Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Jesse Mercer –Powerful Minister of the Gospel – Part Two

Thomas E Kresal January 28, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Jesse Mercer –Powerful Minister of the Gospel – Part Two

In succession he then took charge of the churches at Hutton’s Fork, Indian Creek, in Oglethorpe County, Sardis, Phillips’ Mill, Powelton, Whatley’s Mill (now Bethesda), Eatonton, and Washington, his pastoral services extending over a period of fifty years. He by no means confined himself to the churches of his charge, however, but, traveling far and near, he preached the gospel everywhere, with a power never surpassed in the State, and with a pathos and unction productive of the best results.

As a Preacher.—Long will he be held in honorable estimation as a truly able, pious, instructive and powerful minister of the gospel.

Said Dr. Basil Manly, Sr., of him, ” In his happy moments of preaching he would arouse and enchain the attention of reflecting men beyond any minister I have ever heard. At such times his views were vast, profound, original, striking, and absorbing in the highest degree; while his language, though simple, was so terse and pithy, so pruned, consolidated, and suited to become the vehicle of the dense mass of his thoughts, that it required no ordinary effort of a well-trained mind to take in all he said.” His voice was neither very strong nor distinguished for its compass and melody; his gesticulations were rather clumsy, and the fastidious could find fault with his manner; but, notwithstanding all, his appearance in the pulpit was far from being uninteresting.

The fair and comely baldness of his head, his venerable mien, his portly frame, his countenance clothed with meekness, benevolence, intelligence, and devotion, rendered him an object of peculiar interest and respect wherever he stood forth

“To negotiate between God and man, As God’s ambassador,

the grand concerns Of judgment and of mercy.”

Thomas E. Kresal from: Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart, pg. 779-780