John Waller was born December, 23d, 1741, in Spottsylvania County, and was a descendant of the honorable family of Wallers, in England. At a very early period he manifested a great talent for satire. This determined his uncle, who was his guardian, to
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educate him for the law. He was put to a grammar school, and made encouraging advancement in the dead languages. His uncle's death and his father’s narrow resources, added to his own unbridled inclinations to vice, prevented him from finishing even his classical education. He now began indeed to study, not the laws of the land, but those of the gaming table. Giving loose to every species of wickedness and profanity, he quickly acquired for himself the infamous appellation of Swearing Jack Waller, by which he was distinguished from others of the same name. So far did he indulge his mischievous temper, that he once had three warrants served on him at the same time on account of one uproar. It was frequently remarked by the common people, "that there could be no deviltry among the people unless Swearing Jack was at the head of it." He was sometimes called the Devil's Adjutant to muster his troops. To these may be added his fury against the Baptists. He was one of the grand jury who presented L. Craig for preaching. This happily terminated in his good. Mr. Craig, in order to turn their mischievous intentions into something beneficial, watched the dismission of the jury, and having gained their attention, thus addressed them: "I thank you, gentlemen of the grand jury, for the honor you have done me. While I was wicked and injurious, you took no notice of me, but since I have altered my course of life and endeavored to reform my neighbors, you concern yourselves much about me. I shall take the spoiling of my goods joyfully." When Mr. W. heard him speak in that manner, and observed the meekness of his spirit, he was convinced that Craig was possessed of something that he had never seen in man before. He thought within himself that he should be happy if he could be of the same religion with Mr. Craig. From this time he began to attend their meetings, and was found of the Holy Spirit. The commandment came, and he died. He saw and felt himself a sinner. He now for the first time, except in blaspheming, began to call upon the name of the Lord. His convictions were deep and pungent. He ate no pleasant bread and drank no pleasant water for seven or eight months. He was almost in despair. He relates his experiences in the following words: --"I had long felt the greatest abhorrence of myself, and began
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almost to despair of the mercy of God. However, I determined never to rest until it pleased God to show mercy or cut me off. Under these impressions I was at a certain place, sitting under preaching. On a sudden, a man exclaimed that he had found mercy and began to praise God. No mortal can describe the horror with which I was seized at that instant. I began to conclude my damnation was certain. Leaving the meeting, I hastened into a neighboring woods and dropped on my knees before God to beg for mercy. In an instant I felt my heart melt, and a sweet application of the Redeemer’s love to my poor soul. The calm was great but short."From this time he felt some increase of strength, yet sometimes the enemy broke in upon him like a flood and he would be almost ready to give up his hope. But the application of these words gave him great comfort: "Who is among you that feareth the Lord; that walketh in darkness and hath no light; let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." Isaiah i. 10. And again: "By this we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren."
By the time Messrs. Harris and Read came on their next tour he felt sufficiently confident to become a candidate for baptism, and going up into Orange County was there baptized by Mr. Read, in the year 1767. Baptism was to him as it has been to thousands, a sanctified ordinance. His soul received great accession of strength and comfort. Having contracted debts by dissipation, he sold property to pay them. He conferred not with flesh and blood, but began to preach that men ought everywhere to repent. It was not long before his labors became effectual, at least in one way. The arch-enemy of souls, whom he had served so faithfully before, now began to rage, and succeeded in raising a powerful opposition.
At length it was thought proper to constitute a church in Mr. Waller's neighborhood. He was ordained the pastor, June 20th, 1770. He now began to extend his labors. Bending his course to Lower Virginia, he baptized William Webber, being the first he did baptize. Accompanied by J. Burrus he traveled as far as Middlesex, and wherever he went he was attended by a Divine power, turning many to righteousness. His name sounded
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far and wide. By the ungodly he was considered as a bold, inexorable fanatic, that would do much mischief unless restrained. The Baptists and their adherents looked upon him as set for the defence of their cause, and with much confidence rallied him as their leader. His persecutions in several counties were of the most painful character. The following letter, written by him during an imprisonment of forty-six days in the County of Middlesex, will exhibit something of the severe trials to which he and his associates were subjected in making known the truth as it is in Jesus. It is dated
Urbanna Prison, Middlesex County,}
August 12, 1771.}
DEAR BRETHREN IN THE LORD:
At a meeting which was held at Brother McCain's, in this county, last Saturday, while Brother William Webber was addressing the congregation from James ii. 18, there came running toward him, in a most furious rage, Captain James Montague, a magistrate of the county, followed by the parson of the parish and several others who seemed greatly exasperated. The magistrate and another took hold of Brother Webber, and dragging him from the stage, delivered him, with Brethren Wafford, Robert Ware Richard Falkner, James Greenwood, and myself, into custody, and commanded that we should be brought before him for trial. Brother Wafford was severely scourged, and Brother Henry Street received one lash from one of the persecutors, who was prevented from proceeding to further violence by his companions; to be short, I may inform you that we were carried before the above-mentioned magistrate, who, with the parson and some others, carried us one by one into a room and examined our pockets and wallets for fire-arms, etc., charging us with carrying on a mutiny against the authority of the land. Finding none, we were asked if we had license to preach in this country; and, learning we had not, it was required of us to give bond and security not to preach any more in the county, which we modestly refused to do, whereupon, after dismissing Brother Wafford, with a charge to make his escape out of the county by twelve o'clock the next day on pain of imprisonment, and dismissing Brother Falkner, the rest of us were
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delivered to the sheriff and sent to close jail, with a charge not to allow us to walk in the air until court day. Blessed be God, the sheriff and jailor have treated us with as much kindness as could have been expected from strangers. May the Lord reward them for it! Yesterday we had a large number of people to hear us preach; and, among others, many of the great ones of the land, who behaved well while one of us discoursed on the new birth. We find the Lord gracious and kind to us beyond expression in our afflictions. We cannot tell how long we shall be kept in bonds; we therefore beseech, dear brother, that you and the church supplicate night and day for us, our benefactors, and our persecutors.I have also to inform you that six of our brethren are confined in Caroline jail, viz., Brethren Lewis Craig, John Burns, John Young, Edward Herndon, James Goodrick, and Bartholomew Cheming. The most dreadful threatenings are raised in the neighboring counties against the Lord's faithful and humble followers. Excuse haste. Adieu.
JOHN WALLER.
In this bright and burning way, Waller continued until 1775 or 1776, when he formed an acquaintance with one Williams, a preacher of some talents, apparent piety, and in Mr. Wesley’s connection, consequently an Arminian: this man, by his conversation and books, so wrought on Mr. Waller's mind as to bring him over to believe the Arminian system. Knowing this to be contrary to the opinions of his brethren, he resolved to make a bold effort to preach and argue his principles at the next association, and thereby convince his brethren; or, failing in this, to submit to be cut off from them. Accordingly, he took his text, 1 Cor. xiii. 11. In his exordium he stated, that when young and inexperienced in religion he had fallen in with the Calvinistic plan; but that becoming more expert a man he put away these childish notions. He then went lengthily into the argument. For want of truth or talents he made few, if any converts to his opinions; and, of course, had to confront the whole host of preachers and members now assembled. Mr. Waller, forseeing
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his fate, took the shorter and more reputable course. Instead of awaiting a fair trial, he proclaimed himself an independent Baptist preacher. This step was probably resorted to by Waller under an expectation that his popularity was so great that he should be able to bring over many of the churches to his party. Be this as it may, he immediately commenced his operations on an extensive plan. On his return from the association he used his utmost endeavor to form a strong party. He preached from house to house over a large field of ministerial labor; ordained lay elders in every neighborhood, to prevent inroads; and also several helps in the ministry. He also established what he called camp-meetings, in which they continued together several days under certain written regulations.
The novelty of these meetings excited the attention of the people in such a manner that great multitudes crowded after him. By these means his party gained strength daily. Few men possessed greater talents for leading a party of this description than Mr. Waller. The only thing in which he was deficient was, that he could not be happy while separated from his brethren. He used to say, that in the midst of apparent prosperity and the caresses of his friends, he still yearned after the people of God from whom he had withdrawn. Some years after his restoration, he said to a young preacher who was dissatisfied and talked of dissenting, "If you could have a distant view of my suffering and leanness of sold while a dissenter from my brethren, you would never again indulge such a thought." He was again fully reinstated in connection with his brethren in 1787.
a very great revival commenced under Mr. Waller's ministry in 1787. This continued for several years, and spread through all his places of preaching. In this revival he was greatly engaged, and baptized from first to last many hundreds. Early in this revival Mr. A. Waller, son of his brother Benjamin, was brought in, and in some few years began to preach. Mr. Waller immediately recognized him as hi successor, and declared that he believed his work in that part of the earth was finished. Accordingly, November 7th, 1793, after taking the most affectionate farewell of the churches, he removed to Abbeville in the State of South Carolina. This removal was said to have arisen, partly
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from economical considerations, and partly from a strong desire with himself and wife to live near a beloved daughter, who had some time previously married Rev. Abraham Marshall of Georgia. Perhaps there might be other causes. His labors in his new residence were also blessed, but not to a great extent. He remained, however, faithful in the cause until his death, which took place July 4th, 1802.
His death was, as might have been expected, truly glorious. His eldest son, describes it in the following words: "His conflict with death, as it respected bodily affliction, was truly hard; but his soul appeared to be happy indeed! Never did I witness such resignation and Christian fortitude before! He was reduced to a perfect skeleton, and in several places the skin was rubbed off his bones. His pains were excruciating; but no murmur was heard from his lips. On the contrary, he would often say, 'I have a good Master, who does not give me one stroke too hard or one too many.'"The last sermon he preached was on the death of a young man. The text on which he preached was Zechariah ii. 4. 'Run, speak to this young man.' He addressed himself chiefly to youth, in feeble, but animating strains,; observing that he counted upon its being the last sermon he should ever preach: and fervently prayed that, Sampson like, he might slay more at his death than he had done in his life. He continued speaking until his strength failed him, and with reeling steps he advanced to a bed, where we thought he would have expired. Thence he was removed home in a carriage for the last time. He said, as to his soul, he was under no concern, he had given that to Jesus long since, and he was under no doubt his Master would provide a mansion for it. Just before his departure he summoned all his family, black and white, around him, and told them he was anxious to be gone, and to be present with Christ, and then warned them to walk in the fear of God, cordially shook hands with all, and soon after, with a pleasant countenance, breathed his last, and fell asleep in Jesus." I looked on the corpse with these words fresh in my mind: --
'O lovely appearance of death."
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Thus this great man of God conquered the last enemy, and ascended to that rest that remained for the people of God. He died in the sixty-second year of his age, having been a minister of God's word for about thirty-five years, and in that time had lain in four different jails one hundred and thirteen days, besides receiving reproaching, buffetings, stripes, etc. Nor was his labor in vain in the Lord. While in Virginia he baptized more than two thousand persons, assisted in the ordination of twenty-seven ministers, and in the constitution of eighteen churches. For many years he had the ministerial care of five churches, for which he preached statedly. As a preacher his talents were not above mediocrity, but he was certainly a man of very strong mind. His talent for intrigue was equaled by few. This he exercised, sometimes beyond the innocence of the dove. He was, perhaps, too emulous to carry his favorite points, especially in associations, yet it must be owned that such influence as he acquired in this way, he always endeavored to turn to the glory of God. ________________ Note
* By Elder Semple, with additions.
[From James B. Taylor, Virginia Baptist Ministers, 1859, pp. 78-85. - Jim Duvall.]
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