Richard Major was born near Pennsbury, Pennsylvania on this day in 1722. His parents were Presbyterians, and under their teaching and the preaching of the Protestants, Richard periodically came under conviction as a sinner. To thwart the power of guilt, he would then turn to the world and even more sin. Eventually, as an adult, he was born again and joined the Baptist church in Loudon County, Virginia. From there the Lord called him into the ministry, he was ordained, and became the pastor of the Little River Baptist Church.
For many years Pastor Major faced fierce opposition. Warrants were occasionally issued for his arrest, but rarely was he taken. While at Bull Run, an armed mob tried to arrest him, but he was protected by friends until he had finished his sermon, and by that time the mob had become quiet and left him in peace. On another occasion, a man, whose wife Brother Major had baptized, came to kill him, but when the preacher turned to face his attacker, the man became so convicted that he fell to knees in surrender. Later that man joined his wife in baptism. On another occasion a man violently attacked him with a club, but when the preacher said, “Satan, I command thee to come out of this man,” the club immediately fell to the ground.
Over time, the opposition to Major’s ministry began to calm. This peace actually disturbed the preacher, because Christ gave us warning to beware when all men speak well of us. His uneasiness was soon overcome however, when he accidentally overheard someone laying to his charge a most abominable and unbelievable sin.
Christ’s faithful messenger, Richard Major, was born on this day in 1722.
