14C-* 
 
 "4. 
 
 LIBEAEY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Theological Seminary, 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 Shelf. I iCtj «mL 
 Book, 
 

 ~& 
 
fit** ^^^ 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF TH£ LATE 
 
 REV. SAMUEL PEARCE, A. M. 
 
 MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL 
 
 IN 
 
 BIRMINGHAM ; 
 
 WITH 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM SOME OF HIS Mbs 1* v 
 INTERESTING LETTERS; ■ V v >* 
 
 COMPILED BY ANDREW FULLER, D. D. 
 To which is added, 
 
 AN ORATION, 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE : 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 Occasioned by the Death of 
 THE REV. SAMUEL PEARCE, A. M 
 
 AND 
 
 THREE OCCASIONAL SERMONS. 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 THIRD AMERICAN EDITION. 
 
 NEWARK, N.J. 
 
 PRINTED BY E. £• GOULD* 
 
 1809. 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 Part I. 
 INTRODUCTION * - Pagefc 
 
 CHAP. I, 
 
 His parentage, conversion, call to the ministry, 
 and settlement at Birmingham 7 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 His laborious exertions in promoting missions 
 to the heathens, and offering himself to become a 
 missionary -------------- *8 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 His exercises and labours, from the time of his 
 giving up the idea of going abroad, to the com- 
 mencement of his last affliction ------- 60 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 An account of his last affliction, and the holy and 
 happy exercises of his mind under it - - - - - 102 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 General outlines of his character ------ 140 
 
 Concluding Reflections --------- 174 
 
 Part II. 
 
 Rev. J. Brewer's Oration ---------3 
 
 Dr. Ry land's Sermon ----------13 
 
 THREE OCCASIOJ>AL SERMOJVS, 
 
 BY ANDREW FULLER, ON 
 
 I. The qualifications and encouragement of a 
 faithful minister, illustrated by the character and 
 success of Barnabas ------.---- 57 
 
 II. The pernicious influence of delay in religious 
 concerns -------------- '79 
 
 III. The importance of a deep and intimate 
 knowledge of divine truth --- 95 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IT was observed by this excellent man, during his last 
 affliction, that be never till then gained any personal in- 
 struction from our Lord's telling Peter by what death he 
 should glorify God. To die by a consumption, had used 
 to be an object of dread to him : But, " Oh my Lord," 
 said he, "if by this death I can most glorify thee, I 
 prefer it to all others/' The lingering death of the cross, 
 by .which our Saviour himself expired, afforded him an 
 opportunity of utterjng some of the most affecting senten- 
 ces which are left on sacred record ; And to the lingering 
 death of this his honoured servant, we are indebted for a 
 considerable part of the materials which appear in these 
 memoirs. Had he been taken away suddenly, there had 
 been no opportunity for him to have expressed his senti- 
 ments and feelings in the manner lie has now done in let- 
 ters to his friends. While in health, his hands were fuU 
 of labour, and consequently his letters were written most- 
 ly upon the spur of occasion ; and related principally to 
 
 business, or to things which would be less interesting to 
 B 
 
-VI -2K?JR0bUC?20S~, 
 
 Christians in general. It is true, even in them it was his 
 manner to drop a few sentiments, towards the close, of 
 an experimenta.. kind ; and many of these hints will be in- 
 terspersed in this brief account of him : But it was during 
 his affliction, when, being laid aside nearly a year, and 
 obliged to desist from all public concerns, that he gave 
 scope to the feelings of his heart. Here, standing, as on 
 fin eminence, he reviewed his life, re-examined the ground 
 of his hope, and anticipated the crown which awaited him, 
 with a joy truly unspeakable and full of glory* 
 
 Like Elijah, he has left the chariot of Israel, and as- 
 cended as in a chariot of fire ; but not without having first 
 communicated of his eminently Christian spirit. Oh that 
 a double portion of it may r$st upon lis 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 of the late 
 MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 KIS PAREVTAGE, CONVERSION, CALL TO rKE 
 
 MINISTRY, AND SETTLEMENT AT 
 
 BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 MR. SAMUEL PEARCE was born at Ply- 
 mouth, on July 20tb, 1766. His father who sur- 
 vives him, is a respectable silversmith, and has 
 been many years a deacon of the Baptist church in 
 that place. 
 
 When a child, he lived with his grandfather, 
 who was very fond of him, and endeavoured to 
 impress his mind with the principles of religion. 
 At about eight or nine years of age he came home 
 to his father with a view of learning his business. 
 As he advanced in life, his evil propensities, as 
 he has said, began to ripen ; and forming con- 
 nections with several vicious school-fellows, he 
 became more and more corrupted. So greatly 
 was his heart at this time set in him to do evil, 
 that had it not been for the restraining goodness 
 of God, which somehow, he knew not how, 
 preserved him in most instances from carrying 
 his wicked inclinations into practice, he supposed 
 he should have been utterly ruined. 
 
 At times he was under strong convictions, 
 which rendered him miserable ; but at other times 
 they subsided ; and then he would return with ea- 
 gerness to his sinful pursuits. When about fifteen 
 
S MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 years old he was sent by his father to enquire a 
 the welfare of a person in the neighbourhood, 
 in dying circumstances, who (though before 
 his departure he was in a happy state of mind, 
 yet) at that time was sinking into deep despair. 
 While in the room of the dying man, he heard 
 him cry out with inexpressible agony of spirit, " I 
 am damned forever IV These awful words pierced 
 his soul ; and he felt a resolution at the time to 
 serve the Lord : but the impression soon wore 
 off, and he again returned to folly. 
 
 When about sixteen years of age, it pleased 
 God effectually to turn him to himself. A ser- 
 mon delivered by Mr. Birt, who was then co-pas- 
 tor with Mr. Gibbs, of the Baptist church at Ply- 
 mouth, was the first mean of impressing his heart 
 with a sense of his lost condition, and of directing 
 him to the gospel remedy. The change in him 
 appears to have been sudden, but effectual ; and 
 the recollection of his former vicious propensities, 
 though a source of bitterness, yet furnished a 
 strong evidence of its being the work of God. "I 
 believe," he says, " few conversions were more 
 joyful. The change produced in my views, feel- 
 ings and conduct, was so evident to myself, that 
 I could no more doubt of its being from God, than 
 of my existence. I had the witness in myself, and 
 was filled with peace and joy unspeakable. " 
 
 His feelings being naturally strong, and receiv- 
 ing a new direction, he entered into religion with 
 all his heart ; but not having known the devices 
 of Satan, his soul was entangled by its own ardour, 
 and he was thrown into great perplexity. Having 
 read Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in 
 the Soul, he determined formally to dedicate him- 
 self to the Lord, in the manner recommended in 
 the seventeenth chapter of that work. The form 
 of a covenant, as there drawn up, he also adopt- 
 ed as his own ; and that he might bind hit 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 9 
 
 in the most solemn and affecting manner, signed' 
 it with his blood. But afterwards failing in his en- 
 gagements, he was plunged into dreadful per- 
 plexity, and almost into despair. On a review 
 of his covenant, he seems to have accused him- 
 self of a kind of pharisaicai reliance upon the 
 strength of his own resolutions; and therefore tak- 
 ing the paper to the top of his father's house, he 
 tore it into small pieces, and threw it from him 
 to be scattered by the wind. He did not howev- 
 er consider his obligation to be the Lord's as here- 
 by nullified ; but feeling more suspicion of him- 
 self, he depended upon the blood of the cross. 
 
 After this he was baptized, and became a 
 member of the Baptist church at Plymouth, the 
 ministers and members of which, in a few years, 
 perceived in him taients for public work. Being 
 solicited by both his pastors, he exercised as a 
 probationer ; and receiving a unanimous call from 
 the church, entered on the woik of the ministry 
 in November, 1786. Soon after this he went to 
 the academy at Bristol, then under the superin- 
 tendence of Dr. Caleb Evans. 
 
 Mr. Birt, now pastor of the Baptist-church, 
 in the square, Plymouth Dock, in a letter to the 
 compiler of these memoirs, thus speaks of 
 1dm: — "Though he was, so far as I know, the 
 very first fruits of my ministry, on my coming 
 hither, and though our friendship and affection 
 for each other were great and constant ; yet pre- 
 vious to his going to Bristol 1 had but few oppor- 
 tunities of conversing with him, or of making par- 
 ticular observations on him. Ail who best knew 
 him, however, will remember, and must tender- 
 ly speak of his loving deportment, and those who 
 attended the conferences with him soon received 
 :!ie most impressive intimations of his future em- 
 iu-encc as a minister of our Lord jesus C imst." * 
 
 b b 
 
10 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 "Very few, " adds Mr. Birt,"have entered 
 upon, and gone through their religious profession 
 with more exalted piety, or warmer zeal, than 
 Samuel Pear ce ; and as few have exceeded him 
 in ihe possession and display of that charity which 
 •suffereth long, and is kind, that envieth not, that 
 vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up, that doth 
 Dot behave itself unseemly, that seeketh not her 
 own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil f 
 that beareth all things, believeth all things, en- 
 duretb all things.' But why should 1 say this to 
 you ? You knew him yourself." 
 
 While at the academy he was much distin- 
 guished by the amiableness of his spirit and be- 
 haviour. It is sometimes observable that where 
 the talents of a young man are admired by his 
 friends, and his early efforts flattered by crowded 
 auditories, effects have been produced which 
 have proved fatal to his future respectability and 
 usefulness. But this was not the case with M*. 
 Pearce. Amidst the tide of popularity, which e- 
 ven at that early period attended his ministerial 
 exercises, his tutors have more than once remark- 
 ed that he never appealed to them to be in the 
 least elated, or to have neglected his proper stud- 
 ies ; but was uniformly a serious, industrious, do- 
 cile, modest, and unassuming young man. 
 
 Towards the latter end of 1789, he came to the 
 church in Cannon-street, Birmingham, to whom 
 he was recommended by Mr. Hall, now of Cam- 
 bridge, at that time one of his tutors. After 
 preaching to them a while on approbation, he 
 was chosen to be their pastor. His ordination 
 was in August, 1790. Dr. Evans gave the charge, 
 and the late Mr. Robert Hall of Arnsby, deliver- 
 ed an address to the church on the occasion. In 
 the year 1791, he married Miss Sarah Hopkins, 
 daughter of Mr. Joshua Hopkins of Alcaster; a 
 connexion which appears to have been all along 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 1J 
 
 a source of great enjoyment to him. The follow- 
 ing lines addressed to Mrs. Pearce when he was 
 on a journey, a little more than a year after their 
 marriage, seem to be no more than a common let- 
 ter ; yet they shew, not only the tenderness, of 
 his affection, but his heavenly mindedness, his 
 gentle manner of persuading, and how every ar- 
 gument was fetched from religion, and every inci- 
 dent improved for introducing it : 
 
 " Chipping Norton, Aug. 15, 1792* 
 11 I BELIEVE on retrospection that I have 
 hitherto rather anticipated the proposed time of 
 my return, than delayed the interview with my 
 dear Sarah for an hour. But what shall I say, my 
 Jove, now to reconcile you to my procrastinating 
 my return for several days more ? Why I will 
 say, it appears 1 am called of God ; and I trust 
 the piety of both of us will submit and say, Thy 
 xvill be done. 
 
 " You have no doubt perused Mr. Ryland's let- 
 ter to me, wherein I find he solicits an exchange. 
 The reason he assigns is so obviously important, 
 that a much greater sacrifice than we are called to 
 make, should not be withheld to accomplish it. 
 1 therefore purpose, God willing, to spend the 
 next. Lord's-day at Northampton. — I thought of 
 taking tea with you this evening : that wouid have 
 been highly gratifying to us both ; but it must be 
 our meat and drink to do and submit to the wili 
 of our heavenly Father. All is good that comes 
 from him, and all is done right which is done in o- 
 bedience to him. Oh to be perfectly resigned to 
 his disposal — how good is it ! May you, my dear- 
 est Sarah, and myself, daily prove the sweetness 
 of this pious frame of soul : then all our duties 
 will be sweet, all our trials wiii be light, all our 
 pleasures will be puie, and all our hopes sanctifi- 
 ed. 
 
&EMOI& 01 THE LATE- 
 
 u This evening I hope to he at Northampton, 
 Let your prayers assist my efforts on the ensuing 
 
 Sabbath. You will, I trust, find in Mr. R 
 
 a ship richly laden with spiritual treasures. Oh 
 for more supplies from the exhaustless mines of 
 erace? S. P." 
 
 ooocopooeooceox.ooftcscco 
 
 THE soul of Mr. Pearce was formed for friend- 
 ship : It was natural therefore to suppose, that 
 while engaging in the pursuit of his studies at the 
 academy, he would contract religious intimacies 
 with some of his brethren ; and it is worthy of 
 notice, that the grand cement of his friendship 
 was kindred piety. In the two following letters, 
 addressed to his friend, Mr. Steadman, the read- 
 er will perceive the justness of this remark, as 
 well as the encouraging prospects which soon at- 
 tended his labours at Birmingham : 
 
 " My very dear Brother, May 9, 1792. 
 
 " YOU live so remote that I can hear noth- 
 ing of your prosperity at Broughton. I hope you 
 aie settled with a comfortable people, and that 
 you enjoy much of your Master's presence, both 
 in the study and the pulpit. For my part, I have 
 nothing to lament but an insensible, ungra:eful 
 heart, and that is sufficient cause for lamentation. 
 This, only this, bows me down ; and under this 
 pressure I am ready to adopt the wcrcs I preach- 
 ed from last evening — Oh that 7 had wings like a 
 dove, for then would J fly away ami be at rest I 
 
 " As a people we are generally united : I be- 
 lieve more so than most churches of the same di- 
 mensions. Our number of members is about two 
 hundred and ninety-five, betw r een forty and fifty 
 of whom have joined us since I saw you, and 
 most of them I have the happiness of considering 
 as my children in the faith. — 1 'here is still a cry* 
 ir.g but amongst us after salvation ; a*:d 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 13 
 
 through much grace, it is my happiness to point 
 them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the 
 sins of the world. 
 
 4C In preaching, I have often peculiar liberty ; 
 at other times barren. I suppose my experience 
 is like that of most of my brethren : but I am not 
 weary of my work. I hope still that I am willing 
 to spend and be spent, so that I may win souls to 
 Christ, and finish my course with joy : but I want 
 more heart religion : I want a more habitual sense 
 of the divine presence : I want to walk with God 
 as Enoch walked. There is nothing th3t grieves 
 me so much, or brings so much darkness on my 
 soul, as my little spirituality, and frequent wan- 
 derings in secret prayer, i cannot neglect the du- 
 ty ; but it is seldom that I enjoy it. 
 
 * Ye that love the Lord indeed, 
 Tell me, is it fo with you ?' 
 When I come to the house of God, I pray end 
 preach with freedom. Then I think the presence 
 of the people seems to weigh more with me than 
 the presence of God, and deem myself a hypo- 
 crite, almost ready to leave my pulpit, for some 
 more pious preacher. But the Lord does own the 
 word ; and again I say, if I go to hell myself, I 
 will do what lean to keep others from going thi- 
 ther ; and so in the strength of the Lord I will. 
 
 u An observation once made to me helps to 
 support me above water : — M If you did not 
 plough in your closet, you would not reap in the 
 pulpit." And again I think, the Lord dwellcth in 
 Zion, and loveth it more than the dwellings of 
 Jacob. S. P." 
 
 ©•93 0900 MM Hit MM 9O0O 
 
 Feb. 1, 1793. 
 
 il THE pleasure which your friendly epistle 
 
 gave me, rises beyond expression ; and it is one 
 
 of the first wishesof my heart ever to live in your 
 
 valued friendship. Accept this, and my former 
 
14 fctfcMO'IM 01? THE LATE- 
 
 letters, my dear brother, as sufficient evidences 
 of my ardent wishes to preserve by correspon- 
 dence, that mutual remembrance of each other, 
 which on my part will ever be pleasurable, and 
 on yours, I hope never painful. 
 
 " But ah, how soon may we be rendered in- 
 capable of such an intercourse! When I leg 
 Bristol, I left it with regret. I was sorry to leave 
 my studies to embark inexperienced as I am) on 
 the tempestuous ocean of public life, where the 
 high blowing winds, and rude and noisy billows, 
 must more or less inevitably annoy the trembling 
 voyager. Nor did it make a smali addition to my 
 pain, that I was to part with so many of my dear 
 companions, with whom I had spent so many 
 happy hours, either in furnishing or unburthening 
 the mind. I need not say, among the first of these 
 I considered Josiah Evans* But ah, my friend, 
 we shall see his face no more ! Through divine 
 grace I hope we shall go to him ; but he will not 
 leturn to us. * He wasted away, he gave up the 
 ghost, and where is her' I was prepared for the 
 news because I expected it. The last time I heard 
 directly from him was by a very serious and affec- 
 tionate letter, which I received, 1 think, last Sep- 
 tember. To it I replied j but received no answer. 
 I conjectured, I feared ; and now my conjectures 
 and feats are ail realized. Dear departed youth i 
 Thy memory will ever be grateful to this affection- 
 ate breast. May thy amiable qualities live again 
 in thy surviving friend, that to the latest period 
 of his life he may thank God for the friendship of 
 Josiah Evans / 
 
 U I assure you, my dear Steadman, I feel, 
 keenly feel, the force of the sentiment, which 
 Blair thus elegantly expresses,— 
 
 * See a brief account of him, given ia part by Mr. 
 P^arce, in Dr. Rippon'B R^jjlsr, Vol i p. 5*2— 516. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 1$ 
 
 « ©f joy6 departed, ne'er to be recalPd, 
 How painful the remembrance !' 
 
 f * But I sorrow not as one without hope. I have 
 a two-fold hope : I hope he is now among the 
 spirits of the just made perfect, and that he will 
 be of the blessed and holy number who have part 
 in the first resurrection : and I hope also through 
 the same rich, free, sovereign, almighty, match- 
 less grace, to join the number too. Pleasing 
 thought ! Unite to divide no more ! 
 
 "1 preached last night from Rev. xxi. 6. / 
 will give unto him that is athirst of thejountam of 
 the water oj life freely. I took occasion to ex- 
 pound the former part of the chapter, and found 
 therein a pleasure inexpressible ; especially when 
 speaking from the first verse — And there was 
 no more sea. The first idea which presented itself 
 to me was this — there shall be no bar to intercourse. 
 Whether the thought be just or not, I leave with 
 you and my hearers to determine ; but I found 
 happy liberty in illustrating it. What is it that 
 separates one nation, and one part of the globe 
 from another ? Is itnotthe sea ? Are not Chris- 
 tians, though all of one family, the common Fa- 
 ther of which is God, separated by this sea, or 
 that river, or the other stream below ? Yes ; but 
 they are one family still. There shall be none of 
 these obstructions to communion, of these bars to 
 intercourse ; nothing to divide their affections, or 
 disunite their praise forever. — Forgive my free- 
 doms. I am writing to a friend, to a brother. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 THERE are few, if any, thinking men, but 
 who at some seasons have had their minds per- 
 plexed with regard to religious principles, even 
 those which are of the greatest importance. la 
 the end, however, where the heart is right, they 
 commonly issue in a more decided attachment to 
 
I J MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 the truth. Thus it was with Mr. Pearce. In anoth > 
 er part of the above letter, he thus writes to his 
 friend Steadman: — " I have, since I saw you, been 
 much perplexed about some doctrinal points, both 
 Arminian and Socinian. I believe through read- 
 ing very attentively, but without sufficient depen- 
 dence on the Spirit of truth, several controver- 
 sies on those subjects * particularly the writings of 
 Whitby, Priestly and others. Indeed, had the 
 state of mind I was in about ten weeks since con- 
 tinued, I should have been incapable of preaching 
 with comfort at all. But in the mount of the 
 Lord will he be seen. Just as I thought of giving 
 up, he who hath the hearts of all men in his 
 hand, and turneththem as the rivers of water are 
 turned, was pleased, by a merciful though afflict- 
 ing providence, to set me at a happy liberty. 
 
 " 4 I was violently seized with a disorder very 
 rise here, and which carried oft many, supposecj 
 to be an inflammation in the bowels. One Sabbath 
 evening 1 felt such alarming symptoms that I did 
 not expect to see the Monday morning. In these 
 circumstances I realized the feelings of a dying 
 man. My mind had been so accustomed to re- 
 flect on virtue and moral goodness, that the first 
 thing I attempted was a survey of my own con- 
 duct ; my diligence and faithfulness in the minis- 
 try, my unspotted life, &c. &c. But ah ! vain 
 props these for dying men to rest upon! Such 
 heart sins, such corruptions, and evil propensities, 
 recurred to my mind, that if ever 1 knew the mo- 
 ment when I felt my own righteousness to be like 
 loathsome and fiiihy rags, it was then. And 
 where should I, where could I, where did I flee, 
 but to Him, whose glory and grace I had been of 
 late degrading, at least in my thoughts? Yes, 
 there I saw peace for guilty consciences was to be 
 alone obtained through an almighty Saviour. And 
 oh ! wonderful to tell, I again came to him ; nor 
 
MR. SAMU&L PEARCE. 17 
 
 was I sent away without the blessing. T found 
 him full of all compassion, ready to receive the 
 most ungrateful of men. 
 
 * Oh, to grace how great a debtor 
 Daily I'm conftrain'd to be.' 
 Thus, my dear brother, was the snare broken, 
 and thus I escaped. 
 
 * A debtor to mercy alone, 
 Of covenant mercy 1 sing.' 
 Join with me in praising Him, who remember- 
 ed me in my low estate, because his mercy endu- 
 reth forever. Yet this is among the all things. I 
 have found it has made me more spiritual in 
 preaching. I have prized the gospel more than 
 over, and hope it will be the means of guarding 
 me agamst future temptations. 
 
 Your brother, with ardent affedlionj 
 
 in the dear Lord Jefus, S. P." 
 
 COMff0«OMOOT0»OM* 
 
 FROM his first coming to Birmingham, his 
 meekness and patience were put to the trial by am 
 Antinomian spirit which infected many individu- 
 als, both in and out of his congregation. It is 
 well known with what affection it was his practice 
 to beseech sinners to be reconciled to Gud, and to 
 exhort Christians to the exercise of practical god- 
 liness : but these were things which they could 
 not endure. Soothing doctrine was ail they de- 
 sired. 1 herefore it was, that his ministry was tra- 
 duced by them as Arminian, and treated with ne- 
 glect and contempt. But, like his Divine Master, 
 he bore the contradiction of sinners against him- 
 self, and this while he had the strongest satisfac- 
 tion that in those very things to which they object- 
 ed, lie was phasing Gud. And though he plain- 
 ly perceived the pernicious influence oi their pnn- 
 ppies upon then ow n minus, a* w eil as the minds 
 
15 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 of others, yet he treated them with great gentle* 
 ness and long forbearam e : and when it became 
 necessary to exclude such of this description as 
 weie in communion with him, it was with the 
 greatest reluctance that he came into that measure 
 and not without first having tried all other means 
 in vain. He was not apt to deal in harsh language ; 
 yet, in one of his letters about that time, he speaks 
 of the principles and spirit of these people as a 
 *' cursed leaven. " 
 
 Among his numerous religious friendships, he 
 seems to have formed one tor the special pur- 
 pose of spiritual improvement. I his was with Mr. 
 Summers of London, who often accompanied hirn 
 in his jourmes ; to whom, therefore, it might be 
 expected he would open his heart without reserve, 
 Here, it is true, we sometimes see hirn, like his 
 feretiuen, groaning under darkness, want of spir- 
 ituality, and the remains of indwelling sin ; but 
 frequently rising above all, as into his native ele- 
 fpent, and pouring forth his ardent soul in ex- 
 piessionsof joy and prajse. On Aug. 19, 1793j 
 he wiites thus : — 
 
 ri My dear Brother, 
 
 * k VVHRN 1 take my pen to pursue my 
 correspondence with you, I have no concern but 
 to communicate something which may answer the 
 Same end we propose in our annual journies : vij&. 
 lending some assistance in the important objec t of 
 getting, and keeping nearer to God. 1 his lam 
 persuaded is the mark at which we should be con* 
 tinually aiming, nor rest satisfied until we attain 
 that to which we aspire. I am really ashamed 
 of myself, when, on the one hand, I review t e 
 tin e that has elapsed since I first assumed the 
 Christian name, with the opportunities of im- 
 piO'tinent in godliness, which have Crowded on 
 jtiv moments since thai penod $ and when &h 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, 19 
 
 &e other, I feel the little advance I have made \ 
 M >re light, to be sure, I have ; but light without 
 heat leaves the Christian half dissatisfied. Yes- 
 terday, I preached on the duty of engagedness ia 
 God's service, from Jer. xxx. 2i , Who is this thai 
 engaged his heart to approach unto me f saitk 
 tlie Lord. (A lext fur which 1 am indebted to our 
 last juurnev) While urging the necessity of heart 
 religion, including sincerity and ardour I found 
 myself much assisted by reflecting on the ardour 
 which oui deai Redeemer discovered in the cause 
 •f sinners. "Ah," 1 could not help saying, "if our 
 Saviour had measured his intensencss in his en- 
 gagement for us by our fervency in fulfilling our 
 engagements to him — we should have been now 
 farther fiom hope than we are from perfection. ** 
 1 Dear Lord, the ardour of thy love 
 Reproves my cold returns. % 
 w T\vo things are causes of daily astonishment 
 to me: — The readiness of Christ to come from 
 heaven to earth for me ; and my backwardness to 
 rise from earth to heaven with him. But oh how 
 animating the prospect ! A time approaches when 
 we shall rise to sink no more ; to "be forever with. 
 the Lord." To be with the Lord for a week, for 
 a day, for an hour ; how sweetly must the mo- 
 ments pass ! Bjt to be forever with the Lord,-— 
 that instamps salvation with perfection ; that gives 
 an energy to our hopes, and a dignity to our joy, 
 so as to render it unspeakable andjull of glory ] I 
 h ve had a fevv realizing moments since we part- 
 ed, and the effect has been, I trust, a broken heart. 
 Oh my brother, it is desirable to have a broken 
 heart, where it only for the sake of the pleasure 
 it feels in being helped and healed by Jesus 1 
 Heart affecting views of the cursed effects of sin 
 are highly salutary to a C iristian's growth in hu- 
 mility, confidence, and gratitude. At once how 
 abasing and exalting w the comparison of our 
 
loathsome hearts with thai of the lovely Say- 
 ioui f In Him, we see all that can charm an 
 angei's heart: in ourselves, all that can gratify 
 a devil's. And yet we may rest perfectly as- 
 sured that these nests of iniquity shaij ere long 
 be transformed into the temples of God : and 
 these signs of sorrow be exchanged for songs 
 «©f praise. 
 
 " Last Lord's day I spent the most profitable 
 'Sabbath to myself that 1 ever remember since I 
 have been in the ministry ; and to this hour I feel 
 flies. veet solemnities of that day delightfully pro 
 tracted. Ah, my brother, were it not for pas 
 experience I should sav, 
 
 * My heart prefumes I cannot lofe 
 The relifh all my days.' 
 But now 1 rejoice with trembling ; desiring to 
 " hold fast what I have, that no man *.ke my 
 crown. " Yet fear;ng that I shall find, how 
 ~* Ere one fleeting hour is paft, 
 Tht flatt'ring word employs 
 Some fenfual bate to feize my tafte 3 
 And to pollute my joys.* 
 
 Yours in our dear Saviour, 
 
 S. P.1* 
 
 0000 0«M oooo oooo s i6 ■% 
 
 In April, ll9h dropping a few lines to the 
 compiler of these Memoirs, on a Lord's-day eve* 
 ning, he thus concludes : — ■ 
 
 " We have had a good day. I find, as a dear 
 friend once said, It is pleasant speaking for God 
 when we walk with him. Oh for much of Enoch'* 
 spirit ! The Head ot the church grant it to my 
 dear brother* and his affectionate friend, 
 
 S. P." 
 
MR. SAMUE-L PBARCE4 2J, 
 
 tKr another letter to Mr. Summers, dated June 
 2 J, 1794, he thus writes : — 
 
 <c We, my friend, have entered on a corres- 
 pondence of heart with heart, and aiust not lose 
 sight of that avowed object. I thank you sincerely 
 for continuing the remembrance of so unworthy a 
 creature in your intercourse with Heaven ; and I 
 thank that sacred Spirit, whose quickening influ- 
 ences, you say, you enjoy in the exercise. Yes, 
 my brother, 1 have reaped the fruits of your suppli- 
 cations. 1 have been indulged with some seasons 
 of unusual joy, tranquil as solitude, and solid as 
 the rock on which our hopes are built. In pub- 
 lic exercises, peculiar assistance has been afford- 
 ed ; especially in these thrre things ; — The ex- 
 altation of the Redeemer's glory ; the detectioa 
 of the crooked wavs, false refuges, and sel' de- 
 lusions of the human heart ; and the Stirring up 
 ef the saintsto press onward, making God's cause 
 their own, a ivd considering themselves as living 
 Rot for themselves, but for Him alone. 
 
 "Nor hath the word been without its effect; 
 above fifty have been added to our church this 
 year, most of whom I rejoicre in as the seals of 
 my ministry in the Lord. Indeed 1 am surrounded 
 with goodness ; and scarce a day passes over my 
 head, but I Say, were it not for an ungrateful 
 heart L should be the happiest man alive ; and 
 thai excepted, I neither expect nor wish to be 
 happier iji this wor.d. My wife, my children, 
 and myself aie uninterruptedly healthy ; mv 
 friends kind ; my soul at rest'j my labours suc- 
 cessful, &C. Who shouid be content and thank- 
 ful, it i should not ? Oh my brother, help cae 
 to praise \ 
 
 ■S.I* 
 
 * 2 
 
JJ3 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE* 
 
 In a letter to Ms. Peart e, from Plymouth, 
 date j Se^t. 2. 1794. the dark side of ihe cloud 
 see. us towards mm : — • 
 
 11 I have felt much barrenness, says he, 
 as to spiritual things si ice I have been here, 
 compared with mv usual frame at home ; and 
 it is a p)o: ex. iunge to enjoy the creature 
 at the expence of the Crea <i's presence: A. 
 few seasons of spirituality I have enjoyed ; but 
 any heart, my inconstant heart is too prone to rove 
 from its proper centre. Pray for me, m dear # 
 xt\ y dearest friend ! I do foi you daily. Oh wres- 
 tle for me that I may a^v^ more of kaoeh's spir- 
 it ! I am fully persuaded thai a Christian is no long- 
 er really happy, and nwardly satisfied, than whilst 
 he walks with God ; and 1 wouid this moment re- 
 joice to aoandon every pleasure here for a closer 
 waik with him. I cannot, amidst all the round 
 of social pleasure, amidst the most inviting scenes 
 €>f nat ire, feel that peace with God, which pass- 
 eth understanding. Sly thirst foi preaching Christ 
 I fea , abates, and a detestabie van ty for he rep- 
 utation of a " good preacher" (as the world terms 
 it) has already cost me maoj conflicts, D ... I 
 £eJ c mvinced of the propriety of a remark whi ii 
 m :end Su nmers made on his journey to \V lies, 
 that " It is easier for a Cnristian to walk habitually 
 lie ar to G >d, than be irregular in our walk with 
 him" But! Win resolution , 1 want a contempt 
 fo toe world; [ want more heavenly- minded ness; 
 I v mt more ha uility ; I want much, ver\ much 
 of that, which G»d ilone can bestow. Lord, 
 kelp the weakest iamb in all thy flock ! 
 
 k< L preached this evening from Cant. ii. 3. / 
 sat chva un ter his shadpw with great delight, and 
 his fruit wis sweet to »/»i taste. \S i h >w lit le 
 Jove - »r u v Saviour d»d I feel ! W i wnat little 
 affection and seal did i speak! Lain, by some 
 
MR. SA MITEL *EARC£. 2^ 
 
 praised. I am followed by many. I am respect* 
 eJ by most of my acquaintance. But all this is 
 nothing ; yea, less than nothing, compared with 
 possessing " this testimony, that I please Gov.'* 
 Oh thou Friend of Sinners, humble me Dy re* 
 pentance, and melt me down with love. 
 
 " i o-morrow morning I set offror Launceston. 
 I write to night, lest my stay in Cornwall might 
 make my delay appear tedious to the dear and de- 
 servmg object of my most undissembied love. 
 Oh my Sarah, had I as much proof that I love 
 Jesus Christ, as I have of my love to you I should 
 prize it more than lubies ! As often as you can 
 find an hour for correspondence, think of your 
 more than ever affectionate 
 
 S. P." 
 
 0003O0OO000 
 
 In another to Mr. Summers, dated Nov. 10, 
 1794-, ue says — 
 
 " I suppose I shall visit London in the 
 Spring. Prepare my way by communion both 
 wiili Gou and man. I hope your soul pros- 
 pers. I have enjoyed m re of G d within this 
 mouth than ever since the day of my espousals 
 
 him. Oh i.v brother, help me to praise ! 
 I v uuiot say Lh.ti I am quite so exalted in my 
 frame to dav ; yet still I acknowledge what I 
 b ve lived upon for weeks, — Thai were there no 
 b. g or ttiiug in the universe, beside God and 
 mc, I should be at no loss for happiness. Oh ! 
 • 'Tis heav,n ro rrft in hi* en brace, 
 And no where c>c but there/ 
 
 S. P." 
 
2i HEM«IS.S OF THE tAXE 
 
 HYMN 
 
 By Mr. Pearce, soon after his Conversion^ 
 
 L 
 
 Oh haw fvreet it is to me, 
 'Fore my gracious Lord to fall* 
 Talk with him continually, 
 Make my Blessed Jefus all, 
 
 II. 
 
 Other pleafures 1 have fought, 
 Try'd the world a ihoufdiid times : 
 P- ace purfu'd but found it not. 
 For I (tiil retaiuM my crimes. 
 
 III. 
 
 Never coulJ my heart be blefs'd, 
 Till from guilt I found it treed ; 
 Jeius now has me released* 
 I in him am free indeed, 
 
 IV. 
 
 Saviour, bind me to Thy crof9, 
 L,-t t by love poffefs my heart $ 
 AY\ belides I count but drols : 
 Chritt and I will never part* 
 
 V. 
 
 In His blood fuch peace I find* 
 Jn His love fuch joy is giv'n j 
 He who is to Jefusjoin'd 
 Fi^ds on cartk a little beaVii, 
 
*UU SAMUEL f BAILEE* 2$ 
 
 The following lines appear to have been written 
 soon after, if not before, his entrance into the work 
 of the ministry : — 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 
 EXCITEMENT l'O EARLY DUTY: 
 
 OR. 
 
 The Lord's- Day Morning i 
 
 ft WHENE'ER Hook Into Thy word, 
 And r<za<.\ about my deareft Lord, 
 
 The Fricn \ of finful man ; 
 And trace my Saviour's footitepa there, 
 Wnat bumble love, what holy fear, 
 
 Through all K is conduct ran ! 
 
 2 If I regard the matchlefs Grace 
 He (hew'd unto the human. race, 
 
 How he for rhem became 
 A poor fojouruer here below, 
 Opp^efsM by pain and forrow too, 
 
 1 can't but love Hia name. 
 
 3 And when I view His love to God , 
 Thofe fteps in whL-h the Saviour LroJ, 
 
 I long to tread them roo ; 
 I iotjg to be intpiVd with zeal 
 To execute my Father's will, 
 
 As Jefus ut'd to do. 
 
 <£ I read that He on duty bent, 
 To lonely places often went, 
 
 To fee k his Fathei there ; 
 The eirly ,iorn and dc:wy grou nd # 
 Can witnefs they 'h'- Saviour iound 
 
 Engag'din fervent gray'r, 
 
£1 t#fiMO*RS ©P THE LAlg 
 
 J And did my Savi'our ufe to pray. 
 Before the light unveil'd the day t 
 
 And (hell I backward he ? 
 No, deareit Lord, forbid the thought J 
 Help me to fight, as* Jtfus fought, 
 Each foe that hinders me, 
 
 € And you, my friends, who love His nartt£; 
 Who love to imitate the Lamb, 
 
 And more of Je:u- know ; 
 Come, let cs all furround His throne, 
 And fee what bltffiogs on His own, 
 
 Our Saviour will bettow. 
 
 J Though f ear6 be great, temptations ftrorjft 
 And though we'oft have waited long, 
 
 Perhaps He may defiga, 
 Thi* morn to give each i<.ul to fee, 
 Au 1 fav with Paul, " He dy'd for me," 
 
 And my Redeemer'* mine, 
 
 9 v ow cheerful we'll begin to pray, 
 That He will wafh our fins away, 
 
 In El •» atoning biood ; 
 That He His bleffing may beftow, 
 And g've each finner here to know 
 Thai he's a child of God. 
 
 eoooooooooo 
 
 On the Scriptures. 
 
 I STUPENDOUS love in Chrift doth dwel|> 
 Love which no mortal tongue can tell ; 
 But yet fo gracious is the Lord, 
 He tells His people in His word. 
 
 % Here in thofe lines of love I fee, 
 What Chrift mv Savionr did for me ; 
 Here I behold the wondrou? plan, 
 By rhich He &*e$ rebellious ma*, 
 
•a Here we may view the Saviour, God. 
 
 Opprefs'd by pain, o'erwhelm'd wiih blood 5 
 And ii we afk thtrenfon, why ? 
 He kindly fays, M For you I die.'* 
 
 ^ Here love and mercy, truth and grace, 
 Confpicuous fhinein Jesus' face ; 
 I-Iere ws may trace the wondr us road* 
 By which a finncr cqmes to God. 
 
 f O boundlef-. grace ! O mafch^fs l©ve, 
 That brought the Saviour from above j 
 That caufed the God for mat to die, 
 Xxpinng in an agony. 
 
 (J 1 ben fay, my foul, eanft th-ou engage, 
 In tracing o\r tht fa c red page, 
 And thcfe His love and rrercy fee, 
 And nor love him whody'd for thee ? 
 
 ^ O ftupid hear* ! O wretched foul [ 
 So cold, fo languid and fo dull ; 
 A :, ge ] B dcfire this love to know, 
 O may I feel thefe longings too ! 
 
 3 Defcend, thou Spirit of the Loro% 
 Thy light, and help, end grace afford.; 
 Ai d, while I read thefe pages o'^r, 
 ©onftiain »▼ fool to love Thee TOorf, 
 
MEMOIRS ©F THE- L 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 HIS LABORIOUS EXERTIONS IN PROMOTING MIS- 
 SIONS TO THE HLATHEN AND OFFERING 
 HIMSELF TO BECOME A MISSIONARY. 
 
 MR. PEARCE has been uniformly the spirit- 
 ual and the active servant of Christ ; But neither 
 his spirituality nor his activity would have appear- 
 ed in the manner thev have, but for his engage, 
 ments in the introduction of the gospel among the 
 heathen. 
 
 It was not long after his settlement at Birming- 
 ham, that he became acquainted with Mr. Ca- 
 rey, in whom he found a soul nearly akin to his 
 own. When the brethren in the counties of 
 Northampton and Leicester formed themselves 
 into a missionary Society at Kettering, in October, 
 1792, he was there, and emeied into the business 
 with ali his heart. On his return to Birmingham, 
 he communicated the subject to his congregation 
 with so much effect, that to the small sum of 
 1. 15 : 2: 6, with which the subscription was be- 
 gun, was added I. 70, which was collected and 
 transmitted to the Treasurer ; and the leading 
 members of the church formed themselves into 
 an Assistant Society. Early in the following 
 spring, when, it was resolved that our brethren 
 Thomas and Carey, should go on a mission to 
 the Hindoos, and a considerable sum of money 
 was wantec for the purpose, he laboured with in- 
 creasing ardour in various paits of ihe kingdom • 
 and when the object was accomplished, be rejoic- 
 ed in all his labours, smiling in every company 
 and blessing G»»d. 
 
 During his labours and journif s, on this im- 
 portant object, he wrote several letters to his 
 fiends, an extract or two from which will dis* 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. & 
 
 cover the state of his mind at this period, as well 
 as the encouragements that he met with in hfs 
 werk at home : — 
 
 0063 OOOO C0OCOO9O OU 
 
 To MR. STEADMAN. 
 
 " Birmingham} Feb. 8, 1795? 
 
 a My very dear Brother, 
 
 "UNION of sentiment often creates 
 friendship among carnal men, and similarity of 
 feeling never fails to produce affection among pi- 
 ous men, as far as that similarity is known. I 
 have loved you ever since I knew you. We saw, 
 we felt alike in the interesting concerns of per- 
 sonal religion. We formed a reciprocal attach- 
 ment. We expressed it by words. We agreed 
 to do so by correspondence ; and we have not 
 ether been wanting to cur engagements* 
 our correspondence ha9 been interrupted, 
 not, I believe, through any diminution of regard 
 on either s de ; I am persuaded not on mine. I 
 rather condemn myself as the first aggressor ; but 
 J excuse while I condemn, and Sw would you, did 
 you know ha^f the concerns which devolve upon 
 me in my present situation. Birmingham is a 
 central place ; the inhabitants are numerous ; 
 our members are between three and four hundred* 
 The word preached has lately been remarkably 
 blessed. In less than five mont hs 1 baptized nearly 
 forty persons, almost all newiy awakened. Next 
 LordVday I expect to add to their number. These 
 personscame to my house to propose ihe most im- 
 portant of all inquiries,- -" What must we do to be 
 saved ?" I have been thus engaged some weeks 
 (hiring the greatest p.^rt of most da)s. J his, 
 with four sermons a week, will account for my 
 neglect. But your letter, received his evenings 
 
&> MEMOIRS CF THE LATE 
 
 calls forth every latent affection of my heart for 
 you. We are, my dear brother, not only united 
 in the com moil object of pursuit, — salvation ; not 
 only res: our hopes on the same foundation,— 
 Jesus Christ ; but we feel alike respecting the poor 
 Heathens. Qh how Christianity expands the 
 mind ! What tenderness for our poor fellow sin- 
 neis ! What sympathy for their moral misery ! 
 What desires to do them everlasting good doth 
 It provoke ! How satisfying to our judgments is 
 'this evicence of grace] How gratifying to our 
 present Us'e are these benevolent breathings ! 
 Oh how I love that man whose soul is deeply af- 
 fected with the impoitance of the precious gospel 
 to ;doiatrous heathens. Excellently, my dear 
 brother, you observe, that, great as its blessings 
 are in the estimation of a sinner called in a 
 Christian country, inexpressibly greater must they 
 shine on the newly illuminated mind of a convert- 
 ed pagan. 
 
 " We shall be ghd of all your assistance in a 
 pecuniary wav, as the expence will be heavy. — ■■ 
 Dear brother Carey has paid us a visit of love 
 this week. He preached excellently to night. I 
 expect brother Thomas next week or the week 
 after. I wish you would meet him here. I have 
 a house at your command, and a heart greatly 
 attached to you. 
 
 S. ?» * 
 
 To MR. FULLER. 
 
 " Feb. 2$> I 793. 
 
 " I AM willing to go any where, and do any 
 thing in my power ; but I hope no plan will be 
 seffered to interfere with the affecting,— hope^. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARiCE. SI 
 
 for, — dreaded day, March 13, (the day of our 
 brethren Carey and Thomas* solemn designation 
 at Leicester ) Oh how the anticipation of it at 
 once rejoices and afflicts me. Our hearts need 
 steeling to part with oq^ much-loved brethren, 
 who are about to venture their all for the name 
 of the Lord Jesus. I feel my soul melting within 
 me when I read the twentieth chapter of the Acts, 
 and especially veises 36 — 38. But why grieve r 
 We shall see them again. Oh yes ; them and 
 the children whom the Lord will give them ; we 
 and the children whom the Lord hath given us. 
 AVc shall meet again, not to weep and pray, but 
 to smile and praise. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 00000000000 
 
 FROM the day of the departure of the Mission- 
 aries, no one w^s mure importunate in prayer 
 than Mr. Pearce ; and on the news of their safe 
 arrival, no one was more filled With joy and thank- 
 fulness. 
 
 Hitherto we had witnessed his zeal in promoting 
 this important undertaking at home ; but this did 
 not satisfy him. In October, 1794, we were given 
 to understand that he had for some time had it 
 in serious contemplation to go himself, and to 
 cast in his lot with his br thren in India. When 
 his designs were first discovered, his friends and 
 connexions were much concerned about it, and 
 endeavouied to persuade him that he was already 
 in a sphere of usefulness too important to be re- 
 linquished. Bui his answer wjs, that they were 
 too interested in the affair to be competent judges. 
 And nothing would satisfy him short of making a 
 formal offer of his services to the Committee : nor 
 could he be happy for than to decide upon it, 
 without their appointing a day of solemn prayer 
 for the purpose, and, when assembled, hearing an 
 accountof the principal exercises of hismindupon 
 
it MIMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 the subject, with the reasons which induced hud 
 to make the proposal, as well as the reasons al- 
 leged bv his connexions against it. 
 
 On October 4, 1794, he wrote to an intimate 
 friend, of whom he entertained a hope that he 
 might accompany him, as foiiows : — 
 
 "Last Wednesday I rode to Northampton, 
 where a ministers' meeting was held on the fol- 
 lowing day. We talked much about the mission. 
 We read some fresh and very encouraging ac- 
 counts. We lamented that we couid obtain no 
 suitable persons to send out to the assistance of 
 our brethren. Now what do you think was said 
 at this meeting ? My dear brother ! do not be 
 surprised that all present united in opinion, that 
 in all our connexion there was no man known to 
 us so suitable as you, provided you were disposed 
 for it, and things couid be brought to bear. I 
 thought it right to mention this circumstance ; 
 and one thing more 1 cannot refrain from saying, 
 that were it manifestly the will of God, I should 
 tall that the happiest hour of my life, which 
 ncssed our both embarking with our families on 
 board one ship, as helpers of the servants of 
 Jesus Christ already in Hmdostan. Yes; I could 
 unreluctantly leave Europe and all its contents foe 
 the pleasures and perils of this glorious service. 
 Often mv heart in the sincerest ardours thus 
 breathes forth its desires unto God, — "Here am 
 I, send me." But I am ignorant whether you 
 from experience can realize my feelings. Per- 
 haps you have friendship enough for me to lay o- 
 pen your meditations on this subject in your next. 
 If you have had half the exercises that I have, it 
 wili be a relief to your labouring mind : or if you 
 think I have made too free with you, reprove me, 
 and 1 will love you still. Oh if I could find a 
 heart that had been tortured and ravished like my 
 own in this respect, I should form a new tin 
 
MR. SA'MUEL FEARCE. 33 
 
 alliance, and feel a friendship of a novel species. 
 With eagerness should i communicate all the 
 vicissitudes of my sensations, and with eagerness 
 iis:en to a recital of kindred feelings. With im- 
 patience I should seek, and with gratitude re- 
 ceive direction and suppo!t, and, I hope, feel a 
 new occasion of thankfulness, when I bow my 
 knee to the Father of mercies; and the God of all 
 Comfort. Whence is it that I thus wrae to you, 
 as i have never written to any one before ? Is 
 e a fellowship of the Spirit ; or is it a con- 
 fidence that I have in your friendship that thus 
 
 directs my peu ? Tell me, dear ! Tell 
 
 me how you have felt, and how you stili feel on 
 this interesting subject, and do not long delay the 
 gratification to your very affectionate friend and 
 brother, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 000000000 
 
 About a month prec ding the decision of this 
 affa.r, he drew up a narrative of his experience 
 respecting it ; resolving at the same time to set 
 apart one day in every week for secret fasting and 
 p.iver to God for direction ; and to keep a diary 
 of the exercises of his mind during the month. 
 
 When the Committee weie met ai N >rth amp- 
 ton according to his desire, he presented to them 
 the narrative ; <* nd w;<u h was «s follows: — 
 
 "OctobeT 8. 1794 Having h d some peculiar 
 exercises of mind relative to my personally at- 
 tempt! g to labour forthe dear Redeemer amongst 
 the heathen ; and being at a loss to know what is 
 the will of the Lord in this matter respecting me, 
 1 have iii ugbt that i might gain sorfie satisfaction 
 by adopting tnese two resolutions ; — First, that I 
 will, as in the presence of Go , faithfully en- 
 deavour to recollect the various workings of my 
 rmnd on this subject, from the first pe.iod of my 
 feeling 3by desire of this nature, on til now, and 
 
5* MEMOIRS OF THE LATE- 
 
 commit them to writing ; together with what con- 
 siderations >io now, on the one hand, impel me 
 to the work, and oi\ the other, what prevents me 
 from immediately resolving to enter upon it. 
 Secondly, That I wili from this day keep a reg- 
 ular journal, with special relation to this nutter. 
 M This account and journal will, I hope, fur- 
 nish me with much assistance in forming * future 
 opinion of the path of duty ; as well as nelp a- 
 ny friends vnom I may hereafter think proper to 
 Consuii, to give me suitable advice in the busi- 
 ness. Lo;d, he p me ! 
 
 " U is very com n jn for young converts to fee! 
 strong desires f >r toe conversion of others. These 
 des res immediately followed the evidences of 
 jnv own religion: and I remember weil they 
 were particular; v axed upon the poor heathen^. 
 I1>ehevc the first week that I knew the grace of 
 God n truth, I pui up many fervent cries to he av- 
 <3»n in their behalf ; and at tiie same time felt a 
 Strong desire t>> be employed in promoting their 
 salvation. It was not I >ng after that the first set- 
 tlers sailed for Botany Bay. I longed to go with 
 them, although in company with the convicts, in 
 .hopes of making known the blessings of the great 
 Salvation in New Zeal old. 1 actually had thought of 
 inaking an effort to go out unknown to m\ friends ; 
 but ignorant how to proceed, I abandoned my 
 purpose. Nevertheless I could not help talking 
 about it ; and at one time a report w*s circulated 
 that I was really going, and a neighbouring min- 
 ister very seriously conversed with me on the 
 'subject. 
 
 " vVhile I was at the Bristol Academy, the de- 
 sire remained ; but not with that energy as *t 
 first except on ouq or two occasions. Being seat 
 by my tutor to preach two sabbaths at CoHord, I 
 felt particular sweetness in devoting the evening* 
 of the week to going from house to House among 
 
 the coli:ers ; wiio dwell ia the Forest <>J Dean** 
 
JuR. SAMUEL PEARCf; 8$ 
 
 adjoining the town, conversing and praying with 
 , and preaching to thern. In these exerci- 
 ses 1 ound the most solid satisfaction that 1 have 
 
 ever known in discharging the duties of my call- 
 ing. In a poor hut, with a stone to stand upon, 
 and a three-legged stool for mv desk, surrounded 
 with thirty or forty of the smutty neighbours, I 
 have felt such an un^ tion from above that my 
 le auditory have been melted into tears, 
 whilst directed XotkeLambeJ God, who taketh 
 gtway the the sin of the world ; and I, weeping a- 
 mong (hem, could scarcely speak or they hear, 
 for interrupting sighs and sobs. Many a time did 
 1 then think, I husrt was with the apostles of our 
 L rd, when they went horn house to house a- 
 mong the poor heathen. In work nke this I 
 eould live and de. Indeed, had 1 at that time 
 been at libeity to settle, I should have preferred 
 that situation to any in the kingdom with which I 
 was then acquainted. 
 
 " But the Lord placed me in a situation very 
 different. He brought me to Birmingham • and 
 here, amongst the novelties, cares, and duties of 
 my station, i da not remembei any wish for fo- 
 reign service, till after a residence of some months 
 I he aid Dr. Coke preach at one of Mr. Vv es e "s 
 G ipels, from Psalm ixviiL 31. Ethiopia shall 
 soon stretch out her hands unto God. i hen it was, 
 that in Mr. Home's phrase, " I fcit a passion for 
 missions. 9 ' 'I hen I felt an inteiest in the state 
 of the heathen world far more deep and per- 
 manent than before, and seriously thought how I 
 couid best promote their obtaining the knowledge 
 of the ciuc rfted Jesu«. 
 
 "As no way at that time was open, I cannot 
 say that I thought of taking a part of the good 
 work among the heathen abroad ; but resolved 
 that 1 would render them all the assistance 1 could 
 at home. My mind was employed during the 
 
 lesidue of that week in meditating on Psaim ixvfli 
 
tfjm MEMOIRS OF THE LATJET 
 
 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, city of 
 God* — ;md the next Sabbath morning I spoke 
 from those words, On the promised increase of 
 the chiuvh pi God. i had observed that our 
 monthly rneetings for prayer bad been bettei at- 
 tended than the other prayer-meetings, frona the 
 time thai I first knew the people io Cannon -street : 
 but I thought a more general attention to them 
 Was desirable. I therefore preached on the Sab- 
 bath-day evening preceding the next monthly 
 prayer-meeting, from Matt. vi. 10. Thy king- 
 dom come ; and urged with ardour and affection 
 a universal union of the serious part of the con- 
 gregation in this exercise. It rejoiced me to see 
 three times as many the next nighi as usual , and 
 ' fur some time after that, I had nearly equai cause 
 for joy. 
 
 " As to my own part, I continued to preach 
 much upon the promises ©f God respecting ihe 
 conversion of the heathen nations; end by so do- 
 ing, and always communicating to my people ev- 
 ery pecce of information I could obtain respect- 
 ing the present state of missions, they soon im*- 
 bibed the same spirit : and from that time to this 
 tbey have discovered so much com em foi the 
 more extensive spread of the gospel, that aJ , or 
 monthly prayer- meetings, both stated and occa- 
 sional, I should be as much surprised at the case 
 cfthe heathen being omitted in any prayer, as 
 at an omission of the name and merits of Jesus. 
 •' Indeed it lias been a frequent mean or en- 
 kindling my Languid devotion, in my private, 
 domestic, apd public engagements in prayer. 
 When i have been barren in petith ning for my- 
 self, and other things, often have i been sweet- 
 ly enlarged when I came to notice the situation 
 ef those who were perishing for lack oi knowl- 
 edge. 
 
 *' i bus I went on praying, and preaching, and 
 
MX. SAMUEL PEA.RCE, 37 
 
 conversing on the subject, till the time of bmfh~ 
 er Carey's ordination at Leicester, May 24, 1191. 
 On ttie evening of tnat dav, he read to the min- 
 isters a great part of his manuscript, s;n:e pub- 
 lished ; entitled, An enquiry into the obligations 
 of Christians to use means for the conversion of tlie 
 heathens. This added fresh fuel to my zeaf. 
 But to pray and peach on the subjec was all I 
 could then think, of doing. But when I heard of 
 a proposed meet ng at Kettering, Oct. 2, 1192, 
 foi theexpress purpose of considering our duty ia 
 regard of the heathen, I could not rcs;st mv in- 
 clination for going; although at th it tune 1 was 
 not much acquainted with the ministers of the 
 Northamptonshire association. There I got my 
 judgment informed, and my heart increasingly- 
 interested. I returned home resolved to lav my- 
 self out in the cause. The public steps 1 have 
 taken are too well known to need repeating : bat 
 my mind became now inclined to go among the 
 heathen myself. Yet a consideration of my con- 
 nexions with the dear people of God in Birming- 
 ham, restrained my desires, and kept roe frOttt 
 naming ray wishes to any body, (as I rem:- ni- 
 ter) ex ept to brother Carey. Wiih him I was 
 pretty free. We had an interesting conversation 
 about it just before he iett Europe. I shall nev- 
 er forget the manner of Assaying "well you will 
 come after us." My heart said, Amen ! and my 
 eagerness for the work inc reased ; though I nev- 
 er talked freely about it, except to my wife, and 
 we both then thought that my relation to the 
 Church in Cannon-street, and usefulness there, 
 for-bad any such an attempt. However, I have 
 made it a constant matter of praver, often begging of 
 of God as Id.d when first! wasdisposed for theworfc 
 thc ministry, either that he wtould take away the 
 desiie,orcpcna dooi for its fulfilment. And the re- 
 splt ha* uniformly been ; that the more spir.ua.ljf* 
 
$4 Memoirs or the lat£ 
 
 keen In the frame ofmv mind, the more love I hav£ 
 have feit foi God ; and the more communion I 
 have enjoyed with him, so much the more dis- 
 posed have I been to engage as a missionary among 
 the heathen. 
 
 "Until the accounts came of our brethren's 
 entrance on the work in Iidia, my connexions 
 in Eurppe pretty nearly balanced my desire for 
 going abroad ; and though I felt quite devoted to 
 the Lord's will and work, yet I thought tbe scale 
 rather preponderated on the side of abiding in my 
 present situation. 
 
 "But&iaee our brethren's letters have informed 
 lis that there are such prospects of usefulness in 
 Hindustan, — that priests and people are ready 
 to hear the word,— and that preachers are a thous- 
 and times more wanted, than people to preach 
 to 9 mv heart has been more decpiy affected 
 than ever with their condition ; and my desires- 
 for a participation ot the toils and pleasures, 
 erosses and comforts of which they are the sub- 
 jects, are advanced to an anxiety which nothing 
 Can remove, and time seems to increase. 
 
 'Mi has pleased God also lately to teach me 
 more than ever, that himself is the fountain of 
 happiness; that hkeness to inn., friendsh.p for 
 h:m, and communion w.th him, form the basis 
 of ail true enjoyment ; and that this can be at- 
 tained as well in an eastern jungle, amongst Hin- 
 doos and Moors, as in the most polished partsof 
 Europe. The very disposition, which, blessed 
 be my dear Redeemer ! he has given me, to be 
 any thing, do any thing, or endure any thing, 
 
 so that his name might be glorified,- 1 say, 
 
 the disposition itself is heaven begun bciow ! I 
 do feel a daily panting aftei more devotedness to 
 his service, and I can never think of my suffer- 
 ing Lord, without dissolving into love ; love 
 ch constrains me to glorify him with my body 
 and spiijt which are his, 
 
JMR. SAMUEL P£ARC£. 3.9 
 
 fci I do often represent to myself all the possi- 
 ble hardships of a mission, arising from my own 
 heart, the nature of the country, domestic con. 
 nexions, disappointment in my hopes, &x. &c. 
 And then i set over against them all, these two 
 thoughts, lam God's servant ; and God is mi/ 
 friend. In this, I anticipate happiness in the 
 midst of suffering, light in daikness, and life 
 in death. Yea, 1 do not account my life de«r 
 unto myself, so that I may win some poor heath- 
 ens unto Christ ; and 1 am willing to be offered 
 as a sacrifice on the service of the faith of the gas- 
 pel. 
 
 " Mr. Home justly observes, f that, in order to 
 justify a man's undertaking the work of a mis- 
 sionary, he should be qualified for it, disposed 
 heartily to enter upon it, and free from such 
 ties as exclude an engagement.' — As to the first, 
 others must j-dge for me ; but they must not be 
 men who have an interest in keeping me at home. 
 I shall rejoice in opportunities of attaining to an 
 acquaintance with the ideas of judicious and im* 
 partial men in this matter, and with them 1 must 
 leave it. A willingness to embark in this cause 
 I do possess ; and 1 can hardly persuade myself 
 that God has for ten years inclined my heart to 
 tin's work, without having any thing for me to 
 do in it. But the third thing requires more con- 
 sideration ; and here alone I hesitate." — Here 
 he goes on to state all the objections from this 
 quarter, with his answers to them, leaving it with 
 his brethren to decide when they had heard the 
 whole. 
 
 The Committee, after the most serious and ma- 
 ture deliberation, though they were fuiiy satisfi- 
 ed as to biother Pearce's qualifications, and great- 
 ly approved of his spirit, vet they were unanimous- 
 ly of opinion that he ought net to go; and thai 
 
ffe MEMOIRS OF Till: T./VXE 
 
 not merelv on account of his connexions at home, 
 which might have been pleaded in the ease of 
 brother Carey* but on account of the mission it- 
 self, which required his assistance in the station 
 which he already occupied. 
 
 In this opinion, brother Carey himself, with 
 singular disinterestedness of mind, afterwards 
 concurred ; and wrote to brother Pearce to the 
 same effect,* 
 
 On receiving the opinion of the Committee, 
 he immediately wrote to Mrs. P , as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 Birmingham % Feb. 13, 1794-. 
 " My dear Sarah, 
 
 " I AM disappointed, but not dismayed 
 
 I ever wish to make my Saviour's will my own. 
 
 I am more satisfied than ever I expected 1 should 
 
 be with a negative upon my earnest desires, be- 
 
 the business has been so conducted, that, 
 
 I think, (if by any means such an issue could be 
 
 insured) the mind of Christ has been obtained. 
 
 Mv dear brethren heie have treated the affair 
 
 with as much seriousness and affection as I could 
 
 possibly desire, and 1 think more than so insig- 
 
 ant a worm could expect. After we had 
 
 nt the former part of this day in tasting and 
 
 itiori on the subject tilt near 
 
 two o'clock, brother Potts, King, and I retired. 
 
 V, e prayed while the Committee consulted. The 
 
 case seemed difficult, and I suppose ti.ev were 
 
 irear two hours in deciding. At last, time forced 
 
 them to a point ; and their answer I enclose for 
 
 your satisfaction. Piay take care of it ; it will 
 
 serve for me to refer to when my mind may 
 
 labour benea h a burden of guilt another day. 
 
 I am my dear Sarah's own 
 
 S. P." 
 
 * See Periodical Account s, No. V. p. 374. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAReE. 41 
 
 The decision of the Committee, though it ren- 
 dered him much more reconciled to abide in his 
 native country than he could have been without 
 it ; yet did not in the least abate his zeal for the 
 object. As he could not promo e it abroad, he 
 seemed resolved to lay himself out more for it at 
 home. In March, 1795, after a dangerous illness, 
 he says in a letter to Mr. Fuller — " Through mer- 
 cy I am almost in a state of convalescence. May 
 my spared life be wholly devoted to the service 
 of my dear Redeemer. I do not care where I 
 am, whether in England or in India, so I am 
 employed as he wouid have me ; but surely we 
 need pray hard that God would send some more 
 help to Hindostan." 
 
 In January, 1796, when he was first informed 
 by the Secretary, of a young man, (Mr, Foun- 
 tain) being desirous of going, of the character 
 that was given of him by our friend, Mr. Savage, 
 of London, and of a Committee meeting being in 
 contemplation, he wrote thus in answer- — "Your 
 letter, just arrived, put — I was going to say, an- 
 other soul into my little body ; at least it has 
 added new life to the soul I have. 1 cannot be con- 
 tented with the thought of being absent from your 
 proposed meeting. No, no ; I must be there, 
 (for my own sake I-mean) and try to sing with 
 you, " O'er the gloomy hiils of darkness "* 
 
 In August, the same year, having received a 
 letter from India, he wrote to Mr. Fuller as fol- 
 lows, u Brother Carey speaks in such a manner of 
 the effects of the gospel in his neighbourhood, as 
 in my view promises a fair illustration of our Lord's 
 parable, when he compared the kingdom of hea- 
 ven toa Utile leaven, hid in three measuresofmeal, 
 which insinuated itself so effectually as tu leaven 
 
 * The 428th Hymn of Dr. Rippon's Selection? 
 frequently lung at our Committee meetings. 
 E 
 
42 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 the lump at last. Blessed be God, the leaven is 
 already in the meal. J he fermentation is be- 
 gun ; and my hopes were never half so strong as 
 they are now, that the whole shall be effectually 
 leavened. O that I were there to witness 
 the. delightful process ! But whither am I 
 running ? I long to write you from hindos- 
 
 TAN !" 
 
 On receiving other Letters from India, in Janu- 
 ary, 1797, he thus writes : — " Perhaps you are re- 
 joicing in spirit with me over fresh intelligence 
 from Bengal. This moment have I concluded 
 reading two letters from brother Thomas : one to 
 the Society, and the other to myself.* He 
 speaks of others from brother Carey. I hope 
 they are already in your possession. If h:s cor- 
 respondence has produced the same effects on 
 y; ur heart as brother Thomas's has on mine you 
 are filled with gladness and hope. I am grieved 
 that I cannot convey them to you immediately. 
 I long to witness the pleasure their contents will 
 impart to all whose hearts are with us. O that I 
 were accounted worthy of the Lord to preach 
 the gospel to the Booteas ! :> 
 
 Being detained from one of our Mission meet- 
 ings by preparing the Periodical Accounts for 
 the press, he soon after wrote as follows : " We 
 shall now get out Iso. IV. very soon. I hope 
 it will go to the press in a very few days. Did 
 you notice, that the very dav on which we in- 
 vited all our friends to a day of prayer on behalf 
 of the mission, (Dec. 28, 1196,) was the same in 
 which brother Carey sent his best and must inter- 
 esting accounts to the Society ? I hope you had 
 solemn and sweet seasons at Northampton. On 
 many accounts I should have rejoiced to have 
 
 * See these letters printed in Periodical Accounts % 
 No, IV. p. 294, 301* 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 43 
 
 been with you : yet I am satisfied that on the 
 whole 1 was doing best at home." 
 
 It has been already observed, that for a month 
 preceding the decision of the Committee, he re- 
 solved to devote one day in every week to secret 
 prayer and fasting, and to keep a diary of the ex- 
 ercises of his mind during the whole of that peri- 
 od. This diary was not shown to the Committee 
 at the time, but merely the preceding narrative. 
 Since his death a few of them have perused it ; 
 and have been almost ready to think, that if they 
 had seen it before, they dared not have opposed 
 his going. But the Lord hath taken him to him- 
 self. It no longer remains a question now, 
 whether he shall labour in England or in India. A 
 few passages, however, from this transcript of 
 his heart, whiie contemplating a great and disin- 
 terested undertaking, will furnish a better idea of 
 his character than could be given by any other 
 hand. 
 
 " Oct. 8, 1794. Had some remarkable free- 
 dom and alTection this morning, both in family 
 and secret prayer. With many tears I dedicated 
 myself, body and soul, to the service of jesus ; 
 and earnestly implored fuil satisfaction respecting 
 the path of duty. — 1 feel a growing deadness for 
 all earthly comforts ; and derive my happiness 
 immediately from God himself. May I still en* 
 dure, as Moses did, by seeing Him who is in- 
 visible. " 
 
 11 Oct. 10. Enjoyed much freedom to-day in 
 the family. Whilst noticing in prayer the state 
 of the millions of heathen who know not God, I 
 felt the aggregate value of their immortal souls 
 with peculiar energy. 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF THE LAf£ 
 
 "Afterwards was much struck whilst (on mjr 
 knees before God in secret) 1 read the fourth 
 chapter of Micha. The ninth verse I fancied very- 
 applicable to the Church in Cannon-street: but 
 what reason is there for such a cry about so in- 
 significant a woim as I am ? The third chapter of 
 Habakkuk too well express that mixture of so- 
 lemnity and confidence with which I contemplate 
 the work of the mission. 
 
 " Whilst at prayer-meeting to night, I learned 
 more of the meaning of some passages of scripture 
 than ever before. Suitable frames of soul are 
 like good lights, in which a painting appears to 
 its full advantage. I had often meditated on Phil, 
 iii. 7, 8, and Gal. vi. 14: but never fell cruci- 
 fixion to the world, and disesteem for all that it 
 contains as at that time. All prospects of pe- 
 cuniary independence, and growing reputation, 
 with which in unworthier moments I had amused 
 myself, were now chased from my mind ; and 
 the des>re of living wholly to Christ swallowed up 
 every other thought. Frouvnsand smiles, fulness 
 or want, honour and reproach, were now equally 
 indifferent; and when I concluded the meeting, 
 my whole soul feit, as it were, going after the lost 
 sheep of Christ among the heathen. 
 
 " I do feel a growing satisfaction in the propo- 
 sal of spending my whole life in something nobler 
 than the locality of this island will admit. I long- 
 to raise my Master's banner in climes where the 
 sound of his fame hath but scarcely reached. He 
 hath said, for my encouragement, that all na- 
 tions shall flow unto it. 
 
 " The conduct and success of Stach, Boonish, 
 and other Moravian Missionaries in Greenland, 
 both confound and stimulate me. O Lord, for- 
 give my past indolence in thy service, and help 
 me to redeem the residue of my days for exer- 
 tions more worthy a friend of mankind, and a 
 servant of God. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 45. 
 
 <f Oct. 13. Being taken up with visitors the 
 former part of the day, 1 spent the after part in 
 application to the Bengal language, and found 
 the difficulties I apprehended vanish as fast as I 
 encountered them. I read and prayed, prayed 
 and read, and made no small advances. Bless- 
 ed be God ! 
 
 "Oct. 15. Theie are in Birmingham 50,000 
 inhabitants; and, exclusive of the vicinity, ten 
 ministers who preach the fundamental truths of 
 the gospel. In Hindostan there are twice as many 
 millions of inhabitants , and not so many gospel 
 preachers. Now Jesus Christ hath commanded 
 his ministers to go into all the world, and preach 
 the gospel to everycreature : Why should we be 
 so disproportionate in our labours ? Peculiar cir- 
 cumstances must not be urged against positive 
 commands : 1 am therefore bound, if others do 
 not go, to make the means more proportionate to 
 the multitude. 
 
 " To-n ; ght, reading some letters from brother 
 , in which he speaks of his wife's illness 
 when she first came into the country, I endeav- 
 oured to realize myself not only with a sick, but 
 wiii} a dead wife. The thought was like a cold 
 dagger to my heart at first : but on recollection I 
 considered that the same God ruled in India as in 
 Europe ; and that he could either preserve her, 
 or support me, as well there as here. My busi- 
 ness is only to be where he would have me. O- 
 ther things I leave to him. O Lord, though with 
 timidity, yet I hope not without satisfaction, I 
 look every possible evil in the face, and say, Tim 
 will be done. 
 
 " CK t. 17. This is the first day I have set a- 
 
 p^rt for extraordinary devotion in relation to my 
 
 nt exercise of mind. Rose earlier tnan usual, 
 
 and began the day in prayer that God would be 
 
 Eo 
 J 
 
46 MEMOIRS OF THE LATX 
 
 with me in every part of it, and grant that the end 
 I have in view may be clearly ascertained — the 
 knowledge of his will. 
 
 11 Considering the importance of the work be- 
 fore me, I began at the foundation of all religion 
 and reviewed the grounds on which I stood; the 
 being of a God, the relation of mankind to him, 
 with the divine inspiration of the scriptures ; 
 and the review afforded me great satisfaction.* 
 f alsocompared the differentreligions which claim- 
 ed divine origin, and found little difficulty in de- 
 termining which had most internal evidence of its 
 divinity, i attentively read and seriously consi- 
 dered Doddridge's three excellent Sermons onthe 
 evidence of the Christian Religion, which was 
 followed by such conviction, that I had hardly 
 patience to conclude the book before I fell on my 
 knees before God to bless him for such a religion, 
 established on such a basis ; and I have received 
 more solid satisfaction this day upon the subject 
 than ever I did before. 
 
 "I also considered, since the gospel is true, 
 since Christ is the head of the church, and his 
 will is the law of all his followers, what are the 
 obligations of his servants in respectof the enlarge- 
 ment of his kingdom. I here referred to our Lord's 
 commission, which I could not but consider as 
 universal in its object, and permanent in its 
 obligations. I read brother Carey's remarks up- 
 on it — and as the command has never been re* 
 
 * There is a wide difference between admitting these 
 principles in theoiy, ana making use of them* David 
 might have worn Saul's accoutrements at a parade ; but 
 in meeting Goliath he mud go forth in an armour that 
 had been tried. A mariner may sit in his cabin at his 
 case while the fnip is in harbour : but ere he undertakes 
 a voyage he mud examine its soundnefs, and whether it 
 will endure the storms which may overtake h'm, 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 47 
 
 pealed ; as there are millions of beings in the 
 world on whom the command may be exercised ; 
 as I can produce no counter-revelation ; and as I 
 lie under no natural impossibilities of performing 
 it — I concluded that I, as a servant of Christ, was 
 bound by this law. 
 
 " 1 took the narrative of my experience, and 
 statement of my views on this subject in my 
 hand, and bowing down before God, I earnestly 
 besought an impartial and enlightened spirit. I 
 then perused that paper; and can now say that 
 I have (allowing for my own fallibility) not one 
 doubt upon the subject. I therefore resolved to 
 close this solemn season with reading a portion 
 of both Testaments, and earnest prayer to God 
 for my family, my people, the heathen world, 
 the Society, and particularly for the success of 
 our dear brethren Thomas and Carey, and his 
 blessing, presence, and grace to be ever my 
 guide and glory. Accordingly I read the xlix/A 
 chapter of isaiah ; and with what sweetness ! I 
 never read a chapter in private with such feelings 
 since I have been in the ministry. The 8, 9, 
 10, 20, and 21 verses I thought remarkably 
 suitable. 
 
 " Read aho part of the epistle to the Ephesians, 
 and the rust chapter to the Fhilippians. () that 
 for me to live may be Christ alone ! Blessed be 
 my deai Saviour, in prayer I have had such fel- 
 lowship with him, as would warm me in Green- 
 land, comfort me in New Zealand, and rejoice 
 me in the valley of the shadow of death ! 
 
 " Oct. IS. I dreamed that I saw one of the 
 
 Christian Hindoos. O how I loved him ! 1 long 
 
 to realize my dream. Mow pleasant will it be to 
 
 sit down at the Lord's table with our b.u? k bre- 
 
 E n, and hear Jcmis preached in their language. 
 
 -!y then will come to pass the saying ; 
 
 :cn, In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, 
 
4$ MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, all are one 
 in him. 
 
 •? Have been happy to-day in completing the 
 manuscript of Periodical Accounts, No. I. "Any 
 thing relative to the salvation of the heathen 
 brings a certa;n pleasure with it. 1 find I cannot 
 pray, nor converse, nor read, nor study* nor 
 preach with satisfaction without reference to this 
 subject. 
 
 "Oct. 20. Was a little discouraged on read- 
 ing Mr. Zeigenbald's conferences with the Ma- 
 labrams, tili I recollected, what ought to be ever 
 present to mv mind in brother Carey's words, — 
 The work is God's. 
 
 " In the evening I found some little difficulty 
 with the language ; but considering how mer- 
 chants and captains overcome this difficulty for 
 the sake of wealth, I sat confounded before the 
 Loid that I should evef have indulged su«. h a 
 thought ; and looking up to him, 1 set aboul it 
 with cheerfulness, and lound that I was making 
 a sensible advance, although i can never *. 
 till 11 o'Clock at night, on account of many 
 other duties.* 
 
 " Preached from 2 Kings iv. 26. // is u 
 Was much emd!ge f J both in thought and exj 
 sion. Whilst speaking of the satisfaction enjoy- 
 
 * Nig hi Mudies, often connnu ; ng till two or three 
 o'clock in thr morning, it is to be eared, were the firft 
 ccc^iion of impairing Mr Pearce's health, and brought 
 on hat train of nervous fenfations with which he was 
 afterwards affli&ed. Though not mi ch aceuilomed to 
 converge on this fubject, he orce acknowledged to a 
 brother in the miniftry, tha* owing to his tneivared 
 Hate, he fometines dreaded the approach of public fer- 
 victs to fuch ad-.gree. that he would ra her have lub. 
 mitttd to ftripes than engage in »hrm ; and while in 
 the pulpit, ht was frequently diitreffed with the 3j^pre« 
 haifion of falling over it. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 4-9 
 
 ed by a truly pious mind, when it feels itself in all 
 circumstances and times in the hand of a good 
 God, I felt, that were the universe destroyed, and 
 I the only being in it, beside God, he is fully ad- 
 equate to my complete happiness; and had I 
 been in an African wood, surrounded with veno- 
 mous serpents, devouring beasts, and savage men, 
 in such a frame, I should be the subject of perfect 
 peace and exalted joy. Yes, O my God, thou 
 hast taught me that thou alone art worthy of 
 my confidence , and with this sentiment fixed in 
 my heart I am free from all solicitude about tem- 
 poral prospects or concerns. If thy presence be 
 enjoyed, poverty shall be riches, darkness light, 
 affliction prosperity, reproach my honour, and 
 fatigue my resi : and thou hast said, My presence 
 shall go with thee. Enough, Lord, I ask for no- 
 thing, nothing more. 
 
 " But how sad the proofs of our depravity ; and 
 how insecurt the best fr ames we enjoy ! Returning 
 home, a wicked expression from a person who 
 passed me, caught my ear, and occurred so often 
 to my thoughts i'ov some minutes as to bring guilt 
 upon my mind, and overwhelm me with shame 
 before God. But I appealed to God for my ha- 
 tred of all such things, secretly confessed the sin 
 of my heart, and r.gain ventured to the mercy- 
 seat. On such occasions how precious a Medi- 
 ator is to the soul, 
 
 11 Oct. 22, I did not for the former part of the 
 day feel my wonted ardour for the work of a 
 Missionary ; but rather an inclination to consult 
 flesh and blood, and look at the worst side of 
 things. I did so; but when en rny knees before 
 God in prayer about it, I first considered that my 
 judgment was still equally satisfied, and mv con- 
 science so convinced, that I durst not relinquish 
 the work for a thousand worlds! And then [ 
 fhoight thut this dull frame had not been wituout 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 its u^e ; as I was now fully convinced, that mv 
 desire to go did not arise from any fluctuation of 
 inconstant passions, but the settled convictions 
 of my judgment. 1 therefore renewed my \ 
 unto the Lord, that let what ties soever be 
 
 in the way, I would (provided the Society appro- 
 ved) surmount them all. I felt a k nd of unutter- 
 able satisfaction of mind, in my resolution of leav- 
 ing the decision in the bauds of m\ brethren. 
 May God rightly dispose their hearts i 1 have no 
 doubt but he will. 
 
 " Oct. 23. Have found a little time to apply 
 to t igallee 1 How plea 
 
 it is to work fur God ! Love 1 
 to roses, and makes pai re. [ ne- 
 
 ver sat down to any stud - -rand 
 
 continued satisfaction. Toe t! >f exalting 
 
 the Redeemer in this language, is a spur to my 
 application paramount to every discouragement 
 for want of a living tutor. I have passed this day 
 with an abiding satisfaction respecting my pres- 
 ent views. 
 
 "Oct. 24. O for the enlightening, enlivening, 
 and sanctifying presence of God to-day ! It is the 
 second of those days of extraordinary devotion 
 which I have set apart for seeking God, in relation 
 to the mission. How shall I spend it ? 1 will de- 
 vote the morning to prayer, reading, and medi- 
 tation ; and the afternoon to visiting the wretch- 
 ed, and relieving the needy. May God accept 
 my services, guide me by his council, and employ 
 nie for his praise ! 
 
 " Having besought the Lord that he would not 
 Suffer me to deceive myself in so important a 
 matter as that which 1 had now retired to con- 
 sider, and exercise some confidence that he 
 would be the lewarder of those who diligently 
 seekhim, I read the 119th Psalm at the conclu- 
 sion of my prayer, and felt and wondered at die 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. o! 
 
 congruity of so many of the verses to the breath- 
 ings of my own heart. Often, with holy admi- 
 ration, I paused, and read, and thought, and 
 prayed over the verse again, especially verses 20, 
 31, 29, 60, 112, 145, 146. My soul breaketk 
 for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at 
 all times. J have stuck unto thy testimonies: O 
 Lord, put me not to shame. 
 
 " Most of the morning I spent in seriously 
 reading Mr. Home's Letters on Missions, having 
 first begged of the Lord to make the perusal 
 profitable to my instruction in the path of duty. 
 To the interrogation, 4 Which of you will forsake 
 all, deny himself, take up his cross, and, if God 
 pleases, die for his religion ?' I replied sponta- 
 neously, Blessed be God, I am willing ! Lord, 
 help me to accomplish it ! 
 
 *' Closed this season with reading the 6 1st and 
 62d chapters of Isaiah, and prayer for the church 
 of God at large, ray own congregation, the hea- 
 thens, tue Society, brethren Thomas and Carey, 
 all Missionaries whom God hath sent of every de- 
 nomination, my own case, my wife and family, 
 and for assistance in my work. 
 
 " The after part of this day has been gloomy 
 indeed. All the painful circumstances which can 
 attend my going have met upon my heart, and 
 formed a load almost insupportable. A number 
 of things, which have been some time accumulat- 
 ing, have united their pressure, and made me 
 groan, being burdened. Whilst at a prayer-meet- 
 ing I looked round on my christian friends, and 
 said to myself, A few months more and probably 
 I shall leave you all ! But in the deepest of my 
 gloom, I resolved though faint yet to pursue, not 
 doubting but my Lord would give me strength 
 equal to the day. 
 
 11 I had scarcely formed this resolution before 
 it occurred, My Lord and Master was a man of 
 
B2 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 sorrows. Oppressed, and covered with blood, 
 he cried, If ti be possible, let this cup passfrom 
 me. Yet in the depth of his agonies he added, 
 Thy will be done. This thought was tome what 
 the sight of the cross was to Banyan's pilgrim; 
 I lost my burden. Spent the remainder of the 
 meeting in sweet communion with God. 
 
 " But on coming home, the sight of Mrs. P. 
 replaced my load. She had for some time been 
 much discouraged at the thoughts of going. I 
 therefore felt reluctant to say any thing on this 
 subject, thinking it would be unpleasant to her : 
 but though I strove to conceal it, an involuntary 
 sigh betrayed my uneasiness. She kindly en- 
 quired the cause. I avoided at first an explan- 
 ation, till she, guessing the reason, said to this 
 effect — 6 I hope you will be no more uneasy on 
 my account. For the last two or three days, I 
 have been more comfortable than ever in the 
 thought of going. I have considered the steps 
 you are pursuing to know the mind of God, and 
 I think you cannot take more proper pnes. When 
 you consult the ministers, you should represent 
 your obstacles as str< n ; 1} as your inducements ; 
 and then, if they advise your going, though the 
 parting from my friends will be almost insupport- 
 able, yet I will make myself as happy as I can, 
 and God can make me happy any where. 
 
 " Should this little Diary fall into the hands of 
 a man having the soul of a Missionary, circum- 
 stanced as I am, he will be the only man capable 
 of sharing my peace, my jov, my gratitude, my 
 rapture of soul. Thus at evening tide it is light ; 
 thus God brings his people through fire and 
 through water into a wealthy place ; thus those 
 who ask do receive and their joy is full. O Ipye 
 the Lord, ye his saints j there is no want to them 
 that fear him ! 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 53 
 
 " Oct. 26. Had much enlargement this morn- 
 ing, whiist speaking on the nature, extent and 
 influence of divine love : what designs it formed— 
 with what energy it acted — with what persever- 
 ance it pursued its object — what obstacles it sur- 
 mounted — vhat difficulties it conquered — and 
 what sweetness it imparted under the heaviest 
 loads, and severest trials. Almost through the 
 day I enjoyed a very desirable frame, and on 
 coming home, my wife and I had some conver- 
 sation on the subject of my going. She said, 
 Though in general the thought was painful ; yet 
 there were some seasons when she had no pre- 
 ference, but feit herself disposed to go or stay, as 
 the Lord should direct. 
 
 " This day wrote to brother Fuller, briefly 
 stating my desiies, requesting his advice, and 
 proposing a meeting of the Committee on the 
 business, i tcel great satisfaction arising from 
 my leaving the matter to the determination of my 
 honoured brethren, and to God through them. 
 
 "Oct. 27. To day 1 sent a packet to our 
 hren i:i India. I could not forbear telling 
 brother C uey all my feelings, views, and ex- 
 pectations : hut without saving 1 should be entire- 
 ly governed b\ the opinion of the Society. 
 
 "Oct. 28. Sail panting to preach Jesus among 
 my fellow sinners to whom he is yet unknown. 
 Wrote to D Rogers, of Philadelphia, to-day 
 upon the subject with freedom and warmth, and 
 enquired whether, whilst the people of .lie Uni- 
 ted States were forming societies to encourage 
 arts, liberty, and emigration, there could not a 
 few be found among ihcm wiio wouid form as&« 
 ciety for uie transmission of die word of life to 
 the beaigiited heathens ; or in case thatcould not 
 h :i ici t:;ey might not strengthen our hands 
 in Europe, by some benevolent proof of concur- 
 ring with us in a design, which thev speak of 
 
 F 
 
£4 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 with such approbation ? With this I sent Home's 
 Letters. I will follow both wiih my prayers, and 
 who can tell ? 
 
 46 Oct. 29. Looked over the Code of Hindoo 
 Laws to-day. H ,w much is there to admire in 
 it, rounded on the principles of justice. The 
 most salutary regulations are adopted in many 
 circumstances. Bui. what a pity that so much ex- 
 cellence should be abased by laws to establish or 
 countenance idolatry, magic, prostitution, pr-veis 
 for the dead, false-witnessing, theft, and su- 
 icide. How perfect is the morality of the gos- 
 pel of Jesus ; and how desirable that they should 
 embrace it. Ought not means to be used ? Can 
 we assist them too soon ? There is reason to 
 think that their Shasters were penned about the 
 beginning of the Kollee Jogue, which must be 
 soon after the deluge : and are not 4000 vc-ais 
 long enough for 100 millions of men to be under 
 the empire of the devil ? 
 
 ''Oct. 31. 1 amencour-ged toen:et upon this. 
 day (which I set ap^rt for supplicating God) by a 
 recollection of his promises to those who seek him. 
 If the sacred word be true, the ervants of God 
 can never seek his face in vain ; and as I am con- 
 scious or" my sincerity and earnest desire only to 
 know his pleasure that 1 may perform it, I find a 
 degree of confidence that i shall realize the ful- 
 filment of the word on which he causeth me to 
 hope. 
 
 * 4 B 3 gan the day with solemn prayer for the as- 
 sistance of the Holy Spirit in my present exercise 
 that so I might enjoy the spirit and power of pray- 
 er, and have my personal rehgion improved, as 
 well as my public steps directed. In this duty I 
 found a little quickening. 
 
 '• I then read over the narrative of my experi- 
 ence, and my journal. I find my views are still 
 the same ; but my heart is much more estabh 
 tfoaq when I began to write. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARC-E. 56 
 
 u Was much struck in reading Paul's words in 
 2 Cor. i. 17, when after speaking of his purpose 
 to travel for the preaching of the gospel, he saith, 
 Did I then use lightness when 1 was thus minded 9 
 Or the tilings that 1 purpose, do I purpose accord- 
 ing to the flesh, that with me there should be yea 
 yea, nay nay ? The piety of the apostle in not 
 purposing after the flesh, the seriousness of spirit 
 with which he formed his besigns, and his sled- 
 fast adherance to them, were in my view worthy 
 of the highest admiration and strictest imitation. 
 
 " Thinking that I might get some assistance 
 from David Srainerd^s experience, I read his life 
 to the time of his being appointed a Missionary 
 •5. The exalted devotion of 
 that d m almost made me question mine. 
 
 Yet at some seasons he speaks of sinking as welt 
 as rising. His singular piety excepted, his feel- 
 ings, prayers, desires, comforts, hopes and sorrows 
 are my own ; and if I could follow him in nothing 
 else 1 knew I had been enabled to say this with 
 him, ' I feel exceedingly calm, and quite resigned 
 to God respecting my future improvement (or 
 station) when and wherehe pleased. My faith lift- 
 ed me above the world, and removed all those 
 mountains, which 1 could not look over of late. 
 1 thought I wanted not the favour of man to lean 
 upon ; for I knew Gods favour was infinitely bet- 
 ter, and that it was no matter where or wlien, or 
 Christ should send me, nor with what trials 
 he should still exercise me, if I might be prepar- 
 ed for his work and will.' 
 
 , " Read the ii. iii. iv. v. and vi. chapters of 
 the second epistle to the Corinthians. Felt a 
 kind of placidity, but not much joy. On begin- 
 ning the concluding prayer, 1 had no strength to 
 wrestle, nor power with God at all. I seemed 
 as one desolate and forsak n. 1 prayed for my- 
 self, the Society, the Missionaries, the conver- 
 
56 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 ted Hindoos, the church in Cannon- street, my 
 family, and ministry ; but yet all WuS dullness, 
 and I feared I had offended the Lord. I felt but 
 little zeal for the mission, and was about to con- 
 clude with a lamentation over the hardness of 
 my heart ; when of a sudden it pleased God to 
 smite the rock with the rod of his Spirit, and im- 
 mediately the waters began to flow. O what a 
 heavenly, glorious, melting power was it. My 
 eyes, almost closed with weeping hardly suffer 
 me to write. I fee! it over again. O what a 
 view of the love of a crucified Redeemer did I 
 enjoy : the attractions of his cross how powerful ! 
 I was a giant refreshed with new wine, as to my 
 animation ; like Mary at the Master's feet weep- 
 ing, for tenderness of soul ; like a little child, for 
 submission to my heavenly Father's wiil ; and 
 like Paul, for a victory over all self-love, and 
 cieature-love, and fear of man, when these things 
 stand in the way of my duty. The interest that 
 Christ took in the redemption of the heathen, the 
 situation of our brethren in Bengal, the worth of 
 the soul, and the plain command of Jesus Christ, 
 together * with an irresistable drawing of soul, 
 which by far exceeded any thing I ever felt be- 
 foie, and is impossible to be described to, or con- 
 ceived of by those who have never experienced 
 it ; all compelled me to vow that I would, by his 
 leave, serve him among the heathen. The bibie 
 lying <>pen before me (upon my knees) many pas- 
 sages caught my. e)e, and confirmed the pur- 
 poses or my he rt. It ever in my life I knew any 
 thing of the influences of the Hoi) Spirit, 1 did 
 at this time. I was swallowed up n God. Hun- 
 ger, fulness, cold, heat, friends and enemies, 
 all seemed nothing before God. I was in a new 
 world. Ail Was delightful ; t r Christ was aJJ, 
 and in ail. Man\ times I concluded prayer, but 
 when rising from my knees, communion with 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE* 57 
 
 God was so desirable, that 1 was sweetly drawn 
 to it again and again, till my animal strength was 
 almost exhausted. Then I thought it would be 
 pleasure to burn for God. 
 
 " z\nd now while I write, such a heavenly 
 sweetness fills my soul, that no exterior circum- 
 stances can remove it ; and 1 do uniformly feel, 
 that the more 1 am thus, the more I pant for the 
 service of my blessed Jesus among the heathen. 
 Yes, my dear, my dying Lord, I am thine, thy 
 servant ; and if 1 neglect the service of so good a 
 master, I may well expect a guilty conscience in 
 litQ, and a death awful as that of Judas or o£ 
 Spira ! 
 
 " This evening I had a meeting with my friends.. 
 Returned much dejected. Reviewed a letter 
 from brother Fuller, which, though he says he* 
 has many objections to my going, yet is so affec^ 
 tionately expressed as to yield me a gratification,. 
 
 "N^v. 3. this evening received a letter frorrji 
 brother Ryland, containing many objections : but 
 contradiction itself is pleasant when it is the voice 
 of judgment mingled with rfffection. I wish to re- 
 member that / may be mistaken^ though I cannot 
 say I am at present convinced that it is so. I am 
 happy to find that brother kyland approves of my 
 referring it to the Committee. I have much con- 
 fidence in the judgement of my brethren, and 
 hope I shall be perfectly satisfied with their ad- 
 vice. I do think, however, if they knew how 
 earnestly 1 pant for the woik, it would be impos- 
 sible for them to withhold their ready acquies* 
 cciu e. O Lord, thou knowest my sincerity ; and 
 that if I go not to the work it will not be owing 
 t ) any reluctance on my part ! If I stay in Eng~ 
 iand, I fear I snail be a poor useless drone ; or 
 il a sense of duty prpmpt me to activity, I doubt 
 1 shall ever know inward peace and joy 
 
 f2 
 
53 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 again. O Lord, I am, thou knowest I am, op- 
 pressed ; under: ake for me ! 
 
 "Nov. 5. At times to-day I have been re- 
 conciled to the thought of staying if any brethren 
 should so advise ; but at other times I seem to 
 think I could not. I look at brother Carey's por- 
 trait as it hangs in my study, I love him in the 
 bowels of Jesus Christ, and long to join his la- 
 bours: every look calls up a hundred thoughts, 
 all of which inflame my desire to be a fellow- 
 labourer with him in the work of the Lord. One 
 thing, however, I have resolved upon, that, the 
 Lord keeping me, if I cannot go abroad, 1 will do 
 all I can to serve the mission at home. 
 
 " Nov. 7. This is the last day of peculiar de- 
 votion before the deciding meeting. May I have 
 strength to wrestle with God to-day for his wis- 
 dom to preside in the Committee, and by faith to 
 leave the issue to their determination. 
 
 " I did not enjoy much enlargement in prayer 
 to day. My mind seems at present incapable of 
 those sensations of joy with which 1 have lately- 
 been much indulged, through its stragglings in 
 relation to my going or staying : yet I have been 
 enabled to commit the' issue into the hands of 
 God, as he may direct my brethren, hoping that 
 their advice will be agreeable to his will," 
 
 The result of the Committee Meeting lias al- 
 ready been related ; together with the slate of 
 his mind, as far as couid be collected from his 
 letters, for some time after it. 1 he termination 
 of these tender and interesting exercises, and of 
 all his other labours, in so speedy a removal from 
 the present scene of action, may teach us not to 
 dravvnny certain conclusion as to the dcs.-grs of 
 God concerning ur future labours, from the ar- 
 dour or sincerity of our feelings. He may uke 
 it well that it was in our hearts to build him an 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAS.CE. 59 
 
 house, though he should fwr wise reasons have 
 determined not to gratify us. Suffice it, that in 
 matters of everlasting moment he has enga- 
 ged to perfect that which concerns as. In this he 
 hath condescended to bind himself, as by an oath, 
 for our consolation ; here therefore we may safe- 
 ly consider ov.r spiritual desires as indicative of 
 his designs : but it is otherwise in various in- 
 stances with regard to present duty. 
 
6Q MEMOIRS 6F THE LATE 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 HIS EXERCISES AND LABOURS, FROM THE TIME 
 
 OF HIS GIVING UP THE IDEA OF GOING A- 
 
 BROAD, To THE COMMENCEMENT OF 
 
 HIS LAST AFFLICTION. 
 
 HAD the multiplied labours of this excellent 
 man permitted his keeping a regular diary, we 
 may see by the foregoing specimen of a single 
 month, what a rich store of truly Christian ex- 
 perience would have pervaded these Memoirs. 
 We should then have been better abie to trace the 
 gradual openings of his holy mind, and the 
 springs of that extraordinary unction of spirit* 
 and energy of action, by which his life was dis- 
 tinguished. As it is, we can only collect a few 
 gleanings, partly from memory, and partly from 
 letters communicated by his friends. 
 
 This chapter will include a period of about 
 four years, during which he went twice to Lon- 
 don to collect for the Baptist Mission, and once 
 he visited Dublin, at the invitation of the Evan- 
 gelical Society in that city. 
 
 There appears throughout the general tenerof 
 his life, a singular submissiveness to the will of 
 God ; and what is worthy of notice, this dis- 
 position was generally most conspicuous when 
 his own will was most counteracted. The just- 
 ness of this remark is sufficiently apparent from 
 his letter to Mrs. Pearce, of Nov 13, 1794,* 
 after the decision of the Committee ; and the 
 same spirit was carried into the common concerns 
 of life. Thus, about a month afterwards, when 
 his dear Louisa was ill of a fever, he thus writes 
 from Northampton to Mrs. Pearce : — 
 
 • m - , . . » ..»» ■ '• r 
 
 • See page 40, 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAP.CE. 61 
 
 December 13, 17Q4. 
 
 €i My dear Sarah, 
 
 " I AM just brought on the wings of celes- 
 tial mercy safe to my Sabbath's station. 1 am 
 well ; and my dear friends heje seem healthy and 
 happy : but I feel for you, I long to know how 
 our de:;r Louisa's pulse beats : I fear still fever- 
 ish. We must not, however, suffer ourselves to 
 be infected with a mental fever on this account, 
 Is she ill ? It is light. Is she very ill ... . dying r 
 It is still right, is she gone to join the heavenly 
 choristers ? It is all right, notwithstanding our 
 repinings Repinings! no; we will not re- 
 pine. It is best she should go. It is best fur ker* 
 This we must allow. It is best for us. Do we 
 expect it ? O what pour, ungrateful, short-sight- 
 ed wuims are we ! Let us submit, my Sarah, 
 til we come to heaven : it we do not then see 
 that it is best, let us then complain. But why 
 do I attempt to console ? Perhaps an indulgent 
 Providence has ere now dissipated your fears : or 
 if thai same kind Providence has removed our 
 babe, you have consolation enough in Him who 
 suffered more than we ; and mure than enough 
 to quiet all our passions, in that astonishing con- 
 sideration, — 'God so loved the worlds that he 
 spared not ins own Son.' Did God cheerfully 
 give the Holy child Jesus for us : and shall v*e re- 
 fuse our i hild to Him ! He gave his son to suf- 
 fer : He iuk.es our children to enjoy: Yes; to 
 enjoy Himself. 
 
 Yours, with the tenderest regard, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 000000000 
 
 In June, 1795, he attended the Association at 
 Kettering, partly on account of some missionary 
 
62 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 business there to be transacted. That was a sea- 
 son of great joy to many, especially the last fore- 
 noon previous to parting. From thence he wrote 
 to Mrs. Pearce as follows :— 
 
 cc From a pew in the house of God at Kettering, 
 with my cup of joy running over, I address you 
 by the hands of brother Simmons. Had it pleas- 
 ed divine Providence to have permitted your ac- 
 companying me, my pleasures would have re- 
 ceived no small addition ; because I should have 
 hoped that you would have been filled with sim- 
 ilar consolation, and have received equal edifica- 
 tion by the precious means of grace, on which 
 I have attended. Indeed, I never remember to 
 have enjoyed a public meeting to such a high de- 
 gree since I have been in the habit of attending 
 upon them. Oh that I may return to you, and 
 the dear church of God, in the fulness of the bless- 
 ing of the gospel of Christ ! I hope, my beloved 
 that you are not without the enjoyment of the 
 sweetness and the supports of the biessed gospel. 
 O that you may get and keep near to God, and 
 in Him find infinitely more than you can possibly 
 loose by your husband's absence ! 
 
 " Mr. Hail preached, last evening, from 1 Pet. 
 i. 8. A most evangelical and experimental sea- 
 son ! I was charmed and warmed. Oh that 
 Jesus may go on to reveal himself to him as al- 
 together lovely ! I am unable to write more now. 
 To-day I set off for Northampton, and preach 
 there to-night. The Lord bless you !" 
 
 In July 1795, he received a pressing invitation 
 from the General Evangelical Society m Dublin, 
 to pay them a visit, unci to assist in diffusing the 
 gospel of the grace of God in that kingdom. To 
 this invitation he replied in the foiiowmg, address- 
 ed to Dr. Mc. Dowal: — 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 63 
 
 " Birmingham^ August 3, 1795. 
 
 IC Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 "I RECEIVED your favour of the 22d 
 ult. and for the interesting reason you assign* 
 transmit a ' speedy answer.' 1 he Society on 
 whose behalf you wrote, I have ever considered 
 with the respect due to the real friends of the best 
 of causes — The cause of God and of his Christ : 
 a cause which embraces the most important and 
 durable interests of our fellow men : and your 
 name, dear sir, I have been taught to hold in 
 more than common esteem by my dear brother 
 and father, Messrs. Birt and Francis. The be- 
 nevolent institution which you are engaged in 
 supporting, I am persuaded, deserves more than 
 the good wishes or prayers of ycur brethren in 
 the kingdom and patience of Jesus, on this side 
 the channel ; and it will yield me substantial 
 pleasure to afford personal assistance in your pi- 
 ous labours. But, for the present, I am sorry 
 to say, I must decline your proposal ; being en- 
 gaged to spend a month in London this autumn^, 
 on the business of our Mission Society, of which 
 you have probably heard. 
 
 " \Vhen I formed my present connexions with 
 the church in Birmingham, I proposed an an- 
 nual freedqm for six weeks, from mv pastoral du-* 
 tic^ ; and shouid the 'Evangelical Society' ex- 
 press a wish for my services the ensuing year, I 
 am perfectly inclined, God willing, to spend that 
 time beneath their direction, and at what part of 
 the year they conceive a visit would be most ser- 
 viceable to the good design. I only request, that 
 should this be their desire, I may receive the in- 
 formation as soon as they can conveniently de- 
 cide, that I may withhold myself from other en- 
 gagements, which may interfere with the time 
 
$4 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 they may appoint. I entreat you to make my 
 Christian respects acceptable to the gentleman 
 who compose the Society, and assure yourseif 
 that I am, dear sir, respectfully and affectionate- 
 
 iy. 
 
 Your brother, in our Lord Jesus, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 C00C0000G0O 
 
 The invitation was repeated, and he complied 
 with their request, engaging to go over in the 
 month of June, 1796 
 
 A little before tins journey, it occurred to Dr. 
 Rvland, that an itinerating mission into Cornwall 
 might be of use to the cause of true religion, and 
 that two acceptable ministers might be induced 
 to undertake it ; and that if executed during the 
 vacation a; the Bristol Academy, two ol the 
 students might supply their place. He commu- 
 nicated his thoughts to Mr. Pearce, who wrote 
 thus in answer : — 
 
 " May 30, 1796. 
 " My very dear Brother, 
 
 " I Lbank you a thousand times for your 
 last letter. B essed be God who hath put it into 
 your heart to .propose such a plan for increasing 
 the boundaries of Z.on. I have re id your letter 
 to our wisest friends, and they heard it with great 
 joy. The plan ; the place ; the mode ; the 
 persons ; ail, all meet our most affectionate wish- 
 es. How dui such a scheme never enter our 
 minds before ! Aias, we have nothing in our 
 hearts that is worm having, save what God pats 
 theie. D > write to riie when at D *bun, and 
 teil me whether it be resolved on ; when they set 
 out, &c. ? L hope ere long to hear, that as ma- 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAfcSE. €'£ 
 
 ov disciples are employed in Great-Britain, as 
 ♦tie Saviour employed in j idea. When he gives 
 
 the word, great will be the company ot the 
 pic iChers. 
 
 " Oh, my dear brother, let us go on still pray- 
 ing, contriving, labouiing, defending, until ' the 
 Jittle leaven leaveneth the whole lump, and the 
 small stone from the mountain fill tile whole 
 earth.' 
 
 44 What pleasures do those lose who have no 
 interest in God's gracious and holy cause ! How 
 thankful should we be, that we are not strangers 
 to the joy which the friends of Zion feel when 
 the Lord turneth again Zu>n's captivity, 
 
 I am, beyond expression, 
 Your affectionate brother in Chrisf, 
 
 S. P. 1 ' 
 
 0000000000 
 
 On May 31 he setoff for Dublin, and u the 
 Lord prospered his way, so that he ariived at 
 the time appointed ; and from every account it 
 appears, that he was not only sent in the fulness 
 of the blessing of the gospel of peace, but that the 
 Lord himself went with him. His preaching was 
 not only highly acceptable to eveiy class of hear- 
 ers, but the word came from him with power, 
 and there is abundant reason to beiieve, that ma- 
 ny will through eternity praise God for sending 
 'his message to them by this dear ambassador of 
 Christ. His memory lives in their hearts, and 
 they join with the other churches of Chris: in 
 deploring the loss they have sustained by his 
 death. 
 
 " He was earnestly solicited by the Evangel- 
 ical Society to renew his visit to that kingdom in 
 '1798. Ready to embrace every call of duty, he 
 had signified his compliance ; and the time was 
 
 G 
 
$6 MEMOIRS 6F THE LATE 
 
 fixed : but the breaking out of the late rebellioa 
 prevented him from realizing his intention. 
 This was a painful disappointment to many, who 
 wished once more to see his face, and to have 
 heard the glad tidings from his lips." 
 
 Such is the brief account of his. visit to Dublin, 
 given by Dr. Mc. Dowal. The following letter 
 was written to Mrs. Pearce, when he had been 
 there a little more than a week : — 
 
 u Dublin , June 31, 1796. 
 
 u I LONG to know how you do, and you 
 will be as much concerned to know how I go on 
 at this distance from you. I haste to saiisfy your 
 inquiries. 
 
 11 I am in perfect health : am delightfully dis- 
 appointed with the place, and its inhabitants. I 
 am very thankful that I came over. I have found 
 much more religion here already than I expected 
 to meet with during the whole of my stay. The 
 prospect of usefulness is flattering. I have already- 
 many more friends (I hope Christian friends) 
 than I can gratify by visits. Many doors are 
 open for preaching the gospel in the city ; and 
 my country excursions will probably oe few. 
 Thus much for outline. 
 
 " But you will like to know howl spend my 
 time, &c. Well then : I am at the house of a 
 
 Mr. H ', late High-Sher.ff for the city : a 
 
 gentleman of opulence, respectability, and evan- 
 gelical piety. He is by profession a Calvinistic 
 presbyterian ; an elder of Dr. Mc. DowaTs 
 church ; has a most amiable wife, and four chil- 
 dren. I am very thankful for being placed here 
 during my stay. I am quite at home, I mean as 
 to ease and familiarity ; for as to style of liv- 
 ing, I neither do, nor desire to equal it. 
 Yet in my present situation it is convenient. It 
 would, however f be sickening and dull, had I 
 
AIR. SAMUEL £EARQ£, 61 
 
 not a God to go to, to converse with, to enjoy* 
 and to CdWinij ozi'ti. Oh, 'tis this, 'tis this, my 
 clearest Sarah, which gives a point to every en 
 jovment, and sweetens all the cup of life. 
 
 ?« f'he Lord's day after I wrote to you last. I 
 preached for Dr. Mc Dowal in the morning at 
 half past eleven ; heard a Mr. Kilburne at five j 
 and preached again at Piunket- street at seven. 
 On Tuesday evening I preached at an hospital, 
 and on Thursday evening at Plunktt-stieet 
 again. Yes'eiday, for the Baptists in the morn- 
 ing, Dr. Mc. Dowal at "five, and at Piunket- 
 street at seven. 
 
 '• Tlld hours of worship will appear singular 
 to you : they depend on the usual meal times. 
 We breakfast at ten ; dine between four and 
 live, sometimes between five and six ; take tea 
 from seven to nine ; and sup from ten to twelve. 
 
 "I thank God that I possess an abiding deter- 
 mination to aim at the consciences of the people 
 in every discourse. I have borne the most pos- 
 itive testimony against the prevailing evils of 
 professors here : — as, sensuality, gaiety, vain 
 amusements, neglect of the Sabbath, &c. ; and 
 
 **m ingtfij ioiu an immense crowa or proressors 
 of the first rank, * that if they made custom and 
 fashion their plea, they were awfully deluding 
 their souls ; for it had always been the fashion to 
 insult God, to dissipate time, and to pursue the 
 bread road to hell ; but it would not lessen their 
 torments there, that the way to damnation was 
 the fashion.' 
 
 " I expected my faithfulness would have giv- 
 en them offence ; but 1 am persuaded it was the 
 way to please the Lord, and those whom I ex- 
 pected would be enemies, are not only at peace 
 with me, but even renounce their sensual indul- 
 ge ncics to attend on my ministry. I do assured- 
 ly believe that God hath sent me hither for goodf- 
 
68 MEMOIRS dF THE LATZ 
 
 The five o'clock meetings are miserably attended 
 in general. In a house that will hold 1,300, or 
 2,000 people, you will hardly see above fifty S 
 "Yesterday morning I preached on the subject of 
 public worship, from Psalm v. 7, and seriously 
 warned them against preferring their bellies to 
 God, and their own houses to his. I was delight- 
 ed dnd surprised, at the five o'clock meeting to see 
 She place nearly full. Surely this is the Lord's 
 doing, and it is marvellous in my eyes. Never, 
 never did I more feel how weak 1 am in myself, — 
 a mere nothing ; and 'how strong I am in t'.e 
 omnipotence of God. I feel a superiority to all 
 fear, and possess a conscious dignity in being 
 the ambassador of God. Oh help me to praise, 
 for it is he alone who teacheth my hands to war, 
 and my fingers to fight : and still pray for me ; 
 for if he withdraw for a moment, I become as 
 weak and unprofitable as the briars of the wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 fl You cannot think how much I am supported 
 by the assurance that I have left a praying people 
 ai Birmingham ; and I believe, that in answer to 
 their prayers I have hitherto been wonderfully 
 assisted in my puuuc woi"*£, a^ WCil aa Cr.jGyeu 
 much in private devotion. 
 
 is I have formed a most pleasing acquaintance 
 with several serious young men in the University 
 here, and with two of the fellows of the College ; 
 most pious gentlemen indeed, who have under- 
 gone a world of reproach for Christ and his gos- 
 pel, and have been forbidden to preach in the 
 churches by the Archbishop : but God has raised . 
 another house for them here, where they preach 
 with much success, and have begun a meeting 
 in the College, which promises fresh prosperity 
 to the cause of Jesus." 
 
 The following particulars, in addition to the 
 above, are taken partly from some notes ki his 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEA.RCE. 69 
 
 own hand writing, and partly from the account 
 given bv his friend, Mr. Summers, who accom- 
 panied him during the latter part of his visits. 
 
 At his first arrival, the congregations were but 
 thinly attended, and the Baptist congregation in 
 particular, amongs. whom he delivered several 
 discourses. It much affected him to see the 
 whole city given to sensuality and worldly con- 
 formity ; and especially to find those of his own 
 denomination amongst the lowest, and least af- 
 fected w T ith their condition. But the longer he 
 continued, the moie the congregations increased, 
 and every opportunity became increasingly in- 
 teresting, botn to him and them. His faithful 
 remonstrances, and earnest recommendations of 
 prayer-meetings to his Baptist friends, though at 
 first apparently ill received, were well taken in 
 the end ; and he had the happiness to see in thenx 
 some hopeful appearances of a return to God. 
 On June the 20th he wrote to his friend, Mr, 
 Summers, as follows: — ■ 
 
 * ! My dear friend, 
 
 " lF you mean to abide by my opinion, 
 I say, come to Dublin, and come directly ! I 
 have been most delightfully disappointed. 1 ex- 
 pected darkness, and behold, light ; sorrow, 
 an; J i 1 have had cause f »r abundant joy. I thank 
 God that I came hither, and hope that many, as 
 v,vii as myself, will have cause to praise hi rn. 
 Never have I been more deeply taught my own 
 nothingness : never hath the power of God more 
 evidently rested upon me. The harvest here is 
 great indeed • and the Lord of the harvest hath 
 enabled me to labour in it with delight. 
 * I praise him for all that is past ; 
 I tiust him for all that's to come.* 
 " The Lord hath of late been doing great 
 th.i.gs for Dublin. Several of the young men in 
 c 2 
 
70 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 the college hive been awakened ; and two of the 
 fellows are sweet evangelical preachers. One of 
 them is of a spirit serene as the summer evening, 
 and sweet as the breath of May. I am already 
 intimate with them, and have spent several 
 mornings in college with various students, who 
 bid fair to be faithful watchmen on Jerusalem's 
 walls. But I hope you will come ; and then you 
 will see for yourself. If not, I will give you some 
 pleasant details when we meet in England. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 0000000000 
 
 Mr. Summers complied with this invitation g 
 and of the last seven or eight days of Mr. Pearce's 
 continuance at Dublin, he himself thus writes : — 
 
 "Monday, July 4. At three in the afternoon 
 I went with my friend, Mr. Summers, to Mr. 
 K— 's. Spent a very agreeable day. Miss A, 
 
 K remarked two wonders in Dublin: — a 
 
 praying society composed of students at college^ 
 and another of lawyers. The family were called 
 together. We sung: I read, and expounded 
 thexii chapter of Isaiah ; and praved. — At seven 
 we went to a prayer meeting at Piunket-stieet : 
 
 very large attendance. Mr. R and Mr. 
 
 S prayed, ano 1 spoke from Rom. x. 12. 13. 
 
 There is no difference between the Jew and the 
 Greek : for the same Lord over all is rich unto 
 nil who call upon him. Fur whosoever shall call 
 -upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. — Ma- 
 ny seemed affected. — After I had closed the op- 
 portunity, I told them some of my own experi- 
 ence, and requested, that if any present wished 
 for conversation, they would come to me, either 
 that evening, or on Thursday evening in the ves- 
 try. — Five persons came in : — one had been long 
 impressed with religion, but could neve* sihji- 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 71 
 
 mon courage enough to open her heart before. 
 Another, a Miss W , attnbuted her hist im- 
 pressions, under God, to my ministry ; and told 
 me that her father had regularly attended of lai.e, 
 and that her mother was so much alarmed as to 
 be almost in despair. Poor girl ! she seemed 
 truly in earnest about her own soul, and as much 
 concerned tor her parents. — The next had pos- 
 sessed a serious concern for some time, and of 
 late had been much revived. — One young lady 
 a Miss H , staid in the meeting-house, ex- 
 ceedingly affected indeed. Mr. K spoke to 
 
 her — She said, she would speak with me on 
 Thursday. 
 
 "Tuesday, 5th. Went to Leislip. At seven — * 
 preached to a large and affected auditory. 
 
 "Wednesday, 6th. Mi. H and myself 
 
 went to Mrs. Mc. G , to enquire about the 
 
 young lady who was so much affected at the 
 
 meeting. Mrs. Mc. G said her mother and 
 
 sister were pious ; that she had been veiy giddy; 
 but that last Lord's day she was seriously awaken- 
 ed to a sense ot sin ; had expressed her delight 
 in religion, and fled for refuge to the blood of 
 Jesus. — Her sister was introduced to me ; a 
 sweetly pious lady. — 1 agreed to wait for an in- 
 terview with the young iady at Mr. H : £, in 
 
 Eccles-street, to-morrow. 
 
 " Thursday, 7th. Miss II , her sister, and 
 
 Mis. Mc. G , came to Eccles-street. — A 
 
 most delightful interview. Seldom have I seen 
 such proiiciency in so short a time. — That day 
 week, at Piunket-strcet, she received her first 
 sciious impressions. Her concern deepened at 
 Mass Lane, on Lord's- dav morning- — more so in 
 the evening at P unket-streei— but most of ail on 
 Monday night. — I eihorted them to bvgin a pray- 
 er and experience meeting : and they agreed. 
 Blessed be God! this strengthens sny hands 
 
72 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 greatly. — At seven o'clock, preached at Piunket- 
 street, from Jer. I. 4 X 5. Going and weeping — 
 they shall ask the way to Zion with their J aces 
 thitherwards — A full house ; arid an impressive 
 season. i anied after the public services were 
 ended, to converse on religion. The most pleas- 
 ing case was a young man of Mr. D 's. 
 
 Saturday 9ih. Went with my friend Mr. 
 
 S , to call on Miss H — -. Found her at her 
 
 mother's — We first passed the door — Sue ran 
 out after us — Seemed happy ; but agitated. Ran,. 
 and called her mother — Soon we saw the door 
 of the parlour open, and a majestic lady appear- 
 ed ; who, as she entered the room, thus accosted 
 me: — 'Who art thou, oh blessed of the Lord r 
 Welcome to the widow's house! Accept the 
 widows thanks for coming after the child whom 
 thou hast begotten in the gospel !' — 1 was too 
 much overcome to do more than take bv the hand 
 the aged saint A solemn silence ensued for a 
 minute or two ; when the old lady recovering, 
 expressed the fulness of her satisfaction respect- 
 ing the reality of the change effected in her 
 daughter, and her gratitude for great refreshment 
 of her own soul, by means of mv poor labours. 
 She said, she had known the L<rd during forty- 
 years, being called under the ministry of John 
 Fisher, in the open air, when on a visit to an 
 officer who was her brother-in-law. She told us 
 much of her experience, and promised to en- 
 courage the prayer-meeting, w.hich I proposed 
 to be held in her house every Lord's-day evening. 
 They are to begin to-morrow after preaching. — It 
 was a pleasant meeting ; and we returned with 
 pleasure to Eccles-street. After we rose up to 
 come away, the old lady affectionately said, 
 * May the good wili of Him who dwelt in the 
 bush attend you wherever you go, forever and 
 ever ! i; 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. tS 
 
 The young lady some months after wrote to 
 
 Mr. S , and says, amongst other things, — (< I 
 
 have great reason to be thankful for the many 
 blessings the Lord has been pleased to bestow 
 upon me, and in particular for his sending Mr. 
 Pearce to this city ; and that through his means 
 I have been convinced of sin. I am happy to 
 inform you, that through grace I am enabsed to 
 walk in the narrow path. The Lord has taken 
 away all desire for worldlv company ; all my de- 
 sires now are to attend on the means of grace. 
 Blessed be his name, I often find him present in 
 them. My mother and I often remember the 
 happy time we spent in your company at our 
 house. She often speaks of it with gieat pleasure 
 and blesses the Lord for the change which grace 
 has wrought iu mc." 
 
 '•Lord's day, lOlh. (The last Sabbath.) 
 Preached in the morning at Mary's abbey, from 
 Job xxxiii. 21, 28. Helooketh upon men, and if 
 any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which 
 was right, and it profiled vie not ; he will deliver 
 his soul from going' into the pit, and his lije shall 
 sec the light. — A h«ppy season. — In the after- 
 
 "OH, huTIng dined Willi Mr. W , he took 
 
 nie to Swift's alley, the Baptist place of worship, 
 where I'gave an exhortation on brotherly love, 
 and administered the Lord's supper. At Mr, 
 
 W 's motion, the church requested me to 
 
 look out a suitable minister for them. — In the 
 evening, 1 preached at Piunket-street, from 2 
 'iim. i 18. The Lord grant unto him, that he 
 may find mercy of the Lord in that day I — A very 
 Solemn season. 
 
 "Monday, 11th. Met the dear Christian 
 friends, for the last time, at a prayer-meeting 
 in Pionket-street. — The Lord was there ! — Sev- 
 eral friends spent the evening with us afterwards 
 a: Mr, H 's. 
 
74 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE ' 
 
 cs Tuesday, 12th. Went aboard at four ; ar- 
 rived at Liverpool on Thursday ; and safely at 
 home on Friday, July 15, 1796. Blessed be the 
 Preserver of men, the Saviour of sinners, and 
 the help of his servants, for evermore, amen, 
 amen." 
 
 Some time after, writing to his friend who ac- 
 companied him, hesavs, " I have received sev- 
 eral letters from Dublin : — two from Master B. 
 
 one from Miss H , one from M , three 
 
 or four from the Baptist friends, and some from 
 
 pthers, whom I cannot iecoliect. — Mr. K « 
 
 lately called on me in his way from Bath to Holy- 
 head. We talked of you, and ofoui Lord, and 
 did not part till we had presented ourselves be- 
 fore the throne/' 
 
 Daring his iabours in Dublin, he was strongly 
 solicited to settle in a very flattering situation in 
 the neighbourhood if and a very liberal salary 
 was offered him. On his positively declining it, 
 mention was made of only six months of the 
 year. When that was declined, three months 
 were proposed ; and when he was about to an- 
 swer this in the negative, the party refused to re- 
 ceive Lis answer, desiring mm to rasr rttnc of 
 consider of it. He did so ; and thaugh he enter- 
 tained a very grateful sense of the kindness and 
 generosity expressed by the proposal, yet after 
 the matures! deliberation,- he thought it his duty 
 to decline it. Mr. Pearce's modesty prevented 
 his talking on such a subject; but it was known 
 at the time by his friend who accompanied him, 
 and since his death, has been frequently men- 
 tioned as an instance of his disinterested spirit. 
 
 His friends at Birmingham were ready to think 
 Jt hard that he should be so willing to leave them 
 
 * At the Black Rock, the rtfidence of fome of the 
 ^aoR genteel families in the vicinity of Dublin* 
 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. *!o 
 
 to go on a mission among the heathen ; but they 
 could not well complain, and much less think ill 
 of Him, when they saw that such a willingness 
 was more than could be effected by the most 
 flattering prospects of a worldly nature, accom- 
 panied too with promising appearances of reli- 
 gious usefulness. 
 
 About a month after his return from Dublin, 
 Mr. Pear* e addressed a letter to Mi. Carey, in 
 which lie gives some fartner account of Ireland, 
 as well as of some other interesting matters: — ■ 
 
 " Birmingham i August 12, 1796, 
 
 <c OH my deai bi ither, did you but know with 
 what feelings 1 resume my pen, freely to cones- 
 pond with you after receiving your very affection- 
 ate ietterto mvself, and perusing that which you 
 sent by the same conveyance to the 5 ciety, lam 
 sure you would persuade yourself that 1 have no 
 common friendship for vou, and that v our regards 
 are at ledSt returned with equal ardour. 
 
 " i fear (L had almost said) that 1 shall never 
 see your face in the flesh, but •(" any thing can add 
 to the joy which the presence of Christ, and con- 
 formity, perfect conformity, to him will afford 
 in heaven, surely the certain prospect of meeting 
 with my dear brother Carey there, is one of (if 
 notj the greatest. Thrice happy should 1 be, if the 
 providence of God would open away for partaking 
 of your labours, your sufferings, and your pleas- 
 ures on this side the eternal world : but all my 
 brethren here are of a mind that I shall be more 
 useful at home than abroad ; and I, though re- 
 luctantly, submit. Yet I am truly with you in 
 spirit. My heart is at Mudnabatly, and at times 
 1 even hope to rind my body there : but with the 
 Loid I leave it ; He knows my wishes, my mo- 
 tives, my regret ; He knows all my soul ; and 
 depraved as it is ? I feel an inexpressible sutisfac- 
 
 • 
 
76 MEMOIRS OF THF LATE 
 
 tion that he does know it. However, it is a hew- 
 bhng thought to me, that he sees I am unfit for 
 Such a station, and unworthy such an honour 
 as to bear his name among the heathen. But I 
 must be thankful st;ll, that though he appoints 
 me not to a post in foreign service, he will allow 
 me to stand centine! at home. In this situation 
 mav I have grace t<> be faithful unto death. 
 
 " I hardly wonder at your being pa:ned on 
 account of the effects produced in the mines of 
 your European friends, by the news of your en- 
 gagement in the Indigo business, because 1 ima- 
 gine you are ignorant of the process of that mat- 
 ter amongst us. When I received the news, I 
 glopfied God in sincerity, on account of it, and 
 gave most hearty thanks to him for his most gra- 
 cious appearance on voui behalf: but at the same 
 time I feared, lest through that undertaking, the 
 work of the Mission might in some way or other 
 be impeded. The same impression was made 
 on the minds of many others : yet no blame was 
 attached, in our view, to you. Our minds were 
 only alarmed for the future : not disposed to cen- 
 sure for the past. Had you seen a faithful copy 
 of the prayers, the praises and the conversation 
 of the day in which your letters were read, 1 know 
 you would not have entertained one unkind 
 thought of the Society towards you. Oh no, my 
 dear brother, far be it from us to lay an atom up- 
 on your spirits of a painful nature. Need I say 5 
 We do love, we do respect you, we do confide 
 too much in you to design the smallest occasion 
 of distress to vour heart. But 1 close this subject. 
 In future we will atone for an expression that 
 might bear an harsh construction. We will 
 strengthen, we will support, we will comfort, 
 we will encourage you in your arduous work : — 
 all, all shall be love and kindness ; glory to G^d, 
 and good will to men. If I have done aught that 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 77 
 
 tt wrong, as an individual, pardon me : If we have 
 said aught amiss, as a Society, pardon us Li us 
 forbear one another in love, forgiving one another, 
 even as God foi Cm isi'> sake hath forgiven us, 
 
 41 Bv the time this Reaches vou, I hope you will 
 have received Nos. I. and II. of Periodical Ac- 
 counts. Should vou tind any thing m them, which 
 you think had better be omitted, pray be free in 
 mentioning it, and in future your instructions shall 
 be fully a, tended io. We have taken all the pains, 
 e caution in oui power to render them 
 ionabie ; but you can better judge in some 
 respects than we. If you should not approve of 
 all (though we are not conscious of any thing that 
 you will disapprove) you will not be offended, but 
 
 ; ve we have done our best, and with your re- 
 marks, hope to do better stiii. 
 
 " With pleasure, approaching to rapture, T read 
 the last accounts you sent us. I never expected 
 immediate success: the prospect is truly greater 
 than my most sanguine hopes. " The kingdom 
 of heaven isliketo a little leaven hid in three meas* 
 yresofmeal, till the o?A0& is leavened.' 1 Blessed be 
 God : the leaven is in the meal, and its influence is 
 already discoverable. A great God is doing great 
 tilings by you. Go on, my dearest brother, go on ; 
 God will do greater things than these. Jesus is 
 
 thy a world of praise : and shall Hindostan not 
 
 se him? Suiely he shall see of the travail of his 
 soul ikcrcj and the sower and the reaper shall rejoice 
 together. Already the empire of darkness tolters, 
 and soon it shall doubtless fail. Bies^ed be the la- 
 bourers in this important work £ and blessed he He 
 whogiveth them hearts and strength to labour, and 
 s that they shall not labour in vain ! 
 " Do not fear the want of money. GWisforus, 
 and the silver aud the go;d are his arc! so are the 
 those who possess the most of it. I will 
 
 el from the Land's end to the Orkne j r s but v/c 
 ii 
 
73 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 will get money enough for all the demands of the 
 mission. I have never had a fear on that head; 
 a little exertion will do wonders ; and past experi- 
 ence justifies every confidence. Men> we only 
 want ; and God shall find them for us in due time. 
 
 " Is brother Fountain arrived ? We hope he will 
 be an acceptable remittance, and viva voce, com- 
 pensate for the lack of epistolary communications. 
 
 " I rejoice in contemplating a church of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ in Bengal, formed upon his own 
 plan. Why do not the Hindoo converts join it ? 
 Lord, help their unbelief! But peihaps the drop 
 is now withheld, that you may by and by have 
 the shower, and lift up your eyes, and say, "These, 
 whence came they ? They fly as clouds, and as 
 doves to their windows." For three years, we 
 read of few baptized by the first disciples of oup 
 Lord ; but on the fourth, three thousand, and five 
 thousand openly avowed him. The Lord send 
 you such another Pentecost ! 
 
 ft< I intend to write my dear brother a long letter. 
 It will prove my desire to gratify him, if it do no 
 more. I wish that I knew in what communica- 
 tions your other correspondents will be most de- 
 •ficient : then I would try to supply their omissions,, 
 
 w I will begin with myself: but I have nothing 
 good to say. I think I am the most vile ungrate- 
 ful servant that ever Jesus Christ employed in his 
 church. At some times I question whether I ever 
 knew the grace of God in truth ; and at others, I 
 hesitate on the most important points of Christ- 
 ian faith. I have lately had peculiar struggles of 
 this kind with my own heart, and have often half 
 concluded to speak no more in the name of the 
 Lord. When I am preparing for the pulpit I 
 fear I am going to avow fables for facts, and doct- 
 rines of men for the truths of God. In conversa- 
 tion I am obliged to be silent, lest my tongue 
 ?hould belie my heart, la prayer I know not 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, *7$ 
 
 what to say, and at times think prayer altogether 
 useless. Yet 1 cannot wholly sui render my hope, 
 or my profession. Three things 1 find, above all 
 others, tend to my preservation : — First, a recol- 
 lection of a time, when, at once, I was brought to 
 abandon the practice of sins, which the fear of 
 damnation could never bring me to relinquish be- 
 fore. Surely I say, this must be the finger of God, 
 according to the scripture doctrine of regenera- 
 tion : — Secondly, I feel such a consciousness of 
 guilt, that nothing but the gospel scheme can sat- 
 isfy my mind respecting the hope of salvation : — * 
 and, Hiirdly, I see that what true devotion does 
 appear in the world, seems only to be found a- 
 niong those to whom Christ is precious. 
 
 M But I frequently find a backwardness to se- 
 cret prayer, and much deadnessin it : and it- 
 puzzles me to see how this can be consistent with 
 a life of grace. However, I resolve, that let 
 what will become of me, I will do all 1 can for 
 God while I live, and leave the rest to him ; 
 and this I usually experience to be the best waj 
 to be at peace. 
 
 " I beiieve, that if I were more fully given up 
 to God, I should be free from these distressing 
 workings of mind ; and then I long to be a Mis- 
 sionary where 1 should have temptations to noth- 
 ing but to abound in the work of the Lord, and lay 
 myself entirely out for him. In such a situation, 
 I think pride would have but little food, and faith 
 more occasion for exercise ; so that the spiritual 
 life, and inward religion, would thrive better. 
 than they do now. 
 
 " At times, indeed, I do feel, I trust, genuine 
 contrition, and sincerely lament my short-com- 
 ings before God. Oh the sweets that accompa- 
 ny true repentance ! Yes, I love to be abased 
 before God. 'There it is I find my blessing.* 
 May the Lord daily and hourly bring me low, 
 and keep me so ! 
 
SO MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 " As to my public work, I find, whilst engaged 
 in it, little cause to complain for want cither for 
 matter or words. My labours are acceptable, 
 and not altogether unprofitable to the hearers : 
 but what is this to me ? if my own soul starves 
 whilst others are fed by me ? Oh, my brother, 
 I need your prayers, and I feel a great satisfaction 
 in the hope that you do not forget me. Oh that 
 I may be kept faithful unto dc'ath ! Indeed, in 
 the midst of my stragglings, a gieam of hope, 
 that I shall at last awake in the likeness of God, 
 affords me greater joy than words can express. 
 To be with Christ, is far better than to continue 
 sinning here : but if the Lord hath any tiling to 
 do by me, H!s will be done. 
 
 " I have never so fully opened my case to any 
 one before. Your freedom on similar topics en- 
 courages me to make my complaint to you, and I 
 think, if you were near me, I should feel great 
 relief in revealing to you all my heart. But I 
 shall fatigue you with my moanings ; so I mfl 
 have done on this subject. 
 
 " It is not long since I returned from a kind of 
 a mission to Ireland. A society is established in 
 Dublin for the purpose of inviting from England, 
 ministers of various denominations, to assist in 
 promoting the interests of the kingdom of Christ 
 there. Some of our Baptist brethren had been 
 there before me. as Rippon, Langdon, Francis, 
 and Birt ; and I think the plan is calculated for 
 usefulness. I have, at Dr. Rippon's request, 
 sent him some remarks on my visit, for the Reg- 
 ister ; but as it is probable you will receive this 
 "before that comes to hand, I will say something 
 of my excursion here. 
 
 " Having engaged to spend six Lord's days in 
 that kingdom, I arrived there the day before the 
 first Sabbath in June. I first made myself ac- 
 quainted with the general state of relig : on in 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCtf. 81 
 
 Dublin. I found there were four Presbyterian 
 congregations ; two of these be'.ong to the south- 
 era presbytery, and are Arians or Socinians ; 
 the other two are connected with the northern 
 presbytery, ana retain the Westminister con- 
 fession of faith. One of these latter congrega- 
 tions is very smali, and the minister, though or- 
 thodox, appears to have but iitlie success The 
 other is large and flourishing : the place of wor- 
 ship ninety feet bv seventy, and in a morning, 
 well rilled. I hen* times of public service aie at 
 half past eleven, and five. In the afternoon, the 
 usual congregations are small indeed ; for five 
 o'clock is the dining hour in Dublin, and few of 
 the hearers would leave their dinners for the 
 gospel. Dr. Mc. Dowal is the senior pastor o£ 
 this church, — a very affectionate, spiritual man. 
 The junior is Mr. Horner. The doctor is a warm 
 friend to the Society, at whose request I went 
 over to Ireland. 
 
 4{ I'here is one congregation of Burgher Sece- 
 ders, and another of Antiburghers. The latter 
 will not hear any man who is not of their own 
 cast ; the former are much more liberal. I 
 preached for them once, and they affectionately 
 solicited 3 repetition of my services. 
 
 u Lady Huntingdon's connexion has one soci* 
 ety here, the only one in the kingdom, perhaps* 
 except at Sligo, where there is another. It is noC 
 large, and I fear rather declining. There is not 
 one independent church in the kingdom. There 
 were ten Baptist Societies in Ireland ; thev are 
 now reduced to si:; ; and are, I fear, still oa 
 the decline. 
 
 "The inhabitants of Dublin seem to be chiefly 
 composed of two classes : the one assume the 
 appearance of opulence ; the other exhibit marks 
 of the most abject poverty ; and as there are no 
 parishes in Ireland which provide fur the pocr^ 
 V 2 
 
82 ^ MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 many die every year for the want of the neces- 
 saries of life. 
 
 " Must of the rich are by profession protest- 
 anis ; the poor are nearly all papists, and strong- 
 ly prejudiced against the reformed religion. 
 Their ignorance and superstition are scarcely in- 
 ferior to your miserable Hindoos. On midsum- 
 mer day I had an affecting proof of the latter. 
 On the public road, about a mile from Dublin, is 
 a well, which was once included in the precincts 
 of a priory, dedicated to S^. John of Jerusalem. 
 This well is in high repute for curing a number 
 of bodiiy complaints, ana ks virtues are said to be 
 most efficacious on the saint's own day. So from 
 twelve o'clock at night, t<-r twentv four hours, it 
 becomes the rendezvous for aii the lame, blind, 
 and otherwise diseased peop.e, within a circuit 
 of twenty miles. Here they brought oid and 
 young, and applied the " hoi water," both in- 
 ternally and externally ; Some by pouring, some 
 by immersion, and all bv drinking : whilst, for 
 the good of those who could not come in person, 
 their friends filled bottles with the efficacious 
 water to use at home. Several I saw on their 
 knees before the well, at their devotions, 
 who were not unfr-quentiv interrupted with a 
 glass of whiskev. With this they were supplied 
 from a number of dealers in that article, who 
 kept standings all round the well. 
 
 " Near the $pqt$ was a church-yard where 
 great numbers kneeled upon the tombs of their 
 deceased relatives, and appeared earnestly en- 
 gaged m praving for the repose of their souls. 
 
 u h was truly a lamentable sight. My heart 
 
 ached at their delusions, whilst I felt gratitude, I 
 
 hope, unfeigned, for an acquaintance with the 
 
 * water of life, of which, if a man drink, he shall 
 
 . live forever !' 
 
 " There are few, or none, of the middle class 
 to connect the rich ajid the poor, so that favour' 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAPvGE. 83 
 
 able access to them is far more difficult than to 
 the lower orders of the people in England ; and 
 their priests hold them in such bv>noage, that if 
 a catholic servant only attend on family worship 
 in a protestant house, penance must be perform- 
 ed for the offence. 
 
 S. IV ? 
 
 00000000000 
 
 Mention has already been made of his having 
 M formed a pleasing acquaintance with several 
 serious young gentleman of the University of 
 Dublin/ 5 * The following letter was addressed 
 to one of them, the Rev. Mr. Matthias, a few 
 months after his return : — • 
 
 "Dear Brother Matthiaa, 
 
 "I HAVE been employed this whole day 
 in writing letters to Dublin ; and it is the first day 
 1 have been ableto redeem for that purpose. 1 will 
 not consume apagein apology. Let it suffice to say, 
 that necessity not disinclination, has detained from 
 my Irish friends, those proofs of m> gratitude and 
 esteem, which fn other circumstances I ought to 
 have presented three months ago. I thought 
 this morning of answering ail their demands be- 
 fore I slept : but 1 have written so many sheets, 
 and all lull, that i find my eyes and mv fingers 
 both fail ; and I believe this must close mv inter- 
 course with Dublin this day. When ! shall be 
 able to complete my purpose, I do not know. 
 To form friendships with good men is pleasant; 
 but to maintain all imunion y winch friend- 
 
 ship experts, is m some cases very difficult. 
 H*; Id 1 be. could tme ■ sh friends 
 
 i a propria person a j in ngifrs*«iii 
 
 — — ■ i —~ -- - ■ ■- . . . . ■ m > ^ i - . ■ ■ m 
 
 * P. 08. 
 
84 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 and maintaining, by the tedious medium of the 
 pen, this distant intercourse. But, The Lardy 
 he shall choose our inheritance for us. \\ ere all 
 the planets of our system embodied, arid placed 
 in close association, the light would be greater, 
 and the object grander ; but then, usefulness and 
 systematic beautv consist in their dispersion : 
 and what are we, my brother, but so many sa- 
 tellites to Jesus, the gieat Sun of the Christian 
 system? Some, indeed, like burning mercuries,, 
 keep nearer the luminary, and receive mo-e of 
 its light and heat, whilst others, hke the ringed 
 planet, or the Georgium Sidus, pieserve a great- 
 er distance, and reflect a greater portion of his 
 light : yet if, amidst all this diversity, they be~ 
 long to the system, two things may be affirmed of 
 all : — ail keep true to one centre, and borrow 1 
 whatever light they have from one source, irue 
 it is, that the further they are from the sun, the 
 longer are they in performing their revolutions : 
 and is not this exemplified in us ? The closer we 
 keep to Jesus, the more brilliant are our graces, 
 the more cheerful and active are our lives ; but 
 alas we are ail comets ; we all move in eccentric 
 orbits : at one time glowing beneath the ray 
 divine* at another freezing and congealing the 
 icicles. ' Oh what a miracle to man is man !' 
 
 Ci Little did I think when I begun this letter, 
 that I should have thus indulged myself in aiiego- 
 ry : but true friendship, I believe, always dic- 
 tates extempore: and my friends must never ex- 
 pect from me a studied epistle. They can meet 
 with better thoughts than I can furnish them 
 with, in any booksellers shop. It is not the dish, 
 however well it may be cooked, that gves the 
 xeiish, but the sweet sauce of friendship ; and 
 this, I think sometimes, makes even nonsense 
 palatable. 
 
A. SAMCLL PEA ROE. 
 
 " But I have some questions to put to yon : — i 
 first, how are all my college friends, Messrs. 
 Walker, Maturin, Hamilton, he. ? How is their 
 health ! But chiefly, how are the interests of re- 
 ligion among you.? Are any praying students 
 added to your number ? Do all (hose you thought 
 well of continue to justify their profession ? You 
 know what interests me. Pray tell me all whether 
 it makes me weep, or rejoice. 
 
 <l 1 hope Mr. H 's ministry was blessed in 
 
 Dublin. Do you know any instances of it ? 
 Wc must sow in hope, and I trust thai w r e shah 
 ail gather fruit to eternal life, even where the 
 buddings have never appeared to us in this world!. 
 How is it with your own soul ? 1 thank God I ne- 
 ver, I think, rejoiced habitually so much in him 
 as I have done of late. l God is love.' That 
 makes me happy. 1 rejoice that God reigns ; 
 that he reigns overall ; that he reigns ovcrw?<?; 
 over my crosses, my comforts, my family, my 
 friends, irfy senses, my mental powers, my de- 
 signs, my words, my preaching, ray conduct ; 
 that he is God over all, blessed forever. I am 
 willing to live, yet I long to die, to be freed 
 from «ll error, and all sin. 1 have nothing else 
 to trouble me ; no other cross to carry. The sun 
 shines without ail day long ; but I am sensible of 
 internal darkness. Well, through grace, it shall 
 II tight by and by. Yes, you and I shall be 
 angels of right ; all mercuries then ; aii near the 
 sun ; always in motion ; always glowing with zeal, 
 and flaming with love. Oh for the new heavens 
 and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous- 
 ness ! 
 
 * Oh what love and concord there, 
 
 And what sweet harmony 
 
 In heaven above, where happy souls 
 
 Adore thy Majesty. 
 Oh how Ik- heavenly choirs all sing 
 To Him who sits cmlirou'd abov^: 
 
i» MEM0IR9 OF THE LATI;- 
 
 What admiring 1 
 And aspiring ! 
 Still desiring :— 
 Oh how I long to fee this feast of love ! $ 
 
 " Will you tell brother M that I wait an 
 
 opportunity to send a parcel to him ? In that I will 
 inclose a letter. My very affectionate respects to 
 
 him, and Mr. H , with all my college friends 
 
 as though named. If you be not weary of such 
 an eccentriccorrespondent, praydonotbelongere 
 you write to your unworthy but affectionate brother 
 in Christ, S. P." 
 
 000000000 
 
 A while after this, he thus writes to his friend, 
 JMr. Summers : — 
 
 Dec. 1796. I rejoice that you have been sup- 
 ported under, and brought through your late trials, 
 I do not wonder at it, for it is no more than God 
 has promised ; and though we may well wonder 
 that he promises £ny thing, yet his performance 
 Is no just ground of surprise ; and when we find 
 ourselves so employed, we had better turn our 
 wonder to our own unbelief, that for one moment 
 suspected God would not be as good as his word. 
 
 Si I have been lately more than ever delighted 
 with the thought, that God hath engaged to do a- 
 ny thing for such worms as we. 1 never studied 
 the deistical controversy so much, nor ever re- 
 joiced in revelation more. Alas ! what should we 
 know, if God had not condescended to teach us. 
 Paul very justly remarks, that no one knoweth a- 
 nv thing of God, but the Spirit of God, and he to 
 whom the Spirit revealeth him. Now the Spirit 
 hath revealed God in the b.ble, but to an unbe- 
 liever the bible is a sealed book. He can know 
 nothing from a book that he le-oks upon as an in?- 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 87 
 
 posture, and yet there is no other book in which 
 God is revealed ; so that to reject the bible, is to 
 immerse ourselves in darkness, and whiist pro- 
 fessing to be wise, actually become a fool ; where- 
 as, no sooner do we believe what the Spirit saith, 
 than unto us God is revealed, and • in his light do 
 we see light.' S. P." 
 
 00000000000 
 
 To the above may be added, a few extracts of 
 letters, which he addressed to his friends in 17^7, 
 and 1798. 
 
 To DR. RYLAND. 
 
 March, 1797. 
 
 H DURING the last three weeks, 1 have, 
 -at times, been very poorly, in colds, &c. Am bet- 
 ter now, and have been all along assisted in going 
 my public duties. Let us continue to pray for 
 through each other, till death makes it a needless 
 service. How uncertain is life, and what a blessing 
 is death to a saint ! I seem lately to feel a kind of 
 affection for death. Methinks if it were visible, I 
 Cv uld embrace it. * Welcome herald, that bids 
 the prisoner be free ; that announces the dawn of 
 everlasting day ; that bids the redeemed come to 
 Zion with everlasting joy, to be beyond the reach 
 of an erroneous judgment, and a depraved heart/ 
 To believe, to feel, to speak, to act exactly as God 
 will have me ; to be wholly absorbed and taken 
 up with him ; this, this, nothing short of this caa 
 make my bliss complete. But all this is mine. 
 Oh the height, the depth, the length, the breadth 
 of redeeming love ! It conquers my heart, and 
 Constrains me to yield myself a living sacrifice, 
 
 acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ. 
 
 My dear brother, we have had many happy meet- 
 ings upon earth : the best is in reserve- 
 
MEMOIRS OF THE LA?JE 
 
 1 No heart upon earth can conceive 
 
 The bliss that in heaven they share ; 
 Then, who tins dark world would not leave^ 
 
 And cheerful];, die to be there ! 
 
 M Oli how full of love* and jov, and praise, 
 (Shall we be when that happy state is ours ! ' Well, 
 yet a and He that shall come, wijl 
 
 come n so come, Lord Jesus ! My dear. 
 
 brother forgive the hasty effusi< 
 loves you in the bowels of Jesus, and is always 
 happy in testifj ing itself to be 
 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 O0O0000G0CO 
 
 To MR. CAVE. 
 
 On the f filling away of some who had promised 
 fyirin relig 
 
 1797. 
 
 f* I THANK vou, my dear brother, for 
 the Confidence you repose in me, the affection 
 
 you have iov me, and the freedom with which 
 you write to me. Assure yourself that I sincere. 
 !y sympathize in the cutting events which you 
 have lately experienced. Irving indeed ! Your 
 heart must bleed. Yet be not discouraged in. 
 your work. The more sdtmi opposes Christ, the 
 more let us oppose him. He comes with gieat 
 violence been use his time is short. His kingdom 
 is on the decline; his strong holds are besieged, 
 and he knows they must soon be taken. Whilst 
 it lasts, he is making desperate sallies on the arm- 
 ies of the Lamb, It is no great wonder that he 
 lights and wounds a raw recruit now and tbeif, 
 who strays from the c 
 danger, keeps not close by tain's tent. I 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, $9 
 
 iicpe our glorious Leader will heal the wounded, 
 arid secure the captive. He is sure to m kc re- 
 prisals. Christ will have ten to one. You will 
 yet see his arm made bare. He snail go forth 
 like a man of war. The prisoners shall be re- 
 deemed, and the old tyrant shaJi be east into the 
 bottomless pit. Be of good cheer, mv tellow 
 soldier. The cause is not ours, bit God's. Let 
 us endure hardness, and still tight the good fig tit 
 of faith. At last we shall come off conquerors, 
 through Him that hath loved us. 
 
 " I hope you have some causes forjov, as well 
 as grief. I trust though one, or two, or three 
 fail, the tens, and the twenties stand their ground. 
 .Oh do what you can to cheer them under the 
 common trial. Let them not see a faint heart in 
 .you. Fight manfully still. Tell them to watch 
 the more ; to pray the harder ; to walk the closer 
 .with God. So out of the eater shall come forth 
 .meat, and sweetness out of the strong. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 0OO0GC000O 
 
 To MR. BATES SC MRS. BARNES, 
 
 Who had been burnt out of their residence. 
 
 "THE many expressions of Christian friendship 
 which I received from you, and your affectionate 
 :ics, during my last visit to London, will of- 
 ten excite grateful recollection in future, as they 
 have almost daily since I parted from you ; and 
 though I do not write this avowediy as a mere 
 ietter of acknowledgement, yet 1 wish it to as- 
 sure you, that I am not forgetful of my friends, 
 nor unthankful for their kindness. May all the 
 favour you shew to the servants of our common 
 Lord for his sake, be amply recompensed in 
 present peace, and future felicity, when the 
 r 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 promise of him who cannot lie, shall be fulfilled, 
 ■ — ' A cup of cold water given to a disciple, in 
 the name of a disciple, shall not lose its reward.' 
 
 " But, whilst you, my dear friends, live 'in 
 hope of the glory' that remains * to be revealed,' 
 I am persuaded that you expect all as the fruit of 
 sovereign mercy, which first forms us to the mind 
 of Christ, then accepts and then rewards. Truly, 
 if sinners be rewarded, it must be, i of grace, 
 and not of debt.' Yet it is a mercy of unspeak- 
 able magnitude, that grace should establish a, 
 connexion between obedience and enjoyment ; 
 such a connexion, as at once ensures joy to the 
 believer, and glory to Christ. 
 
 "Oh that our thoughts, our affections, our de- 
 sires, may be much in heaven ! Here, you have 
 been taught, is ' no continuing city,' no certain 
 place of abode ; and though you have been taught 
 it awfully in flames, yet if you learn it effectually, 
 the terror of the means will be conquered by the 
 excellency and glory of the consequences. Yes, 
 my friends, c in heaven we have a better and en- 
 during substance :' the apartments there arc 
 more spacious ; the society more sweet ; the en- 
 joyments more perfect ; and ail to last forever. 
 Well may Christians i rejoice in hope of the glo- 
 ry of God ! 
 
 S. P." 
 
 0000000000 
 
 To MR. fif MRS. BOWYER, Pall Mall. 
 
 " November 17, 1797. 
 
 " BLESSED be ' the preserver of men/ 
 
 for all his goodness to dear Mr. and Mrs. B . 
 
 With theirs, shall my gratitude also ascend, 
 whilst separated from their society ; and with 
 theirs, shall it more warmly and permanently 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. ?1 
 
 ascend when we meet to form a part of the ■ gen- 
 eral assembly, the church of the first-born. 1 
 
 " I do not return to London this autumn, but 
 I mean to visit Portsmouth. I must be indebted 
 to you for my directions. We shall be very hap- 
 py to see you at Luke-street: but Wales 1 sup- 
 pose will be the vortex that will swallow up much 
 of your time. Well, so you are happy, we must 
 be disinterested enough to be satisfied, although 
 we be denied a persona! participation. 
 
 " Let us not forget that we are Christians ; and 
 Christians profess a hope of a better country than 
 Cambria contains. Thereat all belong. Al- 
 ready citizens by privilege, we shall be by pos- 
 session soon. 
 
 1 Roll swifter round ye wheels of Time, 
 
 And bring the welcome day V 
 
 " In hope of greeting you both in that good 
 land, I remain, most affectionately yours, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 oooooooooeo 
 
 To DR. RYLAND. 
 
 11 November i 17, 1797. 
 
 " I FEEL much for you in relation both 
 to the duties and trials of your present sit- 
 uation : at the same time I bless God who fix- 
 ed you in it, because I am peisuaded that it will 
 be for his glory in the churches of Christ. And 
 though none but those whose hands are full of re- 
 ligious concerns, can guess at your difficulties; 
 yet our blessed Redeemer knows them all. Oh, 
 my brother, you are travailing for Him, who re- 
 deemed you by his blood ; who sympathizes 
 with you, and who will graciously crown you at 
 last. Small us rny trials are, 1 would turn smith, 
 
92 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 and work at the anvil and the forge, rather than 
 bear them for any other master than Christ. Yet 
 were fhey ten thousand times as many as they 
 are, the thought of their being for Him, 1 trust, 
 would sweeten them all. 
 
 " 1 have reason to be very thankful for much 
 pleasure of late, both as a Christian, and a minis- 
 ter. I have never felt so deeply ray need of a 
 Divine Redeemer, and seldom possess such solid 
 confidence that he is mine. I want more and 
 more to become a little child, to dwindle into 
 nothing in my own esteem, to renounce my own 
 wisdom, power and goodness, and simply look 
 to, and live upon Jesus for all. I am ashamed 
 that I have so much piide, so much self- will. 
 Oh my Saviour ! make me ' meek and lowly in 
 heart ;' in this alone I find ' rest to my soul/ 
 
 " I could say much of what Irumanuei has done 
 for my soul ; but I fear lest even this should sa- 
 vour of vanity. When shall I be like my Lord ! 
 Oh welcome death when I have nothing more to 
 do for Christ. To him, till then, may I live ev- 
 ery day and every hour. Rather may I be an- 
 nihilated than not live to him ! 
 
 u You will rejoice with nie to hear that we 
 have a pleasing prospect as a church. Several 
 very hopeful and some very valuable characters 
 are about to join us. Lord,, carry on thy woik ! 
 
 S. P." 
 
 CGOOOCOCOOO 
 
 To MRS. PEARCE, 
 
 On the dangerous illness of one of the children. 
 
 "Portsmouth, January 29- 1798. 
 
 "IGNORAN i of the circumstances of 
 
 our dear child, In w shall I address myself to her 
 
 dearer mother ! With a fluttering heart, and a 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. $3 
 
 ticiiibling hand, I, in this uncertainty, resume 
 my peo. One consideration tranquilizer my 
 mind, — land mine aie in the bands of God: the 
 wise, the good, the indulgent parent of mankind f 
 Whatever he does is best. I am prepared for all 
 lus will, and hope that I shall never have a feel- 
 ing, whose language is not, 'Thy will be done. 1 
 
 44 lam most kindiy entertained here by Mr. 
 and Mis, Shoveller : and except my dear Sarah's 
 presence, feel myself at home. They have had 
 greater trials than we can at present know. They 
 have attended seven children to the gloomy tomb : 
 they have been supported beneath their loss by 
 Him who hath said, * As thy days, so shall thy 
 strength be.' Mrs. S. tells me, she 'blessed 
 God for all,' May my dear Sarah be enabled 
 to do the same, whatever the result may prove. 
 To-morrow I expect another letter from you ; 
 yet, lest you should too much feel my absence, 
 I will lay forwarding this a single post Oh 
 
 that it may prove in some degree a messenger o£ 
 consolation i 
 
 44 Yesterday I preached three times : Gc d was. 
 very good. 1 received your letter before the 
 first service : von may be assured that I bore you. 
 on my heart in the presence of my Lord and. 
 yours ; noi shall I pray in vain : He will either 
 re the child, or support you under the loss 
 of it. 1 dare not pray with importunity for any 
 earthly good ; for 'who krioweth what is good 
 for man in this life, all the days of Ins vain life 
 which he spendeth as a shadow ?' But strength, 
 ar the loss of earthly comforts, he has pro- 
 mised', for that I Importune'; and that % I duubt 
 not, wiii be granted. 
 
 4i In a house directly opposite to the window 
 before which I now write, a wife, a mother, is 
 ji.st departed ! Why am I not a bereaved hus- 
 band ? Why not my children motherless ? When 
 12 
 
34 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 we compare our condition with our wishes, we 
 often complain : but if we compare it with that 
 of main around us, our complaints would be ex- 
 changed for gratitude and praise. 
 
 S. P. ?; 
 
 COOOOOGOOGO 
 
 To R. BOWYER, esq. 
 
 M February 14, 1798. 
 
 €i NOT a day has hurried by, since 1 part- 
 ed with my dear friends in Pail M<ii>, but they 
 have been in my affectionate remembrance ; but 
 not being able to speak with any satisfaction re- 
 specting our deai child, i have withheld myself 
 fiom imparting new anxieties to bosoms already 
 ah\e to painful sensibility. 
 
 " At length, however, a gracious God puts it 
 in my power to say, that there is hope. After 
 languishing between life and death for man) days 
 she now seems to amend. We flatter ours 
 tha. she has past the crisis, and will yet be re- 
 stored to our arms ; but paientai fears forbid too 
 strong a confidence It may be that our most 
 merciful God saw that the shock, of a sudden re- 
 moval would be too strong for the tender feelings 
 of a mother ; and so by degrees, prepares tor 
 the stroke which must fait at last. However, 
 she is in he best hands, and we are, 1 hope, 
 preparing for submission r o whatever may be the 
 blessed will of Gud. • 
 
 " I was brought home in safety, and feel my- 
 self in much bettei health in consequence of my 
 journey. Oh that it may be ail consecrated to my 
 Redeemer's praise ! 
 
 " HLppv should I be, if I could oftener enjoy 
 your friend • so< \ety : but we must wait for the 
 full accomplishment of our socL! wishes, till we 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 95 
 
 come to that better World, for which divine grace 
 is preparing us : — There our best, oui brightest- 
 hopes, anc there our warmest affections must be 
 found. Could we have all we want below, wo 
 should be reluctant to ascend, when Jesus calls 
 us home. No, this is not our rest ; it is polluted 
 with sin, and dashed with sorrow ; but though 
 our pains in themselves are evil, vet our God 
 till s the curse into a blessing, and makes all 
 that we meet with accomplish our good. 
 
 11 What better can I wish, my friends, than 
 the humble place of Mary, or the happy rest of 
 John ! Faith can enjoy them both, till actually 
 we fall at the Saviour's, feet and lean upon 
 his bosom when we see him as he is. 
 
 « Oh the delights, the heav'nly joys, 
 
 The glories of the place, 
 Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams 
 
 Qt his o'ei flowing grace !' 
 
 S. P 
 
96 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 LINES 
 
 WRITTEN ON THE WORDS OF IGNATIUS,- 
 
 "MY LOVE IS CRUCIFYELV* 
 
 Meufn Desiderium crycifixum est, 
 
 " W A RM was hib heart, Ir's faith was strong; 
 
 Who thus in rapture cryM, 
 When on his way to martyrdom, 
 
 My Love is crucify* d. 
 
 Warm aho he my love for Him, 
 
 Who thus for sinners dy'd ; 
 Lore as 1 live he less my theme, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d. 
 
 Corr?, <>h my soul, behold him pitre'd 
 
 In hand?, and feet, and Bide ; 
 And say, while He's in blood immers^, 
 
 My Love is crucify 1 d. 
 
 What lover ere to win mv heart, 
 
 So much has done beside ? 
 To him I'll cleave, and never part; 
 
 My Love is cruci/y'd 
 
 Ob that in Jesus' wounds my soul 
 
 Secure, may ever hide, 
 And sing, as changing seasons roll, 
 
 My Lcve is crucify" d* 
 
 * When Ignatius pastor of the church at Antioch, 
 was condemned t)y the emperor, Trajan, to suffer deri'h 
 at Rome, he was apprehensive that i lie Christians 
 there, out of their great rfffc'ion for him, might en- 
 deavour to prevent his martyrdom ; ?.r:d therefore wrote 
 a letcer from Smyrna to the Roman Christians, which 
 he sent on before him, wherein he earner !y beseeches 
 them to take no meaturcs for the continuance of his 
 life ; and amongst other things, says, "1 long lot 
 death. " adding as a reason why he was desirous of thus 
 testifying hi§ love, to Christ, •* My Love is crucUiaV 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 97 
 
 In seasons oft, when bow'd with fear, 
 My trembling heart has sigh'd, 
 
 Thi3 thought again brings comfort near ; 
 My Love is crucify' d. 
 
 To what a test his love was put, 
 
 When by his Buff'ringfl try'd, 
 But faithful to the end endui'd, 
 
 My Love is crucify* d* 
 
 His garments white as wintry snows, 
 
 In crimson floods were dy'd ; 
 Hence Bprirtg the bl< s ings he bestows ; 
 
 My Love is crucify' cl. 
 
 Down from his wounded body flow'd, 
 
 Fhe all atoning tide* 
 Which ptace restored 'twixt me and God : 
 
 My Love is crucify' d. 
 
 Now by 'he cross H held subdu'd, 
 
 And all its pow'rsdcfy'd ; 
 It yields to Jesus' conqai'ring blood 5- 
 
 My Love is crucify* d» 
 
 Ne'er may my deard &pis d Lord 
 
 B me be once deny'd ; 
 My j y, mv crown, my boast be this, 
 
 My Love U crucify 1 d. 
 
 Dead be my heart to all below, 
 
 In Christ may I abide ; 
 Why should I !.>ve thr creature so i 
 
 My Lave is crucify'd. 
 
 Shameful his death, oh let it slay 
 
 In me all cursed pri le ; 
 Lowly in J bus, may I say, 
 
 My Love is crucify'd. 
 
 When first my soid, by living faith, 
 
 My bleeding Lord espy'd, 
 My lips declat'd a* ev'ry breath, 
 
 My Love is crucify'd. 
 
 And since my happy heart has known, 
 tlh tacred blood apply'd, 
 
?S MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 This still has been my sweetest songj 
 My Love is crucify* d. 
 
 And whilst upon this world I stay, 
 
 Whatever may me betide, 
 To all around I'll ever say, 
 
 My Love is crucify* d* 
 
 When through death's gloomy vale I walk, 
 
 My Lord shall be my guide ; 
 To him I'll sing-, of him I'll talk. 
 
 My Love is crucify 9 d. 
 
 Could f, his praise e'tn now I'd sound, 
 
 As vast creation wide ; 
 But I shall sing on heaVnly ground, 
 My Love is crucify* d. 
 
 Yes, when to that blest land I mount, 
 
 On places high to ride, 
 Through all eternity I'll shout, 
 My Love is crucify'd ! 
 
 Si P." 
 Jan, 1 9, 1795. 
 
 oocoooooooo 
 
 (i The GARDENER and ROSE-TREE." 
 
 44 A FABLE." 
 
 M Affectionate^ addressed to Mrs, J. H- , on the 
 
 death of her child, by her tru'y sympathizing friend^ 
 
 S. Pr" 
 
 March 12, 1798. 
 
 11 IN a sweet spot, which Wisdom chose. 
 
 Grew an unique and lovely Rose ; 
 
 A flow'r so fair was seldom borne— 
 
 A Ro^e almosi without a thorn. 
 
 Each passing stranger stopp'd ;o view 
 
 A p ; ani possessing «. harms to new : 
 
 <; Sweet jlow'r ! >% each lip was heard to say — 
 
 N less the Owner pieas'd than they ; 
 
 Rear'dby his hand with constrnt care, 
 
 And planted ia his choice parterre, 
 
MR. SAMUEL PPARCE. 95 
 
 .Of all In's garden tin's the pride, 
 No flow'r 60 much admir'd beside. 
 
 Nor did the Rose unconscious bl'cm*. 
 £Jor feel ungrateful for the boon ; 
 Oh as her guardian came thar way, 
 Whether at dawn, or eve of day, 
 Expanded vide — her form uuvaii'd, 
 She double jrogrance then exhal'd. 
 
 As months roll'd on, the spring appear'd, 
 Its genial rays fhe Rose matur'd ; 
 Forth from its root a shvot extends — 
 The parent Ro'-e-tree downward bends, 
 And, with 3 joy unknown before, 
 Contemplates the yet embryo iow'r. 
 
 1 Offspring most dtat (she fondly said,) 
 
 * Part or myself! btneath my shade, 
 
 * Safe shall thou nae, whilst happy I, 
 •Transported with maternal joy, 
 
 * Shall see thy little buds appear, 
 
 1 Unfold and bloom in beau y here. 
 
 * Wh it though the Liily, or Jonquil, 
 4 0r Hyacinth no longer fill 
 
 c The space around me — All shall be 
 
 * Abundantly made up in thee. 
 
 * What though my present charms decay, 
 
 * And passing strangeis no more say 
 
 * Of we, ' Sweet flow'r !' — Yet thou shale raise 
 
 * Thy blooming head, and gain the praise, 
 
 * And this reverberated pleasure 
 
 * Shall be to me a world of treasure* 
 c Cheerful I part with foimcr merit, 
 
 ' That it my darling may inherit. 
 
 i Haste then the hours which bid thee bloom., 
 
 * And fill the zephyrs with perfume \* 
 
 Thus had the Rose tree scarcely spoken, 
 Ere the sweet cup of bliss was broken — 
 The Gatd'ner came, and with one stroke 
 He from the root the offspring took ; 
 Took from the sod wherein i grew, 
 And hid it from the parent's view. 
 
MQO MEMOIRS OF I HE LA J 
 
 Judge ye^ who know a mother's cares 
 For the dear tender b<be she bears, 
 The parent's anguish — ye alone 
 Such Sc;d vicissitudes have known. 
 
 Deep was the wound ; por slight the pam 
 Which made the Rose-tree thus complain : 
 
 Dear little darling ! art thou gone — 
 'I by charms scarce to thy mother known ! 
 Rrmov'd so &oon ! — So suddenly, 
 Snatch'd from my fond maternal eve- ! 
 What hadst thou done ? — dear off-pring ! sty^ 
 So tarty to be snatch* d away ! 
 W ■ ■». ! g< ne for eier ! seen no more ! 
 Foi ever I thy lo-s deplore* 
 Ye dews descend, with tears supply 
 Mv now forever tearful eye ; 
 Or rather come some northetn blast^ 
 Dislodge my yielding roots in haste 
 Whirlwinds arise — my branches tear, 
 And to some distant region bear 
 Far from this spot, a wretched mother, 
 e fruit and joys are gone together/ 
 
 As thus the anguished Rose-tree cry'd, 
 Her Owner near her she espy'd ; 
 Who in these gentle terms icprov'd 
 A plant, though murm'ring, atilibelov'd; 
 
 4 Cease, beauteous fiow'r, these useless cne3j 
 4 And let my lessons make thee wise, 
 c Ait thou not mine ? Did not my hand 
 6 Transplant thee from the barren sand, 
 
 * Where once a mean unsightly plant, 
 1 Eypos'd to iij'iry and want, 
 
 4 Unknown, and unadmir'd, i found, 
 c Ar d brought thee to this fertile ground ; 
 c With studious art improv'd thy fori; , 
 ' SecurM thee from the inclement storm, 
 
 * And through the seasons of ihe year, 
 
 * Made thee my unabating care ? 
 
 ' Hast thou not blest th; r happy lot, 
 
 * In such an owner — sucli a spot i 
 
WK. SAMUEL PEAfcCE. TOJ 
 
 But now, because thy shoot I've taken, 
 
 * Thy best of friends muat be foi^ken. 
 
 $ Know, flower belov'd e'en l hi* affliction 
 •Shall prove to thee a benediction : 
 
 * Had I not the young plant remov'd, 
 4 (So 'ondly by th> bear! belov'd) 
 
 * O me ihy heart wou'd scarce have thought^ 
 
 * W h gratitude no more- be fraught : 
 « — Y».a — thy own btauty be a' stake 
 
 * Surrendered tor thy offspring's s<?ke. 
 
 * Nor think, that hidden f-om thine eyes, 
 € The »nfanr plant neglrcted lies — 
 
 « No — I've anotke* .garden where 
 
 * In richer soil and purer air 
 
 * It's now transplanted there to shine 
 4 In beauties fairer far than 'bine. 
 
 * Nor shalt thou always be apart 
 4 From the dear darling or thy heart ; 
 4 For 'tu my purpose ibee to bear 
 4 In future time, and plant thee there, 
 4 Where thy now absent off-set grows, 
 
 * Aad blossoms a celestial Rose. 
 
 1 Be patient, then, till that set hour shnl! come 
 4 When thou and thine shall in new beauties bloom :' 
 'No more its absence shall thou then deplore, 
 4 Together grow and ne'er be parted more.' 
 
 These wordsto silence hush'd the plaintive Rose, 
 With deeper blushes redd'ning now she glows, 
 Submissive bow'd her unrepining head, 
 Again her wonted, grateful fragrance shed — 
 
 I, < Thou hast taken only whatN thine own, 
 4 Therefore thy will, my Lord, not mine, be done.' 
 
£02 memoirs of the late, 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF HIS LAST AFFLICTION, AN2* 
 
 THE HOLY AND HAPPY LXI RCISES 
 
 OF HIS MIND UNDER IT. 
 
 EARLY in October, 119$, Mr. Pearce at- 
 tended at the Kettering ministers' meeting, and 
 preached from Psaim xc. 16, 17. Ltt thy 
 Work appear unto thj/ servants, and thy glory un- 
 to their children. And let the htauty of the Lord 
 mcr God beupon us : and establish thou the work 
 of our hand* upon us ; yea, the work of our 
 hands establish thou it. He v\as observed to be sin- 
 gularly solemn and affectionate in that discourse. 
 Jf he had known it to be the iast time that he 
 should address his brethren in th^t part of the 
 country, he could scarcely ha\e teit oi spoken in 
 a more interesting manner, it was a discourse 
 full of instruc on, full of a holv unction, and 
 that seemed to breathe an apostolical ardour. 
 On his return, he preached at Market Hai bo- 
 rough ; and riding home the next day in com- 
 pany with his friend, Mr. Summers, of London, 
 they w r ere overtaken with rain. Mr. Pearce was 
 wet through his clothes, and towards evening 
 complained of a chillness. A slight hoarseness fol- 
 lowed. He preached several times after this, 
 ivhich brought on an inflammation, and issued in 
 a consumption. It is probable that if his consti- 
 tution had not been previously impaired, such 
 cffei ts migh: not have followed in this instance* 
 His own ideas on this subject, are expresses m a 
 tetter to Di. Rylan'd, dated Decembei 4, ily8 9 
 and in another to M : . . King, dated hom Bristol, 
 on his way to Plymouth, March 30, \199. Iri 
 the former, he says, — M &Yer since my Christmas 
 
MR. SAMUEL ?EARCE. 10S 
 
 faurney last year to Sheepshead, Nottingham, 
 Leicester, on the mission business, I have found 
 my constitution much debilitated, inconsequence 
 of a cold caught after the unusual exertions 
 which circumstances then demanded ; so that 
 from a frame that could endure any weather, I 
 have since been too tender to encounter a single 
 shower, without danger ; and the duties of 
 the Lord's day, which, as far as bodily strength 
 went, I could perform with little fatigue, have 
 since frequently overcome me. But the severe 
 cold I caught in return from the last Kettering 
 minister's meeting, has affected me so much, 
 that 1 have sometimes concluded I must give up 
 preaching entirely ; for though my head and 
 spirits are better than for two years past, yet my 
 stomach is so very weak, that 1 cannot pray in 
 my family without frequent pauses for breath, 
 and in the pulpit it is labour and agony, which 
 must be felt to be conceived of. I have, however^ 
 made shift to preach sometimes thrice, but most- 
 ly only twice on a Lord's day, till the last, when 
 the morning sermon only, though I delivered it 
 with gieat pleasure of mind, and with as much 
 caution as to my voice as possible, yet cost me 
 so much labour as threw me into a fevemill the 
 next day, and prevented my sleeping all night.' 
 
 If) the letter, he thus writes " Should 
 
 my life be spared, I, and my familv, and all my 
 connexions will stand indebted, under God to 
 you. Unsuspecting of danger myself, I believe 
 I should have gone on with my exertions, til! 
 the grave had received me. Your attention 
 
 sent Mr. B (the apothecary) to me, and then 
 
 first I learned what I have since been increasingly 
 convinced of — that I was rapidly destroying the 
 vital principle. And the kind interest you have 
 taken in my welfare ever since, has often drawn 
 grateful tear from my eye. May the God oS 
 
104 MEMOIP.S OF THE LATE' 
 
 heaven and earth reward your kindness to his us- 
 faithful servant, and save you from all the evils 
 from which your distinguished friendship would 
 have saved me !" 
 
 Such were his ideas. His labours were cer- 
 tain! v abundant ; perhaps too great for his con- 
 stitution ; but it is probable that nothing was 
 moie injurious to his health, than a frequent ex- 
 posure to night air, and an inattention to the ne- 
 cessity of changing damp clothes 
 
 Hitherto we have seen in Mr. Pearce, ths 
 active, assiduous, and laborious servant of Jesus 
 Christ : but now we see hirn iaid aside from his 
 work, wasting away by slow degrees, patiently 
 enduring the will of God, and cheerfully waiting 
 for his dissolution. And as here is hut little to 
 narrate, I shall content myself with copying his 
 letters, or extracts from them, to his friends, 
 in the order of time in which they were written, 
 only now and then dropping a few hints to fur- 
 nish the reader with the occasions of some cix 
 them. 
 
 00000006000 
 
 To DR. RYLAND. 
 
 Birmingham, October 8 5 1798* 
 
 '< OH ! my dear brother, your letter of 
 the 5th, which I received this morning, has 
 made me thankful for all ray pulpit agonies, a$. 
 they enable me to weep with a weeping brothel. 
 They have been of use to me in other respects ; 
 particularly, in teaching me the importance of 
 attaining and maintaining that spirituality and pi- 
 ous ardour, in which I have found the most ef- 
 fectual relief ; so that on the whole I must try to 
 ? glory in tribulations also.' I trust I often can 
 When. the conflict is past, but to glory i in ■ theu,. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. XOo 
 
 especially in mental distress — hie labor, hoc op- 
 ust est. 
 
 " But how often has it been found, that when 
 ministers have felt themselves most embarrassed* 
 the most effectual good has been done to the peo- 
 ple Oh for hearts entirely resigned to the will 
 of God ! 
 
 " How happy should I be, could I always en- 
 joy the sympathies of a brother, who is tried in 
 these points, as I of late have been. S. P. 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 
 To MR. FULLER. 
 
 " Birmingham, October 29, 1 798. 
 
 " I CAUGH T a violent cold in returning 
 from our last Committee- meeting, from which I 
 have not yet recovered. A little thing now af- 
 fects aiv constitution, which I once judged would 
 be weather and labour proof for at least thirty 
 years, if I lived so long. I thank God that I am 
 not debilitated by iniquity. I have lately met 
 with an occurrence, which occasioned me much 
 pain and perph xity. * * * * * * Trials soften 
 our hearts, and make us more fully prize the 
 dear few, into whose faithful sympathizing bo- 
 soms we can with confidence pour our sorrows. 
 I think I should bless God for my afflictions, if 
 they produced no other fruits than these, — the 
 tenderness they inspire, zno the friendships they 
 enjoy. Pray, my dear brother, for yours af- 
 fectionately, S. P." 
 
 000000000 
 
 To a young man who had applied to him for 
 advice, how he should best improve his time., 
 previous to his going to the Bristol Academy :-*- 
 * a 
 
10<? MEMOIRS -OF THE LATE 
 
 Birmingham^ November 13, 179^; 
 
 * My dear M , 
 
 " I C AN only confess my regret at not re- 
 pA'ingto yours at a much earlier period, and as- 
 sure you that the delay has been accidental, and 
 not designed. I feel the importance of your re- 
 quest for aoviee. I was sensible it deserved some 
 Consideration before it w.-iS answered. I was 
 full of business at the moment. I put it by, and 
 it was forgotten ; and now it is too late. The 
 time of your going to Bristol draws nigh. If in- 
 stead of an opinion respecting the best way of 
 occupying your time before you go, you will ac- 
 cept a iiitle counsel during your continuance 
 there, I shall be happy at any time to contribute 
 such a mite as my experience and observation 
 liave put in my power. 
 
 u At present, the following rules appear of so 
 much moment, that were I to resume a place ia 
 any literary establishment, I would religiously 
 adopt them as the standard of my conduct : — 
 STirst, I would cultivate a spirit of habitual devo- 
 tion. Warm piety connected with my studies, 
 and especially at my entrance upon them, would 
 not only assist a*e in forming a judgment * on 
 their respective importance, and secure the bless- 
 'ing of G ;d upon them; but would so cement 
 the religious feeling with the literary pursuit, as 
 \ itii me for life, The habit of uni- 
 ting these, being once formed, would, 1 hope, 
 be never lost ; and I am sure that, without this, 
 i shall both pursue trivial and unworth) objects, 
 and those that are worthy I shall pursue for a 
 wrong cn6. — Secondly, 1 would determine on a 
 uniform submission to the instructions of my pre- 
 ceptor, and study those things which would give 
 him pleasure. If h e be not wiser than I am, tot 
 what purpose do I come under his care ? I ac- 
 cepted the pecuniary help of Ihv Society on cor*-* 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCP* I Of 
 
 dition of conforming to its will ; and it is the so- 
 ciety's will that my tutor should govern me.— 
 Mv example will have influence : let me not, by 
 a single act of disobedience, or by a word that 
 implicates dissatisfaction, sow the seeds of dis- 
 cord in the bosom of my companions. — Third y, 
 I would pray and strive for the power of ielf r 
 government, to form no plan, to utter not a word, 
 to take no step under the mere influence of pas- 
 sion. Let my judgment be often asked, and 
 let me always give it time to answer. Let me 
 aiways guard against a light or trifling spirit * 
 and particularly as I shall be am ngst a number 
 or youths, whose years will incline them to the 
 same frailty. Fourthly, I would in ah my week- 
 ly and daily pursuits observe the strictest order. 
 Always let me act by a plan. Let every hour 
 have its. proper pursuit; from which let nothing, 
 but a settled conviction that 1 can employ it to 
 belter advantage, ever cause me to deviate. Let 
 me have iixed time for prayer, meditation, read- 
 ing, languages,, correspondence, recreation, 
 sieep, &c, — Fifthly, I would not only assign to 
 every hour its proper pursuit ; but what 1 dm, I 
 WOuid try to do it with all my might. The hums 
 at such a place are precious beyond conception* 
 udent enters on life's busy scenes. Let 
 me set the best of my class evei before mc and 
 Strive to be better than the v. In hurnilit) and 
 voce, let me aim co be the fifst.— Sixthly, I 
 Would particularly avoid a versatile hahiL li 
 things I would persevere. Without this 1 may 
 be a g*udy butterftv, but never, like the bee, 
 will my uive bear examining. Whatevei i take 
 In hand, let me first be sure I understand it, then 
 t, and if u be &pod, let me ad 
 
 "lot her, let me ad'l 
 
 * ; bUt WiUCU I 
 
t®£ MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 am persuaded will help you much. — Guard a- 
 gmrist a large acquaintance while you are a stu- 
 dent. Biistoi friendship, while you sustain that 
 character, will piove a vile thief, and rob von 
 of many an invaluable hour. — Get two or three 
 of the students, whose piety you most approve, 
 to meet for one hour in a week for experimental 
 conversation and mutual prayer. 1 found this 
 highly beneficial, though, strange to tell, by 
 some we were persecuted for our practice ! — 
 Keep a diary. Once a week, at farthest, call 
 yourself to an account : What advances you 
 have made in your different studies ; in divinity, 
 history, languages, natmal philosophy, style,. 
 arrangement ; and amidst all, do not forget 
 to enquire, Ami more fit to serve and to enjoy 
 God than I was last week ? 
 
 S. P.* 
 
 00000000000 
 
 On December 2, 1798, he delivered his last 
 sermon, The subject was taken from Dan. x. 19. 
 Oh man, greatly beloved* fear not, peace be un- 
 to thee, be strong, yea, be strong, And when he 
 had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and 
 said, Let my Lord speak if or thou hast strength- 
 ened me. ; ' Amongst all the Oid Testament 
 
 saints,'' said he, in his introduction to that dis- 
 course, " there is not one whose virtues were 
 more, and whose imperfections were fewer, 
 than those of Daniel. By the history given of 
 him ifi this book, which yet seems not to be 
 complete, he appears to have excelled among 
 the excellent." Doubtless no one was farther 
 from his thoughts than himself : Several of his 
 friends however, could not help applying it to 
 him, and that with a painful apprehcusk 
 Vhat followed soon after. 
 
?:em©irs of the late loa 
 
 To MR. CAVE, Leicester. 
 
 Birmingham) December 4, 1798' 
 BLESSED be God, my mind 
 
 is calm ; and though my body be weakness itself, 
 my spirits are good, and I can write as well as 
 ever, though I can hardly speak two sentences 
 without a pause. All is weli, brother ! ail is 
 well, for time and eternity. My soul rejoices in 
 the everlasting covenant, ordered in ail things 
 and sure. Peace from our dear Lord Jesus be 
 with your spirit, as it is (yea more also) with 
 your affectionate brother, 
 
 S. P. ;3 
 
 00000000000 
 
 December 9, 1798, he was detained from 
 public worship, and wrote to Dr. Ryland the 
 first of the letters which appear at the close of 
 his funeial sermon. — The following lines seem 
 to have been composed on the same occasion : — 
 
 i( On Ising prevented by sickness from attending en 
 public worship, 
 
 € * THE fabric of nature is fair, 
 But rairtr the ttmple ofgrace ; 
 To saints 'tis the joy of tne earth— 
 Oh glorious beautiful place ! 
 
 To this temple I once did resort. 
 With crouds of the people of God : 
 Enrapuir'd, we enrer'd its courts, 
 And hail'd the Redeemer's abed j. 
 
 The Father of nature we prais'd, 
 And prostrated low at hi* throne ; 
 The Saviour ive lov'd and ador'd, 
 Who hv'dus and made us his own, 
 
fllO MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 Full oft to the message f peace, 
 To sinners addrcss'd from the ?ky 9 
 We listened, extolling that grace, 
 Which set us, once rebels, on high* 
 
 Faith clave *o the crucify*d Lamb, 
 Hope, smiling, exalted its head ; 
 
 Love warm'd at the Saviour's dear name^- 
 And vow'd to observe what he said. 
 
 What pleasure apnear'd in thelook9 
 Of brethren and aiatera around : 
 With transport all acem'd to reflect 
 On the blessings in Jceu« they'd found* 
 
 Sweet momenta i If aught upon earth 
 Resemble the joys of the skies, 
 *Tis thus whea the hearts of the flock 
 Conjoined to the Shepherd arise. 
 
 But ah ! these sweet moments are fledj- 
 Pale sickness compels me to stay 
 Where no voice of the turtle is heard* 
 As the moments are hasting away. 
 
 My God ! thou art holy and good ; 
 Thy plans are all righteous and wise 3 
 Oh help me submissive to wait, 
 Till thou biddest thy servant arise. 
 
 If to follow thee here in thy courts, 
 May h be with all ardour and zeal, 
 With success and increasing delight 
 Performing the whole of thy will. 
 
 Or shouldst thou in bondage detain, 
 To visit thy temples no more, 
 Prepare me for mansions above, 
 Where nothing exists to deplore f 
 
 Where Jesus the Sun of the place, 
 Refulgent incessantly shfnes, 
 Eternally blessing his saints, 
 And pouring delight on their mih&g 
 
MR. SAM0EL PEARGE, HI 
 
 There — there are no prisons to hold 
 The captive from tasting delight ; 
 There— there the day never is clos'd 
 Vv'ith shadows, or darkness, or night* 
 
 These mynad and myriads shsll meet,, 
 In our Saviour's high piai^es to join 5 
 Whilst transported we fall a- hi6 feet, 
 And extol bis redemption divide, 
 
 Enough then J my heart shall no more 
 Or its present bereavements complain 1 
 Siwce, ere long, I to gloty shai boar. 
 And ceaseless enjoyments attain ! 
 
 OOOVOGOOOOO 
 
 To MR. NICHOLS, Nottingham. 
 
 " Birmingham, Dec. 10, 1798* 
 
 " I AM now quite ia;d by nun. oie-i iiing,, 
 jind am so reduced in my internal strength, that 
 I can hardly converse with a friend for five min- 
 utes without losing my breath. Indeed 1 have 
 been so ill, that I thought the next ascent would 
 be, not to a pulpit but to a throne- — to the throne 
 of glory. Yes indeed, my friend, the religion 
 of Jesus will support when flesh and heart frail ; 
 and in my worst state of body, my soul was filled 
 with joy. lam now getting a little better, though 
 but very slowly. But fast or slow, or as it may, 
 tfie Lord doth all things well. 
 
 S. PJ* 
 
 00000000000 
 
 To R. BOWYER, Esq. 
 
 -I HaVE overdone myself in 
 
 Bleaching, i mi now ordered to iie by, and not 
 eyen to converse wiihuut gteatcaie ; nor indeed^ 
 
lit MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 till to-day, have I for some time been able to ut- 
 ter a sequence, without a painful effort. Blessed 
 be G od ! I have been filled all through my af- 
 jflictioh urith peace and joy in believing ; and at 
 one time, when I thought i was entering the 
 valley of death, the prospect beyond was so lull 
 of gory, -that but for the sorrow it would have 
 occasioned to some who would be left behind, I 
 shoud have longed that moment to have mounted 
 to the skies. Oh, my friend, what a mercy that 
 1 am not receiving the wages or' sin ; that my 
 health Ws not been impaired by vice ; but that 
 oa the contrary, I am bearing in my body the 
 marks of the Lord Je-us. i o him be all the 
 pi disc 1 truly I have proved that G<>6 is faithful; 
 and most .cheerfully take double the affliction for 
 one half of the joy and sweetness which iave at- 
 tended it. Except a sermon which is this day 
 published.- S. P." 
 
 COGOOOOOOOO 
 
 To MR. BATES & MRS. BARNES, Minories. 
 
 Ci Birmingham^ Dec, 14. 1798, 
 
 *- -I COULD teil you much of the 
 
 Cord's goodness during my affliction. ' Truly his 
 
 right hand hath been under my head, arid his 
 left embraced me/ And when I was at the 
 worst, especially, and expected ere long to have 
 done frith time, even then, such holy joy, such 
 ineffable sweetness filled my soul, that I would 
 not have exchanged that situation for any besides 
 heaven itself. 
 >■ ' — — ■ - 
 
 * The last but one he ever pn ached, entitled* 
 Motives to Gratitude. It was delivered on the 
 day of national thanksgiving, and printed at there- 1 
 
 Galeae of his own congregation. 
 
MR. SAMUfct FEARCE, 113 
 
 c - Oh, my dear friends, let us live to Christ, 
 and lav ourselves wholly out for him whilst we 
 ^nd then, when health and life forsake us, 
 he wnl be the strength of our heart, and <»ur por- 
 tion forever. S. P.'* 
 
 coooooooooo 
 
 About this time the congregation at Cannon- 
 Street was supplied for several months b\ Mr. 
 Ward, who is since g »ne as a missionary to In- 
 dia: -lere that amiable young man became inti- 
 mately acquainted with Mr. Pe«n e, and con- 
 ceived a most affectionate esteem For Rim. In a 
 letter to a friend, dated, Jan. 5, 1799, he writes 
 a& follows : — 
 
 u I AM happy in the companv of dear 
 brother Pearce. I have seen more ot God in lum, 
 than in any other person I ever knew. Oh how 
 happy should I be to live and die with him ! 
 When well, he preached three times on a Loid's 
 day, and two or three times in the week besides. 
 He instructs the young people in the print ipies ot" 
 ion, natural philosophy, astronomy, &c. 
 They have a benevolent Society, from the funds 
 of which they distribute forty or fifty pounds a 
 year to the poor of the congregation. Fliey 
 -a Sick Society for visiting the afllic'ed irt 
 oral : a Buok Socictv at chapel : a Loid's day 
 oo I, at which betwixt two and three honored 
 Iren are instructed. Add to this, missionary 
 business, visiting the peopte, an extensive cor- 
 respondence, two volumes of mission history 
 preparing foi the piess, <Sec ; and then you will 
 something of the soul of Pence. FK is ev- 
 where venerated, though but a v-mug man ; 
 . all the kind, tender, gentle »ffcctlons, make 
 as a little child at the feet of his S .viour. 
 l W, W ' 
 
Ii4 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 In February, he rode to the opening of a Bap- 
 tist meeting-house at Bed worth ; but did not en- 
 gage in anv of the servic es. Here several of his 
 brethren saw him for ihe last time. Soon after- 
 wards, writing to the compiler of these memoirs. 
 he says, — " The LoroVday after I came home, 
 I tried to speak a little after sern on. It inflamed 
 my lungs afresh, produced phiegm, coug ing, 
 and spitting of blood. Perhaps 1 may never 
 preach more. Well, the Lord's will be done. 
 I thank him that ever he took me into his service ; 
 ana now, if he see fit to give me a discharge, I 
 submit. " 
 
 Duiing the above meeting, a word was drop- 
 ped bv one of his brethren which he took as a re- 
 flection, though nothing was farther from the in- 
 tention of t-he speaker. It wrought upon his 
 mind, and in a few days after he wrote as fol- 
 lows : " Do you remember what passed at 
 
 B ? Had I not been ace , stomed to receive 
 
 plain, friendly remarks from you, 1 should have 
 thought that you meant to insinuate a repi oof. 
 If you did, tell me plainly. If you did not, it is 
 all at an end. You will not taTce my naming it 
 unkind, although I should be mistaken, since 
 affectionate explanations are necessary when 
 suspicions arise, to the preservation of friendship; 
 and I need not say that I hold the pteservation 
 of your friendship in no small account.'' 
 
 The above is copied, not onlv to set forth the 
 spirit and conduct of Mr Pean e in a case 
 wherein he feit himself agneved, but to shew in 
 how easv and an iabie a manner thousands of 
 mistakes might be rectified, and differences pre- 
 vented, by a frank and timely explanation. 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 115 
 
 To MR. COMF1 KLD, Northampton. 
 
 " Birmingham, March 4, 1799* 
 " I COULD wish nay sympathies to be as- 
 Extensive as human — I was going to say — (and 
 whv not r) as animal misery. The very limited 
 comprehension of the human intelligence forbids 
 tins indeed, and whilst I am attempting to par- 
 ticipate as far as the news of affliction reaches me, 
 I find the same events do not often produce equal 
 feelings. We measure our sympathies, not by 
 the causes of sorrow, but by the sensibilities of 
 the sorrowful ; hen< e I abound in feeling on your 
 account. The situation of your family must 
 have given distress to a president of any charac- 
 ter ; but in you it must have produced agonies. 
 I know the tenderness of your heart : your feel- 
 ings are delicately strong. You must feel much, 
 or nothing ; and he tha. knows you, and does 
 not feel much when you feel, must be a brute. 
 
 " May the fountain of mercy supply vou with 
 the cheering stream ! May your sorrow be turn- 
 ed into joy ! 
 
 " I am sure that I ought to value more than ever 
 your friendship forme. You have remembered me, 
 not merely in my affliction, but in yourown. Ooc 
 friendship, our benevolence must never be com- 
 pared with that of Jesus; but it is truly delightful 
 to see the disciple treading, though at a humble 
 distance, in the footsteps of a Master, who, a* 
 midst the tortures of crucifixion, exercised for- 
 giveness to his murderers, and the tenderness of 
 filial piety to a disconsolate mother ! When we 
 realize the scene, How much do our imaginations 
 embrace — the persons — the circumstanLes — the 
 words — * Woman, behold thy Son ; John be- 
 hold thy mother V S. P." 
 
 Bv the above letter, the reader will perceive, 
 that while deeply afflicted himself, he felt in the 
 ienderest manner for the afflictions of others. 
 
IlG SIEMOIRS <TF THE tATI' 
 
 To MR. FULLER. 
 
 March 23, I799. 
 HE was now setting out fur Plymouth f 
 and after observing the great danger he was Sup- 
 post d to be in, with respect to a consumption, he' 
 adds, — t4 But thanks be to God, who giveth my 
 heait ihe victory, let my poor body be consu- 
 med, or preserved. In the thought of leavings 
 I feel a momentary gloom ; but in the thought 
 ©i going, a heavenly triumph. 
 
 * Ch to grace how great a debtor ! 
 
 " Praise God with me, and for me, my dear 
 brother, and let us not mind dying any more 
 *han sleeping. No, no ; iet every Christian sing 
 the loudest, as he gets the nearest to the pre- 
 sence of his God. Eternally yours in Him, who 
 Jiath washed us both in his blood. S, P." 
 
 90000000000 
 
 To MR. MEDLEY, Londos. 
 
 UNDER the same date he says, — " My 
 affliction has been rendered sweet, by the sup- 
 ports and smiles of Him whom I have served in 
 the gospel of his Son,. He hath delivered, he 
 doth deliver, and I trust that he will yet deliver. 
 Living or dying, all is well forever.- Oh what 
 shall 1 render to the Lord !" 
 
 C00G000000O 
 
 It seems, that in order to avoid wounding Mrs.. 
 P's feelings, he deferred the settlement of his, 
 
 affairs till he arrived at Bristol ; from whence he 
 wrote to his friend, Mr. King, requesting him to 
 become an executor. Receiving a favourable au.- 
 ewer, he repned 35 follows ;-^ 
 
MR. SAMUEL PE ARCS'. 117 
 
 "Bristol, April 6, 1799* 
 
 "YOUR letter just received, affected me 
 (00 much, with feelings both of sympathy and 
 gratitude, to remain unanswered a single post. 
 Most heartily do I thank you for accepting a ser- 
 vice, which friendship alone can render agiee- 
 abie in the most simpie cases. Should th-it ser- 
 vice demand your activities at an early period, 
 may no unforeseen occurrence increase the ne- 
 cessary care ! Bat may the Father of the father- 
 less, and Judge of the widows, send you a re- 
 compense into your own bosom, equal to all that 
 friendship, to which, under G^d, 1 have been 
 so much indebted in life, and reposing on whose 
 bosom, even death itself loses part of its gloom. 
 In you, my children will find another father — • 
 in you, mv wife another husband. Your ten- 
 derness wiil sympathize with the one, under the 
 most distressing sensibilities; and your prudent 
 counsels be a guide to the others, through the 
 Unknown mazes of inexperienced youth. E- 
 
 nough bltssed God ! My soul prostrates, and 
 
 adores ihee for such a friend. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 06000000000 
 
 To MR. FULLER. 
 
 "Plymouth, April 18, 1 799. 
 
 "THE last time that I wrote to you was 
 at the close of a letter sent to you by brother 
 Ryland. I did not like that postscript form ; it 
 looked so cardlike as to make me fear that you 
 would deem it unbrotherly. After all, perh ps 
 you thought nothing about it ; and my anxieties 
 might arise only from my weakness, which seems 
 to be constantly increasing m> sensibilities. If 
 ever Iieltioye in iis tenderness for ruy friends, it 
 * 2 
 
I IS MEMOIRS OF THE LATE* 
 
 has been since my affliction. This, in great 
 measure, is no more than the love of 'publicans 
 ana* harlots, who luve those that love them/ I 
 never conceived myself by a hundred degrees so 
 interested in the regards of my friends, as this 
 season of affliction has manifested I was; and 
 therefore, so far from claiming any ' reward' for 
 loving them in return, I shouid account myself 
 a monster of ingratitude, were it otherwise- 
 Yet there is something in affliction itself, which, 
 by inn easing the delicacy of our feeiings, and 
 detaching our thoughts from the usual round of 
 objects which present themselves to the mind 
 *vhen in a state of health, may be easily conceiv- 
 ed to make us susceptible of stronger, and more 
 permanent impressions of an affectionate natuie. 
 4(1 1 heard at Bristol, that you and your friends 
 had remembered me in your prayers, at Ketter- 
 ing. Whether the Lord whom we serve may see 
 fit to answer your petitions on my account, or not, 
 nip,y. they at least be returned into your own 
 bosoms ! 
 
 II For the sake of others, I should be hap- 
 py, couid I assure you that my health was im- 
 proving. As to myself, I thank God, that I am 
 Tiot without a desire to depart, and to ie: witii 
 Christ, which isfarbetier. I find that neither in 
 sickness nor in health, 1 can be so much as I 
 wish like Him whom I love. ' To die is gain :* 
 Oh to gain that state, those feelings, that char- 
 acter, which perfectly accord with the mind of 
 
 Christ, and aie attended with the full persuasion 
 pf his complete and everlasting approbation ! I 
 want no heaven but this ; and to gain this, most 
 gladly would I this moment expire. But if to a- 
 "bide in the flesh be more needful for an individ- 
 ual of my feiiow-mcn, — Lord, let thy will be 
 done; only let Christ l)e magnified by rae> wlyfcj 
 theria lite ox death ) 
 
M&. SAMUEL PEARCE: \if 
 
 "The weather has been so wet and windy 
 since I have been a,t Plymouth, that I could not 
 reasonably expect to be much better; and I can- 
 not say that I am much worse. All the future is 
 uncertain. Professional men encourage me ; 
 but frequent returns appear, and occasional dis- 
 charges of blood check my expectations. If I 
 speak but for two minutes, my breast feels as 
 sore as though it were scraped with a rough-edged 
 razor ; so that I am mute all the day long and 
 have actually learned to converse with my sister 
 by means of our fingers. 
 
 " I thank you tor yours of April 4th, which I 
 did not receive till the 12th, the day that I ar- 
 rived at Plymouth. On the 1 6th, a copy of yours 
 to brother Ryland came to hand, to which I 
 should have replied yesterday, but had not leis- 
 ure, lam happy and thankful for your success, 
 May the Lord himseif piiot the Criterion safely 
 to Calcutta river ! 
 
 " Unless the Lord work a miracle for me, I 
 am sure that I shall not be able to attend the OI- 
 ney meeting. It is to my feelings a severe anti- 
 cipation ; but how can i be a Christian, and not 
 submit to God ? 
 
 S. P." 
 
 §000600000$ 
 
 To MR. WM. WARD. 
 
 F V) ^mouth , April 22, 1759- 
 
 " MOSTaffectionaieiy do 1 thank you fov 
 your letter, so fuJI of information, and of friend* 
 ship. Yo our common Friend, who is gone into 
 heaven, where lie ever siueth at the right hand 
 of Goo foi us, I tommend vou. Whether 1 die 
 Of i\e, God vM.i toke caie of ycu thi he has 
 ed yuu for the common salvation. Then 
 shall! meet my deaf brother Ward again; ami 
 
T20 MEMOIRS OF THF LAT& 
 
 who can tell how much more interesting our in- 
 tercourse in heaven will be m >de by the scenes 
 tlut most distress our poor spirits here. Oh had 
 I none to live for, I had rather die thin live, 
 that I may be at once nke H;m whom 1 iuve. 
 But while he insures me Grace — why should I 
 reg:et the delav of Glory ! No: 1 will wait his 
 Will, who performeth all things for me. , 
 
 ** My dear brother, had I strength, I should 
 rejoice to acquaint you with the wrestlings and 
 the victories, the hopes and the fears, the pleas- 
 ures and the pangs, which I have lately expe- 
 rienced. But I must forbear. All 1 can now say 
 is, that God hath done me much good hv alJ, 
 and made me very thankful for all he has clone. 
 
 11 Alas ! 1 shall see you no more. I cannot be 
 atOiney on the 7th of May. The journey would 
 be my death ; but the Lord whom you serve, 
 will be with you then and forever. My love to 
 all the dear assembled saints, who will give you 
 their benedictions at that soiemn season. 
 "Ever yours, 
 
 S. P. 
 
 €0000000000 
 
 To DR. RYLAND. 
 
 " Plymouth, April 2 4, 1 799. 
 * c Very dear Brother, 
 
 "MY health is in much the same state as 
 when I wrote last, excepting that mv muscular 
 strength rat er increases, and my powers of speak- 
 ing se, in less and f ess every week. lhave,furthe 
 most part, spoken only in whispeis for several 
 days past; and even these seem too much for 
 roy irritable lungs. My father asked me a ques- 
 tion to-dav ; he did not understand me when I 
 whispertd 5 so 1 was obliged to utter one word, 
 and one word wily, a little louder, and that 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAROE. 121 
 
 brought on a soreness, which I expect to feel till 
 bed time. 
 
 11 I am still looking out for fine weather : all 
 here is cold and rainy. We have had but two or 
 three fair and warm days since i have been here ; 
 then I felt better. I am perfectly at a loss even 
 to guess what the Lord means to do with me ; but 
 1 desire to commit my ways to him, and be at 
 peace. I am going to-day about five miles into 
 the country (to Tamerton,) where I shall await 1 
 the will of God concerning rne. 
 
 ' ; I knew not of any commit'ee-mceiing cf out- 
 Society to be held respecting Mr. Marsh man and 
 his wife. I have therefore sent no vote, and 
 indeed it is my happiness that I have full confi- 
 dence in my brethren, at this important crisis, 
 since close thinking or much writing always in* 
 creases my fever, and promotes my complaint. 
 
 14 My dear brother, I hope you will correspond' 
 much with Kettering. 1 used to be a medium, 
 but G<>d has put me out of the way. Iconic? 
 weep that i can serve him no more : and yet I* 
 fear so.ne wmld be tears of pride. Oh ! for per- 
 fect likeness to my humble Lord J 
 
 & IV' 
 
 woooa 
 
 To MR. KING. 
 
 11 Tamertai) May 2, 179^, 
 -GIVE my love to all the dear. 
 
 people at Cannon-street Oh pray thai He who 
 afflicts will give me patience to endure. Indeed, 
 the state of suspense in which i have been kept 
 so long, requires much of it : and I often ex- 
 claim, ere I am aware, ' Oh my dear people ! 
 Oh my dear family ! When shall I be restored 
 to you again J' The Lord forgive all the sin o£ 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 my desires ? At times I feel a sweet and perfect 
 calm, and wish even to live under the influence 
 of a belief in the goodness of God, and of all his 
 plans, and all his works, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 00000000000 
 
 The reader has seen how much he regretted 
 being absent from the soiemn designation of the 
 miss onaries at Omey. He however addiessed 
 the following lines to Mr. Fuller* wlvcb were 
 read at the acse of that meeting, to the dissolv- 
 ing of nearly the whole assembly in tears :— - 
 '* Tamerton, May 2, 1799. 
 
 m, -OH that the Lord, who is un- 
 
 eonfined by place or condition, may copiously 
 pour out upon you all the rich effusions of his 
 Holy Spirit on the approaching day ! My most 
 hearty love to each Missionary, who may then 
 encircle the throne of Grace. Happy men { 
 happy v7omen ! you are going to be fellow-labour- 
 ers with Christ himself! I congratulate — I al- 
 most envv you; yet I love you, and can scarcely 
 now forbear dropping a tear of love as each of 
 of v our names passes across my mind. Oh what 
 promises are yours ; and what a reward! Surely 
 heaven is filled with double joy, and resounds 
 with unusual acclamations at the arrival of each 
 missionary there. Oh be faithful, my deair 
 brethien, my dear sisters, be faithful unto death, 
 and all this j-*y is yours ! Long as I live, my 
 imagination will be hovering over you in Bengal ; 
 and sh uld I die, if separate spirits be allowed a 
 Visa to the world they have left, methinks mine 
 would soon be at M.idnabaUy, watching your la- 
 bouis, your conflicts, and your pleasures, whilst 
 you are always abounding in the work of the 
 Lord. S. P." 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 123 
 
 To DR. RYLlMX 
 
 m Plymouth^ May 14, 1799, 
 
 Cc My dear Brother, 
 
 *• YOURS of the nth instan' I have just 
 received, and thank vuu for your continued 1 on* 
 cern for your poor unworthy brother. 
 
 U I have suffered much in 1115 health since I 
 wrote to you last, by the increase of ra\ feverish 
 complaint, which filled me with heat and hoiror 
 all night, and in the day sometimes almost suf- 
 focated me with the violence of its paroxysms. I 
 am extremely weak, and now that w<*rm weath- 
 er which 1 came into Devon to seek, 1 dread as 
 much as the cold, because it excites the fever. I 
 am happy, however, in the Lord. 1 have not a 
 wish tu live or die, but as he pleases. I truly 
 enjoy the gospel of our Lord Jesus Chiist, and 
 wouid not be without his divine atonement, 
 wherein to rest my soul, for ten thousand w«n ids. 
 I feci quite weaned from eaith, and all things in 
 it. Death hath lost his sting, the grave its hor- 
 rors ; and tiie attractions of heaven, 1 had ahnost 
 said, are sometimes violent. 
 
 V Ch to grxe how great a debtor I 9 
 
 " But I am weaned. May ail grace abound 
 towards my dear brother, and his affectionate 
 
 S. P." 
 
 00000000000 
 
 To the CHURCH in C mnon-street. 
 
 " P-ymmth, May 31, 1799. 
 
 "TO the dear people of my charge, the 
 flock of Christ, assemhling in Cannon- street, 
 
 Birmingham ; the«r affl.-.-ted but affectionate pas- 
 tor, presents his love in Christ Jesus, the gieat 
 Shepherd of the sheep. 
 
J-24 MEMOIRS OF VtiE LAT£' 
 
 u My dearest, dearest friends and brethreo, 
 
 e5 Separated as I have been a long time from 
 you, and during that time of separation, having 
 -suffered much both in body and mind, yet my 
 heart lias sail been with you, participating in 
 your sorrows, uniting in your prayers, and re- 
 jpicingwith you in the hope of that glory, to which 
 divine faithfulness has engaged to bring us, and 
 for which our heavenly father, by alJ his provi- 
 dences, and bv every operation of his Holy 
 Spirit, is daily preparing us 
 
 " Never, my dear brethren, did I so much 
 rejoice in our being ' made partakers of the 
 heavenly calling,' as during my late afflictions. 
 The sweet thoughts of glory, where I shall meet 
 Ri\ deai Lord Jesus, with ail his redeemed ones, 
 perkcLl-. freed from ah that sin which now bur- 
 dens us, and makes us groan from day to day, — 
 th- transports my soul, whilst out of weakness I 
 an made strong, arid at times am enabled to 
 glory even in my bodily infirmities, that the pow- 
 er of Christ, in supporting when flesh and heart 
 fail, may the more 'evidently rest upon me. Oh, 
 my dear brethren and sisters ! let me, as one 
 alive almost from the dead, let me exhort you to 
 Stand fast in that blessed gospel, i ten 
 
 years I have now preached among \ ou : — the 
 gospel oi the grace of God ; the gospel of free, 
 full, eves salvation, founded on the suf- 
 
 ferings and death of God ma mj est in the flesh* 
 Lock much at this all-ari azing scene ! 
 
 * Bekold i a God descends arid dies, 
 
 To save my son! from gaping hell !' 
 
 An a I h e n s a y w hether any p o c r bro ke n -h e arte i 
 sinner need be afraid to venture his hopes of sal- 
 vation on such a sacrifice ; especially, since He 
 who is thus ' fpighty to save, 1 hath said, than 
 * whosoever cometh to him he will in no i 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEAfcCE. \&S 
 
 tfasteut.' You, beloved, who have found the 
 peace-speaking virtue of this blood of atonement, 
 must not be satisfied with what you have already 
 known or enjoyed. The only way to be con- 
 stantly happy, and constantly prepared for the 
 most awful changes which we must all experi- 
 ence, is to be constantly looking and coming to a 
 dying Saviour ; renouncing all our own worthi- 
 ness ; cleaving to the loving Jesus as our all in 
 all ; giving up every thing, however valuable to 
 our worldiy interests, that clashes with our fidel- 
 ity to Chnst ; begging that of his fullness we 
 may receive 'grate upon grace,' whilst our faith 
 actually relies on his power and faithfulness, for 
 the full accomplishment of every promise in his 
 word that we plead with him, and guarding a- 
 gainsc every thing that might for a moment bnng 
 distance and darkness between your souls, and 
 your precious Lord. If you thus live, (and oh 
 that you may daily receive fresh life from Christ 
 -so to do ! ) ' the peace of God will keep your 
 hearts and minds/ and you will be filled with 
 voy unspeakable and full of glory.' 
 
 is a Church, you cannot conceive what 
 ipleasure I have enjoyed in hearing that you are 
 in peace ; that you attend prayer- meetings ; that 
 you seem to be stirred up of late for the honour 
 and prosperity of religion. Go on in these good 
 ways, my beloved friends, and assuredly the 
 (Jod of peace will be with you. Yea, if after 
 all I should he taken entire!) from you, yet God 
 will surely visit you, and never leave you nor 
 forsake you. 
 
 '• As to my health, I seem on the whole to be 
 stiil mending, though but very sowly. Thefe- 
 *er troubles me often, both by day and night, but 
 my strength increases. I iong to see your faces 
 in the flesh; yea, when I thought myself near 
 the gales of the grave, 1 wished., if it were the 
 M 
 
126 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 Lord's will, to depart among those whom I s© 
 jnuch loved. But I am in good hand3 ; and all 
 jmust be right. 
 
 "I think both you and the congregation most 
 affectionately, for all the kindness vou have 
 shewn, respecting me and my family, during my 
 absence. 1 he Lord return it a thousand fold ! 
 My love to every one, both old and young, . ich 
 and poor as though named. The Lord b!ess to 
 your edification the occasional ministry which 
 enjoy. 1 hope you regularly attend upon it, 
 and keep together, as 'the horses in Pharaoh's 
 chariot.' 1 pray much for you : pray, still pray 
 for vour very affectionate, though unworthy, 
 pastor, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 In a postscript to Mr. King, he says, " I 
 have made an effort to write this letter: my 
 affections would take no denial ; but it has 
 brought on the fever." 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 
 It seems to have been about thii time he wrote 
 the following lines, which have appeared in sev- 
 eral periodical publications, but with many inac- 
 curacies : — — 
 
 HYMN IN A STORM. 
 
 Ci IN the floods of tribulation, 
 
 While i he billows o'er me roll, 
 Jesus whispers consolation, 
 
 And supports my fainting sou!* 
 Thus the lion yields me honey, 
 
 From the eater food is given ; 
 Strengthened thus I still press forward, 
 
 Singing as I wade to heavvn,— 
 Stfecr affliction ! sweet affl cn'on, 
 
 That brings Jesus to my soul I 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. IfTl 
 
 *Mid the gloom the vivid lightnings 
 
 With increased brightness play i 
 *Mid the thornbrake, beauteous fiow'retS 
 
 Look more beautiful and gay ; 
 So, in darkest dispensations, 
 
 Doth my faithful LorH appear s 
 With hi^ richest consolations, 
 
 To re animate and cheer. 
 Sweet affliction ! sweet affliction, 
 
 Thus to bring my Saviour near I 
 
 Floods of tribulation heighten, 
 
 Billows still around me roar % 
 Those that know not Christ— yc frighten? 
 
 But my soul defies your pow'r. 
 In the sacred page recorded, 
 
 Thus his word securely stands,— 
 •* Fear not, I'm in troable near thee, 
 
 Nought shall pluck thee from my hands/ 1 
 Sweet affliction ! sweet affliction, 
 
 That to such sweet words lay claim ! 
 
 All I meet I find assitss me 
 
 In my path to heav'nly joy, 
 Where, though trials now attend me* 
 
 Trials never more annoy : 
 Wearing there a weight of glory, 
 
 Still the path I'll ne'er forget ; 
 But, reflecting how it led me 
 
 To my blessed Saviour's seat, 
 Cry, Affliction ! sweet affliction ! 
 
 Haste ! bring more to Jesus' feet V 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 
 Towards the latter end of May, when Mr. 
 Ward, and his companions, were jus' ready to> 
 set sail, a consultation concerning Mr. Pearce 
 was held onboard the Criterion, in which all the 
 missionaries, and some of the members of the 
 Baptist Missionary Society were present. It was 
 well known that he had for several years been 
 
(23 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE- 
 
 engaged in preparing materials for a History of 
 Missions, to be comprised in two volumes oc- 
 tavo : and as the sending of the gospel amongst 
 the heathens had so deeply occupied his hearty 
 considerable expectations had been formed by re* 
 ligious people, of his producing an interesting 
 vvoik on the subject. The question n< w was, 
 Could not this performance be finished by other 
 hands, and the profits of it be appropriated to 
 the benefit of Mr. Pearce's family ? It was ad- 
 mitted by all, that this work would, partly from 
 its own merits, and partly from the great inter- 
 est which the author justly possessed in the pub- 
 lic esteem, be very productive ; and that it would 
 be a delicate and proper method of enabling the 
 religious public, by subscribing liberally to it, to 
 ^afford substantial assistance to the family of this 1 
 excellent man. The result was, that one of the 
 members of the Society addressed a letter to Mr. 
 jPearce's relations, at Plymouth, requesting them 
 to consult him as he should be able to bear it, re- 
 specting the state of his manuscripts ; and to in- 
 quire whether they were in a condition to admit* 
 of being finished by another hand ; desiring them 
 also to assure him, for his present relief concern- 
 ing his dear family, that whatever the hand of 
 friendship could effect on their behalf, should be 
 accomplished. The answer, though it left no 
 manner of hope as to the accomplishment of the 
 object, yet is so expressive of the reigning dis- 
 positions of the writer's heart, as an affectionate 
 husband, a tender father, a grateful friend, and 
 a sincere Christian, that it cannot be uninteresting 
 to the reader :— 
 
 i: Tamerton^ Jun$ 24, 1799. 
 
 u TO use the common introduction of 
 * dear brother,' would fall so far short of my feel- 
 ings towards a friend, whose uniform conduct 
 lias ever laid so great a claim to my affection and 
 
MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 129 
 
 gratitude ; buf whose recent kindness, — kindness 
 in adversity — kindness to my wfe — kindness to 
 
 my children kindness that would go far to 
 
 'smooth the bed of death/ has overwhelmed 
 mv whole soul in tender thankfulness, ..and 
 engaged my everiasting esteem. 1 know not 
 ho to begin. .. . 'Thought is poor, and poor 
 expression:' The only thing that lay heavy on 
 my heart, when in the nearest prospect of eter- 
 nity, was the future situation of my family. I 
 had but a comparatively small portion to leave 
 behind me, and yet that iittle was the tf//ihat art 
 amiable woman, deiicately brought up, and, 
 through mercy, for the most part comfortably 
 provided for since she entered on domestic life, 
 • — with five babes to feed, clothe, and educate, 
 had to subsist on. Ah, what a prospect ! Hard 
 and long I strove to realize the promises made to 
 the wicows and the fatherless ; but these alone\ 
 d not fully rest on and enjoy. For my own 
 part, God was indeed very gracious. 1 was wil- 
 ling, i hope, to linger in suffering, if I might 
 thereby most glorify him, and death was an an- 
 gel whom I longed to come and embrace me, 
 4 cold* as his embraces are. But how could I 
 leave those who were dearest to my heart in the 
 midst of a World, in which, although thousands 
 now professed friendship for me, and, on my 
 account, for mine ; ^et after my decease, would, 
 with few exceptions, soon forget my widow and 
 my children among the crowds of the needy and 
 distressed. — It was at this moment of painful sen- 
 sibility thai your heart meditated a plan to remove 
 my anxieties ; — a plan too that would involve 
 much personal labour before it couid be accom- 
 plished. ■ Biesseu be God, who put it into thy 
 heart, and b essed be thou.' May the blessing 
 of the widow and the fatherless i est an you an4 
 yours forever. Amen and amen i 
 
ISO MEMOIRS &P THE LACE 
 
 " You will regret perhaps that I have taken up 
 so much room respecting yourself, but I have 
 scarcely gratified the shadow of my wishes. 
 Exc use then on the one hand, that I have said so 
 much, and accept on the other, what remains 
 unexpressed. 
 
 *' My affections and desires are among my 
 dear people at Birmingham ; and unless I find my 
 strength increase here, I purpose to set out for 
 that place in the course of a fortnight, or at most 
 a month. The journey performed by short sta- 
 ges, may do me good: if not, 1 expect when 
 ihe winter comes to sleep in peace ; and it will 
 delight my soul to see them once more before I 
 die. Besides, I have many little arrangements to 
 make among my books and papers, to prevent 
 confusion after my decease. Indeed, till I get 
 home, I cannot fullv answer your kind letter ; 
 "but I fear that my materials consist so much in 
 ♦references, which none but myself would under- 
 stand, that a second person could not take it up* 
 and prosecute it. I am still equally indebted to 
 you f >r a proposal so generous, so laborious. 
 
 " Rejoice with me, that the blessed gospel 
 Sill] ' beais mv spirits up/ I am become famil- 
 iar with the thoughts of dying. I have taken my 
 leave often of the world ; and thanks be to God,. 
 I d > it always with tranquility, and often with 
 rapture. On, what grace, what grace it was, 
 ihil ever called me to be a Christian? What 
 Would have been mv present feelings, if 1 were 
 going to meet God with all the filth and load of 
 my sin about me ! But God in my nature hath put 
 my sin awav, taught me to love him, and long 
 for his appearing. Oh, my dear brother, how 
 consonant is everlasting praise with such a greafc 
 .salvation. 
 
 S. R" 
 
&R. SAMUEL PEARCE-. I3i 
 
 After this, another letter was addressed to Mr. 
 Pearce, informing him more particularly that the 
 above proposal did not originate witn an individ- 
 ual, but with several of the brethren who dearly- 
 loved him, and had consulted on the business ; 
 and that it was no more than an act of justice to 
 one who had spent his life in serving the public ; 
 also requesting him to give directions by which 
 his manuscripts might be found and examined^ 
 lest he should be taken away before his arrival at 
 Birmingham. To this he answered as follows ; 
 
 " Plymouth, July 6, 1 799, 
 
 u I NEED not repeat the growing sense I 
 have of your kindness, and yet 1 know not how 
 to forbear. 
 
 "I cannot direct Mr. K to all my papers, 
 
 as many of them are in books from which 1 was* 
 making extracts ; and if I could, I am persuaded 
 that they are in a state too confused, incorrect, 
 and unfinished, to suffer you or any other friend, 
 to realize your kind intentions. 
 
 " I have possessed a tenacious memory. I 
 have begun one part of the history ; read the ne- 
 cessary books ; leflected ; arranged ; written, 
 perhaps, the introduction ; and then, trusting to 
 mv recollection, with the revisai of the books a& 
 I should want them, have employed myself in 
 getting materials fur another part, &c. Thus,, 
 tiil my illness, the volumes existed in my head, 
 — my books were at hand, and I was on the eve 
 of writing them out, when 11 pleased God to 
 make me pause : and, as close thinking has been 
 Strongly forbidden rae, I dare say, that were I 
 again restored to health, 1 should find itnecessa* 
 rv to go over much of my former reading to re- 
 iresh memory. 
 
 '* It is now Saturday. On Monday next we 
 propose setting out on our return. May th& 
 
\Z2 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 Lord prosper our way ! Accept the sincere F- 
 fci nun, and the ten thousand thank*, of ) ur 
 brother in the Lord, 
 
 & p." 
 
 As the manuscripts were found to be in such a 
 state, that no person, except the author himself, 
 could finish them, the design was necessarily 
 dropped. The public mind, however, was 
 deeply impressed with Mr. Pearce's worth, and 
 that, which the friendship of a few could not ef- 
 fect, ha^ since been amply accomplished by the. 
 liberal exertions of many. 
 
 00000000000 
 
 To MR. BIRT. 
 
 M Birmingham^ July 26* 1 799. 
 
 u IT Is not with common feelings tuat I 
 begin a letter to you. Your name brings so ma- 
 ny interesting circumstances of my lite before me, 
 in which your friendship has been so uniformly 
 and eminently displayed, that now, amidst the 
 imbecilities of sickness, and the serious prospect 
 of another world, my heart is overwhelmed with 
 gratitude, whilst it glows with affection, — an af- 
 fection which eternity will not annihilate but im- 
 prove. 
 
 We reached Bristol on the Friday after we part- 
 ed from you, having suited our progress to my 
 Strength and spirits. We staid with Bristol friends 
 till Monday, when we pursued ou: journey, and 
 went comfortably on, till the uncommonly rough 
 road from Tewkesbury u> Evesham quite jaded 
 me ; and I have not yet re< overed fioa. the ex- 
 cessive faiigue of that miserable tide. Ai Ait es- 
 ter we rested a day and a half, and, through the 
 abundant goodness of God, we Safer arrived at 
 Birmingham on Friday evening, the I9lh ofjuiy. 
 
MR. SAMUEL FEARCE; 1S3 
 
 '• I feel an undisturbed tranquility of souK and 
 am cheerfully waiting the will of God. My 
 voice is gone, so that I cannot whisper without 
 pain ; and of this circumstance 1 am at times 
 most ready to complain. For, to see my dear 
 and amiable Sarah look at vie 7 and then at the 
 children, and at length bathe her face in tears, 
 without my being able to say one kind word of 
 
 comfort, Oh ! ! Yet the Lord 
 
 supports me under this also ; and I trust will sujj^ 
 port me to the end. 
 
 S. P. u * 
 
 OOOUOOOOOOS 
 
 To MR. ROCK. 
 
 July 2$, 179$, 
 
 " ,. ■ I AM now to all appearance within 
 
 a few steps of eternity. In Christ I am safe. In 
 him I am happy, I trust we shall meet in heaveit. 
 
 s. p.» 
 
 ocooooooooo 
 To R. BOWYER, esq. 
 
 11 Birmingham, August 1, 17$^. 
 
 ** MUCH disappointed that 1 am not re- 
 leased from this world of sin, and put in posses- 
 sion of the pleasures enjoyed by the spirits of 
 just men made perfect, I once more address my 
 dear fellow heirs of that glory which ere long 
 shall be revealed to us all. 
 
 " We returned from Devon last Friday week. 
 I was exceedingly weak, and for several days af- 
 terwards got rapidly worse. My friends com- 
 pelled me to try another physician. I am still 
 told that I shall recover. Be that as it may, I 
 
1 34 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 wish to have my own will annihilated, that the 
 will of the Lord may be done. Through his 
 abundant grace, 1 have been, and still am happy 
 in my soul ; and I trust mv prevailing desire is, 
 that living or dying I may be the Lord's. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 GGO0OG0OO 
 
 To R. BOWYER, es*, 
 
 €nhii having sent him a print of Mr. Schwartz, ife 
 Missionary en the Malabar coast. 
 
 " Birmingham, August 16, 1799. 
 
 " ON three accounts was your last parcel 
 highly acceptable. It represented a man, whom 
 I have long been in the habit of loving and re- 
 vere ring ; and whose character and labours I in- 
 tended, if the Lord had not laid his hand upon 
 me by my present illness > to have presented to 
 the public in Europe, as he himself presented 
 them to the millions of Asia. — The execution 
 bearing so strong a likeness to the original, height- 
 ened its value. And then, the hand from whence 
 it came, and the friendship it was intended to 
 express, add to its worth. 
 
 s. ?;> 
 
 QOOOOOOOOOO 
 
 To MR. FULLER. 
 
 "Birmingham, August 1 9, 1799. 
 
 u THE doctor has been making me worse 
 and weaker for three weeks. In the middie of 
 the last wt ek he spoke confidently of my recov- 
 ery : but to-day he has seen fit to alter his plans ; 
 and if i do not find a speedy alteration for the bet- 
 ter, 1 must have done with all physicians, but 
 Him, who 'heaieth the broken in heart/ 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 13S 
 
 f 4 For some time after I came home, I was led 
 to beiieve my case to he consumptive, and then 
 thinking myself of a certainty near the kingdom 
 of heaven, 1 rejoiced hourly in the delightful 
 prospect. 
 
 " Sin:e then, I have been toid that I am not 
 in a dangerous way ; and though I give very lit- 
 tle credit to such assertions in this case, yet I 
 have found my mind so taken up with earth agaia 
 tba I seem as though I had another soul. My 
 spuuual pleasures are greatly interrupted, and 
 some of the most plaintive parts of the most 
 plaintive Psalms seem the only true language cf 
 my heart. Yet, 'Thy will be done,' I trust pre- 
 vails ; and if it be the Lord's will that I linger 
 long, and suffer much, Oh let him give me the 
 patience of hope, and still, his will be done. — • 
 I can write no more. This isa whole day's work ; 
 for it is only after tea that for a few minutes I can 
 sit up, and attend to any thing. 
 
 CO0OO0OOOOQ 
 
 From the latter end of August, and all through 
 the month of September, to the tenth of October, 
 the day on which he died, he seems to have been 
 unable to write. — He did not, however, lose the 
 exercise of his mental powers : and though in 
 the last of the above letters he complains of 
 darkness, it appears that he soon recovered that 
 peace and joy in God, by which his affliction, 
 and even his life, were distinguished. 
 
 Four excellent letters, addressed to Dr. Ryland f 
 Mr. Pope, ar.d Mi King, appear at the end of 
 his funeral sermon, published by Dr Rvland, to- 
 gether with various short sentences, which he 
 dropped during the last five or s.x weeks of his 
 Arid as the readets of the Sermon will pro- 
 
13# MEMOIRS OF THE LATB 
 
 bably wish to have it bound up with the Memoirs* 
 both are connected together for that purpose. 
 
 A little before he died, he was visited by Mr. 
 Medlev, of London, with whom he had been 
 particularly intimate on his fiist coming to Bir- 
 mingham. Mr. Pearce was much affected at the 
 sight of his friend j and continued silently weep- 
 ing for nearly ten minutes, holding and pressing 
 bis Hind. After this, he spoke, or rather, whis- 
 pered as follows : — u This sick bed is a Bethel to 
 me : it is none other than the house of God, and 
 the gate of heaven. I can scarcely express the 
 pleasures that I have enjoyed in this affliction. — 
 The nearer I draw to my dissolution, the happier 
 I am. It scarcelv can be called an affliction, it 
 is so counterbalanced with joy. You have lost 
 jroui pious father : teil me how it was." Here 
 Mr- Medley informed him of particulars. He 
 wept much at the recital, and especially at hear- 
 ing of his last words, — " Home, Home !" Mr. 
 Medley telling him of some temptations he had 
 lateiy met with, he charged him to keep near to 
 God. "Keep close to God, 1 ' said he, "an<i 
 .•nothing will hurt you !" 
 
 C00C0G00009 
 
 The following familiar compositions, which 
 were found amongst Mr. Pearce's papers, appea: 
 i ( j have been written at distant intervals :— 
 
 1 Jesus Christ our LorJ % both theirs ardours.* I Cor. 1. ?. 
 
 M SWEET are the gifts which gracious Heav'a 
 
 On true Believers pours ; 
 But the best gift is grace to know 
 
 That Jeeus Christ is ours, 
 
 Qur Jesus ! what rich drops of blisf 
 
 Descend in copious show'rs; 
 When » iiin'd sinners, such as we, 
 
 B; faith can call him ouru 
 
&IR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 131 
 
 Differ we may in age and state, 
 
 Learning and mental powr'6, 
 But all he saints may join and shout, 
 
 Dear Jesus I thou art ours* 
 
 Let those who know our Jems not, 
 
 Delight in earth's gay fl jw'rs : 
 We, glorying in onr better lot, 
 
 Rejoice that He is ours. 
 
 When hope, with elevated light, 
 
 I ow'ida heav'n \x\ rapture towr's, 
 
 'Tis ;hi^ ^uppots our ventioin wing, 
 We know that Christ is ours. 
 
 Though providence, with dark'ning sky, 
 
 On things terrestrial lowrs, 
 Wc rise superior to the gloom 
 
 When singing, Christ is ours. 
 
 Time, which this world, with all its joys, 
 
 With eager haste devours, 
 May take inferior things away, 
 
 But Jesus still is ours. 
 
 Haste then, dull time, and terminate 
 
 Thy slow revolving hours : 
 We wish, we pray, we lo r .)g, we pant, 
 
 In Heav : n to call him ours \ u 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 £t Plain Dealing ivitb a Backsliding Heart *\ 
 
 « { STUPID soul to folly cleaving, 
 
 Why haa God no more thy heart; 
 
 Why art 'hou thy mtrcie- leaving ; 
 Why must thou with Je-us part ? 
 
 Is there in this world existing 
 
 Aught with J sus to compare ; 
 
 \ ea, can heav'n iueli produce one 
 Half so lovely, halt so fair i 
 N 
 
1S3 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 Ah ! look back upon the season, 
 
 When thy soul the Saviour chose$ 
 
 For thy portion, and thy spirit 
 Did with his salvation close. 
 
 Ah ! remember thine espousals ; 
 
 Didst thou not with Christ agree, 
 Leaving all thy former lovers, 
 
 His and his alone to be 1 
 
 In his love thy powr's exulting, 
 
 What did -ill btlow appear ; 
 Was ilurt aught seemM worth possessing^ 
 
 Worthy of a hope or fear i 
 
 When thy heart, by grace instructed, 
 
 Learnt the world todisesteem, 
 And to Christ for all resorted, 
 
 Was there not enough in him ? 
 
 Yes ; thou know'st thy joyful spirit 
 
 Knew no unfulfil'd desire ; 
 Longmg still, and still receiving 
 
 Fuel for the heav'nly fire. 
 
 Why then, tell me, now so lifeless. 
 
 Why this heav'nly fountain leave £ 
 Why to broken cisterns seeking. 
 
 Cisterns that no water give ? 
 * 
 Doth not disappointment follow 
 
 Ev'ry step that leads from God ; 
 Have not piercing thorns and briers 
 
 Shown their points through all the roadl 
 
 Recollect, 'tis thus the Saviour 
 Says he will thy soul reclaim, 
 
 With weeping and with supplication, 
 fiumbly offer'd through his name/' 
 
ilR. SAMUEL PEA'RCE. 13?. 
 
 " Invocation to returning Peace," 
 
 '« SWEET Peace return ! thy wonted bliss restore, 
 Bid war's insatiate scourge prevail no more ; 
 Sheathe the dread sword that deals destruction round. 
 And ev'ry ear saliue with tranquil sound ! 
 Oh ! bid oppression from each land retire, 
 And Briton's sons with halcyon bliss inspire ; 
 Remove the mis'ry of domestic woes, 
 And hush the tumult of contending foes ! 
 Let each, with patriot zeal, all strife disown ; 
 Be one their wishes, and their motives one ! 
 The widow's tears, her sad corroding care, 
 The orphan's sighs, assist this ardent pray'i ; 
 May he on whom propitious fortune smiles, 
 Relieve that breast which adverse fate beguiles ! 
 May virtue'8 impulse ev'ry purpose move, 
 To acts of goodness, cvitersal lovs V 9 
 
140 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 GENERAL OUTLINtS OF HIS CHARACTER. 
 
 TO develop the character of any person, it 
 Is necessary to determine what was his governing 
 principle. If this can be clearly ascertained, we 
 shall easily account for the tenor of his conduct. 
 
 The governing principle in Mr. Pearce, be- 
 yond ail doubt, was Holy Love. 
 
 i o mention this, is sufficient to prove it to al! 
 who knew him. His friends have often compar- 
 ed him to that disciple whom Jesus loved. His- 
 religion was that at the heart. Almost every 
 thing he saw, or heard, or read, or studied, was 
 converted to the feeding of this divine flame. 
 Every subject that passed throughhishands, seem- 
 ed to have been cast into this mould. Things, 
 that to a merely speculative mind would have 
 furnished matter only for curiosity, to him af- 
 forded materials for devotion. His sermons 
 were generally the effusions of his heart, and in- 
 variably aimed at the hearts of his hearers. 
 
 For the justness of the above remarks, I might 
 appeal not only to the letters which he addressed 
 to his friends, but to those which his friends ad- 
 dressed to him. It is worthy of notice how much 
 we are influenced in our correspondence by the 
 turn of mind of the person we address. If we 
 write to a humorous character, we shall generally 
 find that what we write, perhaps without being 
 conscious of it, will be interspersed with pleas- 
 antries: or if to one of a very serious cast* our 
 letters will be more serious than usual. On this 
 principle, it has been thought, we may form 
 some judgment of our own spirit by the spirit in 
 which our friends address us. These remarks' 
 will apply with singular propriety to the cor res- 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE; t4£ 
 
 pondence of Mr. Pearce. In looking over the 
 first volume of Periodical Accounts of the Baptist 
 Mission, the reader will easily perceive the most 
 affectionate letters from the missionaries are those 
 which are addressed to him. 
 
 It is not enough to say of this affectionate spir- 
 it that it formed a prominent feature in his char- 
 acter : it was rather the life-blood that animated 
 the whole system. He seemed, as one of his. 
 friends observed, to be baptized in it. It was 
 holy love that gave the tone of his general de- 
 portment : as a son, a subject, a neighbour, a 
 Christian, a minister, a pastor, a friend, a hus- 
 band, and a father, he was manifestly governed 
 by this principle; and this it was that produced 
 in him that lovely uniformity of character, which 
 constitutes the true beauty of holiness* 
 
 By the grace of God he was what he was ; and 
 to the honour of grace, and not for the glory of a 
 sinful worm, be it recorded. Like all othermen, 
 he was the subject of a depraved nature. He 
 felt it, and lamented it, and longed to depart, 
 that he might be freed from it : but certainly we 
 have seldom seen a character, taking him alto- 
 gether, " whose excellencies were so many, and 
 so uniform, and whose imperfections were so 
 few." We have seen men rise high in contem- 
 plation, who have abounded but little in action— 
 We have seen zeal mingled with bitterness, and 
 candour degenerate into indifference ; experi- 
 mental religion mixed with a large portion of en- 
 thusiasm, and what is called rational religion void 
 of every thing that inteiests the heart of man—. 
 We have seen splendid talents tarnished with in- 
 sufferable pride, seriousness with melancholy, 
 rfulness with levity, and great attainment 
 in religion with uncharitable c ensoriousness to- 
 wards men of low degree :— but we have not seen 
 ; things in our bruther Pearce, 
 W2 
 
142 MEMOIRS OF THE LATe 
 
 There have been few men in whom has beeit 
 united a greater portion of the contemplative and 
 the active ; holy zeal, and genuine candour ; 
 spirituality, and rationality ; talents, that attract- 
 ed almost universal applause, and the most un- 
 affeeted modesty, faithfulness in bearing testis 
 roonv against evil, with the tenderest compas- 
 sion to the soul of the evil doer; fortitude that 
 Would encounter any difficulty in the way of duty, 
 with ojut any thing boisterous, noisy, or over-bear- 
 ing ; deep seriousness, with habilual cheerfulness; 
 and a constant aim to promote the highest de- 
 grees of piety in himself and others, irith a readi- 
 ness to hope the best of the lowest ; not break- 
 ing the bruised reed, nor quenching the smoking 
 fiax* 
 
 lie loved the divine character as revealed in the 
 Scriptures. — I u aoore God, to contemplate his 
 glorious perfections, to enjoy his favour, and to 
 submit to his disposal, were his highest delight, 
 41 1 felt," says he, when i ontemplating the hard- 
 ships of a missionary life, " that were the uni- 
 veise destroyed, and 1 the only being in it be- 
 sides d-d, he is fully adequate to my complete 
 happ ness; and had 1 been in an African wood, 
 surrounded with. venomous serpents, devouring 
 beasts, arid savage men ; in such a frame, I 
 should be the subject of perfect peace, and ex- 
 alted joy. Yes, O my God ! thou hast taught 
 me that thou alone art worthy of my confi- 
 dent e ; and, with this sentiment fixed in my 
 heart, 1 am freed from a.l solicitude about my 
 temporal concerns. If thy presence he enjoyed, 
 poverty shall be riches, darkness light, afflution 
 prosperity, reproach my honour, ana fatigue my 
 rest !" 
 
 He loved the gospel —The truths which he be- 
 lieve,; and taught, dwelt richly in him, in all wis- 
 .doni and spuiiual understanding. The reade r 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 143 
 
 will recollect howhewentovcr the great principles 
 of Christianity, examining the grounds on which 
 he rested, in the first of those days which he de- 
 voted to solemn fasting and prayer in reference 
 to his becoming a missionary ; • and with what ar- 
 dent affection he set his seal anew to every part 
 of divine truth as he went along. 
 
 If salvation had been of works, few men, ac- 
 cording to oui way of estimating characters, had 
 a fairer claim : but, as he himself has related, he 
 could not meet the king of terrors in this armour. f 
 So far was he from placing anv dependence on 
 his own works, that the more he did for God, 
 the iess lie thought of it in such a way. " All 
 the satisfaction i wish for here," says he, " is to 
 be doing my heavenly Father's wiiJ. I hope I 
 have found it my meat and diink to do his work ; 
 and can set to my seal, that the purest pleasures 
 /jf human life spring from lire humble obedience 
 of faith. It is a good saving, ' We cannot do too 
 much for God, nor trust in what we do too little.' 
 I find a growing conviction of the necessity of a 
 free salvation. The more I do for God the iess 
 1 tti ink of it ; and am progressively ashamed that 
 1 do no mo!t\" 
 
 Christ crucified was his darling theme, from 
 first to last. 1 h s was the subject on which he 
 dwelt on the outset of his ministry among the 
 ford colliers, when, "He could scarcely 
 speak foi weeping, nor they hear for interrupt- 
 ing sighs and sobs ;" this was the burden of the 
 Soni;, when ar dressing the more polished and 
 crouded audiences at Biimingham, London, and 
 Dubun ; this was the grand motive exhibited in 
 seimons for the promotion of public charities ; 
 and this was the rock on winch lie lested all his 
 hopes* in the prospect of death. It is true, as 
 iave seen, he was shaken for a time by the 
 
 ice Chap. II. p, 46. t Chap. I. p. 18. 
 
f 4-£ MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 writings of a Whitby, and of a Priestly : but 
 this transient hesitation, bv the over ruling grace 
 of God, tended only to establsh him more riim- 
 ly in the end. "Blessed be his dear name,'' 
 says he under his last affliction, iC who shed his 
 blood for me. He helps me to rejoice at times 
 with joy unspeakable. Now. I see the value of 
 the religion of the cross. It is a religion for a dy- 
 ing sinner. It is all the most guilty, and the 
 most wretched can desire. Yes, I taste its sweet- 
 ness, and enjoy its fuiness, with all the gloom of 
 a dying bed before me ; and far rather w r ould I 
 be the poor emaciated and emaciating creature 
 that I am, than be an emperor with every earthly 
 good about him, but without a God." 
 
 Notwithstanding this, however, there were 
 those in Birmingham, and other places, w 7 ho 
 would not allow that he preached the gospel. And 
 if by the gospel were meant the doctrine taught 
 bv Mi . Huntington, Mr. Bradford, and others who 
 follow haid afiei them, it must be granted he did 
 not. If the fall and depravity of man operate to 
 destroy his atcountableness to his Creator ; if his 
 inability toobev the law, or comply with the gos- 
 pel, be of such a nature as to exc use him in the 
 neglect of either ; or if not, yet if Christ's com- 
 ing under the law, frees believers from all obli- 
 gation to obev its precepts ; if gospel invitations 
 are addressed only to the regenerate ; if the illu- 
 minating influences of the Holy Sphit consist in 
 revealing to us the secret purposes of God con- 
 cerning us, or impressing us with the idea that we 
 are the favourites of Heaven; if believing such im- 
 pressions be Christian faith, and doubting of their 
 vabditv unbelief; if there be no such thing as pro- 
 gressive sanctification nor any sanctification inhe- 
 lent, except that of the illumination before des- 
 cribed ; if wicked men are not oblige d to do c.ny 
 thing beyond what they can find in their hearts to 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, 14a 
 
 do,norgood men to be holy beyond what they act- 
 uallv are ; and if these things constitute the gos- 
 pel, Mr. Pearce certainly did not preach it — But 
 if man, whatever be Ws depravity, be necessa- 
 rily a free agent, and accountable for all his dis- 
 positions and actions ; if gospel invitations be ad- 
 dressed to men not as elect, nor as non-elect ; 
 but as sinners exposed to the righteous displeas- 
 ure of God ; if Christ's obedience aod death 
 rather increase, than diminish our obligations to 
 love God and one another ; if faith in Christ be 
 a falling in with God's way of salvation, and un- 
 belief a falling out with it 3 if sancrification be a 
 progressive work, and so essential a branch of 
 our salvation, as that without it no man shall see 
 the Lord ; if the Holy Spit it instruct us in noth- 
 ing by his illuminating influences but what was 
 already revealed in the scriptures, and which we 
 should have perceived but for that we loved dark- 
 ness rather than light; and if he inclines us to 
 nothing but what was antecedently right, or & 
 such a spirit as every intelligent creature ought ci. 
 all times to have possessed — then Mr, Pearce did 
 preach the gospel ; and that which his accusers 
 call by this name is another gospel, and not the 
 gospel of Christ. 
 
 Moreover, If the doctrine taught bv Mr, 
 Pearce be not the gospel of Christ, and thtfC 
 which is taught bv the above writers. and tteir 
 adherents be, it may be expected that the effects 
 produced will in some degree correspond with 
 this repiesentation. And is it evident to ail men 
 who are acquainted with both, and who judge 
 impartially, that the doctrine taught by Mr. 
 Pearce is productive of haired, variance, emula- 
 tions, wrath, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 
 and perverse disputing s ; that it renders those 
 who embrace it lovers oj their own selves, covetous, 
 proud, Jalse accusers, fierce, despisen 
 
146 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 6f those that are good ; while that of his adverse 
 ries promotes love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gen- 
 tleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temper- 
 ance f . . . . WHY EVEN OF YOURSELVES JUDGE 
 YE NOT VVHAT IS RIGHT ? .... YE SHALL KNOW 
 THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. 
 
 Mr. Pearce's ideas of preaching human obliga- 
 tion, may be seen in the following extract from a 
 letter, addressed to a young minister who was 
 sent out of the church of which he was pastor. 
 *'You request my thoughts how a minister should 
 preach human obligation. I would reply, do it 
 extensively, do it constantly ; but withal, do it 
 affectionately, and evangelically. I think, con- 
 sidering the general character of our hearers, and 
 the stale of their mental improvement, it would 
 be time lost to argue much from the data of nat- 
 ural religion. The best way is, perhaps, to 
 express duties in Scripture language, and enforce 
 them by evangelical motives ; as, the example of 
 Christ — the ends of his sufFerhig a;iu death — tl^e 
 consciousness of his approbation — the assistance 
 he has promised — the influence of a holy conver- 
 sation on God's people, and on the people of the 
 world — the small returns we at best can make for 
 the love of Jesus — and the hope of eternal holi- 
 ness. These form a body of arguments, which 
 the most simple may understand, ami the most 
 dull may fee!. Yet 1 would not neglect on some 
 occasions to shew the- obligation of man to love 
 his Cieator — the reasonableness of the divine 
 law— and the natural tendency of its commands 
 to promote our own comfort, the good of society, 
 and the glory of God. These will serve to Ulit- 
 minute, but, after ail, it is the gospel of the grace 
 oj God that will most effectually animate, and 
 impel to action." 
 
 Mr. Pearce's affection to the doctrine of the 
 prcss was not merely nor principally on account 
 
I 
 
 MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, 147 
 
 :. being a system which secured his own safety 
 Had tins been the case, he might, like others! 
 tvhose rehg.on originates and terminates in seifl 
 love, have been delighted with the idea of the 
 grace of the Son, but it would have been at the 
 expense of ail complacency in the righteous gov- 
 ernment of the Father: He might have admired 
 Something which he accounted the gospel, as 
 saving him from misery ; but he could have dis- 
 cerned no I veliness in the d.vme law as being; 
 holy, just and good, nor in the mediation of 
 Uirut as doing honour to it. | hat which in his 
 ^constituted the glory ol the gospel was, that 
 God ,s herein revealed as the just lod«nd the 
 ^rv„:ur-;ust, and the justly ^ him that be. 
 iievttti m Jesus, 
 
 He was a (over of good ,nen.—H e waS never 
 more in his element than when joining with them 
 in ■ sp,r.tual conversation, pra>er and praise. H? s 
 heart was tenderly attached to the people of h, 
 charge ; and it was one of the bitterest inured - 
 
 cuToff f ,S C M PdUriR ? hiS '<>«* Action, * be 
 cut off from their society. When in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Plymouth, he thus writes to fir 
 Kng on e fthe deacons-- Give my love to 
 
 Jiict, would give me patience to endure. Indeed 
 fee state of suspense in which I have been kepc 
 *o long, requires much of it; and I often exclaim 
 ere I am aware, O my dear people ! O my £ 
 fcmily, when shall I return to you again "» He 
 conscentiously dissented from th e S Church of 
 England and from every other national establisS- 
 y ;, rel! S' on ' as '"consistent with what he 
 
 fcSSWS SC ; iptUrai aCCOunt of the "Xure of 
 t S km g. dom : nor was he less conscientious 
 w his rejection of infant baptism, considering it 
 *» having no foundation in the holv Si rip "fes 
 «d as tending to confound the chu ch L "5 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF THE t,ATE 
 
 world ; vet he embr ( d with brotherly affectiou 
 great numbers of godly men both in and cut of 
 the establishment. His spirit was truly catholic $ 
 he ioved all who loved our Lord Jesus Christ in 
 sinceiity. " Let us pray," saiu he in a letter to 
 a rmnd. "for the peace of Jerusalem : they 
 shall prosper who love — not this part, or the oth- 
 love — HfeR — that is, the whole body 
 of Christ" 
 
 He bare good will to all mankind. — It was f/om 
 this principle that he so ardently desired to go and 
 preach the gospel to the heathen. And even un- 
 der lus long affliction, when at times he enter- 
 tained hopes of recovery, he would say, "My 
 sou] pants foi usefulness more extensive than 
 evei : I long to become an apostle to the world Y* 
 i he errors and tins of men wrought much in him 
 in a way of pity . He knew that they were cul- 
 pable in the sight of God : but he knew also that 
 he himself was a sinner, and felt that they were 
 entitled to his compassion. His zeal for the di- 
 vinity and atonement of his Saviour, never ap- 
 pealed to have operated in a way of unchristian; 
 bitterness against those who rejected these im- 
 portant doctrines : and though he was shamefully! 1 
 traduced by professors of another description as 
 a mere legal preacher, and his ministry held up 
 as affording no food for the souls of believers, and 
 could not but feel the injury of such misrepresen- 
 tations : yet he does not appear to have cherish- 
 ed unchristian resentn*ent ; but would at any 
 time have laid himself out for the good of his 
 worst enemies. It w r as his constant endeavour 
 to promote as good an understanding between 
 the different congregations in the town as the nat- 
 ure of their different religious sentiments would 
 admit. The cruel bitterness of many people a- 
 gainst Dr. Priestly and his friends, at and after 
 the Birmingham riots, was affecting to his mind. 
 
 i 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEA&CE. 149 
 
 .Such methods of opposing error he abhorred. 
 His regard to mankind made him lament the 
 consequences of war: but while he wished and 
 prayed for peace to the nations, and especially 
 to his native country, he had no idea of turbu- 
 Jently contending for it. Though friendly to 
 civil and religious liberty, he stood aloof from 
 the lire of political contention. In an excellent 
 Circular Letter to the churches of the Midland 
 Association in 1794, of which he was the writer, 
 he thus expresses himself — " Have as little as 
 possible to do with the world. Meddle not with 
 political controversies. An inordinate pursuit of 
 these, we are sorry to observe, has been as a canker- 
 worm at the root of vital piety; and caused the 
 love of many, formerly zealous professors to wax 
 cold. The Lord reigneth ; it is our place to re- 
 joice in his government, and quietly wait for the 
 salvation ot God. The establishment of his 
 kingdom will be the ultimate end of all those na- 
 tional commotions which terrify the earth. The 
 wrath of man shall praise him, and the remaind- 
 er of wrath he will restrain." If he could write 
 in this manner in 1794, his seeing a hopeful un- 
 dertaking, in which he had taken a more thaa 
 common interest, blasted by this species of folly 
 in 1796, vvould not lessen his aversion to it* 
 From this time more than ever, he turned his 
 whole attention to the promoting of the kingdom 
 of Christ, cherishing and recommending a spir- 
 it of contentment and gratitude for the civil and 
 religious advantages that we enjoyed. Such were 
 the sentiments inculcated in the last sermon that 
 he printed, and the last but one that he preach- 
 ed, f His dear young friends who are gone to 
 
 lnd a will never forget how earnestly he < barged 
 
 .. ■ ■■ , . i ■■ . . ^ 
 
 * See Periodical Accounts of the Baptist Mission, 
 
 Vol. I. p. 257. f See page 113. Note. 
 
 o 
 
1 50 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 them by letter, when confined at Plymouth, to 
 conduct themselves in all civil matters as peace- 
 able and obedient subjects to the government 
 under which they lived, in whatever country it 
 might be their lot to reside. 
 
 It was Uve that tempered his faithfulness 
 with so large a portion of tender concern for the 
 good of those whose conduct he was obliged to cen- 
 sure. — He could not bear them that were evil f 
 but would set himself against them with the 
 greatest firmness : yet it were easy to discover 
 the pain of mind with which this necessary part 
 of duty was discharged. It is well remembered 
 how he conducted himself towards certain preach- 
 ers in the neighbourhood, who, wandering from 
 pla<e to place, corrupted and embioiled the 
 churches ; whose conduct he knew to be as dis- 
 honourable as their principles were loose and 
 unscriptural : and when requested to recite par- 
 ticulars in his own defence, his fear and tender- 
 ness for character, his modest reluctance to ac- 
 cuse persons older than himself, and his deep 
 concern that men engaged in the Christian min- 
 istry, should render such accusations necessary, 
 were each conspicuous, and proved to ali present, 
 that the work of an accuser was to him a strange 
 work. 
 
 It was love that expanded his heart, and prompt- 
 ed him to labour in season and out of season for 
 the salvation of sinners. This was the spring of that 
 constant stream of activity by which his life was 
 distinguished. His conscience would not suffer 
 him to decline what appeared to be right. " I 
 dare not refuse, he would say, lest I should 
 shrink from duty. Unjustifiable ease is worse 
 than the mostdifficult labours to which duty calls. H 
 To persons who never entered into his views and 
 feelings, some parts of his conduct, especially 
 those which relate to his desire of quitting his 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 15i 
 
 feountry that he might preach the gospel to the 
 heathen, will appear extravagant : but no man 
 could wkh greater propriety have adopted the 
 language of the apostle, Whether* we be beside our- 
 selves, it is to God ; or whether we be sober, it is 
 for your cause ; for the love of Christ constraineth 
 us. 
 
 He was frequently told that his exercises were 
 too great for his strength : but such was the ar- 
 dour of his heart. " He could not die in a bet- 
 ter work." When he went up into the pulpit to 
 deliver his last sermon, he thought he should not 
 have been able to get through ; but when he got 
 a little warm, he felt re'ieved, and forgot his in- 
 disposition, preaching with equal fervour and 
 freedom as when in perfect health. While he 
 was laid aside, he could not forbear hoping that 
 he should some time resume his delightful work • 
 and knowing the, strength of his feelings to be 
 such that it would be unsafe to trust himself, he 
 proposed for a time to write his discourses, that 
 Lis mind might not be at liberty to over-do his 
 debilitated frame. 
 
 All his counsels, cautions, and reproofs, ap- 
 pear to have been the effect of love, — It was a rule 
 dictated by his heart, no less than by his judg- 
 ment, to discourage all evil speaking : nor would 
 he approve of just censure unless some good and 
 necessary end were to be answered by it. Two 
 of his distant friends being at his house together, 
 one of them, during the absence of the other, 
 suggested something to his disadvantage. He 
 put a stop to the conversation by answering, " He 
 is here, take him aside, and tell him of it by 
 himself: you may do him good." 
 
 If he perceived any of his acquaintance bewil- 
 dered in fruitless speculations, he would in an 
 affectionate manner endeavour to draw off their 
 attention from these mazes of confusion to the 
 
152 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 simple doctrine of the cross. A specimen of this 
 kind of treatment will be seen in the letter, No. 
 I. towards the close of this chapter. 
 
 He was affectionate to all, but especially to- 
 wards the rising generation. The youth of his 
 own congregation, of London, and of Dublin, 
 have not forgot his melting discourses which were 
 particularly addressed to them. He took much 
 delight in speaking to the children, and would 
 adapt himself to their capacities, and expostulate 
 with them on the things which belonged to their 
 everlasting peace. While at Plymouth he wrote 
 thus to one cfhis friends* "Q how should I re- 
 j, :ce were there a speedy prospect of my return- 
 ng to my great and little congregations. " Nor 
 was it by preaching only that*he sought their e- 
 fernal welfare : Several of his letters are address- 
 ed to young persons. See No. II. and III. to- 
 wards the close of this chapter. 
 
 With what joy did he congratulate one of his 
 most intimate friends, on hearing that three of 
 the younger branches of his family had appar- 
 ently been brought to take the Redeemer's yoke 
 upon them. " Thanks, thanks, thanks be to 
 God, said he, " for the enrapturing prospects 
 before you as a father, as a Christian father es- 
 pecially. What, three of a family ! and these 
 at once ! Othe heights, and depths, and lengths, 
 and breadths of his unfathomable grace. My 
 soul feels joy unspeakable at the blessed news. 
 Three immortal souls secured for eternal life I 
 Three rational spirits preparing to grace Imman- 
 UePs triumphs, and sing his praise 1 Three ex- 
 amples of virtue and goodness j exhibiting the 
 genuine influences of the true religion of Jesus 
 before the world — Perhaps three mothers train- 
 ing up to lead three future families in the wav fo 
 heaven. Oh what a train of blessings do I see 
 in this event ! Most sincerely do I participate 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE, 153 
 
 with my dear friend, in his pleasures and in his 
 gratitude." 
 
 Towards the close of life, writing to the same 
 friend, he thus concludes his letter — " Present 
 our love to dear Mrs. S and the family, es- 
 pecially those whose hearts are engaged to seek 
 the Lord and his goodness. O tell them they 
 will find him good all their lives, supremely good 
 on dying beds, but best of all in glory." 
 
 In his visits to the sick he was singularly use- 
 ful. His svmpathetic conversation, affectionate 
 prayers, and endearing manner of recommend- 
 ing to them a compassionate Saviour, frequently 
 operated as a cordial to their troubled hearts. A 
 young man of his congregation was dangerously 
 ill. His father living at a distance, was anxious 
 to hear from him ; and Mr. Pearce, in a Jetter 
 to the minister on whose preaching the father at- 
 tended, wrote as follows — " i feel for the anxiety 
 
 of Mr. V , and am happy in being at this 
 
 time a Barnabas to him. I was not seriously a- 
 larmcd for his son till last Tuesday, when I ex- 
 pected from every symptom, and the language of 
 his apotf:e< arv, that he was nigh unto death. But 
 to our astonishment and joy, a surprising change 
 has since taken place. 1 saw him yesterday ap- 
 parently in a fair way for recovery. His mind, 
 tor the first part of his illness, was sometimes 
 joyful, and almost constantly calm ; but when at 
 the woist, suspicions crowded his mind ; he fear- 
 ed he had been t an hypocrite. I talked and pray- 
 ed and wept with him. One scene was very affect- 
 ing ; both lie and his wife appeared like persons 
 iiewlyawakened. They nevei felt so strongly the 
 importance of religion before. He con veistd about 
 the tenderness of Jesus to broken-hearted sinners j 
 anu whilst we sp ke, it seemed as though, he came 
 and began to heal the wound. Itdid megood, and 
 1 trust not unavailing to th-ero, 1 hey have since beea 
 o 2 
 
1^4 MEMOIRS OF THE LAT£- 
 
 for the most part happy ; and a very pleasant la- 
 ter view I had with them on the past day." » 
 
 Every man must have his seasons of relaxation. 
 In his earlier years he would take strong bodily 
 exercise. Of late, he occasionally employed 
 himself with the microscope, and in making a 
 few philosophical experiments. " We will a* 
 muse ourselves with philosophy," said he to a 
 philosophical friend, " but Jesus shall be our 
 teacher." In ail these exercises he seems never 
 to have lost sight of God ; but would be discov- 
 ering something in his works that should furnish 
 matter for praise and admiration. His mind did 
 not appear to have been unfitted, but rather as- 
 sisted, by such pursuits for the discharge of the 
 more spiritual exercises, into which he would 
 fall at a proper season, as into his native element. 
 If in company with friends, and the conversation 
 turned upon the works of nature, or art, or any 
 other subject of science, he would cheerfully take 
 a part in it, and when occasion required, by some 
 easy and pleasant transition, direct it into another 
 channel. An ingenious friend once shewed him 
 a model of a machine which he thought of con- 
 structing, and by which he hoped to be able to 
 produce a perpetual motion. Mr. Pearee having 
 patiently inspected it, discovered where the op- 
 eration would stop, and pointed it out. His 
 friend wasconvinced, and felt, as may be supposed, 
 rather unpleasant at Ins disappointment. He con- 
 soled him ; and a prayer meeting being at hand, 
 said to this effect. " We may learn from hence 
 our own insufficiency, and the glory of that Being, 
 who is wonderful in counsel^ and excellent inwork- 
 ing : let us go and worship Him." 
 
 His mild and gentle disposition, not apt to 
 give or take offence, often won upon persons ia 
 matters wherein at first they have shewn them- 
 selves averse. When collecting for the Baptist 
 mission, a gentleman who had no knowledge of 
 
MR. SAMtfKL PEARCE.. \SB. 
 
 hirn, or of the conductors of that undertaking, 
 made some objections, on the ground that the 
 Baptists had little or nothing to say to the uncon- 
 verted. This objection Mr. Pearce attempted to 
 remove, by alleging that the parties concerned 
 in this business were entirely of anolhei mind. I 
 am glad to hear it, said the gentleman, but I have 
 my Tears. Then pray, sir, said Mr. Pearce, do 
 not give till you aie satisfied. Why 1 assure you,. 
 replied the other, I think the Methodists more 
 likely to succeed than you ; and should feel more 
 pleasure in giving them ten guineas than you one. 
 If you give them twenty guineas, sir, said Mr. 
 Pearce, we shall rejoice in their success ; and if 
 you give us one, I hope it will not be misapplied. 
 The gentleman smiled, and gave him four. 
 
 Hisriguieto a superficial observer would at 
 first sight convey notning very interesting; but 
 on close inspection, his countenance wouid be 
 acknowledged to be a faithful index to his souh 
 Calm, placid, and, when in the pulpit especially, 
 full of animation, his appearance was not a lit- 
 tle expressive of the interest he felt in the eter- 
 nal weifaie of his audience; his eyes beaming 
 benignity, and speaking in the most impressive 
 language his willingness to impart, not only the 
 gospel cj God, but his own soul also, 
 
 tits imagination was vivid, and his judgment 
 clear ; he relished U<.e elegancies of science, and 
 felt alive to the most delicate and refined senti- 
 ments ; yet these were things on account of 
 which he does not appear to have valued him- 
 self, iiiey were rather his amusements than his 
 employ ip' t. 
 
 IT is address was easy and insinuating ; his 
 voice pleasant, but sometimes overstrained in the 
 course u[ Lib sermon ; his language chaste, flow- 
 ing, and inclining to the ilond : this last, how- 
 ever abated, as his judgment ripened. His de=* 
 
15$' MEMOIRS OF THE LATE' 
 
 livery was rather slow than rapid ; his attitude 
 graceful, and his countenance in almost all his 
 discourses approaching to an affectionate smiie. 
 He never appears, however, to have studied 
 what are called the graces of pulpit action : or, 
 whatever he had read concerning them, it was 
 manifest that he thought nothing of them, or of 
 any other of the ornaments of speech at the time. 
 Both his action and language were the genuine 
 expressions of an ardent mind, affected, and 
 sometimes deeply, with his subject. Being rath- 
 er be'ow the common stature, and disregarding, 
 or rather, I might say, disappioving every thing 
 pompous in his appearance, he has on some oc- 
 casions been prejudged to his disadvantage : but 
 the song of the nightingale is not the less melo- 
 dious for bis not appealing in a gaudy plumage. 
 His manner of pieparuig tor the pulpit nay be 
 
 seen in a letter addressed to Mr. C ofZ , 
 
 who was absent out of bis church; and which 
 may be of use to others in a similar situation. See 
 No. IV. towards the close of this chapter. 
 
 H.s ministry was highly acceptable to persons 
 of education : but he appears to have been most 
 in his element when preaching to the poor. The 
 feelings which he himself expresses when in- 
 Structing the colliers, appear to have continued 
 with him through life. It was his delight to carry 
 the glad tidings of salvation into the villages where- 
 ever he could find access and opportunity. And 
 as he sought the good of their souls, so he bo:h 
 laboured and Suffered to relieve their temporal 
 warns ; living himself in a style of frugality and 
 self-denial, that he might have whereof to give 
 to them that needed. 
 
 Finally, He possessed a large portion of real 
 happiness — There are few characters whose en- 
 joyments, both natural and spiritual, have risen 
 to so great a height. He dwelt in love : and he 
 
*tH. SAMUEL PEARGE; l£tf 
 
 that dwelleth in love dwdleih in God, and God in 
 him. Such a life must needs be happy. If his 
 religion had originated and terminated in self- 
 love, as some contend the whole of religion does, 
 his joys had been not only of a different nature, 
 bilt far less extensive than they were. His in- 
 ter si was bound up with that of his Lord and 
 Savour. Its afflictions were his affliction, and 
 vs his joy. The grand object of his desire 
 w . to seek the good of God* s chosen, to rejoice 
 i)< re gladness of his nation , and to glory with 
 his inheritance. " What pleasures do those lose," 
 lft s he, " who have no interest in God's gra- 
 ci \ s and holy cause !"* 
 
 If an object of joy presented itself to his mind, 
 h<. would delight in multiplying it by its probable 
 or possible consequences. Thus it was, as we 
 have seen, in his congratulating his friend on the 
 conversion of three of his children ; and thus it 
 was when speaking of a people who divided into 
 two congregations, not fioro discord, but from 
 an increase of numbers ; and who generously 
 united in erecting a new and additional place of 
 worship — "These liberal souls are subscribing, 5> 
 said he, " in ordei to support a religion, which, 
 as far as it truly prevails, will render others as 
 libera] as themselves. 5 ' 
 
 His heart was to much formed for social en- 
 joyment that he seems to have contemplated the 
 heavenly sidle under this idea with peculiar ad- 
 vantage. This was the leading theme of a dis- 
 course from Rev. v. 9 12, which he deliver- 
 ed at a meeting of ministers at Arnsb-y, April 18, 
 1797 ; and of which his brethren retain a lively- 
 remembrance. On this pleasing subject he dwells 
 also in a letter to his dear friend Birt. — u I had 
 
 * See the Letter to Dr. Ryland, May 30, 1^96, 
 page 65, 
 
J5S MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 much pleasure a few days since, in meditating, 
 on the affectionate language of our Lord to his sor- 
 rowful disciples ; 1 go to prepare a place for you. 
 What a piemtude of consolation do these words 
 contain ; what a sweet view of heaven as a place 
 of society. It is one place for us all ; that place 
 where his glorified body is, there all his follow, 
 ers shall assemble, to part no more. Where He 
 is, there we shall be also. Oh blessed anticipa- 
 tion ! There shall be Abel, and all the martyrs ; 
 Abraham, and all the patriarchs ; Isaiah, and all 
 Ihe prophets ; Paul and all the apostles j Gabriel, 
 and ail the angels ; and above all, Jesus, and all 
 his ransomed people ! Oh to be amongst the 
 number ! i\ly dear brother let us be strong in the 
 Lord. Let us realize the bliss before us. Let 
 our faith bring heaven itself near, and feast, and 
 live upon the scene. Oh what a commanding in- 
 fluence would it have upon our thoughts, pas- 
 sions, comforts, sorrows, words, ministry, pray- 
 ers, praises, and conduct. What manner of 
 persons should we be in all holy conversation and 
 godliness !" 
 
 In many persons, the pleasures imparted by 
 religion are counteracted by a gloomy constitu- 
 tion : but it was not so in him. In his disposi- 
 tion they met with a friendly soil. Cheerfulness 
 was as natural to him as breathing ; and this spir* 
 it, sanctified by the grace of God, gave a tine- 
 ture to all his thoughts, conversation, and preach* 
 ing. He was seldom heard without tears ; but 
 they were frequently tears of pleasure. No lev- 
 ity, no attempts at wit, no aiming to excite the 
 risibility of an audience, ever disgraced his ser- 
 mons. Religion in him was habitual seriousness, 
 mingled with sacred pleasure, frequently rising 
 into sublime delight, and occasionally overflow- 
 ing with transporting joy. 
 
MR, SAMUEL PEARCE. 159 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 fiEFERRED TO IN THIS CHAPTER. 
 
 NO. I. 
 
 To a young man whose mind he perceived was be* 
 wildered with fruitless speculations. 
 
 " I HE conversation we had our wav to «— 
 ID far interested meinyoui religious feeling, that J 
 
 find it impossible to satisfy mv mind, till I have 
 expressed mv ardent wisnes for the happv termi- 
 nation of your late exen ises, and contributed my 
 mire to the promotion of your jov in the L«'id. A 
 disposition mure 01 less to " skeptiscism" I be- 
 lieve is common to oui nature, in proportion as 
 opposite systems and jarring opinions, each sup- 
 ported by a plausibility of argument., are present- 
 ed to our minds : and with some quaiific ation I ad- 
 mit Robinson's remark, "That he who never 
 doubted never believed." While examining the 
 grounds of persuasion, it is right for the mind to 
 hesitate. Opinions ought not to be prejudged any- 
 more than criminals. Every objection ought to 
 have its weight ; and the more numerous and for- 
 cible objections are, the more cause shall we fi- 
 nally have for the triumph, * Magna est Veritas 
 and p!evaiebit; , but there are two or three con- 
 siderations, which have no small weight with me 
 in relation to religious controversies. 
 
 "The first is, The importance of truth. It 
 would be endless to w T rite on truth in general. I 
 confine my views to what I deem the leading 
 truth in the New Testament. — The atonement 
 made on behalf- of sinners by the Son if (rod : the 
 doctrine of the Cross ; Jesus Christ and him cru- 
 cified. It surely cannot be a matter of small con- 
 
160 MEMOIRS OP THE LATE 
 
 cern whether the Creator of all things, out of 
 mere love to rebellious men, exchanged a throne 
 for a cross, and thereby reconciled a ruined world 
 to God. If this be not true, how can we respect 
 the bible as an inspired book, which so plainly 
 attributes our salvation to the grace of God, 
 through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus ? 
 And if we discard the bible, what can we do with 
 prophecies, miracles, and all the power of evi- 
 dence on which, as on adamantine pillars, its 
 authority abides r Surely the infidel has more to 
 reject than the believer to embrace. That book, 
 then, which we receive, not as the word of man, 
 but as the word of God, not as the religion of 
 our ancestors, but on the invincible conviction 
 which attends an impartial investigation of its 
 evidences ; that book reveals a truth of the high- 
 est importance to man, consonant to the opin- 
 ions of the earliest ages, and the most enlighten- 
 ed nations, perfectly consistent with the Jewish 
 economy, as to its spirit and design, altogether 
 adapted to unite the equitable and merciful per- 
 fections of the Deity in the sinner's salvation, and 
 above all things calculated to beget the most es- 
 tablished peace, to inspire with the liveliest hope, 
 and to engage the heart and life in habitual cie- 
 votedness to the interest of morality and piety. 
 Such a doctrine I cannot but venerate ; and to 
 the Author of such a doctrine, my whole soul 
 labours to exhaust itself in praise. 
 
 * Oh the sweet wonders of the Cross, 
 Where God my Saviour loy'd and dy'd I 9 
 Forgive, my friend, forgive the transport of a 
 soul compelled to feel where it attpmpts only to 
 explore. I cannot on this subject control my 
 passions by the laws of logic. God forbid that I 
 should glory y save in the cross oj Christ Jesus my 
 Lord / 
 
 " Secondly, I consider man as a deprived 
 creature; so depraved, that his judgment is as 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 161 
 
 dark as bis appetites are sensual ; wholly depend- 
 ent therefore on God for religious light, as well 
 as true devotion : yet such a dupe to pride, as to 
 reject every thing, which the narrow limits of 
 1 1 is comprehension cannot embrace ; and such a 
 el ive to his passions, as to admit no law but self- 
 interest for his government. With these views 
 of human nature, 1 am persuaded we ought to 
 -suspect our own decisions whenever they oppose 
 truths too sublime for our understandings, or too 
 pure for our lusts. 'To err' on this side, indeed, 
 * is human ;' wherefore the wise man saith, * He 
 that trusteth to his own heart is a fool,' Should, 
 therefore, the evidence be only equal on the side 
 of the gospel of Christ, I should think, with 
 .this allowance, we should do well to admit it. 
 
 "Thirdly, If the gospel of Christ be true, it 
 should be heartily embraced. We should yield 
 ourselves to its influence without reserve. We 
 must come to a point, and resolve to be either 
 infidel 5, or Christians. To know the power of 
 the sun, we should expose ourselves to his rays ; 
 to know the sweetness of honey, we must bring 
 it ;o our palates. Speculations will not do in 
 either of these cases ; much less in matters of re- 
 ligion. My son, saith God. give me Hunt heart ! 
 
 u Fourthly, A bumble admission of the hght 
 we already have, is the most effectual way to a 
 full conviction of the truth of the doctrine of 
 Christ. If any man will do his will, he shall 
 knew oj /us doetrine whether it be oj God. If we 
 horfouu God as iar as we know his will, he will 
 honoui us with further discoveries of it. Tuus 
 Shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord ; 
 thus,thussbatl you, my dearfnend, become assured 
 thai there is salvation in no other name thaq that 
 of Jesus Christ ; and thus from an inwaid expe- 
 rience of the quickening influences of his Holy 
 Spirit, you will join the admiring church, and 
 p 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF THF LATE 
 
 say of Jesus, 1 his is my beloved, this is my 
 friend ; he is the chieftst among ten thousand, 
 he is altogether lovely. ■ Yes, 1 veuhope, lex- 
 pert to see you rejoicing in Christ Jesus ; and ap- 
 pearing as a living witness that he is faithful who 
 hath said, * Seek and ye shall find - f ask and re- 
 ceive, that your joy may be full.' 
 
 S. P." 
 
 00000000000 
 
 In another letter to the same correspondent, 
 after congratulating himself that he had discover- 
 ed such a mode of killing noxious insects as 
 should put them to the least pain, and which was 
 characteristic of the tenderness of his heart, he 
 proceeds as follows * — " But enough of nature : 
 how is my brother as a Christian f We have had 
 son e interesting moments in conversation on the 
 methods of grace, that grace whose influence 
 reaches to the day of adversity, and the hour of 
 death ; seasons when, of every thing beside it 
 may be said, Miserable comforters are they all ! 
 My dear trie no, we will amuse ourselves with 
 philosophy, but Christ shall be our teacher ; 
 Christ shah be our glory ; Christ shall be our 
 portion. Oh that we may be enabled * to com- 
 prehend the heights, and depths, and lengths, 
 and breadths, and to know the love of Christ 
 which passeth knowledge !* 
 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 S. P.3 
 
MR. SAMUEL FEARCE. 163 
 
 NO. IL 
 
 "to a young gentleman of his acquaintance, who 
 
 was then studying phi/sic at Edinburgh. 
 
 u DID ray dear friend P know with 
 
 what sincere affection, and serious concern, I 
 almost daily think of him, he would need no 
 other evidence of (he effect which his last visit, 
 and his subsequent letters have produced. In- 
 deed there is not a youjig man in the world, in 
 earlier life than myself, Tor whose universal pros- 
 perity I am so deeply interested. Many circum- 
 stances I can trace, on a review of the past four- 
 teen years, which have contributed to beget and 
 augment affection and esteem : and I can assure 
 you that every interview, and every letter, still 
 tend to consolidate my regard. 
 
 44 Happy should I be, if my ability to serve you 
 at this important crisis of human life were equal 
 to your wishes, or my own. Your situation de- 
 mands ail the aid, which the wisdom and pru- 
 dence of your friends can afford, that you may 
 be directed not oniy to the most worthy objects 
 of pursuit, but also to the most effectual means 
 for obtaining them. In your professional char- 
 acter it is impossible for me to give you any as- 
 sistance. If any general observations I can make 
 should prove at ail useful, I shall be richly re- 
 warded for the time I employ in their communi- 
 •cat.on. 
 
 44 I thank vou sincerely for the freedom where- 
 with you have disclosed toe peculiarities of youp 
 situation, and the views and resolutions where- 
 with they have inspired vou. I can recommend 
 nothing better, my dear friend, than a determined 
 adherence io the purposes you have already form- 
 ed, respecting trie intimacies you contract and 
 the associates you choose. In such a piace as 
 
164 MEMOIRS OF THE LAT£ 
 
 Edinburgh, it may be supposed, no description of 
 persons will be wanting. Some so notoriously 
 vicious, that their atrocity of character will have 
 210 small tendency to confirm your morals, from 
 the odious contrast which their practices present 
 to your view. Against these, theiefbre, J need 
 not caution you. You will flee them as se many 
 serpents, in whose breath is venom and destruc- 
 tion. More danger may be apprehended from 
 those mixed characters, who biend the profession 
 ©f philosophical refinement with the secret in- 
 dulgence of those sensual gratifications, which at 
 ©me exhaust the pocket, destroy the health, and 
 debase the character. 
 
 vt That morality is friendly to individual hap- 
 piness, and to social order, no man, who res- 
 pects his own conscience, or character, will 
 have the effrontery to deny. Its avenues cannot 
 therefore, be too sacredly guaroed, nor those 
 principles which support a virtuous practice be 
 C-oo seriously maintained. But morality deiives, 
 it is true, its best, its only support, from the prin- 
 ciples of religion. 6 Tne fear of the Lord (said 
 the wise man) is to hate evil.' He, therefore, 
 who endeavours to weaken the sanctions of reli- 
 gion, to induce a skeptical habit, to detach my 
 thoughts from an ever present God> and my hopes 
 from a futurity of holy enjoyment, he is a worse 
 enemy than the man that meets me with the pistol 
 and the dagger. Should my dear friend, then, 
 fall into the company of those, whose friendship 
 cannot be purchased by the sacrifice of revelation 
 I hope he will ever think such a price too great 
 for the good opinion of men who blaspheme pi. 
 etv, and dishonour God. Deism is indeed the 
 fashion of the day ; arid to be in the mode, you 
 must quit the good old path of devotion as too 
 antiquated for any but monks and hermits; so 
 as you iaugh at religion, that is enough to secure 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCK. 165 
 
 to you the company, and the applause, of the 
 sons of politeness. Oh that God may be a buck- 
 ler and a shield to defend you from their as- 
 saults ! Let but their private morals be inquired 
 into, and if they may have a hearing, I dare en- 
 gage they will not bear a favourable testimony 
 to the good tendency of skepticism ; and it may 
 be legarded as an indisputable axiom. That what 
 is friendly to virtue is unfriendly to man. 
 
 ** Were I to argue u posteriori in favour of truth, 
 I should contend that those principles must be 
 true, which (first) corresponded with general ob- 
 servation — (secondly) tended to general happU 
 ness — (thirdlv) preserved a uniform connexion 
 between cause and effect, evil and remedy, in all 
 situations. 
 
 " I would then apply these data to the princi- 
 ples held on the one side, by the deists ; and on 
 the other, bv the believers in revelation. In the 
 application of the^zVs/, I would refer to the state 
 of human nature. [he deist contends for its pu- 
 rity, and powers. Revelation declares its depra- 
 vity, and weakness. I compare these opposite 
 declarations with the facts that fall under con- 
 stant observation. Do I not see that there is a 
 Jargei poftion of vice in the world, than of vir- 
 tue ; that no man needs solicitation to evii, but 
 every man a guard against it ; and that thousands 
 bewail their subjection to lusts, which the\ have 
 no! power to subdue, whilst they live in moral 
 slavery, and cannot buist the chain? Which 
 principle then shah I admit ? Will observation 
 countenance the deist ical ? I am convinced to 
 the ^ , and must sav, 1 cannot be a ceist 
 
 w it becoming a fool ; and to ex ijtt in \ reason, 
 
 I .>. deny my senses. 
 
 " i take the second datum, and inquire, which 
 tends ivast io gc ^ a happiness? iostcurt h p- 
 pniesi 3 three things <oe necessary : — object, 
 P 2 
 
leu MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 means, and motives. I he question ns, — Which 
 points out ih e true source of happiness \, which 
 directs to the best means for attaining it ; and 
 which furnishes me with the most powerful mo- 
 tives to induce my pursuit of it ? If I take a deist 
 for mv tutor, he tells me that Fame is the object; 
 universal accommodation of manners to interest^ 
 the means ; and self-love the spring of action. 
 Sordid teacher ! From him i turn to Jesus. His 
 better voice informs me, that the source of felici- 
 ty is the friendship of my God ; that love to my 
 maker, and love to man, expressed :n all the no- 
 ble and amiable effusions of devotion and benev- 
 olence, are the means ; and that the glory of 
 Cod 9 and the happ ness of the universe, musi be 
 my motives. Biessed instructor, thy dictates ap- 
 prove themselves to every illuminated conscience, 
 to everv pious heart ! Du thev not, my dear 
 P , approve themselves to yours ! 
 
 " But I will not tire your patience bv pursuing 
 these remarks. Little did I think of such am- 
 plification when I first took up my pen. Oh that 
 I may have the joy of finding that these (at least 
 well meant) endeavors to establish your piety 
 have not been ungraciously received, nor wholly 
 unprofitable to your mine ! I am encouraged to 
 these effusions of friendship by that amiable self- 
 distrust which your letter expresses ; a temper 
 not only becoming the earlier stages of life, but 
 graceful in aii its advancing periods. 
 
 " U i speak able satisfaction does it afford me to 
 find that you are conscious of the necessity of 
 'first' seeking assistance from heaven. Retain, 
 my dear friend, tins honourable, this equitable 
 sentiment. 4 In ail thy ways acknowledge God* 
 and he shall direct thy paths.' 
 
 <6 I hope you will still be cautions in your inti- 
 macies. You will gain more by a half hour's 
 intercourse with God, than the friendship ohh« 
 "Whole college can impart. Too much acquaint 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCLS 16 ; 7' 
 
 ance would be followed with a waste of that pre* 
 cious time, on the present improvement of which 
 your future usefulness and respectability in your 
 profession depend. Like the bee, you ma) do 
 besi by sipping the sweets of every flower ; but 
 remember, the sweetest blossom is noC the hive. 
 Yours very affectionately, 
 
 S. P.*' 
 
 '* P. S. So many books have been published 
 on the same subject as the manuscript you helped 
 me to copy, that 1 have not sent it to the press " 
 
 »># 
 
 ooocooooooo 
 
 NO. III. 
 
 To a young Lady at school. Miss A. II. a daugh- 
 ter of one oj the members oj his Church, 
 
 1C I CANNOT deny myself the pleasure, 
 which this opportunity affords me, of expressing 
 the concern I feel for your happiness, arising 
 frorrj the sincerest friendship;, a friendship, which 
 the many amiable qualities you possess, together 
 with the innumerable oppoituriities I ha\e had of 
 seeing them displayed, have taught me to form 
 and perpetuate. 
 
 " U affords me inexpressible pleasure to bear, 
 that you re bo happ) in your present Situation : 
 a situation in whici i rejoice to sec you placed, 
 because it is not merely calculated to embellish 
 the manners, but to pi* hi the soul. 1 hope that 
 mv ci«.ar Ann, amidst the various pursuits, of a,n 
 
 * The coiTip'lcr believes rln's u-a^ an answer 10 Mr. 
 Peter Edward's Candid reasons, &c He knows Mr. 
 Pearre did write an answer to thai performance. By 
 ihc effrontery of »he wriier he ha> acknowledgtd he 
 wa^ a fitst a little stunned ; but upon txtpiimng iiit 
 fcrgumtms, found u no very difficult undertaking 10 
 poiut oiu their fallacy* 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 ornamental or scientific nature which she may 
 adop , will not omit that first, that gieat concern, 
 r J he dedication of her heart to God To ibis, 
 mv dedv girl, every thing invites-you that is wor- 
 thy of your attention. The dignity of a rational 
 and immortal soul; the condition of human na- 
 ture, the gracious truths and promises of God, 
 the sweetness and usefulness of religion, the 
 cuifort if yields in affliction, the security it af- 
 foi ds in temptation, the supports it gives in death, 
 and the prospect it gives of life everlasting ; all 
 these considerations, backed with the uncertain- 
 ty of lire, the solemnity of judgment, the terrors 
 of hell, and the calls of conscience and of God, 
 — ail demand your heart for the Blessed Jehovah, 
 This, and nothing short of this, is true religion* 
 You have often heard, and often written on re- 
 ligion : it is time you should feel it now. Oh 
 wii.u a blessedness will attend yout hearty sur- 
 render of yourself to the God and Father of 
 men ! Me thinks I sec ah the angels of God re- 
 joicirrg it the sight, all the $amt$ m heaven par- 
 taking of then joy : Jesus himself, who died for 
 sinners, gazing on you with delight '. your own 
 heart fii ed with peace and joy in b« lieving ; and 
 a thousand streams ot goodness flowing frorti 
 your renovated s<>ul to refresh the aged saint, and 
 to encourage v- ur fellow youth to seek first the 
 kingdon ot heaven and press on to God. But 
 
 . should I be mistaken ! Alas, alas, I cannot 
 beai the thou j lit. Oh thou Saviour or sinner*, 
 an- God ot love ! t:ke captive the heart of my 
 de a voung friend, diid make bet tiuiy wu.mg 
 to be wholly thine ! 
 
 44 if vou can iino freedom, do oblige me with 
 a letter on the state of re; gum in youi own soul, 
 and be assuieo tit ever) sympathy 01 ad>;ce that 
 
 1 am capable oifeeJmgui giving. 
 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 S. P." 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARC£ \g$ 
 
 NO. IV. 
 
 To a young Minister, Mr. C , of L *, on 
 
 preparation) or the pulpit, 
 
 u My dear brother, 
 
 " YOUR first letter gave me much pleas- 
 ure. I hoped you would learn some useful les- 
 son from the first Sabbath's disappointment. Ev- 
 erv thing is good which leads us to depend more 
 simpiv on the Lord. Could I choose my frames, 
 I would sav respecting industry in preparation for 
 public work, as is frequently said respecting 
 Christian obedience ; L would applv as close as 
 though I expected no help from the Lord, whilst 
 I would depend on the Lord tor assistance, as 
 though I had never made any preparation at all. 
 
 " i rejoice much in ever* thing ihmt affords 
 you ground for solid pleasure. The account of 
 the affection borne you b> the people of God, 
 was therefore a matter of joy to my heart, espe- 
 cially as I learnt from tire person who brought 
 your etter, that the friendship seemed pretty 
 general. 
 
 " Your last has occasioned me some pain on 
 your account, because it informs me that you 
 have been 'exceedingly tried in '.he pulpit:' 
 but I receive satisfaction ag*in from considering, 
 that the gJoom of midnight precedes the rising 
 day, not oniy in the natural world, but frequently 
 also in the Christian minister's experience. Do 
 not be discouraged, my dear brother : those whose 
 labours God has been pleased most eminently to 
 bless, have generally had their days of prosperity 
 ushered in with clouds and storms. You are in 
 the sieve ; but the sieve is in our Saviour's hands ; 
 and he will not suffer any thing but the chaff to 
 fjill through, let him winnow us as often as lie 
 may. No one at times, 1 think I may say, has 
 
f70 MEMOIRS OP THE LAf E 
 
 beer, worse tried than myself, in the same man- 
 ner as you express ; though I must be thankful it 
 has not been often. 
 
 "You ask direction of me, my dear brother. 
 I am too inexperienced myself to be capable of 
 directing others ; yet if the little time I have 
 been employed for God has furnished me with 
 any thing worthy of communication, it will be 
 imported to no one with mure readiness than to 
 you. 
 
 " I should advise you when vou have been dis- 
 tressed by hesitation, to reflect whether it arose 
 from tin inability to recollect your ideas or to ob- 
 tain words Suited toconvei thrm. If the former, 
 I i ink. these two directions maj be serviceable * 
 First, Eftdeavoui to think in a tram. Lei one 
 idea depend upon another in four iscuurses, as 
 one 11. k does upon an ther in a chain. For this 
 end I have found it necessary to arrange my sub- 
 jects in the order of time. Thus, for instance, — 
 If speaking of the promises, 1 would begin with 
 those which were suited to the earliest inquiiies 
 of a convinced soul: as pardon, assistance in 
 picver, wisdom. &c. . then go to those parls of 
 Chi ist >an experience which aie usually subse- 
 1 1 to the former : as, promises of support in 
 uons, deliverance from temptations, and per- 
 severance in grace : closing with a review of 
 those which speak of support in death, and final 
 glory. I hen ail the varieties of description res- 
 pecting the giory of heaven will follow in natur- 
 al order : as, the enlargement of the understand- 
 ing purification of the affeciions, intercourse with 
 saints, angels, and Christ himself, which wiii be 
 eternal; thus beginning with the lowest marks of 
 grace, and ascending step by step, you at last 
 arrive in the fruition of faith, i his mode is most 
 nat ral, and most pleasing to the hearers, as well 
 as assisting to the preacher $ for one idea gives 
 
MR. SAMtTEL PEARCE. 171 
 
 bjrth to another, and he can hardly help going 
 forward regularly and easily. 
 
 " Second iv, Labour to render your ideas trans- 
 parent to yourself. Never offer to introduce a 
 thought, which you cannot see through before 
 you enter the pulpit. — You have read in Claude^ 
 that the best preparative to preach from a sub- 
 ject, is to understand it : and I think Bishop 
 Burnet says, No man properly understands any 
 thing, who cannot at any time represeni it to oth- 
 ers. 
 
 " If your hesitation proceeds from a want of 
 
 words, I should advise you 1. To read good 
 
 and easy authors : Dr. Watts especially. — 2. To 
 write a great part of your sermons, and for a 
 while get at least the leading ideas of every head 
 of discourse by heart, enlarging only at the close 
 of every thought. — 8. Sometimes, as in the end 
 of sermons, or when you preach »* villages, 
 start off in preaching beyond all you hcroe premed- 
 itated. Fasten on some leading ideas ; as, the 
 solemnity of death, the awfuiness of judgment, 
 the necessity of a ohange of heart, the willing- 
 ness of Christ to save, &c. Never mind how far 
 you ramble from the point, so as you do not lose 
 sight of it ; and if your heart be any way warm, 
 yuu will rind some expressions then fall from 
 your lips, which your imagination could not pro- 
 duce in an age of studious application. — 4. Di- 
 vest yourself of all fear. If you should breik the 
 rules of grammar, or put in, or leave oix\ a word, 
 and recolle< t at the Gmi of the sentence the im- 
 propriety i unless it makes nonsense, or bjd di- 
 vinity, nevei trv to mend it, but let it pass. If 
 So, perhaps only a tew would notice n ; ljut if 
 you stammei in trying to mend ; t, you wu: ex- 
 pose yourself to all the congregation. 
 
 46 l.i addition to II i h. • ■ . $a you k. w 
 where to took, and from whom to seek that wis- 
 
J 72 MEMOIRS OF THE LATE 
 
 dom and strength which only God can give. To 
 him I recommend you, my dear brother, assuring 
 you of my real esteem for you, and requesting 
 you will not fail to pray for the least ot saints., 
 but 
 
 S. P. 
 
 Yours affectionately^ 
 
 ooooooooooo 
 A MORNING SONG. 
 
 * { GOD of cur lives, our morning songs 
 
 To thee we cheerful raise ; 
 Thy acts of love 'tis good to sing, 
 
 And pleasant 'tis to praise. 
 
 Guardian of man, thy wakeful eyes, 
 Nor sleep, nor slumber know ; 
 
 Thilie eyes pierce through the shades of night, 
 Intent on all below. 
 
 Sustain'd by thee, cur op'ning eyes 
 
 Salute the morning light ; 
 Secure I ftand. unhurt by all 
 
 The arrows of the night, 
 
 My Y\h renew* d, my strength rcpair'd, 
 
 To thee, my God is due ; 
 Teach me thy ways, and give me grace 
 
 My duty to pursue. 
 
 From ev'iy evil me dtitnc, 
 
 But guard me most from sin \ 
 Direct my going out, Oh Lord, 
 
 And bless my coming in ! ' 
 
 Oh may thy holy fear command 
 
 Each action, thought, and word 
 
 Then shall I sweetly close the day, 
 Apprcv'd of thee, my Lord*" 
 
MR. SAMUEL PEARCE. 173 
 
 AN EVENING SONG. 
 
 " AUTHOR of life, with grateful heart 
 
 My ev'ning song I'll raise ; 
 But Oh, thy thousand thousand gifts 
 
 Exceed my highest praise. 
 
 What shall I render to thy care, 
 
 Which me this day has kept ? 
 A thankful heart's the least return, 
 
 And this thou wilt accept. 
 
 Now night has spread her sable wings, 
 
 I would the day review ; 
 My errors nicely mark, and see 
 
 What still I have to do. 
 
 What sins, or follies, holy God, 
 
 I may this day have done, 
 I would confess with grief, and pray 
 
 For pardon through thy Son. 
 
 Much of my precious time I've lost : 
 
 This foolish waste forgive ; 
 By one day nearer brought to death, 
 
 Map I begin to live l" 
 
174* CONCLUSION. 
 
 CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS. 
 
 THE great ends of Christian Biography are in- 
 struction and example. By faithfully describing 
 the lives of men eminent for godliness, we not only 
 embalm their memory, but furnish ourselves with 
 fresh materials and motives for a holy life. It is 
 abundantly more impressive to view the religion of 
 Jesus as operating in a lively character, than to 
 contemplate it abstractly. For this reason we may 
 suppose the Lord the Spirit has condescended to 
 exhibit first and principally, the life of Christ ; and 
 after his, that of many of his eminent followers. 
 And for this reason, he by his holy influences still 
 furnishes the church with now and then a singular 
 example of godliness, which it is our duty to notice 
 and record. There can be no reasonable doubt that 
 the life of Mr. Pearce ought to be considered as 
 one of these examples. May that same divine 
 Spirit who had manifestly so great a hand in form- 
 ing his character, teach us to derive from it both in- 
 struction and edification ! 
 
 First, In him zve may see the holy efficacy, and by 
 consequence, the truth of the Christian religion — It 
 was long since asked, Who is he that overcometh 
 the zvorld, but he who believeth that Jesus is the 
 Son of God? This question contained a challenge to 
 men of all religions, who were then upon the earth. 
 Idolatry had a great diversity of species : every na- 
 tion worshipping its own gods, and in modes pecul- 
 iar to themselves : philosophers also were divided 
 into numerous sects, each flattering itself that it had 
 found the truth : even the Jews had their divis- 
 ions ; their pharisees, saducees, and Essenes : but 
 sreat as manv of them were in deeds of divers kindsj 
 
CONCLUSION. ITd 
 
 an apostle could look them all in the face, and ask„ 
 Who is he that overcometh the world ? The same 
 question might safety be asked in every succeeding 
 age. The various kinds of religions that still pre - 
 vail ; the pagan, mahometan, Jewish, papal, or 
 protectant, may form the exteriors of man accor- 
 ding to their respective models ; but where is the 
 man amongst them, save the true believer in Jesus, 
 that overcometh the world ? Men may cease from 
 particular evils, and assume a very different char- 
 acter ; may lay aside their drunkenness, blasphe- 
 mies, or debaucheries, and take up with a kind of 
 monkish austerity, and yet all amount to nothing 
 more than an exchange of vices. The lusts of the 
 flesh will on many occasions give place to those of 
 the mind ; but to overcome the world is another 
 thing. JBy embracing the doctrine of the Cross, tc 
 feel not merely a dread of the consequences of sin, 
 but a holy abhorrence of its nature ; and by con- 
 versing with invisible realities, to become regard- 
 less of the best, and fearless of the worst, that this 
 world has to dispense ; this is the effect of genuine 
 Christianity, and this is a standing proof of its di- 
 vine original. Let the most inveterate enemy of 
 revelation have witnessed the disinterested benev- 
 olence of a Paul, a Peter, or a John, and whether 
 he would own it, or not, his conscience must have 
 borne testimony that this is true religion. The 
 same may be said of Samuel Pearce : whether the 
 doctrine he preached found a place in the hearts of 
 his hearers or not, his spirit and life must have ap 
 proved itself to their consciences. 
 
 Secondly, In him we see hozv much may be done 
 for God in a little time. — If his death had been 
 foreknown by his friends, some might have hesitat- 
 ed whether it was worth while for him to engage 
 in the work of the ministry for so short a period : 
 yet, if we take a view of his labours, perhaps there 
 
X7b CONCLUSION. 
 
 are few lives productive of a greater portion ot 
 good. That life is not always the longest which is 
 spun out to the greatest extent of days. The first 
 of all lives amounted but to thirty-three years ; and 
 the most important works pertaining to that were 
 wrought in the last three. There is undoubtedly a 
 way of rendering a short life a long one, and a long 
 life a short one, by filling or not filling it with prop- 
 er materials. That time which is squandered a- 
 way in sloth or trifling pursuits, forms a kind of 
 blank in human life : in looking it over there is 
 nothing for the mind to rest upon ; and a whole 
 life so spent, whatever number of years it may con- 
 tain, must appear upon reflection short and vacant, 
 in comparrison of one filled up with valuable ac- 
 quisitions, and holy actions. It is like the space be* 
 tvveen vis and the sun, which, though immensely 
 greater than that which is traversed in a profitable 
 journey, yet being all empty space, the mind goes 
 over it in much less time, and without any satisfac- 
 tion. If i that life be long which answers life's 
 great end,' Mr. Pearce may assuredly be said to 
 have come to his grave in a good old age. And 
 might we not all do much more than we do, if our 
 hearts were more in our work. Where this is 
 wanting, or operates but in a small degree, difficul- 
 ties are magnified into impossibilities ; a lion is in 
 the way of extraordinary exertion ; or if we be in- 
 duced to engage in something of this kind, it will 
 be at the expense of a uniform attention to ordinary 
 duties. But some will ask, How are our hearts to 
 be in our work ? Mr. Pearce's heart was habitual- 
 ly in his ; and that which kept alive the sacred flame 
 in him appears to have been, — The constant habit 
 of conversing with divine truth, and walking with 
 God in private. 
 
 Thirdly, In him we see, in clear and strong col- 
 ours, to -what a decree of solid peace and joy true 
 
CONCLUSION. 177 
 
 religion will raise us, even in the present world. — 
 A little religion, it has been justly said, will make 
 us miserable ; but a great deal will make us happy. 
 The one will do little more than keep the con- 
 science alive, while our numerous defects and in- 
 consistences are perpetually furnishing it with ma- 
 terials to scourge us : the other keeps the heart 
 alive, and leads us to drink deep at the fountain of 
 joy. Hence it is, in a great degree, that so much 
 of the spirit of bondage, and so little of the Spirit 
 of adoption prevails among Christians. Religious 
 enjoyments with us are rather occasional, than ha- 
 bitual ; or if in some instances it be otherwise, we 
 are ready to suspect that it is supported in part by 
 the strange fire of enthusiasm, and not by the pure 
 flame of scriptural devotion. But, in Mr. Pearce, 
 we saw a devotion ardent, steady, pure, and perse- 
 vering ; kindled, as we may say, at the altar of God, 
 like the fire of the temple, it went not out by night 
 nor by day. He seemed to have learnt that heaven- 
 ly art, so conspicuous among the primitive Chris- 
 tians, of converting every thing he met with into 
 materials for love, and joy, and praise. Hence he 
 4 laboured,' as he expresses it, 4 to exercise most 
 love to God when suffering most severely ;' and 
 hence he so affectingly encountered the billows that 
 overwhelmed his feeble frame, crying, 
 
 c Sweet affliction, sweet affliction, 
 Singing as I wade to heaven,. ■ 
 
 The constant happiness that he enjoyed in God 
 was apparent in the effects of his sermons upon oth- 
 ers. Whatever we feel ourselves we shall ordina- 
 rily communicate to our hearers ; and it has been 
 already noticed, that one of the most distinguish- 
 ing properties of his discourses was, — that they in- 
 spired the serious mind with the liveliest sensations 
 
178 CONCLUSION. 
 
 of happiness. They descended upon the audience, 
 not indeed like a transporting flood, but like a 
 shower of dew, gently insinuating itself into the 
 heart, insensibly dissipating :ts gloom, and gradu- 
 ally drawing forth the graces of faith, hope, love, 
 and joy : while the countenance was brightened al- 
 most into a smile, tears of pleasure would rise, and 
 glisten, and fall fr3m the admiring eye. 
 
 What a practical confutation did his life afford 
 of the slander so generally cast upon the religion of 
 Jesus, that it fills the mind with gloom and misery ! 
 No : leaving futurity out of the question, the whole 
 world of unbelievers might be challenged to pro- 
 duce' a character from among them who possessed 
 half his enjoyments. 
 
 Fourthly, From his example we are furnished 
 with the greatest encouragement, xuhile pursuing 
 the path of duty, to place our trust in God* — The 
 situation in which he left his family, we have seen 
 already, was not owing to an indifference to their 
 interest, or an improvident disposition, or the want 
 of opportunity to have provided for them : but to a 
 steady and determined obedience to do what he ac- 
 counted the will of God. He felt deeply for them, 
 and we all felt with him, and longed to be able to 
 assure him before his departure, that they would be 
 amply provided for : but owing to circumstances 
 which have already been mentioned, this was more 
 than we could do. This was a point in which he 
 was called to die in faith: and indeed so he did. 
 He appears to have had no idea of that flood of 
 kindness, which, immediately after his decease, 
 flowed from the religious public ; biit he believed 
 in God, and cheerfully left all with him. ' Oh that 
 I could speak,' said he to Mrs. Pearce a little be- 
 fore his death, i I would tell a world to trust a faith- 
 ful God. Sweet affliction ; now it worketh glory, 
 glory !' And when she told him the workings of her 
 
CONCLUSION. 179 
 
 mind, he answered, l Oh trust the Lord ! If he lift 
 up the light of his countenance upon you, as he has 
 done upon me this day, all your mountains will be- 
 come mole-hills. I feel your situation : I feel your 
 sorrows : but he who takes care of sparrows, will 
 care for you and my dear children.' 
 
 The liberal contributions which have since been 
 made, though they do not warrant ministers in gen- 
 eral to expect the same, and much less to neglect 
 providing for their own families on such a presump- 
 tion ; yet they must need be considered as a singu- 
 lar encouragement, when we are satisfied that we 
 are in the path of duty, to be inordinately ' careful 
 for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and sup- 
 plication, with thanksgiving, to let our requests be 
 made known to God.' 
 
 Finally, In him we see that the way to true ex- 
 cellence is not to affect eccentricity, nor to aspire 
 after the performance of a few splendid actions ; 
 but to fill up our lives with a sober, modest, sincere, 
 
 affectionate, assiduous, and uniform conduct. 
 
 Real greatness attaches to character ; jand charac- 
 ter arises from a course of action. Solid reputation 
 as a merchant arises not from a man's having made 
 his fortune by a few successful adventures ; but 
 from a course of wise economy, and honourable in- 
 dustry, which gradually accumulating, advances by- 
 pence to shillings, and by shillings to pounds. The 
 most excellent philosophers are not those who have 
 dealt chiefly in splendid speculations, and looked 
 down upon the ordinary concerns of men as things 
 beneath their notice ; but those who have felt their 
 interests united with the interests of mankind, and 
 bent their principal attention to things of real and 
 public utility. It is much the same in religion. 
 We do not esteem a man for one, or two, or three 
 good deeds, any farther than as these deeds are indi- 
 cations of the real state of his mind. We do not 
 
180 CONCLUSION'. 
 
 estimate the character of Christ himself so much 
 from his having given sight to the blind, or restored 
 Lazarus from the grave, as from his going' about 
 continually doing good. 
 
 These single attempts at great things are fre- 
 quently the efforts of a vain mind, which pants for 
 fame, and has not patience to wait for it, nor dis- 
 cernment to know the way in which it is obtained. 
 One pursues the shade, and it flies from him ; while 
 another turns his back upon it, and it follows him. 
 The one aims at once to climb the rock, but falls 
 ere he reaches thejsummit ; the other walking round 
 it, in pursuit of another object, gradually and insen* 
 sibly ascends till he reaches it ; seeking the appro- 
 bation of his God, he finds with it that of his fellow 
 Christians. 
 
^HE promised Presence of Christ with his 
 People a Source of Consolation under the 
 most painful bereavements. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE 
 
 Baptist Meeting-House, Cannon-Street, Birmingham* 
 
 ON 
 
 LORD'S DAY EVEN IN G, OCT. 20, 179SU 
 
 Occasioned by the Death of 
 
 The Rev. SAMUEL PKARCE, a. it, 
 
 LATE PASTOR 
 OF THE CHURCH ASSEMBLING THERE ; 
 
 Who died October . \Q, in the y*:h Year of /us Jge* 
 
 By JOHN RYLAND, d. d. 
 
 To which is prefixed* 
 
 AN 
 
 ORATION 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE, OCT. 16, 1T99. 
 By the Rev. J. BREWER. 
 
 NEWARK; 
 
 PRINTED BY W. TUTTL*?.- 
 
 1809. 
 
THE 
 SUBSTANCE of an ORATION, 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE 
 OF 
 
 The Kev. SAMUEL PEARCE, 
 
 WE are called together to-day upon a most 
 solemn and affecting occasion. Our business 
 here is, to convey the precious remains of a dear 
 departed brother to his long home, to the house 
 appointed for all living. The subject of our pres- 
 ent contemplation is of no ordinary kind ; it is 
 that which ought to come home to every man's 
 bosom, because it is that in which we are all inter- 
 ested. It is not like many other subjects, which, 
 while some are materially affected by them, to 
 others they are articles of total indifferency : but 
 death speaks ill an imperious tone, and demands 
 the attention of all. 
 
 Death! solemn sound ! the bare annunciation 
 of which, should arrest the mind of every individ- 
 ual in this numerous assembly. Where is the 
 man that liveth and shall not see death ? When 
 Xerxes viewed his incalculable army, it is said, 
 he wept, from the consideration that in a few 
 years, not one of that prodigious host would be 
 living. Whether the Persian really wept or not, 
 I am not sure ; but when I consider, that in a few, 
 comparatively a very few years, not one of all 
 whom F am now addressing but must be laid as low 
 as the breathless corpse of our dear departed 
 
4 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 brother, I feel my mind deeply affected. And-, 
 O that 1 could but awaken a dtfe concern in every 
 bosom about this truly momentous subject ! 
 
 Thus stands the irrevocable decree of the immu- 
 table God — It is appointed unto all men once 
 TO DIE. The wise and unwise* the patrician and 
 plebian, the monarch and the beggar, must submit 
 alike to the strong arm of this universal conquer- 
 or, the king of terrors. A consideration like this 
 should sink deep into every man's heart ; but 
 alas ! man is a strange being, loth to learn what 
 most intimately belongs to him. The most awfu! 
 things losettheir effect by their frequency; and 
 hence it is, that the death of a fellow-creature is, 
 in general, no more regarded than u the fallof an 
 autumnal leaf in the pathless desert.** Wretched 
 apathy! Fatal insensibility ! 
 
 Let us for a moment meditate upon the effects 
 subsequent to the triumph of the last enemy. 
 What melancholy ravages does he make, even in 
 1K25 ^orld ! He eau&es ib&faire&t flower to wither- 
 often in the morning; he stains the pride of all 
 sublunary glory ; and casts the noblest work of 
 God into the dust. When he takes to himself his 
 great power, none can stay his hand. Fixed in 
 his purpose, and irresistible in the execution of 
 the same, he stalks, untouched by the pangs of ag- 
 onizing nature ; the distress of helpless infancy 5 
 the poignant grief of paternal affection; or the 
 bitterest sorrows of connubial love. Relentlessly he 
 breaks in upon domestic happiness ; frustrates the 
 most benevolent designs ; and casts a dark shade 
 upon the brightest prospects. In fine, cruelty 
 marks his footsteps ; and desolation and anguish 
 are his common attendants. 
 
 If we look beyond the scene which presents it. 
 self to our view in this life; and, by the aid of 
 revelaton, endeavour to substantiate the serious 
 realities of death, beyond " that bourne frora 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pi'arce. 5 
 
 whence no traveller returns !V If we look into the 
 eternal world, and there behold what follows death, 
 surely we cannot remain unmoved* 
 
 Man is a mortal ; H is the flesh i nh thai <)ies : 
 The spirit is incorruptible,. Hence dear!) ig the 
 mos 1 eventful period The body returns toditst ; 
 but the spirit ascends to God ; and enters then up- 
 on its eternal state. But the state of all men is 
 not alike beyond the grave — The -wicked is driven 
 away in his wickedness. The; guilty sinner then 
 knows, that it is a fearful thThg to fall into the 
 hands of the living God. Guilt subjects him to 
 the divine displeasure ; and moral depravity un- 
 fits him for that p'ace, into which nothing that 
 defileth can possibly enter. Fearful moment ! 
 All his hopes are no-v like a spider's web ; his 
 imaginary refuges fail ; and 'he wrath of God 
 ''beats upon his naked soul, in one eternal 
 s'.orm " The rich man in Luke xvi. can tell us 
 all about it. He died and was buried ; and in hell 
 he lift up his eyes, being in torment. And thus 
 will it happen lo all, who know not God. He 
 that made them will have no mercy on them ; what- 
 ever their respective situation may have been in 
 this life. Death, that mighty leveller, will reduce 
 them 2\\ to a sad equality. He that fared sump- 
 tuously every da\ , had not a drop of water to 
 cool his burning tongue, when once he had pass- 
 ed the tremendous gulf. 
 
 How different the estate of a good mar. ! The 
 righteous hath hope in his djalh. The day of his 
 deat!) is infinitely better than the day of his birth : 
 It is his coronation day ; the final close of aU his 
 troubles. He shall sorrow no more. Whatever 
 fee underwent in passing through this vale of tears f 
 however numerous and severe his trials, they are 
 all over. The Lamb in the midst of the throne 
 shall feed Win. He shall eat of the tree of life 
 *hich is in the midst of the paradise of God. He 
 Aa 
 
6 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 enters upon his rest, and shall go no more out 
 forever. He is happy, as God is happy ; and 
 saved with an everlasting salvation. 
 
 Thus death is always a solemn, and affecting 
 event but sometimes, cireumstances render it 
 peculiarly ^o : and this is now the case. We have 
 conveyed no common mortal to the grave. Here 
 lies the cold, the exanim. j ted clay of a good man > 
 of an eminently good man ; a faithful, highly fa- 
 vored minister of the glorious Gospel of the bless- 
 ed God. When a good man dies, it is a common 
 loss; thus the Psalmist viewed it. Help, Lord, 
 for ike godly man ceaseth ! The death of such a 
 man, Is a national loss, for" the strength of empire 
 is religion." Righteousness exalteih a ration. 
 Good men are the salt of the earth. It is particu- 
 larly a loss to the cause of God on earth : there is 
 one laborer less in the vineyard ; one watchman 
 less upon the walls of Jerusalem. The death of 
 that good man, whom we are now bewailing, is a 
 great loss to the pburohes of Christ. His ardent love 
 for the whole truth ; his flaming zeal ; his chaste 
 conversation will be long remembered by many* 
 But you, my brethren, who compose the 
 Church and Congregation in this place, you have 
 had a great breach made upon you ; a breach that 
 cannot easily be repaired. You have lost a val- 
 uable minister ; a man, who labored hard for your 
 eternal good ; a man, whose grand aim was to 
 make you happy forever. You know how fre- 
 quency he has warned you to flee from the wrath 
 to come ; how plainly he has pointed you to the 
 Lamb of God, as the only sacrifice for your sins. 
 Yes, ye are witnesses ho-v he has prayed for you, 
 and wept over you. You have often heard him 
 raise, within these walls, his charming voice, in 
 publishing glad tidings to Zion. This night, 
 twelve months, the place that I am now occupy- 
 ing, w£* occupied by him. This very night twelve 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pearce. 7 
 
 months, you heard the Gospel in this very place 
 from his mouth ; But it is all over ; you shall hear 
 his voice, you shall see his face no more. There lies 
 all that could die of a good man ; a faithful mini^ 
 ter; a tender father; and an affectionate hus- 
 band. His lips are closed tn silence ; and a'long 
 night hangs upon his eyes. Dust is returning to 
 dust ; and corruption already commences its ri- 
 ot- 
 Painful as the stroke has been to you, there are 
 those, on whom it has fallen with greater severity. 
 You may be provided with another minister ; but 
 who can make up the loss to his bereaved family ? 
 Who can restore him to the dee; ly afflicted partner 
 of his life ? Who like him, can soothe her sor- 
 rows, and cheer her on the rugged path of time ? 
 Who can restore the fond father, to live dear help- 
 less babes? Cruel death! Inexorable monster!' 
 What hast thou done ? — But the Lord reigneth, 
 and we will be still. 
 
 The present dispensation is not only solemn and 
 affecting, but it is likewise alarming. It has a 
 loud voice : not to attend to it, would be highly 
 criminal. It speaks to us all. Death always 
 speaks loudly ; but some deaths louder than oth- 
 ers. The present speaks loud enough to be heard 
 BY THIS CHCJRCH AND CONGREGATION. Methinks, 
 with strong emphasis, it now saith Unto you, O 
 men OF THIS place, I call. You have had a 
 great loss ; but is there not a cause ? God forbid 
 that I should charge the death of your minister 
 upon you ! Yet I know it is possible for a people 
 to murder their minister ; and that by the most 
 cruel means. There needs neither the poison 
 nor the dagger ; it may be done effectually with- 
 out either. I hope it is quite inapplicable ; but 
 it may not be altogether useless, to ask, Are there 
 r.one of you 3 who have pierced him through with 
 many sorrows ? Has his heart never been wrung 
 
8 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 by your unkindness r Has your misbehaviour, it* 
 
 your Christian profession, never caused him to 
 sav, O that I had in the wilderness, a lodging- place 
 of zvay faring men, that I might leave my people 
 and gs frcm them. Jer. ix. 2. r Though I thus 
 speak, I .am sur.» it has no general application. 
 Few men were better beloved by their people than 
 he was. Your many prayers for his recovery ; 
 your tender solicitude for his welfare ; y 
 present evident distress, all speak for you : your 
 tears do you honour- But let me speak it again ; 
 should there be a cruel individual amongst you, 
 to whom the charge applies, I would not for a 
 world, be that man : He must answer for it in 
 another day. God will avenge his own elect. 
 
 Where this has not been the case ; where noth- 
 ing but kindness marked your behaviour towards 
 your departed friend ; has he had do occasion to 
 weep in secret on your account, because thoi: 
 you esteemed the man, you nealectedhis messa- 
 Vh brethren ! it is to be feared, unless your state, 
 as a church and congregation, be singular, that 
 
 ; word preached did not profit all of you, Some 
 ■S you may yet be in your sins. God has borne 
 
 ig with you; but he may have been weary of 
 forbearing ; he may have been angry at your in- 
 fidelity ; and in judgment taken away his servant. 
 I do not say this is the case ; but if it be only a 
 possible case, it should cause searchtngs of heart 
 amongst you. 
 
 It is a providence that speaks to us all, as MORTAL 
 MEN. In a little time, according to the rornmon 
 course of nature, the place that now know* us ? 
 shall know us no more. Time with rapid wing, 
 bears us away to that place, where no device nor 
 work is foui>d ; to that state, where there is no 
 distinction, but that of just and unjust. But ipbp 
 can reckon upon the common extent of human 
 1 Behold, before our eyes, a young nao, whe 
 
the Hev. Samuel Pmrce. 9 
 
 had not lived out; half his days, called to eternity, 
 in *ht thirty-fourth year of his life. Should not 
 this awaken our concern, and excite us to make 
 that important inquiry, Who shai*l be the next ? 
 He who bids the fairest for length of years, may 
 be the first to fall. Let us then so number our 
 days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 
 We will now " turn to the bright reverse of this 
 mortifying scene." We have hitherto looked at 
 the dark side of the cloud, let us now contemplate 
 its luminous one. 
 
 Death we admit is a penalty — by sin came death* 
 Death is an enemy — the lust enemy ; but, blessed 
 be God, he is a conquered enemy. The Captain 
 of our salvation has destroyed him who had the 
 power of death. Influenced by the faith of God's 
 elect, believers in all ages hate triumphed over 
 death; they have sang with their expiring breath, 
 and exulted amidst th? swellings of Jordan. 
 
 Death <s amongst the privileges of the children 
 of God. JJeaik i& 7jgurs, H*J K*ee*s them &8 ci 
 friend, as an envoy commissioned by their heaven- 
 ly Father, to bring them to his throne. Our eyes 
 have frequent beheld the victory of faith, id the 
 dark valley. Assaulted on either hand by pale 
 disease, and its long train of attendants, we have 
 seen good men rising superior to all the evils of 
 the;r situation; feeling a u majesty in death ;" 
 and entering the eternal world, shouting, Thanks 
 be to God who hath given us the victory. 
 
 This is Lot all. The total destruction of death 
 is laid in the irreversible counsel of the Most 
 High. The last enemy shall be destroyed. Death 
 himself must die. The tabernacle of God shall he 
 with men ; he will wipe away all tears from their 
 eyes ; and there >hail be no more death, i he sea 
 shall give up its dead, and those that are in 
 graves shall come forth. Then the Lord Jesus 
 Vill make his triumph complete, and cast < 
 
J.Q Oration at the Grave of 
 
 and bell into the lake of fire and brimstone. The 
 re-animated dust of the redeemed shall then be 
 perfectly released from the bondage of corruption, 
 and made like unto the glorious body of their great 
 Head : the whole number of the elect shall then 
 be presented before the presence of the divine glo- 
 ry, with exceeding great joy 
 
 One grand indispensable inquiry yet remains.— 
 By what means may we attain to the resurrection 
 of the just? In search of this important subject, 
 we are not left to wander in the maze of uncertain- 
 ty and doubt ; the way into the holiest is made man- 
 ifest. There are three things absolutely requisite 
 for a man to be acquainted with, before he can en- 
 ter into life. 
 
 First, The pardon of our sins. The scripture 
 proposes this unspeakable gift by the blood of Je- 
 sus. We have redemption through his blood, even 
 the forgiveness of our sins. Ephes. i. 7. 
 
 Secondly, The justification of our persons. 
 Provision for which is made by the obedWoc* o£ 
 the Son of God. He is the end of the law for 
 righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. x. 
 4. 
 
 Thirdly, The sanctification of our nature. 
 Jesus is of God made unto us sanctification. 1. 
 Cor. i. 30. By the influence of his Spirit upon 
 our hearts, " we are made partakers of the divine 
 nature ; sanctified in body, sous and spirit ; and 
 changed thus into the divine image, as by the 
 Spirit of our God." 2 Cor, iii. 8. 
 
 This is the only method of salvation counte- 
 nanced in scripture ; and it seems a method, 
 %i just to God, a«)d safe to man. ?1 
 
 To conclude. Though we sorrow to-day, we 
 do not sorrow as those who have no hope. God, 
 who has taken away our dear brother, will take care 
 of his. Be will be a husband to the forlorn wid- 
 ow, and a father to the dear tender babes. A 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pea'rce. ' II 
 
 good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's 
 children. God will provide ; he will surely do 
 them good ; he has the hearts of all men in his 
 hands ; he will raise up friends for them ; and 
 eventually make it appear, that even this dark dis- 
 pensation, is amongst the all things, that work to«» 
 gether for good. 
 
 He that has the government upon his shoulders, 
 will take care of you, my br.*hren, as a church. 
 A pastor is provided for you ; and he who knows 
 him, will bring him amongst you in his own way, 
 and time. Trust in the Lord ; he will never for- 
 sake Zion ; her walls are ever before him. Take 
 his word for jour ru'e ; live according to the 
 same ; seek him by prayer and supplication : and 
 you shall yet praise him. 
 
 We now bid farewell, a long farewell, to the 
 sleeping dust of our departed brother : but, bless- 
 ed be God, though it be a long farewell, it will 
 not be an everlasting one. We shall meet again,. 
 What we are to-day sowing in dishonour, shall bo 
 raised in giory. The trumpet shall sound ; our 
 brother will arise ; we shall meet, no more to par% 
 When Jesus comes, he will bring all his saints 
 with him. Comfort ye one another with thess 
 things* 
 
SERMON 
 
 Occasioned by the Death of 
 
 The Rev. SAMUEL PEARCE, A. M\ 
 
 John xiv. is. 
 
 I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS. I 
 WILL COME UNTO YOUo 
 
 SO deeply am I sensible of the loss sustained 
 by this church in general, not to say by the nesr- 
 est relative of my dear departed brother, that on a 
 partial view of their circumstances, (and our views, 
 especially of afflictive events, are too commonly 
 partial) I could not he surprised, were some now 
 present ready to exclaim, " Is there any sorrow 
 like unto our sorrow, wherewith the Lord has tins 
 day afflicted us V % But though I scarcely know 
 where a church could sustain an equal loss, by the 
 removal ofsoyounga pastor ; nor can ! I 
 there exists a widow, ivli sm death bag plundi red 
 Of a richerstcre of blessings, bv taking from bei 
 
14 The Presence of Christ 
 
 and from her infant care, the guide of their youth ; 
 yet, on more mature consideration, we must not 
 admit that lamentation to be applicable, even to 
 them that feel the most pungent grief in this as* 
 ieiiibly. The event which has occasioned our 
 present meeting, must deeply affect even stran- 
 gers, whose hearts know how to feel ; but all the 
 dearest friends of the deceased must acknowledge, 
 that the days of tribulation, which preceded this 
 mournful evening, were not the season of display- 
 ing the Lord's anger, but of the clear manifesta- 
 tion of his faithfulness and love : They were to 
 him the days of heaven upon earth. Surely they 
 who drank with him the deepest out of his cup of 
 affliction, could find no savour of the curse, no, 
 not at the bottom ; nor could they drink the bit- 
 ter, without testing also of the sweet, which was 
 not sparingly dront into it, but copiously infused. 
 And after such proofs and illustrations of the di- 
 vine fidelity, I cannot but believe, that she who 
 needs them most of all, shall find farther stores of 
 consolation laid up for her relief : since God her 
 Maker is her husband, who giveth songs in the 
 night. 
 
 This church also must be reminded, that there 
 was a church at Jerusalem, near eighteen centu- 
 ries ago, which sustained a loss unspeakably grea- 
 ter than that which they no.v bewail ; while yet 
 the sorrow, which was then endured, was quickly 
 turned into joy. And your affectionate pastor, 
 who, both in health and in sickness, cared so much 
 for yc^.r welfare, did not hesitate to recommend 
 to your attention, the kind assurance which was 
 given for their relief ; as believing it to contain 
 ground of encouragement, on which you also are 
 authorized to depend. He who said to his dear 
 disciples, 6< I will not leave you comfortless or- 
 phans, t wil! cone unioi/cu" has the same respec- 
 to his whols chu-c!' ;r: every age : and you, mj 
 
a Source of Consolation. lu 
 
 brethren, may as safely rely on his gracious prom- 
 ise, as his very apostles. 
 
 Yes, beloved, we are authorized to make a gen- 
 eral application of this word of consolation ; and 
 must affirm, That the promised presence ot the 
 blessed Redeemer is the best source of comfort, to 
 all his people, in every time of trouble. 
 
 In complying with the request of' my dear de- 
 ceased brother, I shall first consider the subject 
 in reference to those, to whom it was immediately 
 addressed, and then endeavour to apply it to the 
 present occasion. 
 
 FlRSTV Let us notice the immediate reference 
 oi tills declaration, to our Lord's disciples, who 
 were then favoured with his bodily presence. 
 
 You are well aware that the words I have read 
 were spoken by the blessed Jesus, to those who 
 followed him in the days of his humiliation ; and 
 that when he thus addressed them, sorrow had fill- 
 ed their hearts, because he had just announced 
 his approaching departure. He came from the 
 Father, and was come into the world, and though 
 the world w s made by him, yet the world knew 
 him not ; but he had made himself knovvn to these 
 his disciples, whom he ha\d chosen out of the 
 world ; and now when he was about to leave them, 
 and go unto the Father, though his stupid and un- 
 grateful countrymen would rather rejoice at his 
 leaving the earth, than bewail it, yet his disciples 
 could not but weep and lament and be sorrowful ; 
 and surely, well they might, at the thought of lo- 
 
 g such an invaluable Friend ! 
 
 Especially we might expect this to be the case, 
 A we rcfieet on the manner in whieh he was to be 
 removed from them. They were to see him false- 
 ly accused, unjustly condemned, and cruelly mur- 
 dered ; being nailed to the cross with wicked 
 hands, suspended between two thieves, and while 
 thus numbered with transgressors, insulted and 
 
16 The Presence of Christ 
 
 rided In his last agonies. Yes, he would be treat- 
 ed as the object of national abhorrence and exe- 
 cration, and that by the only people upon earth, 
 who professed to be the worshippers of the true 
 Cod. And his disciples must either view this 
 barbarous treatment of their blessed Lord, or hide 
 themselves from the shocking scene, by forsaking 
 him in the boar of distress. In the mean while, 
 he was also apparently abandoned by God him- 
 self, the zeal of whose house had consumed him ; 
 the Lord was pleased to bruise him, and put him 
 ^o grief ; he was resolved to make his soul an of- 
 fering for sin, and therefore he called on his sword 
 To awake against him, who was their good Shep- 
 herd ; though he was one in covenant, yea, one 
 in nature with himself; who could without rob- 
 bery claim equality with God. What could be 
 more surprizing, distressing and perplexing to his 
 disciples, than such a series of events ! 
 
 While Jesus was with them he had fed them, 
 and kept them as a shepherd doth his flock ; he 
 ftad laid them like lambs in his bosom, and led 
 them on gradually in the paths of truth and righte- 
 ousness, as they were able to bear it. He had 
 been gentle among them, as a nursing father is 
 gentle towards his little children; pitying theiv 
 infirmities, rectifying their mistakes, supplying 
 'heir wants, healing their maladies ; manifesting 
 •o them his Father's will, and keeping them in his 
 name : and must they now lose his visible pres- 
 ence, and see him no more ? 
 
 He had been little more than .three an I thirty 
 ears in the world, and most of them had known 
 but a very small part of that period ; they 
 had, however, now beheld his glory, and were 
 convinced thai it was the glory of the only begot* 
 ten of tM Father, full of grace and truth. They 
 were sat siied thin he alone had the words of ete:- 
 mj life; thev brlieved and knew that he was ttc 
 
a Source of Consolation. 
 
 Christ, the Son of the living God ; though at pres- 
 
 ; they understood but imperfectly that plan of 
 redemption, which rendered it expedient and ne- 
 cessary, that he should suffer a!i things and then 
 enter into glory. This remaining ignorance must 
 abundantly enhance their grief, at the intimations 
 given them of his departure being at hand.*" 
 
 But in these words, their gracious Lord suggests', 
 that they had no occasion to sink under their soy- 
 
 • s. He <vould not leave them comfort-ess, like 
 destitute orphans, who had no affectionate patent, 
 
 wise tutor, no faithful guardian, to supply their 
 wants, sympathize with them, protect them from 
 evil, or instruct them in the way of duty. No s 
 
 had promised them his Holy Spirit, to be their 
 Comforter and Monitor ; and here he engages also, 
 to come again to them himself ; / will come unto 
 you, saith our Lord. This promise was fulfilled 
 to them in several ways — 
 
 1. In his repeated appearance? to them, after 
 his resurrection. Thus as he suggests in the next 
 
 * The conceptions of the disciples, on the subject of 
 Christ's atoning sacrifice, "appear to have been much less 
 distinct than those of David, Isaiah, and many of the Old 
 Testament saints, who lived before the declension of the 
 Jewish church ; which appears to have lost much of its 
 spiritual light, and to have become more and more carnali- 
 zed, from the days of Malachi, till the coming of our Lore}. 
 And it seemed necessary that this general declension, and 
 ignorance of the nature of the Mesiah's character and king- 
 dom should be suffered to take place, in order to the fu'fil- 
 ment of prophecy, in the death of our Saviour, by the hands 
 of his own countrymen ; so there was an expediency, and a 
 display of wisdom in concealing from the disciples the ne- 
 cessity and glorious design of Christ's Death, that they 
 might not rejoice in so awful an event, till after it was over : 
 had their ideas been clear on this head, they must have re- 
 joiced in his sufferings at the very time of them ; but i< 
 beemed more fitting that they should mourn then, and thai 
 their sorrow shou'd be turned i-n^o joy, aftfci his re^urrer*. 
 tion. 
 
 B b 
 
18 The Presence of Christ 
 
 vers?, although in a little while, the world should 
 see him no more, yet they should tee him ; and 
 that sight should he the pledge that his wo/ds 
 should hold good, u Because I five, yeshall live a 1 - 
 so." Accordingly the Evangelists attest, that he 
 " { shewed himself alive after his passion, by many 
 infallible proofs, unto the Apostles whom he had 
 chosen, being seen of them forty days," before he 
 was taken up into glory '. for God who raised him 
 up, the th.rd day after his crueiiixion, " shewed 
 him openly, not to all the people, but unto wit- 
 nesses chosen before of God, even to us," says Pe- 
 ter, " who did eat and drink with him after he 
 rose from the dead ; whom he commanded to 
 preach unto the people, and to testify that he is 
 appointed to be the Judge of the living and the 
 dead ; and thai to him all the prophets gave wit- 
 ness, that through his name, whosoever believeth 
 in him, shall receive remissions of sips," There* 
 fore, though he soon left then) again, being carried 
 up into heaven, yet their understandings having 
 been opened by him, that they might understand 
 the scriptures, and see how it behoved him to suf- 
 fer, arid to rise again, " they worshipped him, 
 -.vhen he was parted fiom them, and returned to 
 Jerusalem with great joy," where they waited to 
 to be endued with power from on high, and receiv- 
 ed thepromised effusion of the Spirit, not many 
 days afterward. But, 
 
 2. It received a more permanent accomplish- 
 ment, in the continued enjoyment of his spiritual 
 Presence and divine Influence. We fully ascer- 
 tain this priviledge to be included in the text, by 
 •comparing this promise, I will come unto you, with 
 those declarations, recorded by Matthew, which ad- 
 mit of no solution without the acknowledgment of 
 Christ's proper divinity : "Where two or three 
 are gathered together in my nar?ie, thre am 1 , in 
 the midst of them* ■ And) lo I 1 am -with you aU 
 ways to the end of the world* Amen?* 
 
a Source of Consolation. 1& 
 
 3. At the end of the world, it shall receive a 
 farther fulfilment, by our Lord's coming again in 
 that human nature, which " it behoved heaven to 
 receive, until the times of restitution of all things 
 of which God spake by the mouth of his holy 
 prophets, since the world began." Then he who 
 went to prepare a place for his disciples, and all 
 his subsequent followers, will come again, and re- 
 ceive them to himself; that where he is, there 
 they may be also. Then they who were troubled 
 for their adherence to his cause, shall enter into 
 rest : when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from 
 heaven. At that same period, will he take ven- 
 geance on them who know not God, and who o- 
 bey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Chrisr, and 
 punish them with everlasting destruction ; when 
 he shall come to be glorified in his saints , and ad- 
 mired in all them who believe. For God will 
 bring with him them who now sleep in Jesus, 
 while the believers who remain, atthat time, alive 
 upon earth, shall feel a change pass upon their 
 bodies, to render them like those who are newly 
 raised from the dead, and all" shall be caught up 
 together to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall 
 we ever be with the Lo**d. Wherefore," says 
 Paul, " comfort one another with these words." 
 He who testified these things to his disciples, 
 while he was yet with them, repeated his promise 
 long afterwards, to his servant John, saying, 
 %c Surely, I come quickly." May we unite with 
 that beloved disciple, iu saying, " Amen. Even 
 so come, Lord Jesus." 
 
 And now, my brethren, if this assurance was 
 sufficient to relieve the minds of the Apostles, 
 when they lost the bodily presence of their Divine 
 blaster, m^y wo not safely proceed 
 
 Secondly, To apply the same consolation to 
 iiie relief of those who are most affected by the 
 
 re bereaving providence 
 
20 The Presence of Christ 
 
 This Church has lost a most diligent, faithful, 
 affectionate and valuable Pastor ; and far be it 
 from me to make light of your Iosf.. All those 
 churches who knew him only by occasional vis- 
 its, all good men who had an opportunity of appre- 
 dating his worth, must sympathize with you; 
 while they grieve to think that they themselves, 
 who saw his face so seldom, shall see it no more. 
 His brethren in the ministry, who enjoyed the 
 pleasure and advantage of his friendship and cor- 
 respondence, feel a loss which they will ever de- 
 plore. How then must you regret his removal, 
 who were, many of vou,the seals of his ministry ; 
 who of all you, hoped long to enjoy his constant 
 labours ; and for whose welfare he laid himself 
 out, with such unremitting assiduity ? The Pas- 
 tor whose absence you mourn, possessed such an 
 assemblage of lovely graces and acceptable qualifi- 
 cations, as are found united but seldom, even in 
 truly Christian ministers. He had the firmest at- 
 tachment to evangelical truth, and the most con- 
 stant regard to practical godliness ; he united re- 
 markable soundness of judgment, with uncommon 
 warmth of affections. I never saw, at leas \ in 
 one of his years, such active, ardent zeal, con- 
 joined with such gentleness, modesty and deep 
 humility ; so much of the little child > and so 
 much of the Kvangelist, I can scarcely forbare say- 
 ing, of the Apostle of Jesus Christ. I know not 
 how to flatter vou, with the hope of obtaining an- 
 other minister 5 or myself, with the expectation 
 ef finding another friend, in whom all these char- 
 ming qualities shall be found, in an equal degree. 
 He was indeed, " a burning and a shining light, 
 and we rejoiced in his light, for a season j" but 
 but now we must lament, that he shines no more 
 on earth ; though we doubt not, that he shines like 
 the sun, in the kingdom of his Father. 
 
 While he abode among us, his affections flrere 
 
a Source of Consolation. 2 1 
 
 evidently and eminently in heaven ; his work, 
 his family, and his people, were the only objects 
 of regard, which made him willing to forego the 
 bliss of the eternal world. And when he per- 
 ceived that it was the Lord's will he should depart, 
 yoar welfare was still his chief concern. For 
 your consolation and benefit, he wished this pas- 
 sage to be considered at his funeral. He once al- 
 luded to another scripture, but laying that aside 
 lest it should occasion too much being said of 
 himself, he fixed upon this ; remarking, u If he 
 comes to you, all will be well, you need not re- 
 gret my removal. " So you see, brethren, the 
 design of your dear Pastor was to encourage 
 you to claim a share in the promised presence of 
 the Redeemer ; which he knew extended to all 
 his churches, and to even individual believer. 
 He ptrceivedthat he was going to leave you, he 
 could not promise to come again to you, though it 
 was his great consolatiou to hope that you, in suc- 
 cession, will follow him ; and meanwhile, the 
 presence of his great Master, as to his divine na- 
 ture, and the increasing influence ot his Spirit, 
 would be a sufficient compensation for any loss 
 youcould sustain by his departure. The spiritu- 
 al presence of Christ could make up for the want 
 of his bodily presence, to those who knew what it 
 was to enjoy the latter ; it must then assuredly be 
 sufficient to supply the absence of any under- 
 shepherd. With this thought my dear brother 
 consoled himself, in the beginning of his illness; 
 •' \iy. said he, in a letter written the first Lord's 
 day that he was confined from public worship, tv if 
 I am to depart hence, to be no more seen, 1 know 
 the Lord can earn' on his own cause as well with- 
 out me as with me ; he who redeemed the sheep 
 with his blood, will never suffer them to peri 
 for want of shepherding, especially, since He him- 
 self is the chief Shepherd of souls." 
 
22 The Presence of Christ 
 
 Let me therefore attempt to assist you by di- 
 recting you* attention to the grounds on which 
 you may safely expect the fulfilment of the prem- 
 ise, the magnitude of the promise itself, and 
 the consequent obligations under which you are 
 laid by it. 
 
 1. Consider the ground on which you may 
 safely build an expectation that our Lord Jesus 
 will come unto you. 
 
 Our Lord's ability to make good such a promise^ 
 must here be noticed. Not only had he an inher- 
 ent power to lay down his life, and to take it up a- 
 gain, inconsequence of which he spent forty days 
 with his disciples, before his ascension •, but he 
 has power to perform his standing engagements 
 with his whole church, of being with them, alway, 
 to the end of the world, whenever, and wherever, 
 two or three are gathered together in his name ; 
 which promises must be connected with the text 
 to enable you to claim any part in the consolation 
 it will administer. Some modern enthusiasts, 
 (who can believe anything which does not imply 
 that they are so guilty as to need the incarnate 
 Son of God to make an atonement for their sins, 
 by his precious blood) have fancied that the body 
 of Jesus, v. T ho, according to them, was a mere man 
 uke ourselves, ascending no higher than the at- 
 mosphere, which surrounds the earth, and that he 
 occasionally descends from thence to this globe, 
 to visit invisibly and one at a time, the vari 
 congregations of Christians. This idea, it has 
 been said, " cannot possibly do us any harm ;' : 
 but, alas! it can do us but little good. If the 
 
 . iour should thus visit all those who are called 
 by hisname, our turn to be so favoured may occuv 
 but once in a life-time ; or whether they who have 
 invented this solution of Matt xviii. 20, would 
 admit us, whom they represen: as irrational idol- 
 aters, to enjoy any share in his visits, I know not. 
 
c Source of Consolation. 23 
 
 Nor would it be of consequence, whether it 
 wt e granted or denied : - surveying 
 
 trt to us no 
 High- Priest 
 be, incite exaltfcd sense, the Son of 
 
 God, who is H passed through" * these lower 
 heavens, and is " made higher than the .heavens," 
 having " ascended up far above Sail heavens, that 
 he might/?// all things" (according to the passage 
 which we heard explained this morningf) and, if 
 M all power be given unto him, in heaven and in 
 earth," then, my brethren, your faith stands upon 
 a firm foundation. He who, when he was upon 
 earth, as to his humanity, could speak of himself 
 as being " in heaven ; ,? can as easily grant you 
 the presence of his Divinity, now his human na- 
 ture is in the world above. 
 
 Let the extent of his regard to his church, be al- 
 so remembered. In his last prayer with his disci- 
 ples, he prayed not alone for them who were pres- 
 ent, but for all who should believe through their 
 word. And 4i he ever livcth, to make intercession 
 forallj them, who come unto God by him." In 
 
 *Dielelulhota lous ou/ianous* Heb. iv. 14. vii, 26. Epl , 
 iv. 9, 10. 
 
 f By brother West, of Wantage. 
 
 \ Entugchancin ufier anion. Heb. viii. 25. Mr. Bel* 
 sham, a professed advocate of rational religion, supposes 
 that the writers of the New-Testament themselves, a7u?exed 
 no very distinct idea to the phrase of Christ's making inter 
 cession, because Entugchanein.he observes, expresses any 
 interference of one person, for or against another. It is true, 
 that in the Epistle to the Romans, Paul mentions Christ's 
 waking intercession FOR us, viii. 34 ; and Elijah's making 
 intercession AGAINST Israel xi 2. And he uses this 
 same verb, but with different prepositions, in both places. 
 Bui can any ambiguity arise from employing one word, with 
 prepositions of opposite import, to denote opposite things; 
 Will not the things thus opposed rather illustrate each oth- 
 er ? Entugchanein it/ier, is to pleader, and Entugctiqneir 
 
24 The Presence of Christ 
 
 every age hath his church been the object of his 
 gracious regard : and he has fulfilled the premise 
 Tvhich he made in the days of Zechariah, " Lo, 
 I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, 
 saith Jehovah. And many nations shall be join- 
 ed unto Jehovah, in thatday, andshallbe my peo- 
 ple ; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and 
 thou shalt know that Jehovah God of Hosts hath 
 sent me «nto thee " — To the primitive church 
 under all the pagan persecutions, was this prom- 
 ise fulfilled ; to the Waldenses and Albigenses in 
 the darkest times of Popery ; to the first reform- 
 ers from Anti-christian error, and to their faithful 
 successors ; whether conformist or non- conform- 
 ist ; in this Island, on the continent of Europe, or 
 in the wilds of North-America. And at this day, 
 wherever two or three assemble in his name, at 
 Birmingham or at Bristol, in London or at Edin- 
 burgh, in Old Holland or in New Holland, at 
 Mudnabatty, or at Otaheite, at the Cape of Good 
 Hope or in Kentucky, there may our distant breth- 
 ren, as well as ourselves, expect our glorious 
 Lord to fulfil his word, I will come unto you. 
 
 The express premises he has made, of which the 
 text is one, and we have recited several others, 
 forbid us to doubt of the bestowment of this in- 
 valuable blessing. Jesus is the " faithful and 
 true Witness j the same yesterday, to-day and for 
 
 EATA, to plead against ; the latter phrase is repeatedly 
 used in the Maccabees, to express the act of coniplainirq* 
 against x bringing an accusation against, making complaint 
 against a person or persons 1. Mac. viif. 32. x, 61. 63. xi. 
 25. And as tins is the part of a prosecutor or accuser, so 
 the f( rmer is the pari of an advocate, patron, or interces- 
 sor. The Jew have adopted the two Greek terms Par- 
 aktetos, an advocate: used 1 John, ii 1. and Kcitcgoros\ an 
 accuv .-?•. uied Rev. xii 10. and employ both in the Chaldee 
 paraphrase of Job. x>x:ii. 23. " an Angel is prepared, one 
 cd 7 cate among a thousand accusers See Outram de 9a- 
 crtfkifc Lib* I II. 
 
a Source of Consolation. 
 
 ever. In him all the promises of God are yea, 
 and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." 
 —He assured his servant Paul, in a season of pe- 
 culiar difficulty, "My grace is sufficient forth^e ; 
 and the grace which could suffice for him, who ac- 
 counted himself the chief of sinners, and l^ss than 
 the least of saints, is sufficient for us also His 
 strength is display ed to the greatest advantage 
 in our weakness. O remember how it was lately 
 displayed in the weakness, the extreme weakness 
 of your dear dying Pastor, on whom the power of 
 Christ so visibly rested. When his heart and 
 flesh were failing, how did he rejoice in God his 
 Saviour, as the strength of his heart, and his por 
 tion for ever! And is there a mourner present, 
 so feeble, so disconsolate, so bereaved of every 
 created source of bliss, as that this grace nU not 
 suffice for her support r Or will he, who kept his 
 word with such ct punctilious veracity 5 ' to the Hus- 
 band, forget his promise to the Widow and the Fa* 
 therless ? Assuredly he will not. 
 
 Remember, my brethren, the readiness cf the 
 Redeemer to hear and ansxver prayer. — Though 
 Paul besought him thrice upon one subject, be - 
 fore he received animmedia.te reply, the promise 
 was fulfilled even before it was pronounced ; he, 
 like one who lived long before him, and like myr- 
 iads who have since made trial of the same re- 
 source, was " strengthened with strength in his 
 soul," before the Saviour expressly declared, u My 
 strength is made perfect in weakness/" Continue 
 therefore instant in prayer. Remember the appa- 
 rent rebuffs encountered at first by the woman of 
 Canaan, and how amply her faith was answered ai 
 last. Did not Jesus inculcate this maxim, *'that 
 men ought always to pray, and not to faint ;*' and 
 spake 3 parable to illustrate and enforce that duty ? 
 Rich blessings, ! re still in reserve for you, 
 
 ■iti answer f .o the many fervent petitions, wh 
 
 C 
 
26 The Presence of Christ 
 
 your dear Pastor offered up on your behalf, from 
 the time of his first acquaintance with this Church, 
 and during better than nine years,* wherein he 
 has more fully undertaken the oversight of you in 
 the Lord. May you yourselves pray without ceas- 
 ing, and plead with the Lord his own exceeding 
 great and precious promises, which wili be found 
 to contain blessings fully proportioned to all your 
 necessities. 
 
 It was doubtless in consequence of many com- 
 fortable evidences that God has a number of spiritu- 
 al xvorshippers among vou, that my dear brother 
 was encouraged to expect this declaration would 
 be certainly fulfilled in your present circumstan- 
 ces. But though I gladly indulge a similar con- 
 fidence, yet neither I, whose personal knowledge 
 of you is very confined, nor he, whose acquain r 
 tance was much more intimate and general, could 
 answer for every professor among you. From 
 what has taken place in all the large congregations 
 I have known, 1 am afraid lest the hopes of your 
 Pastor may be disappointed, as to some individu- 
 als, whom he never suspected, but whose future 
 apostacy will indicate the superficial nature of their 
 present profession, and ensure them a final portion 
 with hypocrites and unbelievers. Greatly shall I 
 rejoice, if not cue such character should ever be 
 found among you ; but to render the consolation, 
 in the text more certain in its personal application* 
 I must exhort you to examine and prove your own 
 selves, and to give all diligence to make your cal- 
 ling and election sure. Unless you are such of 
 whom God disapproves, Christ is in you, tin- hope 
 of glory ; he dwells in your hearts by faith, and 
 you begin to be conformed to his lovely image. 
 You account mental nearness to God the chief 
 good. You value communion with him above all . 
 the world Is not this the case, my brethren ? I 
 trust you can say with the Psalmist, Whom have 
 
 * lie was ordained, August, 1790. 
 
a Source of Consolation. 27 
 
 I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth 
 that I desire besides thee. Fear not, that the 
 Lord will frustrate the desires his own Spirit has 
 excited, or abandon that soul, whose wishes cen- 
 tre wholly in himself. 
 
 In the mean while, to increase the intensem S3 
 of your desires after the presence of Christ, let us 
 proceed to consider 
 
 2. The magnitude of the promise* 
 
 Has Christ said, u 1 will come unto you ?" and 
 have you been told to-night that his presence can 
 make up every loss ? Well may you credit the 
 assertion, if you consider what is intended by the 
 promise in the text. 
 
 It imports that he will manifest to you his glory* 
 And O how delightful the sight! %i Lord !" said 
 Jude, "how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself 
 unto us and not unto the world V y This exclamation 
 might denote partial ignorance, as well as grateful 
 surprise : but the secret was in great measure ex- 
 plained, when the Spirit was poured out from on 
 high. Then Paul observed, M God, who com- 
 manded the light to shine out of darkness, hath 
 shined into our hearts, to give the light of the 
 knowledge ef the glory of God, in the face of Je- 
 sus Christ :" so that while others have u their un- 
 derstandings darkened, being alienated from the 
 life of God, through the ignorance which is in 
 them, because of the blindness (or rather the caU 
 lousness,*) of their hearts ; we all, with open face, 
 beholding, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord, 
 are changed into the same image, from glory to 
 glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." 
 
 If the Lordgrantyou his special presence, you 
 will not only realize his essential and mediatorial 
 glory, but be cheered also with a lively sense of his 
 
 *D/Gtenfiorosin tes kardims aufon. Epb. iv. 18. Poro- 
 sis concretio quae in calum fit. In sacris iiteris fiorasis 
 kardias qum cooccalluit. Scafiufa* Robertson* 
 
The Presence of Christ 
 
 lave. And what consolation can equal that which 
 must result from such a source ? ^ To know the 
 love of Christ, which passeth knowledge," is a 
 blessing which the Apostle considered as immedi- 
 ately connected with being u filled with all the 
 fulness of God ;" and the besiowraent of which 
 was a proof that he is u able to do exceeding abun- 
 dantly above all that we ask or think." Unless 
 we could conceive the full extent of the happiness 
 produced by the redemption of Christ throughout 
 the whole empire of God; unless we could com- 
 prehend the length of eternity, in which the feli- 
 city of the saved shall be forever increasing, as 
 fast as God shall increase their capacity of enjoy- 
 ment ; unless we could measure the lowest depths 
 of hell, from whence our Saviour has ransomed 
 us, with the invaluable price of his blood ; and the 
 height of glory, to which we shall be raised as the 
 reward of Immanuei's obedience ; it will be im- 
 possible fully to conceive the greatness of his love. 
 However, enough may be known to convince us 
 that his favour is better than life, and to fill us, 
 even in the present state, amidst all our outward 
 trials, and even our inward conflicts, with joy un- 
 speakable and full of glory. 
 
 "■ Reflect, that if Christ should come unto you, ac- 
 cording to this gracious promise, he will communi- 
 cate unto ijQU % more largely, the supply of his Spir- 
 it. And shall not this fit you for every duty, 
 support you under every pressure, and ensure you 
 the victory over every spiritual enemy ? Yes, my 
 beloved, ii" you enjoy much of the presence of Jesus, 
 it will make you active for God, and excite you 
 to every ^ood work. You will not be slothful in 
 business, but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. 
 You will aim at the divine glory in every thing, 
 even in all your civil employments. You will 
 gladly consecrate the gain of your merchandize 
 to the Lord, and honour him with your substance. 
 
a Source of Consolation. 29 
 
 It will rejoice your soul to think that yon are 
 6i not your own," but " bought with a price," and 
 you will feci yourselves bound to** glorify God, 
 with your bodies, and your spirits, which are 
 God's :" nor can you forbear to admit his claim 
 to all which you possess ; for " the silver is mine 
 and the gold is mine, 5, saith the Lord of Hosts, and 
 your thankful hearts must say, Amen. You wilt 
 wish to inscribe on all your property, and on all 
 your utensils that blessed motto, Holiness to the 
 Lord. The presence of Christ will inspire you 
 with ardour, resolution and zeal, to promote his 
 kingdom among men, You will not let your Lord's 
 day-Scheois decline; nor will your contribution to 
 the mission, in which you stood foremost so 
 early, now he suffered to fall off, because that dear 
 manisgone to glory, who first excited your attention 
 to these good works ; but you will remember that 
 Christ himself is with you, who walks among his 
 golden candlesticks, to notice how their light shi- 
 neth before men, to the honour of their heavenly 
 Father.— If you should meet with farther rials> 
 the presence of Jesus will suffice to support you 
 under the cross, as it did the Apostles, and prim- 
 itive Christians, O brethren! I pray you may 
 liveas se-' mg Him who is invisible- Remember 
 that Chrut, when upon earth, couid not do more 
 for liis first disciples, than he can now perform for 
 
 you, by his divine presence. Ah ! if he 
 
 were here, in his glorified body , . . or even in the 
 lowly form in which he appeared in the days of his 
 humiliation, .... if he often called upon you, . . . 
 or you could, at any time, resort to hmi . or if he 
 lodged at your house, . . or came thither as often 
 as he visited the house cf Lazarus, at Bethany ; . . 
 would you not then consult him in every thing 
 and always follow his good advice? and fear no 
 consequences, when you comp! ed with his di ree- 
 ls ? And do you believe the Divmry of Christ 
 
 Ce 
 
30 The Presence of Christ 
 
 and act otherwise now ? O shameful inconsisten- 
 cy ! Look unto Jesus. Look oJf y my brethren f 
 from all other objects ; from a!l false confidences, 
 from all discouragements, from all the foaming 
 billows, which threaten to swallow you up, vnto 
 Jesus. He is above, looking down upon you. 
 Me is at hand, ready to assist you. See, how he 
 stretches forth his arm to support you, and keep 
 you from sinking in the deep waters. Separate 
 from him, you can do nothing ; but the weakest 
 can do ail things, can bear all burdens, can con- 
 quer all the hosts of hell, through Christ strength- 
 ening him. 
 
 If you are thus authorised to expect the pre- 
 sence of Christ, will lie not take you under the care 
 of his providence. How sweet is the idea of an om- 
 nipresent God ! Not a local Deity, as the gods of 
 heathen were supposed to be, even by their 
 own worshippers. But a God afar off, as well astf? 
 hand* Present with his captive servants, to check 
 the violence of the fire, and stop the mouths of li- 
 ons, in favor of his exiles in Babylon, as surely as 
 ever he had been ready to hear prayer in 
 his temple at Jerusalem. A God in India, as well 
 is in England. Who shewed himself to be pres- 
 ent with his servant Pearce in Birmingham, to 
 make all his bed in his sickness : and was at the 
 iame time present, though we knew not where, 
 with his servant Ward and his companions 5 
 rher they are still traversing the mighty ocean, 
 or Whether the €riterit>nh2& reached his desired 
 haven. Perhaps they have already met with Ca- 
 reif y and Thomas, and Founta-in, and Jesus is in 
 the midst of thr*m, while they are praying for us in 
 Bengal. Yes, Asia was long ago reminded, that 
 1 the eyes of JeHoVaH run to and fro throughout 
 the whole earth, that he may shew himself strong 
 in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect to- 
 v arib him.'* And how comfortable is it to reflect, 
 
a Source of Consolation. 3 1 
 
 that this attribute of Deity, and every other, be- 
 longs to God the Son, as well as to God the Fa- 
 ther. The husband of the church is the God of 
 the whole earth. Jesus has all power on earth as 
 well as in heaven. They, therefore, " who seek 
 first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,^ 
 shall find " all things added unto them." " My 
 God," (said Paul to the Pbilippians) cc shall sup- 
 ply all your need, according to his riches in glo-t 
 ry, by Christ Jesus." Cast on him, therefore, all 
 7 our care: he careth for alibis churches; and 
 though you know not which way to look, he can 
 find another pastor for his church, to repair the 
 breach that death has made. He can raise up 
 friends for the widow and the children of his de- 
 parted servant ; yea, he himself will be their 
 guardian and defence. A father to the fatherless, 
 ind the patron of the widow, is God in his holy 
 habitation ; he will never fail them, nor forsake 
 them. 
 
 Finally, The presence of Christ, with his peo- 
 ple on earth, shall prepare them/ur the uninter- 
 rupted enjoyment of his presence in the celestial 
 world. He himself will be with you walking in 
 the way, and the foolish shall not err therein. He 
 will guide you by his counsel, and afterwards re- 
 ceive you into glory. One of you after another 
 shall follow your dear Pastor, perhaps before the 
 end of this year, andfour or five next year, and so 
 on, till you all maet again in that heavenly city, 
 inhere the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb, are 
 the temple of it ; The glory of God doth enlighten 
 it, and the Lamb isthe light thereof; and the in- 
 habitants drink of the pure river of the water of 
 life, proceeding out of the throne of GW and the 
 Lamb ; ar.d there shall be no more curse, but the 
 throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it : and 
 his servants shall serve him, and they shall see his 
 face, and his name shaJlbe ia their foreheads j for 
 
32 The Presence of Christ 
 
 they shall be completely like him, when they shall 
 see him as he is. But let me once more beseech 
 you to notice 
 
 3. The consequent obligations , under which 
 you are laid. 
 
 Your Lord has said, 6i I will come unto you." 
 Believe kirn. Take him at his word. Plead it be- 
 fore his throne of grace. Prove that you value 
 his presence above every thing. Live under an a- 
 biding conviction, that without it, you must be 
 comfortless, notwithstanding the presence of eve- 
 ry temporal enjoyment ; but with it, you must be 
 happ>,even under the pressure of every earthly 
 calamity. 
 
 Let then the expectation that this promise will be 
 accomplished, moderate your sorrows, on the 
 present occasion, and on all others, and direct 
 them into a proper channel. It is the presence of 
 Christ which constitutes the perfected felicity of 
 our dear departed friend : But Christ is really 
 present with his church upon earth also : pray for 
 more faith to realize that truth, and your heaven 
 shall be begun below. He has said, " If any one 
 love me, he will keep my words : and my Father 
 will love him, and we will come unto him, and 
 make our abode with him." And what is the loss, 
 which the enjoyment of the presence of Christ, 
 ?»nd of his Father, cannot compensate ? or what 
 is the afflction, under which fellowship with the 
 Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, will not eon- 
 sole you ? 
 
 Let this promise enhance your gratitude for 
 past mercies, and your solicitude to improve those 
 which remain* It was from him, who ascended 
 on high, after descending into the lowest parts of 
 the earth, and who received gifts for men,* that 
 
 *See an excellent Sermon of brother Pearce's on Ephes, 
 iv. II. On the duty /Churches to regard Minster* as 
 ate gift of Christ } at Mr, Belsher's Ordination, 1796. 
 
a Source of Consolation. S3 
 
 our dear brother received all His ministerial qual- 
 ifications, as well as every Christian grace : and 
 it was his blessing alone, which rendered him so 
 successful, in winning souls to Christ With him 
 is the residue of the Spirit* He has yet blessings 
 in store to communicate. O live on his fulness ! 
 Though your beloved Pastor is gone, I trust that 
 the benefit, which many of you received from his 
 ministry, will never be lost. Ministers die, but 
 Jesus lives ; and his word endureth forever. You 
 have also a prospect of still enjoying his ordinan- 
 ces. Lookup for his gracious influence to attend 
 them, knowing that neither is he who planteth a- 
 ny thing, nor he who watereth ; but it is God 
 who giveth the increase. 
 
 May the promise of Christ's presence excite 
 your concern to prepare for his coming. Let it 
 excite your watchfulness against every thing, 
 which would be offensive to your blessed Lord. 
 Christians, is there any thing in the daily course 
 of your behaviour, or in the management of your 
 families, of which you would be ashamed, if Christ 
 werenow upon earth in human nature, and took up 
 his abode with you ? And can you truly believe his 
 Divinity, and not be afraid that he, whose eyes are 
 as a flame of fire, should see such transactions? 
 Do you not believe that he even searches the reins 
 and the hearts ? and has he not said, that all the 
 'jhurches shall know it ? Behold, he cometh fre- 
 quently, as unexpected as a thief: Blessed is he 
 who watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he 
 walk naked, and they see his shame. 
 
 BUT now, without confining myself farther to 
 the immediate language of the text, give me leave 
 to address a few words, by way of a more general 
 improvement of the late afflictive providence, both 
 to the members of the Church statedly assembling 
 in this place of worship, and the Congregation 
 and Strangers present. 
 
34 The Presence of Christ 
 
 I address myself first to the CHURCH. You, 
 my brethren, have, within thesetendays, sustained 
 the loss or a very affectionate and faithful Pastor ; 
 ayoung and active, and at the same time an able and 
 judicious minister ; who had proved himself a- 
 mong you for nme or ten years, and whose labours 
 you hoped to enjoy for many years to come. But 
 he is taken away in the midst of his usefulness, 
 having bur just completed the thirty third year of 
 his age. In such a trial, you have room to mourn. 
 Jesus wept. And devout men made great lamen- 
 tation at the death of Stephen. 
 
 Yet forget not to be thankful, that ever the Lord 
 raised up such a minister, and gave you the chief 
 benefit of his labours. It was the kindness of Prov- 
 idence that fixed him in this place, and continued 
 him with you for several years. You have rea- 
 son to bless God also, that he did not run in vain, 
 nor labour in vain. Bless the Lord for giving so 
 many seals to his ministry, and for enabling him to 
 live so honourably, and to die so triumphantly. 
 
 And now, let each individual examine himself, 
 how far he profited by the ministrations of this 
 dear servant of Jesus Christ. If any of you put 
 him out of his place, and idolized him; let such 
 learn wisdom in future, and so account of us, as 
 only the stewards of the mysteries of God. If any 
 undervalued him, let them sincerely repent of that 
 evil. And let all be concerned, that the benefit 
 of his ministry may not die with him. Remem- 
 ber the interesting and important truths you pro- 
 fessed to receive from him. Remember the affec- 
 tionate and earnest exhortations, addressed toyou 
 by him, from this pulpit. Remember the consis- 
 tent and lovely example which he set before you ; 
 and the evidence of the truth of religion, and the 
 display of the faithfulness ot God, which was made 
 by his supports, under his painful and proiracted 
 afflictioR. 
 
a Source of Consolation. 3$ 
 
 Consider, beloved, your duty to his Family, 
 and shew the sincerity of your regard for your 
 late dear Pastor* by your tender sympathy with 
 his distressed Widow, and the substantial tokens 
 of your affection to his Jive fatherless Children^ 
 whose tender years prevent them from forming a- 
 ny adequate conception of their unspeakable loss. 
 May all the friends of the deceased, bear them and 
 their afflicted mother on their hearts before the 
 Lord; remembering how essentiala part of pure 
 and undefiled religion it is, to pay k nd attention 
 to the orphan and the widow in their affliction ; 
 and accounting it an honour to imitate and sub- 
 serve that glorious Being ? in vyhom the fatherless 
 findeth mercy, and who encourages the desolate 
 widow to put her trust in him. 
 
 My dear brer hj en, forget not your duty to one 
 another also,, in this season of trial. While thus 
 deprived of a Pastor, to take the oversight of you 
 in the Lord, watch over each other the more care* 
 fully in love. Forsake not the assembling of your- 
 selves together, bur stand fast in the Lord. Strength* 
 en the hands of your Deacons , at a time wht^n the 
 concerns of the church lie the heavier upon then?, 
 instead of indulging, as sotrjetimes the ease has 
 been in other churches, a spirit of groundless jeal- 
 ousy, respecting those whom you yourselves have 
 called to that office, and who hare shewn a con- 
 scientious and upright regard for your welfare. 
 
 In looking out ^or a minister, 1 trust, you wij/ 
 be careful to seek one of the same stamp with my 
 late dear brother ; one, who will guide you in rhc 
 true narrow way, and guard you from error* on 
 the right hand and on the left ; who will warn you a- 
 gainst every sentiment which would dishonor God's 
 moral government , as well as faithfully oppose what- 
 ever notion would disparage the riches of his glori- 
 ous grace. May you choose a man equally zealous 
 
36 The Presence cf Christ 
 
 against self-righteousness, and against self-indul- 
 gence ; who will preach salvation by Christ alone, 
 and insist on deliverance from the power and love 
 of sin, as a most essential part of that salvation. 
 May God direct you to a minister, who shall an- 
 swer to the description given by Paul of himself 
 and his fellow labourers, " We preach Christ in 
 you the hope of glory, warning every man, and 
 teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may 
 present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." May 
 lie be able to appeal to you, on his death bed, in 
 the words of the same Apostle, " As we were al* 
 lowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, 
 so we spake, not as pleasing men, but God, who 
 trieth our hearts : not using flattering words, as 
 ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is wit- 
 ness ; nor seeking glory of men ; but we were gen- 
 tle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her 
 children ; so, being affectionately desirous of you, 
 we were willing to have imparted unto you, not 
 the go* pel of God only, but also our own souls, 
 because ye were dear unto us. Ye are witnesses, 
 and God also, how bolily, and justly* and how un- 
 biameably we behaved ourselves among you who 
 believe : as ye know, how he exhorted, and com- 
 forted, and charged every one of yon, as a father 
 his children, that ye should walk worthy of God, 
 who hath called you into his kingdom and glory." 
 Such a protestation, lam confident, your late be- 
 loved Pastor might have safely made, and I pray 
 God, his successor may be assisted to imitate the 
 same primitive example, and find a corresponding 
 testimony in the conscience of every unprejudiced 
 hearer. 
 
 At the same time, let me exhort you, my breth- 
 ren, to manifest genuine Christian candour in your 
 choice of another minister, and in all your subse- 
 quent conduce towards him. If he should not e- 
 qtial Siis predecessor in the popularity of his tak 
 
a Source of Consolation. 3v 
 
 ents, the readiness of his utterance, or in every a- 
 miable qualification of still higher importance, yet 
 if his heart be evidently devoted to God, do not 
 despise him, nor undervalue him ; but pray for 
 him, encourage him, strengthen his hands in God. 
 Make him not an offender for a word, nor for want 
 of a word. And do not magnify such infirmities 
 as are common to the best of men in this state 
 of imperfection. 
 
 Endeavour, brethren, to be unanimous in your 
 choice. Let none oppose the general vote, mere- 
 ly to shew their consequence, or assert their liber- 
 ty. Nor let others resolve upan having their own 
 way, because they have a small majority of their 
 mind : but endeavour to accommodate one anoth- 
 er as far as it is possible, without sacrificing truth 
 or prudence. Only be sure that y u seek a pas- 
 tor that is a holy man of God, a faithful servant of 
 Jesus Christ, who will naturally care for your 
 souls. 
 
 Finally, beloved, let all be careful to walk wor- 
 thy of the Lord, in the practise of all that is well- 
 pleasing in his sight. And let it appear that God, 
 by taking your late dear minister to heaven, has 
 drawn you nearer to heaven. Remember that 
 Christ is now in the mid-st of you, and that you 
 hope soon to be with him in his kingdom, and to 
 to live and reign with him forever. What manner 
 of persons ought you then to be, in all holy con- 
 versation and godliness ! \ 
 
 WHAT I have said to the members of the 
 church, will, for the most part, apply to such of 
 the stated CONGREGATION, as 'are packer;; 
 of the grace of God. 
 
 But there are some, who constancy attended my 
 
 doar brother's ministry, who are left unconverted. 
 
 O ahat shall I say to them ! I earnestly pray, that: 
 
 they who heard him in vain while alive, may hear 
 
 D 
 
38 The Presence of Christ 
 
 him now he is dead, so as to be made alive them* 
 selves. For, being dead, he yet speaketh. The 
 history which all his friends can give you, of his 
 life, and oi his death, (his blessed death!) pro- 
 claims to you, the truth and excellence of the gos- 
 pel. Do not you also remember that short, but 
 most affecting address, which he made to you, the 
 last time he ascended this pulpit, after brother 
 Franklin of Coventry had been preaching ? Then 
 he told some, that his highest comfort, amidst the 
 symptoms of approaching dissolution, which he 
 then exhibited, was the expectation of meeting 
 them in heaven ; while he forewarned others of 
 you, that his greatest anxiety arose from his fear 
 of'being obliged to witness against you, as despi- 
 sers and rejecters of the glorious Redeemer. O 
 that the recollection of that dying warning, enfor- 
 ced by all his own happy experience in succeed- 
 ing months of suffering and superabounding con- 
 gelation, might conviuce you of the vast impor- 
 tance of true religion, of the unspeakable worth of 
 the gospel of Christ, and of the blessedness of be- 
 ing interested in his great salvation, and obtaining 
 aq inheritance among them who are sanctified, 
 through faith in him. 
 
 Many may expect, especially those who are 
 btremgers, to hear a character of the deceased ; but 
 he chose this text to avoid much being said of 
 himself, and though I should not scruple introdu- 
 cing whatever might tend to honour divine grace, 
 and to promote your edification, yet I am unable 
 to enter into a particular biographical detail at 
 this time. And as to his character, those, who 
 knew him well, need not my delineation of it, to 
 make them remember it with high esteem, to their 
 dying day ; while others might suspect me of flat- 
 tery, if I said but the half of what I cordially be- 
 lieve. One thing I will say, which I could say of 
 r«fy few others, though 1 have known many of 
 
a Source of Consolation. 39 
 
 the excellent of the earth, that I never saw, or 
 heard of any thing respecting him, which griev- 
 ed me, unless it was his it. attention to his health, 
 end that I believe was owing to a mistaken idea 
 of his constitution. If any of you know of 
 other faults belonging to him. be careful to shun 
 them ; but O be sure to follow him, wherein he 
 was a follower of Christ. 
 
 While his outward conduct was remarkably blame* 
 less and exemplary, he evidently had a deep, abi- 
 ding, humbling sense of the evil of sin, of his own 
 native depravity, and remaining sinfulness ; of hi> 
 absolute need of Christ as an atoning sacrifice, and 
 the Lord his righteousness ; and of the love of the 
 Spirit, and the importance of his work as a sanc- 
 tifier. — He lived a life of faith on the incarnate 
 Son of God, as the blessed mediator, who had 
 loved him and given himself for him; and as 
 Christ was all in all to him, his joy and his gain, 
 in life and in death, so he took great delight in 
 preaching Christ to others, as the only and all 
 sufficient Sarictfr ; he earnestly fonged, ha# it 
 been permitted him by Providence, to have 
 preached Christ to the heathen, and would have 
 seen gls« to liarc carried the tidings &* salvation 
 by his blood, to the ends of the earth. 
 
 But, instead of giving a fuller account in my 
 own words, I will give all strangers the means of 
 forming a just idea of the man, and of the natt 
 of his religion, by reading some of his letters, 
 written three of them to myself, and two to. the 
 officers of his church, at different periods of his 
 long illness ;. to which I shall add a few detached 
 sentences, uttered nearer the close of his life, and 
 taken down by his nearest relative. 
 
 These will tend more to your edification who 
 know the Redeemer, and more to the conviction 
 of those who know him not, than any stupid pin- 
 
40 Tht Presence of Christ, 8fe 
 
 May they excite all present to pray from the 
 heart : Let me live the life, as well as die the death, 
 of the righteous ; may the commencement of my 
 profession, and my latter end be like his. Amefr 
 and Amen. 
 
Letters and Narrative. 41 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 LETTERS and NARRATIVE 
 
 Were read before the concluding paragraph of the Sermon. 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 Birmingham, Dec. 9, 1798 
 My dear Brother, Lord's-Bay Evening. 
 
 AFTER a Sabbath— such a one I neverknew be- 
 fore spent in an entire seclusion from the 
 
 house and ordinances of my God, I seek Christian 
 converse with you, in away in which I atn yet 
 permitted to have intercourse with my brethren. 
 The day after I wrote to you last, my medical 
 tendant laid me under the strictest injunctions 
 not to speak again in public for one month at least. 
 He says that my stomach is become so irritable, 
 through repeated inflammations, that conversation, 
 unless managed with great caution, would be dan- 
 gerous ; — that he does not think my present con- 
 i on alarming, provided I take rest, but without 
 t, be intimated my lift* was in great danger, 
 bids my exposing myself to the evening air, 
 en any account, and going out of doors, or to the 
 door, unless when the air is dry and clear, so that 
 I am, during the weather we now have in Birming- 
 ham, (very foggy) a complete prisoner ; and the 
 repeated cautions from my dear and affectionate 
 friends, whose solicitude, I conceive, far exceeds 
 the danger, compel me to a rigid observance of 
 the Doctor's rules. 
 
 This morning brother Pope took my place ; and 
 in the afternoon Mr Brewer, who has discovered 
 D d 
 
42 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 uncommon tenderness and respect for me and the 
 people, since he knew my state, preached a very 
 affectionate sermon from I Sam. iii. 18. u It is 
 the Lord, let him do what saemeth him good." By 
 what I hear, his sympathizing observations, in re- 
 lation to the event which occasioned his being 
 then in the pulpit, drew more tears from the peo- 
 ple's eyes, than a dozen such poor creatures as 
 their pa>tor could deserve. But I have. . . . bles- 
 sed be God ! long had the satisfaction of finding 
 myself embosomed in friendship . . . the friend- 
 ship of the people of my charge : though I la- 
 ment that their love should occasion them a pang 
 
 but thus it is our heavenly Father sees 
 
 that, for our mixed characters, a mixed state is 
 best. 
 
 I anticipated a day of gloom, but I had unexpec- 
 ted reason to rejoice, that the shadow of death was 
 turned into the joy of the morning ; and though I 
 .said, with perhaps before unequalled feeling, 
 < ; How amiable aie thy tabernacles !" yet I found 
 the God of Zioii does not neglect the dwellings of 
 Jacob. My poor wife was much affected at so 
 novel a thing as leaving »ie behind her, and so it 
 was a dewy morn ng ; but the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness soon arose, and shed such ineffable delight 
 throughout my soul, that I could say, ' It is good 
 i.o be-Aere* 7 — Motive to resignation and gratitude 
 also, crowded upon motive, till my judgment was 
 convinced, that 1 ought to rejoice in the Lord ex- 
 ceedingly, and so my whole soul took its fill of joy. 
 Mayl,ifitbe my Saviour's wiH, fee] as happy 
 when I come to die ! When my poor Sarah lay 
 at the point of death, forsomedays after her first 
 iying in, loward the Fatter days, I enjoyed such 
 support, and felt my w^Ii so entirely bowed down 
 to that of God, that I -said in my heart, ' I shall 
 never fear another trial — he that sustained me a- 
 toidst .his flame, will defend me from every spark!' 
 
Letters and Narrative. 43 
 
 and this confidence I long enjoyed.— But that was 
 near six years ago, and I had almost forgotten the 
 the land of the Hermonites, and the hill Mizar. 
 But the Lord has prepared me to receive a fresh 
 display of his fatherly care, and his (shall I call it ?) 
 punctilious veracity. If I should be raised up a- 
 gain, I shall be able to preach on the faithfulness of 
 God more experimentally than ever. Perhaps 
 some trial is coming on, and lam to be instrumen- 
 tal in preparing them for it : Or if not, I am to 
 depart hence to be no more seen, I know the 
 Lord can carry on his work as well without me as 
 with me. He who redeemed the sheep with his 
 blood, will never suffer them to perish for want 
 shepherding, especially since he himself is the 
 chief Shepherd of souls. But my Family ! Ah 
 there! find my faith but still imperfect. Howe- 
 ver, I do not think the Lord will ever take me away 
 till he helps me to leav^ my fatherless children in 
 his hands, and trust my widow also with him. 
 i; His love in times past," and I may add in times 
 present too, u forbids me to think^ he will leave 
 me at last^ in trouble to sink." 
 
 Whilst my weakness was gaining ground, I used 
 to ask myself, how I could like to be laid by ; I 
 have dreamed that this was the case, and both a- 
 wake and asleep, I felt as though it were an evil 
 that could not be borne : — but now, I find the 
 Lord can fit the back to the burden, and though I 
 think I love the thought of serving Christ at this 
 moment better than ever, yet he has made me wil- 
 ling to be ... . nothing, if he please to have it so ; 
 and now my happy heart u could sing itself away 
 to everlasting bliss." 
 
 O what a mercy that I have not brought on my 
 affliction by serving the devil. What a mercy that 
 I have so many dear sympathising friends ! What 
 a mercy that I have so much dear domestic com- 
 
1 .< Letters and Narrative. 
 
 ■ 
 comfort ! What a mercy that I am in no violent 
 bodily pain ! What a mercy that I can read and 
 write, without doing myself any injury ! What a 
 mercy that my animal spirits have all the time this 
 has been coming on, (ever since the last Ketter- 
 ing meeting of ministers) been vigorous — free 
 from dejection ! And, which I reckon among the 
 greatest of this day's privileges, what a mercy 
 that I have been able to employ myself for Christ 
 and his dear cause to-day, as I have been almost 
 wholly occupied in the concerns of the (I hope) 
 reviving church at Fromsgrove j and the infant 
 church at Cradley ! O, my dear brother, it is all 
 mercy, is it not I O help me then in his praise, for 
 he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
 Ought I to apologize for this experimental chat 
 with you, who have concerns to transact of so 
 much more importance, than any that are confin- 
 ed to an individual ? Forgive me if [ have intrud- 
 ed too much on your time — but do not forget to 
 praise on my behalf a faithful God. I shall now 
 leave room against I have some business to write 
 about — till then, adieu — but let us not forget that 
 this God is our God forever and ever^ and will be 
 our guide even until death. Amen. Amen, We 
 shall soon meet in heaven. 
 
 s. a 
 
 To Mr. KING. 
 
 Plymouth, April 23, 1799s 
 
 My very dear friend and brother, 
 
 I RAVE the satisfaction to inform you, that at 
 length my complaint appears to be removed, and 
 that I am, by degrees, returning to my usual diet, 
 
Letters and Narrative. 43 
 
 By which, with the divine blessing, I hope to be 
 again strengthened ior the discharge of the du- 
 ties, and enjoyment of the pleasures, which await 
 me among the dear people of my charge. 
 
 I am indeed informed by my medical attendant 
 here, that I shall never be equal to the labours of 
 my past years, and that my return to moderate ef- 
 forts must be made by slow degrees. As the 
 path of duty, I desire to submit ; but after so long 
 a suspension from serving the Redeemer in his 
 church, my soul pants for usefulness more exten- 
 sive than ever, and I long to become an apostle to 
 the world* I do not think I ever prized the min- 
 isterial work so much as I now do. Two ques- 
 tions have been long before me. The first was, 
 Shall Hive or die ? The second, If I live, how 
 will my life be spent ? With regard to the for- 
 mer, my heart answered, M it is no matter — all is 
 well— for my own sake, I need not be tawght that 
 it is best to be with Christ ; but for the sake of 
 others, it may be best to abide in the body— I am 
 in the Lord's hands, let him do by me as seemeth 
 him best for me and mine, and for his cause and 
 honour in the world ? But as to the second ques- 
 tion, I could hardly reconcile myself to the 
 thoughts of living, unless it were to promote the 
 interest of my Lord ; and if my disorder should 
 so far weaken me, as to render me incapable of 
 the ministry, nothing then appeared before me but 
 gloom and darkness. However, I will rape in 
 the Lord, that though he hath chastened mc sore- 
 ly> vet > since he hath not given me over unto 
 death, sparing mercy will be followed with 
 strength, that i may shew forth his praise in the 
 land of the living. 
 
 1 am still exceedingly weak ; more so than at 
 any period before! left home, except the first 
 week of my lying by ; but 1 am getting strength, 
 though slowly. It is impossible at present to fix 
 
4S Letters and Narrative. 
 
 any time for my return. It grieves me that the 
 patience of the dear people should be so long tri- 
 ed, but the trial is as great on my part as it can be 
 on theirs, and we must pity and pray for one an- 
 other. It is now a task for me to write at all, or 
 this should have been longer. 
 
 S. P. 
 
 To Mr. POPE, 
 
 Plymouth, May 24, V79% 
 
 I CANNOT write much — this I believe is the 
 only letter I have written (except to my wife) 
 since I wrote to you last. My complaint has is. 
 sued in a confirmed, slow, nervous fever, which 
 b&s wasted my spirits and fttiength* and takes e 
 great part of the little flesh I had when in health 
 it\v-ay from me. The sympee«f«s h»¥€ k«en very 
 threatening, and I have repeatedly thought that 
 let the physician do what he will, he cannot keep 
 me long from those heavenly joys, for which, bles- 
 sed be God, I have lately been much longing ; and 
 were it not for my dear people and family, 1 should 
 have earnestly prayed for leave to depart, and be 
 with Christ, which is so much better than to abide 
 in this vain, suffering, sinning world. 
 
 The doctors, however now pronounce my c;.se 
 very hopeful — say there is little or no danger — 
 but that all these complaints require a great deaC 
 of time to get rid of. I still feel myself on preca- 
 rious ground, but quite resigned to the will of 
 Him, who, unworthy as I am, continues daily to 
 * ; nil my soul with joy and peace in believing." 
 
Letters and Narrative. : # 
 
 Yes, my dear friend ! noxv my soul feels the val- 
 ue of a free, full, and everlasting salvation, and 
 what is more, 1 do enjoy that salvation, while I rest 
 all my hope on the Son of God in human nature, 
 dying on the cross for me. To me now* health 
 or sickness, pain or ease, life or death are things 
 indifferent. I feel so happy in being in the hands 
 of Infinite Love, that when the severest strokes are 
 Jaid upon me, I receive them with pleasure, be- 
 cause they come from my heavenly Father's hands] 
 u ! to grace how great a debtor," &c. 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 Birmingham, July 20, 1799. 
 My very dear brother, 
 
 YOUR friendly anxieties on my behalf demand 
 the earliest satisfaction. We had a pleasant ride 
 to Newport on the afternoon we left you, and the 
 next day without much fatigue reached Tewksbu- 
 ry ; but the road was so rough from Tewksbury to 
 Evesham, that it wearied and injured me mere 
 than all the joltingwe had had put together. How- 
 fever, we reached Alcestcr on Wednesday evening', 
 Stopped there a day to rest, and last night ( Friday J) 
 were brought safely hither, blessed be God ! 
 
 I find myself getting weaker and weaker, and so 
 my Lord instructs me in his pleasure to remove 
 ma soon. You say well< my dear brother, that at 
 such a prospect, I u cannot complain •" No, bles- 
 sed he His dear name, who shed his blood for me, 
 he helps me to rejoice, at times, with joy unspeak- 
 able. Now I see the value of the religion of the 
 Cross. It is a religion for a dying sinner. It is 
 
48 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 rJl the most guilty 'he most wretched can desire. 
 Yes, I taste its svv^ mess, and enjoy its fulness, 
 with all the gloom of a dying bed before me. And 
 far rather would I be the poor emaciated and em- 
 aciating creature that I am, than be an Emperor, 
 with every earthly good about him .... but with- 
 out a God ! 
 
 I was delighted the other day, in re-perusing 
 the Pilgrim's Progress, to observe that when Chris- 
 tian came to the top of the hili Difficulty, he was 
 put to sleep in a chamber called Peace : Why how 
 good is the Lord of the way to me ! said 1 ; 1 have 
 not reached the summit of the hill yet, but notwith- 
 stanci ng he pots me to sleep in the chamber of 
 Peace every night. . .Tne, it is often a chamber 
 of pain ; but let pain be as formidable as it may, 
 it has never yet been abie to expel that peace, 
 winch the. great guardian of Israel has appointed 
 io keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus. 
 
 I have been laboring lately to exercise most love 
 to God when I have been suffering most severely :— 
 but, what shall I say ? Alas, too often the sense of 
 pain absorbs every other thought. Yet there have 
 been seasons when I hmve been affected with such 
 a delightful sense of the loveliness of God as to 
 ravish my soul and give predominance to the sa-j 
 cred passion. — It was never till to-day that I got; 
 any personal instruction from our Lord's telling ' 
 Peter by what death he should glorify God. O 
 what a satisfying thought is it, that God appoints 
 tho^e mesns of dissolution whereby he gets most 
 glory to himself. It was the very thing I needed ;« 
 for of ill the ways of dying, that which I most 
 dreackdwas by a consumption ; (in which it is 
 now highly probable my disorder will issue,) But, 
 O m? dear Lord, if by this death I can most glorify 
 i!i?el 1 prefer it iff all others, and thank thee that 
 
Letters znd Narrative. 49 
 
 by this mean thou art hastening my fuller enjoy- 
 ment of thee in a purer world. 
 
 A sinless state ! <; O 'tie a heaven worth dying 
 for P 1 I cannot realize any thing about heaven, but 
 the presence of Christ and his people, and a per* 
 feet deliverance from sin, and I want no more-— I 
 am sick of sinning — soon. I shall be beyond its 
 power. " C) joyful hour ! O blest abode ! I shall 
 be near and like my God !" 
 
 I only thought of filling one side — and now have 
 not left room to thank you and dear Mrs. Ryland 
 for the minute, affectionate and constant attentions 
 you paid us in Bristol. Mav the Lord reward 
 you. Our hearty love to all around, till we meet 
 ;n heavenc 
 
 Eternally yours in Christ, 
 
 S. P. 
 
 To Dn, RYLAND. 
 
 My very dear Brother, Birmingham, Aug. 4, 1799. 
 
 Lord a Day Evtning. 
 
 STILL, T trust, hastening to the land 4l where 
 there shall be no more curse," I take this opportu- 
 nity of talking a little with you on the road, ; or we 
 are fellow-travellers, and a little conversation by 
 the way will not lose me the privilege of getting 
 first to tht end of my journey. 
 
 It is seventeen years within about a week since 
 I first actually set out on my pilgr mage ; and 
 When i review the many dingers to which, daring 
 that time, I have* been txpc.S'd. 1 am filled with 
 conviction that I have all along been the /arc of 
 Omnipotent Love. Ah how many Pliabies. and 
 
 E 
 
50 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 Timorouses, cind Taikatives have I seen, while my 
 quivering heart said. u Alas ! I shall soon follow. 
 these sons of apostacy, prove a disgrace to religion, 
 and have my portion with hypocrites at last.'' 
 
 These fears may have had their uses — may 
 have made me more cautious, more distrustful of 
 myself, and kept me more dependent on the Lord. 
 Thus 
 
 " All that I've met has work'd for my good." 
 
 With what intricacy, to cur view, and yet with 
 what actua'- skill and goodness, does the Lord draw 
 his plans, and mark out our path ! Here we won- 
 der and complain — Soon we shall all agree that it 
 was a right path to the city of habitation ; and 
 what we now most deeply regret, shall become the 
 subject of our warmest praises. 
 
 I am afraid to come back again to life. O how 
 many dangers await me ! Perhaps I may be over- 
 come of some fleshly lust— perhaps I may get 
 proud and indolent, and be more of the priest than 
 of the evangelist — surelyl rejoice in feeling my out- 
 ward man decay, and having the sentence of death 
 in myself. O what prospects are before me in the 
 blessed world whither I am going! To be holy as 
 God is holy — to have nothing but holiness in my na- 
 ture — Id be assured, without a doubt, and eternally 
 to carry about this assurance with me, that the pure 
 God looks on me with constant complacency, for 
 ever blesses me, and say «, as at the first creation, ; * It 
 is very gtHxL" lam happy now in hoping in the 
 divine pin poses toward me ; but I knew, and the 
 thought is my constant burden, that the Being I 
 love best, always sees something in me which he 
 infinitely hales. " O wretched, wretched man that 
 lam !" The thought even now mak< s me weep, 
 and u ho can help it, that seriously reflects, be 
 nevtr comes to God to pray or pra se, but he 
 !*riD.£S what his God detests along with him — car* 
 
Letters and Narrative. -51 
 
 lies it with him where ever lie goes, and can never 
 get rid of it as long as lie lives i Cquna, my 
 dear brother ! will you not share my joy , and help 
 my praise, that soon I shall leave this body of sin 
 and death behind, to enter on the perfection of 
 my spiritual nature ; and patiently to wait till 
 this natural body shall become a spiritual body, 
 and so be a fit vehicle for my immortal and happy 
 spirit ! 
 
 But I must forbare — I have been very unwell 
 all day ; but this evening God has kindly given 
 me a respite — my fever is low and my spirits are 
 cheerful, so I have indulged myself iii unbosom- 
 ing my feelings to my dear friend. 
 
 S. P. 
 
 MEMORANDA. 
 
 Taken down occasionally by Mrs. Pearce, within 
 four cr five weeks of Mr. Pearce's death. 
 
 HE once said, c * I have been in darkness two or 
 three days, crying, O when wilt thou comfort me ! 
 but last night the mist was taken from me, and the 
 Lord shone in upon my soul. O that I could but 
 speak, I would tell a world to trust a faithful God. 
 t affliction, now it worketh^/cry, glory /" 
 
 Mrs. P. having told him the various exercises of 
 her mind, he replied, " O trust the Lord, if he 
 lifts up the light of his countenance upon you, as 
 he has done upon me this day, al! your mountains 
 will become molehills. 1 feel your situation, I feel 
 your sorrows ; but he who takes care of sparrows, 
 will care for you and my dear children." 
 
 W len scorching with burning fever, he said 
 14 Hot and happy." — One Lord's day morning he 
 said, " Cheer up, my dear, think how much will 
 be said to day of the faithfulness of God. ^Though 
 
52 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 we are called to stparate, he will never separate 
 from you I wish 1 could tell the world what a 
 good and gracious God he is. Never need they, 
 wh. trust in him, be afraid of trials. He has 
 promised to give strength for the day ; that is his 
 promise. O what a lovely God ! and he is my 
 God and yours* He will never leave us nor for- 
 sake us, no, never ! I have been thinking that this 
 and that medicine will do nit* good, but what have 
 I to do with it ? It is in my Jesus*s hands ; he will 
 do it all, and there I leave it What a mercy is it, 
 I have a good bed to lie upon ; you, my dear Sa- 
 Kth, to wait upon me ; and friends to pray for me, 
 O how thankful should I be for all my pains ; I 
 want for nothing ; all my wishes are anticipated. 
 O I have felt the force of those words of David, 
 * Unless the law, (my gracious God i) had been 
 my delights, I siiouiu have perished in mine af- 
 fliction." Though lam too weak to read it, or 
 hear it, I can think upon it, and O how good it 
 is !— 1 am in the best hands I could be in, in the 
 hands of my dear Lord and Saviour, and he will do 
 all things weil. Yes, yes, he cannot do wrong. ** 
 
 One morning Mrs. P. asked him how he felt ?— » 
 ; 'Very ill, but unspeakably happy in the Lord, 
 and my dear Lord Jesus" Once beholding her 
 grieving, he said, kv O my dear Sarah, do not be 
 so anxious, but leave me entirely in the hands of 
 Jesus, and think, if you were as wise as he, you 
 would do the same by me. If he takes me, I shall 
 not be lost, I shall only go a little before ; we shall 
 meet again, never to part.'' 
 
 After a violent fit of coughing he said, u It is all 
 well; O what a good God is he! It is done by 
 him, and it must be weil — If I ever recover, I shall 
 pitv the sick more than ever, and if I do not, I 
 shall go \- ing delivering love ; so you see it will 
 be all rali — O tor more patience ! Well, my God 
 is the Gou of patience, and he will give all I need 
 
Letters and Narrative. 53 
 
 I rejoice it is in my Jesus's hands to communicate, 
 and it cannot be in better. It is my God who 
 gives me patience to bear all his will." 
 
 When after a restless night, Mrs. P. asked him, 
 what she should do for him ? " You can do noth- 
 ing, but pray for me, and that I may have patience 
 to bear all my Lord's will " — After taking a medi- 
 cine he said, 4t If it be the Lord's will to ble^s it 
 for your sake, and for the sake of the dear chil- 
 dren, b t the L rd's will be done. O I fear I sin, 
 I dishonour God by impatience ; but I would not 
 for a thousand worlds sin in a thought if I could 
 avoid it." Mrs. P. replied, she trusted the Lord 
 would still keep him ; seeing he had brought him 
 thus far, he would not desert him at last. <s No, 
 no," he said, 4t I hope he will not. Asa father 
 pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that 
 fear him Why do I complain ? My dear Jesus' s 
 sufferings were much sorer and more bitter than 
 mine ; And did he thus suffer and shall I repine i 
 No, I will cheerfully suffer my Father's will. 
 
 One morning after being asked how he felt, he 
 replied, " I have but one severe pain about me ! 
 what a mercy ! O how good a God to afford some 
 intervals amidst so much pain! He is altogether 
 good. Jesus lives, my dear, and that must be our 
 ccm^i lation." — After taking a medicine which op- 
 crated very powerfully, he said, Ct This will make 
 me so much lower ; well, let it be. Multiply my 
 pains, thou good God, so thou art but glorified, 
 I care not what I suffer ; all is right." 
 
 B ing asked how he felt after a restless night, he 
 replied, " I have so much weakness and pain, I 
 h tve not had much enjoyment ; but I have a full 
 p< iMias on that the Lord is doing all things vv< II. 
 If it were not for strong confidence in a lovett God, 
 I 1st sink ; but all is well; O blessed God, I 
 would not love thee 1-ss; O support a sinking worm ! 
 Ee 
 
54 Letters and Narrative* 
 
 O what a mercy to be assured that all things are 
 working together for good " 
 
 Mrs. P. saying, if we must part, I trust the sep.- 
 aration w 11 not be for ever ; '* O no," he replied, 
 '* we sorrow not as those who have no hope.'* She 
 said, Then you can leave me and your dear chil- 
 dren with resignatiorisCanyou ? He answered, " My 
 hear was pierced through with many sorrows, be- 
 fore I could give you and the dear children up ; 
 bu. the Lord has heard me say, Thy will be done ; 
 and I now can say, blessed be his dear name, I 
 have none of my own." 
 
 His last day, Oct. 1Q, was very happy ; Mrs P,- 
 repeated this verse, 
 
 Since all that I meet shall work for my good, 
 The bitter is sweet, the med'eine is food, 
 
 Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long, 
 And then, O how pleasant, the conqueror's song. 
 
 He repeated with an inexpressible smile, the last 
 line, " The conquerors song."" 
 
 He said -nee, " O my dear ! what shall I do ? 
 But why do I com; -lain ? He makes all my bed in 
 my sickness." She then repeated those lines, 
 
 Jesus can make a dying bed, 
 Feel soft as downy p lows are. 
 
 " Yes/' he replied, " he can j he does j I feel 
 if* 
 
THREE 
 
 OCCASIONAL SERMONS. 
 
 I. THE QUALIFICATIONS AND ENCOURAGE? 
 MENTOF A FAITHFUL MINISTER, ILLUS- 
 TRATED BY THE CHARACTER AND SUC- 
 CESS OF BARNABAS. 
 
 Delivered at the Settlement ofthe Rev. Robert Fawk- 
 neb, in the Pastoral Office, over the Baptist Church at 
 Thorn, in Bedfordshire, October 31» 1737- 
 
 II. THE PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE OF DELA* 
 IN RELIGIOUS CONCERNS. 
 
 Delivered at a Meeting of Ministers at Ctifis^one, in Norths 
 amptonshire, April 27, 1791. 
 
 III. THE IMPORTANCE OE A DEEP AND IVh* 
 TIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF DIVIDE TRUTH. 
 
 Delivered at an Association of Baptist Minister and 
 Churches, at St. Albon's, Hertfordshire, June 1, 178& 
 
 By ANDREW FULLER, 
 
 JfE WARE: 
 Jg&WTED Ml W. TUTTLft* 
 
The Qualifications and Encouragement of€ 
 faithful Minister y illustrated by the Charac- 
 ter and Success of Barnabas* 
 
 3IY DEAR BROTHER, 
 
 IT is a very important work to which you are 
 this day set apart. I feel th difficulty of your 
 situation. You need both counsel and encourage- 
 ment; I wish I were better able to administer both. 
 In what I may offer, I am persuaded you will al- 
 low me to be tree ; and understand me, not as as- 
 suming any authority or superiority over you, but 
 only as saying that to you, winch 1 wish to consid- 
 er as equally addressed to myself. 
 
 Out of a variety of topics that might afford a les. 
 son for a Christian minister, my thoughts have 
 turned on this occasion upon that or example. Ex- 
 ample has a great influence upon the human mind : 
 examples from scripture especially, wherein char- 
 acters the most illustrious in their day for gifts, 
 grace, and usefulness, are drawn with the pencil 
 of inspiration, have an assimilating tendency. 
 Viewing these, under a divine blessing, we form 
 some just conceptions of the nature and impor- 
 tance of our work, are led to reflect upon our own 
 defects, and feel the fire of holy emulation kindling 
 in our bosoms. 
 
 The particular example, my brother, which I 
 wish to recommend to your attention is that of 
 
S3 The Qualification and Encouragement 
 
 Barnabas, that xcellent servant of Christ, and 
 companion of the apostle Paul. You will find his 
 character particular}) given in 
 
 A c t s xi. 24. 
 
 He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost^ 
 
 ana of faith ; and much people was added unto 
 the Lord. 
 
 WERE we to examine the life of this great and 
 good man, asrelateJ in other parts of scripture, we 
 should find the character here given him abund- 
 antly confirmed. He seems to have been one of 
 that great company, who, through the preaching 
 of Peter and the pther apostles, submitted to 
 Christ soon after his ascension. He gave early 
 proof of his love to him, by selling his possessions, 
 an J laying the price at the apostles' feet, for die 
 support of his infant cause. As he loved Christ, so 
 he loved his people, ^e appears to have posses- 
 sed much of the tender and affectionate, on account 
 of which he was called Barnabas, a son of consola- 
 tion.^ Assiduous m discovering ana encouraging 
 the first dawnings of God 7 , work, he was the first 
 person that introduced Saul into the company of 
 the disciples. f The next news that we hear of 
 him is in the passage which i have selected. Ti- 
 dings came to the ears of the church at Jerusalem 
 of the word of the Lord being prosperous at Unit* 
 cch, in Syria. The church at Jerusalem was the 
 mother church, and felt a concern for others like 
 that of a tender mother towards her infant offs- 
 pring. The young converts at Antioeh want- 
 ed a nursing father ; and who so proper to 
 be sent as Barnabas P He goes — and, far 
 from envying the success of ot ers who had 
 laboured before him, he was glad to see the 
 grace of God so evidently appear ; aid exhorted 
 
 * Aetsiv. 3S,3r. * ix 2ft 
 
of a faithful Minister. 59 
 
 them, with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the 
 Jjord — \s a preacher, h* does not seem to have 
 been equal to the apostle Paul ;* vet, so far was 
 he from caring about being eclipsed by Paul's su- 
 perior abilities, that he went in search of him, and 
 brought him to tatioch to assist him in the work 
 of the Lord, it mav well be said of such a character, 
 that he was a good man, full of the ffoty Ghost, and 
 of faith — O that we had more such ministers in 
 the church at this day — that we ourselves were 
 like him ! Might we not hone, if that were the 
 case, that, accordingto God's us".al manner of wort- 
 hing, more people would be. added to the Lord P 
 
 There are three things we see which are said of 
 Barni:b:ts in a way of commendation — he was a 
 goo I man, full cf the Holy Ghost, and of faith— 
 thus far he is held up for our example : a fourth 
 Is added concerning the effects which followed, and 
 much people was added unto the T ord — and this 
 seems to be held up for our encouragement. Per* 
 mit me, my dear brother, to request your candid 
 attention, while i attempt to review these great 
 lilies in Barnabas, -and by every motive to en- 
 force them upon you. 
 
 I. He was a good man. — It were easy to prove 
 the necessity of a person being a good man, in or- 
 der to his property engaging in ih~ work of the 
 ministry — Christ would noi commit his sheep hut 
 to one that loved hnnf— -but on this remark I shall 
 not i no reason to doubt, my broth- 
 
 er, but that God has given you an understanding 
 to k ] that is true, and a heart to love him 
 
 in sincerity ; i trust, therefore, such an attempt 
 on this occasion is needless. Nor does it appear 
 to me io be the meaning of the tvargel- 
 ist ft is not barely meant of Barnabas that 
 he was a regenerate man (thpugh that is 
 implied ;)-but it denotes that he was emit 
 
 * Acts xiv. 12 J John xxi 16, 
 
60 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 nently good. We use the wor i so in common 
 conversation, if we would d scribe one that more 
 ordinariK shines in piety, meekn ss, and kindness, 
 we know not how to speak of him better, than to 
 say, with a degree of emphasis, wl he is a good 
 man." After this emnency in goodness, brother, 
 may it be your concern and mine da ly to aspire! 
 
 Perhaps, indeed we may have sometimes heard 
 this epithet used with a sneer. Persons who take 
 pleasure in treating others with contempt, will fre- 
 quently, with a kind of proud pity, speak in this 
 manner, u Aye such a one is a good man ' — lea- 
 ving it implied, that goodness is but an indiffer- 
 ent qualification, unless it be accompanied with 
 greatness. But these things ough: not so to be. 
 The apostle Paul did not value himself upon those 
 things wherein he differed from other Christians ; 
 but upon that which he possessed in common w T ith 
 them, charity or Christian love : Though I speak 
 with the tongues of men and of angels, and have 
 not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a 
 tinkling cymbal. Ai«d though 1 have the gift of 
 prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all 
 knowledge ; and though I have all faith, so that I 
 couid remove mountains, and have not charity, I 
 am nothing.^" 
 
 My dear brother, value the character of 
 A GOOD man in all the pakts of your EM- 
 PLOYMENT ; AND ABOVii ALL THOSE THINGS 
 1CH THE WORLD COUNTS GREAT AND ESTI- 
 MABLE. More particularly — 
 
 Value it at home in your family* — If you walk 
 not closeh with God there, you will be ill able to 
 work ior him elsewhere. You are lately become 
 the head of a family. Whatever charge it shall 
 please God in the course of your life to place un~ 
 
 * 1. Cor, xiii, 1, ? s 
 
of a faithful Minister . 61 
 
 der your' tare, I trust it will be your concern to 
 recommend Christ and the gospel to them, walk 
 circumspectly before them, constantly worship 
 God with them, offer up secret pi aver for them, 
 and exercise * proper authority over them. 1 here 
 '3 a sort of religious gossiping, which some min- 
 isters have indulged to their hurt; loitering 
 about perpetually at the houses of their friends, 
 and taking no delight in their own. Such con- 
 duct in a minister and master of a family must of 
 necessity root out all family order, and, to a great 
 degree, family worship ; and, instead of endear- 
 ing him to his friends, it onlv exposes him to their 
 just censure. Perhaps they know not how to be 
 so plain as to tell him of it at their own houses, 
 but they will think the more, and speak of it, it is 
 likely, to one another, when he is gone. I trust, 
 my brother, that none of your domestic connex- 
 ions will have to say when you are gone, 4v He was 
 loose and careless in his conduct, or sour and 
 churlish in his temper;" but rather, 4t He was a 
 good man." 
 
 Value this character in your private retirements. 
 Give yourself up to the word of God, and to pray- 
 er. The apostle charged Timothv, saying, medi- 
 tate on these things, give thyself 'wholly to them, or 
 be Ih u In them; but this will never be without a 
 considerable share of the good man. Your heart 
 can never be in those things which are foreign to 
 its prevailing temper ; and if your heart is not in 
 your work, it will be a poor lifeless business in- 
 deed. We need not fear exhausting the Bible, or 
 dread a scarcity of divine subjects. If our hearts, 
 are but kept in unison with the spirit in which the 
 bible was written, every thing we meet with will 
 be interesting. The more we read, the more in- 
 teresting it will appear \ and he more we know, 
 the more we shall perceive there is to be known. 
 
 F 
 
6£ The Qualifications and encouragement 
 
 Beware also, broiker, of tfegtecting $i en \ prayer. 
 The fire of devotion will go out, if it be not kept 
 alive by an habitual dealing with Christ Convers- 
 ing with men and things may brighten our gifts 
 and parts ; but it is conversing with God that 
 must brighten our graces. Whatever ardour v/e 
 may feel in our public work, if this is wanting, 
 things cannot be right, nor can they in such a 
 train come to a good issue. 
 
 Value it in your public exercises. It it hard going 
 on it) the work of the ministry without a good de- 
 gree of spirituality ; and yet, considering the pre- 
 sent state of human nature, we are in the greatest 
 danger of the contrary- Allow me, brother, to 
 mention two things in particular, each of which are 
 directly opposite to that spirit winch I am at- 
 tempting to recommend. One is an assumed ear- 
 nestness, or forced zeal in the pulpit, which many 
 weak hearers may mistake for the enjoyment of 
 God. But though we may put on violent emo- 
 tions ; may smite with the hand, and stamp with 
 the foot ; if we are destitute of a genuine feeling 
 sense of what we deiiver, it will be discerned by 
 judicious hearers, as well as by the Searcher of 
 hearts, and will not fail to create disgust. li\ on 
 the contrary, we feel and realize the sentiments 
 we deiiver, emotions and actions will be the natu- 
 ral expressions of the heart; and this will give 
 weight to the doctrines, exhortations, or reproofs 
 which we inculcate: what we say will come with 
 akind of divine authority to the consciences, if not 
 to the heaits of the hearers. The ofher is. a b.-ing 
 under > he influence of lew and selfish motives in the 
 exercise of our work. 1 his is a temptation against 
 which we 'nave special reason to watch and pray. 
 It is right, my brother, for you to be diligent in 
 your public work ; to be mutant in season and out 
 of season j to preach the gospel not only at Thom % 
 
of a faithful Minister. 63 
 
 but in the surrounding villages, where ever a door 
 is opened for you : but w h i 1 e you arc thus enga- 
 ged, let it not be from motives of policy, merely 
 to increase your auditory ; but from love to Christ 
 and the souls of your fellow-sinners- It is this 
 only that will endure reflection in a dying hour- 
 The apostle Paul was charged by some of t;ie Co- 
 rinthian teachers with b^ing crafty, and with hav- 
 ing caught the Corinthians with guile ; but he could 
 say in reply to all such insinuations, in behalf of 
 himself and his fellow-labourers, Our rejoicing is 
 this, the testimony of our conscience, I hut in sim- 
 plicity and godly sincerity) not with fleshly zvis- 
 dom, but by the grace of God, we have had cur con- 
 versation in the world.* 
 
 Value it in the general tenor of your behaviour. 
 Cultivate a meek, modest, peaceful, and friendly 
 temper. Be generous and humane. Prove by 
 your spirit and conduct that you are a lover of all 
 mankind. To men in general, but especially to 
 the poor and afflicted, be pitiful, be courteous. It 
 is this, my brother, that will recommend the gospel 
 you proclaim. Without this, could you preach 
 with the eloquence of an angel, you may expect 
 that no good end will be answered. 
 
 Prize the character of a good man, above world- 
 ly greatness. — It is not sinful for a minister to pos- 
 sess property any more than ano her man ; but to 
 aspire after it is unworthy of his sacred character. 
 Greatness, unaccompanied with goodness, is valu- 
 ed as nothing by the great God. Kings and em- 
 pen rs, where thpt is wanting, are nothing but 
 great beasts, horned beasts, pushing one at anoth- 
 er.*!* When Sennacherib vaunted against the 
 church of God, that he would enter the forest of 
 
 * 2 Cor. xii. 16, compared with chap. i. 12. See Dr.: 
 Owen on Heb. iii. 1. vol. ii. p. 6. 
 t Dan. viii. 
 
64 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 her Carmel, and cut down her tall cedars, the 
 daughter of Zion is commanded to despise him. 
 God speaks of him as we should speak of a buffalo, 
 or ev^n of an ass, 1 'will put my hook into thy nose, 
 and my bridle into thy lips, and will turn thee back 
 'he way by which thou earnest* Outward great- 
 ness, when accompanied with goodness, may be 
 a great blessing; yet even then, it is the latter, 
 and not the former, that denominates the true 
 worth of a character. Once more. 
 
 Value it above mental greatness, or greatness in 
 gifts and parts. — It is not wrong to cultivate gifts • 
 on the contrary, it is our duty so to do. But de- 
 sirable as these are, they are not to be compared 
 with goodness. Covet earnestly the brst gifts, says 
 the apostle, and yet shew i unto you a more 
 excellent way — viz. charity, or love. If we im- 
 prove in gifts and not in grace, to say the least, it 
 will be useless, and perhaps dangerous, both to 
 ourselves and others. To improve in gifts, that 
 we may be the better able to discharge our work, 
 is laudable; but if it be for the sake of popular 
 appl iitjse, let us expect a blast. Hundreds of min- 
 ister^ have been ruined by indulging a thirst for 
 the character of' the great man, while they have 
 neglected the far superior character of the good 
 man. Another part of the character of Barnabas 
 was, that be was, 
 
 II. Full of the holy ghost — The Holy Ghost 
 so;- enotes his extraordinary gifts, as in 
 
 Acts six. — wh. -re the apostle Paul put the ques- 
 tion of the belie ers In Christ, whether they 
 had received the Holy Ghost \ but here it signi- 
 fies his md welling and ordinary operations, or 
 what is elsewhere called an unction from the Holy 
 One f I his, though more common than the other, 
 is far more excellent. Its fruits, chough less brill- 
 jant, are abundantly the most valuable. lo be a 
 
 * Isaia'i xxxvih 29. t I John, ii 20. 
 
ef a faithful Minister. 65 
 
 'tie to surmount a difficulty by Christian patience, 
 is a greater thing in the sight of God than to re- 
 move a mountain, Every work of God bears 
 some mark of Godhead, even a thistle or a nettle ; 
 bin there are some works of God which bear a pe- 
 culiar likeness to his holy moral character ; such 
 were the minds of men and angels in their original 
 state. This it ill serve to illustrate the suhjec! in 
 hand. The extra rdinary gits f ie Holy Spirt, 
 an> i communication ot his power; but in his 
 dw llingin the saints, and the ordinary operations cf 
 hb ^race, he communicates his own holy nature ; & 
 this it was of which Barnabas was full. To be full 
 of the Holy Ghost, is to be full of the dove, as I 
 may say ; or full of those fruits of the Spirit men- 
 tioned bv the apostle to the Gallatians, viz. Ijvc, 
 joy, peace, long- buffering, gentleness, goodness* 
 
 To be sure, die term/**// is not here to be under- 
 stood in an unlimited sense ; not in so ample a 
 sense as when it is applied to Christ. He was/*/- 
 led with the Spirit without measure, but we in 
 measure. The word is doubtless to be understood 
 in a. comparative sense, and denotes as much as 
 that he was habitually under his holy influence. A 
 person that is greatly under the influence of the 
 love of this world, is said to be drunken with its 
 cares or pleasures. In allusion to something like 
 this, the apostle exhorts that we be not drunken 
 with wine, wherein is excess; but filled with 
 the Spirit.* The \\oxA filled here is very expres- 
 sive ; it denotes, I should think, a being overcome 
 as it tvere with the holy influences and fruits of 
 the blessed Spirit. How necessary is ali this, my 
 brother, in your work ; O, how necessary is an 
 unctionfrom the Holy One t 
 
 l\ is this that will enable you to en 4 er into the 
 .spirit of the gospel^ and und preserve you f rem det* 
 
 * Eph. v. 18. 
 F2 
 
 •; 
 
66 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 truciive errors concerning it. — Those who hare an 
 unction from the Hoi v One, are said to know all 
 things ; and the anointing which they have received 
 abideth in them, and they need not that any man 
 teach them : but, as the same anointing teacheih them 
 all things, and is truth, and is no lie* — We shall 
 naturally fall in with the dictates of that Spirit of 
 which we are full. It is for want of this, in a great 
 measure, that the scriptures appear strange, and 
 foreign, and difficult to be understood. He that 
 is full of the Holy Ghost, has the contents of the 
 Bible written, as I maj say, upon his heart ; and 
 thus its sacred pages are easy to be understood, as 
 wisdom is easy to him that under standeth. 
 
 Is it no breach of charity to say, that if the pro- 
 fessors of Christianity had more of the Holy Spirit 
 of God id their hear is, there would be a greater 
 harmony amongst them respecting the great truths 
 which he has revealed. The rejection of such 
 doctrines as the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the 
 total depravity of mankind, the proper Deity and 
 atonement of Christ, justification by faith in his 
 name, the freeness and sovereignty of grace, and 
 the agency of the Holy Spirit, may easily be ac- 
 counted for upon this principle. If we are desti- 
 tute of the Holy Spirit, we are blind to the loveli- 
 ness of the divine character, and destitute of any 
 true love to God in our hearts : and if destitute of 
 this, we shall not be able to see the reasonableness 
 of that law. which requires love to him with all the 
 heart ; and then, of course, we shall think lightly 
 of the nature of those offences committed against 
 : — we shall be naturally disposed to palliate 
 and excuse our want of love to him, yea, and even 
 our positive viola' ions of his law ; it will seem 
 bard, very bard indeed, for such little things as 
 these to be punished with everlasting destruction. 
 And now, a I tins admitted, we shall naturally be 
 
 » i John ii. 26, 2ft 
 
of a faithful Minister. 6 7 
 
 blind to the necessity and glory of salvation by 
 Jesus Christ. If sin is so trifling an affair, it will 
 seem a strange and incredible thing that God should 
 become incarnate to atone for it. And hence we 
 shall be very easily persuaded to consider Christ 
 as only a good man, who came into the world to 
 set us a good example ; or, however, that he is not 
 equal with the Father. The freeness and sove- 
 reignty of grace also, together with justification by 
 imputed righteousness, will be a very strange sound 
 in our ears. Like the Jews, we shall go about to 
 establish our own righteousness, and shall no t sub- 
 mit to the righteousness of God. It will seem e- 
 qually strange and incredible to be told, that we 
 are by nature utterly unfit for the kingdom of God 
 — that therefore, we must be born again — that we 
 are so bad, that we cannot even come to Christ for 
 life, except the Father draw us — yea, and that our 
 best doings, after all, are unworthy of God's no- 
 tice. It will be no wonder, if, instead of these 
 unwelcome and humiliating doctrines, we should 
 fall in with those writers and preachers who think 
 more favourably of our condition, and the con* 
 dition of the world at large ; who either deny eter-i 
 nal punishment to exist, or represent men in general, 
 as being in lit.le or no danger of it. And having 
 avowed these sentiments, it will then become ne- 
 cessary to compliment iheir abettors (including 
 ourselves in the number) as pe sons of a more ra- 
 tional and liberal way of thinking than other peo- 
 ple. 
 
 My dear brother, of all things be this your 
 prayer, Take not thy Holy Spirit Jrom me ! If 
 once we sink into such a way of performing our 
 public work, as to do without his enlightening and 
 enlivening influences, we may goon, and probably 
 shall go on, from one degree of evil to an other. 
 Knowing how to account for the operations of our 
 own minds, without imputing them to a divine a* 
 
68 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 gency, we shall be inclined in this manner to ac- 
 count for th operations in the minds of others; 
 and so, with numbers in the present age, may soon 
 call in question even whether there be any lloht 
 Ghost. 
 
 But farther, a being full of the Holy Ghost will 
 give a holy t'neture to your meditation and pre th- 
 ing. — There is sue h a rung as the mind being ha- 
 bitually und r the influence of divine things; and 
 retaining so much of a savor of Christ, as that di- 
 vine truths shall be viewed and expressed, as 1 may 
 say, in their own language. Spiritual things 
 will be spiritually discerned; and if spiritual-y dis- 
 cerned, will be >«) r u -diy communicated. There 
 is more in our manner of thinking and speaking 
 upon divine truih tfian, perhaps, at first sight, we 
 are aware of. A great part of the phraseology of 
 scripture is by some accounted unfit to be addres- 
 sed to a modern ear ; and is on this account to a 
 great degree laid aside, even by those who profess 
 to be satisfied wi h the sentiments therein contain- 
 ed. Whatever may be said in defence of this prac- 
 tice in a very few instances, such as those where 
 words in a translation are become obsolete, or con- 
 vey a different idea from what they did at the time 
 of b ing trans ated, I am satisfied the practice in 
 in general is very pernicious. There are mar.y 
 sermons that cannot fairly be charged with un- 
 truth, which vet have a tendency to lead off the 
 mind from the simplicity of the gospel. If such 
 scripture terms^ for instance, as holiness, godi'mess^ 
 grace, believers, saints, communion with God, &c. 
 should be thrown aside as savouring to much of 
 cant and enthusiasm, and such terms as morality ^ 
 virtue, religion, good men, happiness of mind, &c. 
 substituted in their room, it will have an amazing 
 effect upon the hearers c s u preaching is the 
 
 gospel, it is the gospel heat 1 enized, and will tend 
 to neaihenize the minds of those who deal in it. I 
 
of a faithful Minister. 69 
 
 do not mean to object to the use of these latter 
 terms in their place ; they are some of them scrip- 
 tural terms ; what I object to is patting them in 
 the place of the other, when discoursing upon e- 
 vangelical subjects. To be sure, there is a way 
 of handling divine subjects after this sort that is 
 very clever, and very ingenious ; and a minister 
 of such a stamp may commend himself by his in- 
 genuity to many hearers : but after all, God's truths 
 are never so acceptable and savoury to a gracious 
 heart, ^s when closed in their own native phra- 
 seology. The more you are filled, my brother, 
 with an unction from the Holy One, the greater 
 relish you will possess for that savoury manner 
 of conveying truth which is so plentifully exempli- 
 fied in the holy scriptures. Farther, 
 
 It is this that will make the doctrines you preach, 
 raid the duties you inculcate, seem fitted in your 
 hps ; I allude to a saying of the wise man, (Prov. 
 xxii. IS.) The works of the wise are pleasant, if 
 thou keep them within thee ; they shall withal be fit- 
 ted in thy lips. It is expected there should be an 
 agreement between the character of the speaker 
 and the things which are spoken. Excellent speech 
 becometh not a teoL Kxhortations to holiness come 
 with an ill grace irom the lips of one who indulges 
 himself in iniquity. The opposite of this is what 
 I mean by the doctrines and duties of religion be- 
 ing fitted in your lips, his this that will make your 
 face shine, when you come fonh in your public 
 labours, like the face of Moses when he had been 
 conversing with God in the hoiy mount. 
 
 I is this that will give a spiritual savour to your 
 conversation, inj our visits to your friends.-- Hi ugh 
 r< igiaus visits may be abused ; yet you know, 
 b. her, the necessity there is for them, if \ou 
 w Id understand the spiritual condition o$ thtfse 
 mil lis you pr< <tch 10. There are : uits 
 
 likewise that you may discover in individuals, 
 
70 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 which it would br u. manly, as well as unfriendlv, 
 to expose in a pointed manner in the pulpit, which 
 nevertheless, ought not to be passed by unnoticed. 
 Here is work for your private visits ; and, in pro- 
 pouion as you an. filled with the Holv Ghost, vou 
 will possess a spirit of love and faithfulness, which 
 
 is absolutely necessary to successful reproof It 
 
 is in our private visits also that we can be free with 
 our people, and they with us. Questions may be 
 asked and answered, difficulties discussed, and 
 soul-concerns talkedover Pi*l taught the I'phe- 
 sians, not only publicly, but from house to house* 
 Now, it is a being full of the Holy Spirit that will 
 give a spiritual savour to all this conversation. It 
 "will be as the holy anointing oil on Aaron's gar- 
 ments, which diffused a savour to all around him. 
 
 It is this that will reach you how you ought to 
 behave yourself in every department you. are called 
 to occupy, Jt will serve instead of ten thousand 
 rules ; and all rules without it will be of no account. 
 This it is that will teach you to be of a meek, mdd, 
 peaceful, humble spirit. It will make such a spir- 
 it be natural to you. As touching brotherly love, 
 said the apostle to the Ephesians, you need not 
 thai I write unto you. for ye yourselves are taught 
 of God to love one another J 
 
 In short, it is this that will denominate you the 
 ?nan tfGod. Such was Barnabas, and such, my 
 brother, was your predecessor, whose memory is 
 dear to many of us \\ and such, according to all 
 that I have heard, was h s predecessor, whose 
 memory is equally dear to many here present. || 
 
 * Acts xx. 20. t i Thes. iv. 9. 
 
 | The ttev. David Evans, who was ordained pastor of 
 thechurch ai 'I horn, Aug. 7, 1782, and died February 21, 
 17Z>7. a^en 31. 
 
 |; The Rev. Wm> Butjie'd, who was ordained pastor of 
 the chuich at Thorn, Feb 15, 1775, and died March23, 1778$ 
 of the Small-Pox; aged ?©, 
 
of a faithful Minister. 71 
 
 Each, in his dav, was a burning and shining light ; 
 but they shine here no more. May you, my broth- 
 er, and each of us, be followers of them as they 
 also were of Christ ! — Another p<rt of the char- 
 acter of Barnabas is, 
 
 III. H< j was full of faith. — It may be difficult 
 to ascertain with precision, the real intent and ex- 
 tent of this term ; but I should think, in this con- 
 nexion, it includes at least the three following i- 
 
 as : a mind occupied with divine sentiment— 
 a beino rooted and grounded in the truth of the 
 gospel — and a daily living upon it. The first of 
 these ideas distinguished him from those char- 
 acters whose minds ore void of principle ; the next 
 from such who are always hovering upon the bor- 
 ders of skepticism ; and the last from such who, 
 though they have no marr.er of doubts about the 
 truth of the doctrines of the gospel, yet scarcely 
 ever, if at all, feel their vital hvfluence upon their 
 hearts and lives. — Let us review each of thtse a 
 little more particularly. — Firs /, His mind was well 
 occupied, Orsiored tvi*h divine sentiment — How 
 necessary is this to a gospel minister ! It is to be 
 feared, thai many young men 'nave rushed into 
 the woik of the Lord without any decided princii 
 pies of their own ; yea, and have not only set off 
 in such a state of mind, but have continued so all 
 through their lives. Alas, what can the churches 
 expec. from such characters? What can such a 
 1 produce ? How can we feed others with 
 knowledge and understanding, if we are destitute 
 of it ourselves ? To say the least, such ministers 
 will be but unprofitable servant* But this is not 
 all ; a minister that is not inured to think for him- 
 self, is constantly exposed to every false senti- 
 ment, or system, that happens to be presented to 
 him We sometimes hear of a person changing 
 his sentiments ; and doubtless, in man) cases, if is 
 just and right he should change them ; but there 
 
72 The Qualification and Encouragement 
 
 are cases in which that mode of speaking is very 
 improper, for in reality some persons have no sen- 
 timents of their own to change ; they have only 
 changed the sentiments of some one great man 
 for those of another. 
 
 Secondly — He had a firm persuasion of the truth 
 of that gospel zvhich he preached to others. — He 
 was rooted and grounded in the gospel. The great 
 controversy of that day was, whether the gospel 
 was true ; whether Jesus was the Messiah ; whe- 
 ther he, whoso lately expired on the cross, was 
 the Son of God ; and whether his death was the 
 way for men to obtain eternal life. There were 
 great temptations for a person, who should view 
 things through a medium of sense, to think oth- 
 erwise. The popular opinion went against it — 
 To the Jews it was a stumbling-block, and to the 
 Greeks foolishness. Those who adhered to the 
 gospel, thereby exposed themselves to cruel per- 
 secution^. B't Barnabas was full offaith — he was 
 decidedly on the Lord's side — he believed on the 
 Son of God, and had the witness of the truth of 
 his gospel within himself* 
 
 Preaching the gospel is bearing a testimony for 
 God ; but we shall never be able to do this to any 
 good purpose, if we be always hesitating, and in- 
 dulging a skeptical humour. There is no need of 
 a dogmatical over-bearing temper ; but there is 
 need of being rooted and grounded in the truths of 
 God. Be not carried abvut, said the apostle to the 
 Hebrews, with strange doctrines ; it is a good 
 thing that the heart be established wish grace. t 
 The contrary describes the character of those who 
 are ever learning and never able to come to the 
 knowledge of the tnith.l 
 
 Thirdly; That gospel, which he preached to 
 others, he lived upon himself. — The word preached, 
 • 
 
 * 1 John, v. f Heb. xiii. 9. j 2 Tim, iii, 7. 
 
of a faithful Minister. R3 
 
 we are told did not profit some, because it was not 
 mixed ivith faith in them that heard it. This will 
 equally hold good in the case of the preacher as of 
 the hearer. If we mix not faith with the doctrine 
 we deliver^ it will not profit us. Whatever abil- 
 ities we may possess, and of whatever use we may 
 be made to others, unless we can say in some sort 
 with the apostle John, That which we have seen 
 with our eyes, and looked upon, and our hands have 
 handled of the word of life, — that declare we unto if oil, 
 cur own souls may notwithstanding everlastingly 
 perish ! This is a very serious matter ; and well 
 deserves our attention as ministers ! Professors in 
 the age of Barnabas might be tinder greater tempt- 
 ations than we are, to question whether Jesus yvy.s 
 the true Messiah ; but we are under greater 
 temptations than they were of resting in a mere 
 implicit assent to the Christian religion, without 
 realizing and living upon its important truths. 
 
 It is a temptation to which »ye are more than or- 
 dinarily exposed, to study divine truth as preach* 
 Grs rather than V& Christians $ in other words, to 
 study it for the sake of finding out something to 
 say to ethers, without so much as thinking of prof- 
 iting our own souls. If wc studied divine truths as 
 Christians, our being constantly engaged in the 
 service of God, would he friendly to our growth 
 in grace. We should be like trees planted by the 
 rivers of waters, that bring forth fruit in their season ; 
 and that ail that we did vvouid be likely to pros* 
 per* But if we study it only as preachers, it will 
 be the reverse- Our being conversant with the Bi- 
 ble will be like surgeons and sojdiers being conver- 
 sant with the shedding of human blood, till they 
 iose all sensibility concerning it. 1^ believe it is a 
 fact, that where a preacher is uick d, lie is gene, 
 rally the most hardened against eonvittipn of any 
 
 * Ps*. J. I. 2. 3. 
 
 G 
 
74 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 S' 
 
 character whatever. Happy will it be for us, if, 
 like Eauubas, we are vdUfjaih in that Saviour 
 whom we recommend, in that gospel which it is 
 our employment to proclaim. 
 
 IV. We now come to the last part of the sub- 
 ject, which is held up by way of encouragement — 
 And much people was added unto the Lord. — When 
 our ministry is blessed to the conversion of sinners, 
 to the bringing them off from their connexion 
 with sin and self to a vital union with Christ; 
 when our congregations are fiiled not merely with 
 professors of religion, but with sound believers 
 when such believers come forward, and offer them- 
 selves willingly for communion, saying, We will 
 go xvith you, for we have heard that God is with 
 you — then it may be said, t'^at much people is ad- 
 ded unto the Lord. The connexion between such ad- 
 ditions,andeminency in grace and holinessinamin- 
 ister, deserves our serious attention. 
 
 I think it may be laid down as a rule, which both 
 scripture and experience will confirm, tha* eminent 
 Spirituality in a minister is usually attended xvith em* 
 inent usefulness. I do not mean to say, our use- 
 fulness depends upon our spirituality, as an effect 
 depends upon its cause; nor yet that it is always 
 in proportion to it. Gcd is a sovereign, and 
 frequently sees it proper to convince us of it, in 
 variously bestowing his blessing on the means of 
 grace. But yet he is not wanting in giving en- 
 couragement to what he approves, wherever it is 
 found. Our want of usefulness is often to be as- 
 cribed to our want of spirituality, much oftener 
 than to our want of natural ability. God has fre- 
 quency been known to succeed men of but rough 
 parts and abilities, where they have been eminent- 
 ly holy, when he has blasted others of much supe- 
 rior talents, where that has been wanting. Hun. 
 dreds of ministers, who on account of their gifts, 
 iave promised to be shining characters, have 
 
of a faithful Minister. 75 
 
 proved the reverse ; and all owing to such things as 
 pride, un watchfulness* carnality, and levity. 
 
 Eminency in grace, my brother, will contribute 
 to your success in three ways — 
 
 First, It will fire your soul with holy love to 
 Chris*, and the souls qf?nen ; and such a spirit is 
 usually attended with success. — I believe you will 
 iind, that in almost all the great works which God 
 hath wroughtinany period of time, he has hon Hir- 
 ed men of this character, by making them his in- 
 struments. In the midst of a sore calamity up-jti 
 the murmuring Israelites, when God was inclined 
 to shew mercy, it was by the means of his servant 
 Aaron running with a censer of fire in his hand, 
 and standing between the living and the dead !^ 
 The great reformation that was brought about in 
 the days ofHezekiah, was by the instrumentality of 
 a man who wrought that which was good, and right, 
 and true before the Lord his God — and then it fol« 
 lows, And in every work that he began in the ser- 
 vice of the house of God, and in the law* 
 and in the commandments, to seek his God, 
 
 HE DID IT WITH ALL HIS HEART, and PROSPER- 
 ED.f 
 
 There was another greatreformation in the Jew- 
 ish church, about the time of their return from 
 Babylon. One of the chief instruments in this 
 work was Ezra, a ready scribe in the law of his 
 God ; a man who had prepared his heart to seek 
 ♦ he law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teacii 
 in Israel statutes und judgments ; — a man who fas- 
 ted and prayed at the river Ahava previous to his 
 great undertaking ;- — a man who was afterwards 
 sorely astonished, and in heaviness, and would eat 
 no meat nor drink water, but fell upon his knees, 
 an .1 spread out his hands unto the Lord his God, 
 *n account of the transgressions of the peo 
 
 *N$raifr. xvi. 46—50. if 2 Chro. xxxi. 20, 2U _> 
 
•76 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 pie.* Another great instrument in this work was 
 Nehemiah, a man that devoted himself wholly to 
 the service of God and his people, labouring 
 night and day ; that was nor to be seduced by 
 the intrigues of God's adversaries, nor yet intimi- 
 dated by their threatenings, but persevered in his 
 work tiil it was finished, closing bis labours with 
 this solemn prayer and appeal, Think upon me, O 
 my God, for good, according to all that I have 
 done for this people. % 
 
 Time would fail me to speak of all the great 
 souls, both inspired and uninspired, whom the 
 King of kings hath delighted to honour — *of Paul, 
 unci Peter , and their companions ; of Wickbjf, and 
 Luther ,and C'a'vin, and many others at the refor- 
 mation ; of Ettiot, and Edzvarcls, and Brainerd, 
 and Whi'efield) and hundreds more, whose name are 
 held in deserved esteem in the Church of God. 
 These were men of God, men who had great grace 
 as well as gifts, whose hearts burned in love to Christ 
 and the souls of men. They looked upon their hear- 
 ers as their Lord had done upon Jerusalem, and wept 
 over them, —In this manner they delivered their 
 messages, and much people was added unto thelord. 
 
 Secondly, Eminency in grace will direct your 
 ends to the glory of God, and the welfare of men's 
 souls ; and where this is the case it is usually at- 
 tended with a blessing. These are ends which 
 God himself pursues, and if we pursue the same, 
 we are labourers together with God, and may hope 
 for his blessing to attend our labours ; but if we 
 pursue separate and selfish ends, we walk contrary 
 to God, and may expect that God will walk con- 
 trary to us. Whatever apparent success may at- 
 tend a man's labours, whose ends are evil, all is to 
 be suspected : either the success is not genuine, 
 or if it be, it is not in a way of blessing upon him, 
 
 * Ezra vii* 1 * rim. 19. ix 5. x. S. J Nell. iii. iv. v. & yi. 
 
of a faithful Minuter. 77 
 
 -Dor snail it turn out at last to bis account. It must 
 be an inexpressible satisfaction, brother, to be a~ 
 bleto say, as the primitive ministers and apostles 
 did, James, a servant of God, — Paul a servant of 
 Jesus Christ. — We seek not yours, but you ! 
 
 Lastly, Eminency in grace will enable you t& 
 bear prosperity in your ministry without being 
 lifted up with it ; and so contributes towards it. — 
 It is written of Christ in prophecy, He shall 
 build the temple of the Lord, and shall bear the 
 glory — He does bear it indeed ; but to bear glo- 
 ry without being elated is no easy thing for us, I 
 am often afraid lest this should be one considerable 
 reason why most of us have no more real success 
 in our work than we have ; perhaps it is not safe 
 for us to be much owned of God ; perhaps we 
 have not grace enough to bear prosperity ! 
 
 My dear brother, permit me to close the whole 
 with a word cr two of serious advice. — Fir^t, 
 watch over your own soul as well as the souls of 
 your people. Do not forget that thought, that 
 it is a temptation to which ministers are peculiar- 
 ly liable, whi'e they keep the vineyard of others, 
 to neglect their own. — Farther, Know your own 
 weakness, and depend upon Christ's ali-suffieien- 
 cy. Your work is great, your trials may be ma- 
 ny ; but let not your heart be discouraged. Tle- 
 me ruber what was said to the apostle Paul, My 
 grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is tnade 
 perfect in weakness ; — and tLw reflection which he 
 makes upon it, When lam weak, then am I 
 strong.*— Finally, be often looking to the end of 
 your course, and viewing yourself as giving ao 
 account of your stewardship. We must all ap- 
 pear before the judgment seat of Christ, and give 
 account of the deeds done in the body. Perhaps 
 there is no thought more solemn than this, mere 
 
 * 2 Cor. xiii. 9, 10. 
 
78 The Qualifications and Encouragement, &c, 
 
 .suitable to be kept in view in all our undertak- 
 ings, more awakening in a thoughtless hour, ©r 
 more cheering to an upright heart. 
 
 I have only to request, by dear brother, that 
 you will excuse the freedom of this plain address. 
 I have not spoken so much to instruct you in 
 things which you know not, as to remind and im- 
 press you with things which you already know. 
 The Lord bless you, and grant that the solemni- 
 ties of this day may ever be remembered both by 
 you, and your people, with satisfaction.- Amen, 
 
SERMON I*. 
 
 The pernicious Influence of Delay in ReUgi&iti 
 Concerns. 
 
 Haggai i. 2. 
 
 Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying , This peer 
 pie say, the time is not come, the time that the 
 Lord's house should be buUc, 
 
 WHEN the children of Jadah were delivered 
 from their captivity, and allowed by the procla- 
 mation of Cyrus to return to their own land, one 
 of the principal things which attracted their at- 
 tention was the re-building of the house of God, 
 which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. 
 This was a work which Cyrus himself enjoined, 
 and which the hearts of the people were much set 
 upon. It was not however to bo accomplished 
 at once ; and as the worship of God was a mattes 
 of immediate and indispensable concern, they set 
 up an altar y on which to offer sacrifices* and offer- 
 ings, till such time as the temple should be built. 
 
 in the second year after their return, the foun- 
 dation of the Lord's house was laid ; but opposi- 
 tion being made to it by the adversaries of Judah 
 and Benjamin, the work ceased all the days of Cy- 
 rus, until the reign of Darius, commonly distin- 
 guished by the name of Darius- Hystas pis \ Dur- 
 ing this period, which seems to have been about 
 fourteen years, the people sunk into a spirit of in- 
 difference. At first they desisted from necessity ; 
 but afterwards, their attention being turned to the 
 
80 The pernicious Influence tfDtiay 
 
 building and ornamenting of houses for them- 
 selves, they seemed very well contented that the 
 house of the Lord should lie waste. For this their 
 temper and conduct, the land was smitten with 
 barrenness ; so that both the vintage and the har- 
 vest failed them God also raised up Ifaggai and 
 Zechariah to go and remonstrate aga nst their su- 
 pineness ; and the efforts of these two prophets 
 wer*: the means of stiring up the people to resume 
 the work * 
 
 The argument which the people used against 
 building the house of God, was, th&t the time xvas 
 not come. It is possible they waited for a coun- 
 ter order from the Persian court ; if so, they 
 might have waited long enough. A work of that 
 nature ough to have been pr t&ecuted of their own 
 accord ; at least they should have tried It did 
 not follow, because they were hindered once, 
 therefore they should never succeed. Or, per- 
 haps, they meant to plead their pre:>ent weakness 
 and poverty- — Something like this seesis to be 
 implied in the fourth verse, where they are re- 
 minded that they had streng h enough to build 
 and ornament houses for themselves. It looks 
 as if they wished to build, and lay by fortunes for 
 themselves and their families, and then, at some 
 future time, they might contribute for the build- 
 ing of the house of God- 
 
 There is something of this procrastinating spi)r« 
 it that runs through a great part of our life, and 
 is of great detriment to us in the work of GocJ. 
 We know of many things that should be done;, 
 and cannof in conscience directly oppose thern^ 
 but still we find excuses for our own inactivity. 
 While we admit that many things should be done 
 whicharenot done, we are apt to quiet ourselves 
 with the thought that they need not be doae just 
 
 * See ike fti\ iv. atrd v. c&aptc« of Bzjz. 
 
in Religious Concerns. ftl 
 
 jtow. — The time is not come, the time that the Lord"* s 
 house should be built. 
 
 In discoursing to you upon the subject, breth- 
 ren, I shall take notice of a few of the most re- 
 markable cases in which this spirit is discover- 
 ed, — and then endeavour to shew its evil nature, 
 and dangerous tendency. 
 
 In respect to the cases, OR instances, in 
 which IT is discovered, a small degree of obser- 
 vation on mankind, and of reflection upon the 
 workings of our own hearts, will furnish us with 
 many of these, and convince us of its great influ- 
 ence on every description of men, in almost ait 
 their religious concerns — Particularly, 
 
 First, It is by this plea that a great part of 
 mankind are constantly deceiving themselves in 
 respect to a serious attention to their souls' con- 
 cerns. — The concerns of our souls are doubtless 
 of the last importance; and there are times in 
 which most men not only acknowledge this truth, 
 but in jome sort feel the force of it. This is the 
 case especially with those who have had a religious 
 education, and have been used to attend upon the 
 preaching of the gospel. They hear from the 
 pulpit that men must ha born again, must be con- 
 verted, and become as little children, or never 
 enter into the kingdom of God. Or the same 
 things are impressed upon them By some threat- 
 ening affliction, or alarming providence. They 
 feel themselves at those times very unhappy ; 
 and it is not unusual for them to resolve upon a 
 sacrifice of their former sins, and a serious and 
 close attention in future to the affairs of their souls. 
 They think, while under these impressions, they 
 Will consider their ways, they wi/l enter their fclo- 
 sets, and shut to the door, and pray unto the Lord 
 that he would have mercy upon them ; but alas, 
 no sooner do they retire from the house of God, 
 »r recover from their affliction, but the impression 
 
iS "The pernicious InJJ uence of Delay 
 
 begins to subside, and then matters of this sort 
 become less welcome to the mind. They must 
 Bot be utterly rejected, but are let alone for the 
 .present. As conscience becomes less alarmed, 
 and danger is viewed at a greater distance, the 
 sinner by degrees recovers himself from his fright, 
 and dismisses his religious concern in some such 
 manner as Felix did his reprover ; Go thy war 
 for this time, and when I have a convenient season 
 I will send for thee. 
 
 It is thus wich the ardent youth. — Id the hour 
 €>f serious reflection, he feels that religion is of 
 importance; but his heart, still averse to what his 
 concience recommends, rises against the thought 
 of sacrificing the prime of life to the gloomy du- 
 ties of prayer and self-denial. He does not re- 
 solve never to attend to these things, but the 
 time does not seem to be come. He hopes that 
 God Alaaighty will excuse him a few years at least, 
 and impute his excesses to youthful folly and im- 
 becility, — It is thus with the man of business.— 
 There are times in which he is obliged to retire 
 from the hurry of life ; and at those times, 
 thoughts ofanother life may arrest his attention. 
 Conscience at those intervals may smite him for 
 his living without prayer, without reflection, with- 
 out God in all his thoughts ; and what is his rem- 
 edy r Does he lament his sin, and implore mercy 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ ? No, nor so 
 aiuch as promise to forsake it immediately ; but 
 this he promises, that when thisbusy time is over^ 
 and that favourite point is gained, and thoseintrU 
 eate affairs are terminated, then it shall be other- 
 wis?. — -It is thus with persons in single life, they 
 will be better when they get settled in the world; 
 — ir is thus with the incumbered parent, s 
 locks forward to the time icr family shall 
 
 get off, her hands ; yea, it is thus with the 
 ard and the debauchee, wearied is their own way, 
 
in religious Concerns. g£ 
 
 they intend to leid a new life as soon as they can 
 but shake off their ok! connexions ; — in short, it- 
 is thus with great numbers in all our towns, and 
 villages, and congregations ; they put off the great 
 concern to another time, and think they may 
 venture at least a, little longer, till all is over with 
 them, and a dying hour just awakens them, like 
 the virgins in the parable, to bitter reflection cui 
 their own fatal folly 
 
 But, Secondly, This plea not only affects the 
 unconverted, but prevents us all from undertak- 
 ing any great or good work For the cause 1 of Christ, 
 or the good of mankind.— We see many things 
 that should be done, but there are difficulties in 
 the way, and we wait for these difficulties being 
 all removed. We are very apt to indulge a kind 
 of prudent caution (so we call it) which foresees 
 and magnifies difficulties bey ond what they really 
 are. It is granted there may bo such things in the 
 way of an undertaking, as may render it imprac- 
 ticable, and in that case it is bur duty for the pre- 
 sent to standstill ; but it becomes us to beware lest 
 we account that impracticable which only requires 
 such a degree of exertion as we are not inclined to 
 give to it. — Perhaps the work requires expense, 
 and covetousness says, wait a little longer, till I 
 have gained so and so in trade, till I have render- 
 ed my circumstances respectable, and settled my 
 children comfortably in the world But is not 
 this like ceiling our own houses, while the house 
 of God lies wa te ? — Perhaps it requires concur- 
 rence, and we wait for every body being of a mind, 
 which is never to be expected. He who, through 
 a dread of opposition and reproach, desists from 
 known duty, is in danger of bemg found amongst 
 the fearful, the unbelieving, and the abomina- 
 ble. 
 
 Had Luther, and lus cotemporaries, acted up- 
 oil this principle, they had never gone about the 
 
3i TJie pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 glorious work of Reformation. When he saw 
 the abominations of popery, he might have said, 
 "These things ought not to he, but what can I do f 
 If the chief priests and rulers in different nations 
 but unite, something might be effected ; but what 
 can I do, an individual, and a poor man ? I may 
 render myself an object of persecution, or, which 
 is worse, of universal con tempt, and what good 
 end will be answered by it ?" Had Luther reason- 
 ed thus, had he fancied that because princes and 
 prelates were not the first to engage in the good 
 work, therefore the time was not come to build the 
 house of the Lord ; the house of the Lord, for any 
 thing he had done, might have lain waste to this 
 day. 
 
 Instead of waiting for the removal of difficulties, 
 we ought in many cases to consider them as pur- 
 ely laid in our way, in order to try the sincerity 
 of our religion* He who had all power in heaven 
 and earth, could have not only sent forth his apos- 
 tfes into all the world, but have so ordered it that 
 all the world should treat them with kindness, and 
 aid them in their mission ; but instead of that, he 
 tcld them to lay their accounts with persecution 
 and the loss of all things. This wps, no doubt, to 
 try their 'sincerity ; and tfyc difficulties ia'd in our 
 way are equally designed to try ours. 
 
 Let it be considered whether it is not owing to 
 this principle that so few and so fee,ble efforts have 
 been made for the propagation of the gospel in the 
 world. When the Lord Jesus commissioned his 
 apostles, he commanded them to— Go, and teach 
 all nations f o preach the gospel to every crea- 
 ture ; and that notwithstanding the difficulties anc} 
 opposition that would lie in the way. The apos- 
 tles exec ir commissron with assiduity and 
 fidelity : but sitice their days, we seem to sit 
 dpwn half contented that the greater part of the 
 v - ; still remain in ignorance and idola! 
 
in Religious Concerns. 83 
 
 Some noble efforts indeed have been made, but 
 they are but small in number when compared with 
 the magnitude of the object. And why is it so ? 
 Are the souls of men of less value than heretofore ? 
 No. Is Christianity Jess true, or less important 
 than in former ages ? This will not be pretended. 
 Are there no opportunities for societies, or indi- 
 viduals in Christian nations, to convey the gospel 
 to the heathens ? This cennot be pleaded so long 
 as opportunities are found to trade with them, yea, 
 and what is a disgrace to the name of Christians, 
 to buy them, and sell them, and treat them with 
 worse than savage barbarity ! We have opportu- 
 nities in abundance ; the improvement of naviga- 
 tion, and the maritime and commercial turn of 
 this couuntry, furnish us with these ; and it de- 
 serves to be consider d, whether this is not a cir- 
 cumstance that renders it a duty peculiarly bind- 
 ing upon us 
 
 The troth is, if I am not mistaken, we wait for 
 we know not what ; we seem to think the time is 
 not come, the time for the Spirit to be poured doxon 
 from on high. We pray far the conversion and 
 salvation oi the world, and yet neglect the ordina- 
 ry means by which those ends have been used to 
 be accomplished. It pleased God, heretofore, by 
 thci foolishness of preaching, to save them that be* 
 Ijeved ; snd there is reason to think it will still 
 phase God to work by that distinguished mean. 
 Ought we not then to try, at least, by some means, 
 to coavey more of the goo;! tidings of salvation to 
 the worid around us,'* than have hitherto been 
 
 * It may not be amiss to inform the reader, that at the 
 time of the above discourse being- delivered, the Rev. Mr. 
 Carey of Leicester, waft present. After worship, when 
 the ministers were together, he moved the question, 
 u Whether torn ght not. he done in the way qfsc?i- 
 
 ding the gosfte'l into the hear hen world ? Jt was well 
 mi at the same time that Mr. Carey had written a judi- 
 H 
 
86 The peni'moiis Influence of Delay 
 
 conveyed? Thfr encouragement to the heathen is 
 Still in force, WJbosoev r shall cail upon the name 
 of the Lord sba 1 be saved ; but how shall they call 
 on him it) whom they have nor believed ? And how 
 shall they believe in him of whom they have not 
 heard r And how shall they hear without a prea- 
 cher ? And how shall they preach except they be 
 sent ? Rom. x 13- — 15. 
 
 Let it be farther considered, whether it is not 
 awing to this principle that so few and so feeble 
 efforts are made for the propagation of the gospel 
 in places within our reach. — There are many dark 
 places in our own lard, places where priests and 
 p cple, it is to be feared, are al^ke destiute of true 
 religion, all locking to their own way, every one 
 for his gain from his quarter. Were every friend 
 of Jes?is Christ to avail himself of that liberty 
 which the laws of his country allow him, and em- 
 brace every opportunity for the dissemination of 
 evangelical principles, what effects might we hope 
 to see ? Were every true minister of the gospel 
 to make a point of preaching as often as possible 
 in the villages within his reach, and were those 
 private Christians who are situated in such villa- 
 ges o open their doors for preaching, and recom- 
 ir.end the gospel by a holy and affectionate be- 
 haviour, might we not hope to see the wilderness 
 become as a fruitful field ? Surely in th< se matters 
 we are too negligent. — And when we do preach to 
 the unconverted, we do not feel as if we were to 
 do any good. We are as if we knew not how to 
 get at the hearts and consciences of people. We 
 cast the net, without so much as expecting a 
 dra;-ht. We are as those who cannot find their 
 
 o 
 
 cious piece upon the subject, which he had by him in man- 
 uscript, shewiRg the dut\ of Christians in that matter, and 
 the practicability of the undertaking. It was therefore a- 
 greed, as the fimstep proper tobe taken, that Mr, Car£y 
 &£ requested to revise and print his manuscript. 
 
in Religious Concerns, 87 
 
 hands in the day of battle ; who go forth not like 
 men mured to conquest, but rather like* those in- 
 ured ro defeat. Whence arises all this r Is it not 
 owing, a least a considerable degree of it, to a no- 
 tion we have, that thh- time is not come for any 
 thu g considerable to he effected ? 
 
 Ihir ly, It is this plea that keep, many from a 
 p *. ic profession of religion, by a practical ad- 
 kn wledgment of Chrut* Christ requites of his 
 foS owers that they confess his name before men, 
 that they be baptized, and commemorate his dy- 
 ing love in the ordinance of the Sup, er Yet there 
 are many who consider them>elves as Christians, 
 and are considered so by others, who still live in 
 the neglect of these ordin^nce^. I speak not now 
 ©f those who consider themselves as having bee© 
 baptized in their infancy, but of such who admit 
 adult immersion to be the only true bapdsm, and 
 yet do not practise it, nor hold communion wjth 
 any particular church of Christ. It is painful to 
 think there should be a description of prof ssed 
 Christians, who live in the neglect of Christ's com- 
 mands. What can be the motives of such neg- 
 lect ? Probably they are various ; there is one, 
 however, that must have fallen under your obser- 
 vation, that is, the want of some powerful impres- 
 sion upon the mind, impelling them, as it were, to 
 a compliance. Many persons wait for something 
 of this sort, and because they go from year to year 
 without it, conclude that the time is not come, or 
 that it is not the mind of God that they should 
 comply with those ordinances, at least that they 
 should comply with them at present. Impres- 
 sions, it is allowed, are desirable, provided it be 
 truth or duty that is impressed, otherwise they de- 
 serve no regard ; but be ihey as desirable as they 
 may, the want of them can never justify our liv- 
 ing in the neglect of known duty. Nor are they 
 at all adapted to shew us what is duty, but :: 
 
83 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 )y to excite to the performance of that which may 
 be proved to be duty without them. We might 
 as well wait for impressions, and conclude from 
 the want of them that the time is not come for the 
 performance of other duties, as those of baptism 
 and the Lord's supper. 
 
 Some are kept from a public profession of 
 Christ's name by mere mercenary motives. They 
 hare relations and friends that would be offended. 
 The fear of being disinherited, or injured in some 
 sort as to worulv circumstances, has made many 
 a person keep his principles to himself, till such 
 time as th* party whose displeasure he fears shall 
 be removed out of the way. This is wicked, as it 
 amounts to a denial of Christ before men, and will 
 fio doubt expose the party, if he die without re- 
 pentance for it, to a being denied by Christ be- 
 fore his father at the last day. Lord, said one, I 
 will follow thee, but let me first go and bury my 
 father — let me first go and bid them farewell wh© 
 are at home, sa^s another. Jesus answered, Let 
 the dead bury their dead, follow thou me — No 
 man, having put his hand to the plough, and 
 (poking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."* 
 
 Fourthly, It is this plea that keeps us from a 
 thorough self examination, and self denial. — The 
 importance of being right in the sight of God, and 
 our liability to err, even in the greatest of all con- 
 cerns, renders a close and frequent enquiry into our 
 spiritual sta^e absolutely necessary, h is a danger- 
 ous as well as an uncomfortable life to be always m 
 >ense, not knowing what, nor where we are, nor 
 whither we are going. There are seasons too in 
 which we feel the importance of such an enquiry, and 
 think we vj'rfi go about it, we will search and try our 
 ways, and turn from our sins, and walk more 
 closely with God. Such thoughts will occur when 
 
 * Luke ix. 59—62. 
 
in Religious Concerns. 89 
 
 we hear matters urged home upon us from the pul- 
 pit, or when some affecting event draws off our 
 attention from the present world, and causes us 
 to reflect upon ourselves for our inordinate anxie- 
 ty after it. We think of living othenvise than we 
 have done 5 but when we come to put our thoughts 
 into execution, we find a number of difficulties iu 
 the way, which too often deter us, at leasr/ar the 
 present. €i Here is an undertaking that miut first 
 be accomplished before I can have time ; here is also 
 a troublesome aff'ir that I must ^et through before 
 I can decomposed; and then, here are such temp- 
 tations that I know not how to get over just now— 
 if I wait a little longer, perhaps they maj be re- 
 moved." Alas, alas, thus we befool ourselves! 
 thus we put it oft* to another time, till the impres- 
 sions on our minds are worn off, and then we are 
 less able to attend to those things than we were at 
 first. As one who puts off the examination of his 
 accounts, and the retrenchment of his expenses, 
 till all on a sudden he is involved in a bankruptcy; 
 so ilo multitudes in the religious world neglrct a 
 close inspection into their souls' concerns, till at 
 length, either a departure from some of the great 
 principles of the gospel, or some foul and open 
 fail, is the consequence. 
 
 Finally, It is t his principle that keeps us from 
 preparedness for death, a being ready when our 
 Lord shall come. — There is nothing that Christ 
 has more forcibly enjoined than this duty. — Be ye 
 also ready, for at such an hour as ye think not, the 
 Son of man cometli — What I say unto you I say 
 unto all, Watch. Why do we not immedi- 
 ately feel the force of these charges, and betake 
 ourselves to habitual watchfulness, and pi\ 
 and selt-denia), and walking with God ? Why are 
 we not as men who wait for the coming of then* 
 Lord ? Is it not fro:;j a secret thought, thai the 
 time, is not come ? We kooW we must die, but 
 
 H 2 
 
90 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 vre consider it as something at a distance ; and 
 thus imagining that our Lord delayeth his com- 
 ing we delay to prepare to meet him, so that 
 when he cometh he ftndeth us in contusion. In- 
 stead of our loins being girt, and our lights burning, 
 we are engaged in a number of plans and pursuits 
 to the neglect of those things, which, notwithstand- 
 ing fhe necessary avocations of life, ought always 
 :o ngross our supreme attention. 
 
 But let us next proceed to consider the evil 
 mature and da>:gi£ROUS tendency of this pro- 
 crastinating temper. 
 
 I need not say much to prove to you that it is a 
 
 sin; The conscience of every one of you will as- 
 
 me in that part of the work. It is proper, 
 
 vever, in order that you may feel it the more 
 
 forcibly, that you should consider wherein its evil 
 
 mature consists. 
 
 First, It is contrary to the tenor of all God's 
 rom;nandnients. Ail through the scriptures we 
 are required to attend to divine things immediate- 
 ly, and without delay •— Work while it is called 
 tOwday ; the night cometh when no man can work. 
 To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not \ our 
 hearts — While ye have the light, believe in the 
 ght, that ye may be the children of light — 
 Whatsoever tby hand fmdeth to do, doit withthy 
 might ; for there is no work, nor device, nop 
 i iow ledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither 
 thou goesi * 
 
 God not only requires us in general what we da 
 'O do quickiy, Bin calls us to serve him parti cu- 
 a v under those temptations or afflictions, which 
 we find placed in our way. 1 he terms of disci- 
 i>\ ship are, deny thyself, take up thy cross, and 
 fo.iow me. He does not call upon us to follow him 
 barely when there are no troubles, nor difficulties 
 
 * John \x 4, Psfti. xcv. ?, S. Ecc. &. *& 
 
in JReligious Concerns. 91 
 
 to encounter, nor allow us, when those difficulties 
 occur, to wait a fairer opportunity ; but to take 
 our cro ;S as it were .upon our shoulders, and so 
 follow him. It would be of use iov us to consider 
 every situation as a post, in which God hath placed 
 and in which he calls upon us to serve and glo- 
 rify him. If we are poor, we are required to glo- 
 rify God by contentment ; if afflicted^ by pa- 
 tience ; if bereaved, by submission ; if persecu- 
 ted, by firmness ; if injured* by forgiveness ; or 
 if tempted, by denying ourselves for his sake. 
 Nor can tiiese duties be performed at any other 
 time ; to put them off, therefore, to another op- 
 portunity, is the same thing in effect, as refusing 
 lo comply with them at all. 
 
 Secondly, To put off things to another time, 
 implies a lurking dislike to the things themselves. 
 We do not ordinarily do so, except in things 
 wherein we have no delight. Whatever our hearts 
 arc set upon, we are for losing no time till it is ac- 
 complished. If the people of JudaK had had a 
 mind to work, as is said of them on another 
 occasion, they would not have pleaded that the 
 time was not come. Sinful delay, therefore, ari- 
 ses from alienation of heart from God, than 
 which nothing can be more offensive in his sight. 
 
 But farther, it is not only a sin, but a sin of 
 dangerous tendency. This is manifest by the ef- 
 fects it produces Precious time is thereby mur- 
 dered, and valuable opportunities lost, and lost 
 beyond recail ! 
 
 That there are opportunities possessed both by 
 saints and sinners is plain from the scriptures — 
 The former might do abundantly more for God 
 than they do, and might enjoy much more of God 
 and heaven than they actually 'enjoy j and no doubt 
 it would be so, were it aot for that idle delaving 
 temper oi which we have spoken. Like the Is. 
 raelues, we aw slothful to go up 10 possess the 
 
92 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 good land Many are the opportunities both of 
 doing and enjoying good, that have already passed 
 by. O, what Christians might we have been be- 
 fore now, had we but availed ourselves of all 
 those advantages, which the gospel dispensation, 
 and the free exercise of our religion afford us ! 
 
 Sinners also, as long as life lasts, have oppor- 
 tunity of escaping from the wrath to come. 
 Hence they are exhorted to seek the Lord while 
 he may b- found, and to call upon h;m while he is 
 near. Hence also there is a door represented as 
 being at present open, which the master of the . 
 house will one day rise ^p and slvit. The foun- 
 tain is described as being at present open for sin, 
 and for uncleanness ; but there is a period ap- 
 proaching, when it shall be said, He that is fil- 
 thy, let him be filrhv still !* t stems scarcely 
 in the power of language to express the danger of 
 delay in terms more forcible and impressive than 
 those which are used in the above passages. — Nor " 
 is there any thing in the idea that clashes with the 
 scripture doctrine of decrees* All allow that men 
 have opportunity in natural things, to do what 
 they do not, and to obtain what they obtain not ; 
 and if this can be made to consist with an univer- 
 sal providence, which performcth the things that 
 are appointed for us ; why should not the orher 
 be allowed to consist with the purposes of Him, 
 who does nofhing without a plan, but worketh all 
 things after the counsel of his own will ? A price 
 is in the hands of those who have no heart to get 
 wisdom. 
 
 O thoughtless sinner, trifle no longer with the 
 m urderof time ! time, so short and uncertain in 
 its duration ; the morning of your existence, the 
 mould in which you receive an impression for 
 eternity, the only period in which the Son of Man 
 
 *I$ai. iv 6 7. Luke xiii 25. Zech. xiii 1. Eev. xxii 11. 
 
in Religious Concerns. 93 
 
 hath power to forgive sins ! Should the remain- 
 ing part of your life pass away in the same careless 
 m.mner as that has, which is already elapsed, 
 what bitter reflection must needs follow ! How 
 cutting it must be to look back on all the means of 
 salvation, as gone forever ; the harvest past, the 
 summer ended, and you not saved ! 
 
 Suppose a company, at the time of low water, 
 should take an excursion upon the sands near the 
 sea shore — Suppose yourself of the company- 
 Suppose, that on a presumption of the tide's 
 net returning at present, you should all fall 
 asleep — Suppose all the company, except your- 
 self, to awake out of their sleep, and finding their 
 danger, endeavour to awake you, and to persuade 
 you to flee with them for your life — But you, like 
 the sluggard, are for a little more sleep, and a lit- 
 tie more slumber — the consequence is, your com- 
 panions escape, but you are left behind to perish 
 in the waters, which, regardless of all your cries, 
 rise and overwhelm you ! What a situation would 
 this be ! How would you curse that [ove of sleep 
 that made you refuse to be awaked, that delaying 
 temper that wanted to indulge a little longer! But 
 what is this situation, compared with tha*. of a lost 
 soul ? There will come a period when the bot- 
 tom of the ocean would be deemed a refuge ; 
 when to be crushed under falling rocks and moun- 
 tains, instead of being viewed with terror as 
 heretofore, will be earnestly desired ! Yes, de- 
 sired, but desired in vain ! i he sinner, who hath 
 neglected the great salvation, will not be able to 
 escape, nor hide himself from the face of him 
 thii* sitteth upon the throne, nor from the wrath 
 ef the Lamb J 
 
 Mj dear hearers ! consider your condition with- 
 out delay : God says to you, To-day if ye will 
 hear his voice, harden not your hearts — T&datf 
 may be the only day you have to live— Go home, 
 
94 The pernicious Influence of Delay, Ssfc. 
 
 enter the closet, and shut the door — confess youf 
 sins : implore mercy through our Lord Je-sus 
 Christ — Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and ye 
 perhhfrom the way, wh n his twath is kindled but 
 a little ; blessed are all they that put their trust in 
 him f 
 
SERMON IJI. 
 
 The Importance of a deep and intimate Knowt- 
 
 rdge oj Divine Truth. 
 
 Hebrews v. 12, 13, 14. 
 
 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers^ ye 
 have need 'hat one teach you again which be the 
 first principles of the oracles of God ; and are 
 become such as have need ofnvlk, and not of 
 strong meat. F"r every one that nscth milk, i$ 
 unskilful in the word of righteousness : for he is 
 a babe. But strong meat behngcth to them that 
 are of full age, even those who by reason of use 
 have /heir senses exercised to discern both good 
 and. evil. 
 
 THERE is nothing in which the kingdom of 
 Christ and the kingdom of Satan are more oppos- 
 ed, than that the one is characterized by light, 
 and the other by darkness The cause of false* 
 hoo i is itself a dark cause, and requires darkness 
 to cover it : but truth is light, and cometh co the 
 light, that it mav be made manifest Knowledge 
 is every where encouraged in the Bible ; our best 
 interests are interwoven with it ; and the spiritu- 
 ality of our minds, and the real enjoyirent of our 
 lives depend upon its increase. Grace and peace 
 are multiplied through the knowledge of God, 
 and of Jesus our Lord, Nor is it necessary for 
 
96 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 our own sakes only, but for the sake of others. 
 It is a great encouragement to Christian minis- 
 ters, when those whom they teach possess a good 
 understanding in the things of God. Indeed, 
 none but those who are engaged in the work of 
 teaching can tell how much the ardour of the mind 
 is damped by the contrary. The truth of this re- 
 mark is exemplified in the writer of this epistle* 
 In the verses immediately preceding the text, you 
 perceive him highly interested in his subject, and 
 proceeding in a glorious career of reasoning ; 
 when, all on a sudden, he is stopped. He had 
 many things to say of his Lord ancj Master, but 
 which were hard to be understood, seeing those 
 to whom he wrote were dull of hearing. It is oh 
 this occasion that he introduces the passage now 
 before us ; in which his object is to shame ad 
 provoke them, by comparing them with those 
 who, as to years, were men — but, as to knowl- 
 edge, children; and who, instead of having made 
 advances in science, needed to be taught the al- 
 phabet over again. There are some things sup- 
 posed and included in the passage, which require 
 a little previous attention. 
 
 First — It is here supposed, that all divine 
 knowledge is to be derived from the oracles o 
 God. It is a proper term by which the sacred 
 scriptures are here denominated, strongly expres- 
 sive of their divine inspiration and infallibility : 
 in them God speaks ; and to them it becomes us 
 to hearken. We may learn other things Irom 
 other quarters ; and things too that mav subserve 
 the knowledge of God ; but the knowledge of God 
 itself must here be sought, for here o«ly it can be 
 found. 
 
 Much has been said of faith and reason, and 
 the question has often been agitated, whether -:he 
 aoc, in any instance, can be contrary to the .tri- 
 er? In the solution of ihis 'question, it is nects- 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 97 
 
 sarv in the first place, to determine what is meant 
 by reason. There is a great difference between 
 reason, and reasoning Nothing which God re- 
 veals v an contradict the former ; but this is more 
 than c>ii) be said of the latter It is impossible ior 
 God to reveal any thing repugnant to what is fit 
 and right ; but that which is fit and right in one 
 man's estimation, is preposterous and absurd in 
 the esteem of another ; which clearly proves, that 
 reason, as it exist* in depraved creatures, is not a 
 proper standard of truth ; and hence arises the 
 necessity of another and a better standard, tin or- 
 acles of God. By studying t : iese, a good man will 
 gam more understanding than his teachers, if they 
 live in the neglect of them. 
 
 Secondly — W is supposed, that the oracles of 
 God include a system of divine truth. i hey con- 
 tain the ft st principles, or rudiments, of religion, 
 the simple truths of the gospel, which require lit- 
 tl ■ or no investigation in order to their being un- 
 derstood ; these are Called milk. They also con- 
 tain the deep things of God, tilings beyond the 
 reach of a slight and cursory observation ; and 
 which require, if we would properly enter into 
 them, close and repeated attention ; this is strong 
 meat. 1'hose doctrines, which the apostle enume- 
 rat s in the following chapter, a- things which he 
 should leave and go on nnto perfection* have been 
 thought 10 r d'er to the leading principles Juda- 
 ism : and it may be so ; for Judaism itself con- 
 ta tie : the first principles of Christianity : it was 
 inn *o*t; ojL as it i ^ elsewhere ex pr • ■;!, 
 
 it was our school- master to bring us to Christ. 
 
 Thirdly — it is intimated that Christians should 
 not rest satisfied in having attained to a k owledge 
 of vtie first principles of the doctrine of Christ, 
 bui shrnlid go on unto perfection ; not only so as 
 to btsmi for themselves, but that they 
 
 inn? be able to teac/i others* It is true, all are not 
 
 I 
 
98 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 to be teachers by (]ffice ; but in one form or other, 
 ail should aspire to communicate the knowledge of 
 Christ. Every Christian is required to be ready 
 to give a reason of the hope that is in him with 
 meekness and fear: and if all the members of our 
 churches did bat possess this readiness, besides the 
 advantages that would accrue to themselves and 
 others, there would be less scarcity than there is 
 of able and evangelical ministers. 
 
 The leading sentiment which runs through the 
 passage, and comprises the whole, is, the impor- 
 tance OF A DEEP AND INTIMATE KNOWlEDUE OF 
 divine truth. To this subject, brethren, permit 
 me to call your attention. In discoursing upon it, 
 I shall first inquire wherein it consists, and then 
 endeavour to shew the importance of it. 
 
 L Let us inquire, what a deep and intimate 
 knowledge of divine truth includes. 
 
 That the oracles of God contain deep things, 
 requires but little proof. The character of God ; 
 our own depravity ; and that great mystery of 
 godliness, God manifest in the flesh, &c are deep 
 and interesting subjects. The prophets had to 
 search into the meaning of their own prophecies. 
 I Peter i. 10. — The riches of Christ, with which 
 the apostles were entrusted, were denominated un- 
 searchable, Eph. iii. 8; and even the highest or- 
 ders of created intelligences are described as look- 
 ing into these things for their farther improvement. 
 I Peter 1.12. 
 
 It may seem presuming for any person, in the 
 present imperfect state, to determine on subjects 
 of such magnitude ; or to talk of a deep and inti- 
 mate knowledge of things which surpass the com- 
 prehension of the most exalted creatures. And if 
 these terms were used either absolutely, toexpress 
 the real conformity of our ideas of divme things 
 to the full extent of the things themselves, or even 
 comparatively f if the comparison respected saints 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 99 
 
 on earth and saints in heaven, it would be pre- 
 sumption. But it is only in reference fed one an- 
 other in the present state, that these terms are in- 
 tended to apply. Compared with the heavenly 
 inhabitants, all of us are babes : even an inspired 
 apostle was no more. Wherrl was a child, sard he, 
 1 spake asachdd, I understood as a child, 1 thought 
 as a chdd : but when I became a man, I put away 
 childish things. For now we see through a glass 
 darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part, 
 but then shall I know evenalsoas I am known. I 
 Cor. xiii. 11, 12. There are such degrees, howe- 
 ver, amongst good men in this life, as that, compar- 
 ed with each other some may be said to possess only 
 a superficial knowledge of divine truth, and others 
 amoredeep and intimate acquaintance with it. 
 
 It is the importance of the latter of these that I 
 wish to have impressed upon our minds. To at- 
 tain it, the following, amongst other things, re- 
 quire our attention. 
 
 1. Though we must not stop at first principles^ 
 yet we must be well grounded in them. 
 
 No person can drink deeply into any science 
 without being well acquainted with its rudiments: 
 these are the foundation on which the whole struc- 
 ture rests. The first principles of the oracles of 
 God, as specified by our apostle, are repentance 
 from dead works, faith towards God, the doc- 
 trine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, the re- 
 surrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 
 Whatever may be meant by some of these terms, 
 whether they refer to things peculiar to Judaism, 
 or to the early times of Christianity ; it is clear 
 from scripture, and the nature of things, that oth- 
 ers of them are expressive of principles, which, 
 in every age, are of the first importance. Though 
 the apostle speaks of leaving them, yet he does 
 not mean that we should give them up, or treat 
 them with indifference, but go on unto perfection ; 
 
100 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 as a builder leaves his foundation when he raises 
 Iiis walls, and advances towards the completion of 
 his budding. 
 
 Repentance was the first lesson inculcated by 
 John the baptist, aud Christ, and his apostles ; 
 and that not merely on profligate sinners, but on 
 scribes and phansees. All that they had hitherto 
 learned, required, as it were, to be unlearned ; and 
 all that they had done, to be undone, and utterly 
 relinquished. 
 
 The knowledge which carnal men acquire of di- 
 vine things, puffs them- up : and whil they think 
 they understand great things, they know nothing 
 as they ought to know it. All the works too, 
 which have been wrought during a state of u n re- 
 gene racy » are dead works ; and, instead of being 
 in any degree pleasing to God, require to be la- 
 mented with shame aud self-abhorrence. Repen- 
 tance is a kind of self-emptying work : it includes 
 a renunciation, not only of those things for wines 
 our own consciences at the time condemned us, 
 but of what we have been in the habit of reckoning 
 wisdom and righteousness. Hence the propriety 
 of the order in which the scriptures place it 
 wuh regard to faith, repent and believe the gospel. 
 Mark i. 15. Acts, in 38 xs. 21. 2 Tim. n. 25. 
 Renounce your own ways, and embrace h;> : He 
 that will be ivise, must first become a fool that he 
 may be %vise % 
 
 Faith towards God, or believing v <nvs of the be- 
 ing^nd glory of the divine character, are reckoned 
 also amongst the first principles of the doctrines 
 of Christ, if we have just ideas of this very im- 
 portant snbjec , we have the key to the whole 
 system of gospel truth. He who beholds the 
 glory of the divine holiness, will, in that glass, 
 perceive his own polluted and perishing condi- 
 tion; h\k\, when properly im[' e# - with a se .se 
 of these things, he will naturally embrace the uqg- 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 101 
 
 trine of a Saviour, yea, and of a great one. Sal- 
 vation, by mere grace, through the atonement of 
 Jesus, will appear the very object of his soul's 
 desire. And, with these principles in his heart, 
 other scripture doctrines will appear true, interes- 
 ting, and harmonious. There are but few errone- 
 ous sentiments in the Christian world, which may 
 not be traced toa spirit of self-admiration, which is 
 the opposite of repentance, or to false conceptions 
 of the divine character, 
 
 To these the apostle adds, the resurrection of 
 the dead, and eternal judgment; or the doctrine of 
 a future state of rewards and punishments, of 
 endless duration. These ave principles, which 
 tho 1 they occupy almost an ultimatie place in the 
 sacredsys em, yet, as every otherimportant truth 
 respecting man proce« ds upon the supposition of 
 their truth, they may properly enough be reckon- 
 ed among the first principles of the oracles of 
 God. If these principles were given up to the in- 
 fidel, the spirit of whose creed amounts to this, 
 Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die ; or if 
 the latter of them were given up to the universal- 
 ist, who, though he admits of a judgment to come, 
 yet not ©f an eternal one ; we should soon find the 
 whole fabric of truth fallen to the ground. 
 
 2. We must not content ourselves with knowing 
 what is truth, but must he acquainted with the evi- 
 dence on which it rests. 
 
 Christians are required to be always ready to 
 give a reason for the hope that is in them, w.lh 
 meekness and fear : and this supposes not only 
 that every part of religion admits of a rational de- 
 fence, but that it is necessary for Christians to 
 study, that they may be able to defend it } or at 
 least, to feel the ground on which they rest their 
 hope. 
 
 I he truths contained in the oracles of God, 
 Bfi^y be distinguished into two kinds ; thos^ 
 I 2 
 
102 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 which approve therasdves to our ideas of wis- 
 dom or fitness ; and those, which utterly surpass 
 our understanding, but which require to he belie- 
 ved as matters of pure revelation The former 
 chitfty respect the councils and works of God, 
 which are exhibited to our understanding, that 
 God in them may be made manifest . the latter 
 more commonly respect the being and inconceiv- 
 able glories of the God-head, the reality of which 
 we are concerned to know, but on their mode or 
 manner are forbidden to gaze. 
 
 It is exceedingly desirable to trace the wisdom 
 Smd harmony of evangelical truth : it is a source 
 of enjoyment superior, perhaps, to any thing 
 with which we are acquainted. All the works of 
 God are honorable and glorious, and sought out 
 by all them that have pleasure therein ; but re- 
 demption is his great work, wharein appears glo- 
 ry to himself in the highest, and on earth peace 
 and good will to men : here, therefore, must needs 
 be the highest en^ovment Prior to the revela- 
 tion of redemption, the holy angels shouted for 
 joy over the works of nature ; but having witnes- 
 sed the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and 
 ascension of Jesus, the? desired to look into other 
 things. Nothing tends more to establish the 
 mind, and to interest the heart in any truth, than 
 a perception than it is adapted at once to express 
 the glory of the divine character, and to meet the 
 Recrssities of guiltv creatures. The more we 
 think of truths therefore, in this way, the mere we 
 shall be rooted and greundecl in it. 
 
 Bat whatreason have, we to give for embracing 
 these doctrines, which we consider as above rea- 
 son, of the fitness of which we consequently pre- 
 tend to have no ideas ? We answer, they are con- 
 tained in the oracles of God. Nothiag is more 
 reasonable than to give implicit credit to Him, 
 who cannot lie. On this ground we believe that 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 105 
 
 there are three who bear record in heaven, the 
 Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and that 
 these three are one If God had revealed noth- 
 ing but what would have conic within the limits 
 of our understanding, he must have told us little 
 or nothing about himself, and nothing at all of 
 his self-existence, eternity, and infinity ; for we 
 hav no positive ideas of a ; \v of these things. 
 Yet the revelation of such truths ma\ be as neces- 
 sarv as those which approach nearer to our com- 
 pr hension. The latter Afford food for knowl- 
 edge ; the former teach us humility \ and furnish 
 matter {or faith. 
 
 3 We must learn truth immediately from the or* 
 acles of God. 
 
 Many religions people appear ro be contv-n ed 
 with seeing truth in rhe li^ht n which some gr-at 
 and good author has placed it : but if ever we en- 
 ter into the gosp-1 to p rpose, it must be by re :d- 
 ing the word of God for ourselves, and by pray- 
 ing .aid meditating upon its sacred contents t 
 is in God's light that we must see light. By con- 
 V-. rsing with tne sacred writers w shall gradual- 
 ly imbibe their sentiments, and be insensibly as- 
 simiiat d into the- same spirit. 
 
 1 he writings of great and good me;i are no* to 
 b despised iny more than their preaching ; only 
 ici them not be treated as oracultr. The best of 
 m '.', m t^^imperfect state, new things partial! v ; 
 an ., tfa retorei are i i danger o* laying an improp- 
 er stress upon s<| e parts of scripture truth to *he 
 neglect of other parts, of equal, and sometimes of 
 superior importance. Now where this is the case, 
 i onus dangerous. It is rarelj known 
 but that an original uiFersin the hands of a copy i>r ; 
 it, tii r^ tor-.', the form: r be imperfect, hat may 
 b expected of the latter ? We all come, far shor* 
 of ruth aad nghtepusness^ let bur model 5 «-ver 
 so perfect j out it this be imperfect, we shall pos- 
 
104 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 sess not only our own faults, but those of anoth- 
 er* 
 
 If, as ministers, we go about to depicteither the 
 character of a bad man, or of a good man, a state 
 of unregeneracy, or a work of grace ; and, instead 
 of drawing from real lite, only copy from some 
 accounts which we have read or heard, of these 
 matters, we shall neither convince the sinner, nor 
 touch the case of the believer : all, to say the least, 
 will be foreign and uninteresting. 
 
 If we adopt the principles of fallible men, with- 
 out searching the scriptures for ourselves, and in- 
 quiring whether those things be so, or not, they 
 will not avail us, even allowing them to be on the 
 side of truth, as if we had learned them from a 
 higher authority. Our faith, in such a case, will 
 stand in the wisdom of man, and not in the power 
 of God. There is a savour in truth when drtt#A 
 from the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, 
 which is lost, or at least diminished, if it pass under 
 the conceptions and expressions of men. Nor 
 will it avail us when most needed ; for he who re- 
 ceives his creed from men, may deliver it up to 
 ni'-n again Truth learned only at second-hand 
 will be to us what Saul's armour was to David % 
 w -hall be at a loss how to use it in the day of 
 trial, 
 
 4. If we would possess a great and intimate ac- 
 quaintance with divine truth, we must view it ia 
 its various connexions, in the great system of re- 
 demption. — Systematical divinity, or the study- 
 ing of truth in a systematical form, has been, of 
 late > ears, much ciecned. It has become almosfc 
 general to consider it as the mark of a contracted 
 jn »d,and the grand obstruction to free inquiry. 
 It we imbibe a false system, indeed, there is no 
 doubt but it will prove injurious j if it be true in 
 parr, but very defective, it may imp <ie our pro- 
 gress in divine knowledge , or if, in order to re* 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 105* 
 
 tain a system, we torture the scriptures to make 
 them accord with it, we shall pervert the truth in- 
 stead of preserving it. These are things which 
 make against false, defective, and an tU scriptural 
 systems of faith ; but not in the least against sys- 
 tem itself. 1 he best criterion of a good system 
 is its concordance with the holy scnpjtures. That 
 view of thing.-., whether we have any of us fully 
 attained it or not, which admits the mpst natural 
 meaning to be put upon every part of God's word, 
 is the right, system of »e!igious truth. And he, 
 whose belief consists of a number of positions 
 arranged in such a connexion as to constitute a 
 consistent who e, but who, from a sense of his im- 
 perfection, and a remembrance of p?st errors, 
 holds, hiinself ready to add or retrench as evidence 
 shall require, is in a tar more advantageous irack 
 for i tie attaining of truth, and a real enlargement of 
 mm J, than he who thinks without a system. 
 
 lobe without system, is nearly the satne thing 
 as to be without principle. Whatever principles 
 we may nave, while they continue in thi s disor- 
 ganized state, they will answer bit little purpose 
 in the religious life. Like a tumultuous assembly 
 in the daj of battle, they may exist ; but it wjU be 
 without order, energy, or end. 
 
 No iiian could d-'c.y systematical knowledge 
 in an) thing but religion, without subjectm him- 
 selt to the ndicuie ot thinking men : a philosopher, 
 for instance, who, instead, of improving facts 
 wnicii had fallen under Ins observation, that he 
 might discover the general taws by which they 
 were governed ; and, instead of tracing things to 
 th lr first principles, and pursuing them to tb 
 just consequences. <houid inveigh against all gen- 
 eral laws, all eystem, ail connexion and 
 denee, and all uniform design in the \wr.c.\ v of 
 cr tic :. What should wc *j of a husbhndfnan^ 
 who refused to arrange his observations under the 
 
106 The importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 respective branches of business to which they nat- 
 urally belonged ; who had no general scheme or 
 plan of proceeding, but left the work of every day 
 to the day itself, without forethought, contriva nee, 
 or design ? Or wha v . account should we make of a 
 merchant^ or tradesman, who should exclude sys- 
 tematical knowledge from his affairs ? He is con- 
 stantly employed in buying and selling, but he 
 must hav^ no general system whereby to conduct 
 either the one or the other ; none for the regula- 
 tion of his books ; none for the assortment of his 
 articles : all must be free, lest he sink into formal- 
 ity, ana by being in the habit of doing things in 
 order, should contract a narrowness of mind ! 
 
 But is the Bible written upon systematical prin- 
 ciples ? Does it contain a system ? Or does 
 it encourage us to form one ? — By the Bible 
 being written on systematical principles, I sup- 
 pose is meant, a systematical arrangement of 
 its contents : and there is no doubt but that 
 the contrary of this is true. But then the 
 same might be said of the book of nature. Though 
 the different species of animals, vegetables, mine- 
 rals, &c. are capable of being arranged under 
 their respective genera, and so reduced to a sys- 
 tem ; yet in their actual position in creation, they 
 assume no su h appearance. It is wisely contri- 
 ved, both in nature and scripture, that the objects 
 of each should be scattered in lovely variety : but a 
 midst all this variety, an observant eye will perceive 
 unity, order, arrangement, and fulness of design. 
 
 God, in all his works, has proceeded by system : 
 there is a beautiful connexion and harmonx in 
 everything which he has wrought. We some- 
 times speak of a system of nature, a system of 
 providence, and a system of redemption ; and, as 
 smaller systems are often included in greater, the 
 language is not improper : in reality, however, 
 they are all but one system ; one grand piece o£ 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 107 
 
 machinery, each part of which has a dependence 
 on the other, and altogether form one glorious 
 whole. Now if God proceed by system, it may 
 be expected that the scriptures? oeinga transcript 
 of his mind, should contain a system ; and if we 
 would study them to purpose, it must be so as to 
 discover what that system is. 
 
 I never recollect to have heard any objection to 
 systematical divinity with regard tQ-pra&ice. Let 
 -a Christian, utterly unacquainted with human 
 writings, take his Bible with a view to learn the 
 mind of God upon any given subject, suppose it 
 be the datj of parents, he will naturally collect all 
 the passages in the sacred writings which relate to 
 that subject, arrange them in order, and from the 
 whole, thus taken together, regulate his conduct. 
 For this, no one would thin*, of blaming iiim ; yet 
 th s will be actually systematical. 
 
 Let him do the same with respect to every other 
 duty , and he will be in possesion of a body or 
 system of.<. practical divinity. And why should he 
 stop here ; why not collect the mind of God from 
 the whole of scripture taken together, upon things 
 to be believed, as well as things to be perform- 
 ed ? 
 
 If the apostles had not considered divine truth 
 in a systematical form, how came the writer of 
 this epistle to speak of the first principles of the 
 oracles of God ? This language supposes, as be- 
 fore observed, a scheme or system of faith : and 
 if such a form of considering truth were disadvan- 
 tageous to Christians, how came he to censure the 
 Hebrews for their want of progress in it ? In the 
 epi tie to the Romans, chap. xii. 6, we read of the 
 proportion oranalogy of faith, which supposes that 
 the gospel is one proportionate or consistent 
 whole. 
 
 Could a system of divinity be written, in which 
 every sacred truth or duty should have a place as- 
 
108 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 signed it, and such a place, both as to order and 
 importance, as proper!) belonged to it, not inva- 
 ding the province of other truths or duties, but, 
 on the contrary, subserving them, and itself ap- 
 pearing to the greatest advantage amongst them > 
 such a performance would answer to what the apos- 
 tle means by the proportion of faith. But can we 
 expei-'' a work answering to this description from 
 an uninspired peti ? — Perhaps not : the materials 
 for such a model, ho ever, exist in th^ holy scrip- 
 tures, and tho gh we cannot collect and arrange 
 them to perfection, let us, as in all other things, 
 press towards t he mark. 
 
 Let that system of religion, which we embrace, 
 be but, in the main, the right one, and so far fr m 
 contracting the mind, it is easy fo perceive that it 
 will abundantly enlarge it. For example, let the 
 fact of Joseph's being sold into Kgypt be viewed 
 without its conmxon with God's designs, and it 
 .ear a melancholy instance of human de- 
 pravity ; we shall ^ee nothing very remaikable in 
 it ; and it w 11 seem calculated only to afford a dis- 
 gusting picture of family jealousies and intrigues, 
 enough to break the heart of an aged parent. But 
 lei die same fact be viewed systematically, as a 
 link in a chain, or as a part oi' a whole, and it will 
 assume a very different appearance* Thus view- 
 ed, it is an event pregnant with glory. He must 
 needs go down in^o Egypt that much people m.ght 
 be preserved -live ; that Jacob's family w if 
 follow him ; ight there be pres h 1, 
 
 for a season, t ! ll, indue time, hir a 
 
 giva: nation, they should be led forth with 
 band ; that they might be placed in Canaan, and 
 n ht sei up the worship of the true God; that 
 tn Ri ht be bdrli a iong them ; and 
 
 hi i -e extended over the v i !c 
 
 e<- . :, 'he patriarch Reflect d, 
 
 An these things ore against mc : but with a sj si-: in, 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 109 
 
 or rather with only the discovery of a very small 
 part of it, he exclaimed, It is enough : Joseph, ray 
 son, is yet alive ' I rvill go down, ind see him before 
 I die. 
 
 In addition to this event in providence, let us 
 offer a few examples on matters of doctrine. 
 
 Would you contemplate the great evil of sin, 
 you must view it in its connexions, tendencies, 
 and consequences. For a poor finite creature, 
 -whose life is hut a vapour, to gratify a vicious in 
 clination, may appear a trifle ; but when its ten- 
 dencies and mischievous consequences are taken 
 into the account, it wears a different aspect. Je- 
 reboam said in his heart, If this people go up to 
 sacrifice at Jerusalem, then shall the kingdom re- 
 turn unto David. Hence he set up idolatry ; and 
 hence the nation was corrupted more and more, 
 till at length it was given up to utter destruction. 
 Considering ourselves as links in the great chain 
 of moral government, every transgression is of 
 vast importance, because it affects the whole sys- 
 tem. If the government of God be once violated, 
 an example is set, which, if followed, would ruin 
 the universe. 
 
 Farther, if we contemplate the death of Christ 
 without any relation to system, we shall only see 
 asuffering person at Jerusalem, and feel that pi- 
 ty and disgust which is ordinarily excited by in- 
 justice and cruelty. But let us view it as connect- 
 ed with the moral government of God ; as a glo- 
 rious expedient to secure its honours ; a propitia- 
 tion wherein God declared his righteousness for 
 the remission of sins, Rom. iii. ?5, and we shall 
 have anew set of feelings. While the apostles 
 continued to view this event unconnected! v, their 
 minds were contracted, and sorrow filled their 
 hearts ; hut when their eyes were opened to see it 
 in its connexions and censequences, their sorrow 
 
 K 
 
110 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 was turned into joy. Those very persons who, 
 hut a few weeks before, could not bear to think of 
 their Lord's departure, after they had witnessed 
 his ascension to glory, returned to Jerusalem with 
 great joy, and continued daily in the temple, prais- 
 ing and blessing God. Luke xxiv. 52, 53. 
 
 Once more, if we view the doctrine of election 
 as unconnected with other things, it may appear 
 to us to be a kind of fondness without reason or 
 wisdom. A charge of caprice would hereby be 
 brought against the Almighty ; and professors, 
 like the carnal Jews, on account of the distinguish- 
 ing favours conferred on their nation, would be 
 fostered in self-conceit. But if it be considered 
 in connexion with the great system of religious 
 truth, it will appear in very different light. It will 
 represent the Divine Being in his true character ; 
 not as acting without design, and subjecting him- 
 self to endless disappointments; but as accom- 
 plishing all his works in pursuance of an eternal 
 purpose. And as salvation, from first to last, is. 
 of mere grace, and every son and daughter of A- 
 dam is absolutely at the divine discretion, it tends 
 powerfully to impress this idea both upon saints 
 and sinners. While it leads the former to ac- 
 knowledge, that by the grace of God they are 
 what they are, it teaches the latter to relinquish 
 their vain hopes, and to tall into the arms of sover- 
 eign mercy. 
 
 As the righteousness of God's elect is not the 
 ground of their election, so neiih r is their felici- 
 ty its ultimate end. God righteously hides the 
 things of the gospel from the wise and prudent, 
 and reveals them unto babes, because so it seemeth 
 go >d in his sight : it tends most to display the 
 glory of his characu-r, and to promote the general 
 go ci of creation. These tilings, if properly con- 
 sidered, are of a humbling tendency. 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. Ill 
 
 If the Jews had considered that they were not 
 chosen, or put in possession of the good land, for 
 their righteousness, or for the uprightness of their 
 hearts ; and that though it was an instance of 
 great love to them, yet it was not ultimately for 
 their sake, or to accomplish their happiness, but 
 that God might fulfil his covenant with Abraham, 
 Isaac, and Jacob, Deut. ix, 5, in whom, atid 
 whose seed all nations of the earth were to be bles- 
 sed ; and if they had considered the salvation of 
 the world as the end of their national existence, 
 and themselves as God's witnesses, till the times 
 of reformation ; instead of valuing themselves, 
 and despising other nations, they would have 
 reckoned themselves their servants for Jehovah's 
 sake. 
 
 In short, by considering principles in their va- 
 rious connexions, far greater advances will be 
 made in divine knowledge than by any other 
 means. The discovery of one important truth 
 will lead on to a hundred more. Let a Christian 
 but realize, for example, the Glory of the Divine 
 Character as the moral Governor of the world ; 
 and he will, at once, perceive the equity and good- 
 ness of the moral law^ which requires us to love 
 him with all the heart. In this glass he will tee 
 his own depravity : and possessed of these views, 
 the grace of the gospel will appear to him to be 
 grace indeed. Every blessing it contains will be 
 endearing; and the medium through which all is 
 conveyed, superlatively precious. A train of 
 thought like this has frequently proved more in- 
 teresting than the labours of those, who, having 
 discovered a vein of silver or gold, dig deeply in- 
 to the bowels of the enriching mine. 
 
 Having considered a few of the means necessa- 
 ry for the attainment of a deep and intimate 
 knowledge of truth : 1 shall 
 
112 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 II. Attempt to establish the importance of 
 such a knowledge. 
 
 As the powers of created beings arelimited, and 
 no one canexpect to understand every thing, it is 
 (he province of wisdom to select those kinds of 
 knowledge as the obje'ets of our pursuit, which arc 
 most valuable, and of the greatest utility. There 
 are some depths, of which it is our honour and 
 felicity to be ignorant ; Rev. ii. 24 ; and even in 
 things wb'ch are lawful, we may, in numberless in- 
 sfances, very well be excused, ifno: in wholly neg- 
 lect ng, yet in possessing only a general acquaint- 
 ance with them But-divine truth requires not on'y 
 \o be known, but well known ; it is not only neces- 
 sary that we have sentiments, and right sentiments, 
 but that we enter deeply into them. Every thing 
 pertaining to God is great, and requires all our 
 powers. In whatever we indulge indifference, 
 there is no room for it here : God requires not 
 only all our hearty but all our mind and strength. 
 
 The importance of a deep and intimate acquaint- 
 ance with divine truth, will more particularly ap- 
 pear from the following considerations : 
 
 I. A neglect of God's word is represented as a 
 heinous sin : but we shall not be able to escape. 
 this sin, if we .content ourselves with a superficial 
 acquaintance with truth. Revelation, in every 
 stage, demands o^r serious attention ; but the rev- 
 elation of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, re- 
 quires attention in the highest degree. This is 
 lh»t great salvation, which we are charged not to 
 neglect. Heb.'ii 3. The dignity of us author, 
 its sub ime and interesting nature, with the accu- 
 mulated evidence, which God hath condescended 
 to afford usof its divine original, combine to re- 
 quire of us the most careful and cordial examina- 
 tion into its contents A neglect of this is either 
 total or partial : the former would denominate as 
 Unbelievers, and expose us to utter destruction : 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 113 
 
 the latter, though it may exist in sincere Christians, 
 is nevertheless a sin, and a sin more than a little 
 offensive to the God of truth. 
 
 To be contented with a superficial acquaintance 
 with divine things, implies disrespect to Him xvho 
 has revealed them A letter from a distant friend* 
 to vvtioai we are cordially attached, is viewed and 
 reviewed, and evry sentence of it Carefully in- 
 spected, and on many occasions committed to 
 memory Why should not the word of God be 
 productive of the >ame effects ? Indeed it is : for 
 in proportion as we love God, his word will dwelt 
 richly in us. It wdl be our bosom companion, 
 to wii'c • w«r shall have recourse on every occasion ; 
 especialy in seasons of leisure, when the mrul, 
 like » spring from which a pressure is removed} 
 rises to its natural position. Hence the fallowing 
 language, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 
 all thine heart, and with ail thy soul, and with all 
 thy might : and these words which I command 
 thee this day, shall be in thine heart, and ihou ;>halt 
 teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk 
 oftrum when thou sittest in thine house, and when 
 thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest 
 down, and when thou risest up. Deut. vi. 5, 6, 1. 
 
 To be contented witn a superficial acquaintance 
 with divine things, implies also a want of affection 
 to the things themselves. A wiH, or tesuuueut, in 
 Which we were deeply interested, wo. kl be pro 
 cur -J with eagerness, a ad read with avidity ; and 
 if any difficulty remained as to the meaning of a 
 particular passage, we should have no rest till by 
 some means or other we had obtained a solution of 
 it. I need not apply this remark Nothing is 
 more evident, than that whatev r is uppermost in 
 cur affections, Will form th<e gran ; current of our 
 tbouglut And whef$ our thoughts are directed 
 kv a subj c with intensen iss ai d persev »m ice, it 
 will Ujcome familiar to u- : and unless it be owing 
 K l& 
 
114 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 to the want of natural capacity, or either necessary 
 ^eans, we shall of course, enter deeply into it. 
 
 I have baen much struck with the ardent affec- 
 tion which David discovered to the holy scrip- 
 tures, and every part of their sacred contents* 
 The whole cxix. Psalm is a continued ecomium 
 upon them. There we have such language as the 
 following : O, how Hove thy law. My soul break- 
 eth for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments 
 at all times. Thy statutes have been my song in 
 the house of my pilgrimage. The law of thy 
 mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and 
 silver. Now, all the scriptures which were tben 
 extant, amounted to little more than the writings 
 of Moses, What additions have wc since enjoy- 
 ed ! — Besides the Book of Psalms, and the pro- 
 phecies which followed, we have the whole New 
 Testament— full of grace and truth — wherein the 
 invisible God hath, as it were, rendered himself 
 visible — Him, whom no man hath seen at any 
 time, the only begotten Son, who dwelt in his bo- 
 om, hath declared. John i. 17, 18 — How is it 
 that such a price should be in our hands to get 
 wisdom, and j et that we should have so little heart 
 far it. 
 
 2. The word of God is represented as a mean 
 of sanctification ; but no effect of this kind can be 
 produced beyond the degree in which we imbibe 
 it One great object of our Lord's intercession 
 with the Father on our behalf was, that we might 
 be sanctified through the truth, even by his word, 
 which is truth. The gospel is continually hrld up, 
 not only as a doctrine according to godli ness, but 
 but as having a powerful influence in producing 
 it* It teaches us that, denying ungodliness and 
 worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, 
 and gndly in this present world It worj^eth ef- 
 fectually in those wh > believe.. It was by the doc- 
 t*me of the Cross that the world became cruefied 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 115 
 
 id the Apostle, and he unto the wo. Id I So univer- 
 sal and so manifest were the effects of divine truth 
 upon the practice of the primitive Christians, that 
 the sacred writers could appeal o fact on their be- 
 half, tint they, and they only we re-successful com- 
 batants against the world's temptations : — Who is 
 he that overcomelh the workL but h$ that believ- 
 eth that Jesus is the Son of God , Jnlui xvu 17. 
 Tit. ii. 12. 1 . Thess. n. 13# Gat. vi. 14. 1 John v. 
 4, 5. 
 
 Now, in order that the gospel mavbe produc- 
 tive of these effects, it is necessary that it br un- 
 derstood — Withourthis, how should it interest or 
 affect the heart? WV must believe the truth ere 
 it will work effectually : we must know it, or it 
 will not nvftke us free. That we may serve God 
 acceptably, and with godly fear, we must have 
 grace ; and grace is multiplied through the knowl- 
 edge of God s and of Jesus our Lord 
 
 Knowledge and affection have a mutual influ- 
 ence on each oiher That the love of tru h will 
 prompt us to labor after a more perfect acquaint* 
 tance with its contents, has been already obser- 
 ved : and that such an acquaintance will promote 
 an increas nglove of truth in return, is equally ev- 
 ident. We cannot love an unknown gospel any 
 more than an unknown God \ffection is fed 
 by knowledge, being thereby furnished with 
 grounds or reasons for its operations. Bv the 
 expansion of the mm I, the lean is supplied 
 with objects which fill it with delight, it is thus 
 that it becomes enlarged, and thai w ferl our- 
 selves sweetly induced to run in the way of the di- 
 vine com man dm ents. 
 
 How was it that the apostle became dead to the 
 world, by the cross ol Christ I i s ippose on much 
 the sun* principle, (hat the lighi of tht stars is 
 eclipsed b\ that of th sun : an h ivmg 
 
 drunk old wine, ceases to desire new, for he saitty 
 
116 The Importanoe- of a deep and intimate 
 
 the old is better. It is by drinking eeply into 
 religion, that we become clis affected to carnal ob~ 
 jects. 
 
 The word of God is represented as the great 
 source of Christian enjoyment :■ but no effect of 
 this kind can be produced any farther than we im- 
 bibe the truth. The same wav in which divine 
 truth operates as a medium of sanctifieation, it be- 
 comes a source of enjoyment ; namely, by inter- 
 esting and affecting the heart. That which, by 
 its superior lustre, eclipses the pleasures of sense, 
 and crucifies us to the world, at the same time 
 kindles a jov in the heart, which is unspeakable 
 and full of glory. The habitual joy, which was 
 possessed bv the Apostles and primitive Chris* 
 tians, chiefly arose from a kno wedge and belief of 
 the gospel It was the excellency of the knowl- 
 edge of Christ Jesus his Lord, that induced the 
 Apostle to count all things but loss and dung 
 Phil. iii. 8, Those in whom the word of Christ 
 dWeltTichly, in all wisdom, were supposed to be 
 so enlivened by it, that it became natural to them 
 to teach and admonish one another in psalms and 
 hymns, and spiritual song.-,, singing with grace in 
 their hearts to the Lord. Col. iii. 16. The ob- 
 ject for which the apostle bowed his knees to the 
 Father of glory, in behalf of the Ephesians, was, 
 that bv means of a comprehensive knowledge of 
 the breadth, and length, anj depth, and height of 
 the redeeming love of Christ, they might be filled 
 with all the fullness of God, Eph. iii. 13, 19. 
 The wells of salvation are deep ; and he that Jack- 
 et] knowledge is as one that hath nothing to draw 
 With. 
 
 The prejudice of many Christians against doc- 
 trinal preaching, as being, in their esteem, dry and 
 Uninteresting; and th^ preference which is given. 
 to that which is morr cLs riptive of their fet lings, 
 a&d which is therefore termed experimental, i:> 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 117 
 
 worthy of attention. If the doctrine which we 
 prc&ch be not the unadulterated gospel of Christ, 
 it will indeed be dry ; or, if instead of ent 
 into the spirit of the truth, we are employed in a 
 fruitless discussion of terms, or things on which 
 the scriptures forbear to decide, it must needs be 
 uninteresting, andeven disgusting to a holy mind. 
 But if the pure gospel of Jesus, well undt mood 
 by the preacher, and communicated to the fulness 
 of his heart, do not interest us, there must be some 
 lamentable disorder in the state of our minds. Jf 
 the manna that come down from heaven be loathed, 
 it is a sign that things are not with us as they ought 
 to be. The doctrine of Moses, and surely much 
 more that of Jesus, dropped as the rain, and dis- 
 tilled as the dew upon the tender herb. 
 
 Christian experience ^or what is generally un- 
 derstood by that term, the painful and pleasurable 
 feelings of good men) will be found, if genuine, 
 to arise from the influence of truth upon the mind. 
 If we be strangers to the glory of God's moral 
 character, and the great evil of sin, we shall be 
 strangers to ail th? feelings pf godly sorrow on ac- 
 count of it. And what ground js there for J&y 
 and peace, but in believing ? Take away the Deity 
 and atonement of Christ, and they are annihila- 
 ted. To this may be added* give up the doctrines 
 ©f the resurrection and a fuMre life, and what »e- 
 come's of hope ? Frem these instances, out of n a- 
 ny others, you will easily perceive, that doctrinal 
 and experimental preaching are not so remo ce from 
 each other as some persons nave imagined ; and 
 that to extol the latter at the expence of the for- 
 mer, is cO act like him who wishes the fountain to 
 be destroyed because he prefers the stream. 
 
 4. It is a great object in the Christian life, ac- 
 cording to our capacities and opportunities, to dif- 
 fuse the lightof the gospel around us : but we can- 
 
118 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 not communicate any thing beyond the degree in 
 which we possess it. The communication of gos- 
 pel truth is not confined to ministers. Every 
 Christianjmoves in a sphere of some extent ; and 
 is expected so to occupy it, as to embrace every 
 occasion which may offer to make known the way 
 of eternal life to those about him. The primitive 
 churches were schools of heavenly instruction, as 
 the words of the text, to go no farther, plainly in- 
 timate ; and the apostle reproves some of their 
 members for having made no greater proficiency. 
 Though it \vould be vain for every one to aspire 
 at being a public teacher of Christianity, yet, as 
 hath been already observed, everyone should be 
 concerned that he may be able to give a reason 
 for the hope that is in him, and to teach the good 
 and the right way to those with whom he is imme- 
 diately connected. The duties of a parent, and 
 a master, include in them the instruction of those 
 who are committed to their care. Many oppor- 
 tunities arise, in which Christians might commu- 
 nicate th : knowledge of Christ to their neighbors \ 
 those in a state of servitude to their fellow- ser- 
 vants ; and, provided it were done on proper oc- 
 casions, and according to the apostolic rule, in 
 meekness and fear, persons in inferior stations 
 m!ght suggest a useful hint even to their superi- 
 ors. 
 
 When the family of Elimelech went to sojourn 
 in Moab, they carried their religion with them ; 
 so recommended the God of Israel to those with 
 whom they formed connexions, that one of them 
 was induced to leave her country, her kindred, 
 and her gods, and to put her trust under the shad- 
 ow of his wings. Ruth i. And even a little maid 
 of the land of Israel, who had been carried cap- 
 tive into Syria, by speaking to her mistress, on a 
 favorable opportunity, was instrumental in her 
 master's being healed of his leprosy t and in his be?- 
 
Knowledge oj Divine Truth. 119 
 
 ing brought to acknowledge and adore the true 
 God. 2 Kings v. Such cases are recorded to en- 
 courage us to communicate the good knowledge 
 of God on all props r occasions : but, in order to do 
 this, we must first possess it, and that in a greater 
 degree than merely to denominate us Christians. 
 Perhaps one of the most favorable opportunities 
 for Christians to suggest important truth to their 
 neighbors and connexions, is when any of them 
 are under a threatening affliction. To visit them 
 at such a time would be kindiy taken : even the 
 \v T orst of characters are commonly accessible 
 when they apprehend eternity to be drawing nigh. 
 You may now freely converse and pray \v T iih them.; 
 and if your circumstances will adsnit, and theirs 
 require it, a communication of your world sub. 
 stance would convince them of your good will, 
 give weight to your instructions, and correspond 
 with the conduct of Him, who went about doing 
 good to the bodies and souls of men. But such 
 a practice requires an intiaiate acquaintance with 
 divine truth. It is an important matter to con- 
 verse with men, who are just on the borders of 
 an eternal world : ie requires not only tenderness, 
 faithfulness and prudence ; but an ability to ex- 
 pose those false refuges, and detect those delu- 
 sive hopes, to which, at such seasons, they are 
 generally disposed to fly ; and to direct them to 
 the only name under heaven, given amongst men, 
 whereby they must be saved.* 
 
 * Of the numerous liberal institutions which, at this time, 
 adorn the metropolis, none appear to me more deoervng 
 of encouragement than those societies which have lately 
 been formed for visiting, retieving, and conversihg nvtth 
 the afflicted floor. If they continue to be conducted with 
 propriety ; if, in particular, suitable persons are selected as 
 visHors, 1 hope they will prove a basing of magnitude. 
 May God A; mighty bless those young people who are thus 
 employed, and may they never want of support from a be- 
 nevolent public. 
 
120 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 5. In time of apcs'acy from the truth, Chris- 
 tians are exhorted to be stedfast . 2 Pit. iii. 17 ; 
 but astedfast adherence to truth, requires that we 
 be rooted and grounded in it. The wisdom of 
 God sees meet, in order to prove mankind, and 
 especially his professing people, to suffer other 
 gospels, besides the true one, to obtain footing a- 
 mongst us. I am aware that it has beer me cus- 
 tomary, in these times, to make a jest of heresy , 
 and to deride, as illiberal, narrow-minded bigots, 
 all those who consider any religious sentiments as 
 endangering the salvation of men. But I hope we 
 shall not, on this aocount, be deterred from such 
 an attachment to truth as the scriptures encour- 
 age It is granted that the term heresy has been 
 wretchedly abused ; and that it becomes Chris- 
 tians to beware of applying it to every departure 
 from even truth itself : yet there is such a thing 
 in being. There were heresies in the apostles' 
 times ; and it was predicted that there should 
 in after times, be persons who would bring in even 
 damnible heresies, 2 Pet. ii. 1. Let no one be 
 startled at the use of these terms: I did not coin 
 them, and am not accountable for them ; but see- 
 ing they occupy a place in the holy scriptures, I 
 think myself concerned to understand them. 
 Whatever difficulty there may be in ascertaining 
 their precise object, they u ndoubtedly teach us 
 that men's souls may be destroyed by mental, as 
 well as by sensual, lusts; even the souls of pro- 
 fessing Christians ; for the words are not intend- 
 ed to describe open infidels, but such as should 
 bear the Christian name, yea, and who should be 
 teachers of Christianity. 
 
 The circulation of doctrines pleasing to cor- 
 rupt nature will prove men to be what the\ 
 They are the fan in Christ's hand, by whi 
 wii! thoroughly ptfrge h.efloor. That light -m nd- 
 ed professors of religion should be carried away 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 121 
 
 with them, is no more a matter of surprise than 
 that the chaff should be earned away by the 
 wind : but how is it that those, of whom we 
 would hope better things, are often shaken ? 
 
 If a minister, in almost any of our congrega- 
 tions, should relinquish truth, and fall into the 
 grossest errors ; unless he has so conducted him- 
 self as to have gained little or no esteem amongst 
 the people, he is seldom known to go off alone : 
 sometimes half a congregation, and sometime* 
 more, have been known to follow him, or at least 
 to be greatly unhinged for a considerable time. 
 If a writer start up in almost any connexion, let 
 his performance be ever so weak or extravagant ; 
 yet, if he possess but a sufficient quantity of over- 
 bearing assurance, he will have his admire:* ; and 
 some serious people will be in danger of being 
 turned aside. How are these things to be accoun- 
 ted for? I conceive the principal reason is, that 
 Christians content themselves with a superfi- 
 cial knowledge ofdivine things. Great numbers, 
 from a dislike to controversy, will never take any 
 pains to understand the difference between one set 
 of religious principles and another. They have 
 no desire to enable themselves to distinguish be- 
 tween true and false reasonings. — They are too apt 
 to take it for granted, that what they have imbi- 
 bed is truth, and that nothing can be advanced 
 with the least colour of reason for the contrary: 
 when, therefore, an argument appears with a little 
 plausibility on its free, it has only to obtain a 
 reading 2 or a hearing, and their assent is gained. 
 Brethren, let shame, if nothing else, provoke us, 
 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to 
 and fro by every wind of doctrine. Ephes. iv. 14. 
 Let us be concerned, not obstinately to adhere to 
 our present sentiments, be they whatthev may, 
 but to know the mind of God in his word ; and 
 knowing it, Ictus stedfastly adhere to it. 
 
 The present age seems to be an age of trial'. 
 JU 
 
,} h 22 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 Not only is the gospel corrupted by those wild 
 bear the Christian name \ but, of fate, you well 
 know, it has been openly assailed. The most di- 
 rect and daring opposition has been made to the 
 very name of Christian') nty. I am not goin<r to 
 alarm you with any idea that th^ church is in 
 danger ; no, my brethren, the church, of which 
 w T e, I trust, are members, and of which Christ, 
 and Christ alone, is head, is not in danger: it is 
 built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not 
 prevail against it. Neither are my apprehensions 
 excited concerning those who are true members 
 of the church : these trying blasts, though they 
 may effect them for a season, n ill ultimately cause 
 them to take deeper roo?# Nevertheless, it be- 
 comes us to feel for the souls of men, especially 
 for the rising generation ; and to warn even good 
 men that they be not unarmed in the evil day. 
 The human heart has ever been averse to the 
 gospel of Christ ; but the turn or temper of the 
 present age is peculiarly in favour of infidelity. 
 In much the same manner as, in former ages, men 
 were violently attached to a persecuting super- 
 stition, they are now verging to the opposite ex- 
 treme, and are in danger of throwing off all reli- 
 gion. Our temptations, and those which will 
 attend our posterity after us, are likely, therefore, 
 to be widely different from what they have hither- 
 to bee-n. Hitherto nominal Christianity has been 
 no reproach ; but reproach has attached itself to 
 the other side. The case, in this respect, may 
 soon be altered. Men grow bold in avowing 
 their contempt of Christianity ; and many among 
 the dissipitaied part of the youth are following 
 their example. Now if characters of this descrip- 
 tion should spring up in sufficient numbers, not 
 only to keep each other in countenance, but to 
 turn the tide of reproach against Christians, as a 
 company of wrong-headed enthusiasts, we shail 
 soon see which side the mass of mankind will take. 
 Their characters being- loose and profligate, ther 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth, 12© 
 
 have long felt themselves condemned by the gos- 
 pel ; and this is a matter that does not sit very ea- 
 sy upon them. — Nothing has kept them from re- 
 jecting it before now, but the disgrace that would 
 follow" upon their becoming open infidels : when- 
 ever, therefore, this disgrace shall be removed, we 
 may expect them to go off in great companies. 
 The slightest observation of human nature must 
 convince us, that the greater part of mankind, e- 
 ven in religious matters, are governed by fash- 
 ion : they go with the course of this world. So 
 great an influence has the tide of public opinion 
 upon them, that even whtre it is not altogether 
 agreeable to their own views and inclinations, 
 they are, nevertheless, frequently carried awsy by 
 it : but if it be thus where public opinion and 
 private inclination are at variance, it must, of 
 course, be much more so in those cases wherein. 
 they are agreed. This will be like a union of the 
 wind and tide : the vessel that is carried along by 
 such a joint influence, can scarcely have any 
 thing left to impede its progress. 
 
 The great influence, which a certain popular 
 pamphlet has had upon men's minds, is not so 
 much owing to the work itself, though it possesses 
 all the agreeableness to a depraved heart, which wit 
 aid malignity can give it. asto thebiasofthe pres- 
 ent generation in favour of the principles which it 
 contains. Of this the amhorhimself seems to have 
 been sufficiently aware, by the title which he ha9 
 thought proper to give his performance * 
 
 It is not unlikely that almost allour religiouscon- 
 iroversies will soon be reduced to one, upon which 
 the great body of men will divide. Is Christianity 
 true or false ? Is there a God ? Is there a heaven 
 and a hell ? Or is it all a fiction ? Agitated by thsee 
 important questions, the greater parr of the inhab- 
 itants of Europe, and perhaps of Am rica, in- 
 cluding our own posterity, may rank either as real 
 Christians, or as opeq Infidels. 
 
 * Age of Reason. 
 
124 The Importance, bV. 
 
 What shall we say to these things? Ought 
 they to depress us ? We ought, undoubtedly, to 
 feel for the welfare of men's souls, and caanot but 
 feel for those who are more intimately connected 
 with us : but upon any other ptinciple, I know 
 not that they ought to have any such effect upon 
 us. God is upon his throne : his church is upon 
 a rock : whatever hour of temptation may be 
 coming upon the world, to try them that dwell 
 upon the earth, those who hold fast the word of 
 his patience will be kept through it : Rev. iii. 10. 
 All things are working together for good to them 
 that love God. With these views, Christians may 
 rejoice, and rejoice always. 
 
 While we rejoice, however, we must rejoice 
 with trembling ; and while we confide in God, 
 must be diffident of ourselves* Let us not presume 
 on our own firmness, but put on the whole armour 
 ©fGod, that we may withstand in the evil day. 
 The first thing required in thi* divine accoutre- 
 ment is, that mr loins begirt about with truth, 
 Ephe- vi. 14; but truth will not prove as a girdle 
 to our loins in the day of battle, except we be 
 deepl) and intimately acquainted with it. 
 
 O ye sons and daughters of carelessness, who 
 are called Christians, but have norootin yourselves, 
 what aspect d^thesethingsweTtowards vou ? he 
 iimeseemsdrawing nigh that will prove you to be 
 what you are ! Hitherto there has been an outer court 
 for you, and you have worshipped in it. Youjhave 
 long had a form of godliness, b thave been without 
 the power, you have rank* d with the friends of truth, 
 but have never received it in love, that you might be 
 saved. You have kept up the profession of some- 
 thing that has been called Christianity, without 
 feeling yourselves under any necessity to proceed 
 farther : but now your outer c< urt will probably 
 be taken away, and you will feel yourselves im- 
 pelled, as it were, either to come in and be Chiis- 
 tians in reality, or to go out ai*d tak- y ur portion* 
 with the unbelieving and the abominable. 
 
f