The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-07-09
WHOLE NO. l415.

crafty them, he consented that they
| might call a Presbytery for that purpose.
| Knowing all the questions which they
would ask on his examination, and re-
solved in his own mind on the answers
| he would give, he felt confident they
would not ordain him.
The Council, consisting of three staunch
| CaIvinists, was called. The day appoint
ed for the ordination arrived, and with
it came a multitude of people to witness
the ceremony The work was divided
amongst the several Presbyters. One
was to ask the usual questions concern
| ing his faith and another was to deliver
| the charge to the pastor and the church.
Leland took his seat long before they
appeared, and resting his arms on his
| knees and burying his face in his hands,
awaited their movements. The Presby-
ter appointed to conduct the examination
| at length began:
Brother Leland, it becomes my duty,
according to previous arrangement, to
ask you few questions upon the subject
of your faith. and in reference TO your
call to the ministry. -
"Well, brother" said Leland, slowly
raising his head, 'I will tell you all l
know" and down went his head into his
hands again.
Moderator Leland, do you
not believe that God chose His people in
Christ before the foundation of the
world p al
Leland.-Qooking up.) II know not,
brother, what God was doing before He
began to make this world
M.-"Brother Leland do you not be-
lieve that God had a people before the
foundation of the world p
L.-"If he had, brother, they were not
r r 4, Ia-
made out of dust you know, and before
the foundation of the world, there was
no dust to make them out Of
M,-"You believe, brother Leland,
that all men are totally depraved? p
L.-"No, brother; if they were, they
could not wax worse and worse, as some
of them do. The devil was no worse
than totally depraved2
NV ell, there are other questions
that will embrace all these in substance.
l will ask whether you do not believe
that sinners are justified by the right
eousness of Christ imputed to them ?"
L.-"Yes, brother, provided they will
do right themselves; but | know of no
righteousness that will justify man
that won't do right himself. "
Brother Leland, | will ask you one
more question. Do you believe that all
the saints will perseyere through grace to
glory, and get home to heaven at last ??
LII can tell you more about that,
my brother, when l get there myself
Some seem to make very bad start of
it here"
The Presbyter, seeing that the audi
ence was greatly amused, proposed to his
colleague that they should retire for few
moments and consult together. After
returning, they remarked to the congre-
oil haA T1ofa
swered the question satisfactorily as they
could wish, but they all knew that he
had many eccentricities, for which
they should make every allowance; that
they had concluded accordingly to ask
him few questions touching his call to
the ministry
M.-"Brother Leland, do you believe
that God has called you to preach the
gospel?
LII never heard him, brother"
M.-We do not suppose, brother Ie-
land, that you ever heard an audible
voice; but you know what we mean"
L.-"But wouldn't it be queer call,
brother, if there were no voice, and
nothing said p
NJ, evidently confused )-"Well, we'll,
brother Leland, you believe, at least,
that it is your duty to preach the gospel
to very creatureY
L.-"Ah, no, my brother. do not be-
lieve it to be my duty to preach to the
Dutch, for instance, for 1 can't do it.
When the Lord sent the Apostles to
preach to every nation, He taught them
to talk to all sorts of people; but he has
never taught me to talk Dutch yet"
M.-"But, brother Leland, you feel
great desire for the salvation of sinners,
do you not p
L.-Sometimes think 1 do; and then
again l don't care if the devil gets the
whole of them
Upon this the Council retired again :;
and reported as before, much to the sur
prise of Leland, who was constrained to
submit to ordination. After they had
ordained him in due form, he said:
"Well, brethren when Peter put his
hands on people, and took them off, they
had more sense than they had before;
but you have all had your hands on my
head, and before God, am as big fool
now as | was before you put them on. y
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