MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. BIRTH AND EDUCATION EARLY RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONSSETTLEMENT AT HAMMESRMITH. IN attempting to portray the character and life of a devoted minister of Christ, it would seem natural to exclaim in the language of the pious bard "Some angel guide my pencil, while I draw, A man on earth devoted to the skies, With aspect mild, and elevated eye. Behold him seated on a mount serene, Above the fogs of sense, and passions' storm; John Stanford, the only son of William and Mary Stanford, was born October 20th, 1754, at Wandsworth, in Surry, Great-Britain. Until the tenth year of his age, we are not in possession of any facts which would be interesting to the reader; but from that period, his uncle, George Stanford, to whom he stood heir at law, took charge of his education, and placed him in a respectable seminary. Here he experienced many discouragements from the inattention and unkindness of his tutors; notwithstanding which, his 14 HIS FIRST SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. industry and application enabled him to make a creditable proficiency; and when about sixteen years of age, he commenced the study of medicine. His early life appears not to have been corrupted by those vices which have proved fatal to millions; but, regulated by the influence of religious instruction, his deportment was characterised by a proper degree of sedateness, and his mind frequently exercised with conviction of sin in view of a future state. At the age of fifteen he was so sensibly impressed with thoughts of eternity, arising from the premature death of a classmate, that he ate or drank but little for several days. These convictions, however, were of comparatively short duration. While residing in the seminary at Wandsworth, he would sometimes, on a rainy Sabbath, collect a number of the students in his own room, and thus, by reading prayers and a printed sermon, encourage that holy keeping of the Lord's day which the public worship of God was intended to promote. In his sixteenth year he wrote two sermons, one on "the crucifixion," founded upon Luke xxiii. 33, and another on "the harmony of divine attributes," from Psalm lxxxv. 10, " both of which," he says, “when God had further enlightened my understanding, I destroyed."-This amiable but merely moral course, in a mind peculiarly constituted and religiously predisposed by the habits of education, naturally produced a pharisaical spirit, and an unfounded hope of salvation by the works of the law. The death of his father (March 24, 1772,) when he was only seventeen years of age, induced him to return home to reside with his widowed mother, where, for many months, he privately pursued his studies by every means in his power, and with evident success. From his diary it appears, that he was at this time. a member of the Episcopal Church, and highly opposed to every one of a different persuasion. At this period a young gentleman, (Mr. Potter) the son of a highly respectable family, was reported to have left his "parish church," and attended a chapel of the dissenters. Although young Stanford had no personal intimacy with Mr. P. he appears to have been much displeased with his conduct in this instance, and accordingly wrote him a letter, in which he ridiculed all sectaries, and unguardedly censured that practice which he has since acknowledged to be, "the good ways of the Lord." This letter appears to have afforded him a degree of present exultation, but was subsequently followed with many tears. Upon the subject of his own religious course, he says "Notice being given in the parish church, that a confirmation would be attended by the bishop, at Lambeth, about five miles from London, and that candidates should apply to the curate for examination, I was anxious to avail myself of the opportunity. I was however advised first to consult my uncle, who was also my god-father, and upon whose favour all my worldly prospects were suspended. When I mentioned the subject to him, he kindly replied: 'It is well enough that young people should be confirmed, and as an opportunity offers, yes, you may go; especially as some of your young companions will make up a party, and that will serve as a holiday.' I then repaired to the curate, who, being informed that I could say 'the creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments,' said, 'you are sufficiently qualified for confirmation.'" He was accordingly confirmed; and upon this subject he remarks:-"This act did undoubtedly very much contribute to the establishment of my belief, that by my infant baptism I was regenerated, made a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.' From this time I concluded my moral state secure-nothing more was now necessary, to make me a Christian. A most delusive snare to me to thousands !" 16 RELIGIOUS TRACTS. His veneration for the Lord's day appears to have been generally commendable. But, on a particular occasion, he yielded to the earnest solicitations of some young persons, to accompany them on a party of pleasure upon the river. When returning they were in imminent danger of being drowned, but heaven interposed to save them from a watery grave. Their merciful preservation at this time, made an impression upon his mind, which effectually secured him against every future temptation to desecrate the hallowed Sabbath of the Lord. Several years after this event, he wrote a twelve page tract, entitled "THE LORD'S DAY," which has been widely circulated, and is deservedly regarded as among the best publications upon that subject. As an evidence of his early labours in the tract cause, it deserves to be recorded, that about FIFTY-FIVE YEARS* ago, he published two tracts, in London, entitled "CRITERIONS, WHEREBY THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN MAY TRY THE REALITY OF HIS PROFESSION," and "THE CELESTIAL INHABITANT, OR CHRIST DWELLing in THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE." They were gratuitously and extensively distributed. In relating the wonderful story of his conversion to God, he remarks:-"The address of the widow of Tekoah to king David, on behalf of his exiled son Absalom, God' deviseth means, that his banished be not expelled from him,' (2 Sam. xiv. 14,) has indeed been verified in my experience. Means, the most simple, and least expected, are often employed by the Lord to produce the most important results; particularly in bringing sinners from the error of their way, to taste the sweetness of redeeming lave, and The London Religious Tract Society, which is the parent of all the principal Tract Societies at present existing in the world, commenced its operations in 1799, which was nineteen years after the time when Mr. Stanford published the above named tracts. INTERCOURSE WITH MR. CLEEVE HOOPER. 17 rest beneath the covert of Immanuel's wings. Such, I humbly trust, has been God's unspeakable goodness to me, at a time when I was wrapped in pharisaical security, ignorant of myself, and far, very far from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Under a sermon, delivered by the Rev. Mr. Romaine, it pleased God to manifest his grace to Mr. Cleeve Hooper, who had been my classmate. Although in our academical intercourse no particular attachment was developed, yet no sooner was Mr. Hooper brought to the enjoyment of a hope of salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, than he began to discover a deep solicitude for 'my spiritual welfare. He therefore made me a visit, dropped a few religious words in conversation, on purpose to try the state of my heart; which, notwithstanding my boasted morality, he easily perceived was very far from being right with God. Although he lived at a distance of eight miles, yet he repeated his visits frequently-spoke of man's depravity-the necessity of being born again—a total renunciation of all human merit-complete redemption by the blood of Christ-and the absolute necessity of faith, in order to walk with God,' and bear fruft to his glory. These sentiments I did not take upon me to contradict; but, I must confess, my heart arose in opposition to them. Several months elapsed before Mr. Hooper ventured to attack my strong holds of self-righteousness, but, at length he presented the alarming statements of the Bible respecting the holiness, spirituality, and extent of the law of God, in its precepts and demands-the insufficiency of our own righteousness, and the absolute necessity of being divested of all legal hopes; before the sinner will submit to God, and be willing to accept of salvation by the righteousness of Christ. This left a slight conviction on my mind, and, from the passages of Scripture which he produced in support of his own sentiments, I was led to conclude that these things |