A Wild Hunter Captured (3)

Now,” said his wife, casting her eyes upward—for she had prayed in silence to the Lord—”this morning the Lord will again cause a shoot to spring forth from your dry root; for He is mighty to cause the unfruitful to be a father of a multitude of people. Go, Samuel; I pray thee, the Lord will be with you.” With these words his wife gave him his cane and hat, kissed him heartily, and with an inward sigh let him out of the door. “

While the preacher (Samuel Annear), sighing and bowed down, traveled through rain and storm on his way to the church, let us return to the chamber of Titus Klose. He has raised the shade of the window facing the street as high as it can go because of an approaching storm. The gathering clouds being dark and stormy caused a very somber look upon the face of the wild hunter; dissatisfied, he brushed his brow while he watched the struggle of the elements outdoors. “It’s this weather,” he grumbled to himself. “It seems as though it is determined to make my life miserable. Last Thursday I was cast to and fro on the sea, and now when we wish to have a gay time, the weather is such that no one dares to venture out. The boys will not come; there is no use looking.” Nevertheless, he drew towards the window to look over the countryside to see if by chance some of his friends were coming. “No earthly being,” he spoke, “not even a dog; may the devil catch them for being afraid of a little wind and rain!” Looking at his watch and shaking his head he paced his chamber while cursing each of his comrades. Finally, he called his servant to saddle his horse. “Master,” said his servant, “in such weather?”

“My horse, I say!” answered Klose harshly, “I am going to Stamfoxe if I have to swim. If I can have no pleasure, those pious saints shall have none either. I have sworn that this papist shall know today that it is raining and storming. Go at once, quickly!”

When the horse was ready, Klose put on his raincoat, pulled his cap down over his ears, jumped in the saddle and rode off.

Shortly he reached Stamfoxe, stabled his horse, and started for the church. To his amazement he saw the preacher was not yet in the pulpit although the clock indicated the services were now a half hour late in starting. The preacher appeared soon thereafter, and Klose decided to listen to a portion of the sermon before starting the uproar he had planned. He figured this could be done easily in as much as no one recognized him in his attire. When Klose saw the preacher ascend the pulpit, he received an impression as never before. The bent posture of this servant of God who showed a deep inward feeling of sorrow and grief, his pious countenance, which showed humility and meekness—his speaking eye which shone with inward love and deep desire for heavenly comfort—this all had an immediate effect on the wild hunter, not unlike the spring sun which melts the winter ice. Something in his heart kept saying, “You would have to be a real mean person and every bit of feeling be banished if you could do any harm to this guiltless lamb.”

The preacher commenced the services by having the congregation sing a portion of Psalm 68: “Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.” One of the listeners standing beside Klose, having noticed he had no book, invited him to sing from his. Although not grateful, Klose cast his eye in the book and although he did not sing, he read the triumphant song wherein the children of God rejoice over the workers of unrighteousness. Klose now recalled how he had heard his pious mother sing this same song many times in his youth which brought forth numerous hidden thoughts that his folks had impressed upon him but which were entirely forgotten through the maelstrom of sin. Till now, he had carefully counteracted anything that might bring back these memories. However, when the time of love has come, nothing hinders the Lord’s work; He then calls those who sit in darkness to His wonderful light. During the singing of this song, Klose’s soul was cut asunder by the invisible God.

(To be continued)

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