How to Put Off the Old Man

Pass your hand over Deacon M's. head, and about an inch and a half above, and a little forward of the ears, you find a protuberance which phrenologists called the organ of acquisitiveness. By nature the deacon loved Mammon; by grace he loved God. Between them there was continued war. Both fought—one like Michael, the other like the Devil. As there was long war between the house of David and the house of Saul, so there was long war in the earthly house of the deacon. As with Gad, so with the deacon; a troop overcame him, but he overcame at the last, as appears by the following circumstance:— In the same church with Deacon M. was a poor brother. This poor man had the misfortune to lose his cow. She died. To get him another, the good deacon headed a subscription with five dollars, and paid it. This act disquieted Mammon. Mammon with true Iscairiot zeal, began to rant and rave: "Why this waste? Charity begins at home; the more you give the more you may; let people learn to take care of themselves." The deacon was a Baptist; but he found that the baptismal water did neither drown, wash away, or wash clean the old man. The tempter backed Mammon, and putting a glass to the deacon's eye, showed him not the kingdoms and glories of this world, but the poorhouse, wretchedness, poverty, rags, and said, "All these things will your master give you in your old age as a reward of your charity." To still these clamours, Deacon M„ went to the destitute man, and told him he must give back the five dollars. The poor man returned it. This last act roused the New Man, and now nature and grace stood face to face. "To give or not to give, that was the question." There stood the deacon poising and balancing, and halting between two opinions. The deacon spoke—"My brother, some men are troubled with their old women; I am troubled with my old man. I must put off my old man, as the Jews put off their new man—'crucify him, crucify him.' Then unstrapping his pocket book, he took out a ten dollar bill and gave it to the poor man. "There," said the deacon, "my old man, say another word and I'll give him twenty dollars."—Christian (American) Secretary.