and there on your knees lay it before God; beg his grace to assist you; pray that Christ may be formed by his Spirit in your soul. Call to mind his sufferings for you; when reviled, he reviled not again; but endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God. If you suffer for and with him, be not ashamed; imitate his example and temper, and you shall, by persevering, share in his eternal joy. Now therefore, though you should be singular, even the only one of the family that walks in the ways of God, be not afraid. Those who fear and love God will give you the right hand of fellowship, and gladly assist you in the good way. There is also a glorious company of saints and angels above, who concur in praising God, and rejoicing in the conversion of a sinner. Above all, on your sincere repentance, God will pardon all your past offences: he will receive you graciously, and love you freely. And remember for whose sake he will do this for you; not for yours, but only for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He hath died for us, therefore we can through faith in him apply to the throne of grace for pardon, peace, holiness, and heaven. Be humble, be patient; endeavour to please your parents, so far as you can consistently with pleasing God; attend the means of grace as frequently as possible; be much in private prayer; read your Bible, and Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion, which will be put into your hand; and maintain a watchful and circumspect deportment throughout, as the servant of your blessed Redeemer. You will thereby grow in grace, and in the love of God, and all mankind. God will bless you, and enable you to rejoice in him. Press on through evil and good report, then God will be your all here, and your exceeding great reward in everlasting glory. We hasten through time; yet a little while, and trials, temptations, and sorrows, will be felt by the saints no more. We shall be visited with our share, in this vale of tears; religion alone can soothe all our cares, and heal all our sorrows; religion alone fits us to live, and fits us to die; and glory be to God, religion alone will fit us for an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. With prayers in your behalf, "I am, your loving uncle and sincere friend, "Sladesbridge, April 19, 1809.” Of his faithfulness in the various offices which he was called to fill, the following honourable mention is made in his funeral sermon :-" Having for some time walked worthy of his vocation, it was the judgment of the church that he should be appointed to the office of a Leader. He bowed with deference to the opinion of his brethren, and tremblingly took charge of our interest at Wadebridge. As a leader, the church of God lay near his heart; and many are witnesses how he rejoiced in the felicity, and bled in the wounds, of his charge. To meet his flock at the appointed hour of social worship, he has often surmounted distance of situation, the rigour of the season, and a press of temporal concerns; setting them an example that they should tread in his steps. "He was not only considered equal to the charge of a class, but eligible to the important office of the ministry, as a local preacher. Having made the Bible his study, he appeared to understand well the doctrines of revelation, and possessed more than an ordinary share of discriminating talent. He endeavoured to obtain just views of his subject, and to clothe his ideas with appropriate language. He was not a frigid, but a zealous, preacher. Of this he gave us a fair specimen a few weeks since at our Local Preachers' Mecting. Whilst one begged to be excused from preaching every other Sabbath, and another was not willing to go far from home, You may plan me, Sir,' said he, 'every Sunday.' I must add, that he conscientiously attended to all his appointments, however great the distance; and the oftener he preached, the more he was admired." That the righteous man is more excellent than his neighbour, was abundantly illustrated and confirmed by the deportment of our friend, both in commercial and domestic life. In following what appeared the leadings of Providence, he was induced, by his local situation, to engage in various branches of trade; but in this department the uprightness of his heart was evidently displayed. Here he met the apostle's admonition, "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." He carried the religion of Jesus Christ into his shop, and behind his counter did he preach the Saviour to poor perishing sinners. His temporal concerns were very extensive, and greatly diversified; but be prosecuted them with that ease which has often astonished his friends. His plans appeared to be founded in reason, and followed with steadiness, whilst he left the consequences with that God whose province it is to bless or blast all human enterprize. No success could ever elevate him to insolence, nor disappointment sink him into despair. He acted like one who believes "that all things shall work together for good to them that love God." How he acknowledged God in his secular concerns, is evinced by the following short memorandums, made by him annually on taking the account of his stock. "1804. July 30. In this month I have taken account of my stock, and find that my property is not increased, as I expected: however, by God's blessing, I hope yet to do well.-May I learn to lay up treasure in heaven! Even so, O Lord God, Í humbly beseech thee through Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Amen." "1806. July 30. O God, in whose hands I am, and all my concerns, I beseech the, give me the blessing of humility and contentment of mind. Bound my expectations of earthly good. Let my views be extended beyond the present world. Help me to be more solicitous to lay up treasures above. O take away from me a worldly spirit, and prepare me for every event. If it please thee to give me an increase of riches, let me not set my affections upon them; but, at the same time, may a grateful heart never cease to give thee praise. If thou art pleased that a change of circumstances shall take place on me, Lord give me patience, resignation, strength according to my day, and a confidence in thine unerring providence, to order and direct all my Grant this for Jesus temporal as well as spiritual concerns. Christ's sake. And if I do not live to count my earthly treasures again, may I enjoy the riches purchased for me by his precious blood, in a world of eternal duration. Amen." "1808. June 24. I am disappointed in making up the balance of my account. May the Lord give me patience and content." On concluding his last account, August 27, 1811, he says, "It is matter of great thankfulness that I am doing so well. O Lord, increase in me a desire to do good according to the ability which thou givest me, that I may be a faithful steward of those talents committed to my trust, and at last, through the merits of Jesus Christ, give in my account with joy. O let the blessing of a grateful heart be imparted to thy servant; and sanctify every dispensation of thy providence, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen." Thus, while he managed the affairs of this life with exemplary discretion, he knew what it was to be spiritually minded; hence his speech was with grace, seasoned with salt. He was able to speak with clearness on a variety of subjects; but a religious topic appeared above all others the most gratifying. Returning once from market with a neighbour of his, "Well, friend," said he," have we any temporal business to settle? If we have, let us do it at once, that we may converse about better things.' These were the subjects about which he conversed both with rich and poor, with saint and sinner. His tempers appear to have been naturally of the soft and amiable cast: his address was pleasant and engaging; and such was the affability of his manners, that he appeared to command universal affection. He was a lover of good men; the advocate of the poor; a true patriot; a zealous philanthropist; a consistent Christian. In domestic life, it appears, he had resolved with David, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way; I will walk within my house with a perfect heart." As a husband, he was affectionate to his partner in life; as a parent, he mingled firmness with indulgence; as a master, he was sympathetic with his authority. With regard to family worship, he adopted Joshua's resolution, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Twice a day he would regularly call his family together, including his children, servants, apprentices, and all who dwelt beneath his roof, that they might hear the word of God, and join with him in family prayer; and his fervour at those times altogether evinced his concern for their present and everlasting welfare." Thus, as soon as he had an house, God had an altar in it, on which the morning and evening sacrifices were continually presented; and not unfrequently, the voice of rejoicing and salvation. was also heard in his tabernacle. But above all other days, the Lord's day was that which he called a delight, the holy of the Lord, and honourable. This he well remembered to keep holy, both by preparing for it before it came, and improving it when it came. Before it came, all worldly business was so entirely laid aside, and even provisions for the day so prepared, that he and his household were enabled to wait on the Lord without distraction; and when it came, his hours were so well employed in doing and getting good, as to verify that pious old adge, "The Christian's Sabbath is the soul's market day." That he might stir himself up to lay hold on God, and serve his generation by the Divine will, it was his invariable custom to inquire every morning, with great seriousness, "What can I do for God to-day?" And that he might choose the most excellent way of holiness and usefulness, he proposed for his imitation all those, of every name, of whom he heard the best report. Of such, if removed to a better world, he learnt all he could by reading their lives; and of such, if still living, he learnt all he could both by personal interviews and diligent inquiries; and from those sources he collected the rules by which he governed his own conduct. His course, however, though bright, was but short: "We saw the man, we saw his hold on heaven;" but while we were fondly anticipating the important benefits which mankind would derive from his protracted stay with us, he was summoned to another world, more worthy of him and his services. Hence, however contrary to our wishes, we must abruptly "come to his final sickness and death." This world is an hospital, in which every man has his share of suffering. The dropsy, the gout, the asthma, and fever, with many other frightful evils, swell the list of afflictions incident to our present state. No moral acquirements can exempt men from drinking the cup of affliction in this vale of tears. He whom thou lovest is sick. John xi. 3. But the most afflictive of all visitations are those which attack the mind as well as the body. Such is the complex state of man, and such is the dependence of the mind upon the body, that when any affliction or contusion deranges the finer fibres of the brain, on which the soul performs its office, it naturally introduces disorder into the conceptions of man, and robs the first philosopher of all his boasted powers. Thus it was with our dear friend, through the violence of the fever under which he laboured: yet, even in the height of his affliction, his mind appeared to possess the seasoning of affection, and a bias towards that which is good; but when those clouds were dissipated, and the sun of reason again shone forth, he shewed himself the disciple of him who was made perfect through sufferings. His language at lucid intervals was deeply affecting. A relative of his, speaking to him concerning temporal affairs, said, "Perhaps you may be restored again." "Oh, no, brother George," he replied, "I shall not be restored; I do not wish it; my desire is to depart, and be with Christ, which is far better." He faithfully warned the worldling against an inordinate attachment to the present life, and intreated the open sinner to abandon that course which would ultimately exclude him from the kingdom of heaven. His affliction increasing, all hopes of his recovery vanished, and the medical gentlemen pronouced his case irremediable; but when his flesh failed, the Lord was still the strength of his heart; and he found the gloomy valley cheered by the presence of his Divine Shepherd. His final blessing and last farewell were accompanied with the warmest supplications to the Almighty, that he would be the father of the fatherless, and the friend of the widow; and he appeared able to repose his mind upon that gracious word of consolation-"I will preserve thy fatherless children alive, and let thy widows trust in me." His mind now appeared to be carried above all earthly concerns, and he contemplated with pleasure the joys of a better world. "I can claim all the promises," said he, "as mine. I am happy, very happy, perfectly happy!" At another time he said, "Glory be to God, who hath loved me, and washed me from my sins in his own blood." And again, "I am going to heaven; I have not a doubt on my mind." Now his soul appeared to catch the heavenly flame, and he cried aloud, "I'll praise my Maker while I've breath, Praise shall employ my nobler powers." Thus his happy spirit returned to God, on the 5th of January, 1812, in the 37th year of his age. As a token of unfeigned respect for his memory, the following inscription, which was composed by his Parish Minister, appears on his tomb-stone : Here lies all that is mortal of ALEXANDER MENHINNICK, of Sladesbridge: Distinguished, during a short life of 37 years, for the exercise of the virtues of the Man, and the graces of the Christian. His death, on the 5th day of January, 1812, deprived his family of an affectionate relative, his acquaintance of an improving companion, the poor of a charitable friend, society of a bright ornament, the church of a zealous member, the world of an honest man. Reader, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." VOL. XLII. August, 1819. |