The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-19
nEOGnAE,HY OF REV. JOSaN
RANKIN.
var ssanI<In's LaboE-s and Fan
bArrss -Snients while aG
Concord.
CHAPTER Y.


CHAPTER Y.
Mr.. Rankin settled at Carlisle,
the county seat of Nicholas county,
n new village composed, with q lit
lie exception, of religious people.
He preached in the court house
one-foufth of his time, another
fourth at Msorfeld, seven miles
distant, and a half of his time at
Concord, four miles distant, all in
the same congregation, and, In gen.
eral, the same people attended at
the three places; consequently he
had to prepare new discourses for
every Sabbath. Barton Stone had
propagated, TO a large extent, his
Arian doctrines within the bounds
OF the Concord congregation, and
errors on baptism werc propagated,
both by New Lights and Baptists;
aud there were at Carlisle influen-
tial men who were open infldels,
denying the inspiration of the bible.
Mr.. Rankin had, without the aid of
library, to defend the doctrines of
the gospel. During four years, and
with biblo in hand, he assailed the
errors that had been propagated by
various classes of errorists. II was
better than a four years course at a
theological seminary. 1t called
forth his mental energy to a great
extent, and In selecting from the BIZ
bile his armour and weapons Of de-
tense he made great advances in
scriptural knowledge, aud enlarged
his capacity for comprehending and
enforcing divine truth. He became
able, without any previous notice,
TO discuss and defend any doctrine
of the bible. He was once appoint
ed by the Presbytery to deliver a
discourse on an important subject
at the next meeting. Mr.. Rankin
forgot that he was so appointed I'M
til he was called upon to deliver
the discourse. He selected suita-
bic text and discussed the subject to
the entire satisfaction of the Pres
terry, and it was applauded by some
members of that body. He studied
so carefully the doctrines taught in
the scriptures, and could so readily
quote all the texts to prove them,
that he could forthwith, without
previous notice, discuss any doc
trinal text. This was, to q great
extent, the result of laboring tour
years in u section of country in
which great variety of errors Of
the worst form were propagated.
ErrorisH are the scourges that tie
Lord sends to prompt his people to
seek for truth as for hidden treas
ure. Truth lie more dear and love-
~ when put in contrast with error.
1t is like:the sun In contrast with
darkness.
Soon after Mr.. Rankin settled in
Concord he WAS called to visit a
man on his death bed. Consump-
ton was the cause of his prostra-
ton and ultimately of his death.
He desired to have preaching at his
house. 1t was during harvest and
summer work and an irreligIous
neighborhood, and therefore there
was no reason to expect many hear
ers, especially on = week day. An
appointment was made. A few at
tended. Mr.. Rankin preached. The
man still lived and desired more
preaching, AMI Mr.. Rankin preach
ed once a week until the time of his
death, which occurred considerable
time afterwards. The audience In
creased from week to week until
the house would not hold them,
and they were deeply serious. At
ter the man died the preaching was
continued at another house. A
church was organized, aud q house
of worship built. ar. Rankin con-
tinucd to preach for them on week
days 40 long as he stayed in the
state. He asked nothing for his
services, but when he was putting
up a brick house, forty feet by
eighteen, those people voluntarily
made the shingles that covered IL,
and delivered them at Carlisle.
Mr.. Rankin was called to visit a
yonng woman on her death bed.
Consumption was the disease with
which she was afflicted. She was
twelve miles distant from Mr.. Ran
kin's house. 4 man came for him
and accompanied him to the place
where the sick woman was. The
man had been n member of the
Associate Reformed church and had
opostatized and become very intern
perate. During the time they were
riding twelve miles Mr.. Rankin
conversed with him on the subject
of salvation, and urged him tC
abandon his intemperanse, as il was
Iuinous to his reputation, to hiI
family, to his health and to his soul
lie admitted ell these, but said, "a
can't quit it." Mr.. Rankin preach
ed a number of times at the house
of the sick woman before she died
That man attended, and Mr.. Ran.
kin in his sermons said everything
he could to snit his case. After thu
death of the young woman Mr.
Rankin preached often at that mani
house, and so far as he could hI
adapted his discourses to his case
but the effort was in vain. After
all he got drunk, lay out during 1
cold night. took cold, his bowelI
mortified, and he died. Before Ii
died he sent for Mr.. Rankin, whC
fastened to zee him and found hin
entirely rational, although his bow
els were so far mortified as to have
ceased to pain him. Mr.. Rankin
did all he could for him, repeated
to him every passage of scripture
adapted to encourage him to be
licve In the Savior so a. to receive
pardon and eternal life, as did th'
thfaf On tho croaa ht,R all -aa bona