Abner Jones - 16-Preaching Against Calvinism

Preaching Against Calvinism The next day I went into a different part of the town, commonly known by the name of Mill neighborhood. Here I preached in the afternoon, in the school house. I felt great freedom in preaching. I felt confirmed in my own mind, that the Lord would open a door wide and effectual in that place. In this discourse, I discovered one young man (who was a few years before, I had instructed as a school boy) considerably affected, insomuch, that the tears flowed freely down his cheeks. This gave me some consolation, in hopes that I should see greater things than these. I preached in several different places in the town, I had freedom in speaking, but found Christians in a very low state, and sinners seemed entirely stupid about their souls. The people in Hanover had been taught in the Calvinistic doctrines, and had scarce ever heard any other doctrine in all their lives, as many of them informed me afterward. Sinners seemed to rest unconcerned on this ground, saying, if God has determined to save me, he will call me in his own good time in such a manner as that it will be impossible for me to resist. And if I am not elected, it will be impossible for me to saved if I should seek all my life. On this ground, they drew the following conclusions (or at least some of them, as they afterwards informed me.) It is no matter how much I strive to put of all serious impressions, for if they are made by the spirit of God, I cannot get rid of them; if they are not from the spirit of God, they never can benefit me.

Here I must beg leave to turn aside from the pursuit of my narrative, and close this number with a few remarks.

O sinner, who ever you are, into whose hands this may fall, when you read the paragraph respecting the situation of sinners in the town of Hanover, State of Newhampshire, stop. PAUSE, and read the paragraph over again. Then read the following lines. (Smith and Jones Hymns, p. 20) STOP, poor sinner, stop and think,
Before you farther go--
Will you sport upon the brink
Of everlasting woe?

Hell beneath is gaping wide!
Vengeance waits the dread command,
Soon to stop your sport and pride,
And sink you with the damn’d.

O be entreated now to STOP,
For unless you WARNING TAKE,
Ere you are aware you’ll DROP
Into the BURNING LAKE.

Stop and think, read the lines over again. Think on every line, and consider it well. Commit them to memory before you pass on, for your feet may slide before you have finished reading these few remaining pages. May God bless this caution to all sinners who may read it, I pray dear reader if you are sheltering yourself under such a covering as this, and endeavouring to stretch yourself on so short a bed, permit me in the name of the great GOD, to speak to you in the words of the Prophet Isaiah 28:20, "For the BED is shorter, than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower, than that he can wrap himself in it."

One request farther, dear friend, viz. Learn the whole Hymn by heart, and bear it in mind every moment. Remember the language is like this; Stop and consider on your ways. Stop from living in carelessness. Stop from putting far away the evil day. Stop from saying, go thy way for this time. Stop from saying, I pray thee have me excused. Stop from loving the world more than Christ. Stop from making light of religion. Stop from neglecting to cry, God be merciful to me a sinner. Stop from saying it will not do any good for me pray. Stop from reading fancies, and read the bible. Stop from swearing. Stop from lying. Stop from getting drunk. Stop from gambling. Stop from playing cards for diversion. Stop from going to dancing schools and go to the school of Christ. Stop from foolish talking and jesting, yea, stop from wickedness of every sort and kind, and be a follower of Christ Jesus, and so thy soul shall live.

END OF BOOK