CHAPTER III.

Call to the ministry, and the particulars of my exercises and gospel labors for three months.

Nov. 4, 1820, completed my fifteenth year. On this day, going alone into a wood on a high hill, while the rain was descending, I fell upon the ground, and formally dedicated myself anew to God, promising faithfulness and full submission to his will. In this dedication, casting my eyes upon the surrounding country, I had a view of the gospel harvest, and felt the first serious impression, that duty would call me to labor therein.

On Jan. 1, 1821, having been solicited by Elder Dean, I left home and went to Benton and Milo, where a revival was progressing, and there attended several meetings with the Elder, generally giving an exhortation after sermon. Thus three weeks

quickly passed, when my parents, meeting me at the Benton Quarterly Meeting, in Phelps, desired my immediate return. Elders Dean and Fowler, after some entreaty, obtained their leave for my attendance at an extra Quarterly Meeting in Ontario. My parents gave me liberty to accompany Elder Dean to several other places also, provided I should first return with them. Accordingly I returned home, and after a stay of two days, I left on Wednesday for Ontario, forty miles distant. A deep snow had fallen, which was much drifted, and the weather was extremely cold, insomuch that few ventured from their firesides. After wading through the snow thirteen miles, and suffering considerably, I found my toes were frozen, and consequently proceeded no farther till the next day.* Arriving at Ontario, I was glad to meet Elders Dean and Fowler. At this meeting some refreshing was enjoyed, and it pleased the Lord to give me freedom while speaking in his name. After its close, Elder Dean took me with him to

Benton, Milo, and Poultney. In the latter place, the power of God was manifest in our meeting. One cried aloud for mercy, and soon after professed to find pardon. Others were seriously affected, but suffered the enemy to catch away the seed that was sown in their hearts.

Returning to Benton, I attended a few meetings. During this period, one day when the rain and snow were descending on the earth, while at the house of Elder Dean, I felt the first direct impulse as if from Heaven, "Go thou and preach the gospel." Every surrounding object now assumed a mournful aspect; and

*Afterwards, I heard of nine persons, who, on this day, were frozen to death at dif ferent places in this section.

retiring immediately to a wood on the shore of Seneca lake, half a mile from any house, I cast myself upon the beach, where the restless waves uttered a hoarse murmur on one side, and the bleak winds rustled in the forest on the other. Raising a tearful eye to Heaven, I exclaimed, “O my God, is this truly from thee? and must I, an ignorant child, go and preach thy gospel?" After weeping awhile upon the ground, I arose and queried thus with myself; "Can it be, that God will pass by the learned, the wise, the experienced, and choose a child of fifteen years to preach the gospel?" When about to answer in the negative, I cast my eyes eastward as I arose, and in an instant, by impression, saw myself a friendless child, running to and fro in the earth to warn the wicked of their danger. From these impressions, I began to gather that God would put me into his vineyard, and that the time was at hand. A view of leaving parental care, the society of home, of wandering in a land of strangers, while yet but a child, of facing the bleak storms, and enduring the fatigues of journeying oft, and of the trials and persecutions that awaited me, now rushed upon my soul, overpowered my feelings, and constrained me to weep aloud. After this burst of grief had a little abated, I said, "Lord, I am a child, how can I preach ?" and walking over the water on a fallen tree, I gazed therein, and thought, how pleasant would be a watery tomb, if it might hide me from a life of exile. A sweet voice whispered, "My grace is sufficient for thee. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, I have perfected praise." Duty was made plain; I consented to walk in the path of obedience, and peace of soul ensued.

On my return to Junius, finding my parents unwilling to give me permission to leave them again, I related to them my exercise of mind, and impression of the duty God required of me; and added, if they thought it would be right to keep me at home, they would be accountable, and my conscience would be clear in the sight of Heaven. They thought they should be justifiable in thus doing, and told me my labor was so much needed, they could not spare me. I returned to my former avocations, but nature seemed clothed with solemnity; the concerns of earth seemed of little moment; the hapless children of men, sinking to wo by unbelief, were constantly presented to my view. Day and night I wept and mourned for them at mercy's altar. Sleep often fled my pillow, while it was bedewed with tears.

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One evening, after retiring to rest, a sense of the state of the wicked rolled upon my mind; and a little after midnight, I retired to the lonely forest, and there prostrated myself on the snow. ty called me to go out into the world, and warn my fellow creatures to flee from the wrath to come; to proclaim the glad tidings

of salvation, "the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God." Again, a view of the storms of opposition and persecution that awaited me, was suddenly presented, together with the painful scene of leaving the tender care of those dear parents, who from the days of infancy had guided the steps of my childhood, and checked its waywardness. My beloved brothers and dear sister clung to my affections. I recollected my scanty education, having enjoyed the advantages of a school only ten months; and had to reflect on my situation, destitute even of convenient raiment. I thought, surely men will despise my youth as well as my counsel, and the truth will be disgraced. Yet the path in which God was calling me to walk, was made plain; and in obedience alone was peace. Clay had been used to open the eyes of the blind, and the power of God was still the same. signing myself to his will, my heart was encouraged, and I desired the Lord to open the way, that my whole time might be devoted to warn the unconverted, and point them to the Lamb of God: and I believed that I should bear patiently their abuse, contempt," and reproach. These exercises of mind continued and increased, while sorrow was depicted on my countenance. In my sleeping and waking moments, I felt that the blood of souls would be required at my hand, and that 'wo' would be mine, if I preached not the gospel.

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One day while cutting trees in the wood, I became almost lost to all sense of my labor, and frequently sat down, and wept for the miseries that awaited the ungodly. My father, observing this,. called me to the house. Endeavoring to conceal my grief, I obey-. ed his call without any suspicion of his motive. Giving me a chair, he asked me to sit down. This unusual manner excited my surprise; I observed both his countenance and my mother's were sad, and they appeared to have been weeping. With an agitated voice, my father said tenderly, "My son, why have you been weeping?" Till now, I had not thought my grief had been discovered; but after a pause, I answered: "The Lord is calling me to warn poor perishing sinners of their danger, but I cannot go, for my parents are unwilling." They burst into tears, and my father said, "My son, you may go. For some time we have felt we were like Pharaoh, who would not let the children of Israel go to worship God in the wilderness. We give you your time, and will no longer detain you." My feelings were overpowered. Our tears mingled together, and I thanked God.

At this time a great revival was progressing in Brutus and Camillus, twenty miles from Junius. Feeling anxious to see this work, and labor in it according to my ability, I left home, walked fifteen miles to Brutus, and spent the night among strangers, who were

kind. The next day, understanding Elder E. Shaw would preach and baptize about four miles from the place of my lodging, I went to his meeting. I knew no difference among Christians, still I closely watched all that passed, felt much interested, and thought the countenances of the people showed who among them were the followers of the Lamb. After preaching, several spoke of the things God had done for them, and it seemed that I was in my father's family. Standing upon a bench in order to see the assembly, I exhorted them a few moments, and remarked, that as the antediluvians were disobedient, while the ark was preparing, and the flood destroyed them; so if they in this revival, and in this life, were indifferent, the Lord would send a storm of fire, and destroy them in like manner. I enjoyed much freedom, and it pleased the Lord to touch the assembly. After meeting, many spoke with me, invited me to their houses, and to attend different meetings, so that I no more felt as a stranger or wanted an open door. At the conclusion, Elder Shaw baptized eleven, who came out of the stream, apparently very happy, and some of them shouted for joy. The evening was spent in a prayer meeting that continued nearly all night, in which three professed to be converted.

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Several days following were spent in Brutus, attending prayer, conference, and preaching meetings, and visiting families. braced every opportunity of testifying to all, small and great, rich and poor, both publicly and from house to house, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Some were awakened, and professed to obtain reconciliation with God. In one of my visits at a public house, I desired to pray with the family, but was denied; then I requested the privilege of praying in the barroom, where the traveller is allowed to swear without asking leave, but this also was denied. Reflecting that the street was free, and observing there would be liberty there, I went out and kneeled down before the house, and besought the Lord to have mercy on this family. In the meantime, I was afterward informed, the landlord took a horse-whip, and came out to drive me away from prayer, and whip me from the place; but meeting a young man of the Presbyterian church at his door, who had just commenced preaching, he seized him by the collar, and said, "You rascal, why have you sent that boy here to pray?" The young man replied, "I have not God sent him." Before the dispute ended, I was visiting other families. Still the revival passed, and this family took not warning to forsake their sins, neither shared they in the work.

In that part of Brutus called Jericho, a certain young man, while I was exhorting him to repentance, swore very wickedly, for which I told him, he must give account to God. He raised his axe, and bid me, "Be gone," swearing if I said any more, he would throw

it at my head. Turning to go away, I replied, "Remember for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment." He appeared angry, and casting down his axe, took up a stick of wood with both hands, and threw at me. I was then about a rod from him, and immediately stopped in order to suffer patiently the effects of his wrath, hoping that conviction might fasten on his heart. The stick passed just over my head; he threw a second, that passed behind me; a third, which only touched my leg; a fourth, that just missed me. It really seemed the Lord was my defence. Not satisfied with these attempts at abuse, he came with a loaded horsewhip, and gave me a severe blow, which caused exquisite pain, and left its mark for two weeks. His father, with some others, stopped him, and prevented any further violence. Proceeding a little distance on my way, I felt grieved at his awful situation, and prayed God to have mercy on his soul. While on my kness, the young man passed by, and swearing very wickedly, loaded me with

curses.

In the latter part of my stay in these regions, I went into Camillus, and attended several meetings in the village of Elbridge, where the revival was progressing powerfully, and visited considerably from house to house, praying with the anxious and exhorting them to resign every thing for Jesus' sake. In the family of a certain lawyer, where I had been invited, I enjoyed much freedom in conversation and prayer. One of the daughters was awakened to seek the "pearl of great price." Shortly afterward, her father told me that she had become discouraged, and invited me to call again. I complied with his request, and again prayed with her, and she again renewed her covenant. Soon after this, she was converted, and publicly professed faith in Christ. Within the circle of my visits, was the family of a respectable merchant, who himself was a lover of religion; but his companion was opposed to the revival. I requested liberty to pray, which was granted; and my poor heart felt encouraged, when, as I arose, his wife was in tears. After adding a few words of exhortation, I went out; the merchant following, spoke affectionately to me, and left a half dollar in my hand. Soon after, in compliance with his request, I visited them a second time, and prayed with his companion, who again seemed affected, but not fully persuaded to embrace Christ. Alas! how many wait for a convenient season, to their own destruction.

In the east part of Camillus, I attended several meetings, passed through some severe trials, and spent many solitary hours, feeling like a lonely stranger in the earth, often weeping till my eyes were sore. Persecution met me on almost every hand; some said the lad ought to be whipped home, &c. At an evening meeting where