The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-20

baptized? Upon which We both went down
into the water, and he baptized me by i'm
mersion in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost. From that time l have
continued until this day, testifying to small
and great, to white and black, repentance
towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ; and not without the pleasure of see
ing many sinners fOr8aking their sins and
turning unto God.
"'Now, said he, you have heard the rea
sons which induce me to believe that God
has called me to preach the Gospel to the
poor and ignorant. never considered my
self qualified to instruct men of education
and learning, 1 have always felt badly when
such have come to hear me. But as for PEG
pie of my own class, believed that | could
teach them many things which they need to
know; and in regard to such as had become
pious, l was able, by study of the Bible and
meditation, to go before them, so that to
them also l could be in some measure a
guide. l lament my want of learning, and
am deeply convinced that it is useful to the
ministry of the Gospel; but it seems to me
that there are different gifts now as of old.
and one man may be suited to one part of
the Lords WORK, and poth,lz' to another
part. And do not know but that poor and
ignorant people can understand my coarse
and familiar language better than the dis
courses of the most learned and eloquent
men. know their method of thinking aud
reasoning, and how to make things plain by
illustrations aud comparisons adapted to
their capacities and habits.
"When the old millwright had finished his
narrative, felt much more inclined to doubt
my own call to the ministry, than that Of
James Shelburne. Much of the night was
spent in this conversation, while my compan-
ion was enjoying his usual repose. We
talked freely about the doctrines of religion,
and were mutually gratifed at finding how
exactly our views tailed From this night
James Shelburne became an object of my
high regard, and he gave abundant testi
mOny of his esteem for me. Whenever l
visited that part of the country, he was wont
to ride many miles to hear me preach, and
was pleased to declare that he had never
heard any of the ministers of his own de
nomination with whose opinions he could so
fully agree as with mine. had the oppor-
tunity of hearing him preach several times,
and was pleased not only with the soundness
of his doctrine, but the unaffected simplicity
Of his manner. His discourses consisted of
series of judicious remarks expressed in
the plainest language, and in converse
tional tone, until he became by degrees
warmed with his subject, when he fell into a
singing tone, but nothing like what was COM
mon with almost all Baptist preachers of the
country at that time AS he followed his
trade from day to day, once asked him
how he found time to study his sermons; to
which he replied, that he could study better
at bis work, with his hammer in his hand
than if shut up and surrounded with books.
When he had passed the SEVENTEEN year of
his age he gave up work, and devoted him
self entirely to preaching. Being man Of
firm health, he travelled to a considerable
distance and preached nearly every day
On one of these tours, after 1 was settled
in Charlotte county, saw him for the last
time. The old man appeared to be full of
zeal and love, and brought the spirit of the
Gospel into every family which he visited.
He was evidently ripening for heaven, and
accordingly, not long after, he finished his
course with joy. Thus have anticipated
much that relates to my old friend, although
his end did not occur until many years after
this time"