Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

vant, and ordered the cards to be taken away. Mr. Harrison then addressed the company in these words: 'I have heard some very pointed truths delivered in the street to-day; I must say they were the truths of God; nor did any one need to hear them more than myself. I was also much affected,' he added, by the singing of the first hymn; and then he requested them to sing it again, for him and his friends. The hymn was, From Salem's gate advancing slow,' &c. The effect produced by the singing of this admirable and pathetic hymn was truly grateful. Mr. Harrison requested them to sing it again; which they did; and then they went to prayer. When the

sacred impression was made upon his heart, he did not hide his talents under a bushel. No; his love to Christ was ardent, he felt himself constrained to declare the great love of God to all his dear connexions; and it is a circumstance not to be forgotten, that his amiable family joyfully participated with him in his humble and cordial devotion to God:a blessing to a good man not to be appreciated!

Shortly after, being at Athy, he was invited to a ball as formerly; but he replied to the lady, 'I have done with dan cing! She said," Are you become a Methodist? Why, Mr. Harrison, you was always a good liver, and preached the best sermons we heard in church!" "Yes, I was like Nicodemus,' said Mr. H. a master in Israel; but knew nothing of the new birth!

His pious devotion to God soon became manifest, in an ardent zeal for the salvation of immortal souls. As chaplain of the garrison of Naas, he now felt it his duty to use other exertions than formerly, to do good to the poor soldiersy for whom he had occasionally read prayers. He frequently exhorted them with affection and zcal to flee from the wrath to come; and not a few, in different regiments, which lay in that town, will remember the gracious warnings they received from his lips.

In order to follow up his sincere endeavours to be useful,. he commenced an evening-sermon on the Sabbath-day, in his own house; which he continued till God took him to Heaven. Though the congregation in church was small, yet such numbers attended his evening-sermons, that he was obliged to erect a gallery in his school-house (being master of the diocesan school) for their accommodation.

It is with pleasure I mention, that his son, the Rev. Jolin Harrison, who largely partook of his good father's piety and talents, succeeds him, both in the church and superintend ence of the school: a circumstance that cannot fail to be useful to society. This pious young clergyman, who zealously endeavours to follow up his father's Sabbati-evening labours, a few days before his ordination, had been reminded by one of his friends, That the salary of a curate is so small, that he

thought it an object of little importance. He replied, "The salary is of little concern to me! It is the importance of the work I am about to undertake, and the danger of being unfaithful therein.' His good father said, John, my dear, you are well qualified for the work, when compared with me when I was ordained; for though I am your father, and have been so long in the church, I feel I have need to begin as if I had never begun.' With such lowly simplicity did he, at all times, acknowledge himself an unfaithful labourer in his Lord's vineyard.

His religious course lasted but two years and a half; and during that time he wrote many pleasing letters to his friends. I shall beg leave to transcribe one of them; in which it will be seen how lowly, how simply, and how zealously, he laboured for the souls committed to his care.

'My dear Friend,

Naas, August 6, 1808.

I should have been glad to have seen you and your family, on your way to Carlow; and am rather jealous that you did not so contrive your journey as to give us one night in Naas. What pleasure is equal to the conversation of a man devoted to the service of God! I reckon that a blessed day in which I meet with such. Your advice to continue my Sabbath-evening meetings, by the grace of God, I will take; and eternal thanks be to God, that it is a day that always returns with additional pleasure and internal comfort to my soul. O may I be the humble means of saving, if but one soul from the pains of eternal death! We should unremittingly Pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send labourers into his harvest.' Should I be within a few miles of you, I hope to pay you a visit. All the family desire to be remembered to you; and believe me, my dear friend, to be

your affectionate fellow-labourer,

'JOHN ISAAC HARRISON."

In the month of April, 1809, he caught the fever of which he died. He received the infection by visiting the sick and dying. He lay about three weeks; during which time he was blessed with unspeakable comforts. He told Mrs. H. that his time was come. He also assured the physician, that all medicine would be ineffectual; repeating the same words, My time is come! At intervals he was delirious; but in his lucid moments he was all peace and joy. He delighted to speak of God and heavenly things; and frequently would repeat some suitable text of Scripture, or verse of a hymn. Through the whole of his illness he was happily assured of his interest in the blessed Redeemer, and enjoyed a sweet and heavenly serenity. His hope in Christ, as the refuge of sinners, was solid; the sting of death was taken away, and he was not afraid to die. Nothing could equal that calmness with which he looked

the king of terrors in the face. In this state he continued until he bid an everlasting farewell to all the things that are seen and temporal, and ascended to join the elevated worship of Heaven, the society of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect!

Thus an humble follower of the Lamb of God ended his mortal race! His loss is sincerely lamented, and will be severely felt by his numerous Christian friends. His race was short; but it is not for mortals to cavil at the dispensations of an all-wise God: it rather behoves them to adopt that submissive and adoring language, Even so, Father; for so it seemeth good in thy sight.'

O Thou, whose steps, mysterious and profound,
No finite wisdom ever can explore!
May we, amidst the dire affliction round,

Await thy will, and all thy ways adore!
Not HARRISON, but we have felt the stroke;
Ours is the loss, — th' immortal gain is his!
Adore, our souls, the hand that kindly broke

His mortal chains, and rapt him into bliss!
Enough, enough to selfish Grief is giv'n;

Lo! Faith clears up the dark mysterious way;
With rev'rence opes the golden gates of Heav'n,
And shews the saint in realms of endless day !'

May every reader of this Memoir be enabled to make a proper improvement of this solemn event! How uncertain is huinan life, where most desirable, and most likely to be prolonged! O reader! thou art yet in the number of the 'living, who know that they shall die! Oh! may it be thy concern and mine, so to number our days, that we may apply our ears to that wisdom' which makes men' wise unto salvation, hrough faith, which is in Christ Jesus.' Dublin.

ADOLESCENS.

A CONCISE VIEW OF

THE PRESENT STATE OF EVANGELICAL RELIGION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

NO. V.

[Continued from p. 17.]

Anong the different denominations still subsisting in the Greek hurch, one small body has been visited on the coast of Malabe, and brought under particular notice by the indefatigabi diligence and zeal of Dr. Buchanan. They bear the name of Christians of St. Thomas;' and have subsisted in that country rom the first ages of Christianity. Under the various goverments which have succeeded, Gentoo, Mahomedau, or Popis they have been oppressed and persecuted; but have resoltely adhered to the faith and ordinances of their

own religion, under bishops and pastors. They profess the same creeds as we do: the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian. They carefully have preserved the sacred books of the Old and New Testament; a fine specimen of which Dr. Buchanan brought to England with him, and presented to the University of Cambridge. They celebrate the Christian sacraments,— Baptism and the Supper of the Lord; observe his day; assemble for public worship and instruction; and display the features of a true church, in doctrine and a holy conversation. Their number indeed is but small, not exceeding 50 congre gations; and the wonder is, that they have subsisted so long, amidst the difficulties they have had to struggle with. Under the protection and fostering care of the generous British governiment, we may hope they will revive, as the corn; and spread abroad, as a cedar in Lebanon. Among the other members of the Greek church, nothing presents so promising a prospect in any native Asiatics as in this little church, towards the extremity of the peninsula. In the portion of Asia under the government of Russia, where many Greek churches are settled, and the religion of Christ is the established profession, we can scarcely doubt but some few, though fecble, remains of true Christianity may be found. A door of hope remains in the valley of Achor; and some Elijah or Paul may arise to turn the hearts of the children of God to him, from whom they have so grievously departed.

In the former part, mention is made of the protection given to truly Christian men and Missionaries at Sarepta, the Ger man colonies on the Wolga, and at Karass. These shew the spirit of the government, and encourage the confidence, that no obstacle from thence would be put in the way of such as should be prompted to seek the salvation of sinners in this distant and benighted land.

But the chief efforts which have been made to convey the glad tidings of salvation to Asia, have originated in this fayoured country, and been effected by the Christian zeil of Britons. Into those vast regions of the east which have become subject to our dominion, we have carried, with our arts and commerce, our religion. The spirit of conquest and the thirst for gain, however in themselves inimical to a kingdom not of this world, have, with extended empire, opene a vast field for Missionary labours; and good hath thus, agis often seen, arisen out of human evil. A small indeed, but faithful band, hath in various directions dispersed themselvesio diffuse the light of true religion among the natives, whethr Hindoo or Mahometan.

Among these, several of the chaplains sent out by the East India Company have filled, and continue to occup a respect.able station. They have been men of a truly evangelical spirit, and laboured not only among their countrymer bur among

the natives also, to communicate the knowledge of a crucified Redeemer, persuaded themselves, and seeking to enforce the conviction on others, 'that there is no other name given under heaven among men, whereby they can be saved.' It must be confessed, that men in power, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, are in every country too inattentive to the things which make for their everlasting peace; and in India, perhaps in a greater ratio than elsewhere, from the peculiarity of their situation and views in life; yet God hath not left their labours, in this respect, without fruit; and many can say, in that strange land, that they were born there. And though the greatest obstacle to the conversion of the Heathen will be found in the unseemly conduct of those who profess the Christian name, yet have not the deep-rooted prejudices of Gentoo cast, or Mahomedan bigotry, prevented the power of gospeltruth from casting down vain imaginations, and bringing every high thing which exalteth itself into the obedience of Christ. The converts indeed are few; but each is a miracle of grace, and well worth years of labour. Perhaps, never since India has been visited by us, have there been more, or more faithful witnesses for God and his truth than at present, among the servants of the Company.-The Lord increase their number, and crown their labours with success !

The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, with vast resources entrusted with them for this very purpose, have sent many Missionaries to this desolate region. Of what spirit they have been, in what labours employed, and with what success, their Transactions may be consulted to declare. Nothing is more important, than that the selection made should be made of men full of faith and the Holy Ghost; not driven for a maintenance, nor the hope of advantage, to expatriate themselves;—but animated by the bright flame of Christian charity, and willing to spend and be spent in the service of immortal souls. If few such have been found among our own countrymen, their places have been nobly supplied by German brethren, under whose labours this wilderness and solitary place budded and blossomed as the rose. Swartz, Gerike (now gone to their eternal rewards) with others, whose praise will be ever in the churches, manifested what might be done when men of such a spirit devoted themselves to the work. The many congregations of converted natives, Hindoos and Mahometans, witness the divine benediction on their labours, and call on their successors to exert a like Christian spirit, and unwearied diligence and labour, preaching the word in season and out of season; and not satisfying themselves in the mere discharge of forms, or registers of the baptism of infants. I know many regard the admonition of a friend as the insinuations of an enemy. God knoweth! May the issue prove that the mantle of Elijah has fallen on the surviving Missionaries! - and who will bless

« AnteriorContinuar »