South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 32

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24  MINISTRY  OF  PR.  STILES.
"  My  views  and  feelings  are  now  greatly  changed.  And
wliy  ?  I  gave  a  moment's  honest  attention  to  the  salvation
of  my  soul,  and  by  the  grace  of  God  I  am  now  happy.
Dear  fellow-sinner,  whether  you  admit  your  accountal)ility
or  not,  if  you  will  open  your  eyes  and  ears,  and  lift  up  your
heart  to  God  for  mercy  and  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ,
you  can  secure  that  same  change,  and  be  happy  too.
"  I  was  induced  to  attend  the  dedication  of  a  church  in
the  place  where  I  lived.  The  preacher  was  earnest  and
warm  in  his  aj^peal  to  the  consciences  of  the  audience.  I
was  a  close  listener  to  his  words.  Truth  was  permitted  for
the  first  time  to  light  up  my  dark  mind.  The" Spirit  of  God
became  an  inmate  of  my  heart.  From  a  listener  I  became
an  inquirer.  In  due  time  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel
opened  upon  my  agonized  soul.  I  saw  my  sins  and  my
ruin.  The  anguish  of  my  spirit  was  awful  in  the  extreme.
I  was  actually  on  the  very  borders  of  despair.  None  but
God  knows  the  strugglings  and  sufferings  of  that  hour,  or,
blessed  be  His  name,  the  peace  and  comfort  which  I  now
enjoy.  I  can  tell  you  of  my  present  hai)py  faith,  and  of
the  contrast  between  the  hope  of  the  unrepeiiting  sinner  and
that  blessed  hope  which  by  the  grace  of  God  now  cheers
my  soul.  I  can  tell  you  that  the  future  now  looks  bright;
that  there  is  now  no  sting  in  death,  no  victory  in  the  grave,
no  bliss  in  ignorance.  Open  your  eyes  and  ears  and  heart,
and  God  will  give  you  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  with  it  a  bless-
ing so  great  that  your  soul  cannot  contain  it."
This  is  a  good  beginning,  it  may  bo  said  ;  but  did
he  hold  out  ? — did  his  religion  last  ?  His  old  com-
panions in  sin,  when  they  heard  that  he  had  been
converted,  predicted  that  in  six  months  lie  would  bo
as  bad  as  ever.  If  he  should  not,  they  would  be
compelled  (they  said)  to  believe  there  was  something
in  religion.  Well,  it  is  now  twelve  years  since  his
conversion,  and  where  does  ho  stand  ?  Tlie  follow-
ing extracts  will  sliow.     'IMicy  arc  taken  from  letters

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Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0032. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 32. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n34/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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