OF

THE Sovereignty of God is displayed in the variety of his dealings, not only with the world at large, but also with his own people, and the ministers whom he employs to gather and to bless his church.

Aaron, his high priest, was called, in old age, to go up to mount Hor, and die, stripping off his robes of office to put them on his son and successor, for those priests were many, since they were not suffered to continue by reason of death, but our one High Priest, because he continueth for ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Stephen, though full of faith and power, working miracles among the people, and giving promise of a long life of usefulness, was suddenly cut off by the blow of persecution.

We are now invited to muse over the history of the oldest member of the Congregational church in this kingdom, or, perhaps, in the world, and the pastor, who, for more than half a century, sustained the labours of the mi

VOL. XXI.

nistry with faithful heart and unspotted hands.

James Boden was born on the 13th of April, 1757, at Chester. This ancient city was honoured and blessed with the labours of the celebrated commentator, Matthew Henry, in whose former dwelling Mr. B. was born. The building in which that commentary was delivered by the living voice, had been left to the moles and the bats; for the Arian, Whiston, had diffused his poison among the Dissenters, and Chester had felt its influence; but, as Rome rose when Greece fell, the house which Matthew Henry had quitted, gave a birth place to James Boden, who stood as a pillar of evangelical truth, down to our days. In the garden where he first sported, there was an alcove, or summer-house, in which, it is said, a great part of the beautiful commentary was written, and who can tell how much this association may have contributed towards forming the mind of the late revered pastor in Sheffield?

2 s

At the age of fourteen he began to feel "the powers of the world to come." The subject of this memoir was too far removed from enthusiasm to make his own testimony doubtful, and, to say the least, the early converts to Christ give as good evidence of sincerity as those who are called late in life.

The religion thus early commenced, was cherished and improved under the ministry of Mr. Armitage, pastor of a small Congregational church, which then assembled in an upper room in Common Hall-street, into whose communion James Boden was received at the age of sixteen. This flock was gathered from the few believers who quitted the ancient site of Matthew Henry's labours, when it fell into the hands of those for whom it was never intended. Such is the history of many a Congregational church. Taught by experience, the seceders adopted the Congregational system.

But the little one at Chester has become a thousand; and, from an upper room, they have removed to a chapel in Queen-street, while the ancient building is an empty sepulchre, on which we read, "Behold the desolation." The fall of Presbyterianism in this country is pregnant with instruction. Its intolerant pretensions to domination over conscience blighted the fairest prospect that ever dawned upon the church in our land, and when those who would have crushed others, were themselves crushed, at the Restoration, those who pleaded for toleration, have by toleration multiplied into thousands of churches that retain the truth for which their fathers bled.

Mr. Boden early showed that the boy is father to the man, for, though so young, he displayed that piety, prudence, and zeal which characterized his future days, and which then eminently contributed to feed the feeble flame that glimmered in an upper room while all around was cold and dark as death. He became a leader in every good work, and joined a little band for social prayer, which always attends a revival of religion. He had a small

oratory, or room for prayer-meetings, where he seems to have begun to exhort, and from thence advanced to preaching.

Mr. Armitage and the church deeming him fit to be called out to the work of the ministry, he was sent to Homerton; and, at the close of his academical term of four years, he was invited to take the charge, at Hanley, amidst the potteries of Staffordshire. Here he formed one of those Sabbathschools, which were then rising into usefulness, and, after fifty years, he was invited to attend the jubilee of the school. We cannot say, "such honour have all the saints."

The late Mr. Lowell, of Bristol, formerly resided in the neighbourhood of Hanley, and, esteeming Mr. Boden, recommended to him a young lady in the neighbourhood, as suitable to be his wife. A day was fixed to meet near her residence, but she was suddenly carried off by death, and Mr. Lowell said to the writer of this memoir, “ I was standing up to allow the undertaker to put on the scarf, to attend her funeral, when I saw my young friend riding by, to obtain an interview with her who was going to her grave."

From Hanley our friend removed, in 1796, to Sheffield, to take the charge from Mr. Jehoiada Brewer, who removed to Carr's-lane, Birmingham. The prudence of Mr. Boden was called into full requisition in his new sphere, and proved equal to the task. party, small in number, but, as frequently happens, making up for their insignificancy by their boldness, gave him considerable trouble. At a church meeting they told him, "Either you must remove or we must."

For a

To which

he mildly replied, Well; we must wait, and see which it will be." It is scarcely necessary to say, the might of meekness prevailed; and he passed his future days in that peace and high estimation, which the meekness and gentleness of Christ will usually secure to his ministers. His private pastoral services enhanced the value of his public labours, and his visits were not suffered