Page:The English Peasant.djvu/214

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WITH ENGLISH PEASANTS.

the same creed as that once held by the greater number of Baptist churches, a creed of which particular salvation was a distinctive point; but while the greater part of the denomination have become so affected by the modern evangelical revival as to sink or almost lose sight of this doctrine, the Baptists of East Sussex, coming under the influence of Huntingtonianism, have continued more and more to magnify its importance, until, like Aaron's rod, it seems to have swallowed up everything else. In most villages they will be found to have a chapel, the minister of which is not unfrequently himself a farmer or a labourer. At Buxted the pastor of the chapel proved to be an ancient labourer in a dark smock, a truly simple-minded, good old man.

While I was staying in an ancient Wealden town, a large new Calvinistic chapel was opened, creating for the day quite an unwonted excitement. The building was well filled, one might almost say crowded, by a respectable body of worshippers, mostly farmers, their wives and children, many of whom came long distances in chaises, waggonettes, and carts.

The preacher in the morning was one of the most eminent holding their peculiar views. It was evident that he knew that the people he had to deal with were a desponding race, entertaining the most melancholy ideas concerning the fate of mankind in general, for his sermon was entirely devoted to an attempt to assure as many individuals among them as he possibly could, that, come what might to the bulk of men, they at least were safe. His text was, "Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, build Thou the walls of Jerusalem;" and the question raised was. Who were true Zionites? From his point of view the walls of the holy city became very extensive, for he asserted that any one who in the course of his life had felt five minutes" love to the Saviour was a true Zionite.

In the evening the minister of the place preached. He was a farmer, and lives miles away from his charge, but amongst these people the minister's office appears to be chiefly that of preaching. Every elect soul, they believe, has its appointed teacher, and every teacher has his appointed work. The former must go any distance to hear the right man; the latter any distance to do the right work. Thus in the course of this sermon the speaker spoke of having