Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / Sept. 15, 1876, edition 1 / Page 2
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162 Zion’s Landmark: Wilson, N. C. Ills own language: he said “ They shall believe as I do, or I’ll blow ev- everything sky high.” The case re sulted in his exclusion, and five or j^ix others who followed him. He, with most of them excluded with him, joined the Missionary Baptists, where he never had any religious en joyment. In this case we see, that in the first place, he was overmuch right eous, or particular; and, in the second place, was overmuch wicked and died before bis time came. I learn, from good authority, that he frequently said before he died, that he never had any more religious en joyment after his exclusion from the Old School Baptist Church. The following texts seem applica ble : “ When Ephraim spake, trembling, he exalted himself in Is rael ; but when he otfended in Baal, he died.”—Hos. IS: 1. “ If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”— Bom. 8: 13. 1 once attended a three-days’ meet ing—a great many were there—and I had no trouble in preaching during the meeting. I baptized several.— On my way home Monday, my re flections were very pleasant. While I was determining to preach more, night and day, feeling confident that the Lord was going to revive his work abundantly—I got home and found all well; and, before I’ctireing, called the family together, and after reading, talking, and praying zeal ously—retired to rest pleasantly.— Next morning I awoke early with an aching heart, and an unusual easiness, of mind, with great I was ijq cl||isti^n,. ister of .the p).«pel. l 'cc nor read my Bible with any assur ance ; was unfit for business of any kind. Friday night sleep seemed to have departed from me; before day I determined to goto another Church I was serving, and at least act the part of an honest man (mortilying as it was), and tell them plainly how I had imposed myself upon them, and ^ that I never again intended to preach —and at our next meeting where I was a member, intended to have my name erased from the Church Book ; but, with great shame I went up in to the pulpit and without singing or attempting to pray, began telling my dokful tale; when, in a moment, this text rushed into my mind with power, “ This is a faifhlul saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sin ners, of whom I am chief.” I then went on and preached with as much liberty and pleasure as ever I lial. done before; and would not have l>een separated from the brethren nor Jiad my name erased for any consider^ ation. This is one of a thousand or more sneh cases, vvitli me, and witb a long experience of .such unexpected chang e's, I have greatly desired to determ ine for myself, whether I am in the valley of humiliation, or on the mount of self-exaltation, Oh, how often I have been deceived, with an experi ence of more tlian forty years as a professed raini.ster,' passing through such strange and trying scenes, and then reading of the liability of (the primitive saints,) some of whom I have referred to—to be deceived and breome righteous overmuch, or ovor- much wicked and fooli.sh, it makes me tremble and wonder what will be come of me: while a feeble petition swells in my bosom, “ Lord, keep me where I should be, and guide me where I .should go, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me, but by it pre pare me that I may worship Thee in sjnrit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh; then I shall never die before my time nor foolishly destroy myself, nor inter rupt tliy dear children.” I have written more than I intend- tended, so I will close. May the Lord bless all bis poor and afflicted people, and cause that we may all strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Yours, in love, D. W. Patman. Scotland Neck, N. C. JTy Dear Brother Gold:— I have felt, for a long time, that I wanted to write my experience; then I concluded, that it is so small that I am ashamed to let any of the breth ren know it. I believe I was convicted from a child, though I was a very bad one. The first impression I ever had was a dream: I thought it w^as judgment day, and that the world was going to be destroyed. I thought we all had to meet at the River where we would be judged: the ones that were to be saved were placed on the other side, an4.ih(^fctli^t were tij he lo.',4.^\aer~/ saw such raaguificenr airrl^fes full of finely dressed ladies and gentle men, in perfect glee, as if they were going to a ball; and when they got to the river they attemptel to cross but sank out of sight. Ever since then when I would see a carriage full of young people I would think of my dream. The year 1863 I spent at Shocco Springs with many of my friends : I often think oPthat time as a perfect round of amusements, too tedious to mention. The year after we left I became in trouble about my brether who was then in the army. I com menced praying that he might be spared to get back home, and he w'as. During that year I made a visit to an aunt of mine, in Hertford County—she is a Missiona ry. While there a tlioiight struck me that I would read . tlie Bible through; so I commenced by reading two or three chapters a day ; I had not been doing this \ry long before I svas constrained to try to pray. I went on in this way for several months, and would go regularly with mv aunt to meeting, but never felt interested in the preacliing. Very Soon a revival commenced, and, I can safyly say, I never .saw anvthing to equal it—such an excite ment as they did have every day,—- I think it lasted three weeks, and iu; stead of becoming interested in the meeting, I became thoroughly dis gusted ; for, as soon as they would commence preaching the mourners would go u|>; aud grown men and women would get down on the floor at full length, and look like they were dead, a:id remain in this condi tion Avith the preachers and members praying and singing, until time for tbe meeting to close. Then they would rise to their feet and go over the meeting house telling what the Lord had done for them. This con tinued until all that were old enough professed. They thought it so strange that I would not go up io be prayed for. I could not then tell, but since, I have thanked the Lord for keeping me from it. I continued reading the Bible and trying to pray. One day I was read ing in that chapter Avliere there was such a large multitude following Christ: among them wa.s a poor wo man who was desirous of getting near him so she could touch the hem of his garment, for she verily believed she would be made whole. AVhen I read it I exclaimed, O that I could have been tliere, for I believe just as she did 1 It made such an impression on ray mind that T could not get clear of it all day, Tliat night when I kneeled down to pray, I said, O Lord, if it is impo.ssible for me to touch thy garment with rny natural hand, I pray that I may dream of it in my sleep this night, for I feel that it would satisfy n>e, Just as it did her! Sure enough, tliat night I saw some one like a man come to my bed, clothed in pure white, and as briglit as the sun; I reaehefl out my hand and touched him, and commenced prais ing the Loixl as^i woke ^p. My trouble left me, bud I did not think 'it was a change mfr do I know it now. Soon after this I received a letter from my sister telling me about the meeting that was going on here, and how many had joined—herself with several otlier of my friends were among the number. I wrote her that I was very sorry that I was not with them, thinking perhaps if I were to see them all so happy it might have some effect on me, for I did not know or think that I was under con viction. If I ever was it was then. I returned home pretty soon, and they all spoke in the highest terms of you, and said you preached sound doctrine. As for myself, I knew nothing about doctrine; but this I know, when I would try to pray, this would be the winding up of it: O Lord, if I am lost it is just, and if I am saved it is bv and through the mercy of God ; for-1 can do nothing good, but every day grow worse, I never had before known that I was a sinner, and the more I tried to do good, the worse I got. As I said, they told me you preach ed sound doctrine. I went to hear you, but it did not seem that I felt like the rest; some of the time you preached to suit me, then it would be to tlie contrary. We then lived at the Academy, which is very near the Church. I concluded I would stoj) going to phureh, for I liked to hear a man preach the same doctrine all the time;'for, I certainly believed it was salvation by grace alone, or it was by works. I was not established, but did beUeve it was either the one or the other, I continued >» in thi.'A way until 1868, when Elder Ha.ssell came up and preached >iie night— yon remember well the time. I nev er will forget my feelings while he was jweacliing; it was all that I could do to stiiy in my .•rat ; I was so happy I wanted to go in the pul pit and throw my arms around hi.s neck. I then said, I believe that is the gospel ! tho’ I had never hoard it before. From that time I began to love preaching; and very soon after that I begun to love to hear you preach—tho’ you preached dilferent; but, perhaps the fault was in me. But one thing I do know, that while I liked to hear you, preach, some of your members did not, and sto[>pe’cl going to hear you. 1 can s;iy with a truth, the m.ore I hear you the more I want io. I continued in this condition un til two years ag> last April, when T began to leel like I wanted to l>e baptized. Then, I wouUl think what I would tell when I went before the Church. I knew the Baptists re quired an exjAcrieuce; and I had none. That worried me, to think I wanted to be with them, and could not becau.se I bad no experience to relate. I thought if I could conscien tiously join any other Church I would do it; but, no other would do for me, for I was satisfied that the Baptists Avere the only ones that preached the truth. While in this condition, not know ing Avhat to do, you wrote an article for the Landmark, explaining dif ferent experiences. While some had a sudden and bright raanife-station, otjjws were . not so. For instance, sonje Avere lil^ sand, the bag large enough for a small quantity to lose out. Of course Avlien it Avas all out he did not feel as he would if he could have thrown it all off at once. Just as soon as I read it I be gan to rejoice, for I thcfught if I ever had a change, it Avas like that. Then - I* resolved to not put it off any longer. It was just before our first Union. I thought I Avould write to Elder Has- .sell, telling him that I wanted hint t« come up prepared to baptize me. No .sooner than I had made up my mind to do it, when this thought occurred to me : You are going to do. s mietliing you never heard of. Then I thought I Avould wait till I went down. So, this satisfied me and my mind Avas at ease. But, the most re markable thing is, Avhen Elder Has sell came up, he visited us the day be fore the meeting commenced. When he got up to leave he told a'l good bye in the room, and Avhen he told me good-bye he held me by the band and said: “ I am going to open the doors in Conference—will yon not go AYith us?” I was never so surprised in my life, for I had never told any one of it, and he had never named the subject to me before. I never thought that he had any idea that I wanted to join. I did not make any reply to him—it was too late then— for I had made up my mind to wait until I went down, vAdiieh I did. I never will forget that day—it was the happiest one I ever spent. The only thing that happened to mar my pleasure AA-as this : it was a cold, dis- V-
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 15, 1876, edition 1
2
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