a respectable independent mi-mising abilities for usefulness nister, at Brigstock, the Rev. in the church of Christ, should J. Pickering; to whom I feel so soon finish his course! Mr. greatly indebted for his kind V. desires his most affectionate attention to my dear deceased regards to you and Mrs. T. brother, and for the two fol- and hopes to receive a line lowing letters. The first is from you. Should you write, dated I hope it will be by return of post, as his end seems so near. "I remain, &c." 66 Brigstock, 28th March, 1815. "MY DEAR SIR, "P.S. Should there be a speedy removal of Mr. Vickers, I will send you word.” As desired, I wrote imme for his encouragement and comfort, I recollect referring him to the character and conduct of David, in the 26th Psalm. By the subsequent letter, I was thankful to learn, that it was not altogether in vain, The solemn season of death now drew near; the circumstances of which are thus given by the above affectionate friend and neighbour: "Brigstock, 17th April, 1815. "DEAR SIR, "By the request of Mr. J. Vickers, I write to inform you, of the rapid progress his disorder is making. He now lies in the last stage of a consump-diately to Mr. Vickers, and, tion, and his death may be daily expected. He has been at Stanion about two months, during which time, he has been growing gradually worse. His strength is so much reduced, that it is with the greatest difficulty he can speak. He has been confined to his bed about three weeks. His friends testify every possible attention they can, to make him comfortable in his afflicted state. From the fatherly kindness you have exercised to him formerly, and the reverence and respect he feels for you and Mrs. T. it would afford him peculiar pleasure, in his last moments, to receive a line from you. I am happy to inform you, that my friend enjoys the conso-ther, Vickers, are now ended. lations of religion, in his feeble He has finished his course, and and emaciated condition. His entered into the joy of his Lord. mind is composed and calm; On the 9th inst. a visible althe fear of death is removed; teration for death took place; and he lies anticipating, the so that when I called upon him rest which remains for the peo- the following day, it was with ple of God.' The ways of God great difficulty he could speak. are unfathomable, but he is He was perfectly sensible that righteous in all his proceedings. the time of his departure was at How mysterious, that a young hand; and he intimated to his man, of fervent piety, and pro- friends, on Wednesday evening, From the few lines I sent you some time ago, you would be prepared to receive the painful intelligence which I have to communicate. The labours and sufferings of my dear bro Tho' painful at present, 'twill cease before long, And then, O how pleasant, the conqueror's song! "I never heard him express any doubts respecting his interest in Christ, or pamful uncertainty, as to future happi the 12th, that a change was read and pray with him. On about to take place. He lan- opening his Bible, I observed guished all day on Thursday, to him, how many passages he in extreme pain; and, on Fri- had marked with his pen: he day morning, about two o'clock, replied: Precious promises! he calmly resigned his breath, precious book! I have read and fell asleep in Jesus. His that book with more than comremains were interred at Sta- mon pleasure.' He anticinion, last sabbath; and, in the pated, with sacred delight, the evening, I improved the mourn-time when he should be deliful dispensation, at Brigstock, 'vered from the burden of morto a crowded and deeply af- tality. When groaning under fected audience, agreeably to his feeble and emaciated frame, his earnest request, from Phil. he, more than once, repeated i. 21. For me to live is Christ, those lines: and to die is gain.' During his long and trying affliction, the consolations he derived from religion supported his mind. He enjoyed a holy composure, under his sufferings, and a sweet resignation to the will of God. There was no fretfulness, or impatience, at the Lord's deal-ness. ings with him, nor uneasiness at the prospect of a.dying hour. In his illness, he was led to admire the sovereign grace of God, which had made such a change in him, and all that of mercy in which his providence had conducted him. He knew it was a kind father that had laid his hand upon him, and all would be well. He said to me, at one time, My affliction is a merciful affliction: what a mercy to have an interest in Christ! This consoles me, that I am corrected by a wise, loving, holy, and righteous Father.' He knew in whom he had believed, and was persuaded, that what he had committed to him, he was able to keep against that day! His great debility prevented him from conversing way with his Chris tian friends, so much as he otherwise could have wished, To a kind and intimate friend, who had come from some distance to see him, he said, he hoped he would excuse his speaking, as he was unable, but added, I will tell you all my experience when we meet in heaven.' When I caled upon him, one sabbath mornOn another oc-ing, recollecting what day it casion, he observed, I have was, he seemed to feel some a desire to be better, but not very strong emotions; after a over anxious. To to live short pause, me, he exclanned, is Christ, and to die is gain.' 'Blessed be God! I used to To me there is nothing terrific say, when the sabbath caine, in death! In one of my visits to him, he requested me to VOL. VII. Thine earthly sabbaths, Lord, I love, But there's a nobler rest above." 31 and then said, 'I shall soon | interest, will, I am persuaded, come to that. Speaking to prove acceptable. him about resignation to the Lord under afflictions, he answered, I hope, I desire to submit to the will of God.' Adiniring, at one time, the grace of God to him, he cried out, O, to grace, how great a debtor Daily I'm constrain'd to be! Last night I was in great pain, but had no cause for complaint. It was my prayer, when at the Academy, that God would fit me for some useful station. My wish is, to do the will of God. The ways of God are mysterious, but they are all harmonious.' The last time I had any conversation with him, I asked him, whether he felt much pain: he answered, I cannot tell you how I feel-I feel I want to go home. But the will of the Lord be done.' Your kind letter, which he received, cheered his mind very much; his languid frame could scarcely bear up under it. He told me, when I saw him, he had read it over, but could not bear to hear it again. I have oftentimes enjoyed the company of my deceased brother when in health, nor has it been less profitable and pleasant in my interviews with him on his sick bed. His pains and sorrows are now over; nor can I doubt, but he is now realizing what had dwelt so long upon his mind: To die is gain!' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright! for the end of that man is peace.' This short and very imperfect account of one, for whom you have manifested such a lively REV. III. 8. I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it! SOME expositors have considered the seven Asiatic churches to be emblematically predictive of as many distinct periods of the church, extending from the ascension of Christ to the end of time. Although this hypothesis is not well sustained, there is in the description of Sardis a striking resemblance to the character of that age of the church which has now closed; and present circumstances seem to justify the hope, that the description of Philadelphia may be as fully exemplified, in that which we have entered-that in the future history of the church the present age may be distinguished as a period of extended benevolence and of active co-operation, in every "work and labour of love." A very close connexion subsists between the character of Christ, as stated, in the preceding verse, and his conduct, as stated in the text. "These things saith He that is holy, addressing to him their highest honours: still sending forth the tidings of salvation to a guilty world, and filling up and extending the labours which we must leave unaccomplished; for "his kingdom must increase as long as the sun and moon endure." "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true; who hath the key of David; who openeth, and no man shutteth; who shutteth, and no man openeth." He that is true." THE HOLY ONE AND THE TRUE. He, to whom these exalted attributes are assigned, must be properly Divine: and we are led, first, to contemplate, with high satisfaction, the character of Christ as supreme Governor of the church and of the world: "He openeth, and no man shutteth." Through all his vast dominions faithful love presides; while, by every turn of that awful key which his right hand sustains, he opens The text announces (I next to our view some new and joy- remark) a special display of ful scene, or covers with the the power of Christ, in giving shades of death some that we "free course" to his blessed had been accustomed to sur- gospel-"I have set before vey with high delight. By each thee an open door," &c. This decision of his will, he intro-expression evidently refers to duces some new messenger of the entrance of the gospel into mercy from the skies, or ter- a country in which it had not ninates the labours of another who had long and faithfully sustained the sacred office. By one turn of that key, he ushers a crowd of converts into the church; and, by another, shuts up an evangelist in the tomb. At the same instant, he closes the door of mortality on a beloved friend, and opens immortality to our extended and anx- One great impediment to the ious survey. By every exercise progress of the gospel is the of his supreme authority, he pre-occupancy of heathen counawakens us to adoration, sub-tries by false religion. How mission, gratitude and joy. In joy all must terminate, for Jesus reigns, and reigns for ever. hitherto been known. Thus, from the church at Antioch, "Paul and Barnabas went forth to Iconium, and Lystra, and the region round about: and they returned to Antioch, and rehearsed all that God had done by them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles." vast is the number of the human race who are still involved m this awful state of degradation, while the door seems shut against all attempts to convey to them the knowledge of an Almighty Deliverer! The holiness, the faithfulness, the power and the love of Immanuel, form a sea without a boundary, and extend to Paganism has closed up the duration without a limit. In immense empire of China, with future ages, as in the present, its crowded population; the Jesus shall survey, from his islands of Japan, with all the throue, assemblies like this, vast surrounding regions; the greater part of the Eastern continent, and almost the whole of Africa. In these countries, the impure and superstitious rites of idolatry have acquired an authority which is, to merely human power, unconquerable; while, in Turkey, Persia, a great part of Asia, and the northern states of Africa, Mahomedanism raises a barrier not less difficult to surmount; and in Spain, Portugal, and a great part of Italy, the progress of divine truth is prohibited by decrees of violence and blood, or arrested by the ruthless hand of the Inquisition. When David besieged the strong hold of the Jebusites, and exposed the folly of trusting in gods, "who have eyes, but see not, and feet, but walk not," the inhabitants thought their deities insulted, and, at once to secure their safety and show their defiance of Israel, they appear to have set these idols on the walls of the city; when they said to David, "Unless thou take away the blind and the lame, thou canst not come in hither." In the same spirit, thousands tauntingly say to the Christian missionary, "Thou canst not come in hither. The religion of these realm's is unalterable." But David took the city, even the strong hold, and of the door by which the gospel shall enter, Jesus holds the key, and turns it at the voice of prayer. How is it, then, that Protestant churches, who profess an eager concern for the con version of souls, have so long * Pearce's Missionary Letters. |