“BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS WHOM THE LORD, WHEN HE COMETH, SHALL FIND
WATCHING.”
ON receiving an invitation to officiate on the mournful occasion which
calls us together, accompanied with a request that I would also preach a
sermon suitable to the afflicting circumstance, the oft-repeated
encouragement of my dear departed friend, eagerly to embrace every
opportunity of setting forth Christ, was brought home to my mind, and a
voice from the dead seemed to say, Stand in my accustomed place, and for
me tell to my bereaved family and friends, to the people of my charge and
of my many prayers, that the Gospel which they have so often heard
proclaimed by the lips now cold in death, is not a vague uncertainty, but
the power of God unto salvation; and while they weep for one whose most
earnest endeavours were to promote their welfare, that they should not
sorrow as those without hope, but seek earnestly to become imitators of
those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
So suddenly was he whose loss we mourn taken from the midst of us, that
the necessity and duty of watchfulness naturally presents itself to the
mind; such is the injunction implied in the words of my text—to _that_
and the _blessing_ promised let us first direct our attention.
Under the figure of a householder, or master, and his servants, Christ
represents Himself, and those who profess to be His disciples; for it is
evident that the words are addressed to such, and not to the godless and
profane. And as Christ’s _watching_ servants are also to be _working_
servants, fidelity, diligence, and perseverance the Lord requires to find
in them, when he comes to call them to their account.
“It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful,” saith St.
Paul. No other qualification can compensate for the want of this, and
the higher the trust reposed, the greater is the fidelity required. How
solemn, then, and awful, is the position of the minister of Christ! he
has not only to watch for his own soul, and take care lest his very
duties, by their frequent performance, become the means of imperceptibly
leading him to trust in them, and think that because he is made useful to
others, it must, therefore, be well with himself, but also to watch for
the souls of others. As Christ’s ambassador, there is committed unto him
the ministry of reconciliation, to entreat sinners in Christ’s stead to
be reconciled to God; and should any perish through his wilful neglect,
either to warn or to give instruction, against the unfaithful minister is
denounced the fearful sentence, “his blood will I require at thy hand.”
Deeply did our beloved friend feel this; his daily prayer and study was
to make full proof of his ministry, and seek by every means to win souls
to Christ. His manner of life from the time of his first coming among
you, up to the hour of his death, is known to most present. In his
family the kind husband, parent, and master, anxious for the comfort and
welfare of all, yet most anxious that each who dwelt beneath his roof,
might love that Saviour who was so precious to his own soul. Owing to
the delicate state of his health, and what he suffered from even a little
unusual excitement, he was, perhaps, seen less in his family than most
clergymen; but those friends with whom he felt that he could act freely,
and leave when he found himself no longer equal to conversation, will
doubtless bear me witness, that as the head of a family few excelled him,
and that it was a happy privilege to join with him at the family altar in
prayer and praise.
In the temporal property which God had given him, we find the same
earnest care that God might be glorified thereby. His liberality is well
known, and the principle on which he acted, he believed to be in
accordance to God’s revealed word. At first, a tenth of his property was
set apart, and after a little while, not feeling satisfied with that
portion, one seventh of his income, as he received it, was regularly set
apart, and most carefully used, as might best promote the glory of God,
and the good of his fellow-creatures. All he possessed he considered as
a talent given by God with the injunction, “Occupy till I come,” and as a
good steward he laboured faithfully to improve the talent committed to
his trust.
But the fulfilment of his ministerial duties was that which engaged his
most earnest attention.
He would not offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing, and whether
his sermons were what is commonly termed extempore, or written, they were
composed with much care, and after much prayer. His anxiety was to win
souls to Christ, and to give to each his portion of meat in due season;
he was careful, almost to a fault, that the subject on which he was
treating should be rightly divided.
But his greatest delight {298} appeared to be in visiting his people from
house to house, warning the wicked of the danger of his ways, encouraging
the weak, comforting the feeble minded, but more especially delighting to
dwell upon that theme so dear to his own soul, the love of Christ. As a
father with his children, they were all upon his heart, and few days were
suffered to elapse in which he did not visit some families, and his
visits were literally ministerial ones, as many present can testify, and
who will do well to treasure carefully the instructions they have
received, and pray earnestly that they may be profitable to their souls.
Judging by the test which Christ himself hath given us, “By their fruits
ye shall know them,” will it not be the testimony of all who knew our
dear departed brother, that he was in the highest sense of the term a
faithful minister of God? and doubtless he has heard from that Master
whom he loved and served, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
And he was not only faithful but diligent. It is well known that the
strength of our friend was small, and that he was afflicted with a
nervous affection, the natural tendency of which is to prostrate the
energies both of mind and body. He felt this and struggled against it,
and frequently would return to his house completely exhausted. With him
there was no “spare thyself;” whatsoever his hand found to do, he did it
with all his might, and as a good servant, his aim and endeavour were to
make the most of that strength which was given him.
Patience and perseverance also are necessary qualifications for the
Christian minister. “Ye have need of patience,” saith the Apostle St.
Paul, “that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.” “Add therefore,” saith St. Peter, “to your faith, virtue; and
to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance,
_patience_.” “In your patience,” saith Christ, “possess ye your souls.”
And because his difficulties are great, and the enemies with which he has
to contend, numerous and powerful, he must put on the whole armour of
God, in order to withstand the evil day, and having done all to stand.
He must not only pray, but pray with all prayer and supplication in the
spirit; he must not only watch, but watch with all _perseverance_. May
it not, alas! be said of some, that they began well, but lacked patience
to run the race that was set before them; as St. Paul complains of the
Galatians (chap. v. 5), _Ye did run well_, and yet afterwards they made
shipwreck of faith. The young Christian, when he feels himself as a
brand plucked out of the burning, and experiences the love of Christ in
his soul, constraining him to devote all his powers to the service of
that God who called him out of darkness into marvellous light, like
Peter, is ready to combat a host of men in his Master’s defence, wonders
at his former blindness, and almost thinks it strange, that any should
neglect the service of so good a Master. And in like manner the young
minister, when first appointed to his charge, and opening his commission
as one of God’s ambassadors, like the untried soldier, thinks of great
things to be achieved, and the difficulties seem light; but by degrees
both find that the course cannot be run without many a struggle, nor the
victory won without many a battle. And the minister of Christ more than
any other, will be assaulted by the great adversary of souls with
temptations exactly suited to his circumstances and disposition, and all
tending to one point, the making Christ, and Christ crucified, if I may
so state it, a secondary object in his ministrations, first in name,
second in reality, giving to other duties and doctrines, valuable in
themselves and in their proper place, that pre-eminence which belongs to
Christ alone. Alas! my brethren, do we not see too much of this in the
present day! Bread is asked for, and a stone is given by some who once
preached “Christ in everything, and everything in Christ.” But we can
thankfully bear testimony to the perseverance of our dear departed
brother in the right way; from the day of his admission into the sacred
office of the ministry up to the hour of his removal from us, he looked
unto Jesus, as the author and finisher of his faith, set Him always
before him, and with deep humility sought to follow in his steps.
He was ordained in the year 1811, and for many years officiated in the
parish of Madeley, England, and the testimony of those who knew him there
is, that he was systematic in all his plans, which were laid after much
consideration and prayer, and then as earnestly carried out. For eleven
years and a half he was your minister, part of which time he was unable
to perform any active duties from weakness, and a violent nervous
affection which seized him when the Bishop of Toronto visited this place,
to consecrate the church and confirm the young. It was to him a severe
trial to be laid aside, as he used to express himself, as of no more use,
and yet with cheerful humility he would often observe, “The Lord’s work
can go on without me,” or words to that effect. But contrary to his own
expectation and that of his friends, he was again restored to comparative
health and strength, and oh, how eagerly did he resume his duties
directly he felt himself equal to them, and his gratitude to God was
great for enabling him again to set forth Christ!
Joined to fidelity, diligence, and perseverance, was continual
watchfulness. He waited for the Lord’s coming, he watched unto prayer,
as one who was to give an account. The exhortation of the prophet
Ezekiel (iii. 17), “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the
house of Israel,” was deeply impressed upon his mind, and every means in
his power he used to win souls to Christ. He watched over the young of
his flock with a father’s love and a father’s anxiety, and many present
can testify to the affectionate kindness with which he received them in
little parties to explain and enforce the precepts of the Gospel. In
visiting his people he was watchful to speak a word in season, making it,
I believe, a rule never, or very rarely, to leave a house or family
without speaking of the one thing needful. Ever remembering that the
vows of God were upon him, he was studiously careful that even in manner
he might act as became a minister of God, whilst at the same time few
were more cheerful than himself. His pulpit preparations were also
subjects of much anxious watchfulness and prayer: he studied what he
conceived to be his people’s wants, and in love endeavoured to declare to
them the whole counsel of God.
And whilst watchful over those committed to his charge he was not
unmindful of that solemn hour which has come upon him. For some time
previous to his death, he seemed to have the subject continually present
to his mind, and would frequently observe to the servant who drove him,
on returning from his accustomed rides, “Once more the Lord has brought
us home in safety;” and particularly during the last week his
conversation at every house he visited, was on death, and the necessity
of a constant state of preparation for it, warning the careless, and
entreating the almost Christian to come out from an ungodly world, and so
to live as to be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of Man, when he
shall come to judge the world in righteousness.
A few days since he observed to his servant, “I shall not be long here,”
and mentioned with satisfaction that the house was his private property,
and that Mrs. Mortimer would not have to leave it, as she must have done
had it been a parsonage. These remarks were made when his bodily health
appeared to be improving, and, humanly speaking, there was every
probability of his being spared many years; and it is satisfactory to
dwell on these minute particulars now, as they give us the most certain
evidence that the sudden call to render up the account of his stewardship
found him ready and watchful for the summons.
Our beloved friend was found watching, and the blessing promised is his
portion; he received the earnest of it in this world, he doubtless enjoys
it more fully now.
He was blessed in the enjoyment, in no small degree, of the confidence
and affection of his people; he was looked up to as a father and a
friend, and the outward demonstrations of respect and sorrow which appear
on every side this day prove that the loss is felt to be no common one,
and many are ready to exclaim, “My father! my father! the chariot of
Israel and the horsemen thereof.”
He was blessed in being permitted to see that his labours were not in
vain in the Lord. Whilst we would by no means lay down ministerial
success as the certain token of God’s favour, or the want of it a mark of
his displeasure—for sometimes the most faithful devoted ministers are
only permitted to sow the seed, while others reap the harvest, in order
practically to prove to us that it is not by human might or power, but by
the Spirit of God alone, that souls can be converted to Him; that a Paul
may plant, and Apollos water, but it is God alone who giveth the
increase—yet it is a blessing, and a great and precious one, to be
permitted to see the work of the Lord prospering in our hands. Little,
perhaps, do some present think of the anxious hopes and fears which fill
the minister’s heart while preparing for his public ministrations, or
striving to bring before his people the whole counsel of God. How often
in the bitterness of disappointed hope he is ready to exclaim, “Who hath
believed our report?” But when he marks the earnest attention paid to
his ministrations, the vanities of the world forsaken by some, who
boldly, and yet with humility declare, Whatever be the conduct of others,
“as for me and my house we will serve the Lord;” great is his
encouragement, and he goeth on his way rejoicing. This blessing was
vouchsafed to our dear departed friend, and he was also permitted to see
that his ministrations were so highly valued that the church in which we
are now assembled required twice to be enlarged to accommodate the
increasing congregation.
There is something painful in the thought that so good a man should be
thus suddenly, and in such a manner, taken from the midst of us. We
should have chosen for him a long and peaceful old age, and when, at
length, he must depart this life, like corn fully ripe, the Master whom
he loved and served would come and gently receive him to himself. But
his death and the manner of it was appointed by One wiser than man, and
who loved him better than his dearest earthly friends. Even in his
sudden death, there was a blessing and an answer to many prayers. From
the state of his bodily health, and what he had previously suffered, he
used to dread the pains of dying, and earnestly prayed that he might
either be spared these pains, or be strengthened under them. And God
gave him more than he asked; for nearly two years past this dread was
taken away, and the bodily pain he suffered after the accident, was, I
have been informed, not equal to the uneasy sensations experienced at
fainting. At first, he did not consider that he had received a fatal
injury, and on being taken up, exclaimed, “He keepeth all my bones, not
one of them is broken.”
His kind friend and physician Dr. Paget, hastened to his assistance, and
brought him gently home. The family, naturally much alarmed, eagerly met
him as he was being carried into the house, anxious to ascertain the
extent of the injury; he strove to calm their fears by telling them, what
he then really thought, that he was not seriously hurt. But when laid
upon his bed, and he found, as he expressed it, that it would be instant
death for him to lie in any but the one position, then he felt that he
should never rise again, and was thankful for being brought home to his
own comfortable bed. He then spoke with much feeling of the kindness and
gentleness of the persons who took him up immediately after the accident,
repeating, “Kind—kind,” and expressed himself as quite resigned to the
will of God, not anxious to live, and ready to die. He alluded briefly
to his temporal affairs, and when he felt his end approaching, desired
that those who were not present might be called, when he addressed a few
words separately to each, ending with “_God bless you_.” It was
evidently an effort for him to speak much, and his memory appeared to be
in some degree affected, as he mentioned none of the family who were
absent, and only addressed those present as they stood directly before
him. Having spoken to his family, he then prayed for his people; they
had always been very dear to him, and often had his prayers ascended
before the throne of grace on their behalf, and now, ere the spirit took
its flight, whilst yet he might plead for a blessing to descend upon
them, he lifted up his heart with the words, “God bless my poor dear
people;” and having uttered this prayer, he lay for a time quite still,
and then so gently fell asleep in Jesus, that an old and valued servant
of the family observed, “How sweetly master is sleeping!” and knew not
that it was death until told by the physician, “It is the sleep of
death.”
He was permitted to retain his senses to the last, having lived about
four hours after the accident.
Beloved friends, may the dying prayers of your late valued minister be
heard and answered abundantly on your behalf! “Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord, even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from
their labours.” Our departed friend has fought the good fight, has
finished his course, and entered into his rest. He now beholds Him whom
having not seen he loved. Oh that those who are ready to exclaim “Let me
die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his,” may
treasure up the instruction they have received from him they will see no
more, till all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ, and seek to follow in
the steps of their departed minister as he followed Christ.
We observe from what has been stated, that even in death he was greatly
blessed, but what is that compared with the blessing he is now
inheriting! We weep around his lifeless corpse, but his freed spirit
rejoices in the presence of its God. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him: and in a little time,
that which was a weak and fragile body whilst animated by the spirit, and
now about to turn to corruption, shall rise a glorious body; it is sown
in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour and
shall be raised in glory. Our departed friend looked forward to this
when more than once he exclaimed, a little before he closed his eyes in
death, “I am going to my rest,” not yet to the fulness of bliss. It doth
not yet appear what we shall be, man cannot describe it; raise the
imagination to the highest pitch, and still it will fall far short of the
reality; for “when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is.”
From this subject let us seek to derive some practical improvement.
1st. A solemn warning. The words of my text are addressed by Christ
through his servant to each present, and the scene before us proves that
in such an hour as we think not, the Son of man cometh. Who would have
thought a few days since, that we should have been assembled here on this
occasion, or that your minister, whose renewed strength seemed to promise
many years of usefulness, would have been thus cut off suddenly as in a
moment? Oh, my brethren, you well know that he taught you long and
faithfully, ever willing to spend and be spent in your service. You must
meet him at the judgment-seat of Christ, and how will you answer it if
you then be found unprofitable servants, and he who loved and served you
here, and was honoured and loved by you in return, be obliged to testify
against you, that he entreated you in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to
God, and you refused? May the awful words which are written in the
forty-seventh verse of the chapter from whence my text is taken, awaken
each of you to greater diligence, since the servant which knew his Lord’s
will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to that will, shall
be beaten with many stripes.
2nd. Submission to God’s will. Be still and know that I am God, and
this not of necessity, because we _must_ submit, but pray and labour that
though sorrowful we may yet be rejoicing, since we sorrow not as those
without hope, that this affliction may produce a lasting blessing. Thus
Eli submitted when the message from the Lord declared such heavy tidings
against him and against his family, saying, “It is the Lord, let him do
what seemeth him good.” And thus holy Job, when his property was lost,
all his children taken, and his body afflicted with sore boils, from the
sole of his foot to the crown of his head, and his very wife urging him
to curse God and die—“Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and
shall we not receive evil? The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away,
blessed be the name of the Lord.”
3rd. Encouragement. We remember the gifts and graces of our departed
friend; but from whence were they derived? What made him what he was?
The Lord. And who supported him all his journey through life? It was
the same God. He found the grace of God sufficient for him, and the
feeling of his heart at all times was, “not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
but unto Thy name be the glory.” The God who called, guided, supported,
and blessed our departed friend, is still the same. His arm is not
shortened, nor his ear heavy, and His direction to us is, ask and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full. We may therefore derive also
4th. Comfort. Doubtless our friend hath entered into the presence of
the Lord, and the meanest redeemed sinner will sing a louder song of
triumph than the highest archangel. Angels have never tasted of
pardoning grace and redeeming love. Did you love your minister? Then
thank God that he is released from all sorrow and trial. Thank God for
what he has promised, that, having preserved your minister to the end, He
will, if you seek Him, also preserve you.
My reverend brethren, in this bereavement, there is a message from God
sent to us, as watchmen of the House of Israel. One is taken from our
midst, and we are left exposed to peculiar trials and temptations. Our
brother was the same, and he continued faithful to the end. And what was
his strength and comfort? It was Christ. Oh let us beware of preaching
anything but Christ crucified, as “the way, the truth, and the life” for
perishing sinners. The more we seek and exalt Him, the more shall we
feel in our happy experience, “Christ all and in all.”
In conclusion, let me remind this congregation that your late minister’s
instructions are yet sounding in your ears. Oh take heed to them. Pray
that the Holy Spirit may be to you a spirit of remembrance, bringing
again to your minds what has been said to you; and as you pass the mound
of earth which covers his mortal remains, strive to call to mind what he
said while yet with you, and seek the grace of God to enable you so to
live that you may become followers of those who, through faith and
patience, inherit the promises. Amen.
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