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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1809.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REF. WILLIAM HUMPHRYES,

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT HAMMERSMITH.

[Extracted from the Funeral-Sermon delivered by the Rev. Robert Winter.]

MR. HUMPHRYES was blessed with a religious as well as a liberal education; and while at school at Brompton, evinced the dawn of that humble piety which, in mature life, shone with so much splendor. Indeed, it was when he was only nine years old that he began to seek after God; having, at that very early period, received some impressive views of the vast importance of serious religion, which he never habitually lost. The sense which he entertained of eternal concerns, awakened in his breast a desire to be useful to his fellow-creatures, and led him in early life to think of the ministry as his future employment. By his friends, he was designed for the Established Church; but he became, on full conviction, a decided, though a liberal Dissenter, from the perusal of the Rev. Mr. Palmer's Protestant Dissenter's Catechism. Hence he was induced to enter as a student at the academy at Homerton, in 1778; which was then under the able direction of Drs. Conder, Gibbons, and Fisher.

As a student, he was diligent, laborious, and constantly, though gradually, increasing in knowledge; and he never de serted the pursuit on account of the difficulties of the path, and the discouragements which, in common with all who are engaged in it, he not unfrequently met.

As a friend, he was most affectionate, encouraging, pruden and faithful. His judgment was sound, his affections warm, b counsel wise and disinterested, and his unaffected delicacy of ser timent almost peculiar to himself, though exceedingly instrues tive to those with whom he familiarly conversed.

What he was, at that time, in the higher character of a Chris tian, I want language to express. The fear of God was not only the real, but the visible and prominent principle by which t was governed. The fervour of youthful piety is often very great,

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and frequently produces strong effects, which afterwards subside. It was not so with him. I have known many young professors far more lively and ardent; but I never knew one more uniformly humble and persevering. His conversation on topics of experimental piety, and on the influence of divine truth over his own mind, was, even at the age of 17 or 18, judicious and edifying in a high degree. His whole behaviour was exemplary. A manly decision of character, mingled with the most unassuming modesty and the most generous kindness, marked all that he did; and when he left the academy, the affectionate remembrance of William Humphryes retained a lasting place in the bosoms of his associates.

On leaving Homerton, he was invited to preach to a small and decayed congregation at Haverhill, in Suffolk. His labours in the pulpit, his conversations in the social circle, and in the confidential interview, and the whole of his demeanour, soon awakened a considerall degree of attention. The congregation increased; and with fair prospects of increasing usefulness, he accepted an invitation to the pastoral office; and was ordained at Haverhill, Dec. 10, 1783.

The improvements which, during his residence in the comparative retirement of Haverhill, he made to his previous stock of knowledge on various subjects, were very considerable, He was there the devoted and exemplary pastor of a country congregation. His pulpit-labours were highly esteemed his attention to the families and individuals of his flock was unremitting his visits of consolation were full of tenderness and piety: his reproofs were firm and faithful, though always softened by the most genuine compassion for offenders: his care of the young was such as left on the hearts of many of them important traces, which will never be removed. His constitution was even at that time greatly enfeebled; the course of his ministry suffered many interruptions; and at length, in the year 1791, he was induced, though with great reluctance, with a view to the preservation of health, and by the decided advice of medical friends, to resign his charge.

He then returned to London; where a temporary relaxation from the fatigues of the stated ministry was instrumental in restoring him to a greater degree of health than he ever expected to enjoy again; and feeling himself invigorated, he ventured to appear occasionally in the pulpits of his friends.

It was in the spring of 1792, that Providence opened the door for his connection with this congregation. The morning-service of the Lord's Day alone was then vacant. The other duties of the situation were filled up by him who now addresses you. Mr. Humphryes had preached occasionally in this pulpit with considerable acceptance. It occurred to some of our friends, and to myself, that it would be an important acquisition, if we could persuade him to undertake the morning-service; which might be

done without probable injury to his health. To this he received a very affectionate invitation; which, after very considerable hesitation, he accepted, though still considering it as an experiment; for he doubted whether the state of his health would justify his continuance. When I thought it my duty to quit my connection with this society, the choice of a successor fell most sincerely and affectionately on Mr. H.; and, endeared as he and many of the congregation were to cach other by frequent intercourse, he felt not much dificulty in acceding to their wishes. On Tuesday, March 22, 1796, he was publicly set apart to the office of pastor. From that period, he rose in the estimation of all who knew him; nor has there been, I believe, a single cloud of disaffection on the part of the pastor, or on that of the society, to interrupt friendship, or to hinder usefulness.

In other respects, he has been greatly afflicted. His labours have often been interrupted by returns of debility and disease. Three times these interruptions have been occasioned by the rupture of a blood-vessel; but these, though seasons of great distress, were also sources of instruction and advantage. He exem

plified the most devout resignation to his heavenly Father's will, contented either to live or die, as should be most for his glory and the eternal welfare of his own soul and of his dear people. For their sake, more than for his own, he was desirous of life; and once and again his prayer was heard.

In his pastoral relation, his friends need not be told what he was. While memory lasts, the objects of his care can never cease to remember, with thankfulness to the divine Head of the church, the man who, like David, led them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.'

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He was a man of great wisdom. On a variety of subjects his knowledge was considerabie; but his theological knowledge and his acquaintance with the Scriptures were pre-eminent. He was well acquainted too with the world, and with the human heart. Hence he was well qualified to be a judicious preacher. His discriminations were often peculiarly just and impressive. He openly avowed his religious sentiments, which, after minute and impartial enquiry, were those which are commonly called Culvinistic. There was a time, in the early part of his ministry, when some of his friends, who disbelieved most of the doctrines to which a reference has been made, used very strenuous efforts to lead his mind from what he regarded as the essential truths of the gospel; but the deep sense which he had of the evil of sin, and of the depravity of his own heart, led him to see that none but a Saviour truly divine was adequate to the necessities of his soul; and that, in the righteousness and sacrifice of the adorable Emmanuel, there was a wonderful suitableness to his wants and to his danger,

What he so highly estimated as a Christian, he openly proclaimed as a minister, Ye are witnesses that he was often em

ployed in holding up, as the only ground of a sinner's hope, JEHOVAH, our Righteousness; and that he preached no other way of salvation but that which is opened through the righteousness and sacrifice of the Son of God. At the same time, he was always concerned to vindicate the honour of the Holy Spirit; and preached regeneration and holiness, as well as pardon and justification. It was not a cold systematic theology which proceeded from his lips; nor was it the unpremeditated effusion of honest but mistaken zeal which he addressed to his auditory. Accuracy of sentiment and representation, formed the grand feature of his preaching, so far as it was doctrinal; but mere accuracy would never content him. He always laboured to place divine truth in the most impressive, as well as the most unobjectionable point of view; and his preaching was directed to those great ends, without which knowledge puffeth up.'

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He was a very experimental preacher. Who that observed with what minute attention he watched the influence of principle on his own mind, can be surprized that he should make it a great object of his public ministry to delineate the features of the hidden man of the heart, and to shew the influence of the gospel on all the affections of the mind?

He was also a very practical preacher. The doctrine of grace was never, in his hands, so incautiously stated as to lead to licentiousness; nor could the bitterest enemies of that doctrine, had they heard Mr. Humphryes preach, have presumed to say That it was not a doctrine according to godliness.

It was not, however, merely in the pulpit that the wisdom of our friend was discovered. He was peculiarly qualified to give prudent counsel, both in secular and in spiritual affairs. It was often long before he formed a judgment on a doubtful case. He weighed it with the utmost impartiality before he decided; but, when he had decided, he was firm and steadfast.

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He was as faithful as he was wise. He knew his awful responsibility at the great tribunal, and watched for souls as one who must give account.' Whosoever might be displeased or offended, it was his desire, in public, to keep back no part of the counsel of God; and, in private, his whole behaviour was as far removed from flattery on the one hand, as from unkind severity on the other. The faithfulness of his admonitions, many whom he ineffectually reproved must reluctantly own; while the penitent and restored backslider will for ever adore the mercy which sent such a shepherd to call back his wandering steps.

But fidelity was accompanied and softened by the tenderest affection. The meekness and gentleness of Christ' were peculiarly conspicuous in the whole of his ministry and conduct, His pulpit-addresses were directed, not to the understanding only, but to the heart. He deeply felt the energy of divine truth, and laboured that his people might feel it too. Love to Christ and to the souls of men, was most conspicuous in all his public la

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