THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY P358f« 133 - Vahlen Library V . ■ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champajgn Alternates https://archive.org/details/memoirofrevsamue00full_0 D.-io-g-eU.Hiniuan Co.So.vlp* SAMUJISILi 3P3^ffi(DIS. 1SII2S op REV. SAMUEL PEARCE, A. M. WHO WAS UNITED WITH CAREY AND OTHERS IN ESTABLISHING MISSIONS IN INDIA, 1793. BY REV. ANDREW FULLER, WITH ADDITIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH DR. CAREY, &e. BY HIS SON, REV. W. H. PEARCE, MISSIONARY AT CALCUTTA. ** To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” — Phil. 1 : 21. ** That life is long which answers life’s great end.”— Young PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, - IV) KASSAU-STRF.ET, NKW-YORK. D. Kunihaw, Printer. 3 pjstr 113 - 1 IK, The late venerable Dr. Ryland said of the subject of this memoir, “ He possessed such an assemblage of lovely graces and acceptable qualifications as are seldom found united, even in truly Christian ministers. He had the firmest at- tachment to evangelical truth, and the most constant regard to practical godliness ; he united remarkable soundness of judgment with uncommon warmth of affection. I never saw. at least in one of his years, such active, ardent zeal, conjoined with such gentleness, modesty, and deep humiiitj , so much of the little child, and so much of the Evangelist— I can scarcely forbear saying of the Apostle of Jesus Christ.” “ One thing I will say, which I could say of very few others, though 1 have known many of the excellent of the earth, — that I never saw or heard of any thing respect- ing him which grieved me, unless it was his inattention to f his health ; — and that I believe was owing to a mistaken - idea of his constitution.” 4 In the funeral discourse preached by Rev. Mr. Fuller, he K says, “ There are but few characters in this imperfect state that will bear an impartial scrutiny ; and which do not re- ' “ quire, if exhibited to advantage, that a number of their Cj words and deeds should be overlooked, or thrown, as by a j painter, into the shade. But I solemnly declare that were I disposed to say all I know of our deceased friend, both bad and good, I should be utterly at a loss on one side, nor have -rr- I any fear of speaking too much on the other ; but rather am persuaded that it is not in my power to do him justice. He was, doubtless, a sinful and imperfect creature before God ; but he was also a singular instance of the holy and happy efficacy of divine grace, whose imperfections were as « 4ew, and whose excellences as many, as I have ever wit- nessed in a mortal man. Some, who knew but little of him, ^ may think this too strong. I only say, they that knew him f" 5 best will be the least disposed to think so.” CONTENTS. Preface, Ciiap. 1. — His parentage — conversion — call to the min- istry— and settlement at Birmingham, 7 Chap. 2. — His deep interest in missions to the heathen — his laborious exertions in promoting them — and his offering himself to become a missionary, 47 Chap. 3. — His religious exercises and labors, from the time of his relinquishing the idea of going abroad to the commencement of his last illness, 1 10 Chap. 4. — An account of his last illness, and the holy and happy exercises of his mind under it, 175 Chap. 5. — General outlines of his character, 239 Concluding reflections, 283 M E M O I R, &c. CHAPTER I. Parcjitage of Mr. Pearce — His Conversion — Call to the Ministry — And Settlement at Birmingham. Mr. Samuel Pearce was born at Plymouth, England, July 20, 1766. His father was a respec- table silversmith, and many years a deacon of the Baptist church. When a child, he lived with his grandfather, who was very fond of him, and endeavored 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 said, began to ripen; and, forming connections with se- veral 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. 8 MEMOIR OF At times he was under strong convictions, which rendered him miserable ; but at other times they subsided, and then he would return with eagerness to his sinful pursuits. When about fifteen years old, he was sent by his father to inquire after the welfare of a person in the neighborhood, in dying circumstances, who (though before his departure he was in a happy state of mind) at that time was sink- ing into deep despair. While in the room of the dying man, he heard him cry out, with inexpressible agony of spirit, “ I am damned for ever ! !” 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. W'hen about sixteen years of age, it pleased God effectually to turn him to himself. A sermon deli- vered by Mr. Birt, who was then co-pastor with Mr. Gibbs, of the Baptist church at Plymouth, was the first means 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, though his vicious pro- pensities were bitter to his recollection, yet, be- ing now sensibly subdued, he was furnished with so much the clearer evidence that the work was of God. “ I believe (he says) few conversons were more joyful. The change produced in my views, feelings, and conduct, was so evident to myself, that I could no more doubt of its being from God, than SAMUEL PEARCE. 9 of ray existence. I had the witness in myself, and was filled with peace and joy unspeakable.” His feelings being naturally strong, and receiving a new direction, he entered into religion with all his heart ; but, not having known the devices of Satan, his soul was injured by its own ardor, and he was thrown into great perplexity. Having read Dod- dridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul , he determined formally to dedicate himself 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 adopted as his own ; and that he might bind himself in the most solemn and affecting manner, signed it icith his blood ! But afterwards, failing in his engagements, he w T as plunged into great distress, and almost into despair. On a review of his covenant, he seemed to accuse himself of a pharisaical reliance upon the strength of his own resolutions ; and therefore, taking 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, however, consider his obligation to be the Lord’s as hereby nullified ; but, feeling more suspicion of himself, he depended solely upon the blood of the cross . Soon after his first awakening, he wrote the fol- lowing letter to Rev. Mr. Birt, his pastor : 10 MEMOIR OF “ Plymouth , October 27 , 1782 . ** My very dear Mr. Dirt, “ Were I to make the least delay in answering your very affectionate letter, I should deem myself culpable of the greatest ingratitude. You almost commence your kind letter with mentioning that my tears at parting with you demanded your fervent prayers. But do, my dear sir, consider that sepa- rating from an earthly parent, the author of animal life, must, where a filial affection subsists, be an af- fecting scene. How much more moving must it be to part with a father in Christ Jesus ! To part with one whom the Almighty has made the happy means of raising from a state of death in trespasses and sins, to that of life in a dear dying Redeemer ! “ O, sir, such was the case when I parted with my ever dear Mr. Birt. Did this require your fervent prayers? Has this caused you to remember me when prostrate at a footstool of mercy ? Let me be- seech you, my dear sir, still to continue it ; and, whenever you bow the suppliant knee at a throne of grace, not to fail beseeching the Author of mercy to extend his mercy to an object so unworthy. O ! beg of him, that, since he has begun a good work in me, he would carry it on. As he has enabled me to put my hand to the gospel plough, may I never look back : but may he grant me grace and strength to hold on, and hold out to the end ; to conquer every foe; to be continually pressing forward toward the SAMUEL PEARCE. 11 mark and prize of my high calling in Christ Jesus ; and, in the end, to come off more than conqueror through him who, I trust, has loved me and given himself for me O! beg of him that he will ever keep me from possessing a lukewarm, a Laodicean spirit ! May my affections to the crucified Savior be continually on a flame ! “ I am ‘ prone to wander yes, ‘ I feel it ; prone to leave the God l love.’ O that my affections may be more and more united to him ! My dear sir, pray for me. Use your interest at a throne of grace on my behalf; and as God has promised to be a God hearing and answering prayer, I doubt not but it will meet with a gracious reception, and perhaps with a gracious answer too. O, sir ! let me once more entreat you never to forget me whilst offering up prayers to your God. Religion, you may well say, is worthy the choice of all : it makes a beggar superior to a king; whilst, destitute of it, a king is inferior to a beggar. What— oh ! what — can equal the felicity, the enjoyments of a Christian ? Nothing, surely, on this transitory globe ! Nothing this world calls good or great can be put in competition with it, — with the joyous feeling of him who has the un- speakable happiness of experiencing himself inte- rested in a dear Redeemer. “ Surely, no tongue can express, nq heart can con- ceive, wl^at God has prepared for those who love him ! O how thankful ought those to be whom he 12 MEMOIR OF has cailed by divine grace to the knowledge of him- self! What an unspeakable mercy is it that he has distinguished me in such a peculiar manner (give me leave to use your own words) as to be taken into his service, adopted into his family, made an heir of God, a joint heir with Jesus Christ ! What now is required of me ? What am I now required to do? When I reflect on this, how short do I find I come in my duty ! How backward am I to it ! How unwilling to perform it ! Even when I would do good, evil is present with me. ‘ What shall I do with this my heart 1 ‘ Where shall I bring my sin ? ‘ O Lamb of God, who bore my smart, ‘ ’Tis thou must make me clean.’ “ I have no righteousness of my own, no merits of mine to bring ; the best of my performances come infinitely short of the holy law of God. On Jesus alone I must depend for salvation. Here I rest. Hence I draw all my hope. Jesus Christ has died, and Jesus shall not die in vain. The Redeemer’s blood cleanses from all sin. Happy, thrice happy, they who have washed and made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb ! May it be the blessed experience of my dear friend and myself. “ I thank you, sir, for your kind admonitions. I hope the God of all grace will enable me to abide by them. Tribulations, trials, and temptations, I am SAMUEL PEARCE. 13 sensible, are the lot of all God’s children here below : but I am equally certain that as long as we rely upon our God, and confide in him only, he that has given us a sure word of promise, whereby he has caused us to hope, will with them all work out a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear them. “ And now, that it may be our joint happiness, my dear sir, to be kept in a holy, happy fellowship with our God ; that we may be often brought to Pisgah’s summit, and behold the promised Canaan ; that we may often, whilst there, anticipate the pleasures of the heavenly world ; and, when we have passed the floods of Jordan, meet around the throne above, there to chant eternal lays to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever, is, dear sir, the constant prayer of him who is, and wishes ever to remain, “ Your affectionate friend, Samuel Pearce.” On July 20, 1783, the day he was seventeen years old, he was baptized, and became a member of the Baptist church at Plymouth, the ministers and mem- bers of which, in a few years, perceived in him ta- lents 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 work of the ministry in November, 1786. In August, the year following, he went to the Academy at Bristol, then under the superintendance of Dr. Caleb Evans. 2 14 MEMOIR OF Mr. Birt, when Pastor of the Baptist church, m the Square, Plymouth Dock, in a letter to the com- piler of these memoirs, thus speaks of him : “ 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 previously to his going to Bristol I had but few opportunities of conversing with him, or of making particular observations respecting him. All who best knew him, however, will remember, and must tenderly speak of his loving deportment ; and those who attended the conferences with him, soon received the most impressive intimations of his future eminence, as a minister of our Lord Jesus Christ. “ Very few have entered upon, and gone through their religious profession, with more exalted piety, or warmer zeal ; and as few have exceeded him in the 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 not behave itself unseemly, that seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, that beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things.’ But why should I say this to you ? You knew him yourself.” While at the academy he was much distinguished by the amiableness of his spirit and behavior. It is sometimes observable, that where the talents of a SAMUEL PEARCE. 15 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 Mr. Pearce. Notwithstanding the popu- larity which even at that early period attended his ministerial exercises, his tutors have more than once remarked that he never appeared to them to be in the least elated, or to have neglected his proper studies : but was uniformly the serious, industrious, docile, modest, and unassuming young man. In July, 1789, he came to the church in Cannon street, Birmingham, to whom he was recommended by Rev. Robert Hall, at that time one of his tutors. After preaching to them awhile on probation, he was chosen to be their pastor, and was ordained August 18, 1790. About two months after his ordination, he wrote to his friend, Mr. Summers, of London. Whether the sentiments contained in that letter arose from the recollection of his late solemn engagement, is uncertain ; but they were certainly very appropriate to the occasion. Requesting his friend to pray for him, he says, “ Paul speaks of blessings received through the prayers of his fellow-christians : no wonder, therefore, he so often solicits their continu- ance. But, if it be well to be interested in the pray- ers of fellow-christians, how much more to believe the great High Priest of our profession, Jesus the 16 MEMOIR OF Son of God, is gone into the holy of holies, with our names on his breast-plate, ever to plead in the pre- sence of God for us — for us ! O transporting thought ! Who can doubt of the success of such an intercessor ? “ I have of late had my mind very pleasantly, and I hope profitably, exercised on this subject, more than ever, and find increasing pleasure, from a well grounded faith in the divinity of my incarnate Ad- vocate. I see the glory of his office, arising from the infinite extent of his knowledge, power, and love, as well as from the efficacy of his atoning sacrifice. “ I do not wonder at those men who deny the priestly office of Christ, when they have refused him the honors of Deity. I rejoice that he who pleads for us hiows our wants individually , as well as the necessities of the whole church collectively. Through his intercession alone I expect my sins to be pardoned, my services accepted, and my soul preserved, guided, and comforted; and, with confi- dence in his intercession, I cannot doubt but I shall enjoy all. O how sweet it is, my dear friend, to exercise a lively faith in a living Savior ! May you and I do this daily. Thus for us to live will be Christ, and to die gain : living or dying, we shall be the Lord’s.” The following letters to his friend Mr. Staughton, exhibit the same spirit of piety and self-dedication 17 SAMUEL PEARCE. l£ Birmingham , June 4 , 1794 . “ I received yours, my dear brother, just before I left Birmingham, on Wednesday last; it did me good, and gave me pleasure. I rejoice in your joy ; I thank God for the assistance he grants you in pub- lic work. O, let all the strength and -power you have, be devoted as the Divine will may seem fit ; let it all be employed to exalt the Savior : aim at that, and that only, my dear brother, in all your ser- mons. It will give us more pleasure, another day, that He was exalted by us, than that we exalted our- selves. Would to God we could live more on Him personally ! we should then speak with more plea- sure of him publicly. ‘ It is pleasant speaking of God when we walk with him.’ May your experi- ence and mine confirm it. “ Your very affectionate brother, S. P.” “ Plymouth Dock , July 29 , 1791 . “ My dear Friend, One of the students, Mr. Rowland, is now dan- gerously ill at Plymouth Dock, of a fever, which is very prevalent here ; and he lodges in a house where another student from the same country (Wales) died not long since. Lord, what is man ! O, my brother, let us improve diligently the moments we possess ; let us watch for souls ; let us spend ourselves in its service for them. I preached thrice yesterday, not without pleasure ; God grant it may be with profit. 2 * 18 MEMOIR OF How is it with your soul ? How do you find closet duties ? I have had some precious seasons at a throne of grace since I reached Plymouth ; I could say it was good, very good, to draw nigh to God. I am more and more convinced that our private devotion, or want of devotion, will materially affect the tenor of our deportment. God help us to give him our hearts ; no fear, then, but he will have our services too. I wish you much of the divine presence: still pray for your unworthy brother, and still help him to praise. “ I am, yours affectionately, S. P.” A similar spirit of ardent devotedness to the work of his divine Master, and of affectionate interest in the welfare of his friends, is displayed in the follow- ing letters to his friend Mr. Summers. “ Birmingham , Feb. 3 , 1791 . “ Friendship and ceremony seldom coalesce ; — the ardor of affection and the chilling punctilios of formality cannot be united. Possessed of the former, averse to the latter, my kind friend receives a line from me, although my last is still unanswered. The occasion of my writing is a source of joy inexpressi- ble to myself — a joy in which I know you will par- ticipate. Your amiable friend, Miss H. permitted me to call her my own yesterday. One dwelling SAMUEL PEARCE. 19 now contains us both, and Paul’s Square contains that dwelling. “ Thus far the good hand of my God has been with me ; and I would hope, that not without his smiles, I have pursued the path which at length has led me to the felicity I now enjoy in the society of the most amiable of women ; without them, I am still sensi- ble, all created good is valueless, is vanity and vexa- tion of spirit. “ How pleasing, my dear friend, to a pious mind, is the reflection that all our goings are in his hands whose love inclines him to every thing that is kind — whose purity connects with his conduct every thing that is good — whose wisdom infallibly adopts the best means, and whose power cannot fail to ac- complish all his will. With his blessing, our felici- ty cannot fail of being accomplished — without it, it can never be attained. May it be our happiness to possess an interest in your prayers, that this all gracious, wise, and good Being, may continue still to bless, and cause that our union to each other may be a means of leading us more to communion with him. “ Besides this, I have, my dear friend, more mer- cies to be thankful for than I could enumerate on a quire of paper. Religion still flourishes among us, beneath the auspices of the Sun of Righteousness. Our congregations are quite as numerous as when you were at Birmingham j and we have had several 20 MEMOIR OF pleasing additions since that period to our church. About eight weeks since, I baptized nine persons ; last Sabbath I administered the same ordinance to eight more ; and an equal or superior number ap- pear in the way to join us soon. May this accession to our numbers be an increase to our joy. * * “S. P” “ Birmingham , September 30 , 1791 . “My very dear friend, “. . . . The riots in Birmingham occasioned our stay in Bristol to be prolonged to a fortnight, so that we had not above three weeks to spend at Plymouth, from whence I purposed writing to you. This inch of time was wholly engrossed in making Mrs. P. witness the beauties of the West, and in in- troducing her to my numerous acquaintance in De- vonshire. “ On our return we found our habitation had been quite emptied of furniture, and, though we found the goods replaced, yet my books and papers were so deranged that to this hour they are not all restored to order again. “ It is now Saturday evening ; I have finished my usual preparations for the morrow. I have an hour to spare, and that hour I devote to intercourse with a friend I much esteem. “ I anticipate with some degree of holy pleasure the work of the approaching day. I have for my SAMUEL PEARCE. 21 evening’s discourse the best subject in all the Bible. Eph, 1 : 7. — Redemption ! how welcome to the cap- tive ! Forgiveness ! how delightful to the guilty ! Grace ! how pleasing to the heart of a saved sinner ! O my dear friend, how much do we lose of Gospel blessings for want of realizing our personal connec- tion with them ! hence it is that we are no more humble, thankful, watchful, prayerful, joyful. We view the glories of the Gospel at a distance, and for want of that faith which is the ‘substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen,’ think too lightly of them. O Lord increase our faith ! “ There are two things we should be always doing. First we should identify the promises and things promised, satisfy ourselves respecting the cer- tain existence of them — that they are not shadows, but substances — not fancies, but realities. This would have a commanding influence upon our meditations, desires, and prayers. Then, secondly, realize our interests in them, saying, ‘ These things are so, there is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory — there are enjoyments reserved in the heavenly world surpassing all human thought — and these joys, these glories, this inheritance is mine then, how would our hearts be where our treasure is ! how pure would be our affections ! how burden - some would sin be ! how precious would Christ be ! how much prized would Sabbaths and ordinances be! how dear would the Scriptures be! — In short, 22 MEMOIR OF death itself would be welcome, for the soul would long to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. “ I wish to be very thankful that I have had some rich experience of divine things since my return, both in the closet and in the pulpit ; at some sea- sons I could have said, ‘ O that I had wings like a dove, that I might fly away and be at rest.’ The twentieth hymn in Dr. Watts’s second book has been the most experimental piece of poetry I ever read ; when I say this, you need not be told that I am not upon the mount always ; alas ! no : but then why should I complain ? my Lord knows best when to take me thither, and how long to keep me there; yet I know that if I had not an evil heart of unbelief I should not thus depart from the living and the true God. I hope you enjoy much of hea- ven on earth. O it is good to draw nigh to God. “ ’Tis heaven to rest in his embrace, “ And no where else but there.” “ May we know more and more experimentally the blessing of the beloved disciple. John, 21:20. “S. P.” “ Birmingham , October 8, 1792. “ My very dear Friend, “ ‘ Our law judgeth not a man before it hearetb him ’ — let me beseech you to listen candidly to my defence, and then pronounce judgment on my silence SAMUEL PEARCE 23 as your wisdom directs. First, I have been out three considerable journeys since I returned, from Wales, and all on my Master’s business : into Ox- fordshire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, and twice into Northamptonshire. This necessarily occasioned my being more busily employed on my return. But, secondly, my hands have been unusually full lately at home, partly from the prevalence of Antinornian poison among many professors in our town and con- gregation, and partly from greater success than or- dinary attending my poor labors for my dear Master. Several have been under great awakenings; ten have Ftely joined us; yesterday I was rejoiced to hear that nineteen inquiring souls met at the house of one of our members ; one besides has been with me this morning, and I expect two more to-night. My dear brother, it is pleasant to write to you under the en- dearingidea of Christian friendship; but you will, I know, forgive me when I say it is sweeter still to listen to the lispings of so many babes in grace, who are just beginning to say, ‘ Abba, Father,’ and to re- gard them as ‘ children whom the Lord hath given me,’ — poor unworthy me ! Ohow I should rejoice to contemplate you in a similar, or more prosperous situation. You sometimes sit with your dear Mrs. S. by your side, and your little family around you ; and, as you look, you love and are delighted. ‘ These children of mine (you say) will support my old age, and administer comfort when the springs of life be- 24 MEMOIR OF gin to decline.’ Blessed be God, I can sometimes contemplate my children in the faith, and say, ‘Ye are my hope and my joy, and shall be my crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus.’ Amen, so be it. “ Never was the sentiment of the text and sermon which you have transcribed from my MS. more ex- emplified since God deigned to put gospel treasure into the brittle contemptible vessels of human nature, than it is in Cannon-street ; surely the excellency of the power is not of man, but of God. “ O when will the time, the longed-for time arrive, when the Messiah’s ensign shall be lifted high, and Jews and Gentiles, Pagans and Mahomedans, Afri- cans and Indians, be gathered unto it? 4 Fly abroad, thou mighty gospel, ‘ Win and conquer, never cease; ‘ Spread from eastern coast to western, 4 Multiply and still increase : 4 Hasten, Lord, this glorious day.’ “ One journey I made to Northamptonshire was with a view to assist in setting on foot a mission to the unconverted heathen . It has long engaged the unusual concern of many ministers in our connection about the centre of the kingdom. Brother Carey, of Leicester, published on the subject ; and last Wed- nesday evening we drew out a sketch of an institu- tion for so great a design. May He, whose glory I trust we have in view, direct all future deliberations, SAMUEL EEARCE. 25 and make the embryo effort ripen and succeed, till future ages prove that the plan begun at Kettering, October 3, 1790, comprehended in its consequences the salvation of the world. ‘ Soon,’ my brother, ‘ soon (it is said) Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto God. 7 May we, like our divine Master, not fail nor be discouraged, until the gospel be established in the earth, and the waiting isles have received the law of him who is the approaching 4 desire of all nations ! 7 “ O that our little selves were more lost and swal- lowed up in the general interests of mankind, and the honors of our illustrious Lord ! Never did I feel r°yself a more contemptible reptile than when preach- ing last night from Prov. 19: 21. The immutability of the divine counsels, and the omnipotence of the divine arm, exhibit a striking contrast with the limit- ed power of mutable man. Well may we stand on the shore, and, gazing on the ocean of divine perfec- tions, exclaim, 4 O the depths, 7 &c. Great God, ‘ I am a worm, and no man ; 7 I am but an atom com- posed of the meanest matter, and in myself unquali- fied for the meanest service ; but, in thy hand, 4 a straw shall thresh a mountain, 7 and a 4 barley cake put a host of thine enemies to flight. 7 Work, Lord, as thou wilt ; send by whom thou wilt ; for, when ‘thou dost work, who shall let it? 7 44 We take a part in the pleasure which you must feel in reflecting on the gracious interposition of the Lord on behalf of Mrs. S. Who is a God like ours ? 26 MEMOIR OF O, what praising, living Christians should we be if we lived as our obligations to sovereign mercy teach us; dead to the world — -alive to God — far from gloom — full of joy ! Heaven would be begun below : and, like saints in apostolic ages, we should be ‘ praising God, and in favor with all his people.’ Well ! the tiresome days of sad complaint are robing fast away ; many are already gone ; ere this reaches you, am other will have been numbered with those beyond the flood ; soon the night of death will come — a short night, but it will usher in a day, O how permanent ! an eternal day ! which shall be succeeded by night no more ! Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. “ I have lately been much reconciled to death ! first, from a persuasion that the Lord can accomplish all his purposes of grace as well without the use of so poor a worm as with him ; and, secondly, from a comparison of this sinful state with that sinless world. O, my brother, it is sin, cursed sin, that turns man to a devil, and earth to hell. It is holiness, perfect holiness, which forms the heaven of God, of angels, and of the spirits of just men made perfect ; and I can say this is the heaven I want. O, if the kingdom of glory contained a million of blessings, and God were to bid me choose, my heart would reply, ‘ Lord ! give me the blessing of perfect conformity to thee, and then bestow the rest on angels : I’ll envy not their portion, having enough in possessing thy image, and in thy image thee. S. P.” SAMUEL PEARCE. 27 The lady with whom he mentions his connection in marriage, was Miss. Sarah Hopkins, daughter of Mr. Joshua Hopkins, of Alcester ; and the connec- tion appears to have been all along a source of great enjoyment to him. The following lines, addressed to Mrs. Pearce when he was on a journey, the year after their marriage, seem to be no more than a com- mon letter ; yet they show, not only the tenderness of his affection, but his heavenly-mindedness, his gen- tle manner of persuading, and how every argument was fetched from religion and every incident improv- ed for introducing it. “ Chipping Norton , August 15 , 1792 . “ 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 love, now, to reconcile you to my procrastinating my return for several days more ? Why, I will say, it appears I am called of God ; and I trust the piety of both of us will submit and say, ‘ Thy will be done.’ “ You have no doubt perused Mr. Ryland’s letter 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 acccomplish it. I there- fore propose, God willing, to spend the next Lord’s day at Northampton. I thought of taking tea with 28 MEMOIR OF you this evening : that would have been highly grati- fying to us both ; but it must be our meat and drink to do and submit to the will of our heavenly Father. Ail is good that comes from him, and all is done right which is done in obedience to him. O, to be perfectly resigned to his disposal- — how good is it ! May you, my dearest Sarah, and myself, daily prove the sweetness of this pious frame of soul ; then all our duties will be sweet, all our trials will be light, all our pleasures will be pure, and all our hopes sanctified. “ This evening I hope to be at Northampton. Let your prayers assist my efforts on the ensuing Sab- bath. You will, I trust, find in Mr. R. a ship richly laden with spiritual treasures. O for more supplies from the exhaustless mines of grace ! S. P. ,} The exemplary diligence with which he pursued the duties of his pastoral office, about this time, will be evident from the following letter to Mr. Staughton. “ Birmingham , March 30 , 1792 . 41 My dear Brother, “ A violent head-ache prevents my attending our prayer-meeting this evening ; but, as I am a letter in your debt, I will endeavor to repay you, notwith- standing my complaint ; you must expect me to be brief. If I fill the sheet it must be deemed a work of supererogation. SAMUEL PEARCE. 29 “ You have, probably, heard of the late transaction of our church ; we were under the disagreeable ne- cessity of separating two of our members. It was done publicly, with much solemnity, on Lord’s day ; the members seemed much affected ; we appointed the following day to be set apart for fasting and prayer ; we met at nine, and continued confessing and supplicating till half past one. I believe the Lord was with us, both to notice and approve. We began the next day a prayer-meeting at five o’clock in the morning, to be continued every day without intermission, except Lord’s day; then, as usual, to be at seven. Beyond my expectations, we have had between thirty and fifty persons present most morn- ings since. I have found it to my advantage to at- tend regularly ; the effects have been already seen ; the young people have been amazingly revived; they meet four or five times for prayer every Lord’s day, besides the public opportunities. In preaching, I have enjoyed more of the substantial assistance of divine grace than usual ; several persons, in dark- ness of soul, have been brought into the marvelous light of divine comfort; the hearers have been quickened ; ten persons have applied for admission to the church in a less number of days, which, with one before, make eleven candidates; seven of them, I believe, were called in Cannon-street ; among them the youth of sixteen, concerning whom I wrote you last. Next Lord’s day week, April 8th, I shall bap- ao MEMOIR OF tize some of them ; we have not time to receive the experience of all ; the rest must wait another month ; who can tell but God may bring more to join them, who are yet in obscurity % I know of some who in- deed appear ‘ inquiring the way to Zion, with their faces thither-ward.’ “We are next to divide the whole church into district meetings, similar to that of brother Eld’s, with which you sometimes attended ; I am in hopes it will wonderfully conduce to promote the union and affection of the body. “ In addition to all this, each member is numbered in the church book, &c. ; cards with his or her name, and the corresponding number, thus w 157 g . are de- livered to every individual, who is to put one on the poor’s plate at each ordinance; the deacons and ministers afterwards compare the numbers and names, and whoever is found wanting is to be waited upon in the course of the ensuing week, to inquire the cause of absence. Thus shall we come at a pretty general knowledge of the state of the church at large ; may we have wisdom to guide us as an- gels of God. “ I am, my dear friend, “ Yours, very affectionately, S. P.” The soul of Mr. Pearce was formed for friendship ; it was natural therefore to suppose that, while en- gaging in the pursuit of his studies at the academy, SAMUEL PEARCE. 31 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 following letters, addressed to his friend Mr. Steadman, the reader will perceive the justness of this remark, as well as the encouraging prospects which soon attended his labors at Birmingham. “ May 9 , 1792 . “My very dear Brother, “ You live so remote that I can hear nothing of your prosperity at Broughton. I hope you are set- tled with a comfortable people, and that you enjoy much of your Master’s presence, both in the study and in the pulpit. For my part, I have nothing to lament, but an insensible, ungrateful heart, and that is sufficient cause for lamentation. This, only this, bows me down ; and under this pressure I am ready to adopt the words I preached from last evening — ‘ Oh that I had wings like a dove : for then would I fly away , and be at rest P “ As a people, we are generally united : I believe more so than most churches of the same dimen- sions. Our number of members is about two hun- dred and ninety-five, between 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. There is still a crying out amongst us after salvation ; and still, through much grace, it is 32 MEMOIR OF my happiness to point them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. “In preaching, I have often peculiar liberty ; at other times I am 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 that grieves me so much, or brings so much darkness on my soul, as my little spirituality and frequent wanderings in secret prayer. I cannot neglect the duty ; but it is seldom that I enjoy it. 1 Ye that love the Lord indeed, * Tell me, is it so with you V “ When I come to the house of God, I pray and 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 hypocrite, al- most 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 I can to keep others from going thither ; and so, in the strength of the Lord, I will. “An observation once made to me helps to sup- SAMUEL PEARCE. 33 port me above water : ‘ If you did not plough in your closet, you would not reap in the pulpit.’ And again I think, the Lord dwelleth in Zion , and loveth it more, than the dwellings of Jacob. S. P.” “ February 1, 1793. “ The pleasure which your friendly epistle gave me rises beyond expression ; and it is one of the first wishes of my heart ever to live in your valued friend- ship. Accept this, and my former letters, my dear brother, as sufficient evidences of my ardent wishes to preserve, by correspondence, that mutual remem- brance 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 incapable of such an intercourse ! When I left 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 noisy billows, must, more or less, inevitably annoy the trembling voyager. Nor did it make a small 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, amongst the first of these, I considered Josiah Evans* But * The following extract from the account of this excellent young man, drawn up by Mr. Pearce, who had been his fellow student at Bristol, for Dr. Rippon’s Register, will 34 MEMOIR OF ah, my friend, we shall see his face no more ! Through divine grace I hope we shall go to him ; but he will not return to us. ‘ He wasted away, he gave up the ghost, and where is he V I w^as pre- pared for the news, because I expected it. The last time I heard directly from him was by a very seri- ous and affectionate letter, which I received, I think, serve at once as a specimen of that endearing intimacy which Mr. P. and his associate cultivated, and as a model of that friendship which Christians, and especially students for the gospel ministry, should ever seek to enjoy. “ Mr. Evans had one essential qualification for friendship, which was faithfulness. I believe he never discerned any thing in my temper or conduct which he thought would be injurious to my proficiency as a student, or to my spirituality as a Christian, (after our intimacy commenced,) but he watched the first opportunity of laying it before me, with the reasons of his disapprobation. On some of those occa- sions he would give his friendly admonitions and counsels with such affectionate eloquence, that the result has been our retiring together with tears, lamenting out mutual im- perfections before God, and beseeching wisdom and grace from above, to adorn our profession, and in every step to pursue something worthy of our being and character. Some of the moments we thus spent, I believe, were marked with as true humiliation of heart as ever we knew : for, as we did not conceal the various states of our minds from each other, we had no occasion to restrain our feelings, and guard our expressions, in these exercises ; on the contrary, we felt as much freedom as though we had been apart, and realized the presence of none but our Maker. “ A world Jor such a friend^ to lose As gain' n SAMUEL PEARCE. 35 last September. To it I replied ; but received no answer, I conjectured — I feared ; and now my con- jectures and fears are all realized. Dear departed youth ! thy memory will ever be grateful to this affectionate 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 ! 4i I preached last night from Rev. * 6; ‘ I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely 1 I took occasion to expound the former part of the chapter, and found therein pleasure inexpressible ; especially when speaking from the first verse — 4 and there was no more sea. 1 The first idea that 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 it not the sea? Are not Christians, though all of one family, the common Father of which is God, separa- ted 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 for ever. Forgive mv freedom. I am writing to a friend, to a brother. “S. P.” 36 MEMOIR Or There are few, if any, thinking men hut who at some seasons have had their minds perplexed with regard to religious principles, even those which are of the greatest importance. In the end, however, where the heart is right, such exercises commonly issue in a more decided attachment to the truth, Thus it was with Mr. Pearce. In another part of the above letter, he thus writes to his friend : “ I have, since I saw you, been much perplexed about some doctrinal points, both Arminian and So- cinian, I believe through reading very attentively, but without sufficient dependence on the Spirit of truth, several controversies on those subjects ; par- ticularly the writings of Whitby, Priestly, and others. Indeed, had the state of mind I was in, about ten weeks since, continued, I should have been inca- pable 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 turneth them as the rivers of water are turned, was pleased, by a merciful, though afflicting providence, to set me at a happy liberty. 44 1 was violently seized with a disorder very rife here, and which has carried off many. One Sab- bath evening I felt such alarming symptoms that I did not expect to see Monday morning. In these circumstances I realized the feelings of a dying man. My mind had been so accustomed to reflect on virtue SAMUEL PEARCE. 37 and moral goodness, that the first thing I attempted was a survey of my own conduct; my diligence and faithfulness in the ministry, my unspotted life, &c. But, ah ! vain props these for dying men to rest on! Such heart-sins, such corruptions, such evil propensities, recurred to my mind, that, if ever I knew the moment when I felt my own rightousness to be as loathsome and filthy 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, thero I saw peace for guilty consciences was to be alone obtained through an almighty Savior. And O ! wonderful to tell, I again eame to him ; nor was I sent away without the blessing. I found him full of compassion, ready to receive the most ungrateful of men. * O, to grace how great a debtor, 1 Daily I’m constrained to be !’ Thus, my dear brother, was the snare broken, and thus I escaped. ‘ A debtor to mercy alone, 1 Of covenant mercy I sing.’ “Join with me in praising Him who remembered me in my low estate, because his mercy endureth for ever. Yet this is among the * all things .’ I have found that it has made me more spiritual in preaching. I have prized the Gospel more than 4 38 MEMOIR OF ever, and hope it will be the means of guarding mo against future temptations. “ Your brother, with ardent affection, m the dear Lord Jesus, S. P.” From his first coming to Birmingham, his meek- ness and patience were put to the trial by the Anti- nomic spirit which infected many individuals, 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 God, and to exhort Chris- tians to the exercise of practical godliness : but these were things which they could not endure. Sooth* ing doctrine was all they desired. Therefore it was that his ministry was traduced by them as Arminian, and treated with neglect and contempt. But, like his divine Master, he bore the contradiction of sin- ners against himself, and this while he had tho strongest satisfaction that, in those very things to which they objected, he was pleasing God. And thdugh he plainly perceived the pernicious influence of their principles upon their own minds, as well as the minds of others, yet he treated them with great gentleness and long forbearance : and, when it be- came necessary to exclude such of this description as were in communion with him, it was with the greatest reluctance that he came into that measure, and not without having first tried all other means in vain. He was not apt to deal in harsh language ; SAMUEL PEARCE. 39 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 for the special purpose of spiritual improvement. This was with Mr. Sum- mers, of London, who often accompanied him in his journeys ; to whom, therefore, it might be expected he would open his heart without reserve. Here, it is true, we sometimes see him, like his brethren, groaning under darkness, want of spirituality, and the remains of in-dwelling sin ; but frequently rising above all, as into his native element, and pouring forth his ardent soul in expressions of joy and praise. On August 19, 1793, he \vrites thus: 44 flly dear Rrotner, “ When I take my pen to pursue my correspon- dence with you , I have no concern but to communi- cate something which may answer the same end we propose in our annual journeys ; namely, lending some assistance in the important object of getting and keeping nearer to God. This, I am persuaded, is the mark at which we should be continually aim- ing, nor rest satisfied until we attain that to which we aspire. I am really ashamed of myself, when, on the one hand, I revie w the time that has elapsed since I first assumed the Christian name, with the oppor- tunities of improvement in godlinesss which hav