family appeared to pay to their aged father2 however careless of their own persons1 they did not neglect him--there was every thing that could be expected under such circumstances--a feather bed1 bolster1 and pillows1 supported the limbs of the dying man--the sheets and pillow-cases were white and clean1 and a patchwork counterpane1 equally clean1 covered him outside4 ,he immediately noticed us1 and though nearly breathless made an effort to speak2 he replied to some of my friend's questions concerning the subjects they had discoursed upon2 said that his mind was easier than it had ever been before--that he felt as if a great weight had been lifted off from him4 ,we asked1 8,what has been the practice of your past life80 ,he replied1 8,nothing but sin40--8,what do you deserve at the hands of ,god80 8,eternal punishment40--8,would ,god be just1 if he were to refuse you mercy80 8,o yes60--8,if you should be spared and recover1 would you live as you have done80 8,o no6 not for the world40--8,what do you now desire8 what do you most need80 8,mercy6 mercy60--8,what1 if you might be pardoned80 8,o ,i would give the world to obtain it60--8,are you then really desirous of pardon1 that you may join the redeemed in glory80 ,to this he signified his full assent1 not indeed in so many words1 they were too feeble to convey his meaning2 but with eyes and hands uplifted1 and a countenance remarkably animated1 he seemed at once to collect all the remaining energies of body and spirit to say1 8,o yes6 indeed ,i am60 ,this assent was accompanied with a force of expression1 which ,i apprehend none but a dying man could give to it4 ,i again stated to him the plan of salvation1 through the redemption of ,jesus ,christ2 the necessity of a change of heart to render us meet for heaven2 to all which he replied as intelligibly as we could expect from his weak state and previous ignorance1 for he could not read a letter4 ,i then stated to him some of the invitations of divine mercy1 as1 ,isaiah lv4 #g1 8,let the wicked forsake his way1 and the unrighteous man his thoughts3 and let him return unto the ,lord1 and he will have mercy upon him2 and to our ,god1 for he will abundantly pardon40 ,and1 ,isaiah i4 #ah1 8,come now1 and let us reason together1 saith the ,lord3 though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as while as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool40 ,john vi4 #cg1 8,him that cometh unto me ,i will in no wise cast out40 ,matt4 vii4 #g1 #h1 8,ask1 and it shall be given you2 seek1 and ye shall find2 knock1 and it shall be opened unto you3 for every one that asketh receiveth2 and he that seeketh findeth2 and to him that knocketh it shall be opened40 ,rev4 xxii4 #ag1 8,and the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come4 ,and let him that heareth say1 ,come4 ,and let him that is athirst1 come4 ,and whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely40 ,i asked him if they were not sweetly suited to the case of a penitent8 ,he replied1 8,o yes60--8,do they suit your case80 8,o very well60 ,by this time he was so much spent1 that speaking appeared almost impossible2 ,i therefore kneeled down by him1 and endeavoured in a short prayer to plead the promises which are yea and amen in ,christ ,jesus1 on which we are encouraged to hope4 ,we then left him1 and he expressed the sincerest gratitude for our attentions1 as did his family also4 ,as we turned away1 my mind was deeply affected with the scene which surrounded us2 it was a fine evening in ,may1 the landscape was extensive1 and richly diversified with sections of arable and pasture land--the wide common on which we stood was skirted on one side by a continuous range of hills1 whose sloping sides exhibited the various shades and hues peculiar to the season1 as seen in the fallow ground1 the deep foliage of the copse1 the corn1 the turnip1 and the varying grass2 while here and there1 a lengthened bank of chalk was seen beneath the frowning precipice--in the distance1 the parish church raised its neat white spire above the trees--behind these1 another range of hills1 though more irregular1 stretched their encircling arms so as completely to bound the prospect--the sky1 with the exception of a few light clouds1 was clear and serene1 and the whole beautifully tinged with the rays of the selling sun4 ,such was the face of nature1 which seemed suited in its stillness to the solemn scene we had quitted4 ,but with man it was far otherwise--a sad contrast now presented itself4 ,in a retired part of the common1 beneath the shade of a few trees1 we had just seen a poor fellow-sinner 7and we hope a penitent7 preparing to enter the presence of his ,maker--the soul on wing for flight1 trembling1 and anxious for the future--here we had trodden the confines of eternity1 and seemed to have been breathing the air of death1 and holding converse with the spirits of another world2 but at no great distance on the same common1 hundreds1 who had assembled to celebrate the ,whitsun holidays1 were wasting in giddy sinful mirth that precious time1 which the poor man we had just visited would have given the world to recall4 ,how sad a perversion of the sacred festival appointed for the purpose of commemorating the descent of the ,holy ,ghost6--that sacred ,spirit1 against whom this thoughtless rabble were constantly striving1 by stifling his voice1 and quenching his influence within them6 ,thus1 thought ,i1 men sin2 and thus1 as in the agonies of that dying man1 they often suffer for it6 ,but this is not all2 he will1 we hope1 find mercy1 many of them perhaps will not--we trust he is a penitent1 he has rejoiced to hear of the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sins of the world2 but who can say that one fourth of that thoughtless crowd will ever repent8 ,and if not1 these visionary joys must be succeeded by real and everlasting misery4 ,the thought affected me1 and ,i felt thankful for the grace1 which ,i hoped had made me to differ4 ,the next day our penitent 7for so we considered him7 was again visited by some of our friends1 but was nearly speechless4 ,he lingered for a few days longer1 and then died1 we trust in peace1 through the infinite mercy of ,christ4 ,we learnt1 that for the last twelve years of his life he had been a very altered man2 and his family declared that since he had unbosomed his sin and grief1 they had often seen him under the hedges in secret1 as they thought1 praying fervently for mercy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,reader1 we see in the case of this poor man1 ,first1 ,the force of conscience4 ,let it be remembered that this sin was committed in private--his family knew nothing of it--his brother probably did not notice it at the time--there was no man of ,god at his elbow1 to reprove him--no ,bible at hand to condemn him--and yet he was never happy afterwards4 ,what was it1 then1 which made him thus miserable1 and always thus brought his sin to remembrance1 but that same conscience1 which so many deny1 and always affect to despise8 ,though there was no recorder upon earth1 there was one in heaven3 ,god heard and marked his sin3 he it was that roused conscience to its duty1 and bid it wring the sinner's heart2 it did so1 and the unhappy blasphemer could never afterwards forget the impious expression2 it was ever present to his recollection1 it followed him like a frightful spectre wherever he went1 and peace was a stranger to his bosom4 ,this it was that clothed death with so much terror3 he could not die as his fellows are used to die1 in brutal ignorance and stupidity2 he was alive to his situation1 he saw his danger2 he knew that punishment was deserved2 conscience1 ever pointing to the bar of ,god1 told him to prepare for judgment--and though he knew but little of ,god's word and his threatenings against sinners1 he could not but fear the worst3 it was this that shook his strong nerves1 and bowed down his spirits for forty years4 ,oh6 who can resist an enraged conscience8 8,a wounded spirit who can bear80 ,reader1 pause for a moment4 ,you possess a conscience1 though perhaps it sleeps1 but be assured it will not sleep for ever2 it is immortal as the soul1 it will surely awake1 and that soon1 either in time or eternity3 convinced of sin you must be1 either by the mercy of ,god in this world1 to bring you to repentance2 or by his vengeance in the next1 8where their worm dieth not1 and their fire is not quenched60 ,o whenever it speaks1 listen to it1 it is a friendly voice3 do not stifle it1 for in stilling conscience we quench the last glimmerings of hope2 we commit the last act of violence upon the soul1 short of self-murder2 and do1 as it were1 leap down upon the very shelvings of the pit1 that mercy's hand may never reach us4 ,secondly4 ,see here the bitterness of unpardoned sin4 ,god hath thus spoken by his prophet1 7,jer4 ii4 #ai47 8,thine own wickedness shall correct thee1 and thy backslidings shall reprove thee3 know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter1 that thou hast forsaken the ,lord thy ,god1 and that my fear is not in thee1 saith the ,lord ,god of hosts40 ,this language was fearfully made out in the case before us3 for forty years this man had no rest in his mind2 he had committed many sins before1 which1 like to many lying spirits1 had deceived him2 but this sin as soon as committed1 he felt to lie upon his conscience unforgiven2 and from that time forward all his sins1 which he once turned as sweet morsels under his tongue1 he found to be bitter as gall4 ,his sufferings for so many years together1 may be better conceived than described2 wherever he went1 whatever he did1 he seemed to see the eye of ,god continually fixed and frowning on him4 ,oh6 if the pressure of one unpardoned sin upon the conscience1 be sufficient to fill the soul with anguish1 and render a man wretched through life2 what must be his sufferings in the world to come1 where all his sins will be brought to remembrance1 and made to prey upon his peace for ever6 ,reader6 ,you must sooner or later taste the bitterness of sin4 ,o that it may be in time to bring you to repentance and salvation6 ,but know1 that if you die unpardoned1 you must dwell with devouring flame1 and lie down in everlasting burnings4 ,thirdly4 ,notice signs of penitence4 ,his views of ,christianity were indistinct and confused3 this1 however1 was to be expected from his habits of life4 ,up to his eightieth year he had been a fugitive and wanderer upon earth1 without the means of grace2 and there is reason to think1 without ever hearing a sermon in his life4 ,and had he possessed a ,bible1 he could not have read it3 nothing therefore but profound ignorance could be expected1 but then1 he exhibited signs of the deepest penitence1 and we know who has said1 8,the sacrifices of ,god are a broken spirit3 a broken and a contrite heart1 ,o ,god1 thou wilt not despise40 7,pa4 li4 #ag47 ,nor was this contrition the mere effect of his dying circumstances2 for some years previous he had been an altered man1 and had frequently been seen by his family1 engaged in prayer by himself under the hedges1 and in other retired places4 ,i have certainly no warrant for positively declaring that he is now happy2 nor dare ,i say he is not2 8to his own ,master he standeth or falleth0--but when ,i heard of his death1 ,i could not help1 in the judgment of charity tracing he departed spirit to the throne of ,god4 ,reader are you thus penitent8 ,have you felt and confessed your sins8 ,have you earnestly implored mercy through the atonement of ,christ8 ,have you forsaken sin8 ,for remember1 he declared as a dying man1 that he would not repeat his former practices1 nor live as he had done for the universe4 ,if indeed you have forsaken your unrighteous thoughts and ways1 and turned to the ,lord through faith in ,jesus ,christ1 he will assuredly receive you1 and abundantly pardon4 ,but know1 that if you still allow yourself to sin1 and still find sin pleasant1 your state is truly awful1 you are as sure to die as he was1 but not so likely to obtain mercy1 for he was penitent but you are not1 and 8except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish40 ,luke xiii4 #e4 ,fourthly4 ,we are herein reminded of the blessedness and value of the ,bible1 which reveals a ,saviour and the hope of pardon4 ,it was not any thing of our own1 but the truths of the ,bible which interested and cheered this dying man4 ,with eagerness he listened to the doctrines of redemption and mercy through the blood of ,christ1 and found them exactly suited to his case4 ,o then how diligently ought we to study the ,bible6 ,read it1 and pray over it2 it will conduct thee to the fountain of life and mercy4 ,remember1 there is no salvation1 no pardon1 but through that ,saviour of whom it speaks1 for 8there is no other name given under heaven among men1 whereby we must be saved40 7,acts iv4 #ab47 ,mere sorrow for past1 sin1 prompted by present pain1 and dread of the future1 forcing a cry for mercy1 cannot save us1 nor must we trust to it3 this man wept and groaned for years but it brought him no relief--nothing effected this but the hope of mercy through the ,redeemer4 ,sinner1 go to ,him2 and may the divine ,spirit seal these truths upon thy heart1 through ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,london3 ,printed for ,,the ,,religious ,,tract ,,society2 and sold at their ,depositary1 #ef1 ,paternoster-row2 by ,j4 ,,nisbet1 #ba1 ,berners street1 ,oxford-street2 and by other ,bookselllers4 ,price #bs4 #h;d4 per #ajj ,considerable ,allowance to ,subscribers and ,booksellers4