A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches: Embracing Accounts of the Armenian, East Indian, and Abyssinian Episcopacies in Asia and Africa, the Waldenses, Semi-Judaisers, and Sabbatarian Anabaptists of Europe; with the Seventh-day Baptist Denominaton in the United StatesDavis, Tamar
Religion
A General History of the Sabbatarian Churches: Embracing Accounts of the Armenian, East Indian, and Abyssinian Episcopacies in Asia and Africa, the Waldenses, Semi-Judaisers, and Sabbatarian Anabaptists of Europe; with the Seventh-day Baptist Denominaton in the United States
Davis, Tamar
Sabbatarians -- History
O how many of our young men, who discourse learnedly of preparatory
studies for the ministry, might, with infinite advantage, sit at the
feet and learn of this Shamgar in the churches, who, coming from the
fields of honest industry to the pulpit, has been more instrumental in
winning souls to God, than most of the scholars who have come to the
contest elate with the honours of a full collegiate course. Like a
certain remarkably effective preacher of old, who came into the ministry
with hands undried from the fisherman's net, or like another, of some
account at one time in the churches, who wrought at a useful occupation
that he might not be burdensome to any, Elder Green was undoubtedly
called and set apart as a chosen vessel, by the Spirit of truth. What
weeping sinner, what returning backslider, ever thought or inquired
whether he was skilled in algebraic problems, Hebrew nouns, or Greek
verbs? Learning to such a preacher would not and could not be any help;
it might be a hindrance. It might lead him to trust in earthly
availments, and make him forget in what his great strength lay. Have we
not reason to fear that a vain trust in learning and temporal advantages
is the Delilah that has shorn the locks from so many spiritual Samsons,
and rendered them powerless before their enemies? It would be a
difficult matter to attempt an analyzation of the sermons of Elder
Green, or to show in what the secret of his success consisted. No one,
while listening to his discourses, would think of applying to them the
ordinary tests of criticism; indeed, no one would be half so much
pleased with the speaker as displeased with himself. He would probably
forget the time, the place, and the congregation, and see himself
transported at once to the bar of God, with the world in flames. His
cogitations would not be, "Oh, what a learned and beautiful discourse!"
but "Oh, wretched man that I am!" or, "Oh, blessed Jesus, how wonderful
is thy love and goodness!" Yet in these sermons, so remarkably
effective, there does not appear the least striving for effect, no
attempt to enlist the passions of the auditory, no forced and laboured
ejaculations; but the attention is first engaged by the voice, the look,
the manner, the appearance of the speaker; our interest increases with
his amplification of the subject, and his application of it every one
that hears must feel.
Elder Green remained at De Ruyter until 1826, when the church was for
some time without a pastor.
Rev. Alexander Campbell, his successor, was installed in 1834, and
remained for several years.
Rev. James Bailey succeeded him in 1842, and remained until 1848.
Rev. James R. Irish, Principal of the De Ruyter Institute, is the
present incumbent.
Many licentiates, in connexion with the Literary Institution, have at
different times officiated in this church.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH, HOUNSFIELD, JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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