From that time, although belonging to no church, the Spirit was with me to testify to the sufferings and atonement of the Savior. As I had opportunity, I continually exhorted the people, in public and private, to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to repent of their sins and live a life of righteousness and good works.
CHAPTER III.
I TAKE TO PREACHING—MAKE MANY CONVERTS—REFUSE TO BAPTIZE THEM—THEY ARE BAPTIZED BY A CAMPBELLITE PREACHER—URGED TO JOIN THE CAMPBELLITES—REFUSE, AND THE DEVIL TEMPTS ME—I GRIEVE THE SPIRIT, BUT REGAIN IT THROUGH FASTING AND PRAYER—HEAR THE GOSPEL—VISIT FROM ELDER GIFFORD—HE IS THREATENED WITH TAR AND FEATHERS—MY BROTHER AND I DEFEND HIM.
In the fall of 1828, I returned to Hector, Schuyler County, New York. Quite a number of people lived there of the Campbellite faith. 'Squire Chase, a prominent man in the neighborhood, who had been a preacher of the sect, said that they were cold in religion and had not held any meetings for several months. I had been there but a few days, when I went with him about two miles to a Methodist meeting. This occurred in the month of November.
Up to this time I had joined no church, although I had professed religion, attended meetings, and preached when I had an opportunity.
On my return, I remarked to Mr. Chase, "Why cannot we have meetings in our neighborhood as well as to go so far to them?"
He replied, "We are all dead there; we would have meetings but I do not feel like preaching. But if you will do the preaching, I will appoint a meeting."
He did so. The first two meetings but few attended. The third meeting the house was crowded. Finally, meetings were held nearly every night in the week, and were well attended. A reformation started among the people, and there were quite a number of religious converts. Campbellite principles had long prevailed in the neighborhood. The converts desired baptism, as that was a prominent principle in the Campbellite faith. Mr. Chase urged me to perform the ordinance. I excused myself by telling him that I had never joined any religious denomination, and did not feel authorized to administer it. I finally utterly refused to do so. He then sent forty or fifty miles for Elder Brown, a regular Campbellite preacher.
He came and baptized about sixty converts and organized a branch of the Campbellite church out of the fruits of my labors. He quite exhausted his persuasive powers to induce me to join the Campbellite church, to take a circuit and go to preaching.
I told him I would not preach his doctrines. If I preached at all, I should preach the whole Bible as I understood it.