His father tried to kill him
by Thomas Ray
Dutton Lane was born November 7, 1732, near Baltimore, Maryland. Sometime after his birth, his father moved the family to Virginia near the North Carolina border. The Lanes were unlikely prospects for the Baptists. Richard Lane, Dutton’s father, was a devoted Anglican and an ardent enemy of the Baptists.
Tidence Lane, Dutton’s older brother, was the first Lane to embrace Baptist beliefs and was instrumental in his brother’s conversion. Tidence had married and moved into North Carolina where he heard of the renowned Shubal Stearns, and out of curiosity went to hear him preach. This encounter resuled in Tidence’s conversion and baptism, and like Andrew of the New Testament, he went and told his brother what great things God had done for him. Dutton, moved by his brother’s testimony, was converted and baptized by Shubal Stearns.
Impressed that it was his duty to preach the gospel, Dutton Lane began to proclaim the glories of God’s redeeming love. A revival ensued, and several of Dutton’s friends and neighbors were converted. On one occasion, Shubal Stearns’ co-laborer, Daniel Marshall, baptized 42 of Dutton Lane’s converts.
In 1760, Marshall officially organized the Dan River Church with Dutton Lane as their pastor. Although lacking a formal education, he possessed a vigorous constitution, a powerful voice, and a heart on fire with the love of Jesus. The church flourished and within time expanded to include five branches with five assistant pastors.
Like most of his contemporaries, Dutton Lane was not exempt from persecution. Surprisingly, his most vehement persecutor was his father. When Dutton became a Baptist his father was infuriated. He believed his son had renounced his family and God. This situation reached a boiling point when Richard Lane discovered that his wife had gone to hear Dutton preach. Enraged by his wife’s actions, he struck her and swore he would kill his son. Taking his gun, he began pursuing Dutton, but fortunately Mrs. Lane interceded on Dutton’s behalf and convinced her husband that before he killed their son, he should at least hear him preach and judge whether he was worthy of death.
Richard Lane reluctantly agreed to go hear his son preach. However, instead of killing his youngest son, Richard Lane was slain by the sword of the Spirit, from which he was revived with the hope of eternal life and was baptized by the son he intended to kill.
Another interesting event occurred in Luneburg County where Dutton Lane had gone to preach. While the service was in progress, Joseph Williams, a magistrate, interrupted the services and ordered Dutton to cease preaching and for the crowd to disperse. Dutton mildly replied that as there were many other places he could preach without interruption, he did not know that he would come there again. After speaking a few words to the crowd, he addressed Mr. Williams and said, “Little sir, as you now think it, my impressions tell me that you will become a Baptist, a supporter of the cause you now persecute.” This prediction was fulfilled, for in about 12 years Mr. Williams was converted and became a zealous Baptist deacon.
Another interesting event concerned a man named William Cocker who was heard to say on many occasions that he would rather go to hell than heaven if going to heaven required him to be a Baptist. But, providentially finding himself at a place where Dutton Lane was preaching, he decided he would hear what the Baptist had to say. Before the sermon ended, William Cocker fell to the ground and cried, “Lord, have mercy upon me! What shall I do to be saved?” He would become a committed Baptist, a defender of the cause he once despised.
Dutton Lane continued to preach almost to the day of his death, and his Christian life was always beyond reproach. But in the latter part of his life, he adopted and maintained certain strange opinions. This occurred when he began to neglect the truths that were plain and obvious and began speculating about the mysterious and unknowable things of God. Lord, help us to keep our eyes upon Jesus and may our finish be stronger than our beginning.