On the blissful shore,
Where partings are no more.
Thursday, July 4. Attend the burial of Peter Driver on the head of Muddy Creek, in Rockingham County. His age was eighty-three years and eight months. He was an honest member of our Brotherhood. His children consisted of four sons and five daughters; and they are now all heads of families, doing well, and members of our order of Brethren. Peter Driver was a blacksmith. He once related a fact to me which I will here note. "In my early days," said he, "we knew nothing of binding wagon and carriage wheels with a heated tire. I wonder," continued he, "that our daily experience in working iron did not teach us that an iron band or tire is larger when it is hot than when cold. Some may have thought of this," he said, smiling, "but if they did, I guess they were afraid that if they would venture to put on the tire hot, the wheel might be burned up before they could get the tire cooled." He was very partial to the German language, and was never known to speak English from choice. Some one once said to him, "Mr. Driver, English people have the same God that German people have." "I believe that; but he speaks to German people in a much plainer way in his Word than he does to English people." Of course he could understand German best.
Saturday, July 13. Go to Page County. Cross the Massanutton and Peaked mountains by what is known as Koontz's Path. Daniel Dovel and John Harsbarger are with me. They are very pleasant and cheerful brethren. We spend the night together at Brother William Dovel's.
Sunday, July 14. Meeting at Liberty schoolhouse. Isaac N. Walter is there. He is a well-known and very popular preacher in the Christian church. This is the first time I have ever met with him. He is very friendly and sociable, and will carry an influence wherever he goes. He was at one time a very strong Adventist. He professed to believe in our foreknowing the day of our Lord's coming, and announced it as being very near at hand. Brother Benjamin Bowman told me that on one occasion friend Walter announced that he would preach a sermon on the second advent of Christ, and therein tell the day on which we might confidently expect the Lord to appear in glory, and give the scripture evidences on which his proofs rested. This sermon was announced for Antioch, a brick meetinghouse belonging to the Christian connection, and stood four miles north of Harrisonburg, and not far from where Brother Bowman lived. He told me that a large concourse of people was present to hear, and he with the rest. The discourse was eloquent, but with the thoughtful not very convincing. But the day, which Mr. Walter had so confidently set for the appearing of the Lord in glory, passed by as all other days pass by, in harmony with all the other notes that make the music of the spheres. Not long after this, the two met in the road. Walter looked a little bashful, but spoke first, and said: "Well, Brother Bowman, I was mistaken." "Yes," Brother Bowman replied, "but I had discovered that before you told me."
Sunday, August 4. Meeting in Elk meetinghouse, in Page County. I speak from Luke 16:9. Text.—"Make unto yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."
This is a very remarkable passage of Scripture. My understanding of it differs a little from that of some of our Brethren, but it is all in love, and each bears with the other's interpretation. I will here give a brief outline of my view of it. I think the Lord meant to encourage a very free use of this world's goods in the way of helping the poor, especially those of the household of faith. Through Paul we learn that Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Christian people may imitate the unjust steward in this one thing: he aimed to provide for the future by making use of what was within his reach at the present. This may be our Lord's meaning. But he may have meant more. The wealth of some has doubtless been acquired in an unrighteous way, while in their unregenerate state, heedless of conscience and justice. Such mammon or wealth must be unrighteous, because unrighteously obtained. Those who have acquired wealth in an unjust way, and who afterward repent in heart and see the evil of their former course, may be deeply distressed, and at the same time have no opportunity to do as Zaccheus did,—make restoration. To such, it does appear to me, Jesus would say: "Let my Father's children have a share of it. Use it in a way that will glorify him, by helping his dear children; and if you fail to be found in the number of those who are 'my brethren' at the great day of final accounts, you may still come in as 'the blessed of the Father' and inherit the kingdom prepared for you. It will then be my joy to acknowledge you and say: 'I was hungry, and you fed me; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came unto me.'" Whatsoever is done to one of the least of the Lord's brethren he accounts it as done to him. Such is the wonderful union and identity of the Lord and his people. When Paul was struck down he cried out: "Who art thou, Lord?" And the answer came: "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest."
I would earnestly encourage all to go on unto perfection. Then we will be sure of the heavenly inheritance. "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."
Friday, August 9. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse. I baptize Henry Swartz and wife, and Barbara Yount.