Abner Jones - 15-The Lord Provides

The Lord Provides

After this I continued to preach in Lyndon, Wheelock, Sheffield, Billeymead, Burk, Danville and Peacham. In Lyndon, the town where I lived, there were about a dozen of us who covenanted together in Church, by the name of CHRISTIANS only. This was as my mind had been lead for a number of years before. In the month of February following, I set out in a sleigh, with my wife and two children, to go to Woodstock, and other places, to visit our friends. We called at Vershire to visit Mrs. Jones’ brother and family. There I found a good work of God going on, this was the second noisy reformation that I ever saw, yet I fully believed it was a good, powerful work of God. But whether the Lord called them to make so much noise, I leave with him who knows all things. From thence we came to Hartford, where I preached on the Lord’s day, and evening. Here I had an invitation to go to Lebanon, and Hanover to preach. We afterwards proceeded on to Woodstock, and Bridgewater; in those towns we tarried several weeks. Here I had an opportunity of preaching frequently. I then went to Lebanon, according to invitation, and preached three times. After I had preached the third time, there were 3 brethren, who requested to speak with me, and they thus addressed me.

"We understand that you have a family, and we believe the Lord has called you to preach. And we conclude it is our duty to take your family and take care of them, in order that you may be liberated to preach." Such an address, from three strangers, you must suppose was a little surprising, yet I could not help thinking, whether it was not in answer to my prayer. Yet I thought best to know their motives, in making this proposal unto me. The proposal was not that they would support my family, if I would come & preach with them; but that I might be liberated to preach the gospel. I told them I would not sell myself, for said I, if you maintain my family, you then will expect that I shall preach constantly with you. They said no, that was not according to their faith, but their meaning was, that I should preach where I thought it my duty; & to preach with them as much as I thought it my duty.

One of them said he did not think it likely that it would be my duty to preach with them more than a quarter of the time, when he considered the many places around about where they desired preaching. I told them I was really afraid they had not well considered how much cost it would be to maintain my family, and the burden would be heavier than they were aware of, yet they insisted upon saying they believed it was of the Lord. I did not however give them any direct answer at that time, as I wanted an opportunity to consider on the matter, and ask counsel of God. About this time the Lord sent a great rain, and carried off all the snow, and broke up the roads, so that I could not get back, at present with my family at any rate.

Some business which I left unsettled in Lyndon, called me loudly to return; and as I could not get back with my family, it looked more and more like duty to comply with the proposal which was made me at Lebanon, and yet I felt some doubts about the matter. After mature deliberation, I gave this answer, viz. That I would return to Lyndon, and settle my necessary business there, and leave my family at Woodstock, at my wife’s father’s; and that I would enquire and ask counsel of God, and wished they would enquire of the Lord also; and when I returned if I found it duty, and they still thought it duty, I would bring my family according to their proposal. But, said I, I have one thing farther that I wish to name, and that is this, as you have now freely made an offer to take care of my family, so I want you to use the same freedom when you find it no longer duty to do the same, only let me know it, I will take the burden off your hands; for if I have to go right out into the streets, I do not fear to trust in the Lord to take care of me and mine. The next day I went to Hanover and preached on College plain, at Mr. Jedidiah Baldwin’s in the evening. The people seemed attentive to hear.