صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

tion, and frequent retirements; and made them sensible, that self-will was the root of all our sin; and an entire resignation to the will of God, the very spring of all our duty; and directed them to frequent and constant acts of self-denial and resignation. And as he was thus careful of his charge, so also of maintaining that entire correspondence with, and due deference and respect that he owed towards his reverend colleague; and that entire and constant love and harmony between them, and that mutual deserved esteem they had for one another, was very singular and very exemplary.

Thus faith

Thus "to him to live was Christ." fully and prudently did our dear friend manage his charge, in serving the interest of his blessed Master; and we might have hoped confidently ere long, that by their joint endeavours, through the blessing of the Almighty, we should have seen another face on our church. But amidst all his pious designs and cares, he is called by his great Master in an hour that we thought not of, from his stewardship here, to a higher employment in the other world. "Who is

that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord makes ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Of a truth he will make him ruler over all that he hath." Indeed the end of his life was no less Christ's than the beginning and whole course of it; the time of his sickness was as cheerfully spent in suffering the will of God, as the former was in doing it. He manifested the greatest meekness and cheerfulness of spirit through the whole course of it; he used not the

least harsh expression, either to any of those that waited on him, or concerning the present providence ; he expressed a perfect indifferency as to life and death, and an entire resignation to the will of God, to dispose of him as he thought meet. He found himself never more sensible of the vanity of this world, nor ever felt more ardent acts of love to God, than at that time. He was wrapt in admiration of God's goodness to him, and the little returns he said he had made to it; and acknowledged his own great unworthiness, and his humble confidence in the mercy and goodness of God, through the merits of his blessed Saviour. And thus meekly did he pass his sickness, and resign his spirit, without any trouble from the world, or great pain of body, or any anguish of mind; for "mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

And now, after all, I cannot here omit what service he hath done the world, by permitting it to enjoy those excellent thoughts of his about the Life of God in the Soul of Man.' Men may write big volumes, and, as one says, talk much and say nothing; but it is a great matter to talk little and yet say much: and sure whoever considers the importance of the matter of that book, the clear representation of the life and spirit of true religion, and its graces, with the great excellency and advantages of it; the proposal of the most effectual means for attaining to it by the grace of God, the piety and seasonableness of the devotions, together with the natural and affectionate eloquence of the style, cannot but be sensible of its great usefulness to inspire us with the spirit of true religion; to enlighten our minds with a

right sense and knowledge of it; to warm our hearts with suitable affections and breathings after it; and to direct our lives to the practice of it. And indeed it seems to have been in a great measure the transcript of his own life and spirit; those divine graces and virtues which he so clearly describes, shined forth in his own life and conversation, and he not only understood, but felt them. That faith, and love, and charity, that purity and humility, which he so passionately recommends and speaks of, did eminently appear throughout the whole course of his life.

What a deep sense had he of the truths of our religion! He suffered them not to float on his understanding, to be matter of talk and dispute with others, but he let them sink deep into his spirit, to renew his soul, and direct his life; and was careful to make use of all means that might give him a deeper sense of them. What a deep sense had he of the goodness of God; the wonderful mercy of our redemption by Jesus Christ; the corruption and degeneracy, and sinfulness of our nature; the excellency of goodness, and the happiness of heaven! and his deep sense of all this was the spring and root of all his other graces.

In how manifold instances did appear the ardency of his love to God! He was still breathing with more ardent desires after him, and was sorry he could love him no more; he was frequently admiring his wisdom and goodness in the government of the world, and the wise disposal of things. It was not the mean principles of custom, reputation, or vain-glory, or a servile fear, that made him carefully avoid all evil in his practices, but the ardency of his love to

his heavenly Father; and therefore his life was so uniform and constant to itself, and carefully employed in doing all the good he could, and any thing whereby God might be glorified; and he was still sensible how little he could do worthy of his love. His own inclinations were correspondent to the resolutions of his pious father from his childhood, and he had devoted himself for the service of Jesus Christ in the ministry. Those in whom he observed virtuous endowments, and the most pious inclinations, he encouraged by all means to the serving of God in the holy function. He endeavoured always after an absolute resignation of his will to him, looking upon this as the very life of all graces. He was very observing of the various passages of his providence towards him, and very sensible of his goodness in crossing some designs which he afterwards saw would have been inconvenient for him. He was careful to observe all the steps of providence, and when they seemed not to approve of his intentions, how eager soever his desires had been, he was sure not to go one step farther. He was ardent and constant in all his devotions towards God, his piety and zeal were very eminent in the public worship, when he was the mouth of the people: his devotion was so raised, and the humble fervour and seriousness of his spirit so visible, as did highly inflame the devotion of the serious and when he made one of them, the humility and adoration of his soul did appear in his outward behaviour; and he thought it one suitable expression of it, to bow the knee before that Majesty before whom the angels tremble. In the celebration and receiving of the holy communion, his soul seemed

to be wholly swallowed up in the contemplation of Jesus Christ, and his devotion was the admiration of all that saw him. He had been constant in his private prayers to God from his childhood; and that great secret of devotion which he recommends in his book, was his frequent practice; and he sent up sometimes such aspirations of love, with such ardent sighs, and groaning, and heavings of his spirit, as perhaps unclogged his spirit, and made his soul take its flight so soon from this earthly tabernacle.

And sure a soul so much inflamed with the love of God, could not be wanting in a suitable charity towards men; and indeed to this his very natural temper seemed to incline him. There was nothing of harshness in the disposition of his spirit, but it was full of sweetness and love, which appeared in his very air and countenance, and was apt to attract men's hearts at the first sight; and this happy disposition was hallowed and raised by the love of God into a holy charity. His soul was as wide as the world, and his love and good-will were universal, and every man the object of them. His prayers and good wishes were extended to all men, and all the harm he could do his enemies (if there were any such universal haters of mankind as to do him bad offices) was to pray for them the more earnestly to God. He did not confine his charity within a sect or party, but loved goodness wherever he found it, and entertained no harsh thoughts of men, merely upon their differing from him in this or that opinion. He was grieved at the distractions and divisions of the church, and that religion, the bond of love, should be made so much the bone of contentions.

« السابقةمتابعة »