THE PRIMITIVE MONITOR -December 1895

PRELUDE.

He in his biography refers to the small, slender girl, whose baptism by Elder James Lee, in the Licking River, Kentucky, made such a deep and lasting impression on his youthful mind, as he was only nine months her senior. At the age of twenty-two she became his companion for life. Her conviction and conversion, as related by herself, had become familiar to the writer, with whom she spent considerable of the last years of her mortal life, having heard it related by her many times, the last of which when in her 80th year. After so long an elapse of time it seemed, as she remarked, as vivid in her memory as when related before the church of which she first became a member.

THE EXPERIENCE

Myself, with several neighbor children, attended an evening service in the Old Baptist meeting house near my father's home I then, as for some time past, imagined myself a much more consistent Christian than most professing people. I often found myself commenting on the faults and imagined the shortcomings of even my own dear parents. Filled with self-righteousness, I joined the singing in lull harmony, so far a voice was concerned, fully satisfied with myself in every way, until the minister repeated his text, which was these words, ‘For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?’ Rev. vi. 17. I realized a feeling similar to a shock. The words, ‘Who shall be able to stand,’ seemed to be addressed to me personally. A trembling fear seized the, and all my props of self-righteousness and good works fell from under the, and left me overwhelmed with a feeling of helplessness and utter despair. Under this load of condemnation, I returned to my father's house. This distress of mind continued with very little change for some time, so much so that it became observable to all my friends.

One day my mother, who had noticed a change in my general manners, also the usual sadness of my countenance, said, ‘Polly, [as such I was called commonly] what is the matter with you, you eat so little and seem so sad? Are you well?’ ‘O mother!’ I cried, ‘I feel that I must die. I don't know what to do. I feel so sinful!’ She asked some questions as to the cause of my trouble. After I answered as best I could, she counseled me to go to Christ as the only hope of deliverance, bid me seek his mercy in prayer, for his sufferings on the cross were to redeem just such sinners as I felt myself to be. This advice comforted me. I resolved at once to try to pray. I had tried so often before arid failed to find relief. My sins arose before me. They seemed like mountains pressing me down. In my inmost heart, I was calling on God to have mercy on my poor soul. Yet, it seemed that I could not pray. This unhappy state of mind continued for some time. 

And whispers I am his.'

In the year 1834 the membership of both husband and wife were recorded in the Old Baptist church called Lick Creek, Fayette county, Ind., where they remained until death. His death occurred some ten years prior to hers. Their mortal remains rest in the cemetery at Russiaville, Howard County, Ind., where only a few inches of earth separate their moldering dust; there they await the trump of God to join together with the bright numberless throng, whose robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and filled whose eyes every tear has been wiped away.

All at once they rise to glory,

Jesus brings them to the King;

There with all the hosts of heaven,

Their eternal anthems sing!

Hallelujah!

Boundless glory to the lamb!

Their daughter,

Mrs. M. J. Olive