Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-09-16
THE DUTCIIMAN'S EXPERIENCE.
By REV. d. HiBBARD

The testimonies OF Our brethren WHO nave
attested that God is nercifu and good, as have
often heard them in our love teastS, are not
only instructive but also always animate and
cheer the soul. And although some OF our
Dutch brethren speak English incorrectly yet
to hear them relate the means OF their conver-
sion, as have heard some, at once cvlnces their
sincerity and is the evidence OF the work OF
Gods grace in TIER hearts. wish l could re-
late une as it was spoken in love feast more than
thirty years ago. when the Methodists tirst be-
gan to preach in the northern part OF the State
of New York. I have forgotten his name, but
the substance Of his testimony Is as follows. lie
said, "Mine dear bredren. ] want to tell you
some mine experience. When t.c NrtodIStS
first CAME into desc parts, to- WAS doing very
well: for mine wife and had two SONS, Ned
and Jim; and we ha.l good farm dat Ned anu
I could work very well. so let jim go out to
work about fourteen miles of from home. But
dc Mc;odists came into our parts and Neddy
went to dare meeting, and he got converted. and
tot we should al be undone; so told Ned he
must not 90 TO desc Metodists meeting tor so
much praying, and so much eoin' to mee'in'
would ruin Us all. But Ne,idv said, q fader, |
must serve de- Lord. and save my soul bnt
said, ;ycu must do dc work too So gave
him hard stint on dc day Of dare meeting
but he works so hard dat be got his stint done,
and went toahc meeting after all. While | set
on nv stoop and smoked mine pipe | sec him
20 up de hill to dc Metodist meeting; and said
to mine wife Ezabet, swe shall be undonc, Tor
our Ned will 20 to desc meetings and she sald:
.What can VIC dn 20 WE'LL said, deal will
stint him harler,' and so | did several times
when dc meetings come. But Neddy worked
hard and sometimes he got some boys to help
him, 50 dat he would go off to dc meeting
while set on mine StUUp and smoked mine
pipe | could see Ned 20 over dc hill. said ono
day, 90 mine Got, what can do-dis boy will
no to desc meetings after all can do So when
Ned come home said, Ned you must leave
oil going to desc meetings, or Iwil! send for
jim to come home, and send You away 81
fadcr. must serve dc Lord and save my soul.
SWELL, den I will send for Jim, so l sent for
Jim: and when jim come home, den heard
he had been to the Metodist meeting where he
had lived, and was converted too. And Ned
and jim both SAID, o fadcr, We must serve tic
Lord and save our souls But said to mine
wife, desc Methodist must be wrong; ia will
undo us all, for ,la have got Ned and jim bot'!
| wish YOU wu.l!d go to dare meeting, and you
can see what is wrong but Nc'l and jim can't
see it, So Ii: mrxt meeting day dc old woman
went wild Ned and Jim. But | set Oh mine
stoo;, and smoked mine pipe. But said IL
,nincsclf, l CESS desc Metodlsts have got dare
match to get tho old woman, and she will SEC
what's wrong So smoked mine pipe, and
luukt to see Gem come back. by and by set
dem coming and when ia come near see de
tears run down mine wite's face. Den said
30 mine Got, da have got de old woman too.
tot was undone, for da have got Ned and
Jim and de old woman, and when da come o:
de stuup, mine wife said, ~ We must not speak
against dis people of Got But | said noting
for had not been to any Ct desc meetings, SO
was in great trouble. But in few days alter
heard dat dare was Presbyterian missionary
going 10 preach little ways oil; SO tot ii
would not hurt any body to 80 to dis meeting
and went wild Ned and jim, and mine wife
and he preacht but dare was nothing done till
after de meeting was over, and den dare was
two Young men IN de tOder room dat sung and
prayed so good Us any tody; and da prayed tol
dare old ialer too. And many cried and tot
dat da prayed very wecl.
After dis was going ont Of the door to 80 home
anil woman said to Inc, Mr.. -, you must
he happy MAN to have two such young men
:,s dem dat prayed >aid, Was dat Ned anu
Jim g She SUD, e>. W iclt so 'iai !"
tink da had prayed for me, and exposed me he,
fore all dc people. But said nothing, but went
right to bed. But now mine mind WAS NOR.
troubled dan ever before, ior began to tnnk
how wicked was to stint poor Neddy so hard
and try to hinder him from saving his soul-but
I said noting; So tried to 60 to sleep; but as
soon as shut mine eyes, l could see Ned going
over de hill to go to his meeting, after he had
done his hard stint, so tired and weary. Den
felt worse and worse and BY and by groaned
ont and mine wife axt what's de matter, | said,
Il believe am dying She said, Shall call
upNed and jim {? said, Yes.h And Jim came
to de bed and said, y fader, what is de mat
ter q | said, Il believe am dying. And he
said, 'Fader shall pray f,r you | said, .
yes and Neddy too And glory be to Got, be-
iieve he heard de prayer for dough | ielt mne
sins like a mountain load to sink me down to
hell, | CT led, 20 Got, have mercy ON ME poor
sinaer;' and by and by feel something run all
over me, and split mine heart all TO pieces; and
/ felt so humble and so loving dat rejoice and
praise Got, and am resolved to serve Got init
Nod and lin and mine wife, and de Mct0dlSts.