The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-06-22
An Old-time Sermon.
A BAPTIST BROTHER ON METHoDIsTs AM
PRESBYTERIANS.

BAPTIST BROTHER ON METHoDISTS AMI
PREsBYTERIANs.
A lady correspondent of the New
York Independent gives a sketch of a
sermon she heard in Georgia nearly hall
a century ago, from which we give an
extract:
The preacher was apparently about
fifty years of age, large, muscular, and
well proportional. On entering the
pulpit he took off his coat and hung it
on a nail behind him, then opened his
collar and wrist bands, and wiped the
perspiration from his face, neck, and
hands. He was clad in striped cotton
homespun, and his shirt was of the same
material. He had travelled several miles
that morning, and seemed almost over
come by the heat. But the brethren
sung a couple of hymns while he was
tanning and cooling off, and when he
rose he looked comfortable and good
natured
He had preached there once or twice
before, but to most of the audience he
was a stranger. Hence he thought it
Necessary to announce himself, which he
did as "Old Club-Ax Davis, from Scriven
county, Half Hard and Half-Soft Shell
Baptist"
have given myself that name"
said he, because l believe the Lord
elected me, from eternity, to 90 ahead in
the backwoods and grub out a path and
blaze the way for other men to follow.
After the thickest of it is cut away,
good, warm, Methodist brother will come
along and take my trail, and make things
a little smoother and good deal noisier.
After all the underbrush is cleaned out,
and the owls and wolves are skeered
back, and rattlesnakes is killed off,
Presbyterian brother, in black broadcloth
and white cravat, will come along and
cry for decency and order. And they'll
both do good in their sphere. 1 don
despise larnt man, even when he don't
dress and think as do You couldn't
pay me enough to wear broadcloth, sum-
mer nor winter, and you couldn't pay
Presbyterian brother enough to go with
out it in dog days.
"God didn't make Us all alike, my
brethren but every man has his own
sphere. When God has a place to fill,
he makes a man and puts him in it,
When he wanted General Jackson, he
made him, set him to fghtin Injuns and
the English; when he wanted George
Whitfield, he made him for to blow the
gospel trumpet as no man ever blew it
and when he wanted Old Club-Ax Davis,
ne made him, and set him to grubbin' in
the backwoods.
&c But my she'll isn't so hard but I can
see good pints in everybody; and as for
the Presbyterians, they are a long way
ahead Of us Baptists and Methodists in
some things. They raise their children
better than any people on the face Of the
earth: Only few days ago Methodist
class-leader said to me Brother Club
AK, was born a Methodist, was raised
Methodist, and by the grace of God l |
hope to die a Methodist but thank God,
I've got Presbyterian wife to raise my
children. And l believe, my brethren
If the Lord should open the way for me
to marry again, I'd try my best to find
Presbyterian woman, and run my chances
Of breakin' her in to the saving doctrines
Of feet-washin and immersion after
wards
AS l said before, they raise their
children heap better than we do. They
behave better in church, and keep Sun
day better, and read the Bible and learn
the Catechism better than ours do. r.
declare, my brethren, their children are
larnt that Westminster Catechism bv
the time they can begin to talk plain.
1t amt three weeks since was ont
a cattle huntin'-for two of my yearlin's
had strayed of-and stopped in at old
Brother Harkey's, on Mud Creek, and
took dinner. He's deacon in the Pres
byterian church over thar. Well. as
true as [ stand here, my brethren, Sister
Harkey had her little gal a stannin
| right before her, with toes lust even
with the cracko' the floor, and her hands
was a-hanging down by her side, and her
mouth turned up like a chicken when
1T drinks and she was a-puttin' this cues
ton to her out o that Catechism:
" What are the benefits which in this
life do either accompany or flow from
justification, adoption, and sanctifca-
ton ?"
Now, the question itself was enough to
break the child down But when she
had to begin and say that question all
over, for that's the way it was in the
book and then hitch the answer to il.
and which, all put together, made this
The benefits which in this life do either
accompany or flow from justification
] adOptiOn and sonot; Goot;e