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The Experience

by Phillip Marcum
Submitted by Kathy Lynch ©2002-2003

My experience of grace, if I had any in the first place.

I was born in Clay County, Kentucky on July 22, 1822, and in 1842 I went to school to learn my alphabet. It was three month's school and when it was out I was the best scholar there was in the school. I could read some and was a good penman.

I took a notion I wanted to stufy the Bible some: so I did, and the more I read it the more I wanted to read. I saw that a man had to die, and if he did to many bad things he would have to die and go to torment and from what I could see in the Bible, and hear preachers say, a man had to do something to keep from going to torment. So that put me to studing (sp?), and the more I studied the worse I got, till I could see no peace day or night. I would try to pray, and the more I prayed the worse I got. I would go to the meetings, and when they called for mourners I would go up. They seemed to be glad I came, and when I would get out I felt ashamed of myself to think that I would act the hyprocrite (sp?) that way. I becamegreatly troubled, but did not know what was the matter with me. I thought I was going to die, and if I did I was bound for torment.

I went on that way for about four years. I concluded to quit studing (sp?) and go to hard work, but the first thing I knew I was down on my knees about three quarters of a mile from home, in the woods trying to pray. I got up thinking that God would not hear such a Prayer as that. I set down by a big tree and went blind. I then thought I would never get home any more. I then thought I wanted to see Jesus to know what I must do to be saved. It seemed that I was walking in the sand of the sea. I looked ahard of me and saw Jesus coming. I went to him and said, "Lord what shall I do to be saved?" He said,"You must be dipped in the sea three times a day." He took me by the shoulders and turned me around, and put me down in the sea and set me on the bank.

I have never seen him since then. It seemed to me I was setting in a big fine house, and saw an angel come down from heaven and stood before me with a long white robe on. He had a draw string around his neck and it touched the floor. I said to him,"What do you want?" he said,"I want my people and you are one of them." He said he had a few more here, then said,"Follow me" and started. I followed him and we went up till we came to the prettiest place any mortal ever saw when he said to me,"This is your place." Then the thought struck me that I was away from home. I raised my eyes to see if there was any chance to get home and saw a great white cloud coming. It reached from the north to the south, and came like you have seen the shadow of a cloud when it was under the sun. It ran over me and I saw the prettiest light I ever saw in my life. I jumped up glorfying (sp?) and praising God for his kind mercy shown to me when I had lost all trouble, but soon got in doubts. I would sometimes think if I were ever saved it would be a wonder, but I have a little hope that I would not give for this world, and ten thousand more.

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