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hope in glad fruition, and he entered the boundless sea of everlasting love in heaven, our souls leaped for joy that was inexpressible and full of glory." On the latter occasion he plead the mission cause on Sunday, at eleven o'clock, before the Baptist State Convention, in which he showed himself master of the glorious theme. Towards the close of his life he suffered under great bodily afflictions. A sermon in his memory was preached by Elder R. C. Burleson, to the congregation at Brenham, in 1868, where he held his last pastorate. The text suggests the power of his influence: "He being dead yet speaketh."

CHAPTER XXI.

THE RACE TRACK AT SPRINGFIELD. 1846.

HEN I indicated to the brethren and friends in my old field, in Union Association, my intention to occupy the field now embraced in Trinity River and Richland Associations, they protested against it; some of them declaring that life would be hazarded among cut-throats and desperadoes. But I never did have any fears in going into any territory occupied by people speaking my mother-tongue. There is something in the

name of Jesus that will overcome prejudice and produce respect for the minister who, with discretion, declares it faithfully; and with kindness, moderation, and firmness, a victory may be gained over our worst enemies.

Springfield, in 1846, was the head-centre for a large number of gamblers and professional racers. Some of these were desperate men, with the blood of their fellows upon their hands. Some fifty families lived in and around the little village. There stood the grog-shop,-the enemy to peace and good society, to say nothing of Christianity. I rarely ever got far enough on the frontier to avoid these sinks of sin. God have mercy upon the man that measures liquid fire to his neighbor by the quart! He may be recognized in decent society here, but the terrors of the second death hang upon his future pathway.

Near the town was a race-track on which much labor had

been expended, and from many miles, in almost every direc tion, at certain seasons of the year, sportsmen brought trained horses to this track, either to win or lose large sums of money. The characters that hung round the old town of Washington in 1837, of whom I have written, and the disturbers that tried me sorely at Huntsville in 1845, had taught me some important lessons, while I taught them and others the way of life. If you want to get a victory over animal or man, the best policy is not to let him get the start of you. This lesson, I take it for granted, was taught by the Saviour, when he said, "Be wise as serpents." These characters I watched with a jealous eye, on my new field of labor, intending to do them all the good I could; but at the same time determined, in answer to prayer, that my Master should get the victory. My former conflicts caused me to whet my ingenuity to a keen edge, in the event of an issue.

As the spring advanced and summer drew nigh, the ordinance of baptism was demanded for the first time at Springfield, and administered. The people "from all the regions round about" came to witness it. The races were on hand for the following week, and gamblers, from near and from far, were on the ground.

The baptism was over, and the time drawing near for preaching. The gamblers, about fifty in number, retired to the grocery to get a drink. I was having more trouble than usual in getting my mind centred upon a text and a subject. A little season was given to prayer, under the hill hard by; but as I walked toward the court-house where we preached, no light appeared. Preachers who read this will know how I felt. As I passed close by the grocery, on my way, I observed that the door was shut, and the fifty sportsmen followed after me. This was more than I expected, but it

afforded much gratification. The reflection passed through my mind that these men would not pray for me, and my spirit was somewhat cast down. An expression from Paul now fastened itself upon my mind, and a train of thought, formerly digested, came to my relief. Soon all were quietly seated, the sportsmen by themselves, and, after the usual preliminaries, the text was announced:

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Hebrews xii. 1, 2.

"Religion is true. A cloud, a great cloud of witnesses hovers about us, bearing testimony to its divine authenticity. Man's own conscience, in the light of revealed truth, bears witness to the fact that he is a sinner, estranged from God, and deserving punishment. The claims of religion are pressed upon him, in this helpless state, designed and able to bring him back to God. By nature he is rebellious, and, according to Scripture declaration, an unbeliever.

"As the jury, a short time past, was impannelled in that box (pointing to my right), and sworn to decide, according to law and testimony, the guilt or innocence of the man who was tried for his life, so, at this hour, you may consider yourselves sworn in before God, the mighty Judge, to decide your guilt or innocence, and, at the same time, which race you will run to-morrow.

"First: when the eye of man, in ancient days, beheld the heavens spread out like a curtain and dotted with millions of blazing orbs of light, God declared by the mouth of his servant David, in the nineteenth Psalm, that 'The heavens

declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy-work.' He further declared by the mouth of the great apostle, who was caught up to the third heaven, that 'The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.' Romans i. 20.

"The testimony given by the creation and these glorious manifestations certainly establishes the fact in the mind of every juror, that there is a God, a mighty God, the father of us all. None but a fool will return the verdict, that there is no God.'

"The second point taken in this case is that part of the testimony rendered by the Word of God. The witness is full of age, and clearly testifies what he saw and heard. Long before the morning stars appeared, or ever the sons of God shouted for joy, this 'Word was with God, and the Word was God.' His testimony was never doubted in heaven, among the angelic throng who ever sing his praise. Early in the history of man, he made known the promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent. More than seven hundred years before the shouting angel host declared the presence of the new-born King, Isaiah saw, with prophetic eye, the scenes trranspiring in Bethlehem, and wrote, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.' The prophet Micah, hundreds of years before, was told the place of his birth and the character of the personage. 'But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall