The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1828-10-09
A sCEHE IN IRE, AND.

. G1GAs4n hN aEAENaNtNRa
A: the late anaiversasv oi the Baptist l.
IRISH Society, the vencr bic DR.. Rippen,
minister Of Garter Lane Borough, London,
who has held his post as watchman in Is
rael for more than fifty four years, or
longer than any other Baptist minister in
England, spoke as follows;
If it were necessary, could lead you
back into Ireland thirty years since. My
self and Mr.. Brit, sen. are the two first
Baptist ministers who ever visited that
country. The first sermon ever preach
ed was at St. Mary's. Mr.. Hutton said
to me, "we will go and preach in the viii
lagos :" | replied, 81 am very little accus-
toned to village preaching, but | will do
what You direct" Fourteen or fifteen
friends took me beneath their wings to
Leixlio !; we went there to preach, & that
blessed man. Henry Hutton, and another
person went through the streets to find a
place where WE could stand. Before we
commenced, retired with blessed min
lister Of the Moravian church, and with Mr.
Wilson of the parish church, and we shut
up ourselves in an assembly room, and we
knelt down and endeavored to pour out
our souls to God. After we had concluded
we went to the doorsteps of a gentleman,
and commenced by singing hymn; the
people Immediately focked down in an in
timidating attitude, but the persons who ac
companied us from Dublin formed bar
rier, and preserved us from injury. The
master of the inn came with his wife, and
took their stand near the place where we
stood. The text upon which preached
was, "This man receiveth sinners" Mel
Their before nor since did ever attempt to
describe the crucifxion literally. The SER
mon produced great effect, and saw the
tears trickle down the cheeks of the land
lord and landlady. mention this as one
of the peculiar circumstances in my history.
After the services were concluded, ask
ed the assembly if they were DESTROYS of
hearing the same truths made known upon
the following Sabbath day; if so, | could
provide one or more ministers to address
them. The people replied in the aAirmas
tive: the work went on, and would tell
you, that in twelve months they sent me
letter to say they had built little meeting
house, and would be glad if l could 60 ov-
or and open it. Circumstances transpired
to prevent my compliance with this request
and l said to my friend, Mr.. Rowland Hill,
(who never had been in Ireland,) "duty
requires you to CO." God sparing me-"
he replied, I will CO." He went and OPP
ened the meeting. The events which are
now taking place in that country are high
ly gratifying; the finger of God has been
there, and the same grace and mercy that
has hitherto attended the society, | hope
will continue from year to year, until the
Jews are called in with the fitness of the
Gentiles. While I stand here,I can hardly
help saying, "Halleluah to God and he
the Lamb !" But what an Hallelujah to
God will be sung, when the great GU pour
ing of the spirit takes place. l think ma
ny people take wrong view of the term
proselytism. remember Rowland Hill
was once speaking upon this subject, and
he said, ~ don't want you to change your
religion, but want religion to change YOU"
That is the proselytism this Society wish
Is to effect.