The well driller

Front matter

f ;

THE

WELL DRILLER:

Preface

;fi?0MM01s usage requires, when a new Look y l is given to the public, that the author should not only give a condensed outline of his subject, but also his reasons for having written and published it.

The outline, as seen on the title-page, will at once present the full subject to the reader.

As will be noticed, however, upon its perusal, we have not confined ourselves to the forms of argument in the order in which they are stated, inasmuch as this would have given it too much of a mechanical arrangement, which, in the style in which it is written, would not have been admissible ; but all three are em-

IV PREFACE.

ployed in answering the questions that Lave been raised.

In order to make it as attractive as possible to the masses, and to give it a practical application, the conversational style has been employed,

It courts not the favor of the merely moral, neither does it compromise with the Devil, but it boldly and unremittingly advocates an unconditional SURRENDER TO CtlRXST AS MAN'S ONLY SAFETY, AND UNION WITH HlS CHURCH AS ESSEN- TIAL to a Scriptural Christianity.

The title, "The Well-Driller; or, I Can Live Outside, 55 has been adopted mainly because circumstances, as narrated in the first chapter, seemed to demand it.

Most of the incidents brought forward are still fresh in the author 5 s recollection. Real names, of course, have been withheld, and others substituted.

The reasons which prompted to the production of the book may be written in a single sentgiiee— to no good. Many are relying on their

PREFACE. V

morality to save them, and hence stand aloof from the visible Kingdom of Christ. Others refuse to unite with the Church on the grounds of its not being necessary, their not being good enough, and other reasons just as puerile, all of which are duly noticed in the body of the work.

An appendix has been added containing a chapter on Educational Religion, and a sermon on the Value of the Bible.

With these brief explanations, the book is sent out on its mission with the fervent prayer that all into whose hands it may come will not only be entertained, but also instructed in things pertaining to their safety ; and that it may lead many to clearer apprehensions of their duty in connection with the truth, bringing them into the Militant Church, so that in due time they may be translated into the Church Triumphant.

Chapter I

Mr, Alexander, a Minister of the Gospel — His early employment and convictions — Final triumph over all difficulties — He enters the Ministry — Locates in the

- West — Attracted by a strange sound, conies to Mr. Simon who is drilling a well — The value of water — ■ Origin of wells — Water symbolizes the Blessings of Salvation — Christ the door — N~o other way — Hot necessary to belong to a Church — Mr. Simon a Chris-

- Man for 15 years and no church member— Keeps up family worship — No church suits his taste — Obedience

• to Christ the only sign of love toward him — The Lord's Supper a necessary requirement — Mr. Simon finds fault with Ministers for not inviting all christians to commune — Not too strict to demand church — Membership first — ISTo wish that the church should go down — But not necessary to be a member of it — Mr. Alexander closes the conversation — Is invited to call at Mr. Simon's to continue the conversation— Accepts — Bid each other good-bye.

CHAPTER IT.

MrJSinrEon arguing with himself— Almost forgot his chores — Busily thinking while at work — Wonders what the Minister thinks of him — Almost wishes he had not invited him over — Desires to he set right — Justifies viii

CONTENTS.

himself by following Mr. Small's example who was once a church member — Mr. Alexander calls — Is cordially greeted - Introductions— Shown into the parlor — He likes the town — Can feel himself at home —We never appreciate blessings until deprived of them — Mr. Simon corroborates this by his own occupation — Begin the conversation — Mr. Simon refers to Mr. Small's conduct — The Minister admits that he is an honest man, and a good neighbor, yet also a dangerous man — .Christianity consists in receiving Christ — Good works the expression of a grateful heart — Good works injurious to those who rely on them — Man might have led a moral life without Christ — Mr. Simon begins to see matters in a different light — His wife gives her hearty assent to the Minister's views, and is thankful for the instruction given — Mr. Simon never seriously studied the matter — Is shown his inconsistency for not doing so — Tea announced— Ail eat heartily —Again return to the room — Mr. Simon excuses himself— Mast attend to an errand.

Chapter III

Mr. Simon goes into a store — The crowd and conversation — The Grange Movement under discussion — Getting boisterous — Making more of the Grange than of the Church — Mr. Simon speaks — Getting still more overbearing — Mr. Simon persuades his brother in-law, Mr. Marshall, to go home with him — Introduces him to the Minister — Mr. Alexander asked to give his views of the movement — Makes a few statements— Mr. Marshall not at church for two years — His reasons — No clothes fit — The people so "stuck up" — Mr. Alexander replies —Don't look at the fine clothes— They will be good enough to die in, some da}'— Mr. Marshall thinks

CONTENTS.

IX ignorance of duty excuses responsibility — Is shown the inconsistency and sinfulness of such views — All men are responsible to God — He says there are so many hypocrites in the church— Mr. Alexander tells him of what such excuses remind him — The hypocrisy of others will not justify him — Every one to give an account for themselves — Man is responsible even befoie making a profession — Erring christians repent amid groans and tears — Can the church save ? — Reply — Forms not religion — But necessary for its existence — Mist not separate the two — Illustrated by the human bod} — God always works by means — The world looks for some external evidence— God's glory demands it — Mr. &mo.n admits that he had been following his own wajr, md not God's — Is exhorted to flee to Christ ' — Pronises to unite with the church — Mr. Marshall must lave time to consider — Is also exhorted to act prom ply— Conclude the interview with fervent prayer — The} separate.

A delightfulmorning — Mr. Simon asks his wife to accompany hin to church — She consents — He reiterates his intention o unite with the church — She will join with him — His mind undergoing conviction since the conversatki at the well— The people thronging to church — Teir decorous behavior — The sermon — 1. Christ the lead— 2. The church the body— 3. We the members — 'he head necessary to life — Union with the head is thragh the body — Something wrong when persons reM'to unite with the church— Mr. and Mrs. Simon resold to unite at the first opportunity— They take this stel_Mr. Marshall in the congregation— His mind coliderably agitated— The tempter seeks

Chapter IV. X

C( >\itjv\ r - to quiet his conscience — Wishes himself in Mr Simon's place at the altar of consecration — Can no longer resist — Conies forward after all have communed — Mr. Alexander's embarrassment — Blended the Ceremonies of confirmation and communion — A blessed meeting — Mr. Simon rejoices that his eyes have been opened to the truth— Mrs. Simon surprised at her brother's sudden resolution — Mr. Simor rather expected it — They converse about their new 'elation to God — Closed the day with devotions— Realised that prayer is a blessed privilege, as well as a duty.

Chapter V

The value of a contented mind — Walking in dixy's path the only way to obtain, it — Mr. Simon lad never before fully possessed a clear conscience-His wife proposes having their children baptized — le is not much of a believer in infant baptism — Tiey argue the case — Mrs. Simon is silenced, but not convinced— Her husband proposes asking the minister ibout it- Conclude to ask him next evening at prayc-ineeting — The meeting — All gladly consent to Iweu to the arguments— Mr. Simon opens the subject ' >y referring to their conversation at home — All are g\d the question was proposed — Because it is not, in so many words, commanded in the Bible is no >roof agains t the doctrine, rather in its favor— Implant facts are frequently overlooked — Children 'ere alwaysincluded with their parents in all' covaants — If children are fit for heaven, they are entitle! to the external sign— the duty of parents to conscrate their offspring to God by baptism— It disnguishes them from unbelievers — They ought to besought into the covenant— Mr. Simon deeply imprest! — He consents

CONTENTS, co have them baptized — Parents often neglect their 'duties toward their children — Mrs. Lane bereft of a child — She is no professor— Came for sympathy and •comfort — She felt it to be her duty to unite with the church — Was waiting on her husband — Mr. Alexander shows her the folly of thus waiting — Mrs. Reno thinks one who does not profess religion is not expected to be as circumspect as a professor — That is not the point — Mr. Alexander urges Mrs. Lane to set a proper example before her husband ; to pray for his conversion — Fears she could not keep her vows — Christ will assist the truly penitent soul — May bring all our domestic annoyances to Christ — In the church we receive His grace — Dark clouds gathering.

€HAPTER VI,

Time flies— A bounteous harvest — Mr. Lane finishing with his grain — His strange actions — Incoherent talk — Rushes to the house— Gets his pistol — Walks about— Attempts to take his life— Fails— Tries again — Succeeds — Mrs. Lane's consternation — Reason welln i gh dethroned — Her convalescence— B lames hersel f for her husband's untimely end— Bewails her procrastination — Mr. Alexander calls — She recounts • her griefs — He points her to Christ for comfort — Thinks herself too wicked to obtain forgiveness — Is haunted by her husband's appearance — Mistreated him — Mr- Alexander accuses her of misusing God as badly as she did her husband— This deepens her grief — Says she is lost — Mr. Alexander glad to hear it — She becomes still more miserable — Tells her that the worst sinner may obtain pardon— Begins to be comforted — Inquires after the way of life — Is directed to unite with the church — Fears she is not good enough

X12 CONTENTS,

yet — Wants to a get religion" first — She is shown the unscripturalness of her views — She wants to feel happy — Refers to some converts — Admits that their feelings did not prove genuine— The most boisterous persons generally the least reliable — Love to Christ, and not the fear of hell, to be the propelling cause of man's conversion — She is convinced of her error, but is too proud to admit it — Mr. Alexander leaves her to meditate on the subject.

Chapter VII

Mrs. Simon calls on Mrs. Lane — Excuses herself for not calling sooner — Mrs. Lane begins to relate her troubles — Mrs. Simon tells her the uselessness of it — Then relates her history since Mr. Alexander came to town — Tries to convince Mrs. Lane that it is her duty to unite with the church— She admits the force of the argument — Says that Mrs. Simon will soon be able to call her sister — It became true in two senses — A pause — Talk about other matters— Mrs. Simon goes home — ■ Mr. Alexander calls at Mr. Gold's — The family — The young man skeptical — Symptoms of consumption — Mr. Alexander inquires how Brother Hull is prospering—Rather slowly — Mr. Gold does not like him well enough to join his church— Is told not to let trifles keep him from doing his duty— It will be his own eternal loss, not Mr. Hull's — Is warned of his sin in hating one of God's servants — He blames the minister for being too harsh — Desires to close the conversation — Mr. Alexander closes it with a pointed admonition—Rids the family good-bye— Calls at Dr. R urns' — The Doctor very profane — His wife formerly a member of the church — Mr. Alexander cautiously approaches the Doctor on the subject of religion — w xiii

EThS been in church only four times in twenty-two years— His reasons— Doesn't believe in the Gospel as preached— God is too merciful to cast man into hell- He is driven to the wall— Becomes angry — Uses unbecoming language — Mr. Alexander leaves with a f r i en d ly ad m o u i t i o n ,

Chapter VIII

Time rolls on— Mr. Alexander and family visit their Eastern home—Great changes — Preaching in the old pulpit—His feelings on looking over the congregation- Communion — fStrange and familiar faces— Calls on Father Benton and wife— Infirm— Talking about their heavenly home— Scarcely recognize Mr. Alexander—* Are glad to see him— Talk about the Master's cause- Mr. Benton's views of those claiming to be Christians who do not unite with the church— Recount the Lord's tender mercies—Commends them to God in prayer— Mr. Alexander bids them farewell— Changes going on in the Western home — Mr. Gold confined to his bed— Requests a minister to be brought— His father objects to Mr. Hull— The son reproves him for harboring such feelings— Dispatches a messenger for Mr. Hull and Mi\ Mills— Mr, Hull arrives first— Con* Verses with the sick man— Finds him penitent and anxious about his soul— Seeking for the truth-— Is directed to the Saviour — Fears his inability to exercise faith— Is assured that all who truly come to Christ obtain forgiveness— His countenance brightens—Mr, Mills arrives— The Tempter attacks the sick man— He is commended to the mercy of God— Finds peace— Desires to be received into the church— The solemn scene — Mr. Gold exhorts his attendants to

XI V seek the Saviour without delay — The last morning — Comforts his weeping parents— The solemn parting- Breath failing— Face beaming— A whisper— At rest.

CHAFFEE IX.

Mr, Alexander returns from the East — Father Benton and companion called home — Dr. Burns attacked by disease — Has a foreboding — Consults the best physicians — Their verdict. — He could not. believe it — Consults . others, with the same result — Becomes melancholy — ■ Forbids any minister to visit him— His wife pleads— He is inexorable — Seeks to instruct him herself — He refers her to her own indifference and' neglect — She is greatly embarrassed — Leaves the room in humiliation — Hears a crash — Hastens back — Finds the Doctor tying on the floor — Calls medical aid — He is delirious — Is afraid to remain alone — The last conflict approaches — His terror — Imprecations — The awful scene — Falls silent in death — The funeral — How it affected the community — Reflections — Infidelity and Skepticism contrasted with Christianity — The believers 1 challenge.

CHAPTER X. Five years elapse— Scene in the National Hall in T

Inscriptions — Bouquets— Music — Prayer — Exercises- College commencement — Mr. Marshall in the crowd — Wins the laurels— He designs entering the ministry- Goes home — Hardships endured — His father and Mr. Alexander await his arrival at the depot — Cordial greeting — Dinner at Mr. Simon's — Impatience to get home— Rushes into the house— Wanders through the

CONTENTS.

XV garden and orchard — Apples — Family worship — Goes to town frequently — Meets Mrs. Lane at his sister's— Bees a great change in her— Almost falls in love— The accident—Is carried into Mrs. Lane's house—The doctor says nothing serious — Goes to his sister's in a few days— The- widow visits quite often — Gets well — Prepares to return to the Seminary — Mr. Alexander gives him good advice — Preset ts-^-Packing his trunk — Parting and departing.

CHAPTER XL

The journey— Glorious sunset — The storm — All nature refreshed— Reaching the city— The hustle and confusion at the depot— Meets Dr. Garnet— Baggage secured —Accompanies the Doctor — Prospects for the future — Tea — Retires — Rises refreshed— Sets his room in order — Commences his studies— His sermon in the Chapel — He accompanies the Doctor into the country — Lodge at Mr. Miller's— Is introduced— Perhaps would like to address the Sabbath-School to-morrow — Decides not to —Mr. Smith, a brother-in-law to Mr. Miller— A moral man, but no church-member — Dr.

Garnet has a long conversation with him— He makes the usual excuses— The Doctor combats him with spiritual missiles— It is wrong to repudiate what God has enjoined — Mr. Smith caught in his own trap— Could make no answ r er — The Doctor still assails him with arguments— Mr. Smith hurls his darts — Is caught again— The Doctor denounces non-professors as teachers in the Sabbath-School -This stings to the quick — The lateness of the hour — Family devotions — Mr Smith reviews his past life — All retire.

xvi

CONTfiKTB,

CHARTER XII.

At the Sunday-School— Mr. Marshall feels restless— The Doctor asks him to address the school— Pie refubes— He assists the Doctor in the pulpit— Embarrassment —Blunders— Relief — The Doctor's sermon-— A strong argument against the merely moral and nominal professor—A sense of unfitness no just reason to remain out of the church — Every truly converted man is found in the church — Mr. Smith brought to serious reflection— He unites with the church— Mr. Marshall studies faithfully — Refuses to preach— Calls on a neighboring minister — Had promised to preach for him— Is pressed into the service— His feelings — The effort— The success— The final examination and licensure— Goes home— The arrival — Occupies the pulpit on the following Sabbath— Visits a vacant charge- Unanimously called — Accepts— Preaches a year— Revisits home— Preaches again— The people surprised at his sudden appearance — Service announced for Thursday evening— Suspicions — Large congregation — Mr. Alexander preaches himself— The people wonder—A w T edding— Who ?— Mr. Marshall and the Widow Lane— Leave for their field of labor — Mrs. Marshall differs vastly Irom her former self— They are beloved by all their flock— Active and successful in building up the church — Taking leave of them - - Wishing them welL

Appendix

minister has a varied experience— Some pleasant, others otherwise — Mr. Sultan, an elder in the church — Mr. Alexander calls on him — Is invited to accompany him to a neighboring town — Accepts — The conversation — Mr. Sultan fears the congregation will go down — The minister cannot see why it should — Mr. Sultan thinks false doctrine has been preached— Mr. Alexander astonished — He has not preached heresy, but Mr. Blake has — He tells what it was — Gives his own view^s — Mr. Alexander can see no heresy, but believes the same doctrine — Mr. Sultan thinks infants need not be regenerated — Mr. Alexander makes such views appear ridiculous — Shows that they are sinners — Mr. Sultan driven to the wall —Wishes to close the conversation — Mr. Alexander holds that even infants must be born again — Proofs — Begins to see matters in a new light — Must consider — In town— Start home — Mr. Alexander re-opens the conversation — Old prejudices returned — The conversation did not take the turn he had intended — Explains — A man must know when he is converted — Gives his experience — Sorry that he had been catechized— iSTot converted until long afterward — Get the heart right, and the head will come right — Some ministers make a hobby of instruction — Experiencing religion vs inexperienced catechumens — Feelxvm

APPENDIX.

ings liable to deceive us — All persons are not capable of the same emotions — The Word of God the onh infallible guide — Mr. Sultan becomes exasperated — Claims sinless perfection — Condemns himself b} r gelling angry — Perfection not attainable in this life — Want of instruction endangers the happiness of the soul — Man must know that he is a sinner — Mr. Sultan's argument applies to the Sunday- School, Biblereading and preaching as well as to cateehization — It gives Christians a solid foundation— In o intelligent person would depend on his knowledge for salvation — Mr. Sultan believes in the anxious-bench system — Speaks of its success — Mr. Alexander questions him — Shows its impotence — Often leads to skepticism — Some of its practices — Does not accord with the Apostle's teaching — Mr. Sultan thinks he has been shown only ihe dark side— Mr. Alexander assures him that there are others just as dark — A critical period — The blind leading the blind — The better way — Its good results — Mi. Sultan reviews the subject — How the bench sj'stem had been mysterious to him — Memory at work— Finally merges into the light— Changes his mind.

SERMON.

Text—Divisions— Appropriateness of the name Destroyer — His former state— His ruin — Brings destruction to angels and men — Extent of the destruction — All calamities caused by it— How he leads men astray — Only one road to ruin, but many paths— Pride — Profanity — Morality — Christianity outside the church — Infidelity — Lust— -Intemperance — Man by nature ignorant— Must bo instructed — The Bible the only source xix of in form a lion — Tells of sin, of salvation — The Bible the foundation of our civil liberty — lis destruction would plunge us into ruin — The policy of Rome and of Satan is to banish it from the land — Necessity of guarding it — It giids the Christian's path through death — It is the sinner's only guide to heaven.

Chapter I

Mr. Alexander, a Minister of the Gospel — His early employment and convictions — Final triumph over all difficulties — He enters the Ministry — Locates in the West — Attracted "by a strange sound, comes to Mr. Simon who is drilling a well — The value of water — Origin of wells — Water symbolizes the Blessings of Salvation — Christ the door— No other way — Not necessary to belong to a Church — Mr. Simon a Christian for 15 years and no church member — Keeps up family worship — No church suits his taste — Obedience to Christ the only sign of love toward him — The Lord's Supper a necessary requirement — Mr. Simon finds fault with Ministers for not inviting all christians to commune — Not too strict to demand church — Membership first— No wish that the church should go down — But not necessary to be a member of it — Mr. Alexander closes the conversation — Is invited to call at Mr. Simon's to continue the conversation— Accepts — Bid each other good-bye.

Along the line of one of our Western railroads lies the beautiful village of D — .

Surrounded by vast, rolling prairies, interspersed with groves of stunted timber, it becomes at once a healthy and pleasant place in which to live.

In the vcar 18 — , Mr. Alexander, a miniszz the Well driller ; or,

ter of the Gospel, located in this quiet little village. He had been reared in a more eastern part of the United States, where timber grew thick and rank. In this he had spent days of toil in felling it to the ground ; also for hours had he dived into its dense retreats, hunting the beautiful grey and fox squirrels, not even slighting the large droves of well-favored wild turkeys. He soon found, however, that hunting game was not to be his employment, for he was not an extra marksman by any means. Only about every third shot took effect, the other two hitting something else.

Since it is not our intention to write a biography of this gentleman, we silently pass over the weeks and months in which the spirit of God urged him to the work of the ministry ; also the months of anxious wrestlings that all difficulties might be removed, so that he might obey the voice of God,

At length, however, the way was opened ; and, after completing his theological course at one of our institutions and laboring about two years in the State of Ohio, he located in the West.

T CAN LIVE OUTSIDE,

It was only a few weeks after his removal to the village above named that his attention was one day arrested by a dull, thudding sound in the outskirts of the town, and, being naturally of an inquisitive turn of mind, he determined to see what it was ; and, as the village wasn't very large, he soon came to the spot from whence the sound proceeded.

" How do you do, sir ?"

" Oh, pretty well. How are you getting along, Mr. Alexander?"

"Very well, thank you. You seem to have the advantage of me, however."

" Oh, that's quite natural, you know. We citizens soon learn to know a stranger that moves in. But we are all strangers to you ; so, of course, it will take some time to learn to know everybody in the town and neighborhood. I knew you had moved into town ; and, besides that, I was over to hear you preach last Sunday. My name is Simon."

"Well," said Mr, Alexander, ^ since we are to live in the same town, we might as well become acquainted with each other at once/'

14 Yes ; that's so. You'll find us folks don't stand mucli on ceremony when it comes to that. Besides, we rather like to have preachers on the list of our acquaintances."

After exchanging a few common-place remarks concerning the state of the weather, Miv Alexander said :

" Mr. Simon, I was attracted by the peculiar noise you were making, and so, to satisfy my own curiosity, came over to see what was going on; but I think I understand it now. You are drilling a well, eh ?"

"Yes, sir; or, rather making this one deeper. The water in the earth seems to be sinking, so that wells, which a few years ago furnished plenty of water, are now nearly dry."

"I should suppose," continued Mr. Alexander, ' 4 that it is very slow work thus drilling such a hole through the solid rock."

"That depends altogether on the kind of rock we are working in. Sometimes it appears to be rather soft, then it goes pretty fast. At other times it is quite hard; then, of course, it goes pretty slow."

"Wells are of very ancient origin," said i CAN LIVE OUTRIDE.

Mr. Alexander. "We find them spoken of in Patriarchal age, and not a few were the brawls and feuds which were engendered by them. The shepherds often strove for their possession. Sometimes they filled them up for each other, in which event it became a serious calamity. As the flocks and herds were frequently quite large, it would require a good supply of water to suffice them. Hence they were usually quite deep, which made it still worse for the herdsmen, since it would require ail the more labor to excavate them again.

u Water is a very essential element, not merely to sustain the life of vegetation, of animals, and mankind, but it becomes invaluable, also, for cleansing purposes. Hence it is frequently employed in the Scriptures to symbolize the blessings of salvation and eternal life. The Kevelator speaks of the ' river of the water of life and the Prophet Zeehariah tells us of a fountain opened in the house of David for sin and uncieanness.''

" Do you think the Prophet refers to Christ in His work of the atonement ?" said Mr. Simon.

" Undoubtedly. Does it not most beauti-

THE WELL DRILLER : OR.

fully and significantly foreshadow the washing of the robes and making them white in the blood of the Lamb? When Christ was crucified, the spear literally 4 opened 1 the side of the Saviour, from which flowed both water and blood, which was for the cleansing of the nations. 55

u Then there is no other way by which we can be cleansed from our sins?" asked Mr. Simon.

u There is not, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Christ becomes the way, the truth, and the life. He also declares to us that He is the ' door, 5 and by Him we must enter into the Kingdom if we would be saved."

" Since, then, Christ is the 'door 5 by which we are to enter the Kingdom, it is unessential whether we belong to the church or not, 55 said Mr. Simon.

u I am surprised to hear you talk so ! 55 said Mr. Alexander; " and I hope you do not put your theory into practice. Permit me to ask you of which of the churches in town yon are a member. 55