James Bright, the Shopman (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ...to find a church and service entirely different from St. Matthew's, and one which called back all the associations of his home. It was a new church, built for the poor. There were no pews, no pile of pulpit and desk: the Psalms were sung: there was a hearty response, and the whole congregation were at worship. And now it seemed that circumstances were making amends to him. Hitherto everything had led him astray and corrupted him; now one thing after another was calling him back to himself and assisting to restore him. It was Sexagesima. The sermon was on the fall, and the preacher dwelt upon the growth of sin. "How many," he said, "have come up to this Babylon in which we dwell, innocent as Adam at the creation, without not only the practice of evil, but the desire; nay, without even the knowledge. They came from their village churches, their Christian homes, from the care of father or mother, untried and unfallen, undefiled, but unproved. And not only these, but all who have gone forth from pure homes even here, and from that blessed ignorance of sin and that love of what is true, and gentle, and good, which belongs to Christian childhood. They went forth. Satan met them, disguised in other form. Satan persuaded them--'This is not so wrong. This is not so dangerous. Try it. Taste. This is sweet, and not deadly.' They listened; they tarried near the temptation; they were persuaded; they fell. Immediately innocence was gone; false excuses followed to hide their nakedness, --excuses to their own conscience, and to those who reproved them. Thus they plunged deeper and deeper; and now many are like the tempter himself in evil, sons of the devil, and not of God; persuading others to follow them; missionaries of hell. Look at this...