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V 
 


 
 
MEMOIRS n 
 
 Rev. SAMUEL PEARCE, a. m. 
 
 MINISTER OF THfc GOSPEL 
 
 in 
 
 BIRMINGHAM; 
 
 WITH 
 
 EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM SOME OF HIS MOST INTERESTING 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 C O Mf/l ED BY 
 
 ANDREW V FULLER, D. D. 
 
 Author of " The Calviniftic and Sociniail Svftems compared, as to their mora' 
 tendency," and M The Goipel its own Witnefs." 
 
 Oh Jonathan, thou waft flain upon thy high places. I am diflrefled 
 for thee, my brother Jonathan ! david, 
 
 SOS TON: 
 Printed by and for Manning fcf Loring, No. 2, CornhllL 
 
 AUGUST, I?OI„ 
 

MEMOIRS 
 
 Of THE LATS 
 
 Rev. SAMUEL PEARCE, a.m. 
 
 Mioificr of the Gofpel in Birmingham. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ANNEXED, 
 
 THREE 
 
 OCCASIONAL SERMONS, 
 By ANDREW FULLER, D. D. 
 

TO THE 
 
 FAMILY AND FRIENDS 
 
 OF 
 
 Mr. PEARCE, 
 Tiies e Memoirs, 
 
 COMPILED WITH THEIR APPROBATION 
 AND FROM A TENDER REGARD TO HIS MEMOaY* 
 ARE AFFECTIONATELY 
 
 AND RESPECTFULLY 
 INSCRIBED BY 
 
 THE COMPILER, 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction 
 
 * • 7 
 
 Chap, I. 
 
 His parentage* converfion, call to the mini/try, and fet- 
 tlement at Birmingham • 9 
 
 Chap. IL 
 
 His laborious exertions in promoting miffions to the 
 heathen, and offering himfelf to become a mif- 
 fionary . . . . . 2f> 
 
 Chap. IIL. 
 
 His religious exercifes and labours, from the time of 
 his relinquifhing the idea of going abroad, to the 
 commencement of his laft illnefs 60 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 An account of his laft affL&ion, and the holy and hap- 
 
 py exercifes of his mind under it 103 
 
 Chap. V, 
 
 General outlines of his chara&er, illuftrated by ex- 
 amples 141 
 
 Concluding Reflexions 175 
 
 Rev. Mr. Brewer's Oration 185 
 
 Dr. Ryland's Sermon 19S 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 JT was obferved by this excellent man, dur* 
 ing his laft affli&ion, that he never till 
 then gained any perfonal inftru&ion from our 
 Lord's telling Peter by what death he fhould 
 glorify God. To die by a confumption, had 
 ufed to be an objeft of dread to him : But, 
 <c Oh my Lord," faid he, " if by this death 
 I can moft glorify thee, I prefer it to all 
 others." The lingering death of the crofs, 
 by which our Saviour himfelf expired, afford- 
 ed him an opportunity of uttering fome of the 
 mod affecting fentences which are left on 
 facred record : And to the lingering death 
 of this his honoured fervant, we are indebt- 
 ed for a confiderable part of the materials 
 which appear in thefe Memoirs. Had he 
 been taken away fuddenly, there had been 
 no opportunity for him to have expreffed 
 his fentiments and feelings in the manner he 
 has now done in letters to his friends. While 
 in health, his hands were full of labour, and 
 confequently his letters were written moftly 
 upon the fpur of occafion ; and related prin- 
 cipally to bufinefs, or to things which would 
 be lefs interefting to Chriftians in generah 
 
 It 
 
9 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is true* even in them it was his manner 
 to drop a few fentiments, towards the clofe* 
 of an experimental kind j and many of thefe 
 hints will be interfperfed in this brief account 
 of him : But it was during his affii&ion* 
 when, being laid afide nearly a year, and oblig* 
 ed to defift from all public concerns, that he 
 gave fcope to the feelings of his heart. Here* 
 (landing as on an eminence, he reviewed his 
 life, re-examined the ground of his hope, and 
 anticipated the crown which awaited him, 
 with a joy truly unfpeakable and full of glory. - 
 
 Like Elijah, he has left the chafibt oflfrael^ 
 and afcended as in a chariot of fire ; but not 
 without having firft communicated of his em- 
 inently Chriftian fpirit. Oh that a double 
 portion of it may reft upon us ! 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE LATS 
 
 Mr. SAMUEL PEARCE, 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 HIS PARENTAGE, CONVERSION, CALL TO THE MINISTRY, 
 AND SETTLEMENT AT BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 1\1r. Samuel Pearce was born at Plymouth 
 •on July 2cth, 1 766. His father, who furvives him, is 
 a refpe&able filverfmith, and has been many years a 
 deacon of the Baptifl church in that place. 
 
 When a child, he lived with his grandfather, who 
 was very fond of him, and endeavoured to imprefs 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 bufinefs. As he advanced in life, 
 his evil propenfities, as he has faid, began to ripen ; and 
 forming connexions with feveral vicious fchool-fellows, 
 he became more and more corrupted. So greatly was 
 his heart at this time fet in him to do evil, that had it 
 not been for the reftraining goodnefs of God, which 
 fomehow, he knew not how, preferved him in mod in- 
 ftances from carrying his wicked inclinations into prac- 
 tice, he fuppofed he fhould have been utterly ruined. 
 
 At times he was under ftrong convictions, which ren- 
 dered him miferable •, but at other times they fubfided ; 
 and then he would return with eagernefs to his finful 
 purfuits. When about fifteen years old he was fent by 
 B his 
 
 
i-o Memoirs of the laie 
 
 his father to inquire after the welfare of a perfon in the 
 neighbourhood, in dying circumftances, who (though 
 before his departure he was in a happy date of mind, 
 yet) at that time was finking into deep defpair. While 
 in the room of the dying man, he heard him cry out 
 with inexprefTible agony of fpirit, " I am damned for- 
 ever V 9 Thefe awful words pierced his foul ; .and he felt 
 a jefolution at the time to ferve the Lord' : but the im- 
 preffion foon wore off, and he again returned to folly. 
 
 When about fixteen years of age, it pleafed God ef- 
 fectually to turn him to himfelf. A fermon delivered 
 by Mr. Birt, who was then co-paflor with Mr. Gibbs, 
 of the Baptift church at Plymouth, was the firft mean 
 of impreffing his heart with a fenfe of his loft condition, 
 and of directing him to the gofpel remedy. The change 
 in him appears to have been fudden, but effectual ; and 
 the recollection of his former vicious propenfities, though 
 z fource of bitternefs, yet furnilhed a ftrong evidence of 
 its being the work of God. iC I believe," he fays, " few 
 converfions were more joyful. The change produced 
 iri my views, feelings, and conduft, was fo evident to 
 myfelf, that I couid no more doubt of its being from 
 God, than of my exifhence. I had the witnefs in my.-? 
 fdf, and was filled with peace and joy unfpeakable." 
 
 His feelings being, naturally ftrong, and receiving a 
 new dire£Hon, he entered into religion with all his heart ; 
 but not having known the devices of Satan, his foul was 
 entangled by its own ardour, and he was thrown into 
 great perplexity. Having read Doddridge's Rife and 
 Progrefs of Religion in the Soul, he determined formally to 
 dedicate himfelf to the Lord, in the manner recommend- 
 ed in the feventeenth chapter of that work. T ne form 
 of a covenant, as there drawn up, he alfo adopted as his 
 own ; and that he might bind himfelf in the moll folemn 
 and affe&ing manner, figned it with his blood. But after- 
 wards failing in his engagements, he was plunged into 
 dreadful perplexity, and almoft into defpair. On a review 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. r s 
 
 tt his covenant, he feems to have accufed himfelf of a 
 pharifaical reliance upon the fttength of his own refo- 
 lations ; and tlierefore taking the paper to the top of 
 his father's houfe, he tore it into f mall pieces, and threw 
 it from him to be fcattered by the wind. He did net 
 however confider his obligation ta be the Lord's as 
 hereby nullified ; but feeling more fufpicion of himfeli, 
 he depended upon the blood of the croft. 
 
 After this he was baptized, and became a member of 
 the Baptift church' at PI ymouth, the minifters and mem- 
 bers of which, in a- few years, perceived in him talents 
 for public work. Being folicifed by both his pallors, he 
 exercifed as a probationer; and receiving a unanimous 
 call from the church, entered on the work of tire min- 
 istry in November, 1786. Soon after this he went to 
 the academy at Briftol : , then under the fuperintendence 
 of Hr. Caleb Evans. 
 
 Mr. Birty now paftor of the Baptift church, in the 
 fquare, Plymouth Dock, in a letter to the compiler of 
 thefe memoirs, thus fpeaks of him :— " Though he was, 
 fo far as I know, the very firft fruits of my miniftry, on 
 my coming hither, and though our friendfhip and affec- 
 tion for each other were great ^nd conflant ; yet previ- 
 ous to his going to Briftol I had but few opportunities 
 of converting with him, or of making particular obfer- 
 vations on him. All who belt knew him, however, 
 will remember, and mud tenderly fpeak of his loving 
 deportment •, and thofe who attended the conferences 
 with him foon received the mod imprefTive intimations 
 of his future eminence as a minifter of our Lord Jefus 
 Chrift." 
 
 " Very few," adds Mr.Birt, " have entered upon, and 
 gone through their religious profeffion with more exalt- 
 ed piety, or warmer zeal, than Samuel Pearce ; and as 
 few have exceeded him in the poffeflion and difplay of 
 that charity which < fuffereth long, and is kind, that en- 
 vieth not, that vaunteth not itfelf, and is not puffed up* 
 
 that 
 
12 Memoirs of the late 
 
 that doth not behave itfelf unfeemly, that feeketh not 
 her own, is not cafily provoked, thinketh no evil, that 
 beareth all things, believeth all things,, endureth all 
 things/ But why fhould I fay this to you ? You knew 
 
 him yourfelf." 
 
 While at the aeademy he was much diftinguiflied by^ 
 the amiablenefs of his fpirit and behaviour. It is fome- 
 times obfervable that where the talents- of a young man 
 are admired by his friends, and his early efforts flatter- 
 ed by crowded auditories, effefts have been produced 
 which have proved fatal to his future refpe£Vability and 
 ufefulnefs. But this was not the cafe with Mr. Pearce. 
 Amidft the tide of popularity, which even at that early: 
 period attended his minifterial exercifes, his tutors have 
 more than once remarked that he never appeared to 
 them to be in the leaft elated, or to have negle&ed his 
 proper ftudies ; but was uniformly the ferious, induftri- 
 ous, docile, mode ft, and unaffuming young man. 
 
 Towards the latter end of 1789, he came to the church 
 in Cannon-ftreet, Birmingham, to whom he was recom- 
 mended by Mr. Hall, now of Cambridge, at that time 
 one of his tutors. After preaching to them a while on 
 approbation, he was chofen to be their paftor. His 
 ordination was in Auguft, 1790. Dr. Evans gave the 
 charge, and the late Mr. Robert Hall of Arnlby, deliv- 
 ered an addrefs to the church on the occaficn. In the 
 year 1 791, he married Mifs Sarah Hopkins, daughter of 
 Mr. Joftiua Hopkins of Alcefter ; a connexion which 
 appears to have been all along a fource of great enjoy- 
 ment to him. The following lines addrefied to Mrs. 
 Pearce when he was on a journey, a little more than a 
 year after their marriage, feem to be no more than a 
 common letter : yet they fhew, not only the tendernefs 
 of his afFedtion, but his heavenly mindednefs, his gen- 
 tle manner of perfuading, and how every argument was 
 fetched from religion, and every incident unproved for 
 introducing it :• 
 
 u Chipping 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearcc. 1 3 
 
 " Chipping Norton, Aug. 15, 179*, 
 " I BELIEVE on retrofpeftion that I have hith- 
 erto rather anticipated the propofed time of my return, 
 than delayed the interview with my dear Sarah for an 
 hour. But what fhall I fay, my love, now to reconcile you 
 to my procraflinating my return for feveral days more ? 
 Why I will fay, it appears I am called of God ; and I 
 truft the piety of both of us will.fubmit and fay, Thy 
 will be done. 
 
 « You have no doubt perufed Mr. Ryland's letter to 
 me, wherein I find hefolicits an exchange. The rea- 
 fon he afligns is fo obvioufly important, that a much 
 greater facrifice than we are called to make, fhould not 
 be withheld to accomplifh it. I therefore propofe, God 
 willing, to fpend the next Lord's-day at Northampton. — 
 I thought of taking tea with you this evening : that 
 would have been highly gratifying to us both ; but it 
 muft be our meat and drink, to do and fubmit to the 
 will of our heavenly. Father. All is good that conies 
 from him, and all is done right which is done in obe- 
 dience to him. Oh to be perfe-flly refigned to his dif- 
 pofal — how good is it .! May you, my deareft Sarah, 
 and myfelf, daily prove the fweetnefs of this pious frame 
 of foul : then all our duties will be fweet, all our -trials 
 will be light, all our pleafures will be pure, and all our 
 hopes fanttified.. 
 
 " This evening. I hope to be at Northampton. Let 
 your prayers affift my efforts on the enfuing Sabbath. 
 
 You will, I truft, find in Mr. R a fnip richly laden 
 
 with fpiritual treafures. Oh for more fupplies from the 
 exhauitlefs mines, of grace ! 
 
 S.P." 
 
 THE foul of Mr. Pearce was formed for friendfhip : 
 
 It was natural therefore to fuppofe, that while engaging 
 
 in the purfuit of his ftudies at the academy, he would 
 
 contract religious intimacies with fome of- his brethren ;, 
 
 El. and. 
 
14 Memoirs of the late 
 
 and it is worthy of notice, that the grand cement of his 
 friendfhip was kindred piety. In the two following let- 
 ters, addreffed to his friend, Mr. Steadman, the reader 
 will perceive the juftnefs of this remark, as well as the 
 encouraging profpe&s which foon attended his labours 
 at Birmingham :• 
 
 u My very dear Brother, May 9, 179*. 
 
 " YOU live fo remote that I can hear nothing of 
 your profperity at Broughton.. I hope you are fettled 
 with a comfortable people, and that you enjoy much of 
 your Matter's prefence, both in the ft-udy and the pulpit. 
 For my part, I have nothing to lament but an infenfi- 
 ble, ungrateful heart, and that is fufficient caufe for lam- 
 entation. This, only this, bows me down 5 and un- 
 der this preflure I am ready to adopt the words I preach- 
 ed from laft evening, — Oh that I had wings like a dove, 
 for then would IJly away and be at rejl ! 
 
 ic As a people we are generally united : I believe 
 more fo than moft churches of the fame dimenfions. 
 Our number of members is about two hundred and 
 ninety-five, between forty and fifty of whom have join- 
 ed us fince I faw you, and moft of them I have the 
 happinefs of considering as my children in die faith. — 
 There is ft ill a crying out amongft us after falvation ; 
 and ftill, through much grace, it is my happinefs to 
 point them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the 
 fins of the world. 
 
 " In preaching, I have often peculiar liberty ; at other 
 times barren. I fuppofe my experience is like that of 
 moft of my brethren : but I am not weary of my worlc 
 I hope ftill that I am willing to fpend and be fpent, fo 
 that I may win fouls to Chrift, and finifh my courfe 
 with joy : but I want more heart religion : I want a 
 more habitual fenfc of the divine prefence : I want to 
 walk with God as Enoch walked. There is nothing 
 that grieves me fo much, or brings fo much darknefs 
 
 on 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 15 
 
 on my foul, as my little fpirituality, and frequent wan- 
 derings in fecret prayer. I cannot neglect the duty y 
 but it is feldom that I enjoy it* 
 
 « Ye that love the Lord indeed. 
 Tell me, is it fo with you I* 
 
 When I come to the houfe of God, I pray and preach 
 with freedom. Then I think the prefence of the peo- 
 ple feems to weigh more with me than the prefence of 
 God, and deem myfelf a hypocrite, almoft ready to 
 leave my pulpit, for fome more pious preacher. But 
 the Lord does own the word 5 and again I fay, if I go 
 to hell myfelf, I will do what I can to keep others from 
 going thither ^ and fo in the ftrength of the Lord I 
 will. 
 
 " An obfervation once made to me helps to fupport 
 me above water : — " If you did not plough in your clof- 
 et, you would not reap in the pulpit." And again I 
 think, the Lord dwelletb in Zion> and loveth it more than 
 the dwellings of Jacob* 
 
 S. P." 
 
 " Feb. i, 1795. 
 " THE pleafure which your friendly epiftle gave 
 me, rifes beyond expreflion^ and it is one of the firft 
 wifhes of my heart ever to live in your valued friends 
 {hip. Accept this, and my former letters, rny dear 
 brother, as Sufficient evidences of my ardent wifhes to 
 preferve by correfpondence, that mutual remembrance 
 of each other, which on my part will ever be pleafura- 
 ble, and on yours, I hope, never painfuk 
 
 w But ah, how foon may we be rendered incapable 
 of fuch an intercourfe ! When I left Briftol, I left it 
 with regret. I was forry to leave my ftudies to embark 
 (inexperienced as I am) on the tempeftuous ocean of 
 public life, where the high blowing winds, and rude 
 and noify billows, mud more or lefs inevitably annoy 
 
 the 
 
1 6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 the trembling voyager. Nor did it make a fmall addi- 
 tion to my pain, that I was to part with fo many of my 
 dear companions, with whom I had fpent fo many hap* 
 py hours, either in furnifhingor irnburthening the mind.. 
 I need not fay, among the firft of thefe I confiderei 
 Jlfiah Evans.* But an, my friend : , we (hall fee his face 
 no more ! Through divine grace Lhope we {hall, go to 
 lum ; but he will not return to us. * He wafted awayj 
 he gave up die ghofl, and where is he &' I was prepar- 
 ed for the news becaufe I expected it. The laft time I 
 heard dire&ly from him was by a very feribus- and af- 
 fectionate letter, which I received, I think, laft. Septem- 
 ber. To it I replied -> but received no anfwer- I coii-p 
 je<ftured > I feared ^ and now my conjectures and fears 
 are all realized. Dear departed youth ! Thy memory 
 will ever be grateful to this affectionate breaft. May 
 thy amiable qualities, live again in thy furviving friend, 
 that to the lateft period, of his life he may thank God 
 for the friendfhip of J f ah Evans J 
 
 " I aflure you, my dear Steadman, I feel,, keenly fee^ 
 the force of the fentiment, which Blair thus elegantly 
 exprefles, — 
 
 ' Of joys departed, ne'er to be recall'd,- 
 How painful the remembrance V 
 
 "Butlforrow not; as one without hope. I have a. 
 twofold hope :. I hope he is now among the fpirits of 
 the juft made perfecl, and that he will be of the blefled 
 and holy number.who have part in the firft refurredtion : 
 and I hope alfo through the Same rich, free, fovereign, 
 almighty, matchlefs grace, to join die number too. 
 Pleafing; thought ! Unite to divide no more ! 
 
 "I preached laft night from Rev. xxi. 6. I will ' givs 
 unto him that is athirjl of the, fountain cf the water of life 
 freely. I took cccafion to expound the former part of 
 V the 
 
 * See a brief account of him, given In part by. 3tf 
 Rippon-s Rigi/Ur^ Vol, L p, JI3— Ji6. 
 
 Mr, Pearce, ia Dr.. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 17 
 
 the chapter, and found therein a pleafure inexpreffible ; 
 cfpecially when fpeaking from the firft verfe, — And there 
 was no more feci. The firft idea which prefented itfelf 
 to me was this, — there Jhall be no bar to intercourfe. 
 Whether the thought be juft or not, I leave with you 
 and my hearers to determine •, but I found happy liberty 
 in illuftrating it. What is it that feparates one nation, 
 and one part of the globe from another ? Is it not the fea ? 
 Are not Chriftians, though all of one family, the com- 
 mon Father of which is God, feparated by this fea, or 
 that river, or the other ftream below ? Yes ; but they 
 are one family (till. There (hall be none of thefe ob- 
 ftruclions to communion, of thefe bars to intercourfe ; 
 nothing to divide their affe&ions, or difunite their praife 
 forever. — Forgive my freedoms. I am writing to a 
 friend, to a brother. S. P." 
 
 THERE are few, if any, thinking men, but who at 
 fome feafons have had their minds perplexed with re- 
 gard to religious principles, even thofe which are of the 
 greateft importance. In the end, however, where the 
 heart is right, they commonly iflue 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 Steadman : — " I have, fince I iaw you, been 
 much perplexed about fome doctrinal points, both Ar- 
 minian and Socinian, I believe through reading very at- 
 tentively, but without fufficient dependence on the 
 Spirit of truth, feveral controverfies on thofe fubjedts \ 
 particularly the writings of Whitby, Prieftley, and oth- 
 ers. Indeed, had the ftate of mind I was in about ten 
 weeks fince continued, I fhould have been incapable of 
 preaching with comfort at all. But in the mount of 
 the Lord will he be feen. juft 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 
 pleafed, by a merciful though affii&ing providence, to 
 let me at a happy liberty. « I 
 
rS Memoirs of the late 
 
 «1 1 was violently feized with a diforder Very rife 
 here, and which carried off many, fuppofed to be art ill- 
 flammation in the bowels. Cftie Sabbath evening I felt 
 ftich alarming fymptoms that I did nor expeft ta fee 
 the Monday morning. In tliefe circumftances I real- 
 ized the feelings of a dying mam My mind had been 
 {6 accuftomed to refleft on virtue and" moral goodnefs, 
 that the firft tiling I attempted was a furvey of my 
 own conduct ; my diligence and faithfalnefs in the 
 miniftry, my unfpotted life,. fee. &c. But ah ! vain- 
 props thefe for dying men to reft on ! Such heart fins, 
 fuch corruptions, and' evil propenfities, recurred to my 
 mind, that if ever I knew the moment when I felt my 
 own righteoufnefs to be like loathfome and filthy rags, it 
 was then. And where fhould I, where could I, where 
 did I ilee, but to Him, whofe glory and grace I had 
 been of late degrading, at kaft in my thoughts ? Yes r 
 there I faw peace for guilty confciences was to be alone 
 obtained through an almighty Saviour. And oh ! won- 
 derful to tell, I again came to him ; nor was I font 
 away without the bkfling. I found him full of all 
 companion, ready to receive the moft ungrateful of 
 men. 
 
 6 Oh, to grace how great a debtor 
 Daily I'm cenftrain'd to be.' 
 
 Thus, my dear brother, was the fnare broken, and thus 
 I efcaped. 
 
 ' A debtor to mercy alone, 
 Of covenant mercy I fing/ 
 
 Join with me in praifing Him, who remembered me in 
 my low eftate, becaufe his mercy endureth for ever. 
 Yet this is among the all things. I have found it has 
 made me more fpiritual in preaching. I have prized the 
 gofpel more than ever, and hope it will be the means 
 cf guarding me againft future temptations. 
 
 Voir brother, with ardent affe&ion, in the dear Lord Jefus, 
 
 s. p." 
 from 
 
Mr. Samuel Peara. xg 
 
 TROM v his firft coming to Birmingham, his meek- 
 nefs and patience were put to the trial by an Antinomian 
 ipirit which infe£ted many individuals, both in and out 
 of his congregation. It is well known with what affec- 
 tion it was his practice to befeech finners to be recon- 
 ciled to God, and to exhort Chriftians to the exercife of 
 pra&ical godlinefs : but thefe were things which they 
 could not endure. Soothing do£trine was all they de- 
 fired. Therefore it was, that his miniflry was traduced 
 by them as Arminian, and treated with negleft and 
 contempt. But, like his Divine Mafter, he bore the 
 contradiction of finners againft himfelf, and this while 
 lie had the ftrongeft fatisfa£tion that in thofe very things 
 to which they objected, he was pleafmg God- And 
 though he plainly perceived the pernicious influence of 
 their principles upon their own minds, as well as flic 
 minds of others, yet.he treated them with great gentleneis 
 and long forbearance ;. and when it became neceflary to 
 exclude .ftich, of this defcription as were in communion 
 x witli him, it was with the greateft reluctance that he 
 came into that meafure, and not without having firft 
 tried all other means in vain. He was not apt to deal 
 inharfh language ; yet, in one of his letters about that 
 time, he fpeaks of the principles and fpirit of thcfe peo- 
 ple as a " curfed .kaycn.- 1 
 
 Among his numerous religious frxendfhips, he feems to 
 Ivave formed one for the fpecial purpofe oifpiriiual im- 
 provement. This was with Mr. Summers of London, who 
 often accompanied him in his journeys ; to whom, there- 
 fore, it might be expected he would open his heart with- 
 out referve. Here, it is true, we fometimes fee him, like 
 fe.is brethren, groaning under darknefs, want of fpiritu- 
 ality, and the remains of indwelling fin •, but frequently 
 riling above all, as into his native element, and pouring 
 forth his ardent foul in exprefiions of joy and praife. 
 On Aug. .19, J 793) he writes thus :— 
 
 "My 
 
io Memoirs of the late 
 
 * % My dear Brother, 
 " WHEN I take my pen to purfue my correfpond- 
 ence with you y I have no concern but to communicate 
 fomething which may anfwer the fame end we propofe 
 in our annual journeys : viz. lending fome afliftance in 
 the important object of getting, and keeping hearer to God* 
 This I am perfuaded is the mark at which we fhould 
 be continually aiming, nor reft fatisfied until we attain 
 that to which we afpire. I am really afhamed of my- 
 felf, when, on the one hand, I review the time that has 
 elapfed fince I firft affumed the Chriftian name, with 
 the opportunities- of improvement in godlinefs which 
 have crowded on my moments fince that period \ and 
 when on the other, I feel the little advance I have made ! 
 More light 9 to be fure, I have ; but light without heat 
 leaves the Chriftian half diflatisfied. Yefterday, I 
 preached on the duty of engagednefs in God's fervice, 
 from Jer. xxx. 21, Who is this that engaged his heart to 
 approach unto me ? faith the Lord. (A text for which I 
 am indebted to our laft journey.) While urging the 
 neceflity of heart religion, including fincerity and ardour, 
 I found myfelf much affifted by reflecting on the ardour 
 which our dear Redeemer discovered in the caufe of 
 finners. " Ah," I could not help faying, " if our Sa- 
 viour had meafured his intenfenefs in his engagements 
 for us by our fervency in fulfilling our engagements to 
 him, — we fhould have been now farther from hope 
 than we are from perfection." 
 
 ' Dear Lord, the ardour of thy love 
 Reproves my cold returns.' 
 
 " Two things are caufes of daily aftonifhment to me : 
 — The readinefs of Chrift to come from heaven to earth 
 for me j and my backwardness to rife from earth to 
 heaven with him. But oh how animating the profpeft ! 
 A time approaches when we fnall rife to fink no more : 
 to " be forever with the Lord." To be ivith the Lord 
 for a week, for a day, for an hour ; how fweetly muft 
 
 the 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 2 1 
 
 the moments pafs ! But to be forever with the Lord, — 
 that inftamps falvation with perfection \ that gives an 
 energy to our hopes, and a dignity to our joy, fo as to 
 render it unfpeakable and full of glory I I have had a few 
 realizing moments fince we parted, and the effeft has 
 been, I truft, a broken heart. Oh my brother, it is de- 
 ferable to have a broken heart, were it only for the fake 
 of the pleafure it feels in being helped and healed by 
 Jefus ! Heart affecting views of the curfed effects of fin 
 are highly falutary to a Chriftian's growth in humility, 
 confidence, and gratitude. At once how abafing and 
 exalting is tl^e comparifon of our loathfome hearts with 
 that of the lovely Saviour ! In Him, we fee all that can 
 charm an angel's heart : in aurfelves, all that can gratify 
 a devil's. And yet we may reft perfectly aflured that 
 thefe nefts of iniquity fhall ere long be transformed into 
 the temples of God ; and thefe fighs of forrow be ex- 
 changed for fongs of praife. 
 
 " Laft Lord's day I fpent the moil profitable Sabbath 
 to myfelf that I evy remember fince I have been in the 
 miniftry ; and to this hour I feel the fweet folemnities 
 of that day delightfully protra&ed. Ah, my brother, 
 were it not for paft experience, I fhould fay, 
 
 1 My heart prefumes I cannot lofe 
 The reliih all my days.' 
 
 But now I rejoice with trembling ; defiring to " hold 
 faft what I have, that no man take my crown.'* Yet 
 fearing that I fhall find, how 
 
 -— ' Ere one fleeting hour is pall, 
 
 The flatt'ring- world employs 
 Some fenfual bait to feize my tafte, 
 
 And to pollute my joys.' 
 
 Yours in our dear Saviour, 
 C In 
 
22 Memoirs of the late 
 
 In April, 1794, dropping a few lines to the compiler 
 of thefe Memoirs, on a Lord's-day evening, he thus 
 concludes : — " We have had a good day. I find, as a 
 dear friend once faid, It is pleafant /peaking for God when 
 <we walk with him. Oh for much of Enoch's fpirit ! 
 The Head of the church grant it to my dear brother, 
 and his affectionate friend, 
 
 S.P." 
 
 In another letter to Mr. Summers, dated June 24, 
 1794, he thus writes: — "We, my friend, have entered 
 on a correfpondence of heart with heart, and muft not 
 lofe fight of that avowed object. I thank you fincerely 
 for continuing the remembrance of fo unworthy a^crea- 
 ture in your intercourfe with Heaven ; and I thank that 
 facred Spirit, whofe quickening influences, you fay, you 
 enjoy in the exercife. Yes, my brother, I have reaped 
 the fruits of your fupplications. I have been indulged 
 with fome feafons of unufual joy, tranquil as folitude, 
 and folid as the rock on which our hopes are built. In 
 public exercifes, peculiar affiftance has been afforded ; 
 efpecially in thefe three things : — The exaltation of the 
 Redeemer's glory ; the detection of the crooked ways, 
 falfe refuges, and felf delufions of the human heart \ 
 and the ftirring up of the faints to prefs onward, mak- 
 ing God's caufe their own, and confidering themfelves 
 as living not for themfelves, but for Him alone. 
 
 " Nor hath the word been without its effect $ above 
 fifty have been added to our church this year, mod of 
 whom I rejoice in as the feals of my miniftry in the 
 Lord. Indeed I am furrounded with goodnefs ; and 
 fcarce a day pafles over my head, but I fay, were it not 
 for an ungrateful heart I fhould be the happieft man 
 alive •, and that excepted, I neither expe£l nor wifh to 
 be happier' in this w^orld. My wife, my children, and 
 myfelf are uninterruptedly healthy j my friends kind •, 
 
 my 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 23 
 
 my foul at reft ; my labours fuccefsful, &c. Who 
 (hould be content and thankful, if I fhould not ? Oh 
 my brother, help me to praife ! 
 
 In a letter to Mrs. Pearce, from Plymouth, dated 
 Sept. 2, 1794, the dark fide of the cloud feems towards 
 him : — l€ I have felt much barrennefs, fays he, as to fpir- 
 itual things fince I have been here, compared with my 
 ufual frame at home *, and it is a poor exchange to en- 
 joy the creature at the expenie of the Creator's pretence : 
 A few feafons of fpirituality I have enjoyed ; but my 
 heart, my inconftant heart is too prone to rove from its 
 proper centre. Pray for me, my dear, my dearefl friend ! 
 I do for you daily. Oh wreille for me, that I 1 
 have more of Enoch's (pint ! I am fully perfuaded that 
 a Chriftian is no longer really happy, and inwardly fat- 
 isfied, than whilft he walks with God ; and I would 
 this moment rejoice to abandon every pleafure here for a 
 clofer walk with him. I cannot, amidil all the round of 
 fecial pleafure, amidft the mod inviting fcenes of nature, 
 feel that peace with God which pafTeth underflanding. 
 My thirft for preaching Chrift, I fear, abates, and a de- 
 teftable vanity for the reputation of a " good preacher" 
 (as the world terms it) has already coft me many conflicts. 
 Daily I feel convinced of the propriety of a remark which 
 my friend Summers made on his journey to Wales, that 
 "It is eafier for a Chriftian to walk habitually near to 
 God, than to be irregular in our walk with him." But 
 I want refolution \ I want a contempt for the world •, I 
 want more heavenly-mindednefs •, I want more humil- 
 ity •, I want much, very much of that, which God alone 
 can beftow. Lord, help the weakeft lamb in all thy 
 flock ! 
 
 " I preached this evening from Cant. ii. 3. I fat down 
 under his jhado%u with great delight, and his fruit was 
 
 fweet 
 
24 Memoirs of the late 
 
 fiveet to my tafte. But how little love for my Saviour 
 did I feel ! With what little affe£Hon and zeal did I 
 fpeak ! I am, by fome, praifed. I am followed by ma- 
 ny. I am refpefted by molt of my acquaintance. But 
 all this is nothing ; yea, lefs than nothing, compared 
 with poflefling « this teftimony, that Ipleafe God." Oh 
 thou Friend of finners, humble me by repentance, and 
 melt me down with love* 
 
 " To-morrow morning I fet off for Launceflon. I 
 write to night, left my flay in Cornwall might make my 
 delay appear tedious to the dear and deferring obje£l 
 of my moft undiflembled love* Oh my Sarah, had I 
 as much proof that I love Jefus Chr\fl^ as I have of my 
 love to you % I fhould prize it more than rubies ! As often 
 as you can find an hour for correfpondence, think of 
 your more than ever affectionate 
 
 S. P." 
 
 In another to Mr. Summers, dated Nov. 10, i794> 
 he fays — "I fuppofe I (halt vifit London in the Spring. 
 Prepare my way by communion both with God and 
 man. I hope your foul profpers. I have enjoyed more 
 of God within this month than ever fince the day of 
 my efpoufals with him. Oh my brother, help me to 
 praife ! I cannot fay that I am quite fo exalted in my 
 frame to-day ; yet (till I acknowledge what I have lived 
 upon for weeks, — That were there no being or thing 
 in the univerfe, befide God and me, I (hould be at no 
 lofs for happinefs. Oh ! 
 
 ' *Tis heav'n to reft in his embrace, 
 And no where eil'e but there.' 
 
 s. P." 
 
 HYMN 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearcc* 25 
 
 HYMN 
 
 By Mr. PeArce, foon after his Converfton. 
 
 HOW fweet it is to me, 
 'Fore my gracious Lord to fall, 
 Talk with him continually, 
 Make my bleffed Jefus all. 
 
 2 
 Other pleafures I have fought, 
 Try'd the world a thoufand times ; 
 Peace purfu'd, but found it not, 
 For I ftill retain'd my crimes. 
 
 3 
 Never could my heart be blefs'd, 
 Till from guilt I found it freed ; 
 Jefus now has me releas'd ; 
 
 1 in him am free indeed. 
 
 4 
 Saviour, bind me to thy crofs, 
 Let thy love poffefs my heart ; 
 All befides I count but drofs : 
 Chrift and I will never part. 
 
 5 
 In his blood fuch peace I findj 
 In his love fach joy is giv'n ; 
 He who is to Jefus joinM, 
 Finds on earth a little keav'ik 
 
 C z The 
 
z6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 The following lines appear to have been written foon 
 after, if not before, his entrance on thz work of the 
 miniftry : — 
 
 ^'■^^<<^<0) <^H 
 
 EXCITEMENT TO EARLY DUTY 
 
 OR, 
 
 The LorcTs-day Morning. 
 
 WHENE'ER I look into thy word, 
 And read about my deareft Lord, 
 
 The Friend of finful man ; 
 And trace my Saviour's footfteps there. 
 What humble love, what holy fear 
 
 Through all his conduct ran I 
 
 If I regard the matchlefs grace 
 He fhew'd unto the human race, 
 
 How he for them became 
 A poor fojourner here below, 
 Opprefs'd by pain and forrow too* 
 
 I can't but lave his name. 
 
 And when I view his love to God, 
 Thofe fleps in which the Saviour trod, 
 
 I long to tread them too ; 
 I long to be infpir'd with zeal 
 To execute my Father's will, 
 
 As Jefus us'd to do- 
 
 I read that he, on duty bent, 
 To lonely places often went, 
 
 To feek his Father there : 
 The early morn and dewy ground 
 Can witnefs, they the Saviour found 
 
 Engag'd \u fervent pray'r. 
 
 5 And 
 
Air. Samuel Pearce. 2? 
 
 5 And did my Saviour ufe to pray* 
 Before the light unveil'd the day ? 
 
 And (Kail I backward be ? 
 No, deareft Lord, forbid the thought £ 
 Help me to fight, as Jefus fought, 
 
 Each foe that hinders me. 
 
 6 And you, my friends, who love his name>. 
 Who Jove to imitate the Lamb, 
 
 And more of Jefus know ; 
 Come, let us all furround his throne, 
 And fee what bleflings on his own 
 
 Our Saviour will beftow.. 
 
 7 Though fears be great, temptations ftron^, 
 And though we oft have waited long, 
 
 Perhaps he may defign 
 This morn to give each foul to fee, 
 And fay with Paul, "'He dy*d for me, 9 * 
 
 And my Redeemer's mine. 
 
 8 Now cheerfuf we'll begin to pray, 
 That he will warn our fins away 
 
 In his atoning blood ; 
 That he his bleffing may beftow, 
 And give each finner here to know. 
 
 That he's a child of God. 
 
 On the Scriptures* 
 
 i STUPENDOUS love in Chrift doth dwell* 
 Love which no mortal tongue can tell ; 
 But yet fo gracious is the Lord, 
 He tells his people in his word* 
 
 2 Here, in thofe lines of love, I fee 
 What Chrift my Saviour did for me '» 
 Here I behold the wondrous plan 
 By which he faves rebellious man. 
 
 3 Here 
 
28 Memoirs of the late 
 
 3 Here we may view the Saviour, Goi>, 
 Opprefs'd by pain, o'erwhelm'd with blood ; 
 And if we afk the reafon, why ? 
 
 He kindly fays, " For you 1 die." 
 
 4 Here love and mercy, truth and grace 
 Confpicuous fhine in Jefus' face ; 
 Here we may trace the wondrous road, 
 fey which a finner comes to God. 
 
 5 O boundlefs grace ! O matchlefs love 
 That brought the Saviour from above, 
 That caus'd the God for man to die, 
 Expiring in an agony. 
 
 6 Then fay, my foul, canft thou engage 
 In tracing o'er the facred page, 
 And there his love and mercy fee, 
 And not love him who dy'd for thee i 
 
 7 O ftupid heart ! O wretched foul ! 
 So cold, fo languid, and fo dull ; 
 Angels defire this love to know, 
 O may I feel thefe longings too ! 
 
 8 Defcend, thou Spirit of the Lord, 
 Thy light, and help, and grace afford ; 
 And, while I read thefe pages o'er, 
 Conftrain my foul to love thee more. 
 
 
 CHAP, 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce* 29 
 
 CHAP. n. 
 
 HIS LABORIOUS EXERTIONS IN PROMOTING MISSIONS T0» 
 
 THE HEATHEN, AND OFFERING HIMSELF 
 
 TO BECOME A MISSIONARY, 
 
 Mr. PEARCE has been uniformly the fpir- 
 itual and the active fervant of Ghrift ; but neither his- 
 fpirituality nor his activity would have appeared in the 
 manner they have, but for his engagements in the intro- 
 duction of the gof pel among the heathen* 
 
 It was not long after his fettlement at Birmingham, 
 that he became acquainted with Mr. Caret, in whom 
 he found a foul nearly akin to his own- When the 
 brethren in the counties of Northampton and Leicefter 
 formed themfelves into a Miflionary Society at Ketter- 
 ing, in October, 1792, he was there, and entered into 
 thebufinefs with all his heart. On hisreturn to Birming- 
 ham, he communicated the fubject to his- congregation 
 with fo much effect, that to the fmall fum of £ 13:2:6, 
 with which the fub"«;ription was begun, was added 
 £70, which was collected and tranfmitted to the 
 Treafurer 5 and the leading members of the churcli 
 formed themfelves into- an Afliitant Society. Early in 
 the following Spring, when it was refolved that our 
 brethren, Thomas and Carey, fiiould go on a million to- 
 the Hindoos, and a confiderable furn of money was 
 wanted for the purpefe, he laboured with increafing 
 ardour in various parts of the kingdom ; and when the 
 object was accomplished, he rejoiced in all his labour, 
 fmiling in every company, and blefling God. 
 
 During his labours and journeys, on this important 
 object, he wrote feveral letters to his friends, an ex- 
 tract or two from which will difcover the ftate of his 
 mind at this period, as well as the encouragements that 
 he met with in his work at home ; — 
 
 To 
 
jo Memoirs of the late 
 
 To Mr. STEADMAN. 
 
 "Birmingham, Feb. 8, 1 793. 
 " My very dear Brother, 
 
 " UNION of fentiment often creates friendfhip 
 among carnal men, and fimilarity of feeling never fails 
 to produce affection among pious men, as far as that 
 fimilarity is known. I have loved you ever fince I 
 knew you. We faw, we felt alike in the intereiting 
 concerns of perfonal religion. We formed a reciprocal 
 attachment. We expreffed it by words. We agreed 
 to do fo by correfpondence ; and we have not altogeth- 
 er been wanting to cur engagements. But our corref- 
 pondence has been interrupted, not, I believe, through 
 any diminution of regard on either fide ; I am perfuad- 
 cd not on mine. I rather condemn myfelf as the firfl 
 aggrefibr ; but I excufe while I condemn, and fo would 
 you, did you know half the concerns which devolve 
 upon me in my prefent fituation. Birmingham is a 
 central place ; the inhabitants are numerous j cur mem- 
 bers are between three and four hundred. The word 
 preached has lately been remarkably bleffed. In lefs 
 than five months I baptized nearly forty perfons, almoft 
 all newly awakened. Next Lord's-day week I expeft 
 to add to their number. Thefe perfons came to my 
 houfe to propofe the moft important of all inquiries, — 
 " What muft we do to be faved ?" I have been thus en- 
 gaged forne weeks during the greatefl part of moft days. 
 This, with four fermons a week, will account for my 
 neglect. But your letter, received this evening, calls 
 forth every latent affection of my heart for you. We 
 are, my dear brother, not only united in the common 
 ebjeel of purfuit,— -falvation ; not only reft our hopes 
 on the fame foundation, — Jtfus Chrijl ; but we feel 
 alike refpedling the poor Heathens. Oh how Chriftian- 
 ity expands the mind ! What tendernefs for cur poor 
 fellow-fmners ! What fymparhy for their moral mife- 
 ry ! What defires to do thern everlafting good, doth 
 
 it 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 31 
 
 it provoke ! How fatisfying to our judgments is this 
 evidence of grace ! How gratifying to our prefent tafte 
 are thefe benevolent breathings ! Oh how I love that 
 man whofe foul is deeply affected with the importance 
 of the precious gofpel to idolatrous heathens. Excel- 
 lently, my dear brother, you obferve, that, great as its 
 bleffings are in the eftimation of a finner called in a 
 Chriftian country, inexprefiibly greater muft they fhine 
 on the newly illuminated mind of a converted pagan. 
 
 " We (hall be glad of all your afliftance in a pecuniary 
 way, as the expenfe will be heavy. — Dear brother Carey 
 has paid us a vifit of love this week. He preached ex- 
 cellently to night. I expect brother Thomas next week 
 or the week after. I wifh yc^i would meet him here. 
 I have a houfe at your command, and a heart greatly 
 attached to you. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To Mr. FULLER. 
 
 "FJ.13, 1793. 
 " I AM willing to go any where, and do any 
 thing in my power ; but I hope no plan will be fujFered 
 to interfere with the affeftingj — hoped for, — dreaded 
 day, March 13. (the day of our brethren, Carey and 
 Thomas' folemn defignation at Leiceftcr.) Oh how the 
 anticipation of it at once rejoices and affli&s me. Our 
 hearts need fteeling to part with our much-loved breth- 
 ren, who are about to venture their all for the name of 
 the Lord Jefus. I feel my foul melting within me when 
 I read the twentieth chapter of the Acts, and efpecially 
 verfes 36 — 38. But why grieve ? We (hall fee them 
 again. Oh yes ; them and the children whom the 
 Lord will give them \ — we and the children whom the 
 Lord hath given us. We {hall meei: again, not to weep 
 and pray, but to fmite and praife. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 FROM 
 
3 a Memoirs of the late 
 
 TROM the day of the departure of the Miflionaries, 
 no one was more importunate in prayer than Mr. Pearce ; 
 and on the news of their fafe arrival, no one was more 
 filled with joy and thankfulnefs* 
 
 Hitherto we had witnefled his zeal in promoting this 
 important undertaking at home ; but this did not fatisfy 
 him. In O&ober, 1 794, we were given to underftand 
 that he had for fome time had it in ferious contempla- 
 tion to go himfelf, and to caft in his lot with his breth- 
 ren in India. When his defigns were firft difcovered, 
 his friends and connexions were much concerned about 
 it, and endeavoured to perfuade him that he was already 
 in a fphere of ufefulnefs too important to be relinquifh- 
 ed. But his anfwer was, that they were too interefted 
 in the affair to be competent judges. And nothing 
 would fatisfy him fhort of his making a formal offer of 
 "his fervices to the Committee : nor could he be happy 
 for them to decide upon it, without their appointing a 
 day of folemn prayer for the purpofe, and, when aflem- 
 bled, hearing an account of the principal exercifes of 
 his mind upon the fubje£t, with the reafons which in- 
 duced him to make the propofal, as well as the reafons 
 alleged by his connexions againfl it. 
 
 On 0£lober 4, 1794, he wrote to an intimate friend, 
 of whom he entertained a hope that he might accom- 
 pany him, as follows : — 
 
 "Laft Wednefday I rode to Northampton, where a 
 :minifters , meeting was held on the following day. We 
 talked much about the million. We read fome frefh 
 and very encouraging accounts. We lamented that 
 we could obtain no fuitable perions to fend out to the 
 afliftance of our brethren. Now what do you think 
 -was faid at this meeting ? My dear brother ! do not 
 he furprized that all prefent united in opinion, that in 
 ,all our connexion there was no man known to us fo 
 
 fuitable 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearcc. 33 
 
 fuitable as jou % provided you were difpofed for it, and 
 things could be brought to bear. I thought it right to 
 mention this circumftance ; and one thing more I can- 
 not refrain from faying, that were it manifeftly the will 
 of God, I Ihould call that the happieft hour of my life, 
 which witnefled our both embarking with our families 
 on board one fhip, as helpers of the fervants of Jefus 
 Chrift already in Hindoftan. Yes •, I could unreluc- 
 untly leave Europe and all its contents for the pleafures 
 and perils of this glorious fervice. Often my heart in 
 the fmcereft ardours thus breathes forth its defires unto 
 God, — " Here am I, fend me." But I am ignorant 
 whether you from experience can realize my feelings. 
 Perhaps you have friendfhip enough for me to lay open 
 your meditations on this fubject in your next. If you 
 have had half the exercifes that I have, it will be a relief 
 to your labouring mind : or if you think I have made too 
 free with you, reprove me, and I will love you ftill. 
 Oh if I could find a heart that had been tortured and 
 ravifhed like my own in this refpect, I fhould form a 
 new kind of alliance, and feel a friendfhip of a novel 
 fpecies. With eagernefs fhould I communicate all the 
 viciffitudes of my fenfations, and with eagernefs liften 
 to a recital of kindred feelings. With impatience I 
 ihould feek, and with gratitude receive direction and 
 fupport, and, I hope, feel a new occafion of thankfulnefs, 
 when I bow my knee to the Father of mercies, and the 
 God of all comfort. Whence is it that I thus write to 
 you, as I have never written to any one before ? Is there 
 a fellowfhip of the Spirit ; or is it the confidence that I 
 have in your friendfhip that thus directs my pen ? Tell 
 
 me, dear ! Tell me how you have felt, and how 
 
 you ftill feel on this interefting fubje£t, and do not long 
 delay the gratification to your very affectionate friend 
 2nd brother, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 D About 
 
I / 
 
 34 Memoirs of the late 
 
 About a month preceding the decifion of this affair, 
 he drew up a narrative of his experience -refpe&ing it ; 
 refolving at the fame time ,to fet apart one day in every 
 week for fecret failing and prayer to God for direction \ 
 and to keep a diary of the exercifes of his mind during 
 the month. 
 
 When the Committee were met at Northampton ac- 
 cording to his defire, he prefented to them the narra- 
 tive 5 and which was as follows : — 
 
 u O&ober 8, 1 794. Having had fome peculiar ex- 
 ercifes of mind relative to my personally attempting to 
 labour for the dear Redeemer amongft the heathen ; and 
 being at a lofs to know what is the will of the Lord 
 in this matter refpe&ing me, I have thought that I 
 might gain fome fatisfa&ion by adopting thefe two reftv 
 lutions > — Firft, That I will, as in the prefence of God, 
 faithfully endeavour to recolle£l the various workings 
 of my mind on this "fubjedl, from the firft period of my 
 feeling any defire of this nature, until now, and com- 
 mit them to writing ; together with what confiderations 
 do now, on the one hand, impel me to the work, and 
 on the other, what prevent m efrom immediately refolv- 
 ing to enter upon it. Secondly, That I will from this 
 day keep a regular journal, with fpecial relation to this 
 matter. 
 
 "This account and journal will, I hope, furnifft me 
 with much affiftance in forming a future*opinion of the 
 path of duty ; as well as help any friends whom I may 
 hereafter think proper to confult, to give me fuitable 
 advice in the bufinefs. Lord, help me ! 
 
 cc It is very common for young converts to feel ftrong 
 defires for the converfion of others. Thefe defires im- 
 mediately followed the evidences of my own religion : 
 and I remember well they were particularly fixed upon 
 
 the 
 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. , 35 
 
 the poor heathens. I believe the firft week that I knew 
 the grace of God in truth, I put up many fervent cries 
 to Heaven in their behalf •, and at the fame time felt a 
 ftrong defire to be employed in promoting their falva- 
 fion. It was not long after, that the firft iettlers failed 
 for Botany Bay. I longed to go with them, although 
 in company with the convi&s, in hopes of making 
 known the bleffings of the great falvation in New Zea- 
 land. I actually had thought of making an effort to go 
 out unknown to my friends ', but ignorant how to pro- 
 ceed, I abandoned my purpofe. Neverthelefs I could 
 not help talking about it * and at one time a report was 
 circulated that I was really going, and a neighbouring 
 minifter very feriouily converted with me upon the 
 fubjea. 
 
 M While I was at the Brlftol Academy ,the defire re- 
 mained -, but not with that energy as at firft, except on 
 one or two occafio.ns. Being fent by my tutor to preach 
 two Sabbaths at Coldford, I felt panic uiar fweetnefs in 
 devoting the evenings of the week to going from houfe 
 to houfe among the colliers, who dwell in the Forefl of 
 DeaMy adjoining the town, converfing and praying with 
 them, and preaching to them. In thefe exercifes I 
 found the moft folid iatisfa£tion that I have ever known 
 in difcharging the duties of my calling. In a poor hut, 
 with a ftone to {land upon, and a three-legged ftool for 
 my defk, furrounded with thirty or forty of the fmutty 
 neighbours, I have felt fuch an u nation from above, 
 that my whole auditory have been melted into tears, 
 whilft diretted to the Lamb of God y who taketh away 
 the fin of the world ; and I, weeping among them, could 
 fcarcely fpeak, or they hear, for interrupting fighs and 
 fobs. Many a time did I then think, Thus it was with 
 the apoftles of our Lord, when they went from houfe 
 to houfe among the poor heathen. In work like this, 
 I could live and die. Indeed, had I at that time been 
 at liberty to fettle, I fhould have preferred that fitua- 
 
 tion 
 
^6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 tion to any in the kingdom with which I was then ac- 
 quainted. 
 
 <c But the Lord placed me in a fituation very differ- 
 ent. He brought me to Birmingham ; and here, 
 amongft the novelties, cares, and duties of my ftation, 
 I do not remember any wifh for foreign fervice, till 
 after a refidence of fome months I heard Dr. Coke 
 preach at one of Mr. Wefley's chapels, from Pfalm Ixviii. 
 3 r . Ethiopia jhall foon J! retch cut her hands unto Gcd. 
 Then it was, that, in Mr. Home's phrafe, " I felt a pai- 
 fion for miflions." Then I felt an intereft in the ftate 
 of the heathen world far more deep and permanent than 
 before, and ferioufly thought how I could bell promote 
 their obtaining the knowledge cf the crucified Jefus. 
 
 " As no way at that time was open, I cannot fay that 
 I thought of taking a part of the good work among the 
 heathen abroad \ but refolved that I would render them 
 all the alTiftance I could at home. My mind was em- 
 ployed during the refidue of that week in meditating on 
 Vfalm Ixvii. 3. Glorious things are fpoken of thee , city cf 
 God ,- — and the next Sabbath morning I fpoke from thole 
 words, On the promifed increafe of the church of God. 
 I had obferved that our monthly meetings for prayer 
 had been better attended than the other prayer-meetings, 
 from the time that I firft knew the people in Cannon- 
 flreet : but I thought a more general attention to them was 
 defirable. I therefore preached on the Sabbath-day even- 
 ing preceding the next monthly prayer-meeting, from 
 Matt. vi. 10. Thy kingdom come ; and urged with ardcur 
 and affection a univerfal union of the ferious part of 
 the congregation in this exercife. It rejoiced me to fee 
 three times as many the next night as ufual ; and for 
 fome time after that, I had nearly equal caufe for joy. 
 
 " As to my own part, I continued to preach much 
 upon the promifes of Gcd refpe&ing the converfion of 
 
 the 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 37 
 
 the heathen nations \ and by fo doing, and always com- 
 municating to my people every piece of information I 
 could obtain refpefting the prefent (late of millions, they 
 foon imbibed the fame fpirit : and from that time to this 
 they have difcovered fo much concern for the more ex- 
 tensive fpread of the gofpel, that at our monthly prayer- 
 meetings, both {tated and occafional, I fhould be as much 
 furprifed at the cafe of the heathen being omitted in 
 any prayer, as at an omiffion of the name and merits o£ 
 Jefus. 
 
 " Indeed it has been a frequent mean of enkindJing 
 my languid devotion, in my private, domeftic, and pub- 
 lic engagements in prayer. When I have been barren 
 in petitioning for myfelf, and other things, often have I 
 been fweetiy enlarged when I came to notice the fitua- 
 tion of thofe who were perifhing for lack of knowledge. 
 
 u Thus I went on praying, and preaching, ancf con- 
 yerfing on the fubjecT:, till the time of brother Careys 
 ordination at Leicefter, May 24, 1791. On the even- 
 ing of that day, he read to the minifters a great part of 
 his manufcript, fince publiihed 5 entitled, An Inquiry 
 into the obligations of Christians to ufe means for the conver- 
 fwn of the heathens. This added frefh fuel to my zeal. 
 But to pray and preach on the fubje£fc was all I could 
 then think of doing. But when I heard of a propofed 
 meeting at Kettering* Oft. 2, 1792, for the exprefs pur- 
 pofe of confidering our duty in regard of the heathen, I 
 could not refift my inclination for going * although at that 
 time I was not much acquainted with the minifters of 
 the Northamptonshire aflbchtion. There I got my 
 judgment informed, and my heart increafingly intereft- 
 ed. I returned home refolved to lay myfelf out in the 
 caufe. The public fteps I have t. ken are too well known, 
 to need repeating :. but my mind became now inclined 
 to go among the heathen myfelf. Yet a confiderarion 
 ©f my connexions with the dear people of God in Bir- 
 D 2 mingham, 
 
38 Memoirs cf the late 
 
 mingham, reftrained my defires, and kept me from nam- 
 ing my wifhes to any body, (as I remember) except to 
 brother Carey. With him I was pretty free. We had 
 an interefting converfation about it juft before he left 
 Europe. I (hall never forget the manner of his faying, 
 « Well, you will come after us." My heart faid, Amen ! 
 and my eagernefs for the work increafed \ though I 
 never talked freely about it, except to my wife, and we 
 both then thought that my relation to the church in 
 Cannon-ftreet, and ufefulnefs there, forbad any fuch an 
 attempt. However, I have made it a conftant matter of 
 prayer, often begging of God, as I did when firft I was 
 difpofed for the work of the miniftry, either that he 
 would take away the defire, or open a door for its fulfil- 
 ment. And the refult has uniformly been, that the 
 more fpiritual I have been in the frame of my mind, the 
 more love I have felt for God \ and the more commun- 
 ion I have enjoyed with him, fo much the more difpofed 
 have I been to engage as a miflionary among the heathen. 
 
 w Until the accounts came of our brethren's entrance 
 on the work in India, my connexions in Europe pretty 
 nearly balanced my defire for going abroad \ and though 
 I felt quite devoted to the Lord's will and work, yet I 
 thought the fcale rather preponderated on the fide of 
 my abiding in my prefent fituation. 
 
 « But fince our brethren's letters have informed us 
 that there are fuch profpe&s of ufefulnefs in Hindoftan, 
 — that priefts and people are ready to hear the word, — 
 and that preachers are a thoufand times more wanted, 
 than people to preach to, my heart has been more deeply 
 affe&ed than ever with their conditon ; and my defires 
 for a participation of the toils and pleafures, croflfes and 
 comforts of which they are the fubjeds, are advanced 
 to an anxiety which nothing can remove, and time feems 
 to increafe. 
 
 "It 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 39 
 
 "It has pleafed God alfo lately to teach me more 
 than ever, that Himseijf is the fountain of happinefs \ 
 that likenefs to him, friendfhip for him, and communion 
 with him, form the bafis of all true enjoyment ; and 
 that this can be attained as well in an eaitern jungle, 
 amongit Hindoos and Moors, as in the mod polifhed 
 parts of Europe. The very difpofitio?i> which, bleiTed be 
 my dear Redeemer ! he has given me, to be any tiling, 
 do any thing, or endure any thing, lb that his name 
 might he glorified, 1 fay, the difpofition itfelf is heav- 
 en begun below ! I do feel a daily panting after more 
 devotednefs to his fervice, and I can never think of my 
 fuffering Lord, without diffolving into love ; love which, 
 conftrains me to glorify him with my body and fpirit> 
 which are his. 
 
 "I do often rcprefent to myfelf all the poflible hard- 
 ships of a million, arifing from my own heart, the na- 
 ture of the country, domeftic connexions, disappoint- 
 ment in my hopes, &c. &c. : And then I fet over againfl 
 them all, thefe two thoughts, — lam God V fervanf / and 
 God is my friend* In this, I anticipate happinefs in. the. 
 midft of fuffering, light in darknefs, and life in death. 
 Yea, I do not count my life dear unto myfelf, fo that I 
 may win fome poor heathens unto Chrift •, and I am 
 willing to be offered as a facriflce on the fervice of the 
 faith of the gofpel.. 
 
 " Mr. Home juftly obferves, c that, in order to juftifyr 
 a man's undertaking the work of a miffionary, he ihould 
 be qualified for it, difpofed heartily to enter upon it, 
 and free from fuch ties as exclude an engagement.' — 
 As to the flrft, others muft judge for me *, but they 
 mud not be men who have an intereft in keeping me 
 at home. I fhall rejoice in opportunities of attaining 
 to an acquaintance with the ideas of judicious and im- 
 partial men in this matter, and with them I mufbleaYe. 
 it. A willingnefs to embark in this caufe I do pofTefs 5, 
 
 and 
 
4-0 Memoirs of the late 
 
 and I can hardly pcrfuade myfelf that God has for ten 
 years inclined my heart to this work, without having 
 any thing for me to do in it. But the third thing re- 
 quires more confideration ; and here alone I hefitate." — 
 Here he goes on to ftate all the objections from this 
 quarter, with his anfwere to them, leaving it with his 
 brethren to decide when they had heard the whole. 
 
 The Committee, after the moft ferious and mature 
 deliberation, though they were fully fatisfied as to broth- 
 er Pearce's qualifications, and greatly approved of his 
 fpirit, yet were unanimouily of opinion that he ought not 
 to go ; and that not merely on account of his connexions 
 at home, which might have been pleaded in the cafe of 
 brother Carey, but on account of the million itfelf, which 
 required his affiflance in the ftation which he already 
 occupied. 
 
 In this opinion, brother Carey himfelf, with lingular 
 difintereftednefs of mind, afterwards concurred ; and 
 wrote to brother Pearce to the fame effect.* 
 
 On receiving the opinion of the Committee, he im- 
 mediately wrote to Mrs. P , as follows : — 
 
 " Northampton, Nov. 13, 17 94* 
 ** My deaf Sarah, 
 
 " I AM difappomted, but not difmayed. I ever 
 wifh to make my Saviour's will my own. I am more 
 fatisfied than ever I expe&ed I (hould be with a nega- 
 tive upon my earned defires, becaufe the bufinefs has 
 been fo conduced, that, I thiak, (if by any means fuch 
 an iflue could be infured) the mind of Chrifl has been 
 obtained* My dear brethren here have treated the af- 
 fair with as much ferioufnefs and affe&ion as I could 
 pofiibly defire, and, I think, more than fo infignificant 
 a worm could expefl. After we had fpent the former 
 part of this day in falling and prayer, with converfation 
 
 oa> 
 • See Periodical Accounts, No. V. p. 374. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce.. 4? 
 
 on the fubje£t, till near two o'clock, brother Potts, 
 King, and I retired. We prayed while the Committee 
 confulted. The cafe feemed difficult, and I fuppofe 
 they were near two hours in deciding. At la ft, time 
 forced them to a point ; and their anfwer I inclcfe for 
 your fatisfaftion. Pray take care of it y it wiil ferve 
 for me to refer to when my mind may labour beneath a 
 burden of guilt another clay.. 
 
 I am my dear Sarah's own 
 
 S.-IV 
 
 The decilion of the Committee, though it rendered 
 him much more reconciled to abide in his native coun- 
 try than he could have been without it \ yet did not in 
 the leaft abate his zeal' for the object. As he could 
 not promote it abroad* he feemed reiblved to lay him- 
 felf out more for it at home. In March, 1735, after a 
 dangerous illnefs, he fays in a letter to Mr. Fuller- — 
 " Through mercy I am almcfl in a (late of convales- 
 cence. May my fpared life be wholly devoted to the 
 fervice of my dear Redeemer. I do not care where I 
 am, whether in England or in India, fo I am employed 
 as he would have me ; but furely we need pray hard 
 that God would fend fome more help to Hindoftan." 
 
 In January, 1796, when he was firft informed by the' 
 Secretary, of a young man, (Mr. Fountain) being defir- 
 ous of going, of the character that was given of him by 
 our friend, Mr. Savage, of London, and of a Committee 
 Meeting being iri contemplation, he wrote thus in an- 
 fwer — " Your Letter, jult arrived, put — I was going 
 to fay, another foul into my little body ; at leaft it has 
 added new life to the foul I have. I cannot be con- 
 tented with the thought of being abfent from your pro- 
 posed meeting. No, no \ I mull be there, (for my 
 
 own 
 
42 Memoirs of the late 
 
 own fake I mean) and try to fing with' you, < O'er the 
 gloomy hills of darknefsv"* 
 
 In Auguft, the fame year, having received a letter 
 from India, he wrote to Mr. Fuller as follows — " Broth- 
 er Carey fpeaks in fuch a manner of the effects of the 
 gofpel in his neighbourhood, as* in my view promifes a 
 fair illu ft ration of our Lord's parable, when he compar- 
 ed the kingdom of heaven to a little leaven, hid in three 
 meafures of meal, which infinuated itfelf fo effe&ually 
 as to leaven the lump at laft. Blefied be God, the leav-* 
 en is already in the meal. The fermentation is begun ; 
 and my hopes were never half lb ftrong as they are now, 
 that the whole fhall be effectually leavened. O that 
 
 I WERE THERE TO WITNESS THE DELIGHTFUL PRO- 
 CESS I But whither am I running ? . . . I long TO 
 
 WRITE yOU PROM HlNDOSTAN !" 
 
 On receiving other Letters from India, in January, 
 1797, he thus writes : — " Perhaps you are now rejoic- 
 ing in fpirit with me over fre*h intelligence from Ben- 
 gal. This moment have I concluded reading two let- 
 ters from brother Thomas : one to the Society, and the 
 other to myfelf/* He fpeaks of others from brother 
 Carey. I hope they are already in your pofieffion. If 
 his correfpondence has produced the fame effefts on 
 your heart as brother Thomas's has en mine, you are 
 filled with gladnefs and hope. I am grieved that I can- 
 not convey them to you immediately. I long to wit- 
 nefs the pleafure their contents will impart to all whofe 
 hearts are with us. O that I were accounted worthy 
 of the Lord to preach the gofpel to the Booteas r 
 
 Being 
 
 * The 428 Hymn of Dr. Rippon's Selection, frequently fung at our 
 Committee Meetings. 
 
 * See thefe Letters printed in Ptrhdkal Ac;wnts % No. IV. p. 294, 
 301. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 
 
 43 
 
 Being detained from one of our miffion meetings by 
 preparing the Periodical Accounts for the prefs, he foon, 
 after wrote as follows : 4i We (hall now get out No. IV, 
 very foon. I hope it will go to the prefs in a very few 
 days. Did you notice, that the very day on which we 
 invited all our friends to a day cf prayer on behalf of the 
 miffion, (Dec. 28, 1796) was the fame in which broth- 
 er Carey fent; his beft and moft interefting accounts to 
 die Society ? I hope you had folemn and fweet feafons at 
 Northampton. On many accounts I fhould have re- 
 joiced to have been with you : yet I am fatisfied that on 
 the whole I was doing beft at home." 
 
 It has been already obferved, that for a month pre*- 
 ceding the decifion of the Committee, he refolved to 
 devote one day in every week to fecret prayer and fad- 
 ing, and to keep a diary of the exercifes of his mind 
 during the whole of that period. This diary was not 
 fliown to the Committee at the time, but merely the 
 preceding narrative. Since his death a few of them 
 have perufed k -, and have been almoft ready to think, 
 that if they had feen it before, they dared not oppofe 
 his going, But the Lord hath taken him to himfelf. 
 It no longer remains a queftion row, whether he mall 
 labour in England or in India. A few paffages, how*, 
 ever, from this tranfeript of his heart, while contemplat- 
 ing a great and difmterefted undertaking, will furnijh a 
 better idea of his character than could be given by any 
 other hand. 
 
 " OGk. 8, 1794. Had feme remarkable freedom and 
 affection this morning, both in family and fecr>t 
 prayer. With many tears I dedicated myfelf, body and 
 foul, to the fervice of Jefus ; and earneftly implored full 
 fatisfa&ion refpefting the path of duty. — I feel a grow- 
 ing deadnefs for all earthly comforts % and derive my 
 
 happinefs 
 
44 Memoirs of the late 
 
 rrappinefs immediately from God himfelf. May I ftill 
 endure, as Mofes did, by feeing Him who is invifible !" 
 
 " 0<ft. 10. Enjoyed much freedom to-day in the 
 family. Whilft noticing in prayer the ftate of the mill- 
 ions of heathen who know not God, I felt the aggre- 
 gate value of their immortal fouls with peculiar energy. 
 
 " Afterwards was much ftruck whilft (on my knees 
 before God in fecret) I read the fourth chapter of Mi- 
 cah. The ninth verfe I fancied very applicable to the 
 Church in Cannon-ftreet : but what reaion is there for 
 fuch a cry about fo infignificant a worm as I am ? The 
 third chapter of Habakkuk too well exprefies that mix- 
 ture oifolemtiity and confidence with which I contemplate 
 the work of the miflion. 
 
 " Whilft at prayer-meeting to night, I learned more 
 of the meaning of .fome paflages of fcripture than ever 
 before. Suitable frames of foul 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 felt crucifixion to the world, and difefteem for all 
 that it contains as at that time. All profpecls of pecu- 
 niary independence, and growing reputation, with which 
 in unworthier moments I had amufed myfelf, were now 
 chafed from my mind ; and the defrre of living nvkolU 
 to Chrifl fwallowed up every other thought. Frowns 
 and fmiles, fulnefs or want, honour and reproach, were 
 now equally indifferent ; and when I concluded the 
 meeting, my whole foul felt, as it were, going after the 
 1oft fheep of Chrifl: among the heathen. 
 
 " I do feel a growing fatisfacVion in the propofal of 
 fpending my whole life in fomething nobler than the 
 locality of this ifland will admit. I long to raife my 
 Matter':; banner in climes where the found of his fame 
 
 hath 
 
Mr. Samuel Peavce. 45 
 
 hath but fcarcely reached. He hath faid, for my en- 
 couragement, that all nations fivall flow unto it. 
 
 « The conduct and fuccefs of Stach, Boonifh, and 
 other Moravian Miflionaries in Greenland, both con- 
 found and ftimulate me. O Lord, forgive my pail 
 indolence in thy fervice, and help me to redeem the 
 refidue of my days for exertions more worthy a friend 
 of mankind, and a fervant of God. 
 
 " Oct. 13. Being taken up with vifitors the former 
 part of the day, I fpent the after part in application to 
 the Bengal language, and found the difficulties I ap- 
 prehended vanifli as faft as I encountered them. I 
 read and prayed, prayed and read, and made no fmall 
 advances. Bkffed be God ! 
 
 " Oct. 15. There are in Birmingham 50,000 in- 
 habitants ; and, exduSve of the vicinity, ten minifters 
 who preach the fundamental truths of the gofpel. In 
 Hindoftan there are twice as many millions of inhabi- 
 tants ; and not fo many gofpel preachers. Now Jefus 
 Chrift hath commanded his minifters to go into all the 
 world, and preach the gofpel to every creature : Why 
 ihould we be fo difproportionate in our labours ?. Pe- 
 culiar circumftances muft not be urged againfl pofi- 
 tive commands: I am therefore bound, if others do 
 not go, to make the means more proportionate to the 
 multitude. 
 
 " To-night, reading fome letters from brother Ca- 
 rey, in which he fpeaks of his wife's illnefs when fhe 
 firit came into the country, I endeavoured to realize 
 m/feif not only with a fick, but a dead wife. The 
 thought was like a cold dagger to my heart at firfl : 
 but on recollection I confidered that the fame God 
 ruled in India as in Europe ; and that he could either 
 preferve her, or fupport me, as well there as here. 
 £ My 
 
45 
 
 Memoirs of the late 
 
 My bufinefs is only to be where he would have me. 
 Other things I leave to him. O Lord, though with 
 timidity, yet I hope not without fatisfattion, I look 
 every poffible evil in the face, and fay, T/jy will be 
 done. 
 
 " Oft. 17. This is the firft day I have fet apart 
 for extraordinary devotion in relation to my preient 
 exercife of mind. Rofe earlier than ufual, and began 
 the day in prayer that God would be with me in eve- 
 ry part of it, and grant that the end I have in view 
 may be clearly afcertained-r— die knowledge of his will. 
 
 " Confidering the importance of the work before 
 me, I began at the foundation of all religion, and re- 
 viewed the grounds on which I flood ; the being of a 
 a God, the relation of mankind to him, with the di- 
 vine infpiration of the fcriptures ; and the review af- 
 forded me great fatisfa&ion.* I alfo compared the 
 different religions which claimed divine origin, and 
 found little difficulty in determining which had moft 
 internal evidence of its divinity. I attentively read 
 and ferioufly confidere-d Doddridge's three excellent 
 Sermons on the evidences of the Chriitian Religion* 
 which was followed by fuch conviction, that I, had 
 hardly patience to conclude the book before I fell on 
 my knees before God to blefs him for fuch a religion, 
 eftablifhed on fuch a bafis •, and I have received more 
 (olid fatisfa&ion this day upon the fubjccl than ever I 
 did before. 
 
 « I alfo 
 
 * There is a wide difference between admitting thefe principles in 
 theory, and making ufe of them. David might have worn Saul's ac- 
 coutrements at a parade : but in meeting Goliath he muft go forth in 
 an armour that had been tried. A mariner may fit in his cabin at his 
 cafe while the fhip is in harbour : but ere he undertakes a voyage he 
 touft examine its foundnefs, and whether it will endure the ilcim* 
 .which may overtake him. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarct. 47 
 
 " I alfo confidered, fince the gofpel is .true, fince 
 Chrift is the head of the church, and his will is the^ 
 law of all his followers, what are the obligations of 
 his fervants in refpeft of the enlargement of his king- 
 dom. I here referred to our Lord's commiffion, which 
 I could not but confider as univerfal in its object, and 
 permanent in its obligations. I read brother Carey's 
 remarks upon it — and as the command has never been 
 repealed j as there are millions of beings in the world 
 on whom the command may be exercifed ; as I can 
 produce no counter-revelation ; and as I lie under no 
 natural impoffibilities of performing it .... I ( 
 eluded that I, as a fervent of Chrift, was bound by 
 this law. 
 
 * I took the narrative of my experience, and ftste- 
 ment of my views on this fubject in my hand, and 
 bowing down before God, I earneftly befought an 
 partial and enlightened fpirit. I then perufed 
 paper ; and can now fay, that I have (allowing fur 
 my own fallibility) not one doubt upon the fubject, 
 J therefore refolved to clofe this folemn feafon with 
 reading a portion of both Testaments, and earnelt 
 prayer to God for my family, my people, the heathen 
 world, the Society, and particularly for the fuccefs of 
 our dear brethren Thomas and Carey, and his blefl- 
 ing, prefence, and grace to be ever my guide and glo- 
 ry. Accordingly I read the xlixth chapter of Ifaiah ; 
 and with what fweetnefs ! I never read a chapter in 
 private with fuch feelings fince I have been in the 
 miniftry. The 8, 9, 10, 20, and 21 verfes I thought 
 remarkably fuitable. 
 
 u Read alfo part of the epiftle to the Ephefians, and 
 the firft chapter to the Philippians. O that for vie to 
 live may be Gbriji alone ! Bleffed be my dear Saviour, 
 in prayer I have had fuch fellowfhip with him, as 
 would warm me in Greenland, comfort me in New- 
 Zealand, 
 
4 8 Memoirs of the late 
 
 Zealand, and rejoice me m the valley of the lhadow 
 of death ! 
 
 rt Oft. 1 8. I dreamed that I faw one of the Chrif- 
 tian Hindoos* O how I loved him ! I long to real- 
 ize my dream. How pleafant will it be to fit down 
 at the Lord's table with our black brethren, and hear 
 Jefus preached in their language. Surely then will 
 come to pafs the faying that is written, In Chrift 
 there is neither Jew ncr Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, 
 bond nor free, all are one in him. 
 
 " Have been happy tc-day in completing the man- 
 ufcript of Periodical Accounts, No. I. Any thing 
 relative to the falvation of the heathen brings a cer- 
 tain pleafure with it. I find I cannot pray, nor con- 
 verfe, nor read, nor ftudy, nor preach with fatisfac- 
 tion without reference to this fubje£l. 
 
 M Oft. 20. Was a little difecuraged on reading 
 Mr. Zeigenbald's conferences with the Malabarians, 
 till I recollefted, what ought to be ever prefent to my 
 mind in brother Carey's words, — The ivork is God's. 
 
 " In the evening I found fome little difficulty with 
 the language ; but coniidering how merchants and 
 captains overcome this difficulty for the fake of 
 wealth, I fat confounded before the Lord that I 
 {hould ever have indulged fuch a thought ; and look- 
 ing up to him, I fet about it with cheerfulnefs, and 
 found that I was making a fenfible advance, although 
 I can never apply till 1 1 o'clock at night, on account 
 of my other duties.* 
 
 " Preached 
 
 * N-ght (Indies, often continued till two or three o'clock in the 
 morning, it is to be feared, were the firft occafion of impairing Mr. 
 Pearct's health, and brought on that train of nervous fenlations with 
 
 wiuck 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarcs. 49 
 
 * Preached from 2 Kings iv. 26, It is ivelh "Was 
 much enlarged both in thought and expreflion. Whilft 
 fpeaking of the fatisfa&ion enjoyed by a truly pious 
 mind, when it feels itfelf in all circumflances and 
 times in the hand of a good God, I felt, that were the* 
 univerfe deftroyed, and I the only being in it, befide 
 God, he is fully adequate to my complete happinels ; 
 and had I been in an African wood, furrounded with 
 venomous ferpents, devouring beads, and favage men, 
 in fuch a frame, I Ihould be the fubjeft of perfect 
 peace and exalted joy. Yes, O my God, thou haft 
 taught me that thou alone art worthy of my confi- 
 dence ; and with this fentiment fixed in my heart, I 
 am free from all folicitude about any temporal profc 
 pe£ls or concerns. If thy pre fence be enjoyed, pov- 
 erty fhall be riches, darknefs light, affliction profperi- 
 ty, reproach my honour, and fatigue my reft : and 
 thou haft faid, My prefencefoall go with thee* Enough,. 
 Lord, I afk for nothing, nothing more. 
 
 " But how fad the proofs of our depravity ; and how 
 infecure the beft frames we enjoy ! Returning home, 
 a wicked expreflion from a perfon who pafled me, 
 caught my ear, and occurred fo often to my thoughts 
 for fome minutes as to bring guilt upon my mind, and 
 overwhelm me with (hame before God. But I ap- 
 pealed to God for my hatred of all fuch things, fe~ 
 cretly confefied the fin of my heart, and again ventur- 
 ed to the mercy-feat. On fuch occafions how pre- 
 cious a Mediator is to the foul- 
 
 E 2 « 0£h> 
 
 which he was afterwards afflicted. Thotfgh net much accuflomed 
 t> converfe on this fubjed, he once acknowledged to a brother in the 
 miniftry, that, owing to his enervated ftate, he fome times drer.de d 
 the approach. of public fervices to fuch a degree, that he would rather 
 have iubmitted to flripes than engage in them; and that while in the 
 pulpit, he was frequently diftreiTcd with the appreheofioa of W \ g 
 
50 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " 0&. 22. I did not for the former part of the 
 day feel my wonted ardour for the work of a Miffiona- 
 ry ; but rather an inclination to confult flefh and 
 blood, and look at the worft fide of things. I did fo : 
 but when on my knees before God in prayer about it, 
 I firft confidered that my judgment was ftill equally 
 fatisfied, and my jconfcience fo convinced, that I durft 
 not relinquifh the work for a thoufand worlds ! And 
 then I thought that this dull frame had not been with- 
 out its ufe ; as I was now fully convinced, that my de- 
 fire to go did not arife from any fluctuation of incon- 
 ftant paflions, but the fettled convictions of my judg- 
 ment. I therefore renewed my vovvs unto the Lord, 
 that let what difficulties foever be in the way, I would 
 (provided the Society approved) furmount them all. 
 I felt a kind of unutterable fatisfa&ion of mind, in 
 my refolution of leaving the decifion in the hands of 
 my brethren. May God rightly difpofe their hearts ! 
 I have no doubt but he will. 
 
 « Oft. 23. Have found a little time to apply to 
 the Bengallee language. How pleafant it is to work 
 for God ! Love transforms thorns to rofes, and makes 
 pain itfelf a pleafure* I never fat down to any ftudy 
 with fuch peculiar and continued fatisfac"iion. The 
 thought of exalting the Redeemer in this language, is 
 a fpur to my application paramount to every difcour- 
 agement for want of a living tutor. I have pafled 
 this day with an abiding fausfa&ion refpe&ing my 
 prefent views. 
 
 « Oct. 24. O for the enlightening, enlivening, 
 tmd fanctifying prefence of God to-day ! It is the 
 fecond of thofe days of extraordinary devotion which I 
 hav : fct apart for feeking God, in relation to the Mif- 
 £on- How (hall I fpend it ? I will devote the morn- 
 in* to prayer, reading, and meditation ; and the af-> 
 ternoon to vifiting the wretched^ and relieving the 
 
 needy. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 5 1 
 
 needy. May God accept my fervices, guide me by 
 his counfel, and employ me for his praife ! 
 
 " Having befought the Lord that he would not fuf- 
 fer me to deceive myfelf in fo important a matter as 
 that which I had now retired to confider, and exer- 
 cifed fome confidence that he would be the rewarder 
 of thofe who diligently feek him, I read the 119th 
 Pfalm at the conclufion of my prayer, and felt and 
 wondered at the congruity of lb many of the verfes to 
 the breathings of my own heart. Often, with holy ad- 
 miration, I paufed, and read, and thought, and prayed 
 over the verfe again, efpecially verfes 20, 31, 59, 6c, 
 112, 145, 146. Aly foul breaketh for the longing that 
 it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 1 have jtuck unto 
 thy teflimonics : Lord) put me not tofname. 
 
 « Mod of the morning I fpent in ferioufly reading 
 Mr. Home's Letters en Miffions^ having firft begged of 
 the Lord to make the perufal profitable to my inftruo 
 tion in the path of duty. To the interrogation, 
 « Which of you will forfake all, deny himfelf, take up 
 his crofs, and, if God pleafes, die for his religion V I 
 replied fpontanecufly, BlefTed be God, I am willing ! 
 Lord, help me to accomplifh it ! 
 
 " Cloled this feafon with reading the 6ift a'nd 62d 
 -chapters of Ifaiah, and prayer for the Church of God 
 at large, my own congregation, the heathens, the So- 
 ciety, brethren Thomas and Carey, all Miflionaries 
 whom God hath fent of every denomination, my own 
 cafe, my wife and family, and for affiftance in my 
 work. 
 
 " The after part of this day has been gloomy in- 
 deed. Ail the painful circumftances which can at- 
 tend my going have met upon my heart, and formed 
 a load almoft infupportable. A number of things, 
 
 which 
 
j 2 Memoirs cf the late 
 
 which have been fome time accumulating, have united* 
 their preffure, and made me groan being burdened. 
 Whilft at a prayer-meeting I looked round on my 
 ehriftian friends, and faid to myfelf, A few months 
 more and probably I ihall leave you all ! But in the 
 deepeft of my gloom, I refolved though faint yet to 
 purfue, not doubting but my Lord would give me 
 iirength equal to the day. 
 
 w I had fcarcely formed this refolution before it oc- 
 curred, My Lord and Matter was a man of for- 
 rows. Opprefied, and covered with blood, he cried, 
 If it be poflible, let this cup pafs from me. Yet in the 
 depth of his agonies he added, Thy will be done. This 
 thought was to me what the fight of the crofs was to 
 Bunyan's pilgrim $ I loft my burden. Spent the re- 
 mainder of the meeting in fweet communion with God. 
 
 " But on coming home, the fight of Mrs. P. re- 
 placed my load. She had for fome time been much 
 difcouraged at the thoughts of going. I therefore 
 felt reluctant to foy any thing on this fubjefr, thinking 
 it would be unpleafant to her : but though I drove to 
 conceal it, an involuntary figh betrayed my uneafmefs. 
 She kindly inquired the caufe. I avoided at fir ft an 
 explanation, till fhe, guefling the reafon, faid to this 
 effeft — * I hope you will be no more uneafy on my 
 account. For the laft two or three days, I have been 
 more comfortable than ever in the thought of going.. 
 I have confide red the fteps you a;re purfuing to know 
 the mind of God, and I think you cannot take more- 
 proper ones. When you confult the minifters, you 
 fliould reprefent your obfbacles as ftrongly as your in- 
 ducements ; and then, if they advife your going-, 
 though the parting from my friends will be almoft in^ 
 fupportabie, yet I will make myfelf as happy as I can, 
 and God can make me happy any where/ 
 
 « Should. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 53 
 
 W Should this little Diary fall into the hands of a 
 man having the foul of a Miilionary, clrcumflanccd as 
 I am, he will be the only man capable of iharing my 
 peace, my joy, my gratitude, my rapture of foul. 
 Thus at evening tide it is light ; thus God brings his 
 people through lire and through water into a wealthy 
 place 5 thus thofe who afk do receive, and their joy is 
 full. O love the Lord, ye his faints : there is no want 
 to them that fear him ! 
 
 " Oc>. 26. Had much enlargement this morning, 
 whiift fpeaking on the nature, extent and influence of 
 divine love : what defigns it formed — with what en- 
 ergy it acted — with what perfeverance it purfued its 
 objec.1 — what obftacles it furmounted — what difficul- 
 ties it conquered — and what fweetnefs it imparted un- 
 der the he a vie ft leads, and fevereft trials. Almoll 
 through the day I enjoyed a very defirable frame, and 
 on coming home, my wife and I had fome converfa- 
 tion on the fubjtft of my going. Shefaid, Though 
 in general the thought was painful - 9 yet there were 
 fome feafons when (he had no preference, but felt her- 
 felf difpofed to go or flay, as the Lord fhould direct* 
 
 •f This day wrote to brother Fuller, briefly dating 
 my defires, requefling his advice, and propofing a 
 meeting of the Committee on the bufinefs. I feel 
 great fatisfac"Hon arifmg from my leaving the matter 
 to the determination of my honoured brethren, and to 
 God through them. 
 
 " 0£t. 27. To-day I fent a packet to our breth- 
 ren in India. I could not forbear telling brother Ca- 
 rey all my feelings, views, and expectations.: but 
 without faying I fhould be entirely governed by the 
 opinion of the Society. 
 
 « Oft. 
 
54 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " OcX. 28. Still panting to preach Jefus among 
 my fellow finners to whom he is yet unknown. 
 Wrote to Dr. Rogers, of Philadelphia, to-day upon 
 the fubjeft with freedom and warmth, and inquired 
 whether, whilft the people of the United States were 
 forming Societies to encourage arts, liberty, and emi- 
 gration, there could not a few be found among them 
 •who would form a fociety for the tranfmiiTion of the 
 word of life to the benighted heathens ; or in cafe 
 that could not be, whether they might not ftrengthen 
 our hands in Europe, by fome benevolent proof of 
 concurring with us in a defign, which they fpeak of 
 with fuch approbation ? With this I fent Heme's 
 Letters. I will follow both with my prayers, and wliQ 
 can tell ? 
 
 li Oft. 29. Looked over the Cede of Hindoo Laivr 
 to-day. How much is there to admire in it, founded 
 on the principles of juftice. The mod Salutary regu- 
 lations are adopted in many circum fiances. But what 
 a pity that fo much excellence Should be abafed by 
 laws to eftablifh or countenance idolatry, magic, pros- 
 titution, prayers for the dead, falfe-witneffing, theft, 
 and fuicide. How perfedt is the morality of the gof- 
 pel of Jefus •, and how defirable that they {hould em- 
 brace it. Ought not means to be ufed ? Can we aS- 
 fift them too foon ? There is reafon to think that 
 their Shatters were penned about the beginning of the 
 Kollee Jogue, which mull be foon after the deluge : 
 and are not 4000 years long enough for 100 millions 
 of men to be under the empire of the devil ? 
 
 " 0<ft. 31. I am encouraged to enter upon this 
 day (which I fet apart for fupplicating God) by a rec- 
 elletlion cf his promifes to thofe who Seek him. If 
 the facred word be true, the fervants of God can 
 never feek his face in vain ; and as I am confeious of 
 lay fincerity and earnett defire only to know his pleas- 
 ure. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ce. 55 
 
 tire that I may perform it, I find a degree of confi- 
 dence that I (hall realize the fulfilment of the word on 
 which he caufeth me to hope. 
 
 iS Began the day with folemn prayer for the affift- 
 ance of the Holy Spirit in my prefent exercife, that fo 
 I might enjoy the fpirit and power of prayer, and have 
 my perfonal religion improved, as well as my public 
 fteps direfted. In this duty 1 found a little quick- 
 ening. 
 
 " I then read over the narrative of my experience, 
 and my journal. I find my views are (till the fame ; 
 but my heart is much more eftabiifhed than when I 
 began to write. 
 
 " Was much ftruck in reading Paul's words in 2 
 Cor. i. 1 7, when after fpeeking of his purpofe to travel 
 for the preaching of the gofpel, he faith, Did I then 
 jhtnefs when I ivas thus minded P Or the things that 
 I.purpofiy do I purpofe according to thejlejh^ that with me 
 there jhould be yea yea y nay nay ? The piety of the apof- 
 tle in not purpofing after the fleih, the ferioufnefs of 
 fpirit with which he formed his defigns, and his fted- 
 faft adherence to them, were in my view worthy of 
 the higheft admiration and ft rift eft imitation. 
 
 " Thinking that I might get fome afliftance from 
 David Bravura" s experience, I read his life to the time 
 of his being appointed a Miflionary among the Indians. 
 The exalted devotion of that dear man almoft made 
 me queilion mine. Yet at fome feafons he fpeaks cf 
 finking as well as rifing. His lingular piety excepted, 
 his feelings, prayers, defires, comforts, hopes, and far- 
 rows are my own ; and if I could follow him in noth- 
 ing elfe, I knew I had been enabled to fay this with 
 him, c I feel exceedingly calm, and quite refigned to 
 God refpefting my fucure improvement (or ftation) 
 
 when 
 
56 Memoirs of the late 
 
 tvben and where he pleafed. My faith lifted me above 
 the world, and removed all thofe mountains, which I 
 could not look over of late. I thought I wanted not 
 the favour of man to lean upon ; for I knew God's 
 favour was infinitely better, and that it was no matter 
 nvhere or when^ or how Chrift mould fend me, nor 
 with what trials he fhould flill exercife me, if I might 
 be prepared for his work and will.' 
 
 tl Read die ii. iii. iv. v. and vi. chapters of the 
 fecond epiftle to the Corinthians. Felt a kind of pla- 
 cidity, but not much joy. On beginning the conclud- 
 ing prayer, I had no ftrength to wreftle, nor power 
 with God at all. I feemed as one defolate and for- 
 faken. I prayed for myfelf, the Society, the Miffion- 
 aries, the converted Hindoos, the church in Cannon- 
 ftreet, my family, and mimftry ; but yet all was dul- 
 nefs, and I feared I had offended the Lord. I felt 
 but little zeal for the million, and was about to con- 
 clude with a lamentation over the hardnefs of my 
 heart ; when of a fudden it pleafed God to fmite the 
 rock with the rod of his Spirit, "and immediately the 
 waters began to flow. O what a heavenly, glorious, 
 melting power was it. My eyes, almoft clofed with 
 weeping, hardly fufFer me to write. I feel it over 
 again. O what a view of the love of a crucified Re- 
 deemer did I enjoy : the attractions of his crofs how 
 powerful ! I was as a giant refrefhed with new wine, as 
 to my animation ; like Mary at the Mailer's feet w. 
 ing, for tender r.efs of foul 5 like a little child, for fub- 
 miilion to my heavenly Father's will ; and like Paul, 
 for a victory over all felf-love, and creature-love, and 
 fear of man, when thefe things ftand in the way of 
 my duty. The intereft that Chrift took in the re- 
 demption of the heathen, the Gtuation of our brc 
 ren in Bengal, the worth of the foul, and the plain 
 command of Jefus Chrift, together with an irrefiitible 
 drawing of foul, which by far exceeded any thing I 
 
 ever 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 57 
 
 '■ever felt before, and is impoflible to be defcribed to or 
 conceived of by thofe who have never experienced 
 it •, all compelled me to vote that I would, by his 
 leave, ferve him among the heathen. The bible lying 
 open before me (upon my knees) many pafTages caught 
 my eye, and confirmed the purpofes of my heart, If 
 ever in my life I knew any thing of the influences of 
 the Holy Spirit, I did at this time. I was fwallowed 
 up in God. Hunger, fulnefs, cold, heat, friends and 
 enemies, all feemed nothing before God. I was in a 
 new world* All was delightful ; for Chrift was all, 
 and in all. Many times I concluded prayer, but when 
 riling from rny knees, communion with God was ib 
 defirable, that I was fweetly drawn to it again and 
 •again, till my animal ftrength was almoft exhaufted. 
 Then I thought it would be pleafure to burn for God. 
 
 « And now while I write, fuch a heavenly fwee'N 
 nefs fills my foul, that no exterior circum fiances can 
 remove it ; and I do uniformly feel, that the more I 
 am thus, the more I pant for the fervice of my blefled 
 Jefus among the heathen. Yes, my dear, my dying 
 Lord, I am thine, thy fervant 5 and if I neglect the 
 fervice of io good a mafter, I may well expect a guilty 
 ^confidence in life, and a death awful as that of Judas 
 or of Spira ! 
 
 y i * ■' 
 " This evening I liad a meeting with my mends. 
 Returned much dejected. Reviewed a letter-#rom 
 brother Fuller, winch, though he fays he Jtas many 
 objections to my going, yet is fo affectionately expreff- 
 ed as to yield me a gratification. 
 
 " Nov. 3. This evening received a letter from 
 brother Ryland, containing many objections : but 
 contradiction itfclf is pleafant when it is the voice of 
 judgment mingled with affection. I wifh to fremem* 
 bcr that I tnaf be mlflnken y thotigh I catuiot fay I am 
 ¥ at 
 
58 Memoirs of the late 
 
 at prefent convinced that it is fo. I am happy to find 
 that brother Ryland approves of my referring it to the 
 Committee. I have much confidence in the judg- 
 ment of my brethren, and hope I mall be perfectly 
 fatisfied with their advice. I do think, however, if they 
 knew how earneftly I pant for the work, it would be 
 impoflible for them to withhold their ready acquies- 
 cence. O Lord, thou knowefl my fincerity ; and that 
 if I go not to the work it will not be owing to any 
 reluftance on my part ! If I ftay in England, I fear 
 I (hall be a poor ufelefs ilrone ; or if a ienfe of duty 
 prompt me to activity, I doubt whether I (hall ever 
 know inward peace and joy again. O Lord, I am, 
 rhou knoweft I am, opprejjed ; undertake lor me ! 
 
 " Nov. 5. At times to-day I have been reconciled 
 to the thought of flaying if any brethren ihould fo ad- 
 vife ; but at other times I feem to think I could not. 
 I look at brother Carey's portrait as it hangs in my 
 ftudy, I love him in the bowels of Jefus Chrift, and 
 long to join his labours : every look calls up a hun- 
 dred thoughts, all of which inflame my defire to be 
 a fellow-labourer with him in the work of the Lord. 
 One thing, however, I have reiolved upon, that, the 
 Lord keeping me, if I cannot go abroad, I will do all 
 I can to ierve the million at home. 
 
 « Nov. 7. This is the Jaft day of peculiar devo- 
 tion before the deciding meeting. May I have 
 ftrength to wreftle with God to-day for his wifdom 
 to prefide in the Committee, and by faith to leave the 
 iiTue to their determination. 
 
 1 « I did not enjoy much enlargement in prayer to* 
 day. My mind feems at preiVnt incapable of thofe 
 fenfations of joy with which I have lately been much 
 indulged, through its ftrugglings in relation to my go- 
 ing or ftayin^ : yet I have been enabled to commit 
 
 the 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 59 
 
 tht iffue into the hands of God, as he may direct ray 
 brethren, hoping that their advice will be agreeable to 
 his wilL" 
 
 The refult of the Committee Meeting has already 
 been related ; together with the (late of his mind, as 
 far as could be collected from his letters, for fome 
 time after it. The termination of thefe tender and 
 interefting exercifes, and of all his other labours, in 
 io fpeedy a removal from the prefent fcen'e of action, 
 may teach us not to draw any certain concluiion as to 
 the defigns of God concerning our future labours, 
 from the ardour or fincerity of our feelings. He may 
 take it well that it was in our hearts to build him an 
 houfe y though he mould for wife reafons have deter- 
 mined not to gratify us. Suffice it, that in matters of 
 everlasting moment he has engaged to perf eft that 
 which concerns us. In this he hath condescended to 
 bind himfelf, as by an oath, for our confolation ; here 
 therefore we may fafely confider our fpiritual defires 
 as indicative of his defigns : but it is otherwife in va- 
 rious inftances with regard to prefent duty. 
 
6«- Memoirs *f the latz 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 HIS EXERCISES AND LABOURS, FROM THE TIME OF HIS, 
 
 GIVING UP THE IDEA OF GOING ABROAD, TO THE 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF, HIS LAST AFFLICTION'. 
 
 JLaAD the multiplied labours of this excel- 
 lent man permitted his keeping a regular diary, we 
 may fee by the foregoing fpecimen of a feigle month, 
 what a rich ftore of truly Chriftian experience would 
 have pervaded thefe Memoirs. We fhouid then have 
 been better able to trace the gradual openings, of his 
 holy mind, and the fprings of that extraordinary unc- 
 tion of fpirit, and energy of action, by which his life 
 was diftinguifhed. 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 London to col-- 
 led for the Baptjft MiJJion, a-nd once he v.ifited Dub-- 
 lin, at the icviutien of the Evangelical Society in that, 
 city. 
 
 There appears throughout the general tenor of his. 
 life, a lingular fubmiiTiver.efs to the will of God ; and. 
 what is worthy of notice, this difpofition was general- 
 ly moil confpicuous when his own will was molt, 
 counteracted. The juiineis of this remark is. fuf— 
 ficiently apparent from his letter to Mrs. Fearce, o£ 
 Nov. 13, 1 /94>* after the decifion of the Committee \ 
 and the fame fpirit was carried into the common con- 
 cerns of life. Thus, about a month afterwards, when 
 I:2s dear Louifa was ill cf a fever, he thus- writes from, 
 Northampton to Mrs. Pearce :— 
 
 m MgfcmktM 
 • See page 4Q. 
 
Mr* Samuel Pearce. 61 
 
 " Dectmlcr 13, 1794. 
 "My dear Sarah, 
 
 " I AM juft brought on the wings of celeftial 
 mercy fafe to my Sabbath's ftation. I am well ; and 
 my dear friends here feem healthy and happy : but I 
 feel for you. I long to know how our dear Louifa's 
 pulfe beats : I fear ftill feveriih. We muft not, how- 
 ever, fuffer ourfelves to be infected with a mental fe- 
 ver on this account. Is (lie ill ? It is right. Is fhe 
 very ill ... . dying ? It is ftill right. Is fhe gone 
 to join the heavenly choriflers ? It is all right, not- 
 withstanding our repinings Repinings ! no ; we 
 
 will not repine. It is belt (he ihould go. It is bed 
 for her. This we muft allow. It is beft for us. Do 
 we expeft it ? O what poor, ungrateful, fhort-fight- 
 ed worms are we I Let us fubmit, my Sarah, till we 
 come to heaven : if we do not then fee that it is beft, 
 let us then complain. But why do I attempt to con- 
 fole ? Perhaps an indulgent Providence has ere now 
 diffipated your fears : or if that fame kind Providence 
 has removed our babe, you have confolation enough 
 in Him who fufFered more than we ; and more than 
 enough to quiet all our pailions, in that aftonilhing 
 eonfideration, — c God fo loved the world, that he /par- 
 ed not his own Son.' Did God cheerfully give the 
 holy child Jesus for us : and (hall we refufe our child 
 to Him ! He gave his Son to fuffer : He takes our 
 children to enjoy : Yes y to enjoy Himfelf. 
 
 Yours, with the tendereft regard, 
 
 S.P. 
 
 ■ •*. <s>4?j|^><s» <>• 
 
 In June, 1795:, he attended the Aflbciation at Ket- 
 tering, partly on account of fome miffionary bufinefs 
 there to be tranfa&ed. That was a feafon of great 
 F 2 joy 
 
joy to many, efpecially the laft forenoon previous to 
 parting. From thence he wrote to Mrs. Pearce as 
 follows : — 
 
 " FrOm a pew in the houfe of God at KetteTring r 
 with my cup of joy running over, I addrefs you by 
 the hands of brother Simrnons. Had it pleated Di- 
 vine Providence to have permitted your accompanying 
 me, my pleasures would have received no fmalt ad- 
 dition ; becaufe I fhould have hoped that you would 
 have been filled with fimilar confolation, and have re- 
 ceived equal edification by the precious means of grace 
 on which I have attended. Indeed, I never remem- 
 ber to have enjoyed a public meeting to fuch a high 
 degree fmce 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 fulnefs of the bleifing of 
 the gofpel of Chrift ! I hope, my beloved, that 
 you are not without the enjoyment of the fweetnefs 
 and the fuppoits of the blefled gcfpel. Oh that vow 
 may get and keep near to God, and in Him find in- 
 finitely more than you can poffibly lofe by your huf- 
 band's abfeiice ! 
 
 *« Mr. Hall preached, laft evening, from r?et. I 8. 
 A meft evangelical and experimental feaibn ! I was 
 charmed and warmed. Oh that Jefus may go on to 
 reveal himfelf to him as altogether lovely 1 I am un- 
 able to write mote now. To-day I ftfl ct? for North- 
 ampton, and preach there to-night. The Lord blefs 
 you !" 
 
 In July, 1 79J> He \1 a preffing invitation 
 
 from the General .Evz?igein\'i! Society in Dublin, to pay 
 then) a viilr, and to affiil in diirufing the goipei of 
 • he grace of God hi that kingdom. To this ftivlta- 
 uon he replied in the f^flowirjg letter, addreiHd to 
 Dr. Mc Ddw<il:-~ 
 
 " Birmingham, 
 
Mr. Sthmfel Pen-~r.\ 6$ 
 
 " Birmingham, Augufl 3, 179J.. 
 
 ■ Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 « I RECEIVED your favour of the 2zd. ult. 
 and for the interefting realbn you afiign, tranfm 
 .« fpeedy aniVer.' The Society, on whole behalf ; 
 wrote, I have ever confidered with the refpecl due to 
 the real friends of the bed of caufes — The came of 
 God and of his Chrift : a caufe which embraces the 
 moft important and durable interefts of our fellow 
 men : and your name, dear fir, I have been taught to 
 hold in more than common elleem by my dear broth- 
 er and father, Meiirs. Birt and Francis. The benev- 
 olent inftitution which you are engaged in fupporting,' 
 I am perfuaded, deferves more than the good wifhes 
 or prayers of your brethren in the kingdom and pa- 
 tience of Jefus, on this fide the channel ; and it will 
 yield me fubftantial pleafure to arfbrd perfonal ailiit- 
 ance in your pious labours. But, for the prcfent, I 
 am forry to fay, I mull decline your proposal j being 
 engaged to fpend a month in London this autumn, on 
 the bufmefs of our MUjlon Society of which you have 
 probably heard. 
 
 " When I formed my prefent connexions with the 
 church in Bir.i } I propofed an annual freedom 
 
 for fit weeks, from my paftoral duties ; and fhould 
 the < Evangelical Society' exprefs a wifti for my ier- 
 vices the e'nfaing year, I am perfectly inclined, God 
 willing; to fpend that time beneath their direction, 
 and at what part of the year they conceive a vifit 
 would be molt ferviceable to the good deilgn. I only 
 requeft, that lhuuld this be their defire, I may receive 
 the information as icon as they can conveniently de- 
 cide, that I may withhold myfeif from other engage- 
 ments, which may interfere with the time they may 
 appoint. I entreat you to make my Chriftian refpects 
 rptabk to the gentlemen who coinpofe the Socie- 
 
64 Memoirs of the Iafe 
 
 ty, and allure yourfelf that I am, dear fir, refpe&fully 
 and affectionately, 
 
 Your brother, in our Lord Jefus, 
 
 s. p." 
 
 The invitation was repeated, and he complied with 
 their requeft, engaging to go over in the month of 
 June, 1796. 
 
 • 
 
 A little before this journey, it occurred to Dr. Ry- 
 land, that an itinerating million into Cornwall might 
 be of ufe to the caufe of true religion, and that two 
 acceptable minifkers might be induced to undertake it ; 
 and that if executed during the vacation at the Briftol 
 Academy, two of the ftude'nts might fupply their 
 place. He communicated his thoughts to Mr. Pearce* 
 who wrote thus in anfwer : — 
 
 " May 50, 1796. 
 44 My very dear Brother, 
 
 " I THANK you a thoufand times for yourlaft 
 letter. Blefled be God, who hath put it into your 
 heart to propofe fuch a plan for increafing die boun- 
 daries of Zion, 1 have read your letter to our wifeft 
 friends here, and they heard it with great joy. The 
 plan •, the place -, the mode \ the perfons ; all, all 
 meet our moft affectionate wifhes. How did fuch a 
 fchemx never enter our minds before ! Alas, we have 
 nothing in our hearts that is worth having, fave what 
 God puts there. Do write to me when at Dublin, 
 and tell rae whether it be refolved on ; when they 
 fet out, &c. ? I hope ere long to hear, that as many * 
 difciples are employed in Great-Britain, as the Saviour 
 employed in Judea. When he gives the word, great 
 will be the company of the preachers. 
 
 « Oh,. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. &J 
 
 *< Oh, my dear brother, let us go on dill praying, 
 contriving, labouring, defending, until < the little 
 leaven leaveneth the whole lumpj and the fmali Hone 
 from the mountain fill the whole earth.? 
 
 M What pleafures do thofe lofe who have no inter- 
 eft in God's gracious and holy caufe ! How thankful. 
 Ciould we be, that we are not ftrangers to the joy 
 which the friends of Zion. feel when the Lord turn- 
 <th again Zion's captivity. I am, beyond expreflion, 
 
 Your aireclionate brother- in Chrjjl,. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 On May 3 1 he fet off for Dublin, and « the Lord 
 
 profpered his way, fo that he arrived at the time ap^- 
 
 pointed ; and' from every account it appears, that he 
 
 was not only lent in the fullnefs of the bl effing of the gf- 
 
 pe! of peace, but that the Lord himfelf went with him* 
 
 His preaching was not o\\\^. highly acceptable to every 
 
 clafs of hearers, but the word came from him with 
 
 power, and there is abundant reafon to believe, that 
 
 many will through 'eternity praife God for lending his 
 
 meffage to thtm by this dear ambafiiulor of Chrifh 
 
 His memory lives in their hearts, and they join with 
 
 the ether churches of Chriit ill deploring die lofs they 
 
 have fuftarned bv his dei 
 * 
 
 " He was earneft'ly fbJicited by tire Evangelical So- 
 ciety to rfcnew his vifit to that kingdom in 1798. 
 Ready to embrace every call of duty, he had fignified 
 
 his compliance : and the time was £zcd : but the 
 breaking out of the late rebellion prevented him from 
 realizing his intention. This was a painful difap- 
 pointment to many, who wiihed once more to fee his, 
 facej and to have heard the glad tidings from his lij 
 
 Kuchk 
 
66 Memoirs of the late 
 
 Such is the brief account of his vifit to Dublin, 
 given by Div Mc. Bowal. The fallowing letter was 
 written to Mrs. Pea*rce, when he had been there a lit- 
 tle more than a week : — 
 
 " Dubln, June 3 1, I 796. 
 
 u I LONG to know'how you do, and yo/u will 
 be as much concerned to know how I go on at this 
 diftance from you* I hairle to fatisfy your inquiries. 
 
 " I am in perfect health : am delightfully difap- 
 pointed 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 flay. The profpecT: of 
 ufefulnefs is flattering. I have already many more 
 friends (I hope Chrifitan friends) than I can gratify by 
 vifits. Many doors are open for preaching the gofpei 
 in the city ; and my country excurfions will probably 
 be few. Thus much for outline. 
 
 u But you will like to know how I fpend my time > 
 
 &€. Well then : I am at the hcufe of a Mr. H y 
 
 late High-Sheriff" for the city : a gentleman of opu- 
 lence, re fpe (Stability, and evangelical piety. He is by 
 profe-ilion a Calviniitic prefbyterian j an elder of Dr^ 
 Mc. BowaFs church \ has a moft amiable wife, and 
 four children. I am very thankful for being placed 
 here during my day. I am quite at home, I mean as 
 to eafe and familiarity \ for as to Jlyle of living, I 
 neither do, nor defire to equal it. Yet in my pref- 
 ent fituation it is convenient. It would, however, be 
 fickening and dull, had I not a God to go to, to con- 
 verfe with, to enjoy, and to call my ozvn. Oh, 'tis 
 this, f tu ihiSy my dearefl Sarah, which gives a point 
 to every enjoyment, and iweetens ail the cup of life. 
 
 "The 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 67 
 
 a The Lord's day after I wrote'to you laft, I preach- 
 ed for Dr. Mc. Dowal in the morning at half paft 
 eleven •, heard a Mr. Kilburne at five ; and preached 
 again at Plunket-ltreet at feven. On Tuefday even- 
 ing I preached at an hofpital, and on Thurfday even- 
 ing at Plunket-ftreet again. Yefterday, for the Bap- 
 tifts in the morning, Dr. Mc. Dowal at five, and at 
 Plunket-ftreet at feven. 
 
 " The hours of worfliip will appear fingular to you : 
 they depend on the ufual meal times. We breakfaft 
 at ten •, dine between four and five, fometimes be- 
 tween five and fix ; take tea from feven to nine *, and 
 fup from ten to twelve. 
 
 " I thank God that I polTefs an abiding determina- 
 tion to aim at the confcunces of the people in every 
 dlfcourfe. I have borne the moft pofitive teftimony 
 againft the prevailing evils of profeftbrs here : — as, (tn^ 
 fuality, gaiety, vain amufements, neglect of the Sab- 
 bath, &c. ^ and 3aft night, told an immenfe crowd of 
 profefibrs of the fir ft rank, < that if they made cuftom 
 and faihion their plea, they were awfully deluding their 
 fouls •, for it had always been the fafhion to infult 
 God, to diflipate time, and to purfue the broad road 
 to hell ; but it would not leflen their torments there, 
 that the way to damnation was the fafl)ion.' 
 
 * I expected my faithfulnefs would have given them 
 otTence -, but I am perfuaded it was the way to pleafe 
 the Lord, and thofe whom I expected would be ene- 
 mies, are not only at peace with me, but even renounce 
 their fenfual indigencies to attend on my miniftry. 
 I do afluredly believe that God hath lent me hither 
 for good. The five o'clock meetings are miferably at- 
 tended in general. In a houfe that will hold 1,500, 
 or 2jOoo people, you will hardly fee above fifty ! 
 Yefterday morning I preached on the fubject of pub- 
 lic 
 
68 Memoirs of the late 
 
 lie worjbip) from Pfalm v. 7, and ferioufly warned 
 them again (1 preferring their bellies to God, and their 
 own houfes to his. I was delighted and furprifed, at 
 the five o'clock meeting to fee the place nearly full. 
 Surely this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in 
 my eyes. Never, nev^r did I more feel how weak I 
 am in myfelf/--a mere nothing ; and hew ftrong I am 
 in the omnipotence of God. I feel a fuperiority to 
 all fear, and poiTefs a confeious dignity in being the 
 ambafladof of God. Oh help me to praife, for it is 
 lie alone who teachcth my hands to war, and my 
 fingers to fight : and Hill pray for me ; for if he 
 withdraw for a moment, I become as weak and un- 
 profitable as the briars of the wildernefs. 
 
 " You cannot think how much I arh fupported by 
 the aiTurance that I have left a prayhig people at Bir- 
 mingham ; and I believe, that in anfwer to their pray- 
 ers I have hitherto been wonderfully a fulled in my 
 public work, as well as enjoyed muck in private de- 
 votion. 
 
 " I have formed a mcfr. ple&fTng acquaintance with 
 fcveral feridus yc in the Univt'rfity here, and 
 
 with two of ' f the College ; mod pious 
 
 gentlemen indeed, who have undergone -a 'world of 
 reproach for "Chrift and his gofpel, and have been 
 forbidden to preach in the churches by the Arehbifh- 
 op : but God has railed another hotlfe for them here^ 
 where they preach with much fuccefe, and have begun 
 a meeting in the College, which promifes frefh pros- 
 perity to the caufe of Jefus." 
 
 The following particulars, in addition to the above, 
 are taken partly from fome notes in his own hand 
 writing, and partly from the account given by his 
 friend, Mr. Summers, who accompanied him during 
 the 4atter part of his vifits. 
 
 A* 
 
Mr. Samuel Peara. 69 
 
 At his firft arrival, the congregations were but 
 thinly attended, and the Baptift congregation in par- 
 ticular, amongft whom he delivered feveral difcourfes. 
 It much affected him to fee the whole city given to 
 fenfuality and worldly conformity ; and efpecially to 
 find thofe of his own denomination amongft the low- 
 eft, and leaft affected with their condition. But the 
 longer he continued, the more the congregations in- 
 creafed, and every opportunity became increafingly 
 interefting, both to him and them. His faithful re- 
 monftrances, and earned recommendations of pray- 
 er-meetings to his Baptift friends, though at firft ap- 
 parently ill received, were well taken in the end ; and 
 he had the happinefs to fee in them fome hopeful ap- 
 pearances of a return to God. On June the 20th he 
 wrote to his friend, Mr. Summers, as follows : — 
 
 11 My dear friend, 
 
 " IF you mean to abide by my opinion, I fay, 
 Come to Dublin, and come directly ! I have been moft 
 delightfully difappointed. I expected darknefs, and 
 behold, light •, forrow, and I have had caufe for abun- 
 dant joy. I thank God that I came hither, and hope 
 that many, as well as myfelf, will have caufe to praife 
 him. Never have I been more deeplv taught mv 
 own nothingnefs : never hath the power' of God more 
 evidently refted upon me. The harveft here is great 
 indeed ; and the Lord of the harveft hath enabled me 
 to labour in it with delight. 
 
 1 I praife him for all that is pad ; 
 I truft him for all that's to come/ 
 
 " The Lord hath of late been doing great things 
 for Dublin. Several of the young men in the col- 
 lege have been awakened ; and two of the fellows are 
 fweet evangelical preachers. One of them is of a fpirit 
 ferene as the fummer evening, and fweet as the 
 G breath 
 
jo Memoirs of the late 
 
 breath of May. I am already intimate with them, 
 and have fpent feveral mornings in college with vari- 
 ous itudents, who bid fair to be faithful watchmen on 
 Jerufalem's walls. But I hope you will come •, and 
 then you will fee for yourfelf. If not, I will give 
 you fome pleafant details when we meet in England. 
 
 S.P." 
 
 Mr. Summers complied with this invitation ; and 
 of the lafl feven or eight days of Mr. Pearce's con- 
 tinuance at Dublin, he himfelf 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. Mifs A. K remark- 
 ed two wonders in Dublin : — a praying fociety com- 
 pofed of fludents at college, and another of lawyers. 
 The family were called together. We fung : I read, 
 and expounded the xii. of Ifaiah •, and prayed. — At 
 feven we went to a prayer meeting at Plunket-ftreet : 
 
 very large attendance. Mr. R and Mr. S 
 
 prayed, and I fpoke from Rom. x. 12, 13. There is 
 ?io difference between the Jew and the Greek : for the 
 fame Lord over all is rich unto all who call upon him. 
 For ivhofoever Jhall call upon the name of the Lord^fall be 
 faved. — Many feemed affected. — After I had clofed 
 the opportunity, I told them fome of my own experi- 
 ence, and requefted, that if any prefent wifhed for 
 conversation, they would come to me, either that 
 evening, or on Thurfday eveaing in the veflry. — Five 
 perfons came in : — one had been long imprefTed with 
 religion, but could never fummons courage enough 
 
 to open her heart before. Another, a Mifs W , 
 
 attributed her flrft impreffions, under God, to my 
 miniftry •, and told, me that her father had regularly 
 
 attended 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 7 * 
 
 attended of late, and that her mother was fo much 
 alarmed as to be almoit in defpair. Poor girl ! ihe 
 feemed truly in earned about her own foul, and as 
 much concerned for her parents. — The next had pofer 
 feffed a ferious concern for fome time, and of late had 
 
 been much revived. — One young lady, a Mifs H , 
 
 flaid in the meeting-houfe, exceedingly affected in- 
 deed. Mr. K fpoke to her — She faid, (he would 
 
 fpeak with me on Thurfday. 
 
 " Tuefday, 5th. < Went to Leifiip. At feven — 
 preached to a large and affected auditory. 
 
 « Wednefday, 6th. Mr. He and myfelf went 
 
 to Mrs. Mc. G , to inquire about the young lady • 
 
 who was fo much affected at the meeting. Mrs. 
 
 Mc. G faid, her mother and fifter were pious ; 
 
 that fhe had been very giddy ; but that laft Lord's 
 day fhe was ferioufly awakened to a fenfe of fin ; had 
 expreffed her delight in religion, and fled for refuge 
 to the blood of Jefus. — Her fifter was introduced to 
 me 5 a fweetly- pious- -lady.— I agreed to wait for an- 
 
 interview with the young lady at Mr. H 's, in 
 
 Eccles-ftreet, to-morrow. 
 
 « Thurfday, 7th. Mifs H , her fifter, and 
 
 Mrs. Mc. G , came to Eccles-ftreet. — A mod de- 
 lightful interview. Seldom have I feen fuch pro- 
 ficiency in fo fhort a time. — That day week, atPlunk- 
 et-ftreet, fhe received her firft ferious impreffions. 
 Her concern deepened at Mafs Lane, on Lord's-day 
 morning — more fo in the evening at Plunket-ftreet — 
 but moft of all on Monday night. — I exhorted them 
 to begin a prayer and experience meeting ; and they 
 agreed. Bleffed be God ! this ftrengthens my hands 
 greatly. — At feven o'clock, preached at Plunket-ftreet, 
 from Jer. I. 4, 5. Going and weeping — they Jhall ajk* 
 the way to Zion with their faces thitherward. — A full 
 
 houfe y 
 
7 2 Memoirs of the late 
 
 houfe ; and an lmpreffive feafon. Tarried after the 
 public fervices were ended, to converfe on religion. 
 The moil pleafing cafe was a voung man of Mr. 
 D 's. 
 
 " Saturday, 9th. Went with my friend, Mr. 
 
 S- , to call c r i . Foin id her at her 
 
 her's — "VP : the door — She ran out af- 
 
 us — Seemed happy ; but agitated. Ran, and c 
 ed her mother — Seen the door of the parlour 
 
 open, and a majv. appeared \ who, as (lie en- 
 
 1 the room, thus acceded me : — f Who art thou, 
 oh Welled of the Lord : Welcome to the widow's 
 houfe ! Accept the widow's thanks for coming after 
 the child whom thou haft begotten in the gofpel V — I 
 v&A too much overcome to do more than take by the 
 I * ; ..it. A folemn iilence enftted for a 
 minute or two ; when the old lady recovering, ex- 
 preffed the fuhiefs of her fatisfaction refpecYmg the 
 reality of the change effected in her daughter, and her 
 gratitude for great refreshment of her own foul, by 
 irttstifj oi -" r jfpof (ifj&ars. &£s faiil, Hie had known 
 the Lord d&titfg fotty year^v being called under the 
 miniftry of John Fiiner, in the open air, when on a 
 vifit to an officer who was her brother-in-law. She 
 told us much of her experience, and promifed to en- 
 courage the prayer- meeting, which I propofed to be 
 held in her houfe every Lord's day evening. They are ' 
 to begin to-morrow, after preaching. — It was a pleaf- 
 attt meeting ; and we returned with pleafure to Ec*- 
 cles-ftreet. After we rofe up to come away, the old 
 lady affectionately faid, * May the good will of Him 
 who dwelt in the bufli attend you wherever you go, 
 forever and ever !" 
 
 The young lady fome months after wrote to Mr. 
 
 S , and fays, amongft other things, — " I have 
 
 great reafon to be thankful for the many blefllngs^the 
 
 Lord 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. y$ K 
 
 id has been pleafed to beftow upon me, and in 
 particular for his fending Mr. Pearce to this city; and 
 that through his means I have been convinced of fin.' 
 I am happy to inform you, that through grace I am 
 enabled to walk in the narrow path. The Lord has 
 taken away all defire for worldly company ; all rr.y- 
 defires now are to attend on the means of 'grace. 
 Blefled be his name, I often find him prefent in them. 
 My mother and I often remember the happy time we 
 fpent in your company at our houfe. She often 
 fpeaks of it with great pleafure, and bleiTes the Lord 
 for the change which grace has wrought in me/? 
 
 « LordVday, ipAl (TBe laft Sabbath.) Preach- 
 ed in the morning at Mary's abbey, from Job xxxiii. 27,. 
 28. He looketh upon men, and if .any fay % I have finned y 
 and perverted that which tuas right, and it profited me 
 not ; he iv'ill deliver his foul -from going into the pit, and 
 life fhaJl fee the, light. — A happy feafon. — In- the af- 
 ternoon, having dined with Mr. W , he took - 
 
 k rr.z 
 
 ~~.., **^,^. & ^^ „ .w- **., .. ■ , ~~ -"''■*'<»» 
 
 to Swift's alley, the Baptiit place of worfnip, where 
 I gave an exhortation on brotherly love, and adminif 
 
 tered the Lord's fupper. At Mr. W 's motion, 
 
 the church requefted me to look out a fuitable minis- 
 ter for them.- — In the. evening, I preached at Pliinfcet- 
 ftreet, from 2 Tim. i. 18. The Lord grant unto hint 
 that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day i — A verv 
 foJerrm feaion, . 
 
 M Monday, nth. Met the dear Chriftian friends*-. 
 for the laft time, at a prayer-meeting in Plunket- 
 ftreet.— -The Lord was there ! — Several friends fpent 
 the evening with us afterwards at Mri H- 's. 
 
 « Tuefday, 12th. Went aboard at four ; arrived 
 
 at Liverpool on Thurfday ; and fafely at home on 
 
 Friday, July 15, 1796. Blefled be the Preferver of 
 
 G 2 men, 
 
74 Memoirs of the late 
 
 men, the Saviour of finners, and the help of his fer- 
 yants, for evermore, amen, amen," 
 
 Some time after, writing to his friend who accom- 
 panied him, he fays, " I have received feveral letters 
 from Dublin : — two from Mafter B. one from Mifs 
 
 H , one from M , three or four from the Bap- 
 
 tift friends, and fome from others, whom I cannot 
 
 recoiled. — Mr. K lately called on me in his 
 
 way from Bath to Holyhead. We talked of you, and 
 of our Lord, and did not part till we had prefented 
 ourfelves before the throne." 
 
 During his labours in Dublin, he was ftrongly fo- 
 liated to fettle in a very flattering fituation in the 
 neighbourhood ;* and a very liberal falary was offer- 
 ed him. On his pofitively declining it, mention was 
 made of only^//# months of the year. When that was 
 declined, three months were propofed ; and when he 
 was about to anfwer this in the negative, the party re- 
 fufed to receive his anfwer, defiring him to take time 
 to confider of it. He did fo ; and though he enter- 
 tained a very grateful' fenfe of the kindnefs and 
 generofity expreiTed by the propofal, yet after the 
 matured deliberation, he thought it his duty to de-t 
 cline it. Mr. Pearce's modefty prevented his talking 
 on fuch a fubjeft ; but it was known at the time by 
 his friend who accompanied him, and fince his death, 
 has been frequently mentioned as an inftance of his 
 di (Inter efted fpirit. 
 
 His friends at Birmingham were ready to think it 
 hard that he mould be fo willing to leave them to^go 
 en a million among the heathen \ but they could not 
 well complain, and much lefs think ill of him, when 
 
 they 
 
 * At the Black Red, the refule nee -of £>me of the jnoft genteel 
 families in the vicinity cf Dublin. 
 
Mr, Samuel Pea- 7j 
 
 they faw that fuch a willingnefs was more than could- 
 be effected by the mod flattering profpe&s of a 
 worldly nature, accompanied too with promifing ap- 
 pearances of religious ufefulnefs. 
 
 About a month after his return from Dublin, Mr. 
 Pearce addrefled a letter to Mr. Carey, in which lie 
 gives fome farther account of Ireland, as well as of 
 iome other interefting matters : — 
 
 ■ 3irm':ngh:m^ AugvJ I a, If 96. 
 
 " OH my dear brother, did you but know with 
 what feelings I refume my pen$ freely to correfpond 
 with you after receiving your very affectionate letter 
 to myfelf, and perafing that which you fent by the 
 fame conveyance to the Society, lam lure you would 
 perfuade yourfelf that I have no common friendihip 
 for you, and that your regards are at leaft returned 
 with equal ardor. 
 
 * I fear (I had almoft laid)' that I fhalr never fee 
 your face in the flefh, but if any thing can acid to the. 
 joy which the prefence of Chrift, and conformity, 
 perfect conformity, to him will afford in heaven^ 
 furely the certain profpeft of meeting with my dear 
 brother Carey there, is one of (if not) the greatelt, 
 Thrice happy fhould I be, if the providence of Gcd 
 M r ould open a way for my partaking of your labours, 
 your fufferings, and your pleafures on this fide the 
 eternal world : but all my brethren here are of a 
 mind, that I fhall be more ufeful at home than 
 abroad ; and I, though reludtantly, fubmit. Yet I 
 am truly with you in fpirit. My heart is at Mud- 
 nabatty, and at times I even hope to find my body 
 there : but with the Lord I leave it *, He knows my 
 wifhes, my motives, my regret ; He knows all my 
 foul ; and, depraved as it is, I feel an inexpreflible fat- 
 isfa£lion that he does know it. However, it is a 
 
 Juimhling 
 
y.6 Memoirs of thi late, 
 
 Irumbling thought to me, that he fees I am unfit for 
 fuch a ftation, and unworthy fuch an honour as to - 
 bear his name among the heathen. But I muft be 
 thankful ft ill, that though he appoints me not to a poft 
 in foreign fervice, he will allow me to (land centinel " 
 a| home. In this fituation may I have grace to be " 
 faithful unto death ! 
 
 " I hardly wonder at your being pained on account 
 of the effects produced in the minds of your Europe- 
 an friends, by the news of your engagement in the 
 Indigo, bufmefs, becaufe I imagine yon are ignorant 
 of the procefs of that matter amongft us; When I. 
 received the news, I glorified God in fincerity, on ac- 
 count of it, and gave moil hearty thanks to him for 
 his moft gracious appearance on your behalf : but at 
 the i- f \mc time I feared, left through that undertaking, 
 die work of the Million might in fome way or other . 
 be impeded. The fame " npreiHon was made on the. 
 minds of many others : yet no blame was attached, iri 
 our view, to you-. Our minds were only alarmed for 
 the future ; not difpofed to cenfurc for the paft. . 
 Had you. feen a faithful copy of the prayers, the 
 praifes, and the converfation of the day in which your 
 letters were read^ I know you would not have enter- 
 tained one unkind thought of the Society towards you. < 
 Oh no, my dear brother, far.be it from us to lay an 
 atom upon your fpirits of a painful nature. Need I. 
 ( ty, We do Jove, we do refpect you, we do confide 
 too much in you to de/tgn the fmalleft occafion of dif-- 
 trefs to your heart. But I clofe this fubjecT:. . In fu- 
 ture we will atone for an exprefhon that might bear a. 
 harfh conftrudlion. We will ftrengthen, we .will fup- 
 port, we will comfort-, we will encourage you in your 
 arduous work : — all, all (hall be love and kind.nefs ; 
 glory to God, and good will to men. If I have done 
 aught that is wrong, as an individual, pardon me : If 
 ^e have faid aught amifs, as a Society, pardon us,. 
 
 Let; 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearee* 77 
 
 Let us forbear one another in love, forgiving one 
 another, even as God for ChrifV6 fake hath forgiven 
 
 " By the time this reaches you, I hops you will 
 have receiver* Nos. I. unci \L of Periediccd Accounts. 
 Should vou find any thing in them, wh;ch you think 
 had better be omitted, pray be free in mentioning it, 
 
 and in future be fully attended 
 
 to. We have raken ail t:=e- p.. 1 all the 
 
 caution hi ceptionable ; 
 
 but you can bstter judge in fome refpects than we.. 
 If you fi>ouid not approve of all (though we are not 
 confeious of any tfci$g that ycu will duVpprove) you. 
 will not be ouended, but believe we hvc cloi.^ our. 
 bell, and with your remarks, hope to do better (till. 
 
 <• With pJeafure, approaching to rapture, I read the 
 lad accounts you fent us. I never expe&ed imme- 
 diate fuccefs : the proipecr, is truly greater than my 
 mod fanguin^ hopes. M The kingdom of heaven is 
 Ii*e to a itm* r^Wf! hid in three rneafures of meal, tilt" 
 the whole is leavened." Blefled be God ! the leaven- 
 is in the meal, and its influence is already difcovera- 
 ble. A great God is doing great things by vdtu 
 Go on, my deareft brother, go on •, God will do> 
 greater things than thefe. Jefus is worthy of a ivor/d 
 of praife : and Avail Hindojian not praife him ? Sure- 
 3y he (hall fee of the travail of his foul ihcre^ and the 
 fower and the reaper fnall rejoice together. Already 
 the empire of darknefs totters, and foon it (hall doubt- 
 iefs fall. BleiTed be the labourers in this important 
 work ; and blelTed be He who giveth them, hearts and 
 ftrength to labour, and promifes that they fnall not- 
 labour in vain ! 
 
 " Do not fear the want of money. God is for us, 
 and the filver and the gold are his \ and fo are the hearts 
 
7 8 Memoirs of the kite 
 
 of thofe who pofiefs the moft: oi it. L will travel 
 from the Land's end to the Orkney's but we will get 
 money enough for all the demands of. the miffion. I 
 have never had a fear on that head : a little exertion 
 will do wonders ; and pad experience juftifies every 
 confidence. Men % we only want \ and God fhail find 
 them for us in- due time. 
 
 M Is brother Fountain arrived ? We hope he will 
 be an acceptable remittance, and, viva voce, compen- 
 fate for the lack of epiftolary communications. 
 
 « I rejoice in contemplating a church of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift in Bengal, formed upon his own plan. 
 Why do not the Hindoo converts join it ? Lord, heJp 
 their unbelief ! But perhaps the drop is now with- 
 held, that you may by and by have the mower, and 
 lift up your eyes, and fay, " Thefe, whence came 
 they ? They fly as clouds, dnd as doves to their win- 
 dowo." For three years, we read of few baptized by- 
 \ht fnft difciples of our Lord ; but oi* the fourth, 
 three thoufand, and five thoufand openly avowed him. 
 The Lord fend you fuch another Pentecoft ! 
 
 m I intend to write my dear brother a long letter.- 
 It will prove my defire to gratify him, if it do no 
 more, I wiftj that I knew in what communications 
 your other correfpondents will be mod. deficient : then 
 I would try. to fupply their omifiions, 
 
 "I will begin with myfelf : but I have nothing good 
 to fay. I think I am the moft vile ungrateful fer- 
 vent that ever Jefus Chrift employed in his church. 
 At feme times, I queftion whether I ever knew the 
 grace of God in truth ; and at others, Lhefitate on the 
 moft important points of Chriftian faith. I have lately 
 had peculiar ftruggles of this kind with my own heart, 
 a#d have often. half concluded to fpeak no more in : 
 
 the. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearcc. 79 
 
 the name of the Lord. When I am preparing for the 
 pulpit, I fear I am going to avow fables for fa£ts, and 
 doctrines of men for the truths of God. In conver- 
 sation I am obliged to be filent, left my tongue (houlcl 
 belie my heart. In prayer I know not what to fay, 
 and at times think prayer altogether ufelefs. Yet I 
 cannot wholly furrender my hope, or my prbfeflion. 
 Three things I find, above all others, tend to my -pre- 
 servation : — Firft, A recolle&ion of a time, when, at 
 otice, I was brought to abandon the practice of fins, 
 which the fear of damnation could never bring me to 
 relinquifh before. Surely I fay, this muft be the finger 
 of God, according to the fcripture do&rine of regene- 
 ration : — Secondly, I feel fuch a confcioufnefs of guilt, 
 that nothing but the gofpel fcheme can fatisfy my 
 mind refpe£ting the hope of falvation : — and, Thirdly, 
 I fee that what true devotion does appear in the 
 world, feems only to be found among thofe to whom 
 Chrift is precious. 
 
 " But I frequently find a backwardnefs to fecret 
 prayer, and much deadnefs in it : and it puzzles me to 
 fee how this can be confident with a life of grace, 
 However, I refolve, that let what will become of me, 
 I will do all I can for God while I live, and leave the 
 reft to him ; and this I ufuaily experience to be the 
 beft way to-be at: peace. 
 
 " I believe, that if I were more fully given *p to 
 God, I fhould be free from thefe diftreffing workings 
 of mind ; and then I long to be a Mifiionary where I 
 fhould have temptations to nothing but to abound in 
 the work of the Lord, and lay myfelf entirely out for 
 him. In fuch a fituatioa, I think pride would have 
 but little food, and faith more occafion for exercife ; 
 fo that the fpiritual life, and inward religion, woulcl 
 thrive better than they do now. 
 
 " At 
 
So Menmrs of the late 
 
 " At times, indeed, I do feel, I truft, genuine con- 
 trition, and fincerely lament my fhort-comings before 
 God. Oh the iweets that accompany true repent- 
 ance ! Yes, I love to be abafed before God. « There 
 it is I find my blefiing.' May the Lord daily and 
 hourly bring me low, and keep me fo ! 
 
 « As to my public work, I find, whilft engaged in it, 
 little caufe to complain for want either of matter or 
 ^vords. My labours are acceptable, and not altogeth- 
 er unprofitable to the hearers : but what is this to me, 
 if my own foul ftarves whilft others are fed by me ? 
 Oh, my brother, I need your prayers, and I feel a great 
 fatisfa&ion in the hope that you do not forget me. 
 Oh that Imay be kept faithful unto death ! Indeed, 
 in the midft of my ftrugglings, a gleam of hope, that 
 Ifnall at laft awake in the likenefs of God, affords me 
 greater joy than words can exprefs. To be with 
 Chrift, is far better than to continue finning here : 
 but if the Lord hath any thing to do by me, His will 
 %e done. 
 
 " I have never fo fully opened my cafe to any one 
 before. Your freedom on fimilar topics encourages 
 me to make my complaint to you, and I think, if you 
 were near me, I fhould feel great relief in revealing to 
 you all my heart. Biit I fhall fatigue you with my 
 moanings \ fo I will have done on this fubjedt. 
 
 " It is not long fmce I returned from a kind of 
 million to Ireland. A fociety is eftablifhed in Dub- 
 lin for the purpofe of inviting from England, minis- 
 ters of various denominations, to aflift in promoting 
 the interefts of the kingdom of Chrift there. Some 
 of our Baptift brethren had been there before me, a5 
 Rippon, Langdon, Francis, and Birt ; and I think the 
 plan is calculated for ufefulnefs. \ have, at Dr. Rip- 
 pon's requeft, fent him fame remarks on my vifit, for 
 
 the 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. S i 
 
 the Regiftet ; but as it is probable you will receive 
 this before that comes to hand, I will fay fomething 
 of my excurfion here. 
 
 « Having engaged to fpend fix Lord's days in that 
 kingdom, I arrived there the day before the firft Sab- 
 bath in jane. I firft made myfelf acquainted with 
 the general ftate of religion in Dublin. I found there 
 were four Prefbyterian congregations ; two of thefe 
 belong to the fouthern prefbytery, and are Arians or 
 Socinians ; the other two are connected with the 
 northern prefbytery, and retain the Weftminfter con- 
 fefiion of faith. One of thefe latter congregations is 
 very final 1, and the minifter, though orthodox, ap- 
 pears to have but little fuccefs. The other is large 
 and flourifhing : the place of worfhip ninety feet by 
 feventy, and, in a morning, well filled. Their times 
 of public fervice are at half pad eleven, and five. In 
 the afternoon, the ufual congregations are fmall in- 
 deed ; for five o'clock is the dining hour in Dublin, 
 and few of the hearers would leave their dinners for 
 the gofpel. Dr. Mc. Dowal is the fenior paftor of 
 this church, — a very affectionate, fpiritual man. The 
 junior is Mr. Horner. The doftor is a warm friend 
 to the Society, at whofe requeft I went over to Ireland, 
 
 " There is one congregation of Burgher Seceders, 
 and another of Antiburghers. The latter will not 
 hear any man who is not of their own caft ; the for- 
 mer are much more liberal. I preached for them 
 once, and they aiTeclionately folicited a repetition of 
 my fer vices. * 
 
 " Lady Huntingdon's connexion has one fociety 
 heVe, the only one in the kingdom, perhaps, except at 
 Shgo, where there is another. It is not large, and I 
 fear rather declining. There is not one independent 
 church in the kingdom. There were ten Baptift So- 
 H cteties 
 
82 Memoirs tf the late 
 
 cieties in Ireland : they are now reduced to fix ; and 
 are, I fear, ftill on the decline. 
 
 « The inhabitants of Dublin feem to be chiefly 
 compofed of two clafles : the one affiime the appear- 
 ance of opulence -, the other exhibit marks of the moft 
 abject poverty ; and as there are no parifhes in Ire- 
 land which provide for the poor, many die every year 
 for want of the neceflaries of life. 
 
 " Moft of the rich are by profeflion proteftants ; 
 the poor are nearly all papifts, and ftrongly preju- 
 diced again ft the reformed religion. Their ignorance 
 and fuperftiticn are fcarcely inferior to your miferable 
 Hindoos. On midfummer day I had an affe&ing 
 proof of the latter. On the public road, about a 
 mile from Dublin, is a well, which was once includ- 
 ed in the precincts of a priory, dedicated to St. John 
 of Jerufalem. This well is in high repute for curing 
 a number of bodily complaints, and its virtues are 
 faid to be moft efficacious on the faint's own day. 
 So from twelve o'clock at night, for twenty-four 
 hours, it becomes the rendezvous for all the lame, 
 blind, and other wife difeafed people, within a circuit 
 of twenty miles. Here they brought old and young, 
 and applied the " holy water," both internally and 
 externally ; fome by pouring, fome by immerfion, and 
 all by drinking : whilft, for the good of thofe who 
 could not come in perfon, their friends filled bottles 
 with the efficacious water to ufe at home. Several I 
 faw on their knees before the well, at their devotions, 
 who were not unfrequently interrupted with a glafs 
 of whilkey. With this they were fupplied from a 
 number of dealers in that article, who kept ftandings 
 all round the well. 
 
 « Near the fpot, was a church-yard where great 
 numbers kneeled upon the tombs of their deceafed 
 
 relatives, 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearcc. S 
 
 o 
 
 relatives, and appeared earneftly engaged in praying 
 for the repofe of their fouls. 
 
 " It was truly a lamentable fight. My heart ached 
 at their delufions, whilft I felt gratitude, I hope, un- 
 feigned, for an acquaintance with the ' water of life, 
 of which, if a man drink, he fhall live forever !' 
 
 " There are few, or none, of the middle ciafs to 
 connetk the rich and the poor, fo that favourable ac- 
 cefs to them is far more difficult than to the lower 
 orders of the people in England •, and their priefts 
 hold them in fuch bondage, that if a catholic fervant 
 only attend on family worfhip in a proteftant houfe, 
 penance muft be performed for the offence. 
 
 S. P-" 
 
 Mention has already been made of his having 
 " formed a pleafing acquaintance with feveral ferious 
 young gentlemen of the Univerfity of Dublin/'* The 
 following h:ter was addreiTed to one of them, the 
 Rev. Mr. Matthias, a few months after his return : — 
 
 " Dear brother Matthias, 
 
 u I HAVE been employed this whole day in 
 writing letters to Dublin ; and it is the firft day I have 
 been able to redeem for that purpofe. I will not con- 
 fume a page in apology. Let it fuffice to fay, that 
 necefiity, not difinclination, has detained from my 
 Iriih friends, thofe proofs of my gratitude and efteem, 
 which in oth^r circumftances I ought to have prefent- 
 ed three months ago. I thought this morning of an- 
 fwering all their demands before I flept : but I have 
 
 written 
 
 * P. 6£.. 
 
84 Memoirs of the late 
 
 written fo many v I full, that I find my 
 
 eyes and my fingers bori fail ; and I believe this nuft 
 clofe my intercourfe with Dublin this day. When I 
 fhall be able to complete my purpofe, I do not know. 
 To form friendships with good men is pleafant \ but 
 to maintain all -hat communion^ which fri p ex- 
 
 pects, is In fome cafes very difficult. H; <*]d I 
 
 be, could I meet my Iriih friends in pr< t 
 initead of fitting in iolitude, and maintaining, by the 
 tedious medium of the pen, this diftant intercourfe. 
 But, The Lord, he /hall choofe our inheritance for us. 
 Were ail the planets of our fyftem embodied, and 
 placed in clofe aflbciation, the light would be greater, 
 and the objecl: grander *, but then, ufefulnefs and fyf- 
 tematic beauty confift in their difperfion : and what 
 are we, my brother, but fo many fatellitCs to Jefus, 
 the great Sun of the Chriftian iyitem ? Some, indeed, 
 like burning mercuries, keep nearer the luminary, 
 and receive more of its light and heat, whilft others, 
 like the ringed planet, or the Georgium Sidus, pre- 
 ierve a greater diftance, and reflect a greater portion 
 of his light : yet if, amidft all this diverfity, they belong 
 io the fyftem 7 two tilings may be affirmed of all : — all 
 keep true to one centre, and borrow whatever light 
 they have from one fource. True it is, that the fur- 
 ther they are from the fun, the longer are they in 
 performing their revolutions : and is not this exem- 
 plified in us ? The ^lofer we keep to Jefus, the more 
 brilliant are our graces, the more cheerful and active 
 are our lives \ but alaa we are all comets ; we all 
 move in eccentric orbits : at one time glowing be- 
 neath the ray divine, at another freezing a&d cong< 
 ing the icicles. ' Oh what a miracle to man is man !' 
 
 " Little did I think when I begun this letter, that I 
 iliould have thus indulged myfelf in allegory : but true 
 friendihip, I believe, always dictates extempore •, and 
 my friends mufl never expect from me a ftudied epif- 
 
 tle. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 85: 
 
 tie. They can meet with better thoughts, than I can 
 furnifh them with, in any bookfeller's (hop. It is not 
 the dim, however well it may be cooked, that gives 
 the reliih, but the fweet fauce of friendfhip \ and this, 
 I think fometimes, makes even nonfenfe palatable. 
 
 « But I have fome queftions to put to you : — firft, 
 how are all my college friends, Meiirs. Walker, Ma- 
 turin, Hamilton, &c. ? How is their health ? But 
 chiefly, how are the interefts of religion among you ? 
 Are any praying ftudents added to your number ? Do 
 all thole you thought well of continue to juftify their 
 profeffion ? You know what it is that interefts me. 
 Pray tell me all, whether it makes me weep, or rejoice. 
 
 u I hope Mr. H — 's miniftry was blefled in Dublin. 
 Do you know any inftances of it ? We muft fow in 
 hope, and I truft that we {hall all gather fruit to eter- 
 nal life, even where the buddings have never appear- 
 ed to us in this world. How is it with your own 
 foul ? I thank God I never, I think, rejoiced habitu- 
 ally fo much in him as I have done of late. « God is 
 love. 9 That makes me h~ppy. I rejoice that Got! 
 reigns ; that he reigns over all v that he reigns over 
 me ; over my croiies, my comforts, my family, my 
 friends, my fenfes, my mental powers, my defigns, 
 my words, my preaching, my conduct \ that he is 
 God over ally bleffed forever. I am willing to live, 
 yet I long to die, to be freed from all error and all. 
 iin. I have nothing elfe to trouble me ; no other 
 crofs to carry. The fun {nines without all day long ; 
 but I am fenfible of internal darknefs.. Well, through 
 grace, it {hall be all light by and by., Yes, you and I 
 {hall be angels of light ; all mercuries then ; all near 
 the fun ; always in motion ; always glowing with 
 zeal, and flaming with love. Oh for the new heavens 
 and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs ! 
 
 H 2 < Qh^ 
 
86 Memoirs of the late 
 
 ' Oh what love and concord there, 
 k And what fweet harmony 
 
 In heaven above, where happy fouls 
 
 Adore thy Majefty. 
 Oh how the heavenly choirs all fing 
 To Him, who fits enthron'd above : 
 
 What admiring ! 
 
 And afpiring ! 
 
 Still defiring : — 
 Oh how I long to fee this feafl of love V 
 
 " Will you tell brother M that I wait an op- 
 portunity to fend a parcel to him ? In that I will in— 
 dcfe a letter. My very affectionate refpecls to him, 
 
 an^ Mr. H , wich all my college friends as though 
 
 named. If you be not weary of fuch an eccentric 
 correfpondent, pray do not be long ere you write to 
 your unworthy, but affectionate brother in Chrift, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 A while after this, he thus writes to his friend, Mr. 
 Summers : — 
 
 " December, 1795. I rejoice that you have been 
 fupported under, and brought through your late trials. « 
 
 I do not wonder at it, for it is no more than God has 
 promifed ; and though we may well wonder that he 
 promifes any thing, yet his performance is no juft 
 ground of furprife ; and when we find ourfelves lb 
 employed, we had better turn our wonder to our own 
 unbelief, that for one moment fufpected God would 
 not be as good as his word. 
 
 " I have been lately more than ever delighted with 
 the thought, that God kath engaged to do any thing 
 for fuch worms as we. I never ftudied the cieiftical 
 controverfy fo much, nor ever rejoiced in rey< 
 
 more. 
 
Mr. Samuel Peai 87 
 
 more. Alas ! what fhould we know, if God had not 
 condefcended to teach us. Paul very juftly remarks, 
 that no one fcrtoweth any thing of God, but the Spirit 
 of God, and he to whom the Spirit revealeth him. 
 Now the Spirit hath revealed God in the bible, bat to 
 an unbeliever the bible is a fealed book. He can 
 know nothing from a book that he looks upon as an 
 impofture, and yet there is no other book in which 
 God is revealed ; fo that to reject the bible, is to 
 immerfe ourielves in darknefs, and whilft profeffing 
 to be wife, actually to become a fool •, whereas, no 
 fooner do we bencve what the Spirit faith, than unto 
 us is God revealed, and ' in his light do we fee light/ 
 
 To the above may be added, a few extracts of let- 
 ters, which he addrefied to his friends in 1797, and 
 1798. 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 " Magc&\ 1 797; 
 
 « DURING the iail three weeks, I have, at 
 times, been very poorly, in colds, &c. Am better 
 now, and have been all along affifted in going through. 
 my public duties. Let us continue to pray for each 
 other, till death makes it a needlefs ferviee. How 
 uncertain is life, and what a blefling is death to a. 
 faint ! I feein lately to feci a kind of affetfkn for 
 death. Methinks if it were vifible, I cou4ci embrace 
 it. * Welcome herald, that bids the prifoner be free ; 
 that announces the dawn of everbiting day ; that 
 bids the redeemed come to Zion with everbiting joy, 
 to be beyond the reach of an erroneous ju 
 and a depraved heart.' To believe, to feel, to fjpeak, 
 
 to 
 
83 Memoirs of the late 
 
 to act: exactly as God will have me ; to be wholly ab- 
 sorbed and taken up with him ; this, this, nothing 
 fhort of this can make my blifs complete. But all this 
 is mine. Oh the height, the depth, the length, the 
 breadth of redeeming love ! It conquers my heart, 
 and conftrains me to yield myfelf a living facrifice, 
 
 acceptable to God, through Jefus Chrifl. My 
 
 dear brother, we have had many happy meetings up- 
 on earth : the bed is in referve. 
 
 * No heart upon earth can conceive 
 
 The blifs that in heaven they fhare ; 
 Then, who this dark world would not leave, 
 
 And cheerfully die to be there !' 
 
 " Oh how full of love, and joy, and praife, fhall 
 we be when that happy ffcate is curs ! Well, yet a. 
 little while, and He that fhall come, will come : 
 Even fo come, Lord Jefus ! My dear brother, for- 
 give the hafty effufions of a heart that loves you in 
 the bowels of Jefus, and is always happy in teftify- 
 ing itfelf to be 
 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 S.P." 
 
 To Mr. CAVE. 
 On the faffing away of feme who had promiftd fair in 
 
 religion. 
 
 1/97- 
 
 " I THANK you, my dear brother, for the 
 confidence you repofe in me, the affection you have 
 for me, and the freedom with which you write to 
 me. Affure yourfelf that I fincerely fympathize in 
 the cutting events which you have lately experienced. 
 Trying indeed ! Your heart mull bleed. Yet be not 
 
 difcouraged. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 89 
 
 difcouraged in your work. The mors fat an oppofes 
 Chrifty the more let us oppofe kirn. He comes witli 
 great violence becaufe his time is fliort. His king- 
 dom is on the decline; his ftrong holds are bcfiegedi 
 and he knows they mud foon be taken. Whilft it 
 Lifts, he is making defperate tallies on the armies of 
 the Lamb. It is no great wonder that he fights and , 
 wounds a raw recruit now . \, who il rays from 
 
 the camp, and though tlefs of the danger, keeps nor 
 clofe by the Captain's tent. I hope our glorious 
 Leader will heal the wounded, and fecure the captive. 
 He is fare to make reprifals. Chrift will have ten to 
 one. You will yet fee his arm made bare. He mall 
 go forth like a man of war. The prifoners ihali be 
 redeemed, Mid the old tyrant ftiall be call into the 
 bottcmlefs pit. Be of good cheer, my fellow foldier. 
 The caufe is not ours, but God's. Let us endure 
 Inefs, and (till fight the good fight of faith. At 
 we (hail come off conquerors, through Him whg 
 hath loved us. 
 
 " I hope you have fome caufes for joy, as well as 
 grief. I )U gh OTie > or two, or three fall, the 
 
 tens, and the twenties ftand their ground. Oh do 
 what you can to cheer them under the common trial. 
 Let them not fee a faint heart in y.it. Fight manful- 
 ly (till. Tell them to watch the more •, to pray the 
 harder ; to walk the clofer with God. So out of the 
 eater (hall come forth meat, and iweetnefs out of the 
 ftrong, S. P." 
 
 To Mr. BATES and Mrs. BARNES, 
 
 Who 'r.zz. been burnt out cf their refidence, 
 
 " THE many expreilions of Chriftian friend {hip 
 which I received from you, and your affectionate 
 
 families, 
 
90 Memoirs of the late 
 
 families, during my laft vifit to London, will often 
 excite grateful recollection in future, as they have al- 
 moft daily fmce I parted from you ; and though I do 
 not write this avowedly as a mere letter of acknowl- 
 edgment, yet I wifli it to affiire you, that I am not 
 forgetful of my friends, nor unthankful for their kind- 
 nefs. May all the favour you {hew to the fervants of 
 our common Lord for his fake, be amply recompeni- 
 ed in prefent peace, and future felicity, when the 
 promife of Him who cannot lie, (hall be fulfilled, — 
 c A cup of cold water given to a difciple, in the name 
 of a difciple, fliali not Icfe its reward.' 
 
 " But, whilft you, my dear friends, live c in hope 
 of the glory* that remains i to be revealed,' I am per- 
 fuaded that you expect all as the fruit of fovereign 
 mercy, which firfl forms us to the mind of Chrift, 
 then accepts, and then rewards. Truly, if finners be 
 rewarded, it mull be, c of grace, and not of debt.' 
 Yet it is a mercy of unfpeakable magnitude, that 
 grace {hould eitablilh a connexion between obedi- 
 ence and enjoyment ; fuch a connexion, as at once 
 infures joy to the believer, and glory to Chrift. 
 
 " Oh that cur thoughts, our affections, our dcfires, 
 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 confequences. Yes, my friends, « in 
 heaven we have a better and enduring fubftance :' 
 the apartments there are more fpacious ; the fociety 
 more fweet ; the enjoyments more perfect \ and all 
 to laft. forever. Well may Chriftians i rejoice in hope 
 of the glory cf God !.' 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 91 
 
 To Mr. and Mrs. BOWYER, Pall Mail. 
 
 u November I 7, I 797. 
 
 « BLESSED be « the Preferver of men,' for 
 
 all his goodnefs to dear Mr. and Mrs. B . With 
 
 theirs, mall my gratitude alfo afcend > whilfl feparated 
 from their fociety *, and with theirs, fhall it more 
 warmly and permanently afcend when we meet to 
 form a part of the ' general aflembly, the church of 
 the firft-born.' 
 
 " I do not return to London this autumn, but I 
 mean to vifit Portfmouth. I muft be indebted to you 
 for my directions. We fhall be very happy to fee 
 you at Luke-ftreet : but Wales I fuppofe will be the 
 vortex that will fwallow up much of your time. 
 Well, fo you are happy, we muft be difinterefted 
 enough to be fatisfied, although we be denied a per* 
 fonal participation. 
 
 " Let us not forget that we are Chriftians ; and 
 Chriftians profefs a hope of a better country than 
 Cambria contains. There^ we all belong. Already 
 citizens by privilege, we fhall be by pofleflion foon, 
 
 1 Roll fwifter round, ye wheels of tiire, 
 And bring the welcome day V 
 
 " In hope of greeting you both in that good land, 
 I remain, nioft affectionately yours* 
 
 S. P.* 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 " November 17, 1 797. 
 
 ^ " I FEEL much for you in relation both to 
 t™duties and trials of your prefent fituation : at the 
 
 fame 
 
2 Memoirs of the late 
 
 fame time I blefs God who fixed you in it, becaufe I 
 am perfuaded that it will be for his glory in the 
 churches of Chrift. And though"'* none but thofe, 
 whole hands are full of religious concerns, can guefs 
 at your difficulties ; yet our blefled Redeemer knows 
 them all. Oh, my brother, you are travailing for 
 Him, who redeemed you by his blood ; who fympa- 
 thizes with you, and who will gracioufly crown you 
 at laft. Small as my trials are, I would turn fmith, 
 and work at the anvil and the forge, rather than bear 
 them for any other mailer than ChriJ}. Yet were 
 they ten thoufand times as many as they are, the 
 thought of their being for Him > I truft, would fweet- 
 cn them all. 
 
 u I have reafon to be very thankful for much 
 pleafure of late, both as a Chrift ian, and a minifter. 
 
 1 have never felt fo deeply my need of a Divine Re- 
 deemer, and feldom pofleffed fuch folid confidence 
 that he is mine. I want more and more to become a 
 little child, to dwindle into nothing in my own ef- 
 teem, to renounce my own wifdom, power and gcod- 
 nefs, and fimply look to, and live upon Jesus for ail. 
 I am aihamed that I have fo much pride, fo much 
 feif-wiil. Oh mv Saviour ! make me ( meek and low- 
 ly in heart;' in this alone I find c reft to my foul.' 
 
 " I could fay much of what Immanuel has done 
 for my foul ; but I fear left even this fliouid fivour of 
 vanity. When (hail I be like my Lord ! Oh wel- 
 come death, when I have nothing more to do for 
 Chrift. To him, till then, may I live uvery clay and 
 every hour. Rather may I be annihilated than not 
 to him ! 
 
 " You will rejoice with me to hear that we have a 
 tfing profpect as a church. Several very hopeful, 
 
 arid 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. g$ 
 
 and fome very valuable characters are about to join 
 us. Lord, carry on thy work ! 
 
 S. P." 
 
 ►•«>c^<g£KS>. 
 
 To Mrs. PEARCE, 
 On the dangerous illnefs of cute of the children. 
 
 " Purtfinouthi January 29, 1 
 
 « IGNORANT of the circum (lances ot our 
 dear child, how fhall I addreis rpyfelf to her dearer 
 mother ! With a fluttering heart, and a trembling 
 hand, I, in this uncertainty, refume my pen. One 
 consideration tranquillizes my mind, — I and mine are 
 in the hands of God : the wife, the gocd, the indul- 
 gent Parent of mankind ! "Whatever he docs is beft. 
 I am prepared for all his will, and hope that i fhail 
 never have a feeling, whofe language is not, < Thy 
 will be done.' 
 
 M I am nioft kindly entertained here by Mr. and 
 Mrs. Shoveller ; and except my dear Sarah's prefence, 
 feel myfelf at home. They have had greater trials 
 than ive can at preient know. They have attended 
 /even children to the gloomy tomb ; they have been 
 Supported beneath their lofs, by Him who hath faid, 
 ' As thy days, fo fhall thy ftrength be.' Mrs. S. tells 
 me, flie < blefled God for all/ May my dear Sarah 
 be enabled to do the fame, whatever the refult may 
 prove. To-morrow I exptft another letter from you ; 
 yet, left you ihould too much feel my ab fence, I will 
 not delay forwarding this a tingle port. O that it may- 
 prove in fome degree a meiienger of confolation ! 
 
 " Yefterday I preached three times : God was very 
 
 good. I received your letter before the firft fervice : 
 
 you mnv be allured that I bore you on my heart in 
 
 I the 
 
94 Memoirs of the hit 
 
 the prefence of my Lord and yours ; nor ihall I pray 
 in vain : He will either reftore the child, or fupport 
 you under the lofs of it. I dare not pray with im- 
 portunity for any earthly good ; for i who knoweth 
 what is good for man in this life, all the days of his 
 vain life which he fpendeth as a lhadow ?' But Jlrength 
 to bear the lofs of earthly comforts, he has promifed : 
 for that I importune ; and that, I doubt not, will be 
 granted, 
 
 « In a hcufe dire&ly oppofite to the window before 
 which I now write, a wife, a mother, is juft departed ! 
 "Why am I not a bereaved hufband ? Why not my 
 children motherlefs ? When we compare cur condi- 
 tion with cur wifhes, we often complain : but if we 
 compare it with that of many around us, our com- 
 plaints would be exchanged for gratitude and praife. 
 
 S. P.* 
 
 To R. BOWYER, Efq. 
 
 " Felrtfcry 1 4, 179$- 
 
 " NOT a day has hurried by, fince I parted 
 with my dear friends in Pail Mall, but they have been 
 in my affectionate remembrance ; but not being able 
 to fpeak with any fatisfaflion refpe&ing our dear 
 child, I have withheld myfclf from imparting new 
 anxieties to bofoms already alive to painful fenfibility. 
 
 « At length, however, a gracious God puts it in 
 rey power to fay, that there is hope. After langtiifh- 
 irg between life and death for many days, fhe now 
 fecms to amend. We fitter curfelves that fhe has 
 palled thecrifis, and will yet be reftered to cur arms ; 
 but parental fears forbid too flrong a confidence. It 
 may be that our mod merciful Gcd faw that* the 
 
 ihock 
 
Mr. Semiiel Pearce. 95 
 
 fliock of a fudden removal would be too ftroiig for the 
 tender feelings of a mother ; and fo by degrees, pre- 
 pares for the ftroke which mull fall at lail. Howev- 
 er, ihe is in the beft hands, and we are, I hope, pre- 
 paring for fubmiifi-on to whatever may be the blefled 
 will of God.- 
 
 " I was brought home in fafety, and feel myfelf in 
 much better health in confequence of my journey. Oh 
 that it may be all confecrated to my Redeemer's praife ! 
 
 " Happy ihould I be, if I could oftener enjoy your 
 friendly fociety ; but we mud wait for the full ae- 
 compiithment of our fecial wifhes, till we come to 
 that .better world, for which divine grace is preparing 
 us : — There our bed, our brighteit hopes, and there 
 our warmeft affections muft be found. Could we 
 have all we want below, we mould be reluctant to af- 
 cend, when Jefus calls us home. No, this is not our 
 reft •> it is polluted with fin, and darned with lbrrow : 
 but though our pains in themfelves are evil, yet our 
 God turns the curfe into a blefiing, and makes all that 
 we meet with accomplifh our good. 
 
 " "What better can I wiih, my friends, than the 
 humble place of Mary, or the happy reft of John ! 
 Faith can enjoy them both, till actually we fall at the 
 Saviour's feet, and lean upon his bofom, when we fee 
 him as he is. 
 
 * Oh the delights, the heav'nly joys, 
 
 The glories of the place, 
 W-here Jefus fheds the brighfeft beam* 
 
 <tf his olerfiowing gra<;e !' 
 
 s. P." 
 
 LINES 
 
9 6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 LINES 
 
 WRITTEN ON THE WORDS OF IGNATIUS,- 
 
 " My Love is crucified"* 
 
 JYIeum Desiderium crucifixum est. 
 
 " WARM was his heart, his faith was ftrong, 
 
 Who thus in rapture cry'd, 
 When on his way to martyrdom, 
 
 My Love is crucify 9 J. 
 
 Warm alfo be my love for Him, 
 
 Who thus for fnmers dy'd ; 
 Long as I live be this my theme, 
 
 My Love is crucify 9 J. 
 
 Come, oh my foul, behold him pierc'd 
 
 In hands, and feet, and fide; 
 And fey, while he's in blood immers'd> 
 
 My Love is crucify 1 d+ 
 
 What lover ere to win my heart, 
 
 So much has done befide ? 
 To him I'll cleave, and never part ; 
 
 My Love is crucify 9 d. 
 
 Oh that in Jefus' wounds, my foul 
 
 Secure, m ay ever hide, 
 And fing, as changing feafons roll, 
 
 My Love is crucify' J. 
 
 In 
 
 * When Ignatius, prilor of the church at Antioch, was condemned 
 by the emperor, Trajan, to fufTer death at Rome, he was apprehen- 
 sive that the Chriftians there, out of their great affection for him, 
 might endeavour to prevent his martyrdom ; and therefore wrote 
 a letter from Smyrna to the Roman Chriftians, which he fent on be- 
 fore him, wherein he earneftly befeeches them to take no meafures 
 the continuance of his life; and amongfl other things, fays, M I 
 long for. death," adding as a reafon why he was cfcfirous of thus tes- 
 tifying- his ioye to Chrift. w My Love is crucified." 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 97 
 
 In feafons oft, when bow'd with fear, 
 
 My trembling heart has figh'd, 
 This thought again brings comfort near, 
 My Love is crucify d* 
 
 To what a teft his love was put,- 
 
 When by his furPrings try'd. 
 But faithful to the end endur'd ; 
 
 My Love is crucify 9 J, 
 
 His garments white as wintry fnows,< 
 
 In crimfon floods were dy'd ; 
 Hence fpring the bleffings he beftows ?. 
 
 My Love is crucify' d, 
 
 Down from his wounded body flowed 
 
 The all-atoning tide, 
 Which peace reftor'd 'twixt me and God £ 
 
 My Love is crucify V. 
 
 Now, by the Croft, is hell fubdu'd, 
 
 And all its pow'rs defy'd ; 
 It yields to Jefus' ccnqu'ring blood 3 
 
 My Love is crucify'd. 
 
 Ne'er may my dear defpifed Lord 
 
 By me be once deny'd ; # 
 
 My joy, my crown, my boaft be this,, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d+ 
 
 Dead be my heart to all below, 
 
 In Chriit may I abide ; 
 W hy inould I love the creature fo ?.' 
 
 My Love is crucify* d. 
 
 Shameful his death, oh let it flay 
 
 In me ail curfed pride ; 
 Lowly in Jefas, may 1 fay, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d*- 
 
 1 2 When: 
 
98 Memoirs of the late 
 
 When firft my foul, by living faith,. 
 
 My bleeding Lord efpy'd, 
 My lips declar'd, at ev'ry breath, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d. 
 
 And fince my happy heart has known;. 
 
 His facred blood apply'd, 
 This dill has been my fweeteft fong r 
 
 My Love is crucify' d* 
 
 And whilft upon this world I (lay,, 
 
 Whate'er may me betide, 
 To all around I'll ever fay, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d* 
 
 When through death's gloomy vale I walk* 
 
 My Lord fhall be my guide ; 
 To him Fit fing, of him Tit talk, 
 
 My Love is crucify' d~ 
 
 Could I, his praife e'en now I'd found* 
 
 As vail creation wide ; 
 But I (hall frng on heav'nly ground,. 
 
 My Love is crucify' cL 
 
 Yes, when to that bleft land I mount* 
 
 On plates high to ride, 
 Through all eternity I'll fliout, 
 
 Mv Love is crucify'd! 
 
 Jan. 19, 1795. S. P." 
 
 The 
 
Mr. Samuel Peare-e. 99 
 
 « The GARDENER and -ROSE-TREE." 
 
 " A FABLE/' 
 
 w Affectionately addreffed to Mrs. J. H- , en the 
 
 death of her child y by her truly fympathizing friend r , 
 
 S. P.'* 
 
 March ia, 1798-- 
 
 " IN a fweet fpot, which Wifdom chofe^ 
 Grew an unique and lovely Rofe ; 
 A flow'r fo fair was feldom borne — 
 A Rofe almoft without a thorn- 
 Each paffing ftranger ftopp'd to view 
 A plant pofTefling charms fo new u 
 u Siveei Ffoior ! y> each Jip was heard to fay- — 
 Nor lefs the Owner pleas'd than they : 
 Rear'd by his hand with confront care,. 
 And planted in his choice parterre,. 
 Of all his garden this the pride, 
 No flow'r fo much admir'd befide.. 
 
 Nor did the Rofe unconfeious bloomy 
 Nor feel ungrateful for the boon ; 
 Oft as her guar-dian came that way, 
 Whether at dawn, or eve of day, 
 Expanded wide — her form unvail'd, 
 She double fragrance then exhal'd. 
 
 As months rolPd on, the fpring appear'di.. 
 Its genial rays the Rofe matur'd ;. 
 Forth from its root zfhoot extends — 
 The parent Rofe»tree downward bends, ; 
 And, with a joy unknown before, 
 Contemplates the yet embryo flow'r. 
 
 1 Offspring mod dear (me fondly faid,)' 
 
 * Pan of myfelf ! beneath my (hade, 
 
 • Safe (halt thou rife, whilll happy I, 
 *Tranfported with maternal joy, 
 
loo Memoirs of the late 
 
 < Shall fee thy little buds appear, 
 6 Unfold, and bloom in beauty here, 
 i What though the Lily, or Jonquil, 
 
 * Or Hyacinth no longer fill 
 
 c The fpace around me — All mall be 
 
 * Abundantly made up in thee. 
 
 * What though my prefent charms decay r 
 1 And puffing Grangers no more fay 
 
 * Of me, « Sweet flow'r P— Yet thou (halt raife 
 
 * Thy blooming head, and gain the praife y 
 *And this reverberated pleafure 
 
 * Shall be to me a world, of treafure* 
 6 Cheerful I part with former merit, 
 1 That it my darling may inherit. 
 
 * Hafle then the hours which bid thee bloow* 
 4 And fill the zephyrs with perfume tf 
 
 Thus had the R.ofe-tree fcarcely fpoken, 
 Ere the fweet cup of blifs was broken — 
 The Gard'ner came, and with one ftroke 
 He from the root the offspring took ; 
 Took from the foil wherein it grew, 
 And hid it from the parent's yiew. 
 
 Judge ye, who know a mother's cares 
 For the dear tender babe (he bears,. 
 The parent's anguim — ye alone 
 Such fad viciilitudes have known* 
 
 Deep was the wound ; nor flight the pain 
 Which made the Rofe-tree thus complain v — 
 
 * Dear little darling ! art thou gone — 
 
 * Thy charms fcarce to thy mother known i 
 
 * Remov'd fo foon ! — So fuddenly, 
 
 * Snatch'd from niy fond maternal eye ! 
 
 * What hadft thou done ?— dear offspring ! fayy 
 ' So early to be fnatch'd away ! 
 
 * What ! gone for ever ! — feen no more ! 
 f For ever I thy lofs deplore. 
 
 •■ Yc 
 
Mr. Samuel Pea ret. 101 
 
 c Ye dews defcend, with tears fupply 
 c My now for ever tearful eye ; 
 c Or ratheF come fome northern blajl> 
 i Diflodge my yielding roots in hafte. 
 c Whirlwinds arife — my branches tear, 
 
 * And to fome diftant region bear 
 
 * Far from this fpot, a wretched mother, 
 
 * Whofe fruit and joys are gone together.' 
 
 As thus the anguifn'd Rofe-tree cry'd,., 
 Her Owner near her me efpy'd ; 
 Who in thefe gentle terms reprov'd 
 A plant, though murm'ring, ftill belov'd : — 
 
 * Ceafe, beauteous flow'r, thefe ufelefs cries* 
 And let my leffons make thee wife. 
 Art thou not mine ?- Did not my hand 
 Tranfplant thee from, the barren fand, 
 Where once a mean uniightly plant, 
 Expos'd to injury and want,. 
 Unknown, and unadmir'd, I found, 
 And brought thee to this fertile ground ;. 
 With ftudioas art improv'd thy form, 
 Secur'd* thee from the inclement ftorm, 
 And through the feafons of the year, 
 Made thee my unabating care f 
 Haft thou not bleft thy happy lot, 
 In fuch an owner — fuch a fpot ? 
 But now, becaufe thy (hoot I've taken, 
 Thy beft of friends nauft be forfaktn. 
 Know, fLow*r belov'd, e'en this affliction 
 Shall prove to thee a benediction :. 
 Had I not the young plant remov'd, 
 (So fondly by thy heart belov'd) 
 Of me thy heart .would fcarce have thought,, 
 With gratitude no more be fraught : 
 — Yea — thy own beauty be at. irake 
 Surrender'd for thy offspring's fake. 
 Nor think, that, hidden from thine eyes, 
 The infant plant negkded lies — 
 
 No— 
 
io.2 Memoirs of the late 
 
 * No — I've another garden, where 
 
 * In richer foil and purer air 
 
 4 It's new tranfplanted, there to mine 
 
 * In beauties fairer far than thine. 
 
 * Nor fhalt thou always be apart 
 
 * From the dear darlu.g of thy heart ; 
 4 For 'tis my puipofe thu to bear 
 
 * In future timt, and plant thee there,. 
 i Where thy now abfent off- let grows, 
 
 * And bloffoms a celestial Rofe. 
 
 1 Be patient, then, till that fet hour mail come, 
 
 1 When thou and thine fhali in new beauties bloom v 
 
 * No more its abfence (hall thou then deplore, 
 
 * Together grow, and ne'er be parted mote.' 
 
 Thefe words to filence hunYd the plaintive Rofe, 
 With deeper blufhes redd'ning now me glows, 
 Submiilive bow'd her unrepining head, 
 Again her wonted, grateful fragrance ihed — 
 Cry'd, « Thou baft taken only what's thine own, 
 
 * There/ore thy will, my Lord, not mine, be done/ 
 
Mr. Samuel Fearer. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF HI3 LAST AFFLICTION, AND THE HOLY 
 AND HAPPY EXERCILES OF HIS MIND UNDER. IT. 
 
 JlLiARLY in Oaober, 1798, Mr. Pearce at- 
 tended at the Kettering nainifters' meeting, and preach- 
 ed from Pfalm xc. 16, 17. Let thy werl appear uiuo 
 tky fervaiitS) and thy glory unto their children. Ar.d lei 
 the beauty of the Lord our God he upon us : and ejlahi'ijh 
 thou the ivork of our hands upon us ; yea, the zuork of our 
 hands eftabli/b thou it. He was obfevved to be Angu- 
 larly foiemn and affectionate in that difcourfe. If he 
 had known it to be the laft time that he fhould ad- 
 drefs his brethren in that part of the country, he could 
 fcarcely have felt or fpoken in a more intertfting man- 
 ner. It was a difcourfe full of inftruclion, full of a 
 holy unction, and that feemed to breathe an apoftoli- 
 cal ardour. On his return, he preached at Market 
 Harborough •, and riding home the next day in com- 
 pany with his friend, Mr. Summers, of London* they 
 were overtaken with rain. Mr. Pearce was wet 
 through bis clothes, and towards evening complained 
 of a chillnefs. A flight hoarfenefs followed. He 
 preached feveral times after this', which brought on 
 an inflammation, and iflued in a coniumpt'en. It is 
 probable that if his constitution had not been previ- 
 oufiv impaired, fuch effects might not have followed 
 in this irdtance. His own ideas on this fubjetr, are 
 expreiTed in a letter to Dr. Ryland, dated December 
 4, 17983 and in another to Mr. King, dated from 
 Briftol, on his way to Plymouth, March 30, 1799. 
 In the former, he fays, — " Ever fince my Chriftmas 
 journey laft year to Sheepuhead, Nottingham, and Lei- 
 cefter, on the miflion buGnefs,I have .oundmy consti- 
 tution greatly debilitated, in confequencc of a cold 
 
 caught 
 
io4 Memoirs of the late 
 
 caught after the unufual exertions which circum- 
 ftances then demanded ; fo that from a frame that 
 could endure any weather, I have fince been too ten- 
 der to encounter a Tingle fhower without danger \ and 
 the duties of the Lord's day, which, as far as bodily 
 ftrength went, I could perform with little fatigue, 
 have iince frequently overcome me. But the fevere 
 cold I caught in my return from the laft Kettering 
 minifters' meeting, has afftcled me fo much that I 
 have fometimes concluded I mud give -up preaching 
 entirely \ for though my head and fpirits are better 
 than for two years pail, yet my ftomach is fo very 
 weak that I cannot pray in my family without fre- 
 quent paufes for breath, and in the pulpit it is labour 
 and agony, which mult be felt to be conceived of. I 
 have, however, made ihift to preach fometimes thrice, 
 but moftly only twice on a Lord'^ day, till the lad, 
 when the morning fermon only, though I delivered it 
 with great pleafure of mind, and with as much cau- 
 tion as to my voice as poffible, yet coft me fo much 
 labour as threw me into a fever till the next day, and 
 
 prevented my fleeping all night." In the letter, 
 
 he thus writes " Should my life be fpared, I, and 
 
 my family, and ail my connexions will (land indebt- 
 ed, under God, to you-. Unfuipefting of danger my- 
 felf, I believe I ihould have gone on with my exer- 
 tions, till the grave had received me. Your attention 
 
 font Mr. B (the apothecary) to me, and then firft 
 
 I learned what I have iince been increasingly convinc- 
 ed of — that I was rapidly deflroyirrg the vital principle. 
 And the kind intereil you have taken in my welfare 
 ever fince, has often drawn the grateful tear from my 
 eye. May the Cod of heaven and earth reward your 
 kindnefs to his unworthy fervant, and fave you from 
 all the evils from which your diftinguiihed friendfliip 
 would have laved me ! 7 ' 
 
 Such were his ideas. His labours were certainly 
 abundant ; perhaps too great for his conflitution : 
 
 but 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 105 
 
 but it is probable that nothing was more injurious to 
 his health, than a frequent expofure to night air, and 
 an inattention to the neceffity of changing damp 
 clothes. 
 
 Hitherto we have feen in Mr. Pearce, the a&ive, 
 afliduous, and laborious fervant of Jefus Chrift : but 
 now we fee him laid afide from his work, wafting 
 away by flow degrees, patiently enduring the will of 
 God, and cheerfully waiting for his diflblution. And 
 as here is but little to narrate, I fhall content myfelf 
 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 
 furnifh the reader with the occafions of fome of them. 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 " Blrnt'ngham^ 03ohet 8, 1 79$. 
 
 * OH ! my dear brother, your letter of the 
 5th, which I received this morning, has made mc 
 thankful for all my pulpit agonies, as they enable me to 
 weep with a weeping brother. They have been of 
 ufe to me in other refpedts ; particularly, in teaching 
 me the importance of attaining and maintaining that 
 fpirituality and pious ardour, in which I have found 
 the mod effectual relief; fo that on the whole I muft 
 try to « glory in tribulations alfo.' I truft I often can 
 when the conflift is pad, but to glory c in 9 them, 
 cfpecially in mental diftrefs — hie labor, hoc opus eft. 
 
 " But how often has it been found, that-when min- 
 iilers have felt themfelves mod embarrafled, the moll 
 effectual good has been done to the people. Oh for 
 hearts entirely refigned to the will of God t 
 
 K u How 
 
ic6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " How happy fhould I be, could I always enjoy 
 the fympathies of a brother, who fs tried in thefe 
 points, as I of late have been. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To Mr. FULLER. 
 
 " Birmingham, Oflober %<), 1 798. 
 
 « I CAUGHT a violent cold in returning 
 from our lad Committee-meeting, from which I have 
 not yet recovered. A little thing now affecls my con- 
 ftitution, which I once judged would be weather and 
 labour proof for at lead thirty years, if I lived fo long. 
 I thank God that I am not debilitated by iniquity. I 
 have lately met with an occurrence, which cccafioned 
 me muqh pain and perplexity. ****** Trials 
 foften our hearts, and make us more fully prize the 
 dear few, into whofe faithful fympathizing boibms we 
 can with confidence pour our forrows. I think I 
 fhould blefs God for my afflictions, if they produced 
 no other fruits than thefe, — the tendernefs they in- 
 fpire, and the friendihips they enjoy. Pray, my dear 
 brother, for yours affectionately, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 ••<►• <^<€£$$°<*& •<► - 
 
 To a young man who had applied to him for ad- 
 vice, how he fhould beft improve his time, previous 
 to his going to the Briftol Academy > — 
 
 " Birmingham t Nrvdmhr 13, 179^ 
 
 " My &&r M— -^1 
 
 * I CAN only confefs my regret at not reply- 
 ing to yours at a much earlier period, and affure you 
 that the delay has been accidental, and not defigned. 
 I feel the importance of your requeft for advice. I 
 
 was 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 107 
 
 was fenfible it deferved fome confideration before it 
 was anfwered. I was full of bufinefs at the moment. 
 1 put it by, and it was forgotten ; and now it is too 
 late. The time of your going to Briftol draws nigh. 
 If, inftead of an opinion refpe£Hng the beft way of 
 occupying your time before you go, you will accept a 
 little counfel during your continuance there, I (hall 
 be happy at any time to contribute fuch a mite as my 
 experience and obfervation have put in my power. 
 
 " At prefent, the following rules appear of fo much 
 moment, that were I to refume a place in any litera- 
 ry eftablifhrnent, I would religioufly adopt them as 
 the ftandard of my conduct : — Firft, I would cultivate 
 a fpirlt of habitual devotion. Warm piety connected 
 with my ftudies, and efpecially at my entrance upon 
 them, would not only affift me in forming a judgment 
 on their refpe£tive importance, and fecure the bl 
 ing of God upon them ; but would fo cement the re- 
 ligious feeling with the literary purfuit, as might abide 
 with me for life. The habit of uniting thefe, being 
 once formed, would, I hope, be never loft \ and I am 
 fure that, without this, I mall both purfue trivial and 
 unworthy objects, and thofe that are worthy I fhall 
 purfue for a wrong end. — Secondly, I would deter- 
 mine on a uniform fubmifiion to the inftru&ions of 
 my preceptor, and ftudy thofe things which would 
 give him pleafure. If he be not wifer than I am, for 
 what purpofe do I come under his care ? I accepted 
 the pecuniary help of th^ SeettTty on condition of CG!> 
 forming to its w:!i ; and it is the Society's will thai 
 my tutor ihould govern me. My example will have 
 influence ; let me not, by a fingle ad of difobedience, 
 c? by a word that implicates cluTatisfa&ion, fow the 
 feeds of difcord in the bofom of my companions. — 
 Thirdly, I would pray and flrive for the power of 
 
 -governments to form no plan, to utter not a word, 
 to take no ftep under the mere influence of paffion. 
 
 Let 
 
io8 Memoirs of the late 
 
 Let my judgment be often afked, and let me always 
 give it time to anfwer. Let me always guard againit 
 a light or trifling fpirit ; and particularly as I mall be 
 amongft a number of youths > whofe years will incline 
 them all to the fame frailty. — Fourthly, I would in all 
 my weekly and daily puriuits obferve the ftricfteft or- 
 der. Always let me aft by a plan. Let every hour 
 have its proper purfuit ; from which let nothing, but a 
 fettled conviction that I can employ it to better ad- 
 vantage, ever caule me to deviate. Let me have fix- 
 ed time for prayer, meditation, reading, languages* 
 corr.efpondenc?, recreation, fleep, &c. — Fifthly, I 
 would not only aflign to every hour its proper pur- 
 fuit ; but what I did, I would try to do it with all my 
 might. The hours at fuch a place are precious be- 
 yond conception, till the ftudent enters on life's bufy 
 fcenes. Let me fet the beft of my clafs ever before 
 me, and drive to be better than they. In humility 
 and diligence, let me aim to be the firfl. — Sixthly, I 
 would particularly avoid a verfatile habit. In all things 
 I would perfevere. Without this, I may be a gaudy 
 butterfly, but never, like the bee, will my hive bear 
 examining. Whatever I take in hand, let me flrft be 
 fure I underftand it, then duly confidtr it, and if it be 
 good, let me adopt and ufe it. 
 
 " To thefe, my dear brother, let me add three or 
 four things more minute, but which I am perfuaded 
 will help you much. — Guard againjl a large acquaint- 
 ance while you are aJhtdsnL Briftol friendfhip, while 
 you fuftain that character, will prove. a vile thief, and 
 rob you of many an invaluable hour. — Get two or three 
 of the jiudentSy whofe piety you mo/I approve, to meet for 
 one hour in a week for experimental converfatiotiy and mi^ 
 tual prayer. I found this highly beneficial, though, 
 ft range to tell, by fome we were perfecuted for our 
 practice ! — Keep a diary. Once a week, at fartheft, 
 call yourfelf to an account ; What advances you have 
 
 made 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 109 
 
 made in your different ftudies j in divinity, hiftoryi 
 languages, natural philofophy, ftyle, arrangement \ 
 and amidft all, do no not forget to inquire, Am I more 
 fit to ferve and to enjoy God than I was laft week ? 
 
 S. P." 
 
 On December 2, 1798, he delivered his laft fer- 
 mon. The fubjett was taken from Dan. x. 19. Oh 
 man, greatly beloved, fear net, peace be unto thee, bejirongi 
 yea, bejlrong. A fid when he had fpohen unto me } I ivas 
 jirengthened, and J aid, Let my Lord /peak ; for thou hajt 
 
 Jirengthened me. " Amongft all the Old Teitament 
 
 faints," faid he, in his introduction to that difcourfe, 
 < c there is not one whofe virtue? were more, and 
 whofe imperfeciions were fewer, than thofe of Daniel. 
 By the hiltory given of him in this book, which yet 
 feems not to be complete, he appears to have excelled 
 among the excellent." Douhtiefs, no one was farther 
 from his thoughts than hiq&felf : feveral of his friends, 
 however, could not help applying it to him, and that 
 with a painful apprehenfion of what followed foon 
 after. 
 
 To Mr. CAVE, Leicefter. 
 
 " Birmingham, X>tfeml,er 4, 1 798. 
 
 « BLESSED be God, my mind is 
 
 calm ; and though my body be weaknefs itfelf, my 
 fpirits are good, and I can write as well as ever, 
 though I can hardly fpeak two fentences without a 
 paufe. All is well, brother ! all is well, for time 
 and eternity. My foul rejoices in the everlafting cov- 
 enant, ordered in all things and lure. Peace from 
 
 our 
 K2 
 
no Memoirs of the « late 
 
 our dear Lord Jefus be with your fphrit, as it is (yea, 
 more alfo) with your affectionate brother, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 December 9, 1798, he was detained from public 
 worlhip, and wrote to Dr. Ryland the firft of the let- 
 ters which appear at the clofe of his funeral fermon. — 
 The following lines feem to have been compofed on 
 the fame occafion : — 
 
 i€ On being prevented by fichnefs from attending on 
 public luotjhip* 
 
 " THE fabric of nature is fair, 
 But fairer the temple of grace ; 
 To faints 'tis the joy of the earth— 
 Oh glorious, beautiful place ! 
 
 To this temple I once did refort, 
 With crouds of the people of God j 
 Enraptur'd, we enter'd its courts, 
 And hail'd the Redeemer's abode. 
 
 The Father of nature we prais'd, 
 And proftrated low at his throne ; 
 The Saviour we lov'd and ador'd, 
 Who iov'd us and made us his own. 
 
 Full off to the meffage of peace, 
 To finners addrefs'd from the fky, 
 We lifren'd, extolling that grace, 
 Which fet us, once rebels, on high* 
 
 Faith clare to the crucify'd Lamb ; 
 Hope, fmiling, exalted its head ; 
 Love warm'd at the Saviour's dear name, 
 And yow'd to obferye what he foid* 
 
 What 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. in 
 
 What pleafure appear'd in the looks 
 Of brethren and lifters around ; 
 With tranfport all feem'd to reflect 
 On the blefiings in Jefus they'd found. 
 
 Sweet .moments ! If aught upon earth 
 Referable the joys of the lilies, 
 9 Tis thus when the heart3 of the ilock 
 Conjoin'd to the Shepherd arife. 
 
 But ah ! thefe fweet moments are fled, 
 Pale ficknefs compels me to flay 
 Where no voice of the turtle is heard, 
 As the moments are hafting away. 
 
 My God ! thou art holy and good, 
 Thy plans are all righteous and wife ; 
 Oh help me fubmiflive to wait, 
 Till thou-biddeit thy fervant arife. 
 
 If to follow thee here in thy courts, 
 May it be with all ardour and zeal, 
 With fuccefs and increafing delight 
 Performing the whole of thy will. 
 
 Or fhouldft thou in bondage detain, 
 To vifit thy temples no more, 
 Prepare me for manfions above, 
 Where nothing exifts to deplore ! 
 
 Where Jefus, the Sun of the place, 
 Refulgent inceffantly mines, 
 Eternally bleffing his faints, 
 And pouring delight on their minds, 
 
 There — there are no prifons to hold 
 The captive from tailing delight ; 
 There — there the day never is clos'd 
 With fhadows, or darknefs, or night. 
 
 There 
 
1 1 z Memoirs cf the late 
 
 There myriads and myriads (hall meet, 
 In our Saviour's high praifes to join ; 
 Whiift tranfported we fall at his feet, 
 And extol his redemption divine. 
 
 Enough then ! my heart fhall no more 
 Of its preient bereavements complain ; 
 Since, ere long, I to glory fhall foar, 
 And ceafelcfs enjoyments attain ! " 
 
 To Mr. NICHOLS, Nottingham. 
 
 " Birmingham, Dec. 10,179?. 
 
 " I AM now quite laid by from preaching, 
 and am fo reduced in my internal ftrength, that I can 
 hardly converfe with a friend for five minutes without 
 lofing my breath. Indeed I have been fo ill, that I 
 thought the next afcent would be, not to a pulpit, but 
 to a throne — to the throne of glory. Yes indeed, my 
 friend, the religion of Jefus will fupport when flefh 
 and heart fail *, and in my worft date of body, my foul 
 was filled with joy. I am now getting a little better, 
 though but very flowly. But faft or flow, or as it may, 
 the Lord doth all things well. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To R. BOWYER, Efq. 
 
 a 1 HAVE overdone myfelf in preach- 
 ing. I am now ordered to lie by, and not even to 
 converfe y without great care ; nor indeed, till to-day, 
 have I for fome time been able to utter a fentence, 
 without a painful effort. Blefled be God ! I have 
 been filled ail through my affliction with peace and 
 
 joy 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 1 1 3 
 
 joy in believing ; and at one time, when I thought I 
 was entering the valley of death, the profpect beyond 
 was fo full of glory, that but for the forrow it would 
 have occafioned to fonie who would be left behind, I 
 ihould have longed that moment to have mounted to 
 the ikies. Oh, my friend, what a mercy that I am 
 not receiving the wages of fin ; that my health has 
 not been impaired by vice *, but that, on the contrary, 
 I am bearing in my body the marks of the Lord Jefus, 
 To him be all the praife ! Truly I have proved that 
 God is faithful : and mod cheerfully would I take 
 double the affliction for one half of the joy and fweet- 
 nefs which have attended it. "Accept a fcimon which 
 is this day publifhed.* 
 
 S. F." 
 
 To Mr. BATES and Mrs. BARNES, Minories. 
 
 " Birmingham, Dec. 14, 1 798. 
 
 " 1 COULD tell you much of the Lord's 
 
 goodnefs during my affliction. Truly « his right hand 
 hath been under my head, and his left embraced me/ 
 And when I was at the wcrft, efpecially, and expect- 
 ed ere long to have done with time, even then } fuch 
 holy joy, fuch ineffable fweetnefs filled my foul, that 
 I would not have exchanged that fituation for any be- 
 fides heaven itfelf. 
 
 M Oh, my dear friends, let us live to Chrijl^ and 
 lay ourfelves wholly out for him whilft we live ; and 
 then, when health and life forfake us, he will be the 
 flrength of our heart, and our portion forever. 
 
 S. P." 
 About 
 
 * The lafc but cne he ever preached, entitled, Motives to 
 Gratitude. Ii red en the dry of national thankfgiving, 
 
 and printed at the regueft of his own congregation. 
 
H4 Memoirs cf the late 
 
 About this time, the congregation at Cannon-ftreet 
 was fupplied for feveral months by Mr. Ward, who 
 is iince gone as a miffionary to India : here that ami- 
 able young man became intimately acquainted with 
 Mr. Pearce, and conceived a mod affect. ionate efteem 
 for him. In a letter to a friend, dated Jan. 5, 1799, 
 he writes as follows : 
 
 " I AM happy in the company of dear brother 
 Pearce. I have kti\ more of God in him, than in 
 any other perfon 1 ever knew. Oh how happy fhould 
 I be to live and die with him I When well, he preach- 
 es three times on a Lord's day, and two or three times 
 in the week befides. He inftrudts the young people 
 in the principles of religion, natural philofophy, af- 
 tronomy, &c. They have a Benevolent Society,, 
 from the funds of which they diftribute forty or fifty 
 pounds a year to the poor of the congregation. 
 They have a Sick Society for vifiting the afflicted in 
 general : a Book Society at chapel : a LordVday 
 School, at which betwixt two and three hundred chil- 
 dren are inftrucled. Add to this, miffionary bufinefs, 
 vifiting the people, an extennve correfpondence, two 
 volumes of million hiftory preparing for the prefs, &c. ; 
 and then you will fee fomething of the foul of Pearce. 
 He is every where venerated, though but a young 
 man •, and all the kind, tender, gentle affeclions, 
 make him as a little child at the feet of his Saviour. 
 
 W. W." 
 
 In February, he rode to the opening of a Baptift 
 meeting-houfe at Bedworth ; but did net engage in 
 any of the fervices. Here feveral of his brethren faw 
 him for the laft time. Soon afterwards, writing to 
 the compiler of thefe memoirs, he fays, — u The 
 Lord's day after I came home, I tried to fpeak a little 
 
 after 
 
Mr* Samuel Pearce. i 1 5 
 
 after fermon. It inflamed my lungs afrefh, produced 
 phlegm, coughing, and fpitting of blood. Perhaps I 
 may never preach more. Well, the Lord's will be 
 Hone. I thank him that ever he took me into his 
 fervice ; and now, if he fee fit to give me a difcharge, 
 I fubmit." 
 
 During the above meetings a word was dropped by 
 one of his brethren which he took as a reflection, 
 though nothing was farther from the intention of the 
 fpeaker. It wrought upon his mind, and in a few 
 days after, he wrcte as follows : *" Do you re- 
 member what pafTed at B ? Had I not been ac- 
 
 cuftomed to receive plain, friendly- remarks from you, 
 I mould have thought that you meant to infinuate a 
 reproof. If you did, tell me plainly. If you did not, 
 it ftr all at an end. You will not take my naming it 
 unkind, although I mould be miflaken, fince affec- 
 tionate explanations are neceflary when fufpicions 
 arife, to the prefervation of friendfhip ; and I need 
 not fay that I hold the prefervation of your friendfliip 
 in no fmall acccount." 
 
 The above is copied, not only to fet forth the fpirit 
 and conducl. of Mr. Pearce in a cafe wherein he felt 
 himfeif aggrieved, but to (hew in how eafy and amia- 
 ble a manner thoulan ds of miftakes might be rectified, 
 and differences prevented, by a frank and tim-ely ex- 
 planation. 
 
 To Mr. COMFIELD, Northampton 
 
 " Birmrrgham, March 4, 1 799 
 
 Xi I COULD wim my fympathies to be as exten- 
 five as human — I was going to fay — (and why not ?) as 
 animal mifery. The very limited comprehension of the 
 
 human 
 
lib Memoirs of the late 
 
 human intelligence forbids" this indeed, and whilft I 
 am attempting to participate as far as the news of 
 affliction reaches me, I find the fame events do not 
 often produce equal feelings. v -'e meafure our fym- 
 pathies, not by the caufes of foTirdw, but by the fenfi- 
 biiities of the forrowful ; hence I abound in feeling on 
 your account. The fituation of lily mull have 
 
 given diftrefs to a prefident of any character ; but in 
 you it mull: have produced agonies. I know the ten- 
 dernefs of your heart : your feelings are delicately 
 ftrong. You mull feel much, or nothing ; and he 
 that knows you, and does not feel much when you 
 feel, muft be a brute. 
 
 " May the fountain of mercy fupply you with 
 the cheering ft ream i May your forrow be turned 
 into joy ! 
 
 u I am fure that I ought to value more than ever 
 your friend fliip for me. You have remembered me, 
 not merely in my affliction, but in your own. Our 
 friendfhip, our benevolence muft never be compared 
 with that of Jefus ; but it is truly delightful to fee the 
 difciple treading, though at a humble diftance, in the 
 footfteps of a Mafter, who, amidft the tortures of cru- 
 cifixion, exercifed forgivenefs to his murderers, and 
 the tendernefs of filial piety to a difconfolate mother ! 
 When we realize the fcene, How much do our imagi- 
 nations embrace — the perfons — the circumftances — 
 the words — 'Woman, behold thy Son j John, behold 
 thy mother 1 p 
 
 S. P." 
 
 By the above letter, the reader will perceive, that 
 while deeply afflicted himfelf, he felt in the tendereit 
 manner for the afflictions of others. 
 
 To 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 1 1 7 
 
 To Mr. FULLER. 
 
 March 2 J, I 79?. 
 
 HE was now fetting out for Plymouth ; and 
 ufter obferving the great danger he was fuppofed to 
 be in, with refpeft to a confumption, he adds, — 
 " But thanks be to God, who giveth my heart the 
 victory, let my poor body be confumed, or preferved. 
 In the thought of leavings I feel a momentary gloom •, 
 but in the thought of goings a heavenly triumph. 
 
 * Oh to grace how great a debtor f * 
 
 "Praife God with me, and for me, my dear broth- 
 er, and let us not mind dying any more than fleeping. 
 No, no *, let every Chriftian fing the loudeft, as he gets 
 the neareft to the prefence of his God. — -Eternally 
 yours in Him, who hath wafhed us both in his blood. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To Mr. MEDLEY, London. 
 
 UNDER the fame date, he fays,—" My af- 
 fliction has been rendered fweet, by the fupports and 
 fmiles of Him whom I have ferved in the gofpel of 
 his Son. He hath delivered, he doth deliver, and 
 I truft that he will yet deliver. Living or dying, 
 all is well for ever. Oh what fhall I render to the 
 Lord ! * 
 
 •4%^ %%■$$>■ 
 
 It feems, that in order to avoid "bounding Mrs. P/s 
 feelings, he deferred the fettlement of his affairs till he 
 arrived at Briftol ; from whence he wrote to his friend, 
 Mr. King, requefting him to become an executor. 
 Receiving a favourable anfwer, he replied as follows :— 
 
 L * JBrifiol, 
 
1 1 8 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " BrtpU April 6, 1799. 
 
 cc YOUR letter, juft received, affected me too 
 much, with feelings both of fympathy and gratitude, 
 to remain unanfwered a fingle poft. Mod heartily do 
 I thank you for accepting a fervice, which friendfhip 
 alone can render agreeable in the moft fimple cafes. 
 Should that fervice demand your activities at an early 
 period, may no unforefeen occurrence increafe the nec- 
 eflary care ! But may the Father of the fatherlefs, and 
 Judge of the widows, fend you a recompenfe into your 
 own bofom, equal to all that friendfhip, to which, under 
 God, I have been fo much indebted in life, and repo- 
 ling on whofe bofom, even death itfelf lofes part of its 
 gloom. In you, my children will find another father 
 — in you, my wife another hufband* Your tendernefs 
 will fympathize with the one, under the moft diftreff- 
 ing fenfibilities ; and your prudent counfels be a guide 
 +0 the others, through the unknown mazes of inexpe- 
 rienced youth. Enough blefled God ! My foul 
 
 proftrates, and adores thee for fuch a friend* 
 
 s. iv 
 
 To Mr. FULLER. 
 
 u Plymouth, April 1 8, I799* 
 
 " THE lafi time that I wrote to you was at 
 the clofe of a letter fent.to you by brother Ryland* 
 I did not like that poftfeript form ; it looked fo card* 
 like as to make me fear that you would deem it un- 
 brotherly. After all, perhaps you thought nothing 
 about it ; and my anxieties might arife only from my 
 weaknefs, which feems to be conftantly increafing my 
 fenfibilities* If ever I felt love in its tendernefs for 
 my friends, it has been fince my aifli£tion. This, in 
 great meafure, is no more than the love of * publicans 
 and harlots, who love thofe that love them.' I never 
 conceived myfelf by a hundred degtees fo interefled 
 
 in 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. i 1 9 
 
 in the regards of my friends, as this feafon cf afflic- 
 tion has manifefted I was •, and therefore, fo far from 
 claiming any i reward' for loving them in return, I 
 fhould account myfclf a moniter of ingratitude, were 
 it-otherwife. Yet there is fome thing in affliction it- 
 felf, which, by increafmg the delicacy of our feelings, 
 and detaching our thoughts from the ufual round of 
 objects which pre lent themfelves to the mind when 
 in a (late of health, may be eafily conceived to make 
 us fufceptible of ftronger, and more permanent im-- 
 prcffions of an affectionate nature, 
 
 " I heard at Briftol, that you and your friends had re- 
 membered me in your prayers, at Kettering, Wheth- 
 er the Lord whom we ferve may fee fit to anfwer 
 your petitions on my account, or not, may they at 
 leait be returned into your own bofoms-! 
 
 « For the fake of others, I fhould be happy, could 
 I allure you that my health was improving. As to 
 myfelf, I thank God, that I am not without a defire 
 to depart, and to be with Chriit, which is far better. 
 I find that neither in ficknefs nor in health, I can be 
 fo much as I wifh like Him whom I love. c To die is 
 gain : ' Oh to gain that ftate, thole feelings, that char- 
 acter, which perfe6lly accord with the mind of Chriit, 
 and are attended with the full perfuafion of his com- 
 plete and everlafting approbation ! I want no heaven 
 but this $ and to gain this, moft gladly would I this 
 moment expire. But if to abide in the flefh be more 
 needful for an individual of my fellow-men, — Lord, 
 let thy will be done ; only let Chrift be magnified by 
 me, whether in life or death ! 
 
 " The weather has been fo wet and windy fince 1' 
 have been at Plymouth, that I could not reafonably ' 
 expert to be much better •, and I cannot fay that I am 
 much worfe. All the future is uncertain. Profef- 
 
 fional 
 
1 2 o Memoirs of the late 
 
 fional men encourage me ; but frequent returns ap- 
 pear, and occafional difcharges of blood check my 
 expectations. If I fpeak but for two minutes', my 
 bread feels as fore as though it were fcraped with a 
 rough-edged razor ; fo that I am mute all the day 
 long, and have actually reamed to converfe with my 
 filter by means of our fingers. 
 
 44 1 thank you for yours of April 4th, which I did 
 not receive till the 12th, the day that I arrived at 
 Plymouth. On the 16th, a copy of yours to brother 
 Ryland came to hand, to which I fhould have replied 
 yefterday, but had not leifure. I am happy and thank- 
 ful for your fuccefs.. May the Lord himfelf pilot the 
 Criterion fafely to Calcutta river ! 
 
 "Unlefs the Lord work a miracle for me, I am fure 
 that I (hall not be able to attend the Olney meeting. 
 It is to my feelings a fevere anticipation *, but how 
 can I be a Chriftian, and not fubmit to God ? 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To Mr. Wm. WARD. 
 
 ." Plymouth, April 22, I 799. 
 
 44 MOST affectionately do I thank you for 
 your letter, fo full of information, and of friendthip. 
 To our common Friend, who is gone into heaven, 
 where he ever fitteth at the right hand of God for us, 
 I commend you. Whether I die, or live, God will 
 take care of you till he lias ripened you for the com- 
 mon falvation. Then fha!l I meet my dear brother 
 Ward again ; and who can tell how much more in- 
 teresting our intercourse in heaven will be made by 
 the fcenes that moft diftrefs our poor fpirits here. 
 Oh, had I none to live for, I had rather die than l.ive, 
 that I may be at once like Him whom I love. But 
 
 while 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearee. 1 2 1 
 
 while he infures me Grace — why fhould I regret the 
 delay of Glory ! No: I will wait his will, who per- 
 forme th all things for me. 
 
 " My dear brother, had I flrength, I fhould rejoice 
 to acquaint you with the wre filings and the victories, 
 the hopes and the fears, the plea fares and the pangs, 
 which I have lately experienced, but I mufi forbear. 
 All I can now fay is, that God hath done me much 
 good by all, and made me very thankful for all he 
 has done. 
 
 "Alas-! I fhall fee you no more. I cannot be at 
 Olney on the 7th of May. The journey would be 
 my death •, but the Lord whom you ferve will be with 
 you then, and for ever. My love to all the dear af- 
 iembled faints, who will give you their benediction* 
 at' that folemn feafon.. 
 
 " Ever yours, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 u Plymouth^ April 24, 1 7 99*. 
 rt Very dear brother, 
 
 •" MY health is in much the fame ftate as 
 when I wrote laft, excepting that my mufcular ftrength 
 rather increafes, and my powers of fpeaking feem lefs 
 and lefs every week. 1 have, for the moil part, fpek- 
 en only in whifpers for feveral days pail-, and even 
 tnefe feem too much for my irritable lungs. My fa- 
 ther afked me a queftion to-day ; he did not under- 
 hand me when I whifpered •, fo I was obliged to utter 
 one word', and one word ptily, a little louder, and that 
 brought on a forenefs, which I expedl to feel till 
 bed time. 
 
 "I anv 
 
122 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " I am ftill looking out for fine weather : all her: 
 cold and rainy. We have had but two or three fair 
 and warm days fmce I have been here ; then I felt 
 better. I am perfectly at a lofs even to guefs what 
 the Lord means to do with me •, but I defire to com- 
 mit my ways to him, and be at peace. I am going 
 to-day about five miles into the country (to Tamer- 
 ton;) where I fliall await the will of God concern- 
 ing me. 
 
 " I knew not of any Committee-meeting of our Soci- 
 ety to be held reipefting Mr. Marfhman and his wife. 
 I have therefore fent no vote, and indeed it is my 
 happinefs that I have full confidence in my brethren, 
 at this important crifis, fincc clofe thinking or much 
 w r riting always increafes my fever, and promotes my 
 complaint. 
 
 " My dear brother, I hope you will correfpond much 
 with Kettering. I ufed to be a medium, but God 
 has put me out of the way. I could w;eep that I can 
 ferve him no more : and yet I fear fome would be 
 tears of pride. Oh ! for perfe£i likenefs to mv hum- 
 ble Lord ! 
 
 S. 1\" 
 
 To Mr. KING. 
 
 u Tamer tan, J\fjy 2, 1 799. 
 
 -G T VE my love to all the dear peo- 
 
 ple at Cannon-ftreet. Oh pray that He who afflicts, 
 would give me patience to endure. Indeed, the itate 
 of fufpenfe in which I have been kept fo long, re- 
 quires much of it > and I often exciaim, ere I am 
 aware, f Oh my dear people ! Oh my dear family ! 
 When (hall I be reftored to you again !' The Lord 
 forgive all the fin of my defires ! At times I feel a 
 
 fweet 
 
Mr\ Samuel Pcarce.- 12.3 
 
 fweet and perfe# calm, and wilh ever to live under 
 the influence of a belief fn the goodnefs of God, and 
 of ail his plans, and all his works. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 The reader has (een how much he regretted being 
 abfent from the foiemn defignation of the miffionaries 
 at Olnej. He however add re fled the following lines 
 to Mr. Fuller, which were read at the clofe of that 
 meeting, to the difiblving ef nearly the whole afferri- 
 bly in tears : — 
 
 " Taverton, May 2, IT 9?* 
 
 -OH that the Lord, who is un con- 
 
 fined by place or condition, may copiouflv pour out 
 upon you ail the rich effufions of his Holy Spirit on 
 the approaching day ! My moil hearty love to each 
 miffionary, who may then encircle the throne of grace. 
 Happy men ! happy women ! you are going to be 
 ieiijw-labourers with Chriit himfelf ! I congratulate — 
 I aimoil envy you \ yet I love you, and can fcarcely 
 now forbear dropping a tear of love as each of your 
 names pafTes acrofe my mind. Oh what promifes are 
 yours •, and what a reward ! Surely heaven is filled 
 with double joy, s*nd refounds with unufual acclama- 
 tions at the arrival of each miffionary there. Oh be 
 fnl, my dear brethren, my dear fillers, be faithful 
 unto death, and all this joy is yours ! Long as I live, 
 my imagination will be hovering over you in Bengal \ 
 and fhouid I die, if feparate fpirits he allowed a vifit 
 to the world they have left, methinks mine would 
 ibon be at Mudnabatty, watching your labours, your 
 conflicts, and y-^ur pkafurejSj v. u are always 
 
 abounding in the work of the Lord. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To 
 
1 24 Memoirs of the late 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 " Plymouth, May 14, X799, 
 
 * My dear brother, 
 
 « YOURS of the 1 ith inftant I have juft re- 
 eeived, and thank you for your continued concern for 
 your poor unworthy brother. 
 
 " I have fuffered much in my health fince I wrote 
 to you laft, by the increafe of my feverilh complaint, 
 which filled me with heat and horror all nij^t, and 
 in the day fometimes almoft fuffbcated me with the 
 violence of its paroxyfms- I am extremely weak, 
 and now that warm weather which I came into De- 
 von to feek, I dread as much as the cold, becaufe it 
 excites the fever. I am happy, however, in the Lord. 
 I have not a with to live or die, but as. he pleafes. I 
 truly enjoy the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and 
 wouid not be without his divine atonement, wherein 
 to reft my foul, for ten thoufand worlds. I feel 
 quite weaned from earth, and all things in it. 
 X)eath hath loft his fting, the grave its horrors $ and 
 the attractions of heaven, I had almoft faid, are fome^ 
 ttimes violent.. 
 
 • Oh to grace how great a debtor F 
 
 " But I am wearied. May all grace abound towards 
 my dear brother, and his affeciionata 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To the CHURCH in Cannon-ftreet. 
 
 "Plymouth., May Jr, I? 99. 
 
 "TO the dear people of my charge, the flock 
 of Chrift., afiembling in Cannon-flreet, Birmingham; 
 their affii&ed but affe£iionate Paftor, prefenrs his 
 love in Chrift Jefus, the great Shepherd of the flieep. 
 
 ** My 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 125 
 
 " My deareft, dearcfl friends and brethren, 
 
 u Separated as I have been a long time from you, 
 and during that time of feparation, having fullered 
 much both in body and mind, yet my heart has ftill 
 been with you, participating in your forrows, uniting 
 in your prayers, and rejoicing with you in the hope 
 of that glory, to which divine faithfulnefs has engaged 
 to bring us, zn&for which our heavenly Father, by all 
 his providences, and by every operation of his Holy 
 Spirit, is daily preparing us. 
 
 "Never, my dear brethren, did I fo much rejoice in 
 our being made * partakers of the heavenly calling, 1 as 
 during my late afflictions. The fweet thoughts of glo- 
 ry, where I (hall meet my dear Lord Jefus, with all his 
 redeemed ones, perfectly freed from all that fin which 
 now burdens us, and makes us groan from day to day, 
 — this tranfports my foul, whilft out of weaknefs I 
 am made ftrong, and at times am enabled to glory 
 even in my bodily infirmities, that the power of Chrift, 
 in fupportuig when flefh and heart fail, may the more 
 evidently relt upon me. Oh, my dear brethren and 
 filters ! let me, as one alive alrhoit from the dead, let 
 me exhort you to Hand faff in that blefled gofpei, 
 which for ten years I have now preached among yon : 
 — the gofpei of the grace of God •, the gofpei of free, 
 full, everlaiting falvation, founded on the fuller ings 
 and death of God manifeft in the jlejh. Lock n:ucl 
 this all-amazing fcene ! 
 
 4 Beheld ! a God defcends and dies, 
 To fave my foul from gaping iieil ;' 
 
 And then fay whether any poor broken-hearted {inner 
 need be afraid to venture his hopes of falvation on 
 fuch a facrifice ; efpeciaiiy, fince He who is thus 
 * mighty to fave^ hath faid, that * whoioever cometh 
 to him he will in no wife caft out/ You, beloved, 
 who have found the peaee-fpeaking virtue of this 
 
 blood 
 
1 26 Memoirs of the late 
 
 blood of atonement, muft not be fatisfied with what 
 you have already known or enjoyed. The only way 
 to be conftantly happy, and conftantly prepared for 
 the molt awful changes which we muft all expe- 
 rience, is to be conftantly looking and coming to a dying 
 Saviour : renouncing all our own worth inefs \ cleav- 
 ing to the loving Jefus as our all in all ; giving up 
 every thing, however valuable to our worldly interefts, 
 that clafhes with our fidelity to Chrift ; begging that 
 of his fulnefs we may receive * grace upon grace/ 
 whilft our faith actually relies on his power and faith- 
 fulnefs, for the full accomplifhment of every promife 
 in his word that v/e plead with him, and guarding 
 againft every thing that might for a moment bring 
 diftance and darknefs between your fouls, and your 
 precious Lord, If you thus live, (and oh that you 
 may daily receive freih life from Chrift fo to do !) 
 c the peace of God will keep your hearts and minds/ 
 and you will be filled v/ith * joy unipeakable and full 
 cf glory.' 
 
 " As a Church, you cannot conceive what pleafure I 
 have enjoyed in hearing that you are in peace \ that 
 you attend prayer-meetings - y that you feem to be ftir- 
 red up of late for the honour and profperity of religion* 
 Go on in thefe good ways, my beloved friends, and 
 affuredly the God of peace will be with you. Yea, 
 if after all I fhould be taken entirely from you, yet 
 God will furely vifit you, and never leave you, nor, 
 forfake you. 
 
 " As to my health, I feem on the whole to be (till 
 mending, though but very llowly. The fever troubles 
 me often, both by day and night \ but my ftrength 
 increafes. I long to fee your faces in the flefh •, yea, 
 when I thought myi'df near the gates of the grave, I 
 wifhed, if it were the Lord's will, to depart among 
 thole whom I fo much loved. But I am in good 
 hands ; and all muft be right. 
 
 « I tfyank 
 
Mr* Samuel Pearct. 127 
 
 " I thank both you and the congregation mod affec- 
 tionately, for all the kindnefs you have fhewn, refpeft- 
 ing me and my family, during my abfence. The 
 Lord return it a thoufand fold ! My love to every one, 
 both old and young, rich and poor as though named. 
 The Lord blefs to your edification the occafional minif- 
 try which you enjoy. I hope you regularly attend upon 
 it, and keep together, as ( the horfes in Pharaoh's char- 
 iot/ I pray much for you : pray, (till pray for your 
 very affectionate, though unworthy, paltor, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 In a poftfcript to Mr. King, he fays, " I have made 
 an effort to write this letter : my affetlions would take 
 no denial ; but it has brought on the fever." 
 
 — MM 9ew(g)0»00 0*03 — — 
 
 It feems to have been about this time that he 
 \vrote the following lines, which have appeared in 
 feveral periodical publications, but with many inaccn* 
 racies : 
 
 «*> 
 
 HYMN IN A STORM. 
 
 4i IN the floods of tribulation, 
 
 While the billows o'er me roll* 
 Jefus whifpers confolation, 
 
 And fupports my fainting foul. 
 Thus the lion yields me honey, 
 
 From the eater food is given ; 
 Strengthen'd thus, I (till prefs forward; 
 
 Singing as I wade to heaven,— 
 Sweet afRi&ion ! fweet affii&ionj 
 
 That brings Jefus to my foul ! 
 
 'Mid 
 
128 Memoirs of the late 
 
 'Mid the gloom the vivid lightnings 
 
 With increafed brightnefs play ; 
 'Mid the thornbrake, beauteous ilow'rets 
 
 Look more beautiful and gay : 
 So, in darkeft difpenfations, 
 
 Doth my faithful Lord appear, 
 With his richeft confolations, 
 
 To re-animate and cheer. 
 
 Sweet affliction ! fweet affliction, 
 Thus to bring my Saviour near ! 
 
 Floods of tribulation heighten, 
 
 Billows ftill around me roar ; 
 Thofe that know not Christ — ye frighten ; 
 
 But my foul defies your pow'r. 
 In the facred page recorded, 
 
 Thus his word fecurely (lands,—- 
 M Fear not, I'm in trouble near thee, 
 
 Nought ihall pluck thee from my hands." 
 Sweet affliction ! fweet affliction, 
 
 That to fuch fweet words lays claim ! 
 
 All I meet I find aflifts 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 bleffed Saviour's feat, 
 Cry, Affliction ! fweet affliction f 
 
 Hafle ! bring more to Jefus' feet !" 
 
 — — 990* 3(Q)0 OOOO 6©00 O^^J C OOO — 
 
 Towards the lattef end of May, when Mr. Ward, 
 and his companions, were juft ready to fet fail, a con- 
 futation concerning Mr. Pearce was held on board 
 the Criterion) in which all the miffionaries, and fome 
 
 of 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ee* 129 
 
 of the members of the Baptift Miflionary Society were 
 prefent. It was well known that he had for feveral 
 years been engaged in preparing materials for a Hif- 
 tory of Mi/JiofiSy to be comprifed in two volumes octavo : 
 and as the fending of the gofpel amongft the heathens 
 had fo deeply occupied his heart, conuderable expec- 
 tations had been formed by religious people, of his 
 producing an interefting work 6n the fubjeCL The 
 queftion now was, Could not this performance be fin- 
 ifhed by other hands, and the profits of it be appro- 
 priated to the benefit of Mr. Pearce's family ? It was 
 admitted by all, that this work would, partly from 
 its own merits* and partly from the great intereft: 
 which the author juftly poffeffed in the public efteem, 
 be very productive ; and that it would be a delicate 
 and proper method of enabling the religious public, 
 fey fubferibing liberally to it, to afford fubftantial affift- 
 ance to the family of this excellent man. The refult 
 was, that one of the members of the Society addreffed 
 a letter to Mr. Pearce's relations, at Plymouth, requeft- 
 ing them to confult him as he mould be able to bear 
 it, reipetting the ltate of his mariufcripts ; and to in- 
 quire whether they were in a condition to admit of 
 being finiflied by another hand ; deiiring them alfo to 
 aiTure him, for his prefent relief concerning his dear 
 family, that whatever the hand of friendfhip could ef- 
 fect on their behalf, mould be accomplilhed. The 
 anfwer, though it left no manner of hope as to the ac- 
 complishment of the object, yet is fo expreflive of the 
 reigning dilpoiitions of the writer's heart, as an affec- 
 tionate huiband, a tender father, a grateful friend, md 
 a fmcere Chriitia-11, that it cannot be uninterefting to 
 the reader : — 
 
 " Tawcrion, June 24, *799« 
 
 "TO ufe the common introduction of 'dear 
 brother/ would fall fo far fhort of my feelings towards 
 
 a friend, 
 
 M 
 
130 Memoirs of the late 
 
 a friend, whofe uniform conduct has ever laid fo great 
 a claim to my affetlion and gratitude •, but whofe re- 
 cent kindnefs, — kindnefs in adverfity — kindnefs to my 
 
 wife — kindnefs to my children kindnefs that would 
 
 go far to « fmooth the bed of death/ has overwhelmed 
 my whole foul in tender thankfulnefs, and engaged 
 my everlafting efteem. I know not how to begin. 
 . . . * Thought is poor, and poor exprefiion :' The 
 only thing that lay heavy on my heart, when in the 
 neareft profpeft of eternity, was the future fituation 
 of my family. I had but a comparatively fmall por- 
 tion to leave behind me, and yet that little was the 
 all that an amiable woman, delicately brought up, and, 
 through mercy, for the moft part comfortably provi- 
 ded for fince (he entered on domeftic life, — with five 
 babes to feed, clothe, and educate, had to fubfift on. 
 Ah, what a profpeft ! Hard and long I ftrove to real- 
 ize the promifes made to the widows and the father- 
 lefs \ but thefe alone I could not fully reft on and enjoy. 
 For my own part, God was indeed very gracious. I 
 was willing, 1 hope/to linger in fuffering, if I might 
 thereby moft glorify him, and death was an angel 
 whom I longed to come and embrace me, i cold* as 
 his embraces are. But how could I leave thofe who 
 were deareft to my heart in the midft of a world, in 
 which, although thoufands now profefled friendfhip 
 for me, and, on my account, for mine ; yet after my 
 deceafe, would, with few exceptions, foon forget my 
 widow and my children, among the crowds of the 
 needy and diftreffed. — It was at this moment of pain- 
 ful fen fibility that your heart meditated a plan to re- 
 move my anxieties*, — apian too that would involve 
 much perfonal labour before it could be accomplifhed. 
 'Bleffed be God, who put it into thy heart, afcd blefl- 
 ed be thou.' May the blefting of the widow and the 
 fatherlefs reft on you and yours for ever. Amen and 
 amen ! 
 
 « You 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. i 3 1 
 
 " You will regret perhaps that I have taken up fo 
 much room refpecling yourfelf, but I have fcarcely 
 gratified the fhadow of my wiflies. Excufe then on 
 the one hand, that I have faid fo much, and accept 
 on the other, what remains unexprefled. 
 
 " My affe&ions and defires are among my dear 
 people at Birmingham ; and unlefs I find my flrength 
 increafe here, I purpofe to fet out for that place in the 
 courfe of a fortnight, or at mod a month. The jour- 
 ney, performed by fhort ftages, may do me good : if 
 not, I expe£t when the winter comes to fleep in peace 5 
 arid it will delight my foul to fee them once more be- 
 fore I die. Befides, J have many little arrangements 
 to make among my books and papers, to prevent con- 
 fufion after my deceafe. Indeed, till I get home, I 
 cannot fiUly anfwer your kind letter \ but I fear that 
 my materials confift fo much in references, which none 
 but myfelf would underftand, that a fecond perfon 
 could not take it up, and profecute it. I am fiill 
 equally indebted to you for a propofal fo generous, io 
 laborious. 
 
 « Rejoice with me, that the bleffed gofpel (till 
 c bears my fpirits up.' I am become familiar with 
 trie thoughts of dying. I have taken my leave often 
 of the world \ and thanks be to God, I do it always 
 with tranquillity , and often with rapture. Oh, what 
 grace, what grace it was, that ever called me to be a 
 Chriftian ! What would have been my prefent feel- 
 ings, if I were going to meet God with all the filth 
 arid load of my fin about me ! But God in my na- 
 ture hath put my fin away, taught me to love him, 
 and long for his appearing. Oh, my dear brother, 
 how confonant is everlajling praife with fuch a great 
 falvation ! 
 
 S. P." 
 
 After 
 
i$2 Memoirs of the late 
 
 After this, another letter was addrefled to Mr. 
 Pearce, informing him more particularly that the above 
 propofal did not originate with an individuality with 
 feveral of the brethren who dearly loved him, and had 
 confulted on the bufinefs •, and that it was no more 
 than an act of jultice to one who had fpent his life in 
 ferving the public •, alfo rcguefting him to give direc- 
 tions by which his manuscripts might be found and 
 examined, left he {hould be taken away before his ar- 
 rival at Birmingham. To this he anfwered as follows : 
 
 " Plymouth, July 6, I 799. 
 
 " I NEED not repeat the growing fenfe I have 
 cf your kindnefs, and yet I know not how to forbear. 
 
 " I cannot direct Mr. K to all my papers, as 
 
 many of them are in books from which I was making 
 extracts ; and if I could, I am perfuaded that they 
 are in a itat^e too confufed, incorrect, and unfinifhed, 
 to fuffer you or any other friend to realize your kind 
 intentions. 
 
 u I have pofiefled a tenacious memory. I have be- 
 gun one part of the hiftory ; read the neceflary books ; 
 reflected \ arranged ; written, perhaps, the introduc- 
 tion ; and then, trufting to my recollection, with the 
 revifal of the books as I ihould want them, have em- 
 ployed myfelf in getting materials for another part, 
 &c. Thus, till my illnefs, the volumes exifted in my 
 head, — my books were at hand, and I was on the eve 
 of writing them out, when it pleated God to make 
 me paufe : and, as clofe thinking has been itrongly 
 forbidden me, I dare fay, that were I again reftored 
 to health, I (hould find it neceflary to go over much 
 of my former reading to refrefh memory. 
 
 " It is now Saturday. On Monday next we propofe 
 fetting out on our return. May the Lord profper our 
 
 way ! 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ce. 133 
 
 way ! Accept the fincere affection, and the ten thou- 
 fand thanks, of your brother in the Lord, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 As the manufcripts were found to be in fuch a 
 ftate, that no perfon, except the author himfelf, could 
 finifli them, the defign was neceffafily dropped. The 
 public mind, however, was deeply impreffed With Mr* 
 Pearce's worth, and that, which the friendihip of a 
 few could not effect, has fined been amply accompiiuV 
 edby the liberal exertions of many. 
 
 To Mr. BIRT. 
 
 u Birmingham, July z6, 1V)9< 
 
 " IT is not with common feelings that I 1 
 a letter Co yen. Your name brings fo many intereft- 
 ing circumflarices of my life before me, in which your 
 friendfhip has been fo uniformly and eminently dis- 
 played, that nowy amidit the imbecilities of ficknefs, 
 and the ferious profpectof another world, my heart 
 is overwhelmed with gratitude* whilil it glows with 
 affection, — an affection which eternity {hall not anni- 
 hilate, but improve^ 
 
 " We' reached Briftol' on the Friday after we parted 
 from you, having fuited our progrefs to my ftrength 
 and fpirits, We ftaid with Briftol friends till Mon- 
 day, when we purfued our journey, and went com- 
 fortably on, till the uncommonly rough road from 
 Tewkefbury to Evefham quite jaded me; and I have 
 not yet recovered, from the exceffive fatigue of that 
 miferable ride. ••*- At Alcefte'r we reded a day and a 
 half, and, through the abundant goodnefs of God, we 
 fafely arrived at Birmingham en Friday evening, the 
 19th of July, • 
 
 M Z & I feel 
 
* 34 Memoirs of the late 
 
 " I feel an undiflurbed tranquillity of foul, and am 
 cheerfully waiting die will of God. My voice is gone, 
 fo that I cannot whifper without pain ; and of this 
 circumftance I am at times mod ready to complain. 
 For, to fee my dear and amiable Sarah look at me, and 
 then at the childre?i> and at length bathe her face in 
 tears, without my being able to fay one kind word of 
 
 comfort, Oh !!.... Yet the Lord fup- 
 
 ports me under this alfo \ and I truft will fupport me 
 to the end. g p „ 
 
 To Mr. ROCK. 
 
 July a8, 1799- 
 
 €i 1 AM now to all appearance within a 
 
 few fteps of eternity. In Chrift I am fafe. In him 
 I am happy. I truft we {hall meet in heaven. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To R. BOWYER, Efq. 
 
 " Birmingham ) Augujt i, 1 799. 
 
 "MUCH difappointed that I am not releafed 
 from this world of fin, and put in pofieffion of the 
 pleafufes enjoyed by the fpirits of juft men made per- 
 fect, I once more addrefs my dear fellow heirs of that 
 glory which ere long fhall be revealed to us all. 
 
 u We returned from Devon laft Friday week. I 
 was exceedingly weak, and for feveral days afterwards 
 got rapidly worfe. My friends compelled me to try 
 another phyfician. I am ft ill told that I (hall recover. 
 Be that as it may, I wifh to have my own will anni- 
 hilated, that the will of the Lord may be done. 
 Through his abundant grase, I have been, and ftill 
 
 am 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 135 
 
 am happy hi my foul ; and I trufl my prevailing de- 
 fire is, that living or dying I may be the Lord's. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 To R. BOWYER, Efq. 
 
 On his having fent him a print of Mr. Schwartz, 
 the MiJTionary en the Malabar coajl. 
 
 " Birmingham ^ Aug. 1 6, 1 799. 
 
 " ON three accounts was your lad parcel 
 highly acceptable. It reprefented a man, whom I 
 have long been in the habit of loving and revering - y 
 and whofe character and labours I intended, if the Lord 
 had not laid his hand upon me by my prefent illnefs, 
 to have prefented to the public in Europe, as he him- 
 ferf prefented them to the millions of Afia. — The exe- 
 cution bearing fo ftrong a iikenefs to the original, 
 heightened its value. And then, the hand from 
 whence it came, and the friendship it was intended 
 to exprefs, add to its worth. 
 
 S. P." 
 
 «» ^ » •000 -^»c«co ^ 4» 
 
 To Mr. FULLER, 
 
 " Birmingham^ Aug. 19, 1*99- 
 
 "THE doctor has been making me worfe and 
 weaker for three weeks. In the middle of the lap; 
 week he fpoke confidently of my recovery : but to- 
 day he has fcen fit to alter his plans , and if I do not 
 find a fpeedy alteration for the better, I muft have 
 done with all phyficians> but Him, who € healeth the 
 broken in heart.' 
 
 « For 
 
136 Memoirs of the late 
 
 "For fome time after I came home, I was led to 
 believe my cafe to be confumptive, and then thinking 
 myfelf of a certainty near the kingdom of heaven, I 
 rejoiced hourly in the delightful pro'fpedl. 
 
 "Since then, I have been told that I am not in a 
 dangerous way ; and though I give very little credit 
 to fuch aiTertions in this cafe, yet I have found my 
 mind fo taken up with earth again, that I feem as 
 though I had another fouL My fpiritual pleafures 
 are greatly interrupted, and fome of the moil plain- 
 tive parts of the moft plaintive Pfalms feem the only 
 true language of my heart. Yet, c Thy will be done/ I 
 truft, prevails ; and if it be the Lord's will that I lin- 
 ger long, and fuller much, Oh let him give me the 
 patience of hope, and ftill, his will- be done. — I can 
 write no more. This is a whole day's work ; for it 
 is only after tea that for a few minutes I can fit up, 
 ^nd attend to anv thing. , 
 
 S. P.". 
 
 From the latter end of Auguft, and all through the 
 month of September to the tenth of O&ober, the day 
 on which he died, lie feems to have been unable to 
 write. — He did not, however, lofc the exercife of his 
 mental-powers ; and -though in the laft of the above 
 letters he complains of darknefs, it appears that Jie 
 foon recovered that peace and' joy in God, by which 
 his affli&ion, arid even his Ufa; were diftinguifhed. 
 
 Four excellent letters, addrefled to Dr. Ryland, 
 Mr. Pope, and Mr. 'King, appear at- the end of 
 his funeral fermon, publifhed by Dr. Ryland, togeth- 
 er with various fhort fentences, which he dropped 
 during the laft five- or fix weeks- of his life. And 
 as the readers ofi the. Sermon will probably wifh 
 
 to- 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 137 
 
 to have it bound up with the Memoirs, both are con- 
 nected together for that purpofe. 
 
 A little before he died, he was vifited by Mr. Med- 
 ley, of London, with whom he had been particularly 
 intimate on his fir ft coming to Birmingham. Mr. . 
 Pearce was much affected at the fight of his friend ; 
 and continued filently weeping for nearly ten minutes, 
 holding and prefling his hand. After this, he fpoke, 
 or rather, wlufpered as follows: — u This fick bed is a 
 Bethel to me : it is none other than the houfe of God, 
 and the gate of heaven. I can fcarcely exprefs the 
 pleafures that I have enjoyed in this affliction. The 
 nearer I draw to my diflblution, the happier I am. 
 It fcarcely can be called an affliction, it is fo counter- 
 balanced with joy. You have loft your pious father : 
 tell me how it was/' — Here Mr. Medley informed 
 him of particulars. He wept much at the recital, 
 and efpecially at hearing of his laft words, — " Home, 
 Home !" Mr. Medley telling him of fome tempta- 
 tions he had lately met with, he charged him to keep 
 near to God. " Keep clofe to God," faid he, " and 
 nothing will hurt you !" 
 
 The following familiar competitions, which were 
 found amongit Mr. Pearce's papers, appear to have 
 been written at diftant intervals : — 
 
 • Jefus Chrift our Lord, both theirs and curs J 1 Cor. i. 2. 
 
 " SWEEP are the gifts which gracious Heav'n 
 
 On true Believers pours ; 
 But the beit gift is grace to know 
 
 Thai Jefus Chrift is ours. 
 
 Our 
 
1 38 Memoirs of the late 
 
 Our Jefus 1 what rich drops of blifs 
 Defcend in copious ihow'rs, 
 
 When ruin'd iinners, fuch as we, 
 By faith can call him ours. 
 
 Differ we may in age and ftate, . 
 
 Learning and mental pow'rs, 
 Eat all the faints may join and fhout, , 
 
 Dear Jefus ! thcu art curs. 
 
 Let thofe who know our Jefus not, 
 
 Delight in earth's gay flow'rs ; 
 We, glorying in our better lot, . 
 Rejoice that He is ours. 
 
 When hope, with elevated flight, 
 
 Tow'rds heav'n in rapture tow'rs, 
 
 *Tis this fupports our ventrous wing, 
 We know that Chrift is ours. 
 
 Though providence, with dark'ning iky, 
 On things terreftriai lours, 
 
 We rife fuperior to the gloom 
 
 When finging, Chrift is ours. 
 
 Time, which this world, with all its joys, 
 With eager -hafte -devours,- 
 
 May take inferior things away, 
 But Jefus full is ours. 
 
 Hake then, dull time, and terminate 
 Thy flow revolving hours : 
 
 We wifh, we pray, we long, we pant 
 Jn .Heav'n to call him ours!" 
 
 " Plain- 
 
Mr. Samuel. Plane. 13*9 
 
 " Plain Dealing with a Bacijliding \ Heart r " 
 
 « STUPID foul, to folly cleaving, 
 Why has God no more thy heart ; 
 
 Why art thou thy mercies leaving ; 
 Why rauft thou with Jefus part i 
 
 Is there in this world exifting 
 Aught with Jefus to compare; 
 
 Yea, can heav'n itfelf produce one 
 Half fo lovely, half fo fair I 
 
 Ah ! look back upon the feafon, 
 When tiiy foul the Saviour chofe 
 
 For thy portion, and thy fpirit 
 Did with his falvation clofe. 
 
 Ah ! remember thine efpoufals ; 
 
 Didft thou not with Ciirift agree, 
 Leaving all thy former lovers, 
 
 His and his alone to be ? 
 
 In his love thy pow'rs exulting. 
 What did all below appear ; 
 
 Was there aught feem'd worth poiTefling> 
 Worthy of a hope or fear ? 
 
 When thy heart, by grace in (trucked, 
 iearnt the world todifefteem, 
 
 And to Chrifr for all reforted, 
 Was there not enough in him ? 
 
 Yes ; thou know'ft thy joyful fpirit 
 Knew no unfulflll'd defire ; 
 
 Longing dill, and (Hll receiving 
 Fuel for the heav'nly fire. 
 
 "Why 
 
140 Memoirs of the latt 
 
 Why then, tell me, now fo lifelefs, 
 Why this heav'nly fountain leave J 
 
 Why to broken cifterns feeking, 
 Citterns that no water give i 
 
 Doth not difappointment follow 
 Ev'ry ftep ,that leads from God ; 
 
 Have not piercing thorns and briers 
 
 Shown their points thtough all the road ? 
 
 Recollect, 'tis thus, the Saviour 
 Says he will thy foul reclaim* 
 
 With weeping and with fupplication* 
 Humbly offer'd through his name/' 
 
 ci Invocation to returning Peace. 
 
 u SWEET Peace, return ! thy wonted blifs feftore,- 
 Bid war's infatiate fcourge prevail no more ; 
 Sheath the dread fword that deals defrruction round, 
 And ev'ry ear falute with tranquil found ! 
 Oh ! bid oppreflion from each land retire, 
 And Briton's fons with halcyon blifs infpire } 
 Remove the mis'ry of domestic woesy 
 And hum the tumult of contending foes ! 
 Let each, with patriot zeal, all ftrife difown ; 
 Be one their wiihes, and their motives one4 
 The widow's tears, her fad corroding care, 
 The orphan's Cghs, afTift this ardent pray'r : 
 May rj£ on whom propitious fortune fmiles, 
 Relieve that breaft which adverfe fate beguiles \ 
 May virtue's impulfe ev'ry purpofe move, 
 To aels of goodnefs, universal love !" 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. *4T 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 CENERAL OUTLINES OF HIS CHARACTER, 
 
 1 O develop the character of any perfon, it 
 is necefiary to determine what was his governing 
 principle. If this can be clearly ascertained, we fhali 
 eafily account for the tenor of his conduct. 
 
 The governing principle in Mr. Pearce, beyond all 
 doubt, was Holy Love. 
 
 To mention this, is Sufficient to prove it to all who 
 knew him. His friends have often compared him to 
 that difciple ivhom Jefus loved. His religion was that 
 of the heart. Almoft every thing he faw, or heard, 
 or read, or ftudied, was converted to the feeding of 
 this divine flame. Every fubject that paffed through 
 his hands, feemed to have been call into this mould. 
 Things, that to a merely fpeculative mind would have 
 furnifned matter only for curiofity, to him afforded 
 materials for devotion. His fermons were generally 
 the effufions of his heart, and invariably aimed at the 
 hearts of his hearers. 
 
 For the juftnefs of the above remarks, I might ap- 
 peal not only to the letters which he addrefled to his 
 friends, but to thofe which his friends addrefled to 
 him. It is worthy of notice how much we are influ- 
 enced in our correfpondence by the turn of mind of 
 the perfon we addrefs. If we write to a humourous 
 charafter, we (hall generally find that what we write, 
 perhaps without being conicious of it, will be inter- 
 fperfed with pleafantries : or if to one of a very ferious 
 caft, our letters will be more ferious than ufual. On 
 this principle, it has been thought, we may form fome 
 
 judgment 
 N 
 
r^l Memoirs of the late 
 
 judgment of our own fpirit by the fpirit in which our 
 friends addrefs us. Thefe remarks will apply with 
 fingular propriety to the correfpondence of Mr. Pearce. 
 In looking over the firft volume of Periodical Accounts 
 cfthe Baptijl Miffion^ the reader will eafily perceive the 
 moft affe&ionate letters from the miffionaries are thofc 
 which are addreffed to him. 
 
 It is not enough to fay of this afFe&ionate fpirit that 
 it formed a prominent feature in his chara&er : it was 
 rather the life-blood that animated the .whole fyftem. 
 He feemed, as one of his friends obferved, to be bap- 
 tized in it. It was holy love that gave the tone to his 
 general deportment : as a fon, a fubjeft, a neighbour, 
 a Chriftlan, a minuter, a pallor, a friend, a hufband, 
 and a father, he was manifestly governed by this prin- 
 ciple ; and this it was that produced in him that lovely 
 uniformity of character, which confiitutes the true 
 beauty of holinefs. 
 
 By the grace of God he was what he was ; and to 
 the honour of grace, and not for the glory of a finful 
 worm, be it recorded. Like all other men, he was 
 the fubjecl of a depraved nature. He felt it, and la- 
 mented it, and longed to depart, that he might be 
 freed from it : but certainly we have feldom feen a 
 chara&er, taking him altogether, " whofe excellencies 
 were fo many, and fo uniform, and whofe imperfec- 
 tions were fo few." We have feen men rife high in 
 contemplation, who have abounded but little in aftion 
 — We have feen zeal mingled with bitternefs, and 
 candour degenerate into indifference ; experimental 
 religion mixed with a large portion of enthufiafm, and 
 what is called rational religion void of every thing 
 that interefts the heart of man — We have feen fplen- 
 did talents tarnifhed with infufferable pride, feriouf- 
 jiefs with melancholy, cheerfulnefs with levity, and 
 great attainments in religion with uncharitable cenfo- 
 
 rioufnef;. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 143 
 
 fioufnefs towards men of low degree : — but we have 
 not feen thefe things in our brother Pearce. 
 
 There have been few men in whom has been uni- 
 ted a greater portion of the contemplative and the ac- 
 tive •, holy zeal,, and genuine candour j fpirituality, 
 and rationality \ talents, that attracted almoft univer- 
 fal applaufe, and the moft unaffected modefty -, faith- 
 fulness in bearing teftimony againit evil, with the ten- 
 derefl companion to the foul of the evil doer ; fortitude 
 that would encounter any difficulty in the way of duty, 
 without any thing boifterous, noify, or overbearing j 
 deep ferioufnefs, with habitual cheerful nefs ; and a 
 conftant ^iim to promote the higheft degrees of piety 
 ill himfelf and others, with a readinefs to hope the 
 bed of the lowed ; not breaking the brwjfd reed> nor 
 quenching the fmoking Jlax. 
 
 He loved the divine character as revealed in the Scrip- 
 tures. — To adore God, to contemplate his glorious 
 perfections, to enjoy his favour, and to fubmit to his 
 difpofal, were his higheft delight. " I felt," fays he, 
 when contemplating the hardfhips of a miffionary life, 
 u that were the univerfe deftroyed, and I the only be- 
 ing in it befides God, he is fully adequate to my com- 
 plete happinefs ; and had I been in an African wood, 
 iurrou nded with venomous ferpents, devouring beafts, 
 and favage men ; in fuch a frame, I mould be the 
 fubjecl: of perfect peace, and exalted joy. Yes, O 
 my God ! thou haft taught me that thou alone art 
 worthy of my confidence ; and, with this fentiment 
 fixed in my heart, I am freed from all folicitude about 
 my temporal concerns. If thy prefence be enjoyed, 
 poverty ihali be riches, darkneis light, affliction prof- 
 perity, reproach my honour, and fatigue my reft !" 
 
 He loved the go/pel. — The truths which he believed 
 and taught, dwelt richly in him, in all wifdom and 
 
 fpiritual 
 
144 Memoirs of the late 
 
 fpiritual understanding. The reader will recollect 
 how he went over the great principles of Chriftianity, 
 examining the grounds on whicli he refted, in the 
 firft of thofe days which he devoted to folemn fading 
 and prayer in reference to his becoming a miflionary ;* 
 and with what ardent affection he let his feal anew 
 to every part of divine truth as he went along. 
 
 If falvation had been of works, few men, according 
 to our way of eftimating characters, had a fairer claim : 
 but, as he himfeif has related, he could not meet the 
 king of terrors in this armour.-}* So far was he from 
 placing any dependence on his own works* that the 
 more he did for God, the lefs he thought of it in fuch 
 a way. " All the fatisfa&ion I wifli for here/' fays 
 he, " is to be doing my heavenly Father's wiil. I hope 
 I have found it my meat and drink to do his work \ 
 and can fet to my feal, that the purefe pleafures of hu- 
 man life fpring from the humble obedience of faith. 
 It is a good faying, « We cannot do too much for God, 
 nor truft in what we do too little.' I find a growing 
 conviction of the neceffity of a free falvation. The 
 more I do for God, the lefs I think of it \ and am 
 progreflively afhamed that I do no more/' 
 
 Chrift crucified was his darling theme, from firft to 
 laft. This was the fubjett on which he dwelt at the 
 outfet of his miniftry among the Coldford colliers, 
 when, " He could fcarcely {peak for weeping, nor 
 they hear for interrupting fighs and fobs -," this was 
 the burden of the fong when addreffing the more pol- 
 iihed and crouded audiences at Birmingham, London, 
 and Dublin •, this was the grand motive exhibited in 
 lermons for the promotion of public charities •, and 
 this was the rock on which he relied all his hopes, in 
 the profpect of death. It is true, as we have feen, he 
 was fhaken for a time by the writings of a Whitby y 
 
 and 
 
 * See Chap. II. p. 46. f Chap. L P- l8 * 
 
Mr. Samuel Pcarce. 145 
 
 and of a Prlejlley : but this tranfient hefitation, by the 
 overruling grace of God, tended only to eftablifh hi;:! 
 more firmly in the end. " Blefied be his dear name," 
 fays he under his laft affliftion, " who fried his blood 
 for me. He helps me to rejoice at times with joy 
 unfpeakable. Now I fee the value of the religion of 
 the crofs. It is a religion for a dying finner. It is 
 ail the molt guilty, and the mod wretched can defire. 
 Yes, I tafle its fweetnefs, and enjoy its fulnefs, with 
 all the gloom of a dying bed before me \ and far 
 rather would 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." 
 
 Notwithftanding this, however, there were thofe in 
 Birmingham,, and other places, who would not allow 
 that he preached the gofpeL And if by the gofpel were 
 meant the doctrine taught by Mr. Huntington, Mr. 
 Bradford, and others who follow hard after them, it 
 muit be granted he did not. If the fall and depravity 
 of man operate to deftroy his accountablenefs to his 
 Creator ; if his inability to obey the law, or comply 
 with the gofpel, be of fuch a nature as to excufe him 
 in the neglecl: of either , or if not, yet if Chrift's com- 
 ing under the law, frees believers from all obligation 
 to obey its precepts ; if gofpel invitations are addrefleci 
 only to the regenerate ; if the illuminating influence^ 
 of the Holy Spirit conilft in revealing to us the fecret 
 purpofes of God concerning us, or impre fling us with 
 the idea that we are the favourites of Heaven *, if be- 
 lieving fuch impreflions be Chriftian faith, and doubt- 
 ing of their validity unbelief -, if there be no fuch 
 thing as progreflive fanctification, nor any fanclifioa- 
 tion inherent, except that of the illumination before 
 defcribed •, if wicked men are not obliged to dc any 
 thing beyond what they can find in their hearts to do, 
 nor good men to be holy beyond what they actually 
 
 art j 
 N2 
 
1 46 Memoirs of the late 
 
 are y and if thefe things conftitute the gojpel, Mrv 
 Pearce certainly did not preach it. — But if man, what- 
 ever be his depravity, be neceflarily a free agent, and 
 accountable for all his difpofitions and anions ; if gof- 
 pel invitations be addrefled to men not as elect, nor 
 as non-ele£t, ; but as finners expofed to the righteous 
 difpleafure of God ; if Chrift's obedience and death 
 rather increafe, than diminifh our obligations to love 
 God and one another -, if faith in Chrift be a falling 
 in with God's v/ay of falvation, and unbelief a falling 
 out with it ; if fan&ification be a progreflive work, 
 and fo eflential a branch of our falvation, as that with- 
 out it no man {hall fee the Lord ; if the Holy Spirit 
 inftruft us in nothing by his illuminating influences 
 but what was already revealed in the fcriptures, and 
 which we fhould have perceived but for that we loved 
 darknefs rather than light ; and if he inclines us to 
 nothing but what was antecedently right, or to fuch a 
 fpirit as every intelligent creature ought at all times 
 to have pofleflcd — then Mr. Pearce did preach the 
 gofpel •, and that which his accufers call by this name 
 is another gofpel r , and not the gofpel of Chrift* 
 
 Moreover, If the do&rine taught by Mr. Pearce be 
 not the gofpel of Chrift, and that which is taught by 
 the above writers and their adherents be, it may be 
 expected that the effects produced will in iome degree 
 correfpond with this reprefentaticn. And is it evi- 
 dent to all men who are acquainted with both, and 
 who judge impartially, that the doftrine taught by 
 Mr. Pearce is productive of hatred \ variance ', emula- 
 tions , t wrathyfirife y ratings ', evil fur mifingSy and perverfe 
 difputings ; that it renders thofe who embrace it lovers 
 vf their own felves 9 covetous , boajlerSy proud yfalfe acafers y 
 fiercey defpifeis of thofe that are good ; while that of his 
 adverfaries promotes lovey joy y peace y long-fujferingy gen- 
 tlenefsy goodnefsy faith y meeknefsy and temperance t .... 
 "WHY EYEN OF YOURSELVES JUDGE YE NOT WHAT IS 
 
 RIGHT ? 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 147 
 
 RIGHT ? . . . . YE SHALL KNOW THEM EY THEIR 
 FRUITS, 
 
 Mr. Pearce's ideas of preaching human obligation 
 may be feen in the following extract from a letter, ad- 
 dreiled to a young minirter who was fent out of the 
 church of which he was paftor. " You requeft my 
 thoughts how a ininifter fhould preach human obliga- 
 tion. I would reply, do it extenfively, do it conjla?itly j. 
 but withal, do it affectionately and evangelically. I 
 think, confidering the general character of our hearers* 
 and the ftate of their mental improvement, it would 
 be time loft to argue much from the data of natural 
 religion. The belt way is, perhaps, to exprefs duties 
 in fcripture language, and enforce them by evangeli- 
 cal motives •, as, the example cf Chrift — the ends of 
 his fuffering and death — the confeioufnefc of his ap- 
 probation — the afiiftance he has promifed — the influ- 
 ence of a holy converfation on God's people, and on 
 the people of the world — the fmail returns we at belt 
 can make for the love of Jefus — and the hope of eter- 
 nal holinefs. Thefe form a body of arguments, which 
 the moil Gmple may understand, and the moft dull 
 may feel. Yet I would not neglect on feme ocafions 
 to lhew the obligations of man to love his Creator — 
 the reafonableneis.of the divine law — and the natural 
 tendency of its commands to promote our own com- 
 fort, the good of fociety, and the glory of God. 
 Thefe will ferve to illuminate, but, after all, it is the 
 go/pel of the grace of God that will moft effect uaiiy ani~ 
 mate, and impel to action." 
 
 Mr* Pearce's affection to the doctrine of the crofs 
 was not merely nor principally on account of its being 
 a fyitem which fecured his own fafety. Had this 
 been the cafe, he might, like others, whofe religion 
 originates and terminates in felf-love, have been de- 
 lighted with the idea of the grace of the Son, but it 
 would have been at the expenie of all complacency in 
 
 the 
 
148 Memoirs of the late 
 
 the righteous government of the Father. He might 
 have admired iome thing which he accounted the gof- 
 pel, as faving him from mifery ; but he could have 
 clifcerned no iovelinefs in the divine law as being holy, 
 juft and good, nor in the mediation of Chrift as doing 
 honour to it. That which in his view constituted the 
 glory of the gofpel was, that God is therein revealed 
 as the juji God and the Saviour — -jufy and the jufifer of 
 him that believeth in Jefus*. 
 
 He was a lover of good men. — He was never more in 
 his element than when joining wish them in fpiritual 
 eonveriation, prayer and praife. His heart was ten- 
 derly attached to the people of his charge ; and it 
 was one of the bittereft ingredients in his cup during 
 his long affliction, to- be cut off from their fociety. 
 When in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, he thus 
 writes to Mr. King, one of the deacons — " Give my 
 love to all the dear people. O pray, that He who 
 aflhcTts would give me patience to endure. Indeed, 
 the ftate of fufpenfe in which I have been kept fo 
 long, requires much of it \ and I often exclaim ere I 
 am aware, O my dear people ! O my dear family, 
 when (hall I return to you again !" He confcien- 
 tioufly difl'ented from the Church of England, and 
 from every other national eftablifhment of religion, aa 
 inconfiftent with what he judged the fcriptural ac- 
 count of the nature of ChrihYs kingdom : nor was he 
 iefs confcientious in his rejection of infant baptifm, 
 confidering it as having no foundation in the holy 
 fcriptures, and as tending to confound the church and 
 the world ; yet he embraced with brotherly affe&ion 
 great numbers of godly men both in and out of the 
 eftablifhment. His fpirit was truly catholic : he lov- 
 ed all who loved our Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity. 
 «• Let us pray," faid he in a letter to a friend, " for 
 the peace of jerufalem : they flrall profper who love — 
 
 net 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 149 
 
 not this part, or the other, but who love — her — that 
 is, the whole body of Chriit." 
 
 He bare good will to all mankind. — It was from this 
 principle that he fo ardently defired to go and preach 
 the gofpel to the heathen. And even under his long 
 affliction, when at times he entertained hopes £>f re-- 
 covery, he would fay, " My foul pants for ufefulnefs 
 more extenfive than ever : I long to become an apoftle 
 to the world !" The errors and fins of men wrought 
 much in him in a way of pity. He knew that they 
 were culpable in the light of 'God : but he knew alfo 
 that he himfelf was a finner, and felt that they were 
 entitled to his companion. His zeal for the divinity 
 and atonement cf his Saviour, never appeared to have 
 operated in a way of unchriftian bitternefs againft 
 thofe who rejected thefe important doclrines ; and 
 though he was fhanfefully traduced by profeiTors of 
 another defcription as a mere legal preacher, and his 
 miniftry held up as affording no food for the fouls of 
 believers, and could not but feel the injury of fuch 
 mifreprefentations ; yet he does not appear to have 
 cherifhed unchriftian refentment •, hut would at any 
 time have laid himfelf out for the good of hisVorft 
 enemies. It was his conftant endeavour to promote 
 as good an unckrftanding between the different con- 
 gregations in the town as the nature of their different 
 religious fentiments would admit. The cruel bitter- 
 nefs of many people againft Dr. Prkftley and his 
 friends, at and after the Birmingham riots, was affect- 
 ing to his mind. Such methods of oppofing error he 
 abhorred. His regard to mankind made him lament 
 the confequences of war : but while he wiibed and 
 prayed for peace to the nations, and efpecially to his 
 native country, he had no idea of turbulently contend- 
 ing for it. Though friendly to civil and religious lib- 
 erty, he ftood aloof from the fire of political conten- 
 tion* In an excellent Circular Letter to the churches 
 
 of 
 
X50 Memoirs of the late 
 
 of the Midland Aflbciation in 1 794, of which he was 
 the writer, he thus exprefles himfelf — " Have as little 
 as pofiible to do with the world. Meddle not with 
 political controverfies. An inordinate purfuit cf 
 thefe, we are forry to obferve, has been as a canker- 
 worm at the root of vital piety •, and caufed the love 
 of many, formerly zealous profeflbrs to wax cold. 
 The Lord reigneth ; it is our place to rejoice in his 
 government, and quietly wait for the falvation of God. 
 The eftabliihment of his kingdom will be the ultimate 
 end of all thofe national commotions which terrify 
 the earth. The wrath of man (hall praife him, and 
 the remainder of wrath he will reftrain." If he 
 could write in this manner in 1 704, his feeing a 
 hopeful undertaking, in which he had taken a more 
 than common intereft, blafted by this fpecies of folly 
 in 1796, would not leflen his averfion to it.* From 
 this time more than ever, he turned his whole atten- 
 tion to the promoting of the kingdom of Chrift, cher- 
 ifliing and recommending a . fpirit of contentment and 
 gratitude for the civil and religious advantages that 
 we enjoyed. Such were the fentiments inculcated in 
 the laft fermon that he printed, and the laft but one 
 that he preached.f His dear young friends who are 
 gone to India will never forget how earneftly he 
 charged them by letter, when confined at Plymouth, 
 to conduct themielves in all civil matters as peaceable 
 and obedient fubje&s to the government under which 
 they lived,, in whatever country it might be their let 
 to refide. 
 
 It was love that tempered his faithfulnefs with Jo large 
 a portion of tender concern for the good of thofe whefe con* 
 duel he was obliged to cenfure. — He could not bear them 
 that were evil, but would fet himfelf againft them 
 
 with 
 
 * See Periodical Accounts of the Baptift Mifiion, VoL 1. p» 257* 
 f Seepage 11^3. Note. 
 

 Mr. Samuel Pearce. 151 
 
 with the greateft firmnefs : yet it were eafyto^dif- 
 cover the pain of mind with which this necciiary part 
 of duty was difcharged. It is -well remembered how 
 he conducted himfelf towards certain preachers in 
 the neighbourhood, who, wandering from place to 
 place, corrupted and embroiled the churches.; whofe 
 conduct he knew to be as dishonourable as their prin- 
 ciples were loofe and unfcriptural : and when requeft- 
 to recite particulars in his own defence, his fear and 
 tenderneis for character, his modeft reluctance to ac- 
 cufe perfons older than himfelf, and his deep concern 
 that men engaged in the Chriftian miniitry, fhould 
 render fuch accufations neceilary, were each con- 
 fpicuous, and proved to all prefent, that the work of 
 an accuier was. to him 21 f range work. 
 
 It was love that expanded his hearty and prompted him 
 to labour in feafon a fid out of feafon for the faivatim of fin- 
 tiers. — This was the fpring of that conltant ftream 
 of activity by which his life was diilinguifhed. His 
 conference would net .fuffer him to decline what ap- 
 peared to 'be right. H I dare not refufe, he would 
 fay, left I fhould fhrink from duty. Unjuftifiable 
 cafe is worfe than the molt difficult labours to which 
 duty calls." To perfons who never entered into his 
 views and feelings, fome parts of his conduct, efpe- 
 cially thofe which relate to his defire of quitting his 
 country that he might preach the gofpel to the hea- 
 then, will appear extravagant : but no man could 
 with greater propriety have adopted the language of 
 the apoflle, Whether we be befide ourfelves^ it is to God ^ 
 or 'whether we be fiber , it is for your caufe ; fir the love 
 of Ckrjjl cotiflrabieth us. 
 
 He was frequently told that his exercifes were too 
 great for his flrength : but fuch was the ardour of 
 his heart, " He could not die in a better work." 
 When he went up into the pulpit to deliver his laft 
 
 Ceraozt* 
 
152 Memoirs of the late 
 
 fermon, he thought he fhoulcl not have been able to 
 get through •, but when he got a little warm, he felt 
 relieved, and forgot his indifpofition, preaching with 
 equal fervour and freedom as when in perfect health. 
 While he was laid afide, he could not forbear hoping 
 that he fhould fome time refume his delightful work j 
 and knowing the ftrength of his feelings to be fuch 
 that it would be unfafe to trufi himfelf, he propofed 
 for a time to write his difcourfes, that his mind might 
 not be at liberty to overdo his debilitated frame. 
 
 All his CGunfels, cautions, and reproofs, appear to have 
 been the effeft of love. — It was a rule dictated by his 
 heart, no lefs than by his judgment, to difcourage all 
 evil fpeaking : nor would he approve of juft cenfure 
 unlefs fome good and necefTary end were to be an- 
 fwered by it. Two of his diftant friends being at his 
 houfe together, one of them, during the abfence of 
 the other, fuggefted fomething to his difadvantage. 
 He put a ftop to the converfation by anfwering, " He 
 is here, take him afide, and tell him of it by himfelf : 
 you may do him good/' 
 
 If he perceived any of his acquaintance bewildered 
 in fruitlefs fpeculations, he would in an affectionate 
 manner endeavour to dTaw off their attention from 
 thefe mazes of confufion to the fimple doctrine of the 
 crofs. A fpecimen of thvs kind of treatment will be 
 feen in the letter, No. I. towards the cloie of this 
 chapter. 
 
 He was. affectionate to all, but efpecially towards 
 the rifing generation. The youth of his own congre- 
 gation, of London, and of Dublin, have not forgot his 
 melting difcourfes which were particularly addreffed 
 to them. He took much delight in fpeaking to the 
 children, and would adapt himfelf to their capacities, 
 and expoftuhte with them on the things which be- 
 longed 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ce. 153 
 
 longed to their everlafting peace. While at Plym- 
 outh he wrote thus to one of his friends, " O how 
 fhould I rejoice were there a fpeedy profpe£l of my 
 returning to my great and little congregations." Nor 
 was it by preaching only that he fought their eternal 
 welfare : feveral of his ietters are addrefled to young 
 perfons. See No. II. and III. towards the clofe of this 
 chapter* 
 
 "With what jcy did he congratulate one of his mod 
 intimate friejnds, on hearing that three of the younger 
 branches of his family had apparently been brought to 
 take the Redeemer's yoke upon them. " Thanks, 
 thanks, thanks be to God," faid he, "for the enraptur- 
 ing profpecls before you as zfhflfr> as zChriftian father 
 efpecially. What, three of a family ! and thefe three 
 at once ! O the heights, and depths, and lengths, and 
 breadths of his unfathomable grace. My foul feels 
 joy unfpeakable at the blefied news. Three immor- 
 tal foula fe cured for eternal life ! Three rational fpirits 
 preparing to grace Immanuel's triumphs, and fing his 
 praife ! Three examples of virtue and goodnefs ; ex- 
 hibiting the genuine influences of the true religion of 
 Jefus before the world — Perhaps three mothers train- 
 ing up to lead three future families in the way to 
 heaven. Oh what a train of bleflings do I fee in this 
 event ! Moll fincereiy do I participate with my dear 
 friend, in his pleafures and in his gratitude." 
 
 Towards the clofe cf life, writing to the fame 
 friend, he thus concludes his letter — "Prefent our 
 
 love to dear Mrs. S and the family, efpecially 
 
 thofe whofe hearts are engaged to feek the Lord and 
 his goodnefs. O teil them they will find him good 
 all their lives, fupremely gecd en dying beds, but beft 
 of all in glory." 
 
 In 
 O 
 
154 Memoirs of the late 
 
 In his vifits to thejich he was fingularly ufcful. His 
 fympathetic conversation, affectionate prayers, and en- 
 dearing manner of recommending to them a compaf- 
 fionate Saviour, frequently operated as a cordial to 
 their troubled hearts. A young man of his congrega- 
 tion was dangeroufly ill. His father living at a diftance, 
 was anxious to hear from him •, and Mr. Pearce, in a 
 letter to the minifter on whole preaching the father 
 attended, 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 ferioufly alarmed for his 
 fon till lad Tuefday, when I expected from every fymp- 
 tom, and the language of his apothecary, that he was 
 nigh unto death. But to our aftonifhment and joy, a 
 furprifing change has iince taken place. I faw him 
 yefterday apparently in a fair way for recovery. His 
 mind, for the firfi part of his illnefs, was fometimes 
 joyful, and almoft conftantjy calm •, but when at the 
 worft, fufpicions crouded his mind ; he feared he had 
 been an hypocrite. I talked, and prayed, and wept 
 with him. One fcene was very affecting ; both he 
 and his wife appeared like perfons newly awakened. 
 They never felt fo ftrongly the importance of religion 
 before. He converfed about the tendernefs of Jefur. 
 to broken-hearted finners ; and whilft we fpoke, it 
 feemed as though he came and began to heal the 
 Wound. It did me good, and I truft not unavailing 
 to them. They have fince been for the mod part 
 happy ; and a very pleafant interview I had with them 
 on the paft day." 
 
 Every man mud have his feafons of relaxation. 
 In his earlier years he would take ftrong bodily exer- 
 cife. Of late, he occafionally employed himfelf with 
 the micfofcope, and in making a few philofophical 
 experiments. u We will amufe ourfelves with phi- 
 lofophy," faid he to a philofophical friend, " but jefus 
 fhall be our teacher " In all thefe exercifes he feents 
 
 never 
 
Mr. Samuel P caret. i£tf 
 
 never to have loft fight of God •, but would be dis- 
 covering fomcthing in his worts that fliould furnifh 
 matter for praife and admiration. His mind did riot 
 appear to have been unfitted, but rather aiTifled, by 
 fuch purfuits for the difcharge of the more fpiritual 
 exercifes, into which he would fall at a proper feafon, 
 as into his native element. If in company with 
 friends, and the converfation turned upon the works 
 of nature, or art, or any other. fubjeCt of fcience, he 
 would cheerfully take a part in it, and when occafion 
 required, by fome eafy and pleafant tranfition, direct 
 it into another channel. Ah ingenious friend once 
 fnewed him a model of a machine which he thought 
 of conttructing, and by which he hoped to be able to 
 produce a perpetual motion. Mr. Pearce having pa- 
 tiently inipected it, difcovered where the operation 
 would Hop, and pointed it out. His friend was con- 
 vinced, and felt, as may be fuppofed, rather unpleaf- 
 ant at his difappointment. He confoled him ; and a 
 prayer-meeting being at hand, faid to this eff^Ct, 
 " We may learn from hence our own infufficiency, 
 and the glory of that Beings who is vusnderful in coun- 
 Jely and excellent in working ; let us go and worfhip 
 Him." 
 
 His mild and gentle difpcfition, not apt to give or 
 take offence, often won upon perfons in matters 
 wherein at firft they have fhewn themfelves averfe. 
 When collecting for the Baptift million, a gentleman 
 who had no knowledge of him, or of the conductors 
 of that undertaking, made fome objections, on the 
 ground that the Baptiits had little or nothing to fay 
 to the unconverted. This objection Mr. Pearce at- 
 tempted to remove^ by alleging that the parties con- 
 cerned in this bufmefs were entirely of another mind, 
 I am glad to hear it, faid the gentleman, but I have 
 my fears. Then pray, fir, faid Mr. Pearce, do not 
 fcive till ycu are fatisfied. Why I afiure you, replied 
 
 the 
 
1^6 Memoirs of the late 
 
 the other, I think the Method Ifts more likely to 
 fucceed than you ; and fhouM feel more pleafure In 
 giving them ten guineas than you one. If you give 
 them twenty guineas, fir, faid Mr. Pearce, we ihal! 
 rejoice in their fucceis •, and if you give us one, I 
 hope it will not be mifapplied. The gentleman 
 fnrikd, and gave him four. 
 
 His figure to a fuperficial cbferver would at firft 
 fight convey nothing very interfiling ^ but on clofe 
 jnfpe&ion, his countenance would be acknowledged 
 to be a faithful index to his foul. Calm, placid, 
 and, when in the pulp't efpecially, full of animation, 
 his appearance was not a little cxpreffitfc of the inter- 
 eft he felt in the eternal welfare of his audience •, his 
 eves beaming benignity, and fpeaking in the mo ft im- 
 
 Jive language his willingnefs to impart^ not only the 
 gojpd :f Gctiy but his owfi Jhul olfo. 
 
 His imagination was vivid, and his judgment clear \ 
 he reliflied the elegancies of fcience, and felt alive to 
 the moil delicate and refined fentiments : yet thefe 
 were things on account of which he does not appear 
 to have valued himfelf. They were rather his amufe- 
 incuts than his employ men t. 
 » 
 
 His atfdrefs was eafy and infinuating ; his voice 
 font, but fometimes cverftrained in the courf. 
 his fermen \ hts language chafte, flowing, and inclin- 
 ing to the florid : this Iaft, however, abated as his 
 judgment ripenid. His delivery was rather lbw 
 than rapid •, his attitude graceful, and his counte- 
 nance in aimoft all his diuourfes approaching to an af- 
 fectionate fmile. He never appears, however, to have 
 fluched what are called the graces of pulpit action j 
 cr, whatever he had read concerning them, it was 
 manifeft that he thought nothing of them, cr of any 
 other of the ornaments of fpeech, at the tin*e. 'Both 
 
 his 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearu. 157 
 
 his a&ion and language were the genuine exprcffions 
 of an ardent mind, affected, and fometimes deeply, 
 with his fubjedt. Being rather below the common 
 ftature, and difregarding, or rather, I might fay, dis- 
 approving every thing pompous in his appearance, he 
 has on ibme occaiions been prejudged to his difad- 
 vantage : but the fong of the nightingale is not the 
 lefs melodious for his not appearing in a gaudy plu- 
 mage. His manner of preparing for the pulpit may 
 
 be feen in a letter addrefied to Mr. C of L , 
 
 who was fent out of his church ; and which may be 
 of ufe to others in a fimilar fituation. See No. IV. 
 towards the clofe of this chapter. 
 
 His miniftry was highly acceptable to perfons of 
 education : but he appears to have been moft in his 
 element when preaching to the poor. The feelings 
 which he himfeif exprefies when inftru&ing the col- 
 Hers, appear to have continued with him through life 
 It was his delight to carry the glad tidings of falva- 
 tion into the villages wherever he coild find accefs 
 and opportunity. And as he fought the good of their 
 fouls, ib he both laboured and fufFered to relieve their 
 temporal wants •, living himfdf in a ityle of frugality 
 and felf-deniai, that he might have whereof to give to 
 them that needed. 
 
 Finally, He pojfejfed a large portion of real hnppinefs. — ' 
 There are few characters whofe ei joyments, bcth 
 natural and fpiritual, have rifen to fo great a heigLt. 
 He dwelt in love r and he that dvudleth in love dive/ let 6 
 in God, and God in him. Such a life mull needs b£ 
 happy. If his religion had originated and terminated 
 m ieff-iovc, as fome contend the whole cf religion dees, 
 his jr/s had been not only of a different nature, but 
 far ieis extenfive than they were. His interelt was 
 bound up with that of his Lord and Saviour. Its af- 
 fliction* 
 
158 Memoirs of the late 
 
 fliftions weTe his affli&ion, and its joys his joy. The 
 grand objeft of his defire was, to fee the good of God's 
 chofen, to rejoice in the gladnefs of his nation , and to glory 
 ivith his inheritance. " What pleafures do thofe lofe," 
 fays he, " who have no intereft in God's gracious 
 and holy caufe !"* 
 
 If an objeft of joy prefented itfelf to his mind, he 
 would delight in multiplying it by its probable or pof-? 
 fible confequences. Thus it was, as we have feen, 
 in his congratulating his friend on the convcrfion of 
 three of his children ; nd thus it was when fpeaking 
 of a people who divided into two congregations, not 
 from difcord, but from an increafe of numbers j and 
 who generoufly united in erecting a- new and addU 
 tional place cf worihip — " Thefe liberal fouls are fub- 
 fcribing," fa id he, " in order to fupport a religion, 
 which, as far as it truly prevails, will render others as 
 liberal as themfelves." 
 
 His heart was fo much formed for focial enjoyment 
 that he feems to have contemplated the heavenly ft ate 
 under this idea with peculiar advantage. This was the 
 
 Jeading theme of a difcourfe from Rev., v. 9 12, 
 
 which' he delivered at a meeting of minifters at Arnfr 
 by, April 18* 1797 > and of which his brethren retain 
 a lively remembrance. On this plcafing fubjeft he 
 dwells alfo in a letter to his dear friend Birt. — " I 
 had much pleafure a few days fince, in meditating on 
 the "affe&ionate language of our Lord to his forrowful 
 difciples y I go to prepare a place for you. Yv'hnt a 
 plenitude of confolation do thefe words contain - y 
 what a fweet view of heaven as a place of fociety. It 
 is one place for us all ; that place where his gk rjfk j d 
 tody is, there all his followers mail af&mble, to part 
 no more. Where He is, there we mall be alfo. G!i 
 Jrfefled jfrntiVrpatioh ! There fhall be Abel, artel all the 
 
 martyrs 5 
 
 • Stf tfa h%\.\\t to Tr. Fyfer.4, May, 3c, 1796, p. 6j. 
 

 Mr. Samuel Pcarce, V§$ 
 
 martyrs j Abraham,- and all the •patriarchs ; Ifabh, 
 and ail the prophets ♦, Paul, arid all the apoltles \ Ga~ 
 briel, and all the- angel& % OncC above' ail; : Jksus, and. 
 all his ranibmed people ! Oh, to be amongii the num- 
 ber i My dear brother, let us be ftrong in the Lord. 
 Let us realize the biifs before us. Let our faith bring 
 i*ea*vea itfrlf near, and feaft, and iive upon the ieenel 
 Oh what a commanding influence would it have upoa 
 our thoughts, .pa JloriS) comforts, forrows, words, mm- 
 iftry, prayers, praifes, and conduit. What -manner 
 of perfons fiiould we be in ?J1 holy converfation and 
 godlinefo P 
 
 In many- serfons, the pleafures imparted by rehg-* 
 ion are counteracted by a gloomy co'nftitutiori : bat 
 it was not fo in him. In his difpofition they met 
 with a friendly foih Cheerfuinefs was as natural to 
 him as breathing ; and this fpirit,.fan£rified by the 
 grace of God, gave a tincture to all his thoughts-, 
 converfation , and preaching. He wr.s feldom heard: 
 without tears > but they, were frequent y tears- of 
 pleafure. No levity, no attempts nt wit, no aiming, 
 to excite the rifibility of an audience, ever dilgraceil 
 hii fermons. Religion in him was habitual -feriouf- 
 nels, mingled with facred pleafure, frequently rih*ng 
 into fublime delight, and occasionally overflowing 
 with transposing joy, 
 
 LETTERS 
 
*6q Memoirs cf the latt 
 
 LETTERS 
 
 ..REFERRED TO IN THIS CHAPTER^ 
 
 No. L 
 
 51? a ycung man ijhofe mind he .perceived ivas bewildered 
 iviib j ruitlefs f peculations* 
 
 1 HE converfation we Bad' on our way 
 
 to . fo far interefted me in your religious feelings* 
 
 that 1 find it impoflible to fctisfy my mind, till I have 
 cxpreiTed my ardent wiihes for the happy, termination 
 of your late exercifes, and contributed my mite to- 
 die promotion of your joy in; the Lord. A difpofition 
 more or iefs to ". fk^ pticifrn** I believe is common to 
 cur naturt, in proportion as cppofite fyftems and jar- 
 ring opinions, each Supported by a piaufibiiity of ar- 
 gument A are prcfented to our mine's: and with fome 
 qualification I admit Robinfon's remark* " That he 
 who never doubted never believed." While examin- 
 ing the grounds cf perfuafion, it is right for the mind 
 to hefitate. Opinions ought not to be prejudged 
 any more than criminals, livery objection ought to. 
 have its weight \ and the more numerous and forci- 
 ble o&jettions are, the more c.iufe mall we finally. 
 have for the triumph,. i Magna eft verity s & pre- 
 vakbit *,' but there are two or three confiderations, 
 which haye x\o fmali weight with me in relation to 
 religious cbntrbver-fies.. 
 
 "The firft is, The importance of truth. It woulcT 
 be endlefs-to write en truth in general. I confine my 
 views to what! I deem the leading truth in the New 
 Trftament, — The atonement mr.de en behalf offinners by 
 ike Sjn of God ; the doctrine of the Crofs ,-• Jefta ChrijT 
 and bun crucified* It furely cannot be a matter of f; tall 
 
 concern 
 
Mr. Samuel Scarce. \ 6 1 
 
 concern whether the Creator of all things, out of mere 
 love to rebellious men, exchanged a throne for a erofs^ 
 and thereby reconciled a ruined world to God. If 
 this be not true, how can we refpe£t the bible "as an 
 infpired book, which fo plainly attributes our falvation 
 to the grace of God, through the redemption iihich is in 
 Cbri/l Jefus ? And if we dffcard the bible, what can 
 we do with prophecies, miracles* and all the power of 
 evidence on which, as en adamantine pillars, its au- 
 thority abides r Surely the infidel has more to rejjefl 
 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 cur anceflors, but on the 
 invincible conviction which attends an impartial ir 
 ligation of its evidences j that book reveals a trurh of 
 the higheft importance to man, confonant to the opin- 
 ions of the earlielt ages, and the mod enlightened taa- 
 tiens, perfectly confident with the Jewith economy. 
 as to its fpirit and defign, altogether adapted to unit;* 
 the equitable and merciful perfections of the Deity in* 
 the Tinner's falvation, and above ail things calculated 
 to beget the moil eftahlifhed peace, to irrfpire with the 
 livelieft hope, and to engage the h A life in ha- 
 
 bitual devotednefs to the mUreft of m h! piety* 
 
 Such a doftrine I cannot but venerate , and to the Au- 
 thor of fuch a doftrine, my whole icul labours to ex- 
 hauil itfjlf ill praiie.. 
 
 * Ch the fwect wonders off &he Croft, 
 
 Where God my . aviour LvU and dy*d ! * 
 
 forgive, my friend, forgive the tranfport of a foul com- 
 pelled to feci where it attempts only to explore. I can- 
 not on this fubjed control my paflzons by the laws of 
 logic.. God fori/ J that Ijhoitlci glory >>fave in the Crofs of 
 Chr'ijl J ejus wy Lord I 
 
 « Secondly, I confider man as a depraved creature ; 
 £b depraved, that hisjudgrne'nt is as darXas his apgetnea 
 
1 62 .Memoirs of the late 
 
 are fenfual \ wholly dependent therefore on God : 
 religious light, as well as true devotion : yet fuch a 
 dupe to pride, as to reject every thing, which the nar- 
 row limits of his comprehenfion cannot embrace *, and 
 fuch a flave t3 his pailions, as to admit no law but 
 feii-intereft for his government. With thefe views of 
 human nature, I am perfuaded we ought to fufpedt 
 our own dccifions -whenever they cppofe truths too fub- 
 lime fojr our underftandings, or too pure for our lulls. 
 •To err* on this fide, indeed, c is human >* wherefore 
 the wife man faith, 4 He that trufteth to his own heart 
 is a fool/ Should, therefore, the evidence be only 
 equal on the fide of the gofpel of Chrift, I fhould 
 think, with this allowance^ we fhould do well to ad- 
 mit it. 
 
 « Thirdly, If the gofpd of Chrift be true, it mould 
 be heartily embraced. We (hould yield ourfelves to 
 its influence without referve. W« mull come to a 
 point, and lefolve to be either infidels, or Chriftians. 
 To know the power of the fun, we fhould expofe our- 
 (felves to his rays 5 to know the fweetnefs of honey, 
 we mufl bring it to our palates. Speculations v/iil not 
 do in either of thefe cafes ; much lefs will it in matters 
 of religion. Mj Son y faith God, give me thine heart ! 
 
 u Fourthly, A humble admifEcn of the light we al- 
 ready have, is the mod effectual way to a full convic- 
 tion of the truth of t re doctrine of Chrift. If any mart 
 will DO his ivill, he Jhcdl know of his dotlrine 'whether it 
 be cf God. If we honour God as far as we know hi$ 
 wiilj he will honour us with further difcoveries of it. 
 Thus fhail we know, if we follow on to knew the 
 Lord ; thus, thus fhalj you, my dear friend, become 
 afmred that there, is fal-vation in no other name than 
 that cf Jefus Chrift *, and thus from an inward expe- 
 rience of the quickening influences cf h's Holy Spirit, 
 you will joi:i the admiring church, and fay of Jefus* 
 
 •This 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ce. i6t 
 
 a 
 
 *This is my beloved, this is my friend; he is the 
 chiefeft among ten thoufand, he is altogether lovely.' 
 Yes, I yet hope, I expect to foe you rejoicing in Chrift 
 Jeftis ; and appearing as a living wintfs that he is 
 faithful who hath faid, < .Seek and ye fhaii find ♦, afk 
 and receive, that your joy may be full.' 
 
 -*«0*S>* 
 
 In another letter to the fame correfpondent, after 
 -congratulating himfelf that he had difcovered fuch a 
 mode of killing noxious infers as fbould put them to 
 the leaft pain, and which was character! ftic of the ten- 
 -dernefs of his heart, he proceeds as follows : — " But 
 enough of nature : how is my brother as a Chnjlum ? 
 We have had fome interesting moments in converfa- 
 tion on the methods of grace, that grace whole influ- 
 ence reaches to the day of adverfity, and the hour of 
 death ; feafons when, of every thing befide it may be 
 faid, Miferable comforters are they all ! My dear 
 friend, we will amufe ourfeives with philofophy, but 
 Chrift fhall be cur teacher \ Chrift fnall be our glory ; 
 Chrift fhall be our portion. Oh that we may be ena- 
 bled * to comprehend the heights, and depths, and 
 lengths, and breadths, and to know the love of Chrift 
 which paffeth knowledge !' 
 
 Affectionately yours, 
 
 S. P." 
 
164 Memoirs' of tbv Lite 
 
 No. II, 
 
 To a you?;7 gentltman of his rxquaintance^ iiko was then 
 Jiudying phvfic at Edinburgh. 
 
 JJlD my dear friend P know with what 
 
 fincere aff: clion, and ferious concern, I a'lmoii daily 
 think cf him, he would need no other evidence of the 
 effect which his laft vifit, ancf hisiubfequent letters have 
 produced. Indeed there is not a young man in the 
 world, in earlier life than myfelf, for whofe univerfal 
 profperity I am -fo deeply interefted. Many circum- 
 itances I can trace, on a review of the pad fourteen 
 years, which have contributed to beget and augment 
 affeclion and efteem : and I can affure you that every 
 interview^ and every !e::er, (till tend to confolidate rny 
 regard. 
 
 cc Happy iliculd I be, if my ability to ferve you at 
 tlils important crifis of human life were equal to your 
 willies, or my own. Your fituation demands all the 
 aid, which the wifdom and prudence of your friends 
 can afford, that you may be direfted not only to the 
 moil worihy objefts of purfuit, but alio to the moil 
 effectual means for obtaining them. In your prcfef- 
 fional character it is impoflible for me to give you any 
 afliflance. If any general bbfrrvations I can make 
 fhould prove at all uteful, I mail be richly rewarded for 
 the time I employ in their communication. 
 
 " I thank you finccrely for the freedom wherewith 
 you have difclofed the peculiarities of your fituation, 
 and the views and refylutions wherewith they have in- 
 spired you. I can recommend nothing better, my dear 
 friend, than a determined adherence to the purpofes yen 
 have aiready formed, refpecting the intimacies you 
 
 cortr-edl. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear re. 165 
 
 contract, and the aflbciates you choofe. In fuch a 
 place as Edinburgh, it may be fuppofed, no defcription 
 of perfcns will be wanting. Some fo notoriously vi- 
 cious, that their atrocity of character will have no fmall 
 tendency to confirm your morals, from the odious con- 
 trad which their practices prefent to your view. 
 Againft thefe, therefore, I need not caution you. You 
 wiil flee them as fo many ferpents, in whole breath is 
 venom and deft ruction. More danger may be appre- 
 hended from thofe mixed characters, who blend the 
 profefiion of philofophical refinement with the fecret 
 indulgence of thofe fenfual gratifications, which at once 
 exhauft the pocket, deftroy the health, and debafe the 
 character. 
 
 " That morality is friendly to individual happinefs, 
 and to focial order, no man, who refpects his own con- 
 fcience, or character, will have the effrontery to deny. 
 Its avenues cannot, therefore, be too facredly guarded, 
 nor thofe principles which fupport a virtuous practice 
 be too ferioufly maintained. But morality derives, it 
 is true, its beft, its only fupport, from the principles of 
 religion. 'The fear of the Lord (faid the wife man) 
 is to hate evil.' He, therefore, who endeavours to weak- 
 en the fandtions of religion, to induce a (keptical habit, 
 to detach my thoughts from an ever prefent God, and 
 my hopes from a futurity of holy enjoyment, he is a 
 worfe enemy than the man that meets me with the pif- 
 tol and the dagger. Should my dear friend, then, fall 
 into the company of thofe, whofe friendfhip cannot be 
 purchafed but by the facrifice of Revelation, I hope he 
 will ever think fuch a price too great for the good opin- 
 ion of men who blafpheme piety, and diili^nour God. 
 Deifm is indeed the fafhion of the day •, and to be in the 
 mode, you muft quit the good old path of devotion 
 as too antiquated for any but monks and hermits ^ fo 
 as you laugh at religion, that is enough to fecure to you 
 
 the 
 P * 
 
1 66 Memoirs of the late 
 
 tlie company, and the applaufe, of the fons of polite- 
 jtofife. Oh that God may be a buckler and a (hield 
 to defend you from their aiTaults ! Let but their pri- 
 vate morals be inquired into, and if they may have a 
 hearing, I dare engage they will not bear a favourable 
 teftimony to the good tendency of fkepticifm ; and it 
 may be regarded as an indifputable axiom, That what 
 re unfriendly to virtue is unfriendly to man, 
 
 " Were I to argue a pofleriori in favour of truth, I 
 Jhould contend that thcfe principles rnuft be true* 
 which (firft) correfponded with general obfervation — 
 (fecondly) tended to general hap pinefs— (thirdly) pre- 
 served a uniform connexion between caufe and effedt, 
 evi±>and remedy, in all fituations. 
 
 u I would then apply thefe data to the principles 
 held on the one fide, by the deifts ; and on the other, 
 by the believers in revelation. In the application of 
 the JirJIy I would refer to the ftate of human nature. 
 The deifl contends for its purity, and powers. Rev- 
 elation declares its depravity, and weaknefs. I com- 
 pare thefe oppofite declarations with the fa£ls that fall 
 under conftant obfervation. Do I not fee that there 
 is a larger portion of vice in the world, than of virtue ; 
 that no man needs folicitation to cvii, but every man 
 ti guard againfl it ; and that thoufands bewail their fub- 
 jeftion to lufts, wliich they have not power to fubdue, 
 whilft they live in moral flavery, and cannot burft the 
 chain ? Which principle then mall I admit ? Will ob- 
 fervation countenance the deifilcal ? I am convinced to 
 the contrary, and mufb fay, I cannot be a deifl without 
 becoming a fool \ and to exalt my reafon, I muft de- 
 ny my fenfes. 
 
 <c I take the fecend datum, and inquire, which tends 
 moft to general happinefs ? To fecure happinefs, three 
 things are neceirary : — objeEty me^m, and motives. The 
 
 cueftiort 
 
M r. Samuel Pearce. 1 6y 
 
 queftion is, — Which points out the truefcurcc of hap- 
 pinefs; whicli dire&s to the befi means for attaining 
 it ; and which furnifihes me with the nioit powerful mo- 
 tives to induce my purfuit of it ? If I take a deift for 
 my tutor, he tells me that fame is the objeel \ univerfal 
 accommodation of manners to intertfr^ the ; means ; and 
 feiflove the fpring of aftion. Sordid teacher !. From 
 him I turn to Jefus. His better voice informs me, that 
 the fource of felicity is the friend/hip of my Gcd \ that 
 love to my Maker > and love to inan> exprefled in all the 
 noble and amiable erTufions of devotion and benevo- 
 lence, are the means ; and that the glory ofGod } and il:c 
 happinefs cf the univerfe^ muft be my motives, Blcn^l 
 Initructor, thy dictates approve themfelves to every 
 illuminated confeience, to every pious heart ! Do they 
 not, my dear F , approve themfelves to yours ? 
 
 "But I will not tire your patience by purfuin^ 
 thefe remarks. Little did I think of fuch amplifica- 
 tion when I firft took up my pen. Oh that I may 
 have the joy of finding that thefe (at leaft well meant) 
 endeavours to eftablifh your piety have not been un- 
 graciouily received, nor wholly unprofitable to your 
 mind ! I am encouraged to thefe errufions of friend- 
 fhip by that amiable felfdifinfl which your letter ex- 
 prelTcs ; a temper not only becoming the earlier ft ages 
 of life, but graceful In all its advancing periods. 
 
 " Unfpeakable {, I 1 me to find 
 
 that you are confeious ot the r.e ceffity of \ firft' icek- 
 ing affiftance from heaven. Retain, my dear friend, 
 this honourable, this equitable fentiment. * In all 
 thy ways acknowledge God, and he lhall direct thy* 
 paths.' 
 
 " I hope you will ftill be cautious in your inti- 
 macies* You will gain more by a half-hour's inter- 
 co'urfe with God^ than the friendihip of the v/holc coh. 
 
 kge 
 
1 68 Memoirs of the late 
 
 -lege can impart. Too much acquaintance would be 
 followed with a wafte of that precious time, on the 
 prefent improvement of which, your future ufefulnefs 
 and refpeclability in your profeflion depend. Like 
 the bee; you may do beft by fipping the fweets of ev- 
 ery flower j but remember, the fweeteft bloflbm is not 
 the l.'ve, 
 
 Yours very affectionately, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 •J P. S«. So many books have been publiflied on the 
 fame fubjeft as the taanufcript you helped me to copy, 
 that I have not ferit it to the prefs."* 
 
 No. III. 
 
 To a young Lady atfehod, Mifs A. H. a daughter of on$ 
 of the members of his Church, 
 
 " I CANNOT deny myfelf the pleafure, 
 which this opportunity affords me, of exprefling the 
 concern I feel for your happinefs, arifing from the fin- 
 cereft friendfhip •, a friendfhip, which the many amia- 
 ble qualities you poffefs, together with the innumer- 
 able opportunities I have had of feeing them difplayed, 
 have taught me to form and perpetuate. 
 
 " It affords me inexpreflible pleafure to hear, that 
 you are fo happy in your prefent fituation : a fituation 
 in which I rejoice to fee you placed, becaufe it is not 
 
 merely 
 
 • The 'compiler believes this was an anfwer to Mr. Peter Edward** 
 CarJid Re.ifons, &V. He knows Mr. Pearce did write an anfwer to 
 that performance. ' "By the effrontery of the write* he has acknowl- 
 edged he was at firft a little ftunned ; hut upon examining his argu- 
 ments, found it no very difficult undertaking ro point out their fallacy. 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 1 69 
 
 merely calculated to embellifh the manners, but to 
 profit the foul. I hope that my dear Ann, amidft the 
 various purfuits of an ornamental or fcientific nature 
 which ihe may adopt, will not emit that firft, that 
 great concern, The dedication of her heart to Goci. 
 To this, my dear girl, every thing invites you that is 
 worthy of your attention. The dignity of a ration?! 
 arid immortal foul, the condition of human nature, the 
 gracious truths and promifes of God, the fweetnefs 
 and Ufefulnefs of religion, the comfort it yields in af- 
 fliction, the iecurity it affords in temptation, the fup- 
 ports it gives in death, and the profpefts it opens of 
 life everlaiiing , all thefe confederations, backed with 
 the uncertainty of life, the folemnity of judgment, the 
 terrors of hell, and the calls of confeience and of God, 
 — all demand your heart for the Bleffed Jehovah. This, 
 and nothing fhort of this, is true religion. You have 
 often heard, and often Svritten on religion : it is time 
 you fhculd fell it now. Oh what a blelTednefs will 
 attend your hearty furrender of yourfelf to the God 
 and Father of men ! Me thinks I fee all the angels of 
 God rejoicing at the fight, all the faints m heaven par- 
 taking of their joy; Jefus himfeif, who died for fin- 
 ners, gazing on you with delight ; your own heart fill- 
 ed with peace and joy in believing; and a thcuiand 
 ftreams of goodnefs flowing from your renovated feu I 
 to refrefh the aged faint, and to encourage your fellow- 
 youth to feek firft the kingdom of heaven, and prefs 
 on to God. But Oh, fhould I be miilaken ! Alas, alas, 
 I cannot bear the thought. Oh thou Saviour of fin- 
 ners, and God of love ! take captive the heart of my 
 dear young friend, and make her truly willing to be 
 wholly thine f 
 
 " If you can find freedom, do oblige me with a let- 
 ter on the (late of religion in your own foul, and be af- 
 fur J d of every fympathy or advice that I am capable 
 of feeling or giving. 
 
 Affectionately vours, 
 P % S. P, 
 
i/° Memoirs of tffe late 
 
 No. IV, 
 
 To a young Minijler, Mr. C , of L , on prep- 
 aration for the pulpit* 
 
 " My dear brother, 
 
 I OUR firft letter gave me much pleas- 
 ure. I hoped you would learn fome ufeful leflbn 
 from the firft Sabbath's difappointment. Every thing 
 is good that leads us to depend more fimply on the 
 Lord. Could I choofe my frames, I would fay re- 
 fpe&ing induftry in preparation for public work, as 
 is frequently faid refpefting Chriflian obedience ; I 
 would apply as clofe as though I expected no help 
 from the Lord, whilft I would depend on the Lord 
 for afliftance, as though I had never made any prep- 
 aration at all. 
 
 <c I rejoice much in every thing that affords you 
 ground for folid pleafure. The account of the affec- 
 tion borne you by the people of God, was therefore a 
 matter of joy to my heart, efpecialiy as I learnt from 
 the perfon who brought your letter, that the friend- 
 ihip feemed pretty general. 
 
 « Your laft has occafioned me fome pain on your 
 account, becaufe it informs me that you have been 
 « exceedingly tried in the pulpit;' but I, receive fatis- 
 fadtbn again from confidering, that the gloom of mid- 
 night precedes the rifing day, not only in the natural 
 world, but frequently alfo in the Chriftian minifter's 
 experience. D j not be difcouraged, my dear brother : 
 thofe whofe labours God has been pleafed mod emi- 
 nently to blefs, have generally had their days of prof- 
 perity uiliered in with clouds and iiorms. You are 
 in the fieve } but the neve is in our Saviour's hands.; 
 aad he will not fuffcr. any thing .but the chaff to fall 
 
 through, 
 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 171 
 
 through, let him winnow us as often as he may. No 
 one at times, I think I may fay, has been worfe tried 
 than myfelf, in the fame manner as you exprefa ; 
 though I muit be thankful it has not been often. 
 
 « You afk direction of me, my dear brother. I 
 am too inexperienced myfelf to be capable of direct- 
 ing others ; yet if the little time I have been employ- 
 ed for God has furnhhed me with any thing worthy 
 of communication, it will be imparted to no one widi 
 more readi 11 to you. 
 
 " I mould advlfe you when you have been diitrefP 
 ed by helitation, to reflect whether it arofe from an 
 inability to recollect your ideas, or to obtain words 
 fuited to convey them. If the former, I think thefe 
 two directions may be ferviceable : Firft, Endeavour 
 to think in a train. Let one idea depend upon another 
 in your difcourfes, as one link does upon another in a 
 chain. For this end I have found it neceiTary to ar- 
 range my fubjects in the order of time. Thus, for. 
 inftance, — If (peaking of the promifes, I would begin 
 with thofe which were fuited to the earlieit inquiries 
 of a convinced fcui *, as, pardon, afliftance in prayer, 
 wifdom, &c. ; then go to thofe parts of Chriftian ex- 
 perience which are uiuaiiy fub-fetrutnt to the former ; 
 as, promiks of fupport in arThchors, deliverance from 
 temptations, and perfeverance in grace ; clofmg with 
 a review of thofe which fpeak of fupport in death, 
 and final glory. Then all the varieties of defcription 
 reflecting the glory of heaven will follow in natural 
 order •, as, the enlargement of the underftanding, puri- 
 fication of the affections, intercourse with faintb, an- 
 gels, and Ghrift himfclf, which will be eternal ; thus 
 beginning with the loweft marks of grace, am: 
 cending iiep by ftep, you at laft arrive in the (Tuition 
 of faith. This mode is moil natural, and mcit pleat- 
 ing to the hearers, as well as affifting to the preacher : 
 
 for 
 
iyz M avoirs cf the late 
 
 for one idea gives birth to another, and he can Fiarctty 
 help going forward regularly and eafily. 
 
 " Secondly, Labour to render your ideas tratfpcrent 
 to ycurfeff. Never offer to introduce a thought, which 
 you cannot fee through before you enter the puJpit. — 
 You have read in C/aude, that the belt preparative to 
 preach from a fubjett, is to undcrltand it : and I 
 think Bifhop Burnet fays, No man properly under- 
 ftands any thing, who cannot at any time rtprefent it 
 to others * 
 
 " If your hesitation proceeds from a want of words, 
 I {hould advife ycu — i. To read good and ecfy authors z 
 Dr. Watts efpeciaily. — 2. To n.v rite a great pari of your 
 firmans, and for a while get at leaft: the leading ideas 
 of every head cf difecurfe by heart, enlarging only at 
 the dole cf every thought. — 3* Sometimes, as in the 
 end of fermons, or when you preach in villages, jlart 
 off in prccrbivg leyend a!! ycu have prtnutiltated. Fallen 
 cn fome leading ideas ; as, the folemnity of death, the 
 awfulnefs of judgment, the neceflity of a change of 
 heart, the willingnefs of Chrift to fare, &c, Never 
 rriind how far you ramble from the point, fo as ycu 
 do not lofe fight of it ; and if your heart be any way 
 warm, you will find fome expreffions then fall from 
 your lips, which your imagination could not produce 
 in an age of ftudious application. — 4. Divejt yourfilf 
 $f a// fear. If you fhould break the rules of grammar, 
 or put in, or kave out a word, and recollect, at the 
 end of the fentenee the impropriety - y unlefs it makes 
 nonfenfe, er bad divinity, never try to mend it, but 
 kt it pafs. If fo, perhaps only a few would notice it * 
 but if you ftamrner in trying to mend it, you willex~ 
 pcfe ycurfelf to all the congregation. 
 
 w In addition to all I have find, you know where to 
 look, and from whom to feek that wiiilom and flrength 
 
 which 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 173 
 
 which only God can give. T° h* m I recommend you, 
 my dear brother, alluring you of my real efteem for 
 you, and requeuing you will not fail to pray for the 
 lea it of faints, but 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 S. P." 
 
 A MORNING SONG, 
 
 u GOD oFour lives, our morning Tongs 
 
 To thee we cheerful raife ; 
 lihy acls of love 'tis good to fing, 
 
 And pleafant 'tis to praife. 
 
 Guardian of man, thy wakeful eyes, 
 Nor fleep, nor {lumber know : 
 
 Thine eyes pierce through the fhades of night. 
 Intent on ail below. 
 
 Suftain'd by thee, our op'ning eyes 
 
 Salute the morning light ; 
 Secure I (land, unhurt by all 
 
 The arrows of the night. 
 
 My life renewVi, my itrength repaired, 
 
 To thee, my God. is due ; 
 Teach me thy ways, and give me grace 
 
 My duty to purfue. 
 
 From ev'ry evil me defend, 
 
 But guard me moil from fin ; 
 Direct my going out, Oh Lord, 
 
 And biefs my coming in ! 
 
 Oh 
 
1 74 Memoirs cf the late 
 
 Oh may thy holy fear command 
 
 Each adtion, thought, and word ; 
 
 Then (hail I fweetly clofe the day, 
 Approv'd of thee, my Lord.'* 
 
 AN EVENING SONG. 
 
 « AUTHOR of life, with grateful heart 
 My ev'ning fong I'll raife ; 
 
 But Oh, thy thoufand thoufand gifts 
 Exceed my highefl praife. 
 
 What mail I render to thy care, 
 Which me this day has kept ? 
 
 A thankful heart's the leafl return, 
 And this thou wilt accept. 
 
 Now night has ipread her fable wing?, 
 
 I would the day review ; 
 My errors nicely mark, and fee 
 
 What dill I have to do. 
 
 What 11 ns, or follies, holy God, 
 I may this day have done, 
 
 I would confefs with grief, and pray 
 For pardon through thy Son. 
 
 ich of my precious time I've foft ; 
 This fooliih wa(le forgive : 
 By one day nearer brought to death, 
 May I begin to live V 
 
 CONCLUDING 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 175 
 
 CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS. 
 
 ^>. <0> <-€>\ *Oi *o* 
 
 X HE great ends of Chriftian Biography are inftruo 
 tion and example. By faithfully describing the lives 
 of men eminent for gcdlinefs, we not cnV embalm 
 -their memory, but furnifh ounelves with freih mate- 
 rials and motives for a holy life. It is abundantly 
 more impreffive to view the religion of Jefus as opera- 
 ting in a living character, than to contemplate iz ab~ 
 ftra&edly. For this reafon we may fuppofe the Lord 
 the Spirit has condefcended to exhibit fir fl and pi 
 cipally, the life of Chrift ; and after his, that of m; 
 of his eminent followers. And for this reafon, he by 
 his holy influences dill furnifhes the church with now 
 and then a fingular example of godlinefs, wiiich it is 
 our duty to notice and record. There can be no rea- 
 fonable doubt that the life of Mr. Pearce ought to be 
 confidered as one of thefe examples. May that fame 
 divine Spirit who had manifcitly fo great a hand in 
 forming his character, teach us to derive from it both 
 inftruclion and edification ! 
 
 Firft, In him tve way fee the holy efficacy and ly cox- 
 fequence^ the truth of the Chriflian religion* — It was lonr* 
 fince afked, Who is he that over comet b the ivcrld y bid he 
 ivho believeth that Jefus is the Son of God ? This quef« 
 tion contained a challenge to men of all religions, who 
 were then upon the earth. Idolatry had a great diver- 
 fity of fpecies : every nation worfhipping its own gods, 
 and in modes peculinr to themfelves : philofophers 
 nlfo were divided into numerous feels, each flattering 
 itfelf that it had found the truth : even the Jews had 
 their divifions *, their pharifees, fadducees, and Eflenes : 
 but great as many of them were in deeds of divers 
 • 1 kinds, 
 
176 Memoirs" of the hie 
 
 kinds, an apoftle could look them all in the face, and 
 ait, Who is he that overccmeth tht ftWtf A The fame 
 queftion might lately be diked in every fucceedlng age. 
 The various kinds of religions that (till prevail ; the 
 pagan, mahometan, jewifh, papal, or proteftant, may 
 form the exteriors of man according to their refpeci- 
 ive models ; hut where is the man amongft them, 
 fave the true believer' in Jefus, that overcometh the 
 world ? Men may ceafe from particular evils, and af- 
 fume a very different character ; may lay afide their 
 drunkennels, hlafphemies, or debaucheries, and take up 
 with a kind of monkifh auflerity, and yet all amount 
 to nothing more than an exchange of vices. The lufts 
 of the tleih will on many occafions give place to thofe 
 of the mind ; but to overcome the world is another 
 thing. By embracing the doctrine of the Crofs, to 
 feel not merely a dread of the confequences of fin, 
 but a holy abhorrence of its nature •, and by conven- 
 ing with invifible realities, to become regardlefs of 
 the beft, and fearlefs of the word, that this world has 
 to difpenfe ; — this is the effecT: of genuine Chriftianity, 
 and this is a (landing proof of its divine original. Let 
 the moft inveterate enemy of revelation have witnefT- 
 ed the difinterefted benevolence of a Paul, a Peter, or 
 a John, and whether he would own it, or not, his con- 
 fidence muft have borne tefiimony that this is true re* 
 ligion. The fame may be faid of Samuel Pearce : 
 whether the doclrme he preached found a place in 
 the hearts of his hearers, or not, his fpirit and life muft 
 have approved itielf to their cottfcie/ices. 
 
 Secondly, /;/ him ive fee hoiv much may he done fir 
 God in a little time. — If his death had been foreknown 
 by his friends, fome might have hefitated whether it 
 was worth while for him to engage in the work of 
 the miniftry for fo fhort a period : yet, if we take a 
 view of his labours, perhaps there ar,e few lives pro- 
 ductive of ?. greater portion of good* That life i* 
 
 not 
 
Mr. Samuel Pear ct\ 177 
 
 not always the longefl which is fpun out to the greatefl 
 extent of days. The firft of all lives amounted 
 but to thirty-three years ; and the moft important 
 works pertaining to that were wrought in the laft three. 
 There is undoubtedly a way of rendering a fhort life 
 a long one, and a long life a fhort one, by filling or 
 not filling it with proper materials. That time which 
 is Squandered away in {loth, or trifling purfuits, forms 
 a kind of blank in human life : in looking it over there 
 is nothing for the mind to reft upon •, and a whole 
 life fo fpent, whatever number of years it may contain, 
 iiiuft appear upon reflection fhort and vacant, in com- 
 parifon of one filled up with valuable acquifitions, 
 and holy actions. It is like the fpace between us and 
 the fun, which, though immenfely greater than that 
 which is traverfed in a profitable journey, yet being 
 all empty fpace, the mind goes over it in much lefs 
 time, and without any fatisfaclion. If i that life be 
 long which anfwers life's great end/ Mr. Pearce may 
 affuredly be find 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 fmall degree, dif- 
 ficulties are magnified into impoffibilities ; a lion is in 
 the way of extraordinary exertion ; or if we be indu- 
 ced to engage in fomething of this kind, it will be at 
 the expenfe of a Uniform attention to ordinary duties. 
 But fome will afk, How are our hearts to be in our 
 work ? Mr. Pearce's heart was habitually in his ; and 
 that which kept alive the facred flame in him appears 
 to have been, — The conftant habit of converfing with 
 divine truth, and walking with God in private. 
 
 Thirdly, In him we fee, in deaf and flrorig colours, 
 to <what a degree of folic! peace curd joy, true religion 
 fwi/l rcife us y even in the prefnt world. A little re- 
 ligion, it has been juflly laid, will make us miferable* 
 
 but 
 
i/8 Memoirs of the late 
 
 but a great deal will make us happy. The one will 
 do little more than keep the confcience alive, while our 
 numerous defers and inconfiftencies are perpetually 
 furnifliing it with materials to fcourge 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 
 fo much of the fpirit of bondage, and fo little of the 
 fpirit of adoption prevails among Chriftians. Relig- 
 ious enjoyments with us are rather occafional, than 
 habitual ; or if in fome inftances it be otherwife, we 
 are ready to fufpeft that it is fupported in part by the 
 ftrange fire of enthufiafm, and not by the pure flame 
 of fcriptural devotion. But, in Mr. Pearce, we faw a 
 devotion ardent, fteady, pure, and perfevering j kin- 
 dled, as we may fay, at the altar of God, like the fire 
 of the temple, it went not out by night nor by day. 
 He feemed to have learnt that heavenly art, fo confpic- 
 uous among the primitive Chriftians, of converting ev- 
 ery thing he met with into materials for love, and joy, 
 and praife. Hence he i laboured,' as he exprefles it, c to 
 exercife mod love to God when fuffering molt fevere- 
 ly ;' and hence he (o afFectingly encountered the bil- 
 lows that overwhelmed his feeble frame, crying, 
 
 * Sweet affliction, fweet affliction, 
 Singing as 1 wade to heaven/ 
 
 The conftant happinefs that he enjoyed in God was 
 apparent in the effects of his fermons upon others. 
 Whatever we feel ourfelves we (hall ordinarily com- 
 municate to our hearers •, and it has been already no- 
 ticed, that one of the mod diftinguiftiing properties of 
 his difcourfes was,— that they infpircd the ferious 
 mind with the livelieft fenfations of happinefs. 1 hey 
 defcended upon the audience, not indeed like a trans- 
 porting flood, but like a ftiower of dew, gently infinu- 
 ating itfelf into the heart, infenfibly diffipating its 
 gloom, and gradually drawing forth the graces of faith, 
 hope, love, and joy : while the countenance was bnght- 
 
 r - encd 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 179 
 
 filled almoft into a fmile, tears of pleafure would rife, 
 and gliften, and fall from the admiring eye. 
 
 What a practical. confutation did his life afford of 
 the flander fo generally caft upon the religion of Jefus, 
 that it fills the mind with gloom and mifery ! No : 
 leaving futurity out of the queftion, the whole world 
 of unbelievers might be challenged to produce a char- 
 acter from among them who pollerled Half his enjoy- 
 ments. 
 
 Fourthly; From his example we are furnirhed w'th 
 the great eft encouragement ', while pur filing the path of r. 
 
 to place our truft in God. THe fituation in which he 
 
 left his family, we have feen already, was not cwirg to 
 an indifference to their intereft, or an improvident dif- 
 pofition, or the want of opportunity to have provided 
 for them *, but to a fteady and determined obedience 
 to do what he accounted the will of God. He felt 
 deeply for them, and we all felt with him, and longed 
 to be able to afiure him before his departure, that they 
 would be amply provided for : but owing to circum- 
 ftances 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 fo he did. 
 He appears to have had no idea of that flood of kind- 
 nefs, which, immediately after his deceafe, flowed from 
 the religious public : but he believed in God, and 
 cheerfully left all with him. • Oh that I could fpeak/ 
 laid he to Mrs. Pearce a little before his death, « I 
 would tell a world to trufl a faithful God. Sweet af- 
 fliction ; now it worketh glory, glory !' And when 
 fhe told him the workings of her mind, he anfwered, 
 • Oh trufl 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 become mole-hills. I 
 feel your fituation : I feel your forrows : but he who 
 
 takes 
 
1 So Memoirs of the late 
 
 takes care of fparrows, will care for you and my dear 
 
 children.* 
 
 The liberal contributions which have fmce been 
 made, though they do not warrant minifters in general 
 to expefb the fame, and much lefs to negle£l providing 
 for their own families on fuch a prefumption ; yet 
 they muft need be confidered as a fmgular encourage- 
 ment, when we are fatisfied that we are in the path 
 of duty, to be inordinately 'careful for nothing, but 
 in every thing, by prayer and Amplication, with thankf- 
 giving, to let our requefts be made known unta 
 God.' 
 
 Finally, In him we fee that the way to tftte excellence 
 is not to affect eccentricity, nor to afpire after the perform- 
 ance of afew fplendid aclions ; but to fill up our lives with 
 a fiber, modtfl,fncere, affectionate, affiduous, and uniform 
 
 conduEt. Real greatnefs attaches to character 5 
 
 and character arifes from a courfe ofaclion. Solid rep- 
 utation as a merchant arifes not from a man's having 
 made his fortune by a few fuccefsful adventures ; but 
 from a courfe of wife economy, and honourable in- 
 duftry, which, gradually accumulating, advances by 
 pence to fhillings, and by fhillings to pounds. The 
 moll excellent philofophers are not thofe who have 
 dealt chiefly in fplendid fpeculations, and looked down 
 upon the ordinary concerns of men as things beneath 
 their notice ; but thofe who have felt their interefts uni- 
 ted with the interefts of mankind, and bent their princi- 
 pal attention to things of real and public utility. It is 
 much the fame in religion. We do not efteem a man 
 for one, or two, or three good deeds, any farther than 
 as thefe deeds are indications of the real ftate of his 
 mind. "We do not eftimate the charafter of Chrift 
 himfelf fo much from his having given fight to the 
 blind, or reftored Lazarus from the grave, as from his 
 going about continually doing good. 
 
 Thefe 
 
Mr. Samuel Pearce. 1 8 1 
 
 Thefe fingle attempts at great things are frequently 
 the efforts of a vain mind, which pants for fame, and 
 has not patience to wait for it, nor difcernment to 
 know the way in which it is obtained. One purfues 
 the made, and it ihes 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 the 
 fummit ; the other walking round it, in purfuit of 
 another objeft, gradually and infenfibly afcends till he 
 reaches it : feeking the approbation of his God, he 
 finds with it that of his fellow Chriftians. 
 
 <*j> 
 
THE promifed Prefence of Chrifi with his People 
 
 a Source of Confolation under the mojl 
 
 painful bereavements. 
 
 SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED AT TilE 
 
 Baptift Mceting-Houfe, Cannon-Street, Birmingham* 
 
 •CN 
 
 LORD'S DAT EVENING, OCT. ao, 1799; 
 Occafioned by the Death of 
 
 The Rev, SAMUEL PEARCE, a. m. 
 
 LATE PASTOR 
 OF THE CHURCH ASSEMBLING THERE \ 
 Who died Sober 10, in the ^th Tear of his Age, 
 
 By JOHN RYLAND, d. bu 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 
 AM 
 
 ORATION 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE, OCT. 16, 179$, 
 By the Rev. J. BREWER. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 MLINTIP By MAWNXNQ & iOElNfc 
 

 
THE 
 
 SUBSTANCE of an ORATION, 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE GRAVE 
 F 
 
 'The Rev. SAMUEL PEARCE, 
 
 WE are called together to-day upon a mod for- 
 emn and affecting occafion. Our bufinefs 
 here is, to convey the precious remains of a dear de- 
 parted brother to his long home, to the houfe ap- 
 pointed for all living. The fubjeci of our prefent con- 
 templation is of no ordinary kind •, it is that which 
 ought to come home to every man's bofom, becaufe it 
 is that in which we are all interefted. It is not like 
 many other fubje&s, which, while fome are materially 
 affefted by them, to others they are articles of total 
 indifferency : but death fpeaks in an imperious tone, 
 and demands the attention of all. 
 
 Death ! folemn found ! the bare annunciation of 
 which, mould arreft the mind of every individual in this 
 numerous afiembly. "Where is the man that liveth and 
 fhall not fee death ? When Xerxes viewed his incalcu- 
 lable army, it is faid, he wept, from the confideration 
 that in a few years, not one of that prodigious hoft 
 would be living. Whether the Perfian really wept or 
 not, I am not fure ; but when I confider, that in a few,, 
 comparatively a very few years, not one of all whom I 
 am now addrefiing but muft be laid as low as the 
 breathiefs corpfe of cur dear departed brother, I feel 
 
 my 
 
1 86 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 my mind deeply affecled. And, O that I could but 
 awaken a due cone rn in every bofom about this truly 
 momentous fubjeft ! 
 
 Thus (lands the irrevocable decree of the immuta- 
 ble God — It is appointed unto all men once 
 to die. The wife and uriwife, the patrician and ple- 
 beian, the monarch and the beggar, mud fubmit alike 
 to the ftrong arm of this univerfal conqueror, the king 
 of terrors. A confederation like this, ihould fink deep 
 into every man's heart ; but alas ! man is a drange be- 
 ing, loth to learn what mod intimately belongs to 
 him. The moil awful things lofe their efFecT: by their 
 frequency ; and hence it is, that the death of a fellow- 
 creature is, in general, no' more regarded than "the 
 fall of an autumnal leaf in . the pathlefs defsrt." 
 Wretched apathy ! Fatal infenfibility ! 
 
 Let us for a moment meditate upon the effects fub- 
 fequent to the triumph of the lafl enemy. What mel- 
 ancholy ravages does he make, even in this world ! He 
 caufes the faired flower to wither, often in the morn- 
 ing \ he (tains the pride of all fublunary glory ; and 
 cafts the nobled work of God into the dud. When 
 he takes to himfelf his great power, none can day his 
 hand. Fixed in his purpofe, and irrefiftible in the ex- 
 ecution cf the fame, he dalks, untouched by the pangs 
 of agonizing nature; the didrefs of helplefs infancy ; 
 the poignant grief of paternal affe&ion ; or the bit- 
 tered forrows of connubial love. Relentlefsly he 
 breaks in upon domedic happinefs ; frudrates the mod 
 benevolent defigns ;-and cads a dark fhade upon the 
 brighted profpecls. In fine, cruelty marks his foot- 
 fteps ; and defolation and anguifh are his common at- 
 tendants. 
 
 If we look beyond the fcene which prefents itfelf to 
 our view-in this life 3 and, by the aid of revelation, en- 
 deavour 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pcarce. i S 7 
 
 deavour to fubftantiate the ferious realities of death, 
 beyond " that bourne from whence no traveller re- 
 turns !" if we look into the eternal world, and there 
 behold what follows death, furely we cannot remain 
 unmoved. 
 
 Man is immortal ; it is the flefh only that dies : 
 The fpirit is incorruptible. Hence death is the moft 
 eventful period. The body returns to duft ; but the 
 fpirit afcends to God ; and entcii then upon its eter- 
 nal (late. But the ftate of all men is not alike beyond 
 the grave — The wicked is driven aiuay in his wiviednefi* 
 The guilty finner then knows, that it is a fearful thing 
 to fall into the hands of the living God. Guilt fub- 
 jefts him to the divine difpleafure •, and moral deprav- 
 ity unfits him for that place, into which nothing* that 
 deflleth can poffibly enter. Fearful moment ! Ail his 
 hopes are now like a fpider's web ; his imaginary ref- 
 uges fail ; and the wrath of God " beats upon his 
 naked foul, in one eternal ftorm." 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 happento all, who know not 
 God. He that made them will have no mercy on 
 them ; whatever their refpeclive fituation may have 
 been in this life. Death, that mighty leveller, will 
 reduce them all to a fad equality. He that fared 
 fumptuoufly every day, had not a crop of water to cool 
 his burning tongue, when once he had palled the tre- 
 mendous gulf. 
 
 How different the (late of a good man ! The right- 
 eous hath hope in his death. The day of his death is 
 infinitely better than the day of his birth : It is his cor- 
 onation day, the final clofe of all his troubles. He 
 fhali forrow no more. Whatever he underwent in 
 paffing through this vale of tears ; however numerous 
 and fevere his trials, they are all over. The Lamb in 
 
 the 
 
1 8 8 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 the midft of the throne (hall feed him* He fhall eat of 
 the tree of life which is in the midft of the paradife of 
 God. He enters upon his reft, and fhall go no more 
 out forever. He is happy, as God is happy ; and fa- 
 red with an everlafting falvation* 
 
 Thus death is always a folemn, and affecting event : 
 but fometimes, circumftances render it peculiarly fo : 
 and this is now the cafe. We have conveyed no com- 
 mon mortal to the grave. Here lies the cold, the exan- 
 imated clay of a good man : of an eminently good 
 man ; a faithful, highly favoured minifter of the glori- 
 ous Gofpel of the bleiled God. When a good man 
 dies, it is a common lofs ; thus the Pfalmift viewed it. 
 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceafeth ! The death of fuch 
 a man is a national lcfs, for " the ftrength of empire 
 is religion." Righteovfnefs exalteth a nation. Good men 
 are the fait of the earth. It is particularly a lofs to the 
 caufe of God on earth : there is one labourer lefs in 
 the vineyard •, one w r atchman lefs upon the walls of Je- 
 rufaleiru The death of that good man, whom we are 
 now bewailing, is a great lofs to the churches of 
 Chrift. His ardent love for the whole truth ; his fla- 
 ming zeal ; his chafte converiation will be long re- 
 membered by many. 
 
 But you, my brethren, who eompofe the Church 
 and Congregation in this place, you have had a great 
 breach made upon you ; a breach that cannot eaiily 
 be repaired. You have loft a valuable minifter ; a 
 man, who laboured hard for your eternal good ; a 
 man, whofe grand aim was to make you happy for 
 ever. You know how frequently 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 facrifice 
 for your fins. Yes, ye are witnefies how he has pray- 
 ed for you, and wept over you. You have often 
 heard him raife, within thefe walls, his charming 
 
 voiccj 
 
the Rev. Samuel 1? cared* 189 
 
 voice, in publilhing glad tidings to Zion. This night 
 twelve months, the place that I am now occupying, 
 was occupied by him. This very night twelve 
 months, you heard the Gofpel in this very place from 
 his mouth : But it is all over ; you mail hear his 
 v, you flail fee his face no more. There lies all 
 that could die of a good man ; a faithful miniftef ; a 
 tendfer father ; and an affectionate hufband. His lips 
 ate cibfed in file nee m , and a long night hangs upon 
 his eyes. Duft is returning to duft ; and corruption * 
 already commences its riot. 
 
 Painful as the ftroke has been to you, there ire* 
 thofe, on' •■whom it has fallen with greater, feverity. 
 You may be provided with another miirifter ; but 
 who can make up the lofs to his bereaved family? 
 Who can reftore him to the deeply affli&ed partner 
 ef his life r Who like him, can foothe her forrows, and 
 cheer her on the rugged path of time ? Who can 
 reftore the fond father, to five dear helplefs babes ? 
 Cruel death ! Inexorable monfter ! What haft thou 
 done 2 — But the Lord reigneth, and we will.be ft ill. 
 
 The pfefent difpenfation is not only folemn arid 
 affe&ing, but it is likewife alarming, 'it has aloud 
 voice : not to attend to it, would be highly criminal. 
 It fpeaks to us all. Death always fpeaks loudly; but 
 feme deaths louder than others. The pre fent fpeaks 
 loud enough to be heard by this chtJrch Atfi) of 
 ';regation. Methinks, with ftrong emphafis. it r.cw 
 faith, Unto you, O mfn of this flat:, I call. 
 You havehad a great lofs 5 but is there not a caufe ? 
 Cod forbid that I mould charge the death of your 
 miriifter upon you ! Yet I know it is jpdffilffe for a 
 people to murder their minifter ; and that by the 
 mole cruel means. There needs neither flit poifon 
 nor the dagger ;• it may be done eiFedually without 
 either. I hope it is quite inapplicable ; but it may 
 R not 
 
190 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 not be altogether ufelefs, to a(k, Are there none of 
 you, who have pierced him through with many for- 
 rows ? Has his heart never? been wrung by your un- 
 kindnefs ? Has your mifbehaviour, in your Chriftian 
 profeflion, never caufed him to fay, O that 1 had in 
 the ivildernefS) a lodging-place, of wayfaring men, that I 
 might Lave my people and go from them. Jer. ix. 2. ? 
 Though I thus (peak, I am fure it has no general ap- 
 plication. Few men were better beloved by their 
 people than he was. Your many prayers for his re- 
 covery •, your tender folicitude for his welfare ; your 
 prefent evident diftrefs, all fpeak for you : your tears 
 do you honour. But let me fpeak it again •, (hould 
 there be a cruel individual amongft you, to whom the 
 charge applies, I would not for a world, be that man : 
 He muft anfwer for it another day. God will avenge 
 his own eleft. 
 
 Where this has not been the cafe ; where nothing 
 but kindnefs marked your behaviour towards your 
 departed friend ; has he had no occafion to weep in 
 fecret on your account, becaufe though you efteemed, 
 the man, you negle&ed his meffage ? Ah brethren ! 
 it is to be feared, unlefs your ftate, as a church and 
 congregation, be fingular, that the word preached did 
 not profit all of you. Some of you may yet be in 
 your fins. God has borne long with you ; but he 
 may have been weary of forbearing ; he may have 
 been angry at your infidelity, and in judgment taken 
 away his fervant. I do not fay this is the cafe ; but 
 if it be only a poffthle cafe, it (hould caufe fearchings 
 of heart amongft you. 
 
 It is a providence that fpeaks to us all, as mortal 
 MEN. In a little time, according to the common 
 courfe of nature, the place that now knows us, (hall 
 know us no more. Time with rapid wing, bears u«- 
 sway to that place, where no device nor work i* 
 
 found ; 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pcarcc. 1 9 1 
 
 found ; to tKat ftate, where there is no diftin£liort, 
 but that of jufl and unjuft. But who can reckon 
 upon the common extent of human life ? Behold, 
 before our eyes, a young man, who had not lived out 
 half his days, called to eternity, in the thirty-fourth 
 year of his life. Should not this awaken our concern, 
 and excite us to make that important inquiry, Who 
 shall be the next ? He who bids the f aire ft for 
 length of years, may be the firft to fall. Let us then 
 fo number our days, that we may apply our heart* 
 unto wifdom. 
 
 We will now " turn to the bright reverfe of this 
 mortifying fcene." We have hitherto looked at the 
 dark fide of the cloud, let us now contemplate i:s lu- 
 minous one. 
 
 Death we admit is a penalty — by Jin came death* 
 Death is an enemy — the Lift enemy ; but, blefled be 
 God, he is a conquered enemy. The Captain of our 
 falvation has deftroyed him who had the power of 
 death. Influenced by the faith of God's elect, be- 
 lievers in all ages have triumphed over death \ they 
 have fang with their expiring breath, and exulted 
 anidft the fweliings of Jordan. 
 
 Death is amongft the privileges of the children of 
 God. Death is yours. He meets them as a friend, 
 as an ejivoy commiCioned by their heavenly Father, 
 to bring them to his throne. Our eyes have fre- 
 quently beheld the victory of faith, in the dark valley* 
 Affaulted on either Jiand by pale difeafe, and its long 
 train of attendants, we have feen good men rifing 
 (uperior to all the evils of their fituation ; feel- 
 ing a " majefty in death *," and entering the eternal 
 world, {houting, Thanks be to Cod iuhc- hath given us 
 th-e vi&ory* . 
 
 This 
 
192 Oration at the Grave of 
 
 This is not alL The total deftruttic/n of de.nt:i 
 laid in the irreverfible courifel of the MoftHigh. 
 The laft enemy fliall be deftroyed. Death himfelf 
 /nuft die. The tabernacle of God fliall be with men y 
 he will wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there 
 fiaall be no more death. The tea fball give up its 
 K and thofe that are in their graves (hall cpme 
 . Then the Lord Jefus will mak'i 
 ►, ar.d caft- death and hell 
 fire and brimftone. The re-animated 
 
 emed mail then be perfectly releafed from 
 bondage of corruption, and ike unto the g' 
 
 ous body of their great Head : the whole number of 
 the ele£l fliall then be -prsfented before the pzE&iice 
 of the divine glory, with exceeding great joy. ! 
 
 One grand indifpenfable inquiry yet remains. — By 
 what means may we attain to the refurre&ion of the 
 juft ? In fearch of this important fubjecl:, we are npt 
 left to wander in the maze of uncertainty and doubt ; 
 the way into the holied is made manifeft. There 
 are three things abfolute»!y rdqriifile for a man to be 
 acquainted with, before he 'can enter int6 lift, 
 
 First, The pardon of cur fins. Tl 
 
 propofes this unfpeakable gift -by the bleed cfPjef 
 
 V/e have redemption through his bloody even the forgivi. 
 
 if our fins. Ephes. i. 7. 
 J J 
 
 Secondly, The justification of our peifons. 'Pio- 
 vifion for which is made by the obedience of tl 
 of God. Hf is the end *f \ 
 every we that believeih. ROM. 
 
 of God. He is the end tf the lire for :\ ffnejfs t\ 
 
 hat believeih. Rom. x. 4/ 
 
 
 Tiikrbly, The fanclrfication of our nature. Jefuf 
 is of Go# fnSd *. I. Coil. L 30. 
 
 By Ike influence of his Spirit upon our hearts, " wi 
 are made partakers cf the divine nature \ fanftified in 
 
 body* 
 
the Rev. Samuel Pearce. 193 
 
 body, foul and fpirit ; and changed thus into the di- 
 vine image, as by the Spirit of our God." 2 Con. iii. 8* 
 
 This is the only method of faivation countenanced 
 in fcripture ; and it feems a method, " juft to God, 
 and fare to man." 
 
 To conclude. Though we forrow to-day, we do 
 not forrow as thofe who have no hope. God, who 
 has taken away our dear brother, will take care of his. 
 He will be a hufband to the forlorn widow, and a 
 father to the dear tender babes. A good man leaveih 
 an inheritance to his children s children. God will pro- 
 vide -, he will furely do them good ; he has the hearts 
 of all men in his hands ; he will raife up friends for 
 them j and eventually make it appear, that even this 
 dark difpenfation, is amongft the all things, that 
 work together for good. 
 
 He that has the government upon his (houlders, 
 will take care of you, my brethren, as a church. A 
 paftor is provided for you \ and he who knows him, 
 will bring him amongft you in his own way, and 
 time, Truft in the Lord •, he will never for fake Zion \ 
 her walls are ever before him. Take his word for 
 jour rule \ live according to the fame \ feek him by 
 prayer and fupplication j and you fliall yet praife him. 
 
 We now bid farewell, a long fareweli, to the fleep- 
 tng duft of our departed brother : but, blefied be God, 
 though it be a long farewell, it will not be an ever- 
 lading one. We (hall meet again. What we are to- 
 day fowing in difhonour, (hall be raifed in glory. The 
 trumpet fliall found ; our brother will arife ; we (hall 
 meet, no more to part. When Jefus comes, he will 
 bring all his faints with him. Comfort ye one aooth* 
 cr with thefe things. 
 
 R t 
 
S E R M O N 
 
 Occasioned by the Death of 
 
 The Rev. SAMUEL PEARCE, a. m, 
 
 John xiv. 18, 
 
 / WILL MOT LRAVE TOU C0M£0j2?L£SS. I WILL 
 COME UNTO YOU. 
 
 deeply sml ienfibJe of the iofs fuftained by 
 thia church in general, not to fay by the neareft 
 relative of rny dear departed brother, that on a par- 
 tial view of their circumiiances, (and our views, es- 
 pecially of afHi£live events, are too commonly partial) 
 I could not be furprifrd, were fome new prefent 
 ready to exclaim, " Is there any forrow like unto our 
 forrow, wherewith the Lord has this day afflicted us ?" 
 But though I fcarcely know where a church could 
 fuftain an equal lofs, by the removal of fo young a 
 paftor \ nor can I conceive, there exifts a widow, 
 whom death has plundered of a richer ftore of bleff- 
 in«;s, by taking from her and from her infant care, 
 the guide of their youth ; yet, on more mature con- 
 sideration, we mufl not admit that lamentation to be 
 applicable, even to them that feel the moft pungent 
 grief in this aflembly. The event which has occasion- 
 ed 
 
xg6 The Trejente of Chrijt 
 
 ed our prefent meeting, muft deeply afVeci even (Iran- 
 gers, whole heart? know how to feel ; but all the clear- 
 ed: friends of the deceafed muft acknowledge, that the 
 clays of tribulation, which preceded this mournful 
 evening, were not the feafon of difplaying the Lord's 
 anger, but of the clear manifeftation of his faithfulnefs 
 and love : They were to Itim the days of heaven upon 
 earth. Surely they who drank with him the deepeft 
 out of his cup of affliction, could find no favour of the 
 curfe, no, not at the bottom ; nor could they drink 
 the bitter, without tafting alfo of the fweet, which 
 was not fparingly dropt into it, but copioufly infufed. 
 And after fuch proofs and illuftrations of the divine 
 fidelity, I cannct but believe, that (lie who needs them 
 mod of all, fhall find farther ftores of confolation laid 
 up for her relief : fince God her Maker is her huf- 
 band, who gveth fongs in the night. 
 
 This church alfo muft be reminded, that there was 
 a church at Jerufalem, near eighteen centuries ago, 
 which fuftained a lofs unfpeakably greater than that 
 which they now bewail •, while yet the forrow, which 
 was then endured, was quickly turned into joy. And 
 your affectionate paftor, who, both in health and in 
 ficknefs, cared fo much for your welfare, did not hefi- 
 tate to recommend to your attention, the kind aflur- 
 ance which was given for their relief \ as believing it 
 to contain ground of encouragement, on which you 
 alfo are authorized to depend. He who faid to his 
 clear difciples, u I will not leave you comfortlefs or- 
 phans, I will come unto you? has the fame refpe£t to 
 his whole church in every age •, and you, my brethren, 
 may as fafely rely on his gracious promife, a.s his very 
 apoftles. 
 
 Yes, beloved, we are authorized to make a general 
 application of this word of confolation ; and muft af- 
 firm, Tbat the promifed prefence of the bleffed Re- 
 deemer 
 
a Source of ConfoJaiion. 197 
 
 ler is the bed fource of comfort, to all his people^ 
 in every time of trouble. 
 
 In complying with the requeft of my dear deceafed 
 brother, I(riall firft corvficter the fubject in reference 
 to thofe, to whom it was immediately addrefTed, and 
 then endeavour to apply it to the prefent occaGon. 
 
 Fip.st. Let us notice the immediate reference of 
 declaration, to our Lord's d\lciple$, who were 
 then favoured with his bod" ip'e. 
 
 You are well aware that the words I have read 
 were fpoken by the blefied jefus, to thofe who follow- 
 ed him: in the days of his humiliation ; and that when^ 
 he thus addreffed thern, forrow had filled their hearts > 
 becaufe I19 had juil announced his approaching depart- 
 ure. He came from the Father, and was come into 
 the world, and though the world was made by hirru 
 yet the world knew him not; but he had made him- 
 felf known to thefe his difciples, whom he had chofen 
 odd ; and new when he was about to 
 amd" go unto the Father, though his ftu- 
 pid anH ungrateful countrymen would rather rejoice 
 at his reiving the earth, than bewail it, yet his difci- 
 ples could not but weep and lament and be forrowful ; 
 and I'd rely, well they might, at the, thought of lofing 
 fuch an invaluable Friend ! 
 
 EfpeciaHy we might expect this to be the cafe, if 
 wc reffeft on the manner in which he was to he re- 
 moved from them. They were to fee hirn falfely ac- 
 
 \d,unjuftly condemned, and cruelly murdered \ be- 
 ing nailed to thecrofs with wicked hands, fmfpended 
 between two thieves, and while thus numbered with 
 tranfgrv.ffors, infdhed and derided in his.laft agonies. 
 Ye?, he would be' treated as the obj^cl of national ab- 
 horrence and execfatiorH and that by the only people 
 
 upon 
 
198 The Preface of Chrljl 
 
 upon earth, who profefild to be the worfhippers of the 
 true God, And his difciples muft either view this 
 barbarous treatment of their bleffed Lord, or hide 
 themfelves from the flocking fcene, by forfaking him 
 in the hour of diftrefs. In the mean white, he was 
 alfo apparently abandoned by God himfeif, the zeal 
 of whofe houfe had confumed him ; the Lord was 
 pleafed to bruife him* and put him to grief; he was 
 refolved to make his foul an offering for fin, and there- 
 fore he called on his fword to awake againft him, who 
 was their good Shepherd \ though he was one in cov- 
 enant, yea, one in nature with himfeif; who could 
 without robbery claim equality with God. What 
 could be more furprizing, diftrefiing and perplexing 
 to his difciples, than fuch a ieries of events I 
 
 While Jcfus was with them he had fed them, and 
 kept them as a fhepherd cloth his flock \ he had laid 
 them like lambs in his bofom, and led them on grad- 
 ually in the paths of truth and righteoufhefs, as they 
 were able to bear it. He had been gentle among 
 them, as a nurfmg father is gentle towards his little 
 children ; pitying their infirmities, rectifying their 
 mi (takes, fupplying their wants, healing their maladies ; 
 manifefiing to them his Father's will, and keeping 
 them in his name : and muft they now lofe his vifible 
 prefence, and fee him no more ? 
 
 He had been little more than thr:c and thirty years 
 in the world, and moit of them had known him but a 
 very fmall part of that period -, they had, however, now 
 beheld his glory, and were convinced that it was the 
 glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace 
 md truth. They were fatisfied that he alone had the 
 words of eternal life •, they believed and knew that 
 he was the Chrift, the Son of the living God ; though 
 at prefent they, underitood but imperfectly that plan 
 of redemption, which rendered it expedient and ne- 
 
 ceffary, 
 
a Source of Ccnfilaikn. 199 
 
 ccfl^ry, that he {hpyld fuffcr all thefe things and then 
 €i;ter into glory. This remaining ignorance muft 
 abundantly enhance their grief, at the intimations given 
 them of his departure being at hand.* 
 
 But in thefe words, their gracious Lord fuggefls, 
 that they had no occafion to fink under their forrows. 
 He would not leave them comfortlefs, like deftitute or- 
 phansy who had no affectionate parent, no wife tutor, 
 no faithful guardian, to fupply their wants, fympathize 
 with them, protect them from evil, or inftrudl them 
 in the way of duty. No, he had promifed them his 
 Holy Spirit, to be their Comforter and Monitor; and 
 here he engages alfo, to come again to them himfelf ; 
 J will come unto you t faith our Lord. This promiie 
 was fulfilled to them in feveral ways — 
 
 1. In his repeated appearances to them, after his 
 refurreftion. Thus, as he fuggefts in the next verfe, 
 although in a little while, the world fliculd fee him 
 no more, yet they fhouid fee him ; and that fight 
 fnould be the pledge that his words fhouid hold good, 
 " Becaufe I live, ye fhali live alfo." Accordingly the 
 
 Evangelifts 
 
 * The conceptions of the difciples, on the fubje& of ChriiV. 
 atoning facrifice, appear to have been much lefs diftinct than thofe of 
 David, I aiah, and many of the Old Ttllament faints, who lived be- 
 fore the declenfion of the Jewifh church ; which appears to have 
 loft much of its fpirittsul light, and to have become more and more 
 carnalized, from the days of Malachi, till the coming of our Lord, 
 And as it teemed neceffary that this general declenfion, and ignorance 
 of the nature of the ivIeCiah's character and kingdom ihould be fuf- 
 fered to take place, in oro.er to the fulfilment of prophecy, in the 
 death of our aviour, by the hands of his own countrymen ; io there 
 was an expediency, and a difplay of wiidom in concealing from the 
 difciples the necelftty and glorious dellgn of Chrift's Death, that they 
 might not rejoice in fo awful an event, till after it was over : Jiad 
 their ideas been clear on this head, they mull have rejoiced in hi* 
 firfTerings at the very time of them ; tut it l'eemed more fitting that 
 th?y Ihould mourn then, and that their forrow fjiculd be turned iatt 
 i?y, after his refurre&ioa. 
 
2oo The Phjenct of Chrijl 
 
 EvangeliAs atteft, that he " (hewed tiuuTelf alive aftrr 
 his pafTiori, by many infallible proofs, unto the A 
 lies whom he had ehofen, being feen of them i 
 days," before he was taken up into glory : for God 
 who raifed him up, the third day after his crucifixion, 
 cc (hewed him openly, not to all the people, but unto 
 witneffes ehofen before of God, even to us," fays Pe- 
 ter, " who did eat and drink with him after he rofe 
 from the dead ; whom he commanded to preach i. 
 the people, and to teltify that he is appointed to be 
 the Judge of the living and the dead ; and that to kirn 
 all the prophets gave witnefs, that through his name, 
 whofoever belleveth in him, fhall receive remiflion of 
 fins." Therefore, though he foon left them again, 
 being carried up into heaven, yet their underftandings 
 having been opened by him, that they might under- 
 fland the fcriptures, and fee how it behoved him to 
 fufFer, and to rife again, " they worfhipped him, 
 when he was parted from them, and returned to Je- 
 rufalem with great joy," where they waited to be en- 
 dued with power from on high, and received the 
 promifed eiTufion of the Spirit, not many days after- 
 ward. JBut, 
 
 •2. It received a more permanent accomplishment, 
 in the continued enjoyment of his Spiritual Prefence 
 and divine Influence. We fully afcertain this -privi- 
 lege to be included in the text, by Cor 
 promife, / will come unto you, with thofe 
 recorded by Matthew, which admit of no foiution 
 without the acknowledgment of Chrift's proper di- 
 vinity : "Where fkup\6r three ere gathered together it 
 nam*, there am I, in the mldjl of them. And, lo ! I am 
 luhh \ou ahv&ys to the evd of the ivcrfd. Amen." 
 
 3. At the end of the world, it (hall receive a far- 
 ther fulfilment, by our Lord's coming again in thathu-* 
 man nature, which " it Moved heaven to receive, until 
 
a Source of Confolation. 20 1 
 
 the times of the reftitution of all the things of which 
 God fpake by the rnouth of his holy prophets, fmce 
 the world began." Then he who went to prepare a 
 place for his difciple^ and all his fubfequent followers, 
 will come again, and receive them to himfelf ; that 
 where he is, there they may be alfo. Then they who 
 were troubled for their adherence to his caufe, fliall 
 enter into reft ; when the Lord Jefus fliall be reveal- 
 ed from heaven. At that fame period, will he take 
 vengeance on them who know not God, and who obey 
 not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and punifti 
 them with everlafting de(tru£Hon ; when he fliall 
 come to be glorified in his faints, and admired in all 
 them who believe. For God will bring with him 
 them who now fleep in Jefus, while the believers who 
 remain, at that time, alive upon earth, fliall feel a 
 change pafs upon their bodies, to reader them like 
 thofe who are newly raifed from the dead, and all 
 " fliall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the 
 air, and fo fliall we ever be with the Lord. Where- 
 fore," fays Paul, u comfort one another with thefe 
 words." He who teftified thefe things to his difciples, 
 while he was yet with them, repeated his promife long 
 afterwards, to his fervarit John, faying, " Surely, I 
 come quickly." May we unite with that beloved dif- 
 ciple, in faying, « Amen. Even fo come, Lord Jefus." 
 
 And now, my brethren, if this aflurance was fuffi- 
 cient to relieve the minds of the Apoftles, when they 
 loft the bodily prefence of their Divine Mailer, may we 
 not fafely proceed 
 
 Secondly, To apply the fame confolation to the re- 
 lief of thofe who are mod affe&ed by the late bereav- 
 ing providence. 
 
 ^ This Church has loft a moll diligent, faithful, affec- 
 tionate and valuable Paftor ; and far be it from me to 
 S make 
 
io2 37* Prefnee of Chrift 
 
 make light of your lofs. All thofe churches who 
 knew him only by occafional vifits, all good men who 
 had any opportunity of appreciating his worth, mult 
 fympathize with you \ while they grieve to think that 
 they themfelves, who faw his face fo feldom, fhall fee 
 it no more. His brethren in the miniftry, who enjoy- 
 ed the pleafure and advantage of his friendfhip and 
 correspondence, feel a lofs which they will ever de- 
 plore. How then mud you regret his removal, who 
 were, many of you, the feals of his miniftry ; who, 
 all of you, hoped long to enjoy his conftant labours \ 
 and for whofe welfare he laid himfelf out, with fuch 
 unremitting afliduity ? The Paftor whofe abfence you 
 mourn, pofiefied fuch an afiemblage of lovely graces 
 and acceptable qualifications, as arc found united but 
 feldom, even in truly Chriftian mfnifters. He had the 
 firmed attachment to evangelical truth, and the moft 
 conftant regard to practical godlinefs ; he united re- 
 markable found nefs of judgment, with uncommon 
 warmth of affections. I never faw, at leaft in one of 
 his years, fuch active, ardent zeal, conjoined with fuch 
 gentlenefs, modefty and deep humility ; fo much of 
 the little child, and fo much of the Evangel ift, I can 
 fcarcely forbear faying, of the Apoftle of Jefus Chrift. 
 I know not how to flatter ycu, with the hope of obtain- 
 ing another minifter •, or myfelf, with the expectation 
 of finding another friend, in whom aY/thefe charming 
 qualities fhall be found, in an equal degree. He was, 
 indeed, u a burning and a finning light, and we rejoi- 
 ced in his light, for a feafon j M but now we muft la- 
 ment, that he fhines no more on earth ; though we 
 doubt not, that he fhines like the fun, in the kingdom 
 of his Father. 
 
 While he abode among us, his affections were evi- 
 dently and eminently in heaven ; his work, his fami- 
 ly, and his people, were the only objects of regard, 
 which made him willing to forego the blifs of the eter- 
 nal 
 
a Source of Confolation. 203 
 
 nal world. And when he perceived that it was the 
 Lord's will he ihould depart, your welfare was (till hi* 
 chief concern. For your confolation and benefit, he 
 wiilied this paflage to be confidered at his funeral. 
 lie once alluded to another fcripture, but laying that 
 afide, left it fhould occafion too much being faid of 
 himfelf, he fixed upon this *, remarking, " If he corner 
 to you, all will be well, you xiQcd not regret my rei 
 val." So you fee, brethren, the defign of your dear Paf- 
 tor was to encourage you to claim a (hare in the prom- 
 ifed prefence of the Redeemer -, which he knew ex- 
 tended to ail his churches, and to every individual 
 liever. He perceived that he was going to leave you, 
 he could not promife to come again to you, though it 
 was his great confolation to hope that you, in fucceilior, 
 will follow him \ and meanwhile, the prefence of his 
 great Matter, as to his divine nature, and the increaf- 
 ing influence of his Spirit, would be a fu indent corn- 
 penfation for any lofsyou could fuftain by his departure. 
 The fpiritual prefence oi Chrift could ma.ke up for the 
 want of his bodily prefence, to thofe who knew what 
 it was to enjoy the latter $ it maft then alTuredly be 
 fuflicient to fupply .the abfence of any under- fhephent. 
 With this thought my dear brother confoled himfelr, 
 in the beginning of his illnefs ; " If," laid he, in a let-* 
 ter written the firft Lord's day that he was confined 
 from public worfhip, " if I am to depar: hence, to be 
 no more feen, 1 know the Lord can carry on his caufe 
 as well without me as with me ; he who redeemed the 
 foeep with his blood, will never fufferthem to perifli 
 for want of Ihepherding, efpecially, fines He himitif 
 is the chief Shepherd of fouls.'' 
 
 Let me therefore attempt to afiift you by dire&ing 
 your attention to the grounds on which you may fafe- 
 ly expert the fulfilment of the promife, the magni- 
 tude of the promife itfelf, and the confequent obliga- 
 tions under which you are laid by it. 
 
 i. Confider 
 
204 The Preface of Chrijl 
 
 I. Confider the ground on which you may fafcly 
 build an exptclahon that our Lord Jcfus will come unto 
 you. 
 
 Our Lord's ability to make good fitch a promt/?, muft 
 here bz noticed. Not only had he an inherent power 
 to la his life, and to take it up again, in confe- 
 
 quei Inch he fpent forty days with his difciplcs, 
 
 befc. fcenfion ; but he has power to perform 
 
 his Handing engagements with his whole church, of 
 being ipith tkem$ always to the end of the world, when- 
 ever, and wherever, two or three are gathered together 
 in his narrle •, which promifes muft be connected with 
 liable you to claim any part in the confo- 
 will adminifter. Some modern enthufiafts, 
 (who can believe any thing which does not imply that 
 they are (ogutity as to need the incarnate Son of God 
 to make an atonement for their fins, by his precious 
 blood) have fancied that the body of Jefus, who, ac- 
 cording to them, was a mere man like ourfelves, af- 
 cended no higher than the atmofphere, which fur- 
 rounds the earth, and that he occafionally defcends 
 from thence to this globe, to vifit invifibly and one at 
 a time, the various congregations of Chriftians. This 
 idea, it has been faid, " cannot poflibly do us any 
 
 m '" but, alas ! it can do us but little good. Ix 
 the Saviour fhould thus vifit all thofe who are called 
 by his name, our turn to be fo favoured may occur but 
 once in a life-time j or whether they who have 'in- 
 vented this folution of Matt, xviii. 20, would admit us, 
 :n they reprefent as irrational idolaters, to enjoy 
 any (hare in his vifits, I know not. Nor would it; 
 be'of confequence, whether it were granted or deni- 
 ed ; a mere man furveying us invifibly, now and then, 
 could impart to us no fpiritual bleffing. But, if our 
 great High-Pried be, indeed, in the moft exalted 
 fenfe, the Son of God, who is " pajtd. th 
 
 thefe 
 
 * liiY.nw'bxx Tc-jr cvfzvcv?. Hcb- iv. 14. vii. iC. Efh. iv. $ t i<x 
 
a Source of Confolathn. 205 
 
 thefe lower heavens, and is « made higher than the 
 heavens," having " afcended up far above all heavens, 
 
 that he might/// all things? (according to the paffage 
 which we heard explained this morning*) and, if " all 
 power be given unto him, in heaven and in earth," 
 tbett, my brethren, your faith (lands upon a firm foun- 
 dation. He who, when he was upon earth, as to his 
 humanity, could fpeak of himfelf as being " in hea- 
 ven ;" can as eafily grant you the prefence of his 
 Divinity, now his human nature is in the world above* 
 
 Let the extent of hi' regard to his church, be alfo re- 
 membered. In his lad prayer with his difciples, ha 
 prayed not alone for them who were prefent, but for 
 all who ihouid believe through their word. And " he 
 ever livetb, to make interceflion for fail them, who 
 come unto God by him/' In every age hath his 
 church been the objeel of his gracious regard: and 
 
 he 
 
 * By brother Weft, of Wanl 
 
 f trnryxptnw wn§ eure* Hcb viii. 2 7. Mr. Bellham, a pro- 
 feficd advocate of rational religion, fnppofes that the writers of the 
 New-Teftament tbemfelves, annexed no very djlinft. idea to the ftbrnfi 
 of Chrifl's making interceflion, became ;vmyw.v, he obferves, ex> 
 preiTes any interference of one perfon for or aga/nft another, h is 
 true, that in the Epiftle to the Romans, Paul mentions Chrift*s 
 tns&itfg intcrcejjim FOR us, viii. 34 ; and Elijah's making intercrjpon 
 AGAINST IfraeL xi 2 And he ufes this fame verb, but with 
 different prepofitiens, in both places. But can any ambiguity strife 
 from employing one word, with prepofitions of oppofitc import, 
 to denote oppofite things ? Will not the things thus oppofed rath- 
 er illuftrate each other ? Errvyyzmn TUF.P, is to plead /.r, and 
 E -r/vav.iv RATA, to plead againf : the latter phrafe is repeatedly 
 uf:d in the Maccabees, to cxprefs the act of complaining agai*jl, bring* 
 'ing an accufation again/}, making complaint againjl a perfon or perfons, 
 I Mac. viii. 32. x. or, 63. xi. 25. And as this is the part of a 
 profecutor or accufer, fo the former is the part of - a n advocate, pat- 
 ron, or interceffor. The Jews have adopted the two Greek terms 
 n*pa*x*T9r an advocate, ufed 1 John, ii 1. and KaTwyosor, an accufer, 
 ufed Rev. xii. 10. and employ both in the Cha'.dee paraphxafe of job 
 xxxiii. 23. " an Angel is prepared, one advocate (.vj^p*:) amor\g 
 a thoufand accufers (mnbaMDp*") See Outram de Sacrificiis. i*iU» 
 II. Cap. Vlt. 
 
 S Z 
 
2o6 Tbe Prefence of Chrljt 
 
 he has fulfilled the' pro mife -which he made in the days 
 of Zechariah, " Lo, I come, and I will dwell in the 
 midft of thee, faith Jehovah. And many nations mall 
 be joined unto Jehovah, in that day, and ihall be rriv 
 people^ and I will dwell in the midft of thee, and 
 thou (halt know that Jehovah God of Hofts hath I 
 me unto thee." — To the primitive church under all 
 the pagan perfecutions, was this promife fulfilled ; to 
 the Waldenfes and Albigenles in the darkeft times of 
 Popery \ to the firft reformers from Antichriflian error, 
 and to their fathful fuccefibrs •, whether conformifis 
 or non-conformifts •, in this IGand, on the continent of 
 Europe, or in the wilds of North- America. And a: 
 this day, wherever two or three aflemble in his name, 
 at Birmingham or at Briftol> in London or at Edin- 
 burgh, in Old Holland or in New Holland, at Mud- 
 nabatty, or at Otaheite, at the Cape of Good Hope 
 or in Kentucky, there may our diftant brethren, as 
 well as ourfelves, expect our glorious Lord to fulfil his 
 word; / ilU! come unto you. 
 
 The exprefs promifes he has made, of which the text 
 is one, and "we have recited feveral others, forbid us 
 to doubt of the beftowment of this invaluable bleiT- 
 ing. Jefus is the " faithful and true Witnefs ; the 
 fame yefterday, to-day and for ever. In him all the 
 promifes of God are yea, and in him Amen, unto the 
 glory of God by us."— He aiTured his fervant Paul, 
 in a feafon of peculiar difficulty, " My grace is fuffi- 
 cient for thee j" and the grace which could fuffice for 
 him, who accounted himfelf the chief cf fainers, and 
 lefs'than the leafc of faints, is fufficient for us alfq. 
 His ftrength is difplayed to the greateft advantage in 
 our weaknefs. O remember how it was I : 
 played in the weaknefs, the extreme weaknefs, A your 
 dear dying Paftor, on whom the power of Chnii fo 
 vifibly refted. When his heart ana flefli were failing, 
 how did he rejoice in God his Saviour, as the ftrength 
 
a Source of Confolathn. 2oy 
 
 of his heart, and his portion for ever ! And is there a 
 mourner prefent, fo feeble, Co difconfolate, fo bereav- 
 ed o. created fourcfe of blifs, as that this grace 
 not fui'fice for her fupport ? Or will he, who kept 
 his word* with fueh " punctilious veracity" to the Huf- 
 band, forget: his promife to the Widow and the Fath- 
 erlefs? Ailuredlyhe will not. 
 
 Remember, my brethren, the rerdhifs of the Re- 
 deemer to hear and enfwer prayer. — Though Paul be- 
 foughthioi thrice upon ohe fubje£f, before he received 
 sn immediate reply, the pomife was fulfilled even be- 
 fore it was pronounced ; he, like one who lived long 
 before him, and like myriads who have finee made trial 
 of the fame refou^ce, was " ftrengthened with ftrength 
 in his foul," before the Saviour exprefsly declared, 
 '" My ftrcngth is made perfect in weaknefs." Continue 
 Therefore imtant in pr. Lememher the apparent 
 
 reburls encountered at firft by the woman of Canaan, 
 and how amply her faith was antV/ered at lait. Did 
 not Jefus inculcate this maxim, " that men ought al- 
 ways to pray, and not to faint j" and fpake a parable to 
 illiterate arid enforce that duty ? Rich bleffings, I truft, 
 are (till in referve for you, in anfwer to the many fer- 
 vent petitions, which your dear Patter offered up on 
 your behaif, from the time of his firft acquaintance 
 with this Church, and during better than nine years,* 
 wherein he has more fully undertaken the overfight 
 of you in the Lord. May you yourfelves pray with- 
 out ceafing, and plead with the Lord his own exceed- 
 ing great and precious promifes, which will be found 
 to contain bleflings fully proportioned to ail your ne- 
 cellules. 
 
 It was doubtiefs in confequence of many comforta- 
 ble evidences > that God has a number of /pi ritual war/bip- 
 pers among you, that my dear brother was encour- 
 aged 
 ** He was ordained Augufl, 1790* 
 
208 The Prefence of Chrift 
 
 aged to exped this declaration would be certainly ful- 
 filled in your prefent circumftances. But though I 
 gladly indulge a fimilar confidence, yet neither I, whofe 
 peribnal knowledge of you is very confined, nor he, 
 whofe acquaintance was much more intimate and gen- 
 eral, could anfwer for every profefibr among you. 
 From ttrhat lias taken place in all the large congrega- 
 tions I have known, I am afraid left the hopes of your 
 Pallor may be difappointcd, as to fome individuals, 
 whom he never fufpe&ed, but whole future ?pcftafy 
 will indicate the fuperficial nrture of their prefent 
 profciTion, and enfure them a final portion with hyp- 
 ocrites and unbelievers. Greatly (hall I rejoice, if not 
 one fuch character liquid ever be found arrong you ^ 
 but to render the confolation in the text more certain 
 in its peribnal application, I mud exhort you to exam- 
 ine and prove your own felves, and to give all diligence 
 to make your calling and election fure. Unit Is you 
 are fuch of whom God difapproves, Chrift is in yen, 
 the hope of glory ; he dwells in your hearts by faith, 
 and you begin to be conformed to his lovely image. 
 You account mental nearnefs to God the chief good* 
 You value communion with him above all the world. 
 Is not this the cafe, my brethren ? I truft you can fay 
 with the Pfalmiit, Whom have I in heaven but thee, 
 and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee. 
 Fear not, that the Lord will frustrate the defires his 
 own Spirit has excited, or abandon that foul, whofe 
 wifhes centre wholly in himfelf. 
 
 In the mean while, to increafe the Intenfenefs of your 
 defires after the prefence of Chrift, let us proceed to 
 
 confider 
 
 2. The magnitude of the promije* 
 
 Has Chrift faid, "I will come unto you ?' r and 
 have you been told to-night that his prefence can make 
 
 up 
 
a Source of GonfolatiorL 209 
 
 up every lois ? Well may you credit the affertion, if 
 you confider what is intended by the promife in the 
 text. 
 
 It imports that he ivifi rhamfsft /> you bis glory. 
 And O how delightful the fi gin ! « Lord!" faid jude, 
 "how is it that thou wilt martifeft thyfelf unto us, and 
 not unto the world r" This exclamation might de: 
 partial .ignorance, as well as grateful furprife : but 
 the fecret was in great meafure explained, v 
 Spirit was poured out from on h % hen Paul ob- 
 
 ferved, M God, who commanded the light to fhine out 
 of darknefs, hath mined into our hearts, to give the 
 Jight of the knowledge of the glory of God. in the face 
 of Jefus Chriit :" fo that while others have " their un- 
 derstandings darkened, being alienated from the life of 
 God, through the ignorance which is in them, becaufe 
 of the blindnefs (or rather the calbufnefsj*) of their 
 hearts ; we all, with open face, beholding, as in a wir- 
 rctr s the glory of the Lord, are charged into the fame 
 image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the 
 Lord." 
 
 If the Lord grant you his fpecial prefence, you will 
 not only realize his eiiential and' mediatorial glory, 
 be cheered alfo with a lively 'ftnfe 
 what confolation can equal that whit 
 fuch a iburce ? "To knov* rife love cH Chrift, wl 
 paffeth knowledge,? is a bl h the Apoftlc 
 
 confide red as immediately c d with being "fill- 
 
 ed with all the fulneis of God ;" arid the beilowment 
 of which was a proof that he is " able tc do exceeding 
 abundantly above ail that we afk or thing." Unlefs 
 we could conceive the full extent of the happinefs pro- 
 duced by the redemption of Chru't throughout the 
 
 whole 
 
 * ha rm -J .-.v F.fh fv. iS- Tlxpcxrie, con- 
 
 crctio quz^, fit. In fcferis Uteris ,;.:r^.i v.xfiix\ ^utfm coi 
 
 . .'... t, 'Sccfula. Robert/in. 
 
2io The Prefence of Chrijt 
 
 whole empire of God \ unlefs we could comprehend 
 the length of eternity, in which the felicity of the faved 
 fhali be forever increaGng, as fad as God fhall increafe 
 their capacity of enjoyment ; unlefs we could meafure 
 the loweil: dtpths of hell, from whence our Saviour has 
 ranlbmed us, with the invaluable price of his blood ; 
 and the height of glory, to which we {hall be raifed as 
 the reward of Immanuei's obedience ; it will be im- 
 poilible fully to conceive the greatnefe 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 
 prefeht ft.ue, am id ft all our outward trials, and eveiv 
 our inward confii&s, with joy unfpeakable and full of 
 glory. 
 
 Relief*, that if Chrift fliould come unto you, accord- 
 ing to tliis gracious pro mile, be ivill communicate uni* 
 jou % more largely, the fupply of his Spirit. And fhall 
 not this fit you for every duty, fupport you under every 
 preiTure, and enfure you the vicftory over every fpiritu- 
 al enemy ? Yes, my beloved, if you enjoy much of 
 the prefence of Jefus, it will make you active for God, 
 and excite you to every geed work. You will not be 
 flothful in bufinefs, but fervent in fpirit, ferving the 
 Lord. You will aim at the divine glory in every thing, 
 even in all your civil employments. You will gladly 
 confecrate the gain of your merchandize to the Lord, 
 and honour him with your fubftance. It will rejoice 
 your foul to think that you are il not your own," but 
 " bought with a price," and you will feel yourfelves 
 bound to " glorify God, with your bodies, and with 
 your fpirits, which are God's ." nor can you forbear 
 to admit his claim to all which you pofTefs ; for " the 
 fiiver is mine and the gold is mine," faith the Lord of 
 H}fts, and your thankful hearts muft fay, Amen. You 
 will wiih to inlcribe on all your property, and on all 
 your iKenfiis that blefled motto, Holinefs to the Lord 
 The prefence of Chrift will infpire you with ardour, 
 
 refolution 
 
a Source of Confolatton. 1 1 1 
 
 refolution and zeal, to promote his kingdom among 
 men* You will not let your Lord's-day Schools decline ; 
 nor will your contribution to the mission, in which 
 you flood foremoft fo early, now be fufrered to fall off, 
 becaufe that dear man is goi>e to glory, who firft ex- 
 cited your attention to thefe good works ; but you will 
 remember that Chrift himfelf is with you, who walks 
 among his golden candlefticks, to notice how their 
 light fhineth before men, to the honour of their heav- 
 enly Father. — If you fhould meet with farther trials, 
 the prefence of Jefus will fuffice to fupport you under 
 the crofs, as it did the Apoftles, and primitive Chrif- 
 tians. O brethren ! I pray you may live as feeing 
 Him who is invifible. Remember that Chrift, when 
 upon earth, could not do more for his firft difcipies, 
 than he can now perform for you, by his divine pref- : 
 
 ence. Ah ! if he were here, in his glorified 
 
 body, . . or even in the lowly form in which he ap- 
 peared in the days of his humiliation, .... if he oft- 
 en called upon you, .... or you could, at any time, 
 refort to him ... or if he lodged at your houfe, .... 
 or came thither as often as he vifited the houfe of Laz- 
 arus, at Bethany ; ..... would you not then con- 
 fult him in every thing ; and always follow his good 
 advice ? and fear no confequences, when you compli- 
 ed with his directions ? And do you believe the Di- 
 vinity of Chrift, and act otherwife now ? O fhameful 
 inconfiftency ! Look unto Jefus. Lookcff, my brethren, 
 from all other objects ; from all falfe confidences, from 
 all difcouragements, from all the foaming billows, 
 which threaten to fwallow you up, unto Jefus. He is 
 above, looking down upon you. He is at hand, ready 
 to aflift you. See, how he ftretches forth his arm to 
 fupport you, and keep you from finking in the deep wa- 
 ters. Separate from him, you can do nothing ; but 
 th* weakeft can do all things, can bear all burdens, 
 can conquer all the hofts of hell, through Chrift 
 ftrengthening him. 
 
 If 
 
lit "The P refer? ce cf Chrijl 
 
 If you are thus authorized to^pe& the prefence of 
 Chrilt, Will he not- take you wider the care of his provi- 
 dence. How fvveet is the idea of an omniprefent God ! 
 Not a local Deity, as the gods of the heathen were fup- 
 pofed to be, even by their own worfhippers. But a 
 God afar of, as well as at hand. Prefent with his cap- 
 tive fervants, to check the violence of the fire, and 
 ft op the mouths of lions, in favour of his exiles in Bab- 
 ylon, as furely as ever he had been ready to hear prayer 
 in his temple at Jerufalem. A God in India, as well 
 as in England. Who (hewed himfelf to be prefent 
 with his fervant Pearce in Birmingham, to make all 
 his bed in his ficknefs : and was at the fame time pref- 
 ent, though we knew not where, with his fervant 
 Ward and his companions; whether they are ftiJI trav- 
 eling the mighty ocean, or whether the Criterion has 
 reached its deli red haven. Perhaps, they have already 
 met with Carey, and Thomas, and Fountain, and Jefus 
 is in the midfc of them, while they are praying for us 
 in Bengal. Yes, Alia was long ago reminded, that 
 cc the eyes of JeHoVaH run to and fro throughout 
 the whole earth, that he may (hew himfelf flrong in 
 the behalf of them whofe hearts are perfect towards 
 Lim." And how comfortable is it to reflect, that this 
 attribute cf Deity, and every other, belongs to God 
 the Son, as well as to God the Father. The hufband 
 of the church is the God of the whole earth. Jefus 
 has ail power on earth as well as in heaven. They, 
 therefore, who " feek firft the kingdom cf God, and 
 his righteoufnefs," (hall find a all things added unto 
 them." " My God," (fail Paul to the Philippians) 
 cc {hall fuppiy all your need, according to his riches in 
 glory, by Chvift Jefus." Cafl: on him, therefore, all 
 your care : he careth for all his churches ; and though 
 you know net which way to lock, he can find another 
 paitor for this church, to repair the breach that death 
 lias made. He can raife up friends for the widow 
 and the children of his departed fervant •, yea, he 
 
 himfelf 
 
a Source of Confolatton. 213 
 
 himfelf will be their guardian and defence. A father 
 to the fatherlefs, and the patron of the widow, is God 
 in his holy habitation •, he will never fail them, nor 
 forfake them. 
 
 Finally, The prefence of Chrift, with his people 
 on earth, fhall prepare them for the uninterrupted enjoy- 
 ment of his prefence in the celeftial ivorld. He himfelf 
 will be with you walking in the way, and the foolifh 
 {hall not err therein. He will guide you by his coun- 
 fel, and afterwards receive you into glory. One of 
 vou after another fhall follow your dear Paflor, per- 
 haps before the end of this year, and four or five 
 next year, and fo on, till you all meet again in that 
 heavenly city, where the Lord God Almighty and the 
 Lamb> are the temple of it ; the glory of God doth en- 
 lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof 5 and the 
 inhabitants drink of the pure river of the water of 
 life, proceeding out of the throne of God and the 
 Lamb ; and there fhall be no mere curfe, but the 
 throne of God and of the Lamb fhall be in it : and his 
 fervants fhall ferve him, and they fhall fee his face, 
 and his name fhall be in their foreheads ; for they 
 fhall be completely like him, when they fhall fee him 
 as he is. But let me once more befeech you to no- 
 tice 
 
 3. The confequent obligations , under which you are 
 laid. 
 
 Your Lord has faid, " I will come unto you." 
 Believe him. Take him at his word. Piead it before 
 his throne of grace. Prove that you value his pre- 
 fence above every thing. Live under an abiding con- 
 viction, that without it, you mult be comfortlefs, not- 
 withftanding the prefence of every temporal enjoy- 
 meir ith it, you muft be happv, even under 
 
 the preflTure of every earthly calamity. 
 
 T Let 
 
214 ' The Prefence of Chriji 
 
 Let then the expeEtation that this promife will be ac- 
 complifhed, moderate your farrows, on the prefent oc- 
 cafion, and on all others, and direct them into a prop- 
 er channel. It is the prefence of Chrift which con- 
 stitutes the perfected felicity of our dear departed 
 friend : But Chrift is really prefent with his church 
 upon earfh alfo : pray for more faith to realize that 
 truth, 'arid your heaven {hall be begun below. He 
 has faid, " 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 lofs, which the enjoyment of the 
 prefence of Chrift, and of his Father, cannot com- 
 penfate ? or, what is the affliction, under which fel- 
 lowfhip with the Father, and with his Son Jefus 
 Chrift, will not confole you ? 
 
 Let this promife enhance your gratitude for pa ft 
 mercies, and your folicitude to improve thofe which 
 remain. It was from him, who afcended on high, 
 after defcending into the loweft parts of the earth, 
 and who received gifts for men,* that our dear broth- 
 er received ail his minifterial qualifications, as well as 
 every Chriftian grace : and it v/as his blefling alone, 
 which rendered him fo fuccefsful, in winning fouls to 
 Chrift. With him is the refidue of the Spirit. He 
 has yet bleffings in (tore to communicate. O live on 
 his fulnefs ! Though your beloved Paftor is gone, I 
 truft that the benefit, which many of you received 
 from his miniftry, will never be loft. Minifters die, 
 but Jefus lives •, and his word endureth forever. 
 You have alfo a profpedl: of ftill enjoying his ordi- 
 nances. Lock up for his gracious influence to attend 
 them, knowing that neither is he who planteth any 
 thing, nor he who watereth # , but i: is Gcd who giv- 
 eth the increafe. M 
 
 * See an excrllent Sermon of brother Pearce's on Ephef. iv. ir. 
 On the duty of Churches to regard JMln'fiers as the gift of Cbnjiy at Mr 
 
 JBellber'd Ordination, 1796. 
 
a Source of Confolation. 
 
 **5 
 
 May the promifc of Chrift's prefence excite your 
 concern to prepare for his coming. Let it excite your 
 ilnds againil every thing, which would be or- 
 fenfive to your blefled Lord. Chriftians, Is there any 
 thing in the daily courie of your behaviour, or in 
 management of your families, of which you woul 
 afhamed, if Chrilt were now upon earth in hti 
 nature, and took up his abode with you ? And 
 you truly believe his Divinity, and not be at 
 he, whole eyes are as a flame of fire, fliould fee fijch 
 tranfaclions ? Do you not believe that he ever: 
 the reins and the hearts ? and has he not faid, 
 all the churches (hall know it ? Behold, he cq 
 frequently, as unexpected as a thief: Bleffed i 
 who watchcth, and keepeth his garments, left he v 
 J, and they fee his fliame. 
 
 15 UT now, without confining myf 
 to the immediate language of the text, give me 1 
 to addrefs a few words, by way of a more genera/ im* 
 provement of the late afflictive providence, both to the 
 members of the Church ftatedly aflembling in this 
 place of worfhip, and the Congregation and Strangers 
 prefent. 
 
 I addrefs myfelf fir ft to the CHURCH. You, my 
 brethren, have, within thefe ten days, fuftained the 
 lofs of a very affectionate and faithful Paftor ; a 
 young and active, and at the fame time an able and 
 judicious minifter ; who had approved himfelf among 
 you for nine or ten years, and whofe labours you 
 hoped to enjoy for many years to come. But he is 
 taken away in the midit of his ufefulnefs, having buc 
 juft completed the thirty-third year of his age. In 
 fuch a trial, you have room to mourn. Jesus wept. 
 And devout men made great lamentation at the death 
 of Stephen. 
 
 Yet 
 
2\6 The Preface of Chriji 
 
 Yet forget not to be thankful, that ever the Lord 
 raifed up fuch a minifter, and gave you the chief 
 benefit of his labours. It was the kindnefs of Provi- 
 dence that fixed him in this place, and continued him 
 with you for feveral years. You have reafon to blefs 
 God alfo> that he did not run in vain, nor labour in 
 vain. Blefs the Lord for giving fo many feals to his 
 miniftry, and for enabling him to live fo honourably, 
 and to die fo triumphantly. 
 
 And now, let each individual examine himfelf, how 
 far he profited by the miniflrations of this dear fervant 
 of Jejfus Chrift. If any of you put him cut of his 
 :e, and idolized him *, let fuch learn wifdom in 
 future, and fo account of us, as only the ftewards of 
 the myftcfics of Gcd. If any undervalued him, let 
 them Cncerd of that evil. And let all be 
 
 J, that the benefit of his miniftry may not die 
 : him. Remember the interfiling and important 
 truths you profeffed to receive from him. Remember 
 the affe&ionate and earned exhortations, addrefled to 
 you by him, from this pulpit. Remember the c 
 iiitent and lovely example which he fet before you ; 
 and the evidence of the truth of religion, and the dif- 
 play of the faithfulnefs of God, which 1 was made 
 by his fupports, under his painful and protradled 
 affiiclion. 
 
 Confider, beloved, your duty to his Family^ ?nd 
 GieW the fincerity of your regard for your late dear 
 or, by your tender fympathy with his diftrefled 
 Widow, and the fubftantial tokens of your affe&ion 
 to his jive fatherlefs Children, whofe tender years- 
 prevent them from forming any adequate conception 
 of their unfpeakable lofs. May all the friends of the 
 deceafed, bear them and their afrlicled mother on 
 their hearts before the Lord ; remembering how ef- 
 fential a part of pure and undefiled religion it is, to 
 
 pay 
 
a Source cf Confolation. 217 
 
 pay kind attention to the orphan and the widow in 
 their affliction •> and accounting it an honour to imi- 
 tate and fubfervc that glorioas Being, in whom the 
 fatherlefs fimleth mercy, and who encourages the def- 
 oiaie widow to put her truft in him. 
 
 My dear brethren, forget not your duty to one another 
 alfo, in this feafon of trial. While thus deprived of 
 a paftor, to take the overfight of you in the Lord, 
 watch over each other the more carefully in love. 
 Forfake not the aflembling of yourfelves together, but 
 (land fait in the Lord. Strengthen the hands of your 
 deacons, at a time when the concerns of the church lie 
 the heavier upon them, in (lead of indulging, as fome- 
 times the cafe has been in other churches, a fpirit of 
 groundleis jealoufy, refpe£ting thofe whom you your- 
 felves have called to that office, and who have ihewn 
 a conscientious and upright regard for your welfare. 
 
 In looking out for a minifter, I truft, you will be 
 careful to feek one of the fame itamp with my late 
 dear brother •, one, who will guide you in the true 
 narrow way, and guard you from error on the r: 
 hand and on the left -,, who will warn you against 
 every fentiment which would difhonour God's moral 
 government, as well as faithfully oppofe whatever notion 
 would difparage the riches of his glorious grace. lri:y 
 you choofe a man equally zealous againft felf-right- 
 eoufnefe, and againft felf-indulgence ; who will 
 preach falvation by Chrift alone, and iftfift on deliver- 
 ance from the power and love of fin', as a moil ettontial 
 part of that falvation. May God direct you to a min- 
 ifter, who thai! anfwer to the description given by Paul 
 of himfelf and his fellow labourers, " We preach 
 Chrift in you the hope of glory, warning every man, 
 and teaching every man in all wifdom ; that we may 
 prefeat every man perfect in Chrift Jefus." May hs 
 be able to appeal to you, on his death bed> in. the 
 T % word^ 
 
aifl The Prefence of Chrijl 
 
 words of the fame Apoftle, "As we were allowed 
 of God t3 he put in trait with the gofpel, fo we fpake, 
 net as pleafing men, but God, who trieth our hearts : 
 not ufmg flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of 
 coveroufnefs, God is witnefs ; nor feeking glory of 
 men ; but we were gentle among you, even as a nurfe 
 cherifheth her children ; fo, being affectionately defir- 
 ous cf you, we were willing to have imparted unto 
 you, not the gofpel of God only, but alfo our own 
 fouls, becaufe ye were dear unto us. Ye are witneff- 
 es, and God alfo, how holily, and juftly, and how un- 
 blarneably *we behaved ourfelves among you who be- 
 lieve : as ye know, how he exhorted, and comforted, 
 and charged every one of you, as a father his children, 
 that ye fhould walk worthy of God, who hath called 
 you unto his kingdom and glory." Such a protefta- 
 lion> I am confident, your late beloved Paftor might 
 have fafdy made, and I pray God, his fucceffor may 
 be aflifted to imitate the fame primitive example, and 
 find a correfponding teftimeny in the confeience of 
 every unprejudiced hearer. 
 
 At the fame time, let me exhort you, my brethren, 
 to manifeft genuine Chrifilan candour in your choice of 
 another minifter, and in all your fubfequent conduct 
 towards him. If he fhould not equal his predeceifor 
 in the popularity of his talents, the readinefs of his 
 utterance, or in every amiable qualification of ftill 
 higher importance, yet if his heart be evidently de- 
 voted to God, do not defpife him, nor undervalue 
 him ; but pray for him, encourage him, ftrengthen 
 his hands in God. Make him not an offender for a 
 word, nor for the want of a word. And do not mag- 
 nify fuch infirmities as are common to the beft cf men 
 in this date of imperfection. 
 
 Endeavour, brethren, to he unanimous in your choice. 
 Let none oppofe the general vote, mereiy to fhew 
 
 their 
 
a Source of Confolation. 219 
 
 uence, or affert their liberty. Nor Let 
 others refoive upon having their own way, becaufe 
 they have a fmail majority of their mind : but en- 
 deavour to accommodate one another, as far as it is 
 poilible, without frorificing truth or prudence. Only 
 be fure that you feek a pallor that is a holy man of 
 God, a faithful fervant of Jefus Chrift, who will nat- 
 urally care for your fouls. 
 
 Finally, beloved, let all be careful to walk worthy 
 cf the Lord, in the practice of all that is well-pleaf- 
 ing in his fight. And let it appear that God, by tak- 
 ing your late dear minifter to heaven, has drawn you 
 nearer to heaven. Remember that Chrift is now to 
 the midil of you, and that you hope foon to be with 
 hirn in his kingdom, and to live and reign with him 
 for ever. What manner of perfons ought you then 
 to be, in all holy converfation and godiinefs ! 
 
 W HAT I have faid to the members of the 
 churchy will, for the mod part, apply to fuch of the 
 Jiated CONGREGATION, as are partakers of the 
 grace of God. 
 
 But there are fome, who conftantly attended my dear 
 brother's miniftry, who are left unconverted. O 
 what (hall I fay to them ! I earneftly pray, that they 
 who heard him in vain while alive, may hear him 
 now he is dead, fo as to bz made alive themfelves, 
 For, being dead, he yet fpeaketh. The hiftory which 
 all his friends can give you, of his life, and of his 
 death, (his blefied death !) proclaims to you, the truth 
 and excellence of the gofpel. Do not you alfo re- 
 member that fhort, but molt aff_ cling addrefs, which 
 he made to you, the laft time he afcended this pulpit, 
 after brother Franklin of Coventry had been preach. 
 
 ingf 
 
220 The Prefence of Chrift 
 
 ing ? Then he told fome, that his highefl comfort, 
 amidft the fymptoms of approaching diflblution, which 
 he then exhibited, was the expectation of meeting 
 them in heaven ; while he forewarned others of you, 
 that his greateft anxiety arofe from his fear of being 
 obliged to witnefs agalnft you, as defpifers and reject- 
 ers of the glorious Redeemer. O that the recollec- 
 tion of that dying warning, enforced by all his own 
 happy experience in fucceeding months of fuffering 
 and iuperabounding confolation, might convince you 
 of the vaft importance of true religion, of the un- 
 fpeakable worth of the gofpel of Chrift, and of the 
 bleflednefs of being interefted in his great falvation, 
 and obtaining an inheritance among them who are 
 fanctified, through faith in him. 
 
 Many may expeft, efpecially thofe who are gran- 
 gers , to hear a char after of the deceafed ; but he chofe 
 this text to avoid much being faid of himfelf, and 
 though I mould not fcruple introducing whatever might 
 tend to honour divine grace, and to x promote your edi- 
 fication, yet I am unable to enter into a particular 
 biographical detail at this time. And as to his char- 
 acter, thofe, who knew him well, need not my delinea- 
 tion of it, to make them remember it with high 
 efteem, to their dying day ; while others might fuf- 
 pe& me of flattery, if I faid but the half of what I 
 cordially believe. One thing I will fay, which I 
 could fay of very few others, though I have known 
 many of the excellent of the earth, That I never faw, 
 or heard of any thing refpecling him, which grieved 
 me, unlefs it was his inattention to his health, and 
 that I believe was owing to a miftaken idea of hi3 
 conftitution. If any of you know of other faults be- 
 longing to him, be careful to fhun them ; but O be 
 fure to follow him, wherein he was a follower cf 
 Chrift. 
 
 While 
 
a Source of Confolation. il\ 
 
 While his outward conduct was remarkably blame- 
 lefs and exemplary, he evidently had a deep, abiding, 
 humbling fenfe of the evil of fin, of his own native 
 depravity, and remaining finfulnefs •, of his abfolute 
 need of Chrift as an atoning facrifice, and the Lord 
 his righteoufiiefs ; and of the love of the Spirit, and 
 the importance of his work as a fanctifier. — He lived 
 a life of faith on the incarnate Son of God, as the 
 blefled Mediator, who had loved him and given him- 
 felf for him ; and as Chrift was alKn ail to him, 
 his joy and his gain, in life and in death, fo he took 
 great delight in preaching Chrift to others, as the on- 
 ly and all-furficient Saviour ; he earneftly longed, had 
 it been permitted him by Providence, to have preach- 
 ed Chrift to the heathen, and would have been glad to 
 have carried the tidings ox falvauoii by his blood > to 
 the ends of the earth. 
 
 But, initead of giving a fuller account in my own 
 words, I will give all ftrangers the means of forming 
 a juft idea of the man, and of the nature of his re- 
 ligion, by reading fome of his letters, written three of 
 them to myfelf, and two to the officers of this church, 
 at different periods of his long illnefs j to which I 
 (hall add a few dst-iced fentences, uttered nearer the 
 clofe of his life, and taken down by his neareft rela- 
 tive. 
 
 Thefe will tend more to your edification who know 
 the Redeemer, and more to the conviction of thofe 
 who know him not, than any ftudied panegyric. 
 
 May they excite all prefent to pray from the heart, 
 Let me live the ltfe y as well as die the deaths of the 
 righteous \ may the commencement of my profeflion, and 
 my latter end be like his. Amen and Amen. 
 
 THE 
 
222 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 THE FOLLOWING 
 
 LETTERS and NARRATIVE 
 
 Were reaj before the concluding paragraph of the Sermo^, 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 Birmingham, Dec. 9, I/Q& 
 lly dear Brother, Lord's-Day Evening. 
 
 x\FTER a Sabbath — fuch a one I never 
 
 knew before fpent in an entire fecluilon from the 
 
 houie and ordinances of my God, I feek Chriftian 
 converfe with you, in a way in which I am yet per- 
 mitted to have intercourfe with my brethren. The 
 day after I wrote to you laft, my medical attendant 
 laid me under the ftri£teft inju n£lions not to fpeak 
 again in public for one month at leaft. He fays that 
 my ftomach is become fo irritable, through repeated 
 inflammations, that converfation, unlefs managed with 
 great caution, would be dangerous ; — that he does not 
 think my prefent condition alarming, provided I take 
 reft, but without that, he intimated my life was in 
 great danger. He forbids my expofing myfelf to the 
 evening air, on any account, and going out of doors, 
 or to the door, unlefs when the air is dry and clear, 
 fo that I am, during the weather we now have in 
 Birmingham, (very foggy) a complete prifoner -, and 
 the repeated cautions from my dear and afFcftionate 
 friends, whofe fclicitude, I conceive, far exceeds the 
 danger, compel me to a rigid obfervance of the Doc- 
 tor's rules. 
 
 This 
 
Let; en and Narrative. 223 
 
 This morning brother Pope took my place ; and in 
 the afternoon Mr. Brewer, who has difcovered uncom- 
 mon tendernefs and refpecft for me and the people, 
 fince he knew my (late, preached a very affectionate 
 fermon from 1 Sam. Hi. 1 8. " It is the Lord, let 
 him do what feemeth him good." By what I hear, 
 his fympathizing obfervations, in relation to the event 
 which occafioned his being then in the pulpit, drew 
 more tears from the people's eyes, than a dozen fuch 
 poor creatures as their paflor could deferve. But I 
 have. . . . blefled be God ! long had the fatisfacftion of 
 finding myfelf embofomed in friendfLip . . . the friend- 
 fhip of the people of my charge : though I lament 
 
 that their love mould occafion them a pang but 
 
 thus it is cur heavenly Father fees that, for cur 
 
 mixed c^aravftersj a mixed (late is bed. 
 
 I anticipated a day of gloom, but I had unexpe&ed 
 reafon to rejoice, that the fhadow of death was turned 
 into the joy of the morning ; and though I faid, with 
 perhaps before unequalled feeling, " How amiable 
 are thy tabernacles !" yet I found the God of Zion 
 does not neglect the dwellings of Jacob. My poor 
 wife was much affected at fo novel a thing as leaving 
 me behind her, and fo it was a dewy morning ; but 
 the Sun of Righteoufnefs foon arofe, and fhed fuch 
 ineffable delight throughout my foul, that I could fay, 
 1 It is good to be here? — Motive to refignation and 
 gratitude alfo, crowded upon motive, till my judgment 
 was convinced, that I ought to rejoice in the Lord 
 exceedingly, and fo my whole foul took its fill of joy. 
 May I, if it be my Saviour's will, feel as happy when 
 I come to die ! When my poor Sarah lay at the 
 point of death, for fome days after her firft lying in, 
 toward the latter days, I enjoyed fuch fupport, and 
 felt my will fo entirely bowed down to that of God, 
 that I faid in my heart, i I (hill never fear another 
 trial — he that fuftained me amidft this flame, will 
 
 defend 
 
224 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 defend me from every fpark !' and this confidence I 
 long enjoyed. — But that was near ftx years ago, and 
 I had almoft forgotten the land of the Hermonites, 
 and the hill Mizar. But the Lord has prepared me 
 to receive a frefh difplay of his fatherly care, and his 
 (fhall I call it ?) pun&ilious veracity. If I fhould be 
 raifed up again, I fhall be able to preach on the faith- 
 fulnefs of God more experimentally than ever. Per- 
 haps fome trial is coming on, and I am to be inftru- 
 mental in preparing them for it : Or if not, if I am to 
 depart hence to be no more feen, I know the Lord can 
 carry on his work as well without me as with me. 
 He who redeemed the fheep with his blood, will never 
 fuffer them to perifh for want of fhepherding, efpe- 
 cially fmce he himfelf is the chief Shepherd of foul& 
 But my Family I Ah, there I find my faith but flill 
 imperfedt. However, I do not think the Lord will 
 ever take me away, till he helps me to leave my fath- 
 erlefs children in his hands, and truft my widow alfo 
 with him. " His love in times part," and I may add 
 in times prefent too, " forbids me to think, he will 
 leave me at lajl> in trouble to fink." 
 
 Whilft my weaknefs was gaining ground, I ufed to 
 afk myfelf, how I could like to be laid by ? I have 
 dreamed that this was the cafe, and both awake and 
 afieep, I felt as though it were an evil that could not 
 be borne : — hut now, I find the Lord can fit the back 
 to the burden, and though I think I love the thought 
 of ferving Chrift «t this moment better than ever, yet 
 he has made me willing to be ... . nothing, if he 
 pleafe to have it fo ; and now my happy heart " could 
 fing itfelf away to everlafting blifs." 
 
 O what a mercy that I have not brought on my af- 
 fliction by ferving the devil. What a mercy that I 
 have fo many dear fympathizing friends ! What a 
 mercy that I have fo much dear domellic comfort ! 
 What a mercy that I am in no violent bodily pain ! 
 
 What 
 
Letters and. Narrative* 22$ 
 
 What a mercy that I can read and write, without do- 
 ing myfelf an injury ! What a mercy that my animal 
 fpirits have all the time this has been coming on, 
 (ever fince the laft Kettering meeting of minifters) 
 been vigorous — free from dejection ! And, which I 
 reckon among the greateft of this day's privileges, 
 what a mercy that I have been able to employ myfelt" 
 for Chrift and his dear caufe to-day, as I have been 
 almoft wholly occupied in the concerns of the (I hope) 
 reviving church at Bromfgrove •, and the infant church 
 at Cradley ! O my dear brother, it is all mercy, is it 
 not I O help me then in his praife, for he is gpod f 
 for his mercy endureth for ever. 
 
 Ought I to apologize fo* this experimental chat 
 with you, who have concerns to tranfact of fo much 
 more importance, than any that are confined to an in- 
 dividual ? Forgive me if I have intruded too much on 
 your time — but do not forget to praife on my behalf 
 a faithful God. I (hall now leave room againft I 
 have fome bufinefs to write about — till then, adieu — 
 but let us not forget, that this God is our God for ever 
 and ever, and will be our guide even until death* 
 Amen. Amen. We (hall foon meet in heaven. 
 
 S. P. 
 
 To Mr. KING. 
 
 Plymouth, April %l % IJMf 
 
 My very dear friend and brother, 
 
 1 HAVE the fatisfaclion to inform you, that 
 at length my complaint appears to be removed, and 
 that I am, by degrees, returning to my ufual diet, by 
 which, with the divine blefling, I hope to be again 
 ftrengthened for the difchsrge of the duties, and the 
 U enjoyment 
 
ii6 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 enjoyment of the pleafures, which await me among 
 the dear people of my charge. 
 
 I am indeed informed by my medical attendant 
 here, that I {hall never be equal to the labours of my 
 paft years, and that my return to moderate efforts 
 muft be mad^ by flow degrees. As the path of duty, 
 I defire to fubmit ; but after fo long a fufpenfion from 
 ferving the Redeemer in his church, my foul pants 
 for ufefulnefs more extenfive than ever, and I long to 
 become an apoftle to thfc world. I do not think I 
 ever prized the minifterial work fo much as I now 
 do. Two questions have been long before me. The 
 firft was, Shall I live or die ? The fecond, If I live, 
 how will my life be fpent ? With regard to the form- 
 er, my heart anfwered, " It is no matter — all is well — 
 for my own fake, I need not be taught that it is beft 
 to be with Chrift ; but for the fake of others, it may 
 be beft to abide in the body — I am in the Lord's 
 hands, let him do by me as feemeth him beft for me 
 and mine, and for his caufe and honour in the world ? 
 But as to the fecond queftion, I could hardly reconcile 
 myfelf to the thoughts of living, unlefs it were to 
 promote the intereft of my Lord ; and if my diforder 
 ihould fo far weaken me, as to render me incapable 
 of the miniftry, nothing then appeared before me but 
 gloom and darknefs. However, I will hope in the 
 Lord, that though he hath chaftened me forely, yet, 
 fince he hath not given me over unto death, fparing 
 mercy will be followed with ftrength, that I may 
 ihew forth his praife in the land of the living. ' 
 
 I am ftill exceedingly weak •, more fo than at any 
 period before I left home, except the firft week of my 
 lying by ; but I am getting ftrength, though flowly. 
 It is impoflible at prefent to fix any time for my re- 
 turn. It grieves me that the patience of the dear peo- 
 ple fhould be fo long tried," j>ut the trial is as great on 
 
 my 
 
Letters and Narrative* 227 
 
 my part as it can be on theirs, and we muit pity and 
 pray for one another. It is now a tafk for me to 
 write at all, or this fhould have been longer. 
 
 S. P. 
 
 To Mr. POPE 
 
 Plymouth, May 24, XTy?- 
 
 1 CANNOT write much — this I believe is 
 the only letter 1 have written (except to my wife) G 
 I wrote to you laft. My complaint has iffued in a 
 confirmed, flow, nervous fever, which has wafted my 
 fpirits and firength, and taken a great part of the lit- 
 tle fiefli I had when in health away from me. The 
 fymptorns have been very threatening, and I have re- 
 peatedly thought that let the phyfician do what he will, 
 he cannot keep me long from thofe heavenly joys, for 
 which, bleflfed be God,. I have lately been much long- 
 ing 5 and were it not for my dear people and family , I 
 fhould have earneflly prayed for leave to depart, and 
 be with Chrift, which is fo much better than to abide 
 in this vain, fuffering, finning world. 
 
 The doftors, however, now pronounce my cafe very 
 hopeful — fay there is little or po clanger — but that ail 
 thefe complaints require a great deal cftlme to get rid of. 
 U feel myfelf on precarious ground, but quite refign- 
 ed to the will of Him, who, unworthy as I am, con- 
 tinues daily to "fill my foul with joy and peace in 
 believing." Yes, my dear friend ! tiaw my foul feels 
 the value of a free, full, and everlafting falvation, and 
 what is more, I do enjoy that falvation, while I reft all 
 my hope on the Son of God in human nature, dying 
 cm the crofs for me. To me new, health or ficknefs, 
 
 pain" 
 
223 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 pain or eafe, life or death are things indifferent. I 
 feel fo happy in being in the hands of Infinite Love, that 
 when the fevered ftrokes are laid upon me, I receive 
 them with pleafure, becaufe they come from my heav- 
 enly Father's hands ! " O ! to grace how great a 
 debtor," &c. 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 My very dear brother, Birmingham, July 20, 1799. 
 
 X OUR friendly anxieties on my behalf de- 
 inaftd the carlieft fatisfa&iom We had a pleafant ride 
 ro Newport on the afternoon we left you, and the next 
 day without much fatigue reached Tewkfbury ; but 
 tTie road was fo rough from Tewkfbury to Evefham,. 
 that it wearied and injured me more than all the jolt- 
 ing we had had before put together. However, we 
 reached Alcefter on Wednefday evening, (topped there 
 a day to reft, and laft night (Friday) were brought 
 fafely hither, bteffed be God !: 
 
 I find myfelf getting weaker and weaker, andfo my 
 Lord inftructs me in his pleafure to remove me foon* 
 You fay well, my dear brother, that at fuch a profpe£t, 
 I " cannot complain" No, bleffed be His dear name, 
 who filed his blood for me, he helps me to rejoice, at 
 times, with joy unfpeakable. Now I fee the value of 
 the religion of the Crofs. It is a religion for a dying 
 finner. It is all the molt guilty, the moft wretched 
 €an defire. Yes, I tafte its fweetnefs, and enjoy its ful- 
 nefs, with all the gloom of a dying bed before me. 
 And far rather w T ould I be the poor emaciated and 
 emaciating creature that I am, than be an Emperor, 
 with every earthly good about him .... but with- 
 out a God ! 
 
 I wa& 
 
Letters and Narrative. 229 
 
 I was delighted the other day, in re-perufing the 
 Pilgrim's Progrefs, to obferve that when Chrifian came 
 to the top of the hill Djfficufty, he was put to fleep in 
 a chamber called Peace. Why how good is the Lord 
 of the way tome ! faid I •, I have not reached the fum- 
 mit of the hill yet, but notwithftanding he puts me to 
 fleep in the chamber of Peace every night, . . .True, it 
 is often a chamber of pain ; but let pain be as formi- 
 dable as it may, it has never yet been able to expel 
 that peace, which the great Guardian of Ifrael has ap- 
 pointed to keep my heart and mind through Chrift Jefus, 
 
 I have been labouring lately to exercife molt love to 
 God when I have been fufFering molt feverely : — but, 
 what (hall I fay ? Alas, too often the fenfe of pain ab- 
 forbs every other thought. Tet there have been fea- 
 fons when I have been affected with fuch a delightful 
 fenfe of the lovelinefs of God as to ravifh my foul and 
 give predominance to the facred paffion. — It was nev- 
 er till to-day that I got any perfonal iiiftruction from 
 cur Lord's telling Peter by ivhat death he fhould glorify 
 God. O what a fatisfying thought is it, that God ap- 
 points tliofe means of diffolution whereby he gets mofl 
 glory to himfelf. It was the very thing I needed \ for 
 of all the ways of dying, that which I moil dreaded 
 was by a confumption \ (in which it is now highly 
 probable my diiorder will iffue.) But, O my dear 
 Lord, if by this death I can moil glorify thee, I prefer it 
 to all others, and thank thee that by this mean thou 
 art haftening my fuller enjoyment of thee in a purer 
 world. 
 
 hftnlefs (late ! " O 'tis a heaven worth dying for !" 
 I cannot realize any thing about heaven, but the pref- 
 ence of Chrift and his people, and a perfect deliver- 
 ance from fin, and I want no more — I am uck of fin- 
 ning — foon I mall be beyond its power. " O joyful 
 hour ! O Weft abode ! I mall be near and like my God !" 
 U % I only 
 
230 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 I only thought of filling one fide— and now have 
 not left room to thank you and dear Mrs. Ryland for 
 the minute, affefrionate and conftant attentions you 
 paid us in BriftoL May the Lord reward you. Our 
 hearty love to all around, till we meet in heaven. 
 
 • Eternally yours in Chrift, 
 
 S. R 
 
 To Dr. RYLAND. 
 
 Rfy very dear Brother, Birmingham^ Aug. 4, 17^9. 
 
 Z>oras Day Evening* 
 
 OTILL, I truft,,haftening to the land " where 
 there (hall be no more curfe," I take this opportunity 
 of talking a little with you on the road, for we are fel- 
 low-travellers, and a little converfation by the way 
 will notlofe me the privilege of getting firft to the end 
 of my journey. 
 
 It is feventeen years within about a week fmce I 
 firft actually fet out on my pilgrimage j and when I 
 review the many dangers to which, during that time,. 
 I have been expofed, I am rilled with conviction that 
 I have all along been the care of Omnipotent Love. Ah 
 ftpw many Pliables, and Timoroufes, and Talkatives 
 have I feen, while my quivering heart fakl, " Alas ! I 
 fliall foon follow thefe fons of apoftafy, prove a dif- 
 grace to religion, and have my portion with hypocrites 
 at laft." 
 
 Thefe fears may have had their ufes — may have 
 made me more cautious, more diftruftful of myfelf, 
 and kept me more dependent on the Lord. Thus 
 
 M All tkat Tyc met has work'fi for mj good." 
 
 With 
 
Letters and' Karratlve. 231 
 
 h what intricacy, to our view,, and yet with. 
 u-ha: actual ikilLand goodnefs,. does the Lord draw his 
 is, and mark out cur path ! Here we wonder, and 
 complain — Soon we ihali ail agree that it was a right 
 path to the city oi habitation ; and what we now 
 moftr deeply regret, fhali become the fubject of our 
 warmed piaifes*. 
 
 I am afraid to come back again to life. O how ma- 
 ny dangers await me ! Perhaps I may be overcome of. 
 feme ileihiy luft— perhaps I may get proud and indo- 
 lent,, and be more of die priefl than of the evangelift — 
 furely I rejoice in feeling my outward man decay, and 
 having the fentence of death in myfelf. _ O what prof-- 
 peels are before me in the bleffed world whither I am 
 going ! To be holy as God is holy — to hava nothing but 
 holincfsin my nature — to be allured, without a doubt, 
 2nd eternally to carry about, this aflurance with me, 
 that the pure God looks on me. with conflant compla- 
 cency, for ever.blefies me, and fays, as at the fint cre- 
 ation, u It is very good.!' I am happy now in hoping 
 in the divine purpofes towards me ; but I know, ana 
 the thought, is my conftant burden, that the Being T 
 love bed, always fees fomething in. me which he itifi- 
 miely hates. " O wretched, wretched man that lam I? 
 The thought even now makes me weep, and who cari 
 help it, that feriouily reflects, he never comes to God 
 to pray or praife, but he brings what his God detefts 
 along with him — carries it with, him wherever he 
 goes, and can never get rid of it as long as he lives ? 
 Come, my dear brother! will you not ihare my j.oy, 
 and help my praife, that foon I (hall leave this body of 
 fin and death behind, to enter on the perfection of 
 my fpiritual nature ; and patiently to wait till this nat- 
 ural body fhall become a fpiritual body, and fo be a fit 
 vehicle for my immortal and happy fpirit ! 
 
 But: 
 
£32 Letters and Narrative. 
 
 But I muft forbear — I have been very unwell sH 
 clay 5 but this evening God has kindly given me a ref- 
 pite— my fever is low and my fpirits lire cheerful, fo I 
 have indulged myfelf in unbofoming my feelings to my 
 dear friend, 
 
 S. P. 
 
 ^^^^^:£<^^m^^^ 
 
 MEMORANDA ; 
 
 Taken down cccaftcnally by Mrs. Pearce, within four or 
 Jive weeks cf Mr. Pearce* s death. 
 
 XlE once faid, c< I have been in darknefs two 
 or three days, crying, O when wilt thou comfort me \ 
 but Jaft night the mill was taken from me, and the 
 Lord {hone in upon my foul. O that I could but 
 fpeak, I would tell a world to truft a faithful God- 
 Sweet affliQion, now it worketh gtary y glary I" 
 
 Mrs. P. having told him the various exercifes of hey 
 mind, he replied, " O truft the Lord, if he lifts up the 
 light of his countenance upon you, as he has done up- 
 on me this day, ail your mountains will become mole- 
 hills. I feel your fituation, I feel your forrows ; but 
 he who takes care of fparrows^ will care for you and 
 my dear children." 
 
 When fcorching with burning fevs^he faid, " Hot 
 and happy." — One Lord's day morning he faid, 
 u Cheer up, my dear, think how much will be faid to- 
 day of the faithfulnefs of C*od. Though we are call- 
 ed to feparate, he will never feparate from you. I 
 wifh I could tell the world what a good and gracious 
 God he is. Never need they, who truft in him, be 
 afraid of trials. He has promifed to give ftrength for 
 
 the 
 
 
Letters and Narrative. 2,3$ 
 
 the day ; that is his promife. O what a lovely God ! 
 and lie is my God and yours* He will never leave us- 
 nor forfake us, no, never ! I have been thinking that 
 this and that medicine will do me good, but what have 
 1 to do with it ? It is in my Jefus's hands y 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 Sarah, to wait 
 upon me ; and friends to pray for me. O how thank- 
 ful ihould I be for all my pains; I want for nothing :. 
 all my wifhes are anticipated.. G 1 have felt the force 
 of thofe words of David,. " Unlefs thy law, (my gra- 
 cious God !) had been my delights, I mould have per- 
 illed in mine affliction." Though I am too weak to 
 read it, or hear it, I can think upon it, and O how 
 good it is ! — I am in the beft hands I. could be in, in, 
 the hands of my dear Lord and Saviour, and he 
 will do all things well. Yes, yes, h«. cannot da 
 wrong." 
 
 One morning- Mrs. P. afked him how he fek ? — 
 "Very ill, but unfpeakably happy in the Lord, and my 
 dear Lord Jefus" Once beholding her grieving, he 
 faid, " O my dear Sarah, do not be fo anxious, but 
 leave me entirely in the hands of Jefus, and think, if 
 you were as wife as he, you would do die fame by me. 
 I£ he takes- me, I (hall not be loft, I ihall only go a lit- 
 tie before ;. we mail meet again, never to part." 
 
 After a violent fit of coughing he faid, " It is all 
 well ; O what a good God >s he ! It is done by him,, 
 and it mud be well — If I ever recover, I fhall pity the 
 fick more than ever, and if I do not, I mall go to ring 
 delivering love ; fo you fee it will be all well. — O for 
 more patience ! Well, my God is the God of patience,, 
 and he will give me all, I need.. I rejoice it is in my 
 Jefus's hands to communicate, and it cannot be in bet- 
 ter. It is my God who gives me patience to bear all. 
 his will," 
 
 When,. 
 
234 Letters and Narrative* 
 
 When, after a reftlefs night, Mrs. P. alked him, what 
 fhe fhould do for him ? " You can do nothing, but 
 pray for me, that I may have patience to bear all my 
 Lord's will." — After taking a medicine he faid, " If it 
 be the Lord's will to blcfs it, for your fake, and for the 
 fake of the dear children, but the Lord's will be done* 
 O I fear I fid, I difhonour God by impatience \ but I 
 would not for a thoufand worlds fin in a thought if I 
 could avoid it." Mrs. P. replied, (lie trufted the Lord 
 would ftill keep him ', feeing he had brought him thus 
 far, he would not defert him at la ft. " No, no," he 
 faid, " I hope he will not. As a father pitieth his chil- 
 dren, fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Why 
 do I complain ? My dear Jefus's fuffe rings were much 
 forer and more bitter than mine -, And did he thus fuf- 
 fer ami /hall I repine ! No, I will cheerfully fuffer my 
 Father's will." 
 
 One morning after being afked how he felt, he re- 
 plied, u I have but one fevere pain about me ! what a 
 mercy ! O how good a God to afford fome intervals 
 amfdii fo much pain ! He is altogether good. Jefus 
 lives, my dear, and that Bin ft be our ccnfoiation." — 
 After taking a medicine which operated very power- 
 fully,- he faid, "This will make me fo much lower 5 
 well, let it be. Multiply my pains, thou good God, 
 fo thou art but glorified, I care not what I fuffer 5 all i& 
 right." 
 
 Being alked how he felt after a reftlefs night, he re- 
 plied, " I have fo much weaknefs and pain, I have not 
 had much enjoyment m y but I have a full perfuafion that 
 the Lord is doing all. things well. If it were not for 
 ftrong confidence in a lovely God, I muft fink; but 
 all is well. O bleffed God, I would not love thee lefs ; 
 O fupport a finking worm ! O what a mercy to be 
 afiurecl that all things are working together for good." 
 
 Mrs- 
 
Letters mid Narrative. 235 
 
 Mrs. P. faying, If we mufl part, I trufl: the fepara- 
 tion will not be for ever ; " O no," he replied, " we 
 forrow not as thofe who have no hope." She faid, 
 Then you can leave me and your dear children with re- 
 fignat'ion, can you ? He anfwered, "My heart was 
 pierced through with many forrows, before I could 
 give you and the dear children up ; but the Lord has 
 heard me fay, Thy will be ,done 4 and I now can fay, 
 bleiTed be his dear name, I have none of my own." 
 
 His laft day, Oft. 10, was very happy ; Mrs. P. re- 
 peated this verfe, 
 
 Since all that I meet fha-11 work for my good, 
 The bitter isfweet, the med'eine is food, 
 
 Though painful at prefent, 'twill ccafe before long", 
 And then, O how pleafunt, the conqueror's fong. 
 
 He repeated with an inexpreffible fmile, the laft line, 
 ** The conqueror s fang" 
 
 He faid once, c< O my dear ! what mall I do ? But 
 why do I complain ? He makes all my bed in my fick- 
 nefs." She then repeated thofe lines, 
 
 Jefus can make a dying hed, 
 Feel foft as downy pillows are. 
 
 « Yes," he replied, "he can ; he docs; I feel it," 
 
 E N D. 
 
THREE 
 
 OCCASIONAL SERMONS. 
 
 I. THE QUALIFICATIONS AND ENCOUR- 
 AGEMENT OF A FAITHFUL MINISTER, 
 ILLUSTRATED BY THE CHARACTER 
 AND SUCCESS OF BARNABAS. 
 
 Delivered at the Settlement of the Rev. Robert Fawkner, in the 
 Pafloral Office, over the Baptiil Church at Thorn, in Bedford- 
 feire, October 31, 1787. 
 
 II. THE PERNICIOUS INFLUENCE OF DE- 
 LAY IN RELIGIOUS CONCERNS. 
 
 Delivered at a Meeting of Minifters at Gfipjkme t in Nort hamptoa- 
 fhire, April 27, 1791. 
 
 III. THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEEP AND 
 
 INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF DIVINE 
 
 TRUTH. 
 
 delivered at an AiTociation of Baptift Minifters and Churches, at 
 St.Mbaii's, Hertfordshire, June I, 1796. 
 
 By ANDREW FULLER. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 FRINTED BY MANNING to" LORJMJ* 
 
SERMON L 
 
 The Qualifications and Encouragement of a 
 faithful Minifler, illujlrated by the Char- 
 after and Succefs of Barnabas. 
 
 ■™^«^^^|©^^&^*^ 
 
 UY DEAR BROTHER, 
 
 IT is a very important work to which you are this 
 day fet apart. I feel the difficulty of your fituation. 
 You need both counfel and encouragement ; I wifh 
 I were better able to adminiiter both. In what I may- 
 offer, I am perfuaded you will allow me to be free \ 
 and underftand me, not as affuming any authority or 
 fuperiority over you, but only as faying that to vou, 
 which I wifh to ccnfider as equally addreited to myfelf. 
 
 Out of a variety of topics that might afford a leflbn 
 for a Chriflian minifter, my thoughts have turned on 
 this occafion upon that of example. Example has a 
 great influence upon the human mind : examples from 
 fcripture efpecially, wherein characters the moft illuf- 
 trious in their day for gifts, grace, and ufefulnefs, are 
 drawn with the pencil of infpiration, have an aflimila- 
 ting tendency. Viewing thefe, under a divine bleffing, 
 \ve form fome juft conceptions of the nature and im- 
 portance of our work, are led to reflect upon our own, 
 defects, and feel the fire of holy emulation kindling in 
 our bofoms* 
 
 The 
 
4 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 The particular example, my brother, which I wifli 
 to recommend to your attention is that of Barnabas, 
 that excellent fervant of Chrift, and companion of die 
 apoftle Paul. You will find his character particularly 
 given in 
 
 Acts xi. 24. 
 
 He was a good man, full of the Holy Ghoft, and of 
 
 faith ; and much peoplt nvas added unto the Lord* 
 
 WERE we to examine the life of this great and good 
 man, as related in other parts of icripture, we fhouki 
 find the character here given him abundantly confirm- 
 ed. He feems to have been one of that great compa- 
 ny, c .hc preaching of Peter and the oth- 
 Chrift ibon after his afcehfion. 
 . early proof of his love to him, by felling his 
 
 eflions, and laying the price at the apoftles' feet, 
 for the fupport of his infant caufe. As he loved 
 Chrift, fo he loved his people. He appears to have 
 
 fefled much of the tender and affectionate, on ac- 
 count of which he was called Barnabas, a fan of confde- 
 tion»* Affiduous in discovering and encouraging the 
 firit dawnings- of God's work, he was the fir ft perfon 
 that introduced Saul into the company cf the difeU 
 ples.f The next news that we hear of him is in the 
 
 age which I have felecled. Tidings came to 
 ears of the church at Jerusalem of the word of the 
 Lord being profperous at Autioch, in Syria. The 
 church at Jerufaiem was the mother church, and feh 
 a concern for others like that of a t :: to- 
 
 wards her infant offspring. The young converts at 
 Antioch wanted a nurfing father •, and who fo proper 
 to be fent as Barnabas ? He goes — and, far from en* 
 vying the fuccefs of others who had laboured before 
 him, he was glad 1 :e of God fo evidently 
 
 appear * 
 
 * Acts -v. j I - - + i:;. 2". 
 
of a faithful Mini/ler. 5 
 
 appear ; and exhorted them, with full purpofe of heart to 
 cleave unto the Lord. — As a preacher, he does not feem 
 to have been equal to the apoftle Paul ;* yet, fo far 
 was he from caring about being eclipfed by Paul's fu- 
 perior abilities, that he went in fearch of him, and 
 brought him to Antioch to afiift him in the work of 
 the Lord, It may well be faid of fuch a character, 
 that he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghofl, and of 
 Jaith — O that we had more fuch minifters in the 
 church at this day — that we ourfelves were like him ! 
 Might we not hope, if that were the cafe, that, ac- 
 cording to God's ufual manner of working, more peo- 
 ple would be added to the Lord ! 
 
 There are three things we fee which are faid of Bar- 
 nabas in a way of commendation — he was a good ?nan r 
 full of the Holy Ghojl, 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 Lord — and this feems to be held up for our en- 
 couragement. Permit me, my dear brother, to re- 
 quefl your candid attention, while I attempt to review 
 thefe great qualities in Barnabas, and by every motive 
 io enforce them upon you. 
 
 I. He was a good man. — It were eafy to prove 
 the neceffity of a perfon being a good man, in order 
 to his properly engaging in the work of the miniitry — - 
 Chrift would not commit his fheep but to one that 
 Loved him j — but on this remark I (hall not enlarge. 
 I have no reafon to doubt, my brother, but that God 
 has given you an tuiderftanding to know him that is 
 true, and a heart to love him in fincerity ; I trufiy 
 therefore, fuch an attempt on this occanon Is peedfefs*. 
 Nor does it appear to me to be the meaning of the 
 evangeliil. It is not barely meant of Barnabas that 
 lie was a regenerate man (though that is implied); but 
 W 2- it 
 
 1 Afti iiv, is. -j*- John xxi, 16, 
 
6 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 it denotes that he was eminently good. We ufe the 
 word fo in common conversation. If we would de- 
 scribe one that more than ordinarily fhines in piety, 
 meeknefs, and kindnefs, we know net how to fpeak 
 of him better, than to fay, with a degree of emphafis, 
 w he is a good man." After this eminency in good- 
 nefs, brother, may it be your concern and mine daily 
 to afpire ! 
 
 Perhaps, indeed, we may have fometimes heard 
 this epithet ufed with a fneer. Perfons who take 
 pleafure in treating others with contempt, will fre- 
 quently, with a kind of proud pity, fpeak in this man- 
 ner, " Aye, fuch a one is a good man" — leaving it im- 
 plied, that goodnefs is but an indifferent qualification, 
 unlefs it be accompanied with greatnefs. But thefc 
 things ought not fo to be. The apoftle Paul did not 
 value himfelf upon thefe things wherein he differed 
 from other Chriftians •, but upon that which he pof- 
 fefied in common with them, charity, or Chriffian love : 
 Though I fpeak with the tongues of men and of angel V, and 
 have not charity , I am become as founding brafs, or a tink- 
 ling evr.bal. And though I have the gift of prophecy > and 
 under/land all my/leries, and all hwivledge ; and though I 
 have all faith , fo that 1 could remove mountains y and have 
 not charity y 1 am nothing* 
 
 My dear brother, value the character of a 
 
 GOOD MAN IN ALL THE PARTS OF YOUR EMPLOY- 
 MENT •, AND ABOVE ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH 
 THE WORLD COUNTS GREAT AND ESTIMABLE. More 
 
 particularly — 
 
 Value it at home in yout family. — If you walk not 
 clofely with God there, you will be ill able to work 
 for him elfewhere. You are lately become the head 
 of a family. Whatever charge it (hail pleafe God in 
 
 "the 
 
 J l Cor. *iii, X, %• 
 
of a faithful Minijier. 7 
 
 the courfe of your life to place under your care, I truft 
 it will be your concern to recommend Chrift and the 
 gofpet to them, walk circuit] before them, con- 
 
 handy worfnip God with them, offer up ieeret prayer 
 for them, and exerclle a -proper authority over them. 
 There is a fort of religious goffiping, which fome 
 ininiiters have indulged to their hurt - y loitering about 
 perpetually at the houfes of their friends, and taking 
 no delight in their own. Such conduct in a minifter 
 and mailer of a family muft of necefiity root out alt 
 family order, and, to a great degree, family worfhip % 
 and, initead of endearing him to his friends, it only ex- 
 poles him to their juft cenfure.. Perhaps they know 
 not how to be fo plain as to tell him of it at their own 
 houfes, but they will think the more, and fpeak of it„ 
 it is likely, to one another, when he is gone.— ^-1 truft* 
 
 brother, that none ot your domeftic connexions- 
 will have to fay when you are gone, " He was loofe 
 
 carelefs in his conduct, or four and churlifh in his. 
 temper j 5 ' but rather, " He was a good tifcui*" 
 
 Value this character in your private retirements. — 
 Give yourfelf up to the word cf Gcd> and to prayer^ 
 The apofvie charged Timothy, faying, Meditate on 
 thtfe things •, give thsfdf wholly to tbem> or be thou in 
 them — but this will never be without a confiderab la- 
 mare of the goal man. Your heart can never be m 
 thofe things which are foreign to its prevailing temper 5 
 and if your heart is not in your work, it will be a poor 
 lifeiefsbulinefs indeed. — We need not fear exhaufiing. 
 the Bible, or dread a fcarcity of divine fubjecls. If 
 our hearts are but kept in unifon with the fpirit in 
 which the bible was written, every thing we meet 
 with will be interefling. The more we read, the 
 more intereiling it will appear *, and the more we 
 know, the more we (hall perceive there is to be 
 known. — Beware alfo, brother, of neglecting fecret 
 prayer. The fire of devotion will go out ; if it be not 
 
 kept 
 
3 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 kept alive by an habitual dealing with Chrift. Con* 
 yerfing with men and tilings may brighten our gifts 
 and parts ; but it is converting with God that mull 
 brighten our graces. Whatever ardour we may feel 
 in our public work, if this is wanting, things cannot 
 be right, nor can they in fuch a train come to a good 
 ifiue. 
 
 Value it in your public exercifes. It is hard going- 
 on in the work of the miniftry without a good degree 
 of fpirituality \ and yet, confidering the prefent ftate 
 of human nature, we are in the greatefl danger of the 
 contrary. Allow me,, brother, to mention two things 
 in particular, each of which are directly oppofite to 
 that fpirit which I am attempting to recommend. 
 One is an ajfumed earnejlnefs, or forced zeal 'in the pul- 
 pit, which many weak hearers may miftake for the en- 
 joyment of God- But though we may put on violent 
 jemotions ; may fmite with the hand, and ftamp with 
 the foot ; if we are deftitute of a genuine feeling 
 fenfe of what we deliver, it will be difcerned by ju- 
 dicious hearers, as well as by the Searcher of hearts, 
 and will not fail to create difguft. If, on the contra- 
 ry, we feel and realize the fentiments we deliver, 
 emotions and actions will be the natural exprefiions 
 of the heart ; and this will give weight to the doc- 
 trines, exhortations, or reproofs which we inculcate 5 
 what we fay will come with a kind of divine authori- 
 tv to the consciences, if not to the hearts of the hear- 
 ers. — The other is* a being under the influence of law 
 and feljipj motives, in the exercife of our work. This is 
 a temptation againfl which we have fpecial reafon to 
 watch and pray. It is right, my brother, for you to 
 be diligent in your public work \ to be inflant in fea*- 
 fon and out of feafon \ to preach the gofpel not only. 
 at Thorny but in the furrcunding villages, wherever a 
 door is opened for you : but while you are thus en- 
 gaged, let it not be from motives of policy, merely to 
 
 increafe; 
 
of a faitJyful Mini/ler. 9 
 
 increafe your auditory ; but from lave to Clirift and 
 the fouls of your feliow-finners. It is this only that 
 will endure reflection in a dying hour. The apoftle 
 Paul was charged by fome of the Corinthian teachers 
 with being crafty, and with having caught the Corin- 
 thians with guile : but he could fay in reply to all 
 fuch infinuations, in behalf of himfelf and his fellow- 
 labourers, Our rejoicing is this, the teflimony of our con- 
 science, that in f implicit y and godly fincerity, not ivithfe/h- 
 ly ivifdom, but by the grace of God, ive have had our con- 
 ..ion %n the wsrld* 
 
 Value it in the general tenor of ycur behaviour. — -Cul- 
 tivate a med;, modeft, peaceful, and friendly temper. 
 Be generous and humane. Prove by your fpirit and 
 conduct that you are a lover of all mankind. To men 
 in general, but efpecially to the poor and the afflicted* 
 be pitiful^ be courteous. It is this, my brother, that will 
 recommend the gofpel you proclaim. Without this, 
 lid you preach with the eloquence cf an angel, you 
 may expect that no good end will be anfwered. 
 
 Prize the character of the good man, ahve «w 
 
 . — It is not finful for a minifter to poiTefe 
 property any mare than another man \ but to afpire 
 after it is unworthy of his facred character. Great- 
 nefs, unaccompanied with goodnefs, is valued as noth- 
 ing by the great God. Kings and emperors, where 
 that is wanting, are but great beofs, horr.. 
 puihing one at another, f Wl acherib «ai 
 
 /arch of God, that he would 
 /•/, and cut tall cedars, the 
 
 daughter of Zfon is ec . v him. God 
 
 fpeaks of him as we mould fpeak of a buiialo, or even 
 of an afs, I will put my hook in thy ttofe x and my b. 
 
 in 
 
 * i Ccr. jil. 1 6, compared with cbr.p. i. iz. S*e Dr. Owen oc 
 Heb. iii. i, vol, ii. p. 6» 
 
 f Dai:, vliu 
 
io The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 in thy lips, and ivill turn thee bach by the way by which 
 thou cameft.* Outward greatnefs, when accompanied 
 with goodnefs, may be a great bleffing ; yet even 
 then, it is the latter, and not the former, that (denomi- 
 nates the true worth of a character. Once more, 
 
 Value it above mental greatnefs, or greatnefs in gifts 
 and parts. — It is not wrong to cultivate gifts \ on the 
 contrary, it is our duty fo to do. But defirable as 
 thefe are, they are not to be compared with goodnefs* 
 Covet earnejlly the be/} gifts, fays the apoftle, and yet 
 
 SHEW I UNTO YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY viz* 
 
 charity, or love. If we improve in gifts ancTnot in 
 grace, to fay the leaft, it will be ufelefs, and perhaps 
 dangerous, both to ourfelves and others. To im- 
 prove in gifts, that we may be the better able to dif- 
 charge our work, is laudable ; but if it be for the fake 
 of popular applaufe, let us expedt, a blaft. Hundreds 
 of minifters have been ruined by indulging a thirft for 
 the character of the great man, while they have neg- 
 lected the far fuperior chara&er of the good man. — 
 Another part of the character, of Barnabas was, that 
 he was, 
 
 II. Full of the Holy Ghost. — The Holy Ghofl: 
 fometimes denotes his extraordinary gifts, as in A£ts 
 xix. — where the apoftle Paul put the queftion to fome 
 believers in Chriit, whether they had received the 
 Holy Ghoft ; but here it fignifies his indwelling and 
 ordinary operations, or what is elfewhere called an 
 unclimfrom the Holy One.f This, though more com- 
 mon than the other, is far more excellent. Its fruits, 
 though lefs brilliant, are abundantly the moft valua- 
 ble. To be able to furmoant a difficulty by Chriftian 
 patience, is a greater thing in the fight of God than to 
 remove a mountain. Every work of God bears fome 
 mark of Godhead, even a thiftle or a nettle •, but there 
 
 aro 
 
 * Ifauh xxxvii. 29. f I JohH, ii. U3. 
 
cf a faithful Mini/ier. x i 
 
 are fome works of God which bear a peculiar likenefs 
 to his holy moral character ; fuch were the minds of 
 men and angels in their original ftate. This will 
 ferve to illuftrate the fubjeft in hand. The extraor- 
 dinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, are a communication of 
 his power ; but in his dwelling in the faints, and the 
 ordinary operations of his grace, he communicates his 
 own holy nature ; and this it was of which Barnabas 
 was full. To be full of the Holy Ghoft, is to be full 
 of the dove, as I may fay ; or full of thofe fruits of 
 the Spirit mentioned by the apoftle to the Galatians, 
 viz. love, joy, peace, long-fujfering, gentlenefs, goodnefs. 
 
 To be fure, the term full is not here to be under- 
 ftood in an unlimited fenfe ; not in fo ample a fenfe 
 as when it is applied to Chrift. He was filed with 
 the Spirit without meafure, but we in meafure. The 
 word is doubtlefs to be underftood in a comparative 
 fenfe, and denotes as much as that he was habitually 
 under his holy influence. A perfon that is greatly 
 under the influence of the love of this world, is faid 
 to be drunken with its cares or pleafures. In allufion 
 to fomething like this, the apoftle exhorts that we be 
 not drunken with ivine, wherein is excefs ; but FILLED 
 with the Spirit.* The word filed here is very exprefT- 
 ive ; it denotes, I fhould think, a being overcome] as it 
 were with the holy influences and fruits of the ble fled 
 Spirit. How neceflary is all this/ my brother, in your 
 work ; O, how neceflary is an unclion from the Holy 
 One ! 
 
 It is this that will enable you to enter, into the fpirit 
 •fthe go/pel, and preferve you from ckjlruclive errors con- 
 cerning it.— ^?hofe who have, an unttion fromtfie 
 Holy One, are faid to know all things ; ' and the anoint- 
 ing which they have received abideth in them, and they need 
 not that any man teach them : but ) as the fame anointing 
 
 teacheth 
 I Eph, v. x& 
 
1 2 The S£uaHfoations and Encouragement 
 
 ieacheth them all things, and is truth, and is no %eJ* — 
 We fhall naturally fall in with the di&ates' of that 
 Spirit of which we are full. It is for want of this, 
 in a great meafure, that the fcriptures appear ftrange, 
 and foreign, and difficult to be understood. He that 
 IS full of the Holy Ghoft, has the contents of the 
 Bible written, as-I may fay, upon his heart •, and thus 
 its facred pages are 'eafy to be underftood, as f wifdo?n 
 is -eafy to him that under]} andeth. 
 
 It is no breach of charity to fay, that if the profef- 
 fors of Chriftianity had more of the Holy Spirit of 
 God in thpir hearts, there would be a greater harmo- 
 ny amongft them refpetting the great truths whkh he 
 has revealed. The reje&iori of fuch doftrines as the 
 exceeding finfulnefs of (in, the total depravity of man- 
 kind, the proper Deity and atonement of Chrift, jufti- 
 fication by faith in his name, the freenefs and fove- 
 reignty of grace, and the agency of the Holy Spirit, 
 may eafily be accounted for upon this principle. If 
 we are deftitute of the Holy Spirit, we are blind to 
 the lovelinefs of the divine character, and deftitute of 
 any true love to God in our hearts ; arid if deftitute 
 of this, we ihall not be able to fee the reafonabknefs 
 of that law, w r hich requires love to him with alt the 
 heart; and then, of courfe, we fhall think lightly of 
 the nature of thofe offences committed againft him :-r- 
 we (hall be naturally difpofed. to palliate and excufe 
 our w r ant of love to him, yea, arid even our pofitiye 
 violations of his law ; it will feem hard, very hard in- 
 deed, for fuch little things as thefe to be puniflied 
 With everlafting deftruftion. And now, all this ad- 
 mitted, we (hall naturally be blind to the neceflity and 
 glory of falvation by Jefits Chrift. If fin is fo trifling 
 an affair, it will feem a ftrange and incredible thing 
 that God ihould become incarnate to atone for it. 
 And hence we (hall be very eafily perfuaded to con- 
 
 £der 
 • l John, ii. 30, fcj! 
 
cf a faithful Mini ft er. 1 3 
 
 fider Chrift as only a good man, who came into the 
 world to fet us a good example ; or, however, that he 
 is not equal with the Father. The freenefs and fove- 
 reignty of grace alfo, together with juftification by 
 imputed righteoufnefs, will be a very ftrange found in 
 our ears. Like the Jews, we fhall go about to ejlablijh 
 our civil righteoufnefs y and fall not fubmit to the right- 
 eoufnefs of God. It will feem equally ftrange and in- 
 credible to be told, that we are by nature utterly unfit 
 for the kingdom of God — that, therefore, we triuft be 
 born again — that we are fo bad, that we cannot even 
 come to Chrift for life, except the Father draw us — 
 yea, and that our beft doings, after all, are unworthy 
 of God's notice. It will be no wonder, if, inftead of 
 thefe unwelcome and humiliating dodtrines, we fhould 
 fall in with thofe writers and preachers who think 
 more favourably of our condition, and the condition 
 of the world at large \ v/ho either deny eternal pun- 
 ifhment to exift, or reprefent men in general, as being 
 in little or no danger of it And having avowed thefe 
 fentiments, it will then become neceffary to compli- 
 ment their abettors (including ourfelves in the num- 
 ber) as perfons of a more rational and liberal way of 
 chinking than other people. 
 
 My dear brother, of all things be this your prayer, 
 Take not thy Holy Spirit from me ! If once we fink into 
 fuch a way of performing our public work, as to do 
 without his enlightening and enlivening influences, 
 we may go on, and probably fhall go on, from one de- 
 gree of evil to another. Knowing how to account 
 for the operations of our own minds, without imputing 
 them to a divine agency, we fhall be inclined in this 
 manner to account for the operations in the minds of 
 others •, and fo, with numbers in the prefent age, 
 may foon call in queftion even whether there be any 
 Holy Ghcfi. J 
 
 But 
 
rage mem 
 
 Eut farther, A being iVil of the Holy Ghoft will give 
 
 nd preaching. There 
 
 is fuch a thiog as the mind being habitually under the 
 influence of divine things ; and retaining fo much of a 
 fervour of Chrift, as that divine truths (hall be viewed 
 :ind expreffed, as I may fay, in their own language. 
 Spiritual things will bzfpiriiuxily d'feerned >• and S fpir- 
 
 ally difcerned, will be fpiritually communicated. 
 There is more in cur mcuiiier of thinking and fpeaking 
 upon divine truth than, perhaps, at firft fight, we are 
 aware of . A great part of the phraseology of fcripture 
 is by fome accounted unfit to be rddrened to a mod- 
 ern ear ; and is en this account to a great degree hid 
 afide, even by thofe who profefs to be fatisfied with the 
 
 laments therein contained. Whatever may be faid 
 in defence of this practice in a very few inflances, fuch 
 ;;s thofe where words in a translation are become obfo- 
 lete, or convey a different idea from what they did at 
 the time of being tranilated, I am fatisfied the practice 
 in general is very pernicious. There are many fer- 
 mons that cannot fairly be charged with untruth, which 
 yet have a tendency to lead off the mind from the fim- 
 plicity of the gofpei. If fuch fcripture terms, for in- 
 ,ftance, a$ hoRnefs y godiviefs, grace , believers, faints, com? 
 /Bitmap nvith God, Sec. {hoiild be thrown afide as fa*. 
 routing no much of cant and enthufiafm, and fuch 
 terms as vwAlity y virtue, religion, good men, happinefs of 
 mind, &c. fubfrituted in their room, it will have an 
 amazing effe£l upon the hearers. If fuch preaching 
 is the gofpei, it is the gofpei heathenized, and will tend 
 to heathenize the minds of thofe who deal in it. I do 
 not mean to object, to the ufe of thefe latter terms in 
 their place ; they are fome of them fcriptural terms : 
 what I object to is putting them in the place of the 
 other, when difcourfing upon evangelical fubjeots. To 
 be fure, there is a way of handling divine fubjecls af- 
 ter this fort that is very clever, and very ingenious -, 
 2nd a minifter of fuch a ftamp may commend himfelf 
 
 bv 
 
 
cf a faithful MimJSer. 1 5 
 
 ..is Ingenuity to many hearers : but after all, God'o 
 truths are never fo acceptable and favoury to a 
 heart, as when clothed in their own native ph rale ele- 
 gy. The mjre you are filled, ray brother, with ad 
 
 :ion from the Holy One, the greater reliih p wilt 
 polleis for that favoury manner of conveying truth which 
 is fo plentifully exemplified in the holy fcriptu 
 Farther* 
 
 It is this that will make the doctrines you pre... 
 and the d ; inculcate, \czm fitted '. . : ; I 
 
 allude to a faying of the wife man, (Prov. :•.: 
 ~Ths iv^rds of the wife j.rs pleafatU y if thou keep t ::■.■: 1 
 
 ; theyfball withal befitted in t/:y lips. It is expedt- 
 sd there fhould be an agreement between the charac- 
 ter of the fpeaker and the things which are fpeken. 
 .bbec:?i:cih not a fool. Exhortations to he- 
 linefs come with aji ill grace from the iipe of one who 
 :!ges himfelf in iniquity. The oppofite of this \% 
 : I mean by the doctrines and duties of religion 
 teditijoiir lips. It is this that will make your 
 e, when you come forth in your public la- 
 bours, like the face of Moles when lie had been con* 
 j wich God in the holy mc 
 
 It is this that will give afpirihic! favour to your cznvey- 
 ftition^ in your vi(its to your friends.— Though relig- 
 Lous vifits maybe abufed •, yet you know, 'brother, 
 neceflity there is for them, if you would under- 
 td the fpiritual condition of thofe minds you preach 
 to. There are many faults like wife that you may dis- 
 cover in individuals, which it would be unmanly, a3 
 well as unfriendly, to expofe in a pointed manner in 
 the pulpit, which, nevertheless ought not tobepafled 
 by unnoticed. Here is work for your private vifits ; 
 and, in proportion as you are filled with the Holy 
 Ghoft, you will poffefs a fpirit of love and faithfulnefs, 
 which is abfclutely necellary to fuccefsful reproof. — 
 
 ft 
 
1 6 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 It is in our private vifits alfo that we can be free with 
 our people, and they with us. Queftions may be afk- 
 ed and anfwered, difficulties difcufled, and foul-con- 
 cerns talked over. Paul taught the Ephefians, not on- 
 ly publickly, but from houfe to houfe* Now, it is a be- 
 ing full of the Holy Spirit that will give a fpiritual 
 favour to all this conversation. It will be as the holy 
 anointing oil on Aaron's garments, which diffufed a 
 favour to all around him. 
 
 It is this that will teach you haw you ougl . 
 KQurfelfvci every department you are called to occupy. 
 It will ferve inftead of ten thoufand rules ; and all rules 
 without it will be of no account. This it is that will 
 teach you to be of a meek, mild, peaceful, humble 
 fpirit. It will make fuch a fpirit be natural to you. 
 As touching brotherly love, laid the apoftle to the Ephe- 
 fians, you need rbt that I write unto you, for ye ; 
 are taught of God to love one another.\ 
 
 In fhort, it Is this that will denominate you th 
 of God. Such and fuch, my brotl 
 
 was vour predeceilbr, whcie memory is dear to many 
 of us \% and fuch, according to all that I have heard, 
 was his predeccvTor, whofe memory i y dear to 
 
 many here prefer h, i"i His day, was a bu 
 
 ing and fhining light ; but they dime here no more. 
 May vou, my brother, >e followers of 
 
 hcv alio were of Chriii ! — Another part of 
 
 III. He 
 
 f i 7 hef. iv. 9. 
 
 : I he Rev. David E**nf, who was ordained paftor of rhe church 
 : 782, and died February 21, 1-787, aged 31. 
 
 § The Rev. Woi. Buifield, who was ordained pallor of the church, 
 at Thorn, Feb. 15, 1775, and died March 23, 1778, of the Small- 
 Vox, aged 30. 
 
of a fait if id Mlnifier. Vf 
 
 HI. He was full of faith.— It may be difficult to 
 afcertain with precifion, the real intent and extent o£ 
 this term \ but I ihould think, in this connexion, it 
 includes at leaft the three following ideas : a mind 
 occupied with divine fentiment — a being rooted and 
 grounded in the truth of the gofpel — and a daily liv- 
 ing upon it. The fir ft of thefe ideas diftinguifhed 
 him from thofe characters whofe minds are void cr. 
 principle \ the next from inch who are always hover- 
 ing upon the borders of ikepticifm ; and the laft from 
 fuch who, though they have no manner of doubts 
 about the truth of the doctrines of the gofpel, yet 
 fcarcely ever, if at all, feel their vital influence upon 
 their hearts and lives. — Let us review each of thefe a. 
 little more particularly. — Firfly His mind was well oc~ 
 cupie:!, or ft or ^d lulib divine fentiment. — How neceSary 
 is this to a gofpel miniiler ! It is to be feared, that 
 many young men have rufiied into the work of the 
 Lord without any decided principles of their own ; 
 yea, and have not only fet off in fuch a ftate of mind, 
 but have continued ib all through their lives. Alas, 
 what can the churches expect from fuch characters ? 
 What can fuch a void produce ? How can we feed 
 others with knowledge and underftanding, if we are 
 deftitute of it ourfelves ? To fay the leaft, fuch min- 
 ifters will be but unprf -fable fervants* But this is not 
 all ; a mrnifter that is not inured to think for himfclf, 
 is conftantly expofed to every falfe fentiment, or fyf- 
 tern, that, happens to be prefect ted- to him. We fome- 
 times hear of a-« perfon changing his fentiment s ; and. 
 dpubtieffr, in, many cafes, it is jult and right he mould 
 change them--, but there are cafes- in which that mode 
 of. fpeaking. is very, improper, for in reality feme per- 
 fons have no fentiments of their own to change ; they 
 have only changed the fentiments of feme one great 
 man for thofe of another. 
 
 X z Secondly^ 
 
1 8 The Qualificaiiom and Encouragement 
 
 Secondly, He had a firm perfuajion of the truth of thai 
 go/pel which he preached to others. — He was rooted and 
 grounded in the gofpel. The great controverfy of 
 that day was, whether the gofpel was true •, whether 
 Jefus was the Meffiah \ whether he, who fo lately. ex- 
 pired on the crofs, was the Son of God ; and whether 
 his death was the way for men to obtain eternal life. 
 There were great temptations for a perfon, who fhould 
 view things through a medium of fenfe, to think oth- 
 erwife. The popular opinion went againft it — To 
 the Jews it was a ftumbling-block, and to the Greeks 
 foolifnnefs. Thofe who adhered to the gofpel, thereby 
 expofed themfelves to cruel perfections. But Barna- 
 bas was full of faith — he was decidedly on the Lord's 
 fide — he believed on the Son of God, and had the witnefs 
 of the truth of his gofpel within himfelf* 
 
 Preaching the gofpel is bearing a teftimony for God ; 
 but we (hall never be able to do this to any good pur- 
 pofe, if we be always hefitating, and indulging a fkep- 
 tical humour. There is no need of a dogmatic.]] 
 over-bearing temper ; but there i3 need of being 
 rooted and grounded in the truths of God. Be not 
 carried about, faid the apoftle to the Hebrews, with 
 hBrines ; it is a good thing thai the heart be 
 i with grare.f .The contrary defcribes the 
 character of thofe who -are ever learning, and never able 
 ic cyiie. tQ the knowledge of the truth.% 
 
 Thirdly* That gofpel, which he preached to others, 
 h lived upon himfc&~~ The word preached, we are teW, 
 i:;d not profit fine, lecauf it was not mixed with f nil: in 
 them that heard ih This will equally hold good in 
 the cafe of the preacher as cf the hearer. If we mix 
 not faith with the doctrine we deliver, it will not 
 profit us. Whatever abilities- we may pofiefs, and of 
 whatever ufe we may be made to others, unlefs we 
 
 can 
 • i John, v. Kb. xlii. 9. Tira.iii. r. 
 
rf a fa 
 
 can fay in feme fort with the apoftle Joh: . 
 ivc have feen with cur eyes^ and looked upon, and 
 hands have handled of the word of life, — ti 
 unto you, our own fouls may notwithstanding cvcrlait- 
 y perifli ! This is a very ferious matter ; and well 
 dcierves our attention as minifters ! Profefibrs in the. 
 age of Barnabas might be under greater temptations 
 than we are, to queftion whether Jefus was the true 
 Meffiah ; but we are under greater temptations than 
 they were of rcfting in a mere implicit afient to the 
 Chriftian religion, without realizing and living upon, 
 its important truths. 
 
 It is a temptation to which we are more than ordi- 
 narily expofed, to ftudy divine truth as preachers rather 
 than as ChriJHans ; in other words, to ftudy it for the 
 fake of finding out fomething to fey to others, with- 
 out fo much as thinking of profiting our own fouls. 
 If we fludied divine truths as Chriftians, our being 
 constantly engaged in the fervice of God would be 
 friendly to our growth in grace. We mould be like 
 trees planted by the rivers of waters > that bring forth fruit 
 hi their feafon ; and all that we did would be likelv to 
 profper* But if we ftudy it only as preachers, it will 
 be the reverfe. Our being cenverfant with the Bible 
 will be like furgeons and fold i era being converfant 
 with the ibedding of human bloody till they lofe ail 
 fenfibility concerning it. I believe it b a fact, that 
 where a preacher is wicked,, he is genera-Hv the molt 
 hardened againft coimciion of any character what- 
 ever. Happy wiil it he for us, if, like Enrnabas, we 
 are full of faith in that Saviour whom we recommend, 
 in that gofpel which it is our employment to proclaim*. 
 
 IV. 'We new come to the laft part of the fubjeft, 
 
 which is held up by way o£ encouragement — -„ 
 unto ihc Lord. — When our n 
 
 hlrv 
 * Pf.v i. V 3, 
 
2o The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 iftry is blefied to the converfion of {Timers, to the 
 bringing them off from their connexion with fin and 
 felf to a vital union with Chrift ; when our congre- 
 gations are filled not merely with profeflbrs of relig- 
 ion, but with found believers ; when fuch believers- 
 come forward, and offer themfelves- willingly for com- 
 munion, faying, We will go with you, for ire have heard 
 that God is with you — then it may be fa id, that much 
 people is added unto the Lord. The connexion between 
 fuch additions, and eminency in grace and holinefs in 
 2 miniller, deferves our ferious attention. 
 
 I think it may be laid down as z rule, which both 
 fcripture and experience will confirm, that eminent 
 jpiritualiiy in a minijler is tifually attended with eminent 
 ufefulnefs. I do not mean to fay, our ufefulnefs de- 
 pends upon our fpirituality, as an effeft depends upon 
 its caufe ; nor yet that it is always in proportion to it^ 
 God is a fovereign, and frequently fees it proper to 
 convince us of it, in varioufly beftowing his blefiing 
 on the means o£ grace. But yet he is not wanting 
 in giving encouragement to what he approves, wher- 
 ever it is found. Our want of ufefulnefs is often to 
 be afcribed to cur want of fpirituality, much oftener 
 than to our want of natural ability. God has fre- 
 quently been known to fueceed men of but rough 
 parts and abilities, where they have been eminently 
 holv, when he has blafted others of much fuperior 
 talents, where that has been wanting. Hundreds of 
 minifters, who,, on account of their gifts, have prom- 
 ifed to be finning characters, h:ve proved the reverfe \ 
 and ali owing to fuch things as pride, unwatchfulnefs,. 
 carnality, and levity. 
 
 Eminency in grace, my brother, will contribute to 
 jour fuccefo in three ways — 
 
of a faithful Minijler, 
 
 Firft, It will fire your foul with holy love to Chrift* 
 and the fouls of men ; and fuch a fpirit is ufiially at- 
 tended with iuccefs. — I believe you will find, that ia 
 almoft all the great works which God hath wrought 
 in any period of time, he has honoured men of this 
 character, by making them his inftruments. In the 
 midft of a fore calamity upon the murmuring Ifrael- 
 ites, when God was inclined to fliew mercy, it was 
 by the means of his fervant Aaron running, with a. 
 cenfer of fire in his haul, and (landing between 
 living and the d:^d !* The great reformation : 
 was brought about in the days of He^eiiah, was by 
 the inftTumentality of a man ?. hat which 
 
 ivjs good, and right, and true before the Lord his God — 
 and then it follows, A y work that he began in 
 
 theft the law, and in the 
 
 ':d, HE DJD IT WITH ALL 
 HIS HEAKT, and PROSPEREU.f 
 
 The her great \ on in the Tev, 
 
 church, about the time of their return from Babylon,. 
 One of the chief inftruments in tins w r ork was Ezra, 
 a ready fcribe in the law of his God ,• a man who had 
 prepared his hezrt to feek the lavj of the Lord, and to do 
 it, and to i ■des and judgments j — a man 
 
 who fa/let ::yc:! at the river Ahtava previous to 
 
 his great undertaking ; — a man who was afterwards 
 fortly aflo . 
 
 nor & d out 
 
 his hands unto the Lard his. God, on a& 
 
 Another great mitrument in 
 this work was tn that devote-d hinvfeif 
 
 who' of God and his people, labour- 
 
 ing night and day ; that was not to be feduced by 
 the intrigues of God's adversaries, nor yet intimi 
 ted by their threate^nings, but perfevered in his work' 
 
 tilt 
 
 * Numb. xvi. 46 — 50. f % Chroa. xxxi. 20, ax* 
 
 f Ezra vii. io, v.'i.'. 10. \s> .?. x> 6, 
 
22 The Qualifications and Encouragement 
 
 till it was ftmfltedj clofing his labours with this fol- 
 emu prayer and appeal. Think upon r^e, my God, far 
 g:sJ) according to ail that I have done for this people .*' 
 
 Time would fail me to (peak cf all the great fouls r 
 both infpired and uriinfpired, whom the King of kings- 
 hath delighted to honour — cf PW, and Peter y and^ 
 their companions ; of Wicklrff, and Luther y and Cal- 
 vitt, and- many others at the reformation ; of Elliot \ 
 and Edwards^ and Braixtrt^ and IVhihjleldy and hun- 
 dreds more, whofe names are held in deferved efteenv 
 in the church cf God. Thefe were men of God, 
 men who had great grace as well as gifts, whofe 
 hearts burned in love to Chrift and the fouls of men. 
 They looked upon their hearers as their Lord had 
 done upon Jeruialem, and wept over them. — In this* 
 manner they delivered their meflages — and much peo- 
 ple was added iMtc the L:rd>. 
 
 Secondly Emlnency in grace will direcl your ends to 
 the glory cf Cod, and the welfare cf men's fouls ; 
 and where this is the cafe it is ufually attended with 
 a bleffiftg. Thefe are ericlfl which God himfelf pur- 
 fues, and if we purfue the fame, we are labourers to- 
 gether wd % and may hope for his blefling to at- 
 tend our labours \ but if we purfue feparate and felfifh 
 end . we walk contrary to God, and may expec~t that 
 God ilk contrary to us. Whatever apparent 
 fuccefs may attend a man's labours, whole ends are 
 all is to be fufpe&ed : either the furcefs is not 
 nine, or if it be, it is not in a- way of bleffing up- 
 on him, nor (hall it turn out at laft to his account. 
 aft be an ihexpreffiUe fatlsfa&ion, brother, to be 
 able to fay, as the primitive minifters and .apoitlesdid, 
 Jamesy a fervani of God. — Paut y a fervant of Jefu* 
 Qhrtfl. — Wi f&k mt yours> but you I 
 
 LaJJh, 
 * Neh, iii. iv. v. £c «k 
 
a faithful Miniftcr. 23 
 
 Eaniuency in grace will enable ycu to hear 
 profperity in your mimftry without being lifted up 
 •with ir ; and io contributes towards it. — It is written 
 cf Chrivt in prophecy, He fall build the temple of the 
 Lord, and fall bear the glory. — He does bear it in- 
 deed ; but to bear glory without being elated is no 
 eafy thing for us. I am often afraid left this fhould 
 be one considerable reafon why m oft of us have no 
 more real fuccefs in our work than we have ; perhaps 
 it is not fafe for us to be much owned of God ; per- 
 haps we have not grace enough to bear profperity ! 
 
 My dear brother, permit me to clofe the whole with 
 a word or two of ferious advice. — Firft, watch over 
 your (nun foul as well as the fouls of yeur people. Do 
 not forget that thought, that it is a temptation to 
 which minifters are peculiarly liable, while they keep 
 the vineyard of others, to neglect their own. — Far- 
 ther, Know your own weaknefs, and depend upon ChrtfFs 
 till-fufficieJicy. Your work is great, your trials may be 
 many ; but let not your heart be difcouraged. Re- 
 member what was faid to the apoftle Paul, My grace 
 is fufficient for thee, my Jlreiigth is made perfcl in weak- 
 fiefs ; — and the reflection which he makes upon it, 
 When I am weak, then am I frong.* — Finally, he often 
 Jooking to the end of your courfe, and viewing yourfelf as 
 giving an account of your fewardfl/ip. We muft all ap- 
 pear before the judgment-feat of Clirift, and give ac- 
 count of the deeds done in the body. Perhaps there 
 is no thought more folemn than this, more fuitable to 
 <be kept irL view in all our undertakings, more awaken- 
 ing in a thoughtlefs hour, or more cheering to an up- 
 right heart. 
 
 I have only to requeft, my dear brother, that you 
 will excufe the freedom of this plain addrefs. 1 have 
 
 * X Cor. xiii. p> ia 
 
£4 The Qualifications and Encouragement, &V. 
 
 not fpoken fo much to inftruft you in things which 
 you know not, as to remind and imprefs you with 
 things which you already know. The Lord blefs 
 you, and grant that the folemnities of this day may 
 ever be remembered both by you, and your people, 
 with fatisfadtion. Amen. 
 
SERMON II. 
 
 The pernicious Influence of Delay in relig* 
 ions Concerns. 
 
 *mGg®m&&fc»»** 
 
 Haggai 1. 2. 
 
 Thus fpeahth the Lord of Hofts, faying, This people fiy, 
 the time is not come, the imie that the Lord's houfe 
 Jbould be built. 
 
 WHEN the children of Judah were delivered 
 from their captivity, and allowed by the pro- 
 clamation of Cyrus to return to their own land, one 
 of the principal things which attracted their atten- 
 tion was the re-building of t£ie houfe of God, which 
 had been deftroyed by the Babylonians. This was 3 
 work which Cyrus himfelf enjoined, and which the 
 hearts of the people were much fet upon. It was not 
 however to be accomplifhed at once; and as the wor- 
 fhip of God was a matter of immediate and indifpen- 
 fable concern, they fet up an altar, on which to offer 
 facrifices, and offerings, till fuch time as the temple 
 (hould be built. 
 
 In the fecond year after their return, the foundation 
 
 of the Lord's houfe was laid ; but oppofition being 
 
 made to it bv the adverfaries of Judah and Benjamin, 
 
 T the 
 
iS The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 the work ceafed ail the days of Cyrus, until the reign 
 of Darius, commonly diftinguifhed by the name of Da- 
 rius-HyJiafpis. During this period, which feems to 
 have been about fourteen years, the people funk into 
 •a fpirit of indifference. At firft they defuted from ne- 
 CefEty ; but afterwards, their attention being turned to 
 the building and ornamenting of houfes for themfelves, 
 they feemed very well contented that the houfe of the 
 Lord fhould lie wafle. For this their temper and con- 
 duct, the land was fmitten with barrennefs ; fo that 
 both the vintage and the harveft failed them. God 
 alfo railed up Haggat and Zeckariuh to go and remon- 
 ftrate againft their fupinenefs ; and the efforts of thefe 
 two prophets were the means of ftirring up the peo- 
 ple to refume the work.* 
 
 The argument which die people ufed againft build- 
 ing the houfe of God, was, that the time was not emu. 
 It is pofTible they waited for a counter order from the 
 Perfian court •, if fo, they might have waited long 
 enough. A work of that nature ought to have been 
 profecuted of their own accord ; at leaft they fhould 
 have tried. It did not follow, becaufe they were hin- 
 dered once, therefore they fhould never fucceed. Or, 
 perhaps, they meant to plead their prefent weaknefs and 
 
 j\ -jrty. — Something like this feems to be implied in 
 the fourth verfe, where they are reminded that they 
 had ftrength enough to build and ornament houfes for 
 themfelves. It looks as if they wifhed to build, and 
 lav by fortunes for themfelves and their families, and 
 thm t at fome future time, they might contribute for 
 the building of the houfe of God. 
 
 There is fomething of this procraftinatirig fpirit that 
 runs through a great part of our life, and is of great 
 detriment to us in the work of God. We know of 
 xnauy things that fhould be done* and cannot in con- 
 
 fcience 
 
 * See tbc iii- iv. and v. chapters of Ezra. 
 
in religious Concerns. 27 
 
 fcience dlre&ly oppofe them •, but dill we find excufes 
 for our inactivity. While we admit that many things 
 fhould be done which are not done, we are apt to quiet 
 curfelves with the thought that they need not be done 
 jufl now. — The time is not come, the time thai tie Lord's 
 boufejhould be built. 
 
 In difcourfing to you upon the fubjecr, brethren, I 
 fhall take notice of a few of the moil remarkable caf:s 
 in which this fpirit is difcovered, — and then endeavour 
 to fhew its evil nature, and dangerous tendency. 
 
 //; rejpeel to the CASES, OR INSTANCES, IN WHICH 
 IT IS DlSCQF£REDs a frnaH degree of obfervatlon on 
 mankind, and of reflection upon the workings cf our 
 own hearts, will furniih us with many of thefe, and 
 convince us of its great influence on every defcription 
 of men, in almoll all their religious concerns — Panic- 
 ularly, 
 
 Firft, It is by this plea that a great part of mankind 
 ere conjianily deceiving therxfelves in rcfpetl to a ferious at- 
 tention to their Jouls' concerns. — The concerns of our fouls 
 ure doubtlt fs of the lafl: inportance \ and there are 
 times in which mod men not only acknowledge this 
 truth, but in fome fort feel the force of it. This is 
 the cafe efpecially with thofe who have had a religious 
 education, and have been ufed to attend upon the 
 preaching of the gofpel. They hear from the pulpit 
 that men mujl be born again, inujl be converted, and 
 become as little children, or never enter into the king- 
 dom of God. Or the fame things arc imprefled upon 
 them by fome threatening affliction, or alarming pro- 
 vidence. They feel themfelves at thofe times very un- 
 happy ; and it is net unufuai for them to refolve upon 
 a Sacrifice cf their former fins, and a ierious and elefc 
 attention in future to the affairs of their fouls. They 
 think, while under thefe impreilions, they will confuler 
 
 their 
 
28 Tie pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 their ways, they will enter their clofets, and fhut to 
 the door, and pray to the Lord that he would have 
 mercy upon them ; but alas, no fooner do they retire 
 from the houfe of God, or recover from their afflic- 
 tion, but the impreflion begins to fubfide, and then mat- 
 ters of this fort become lefs welcome to the mind. 
 They muft not be utterly rejected, but are let alcnefor 
 the prefent. As conscience becomes lefs alarmed, and 
 danger is viewed at a greater diftance, the (inner by 
 degrees recovers himfelf from his fright, and difmiifes 
 his religious concern in fome fuch manner as Felix did 
 his reprover \ Go thy way for this thne y when I hade a 
 convenient feaf on I will fend for thee. 
 
 It is thus with the ardent youth.— In the hour of fe- 
 ribus reiie£tiofl, he feels that religion is of importance ; 
 but his heart, (till averfe to what his conscience recom- 
 mends, rifes agairift the thought of facrificing the 
 prime of life to the gloomy duties of prayer and felf- 
 denial. He does not refolve never to attend to thefe 
 things, but the time does not feem to be come. He 
 hopes that God Almighty will excufe him a few years 
 at haft, and impute his exceifes to youthful folly and 
 imbecility. — It is thus with the man of ' bufnefs. — There 
 zvq times in which he is obliged to retire from the hur- 
 ry of life ; and at thofe times, thoughts of another life 
 may arreft his attention. Confciehcc at thofe intervals 
 may fmite him for his living without prayer, without 
 reflection, without God in all his thoughts \ and what 
 is his remedy ? Does he lament his fin, and implore 
 mercy through our Lord Jefus Chrift ? No> nor fo 
 much as promife to forfake it : immediately \ but this he 
 promifes, that when this bufy time is over, and that 
 favourite point is gained, and thofe intricate affairs are 
 terminated, then it fhall be otherwife. — It is thus with 
 perfons in fugle Ufe> they will be better when they get 
 fettled in the world ; — it is thus with the incumbered 
 tarent.Sk\z looks forward to the time \vh~n her family 
 * (hall 
 
in religious Concern^ 
 
 f : get off her hands ; — yea, it is thus with the drtml - 
 ard and the debauchee, wearied in their own way, they 
 intend to lead a new life as foon as they can but {hake 
 off their old connexions ; — in fhort, it is thus" with 
 great numbers in all our towns, and villages, and con- 
 gregations, they put off the great concern to another 
 time, and think they may venture at leaft a little long- 
 er, till all is over with them, and a dying hour juft 
 awakens them, like the virgins in the parable, to bitter 
 reflection en their own fatal folly. 
 
 But, Secondly, This plea not only affects the uncon- 
 verted, but prevents us all from undertaking any gre.it er- 
 go od wort for the cauje of Chrif, or the good of man- 
 kind. — We fee many things that fhould be done, but 
 there are difficulties in the way, and we wait for thefe 
 difficulties being all removed. We are very apt to in- 
 dulge a kind cf prudent caution (fo we call it) which 
 fbrefees and magnifies difficulties beyond what they 
 really arc. It is granted there may be fuch things in 
 the way of an undertaking, as may render it imprac- 
 ticable, and in that cafe it is our duty for the pre fen t 
 to ftand flrill ; but it becomes us to beware left we ac- 
 count that impracticable which only requires fuch a de- 
 gree of exertion as we are not inclined to give it. — Per- 
 haps the work requires expenfe, and covetoufnefs f&ySj 
 wait a little longer, till I have gained fo and fo in trade^ 
 till I have rendered my circumftances refpectabie, alia 
 fettled my children comfortably in the world. But is 
 not this like ceiling our own houfes, while the houfe 
 cf God lies wafte ? — Perhaps it requires concurrt 
 and we wait for every body being of a mind, whicl 
 never to be expefted. He. who, through a drea< 
 oppofition and reproach, defifts from known duty, h 
 in danger of being found amongft the fearful, tL . 
 i r/fgj and the abominable. 
 
 Had 
 
 Y z 
 
30 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 Had Luther y and his cotemporaries, acted upon tliii 
 principle, they had never gone about the glorious work 
 of Reformation. When he faw the abominations of 
 popery, he might have faid, " Theft things ought not 
 to be, but what can / do ? If the chief priefts and ru- 
 lers in different nations would but unite, fomething 
 might be effected ; but what can /do, an individual, 
 and a poor man ? I may render myfelf an ojeft of 
 perfecution, or, which is worfe, of univerfal contempt, 
 and what good end will be anfwered by it ?" Had Lu- 
 ther reafoned thus, had he fancied that becaufe princes 
 and prelates were not the firft to engage in the good 
 work, therefore the time was not come to build the 
 houfe of the Lord ; the houfe of the Lord, for any 
 thing he had done, might have lain wade to this day. 
 
 Inftead of waiting for the removal of difficulties, we 
 ought in. many cafes to confider them as purpofely bid 
 in cur way, in order to try the fincerity of our religion. 
 He who had all power in heaven and earth, could have 
 not only fent forth his apoftles into all the world, but 
 have fo ordered it that all the world mould treat them 
 with kindnefs, and aid them in their million ; but in- 
 ftead of that, he told them to lay their accounts with 
 perfecution and the lofs of all things. This was, no 
 doubt, to try their fincerity •, and the difficulties laid 
 in our way are equally defigned to try ours. 
 
 Let it be confidered whether rt is not owing to this 
 principle that fo few and fo feeble efforts have been 
 made for the propagation of the gofpel in the world. 
 When the Lord Jefus commiffioned his apoftles, he 
 commanded them to— Go, and teach all nations^ to 
 preach the gofpel to every creature ; and that notwiths- 
 tanding the difficulties and oppofition that would lie 
 in the way. The apoftles executed their commiffion 
 with affiduity and fidelity ; but fince their days, we 
 feem to fit down half contented that the greater part 
 - — - ■ of 
 
in religious Concerns. 31 
 
 of the world Pnould Hill remain in ignorance and idol- 
 atry. Some noble efforts indeed have been made, but 
 y are but fmall in number when compared witii trie 
 magnitude of the objecl. And Why is it fo ? Are the 
 fouls of men of lefs value than heretofore ? No. Is 
 Chriftianity lefs true, or lefs important than in former 
 ages ? This will not be pretended. Are there no op- 
 portunities for focieties, or individuals in Chriftian na- 
 tions, to convey the gofpel to the heathens ? This can- 
 not be pleaded fo long as opportunities are found to 
 trade with them, yea, and what i-s a difgrace to the 
 name of Chriftians, to buy them, and fell them, and 
 treat them with Worfe than lavage barbarity ! We 
 have opportunities in abundance ; the improvement of 
 navigation, and the maritime and commercial turn cf 
 of this country, furnifh us with thefe ; and it deferves 
 to be confidered, whether this is not a circurnftance 
 that renders it a duty peculiarly binding upon us. 
 
 The truth is, if I am not miftaken, we wait for we 
 know not what ; we feem to think the time is not come, 
 the time for the Spirit to be poured down from en hi<*h. 
 We pray for the converlion and falvation cf the world, 
 and yet negleQ: the ordinary means by which thofe 
 ends have been ufed to be accomplifhed. It pleafed 
 God, heretofore, by the foclifhnefs of preaching, to fave 
 them that believed ; and there is reaforl to think it 
 will ftill pleafe God to work by that diftingnimed 
 mean. Ought we not then to try, at leaft, by forne 
 means, to convey more of the good tidings of faivation 
 to the world around us,* than have hitherto been con- 
 veyed ? 
 
 * It may not be amifs to inform the reader, that at the time of 
 the above difecurfc being delivered, the Rev. Mr. Carey of .Leicefter, 
 was prefent After wcrfhip, when the minifters were together, he 
 moved the queflion, " Wleihef fomething might not be done in the kvky 
 cf fending the geffel into the heathen world V* It was well known at 
 the fame time that Mr. Carey had written a judicious piece upon 
 the-fubje<5t, which he had by him in manufcript, Chewing the duty of 
 Chriftians in that matter, and the practicability of the undertaking-. 
 It was therefore agreed, as the firft ftep proper to be taken, that ^Ifi 
 C7.&S7 be recpeiUdto jrevife and prifit his manufcript, 
 
. jluaicc cf Delay 
 e encouragement to the heathen is ftill in 
 
 force, IVUJjSQEVER SHALL CALL UPCN THE XAME 
 
 OF THE LORD SHALL BE SA^ED ; hut how f J all they 
 
 i thy have nit believed ? And hnofhall 
 
 the him cf whom they have not heard? And 
 
 \r without a preacher ? And how pall 
 
 they be fent ? Rom. x. 13 — ij. 
 
 Le: irbe farther confidered, whether it Is not owing 
 to this principle that fo few and fo feeble efforts are 
 made for the propagation of the gofpei in places with- 
 .r reach. — There are many dark places in our own 
 land, places where prieils and people, it is to be feared* 
 are alike deftltute of -true religion, all /'coking to their 
 own way> every 0:1 e for his gain from his quarter. Were 
 every friend of Jeius Chrift to avail himfelf of that lib- 
 erty which the laws of hfs country allow him, and 
 embrace every opportunity for the diilemination of 
 evangelical principles, \ :c"ts might we hope to 
 
 fee ? Were every true minifter of the gofpei to it 
 a point of preaching as often as poflibfe in the villages 
 within his reach, and were thole private Chriftians who 
 are fituated in fucb villages to open their doors for 
 preaching, and recommend the gofpei by. a holy and 
 ; rlectionate behaviour, might we not hope to fee the 
 wilJernefs become as a fruitful field ? Surely in thefe 
 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 confidences of people. We 
 caft the net, without fo much as expecting a draught. 
 We are as thofe who cannot find their hands in the 
 day or" battle 5 who go forth not like men inured to 
 lieftj but rather Ike thofe inured to defeat. — 
 Whence arifes all this ? Is it not owing, at leafl a con- 
 fiderahle degree of it, to a notion we have, that the tine 
 is not come for any thing considerable to be effected ? 
 
 Thirdly, 
 
m religious Concern*. 33 
 
 Thirdly, It is this plea that keeps many from a public 
 profeffion of religion y by a practical acknowledgment of 
 Chri/l. — Ohrift requires of his followers that they con- 
 fefs his name before men, that they be baptized, and 
 commemorate his dying love in the ordinance of the 
 Supper. Yet there are many who confider themfelves 
 as Chriflians, and are confidered fa by others, who ftill 
 Jive in the negleft of thefe ordinances. I fpeak not 
 now of thofe who confider themfelves as having been 
 baptized in their infancy, but of fuch who admit adult 
 immerfion to be the only true baptifm, and yet do net 
 praftife it, nor hold communion with any particular 
 church of Chrift. It is painful to think there fhould 
 be a defcription of prof e fled Chriflians, who live in the 
 negle£t of Chrift's commands. What can be the mo- 
 tives of fuch ■ negleft ?■ Probably they are various; 
 there is one, however, that mud have fallen under your 
 cbfervation, that is, the want of feme powerful imprejficn 
 upon the mind y impelling ihem y as it were > to a compliance* 
 Many perfons wait fcr Something of this fort, and be- 
 caufe 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 fliould comply with thofe ordinances, at 
 leaft that they fhould comply with then) at prefent* 
 ^ImpreiTions, it is allowed, are deferable, provided" it be 
 truth or duty that is impreSed, otherwife they deferve 
 no regard ; but be they as deferable as they may, the 
 want of them can never juftify our living in the neg- 
 lect of known duty. Nor are they at all adapied to 
 £hew us what is duty, but merely to excite to the per- 
 formance of that which may be proved to be; duty 
 without them, We might as well wait for impref- 
 fions, and conclude from the want of them. that the 
 time is not come for the performance of other duties, 
 as thofe of baptifm and the Lord's fupper. 
 
 Some arc kept from a public profeffion of Chrift's 
 name by mere mercenary motives. They have rela- 
 tions 
 
34 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 tions and friends that would be offended. The fear 
 of being difinhcrited, or Injured in fume fort as to 
 worldly cireum fiances, has made many a perfon keep 
 his principles to himfelf, till fuch time as the party 
 whofe difpleafure he fears (hall be removed out of the 
 way. This is wicked, as it amounts to a denial of 
 Chrift before men, and will no doubt expofe the pnr- 
 ty, if he die without repentance for it, to a being deni- 
 ed by Chrift before his Father at the la ft day. Lord, 
 faid one, I will follow thee, hut let mefrft go and bury my 
 father — let mefirfl go and bid them farewell who are at 
 home, fays another. Jefus oftfwereJ, Let the dead bury 
 their dead) follow thou me — No man, having put his hand 
 to the plough and looking bad) is ft fir the kingdom of 
 God. 3 * 
 
 Fourthly, It is this plea that keeps us from a tlior- 
 0VL gh fe/f 'examination, m& felf-deniaL — The importance 
 of being right in the fight of God, and our liability to 
 err, even in the greateft of all concern?, renders a clofe 
 and frecuent inquiry into our fpiritual flate abfolutely 
 neceffary. It is a dangerous as wett as an uncomfort- 
 able life to be always in fufpenfe, not knowing what, 
 nor where we are, nor whither we are going. There 
 arc feafons too in which we feel the importance of 
 fuch an inquiry, and think we will go about it, we 
 will fearch and try our way?, and turn from our fins, 
 and walk more clofely with God. Such thoughts will 
 occur when we hear matters urged home upon us from 
 the pulpit, or when forne afit&ing event draws off our 
 attention from the prefdnt world, and caufes us to re- 
 flect noon ourfelves" for our inordinate anxiety after it. 
 "We think of living otherwlfe than we have done ; but 
 when we come to put our thoughts into execution, we 
 find a number of difficulties in the way, which toe 
 often deter us, at leail for the frefirit. " xleer is an un- 
 dertaking that nruft firft be accomplifhed before I can 
 
 have 
 
 9 Luke ix S9 — 6 2- 
 
in religions C,n::r: 35 
 
 habe time -, here is nlfo a tfc e affair that I muft 
 
 get through before I can be cotnpofed\ and then, here 
 a:*e fujh temptations that I knew not how to get c 
 jujl now — if I wait a little longer, perhaps they may 
 be removed." — Alas, alas, thus we befool ourfelves ! 
 thus we put it off to another time, till the impreflions 
 on our minds are worn off, and then we are lefs able 
 to attend to thofe tilings than we were at firft. As 
 one who puts olFthe examination of his accounts, and 
 the retrenchment of his expenfes, till all on a fudden 
 he is involved in a bankruptcy ; fo do multitudes in 
 the religious world neglect a clofe infpeclion into their 
 fouls' concerns, till at length, either a departure from 
 ibme of the great principles of the gofpcl, or fome 
 fou! and open fall, is the confluence. 
 
 Finally, It is this principle that keeps us from pre- 
 
 parednefs fir death, a being ready tvhen our Lord Jhall 
 
 come. — There 13 nothing that Chrift has more forcibly 
 
 enjoined than this duty. — Be ye a!fo ready, for at fuch 
 
 an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man comcth. — What I 
 
 fay unto you I fay unto all. Watch. V/hy do we not im- 
 
 * mediately feel the force of thefe charges, and betake 
 
 ourfelves to habitual watchful nefs, and prayer, and felf- 
 
 denial, and walking with God I Why are we not as 
 
 men who wait for the coming of their Lord ? Is it not 
 
 n a fecret thought, that the time is not come ? We 
 
 w we muft die, but we conGder it as fomething at 
 
 a diftance ; and thus imagining that our Lord delayeth 
 
 his coming, we delay to prepare to meet him, fo that 
 
 when he cometh he findeth us in confufion. In (lead 
 
 of our loins being girt, and our lights burning, we are 
 
 engaged in a number of plans and purfuits to the neg- 
 
 left of thofe things, which, notwithstanding the necef- 
 
 fery avocations of life, ought always to cngrcft our 
 
 preme attention. - 
 
 But 
 
36 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 But let us next proceed to confider the EVIL NA- 
 TURE and DANGEROUS TENDENCY of this procrafti- 
 nating temper. 
 
 I need not fay much to prove to you that it is a 
 fin. The confcience of every one of you will affift 
 me in that part of the work. It is proper, however, 
 in order that you may feel it the more forcibly, that 
 you fhould confider wherein its evil nature confifts. 
 
 Firft, It is contrary to the tenor of all God's com- 
 xnandments. All through the fcriptures we are re- 
 quired to attend to divine things immediately, and 
 without delay. — Work while it is called to-day ; the 
 flight ccmetb when no man can work — To day, if ye will 
 hear his voice, harden not your hearts — While ye have the 
 light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of 
 light — Whatfoever thy hand fndeth to do, do it with thy 
 might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge* 
 :i:r wifdom in the .grave whither thou goe/I.* 
 
 God not only requires us in general what we do to 
 Jo quickly, but calls us to ferve him particularly under 
 ihofe temptations or afflictions, which we find placed in 
 our way. The terms of difciplefhip are, deny thyfclf 
 take up thy crofs, and follow me. He does not call upon 
 us to follow him barely when there are no -troubles, 
 nor difficulties to encounter, nor allow us, when thofe 
 difficulties occur, to wait a fairer opportunity ; but to 
 take our crofs as it were upon our {boulders, and fo 
 follow him. It would be of ufe for us to confider 
 every fituation as a poit in which God hath placed us, 
 and in which he calls upon us to ferve and glorify 
 him — If we are poor, we are required to glorify God 
 by contentment •, if afiiifted, by patience ; if bereav- 
 ed, by fubmiiTion ; ; if perfecuted, by firmnefs \ if in- 
 jured, by forgivenefs ', or if tempted, by denying ouf- 
 
 felve* 
 * John, is. 4, VfaL *cv. 7^-8. Ecc, ix, to* 
 
 
in religious Concerns. 37 
 
 felves for his fake. Nor can thefe duties be perform- 
 ed at any other times ; to put them off, therefore, to 
 another opportunity, is the fame thing in effect, as re- 
 fufing to comply with them at all. 
 
 Secondly, To put off things to another time, im- 
 plies a lurking diflike to the things themfelves. We 
 do not ordinarily do {o 9 except in things wherein we 
 have no delight. Whatever our hearts are fet upon, 
 we are for lofing no time till it is accomplifhed. If 
 the people of Judah had had a mind to work, as is faid 
 of them on another occafion, they would not have 
 pleaded that the time was not come. Sinful delay, 
 therefore, arifes from alienation of heart from God> than 
 which nothing can be more offenfive in his fight. 
 
 But farther, it is not only a fin, but a fin of danger* 
 ■ous tendency. — This is manifeft by the effects it pro- 
 duces. Precious time is thereby murdered, and val- 
 uable opportunities loft, and loft beyond recall ! 
 
 That there are opportunities poffeffed both by faints 
 and finners is plain from the fcriptures. The former 
 might do abundantly more for God than they do, and 
 might enjoy much more of God and heaven than they 
 actually enjoy ; and no doubt it would be fo, were it 
 not for that idle delaying temper of which we have 
 fpoken. Like the Ifraelites, we are flothful to go up 
 to poffefs the good land. Many are the opportunities 
 both of doing and enjoying good, that have already 
 pafled by. O, what Chriftians might we have been 
 before now, had we but availed ourfelves of all thofe 
 advantages, which the gofpel difpenfation, and the 
 free exercife of our religion afford us ! 
 
 Sinners alfo, as long as life lafts, have opportunity 
 of efcaping from the wrath to come. Hence they 
 
 are 
 Z 
 
38 The pernicious Influence of Delay 
 
 are exhorted to feel the Lord ivhlle he may be found) 
 and to call upon him while he is near. Hence alfo 
 there is a door reprefented as being at prefent open, 
 which the mafter of the houfe ivill one day rife up and 
 flmt. The fountain is defcribed as being at prefent 
 open for Jin , and for uncleannefs ; but there is a period 
 approaching, when it ill all be faid, He that is filthy > 
 ut him be filthy jlill /* It feems fcarcely in the power 
 of language to exprefs the danger of delay in terms 
 more forcible and impreffive than thofe which arc 
 ufed in the above paffages. — Nor is there any thing 
 in the idea that clafhes with the fcripture do&rine of 
 decrees. All allow that men have opportunity in nat- 
 ural things, to do what they do not, and to obtain 
 what they obtain not ; and if this can be made to 
 conn ft with an univerfal providence, which perfvrmeth 
 the things that are appointed for us ; why ihould not the 
 other be allowed to confift with the purpofes of Him, 
 who does nothing without a plan, but worheth all 
 things after the counfel of his own will ? A price is in 
 the hands of thofe who have no heart to get wifdom, 
 
 O though tlefs finner, trifle no longer with the mur- 
 der of time ! time, fo fhort and uncertain in its dura^ 
 tion ; the morning of your exiftence, the mould in 
 which vou receive an impreffion for eternity, the only- 
 period in which the Son of Man hath power to for- 
 give fins ! Should the remaining part of your life pafs 
 away in the fame carelefs manner as that has, which 
 is already elapfed, what bitter reflection muft needs 
 follow ! How cutting it muft be to look back on all 
 the means of falvation, as gone for ever \ the harveft 
 paft, the fummer ended, and you not fayed ! 
 
 Suppofe a company, at the time of low water, (hould 
 take an excuriion upon the fands near the lea fhore — 
 Suppofe yourfelf of the company — Suppofe, that on a 
 
 prefumption 
 
 * Ifa*. It. 6, 7, Luke siii. aj. Zech. xiii. 1. Rer. xiii. 11. 
 
in religious Concerns. 39 
 
 prefumption of the tide's not returning at prefent, you 
 ihould all fall afleep — Suppofe all the company, ex- 
 cept yourfelf, to awake out of their fleep, and finding 
 their danger, endeavour to awake you, and to perfuade 
 you to flee with them for your life — But you, like the 
 iluggard, are for a little more Jleep, and a little more 
 Jl umber — the confequence is, your companions efcape, 
 but you are left behind to periih in the waters, which, 
 regardlefs of all your cries, rife and overwhelm you ! 
 What a fituation would this be ! How would yen 
 curfe that love of fleep that made you refufe to be 
 awaked, that delaying temper that wanted to indulge 
 a little longer ! But what is this fituation, compared 
 with that of a loft foul ? There will come a period 
 when the bottom of the ocean would be deemed a 
 refuge ; when to be crufhed under falling rocks and 
 mountains, inftead of being viewed with terror as 
 heretofore, will be earneftly defired ! Yes, defired, 
 but defired in vain ! The finner, who hath neglecled 
 the great falvation, will not be able to efcape, nor hide 
 himfelf from the face of him that fit teth upon the throne^ 
 nor from the wrath of the Lamb ! 
 
 My dear hearers ! confider your condition without 
 delay — God fays to you, "To-day if ye will hear his 
 voice, harden not your hearts — To-day may be the 
 only day you have to live — Go home, enter the clof- 
 et, and fhut the door — confefs your fins — implore 
 mercy through our Lord Jefus Chrift — Kifs the Son 
 left he be angry, and ye perifh from the way, when his 
 wrath is kindled but a little ; blejftd afe all they that put 
 their trufl in him I 
 

SERMON III. 
 
 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 Knowledge of Divine Truth. 
 
 ■^s*^^^^^^^^^^^*** 3 " 
 
 Hebrews v. 12, 13, 14. 
 
 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need 
 that one teach you again which be the firfl principles of 
 the oracles of God ; and are become fuch as have need 
 of milk, and not of Jlrong meat. For every one thai 
 ufeth milky is unfkilfui in the word of right eoufnefs ; for 
 he is a babe. But Jlrong meat belongeth to them that 
 are of full age, even thofe who by reafon ofufe have their 
 fenfts exercifed to difcern both good and evil. 
 
 THERE is nothing in which the kingdom of 
 Chrift and the kingdom of Satan are more op- 
 pofed. than that the one is characterized by light, and 
 the other by darknefs. The caufe of falfehood is it- 
 felf a dark caufe, and requires darknefs to cover it : 
 but truth is light, and cometh to the light, that it may 
 be made rnanifeft. Knowledge is every where encour- 
 aged in the Bible ; our bed interefts are interwoven 
 with it ; and the fpirituality of our minds, and the real 
 enjoyment of our lives depend upon its increafe. 
 Grace and peace are multiplied through the knowledge of 
 God, and of Jefus our Lord. Nor is it neceflary for 
 our own fakes only, but for the fake of others. It is 
 Z 2 a great 
 
42 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 a great encouragement to Chriftian miniflers, when 
 thole whom they teach pofief* a good underftanding 
 in the things of God. Indeed, none but thofe 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 remark is exemplified in the writer 
 of this erfftle. In the verfes immediately preceding 
 the text, you perceive him highly interefted in his fub- 
 jeft, and proceeding in a glorious career of reafoning; 
 when, all on a fudden, he is flopped. He had many 
 things to fay of his Lord and Mailer, but which were 
 hard to be under/lood, feeing thofe to whom he wrote ivere 
 dull of hearing. It is on this occafion that he introdu- 
 ces the paflage now before us ; in which his objefl is 
 to fhame and provoke them, by comparing them with 
 thofe who, as to years, were men, but, as to knowl- 
 edge, children ; and who, inftead of having made ad- 
 vances in fcience, needed to be taught the alphabet 
 over again. There are fome tilings fuppofed and in- 
 cluded in the paffage, which require a little previous 
 attention. 
 
 Fuji — It is here fuppofed, that all divine knowledge 
 is to be derived from the oracles of God, It is a proper 
 term by which the facred fcriptures are here denomi- 
 nated, ftrongly expreflive of their divine infpiration and 
 infallibility : in them God fpeaks •, and to them it be- 
 comes us to hearken. We may learn other things from 
 other quarters ; and things too that may fubferve the 
 knowledge of God ; but the knowledge of God itfelf 
 mud here be fought, for here only it can be found. 
 
 Much has been faid of faith and veafon, and the 
 queftion has often been agitated, whether the one, in 
 any inftance, can be contrary to the other ? In the fo- 
 lation of this queftion, it is neceflary, in the firft place, 
 to determine what is meant by reafon. There is a 
 great difference between reafw 7 and reafoning. Noth- 
 ing 
 
Knowledge cf Divine Truth. 43 
 
 which God reveals can contradict the former - y 
 but this is more than can be faid of the latter. It is 
 impoiFible for God to reveal any thing repugnant to 
 what is fit and fight *, but that which is fit and right 
 i.i oyiq man's edimaticn, is prepoiterous and abiurci 
 irt the efieem oi another ; which clearly proves, that 
 reafon, as it exifts in depraved creatures, is not a prop- 
 er ftandard of truth ; and hence arifes the neceflity 
 of another and a better ftandard, the Grades of God. 
 By Studying thefe, a good man will gain more under- 
 ftanding than his teachers, if they live in the neglect 
 of them. 
 
 Secondly — It is*fuppofed, that the oracles of God in- 
 clude a fyftem of divine truth. They contain xhzjirji 
 principles, of rudiments, of religion, the fimple truths 
 of the gofpel, which require little or no inveftigation 
 in order to their being understood : thefe are called 
 milk. They alio contain the deep things of God, 
 things beyond the reach of a flight and curfory obfer- 
 ration ; and which require, if we would properly en- 
 fet into them, ctofe and repeated attention ; this is 
 Jlrong meat. Thofe doctrines, which the apoftle enu- 
 merates in the following chapter, as things which he 
 ihould leave anchgo on unto perfection , have been thought 
 to refer to the leading principles of Judaifm : and it may 
 be fo \ for Judaifm itfelf contained the firft principles 
 of Christianity : it was introductory to it •, or, as it is 
 elfewhere expreiTed, it was our fcbool-majler to bring us 
 to Chri/h 
 
 Thirdly — It is intimated that Christians ihould not 
 reft fatisfied in having attained to a knowledge of the 
 firft principles of the doctrine of Chrift, but mould go 
 on unto perfection ; not only fo as to obtain 
 tion for themfelves, but that they may be able to teach 
 ethers. It is true, all are ;:ot to be teachers by office ; but 
 in one form or other, all ihould afpire to communicate 
 
 the 
 
44 ST2tf Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 the knowledge of Chrifl. Every Chriftian is required 
 to be ready to give a reafon of the hope that is in him 
 with meeknefs and fear : and if all the members of our 
 churches did but poffefs this readinefs, befides the ad- 
 vantages that would accrue to thernfelves and others, 
 there would be lefs fcarcity than there is of able and 
 evangelical minifters. 
 
 The leading fentiment which runs through the paf- 
 fage, and comprifes the whole, is, the importance 
 
 OF A DEEP AND INTIMATE* KNOWLEDGE OF DIVINE 
 
 truth. To this fubje£t, brethren, permit me to call 
 your attention. In difcourfing upon it, I (hall firft in- 
 quire wherein it confifts, and then endeavour to fhew 
 the importance of it. 
 
 I. Lei us inquire, what a Jeep and intimate knowl- 
 edge of divine truth includes. 
 
 That the cracks of God contain deep things, requires 
 but little proof. The character of God ; our own de- 
 pravity ; and that great myftery of godlinefs, God man*- 
 ifeft in the flefh, &c. are deep and interesting fubje&s. 
 The prophets had to fearch into the meaning of their 
 own prophecies. I Peter i. i o. — Thu riches of Chrift, 
 with which the apoftles w r ere intrufted, were denom- 
 inated unfearchable, Eph* iii. 8 \ and even the higheft 
 orders of created intelligences are defcribed as locking 
 into ihefe things for their farther improvement. I Pet* 
 
 r. 12. 
 
 It may feem prefuming for any perfon, in the prefent 
 imperfeft ftate, to determine on fubje£ts of fuch mag- 
 nitude -, or to talk of a deep and intimate know-l- 
 edge of things which furpafs the comprehenfion of the 
 xnoft exalted creatures. And if thefe terms were ufed 
 either abfoluiely, to exprefs the real conformity of our 
 ideas of divine things to the full extent of the things 
 
 thernfelves \ 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 45 
 
 themfelves ; or even comparatively, if the companion 
 refpecled faints on earth and faints in heaven, it would 
 be prefumption. But it is only in reference to one 
 another in the prefent ftate, that thefe terms are intend- 
 ed to apply. Compared with the heavenly inhabitants, 
 all of us are babes : even an inlpired apoftle was no 
 more, -When 1 was a child, faid he, I f pake as a child, 
 I underflood as a child, I thought as a child : but when I 
 became a man, I put away child'flj things. For new we 
 fee through a glafs darkly, but then face to face : now I 
 know in party but ihenjlialllknow even as aljo I am knonvn. 
 I Cor. xiii. 11, 12. There are fuch degrees, however, 
 amongft good men in this life, as that, compared with 
 each other, foine may be faid to poffefs only a fuperfi- 
 tial knowledge of divine truth, and others a more deep 
 and intimate acquaintance with it. 
 
 It is the importance of the latter of thefe that I wifo 
 to harce impreiled upon our minds. To attain it, the 
 following, am i oa gft other things, require our attention. 
 
 I. Though we mitjt notjlop at firft principles y yet we 
 \ i be well grounded in them. 
 
 No perfon can drink deeply into any feie nee without 
 being well acquainted with its rudiments : thefe are the 
 foundation on which the whole ftrudture refts. The 
 firft principles of the oracles of God, as fpecified by 
 our apoftle, are repentance from dead works, faith towards 
 God, the doclrine of baptifms, and the laying on of hands y 
 the refurreclion of the dead, and eternal judgment. What- 
 ever may be meant by fome of thefe terms, whether 
 they refer to things peculiar to Judaifm, or to the ear- 
 ly times of Chriftianity ; it is clear from fcripture, and 
 the nature of things, that others of them are expreffive 
 of principles, which, in every age, are of the firft im- 
 portance. Though the apoftle fpeaks of leaving them, 
 yet he does not mean that we (hould give them up, or 
 
 treat 
 
46 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 treat them with indifference, but go on unto perfections 
 as a builder leaves his foundation when he raifes his 
 walls, and advances towards the completion of his 
 building. 
 
 Repentance was the firft leflbn inculcated by John the 
 baptift, and Chrift, and his apoftles ; and that not 
 merely on profligate finners, but on fcribes and pharl- 
 fees. 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 divine 
 things, puffs them up : and while they think they un- 
 derftand great things, they know nothing as they ought 
 to know it. All the works too, which have been 
 wrought during a ftate of unregeneracy, are dead works : 
 and, inftead of being in any degree pleafing to God, re- 
 quire to be lamented with fhame and felf-abhorrence. 
 Repentance is a kind of felf-emptying work : it ia- 
 cludes a renunciation, not only of thofe things for 
 which our own confeiences at the time condemned us, 
 but of what we have been in the habit of reckoning 
 wifdom and righteoufnefs. Hence the propriety of the 
 order in which the fcriptures place it with regard to 
 faith, Repent and believe the gofpd. Mark i. 15. A£ts 
 ii. 38. xx. 21. 2 Tim. ii. 25. Renounce your own 
 ways, and embrace his : He that will be wife, mufl firfi 
 become a fool that he may be wife* 
 
 Faith towards God> or believing views of the being 
 and glory of the divine charafter, are reckoned alfo 
 amongft the firft principles of the doctrines of Chrift. 
 If we have juft ideas of this very important fubjeft, 
 we have the key to the whole fyftem of gofpel truth. 
 He who beholds the glory of the divine holinefs, will, 
 in that glafs, perceive his own polluted and perifhing 
 condition \ and, when properly imprefled with a fenfe 
 
 of 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 47 
 
 of thefe things, he will, naturally embrace the do&rine 
 of a Saviour, yea, and of a great one. Salvation, by 
 mere grace, through the atonement of Jefus, will ap- 
 pear the very object of his foul's defire. And, with 
 thefe principles in his heart, other fcripture doctrines 
 will appear true, interefting, and harmonious. There 
 are but few erroneous fentiments in the Chrift : an world, 
 which may not be traced to a fpirit of felf-ad miration, 
 which is the oppolite of repentance, or to falfe concep- 
 tions of the divine character. 
 
 To thefe the apoftle adds, the refurreffion of the dead, 
 
 and eternal judgment ; or the doftrine of a future ltate 
 of rewards and punifhments, of endlefs duration, 
 Thefe are principles, which, though they occupy alrnoft 
 an ultimate place in the facred iyitem, yet, as every 
 other important truth refpecHng man proceeds upon 
 the fuppoiition of their truth, they may properly enough 
 be reckoned among the firtt principles of the oracles of 
 God. If thefe principles were given up to the infidel, 
 the fpirit of whofe creed amounts to this, Let us eat 
 and drink, for to-morrow we die j or if the latter of them 
 were given up to the univerfalift, who, though he ad- 
 mits of a judgment to come, yet not of an eternal one; 
 we fhould foon find the whole fabric of truth fallen to 
 the ground. 
 
 2. IV e mujl not content curf elves with blowing what 
 is truths but m:ifl be acquainted with the evidence on which 
 it re/Is. 
 
 Chriftians are required to be always ready to give a 
 reafon for the hope that is in them, with meeknefs and 
 fear : and this fuppofes not only that every part of re- 
 ligion admits of a rational defence, but that it is necef- 
 iary for Chriftians to ftirdy, that they may be able to 
 defend it *, or at lead, to. feel the ground on which they 
 reft their hope. 
 
 The 
 
'4§ The Importance of a deep {end intimate 
 
 The truths contained in the oracles of God, may be 
 diftinguifhed into two kinds : thofe, which approve 
 themfelves to our ideas of wifdom or fitnefs ; and thofe, 
 which utterly furpafs our underftanding, but which re- 
 quire to be believed as matters of pure revelation. The 
 former chiefly refpeft the counfels and w r orks of God, 
 which are exhibited to our underftanding, that God in 
 them may be made manifeft : the latter more commonly 
 refpeft the being and inconceivable 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 defirable to trace the wifdom and 
 harmony of evangelical truth : it is a fource of enjoy- 
 ment fuperior, perhaps, to any thing with which we 
 are acquainted. All the works of God are honourable and 
 glorious, and fought out by all them that have pleafure therein; 
 but redemption is his great w r ork, wherein appears glory 
 to him/elf in the highejl, and on earth peace and good will to 
 men ; here, therefore, mull needs be the higheft enjoy- 
 ment. Prior to the revelation of redemption, the holy 
 angels (houted for joy over the works of nature ; but 
 having witnefled the incarnation, life, death, refurrec- 
 tion, and afcenfion of Jefus, they defired to look into other 
 things. Nothing tends more to eftablifti the mind, and 
 to intereft the heart in any truth, than a perception that 
 it is adapted at once to exprefs the glory of the divine 
 charafter, and to meet the neceffities of guilty creatures. 
 The mere we think of truth, therefore, in this way, 
 the more we {hall be rooted and grounded in it. 
 
 But what reafoti have we to give for embracing thofe 
 do£t rines, which we confider as above reafon, of the 
 fitnefs of which we consequently pretend to have no 
 ideas. We anfwer, they are contained in the oracles 
 of God. Nothing is more reafonable than to give im- 
 plicit credit to Him, who cannot lie. On this ground 
 we believe that there are three who bear reccrd in heaven , 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 4g 
 
 the Father ', the Word, and the Holy Gfoft ; and that fhefe 
 three are one. If God had revealed nothing but what 
 would have come within the limits of our under (land- 
 ing, he mud have told us little or nothing about him- 
 felf, and nothing at all of his felf-exiftence, eternity, 
 and infinity ; for we have no pofitive ideas of any of 
 thefe things. Yet the revelation of fuch truths may be 
 as neceflary as thofe which approach nearer to our com- 
 prehenfion. The latter afford food for knowledge ; the 
 former reach us humility and furftifh matter for faith. 
 
 3. We tnuft learn truth immediately from the Grades 
 of God. 
 
 Many religious people appear to be contented with 
 feeing truth in the light in which fome great and good 
 author has placed it : but if ever we enter into the gof- 
 pel to purpofe, it mult be by reading the word of God 
 for ourfeives, and by praying and meditating upon its 
 (acred contents. It is in God's light that we mufifet ligbf. 
 By converfing with the facred writers, we (hall gradu- 
 ally imbibe their fentiments, and be infenfibiy affimila- 
 tsd into the fame fpirit. 
 
 The writings of great and good men are not to be 
 defpifed any more than their preaching ; only let them 
 not be treated as oracular. The beft of men, in this 
 imperfeft ftate, view tilings partially ; and, therefore, 
 a'*e in danger of laying an improper itrefs upon fomc 
 parts of leripture truth to the negleft of other parts, of 
 equal, and fome times of fuperior, importance- Now 
 where this is the cafe, imitation becomes dangerous. 
 It is rarely known but that an original fullers in the 
 hands of a copyift : if, therefore, the former be imper- 
 fect, what may be expecled of the latter ? We all come 
 far fliort of truth and righteoufnefs, let our model be 
 ever to perfect - r but if this be imperfcer,, we (hall pof- 
 fefs not only our own faults, but thofe of another. 
 
 A a If, 
 
$o The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 If, as minifters, we go about to depict either the 
 character of a bad man, or of a good man, a ftate of 
 unregeneracy, or a work of grace ; and, inftead of 
 drawing from real life, only copy from fome accounts 
 which we have read or heard, of thefe matters, we 
 fhall neither convince the finner, nor touch the cafe of 
 the believer : all, to fay the leaft, will be foreign and 
 uninterefting. 
 
 If we adopt the principles of fallible men, without 
 fearching the fcriptures for ourfelves, and inquiring 
 whether thofe things be fo, or not, they will not avail 
 us, even allowing them to be on the fide of truth, as if 
 we had learned them from a higher authority. Our 
 faith, in fuch a cafe, will ftand in the wifdom of man, 
 and not in the power of God. There is a favour in 
 truth when drawn from the words which the Holy 
 Ghoft teacheth, which is loft, or at leaft diminifhed, 
 if it pafs under the conceptions and expreftions of men. 
 Nor will it avail us when moft needed ; for he who 
 receives his creed from men, may deliver it -up to men 
 again. Truth learned only at fecond-hand will be to 
 us what Saul's armour was to David \ we fhall be at a 
 lofs how to ufe it in the day of trial. 
 
 4. If we would polTefs a great and intimate ac- 
 quaintance with divine truth, ive tnuft view it in its 
 various connexions, in the great fyft&n of redemption* — 
 Syftematical divinity, or the ftudying of truth in a 
 fyftematicl form, has been, of late years, much decried. 
 It has become almoft general to coniider it as the 
 mark of a contracted mind, arid the grand obftruftion 
 to free inquiry. If we imbibe a falfe fyftem, indeed, 
 there is no doubt but it will prove injurious *, if it be 
 true in part, but very defective, it may impede our prog- 
 refs in divine knowledge ; or if, in order to retain a 
 fyftem, we torture the fcriptures to make them accord 
 with it. we fhall pervert the truth inftead of preferving 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 51 
 
 it. Thefe are things which make againft falfe, defec- 
 tive, and anti-fcriptural fy items of faith *, but not in 
 the leaft againft fyftem rtfelf. The beft criterion of a 
 good fyftem is its concordance with the holy feriptures. 
 That view of things, whether we have any of us fully 
 attained it or not, which admits the moft natural mean- 
 ing to be put upon every part of God's w r ord, is the 
 right fyftem of religious truth. And he, whofe belief 
 confifts of a number of pofitions arranged in fuch a con- 
 nexion as to conftitute a confident whole, but who, from 
 a fenfe of his imperfe&ion, and a remembrance of pail 
 errors, holds himfelf ready to add or retrench as evi- 
 dence (hall require, is in a far more advantageous track 
 for the attainment of truth, and a real enlargement of 
 mind, than he who thinks without a fyftem. 
 
 To be without fyftem, is nearly the fame thing as 
 to be without principle. Whatever principles we may 
 have, white they continue in this diforganized ftate, 
 they will anfwer but little purpofe.in the religious life. 
 Like a tumultuous aflembly in the day of battle, they 
 may exift ; but it will be without order, energy, or end. 
 
 No man could decry fyftematical knowledge in any 
 thing but religion, without fubjedling himfelf to the 
 ridicule of thinking men : a philofopher, for inftance, 
 who, inftead of improving fafts which had fallen under 
 his obfervation, that he might difcovcr the general laws 
 by which they were governed ; and, inftead of tracing 
 things to their firft principles, and purfuing them to 
 their juft confequences, fhould inveigh againft all gen- 
 eral laws, all fyftem, all connexion and dependence, and 
 all uniform defign in the variety of creation. What 
 fhould we fay of a hujbandman^ who refufed to arrange 
 his obfervations under the refpeftive branches of bufi- 
 nefs to which they naturally belonged ; who had no 
 general fcheme or plan of proceeding, but left the work 
 of every .day to the day itfelf, without forethought, con- 
 trivance. 
 
 4 
 
52 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 trivance, or defign ? Or what account fhould we make 
 of a merchant ^ ox trade/man^ who fhould exclude fyftem- 
 atical knowledge from his affairs ? He is conftantly em- 
 ployed in buying and felling, but he mud have no gen- 
 eral fyftem whereby to conduct either the one or the 
 other ; none for the regulation of his books •, none for 
 the aflbrtment of his articles : all muft be free, left he 
 fink into formality, and by being in the habit of doing 
 things in order, fhould contract a narrownefs of mind ! 
 
 But is the Bible written upon fyftematical principles ? 
 Dots it contain a fyftem ? Or does it encourage us to 
 form one ? — By the Bible being written on fyftematical 
 principles, I fuppofe is meant a fyftematical arrangement 
 of its contents : and there is no doubt but that the con- 
 trary of this is true. But then the fame might be faid 
 of the book of nature. Though the different fpecies of 
 animals, vegetables, minerals, &c. are capable of being 
 arranged under their xefye&'we genera > and fo reduced to 
 a fyftem ; yet in their a&ual pofition in creation, they 
 2ffume no fuch appearance. It is wifely contrived, both 
 in nature and fcripture, that the objects of each fhould 
 be fcattered in lovely variety : but amidft all this variety, 
 an obfervant eye will perceive unity, order, arrangement, 
 and fulnefs of defign. 
 
 God, in all his works, has proceeded by fyftem : there 
 is a beautiful connexion and harmony in every thing 
 which he has wrought. We fometimes fpeak cf a fyf- 
 tem of nature, a fyftem of providence, and a fyftem of 
 redemption \ and, as fmaller fyftems are often included 
 in greater, the language is not improper : in reality, 
 however, they are all but one fyftem ; one grand piece 
 of machinery;, each part of which has a dependence on 
 tiic other, and altogether form one glorious whole. Now 
 if God proceed by'Vyftem, it may be expected that the 
 fcripturesj being a tranfeript of his mind, mould contain 
 
 a fyftem x 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. $$ 
 
 a fyftem ; and if we would ftudy them to purpofe, it 
 muft be fo as to difcover what that fyftem is. 
 
 I never recollect to have heard any objection to fyf- 
 tematical divinity with regard to praclice. Let a Chris- 
 tian, utterly unacquainted with human writings, take 
 his Bible with a view to learn the mind of God upon 
 any given fubjeft, fuppofe it be the duty of parents ', he 
 will naturally collect all the paflages in the facred wri- 
 tings which relate to that fubj eft, arrange them in order, 
 and from the whole, thus taken together, regulate his 
 conduct. For this, no one would think of blaming him: 
 yet this will be actually fyftematical. 
 
 Let him do the fame with refpe£t to every other du- 
 ty, and he will be in pofleffion of a body or fyftem of 
 prafiical divinity. And why fhould he flop here ; 
 why not colle£t the mind of God from the whole of 
 fcripture taken together, upon things to be believed^ 
 as well as things to be performed ? - 
 
 If the apoftles had not confidered divine truth in a 
 fyftematical form, how came the writer of this epiftle to 
 fpeak of the firf principles cf the oracles of God? This lan- 
 guage fuppofes, as before obferved, a fcheme or fyftem 
 of faith : and if fuch a form of confidering truth were 
 disadvantageous to Chriftians, how came he to cenfure 
 the Hebrews for their want of progrefs in it ? In the 
 epiftle to the Remans, chap. xii. 6, we read of the pro- 
 portion or analogy of faith, which fuppofes that the gof- 
 pel is one proportionate or confident whole. 
 
 Could a fyftem of divinity be written, in which e 
 facred truth or duty fhould have a place affigned it, anil 
 fuch a place, both as to order and importance, as prop- 
 erly belonged to it, not invading the province of 
 truths or duties, but, on the contrary, fubfoving them, 
 ^nd itfelf appearing to the greateft advantage amongft 
 Av* : -z;. " them : 
 
54 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 them ; fuch a performance would anfwer to what the 
 apoftle means by the proportion of faith. But can we 
 expe£t a work anfwering to this description from an 
 uninfpired pen ? — Perhaps net : the materials for fuch 
 a model, however, exift in the holy fcriptures, and 
 though we cannot colled! and arrange them to perfec- 
 tion, let us, as in all other things, prefs towards the mari. 
 
 Let that fyftem of religion, which we embrace, be 
 but, in the main, the right one, and fo far from con- 
 tracting the mind, it is eafy to perceive that it will 
 abundantly enlarge it. For example, let the fa£l of 
 Jofeph's being fold into Egypt be viewed without its 
 connexion with God's defigns, and it will appear a mel- 
 ancholy inftance of human depravity ; we {hall fee 
 nothing very remarkable in it ; and it will feem calcu- 
 lated only to afford a difgufting pidture of family jeal- 
 oufies and intrigues, enough to break the heart of an 
 aged parent. But let the fame fact be viewed fyftem- 
 a-tically, as a link in a chain, or as a part of a whole, 
 and it will affume a very different appearance. Thus 
 viewed, it is an event pregnant with glory. He mult 
 needs go down into Egypt that much people might be 
 preferved alive ; that Jacob's family might follow him ; 
 that they might there be preferved, for a feafon, till, 
 in due time, having become a great nation, they fhould 
 be led forth with a high hand ; that they might be 
 placed in Canaan, and might fet up the worfhip of the 
 true God ; that the Meihah might be born among 
 them ; and that his kingdom might be extended over 
 the whole earth. Without a fyftem, the patriarch re- 
 flected) All theft things are againjt me: but with a fyf- 
 tem, or rather with only the difcovery of a very fmall 
 part of it, he exclaimed, It is enough : Jofepb, my fin % is 
 yet alive : I will go down, and fee him before I die. 
 
 In addition to this event in providence, let us offer 
 ar examples on matters of do&rine. 
 
 "Would 
 
Kft of Divine Jruti 
 
 Would you contemplate the great evil of fu^ you muft 
 view it in ifrs connexions, tendencies, and confequen-- 
 CCS- For a poor finite creature, whofe life is but a va- 
 pour, to gratify a vicious inclination, may appear a tri- 
 fle : but when its tendencies and mifchievous confe- 
 quences are taken into the account, it wears a different 
 afpect. Jeroboam fvd in his heart,. If this people go up 
 to facrifice at Jerufalem, then. fall the kingdom return un- 
 to David. Hence he fet up idolatry ; and hence the 
 nation was corrupted more and more, till at length it 
 was given up to utter deftruction, Conndering.our- 
 felves as links in the great chain of moral government* 
 every tranfgreflion is of yaft importance, becaufs it af- 
 fects the whole fyftem. If the government of God be 
 once violated, an example is fet, which, if followed, 
 would ruin the univerie. 
 
 Farther, if we contemplate the death of Chrifl with- 
 out any relation to fyftem, we (hall only fee a fuffering 
 perfon at Jerufalem, and feel that pity and difguft 
 which is ordinarily excited by injuflice and cruelty, 
 But let us view it as connected with the moral govern- 
 ment of God y as a glorious expedient to fecure its 
 honours ; a propitiation wherein God declared his right couf- 
 7:efs for the rem if! on of fins, Rom. iii. 25, and we (hall 
 have a new fet of feelings. While the apoflles con- 
 tinued to view this event unconnectedly, their minds 
 were contracted,, and forrow filled their hearts ; but 
 when their eyes were opened to fee it in its connex- 
 ions and confequences, their forrow was turned into 
 joy. Thole very perfons who, but a few weeks be- 
 fore, could not bear to think of their Lord's departure, 
 afier they had witnefled his afcenfion to glory, return- 
 ed to Jerufalem with great joy, and continued daily in the 
 temple, praf nig and biffing God. Luke xxiv. 52, 53. 
 
 Once more, if we view the doctrine of eleclion as un- 
 connected with other things, it may appear to us to be 
 
 a kind 
 
50 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 a kind of fondnefs without reafon or wifdom. A 
 charge of caprice would hereby he brought againft the 
 Almighty ", and profeflbrs, like the carnal Jews, on ac- 
 count of the diftinguifhing favours conferred on their 
 nation, would be foftered in felt-conceit. But if it be 
 confidered in connexion with the great fyftem of relig- 
 ious truth, it will appear in a very different light. It 
 will reprefent the Divine Being in his true character; 
 not as acting without defign, and fubjecling himfelf to 
 endlefs difappointments ; but as accomplifhing all his 
 works in purfuance of an eternal purpcfe. And as fal- 
 vation, from firft to laft, is of mere grace, and every 
 fon and daughter of Adam is abfolutely at the divine 
 difcretion, it tends powerfully to imprefs this idea both 
 upon faints and fmners. While it leads the former to 
 acknowledge, that by the grace of God they are what 
 they are, it teaches the latter to relinquifh their vain 
 hopes, and to fall into the arms of fcvereign mercy. 
 
 As the righteoufnefs of .God's cleft is not the ground 
 of their election, fo neither is their felicity its ultimate 
 end. God righteoufly hides the things of the gofpel 
 from the wife and prudent, and reveals them unto 
 babes, becaufeyi it fee met h good in his fight ; it tends 
 moll to difplay the glory of his character, and to pro- 
 mote the general good of creation. Thefe things, if 
 properly confidered, -are of a humbling tendency. 
 
 If the Jews had confidered that they were not cno- 
 fen, or put in poflefTion of the good fand y for their right- 
 eoufnefs) or for the uprightnefs of their hearts ; and that 
 though it was an inftaiice of great love to them, yet it 
 was not ultimately for their fake, or to accomplifn their 
 liappinefs, but that God might fulfil his covenant with 
 Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacobs Beut. ix. 5, in whom, and in 
 whofe feed all nations of the earth were to be lleffed ; and 
 if they had confidered the falvation of the world as the 
 end of their national exiffence, and themfelves as God's 
 
Knovjicdge of Divine Truth. $f 
 
 uhnejflh) till the times of reformation ; inftead of val- 
 uing themfelves, and defpiiing other nations, they 
 would have reckoned themfelves their fervants for Jthd- 
 V ah* S fake* 
 
 In (hort, by confidering principles in their- various 
 connexions, far greater advances will be, made in divine 
 
 knowledge than by any other means, The difcovery of one 
 important truth will lead en to a hundred mere. Let 
 a Chriflian but realize, for example, the glory cfthe Di- 
 vine Character, as the moral Governor of, the world; 
 and he will, at once, perceive the equity and gooduefs 
 of the moral law, which requires us to love him with 
 all the heart. In this -glafs he. will fee his own deprav- 
 ity : and poiTeffed of thefe views, the grace of the gof* 
 pel wilt appear to him to be grace indeed. Every blend- 
 ing it contains will' be endearing - y and. the medium 
 through which all is conveyed, Superlatively precious. 
 A train, of thought like this has frequently proved more, 
 interefting than the labours of thole, who, having dii- 
 covered a vein of Giver or gold, dig deeply Into the bow- - 
 els. of the enriching mine,. 
 
 Having confidered a few of the means neceffary for 
 the attainment of a deep and intimate knowledge ot 
 truth : I fhali 
 
 II. Attempt to eftahlifii the imeohtikce offuch a 
 incwu/edgf*. 
 
 As the powers of created beings are limited, r.nd rio . 
 one can expect to underftand every thing, it is the pro- 
 vince of wifdom to fefe£t thofe kinds of knowledge as 
 the objects of our purl uit, which are mod valuable, and 
 of the greateft utility. There are fome depths, of. 
 which it is our honour and felicity to be ignorant ; 
 Rev. ii. 24 ; and even in things which are lawful, we 
 may, in nurnberlefs instances, very well be excufed, if* 
 
 not 
 
58 The Importance of &;4eep and intimate 
 
 not in wholly negle&ing, yet in polTeffing only a general 
 acquaintance with them. But divine truth requires 
 not only to be known, but well known : it is not only 
 neceffary that we have fentiments, and right fenti- 
 ments, but that we enter deeply into them. Every 
 thing pertaining to God is great, and requires all our 
 powers. I»i whatever we indulge indifference, there 
 is no room for it here : God requires not only all our 
 hearty but all our nund antljlrength. 
 
 The importance of a deep and intimate acquaint- 
 ance with divine truth, will more particularly appear 
 from the following confederations : 
 
 I. A neglecl of God's word is reprefented as a- 
 heinous Jin :■ but we fhall not be able to efcape this fin, 
 If we cctrtent ourfelres with a fuperfkral acquaintance 
 with truth. Revelation, in every flage, demands our 
 ferious attention \ but the revelation of eternal life, 
 through Jefus Chiift, requires attention in the higheft 
 degree. This is that great falvahon y which we are 
 charged not to neglett. Heb. ii. 3. The dignity of its 
 author, its fublime and interesting nature, with the ac- 
 cumulated evidence, which God hath condescended to 
 afford us of its divine original, combine to require of 
 us the moft careful and cordial examination into its 
 contents. A negleft of this is either total or partial : 
 the former would denominate us unbelievers, and ex- 
 pofe us to utter dcitruftion : the latter, though it may 
 exift in fin cere Chrifdans, is neverthelefs a fin, and a 
 fin more than a little offenfive to the God of truth. 
 
 To be contented with a fuperficial acquaintance 
 with divine things, implies difrefpeci to Him who has 
 revealed them. '■ A letter from a diflant friend, to whom 
 we are cordially attached, is viewed and reviewed, and 
 every fentence of it carefully infpedted, and on many 
 occasions committed to memory. Why fhculd no* 
 
 the 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 59 
 
 the word of God be productive of the fame effects ? 
 Indeed it is : for in proportion as we love God, his 
 word will dwell richly in us. It will be our bofom 
 companion, to which we (hall have recourfe on every 
 occafion.; efpecially in feafons of leifure, when the 
 mind, like a fpring from which a preflure is removed, 
 rifes to its natural pofition. Hence the following lan- 
 guage, Thou Jhalt love the Lord thy God whh all thine 
 hearty and with all thy foul, and with all thy might ; and 
 thefe words which I command thee this day, Jha/l be in 
 thine hearty and thou Jhalt teach them diligently to thy chil- 
 dren, and Jhalt talk of them when thoufittejl in thine houfe> 
 and when thou walkeji by the way, and when thou liejl 
 down, and when thou rifjl up. Deut. vi. 5, 6, 7. 
 
 To be contented with a fuperficial acquaintance 
 with divine things, implies alfo a want of ajfedion to 
 the things them/elves. A will, or teftament, in which 
 we were deeply interefted, would be procured with 
 eagernefs, and read with avidity •, and if any difficulty 
 remained as to the meaning of a particular paflage, 
 we (hould have no reft till by fome means or other we 
 had obtained a folution of. it. I need not apply this 
 remark. Nothing is more evident, than that what- 
 ever is uppermoft in our affections, .will form the 
 grand current of our thoughts. And where our 
 thoughts are directed to a fubject with intenfenefs 
 and perfeverance, it will become familiar to us ; and 
 unlefs it be owing to the want of natural capacity, or 
 other necsflary means, we fhali, of courfe, enter deep- 
 ly into it. 
 
 I have been much (truck with the ardent affection 
 which David discovered to the holy fcriptures, and 
 every part of their facred contents. The whole cxix. 
 Pfalm is a continued encomium upon them. There 
 we have fuch language as the following : . 0, how I 
 love thy law. My foul breaketh for the longing that it 
 
 hath 
 
Do The Importance cf a deep and intimate 
 
 hath unto thy judgments at all times, Thy ftatutes have 
 been my Jong in the hcufe cf my pilgrimage. The law of 
 thy mouth is better to me than thoufands of gold and fiver. 
 Now, all the fcriptures which were then extant, 
 amounted to little more than the writings cf Mofes. 
 What additions have we fince enjoyed ! — Befides the 
 Book of Pfalms, arid the Prophecies which followed, 
 we have -the whole New Teftament— full of grace and 
 
 b — wherein the invkible God hath, as it were, 
 rendered hiniulf vifible. — Him, whom no man hath fc en 
 
 :; timcy the <mfy begotten Son, who dwelt in his bojlm, 
 hath' declared. John i. 17, 1 8. — How is it that fuch a 
 price ihould be in our hands to get wifdam, and yet 
 that we -fhould Live fc little heart for it. 
 
 2. The word of God isreprefented as a mean of 
 fanclif ration : but no effect of this kind can be pro- 
 duced beyond the degree in which we imbibe it. One 
 great objecl of our Lord's interceflion with the Father 
 .on our behaJf was, that we might be fanfrifed through 
 truthy even by his word, which is truth. The £oi- 
 pel is continually held up, net only as c dechine ac- 
 1 or din? to c godlinefs f but as having a powerful influence 
 in producing it. It teacheth us that % denying ungodlinefs 
 end worldly hfs, we fhould live foberly % rightecufy, and 
 iti this prcft'ii world. It luorketh effectually in thofc 
 who believe. It was by the dc&rine of the Crofs that 
 the world became crucified to the Apoftle, and he 
 unto the world ! So univerial and fo mail if eft were the 
 eifecls of divine truth upon the practice of the primi- 
 tive Chtiftians, that the faered writers could appeal. 
 to fa <5i on their behalf, that they, and they only were 
 fuccefsful combatants agatnft the world's temptations : 
 - — Who is he that overcount!: the world > but he that hex 
 lieveih that Jefus is the Son of Cod? John xvii. 17. 
 Tit. ii. 1 2. x ThelT. ii. 13. Gal. vi. 14. 1 John v. 4, 5. 
 
 Now, in order that the gofpel may be productive 
 
 of 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 61 
 
 ef thefe effects, it is neceflary that it be underftood. 
 — Without this, how fhould it intereit or affect the 
 heart ? We muft believe the truth, ere it will work ef- 
 fectually : we muft know it, or it will not make us free. 
 That we may ferve God acceptably, and with godly 
 fear, we muft have grace ; and grace is multiplied 
 through the knowledge of God, and of Jefus our Lord. 
 
 Knowledge and affection have a mutual influence 
 on each other. That the lov€ of truth will prompt us 
 to labour after a more perfect acquaintance with its con- 
 tents, has been already obferved : and that fuch an 
 acquaintance will promote an increafing love of truth 
 in return, is equally evident. We cannot love an un- 
 known golpel any more than an unknown God. Af- 
 fection is fed by knowledge, being thereby furnifhed 
 with grounds or reafons for its operations. By the ex- 
 panfion of the mind, the heart is fupplied with objects 
 which fill it with delight. It is thus that it becomes 
 enlarged, and that we feel ourfelves fweetly induced to 
 run in the nvay of the divine commandments. 
 
 How was it that the apoftle became dead to the 
 world, by the crofs of Chrift ? I fuppofe on much the 
 fame principle, that the light of the ftars is eclipfed 
 by that of the fun ; or that a man having drunk old 
 wine, ceafes to defire new, for he faith, the old is bet- 
 ter. It is by drinking deeply into religion, that we 
 become difaffe&ed to carnal objects. 
 
 3. The word of God is reprefented as the great 
 fource of Chrijhan enjoyment : but no effect of this kind 
 can be produced any farther than we imbibe the truth. 
 The fame way in which divine truth operates as a me- 
 dium of fanctification, it becomes a fource of enjoy- 
 ment ; namely, by interefting and affecting the heart. 
 That which, by its fuperior luftre, eclipfes the pleafures 
 of fenfe, and crucifies us to the world, at the fame time 
 B b kindles 
 
6 2 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 kindles a joy in the heart, which is unfpeakable and full, 
 of glory. The habitual joy, which was pofleffed by the 
 Apoftles and primitive ChriftJans, chic fly arofefrom a 
 knowledge and belief of the gofpel. It was the exceU 
 lency of the knowledge of Chrijl Jeftu his Lord, that indu- 
 ced the Apoftle to count all things but Ljj and dung. 
 Phil. iii. 8. Thofe in whom the word of Chrijl dwelt 
 richly, in all wijdom, were fuppofed to be fo enlivened 
 by it, that it became natural to them to teach and ad- 
 monfh one another in pfalms and hymns, and fpiritual Jongs, 
 finging with grace in their hearts to the Lord. Col. iii. 
 x6. The object, for which the apoftle lowed his knees 
 io the Father of glory, in behalf of the Ephefians, was, 
 that by means of a comprehenfve knowledge of the breadth, 
 and length, and depth, and height of the redeeming love of 
 Chrifl, they might be filled with all the Julnejs of God. 
 Ephef. iii. 18, 19. The wells of falvation are deep ^ 
 -and he that lacketh knowledge is as one that hath 
 nothing to draw with. 
 
 The prejudice of many Chriftians againfl doctrinal 
 preaching, as being, in their efteem, dry and uninter- 
 f/ling ; and the preference which is given to that which 
 is more defcriptive of their feelings, and which is there- 
 fore termed experimental, is worthy of attention. If 
 the doftrine which we preach be not the unadulter- 
 ated gofpel of Chrift, it will indeed be dry ; or, if in- 
 ftead of entering into the fpirit of truth, we are em- 
 ployed in a fruitlefs difcuffion of terms, or things on 
 which the fcriptures forbear to decide, it muft needs 
 be uninterefting, and even difgufting to a holy mind. 
 But if the pure gofpel of Jefus, well underftood by the 
 preacher, and communicated from the fulnefs of his 
 heart, do not intereft us, there muft be fome lamenta- 
 ble diforder in the ftate of our minds. If the manna 
 that comes down from heaven be loathed, it is a fign 
 that things are not with us as they ought to be. The 
 dottrine of Mofes, and furely much more that of Je- 
 
 4 fus, 
 
 
Knowledge cf Divine Truth. 6$ 
 
 {us, dropped as the rain, and dj/l Hied as ike dew upon the 
 tender herb. 
 
 Christian experience (or what is generally underftood 
 by that term, the painful and pleafurable feelings of 
 good men) will be found, if genuine, to arife from the 
 influence of truth upon the mind. If we be ftrar i| 
 to the glory of God's moral character, and the great 
 evil of (in, we fhall be (Irangers to all the feeling- 
 godly forrdw on account of it. And what ground w 
 fhere (otjof and peace] but in believing ? Take- away the 
 Deity arid atonement of Chrift, and they are annihilat- 
 ed. To this may be added, give up the doctrines of 
 the refurrettion and a future life, and what becomes of 
 hope ? From thefe inftances, out of many others, you 
 will eafily perceive, that doctrinal and experimental 
 preaching are not fo remote from each other as fome 
 perfons have imagined -> and that to extol the latter at 
 the expenfe of the former, is to a£l like him who withes 
 the fountain to be destroyed becaufe he prefers die 
 ftream, 
 
 4. It is a great objecl in the Chrmian life, accord- 
 ing to our capacities and opportunities, to diftufe the 
 t cf the gofpel around us : but we cannot commu- 
 nicate any thing beyond the degree in which we pof- 
 fefs it. The communication of gofpel truth is not 
 confined to minifters. Every Chriftian moves in a 
 fphere of fome extent ; and is expected fo to occupy 
 it, as to embrace every occafion which may ofFer to 
 make known the way of eternal life to thofe about him. 
 The primitive churches were fchools of heavenly in- 
 ftru&ion, as the words of the text, to go no farther, 
 plainly intimate ; and the apcltle reproves fome of 
 their members for having made no greater proficiency. 
 Though it would be vain for every one to afpire at be- 
 ing a public teacher of Christianity, yet, as hath been 
 already obferved, everv one fhould be concerned that 
 
 he 
 
6 4 The Importance &f a deep and Intimate 
 
 he may be able to give a reafonfor the hope thai is in him y 
 and to teach the good and the right way to thole with 
 whom he is immediately conne£led. The duties of a 
 parent, and a mafter, include in them the inftru&ion 
 of thofe who are committed to their care. Many op- 
 portunities arife, in which Chriftians might communi- 
 cate the knowledge of Chrift to their neighbours ; thofe 
 in a ftate of fervitude to their fellow-iervants \ and, 
 provided it were done on proper occafions, and, accord- 
 ing to the apoftolic rule, in meeknefs and fear, perfons 
 in inferior ftations might fuggeft a ufeful hint even to 
 their fuperiors. 
 
 When the family of Eiimelech went to fojourn in 
 b, they carried their religion with them - 7 fo re- 
 commended the God of Ifrael to thofe with whom they 
 formed connexions, that one of them was induced tt> 
 e her country, her kindred, and her gods, and to 
 put her truft under the fhadow of his wings. Ruth i. 
 And even a little maid of the land of Ifrael, who had 
 been carried captive into Syria, by fpeaking to her mif- 
 trefs, on a favourable opportunity, was inftrumental in 
 her matter's being healed of his leprofy, and in his be- 
 ing brought to acknowledge and adore the true God. 
 2 Kings v. Such cafes are recorded to encourage us 
 to communicate the good knowledge of God on all 
 proper occafions : but, in order to do this, we muft 
 iirft poflefs it, and that in a greater degree than merely 
 to denominate us Chriftians* 
 
 Perhaps one of the moft favourable opportunities for 
 Chriftians to fuggeft important truth to their neighbours 
 and connexions, is when any of them are under a 
 threatening affliction. To v'ifit them at fuch a time 
 would be kindly taken : even the word of characters 
 are commonly acceffible when they apprehend eterrnty 
 "to be drawing nigh. You may now freely cenverfe 
 and pray with them ; ajad if your circumftances will 
 
 iulmir, 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 65 
 
 ttomit, and theirs require it, a communication of your 
 worldly fubftance would convince them of your good 
 will, give weight to your inftru6lions, and correfpond 
 with the conduct of Him, who went about doing good 
 to the bodies and fouls of men. But fuch a practice 
 requires an intimate acquaintance with divine truth. 
 It is an important matter to converfe with men, who 
 are juft on the borders of an eternal world : it requires 
 not only tendernefs, faithfulnefs, and prudence ; but 
 an ability to expofe thofe falfe refuges, and dete£l 
 thofe delufive hopes, to which, at fuch feafons, they 
 are generally difpofed to fly ; and to direct them to 
 the only name under heaven , given among!} meriy whereby 
 they mujl be favecl* 
 
 5. In time of apoftacy from the truth, Chriftians 
 are exhorted to be (ledfaft : 2 Pet. iii. 17 ; but a fted- 
 fail adherence to truth, requires that we be rooted and 
 grounded in it. The wifdom of God fees meet, in or- 
 der to prove mankind, and eipecialiy his prorefling 
 people, to fuffer other gofpels, befides the true one, to 
 obtain footing amongft us. I am aware that it has be- 
 come cuflomary, in thefe times, to make a jeft oiherefy^ 
 and to deride, as illiberal, narrow-minded bigots, "all 
 thofe who corriidcr any religious fentiments as endan- 
 gering the falvation of men. But I hepe we (hall not, 
 on this account, be deterred from fuch an attachment: 
 to truth as the fcriptures encourage. It is granted 
 that^he term berrfy has been wretchedly abuied ; and 
 
 that 
 
 * Of the numerous liberal inftitutiens which, at this time, adorn .he. 
 metropolis, none appear to me more defervine ofeucouragejiient rhan 
 thofe ibcieties which have Iatefy been f« rmed for *ifit - a - j 
 
 erwr/ing with the vffl'ffled fot. If they continue to be eondu&ed 
 with propriety ; if, in particular, fuitabfe perfons are fele&ed as viiit- 
 ors I hope they will prove a bleffing of magnitude. May God A I- 
 ntighty blefs thofe young people who are thus employed, and may they 
 Bever want iupport from a benevolent public 
 
 Bb % 
 
66 The Import arm of a deep and intimate 
 
 that it becomes Chriftians to beware of applying it to 
 every departure from even truth itfelf : yet there is fuch 
 a thing in being. There were herefies in the apoftles' 
 times y and it was predicted that there fhould, in after 
 times, be perfons who would bring in even damnable 
 herefies. 2 Pet. ii. i. Let no one be ftartled at the ufe 
 cf thefe terms : I did not coin them ; and am not ac- 
 countable for them : but feeing they occupy a place in 
 the holy fcriptures, I think myfelf concerned to under- 
 ftand them. Whatever difficulty there may be in afcer- 
 taining their precife object, they undoubtedly teach us 
 that men's fouls may be destroyed by mental, as well as 
 by fenfual, lufts ; even the fouls of profeffing Chriftians ; 
 for the words are net intended to defcribe open infidels, 
 but fuch as fhould bear the Chriftian name, yea, and 
 who fhould be teachers of Chriitianity. 
 
 The circulation of doctrines pieafing to corrupt na- 
 ture will prove men to be what they are. They are 
 the fan in Chrift's hand, by which he will thoroughly 
 purge his floor. That light-minded profeffors of relig- 
 ion fhould be carried away with them, is no more a 
 matter of furprife than that the chaff fhould be carried 
 away by the wind : but how is it that thofe, of whom 
 we would hope better things, are often fliaken ? 
 
 If a minifter, in almoft any of our congregations, 
 fhould relinquilh truth, and fall into the groilefi errors ; 
 unlefs he has fo conducted himfelf as to have gained 
 little or no efteem amongft the people, he is feldom 
 known to go off alone : fometimes half a congregation, 
 and fometimes more, have been known to follow him, 
 or at leaft to be greatly unhinged for a considerable 
 time. If a writer ft art up in aim oft any connexion, 
 let his performance be ever fo weak or extravagant ; 
 yet, if he poflefs but a fufficient quantity of overbear- 
 ing affurance, he will have his admirers ; and fome 
 fei'ious people will b.e in danger of being turned afide. 
 
 How 
 
K>::\ 6y 
 
 fe things to be accounted for? I concekre 
 
 -., that Chriftians content them- 
 
 felves with a fuperilcial knowledge of divine things. 
 
 Great, numb. i a diflike to controverfy, will 
 
 and the difference be- 
 tween one fejt of religious principles and another. 
 They ha. re to enable themfelves to diftinguifh 
 
 between true 7\nd falfe reafonings.— They are too apt 
 to take it for granted, that what they ha\ . d is 
 
 truth, and that nothing can be advanced with the lead 
 colour of reaibn for the contrary : when, therefore, 
 an argument appears with a little plaufibility on its 
 face, it has only xo chi ?&&£> or a hearings and 
 
 their affent is gained. Brethre- ae, if nothing 
 
 elfe, provpke us, that \s lire.y 3 
 
 d to and fro b\ every ivind of chorine. Ephef. iv. 14. 
 Let us be concerned, not obftimitely to adhere to our 
 prefent fentiments, be they what they may, but to know 
 the mind of God in his word j and knowing it, let us 
 ftedfaftly adhere to it. 
 
 The prefent age feems to be an age of trial. Not 
 only is the gofpel corrupted by thofe who bear the 
 Chrittian nam&; but, of late, you well know, it has 
 been openly afiaited. The mod direct and daring op- 
 pofition has been made to the very name of Chriitiani- 
 ty. I am not going to alarm you with any idea that 
 the church is in danger : no, my brethren, the church, 
 of which we, I truft, are members, and of which Qhrift, 
 and Chrift alone, is head, is not in clanger : it is built 
 upon a rock, and the gates of hell (hall not prevail 
 agaiuil it. Neither are my apprehehfions excited con- 
 cerning thofe who are true members of the church : 
 thefe trying blafls, though they may affect them for a 
 feafon, will ultimately caufe them to take deeper root. 
 Neverthelefs, it becomes us to feel for the fouls of men, 
 efpeciaily for the rifing generation \ and to warn even 
 good men that they be not unarmed in the evil day. 
 
 The 
 
68 The Importance of a deep and intimate 
 
 The human heart has ever been averfe to the gcfpel 
 of Chrift ; but the turn or temper Gf the prefent age 
 is peculiarly in favour of infidelity. In much the fame 
 manner as, in former ages, men were violently attach- 
 ed to a perfecuting fuperftirfcn, they are now verging 
 to the oppofite extreme, and are in danger of throwing 
 off all religion. Our temptations, and thofe which 
 will attend our pofterity after us, are likely, therefore, 
 to be widely different from what they have hitherto 
 been. Hitherto nominal Chriitianity has been no re- 
 proach ; but reproach has attached itfelf to the other 
 fide. The cafe, in this reipett, may foon be altered. 
 Men grow bold in avowing their contempt of Chrifti- 
 anity ; and many among the difiipated part of the 
 youth are following their example. Now, if charac- 
 ters of this defcription fhould fpring up in fufficient 
 numbers, not only to keep each other in countenance, 
 but to turn the tide of reproach again ft Chriftians, as 
 a company of wrong-headed fenthufiafts, we fhall foon 
 fee which fide the mafs of mankind will take. Their 
 characters being loofe and profligate, they have long 
 {Ai themfuves condemned by the gcfpel 5 and this is 
 a matter that does net fit very eafy upon thern. — Noth- 
 ing has kept thein from rejecting it before now, but 
 the difgrace that would follow upon their becoming 
 open infidels : whenever, therefore, this difgrace fhall 
 be removed, we may expect them to go off in great 
 companies. The flighted obfervation of human nature 
 mult convince us, that the greater part of mankind, 
 even in religious matters, are governed by fafhion : 
 they go with the courfe of ihis rjorhL So great an in- 
 fluence has the tide of pul>lic opinion upon them, that 
 even where it is not altogether agreeable to their own 
 views and inclinations, they are, nrverthelefs, frequent- 
 ly carried away by it : but if it be thus where public 
 opinion and private inclination are at variance, it muft, 
 of courfe, be much more fo in thofe cafes wherein they 
 ire agreed, This will be like a union of the wind and 
 
 tide ; 
 
Knowledge of Divine Truth. 69 
 
 •tide : the vefiel that is carried along by fuch a joint 
 influence, can fcarcely have any thing left to impede 
 its progrefs. 
 
 The great influence, which a certain popular pam- 
 phlet has had upon men's minds, is not fo much owing 
 to the work itfelf, though it poflefles all the agreeable- 
 nefs to a depraved heart, which wit and malignity can 
 give it, as to the bias of theprefent generation in favour 
 of the principles which it contains. Of this the au- 
 thor himfelf feems to have been fufficiently aware, by 
 the title which he has thought proper to give his per- 
 formance.* 
 
 It is not unlikely that almoft all our religious contro- 
 vert] es will (oon be reduced to one, upon which the 
 it body of men will divide. Is Chriftiamty true or 
 falfe ? Is there ta God ? Is there a heaven and a hell ? 
 Or is it all a iitlion ? Agitated by thefe important quef- 
 tions, the greater part of the inhabitants of Europe, 
 and perhaps of America, including our own pofterirjr, 
 may rank either as real Chriftians, or as open Infidels. 
 
 What (halt we fay to thefe things ? Ought they to 
 deprefs us ? We ought, undoubtedly, to feel for the 
 welfare of men's fouls, and cannot but feel for thofe 
 who are more intimately connected with us: but up- 
 on any other principle, I know not that they ought to 
 have any fuch efie£i upon us. God is upon his throne : 
 his cl upon a rock : whatever hour vf temptation 
 
 ' may try them that dwell up- 
 
 on the earthy thofe who hold faft tiierice 
 
 f Be kept through it : Rev. iii. 10. All things are work* 
 ing together for good to them thai love God. With thefe 
 views, Chriftians may rejoice, and rejoice always. 
 
 While 
 
 • The Age of Reafon, 
 
/• The Importance^ SAr* 
 
 Wliile we rejoice, however, we muft rejoice with 
 trembling ; and while we confide in God, muft be dif- 
 fident of ourfelves. Let us not prefume on our own 
 firmnefs, but put en the whole armour of God, that ive 
 may iuitly7and in the evil day. The fifit thing required 
 in this divine accoutrement is, that our loins he girt about 
 with truth, Lphef. vi. 14 : but truth will not prove as 
 a girdle to our lcins in the day cf battle, except we be 
 deeply and intimately acquainted with it. 
 
 O ye fons and daughters of careleffhefs, who are 
 called Chriftians, but Live no root in yourfelves, what 
 afpe£t do thefe things wear towards you ? The time 
 feems drawing nigh that will prove you to be what 
 you are f Hitherto there has been an cuter court for 
 you, and you have worfhipped hr it. You have long 
 had a form of godHnefa, but have been without the 
 power. You have ranked with the friends of truth, 
 but have never received it in love, that you might be 
 fayed. You hare kept up the profefiion of fome thing 
 that has been called Chriftianity, without feeling your- 
 felves under any neceffity to proceed farther : but now 
 your outer court will probably be taken away, and you 
 will feel yourfelves impelled, as it were, either to come 
 In and be Chriftians in reality, or to go out and take 
 your portion with the unbelieving and the abominable* 
 
In the Prefs of MANNING & LORING, 
 
 A VIEW OF RELIGIONS, 
 
 In Two Parts. 
 
 Part I. Containing an alphabetical Compedium of the 
 various religious Denominations, which have appeared in the 
 World, from the beginning of the Chriftian Era to the pref- 
 ent Day, 
 
 Part II. Containing a brief Account of the different 
 Scheme, oi nou embraced among Mankind. 
 
 The whole collected from the moft approved Authors, 
 ancient and. modern. 
 
 By HANNAH ADAMS. 
 
 The Third Edition-, ivith large Additions. 
 
 « Prove all things, hold fail that which is good."—- -Apofcle Paul. 
 
 Alfo in the Prefs, 
 A COMPENDIOUS 
 
 MEDICAL DICTIONARY: 
 
 Containing an Explanation of the Terms in Anatomy, 
 Phyfiology, Surgery, Materia Medic a, Chemifiry, and Prafticc 
 of Phyfic. Collected from the moll approved Authors. 
 Bv R. HOOPER, m. d. 
 
 Of Pembroke College, Oxford ; Fellow of the Linns an and London 
 Medical Societies. 
 
 The Author's Defign is expre/Ted in 
 The PREFACE. 
 
 " THE object of the prefent Medical portable Dictionary 
 is to deliver, in a concife and perfpicuous manner, the expla- 
 nation, Sec. of all the terms ufed in the whole fcience of 
 medicine. 
 
 " Many excellent works have already appeared on the 
 fame fubjecl ; but their magnitude and diffufenefs are great 
 objections to their general utility. A work, therefore, con- 
 centrating their advantages without their inconvenience, it is 
 hoped, will be acceptable to medical ftudents." 
 
 August, 1801. 
 
 fj3* The above Works will be publi/hed in a few weeks, 
 
BOOKS, 
 
 For Sale at Manning cjf Loring's Bookftore, 
 
 No. 2, Cornhilly Boston. 
 HTHE Gofpel its own Witnefs : or ? The Holy 
 
 Nature and Divine Harmony of the Chriftian Religion, 
 contrafted with the Immorality and Abfurdity of Deifm* 
 By ANDREW FULLER. 
 
 Motto—" Laying his hand on his Bible, he would fay, c There is 
 true Philofophy. This is the wifdom that fpeaks to the heart. A 
 bad life is the only grand obje&ion to this Book."— Earl of Rochejler. 
 
 To which is annexed, A Summary of the principal Evi- 
 dences for the Truth and Divine Origin of the Chriftian 
 Revelation. Defigned chiefly for the ufe of Young Perfons. 
 By BIELBY,, Lord Bimop of London. 
 
 [Price y bound together ■, One Dollar* 
 
 Obfervations on the Converfion and Apoftle- 
 
 {hip of St. Paul : being an argumentative and rational De- 
 fence of the Chriftian Revelation ; deduced from the Cir- 
 cumftances of St. Paul before his Converfion, and the Effects 
 which followed it, as exemplified in his Life, and in thc- 
 Dodtrines which he preached. In a letter to Gilbert 
 West, Efq, 
 
 By Lord GEORGE LYTTLETON. 
 The Author of the celebrated Work, entitled, Purfdits of 
 Literature, gives the following recommendation of this valu- 
 able Tracl : "Lord Lyttleton has difcuffed the mod il- 
 
 luftrious inftance of the Converfion to this [the Chriftian] 
 religion, in the perfon of St. Paul, a man of the highefi 
 natural talents, and profoundeit reafoning and erudition ; 
 and he has accompanied the whole with remarks of weight 
 and dignity on the general fubjec~t of Revelation. " 
 
 Wilberforce's PradHcal View of the prevailing Re- 
 ligious Syftem of ProfeiTed Chriftians, in the higher 
 and middle dalles, contrafted with Real Chriftianity, 
 
 Watts' s Miscellaneous Thoughts, in Verfe and Prole. 
 
 Brown's Dictionary of the Bible, containing an Hii- 
 torical Account of the Perfons ; a Geographical and 
 Hiftorical Account of the Places \ a literal, critical, 
 and fyftermtical Defcription of other objeels, whether 
 natural, artificial, civil, religious cr military \ and the 
 
BOOKS. 
 
 Explication of the appellative terms, mentioned in the 
 writings of the Old and New Teftament. 
 
 Butterworth's Concordance to the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Newton on the Prophecies. 
 
 Orton's Difcourfes to the Aged. 
 
 Fleetwood's Life of Chrift ; together with the Lives 
 and Sufferings of the Apoftles. 
 
 Campbell on Miracles. 
 
 Memoirs of Mrs. Sarah Ofborn, late of Newport, 
 Rhodc-Ifland. By the Rev. Dr. Hopkins, 
 
 Owen on the Hebrews. 
 
 Newton's Works in nine volumes. 
 
 Blair's Sermons. 
 
 Booth's Reign of Grace, from its Rife to its Con- 
 fummation. 
 
 Burton's Led wres onFemaleEducation and Manners. 
 
 Butler's Analogy of Religion, Natural and ReveaL- 
 ed, to the Conftitution and Courfe of Nature. 
 
 Boflon's Human Nature in its Fourfold State. 
 
 Book of Martyrs, with Plates. 
 
 Bogatzky's Golden Treafury for the Children of 
 God : confiding of feleft Texts of the Bible, with 
 Pra&ical Obfervations, in Profe and Verfe, for every 
 day in the year. 
 
 Calvary ; or the Death of Chrift, a Poem, by Rich- 
 ard Cumberland. 
 
 Coles' Difcourfe on the Sovereignty of God. 
 
 Doddridge's Rife and Progrefs of Religion in the 
 Soul, illuftrated in a courfe of fericus and practical 
 Addrefles, fuited to perfons of every character and 
 circumftance. 
 
 Ne w Edition of Sacred Dramas, chiefly intended for 
 Young Perfons : The fubjefts taken frcm the Bible. 
 To which are added, Reflections of King Hezekiah* 
 Senfibitity, a poem ; and Search after Happinefs. 
 By HANNAH MORE. 
 
 Motto — " All the Books of the Bible are either moil admirable 
 and exalted pieces of Poetry, or are the bell materials ill the world 
 fork." Cowaey. 
 
BOOKS. 
 
 Doddridge's Ten Sermons on Regeneration. 
 
 Dayies' Sermons on important Subjects. 
 
 Edwards on Religious Affections. 
 
 Edwards' Hiftory of Redemption, with Notes, His- 
 torical, Critical, and Theological. 
 
 Edwards on the Millennium. 
 
 Fuller's Letters, in which the Calviniftic and Socni- 
 ian Sy items are examined and compared as to their 
 moral tendency. 
 
 Grove, on the Nature and Defign of the Lord's 
 Supper. 
 
 Gofpel Sonnets, by Ermine. 
 
 Hunter's Sacred Biography ; to which is added, the 
 Hiftory of Deborah, Ruth, and Hannah. 
 
 Hopkins's Syftem of Divinity. 
 
 Hervey's Meditations and Contemplations ; contain- 
 ing his Meditations among the Tombs, Reflections on 
 a Flower Garden, Defcant on Creation, Contempla- 
 tions on Night, on the Starry Heavens, a Winter 
 Piece, &c. &c. 
 
 Home's Commentary on the Book of Pfalms. 
 
 Jenks's Prayers and Oilices of Devotion for Families 
 and particular Perfons. 
 
 Jenyns' Inquiry into the Nature and Origin of Evil. 
 
 View of the Internal Evidence of the Chris- 
 tian Religion. 
 
 Life of Prefident Stiles, by the Rev^ Abiel Holmes, 
 with a Portrait. 
 
 Lives of Drs. Watts and Doddridge. 
 
 M'Ewen on the Types, Figures and Allegories of 
 the Old Teftament. 
 
 Mafon on Self Knowledge, (hewing the Nature and 
 Benefit of that important Science, and the way to at- 
 tain it. 
 . Orton's Letters to a young Clergyman. 
 
 Paley's View of the Evidences of Chriftianity. 
 
 Pike and Hayward's Religious Cafes of Confcience, 
 anfwered in an evangelical manner \ to which is added 
 
B O O K & 
 
 the Spiritual Companion •, or, the Profeffing Chriftian 
 tried at the bar of God's Word. 
 
 Poor Man's Help, and Young Man's Guide, (by 
 Burkitt) containing Doftrinal Inftru&ions; Practical 
 Directions \ Forms of Prayer, Hymns, &c. &c. 
 
 Pilgrim's Progrefs (by Bunyan) from this world to 
 that which is to come, delivered under the fimilitude 
 of a Dream ; with the Life of the Author. 
 
 Scougal's Life of God in the Soul of Man, with- 
 Rules for a Holy Life. 
 
 Thomfon's Seafons. 
 
 Watts's Lyric Poems, facred to Devotion and Piety $ 
 Virtue, Honour and Eriendfliip-, the Memory of the 
 Dead. 
 
 Watts's Mifcellaneous Thoughts in Profe and Verfe, 
 on Natural, Moral and Divine Subje&s. 
 
 Watts's Logic; or, the right Ufe of Reafon in the 
 Inquiry after Truth. 
 
 Watts on the Improvement of the Mind \ being a 
 fupplernent to the Art of Logic. 
 
 Willifon's AfHi£ted Man's Companion ; or, a Direc- 
 tory for Perfons and Families, affli&ed with Sicknefs, 
 or any other Diftrefs. 
 
 Willifon's Sacramental Meditations and Advices, 
 grounded upon Scripture Texts, proper for communi- 
 cants, with a (hort Chriftian Dire&ory, &c. 
 
 Whitefteld's Ten Sermons on various important 
 fubjedls. 
 
 Whitefield's Eighteen Sermons on various important 
 fubje£ts. 
 
 Young's (Dr.) Night Though ts, on Life, Death and 
 Immortality; with the Life of the Author, &c. 
 
 Zimmermann on Solitude, with relpeft to its influ- 
 ence upon the Mind and Heart. 
 

 
I