The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-21

wxsLEr's BIAcKBEHar DINNER.

wEsLEY's BLAcKBEHRY DINNER.
Nearly half century ago, on Sun
day morning, an old Methodist preach
er preached in village on the heights
above Marnzion, in Cornwall, England,
near st. Hillary downs. After the scr
vice he was invited to dine with mem
Der Of the congregation. The table
was somewhat richly laden. For .
minute or two he seemed to hesitate in
his chair, and at length said:
"Isnt this the place where John
Wesley sat in the saddle aud dined on
blackberries from the hedge for want
OF better dinner ?"
"Yes," il was replied.
"Then," said he "forbid that
should indulge in this plenty, or eat or
drink in this place. Where Wesley had
not morsel OF bread offered him / will
not feast. In honor of his memory
will go out on the downs and fast aud
pray" '...-.s,... &c.,
The stalwart old pilgrim stalked
away singing:
"IIis happiness in part Is mine,
Already saved from self-design.
From every creature love
Blessed with the scorn Of finite COOL
My soul Is llghtened Of Its load.
And seeks the things above"
Some would think that came too
near to the ascetic; but the old man
was sturdy representative of that ear
ly class whose veneration for John
Wesley, and whose love for his work
and their own were master feelings. =
He was one OF the few who could ap-
preciate John Wesley's hymn for "The
Pilgrim" aud consistent ly sing it
throughout. He was, too, in build and
appearance, in physical constitution,
mental character, and intensity Of de-
votion, something like a copy of the
man who recorded Wesley's pilgrim ex-
perience on st. Hilary Downs-John
Nelson; and, like Wesley's vigorous
companion, could say from his heart.
BY the gtacs OF God love every man,
but fear no man."
Nelson gives MS his vivid recollec-
tions: "When had been out week
returned to st. Ives All that
time Mr.. Wesley and lay on the floor;
he had my great coat for his pillow,
and had 'Burkett's Notes on the New
Testament for mine. After being here
three weeks, one morning about three
o'clock Mr.. Wesley turned over, and
finding me awake, clapped me on the
side, saying, Brother Nelson, let Us be
Of good cheer. have one whole side
yet for the skin is off but one side
We usually preached on the commons,
going from one common to another.
aud IL was but seldom any one asked
us to eat or drink. One day we had
been at st. Hilary Downs, and Mr..
Wesley had preached from Ezekiels
vision of dry bones, and there was q
shaking among the people as he
preached. As we returned, Mr.. Wes-
lev stopped his horse, to pick the
blackberries, saying, Brother Nelson,
we osght to be thankful that there are
plenty of blackberries; for this 10 the
best country ever saw for getting n
stomach, but the worst that 1 ever saw
for getting food DO the people
think that we can live by preaching 2
said; Il know not what they may think
but one asked me to eat something as
/ came TO st. just, when ate heartily
of barley bread and honey He said,
You are well off; had q thought of
begging a crust of bread of the woman
where met the people at Morva, but
forgot it till had got some distance
from the house.
In the light of this record of weeks
adventures in the pilgrim-poet's life,
his hymn appears in all the distinctivs
beauty and singular appropriateness.
Follow the man from Oxford to Geor-
gia; watch him amidst the disappoint-
ments OF his love, the falling away of |
weak friends; his perils in the distant
wilderness, his perils in the deep, his |
perils at home amidst hostile mobs,
his single handed defensive battles |
against all classes of foes to truth, ais |
continuous rounds of missionary trav- |
ell, his ceaseless variety OF company |
and accommodation, and his untiring |
effort to bless the world; see him in |
stripes, in tumults, in labors. in watch |
ings, in Hastings; as poor, yet making |
many rich; as having nothing, and yet |
possessing all things" look Mt him, as
to the worlds fortuneless, with his
back on things that are seen, his soul |
bent on eternal life; lose man still, |
an apostolic pilgrim, lingering in the |
open western common TO feed on wild |
berries, and thinking Of begging q |
crust from poor woman; look at him,
and then listen as he pours forth ju- |
biIant song from his heart-his pill
grim's song.
A Methodist preacher, travelling in |
the United States of America, found |
his way into Indiana. He and his fam |
lily suffered deep poverty. A settler
who loved him, being a large landhold-
er, presented him with title deed OF |
very many acres. He went home glad |
at heart, in freedom, as he thought,
from his difficulties. Three months
after this he came to his friend, the |
kind hearted settler. He was welcom- |
ed, but he soon drew out the parch- |
ment.
"Here, sir" said he, 'I want to give
you back your title deed"
What's the matter ?" said the other
"any flaw in it p
"No."
"Isn't it good land p
GOOD as any in the state"
"Do you think repent the gift ?"
"I have not the slightest reason to
doubt your generosity"
"Why don't you keep it, then ?"
"Well, sir" said the preacher, you
know 1 am very fond OF singing. and
there is one hymn in my book the sing
ing OF which is one of the greatest COM |
forts of my life. i have not been able |
to sing it with my whole heart since /
have been here. A part Of it runs this
way:
''No foot of land do possess.
No cottage In this wilderness,
Apoor, wayfaring man.
lodge while In tents below,
Or gladly wander 10 and fro,
Till my Canaan gain.
There Is my house and portion fair,
My treasure and my heart Is there,
Aud ny abiding home"
"Take your title deed, he added;
81 would rather sing that hymn than
own America"
He went his way, end sang his hymn,
fulfilling his ministry, and confiding IN
him 10 whose service he had sacrificed
himself. Nordid he or his family ever
lack bread. He il gone now TO his
abiding home"