Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

he describes the life and death of a Christian, adds, 'Such a person was our dear departed friend. The first powerful im pressions of divine truths on his heart, were made by a discourse of Mr. Jenkins, one of Whitfield's itinerating preachers, on those words of the prophet Isaiah: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" He afterwards joined the General Baptist Church at Portsmouth, of which his father was a member; "for the discriminating tenet of admission into which, he has mentioned with grief, that he had an ardent zeal before he had any to know Jesus Christ and him crucified as a Saviour to his soul. The ministry of Mr. Williams, of Gosport, on whom he usually attended, was peculiarly edifying to him; and be found in it great benefit and great pleasure. Sometime after I came to Gosport, he relinquished his former connection, and became first a member, and then a deacon of this church, and continued to discharge the duties of that office till the day of his death.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

He had an integrity of heart equalled by few. There are not many to whom the words of Jesus concerning Nathaniel are more applicable: "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. Subtilty and craft appeared to have no place in him; and it would be difficult to find a person farther removed from every thing of the hypocrite than he was; and to make pretensions to what he was not, formed no part of his character. In humility also he excelled. During a long and intimate intercourse, I do not recollect that he ever said or did a thing which seemed to be with a design that any one should entertain a higher opinion of his wisdom or his goodness. His sentiments of himself, as to his Christian character, were very low, and, for a long time, produced an effect which he lamented in the end. Conceiving himself not to have a talent for religious conversation, he thought it more proper for himself rather to listen than to take a part.

In the course of my life I have scarcely met with one who shewed less regard to external circumstances in the estimate which he formed of others. The rich excited in his mind no partiality on account of their wealth and splendor; nor did he look down on the poor because of their poverty: he esteemed persons for their worth, and neither envied nor despised them for any thing else. Few have, in this respect, exhibited a juster representation of a Christian, who is taught to esteem men for their rational and immortal nature, and for their moral and spiritual qualities, and to look on external and adventitious circumstances as infinitely inferior things.

His deportment, as the head of a family, was exceedingly amiable and exemplary. The goodness of his natural dispo sition, improved and regulated by the principles of the gospel, enabled him to appear with great advantage in every relation. He had no child of his own that lived beyond infancy, but he

[ocr errors]

was a father to his numerous relatives, and ever displayed towards them the sentiments of a kind, liberal, and generous bentfactor. His constant attention to morning and evening worship in the family, to the reading of the Scriptures and books of piety, and to the sanctification of the Lord's Day, I wish that all who profess religion among us did but imitate.

His conduct as a member of civil, society, was highly commendable. He lived at Gosport from his childhood, and, for a long course of years, was engaged in business; but such was his integrity in his dealings, and his fairness and uprightness in all his transactions, that his character always stood deservedly high. I have no fear of contradiction when I say that there is not a person in the town held in greater esteem of all than Thomas Hayter, who had lived under their inspection for fourscore years.

As a member of the church of Christ, he was a lover of truth and peace. His zeal for the purity of the gospel increased with his years. Quarrelling and contention were not in his nature. If he could extinguish the coals of strife when they were kindieď by others, he was always ready to do it, and success gave him unfeigned pleasure. In his attendance on worship, he set an example which, on account of its constancy as well as humble seriousness, it would be greatly for the comfort of ministers if every professor of religion would follow. He felt the authority of Christ upon his heart, and that produced subjection to his ordinances.

In the office of deacon he rendered very important services to the church. The universal esteem in which he was held, gave him an influence which he employed for the welfare of the society. He rejoiced in the prosperity of religion, and was ever ready to exert himself for the general good. Whenever any ser vice was required of him, he engaged in it with the utmost readiness. Persons in public offices meet with many disagreeable things, for all men have not faith, nor reason; but he bore them with remarkable equanimity, and went on his way not shrinking from the performance of any duty on that account. His zeal made little noise, but it was steady and persevering, and consisted more in actions than in words.

'He was much concerned for the advancement of religion in the world. Many who have been accustomed till old age to move in a certain path, find it difficult to vary or extend their course. From this circumstance, not a few excellent people, being accustomed, for fifty or sixty years, to confine their regards to the cause of religion in the congregations of which they were members, or the denomination to which they belonged, were unable to grasp in their unaccustomed minds the propagation of the gospel among the unenlightened at home, or the Heathen abroad; but when, about fourteen years ago, these great objects began to be embraced and acted upon, he readily entered into the

new plans of usefulness, gave them all the encouragement in his power, and was greatly delighted with the prospects of success.

< His generosity in every thing relating to the support and advancement of religion, was highly exemplary. To the utmost of his power he was ready to contribute to every good work. Often it has been remarked, that persons who were generous in the earlier part of life, as they grew old became more contracted, and, at last, betrayed a penurious spirit; but old age brought no evil influence with it to him; the power of godliness restrained and subdued the spirit of the world, and his generosity continued unimpaired to the end of life.

In liberality towards Christians of different denominations, he was also a pattern. I have seldom met with a person who was more free from a party spirit and zeal for a sect. The true disciples of Christ in every communion he esteemed and loved; and to faithful ministers of every denomination he felt a cordial attachment, and most affectionately wished them prosperity. From a conceit of the superiority of his own communion, and contempt of others as inferior in truth and goodness, a disease of mind too incident to human nature, he was remarkably free, and exemplified, in a most amiable manner, the kind and liberal spirit which the religion of Jesus is calculated to produce.

[ocr errors]

By the decay of his bodily powers, notice was given him of the approach of death. He listened to the message, and fre quently said to his friends, 'I know that my continuance here will be but short.' The transition of the soul from a state of trial into a state of eternal retribution, appeared to him infinitely important. His soul was filled with inexpressible ave, inspired by the view of the eternal world, on the brink of which he felt himself standing. Earth, and the things of earth, seemed to he forgotten by him, as no longer any concern of his. Eternal things occupied his whole soul; and with what solemnity of spirit did he speak of them, and of his own departure! After sitting in silent meditation, with his eyes shut and his hands lifted up as expressive of pious ejaculations, he said to a friend, "I have been looking to yonder gloomy tonib, the gaping hollow tomb, which waits for me! O, Sir ! it is a serious thing to die! -dying work is hard work! I am in no pain; but there is something in the view of death, even to a Christian, which ap pears awful."

[ocr errors]

'As it is frequently the privilege of the disciples of Christ, on the approach of death, to have clearer views of God than they ever had before; in consequence of this, the sins of their heart and life appear in more odious coleurs, and humble them in dust and ashes. Such was the case of our deceased friend. His soul was deeply affected with the sense of the sins of his past life; he looked at his transgressions with abhorrence, and loathed him. self for his iniquities. With tears flowing from his eyes, he said to a friend, I am not without the consolations of the gospel;

but there is one thing I lament, and will have to lament while in the body, and that is, the little improvement I have made of my time, the little progress I have made in the divine life, consider ing the precious privileges and advantages I have enjoyed. With deep humility I confess I have not served God só zealously as I might have done. I have been upwards of fifty years a professor of religion, and a follower of Christ; but, alas! how far short have I come of what may and ought to be called Diligence! This is a source of grief!'

[ocr errors]

"The doctrines of the gospel, which unfold the infinite love of God to his people, appeared before him in all their excellence and beauty. While he beheld death approaching, he found peace of soul in relying on the righteousness and atonement of the glorious Redeemer, as God manifested in the flesh. This was his only refuge; this was the sole foundation of his hope. After he had expressed the humiliating confession which I have just recorded, he added, Still I know in whom I have believed; and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. He will keep my outward man: you observe it rapidly decaying; but, blessed be God! my inward man is gaining strength, I am going the way of all flesh; but how pleasant to look up in such a season to the faithfulness of God! What a blessing to be enabled to cast all my care upon him!'

'Faith in Jesus Christ, his Saviour, was accompanied with the lively hope of the heavenly glory. For some months before his departure, his expectation of future blessedeess was firm and steadfast, and scarcely interrupted by one painful doubt or fear. "This tabernacle,' said he, 'is taking down very gently. I am in no pain: I have the presence of my God with me, and I am looking forward to a crown of righteousness through the love of a precious Saviour; for it is only through the infinite merits of Jesus that I expect acceptance with my God.'

'Resignation to the divine will was eminently displayed during the gradual dissolution of his earthly tabernacle. He felt himself in the hands of God, and he was satisfied and pleased that God should do what he thought best. This was his habitual frame. Once, when he was under great bodily distress, his nearest friend said to him, "Have patience:" he looked up with surprize, and answered, God forbid that I should answer at what my heavenly Father does! I had not one repining thought. He patiently waited for his dismission, and sometimes said, 'I think I shall leave you this night,' and, 'I thought I should have been called away in the course of the past night; but God's will be done! - his time is best, and I am willing to depart when it pleases him.' He was full of holy counsels to all who came to him in his affliction. To the young he had some pious advice to give; and he gave it with the seriousness and authority which none but a dying man could display. 3 L

[ocr errors]

A lively concern for the cause of religion followed him to his death. A few days before that event, on mentioning to him the accession of some members to the church, he lifted up his hands for joy, and praised God; and his last words to me were, 'May God Almighty bless you and your family, and the church of God!'

6 Prayer was his support. When his friends recommended him to the grace of God, his soul was greatly refreshed; and he expressed the warmest gratitude to them for their supplications: it was his own habitual employment; and the departure of the soul from the body took place at a time when he was lifting up his hands to God, inwardly expressing, we may conceive, what he frequently uttered in the preceding days, Even so, come Lord Jesus! come quickly!'

* Funeral-Sermon by Rev. D. Bogue, Gosport, Hants.

A MEDITATION.`

BY JAMES BONNER, ESQ.

The following Meditation of the pious and exemplary James Bonner, Esq. who filled a high and respectable station in the Customs in Ireland during the dangerous and persecuting reigns of Charles II. and James II. shews the calm state of that holy man's mind in that very distressing time. As the book is in very few hands, I trust you will give it a place in your useful Work, as being calculated to lead the mind of the Christian forward to that blessed state which it describes; and you will much oblige A CONSTANT READER.

How did we see,' says he, 'the Protestants on the great day 'our Revolution, July 3, 1693 (a day ever to be remembered by us with all thankfulness *! O that it had begun with visiting our churches, and presenting ourselves there to Ged, our Deliverer!) how did we see them congratulate and embrace each other as they met, like persons alive from the dead! Like brothers and sisters meeting after long absence, and going about from house to house, to give each other an account of God's mercy to them; and enquiring of one another, How they past the last days of distress and terror? what apprehensions they had? what fears or dangers they were under? Those that were prisoners, How they got their liberty? how they were treated? and what, from time to time, they thought of these sad things?

O that this may be an happy type to us, as it is as lively an emblem as ever this world can give, of the joyful meeting of the servants of God in Heaven at the great day of Jubilee, when all the terrors of Death and Judgment shall be over, and Christ, our

This was written soon after the battle of the Boyne.

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »