Watchman And Observer

For the Watchman and Observer.
OLD MISSIONARY JOURNAL.
[CONTINUED.]

Wednesday, June 1st, 1791.—I had the curiosity this day to ascend Chesnut mountain in this vicinity, and take a view of the surrounding scenery and the wonderful works of God, and I did not at all repent of it, although at first I felt like it was trifling and a mis-spending of time. My mind was greatly elevated with the prospect, and prepared to adore the God of nature. In the afternoon I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting with my old friend and college mate, John Lyle, who has just been licensed by Lexington Presbytery, and sent by the Commission of Synod to join me in this tour of missionary labors over the frontiers of Virginia. Our blessed Lord sent the Primitive Heralds of the Gospel by two and two. Two is better than one. The company, counsel and assistance of such a companion might have saved me from some of the deep plunges of gloom and discouragement I have heretofore gone through while alone. I was much refreshed with my colleague's company, and felt like thanking God and taking courage. Was rejoiced to hear from him what a cloud of witnesses the Great Head of the Church was sending out by Lexington Presbytery. O that God would raise up and send forth many laborers into his vineyard, for the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few, and that he would stir up the hearts of old ministers from their lukewarmness and formality!

Thursday, June 2d, 1791.—I preached at Mr. John Martin's, to an attentive assembly, and my friend Lyle preached after me. I hope God will carry on his own work in this neighborhood,— How desirable that some one should stay with them to nurse the impressions that have been made? But from our instructions and the extent of the bounds prescribed to us, we are constrained to pass on.

Friday 3.—We had an appointment to preach at Mr. John Dickinson's, on Pig River; very few came out—We turned the appointment into a sort of prayer meeting, and both of us exhorted a hardened and careless company of sinners.

Saturday, 4—Was to me a singular and distressing day. In the morning I suffered some trifling occurrence to ruffle my temper far beyond any true cause, and it really seemed as if Satan used it against me very successfully all day, for my mind, which had become agitated, like the surface of a lake, gave back every image, that was reflected from it, crooked and distorted, so that I continued in a fretful mood all day, and I could not reason nor shame myself out of it, by all the exertions I could make. At Iron Creek I heard Mr. Anthony, a Baptist minister preach, but I could neither pray, hear, nor perform any other duty with any satisfaction. "The good that I would, I do not—but the evil that I would not, that I do" O wretched man that I am!

Sabbath, 5.—After Mr. John Aspland, a Swiss Baptist, preached an excellent sermon, I attempted to preach; I began with some liberty, but soon became shut up and embarrassed. Oh my wretched pride of heart.

Monday, 6.—I went to Franklin Court, and transacted some worldly business, and felt a cold, hard heart all day.

Tuesday, 7.—Preached after Mr. Lyle at Mr. Turner's, on Fawn's Creek, with much light, ease and liberty. I preached at the same place again at night, with not so much liberty as in the day, though I trust I was not altogether left to perform duty in my own strength.

Wednesday, 8.—Mr. Lyle preached at a meeting house near Captain Hairston's; I then exhorted, and was followed by exhortations from a Mr. Blanton, a Methodist, and a Mr. Hall, a Baptist; but it was cold work all around.

Thursday, 9.—I preached the funeral of old Captain Hairston. Had a large congregation; felt in pretty good tune for preaching, and brother Lyle was as happy at exhortation. A solemn impression was made upon the people.

Friday, 10.—We rode to the head of Smith River, in Patrick county, to Mr. James Turner's. In the evening I felt much of a spirit of prayer; was dead to the world, and experienced that which I believe no hypocrite ever felt. Bless the Lord. O my soul.

Saturday, 11.—I set apart this day for prayer and fasting; but had not the liberty or comfort I had yesterday. Preached at Mr. Pilson's, but was cold and dead; the people seemed in the same state. Mr. Lyle preached after me.

Sabbath, June 12, 1791.—Mr. Lyle and myself both preached at the head of Smith's River. In the afternoon I preached again. In the forenoon I was sorely afflicted with my constitutional malady, the head-ache, which I find is almost sure to follow a day of fasting, and whenever it occurs it is sure to unfit me for duty; but in the afternoon I was much favored, both in body and mind, in preaching to the people. The Lord loosed my poor stammering tongue, and I felt that the Lord was with us of a truth. O that the whole world would love and serve the Lord, for he is a good Master!

Monday, 13th.—My head-ache, that thorn in my flesh, returned with violence. In the morning we visited a family where the old man died last night and lay a corpse before us, while we sung, prayed and exhorted the family and neighbors. We then crossed the Alleghany Mountains into Montgomery county, and lodged with a Major Eason.

Tuesday, 14—We continued at Maj. Eason's, and I had to lament a lukewarm heart and an indifferent state of mind.

Wednesday, 15.—I preached at Major Eason's, to a large and attentive congregation; was a good deal in the dark myself. Friend Lyle preached after me. The people here seemed as if they would hear preaching, if they could have it; but it is an out of the way place, where they seldom hear preaching of any kind.

Thursday, 16.—We rode as far as Captain Isham's, where we expected to preach, but notice had not reached the place of our appointment.— We, however, gathered a few of the neighbors, and Mr. Lyle preached and I exhorted, but they were a hardened, ignorant set, entirely unaccustomed to any thing of the kind. We rode, in the afternoon, and arrived at nightfall at a miserable cabin, where we were obliged to stay; but they were so poor that they could afford us scarcely any thing for man or beast. After cutting a sheaf of green rye apiece for our horses, and eating our supper of a rye ashpone and sour milk, we slept in an open, uncovered pen designed, when finished, for a sort of barn, with our saddles for our pillows and our great coats for our covering; but we found ourselves all safe in the morning, except a hoarseness, caused by a thick fog which came over us before day.

Friday, 17.—I preached at Mr. Whitlock's, in Wythe county, on little Reed Island Creek, to a decent and attentive little congregation, many of whom seemed seriously impressed—Mr. Lyle also preached. In the afternoon we rode to Mr. Sawyer's, where we spent the night. We found Mr. Sawyer a stiff, bigoted old Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, a bitter enemy to new lights and enthusiasm, and, I am afraid, to all revivals and vital religion. We were, however, received and treated hospitably, but in a very rough style.

Saturday, June 18th, 1791.—We rode to the Lead Mines in Wythe, where digging and smelting of Lead was carried on to a considerable extent. We were received and treated very hospitably by Mr. Frisbie, the Superintendent of the work, but no friend, I fear, to religion. We visited and inspected the mines and works, which form one of the curiosities of the country—but it is a vastly wicked place.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)