Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31
ANECDOTES OF BAPTIST CLERGYMEN.
From "sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit


JOHN LELAND.
Many years ago; heard him preach in Pitts
field, to large congregation, when his text was
from that chapter OF the Acts in which the his
tory of Philip and the Eunuch is given. His
subject included that narrative, and involved
the question of Baptism. He read on till he
came to the question, put by the Eunuch to
Philip-"See here is water, what doth hinder
me to be baptised?" And Philip said, "if thou
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And then read, "Philip and the Eunuch went
up the broad alley of the meeting-h house, and
Philip put his hand in basin of water, and laid
it on the Eunuch's head, and baptised him, and
they came out of the meeting house, and the
Eunuch went on his way rejoicing" "Stop,
Leland" said he, ''you don't read right" and
into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch
All, that's it," and went on with the narrative;
and he finished his sermon with no other aliu-
sion to the subject.
During the early part of his ministry as you
are aware, the Corgregationalists were the
"Standing Order" in New England-the priyi.
legged denomination, to the support Of which all,
unless availing themselves of special provision
to the contrary, were obliged to contribute. Oh
course the Baptists, i'll common with some Other
denominations, looked upon this as a somewhat
oppressive exaction. John Leland, in travelling
about on his preaching excursions, was accus-
toned occasionally, to preach to small con-
gregation of Baptists, who for want of better
place of worship, occupied school-house. One
of the Congregational brethren in the neighbor
hood told one of the Baptist brethren that Mr.
Leland did not preach extempore, but wrote his
sermons, and committed them to memory
which the Baptist of course denied. The Con
gregationalist then proposed to him that if Mr.
L. would preach on a text that should be giver
to him at the commencement of the service, ht
would secure for his use the Congregations
meeting house; and the Baptist, after consult
ing Mr.. L. assured him that the requisitioI
should be complied with. Accordingly, thu
meeting house was opened, and, as Mr.. J.. wa
about to ascend the pulpit stairs, little piec'
of paper was put into his hands, indicating thu
place where the text that he was to preach up
on was to be found He did not open the pape
until he rose to begin his sermon; then HI
opened it lesurely stating that he did not know
what the text was but that they should quckl
see; and, on turning to it in the Bible, he foun'
it to read thus-"And Balaam saddled his ass,
and. as he announced it, he said that if h
had searched the Bible through, he could no
have found text more appropriate. at bring
to our view," said he, 'three things--a prophe
an ass, and saddle. Balaam, the prophet, VIII
loved the wages of unrighteousness,-and h
well represents the class who oppress their fel
low-men otherwise the Congregationalists) tn
ass, patient bearer of grievous burdens, rep
resents thosewho are oppressed by themi and tn
saddle is the unrighteous eXaction that is made c
these down-troddon dcnominations;" and tn
result was that he preached sermon that eve
those who liked the doctrine the least, were q
bliged to acknogledge, furnished evidence of hi
remarkable promptness, shrewdness, and pun
gency.
On another of his circuits, he happened to /