Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth EditionHolland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
History
Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger: Fourth Edition
Holland, E. G. (Elihu Goodwin)
Badger, Joseph, 1792-1852
"In the month of January I left school, rode to Hatley and
Stanstead, on the shore of Lake Mogogue, where I spent
certain days, and attended several meetings. The greater
part of the winter, when out of school, I spent at Ascott,
Compton, and Westbury, where I had good times, though
mingled with trials and temptations. The first day of
January, 1813, was a very glorious time at a general
meeting in Ascott. Mr. Gilson, and a colored man by the
name of Dunbar, who was both a godly man and a faithful
preacher, were our principal speakers. In the month of
March I took a journey to Shipton alone, where I enjoyed a
glorious meeting, and made an engagement to return in the
spring.
"During this month, my eldest brother came four miles to
hear me preach. He requested me to make an appointment at
his house, which was near my father's residence; and but
few of our family had ever heard me speak. His house was
one where I had attended many balls and had met assemblies
for vain recreations. The audience to whom I spoke was
composed of my parents, brothers, sisters, neighbors, and
my fellow youth, who had been my old companions in
sin--circumstances that rendered my cross very great. My
father's presence made my embarrassment much greater, as I
knew the critical cast of his mind, the extensive reading
and education by which his intellect was enriched. I
observed that my father selected a seat with his back
towards me. Excessive as my cross was, I could not be
reconciled to this. I arose and presented him my chair, and
when he had again taken his seat, I read a hymn from the
Methodist collection, which was sweetly sung by the young
people, my brother serving as chorister. After prayer and
the second singing, I announced my text, at which every
countenance fell, a general surprise being visible all
around, and the young people appeared as solemn as if the
day of doom had dawned. I believe I have intimated
heretofore that, as a town, the people were irreligious. My
text was Matt. 23: 33. 'Ye serpents, ye generation of
vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell?' My text
was harsh, but my discourse was mild. I first noticed the
natural qualities of serpents and vipers that constituted
the analogy of the passage, and that furnished the reason
of their being so called. Second, I described what I
considered to be the damnation of hell. Third, I endeavored
to show how we might escape this, and the necessity of
improving a present day of grace. I then addressed myself
to the assembly in the following order: 1st, to my parents;
2d, to my brothers and sisters; 3d, to the young people;
4th, to the neighbors. This was indeed one of the most
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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