“Many events they predicted have taken place. I believe, sir, that God has had prophets in all ages and climes. All history, ancient and modern, is full of the supernatural element. It is found in Grecian, Roman, European, and American histories. It is found in the life of Socrates, Plato, Origen, Joan of Arc, Swedenborg, Stirling, Lavater, Oberlin, Wesley, Luther, Murray, and in the life of innumerable other worthies of whom the world is not worthy. We find them among the despised and forsaken. They have been spit upon in all the streets in the world. They have been burned at the stake as enemies of God and man. But they cared for none of these things; they knew that they were walking in the light of heaven, and all the powers of darkness could not terrify their brave souls.
“We pity the Indian prince’s ignorance of the fact that water by cold is converted into solid ice. He was sure that such a phenomena was unnatural, and ‘contrary to all human experience.’ We know though that it is done; and if we know anything of the history of mankind, we must admit that it teaches that supernaturalism has been prevalent at all times. But if we pronounce this revelation of the historic page, delusion, to be consistent we should call all history imposition, for the supernatural is as well attested as any statement of history. The truth is, there is an unseen hand directing all the affairs of the universe; and man, whether living or dying, in time or in eternity, is constantly controlled, more or less, by that invisible power. It is man’s natural condition to be in alliance with the spiritual. When he is material in all his hopes and aspirations, coarse and brutish, he is in an unnatural condition, and the spirit of God almost parts with him, and leaves him nearly alone in his sins. But the pure and good are exalted to heavenly places, commune with the spirits of the just, and are enveloped in an halo of glory. Some rise so high, that the hand of God is on their brow, and then they see visions, dream dreams, heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils. Such are God’s prophets; such were the Jewish prophets, and the world in all ages has been blessed with the divine utterances of such godly men and women. Although their brows were immersed in the sun-light of heaven, their feet were on this earth, and hence we may expect to find their revelations sometimes tinged with the darkness of earth.”
Lectured in Pisgah, and a man gave notice that he should reply the next Sunday. I begged of him to offer his objections while I was in town; he would not consent to, but said, “On next Sunday I will show that you deny the Bible, and teach a bundle of lies.” “Name one lie I have uttered to-night.” “You can not get me into a controversy now.” Preached in Booneville, and then proceeded to Marshall, where I spoke twice. Had some talk with a rum-seller.
“Do you think it right to poison and impoverish all you can?”
“I don’t poison or impoverish.”
“You don’t! Every dram you sell poisons and impoverishes somebody. The body is the habitation built for the soul, made in the image and glory of God to dwell in; and it is your business from early morn to late at night, to stand in your den and deal damnation to God’s noble work. What abominable business for a man to engage in! What a life to live! What prostitution of time and opportunities! I should think you would be fearful that the indignant earth would open its jaws and crush you to atoms.”
“If your doctrine is true I am safe.”
“As my doctrine is true I would not stand in your shoes for all of this world. You are a curse to yourself, your family, and this town. The fires that are consuming you, are scorching all with whom you come in contact.”
“But you preach that all will be saved, and of course I am included.”
“You will not be saved in this world, nor in the world to come, till you repent of your sins in sackcloth and ashes, and by the grace of God are thoroughly regenerated. You will have to work out your own salvation; and judging from your business, that you occupy a very low plane in this world, morally and spiritually, I fear you will fill a low one in the other land, and will have to work long and hard ere you will know much about heaven. I advise you not to credit the slang of Orthodox preachers, that according to Universalism all will be saved any how. We believe in nothing of that kind. The pure and good only are saved in this world, and the pure and good only will be saved in the immortal world. Now, my friend, permit me to give you one word of advice—sell no more liquor, drink no more liquor, engage in some honest calling, and live soberly, righteously and godly the remainder of your days. By doing so, you will live better, die happier—you will know something of heaven in this world.”