Obeying Conscience in the Light of God’s Word

4 July 2009

Scripture: John 1:19-34

Chesterfield County, Virginia, was notorious for its persecution of Baptist preachers. We are reminded of these atrocious acts by a monument to religious liberty on the courthouse square in Chesterfield, Virginia, in memory of those who courageously suffered in its behalf. Semple, in his history (1810), mentions, "It is worthy of remark, that generally the Baptist cause has flourished, most extensively where it met with the most severe opposition in the offset." In the history of Chesterfield jail, seven preachers were confined for preaching, viz. William Webber, Joseph Anthony, Augustine Easton, John Weatherford, John Tanner, Jeremiah Walker and David Tinsley. Some were whipped by individuals, several fined. They kept up their persecution after other counties had laid it aside.

The first recorded instance of imprisonment for preaching the gospel in Chesterfield County occurred when two zealous young preachers from Goochland Church responded to an invitation and crossed the James River. William Webber and Joseph Anthony had great success in an area of which it was said that at that time there was not a Baptist in the entire county.2

Their success led to their arrest on December 7, l77O. They were held in prison until on January 4, 1771, they were brought before the magistrates on charges of misbehaviour by Itinerant preaching in this County being of that sect of dissenters from the Church of England commonly called anabaptists, and on hearing they acknowledged that they had preached in the upper end of this County at a meeting of sundry people there.4

The court refused their offer to take the oath as prescribed by the so called Toleration Act, and thus for conscience’ sake they remained in jail until March 7, 1771.

Incarceration enhanced their preaching activities as they preached through the grates. Their preaching was so powerful that the jailer was inclined to leave the door of their cell ajar so they could escape. Their reply was, "They have taken us openly, uncondemned, and have cast us into prison; and now, do they cast us out privily? Nay, verily, but let them come themselves and fetch us out."

They had to obey the voice of conscience in the light of God’s Word. Mrs. John Welch, the daughter of John Knox, the great Scottish reformer, understood conscience when her husband, imprisoned for his faith, was in the last stages of consumption. She made her way before King James and pled for his release. I will send him home with you, said the King to her importunate pleading, if you will persuade him to submit to the bishops. Please, your majesty, said Mrs. Welch as she held out her apron, I’d rather carry his head home there, than tempt him to sin against his conscience.

In our day when consciences seem to be seared with a hot iron, may God raise up men of faith and conviction, sensitive to their consciences under the guidance of God’s Word. When this takes place, our ministries will meet with the same success as our forefathers’, and we will leave our posterity with many effective witnesses. ---EWT

Robert B. Semple, A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia (Richmond: Published by the author, 1810), pp. 206-7.

Lewis Peyton Little, Imprisoned Preachers arid Religious Liberty in Virginia (Lynchburg, Va.: J. P. Bell Co., 1938). p. 209.

David Benedict, A General History of the Baptist Denomination in America (Boston: Manning and Loring, 1813), p. 400.

4Little. p.210.

lbid., p. 213.