"The case was this: my wife, who was seated near the head of the bed, when she saw the Captain step from the bed with his sword drawn, and draw back his arm to give the thrust, like a female angel, sprang like the lightning of heaven, clasped her arms within his elbow, around his body, locked her hands together, and held him like a vice, till the men took away his sword. We then took a lantern and went into the road and carried on our meeting."
John Leland, The Writings of the Late Elder John Leland p. 27
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."
Deuteronomy 31:6
Elder John Leland preached the Gospel from Massachusetts to North Caroline. He started as a young man in 1774 and continued traveling and preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ through the War of Independence until his death in 1841. He faced many dangers and threats, but God provided for him a strong and courageous helpmeet in his wife.
When Mrs. Leland held back the captain from thrusting his sword through her husband, she did so to prevent the captain from stopping her husband's preaching. Invited to preach at a woman's house, they were stopped at the gate by the woman's son, the Captain. However, her husband let Elder Leland in and the people came to hear the preaching. When Elder Leland opened the meeting with singing, the Captain attacked. Mrs. Leland likely saved her husband's life.
Raised by an abusive step-father, Mrs. Leland endured hardships as a child, like her feet partly frozen off and an illness that left her speech impaired. Then, as a wife, she was often left alone to care for numerous children with little means and facing many dangers from soldiers, runaway slaves, and vagabonds during the war.
Though she endured much affliction, from near shipwreck to evil spirits, she did not endure them alone.
"It has been remarked of Mrs. Leland, that her faith was strong. Indeed, on some occasions, it seemed to rest on grounds that partook of the character of revelations. An instance of this kind occurred in the storm by which they were overtaken on their passage from Virginia to New England, in 1791. After twelve hours of incessant watching and agonizing prayer, expecting momentarily to go to the bottom, she appeared to sink into a slumber; but presently turning to her husband, she exclaimed, "We shall not be lost." She had received this assurance from a figure in white which seemed to stand before her, measuring off piece after piece of a long white cord, and which said to her, "The vessel cannot sink, I have undergirded it.""Two things we can learn from her life:
The Writings of Elder John Leland, p. 45.
- Affliction and hardship bring strength to those who humble themselves in the Lord
- Strength to endure hardship and affliction will come from the Lord when we look to Him.
Hard times have come and passed, and yet we will see more in the future. How we face them reveals not only our character but our faith. In this new year, we may see attacks on our faith from our government, from the community, and from individuals, not to mention those leaders of other countries who hate the Kingdom of Heaven. Each moment we must chose between trusting God and walking in obedience or compromising our faith for the 'comforts and safety' this world feigns to offer. When we chose to trust God, He will not fail to provide us with the peace that passes all understanding. I wonder if perhaps we may have opportunities to see the 'figure in white' He sends to watch over us?
"...Who are kept by the power of God through faith...though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:...
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;..."
I Peter 1:5-7,13
I love this! Mrs. Leland sure puts most people to shame. Such strength, faith and courage.
ReplyDeleteThis world is only going to get worse when it comes to religious freedom. I pray that we all have the fortitude to stand up for our beliefs whenever necessary.
I pray this too, and I am thankful for what Jesus prayed for us:
Delete"I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because thy are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil." John 17:14-15
It's good to know that He has overcome the world.
What a godly woman. We can only aspire to have her faith! Thanks, Lynn!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had a terrible time finding her first name, Sally. She must have been a humble woman who was greatly respected.
DeleteThank you for writing about Mrs. Leland. What an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteShe's my kind of gal! :)
DeleteThank you, Lynn, for this inspirational post. Regarding strength coming from hardships, often beautiful things come as well. On a table at work next to a picture of my family, I have a four-inch piece of a dried rose stem with several very large thorns on it. I can't tell you the number of times visitors to my office have picked it up and asked why I have it there. I tell them it's to remind me that God makes beautiful things out of "thorny" situations. I know it's a simple, low-key message compared to what Mrs. Leland did.
ReplyDeleteLove that image! What a great way to invoke an opportunity to share about God.
DeleteI love reading the rich history and faith of those who have come before us. It is a shame that in many Protestant churches, epically Evangelical churches, we have forsaken our rich history, and those martyrs and saints who have came before us. We can learn so much from them!
ReplyDeleteSo true, Emma. I love reading and studying about them. 'Twas my dream once to write a complete fictional series on the 'Underside of Christianity' from the 2nd century to present. Perhaps when I'm older and have the time. There is so much we can learn from them.
DeleteWhat a good reminder and encouragement to hold fast and know I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
ReplyDeleteAmen, Janet.
DeleteHow interesting that this quiet saint was so humble that you had to search for her given name. There is an unnamed lady in the Bible. We are never told her name.
ReplyDelete2 John 1:1 "The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth."
Today we learned that her namesake is Sally Leland.