In reference to the former religious state of this place the picture is a truly gloomy one—a common ruin of all that is holy seems to have pervaded3 society from the highest to the lowest; nor did the condition appear to awaken4 any concern—bull and badger5 baiting, cock and dog fighting, with all their concomitant evils, depravity of manners, pugilistic encounters, drunkenness and profanity, were the characteristics of the people, not of the lower classes only, but also the middle and upper, and not only sanctioned but encouraged by the clergy7; to such an extent did this run, that a notoriety rested upon the place and its inhabitants for miles round. It is true the Society of Friends had long possessed8 a place of worship here, but little benefit resulted to the morals of the people. The peculiar9 tenets held by them, together with other circumstances, tended to their decline, public service was confined to periodical assemblings, called quarterly district meetings, the funeral of friends, or the visits of some of their principal speakers.
In the Establishment the teaching was a meagre maudling something, for neither in precept11 or example could it be called religion, or even morality. Its quality was of the same stamp as that which generally pervaded the discourses12 of the clergy of that day, and which diffused14 its baneful15 seeds over the country at large, such as might be expected, where the sports of the field, the facilities for angling, and the pleasures of good-fellowship were objects of pre-eminent attraction to clerical ambition. The submission17 of p. 13the poor to their superiors; reverence18 and obedience20 to the commands of the priesthood; abject21 veneration22 for the Established Church; punctuality in attendance on her rites23 and ceremonies, with a full and prompt discharge of all her dues; these were the staple24 of her instructions, and all that was required by her to constitute a good man, a Christian25, and to entitle him to heaven; while every effort made to instruct and enlighten the mind received the whole weight of her opposition26 and anathema27, as it was considered far preferable that the population be left in the grossest darkness, perfectly28 and profoundly ignorant of the claims of God, so besotted in vice10 were they, that to be the best fighter, to have the best bulldog, to possess the finest game bird, or to have won the prize in any of the sports was the highest felicity and enjoyment29 their minds could desire or appreciate.
As in many of the most important conveniences and improvements of civilised life, the origin or spring has been insignificant30 and comparatively obscure, surrounded with every disadvantage and impediment to success; so also has it been with our most valuable religious movements, “For God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty31; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought32 things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.” [13] Look at the great moral and spiritual reformation which commenced in the year 1503, when a change took place in Germany, agitating33 the whole Christian world, shaking the papal kingdom from the centre to the circumference34, opening to the light its secret p. 14abominations, overturning its iniquitous35 customs, irradiating its darkest recesses36, and pouring its healing waters into the abodes37 of suffering and woe39. And what was the immediate40 instrument, and who was the artificer selected or raised up to accomplish this? The prohibited volume of the Holy Scripture41, which had long lain on the shelves of the library at the Augustine monastery42 at Erfurt—here Martin Luther, a monk43, found it, secretly he conveyed it to his cell, and amid the solemn silence and darkness of night, his solitary44 lamp tells his employment, and aids him in exploring the mine of truth, the record of eternal life. Celestial45 light diffused itself through his mind, illumined his soul, and wrought46 strong convictions that the principles and practices of that Church, of which he was the avowed47 and sworn servant, were at perfect variance48 with truth. Arrayed against him as was the whole hierarchy49 of that apostate50 Church, he clothed himself in the panoply51 of the Gospel, especially “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” to do warfare52 in the sacred cause.
So here an obscure peasant, inhabiting a cot so lowly that those accustomed to more convenient and comfortable accommodation would be disposed to spurn53 the humble54 abode38 as a mere55 hovel unfit for human dwelling56; whose days are devoted57 to toil58 amid exposure to all the varying influences of weather, the father of a large and increasing family, whose wants might plead excuse, and claim his undivided attention, together with a heavily afflicted59 wife, whose ill-health prevents her sharing her husband’s labours, or ministering to the comforts of her family, his scanty60 pittance61 not exceeding one shilling a-day, save the help derived62 from friendship’s gifts or dole63 of charity, or what his children (into whose minds he had carefully installed those principles of right and industry) could earn by cow-tending and other p. 15casual employment, the younger ones collecting the knobs of wool found in the sheep-walks, which the elder ones would in the evening card, clean, and spin, and either dispose of to persons inclined to purchase, knit into stockings, or send to Potterne or Cheverill villages in the vicinity, where a weaver64 or two resided, and have it wove into blankets, or flannels65 for petticoats. Boys and girls would accompany the father, and assist him to keep the sheep from the corn. He it is who is to commence a local reformation, both by his own example and precept, introducing the Gospel, whose divine light and effects are to spread and diffuse13 themselves around and onward66 through subsequent years—yes, even into the boundless67 region of that world of immensity—Eternity.
In the year 1717, in a very mean and humble cottage at Littleton Wells, a hamlet of West Lavington, dwells a man of lowly occupation, a shepherd, David Saunders. Beneath this roof an immortal68 being commences his career; an event which, when viewed aright, is calculated to awaken thoughts of deep import even when unconnected with any remarkable69 circumstances, how much more so when results of infinite moment follow. No portentous70 predictions foreshadow his future course; the probability is that the paternal71 lot will be his, and peasant toil with poverty’s hard crust his only heritage. Infancy72 and youth in their common every-day occurrences are past, and to him the barest modicum73 of instruction is afforded probably at the dame74 school of the village. He learned to read and write, beyond those rudimentary aids he does not advance; the situation his father fills requires his early assistance and help; he becomes an under-shepherd, and mid6 the variations of heat and cold, rain and snow, wind and sunshine, his frame becomes nerved to life’s rough path. He rises to man’s estate, and quitting the subordinate situation takes p. 16the head; whether this was before his father’s death or after, is not quite certain; it is, however, an authenticated75 fact he did succeed his father, and remained on the same farm upwards76 of thirty years, although during that time the property more than once changed hands; it was the same as is now occupied by Mr. Hooper. He married Lydia Bishop77, and reared a family of sixteen children. His wife died in the year 1789.
David Saunders, the individual of whom we now speak, or as he is more generally designated on account of his piety78, the pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, was early brought under the itinerant79 labours of some of the followers80 of John Wesley; at what exact period is not known. On one occasion going to hear a Methodist preacher, probably at Imber or Seend, with a young man, one of their society, he complains of a painful and distressing81 disease, to which from early life he had been subject, which not only caused him great trouble but was regarded by him as a great affliction (the leprosy). His companion, while compassionating82 his case, took occasion to remind him that he was afflicted with a far worse disease, that not only afflicted his body but ruined both body and soul, making it loathsome83 in the eyes of a pure and holy God, and entailed84 upon it eternal misery85; recommending him instantly to apply to the great Physician for that balm which alone can effect a perfect cure. Thus made acquainted with the Gospel, he continued the pursuit until he was brought to a full realisation of its power: the sincerity86 of his profession evidenced itself by the anxiety awakened87 in his mind with reference to the condition of those around him; for, as was stated at the commencement of this section, the religious state of the neighbourhood was awful and alarming; he was a light in a dark place, and as was said of the church of Pergamos, “Thou p. 17dwellest where Satan’s seat is.” Pains and penalties awaited those who dared to think and act in opposition to the authorised teachers, and to disturb the heavy gloom that rested on the public mind; for at this time the same person held the two livings of East and West Lavington. The statement in the tract16 published by the Religious Tract Society would lead to the formation of a high estimate of the piety of the neighbourhood and the resident clergy; there is nothing whatever to warrant this, quite the reverse, and would apply to times of a much later date. There is also a very great inaccuracy as to the shepherd being placed in the situation of parish clerk, and removing to the house of his predecessor88, where a Sabbath school is reported to have been commenced under the auspices89 of the vicar and Mr. Johnson, who was no other person than Dr. Stonehouse, the projector90 of the Infirmary at Salisbury and the resident surgeon there, but having been unsuccessful in his treatment of a small-pox patient, which affected91 his reputation and very much depressed92 him, he quitted the medical profession and took holy orders; the living of the two Cheverills, which were then united, being presented him by Earl Radnor. And it is further stated those individuals established a day school for a few girls to be instructed by the shepherd’s wife, who was incapacitated for out-door employment, being heavily afflicted with the rheumatism93. These facts are utterly94 false; she was chiefly employed in visiting and nursing the sick, being the only person in the parish at that time able to do so: this employment she continued till a short time before her death. It is true the doctor was a great friend to the shepherd and his family; and when down here, which was principally in the winter, he would frequently have him to dine with him at the parsonage as a special mark of his esteem95. He gave him a small bible, which is now in the possession of p. 18the Rev19. Mr. Wilton, of West Lavington, and which was kindly96 lent to the Author for exhibition at the jubilee97. He remained a Wesleyan to his death; of this he would sometimes boast, saying, “I am a Wesleyan to my back-bone;” and he never quitted the house where he was born until death.
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1
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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narratives
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| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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precept
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| n.戒律；格言 | |
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discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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diffuse
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| v.扩散；传播；adj.冗长的；四散的，弥漫的 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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anathema
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| n.诅咒；被诅咒的人(物)，十分讨厌的人(物) | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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iniquitous
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| adj.不公正的；邪恶的；高得出奇的 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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42
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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44
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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46
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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47
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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variance
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| n.矛盾，不同 | |
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49
hierarchy
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| n.等级制度；统治集团，领导层 | |
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50
apostate
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| n.背叛者，变节者 | |
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51
panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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52
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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53
spurn
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| v.拒绝，摈弃；n.轻视的拒绝；踢开 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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dole
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| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
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weaver
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| n.织布工；编织者 | |
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flannels
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| 法兰绒男裤； 法兰绒( flannel的名词复数 ) | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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modicum
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| n.少量，一小份 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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authenticated
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| v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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compassionating
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| v.同情（compassionate的现在分词形式） | |
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loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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89
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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90
projector
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| n.投影机，放映机，幻灯机 | |
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91
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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92
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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93
rheumatism
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| n.风湿病 | |
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94
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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95
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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96
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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jubilee
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| n.周年纪念；欢乐 | |
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