We feel that he came in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Avoiding philosophy or speculative influence, he preached in humility, fervency and love, Christ and Him crucified, as the only way of salvation to lost and ruined sinners.
It was my happy privilege to meet Brother Thompson in the vicinity of Temple, the most southern point in his tour, and to attend his several appointments from Temple to Cleburne, a distance of about one hundred miles. Thanks be to God he was enabled to come among us "in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ." Notwithstanding our lethargy, his labors were blessed to the edification of our churches, to the awakening of the slumbering in Zion and sometimes seemingly careless sinners were observed to tremble and manifest marked interest in the subject discussed--Christ and him crucified, the only and all sufficient Saviour. Everywhere the brethren and sisters were built up and made to rejoice, sometimes to shout for joy and gratitude to God, for the soul-cheering refreshings of the Holy Spirit.
May the Lord God stir up more of His ministers to give themselves wholly to the work of preaching the gospel "everywhere," in meekness and love "instructing those who oppose themselves." We hope Brother Thompson will be enabled in like demonstration and power to visit us again, to comfort our hearts, to instruct our minds, to thrill our souls by way of remembrance, and to arouse our gratitude to God in presenting Christ, His bitter sufferings and matchless love!
When the time came that I must bid Brother Thompson adieu, and the thought returned to my mind of the inestimable service and labor of love this aged man of God has rendered our beloved Zion in saving many of her members from the presumptive claims of Two-seedism and Arminianism, my heart was made sad by the reflection that perhaps I would never be privileged to hear him preach again. But oh, this was not the worst!
On my arrival home, I was shocked and grieved beyond expression, to learn of the lamented death of my dear grandfather, Elder M. H. Denman. When I left home he was well, but filled with regret that Brother Thompson's appointments were such as to forbid their meeting in this world. I expected to recount my trip to him, to rehearse what my eyes had seen, my ears had heard, and my heart had felt--but he was gone! He had been taken from the world of trial below, I trust to the sweet employ of praising God in the bright and happy world above. Softly before his death grandfather said: "We have all been too cold, too cold! I want to preach some more." Oh brethren let these dying words be a living exhortation to all, and especially to those who are impressed to "preach the Word," to work while it is called today.
During the fifty years of grandfather's ministry, he uniformly held that our Lord's preachers should address not only the church but unregenerate sinners also. And I am so glad now, that he obeyed God rather than man, in that he fervently preached to sinners, the obligation of "all men everywhere" to believe, repent of their sins, and obey God's holy law, notwithstanding their present fallen state, or utter inability to repent, believe and obey, which man has brought upon himself.
But let us rejoice that God freely and graciously quickens into life, renews the spirit of the mind, or changes the will and affections in whosoever Re pleases, according to His own sovereign will. The imperfect or best obedience of the most pious can never bear the gaze of God's purity or merit His favor. But the perfect obedience of Christ is imputed unto all them that believe. All persons divinely led to believe and obey Christ, trust in His obedience for salvation, are born from above or by God's power, and shall be accepted before our just and holy God.
When extreme brethren objected that none but the church should be addressed, grandfather would insist that the invitations and promises of God's word are to the believer; and though men are fallen and helpless, the divine threatenings, the array of the exceeding sinfulness and guilt of sin, and the obligation to repent, etc., are to all men. In proof of this he would refer to the apostle's style of preaching "That men should repent," which the Baptists of all ages have zealously set forth in their sermons and written productions. It is wrong to sin; it is right for all persons to be ashamed and turn from sin. It is a source of deep regret that any one was ever prompted to give pain on such points to one for whom Christ suffered. Oh, I fear brethren have not been prompted in this by the spirit of love and tenderness. Experience only can give a full estimate of the heart-pangs thus produced.
Surely the infliction of such pain by unsound objections, is no proof of that love which "Thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."
Oh brethren, in view of the shortness of life, in view of our Saviour's tender love and bitter sufferings, let us obey Him! Let us be kind and tenderhearted one toward another. If one feels to address the church only, let him not fight against God by opposing a brother when following the Bible and the Spirit's promptings, in preaching to all present.
Some ministers dwell more on doctrine, while others combine doctrine, experience and practice. Should not each one follow his own impressions of duty, provided such impressions accord with the apostles' doctrine and manner of preaching? Evidently objections rendered contrary to the words of the Spirit, and by brethren supposed to be influenced by the Spirit, is a contradiction which often overwhelms the sincere believer, with distressing doubts and bitter anguish of Soul.
May our Lord, by His word and Spirit, enable each one in loyal obedience to Jesus, to avoid condemning his brother's duty and perform his own, to exercise forbearance and tell a brother his fault when necessary only--and as a rule privately, and always in love. Let each humbly perform the duties of his own particular office in the body or church of Christ with meekness and fear. Let every one seek by reading, meditation and prayer, to diligently and profitably use the gift God has given him in its public or private exercise, whether that gift be doctrinal, practical, experimental, or all combined, as in the apostolic models.
Beloved brethren, let us so live, love and obey, that if permitted to abide forever with Jesus, as we enter the door of heavenly bliss and have clearer views of Christ's sufferings and exaltation, and of the brightness of God's glory, we may be able to say: "I have wronged no man," I have kept "under my body" and brought "it into subjection," I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. And yet remembering our imperfections we shall be constrained to confess, "Oh, my Lord, as I have only-rendered reasonable or insufficient service. I am an unprofitable servant, unworthy of thy grace. If thou wilt accept me receive me for Jesus' sake."
Oh, may each humble trusting believer, each regenerated adopted child of God, now be enabled to pray with David, "Set a watch, oh Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Ps. cxli. 3. "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not." Ps. xvii. 5.
May the Lord God, according to His will, bless truth, pardon error, and shield and guide us all by His Holy Spirit, in all we do, think or say, for Jesus' sake.
Yours in love, and hope of eternal life,
Sparta, Tex. M.D. DENMAN
P.S. Observe that herein is Scripturally maintained the inability, and yet the accountability of all men. M.D.D.
Griffin's History 
