Jeremiah Moore was one of those Virginia Baptists who was persecuted for his faith. He was assaulted by ungodly mobs, carried before magistrates, and on three occasions, jailed for preaching the Gospel without a license.
Despite seeing the sufferings of his Father, his son, Francis Moore, who was converted to Christ at an early age, followed Jeremiah into the ministry. Francis was born on this day in 1766. He was ordained in Zoar, Virginia, and in 1792, he and his bride moved to Harper’s Ferry. As was often the case, pastor Moore ministered in several churches simultaneously, living under the freedoms that his father and others had suffered to win. He believed and preached sovereign grace, but he was thoroughly evangelistic and missionary minded, supporting Adoniram Judson and the Baptists in India.
When Alexander Campbell began to be popular, Francis Moore saw through his orthodox facade before most others did. In 1824 Moore warned of upcoming problems. “Many of the Baptist denomination are preparing to receive the most baneful heresies, as Mr. Campbell has commenced a crusade against (missions), and by the ridicule he is casting upon these efforts, he will induce many to follow him upon that ground, and having thus gained their confidence, a favorable opportunity will be furnished to lead them into the most dangerous errors. He has commenced a voyage on the ocean of speculation without helm or compass, and many will follow him to their sorrow. There is a desire on his part to be the inventor of new things, but mark it, he will revive some old exploded errors.” Modern Campbellism, in the so-called “Church of Christ,” teaches, among other heresies, baptismal regeneration.
Late in 1830 Brother Moore suffered his first attack of apoplexy (a stroke), after which he recovered sufficiently to resume his ministry. On February 11, 1831, the Saturday before preaching in the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church he had another attack, and on the following Tuesday he went to be with His Lord.