98 SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION. with a lead pencil, a considerable part of his "Aged Christian's Cabinet." At the particular request of the Lutheran church, in Mott-street,* Mr. Stanford officiated for them two Lord's days in August, with great satisfaction to his own mind, and very much to the edification of the congregation. But this service was followed by very serious consequences. On Monday afternoon, about three o'clock, he was attacked by a violent fever, probably owing to his returning from church on the previous evening, while in a state of perspiration. Under this affliction the Lord mercifully preserved his mind in great tranquillity, although the fever continued about three weeks; and more than a month elapsed before he was enabled to resume his public labours. He says:-" During this illness, I was favoured with stronger evidences of the truth of the Bible, and of the power of God's grace, than I had ever before possessed, and for which I hope I am humble and thankful." How true is it, that the most useful lessons are acquired in the furnace of affliction. And "The good are better made by ill, As odours crush'd are sweeter still." By the advice of physicians, though yet very weak, he took a journey, in company with a ministering brother, by gentle stages, through New-Jersey and Pennsylvania. Here he spent several weeks, visiting and preaching from town to town. During this excursion, his health experienced many variations, and his fever frequently returned with great violence. While in Pennsylvania, he enjoyed the hospitalities of Thomas Holmes, Esq. at Holmesburg, whose ami * This church occupied a building, erected upon the spot where now stands the large stone edifice, known as " Zion Church." The former place of worship was burnt down in 1811. LETTER TO THE SHAFTSBURY ASSOCIATION. 99. able wife died during the visit of Mr. Stanford at their house. At the particular request of the surviving family, he preached the funeral sermon, in the pulpit of the Rev. Samuel Jones, D. D. from Luke viii. 52 -"She is not dead, but sleepeth." The Rev. William Rogers, D. D. of Philadelphia, closed the service with prayer. During intervals of comparative ease, he delivered several discourses at Holmesburg; and at New-Britain he preached to a large assembly of ministers, convened at an annual Association, by whose request he wrote a letter to the Shaftsbury Association, from which the following is an extract. 66 BELOVED IN THE LORD, 66 Although during this session we have been dcprived of the pleasure of hearing from you, either by letter, or by messenger; our ardent desire for your spiritual prosperity prompts us to address you, and to forward to you our minutes. The cause of our assembling this season at New-Britain, is the afflictive visitation of God to the city of Philadelphia, with pestilence. Dreadful calamity! May the hand which smiteth us, produce reformation of manners among all classes; but especially in the churches of that. hitherto greatly favoured city. "The communications we have received from our churches, and corresponding Associations, have afforded us the highest pleasure, and laid us under increased obligations of gratitude to Jesus, the King of Zion. Probably no other religious denomination in America is, at the present time, increasing with such unexampled rapidity as our own. May the mercies of the Lord inspire our brethren with greater humility, and that fervent piety which shall best evince our attachment to his holy cause. "We believe it to be of the highest importance to ourselves as individuals, and for the prosperity of religion in the world, that we continue to seek after 100 BAPTISTS, NOT ADDICTED TO POLITICS. the knowledge of the simple truth, as it is in Jesus; the truth revealed in the sacred scriptures, in preference to the opinions of men. Brethren, let us read our Bibles on our knees, and in constant dependance upon the influence and teaching of the Spirit of Truth. Thus through grace shall we be able to teach our people to profit, and be preserved from the contaminating errors of the present day. "Permit us, dear brethren, to suggest, that to us as a denomination, it is of great importance to examine, with careful attention, the sentiments of those who are candidates for the work of the ministry. Let us earnestly beseech the Lord Jesus to direct us in the choice of those whom he will graciously own in the work of the gospel, and make ‘our crown and our joy.' "The history of the Baptists in every age furnishes the strongest assurances that our forefathers were scrupulous in withdrawing, as much as possible, from political concerns; well knowing, that our Saviour's kingdom is not of this world. We believe, that, as citizens, we are entitled to the exercise of private opinion, and all the rights of citizenship; but there have been so many instances in which persons of talents and grace, by plunging into the troubled waters of political life, have thereby lost the bloom of their profession, and their usefulness in Zion, that we regard it as our paramount duty, to let our political moderation be known unto all men, especially as we are engaged in the more important interest of our Redeemer's kingdom. "By order, and on behalf of the Association, "JOHN STANFORD." His health being much improved, he bade adieu to his friends in Pennsylvania, and arrived at home in safety on the last day of October. "This year," he remarks, "Goodness and mercy have indeed followed THE DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN. 101 me, but it has been comparatively a year of mental darkness and of unfruitfulness. Lord, what am I, that thou shouldest thus deliver, and show me thy salvation." Greatly depressed in mind, under a sense of his sinfulness, but struggling against its influence, his prayer was constant and fervent, that the mercy of God might sustain him, until his last year should flow into the ocean of eternity. "There shall I see, and hear, and know, All I desired, or wish'd below; And every power find sweet employ, As he ended the last year, so he began the year 1806, under dark and painful exercises of mind. "When," says he, "shall I walk in the light of God's countenance, and feel that vivacity and zeal which are so necessary to evince my Christian and ministerial character? Still I cannot but adore the faithfulness of my gracious God, and look for brighter days of usefulness and comfort. Like a mariner in a dark and tempestuous night, I can let go my anchor of hope, though I do not sensibly feel the ground on which it should rest. Lord, sanctify and make use of me in private or in public life, according to thy sovereign will and pleasure." On the 21st of February, a volume of lectures, containg about 380 pages, under the title of "The Domestic Chaplain," was sent to the press, accompanied with many fervent prayers, that God might employ it for the edification and comfort of souls, and for the glory of his own grace. This work has passed through several large editions, in this country and in England, and has, as its name imports, preached the gospel to many families, where the usual means of grace were not enjoyed. Domestic Chaplain" has been a useful guide, not only in private devotion, and in the social meeting, "The 102 THE DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN. but it has served to instruct the soul of the Christian, in the closet and in the parlour; and to produce a more intimate acquaintance with the volume of Divine Revelation, by illustrating its doctrines, enforcing its authority, and recommending the sacred institutions of the gospel to the attention and approbation of the reader. These advantages are afforded by the unostentatious labours of "The Chaplain," in a manner at once calculated to interest and to enlighten; while each short lecture sheds its hallowed influence over the soul, without the pain of labour, or the consciousness of design. A few short extracts from the author's preface, will explain more fully the character of this valuable book. "My aim is to be useful in promoting the moral interests of families, by disseminating some of the most important truths of the gospel, in an agreeable variety, without those perplexing controversies too prevalent among professors of Christianity. I have also in view, the assistance of congregations and societies in the country, who are frequently destitute of stated ministers; presuming that this volume, in the hand of a good reader, may secure the attendance of the people, and promote their instruction."-" Time is short-truth is divine and inestimably precious. In the construction of these lectures, I solemnly declare, that I have not introduced a single sentence, but what, from deliberate thought, I firmly believe bears the impress of the gospel, and is calcu lated to destroy vice, promote the purest virtue, and aid the real Christian in his life and walk of faith." We may therefore unhesitatingly recommend this work to the attentive perusal of all who desire the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ. Letter from Mr. Stanford, on the recovery of his friend, John Holmes, Esq. of Pennsylvania, from a protracted illness. |