Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Mathews, James 1755 - 1828
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 31, 2005, 3:50 pm

Author: J. H. Campbell

JAMES MATTHEWS, SR.

  The subject of this memoir was born in Virginia, the 15th of October, A. D.,
1755. His parents were Moses and Sarah Matthews, who were poor but reputable
members of the "High Church," as it was then called, but without any knowledge
of the regenerating influences of the Holy Spirit. Consequently they taught
their son nothing of the necessity of the new birth. While James was quite an
infant, his parents moved to South Carolina, where he grew up to manhood, with
scarcely any other improvement than that gained by the labors of the field in
procuring the necessary support for the family.

  It pleased the Lord, in his fifteenth year, to excite in him a solicitude
about his future state. It was not, however, until August of his seventeenth
year, that he became the subject of those heart-searching; convictions which
resulted in his being brought, about the middle of October, into the liberty of
the gospel by faith in Christ. After enduring many doubts and fears for several
months, he was baptized in March the following year, 1773, by Jacob Gibson, the
venerable pastor of the Baptist church on Little river, (or Broad river,) South
Carolina, with which church he united. Under the ministry of Mr. Gibson he was
nurtured for several years. About this time also, his parents, much to his
comfort, became hopeful subjects of divine grace and united with the same
church, in which profession they lived happily, and died hopefully in a good old
age. Soon after our brother had obtained hope in Christ, his mind became
impressed with the condition of his fellow-men, and under a discourse from Elder
A. Marshall, of Georgia, his feelings became so elevated that, ere he was aware,
he was exhorting the people. After he was united with the church, his desire to
do good to the souls of his fellow-creatures increased, and he became more
deeply impressed with the duty of engaging in the ministry. But he was still
deterred by his want of suitable qualifications. To supply his want of
education, he endeavored to make attainments in learning by every means in his
power, but, for want of time and books, he never attained to that degree which
he so much desired. The revolutionary war taking place, he was called into camp.
Surrounded by loose, carnal company, he had but little opportunity, and less
suitableness of spirit, for preaching. Still he could not be at rest.

  When far advanced in age, he wrote to a friend that from the first dawn of his
Christian hope his mind was impressed with the duty of publicly exhorting,
though he had no expectation of entering upon the ministry—nay, the very thought
was too much for him—but he could not suppress the desire to do good to his
fellow-men. He was much disposed to solitude, and sought occasions to ride alone
to meeting. One Sabbath morning, when thus riding alone on a private road, he
was impressed to turn aside for prayer. He did so, and while at prayer the
words, "I have chosen you to preach the gospel" seemed, like thunder, to burst
from heaven into his heart. But instantly he felt a violent opposition to what
seemed to him the will of God. He went to meeting in extreme anguish. At the
close of the prayer the minister said, "Send thy gospel far and wide; and for
this end take thy gospel ministers near thee.” At hearing these words he seemed
himself to be taken near, even into the arms of the Saviour, and the words, "I
have chosen you to preach the gospel," rushed with doable force on his mind, and
he trembled, so that he could scarcely regain his seat. This left an abiding
impression on his mind that God had called him to preach the gospel to a dying
world. But still he hesitated, under an appalling sense of his want of
qualifications.

  In the meantime, he had married a Mrs. Jenkins, a member of the church, by
whom he had one son. But it pleased God soon to remove her from him by death.
This trying bereavement was the occasion of his becoming excited to a more
active discharge of his duty, to which he was also encouraged by having received
the approbation of the church to preach the gospel.

  In 1782, he moved into the State of Georgia with his motherless little boy,
and united with the Red's creek church, under the care of Elder L. Savage, in
Columbia county. He preached among them, and traveled as he had opportunity for
two or three years. Having gained their approbation and esteem, he was called to
ordination, and came under the imposition of hands by a presbytery, namely,
Elders L. Savage, D. Tinsly, S. Walker and A. Marshall, in 1785. With these
excellent men he lived in high esteem, both as a Christian and as a minister,
during their lives. He now went forth as a missionary of the cross, filled with
a fervid zeal for the Lord and an ardent love for the souls of men. He soon
acquired general esteem, and his career promised, as it has by the grace of God
accomplished, much usefulness. He married his second wife in 1786, Miss Rebecca
Carlton, who was his mourning relict. She proved to be a help meet for him
indeed, and "helped him much in the gospel." Of the twelve children, three of
the sons and an infant daughter, as also his first born son, are gone to their
long home. One of the sons has since the death of his father, been ordained to
the gospel ministry. The latter is a hopeful exhorter; and the other three are
moral and respectable citizens. The three daughters all profess hope in Christ.

  It was not long before our brother attracted the attention of the churches,
and was called into their service. The first church, he was engaged with, was
situated on Briar creek, in Burke county, at Botsford's old meeting-house.

  This church was constituted before the revolutionary war, under the ministry
of that venerable man of God, Rev. Edmund Botsford, after whom it is called to
this day. During the war it had dwindled almost to extinction; but after his
connection with it, the work of the Lord prospered under his labors. And in one
year he had the unspeakable joy to lead seventy hopefully redeemed sinners into
the yielding stream, and bury them in baptism with Christ, in hope of a glorious
resurrection with him into enternal life. The work spread and two other churches
were constituted, and the foundation of another was laid, which afterwards was
built up. The two constituted were at Buckhead and Mobley's pond. In the former
he baptized about fifty; and many others in the latter, as well as at Rocky
creek, a branch of one of the churches. But falling sick, and remaining with his
family in a declined state of health, he deemed it expedient to leave the low
country. He moved to Wilkes county, and settled on a farm on Clark's creek,
which was his unchanged residence till death. Here he soon became a member, and
the pastor of the church at Clark's station.

  He undertook the pastoral care of this church about the year 1789, and
continued it about fifteen years. During this period he enjoyed much
satisfaction. He had the esteem and confidence of church and people; and labored
much night and day for their good. His zeal and fervent mind for the prosperity
of the church and for the salvation of his congregation are embalmed with his
devout prayers and many tears, in the tenderest recollections of his numerous
and affectionate surviving friends. But the season was barren—a wide spreading
religious dearth afflicted the State in many sections, and few churches suffered
more than that at Clark's station. From the records of the Association it
appears, very few were added to this church by baptism during his connection
with it. At length a contention took place in the church, which disposed him to
resign his office, and to unite himself with his sister church at Fishing creek.

  Of this church also, he became the pastor a few years before his death. In
this relation he continued as the pastor in much affection, till age and disease
made it necessary to retire from the office. But he continued a member in much
Christian love and esteem with all the brethren till his death. The church was
in a very declined state when he joined it, and received but few additions,
(chiefly of blacks.) Of late, however, a happy revival has taken place, and
within two years nearly a hundred members have been added. It is now in a good
state of resuscitation and joyful increase.

  He was called to the pastoral supply of several other churches, according to
the custom in this part of the country, of having only one church meeting in a
month. In this relation he was engaged with the church in Elbert county, at Hebron.

  He had been instrumental in gathering and constituting this church in the
early part of his evangelical ministry, but when he moved down the country,
Jeremiah Walker, from Virginia, became their pastor. He had been the subject of
most shameful apostacy, and professing restoration, he also professed a change
of sentiment, and adopted certain unscriptural opinions. He was instrumental in
drawing off a part of the members to his sentiments, and soon (for his powers of
argumentation were great,) spread the defection into other churches, and
succeeded, by the help of some other preachers, in effecting a division in the
Association. This division among the Baptists (for at this time there was only
one Baptist Association in Georgia,) filled the State with controversy. In those
severe conflicts which tried men's souls, our beloved brother was much shaken.
He was affectionately connected with several of the seceding party, and very
much so with Mr. Walker, which circumstance contributed not a little to his
indecision and want of firmness. But it pleased the Lord, as he believed, to
save him from this unsoundness of mind, and more than ever to confirm his
sentiments respecting the sovereign and free grace of God. In reference to this
fact only a little before his death, he wrote to a friend thus: " My life is
just gone—but had I a thousand lives and ten thousand tongues, I would willingly
spend them all in the delightful work—in preaching the same doctrines, and in
the same denomination. I say the same doctrine, for once the great Jeremiah
Walker had well nigh led me to embrace the Arminian sentiments. Had it not been
for my experience, the works of Providence and grace, more especially the
character and goodness of God, I should have embraced those delusive errors."
However, after his engagement with the regular part of this church, the death of
Mr. Walker occurred, and his influence died with him. Several of the disaffected
members returned and sought union again with their deserted brethren, and better
times ensued. He had the happiness of receiving sixty or seventy to baptism and
the fellowship of the church in the terra of his service with them, which was
about twenty-five years. But the meeting-house being situated between Broad and
Savannah rivers, and other churches being constituted in more commodious places
contiguous, and the number of members diminishing by deaths and removals, the
church was regularly dissolved and the members united with the adjoining churches.

  Our brother was early in his ministry engaged with the church at Rocky Spring.

  The church was situated in Wilkes (now Lincoln) county, near the Savannah
river. Here he labored with good effect and much harmony and Christian affection
for thirty years. He enjoyed two precious revivals, and baptized many happy
believers. His own is, "That in one of these gracious seasons I baptized near by
one hundred," and it is a fair calculation that in the other, and at all times,
he did not receive less than one hundred. But we have no data at hand which will
precisely show how many. The veneration and Christian estimation in which he was
held by church and people, fully appears in a letter and resolution he received
from them on the occasion of his leaving.

  He served the church also as a pastoral supply for twenty years or more at
Newford.

  This church lies in the northeast of Wilkes county, and here the labors of our
brother were blessed with two precious revivals, in which he baptized more than
a hundred, and saw the work of the Lord prosper in his hands. Here he labored
until afflictions, a few years before his death, made it necessary to retire
from all his pastoral services.

  In the same capacity he also attended a church in South Carolina, at Buffalo.
In this church he had not the happiness to enjoy much success. He continued his
labors for five years, baptized a few only, and declined his attendance. He then
gave his services to the church at Greenwood. Here he enjoyed a good degree of
success. In the short time he was engaged with this church he baptized about
fifty. But some young ministers being raised up, after two years he left the
church to their care and retired.

  In the course of his ministry, which continued upwards of forty years, he
aided in the constitution of five churches and in the ordination of twenty-one
ministers, and was the instrument of much usefulness. He died in a good old age
of seventy-three years, highly esteemed for his work's sake. In his civil and
social life he was innocent, honorable and generous. As a Christian, he was
devoted and persevering. As a minister, in prayer fervent, in exhortation warm,
in doctrine clear—in all, ardent, zealous and indefatigable. He lived as he
died, in the Lord. His views of himself were very humble; he walked much in the
vale of tears, and conversed much with his own heart. He often complained of his
want of spiritual comforts to his confidential religious friends. Yet he was
often on the mount enjoying the light of heaven and of God.

  He was particularly anxious for the salvation of his children. He was zealous
to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." He poured out his
prayers and strong cries to God for them; yet he saw no lasting symptoms of
permanent hope until they were all grown and chiefly settled in families. This
gave him "great heaviness and continual sorrow in his heart." He made several
unsuccessful efforts to have them all assembled together once before he died,
that he might detail to them his own Christian experience and ground of hope,
and address to them, as it were, his dying admonition. This he effected, in
connection with a meeting to be continued several days, held at the church near
him, some time before his death. One evening they all repaired to his house
together with several of his brethren in the ministry, and having called the
attention of all, he stated his earnest desire for their salvation, and his
reasons for wishing them all together and the design of his address. He then
rehearsed at length his religious experience and hope of salvation, and with
much affection and earnestness exhorted them to flee from the wrath to come—to
Jesus Christ the only Saviour. All was solemn, impressive and interesting.

  It pleased God, a little before his decease, to bring his son, named after
himself, to the hope of the gospel, and to incline his mind to the ministry. His
daughters soon after became hopeful believers, and, just before his death,
another son made a declaration of his faith in Christ and transmitted an account
of his experience to his father, but it was not received by the family until it
was too late.

  Our beloved brother was the subject of severe and protracted afflictions,
which he bore with patience and fortitude. In addition to many other infirmities
he lost his hearing. This was truly an affliction to him, as it broke off almost
altogether his social enjoyments and intercourse. But it was observed that
though he could not hear himself speak, he preached with more ardor and
clearness than before. About two years before his decease he was sick, in the
view of all his friends and of himself, unto death. He was happily sustained in
his religious feelings. His beloved pastor, Rev. James Armstrong, visited him,
to whom he said, "After my departure, I wish you, or my brother Jesse Mercer—if
he returns home in time, (for he was in New York, attending the General
Convention,)—to deliver a discourse to my friends and brethren, from II.
Corinthians, v. 8." But it was the will of God to raise him up, and he
afterwards enjoyed pretty good health, and traveled and preached considerably.
His last tour was to attend the General Association of Georgia, where he
preached the closing sermon, under sensible indications, as was reported by them
that heard him, that it was to be his last.

  In his final sicknesss he languished for many days. His faith was fixed and
his soul serene. When prayer was about to be made, he perceiving it, said, "Pray
not for my recovery, for I wish to go." When almost past articulation, he said
to his much beloved brother Mercer, in broken accents, “I believe I shall die of
this disease.

    "0, for some angel bands to bear
        My soul up to the skies,
    Where years of long salvation roll,
        And glory never dies."

  His pain in some measure ceased for some time before his death, and he lay
quite composed, waiting till his change should come, which occurred on the
afternoon of June 5th, 1828. His remains were deposited in his own grave-yard,
at his late residence. A short time after, his funeral sermon was preached by
Mr. Mercer, from the text of his choice, "Willing rather to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord."


Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/unknown/bios/gbs692mathews.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 18.1 Kb