| This priceless document was nearly burnt
in a fireplace by John Lyle because it was
considered politically incorrect.
Miracles were an embarrassment to Presbyterians
who taught salvation did not require the
immediate activity
of the Holy Spirit. |
This Diary written by John Lyle contains the first-hand accounts of miracles that took place at Presbyterian Sacramental Meetings held in the Western Frontiers of Kentucky and Tennessee in the year of our Lord, 1805.
Wednesday I preached in Franklin to an attentive audience. A small congregation formed here by the Presbyterians has fallen prey to Mr. Stone and his emissaries from Kentucky and are now, except a few, are enamoured with the Palageous (pelagian) and Socisian (socinian) doctrines. Colenol Green Hill,.he never heard with the Pelegian and Socian doctrines. Colonel Green Hill attended, and most of the Methodist society and some Baptist came out to hear. I preached about two hours on faith, its antecedents, concomitants and consequents from 1 Peter 1:8. I was heard attentatively by the audience in general. Some of the Methodists and a few Calvinistic Presbyterians were deeply affected, but I thought the Stonites were much displeased.
In the evening I felt weak and fatigued and as it rained very hard I did not set out as I intended for Yellow Creek, a settlement to the left of the way to Clarksville. |
Thursday November 14, 1805
Though it continued to rain heavily, Mr. Hodge and I set out on our way to Clarksville. The way being bad and Mr. Hodges horse being foundered, we wrote about 25 miles.
This evening I was apprehensive that my health would be injured as I was both wet by the rains and by riding in deep water. This evening we obtained lodgings at one Baldwin’s on Turnbull Creek.
Friday November 15, 1805
We set off a little after sunrise to Mr. McAdo’s. Mr. McAdo is a debilitated Presbyterian preacher from Carolina. We arrived at Mr. McKay does about 10 o’clock. I learned that several Presbyterians on Yellow Creek and Jones Creek, owing to their being disaffected with the Presbyterian preachers for communing with the Methodists and encouraging what they account the extravagances of the revival have joined the seceeders
and subscribe for the labors of one Mr. Baldridge whom they are about to call from Virginia.
I had not an opportunity of forwarding an appointment to Yellow Creek - I determined now, as the time is short, to proceed to the Little East Fork on the north side of Cumberland River where I’ve appointed to be next Sabbath.
Saturday November 16, 1805
This morning set off from Captain Simpson's near Barton’s Creek - and came by Bell’s furnace to Clarksville, where I arrived about dusk. I lodge tonight and Mr. Hamilton’s about a mile from Clarksville.
Sabbath November 17, 1805
About 12 o’clock I arrived at Mr. Watson’s on the west fork of Red River about 12 or 14 miles nearly west of Clarksville. When I came Mr. Finis Ewing, one of the illiterate ministers of this presbytery was about to preach; but could proceed no further and though I was ill with a bad cold and much fatigue, I had to preach. My text was in John 8:36. The audience (considering this meeting was in a destitute place and numbers of the people not all brought up to religion) was very attentive.
The pious part of the audience appeared solemn and devout-some appeared to be deeply affected with the things spoken. After the sermon Mr. Ewing assisted in administering the sacrament to about 30 or 40 communicants who appeared to be warmly engaged. Notwithstanding the coldness of the evening the people would not concede to a proposal of having societies in the neighborhood-but camped according to the custom of the country in the open air and in tents. I retired to Mr. Jeffries.
Monday
Finding myself very horse and having not heard Mr. Ewing preach I insisted that he should preach. He preached accordingly and
made a tolerably good practical discourse. Afterwards Mr. McClain having his passions warmed, voluntarily gave us an exhortation-I attempted to give the people a concluding address; but my lungs in a great measure refused to do their office. I spoke but about 15 or 20 minutes. I dismissed the people. This evening I rode about 20 miles in company with Mr. Ewing to his own house, where we arrived about 8 o’clock at night.
The synod, having appointed a commission to sit at Gasper to try the Presbytery of Cumberland for licensing illiterate young men - those young men seem to be greatly alarmed - we therefore had a good deal of conversation on the subject of qualifications of a gospel minister etc.. A number of these young men seem to lament their want of learning, but would be very unwilling to lay down their office on this account.
Tuesday November 19, 1805
I rode in company with Mr. Samuel Hodge to his father’s in Christian County, Kentucky.
Wednesday November 20, 1805
I wrote to Mrs. Campbell’s in Mulenburg (Muhlenburg) County. Here I took some medicine to relieve my lungs. There I preached to an attentive audience on Titus 3:5. My breast was better and though weak, had a comfortable liberty in speaking.
Friday
I visited Mr. Nelson, one of their presbyters lately licensed, who lives in this neighborhood. Our conversation turned on the disorders and unusual exercises of the congregations of this country. I plied him with the 14th chapter of first Corinthians (Bible in hand). We also conversed on the doctrine of impressions-a doctrine of great weight in this presbytery and which mightily induces to various practices,
Which are unknown in many other places. I returned to Mrs. C-----‘s where the evening was spent in conversation and singing hymns.
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