the divine requirements. Those || orphan, and often would repeat in his benediction upon them, "May God be the God of your widowhood, and the father of the fatherless ones; may he in you thus verify a promise, the blessings of which, he attributes eminently to himself." The last years of his life he devot who have been members of his family, universally speak respectfully of his virtues, and of his studiousness to advance their good, as much as his own. What is somewhat singular, we have heard none even insinuate that he did not at all times manifest the strictest honed to visiting. Like his Divine esty and most manly and honoura- Master, at whose name his soul ble conduct in all his transactions. rejoiced, and whose praises flowed He was also much celebrated for most sweetly from his lips, he went his enterprize and activity. In about doing good, seeking the hapwhatever he engaged, he manifes-piness of man and the prosperity of the church. ted zeal, and many things now remain to testify to the expedition with which he discharged whatever was committed to his trust. His town, state, and country found in him a valuable friend and citizen. He watched over the inThe numerous calls for his char-terest of his native town during the ity at home and abroad, gave the revolutionary struggle of our counpublic an opportunity to witness try. He was present, and afforded and esteem him for his benevolence. || much aid to his esteemed fellow citBesides patronizing many objects zens, when his and their property under his daily inspection, and con- was destroyed by the British army. tributing several hundred dollars His soul glowed with the love of to the erection of two meeting freedom, and at the mention of the houses in his own town for his own liberties of his country, kindled church, there was scarcely a meet-into revolutionary ardour. He ing house erected in this vicinity or the neighbouring states, or a religious or benevolent institution established, or a church constituted, in whose behalf his assistance was not solicited, or which he did not generously aid in its progress. The memory of these charities afforded not only himself pleasure in the decline of life, but gave his friends generally much satisfaction To the poor he was a friend indeed. Many speak of his kind assistance with gratitude, and sensibly feel the loss his death has occasioned, to their families and to themselves. From his own table he delighted to supply the wants of others, that they at the same time might participate of what an indulgent Providence had conferred upon him. He was always ready to administer to the wants of the distressed, and to sympathise with them in their afflictions. He felt a deep interest in the lonely situation of the widow, and the peculiar condition of the served his town in various publick capacities, and enjoyed all the honours his fellow townsmen could bestow upon him. Besides officiating repeatedly as Chairman at their public meetings, and serving on numerous and the most important Committees, he was appointed an Overseer of the Poor eighteen, a Selectman sixteen, and a representative to the General Court eight years; these, as well as many other offices, he discharged with much credit to himself, and satisfaction to his constituents; and through a long life, he experienced constantly tokens of their unlimited confidence and sincere affection. For many In the prosperity of the young and rising generation, he felt a very uncommon interest. years he was accustomed to visit our schools, both private and public, and to address the children on the vast importance of discharging the duties that devolved upon them, and warned them against habits and vices incidental to their age. By || Christian character. Although he these kind attentions and addresses entertained a hope in the mercy of both in the school room, and as he God in early life, yet such were walked the streets, he endeared his views of his own depravity, that himself peculiarly to them and he did not obtain an evidence suftheir guardians. It is pleasant to ficiently satisfactory of his personal hear almost all our middle aged piety to make a public profession citizens, relate his observations to of it, till he was about forty-two them while children, and mention years of age, when cheerfully he their gratification at seeing him al- gave himself up to the church in ways at their examinations, and its ordinances, and was baptized in their anticipations of hearing his Boston, and united to the First pathetic and affectionate advice Baptist Church in that town, in and fervent prayers. We do not October 1st, 1786, under the pastopretend to estimate the good that ral care of the Rev. Dr. Stillman, he has already done in his life, nor for whom as a pastor, as well as in that which he hereafter will accom- every other respect, he cherished plish by his memory. Many have the most ardent love till his death. ideas of a religious nature, which He continued to enjoy the privithey might never have received, leges of this church till the year had it not been for his faithful spirit. 1801, when with a number of ChrisIn late years he has been in the tian friends he removed his relation habit of giving the children of some to be constituted with them a of the schools small sums of money, church of Christ in his native town. to put into the contribution box for After its organization,he was chosen the support of heathen children, and to officiate as one of their deacons, the education of pious young men which he continued to do, as far as for the ministry, hoping thereby to his strength would allow, till his encourage them to do the same death, when in the 81st year of his with monies they might receive age, he departed to unite with the from other sources. The children redeemed millions, in adoring his generally cherish the greatest ven- almighty friend and Saviour. In eration for his memory. At his our church, he has remained a supfuneral they had leave of absence port and consolation to all its memfrom their schools, that they might bers in prosperity and adversity, mingle their sympathies with a for which we find ourselves wholly crowded auditory, and drop the unable to express our obligations. tear of affection over his remains. Since his decease, a beloved daughter of an eminent physician of this town about six years of age, wished to die, adding among a few reasons, because she should go where Deacon Goodwin was. This is but an illustration of the affection of the children towards him. He was noted for the reproof he gave to the profane swearer, when and whereever he met him, and to the careless and indolent. He encouraged industry by precept, and his own example, and diffused a savour of pure morality wherever he associated. Mr. Goodwin was not less respected and distinguished in his His piety was of the purest and most substantial kind. It was genuine, elevated, and unwavering. It was exhibited in obedience to divine commandments, and in an ardent desire for the salvation of souls. For many years during the twilight of the evening, he was not known to neglect retiring to his chamber for private devotion, unless absent from home, or prevented by unavoidable circumstances; an example worthy of the imitation of all. He was remarkably attached to the name of his Saviour, and dwelt upon his sufferings and death with peculiar delight. Few have such an abiding and affecting sense of them. He was a firm believer in his real and proper Divinity, and in his righteousness as the only medium of his justification. He reposed his hope of salvation not on what he had done, but wholly on the prevalent intercession of Christ, and the sanctifying energies of the Holy Ghost, He was the friend of missions, and of every benevolent institution. O how did his heart delight on the return of the monthly concert to pray for missionaries, and the season to contribute to their support. He valued the Lord's day, not as many do, to settle up their accounts, and to arrange their other concerns, but as a day of spiritual rest. He made the Bible and some practical works, his chief and daily study. He was always ready, and the first to introduce and converse upon practical and experimental religion. He cherished a genuine love for real Christians of every name. We do not mean to represent our friend as without faults. No his own confessions would contradict this. He had an abiding conviction of his sinfulness in the sight of God; and lived and fervently desired to die praying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner.' In the language applied to the late Mr. Russell of this town, we would add, that in Deacon Goodwin, though an old man, we all have sustained a great loss. His country has lost one who was peculiarly concerned for its welfare; this town, a father, the study of whose life it was to promote its prosperity; the ministers of religion, a steady and sincere friend 1; the church, a pillar; the poor, a liberal benefactor; the schools, a zealous patron; his friends, a frank, social, and improving companion; his partner, an endeared associate; and his children, the best of fathers." In his last will, he has left a legacy to the poor's fund in Charlestown; to the Charlestown Baptist Charity Fund; and to the Baptist Education Fund in Boston. During the latter part of the life of our deceased friend, he was accustomed to have his Bible lay open upon his stand, in which he read daily. The comfort of its precious promises and consolations, he experienced in his last sickness. In the month of June last, he had a paralytic stroke, which affected his sight and memory. Shocks of this kind were repeated until death. His sight soon became so far gone, that he could not see to read, and without a murmuring word, he acquiesced in this grievous providence. This event his wife has always dreaded, for she thought when he could not read his Bible, he would be perfectly unhappy and discontented. Still his soul was comforted by the recurrence of sages to his mind applicable to his situation, and often when apparently stupid and insensible, by the suggestion of the first words of a verse, or a line, he would repeat the remainder to the surprise of his attendants. Shortly, previous to his death, he having lain through the day without speaking, and to all appearance insensible to every thing, his wife gazing upon him said, "A few more rolling suns at most," pas and those present, and repeated when he joined to her astonishment with an audible voice, "Will land me on fair Ganaan's coast, How important that Christians live in that manner, which will afford them peace in the decline of life, and satisfaction in dissolving nature. 'Then with our absent friend they can repeat with becoming sensations, "My God! the spring of all my joys, The glory of my brightest days, Our friend continued till the 21st of January, when he breathed his spirit sweetly out, leaning on the bosom of his Redeemer. These || numerous and crowded auditory, items of his useful life are penned anxious to pay the last tribute of by one, who highly prized his coun-respect:- Help, Lord, for the godsel, and who will always revere hisly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail memory, in the hope that others from among the children of men. may be constrained to adopt the "Mark the perfect man, and behold language of the text preached from the upright; for the end of that man at his funeral, in the presence of a lis peace. Charlestown, 1825. RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. ON THE PROPER USE OF SCRIPTURE IN DEVOTION. Messrs. Editors, The following Letter is from the Memoirs of Fuller, and is on a subject which may be of use to your readers. By inserting it you will oblige A SUBSCRIBER. My dear Friend, Kettering, Jan. 17, 1792. In many of the workings of your mind, there is some similarity with those of my own, about twenty years ago. You seem to be fluctuating upon the surges of doubt and suspense. I did the same, for some time. I think, that one cause of this, in me, was, my hopes and fears rose or fell, according as texts of Scripture occurred to my mind. For example: If such a passage as Isa. xli. 10, (Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God,' &c.) was impressed on my mind, I was all joy and transport; but if such a passage as Psa. 50: 16, (What hast thou to do, to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth ?") was suggested, I was all dejection, and, perhaps, durst not go upon my knees to pray. I used to think, that when any passage of Scripture was impressed with weight upon my mind, it was no other than the voice of God, speaking to me by those words s; so that, though the passage, as it stood in the Bible, might be addressed to some other person or case, yet when it was impressed on my heart, I was led to consider it as an address from God to me. Yea, in this manner I used to imagine that God revealed future events to me. If I were praying for the conversion of any person in particular, and such a passage as this were impressed on my mind at the time-In her month they shall find her,'-(Jer. ii. 24.) I concluded, that God would, some time, convert that person : or, if such a passage as this- Pray not thou for this people,' &c. (Jer. vii. 16.) I should have concluded that they would not have been converted, and so have left off praying for them. After a while, I began to suspect, whether this way of taking comfort, or of casting it away, or of judging of future events, and regulating my conduct accordingly, were either of them just or solid. And, in a little time, I perceived, that I had no reason given me in Scripture, to expect the knowledge of my own state, or of the state of others, or of any future events, by such means. I knew that the prophets and apostles had extraordinary revelations made to them, being divinely inspired to write the Holy Scriptures but, vision and prophecy being now sealed up, (Dan. ix. 24.) and a wo being denounced upon the man that should add or diminish, (Rev. xxii. 18.) I concluded that we ought not to look for any new revelation of the mind of God, but to rest satisfied with 102 Andrew Fuller on the Proper Use of Scripture in Devotion. what has been revealed already, in || xli. 10. as it stands in the Bible, his word. compared with ver. 9. is, that the I do not, however, reject all im- || true servants of God have no reason pressions of Scripture passages; to be dismayed, for that God will provided it be nothing but Scripture strengthen, help, and uphold them truth that is thereby opened to the in all their afflictions: but, when mind, and impressed on the heart. that passage occurred to my mind, Some of the best times of my life I concluded that God had thereby have been through the means of a revealed to me, that he was my passage of Scripture. I remember, God, and would uphold me, &c. about twenty-two years ago, walk-But this was making it a new reving alone, in an agony of despair, my guilt appeared too great to be forgiven, and my propensities too strong to be overcome. I felt as if there were no hope for me, and that I must even go on and perish || for ever! Here I paused. elation, as much as if the impression had not been in the words of Scripture; because the meaning which it had before, and that which I put upon it, were totally distinct. It is a very different thing for God to promise to be the God of his servants, and his promising to be my God, or your God. It is very true, if I can prove myself to be a servant of God, borne down with fear and dismay, on account of the What! (thought I,) give up all hope, and plunge myself into the gulf of destruction How can I bear the thought ? My heart was ready to burst with anguish. I then thought of Job's resolution-enemies of my soul, which I have Though he slay me, yet will I to encounter, (as was the case with trust in him.' And why (thought the children of Jacob there addres I,) may I not venture on Christ as sed,) then I should have just cause a lost sinner, as well as Job did to conclude the promise to be mine; upon his God? I wept. . . . . I but if not, it is not the impression prayed. . . . . I rolled my guilty of such a promise that will prove and lost soul upon the Lord Jesus. my interest in it. Hope kindled in my breast. The tears of repentance flowed plenteously. My soul cleaved to Christ, as the helper of the helpless, and seemed united to him as by an indissoluble bond. My load of guilt was removed, and my evil propensities seemed to be slain. From this time, I reckon I first began to be a Christian. Indeed, I did not formerly suspect that I had been carried away by a supposed new revelation; but, seeing my impressions came in the words of Scripture, thought it was only the old revelation applied afresh, by the Spirit of God. But, upon examination, I found myself mistaken; for, though the words of Scripture were the means of the impression, yet the meaning of those words, as they stood in the Bible, was lost in the application. For instance: The meaning of Isa. Again: The meaning of Psa. 50: 16. is, that wicked men (such as are described from ver. 17-22.) have no right to engage in teaching God's word; but it does not follow, from thence, that, because that passage was impressed upon my mind in going to prayer, I was a wicked man, and had no right to draw near to God, and take his name into my mouth. To suppose that God then revealed to me that I ought not to take his name into my lips, was making it a new revelation, and so adding to Scripture ; for, except I bore the character there described, the passage speaks no such thing. Again: The meaning of Jer. ii. 24, is, that, let sinners be ever so set upon their lusts, there will come a time when they will be tamed and taken, either by the grace or the judgments of God. |