Lives of Virginia Baptist Ministers By John B Taylor SAMUEL HARRISS. Part 2 of 3

Jim Curran Baptist Church History SAMUEL HARRISS. Part 2 of 3 – Facebook

Lives of Virginia Baptist Ministers

By John B Taylor

SAMUEL HARRISS. Part 2 of 3

(Continued from part one ) The following extract, from the pen of Elder John Leland, will not here be out of place. At that time Mr. Leland lived in Virginia: “In August, 1786, I attended a meeting of the General Committee at Buckingham; after which I traveled southward to Pittsylvania, to visit that great man of God, Rev. Samuel Harriss. I had met Mr. Harriss before on the banks of James River, and accompanied him at his meetings through Goochland, Fluvanna, and Louisa, to Orange. At a meeting in Goochland, after preaching was over, Mr. Harriss went into the yard, and sat down in the shade, while the people were weeping in the meeting-house, and telling what God had done for them, in order to be baptized. A gentlewoman addressed Mr. Harriss as follows: Mr. Harriss, what do you think all this weeping is for ? are not all those tears like the tears of a crocodile ? I believe I could cry as well as any of them, if I chose to act the hypocrite.’ On this address, Mr. Harriss drew a dollar out of his pocket, and replied, ‘ Good woman, I will give you this dollar for a tear, and repeat it ten times;’ but the woman shed no tears. In 1781 Colonel Harriss made me a visit, whose coming called out a vast crowd of ministers and people. His eyes—his every motion was preaching; but after he had read his text, his mind was so dark that he could not preach; and of course the lot fell on me. From my house he went down to Spottsylvania, where the work of the Lord, like a mighty torrent, broke out under his ministry. At this period he had become well known throughout Virginia. His journeyings had extended to the more eastern and northern portions of the State; and wherever he went, the truth, in its simplicity, was dispensed. His success as an evangelist was most astonishing. The gospel, preached by him, was attended by the Spirit of God, and made effectual in the conversion of many souls. It is said that he had been allowed, with tokens of the Divine blessing, to preach Christ crucified in almost every part of Virginia, and in many parts of North Carolina. The estimation in which he was universally held, may be ascertained from the fact, that when the General Association decided that the apostolic office was designed by the head of the church to be perpetual, he was unanimously chosen to fill this office. This unscriptural decision was made, and the appointment conferred in the year 1774. The office was retained by him but a few months. This circumstance is referred to simply for the purpose of showing how far, by his labors of love, he had gained the affections and confidence of his brethren.Perhaps few men of the eighteenth century contributed more to extend the truth and ordinances of the New Testament than Samuel Harriss. He was in almost all respects well qualified to secure the attention of those who heard him. “His manners,” says Mr. Semple, ” were of the most winning sort. He scarcely ever went into a house without exhorting and praying for those he met there. As a doctrinal preacher, his talents were rather below mediocrity; unless at those times when he was highly favored from above, then he would sometimes display considerable ingenuity. His excellency consisted chiefly in addressing the heart; and perhaps even Whitefield did not surpass him in this respect. When animated himself, he seldom failed to animate his auditory.” The fact has been already alluded to, that his influence among the Baptists of Virginia was deservedly extensive. He was called to preside at most of the associations, and other meetings for business which he attended. In the struggles that took place between the Baptists and the established church, he was also honored to take a very prominent part. He was not, however, required by his Master to sustain the same fiery persecutions which were endured by some of his brethren. His influence in society previously to his conversion, as well as his naturally fearless spirit, contributed much to his advantage. It is not intimated that no trials were suffered, or sacrifices made, by this man of God. He gave up all for Christ. “Being in easy circumstances,” says Mr. Semple, “when he become religious he devoted not only himself, but almost all his property, to religious objects. He had begun a- large new dwelling-house, suitable to his former dignity, which, as soon as it was finished, he appropriated to the use of public worship, continuing to live in the old one. After maintaining his family in a very frugal manner, he distributed his surplus income to charitable purposes.” Persecutions also were suffered. Among other things mentioned by Mr. Semple, he states, “that he was once arrested and carried into court as a disturber of the peace. In court, a Captain Williams vehemently accused him as a vagabond, a heretic, and a mover of sedition everywhere. Mr. Harriss made his defence. But the court ordered that he should not preach in the county again for the space of twelve months, or be committed to prison. The colonel told him that he lived two hundred miles from thence, and that it was not likely he should disturb them again in the course of one year. Upon this he was dismissed. From Culpepper he went into Fauquier, and preached at Carter’s Run. From thence he crossed the Blue-ridge, and preached in Shenandoah. On his return, he called at Captain Thomas Clanahan’s, in the County of Culpepper, where there was a meeting. While certain young ministers were preaching, the word of God began to burn in Colonel Harriss’s heart. When they finished, he arose and addressed the congregation: ‘ I partly promised the devil, a few days past, at the court-house, that I would not preach in this county again in the term of a year. But the devil is a perfidious wretch, and covenants with him are not to be kept; and therefore I will preach.’ He preached a lively, animating sermon. The court disturbed him no more. “On one occasion, in Orange County, he was pulled down as he was preaching, and dragged about by the hair of the head, and sometimes by the leg. His friends rescued him. On another time, he was knocked down by a rude fellow while he was preaching. But he was not dismayed by these, or any other difficulties.