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SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE REV. JOHN WILLIAMS.

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THE month of May last witness- unpretending modesty; and such ed the sudden departure of the was the reserve which he always Rev. JOHN WILLIAMS, senior pas-maintained on the subject of his tor of the Baptist Church in Oli-own feelings and history, that ver-Street, New-York. He was with much difficulty were gathera man of whose character and his- led the materials for the scanty tory it might well be said, in the notice of his life which follows. brief and beautiful simplicity of John Williams was born in inspiration "He was a good man, Carnarvonshire, Wales, on the and full of the Holy Ghost and of 8th day of March, (old style) faith; and much people was added 1767. The name of his father unto the Lord." Meek, patient, was William Roberts, from which, and zealous, he laboured long and according to the ancient custom successfully, and, when unex- still retained in some parts of the pectedly removed from the sor- Principality, of deriving the surrows and warfare of the church name of the children from the militant on earth, into the light christian name of the father, he and gladness of the church trium-took the name of Williams. The phant above, he left behind him a farm Plasllecheiddior on which he foved and a lamented name; and was born, had for many generagood men of all denominations tions been the homestead of the mourned at his death as for a fa-family, a race of hardy and rether and leader in Israel. Distin-spectable farmers. At an early guished for quiet usefulness, heage, Mr. W. was removed to the was no less remarkable for his house of his maternal grandfather, SEPT. 1825,

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who resided at the distance of a few miles, and with whom he past the years of his boyhood. The family into which he was thus brought, as well as that of his father, were from education and habit warmly attached to the Established Church, and a regular attendance at the parish church was one of the first lessons of his childhood. Being from his lameness unfitted for those agricultural labours which had been the pursuits of his fathers, and would else have been his choice, it was desired by his father, that he should receive a classical education which might fit him to enter the ministry of the Episcopal church. But even at this early age, was displayed that independence of character, that modest fear of becoming burdensome to others, which so strongly marked the whole course of his after life. Unwilling to remain dependant for support upon his family during the long period which might elapse ere he should, in some humble curacy, find the reward of his studies, he declined the proposal, and preferred to acquire a trade, by which his industry might meet an earlier reward. To a trade he accordingly applied himself, and

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for this purpose went to reside in the county town of Carnarvon. But he had not long been employed in this pursuit, before an event occurred which changed the whole current of his thoughts, and gave a new colouring to his life. The manner in which he first was brought to attend the ministry of the Dissenters is now unknown. It was, however, under a sermon preached by David Morris, a devoted minister of the Whitfieldites, or Calvinistic Methodists, that his mind first found ease from its burdens. At this period, also, he was accustomed to say, that he derived the greatest encouragement and benefit from a Welsh translation of the "Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ," a production of that splendid, though untutored genius, John Bunyan. It was thus, that the writings of one, scarce master of the refinements of his own language, were, under God, productive of a strong effect long after the death of their author, and in a language to him entirely unknown. Little imagining that it should even reach the mountains of Wales, Bunyan, in the spirit of faith, had cast his work as "bread upon the waters,"

*The pulpit of this church, was at this period, filled by a man of singular characAt a time when the evangelical party in the church of England was as yet weak and despised, this man, from the strain of his preaching, was considered as resembling them. But to this comparative purity of sentiment, he added a shameless depravity of conduct; and the high churchmen were not more disgusted with the purity of his doctrine, than were the pious with the irregularity of his practice. In the pulpit, he was a powerful and zealous preacher; in private life, a drunkard, a gambler, and a bully. When reproved for his inconsistencies, his usual reply was, 66 Do as I say, and not as I do" and it became a proverbial expression among his rustic parishioners; "When in the pulpit he preached so well, 'twas a pity he should ever leave it, when out of it, he lived so ill, 'twas a pity he should ever enter it." This singular being was a frequent visitor at the house of Mr. W's grandfather, and Mr. Williams often, at an early age, felt no little surprise at seeing his pastor come up to the door reeling from the sports of the cock-pit, (for cock-fighting was one of his favourite amusements,) and bearing on his face the marks of bruises received in some drunken fray. It seems hardly credible that such a man should be permitted to minister in any church; but those acquainted with Wales as that country was, not fifty years since, know full well that such depravity of conduct in a clergyman was no uncommon timg. Nearly the only singularity of the case was, that without any motives of interest he had adopted sentiments so opposite to his own conduct and so unpopular among his clerical brethren. Impurity of practice generally leads to heresy of doctrine; he was remarkable for having deserted the opinions without abandoning the practice of those abandoned and dissolute clergy who disgrace the retired curacies of the Principality.

ter midnight; but the modest conclusion with which Williams generally summed up the amicable debate, was, "Had I, Doctor, your talents and your learning, I could make more of my side of the question than you can make of yours."

Mr. W. had received from heaven a modest independence both in thought and action, which never

and he was endued, alike, with strength of intellect to perceive, and decision of character to follow the truth, lead him where it might. The Pædobaptist authors which Mr. Lewis lent in abun dance for his perusal, were read and tested by the bible. They failed to convince him; and study, reflection, and prayer, brought him at the age of twenty-one, to the baptismal waters; and he became by immersion a member of the Horeb Baptist church at Garn. The discussion which had terminated in his separation from the church of Dr. Lewis, never weakened the esteem which each felt for the other; and to the close of his life, Mr. W. continued to speak of his former pastor with a warmth of affection which time could not quench and distance could not lessen. Mr. W. had not long been united with the Horeb church before he became their minister.

and after many days it was "found again," and became food and nourishment to one whom God had designed for much usefulness. It may well be supposed, that Mr. W. always retained for the works of this author a grateful partiality. He had about completed the nineteenth year of his age when he united with the Independent Church in the neigh-permitted him to evade his duty; bourhood, which was under the care of the Rev. Dr. Lewis, a man who, perhaps, stood at the head of his denomination in Wales, distinguished alike for solid judgment and profound scholarship. Under his patronage, not long after his union with the church, Mr. W. began his pulpit ministrations. Beloved for the gentleness of his manners and the pure ardour of his piety, he was considered as exhibiting the promise of great future usefulness. Possessed of the affection and esteem of his pastor and fellow members, he was no doubt happy; but truth was to him yet dearer than earthly friendships. His Bible was now his library. He studied it intently and candidly; and ere long, doubts began to insinuate themselves of the propriety of infant sprinkling. Without, however, revealing to his pastor the workings of his mind, he one day inquired of Dr. Lewis the meaning of the passage, "Buried with him in baptism." The reply, which, as coming from a man of intellect and learning, sunk deep into the mind of the youthful christian was, "I really think the Baptists have, in the interpretation of that text, the advantage over us.". His doubts could not long be concealed, and Dr. Lewis laboured long and earnestly, but in vain, by conversation and the loan of Pædobaptist writings, to remove the scruples which he had unwittingly encouraged. Their friendly discussions were frequently prolonged long af

They knew his worth, and he reigned in their hearts. It was said of his people, that when a stranger occasionally ministered among them, they never were satisfied; and great as the attraction of novelty must ever be, none could with them be compared to their stated preacher. Before being fixed over this little flock, he had been advised by some of his friends to enter the Bristol Baptist Academy. after life, he often lamented his refusal, but the reasons of it do honour to his memory. His early ministrations had produced a pain in his breast, which he regarded

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