As there was but one rock in the wilderness from which all the tribes of Israel were supplied with natural water, so to us, God's spiritual Israel, there is but one Rock from which flows to us the water of life, and that Rock is Christ Jesus in his Word. On this Rock the church is founded, and I rejoice to know that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Wednesday, October 22. Love feast to-day. Matthew 23 is read.
Thursday, October 23. Meeting. Matthew 13 is read. Brother Daniel Miller goes to the Greenland Gap. I stay all night at old Brother Arnold's.
Friday, October 24. I and Daniel Yount start for home. We dine at Sister High's, and stay all night at Vanmeter's.
Saturday, October 25. Dine at Elijah Judy's, and stay all night at Isaac Dasher's on the South Fork, Hardy County.
Sunday, October 26. Meeting at Rorabaugh's. John 10 is read. I baptized Lydia Shireman. Stay all night at Rorabaugh's.
Monday, October 27. Preach funeral of Joseph Reel's daughter. Age, seven years and nine months. Stay all night at James Fitzwater's in the Gap.
Tuesday, October 28. Reached home.
Saturday, November 8. Brother Benjamin Moomaw and family, from Roanoke County, come to my house this evening.
Sunday, November 9. Brother George Kline's little Daniel died to-night. I was with him when he died. Just three years and four days old. How deep the grief with which this kind family is stricken! On Tuesday, October 21, while I was in Hampshire County, Virginia, Anna, aged seven years, two months and nineteen days, was laid in the cold grave. On the thirty-first, only nine days later, little Mary passed away, aged four years, seven months and eleven days. And now, only nine days later still, another, little Daniel, passes away. All three bright, promising, happy children. We can only lift up our voices and weep. The only light that breaks in upon the darkness of this providence comes from heaven. There is light beyond the cloud that now hangs so darkly and heavily in the sky above our heads. God is our refuge. His promise is: "When thou passest through the deep waters, I will be with thee." Thou wilt not leave nor forsake us now. The little lambs have been gathered into his arms. He took them into his arms and blessed them here; how much more can he bless them there, for "of such is the kingdom of heaven."