designate the precise spot where the disease was seated. He was a man of robust frame, and had a broad projecting chest, and no symptoms of any real pulmonary disease. The opinions of friends and even of physicians had no effect to convince him of his error; he persisted in maintaining his opinion. At this time his nerves became so affected, that he could scarcely sit still for a few minutes. He kept a horse saddled at the door, and whatever company he had he would abruptly leave them when the fit seized him, and would ride for miles. Nothing seemed to relieve him except thing which before this he abhorred. The disease received no effectual check until

smoking the pipe, a

he was induced to engage again in active business, which occupied his attention; and a portion of his former cheerfulness returned. But he never afterwards possessed the firmness and confidence which had characterized him before. He died suddenly at the Virginia Springs, leaving a large family well provided for."

During the whole of his life Dr. Alexander was accustomed to speak of Col. Venable as the most remarkable instance of wisdom matured by experience and observation, that he had ever known; in which respect he was fond of comparing him with Franklin. The descendants of the three brothers above mentioned now amount to some hundreds in Virginia and the new States; and of these a remarkable number are zealous and efficient members of the Presbyterian Church.

CHAPTER SEVENTH.

1792.

MISSIONARY TOUR-LUNENBURG-THE MILLWRIGHT-CAPT. CRAIGHEAD

MR. HUNT-WILLIAM COWAN-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA-PETERSBURG-MR. JARRATT-MECKLENBURG-MR. PATILLO.

FROM Prince Edward the young preachers went towards

Lunenburg. Before sunset they arrived at the house of a Mr. Yarborough, a Baptist of some wealth, who received them with Christian and Virginian hospitality. Here they gained acquaintance with a man whose case is too remarkable and characteristic of the times to be omitted. And as the memorandums of Dr. Alexander respecting his contemporaries furnish facts which would otherwise be entirely lost, we feel justified in frequently turning aside to diversify our story by such episodes.

"Mr. Yarborough took occasion to inform us that there was a Baptist preacher in his employment as a millwright, who would be at the house as soon as his work was finished. Accordingly about the dusk of the evening, an old man in coarse garb, with leathern apron, and laden with tools, entered the house and took his seat on the stairs. Neither Mr.

132

ANOTHER MILLWRIGHT.

Grigsby nor I had ever been acquainted with uneducated preachers, and we were struck with astonishment that this carpenter should pretend to preach. When we retired, Mr. Shelburne, such was his name, was put into the same room with us. I felt an avidity to question him respecting his call to the ministry, taking it for granted that the old man was ignorant. I therefore began by asking him what he considered a call to the ministry. Mr. Shelburne perceived the drift of my question, and instead of giving a general answer proceeded to a narrative of his own experience, and to state the circumstances which led him to suppose that God had called him to be a preacher. The substance of his story was as follows:

"I was born in one of the lower counties of Virginia, and when young was put to learn the carpenter's trade. Until I was a man grown and had a family, I never heard any preaching but from ministers of the Established Church, and did not even know that there were any others. About this time came into the neighbourhood a Presbyterian minister, by the name of Martin, whom I went to hear; and before he was done I was convinced that I was in a lost and undone condition. He made no stay, and I heard no more of him. But a wound had been left in my conscience which I knew not how to get healed, and no one about me could give any valuable advice as to a cure. I went from day to day under a heavy burden, bewailing my miserable state, till at length my distress became so great that I could neither eat nor sleep with any peace or comfort. My neighbours said that I was falling into melancholy or going mad,

THE LAY PREACHER.

133

but not one of them had any knowledge from experience of the nature of my distress. Thus I continued mourning over my miserable case for weeks and months. I was led, however, to read constantly in the Bible; but this rather increased than lessened my distress; until one Sunday evening I saw as clearly as I ever saw any thing how I could be saved, through the death of Christ. I was filled with comfort, and yet sorrow for my sins flowed more copiously than ever. I praised God aloud, and immediately told my wife that I had found salvation; and when any of my neighbours came to see me, I told them of the goodness of God, and what he had done for my soul, and how he had pardoned all my sins. As I spoke freely of the wonderful change I had experienced, it was soon noised abroad, and many came to see me, and to hear an account of the matter from my own mouth.

"On Sabbath evenings my house would be crowded, and when I had finished my narrative I was accustomed to give them a word of exhortation. And as I could be better heard when standing, I stood and addressed my neighbours, without any thought of preaching. After proceeding for some time in this way, I found that several others began to be awakened by what they heard from me, and appeared to be brought through the new birth much as I had been. This greatly encouraged me to proceed in my work, and God was pleased to bless my humble labours to the conversion of many. All this time I did no more than relate my own experience and then exhort my neighbours to seek unto the Lord for mercy. Thus was I led on from step to step, until at length I actually became a preacher, without

intending it. Exercised persons would frequently come to me for counsel, as I had been the first among them to experience the grace of God; and that I might be able to answer their questions I was induced to study the Bible continually ; and often while at work, particular passages would be opened to my mind; which encouraged me to hope that the Lord had called me to instruct those who were more ignorant than myself; and when the people would collect at my house, I explained to them those passages which had been opened to my mind. All this time I had no instruction in spiritual matters from any man, except the sermons which I heard from Mr. Martin. But after a few years there came a Baptist preacher into our neighbourhood, and I found that his doctrine agreed substantially with my experience, and with what I had learned out of the Bible. I travelled about with him, and was encouraged by him to go on in the exercise of my gift of public speaking, but was told by him that there was one duty which I was required to perform, which was that I should be baptized according to the command of Christ. And as we rode along we came to a certain water, and I said, See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized? Upon which we both went down into the water, and he baptized me by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. From that time I 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 seeing many sinners forsaking their sins and turning unto God.

"Now,' said he, 'you have heard the reasons which