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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1811.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REV. EBENEZER WHITE,

OF CHESTER.

[Concluded from our last.]

WE have already adverted to a feature in the character of Mr.White, which gave at times a mournful complexion to all his feelings, and naturally tended to form many of those peculiarities which directly, or indirectly, undermined the peace of his mind. It cannot be said that Melancholy marked him as her own,' because this would have been obviously incompatible with the discharge of the principal duties of his station; but to a melancholy view of things affecting himself in any way whatever, he was invariably prone. faculty of too often creating around him an atmosphere of He had the unhappy clouds and darkness. In this tabernacle he groaned, being burthened' but though feelings so tremendously agonizing were by no means habitual, yet their excitement at any period, was too evident an indication of rhe gloomy propensity of his mind. It is a part of the mystery of Providence, which eternity alone can explain, that some of the most devoted and eminent saints should have been permitted to undergo the most tormenting apprehensions of their character and destination. There were several striking points of resemblance be tween Mr. White and Cowper, The once mournful, but now glorified bard.' Alike in their religious principles, their nervous habits, their intense filial affection, and the gloomy impres sion of their views, they both found their greatest alleviation in the gospel of Christ; and soothed the sorrows they felt by the tranquillizing exercises of Poetical Composition*. Reli

No comparison as to Poetical Talent is intended by this allusion. Quis post Jovem? Amongst the papers of Mr. White there has been found a great variety of Miscellaneous Compositions, in Prose and Verse. Many of the Poetical Articles discover a taste highly refined, and conse, crated to the best of purposes; and occasional effusions of genius, far above that mediocrity of talent which obtrudes on the world so much vapid Prose in the shape of Rhyme. The modesty of Mr. White would not permit him to publish any of his Poetical Compositions, though the circle of his friends was often gratified by perusing them. It is intended to make a Selection of the best pieces for publication, with a prefixed Memoir of his Life, Extracts from his Correspondence, and some valuable Theological Articles, found among his manuscripts. The volume is expected to appear in the course of the present year.

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gion was not the cause of their dejection; from constitutional temperament they were prone to indulge it, and it became, in some measure, necessarily modified by the influence of their principies; but its existence was in spite of them, and not their natural consequence. Gloomy as they were, they would have been much more so, but for the cheering consolations which, at intervals truly lucid, animated and sustained their

minds.

These remarks will enable us to understand some passages which we shall now select from his correspondence, and which will serve to develope the peculiarities of his character in a more interesting manner than any expanded account of them. They will discover the piety, humility, and resignation of his heart, amidst all the sorrows he endured. In a letter to his father he says, Give me a commodious study, and a few necessaries, and I can prosecute the high business of my station with pleasure and profit. God is pleased to continue to me the faculues of reflection and meditation, and I am enabled to deliver his word in public to the edification and comfort of his people. These things make a great demand on my gratitude; and while I relish the truths I utter, and behold their renovating effects on others, with these I hope I shall be contented. May I ever keep the end of my calling in view, and at length receive the reward of a faithful servant! In another of a later date, to his mother, he thus writes: If I had any thing new or interesting I should be happy, and eager to make it known. The ordinary goodness of God, indeed, is enough to astonish every heart that knows itself; and it is lamentable that the mercies of God should be unobserved, merely because they flow in such constant succession! I am aware that the can now enjoy may possibly be only the commencement of a new series of disasters.' If so, I hope I should, in pa tience possess my soul,' and commit my way to the Lord;" but nothing in my nature generates such a hope; feeble, sinful, and constitutionally melancholy, without refreshments from the Fountain of Mercy I should sink under a despondency, to which many vigorous minds have fallen a prey.-in a subsequent letter he says, 'The best news I have to com municate is, that the Lord strikes me off every creature-de pendence, and obliges me to live upon himself. You know that in some respects I have been sore broken in the place of dragons.' Indeed, every place has been to me, more or less, a place of trial. I think that now I have more insight into the design of the general and particular dealings of God with me than ever. I certamy see that the creature is not to be my heaven, that God is aiming to bring me down at his feet He makes me learn that I have nothing wherein to glory May every lessou sink deep, and make me truly wise to salva tion! You are not to interpret this as if any thing unpleasant

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had arisen in my connexions here. I believe I am respected far beyond what my real worth deserves, by all whose opinions are worth regarding.'-About a year before his death, referring to his birth-day, in a letter to his mother, he thus expresses his distressing feelings: The day on which yours is dated, is always with me a day of serious reflection, deep humiliation, and sometimes painful anxiety. You brought me into a sin ful and distressing world; and, as the day returns, I often ask myself, Shall I live to see another? What will be the end of my hapless, fruitless, sinful life? I have known moments not a few, wherein I have deeply regretted that ever I was born; but we should endeavour to improve life, and not repine at it. We should learn to cast our care upon Him. Too often we suffer our sorrows and perplexities to obscure our views of the Divine Character; but let us consider that as an artifice of Satan, or an erroneous and miserable prejudice, which tends to lower our opinion, or relax our confidence in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of God.'

'Every affectionate relative,' say his brother Walter, will feel interest in the following passage. Referring to his farewell interview with his mother, when he left London for the last time in 1810, he thus wrote to her: Our parting was quite as ceremonious as it should have been,-it was sanctified by prayer; though you said little, I could read your feelings; and instead of suspecting coolness, I saw and felt in your last look, what all language had in vain attempted to describe.'

Our deceased friend, in conformity with the custom of modern times, preached regularly three times on the Lord's Day, with the exception of the Sacramental Sabbaths; and once on a week-day evening. He also frequently preachedin the neighbouring villages; in which his services were peculiarly acceptable and successful. On the well-known Jubilee Day in 1809, after preaching on that memorable occasion an excellent and appropriate sermon in his own place, he walked from Chester to Sattenhall. He partook of no refreshment; and, after a fatiguing journey, preached to a crowded audience in a confined place of worship. The exertion proved excessive, for his body was unfitted to sustain it; and the writer of this account has heard him declare, that he never was himself afterwards! The first intimation which nis family received of his last illness, was sent in a letter to his mother, about a year after the event referred to :

'My dear Mother,

Irish Sea, Oct. 4, 1810. You willbe surprized at receiving a letter dated from such a place and wonder what duty could call me to the great deep. -So it is, I am afloat in the vast channel that divides ireland from Great Britain; the occasion i an not very wilung to disclose. For more than three months since, I nave found =myself absolutely incapable of public duty more than twice a

day. On the Monday, and even on the Tuesday, I used to feel not only languid, but full of pain. At this time I caught a cold; which, availing itself of my dreadfully low and nervous state, took away my voice, and left a stubborn cough in its place. One of the first physicians in Chester happened to fall in with me at the side of a sick bed; it was a small, close, dark room; he took me out into the passage, and told me, he had previously determined to call upon me, judging, from my very sickly appearance, that I was getting into an alarming way. He remonstrated with me for visiting a sick chamber, and inhaling the breath of a dying person, myself being almost in that state. He called at my house, and made himself more fully acquainted with my case. This induced him to go to the principal people of the church, telling them, that if they valued my life and ministry, or wished not to be guilty of my death, they must dispense with my services for a month or more. They have accordingly found supplies for nearly three months; and, alas! I am yet no better! Sea- an is strongly recommended; so I have taken a place in the Dublin packet, and am now rocking between Liverpool and the Irish shore. I have not been sca-sick, so that the end of my journey is not answered. The voyage has been rendered unpleasant by the character and discourse of the company; not a serious person on board! All profane swearers! and some disposed to ridicule me; because my appearance is grave, and my spirits are not equal to theirs!'"

On his arrival in Dublin he was introduced to a pious and respectable family; where he was most kindly received, and treated with all that Christian generosity and tenderness which are so highly ornamental, and shed upon the character of our religion its brightest lustre.

Mr. White returned to Chester on the 20th of October, rather worse than better; and under the influence of that depression which was ever his greatest enemy, wrote as follows to his mother-In addition to my bodily evils, I am the subject of great darkness and stupidity of mind. I can hardly think on divine things, or indeed any thing, for my mind is as feeble as my body. I have, however, sense enough left to hear some awful voices in this rod. God seems to say, " Who sent you into my vineyard?-What hast thou to do, to declare my statutes?-Give an account of thy stewardship! — Cast out the unprofitable servant! Let another take his office!"I have many other dismal impressions; and my confidence is far too weak to efface them. My only hope is the broad ground of gospel declaration, as that, Christ came to save sinners! His blood cleanseth from all sin! He is able to save!' &c. And sometimes, but very rarely, I have a humble hope that God intends to save me, though it be as by fire.

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