[[30=”4”/31=”5”]] him that Mr T- had been called as a witness to attend court and could not be at home, which he much regretted, and had directed her to present his apology and request the Preacher to fill the appointment made and leave another when he hoped to be permitted to hear for himself.
The congregation [soon del] assembled, benches had been placed in a large room. & it was soon filled, The Preacher spoke with considerable liberty on the 16 th verse of the 1 st chap_ of [the letter to del] <the> Romans. (18) he was listened to with much attention, and in respectful silence, At the close he announced that they might expect him there again in four weeks from that day, at the same hour, and dismissed them, when all retired in good order.
At the urgent request of the family, he consented to remain [or tarry for the del] <over> night. He learned from the mistress of the mansion that herself & Husband had formerly <been> members of the Regular Baptist Church in the Eastern States, and enjoyed the comforts of grace, but on coming and settling in a new part of the Country deprived of church privileges, they had become careless, and Mr. B_ came there <and> his doctrine suited their condition, they <and two sons> had joined his church, and Mr T_ had become quite an active member, and a De<a>con in Mr B.’s Church, But that recently hearing of the great [[31=”5”/32=”6”]] excitement on the subject of religion which prevailed among the Methodists in many places, he became evidently uneasy, made many enquiries, and finally determined to send for the Pre<a>cher & hear for himself. and told her that whether they liked the preacher or not to get him to make another appointment, and hoped he might do them some good. After partaking of a wholesome supper and the cloth having been removed, and [our del] <the> young Preacher sat musing in the twilight, before [the del] a cheerful fire, he noticed that several persons <, some fifteen or twenty perhaps,> male & female, came quietly in, and seated themselves in the back part of the room, where they remained in silence. At length a dark visaged man of giant stature (whom he afterwards learned was a Mr J_ the acknowledged strong man of the County) walked deliberately into the room, and, without any introduction, walked up to the fire, to which he turned his back, set one foot upon the end of a bench which had not yet been carried out, thus placing his stalwart form immediately in front of the Preacher, he stood for a little time in silence gazing down upon him, with a kind of “dont + care for you” look, when he broke the silence, and a conversation ensued of rather a dialogue form in about the following order.
(said Mr J_) I dont like methodist preaching very much.
(Preacher): I cannot [[32= “6”/33=”7”]] help that sir however sorry I might be.
(Mr J.) The Preachers [halloo del] <holler> too loud. –
(P_ r) Yes they talk pretty loud sometimes.-
(Mr J.) I heard Finley <(the P. E.)> once and he bawled tremendously .
(P_ r) He has a pretty strong voice I believe.-
(Mr. J.-) Do you believe there is any such <thing> as eternal damnation?
(P_ r) I believe nothing but what the scripture teaches on that subject.
(Mr J.) Well, I dont believe there is any such thing.-
(P_ r) Do you believe the scripture?
(Mr J) Yes every word of it -
(Pr) Well, do you think that a man can be in danger of that which has no existence?
(Mr J-) No! any fool would know better than that,-
(Pr) Well our Saviour speaks of a certain character who should never have forgiveness, but was in danger of eternal damnation, now according to your own admission, there must be such a thing-
(Mr J-) Is that scripture?
(P_ r) To be sure it is-
(Mr J-) Well I didn’t know that.
Then after a short pause he resumed- (Mr J-) You Preached us a very good sermon to day. +
(P_ r) Is it possible!
(Mr J.) Yes, but you hollered [hollow del] too loud toward the last. –
(P_ r) “I cant + help that, Sir.
(Mr J_) You talked very pretty till you had got almost through, and I thought you could have talked that all the [33=”7”/34=”8”] time if you’d been a mind to.”-
(P_ r) “Indeed Sir, I didnt + want to_”
(Mr J_) “Well I thought you didnt. +-“
(P_ r) No Sir I did not.-
(Mr J-) Well there [is] no good in it
(P_ r) Is there any harm in it Sir?
(Mr J-) “Yes there is harm in it.”
(P_ r) “What harm did it do Sir?”
(Mr J-) “Why it affects peoples + heads
(P_ r) “Did it affect your head Sir?”
(Mr J-) “Yes it did affect my head.”
(P_ r) “Well Sir, I am very sorry that your head is so much softer than your heart.” --
Mr J stood for a moment, then turned and walked quietly to the back part of the room with rather a pleasant smile upon his countenance. and taking a seat among the others, said no more. The Preacher, after sitting a few minutes, discovering that the little battle was over, and all danger past, began to sing; there was no one to sing with him but all seemed interested, After singing a few of our sweet songs of Zion, his soul becoming peacefully happy, he rose made a few remarks, but very brief, then knelt and prayed, while the Divine Spirit was evidently softening the hearts of all present, after a little more singing and conversation, the company departed, but as they were passing out several came & shook [[34 = “8”/ 35 = “9”]] him kindly by the hand, and none appeared more friendly [than del], or shook his hand more cordially, than the dark visaged Mr J- Nor was it duplicity or deceit, for from that time onward, though he did not embrace religion, or join the church, yet untill + the close of the year he was the fast friend of the Preacher, would allow no one, in his presence, to speak disparagingly of him, or his preaching, being ready at any and all times to
“Prove the doctrine orthodox By apostolic blows and knocks.” (19)
And it was often said that the Preacher need have no fears for his personal safety, for J-, would ride from one end of the circuit to the other <in the night> if necessary, to defend him. So strange, sometimes, are the likes & dislikes of wicked men. Perhaps the Lord overrules their conduct, and uses them as instruments of good to others, when they refuse to receive it themselves.
In the morning the Preacher went on his way, to return again in four weeks. At the time appointed he came, found Mr T_ at home and was kindly received. A large congregation collected, more than could get in the house, every part of the large room was crowded, and many stood about the doors. The Preacher stood behind a chair, his back to the wall, (on his left stood a large table, and, owing [[35 = “9”/36]] to the press, three or four men were seated on its edge, & among these was {Mr. T_ } the owner of the mansion), and spoke with much liberty from the 20 th verse of the 3 rd chap. of Revelation. (20) Toward the close of the discourse when all was intense interest, and the starting tear seen in many eyes, suddenly a shock of Divine influence appeared to electrify the audience, sighs and tears burst forth in almost every part of the house, While at the same time Mr T.- [illegible incomplete word, del] threw up his hands, and then springing from his seat, caught the Preacher in his arms, and praised God aloud for redeeming grace, saying this was the true religion for he felt it in his soul. Of course the sermon was abruptly ended, but not the meeting, For some of the sweet songs of Zion were sung, interspersed with a few words of exhortation, and of encouragement to the penitent, finally the doors of the church were opened for the first time in that place and Mr T_ with some twelve others joined on probation and the Universalist Deacon was metamorphosed into a Methodist Class Leader, and the close of the year saw him leading a class of near fifty (21) members; so greatly did the word of the Lord increase, among this people. [And del] For several months no opposition was openly manifested,
It was said that Mr B- came to the meeting on one occasion and standing [outside the door del] <without> listened to the discourse and [[36/37]] then retired, refusing an invitation to go into the house, and it was thought that he would make no effort to recover the scattered members of his congregation, but this was a mistake [-n idea del], for, as the event proved, it was a deceitful calm, a treacherous quiet. For, some time in the spring, perhaps about the 1 st of May, at the close of sermon, a gentleman courteously accosted the Preacher and requested to have an appointment for preaching at his house, He said he lived little more than a mile from there just on the other border of the town. True, he said they could all come there for preaching, but he felt a desire to have one sermon Preached in his own house, which was large and well adapted to accommodate a large congregation. [The Preacher del] <Mr Ruter (17)> told him that he would gladly accommodate him, but he did not like to change from the stated place of preaching, but <as> he should have a rest day about three weeks {from that time}, he could reach there by a pretty long ride, and if that time would suit he might make the appointment <illegible words, del>. The arrangement was {accordingly} made and the gentleman left. He <learned> [illegible. del] an enquiry from Bro- T- that the man Mr. D- was a respectable <citizen> [man del], and though still an adherent, and member of Mr B-s church, he presumed no evil was intended, and good might come of it. [[37/38]]
When the day arrived, by an extra ride of some twenty miles he reached the village of P_ and called at Bro. T-’s to get some refreshment, before going to the place of preaching. As he rode up, Bro. T_ hastened to meet him, and said have you heard what is going on here?
No – nothing since I left, is any thing wrong?
“O, I fear you are trapped, and will be entirely unprepared,” said Bro. T-. “This was a plan laid by Mr. B_ to get you on to his own ground, He is to be there to day, and will attack you so soon as you close your sermon, and this was the reason that you were invited there, that being in the house of one of his friends, {so that} he will feel at liberty to say what he pleases, and you being unprepared, he will have every advantage.”
“When the plot was revealed, had I known where you could have been found, I would have sent a messenger to apprise you of it, but not knowing your route I knew not where to send and now it is too late.”
[The young Preacher del] <Mr R> (17) of course was taken by surprise, and for a few moments scarcely knew what to do. He felt conscious of his own inability, his <youth del> want of experience, [[38/39]] and skill in polemic divinity, to meet such a shrewd and wily foe, especially without a moment for reflection and preparation. He retired to a private apartment, to ask counsel of the Lord, and as he prayed he felt strengthened, as he called to mind the promise of the Saviour, (22) “Lo. I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” And again “I will give you a mouth and wisdom which your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist.” His determination was soon taken, he returned to the family & told them that he knew that he was unable to meet and grapple with such an opponent at such a disadvantage, but he had been requested to go there and preach, he had made this appointment in the honesty [simplicity del] of his heart, hopeing + it might do good, & he must go and meet his engagement and trust in God to enable him, if assailed, to defend the truth.
“O yes” said Bro. T_ “you must go, it wont + do to back out now, for the whole country will be there to hear and see the battle.”
“But,” he added “it was [[39/40]] mean in them to seek such an advantage.”
They walked to the appointed place, and found the house crowded to overflowing, & scores standing in the yard. The way was opened to a little vacant space near the centre of a large room, and the Preacher conducted to a chair. Bro.- T- enquired of the owner of the house if Mr B- had arrived, and was answered no, he is not here, which answer was not true, for he was then in the house. {The Pr gave out .} [a del] A hymn [which del] <was> sung, and after prayer, while singing a few verses before announcing his text, the door of a small room, hitherto closed, was opened & Mr B- walked out, the way was opened & he came forward and taking a chair which was handed him, he refused to sit beside the Pr but took a position a few feet in front, threw himself back in the chair and looked the speaker full in the face, just as he announced for his text the 25 th verse of the 12 th chapter of the Hebrews, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh .”
For a few minutes he felt a little embarrassment, but lifting <his> heart to [[40/41]]