Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-11-08

anu Quiet UulN dlu oOoSi ''hNN"' }
had never given evidence of personal con.
Germ on the subject of religion; but had
rather, without much consideration, follow
ed the stream when the nation, as such,
adopted the Christian faith they had never
been baptized. Others were among those
who had been baptized in their infancy, as
children ofchurch members, but had never
been convinced of sin, or of their need OF a
Rcdeemer, to save them from the wrath to
come. Both these classes about the time
above referred to, appeared under deep con-
viction ofthe necessity of personal attention
to the state of their souls and were exceed
ingy importunatc to be numbered with the
people of the Lord. They were not how
ever, importunate, in any rude, or valn-conh-
dent manner,b but wished topursue any course
tkatmight be deemed most conducive to the
attainment of the object of their desire. TO
these two classes of persons, third might
be added, which seemed under deep rei-
gious impressions, viz: those who, though
they had been admitted to the church, had,
on account of improper conduct, been sepa-
rated from its fellowship. Many persons
of this description, applied to me with all
the importantly of men in good earnest, to
obtain that salvation which is in Christ Je-
sus with eternal glory. At first they used
to come in small parties, two, four or SIX at
time. At our quarterly meeting at Pa
pete, which took place in December 1885,
the brethren inquired into the truth of the
reports which they had heard on this SUBJ
iect, and being answered in the affirmative
we rejoiced together on account of what
the Lord appeared to be doing in behalf of
the peoplc-we thanked God and took
courage. But when, after the meeting, we
returned to ourrespective stations, the num-
bcr of those persons who professed to be
seeking salvation by the blood of Christ, in
creased greatly, and they came in compan-
les of ten, twenty, and thirty at time, ask
ing the way to Zion, with their faces thith-
erward. These would give me no rest,
but pressed me with importantly at all
times in the day, morning, noon and
night; and often, after | had been spend.
ing considerable time with them, instruct
ing, exhorting, examining them; prepara-
tory to baptism, and communion with the
church they would still follow me home,
as if unwilling to attend to any other sub
iect. held the meetings with these in
qurers, in the Chapel, and many Of the
members of the church were accustomed to
attend. Then the latter could not refrain
from the expression Of their surprise at the
great work which God was doing among
them. These people, they said, were many
of them wild men and women from the
mountains, and had onl " now become tame
and tractable, and behold, they are seeking
salvation through the blood ofthe Lamb
On these occasions, it often gave me pleas
ure to see many Of the poor old members
of the church creep along the beach with
tottermg steps, and leaning on staff, as
they approached the chapel to which they
came, that they might be present to hear
the instruction given to those over whom |
had wept, and prayed in secret and in public,
who were now turning to tbs Lord. On IN
quiring ofthem what was their reason for
coming, as the Instructions given were gen.
orally repetition ofwhat had formerly been
given to themselves, they said that God had
answered their prayers by fulfilling that
passage Of scripture which had formerly
preached from Compel them to come in
that my house may be filled" God was
now filling his house with these poor out.
casts, who were not a people, but are now
the people of God. "And now we entreat
you to persevere in exhorling and warning
them to flee from the wrath to come. Tell
them, as you are telling them, to stand
aside, every one of them who are on the
Lords side, by tens, by twenties, and
hundreds, and let them seek with earnest
ness and sincerity, that they may be enroll
ed among The people of God. Tell them
not to spend either their time or their labor
for that which is not bread, or to give to the
things of time, that attention which is only
due to the things of eternity. Do not keep
them too long out of the church; YOU will
find them more intelligent than in former
years, when you were instructiong us and
receiving us into the church. They can
read and write too, and understand the diff
fer catechisms very well. These they learn
ed long ago, but deceived by the devil, they
have neglected their books; now they ap.
ply to YOU to be instructed and received IN
to the church, aud we hope you will not
delay their admittance too long,"
Previous to this period, the minds ofsevcral
of the brethen, Including myself, were very
powerfully impressed with the vastness and
importance of hethings of eternity. lnev-
er felt satisfedin leaving the chapel, unless
fully convinced that | had, in dependence
on the Divine blessing, used my utmost en-