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MEMOIRS OF REV.

us groan from day to day-this transports my soul, whilst out of weakness, I am made strong, and at times am enabled to glory even in my bodily infirmities, that the power of Christ, in supporting when flesh and heart fail, may the more evidently rest upon me. Oh, my dear brethren and sisters! let me, as one alive almost from the dead, let me exhort you to stand fast in that blessed gospel, which for ten years, I have now preached among you:the gospel of the grace of God; the gospel of free, full, and everlasting salvation, founded on the sufferings and death of God, manifest in the flesh. Look much at this all-amazing scene!

'Behold! a God descends and dies,

To save my soul from gaping hell;' And then say whether any poor broken-hearted sinner need be afraid to venture his hopes of salvation on such a sacrifice; especially, since He who is thus mighty to save,' hath said, that 'whosoever cometh to him he will in no wise cast out.' You, beloved, who have found the peace-speaking virtue of this blood of atonement, must not be satisfied with what you have already known or enjoyed.-The only way to be constantly happy, and constantly prepared for the most awful changes, which we must all experience, is to be constantly looking and coming to a dying Saviour; renouncing all our own worthiness; cleaving to the loving Jesus as our all in all; giving up every thing, however valuable to our worldly interests, that clashes with our fidelity to Christ; begging that of his fulness we may receive 'grace upon grace,' whilst our faith actually relies on his power and faithfulness, for the full accomplishment of every promise in his word that we plead with him, and guarding against every thing that might, for a moment, bring distance and darkness between your souls and your precious Lord. If you thus live, (and oh that you may daily receive fresh life from Christ so to do!) the peace of God will keep your hearts and minds,' and you will be filled with 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.'

"As a church, you cannot conceive what pleasure I have enjoyed in hearing that you are in peace; that you attend prayer meetings; that you seem to be stirred up of late for the honor and prosperity of religion. Go on in these good ways, my beloved friends, and assuredly the God of peace will be with you. Yea, if after all I should be taken entirely from you, yet God will surely visit you, and never leave you, nor forsake you.

"As to my health, I seem on the whole to be still
mending, though but very slowly. The fever trou-
bles me often both by day and night; but my
strength increases. I long to see your faces in the
flesh; yea, when I thought myself near the gates of
the grave, I wished, if it were the Lord's will, to
depart among those whom I so much loved. But I
am in good hands, and all must be right.

"I thank both you and the congregation most af-
fectionately, for all the kindness you have shown
respecting me and my family, during my absence.
The Lord return it a thousand fold! My love to
every one, both old and young, rich and poor, as
though named. The Lord bless to your edification
the occasional ministry which you enjoy. I hope
you regularly attend upon it, and keep together, as
pray much for
the horses in Pharaoh's chariot.'
you: pray, still pray for your very affectionate,
though unworthy pastor,

S. P."

In a postscript to Mr. King, he says, "I have made an effort to write this letter; my affections would take no denial; but it has brought on the

fever."

It seeins to have been about this time that he

SAMUEL PEARCE.

wrote the following lines, which have appeared in
several periodical publications, but with many inac-
curacies:-

HYMN IN A STORM.

In the floods of tribulation,
While the billows o'er me roll,
Jesus whispers consolation,

And supports my fainting soul:
Thus the lion yields me honey,
From the eater food is given;
Strengthened thus, I still press forward,
Singing as I wade to heaven-
Sweet affliction! sweet affliction,
That brings Jesus to my soul!

Mid the gloom the vivid lightnings
With increased brightness play;
'Mid the thornbrake, beauteous flow'rets
Look more beautiful and gay;
So, in darkest dispensations,

Doth my faithful LORD appear,
With his richest consolations,

To re-animate and cheer.
Sweet affliction! sweet affliction,

Thus to bring my Saviour near!

Floods of tribulation heighten,

Billows still around me roar ;
Those that know not CHRIST-ye frighten,
But soul defies your pow'r.

my

In the sacred page recorded,

Thus his word securely stands→
"Fear not, I'm in trouble near thee,

Nought shall pluck thee from my hands."
Sweet affliction! sweet affliction,

That to such sweet words lay claim!

All I meet I find assists me

In my path to heavenly joy,
Where, though trials now attend me,
Trials never more annoy:
Wearing there a weight of glory

Still the path I'll ne'er forget;
But, reflecting how it led me

To my blessed Saviour's seat,
Cry, "affliction! sweet affliction !

Haste! bring more to Jesus' feet!"
Towards the latter end of May, when Mr. Ward
sultation concerning Mr. Pearce was held on board
and his companions, were just ready to set sail, a con
the Criterion, in which all the missionaries, and
some of the members of the Baptist Missionary
Society were present. It was well known that he
had for several years been engaged in preparing
materials for a History of Missions, to be comprised
in two volumes octavo: and as the sending of the
his heart, considerable expectations had been formed
gospel among the heathens had so deeply occupied
by religious people, of his producing an interesting
work on the subject. The question now was, could
not this performance be finished by other hands,
and the profits of it be appropriated to the benefit
of Mr. Pearce's family? It was admitted by all,
that this work would, partly from its own merits,
and partly from the great interest which the author
justly possessed in the public esteem, be very pro-
ductive; and that it would be a delicate and proper
scribing liberally to it, to afford substantial assist-
method of enabling the religious public, by sub-
ance to the family of this excellent man.
sult was, that one of the members of the Society
addressed a letter to Mr. Pearce's relations, at Ply-
mouth, requesting them to consult him as he should
be able to bear it, respecting the state of his manu-
scripts; and to inquire whether they were in a con-

The re

dition to admit of being finished by another hand; | the thoughts of dying. I have taken my leave often desiring them also to assure him, for his present relief concerning his dear family, that whatever the hand of friendship could effect on their behalf, should be accomplished. The answer, though it left no manner of hope as to the accomplishment of the object, yet is so expressive of the reigning dispositions of the writer's heart, as an affectionate husband, a tender father, a grateful friend, and a sincere Christian, that it cannot be uninteresting to the reader :

Tamerton, June 24, 1799.

with the world; and thanks be to God, I do it
always with tranquillity, and often with rapture.
Oh, what grace, what grace, it was, that ever called
me to be a Christian! What would have been my
present feelings, if I were going to meet my God
with all the filth and load of my sin about me!
But God in my nature hath put my sin away,
taught me to love him, and long for his appearing.
Oh, my dear brother, how consonant is everlasting
praise with such a great salvation!
S. P."

After this another letter was addressed to Mr.

above proposal did not originate with an individual, but with several of the brethren who dearly loved him, and had consulted on the business; and that it was no more than an act of justice to one who had spent his life in serving the public; also requesting him to give directions by which his manuscripts might be found and examined, lest he should be taken away before his arrival at Birmingham. To this he answered as follows:

Plymouth, July 6, 1799.

"I need not repeat the growing sense I have of your kindness, and yet I know not how to forbear. "I cannot direct Mr. K to all my papers, as many of them are in books from which I was making extracts; and if I could, I am persuaded that they are in a state too confused, incorrect, and unfinished, to suffer you or any other friend to realize your kind intentions.

"To use the common introduction of 'dear bro-Pearce, informing him more particularly that the ther,' would fall so far short of my feelings towards a friend, whose uniform conduct has ever laid so great a claim to my affection and gratitude; but whose recent kindness-kindness in aversity kindness to my wife-kindness to my children kindness that would go far to 'smooth the bed of death,' has overwhelmed my whole soul in tender thankfulness, and engaged my everlasting esteem. I know not how to begin....Thought is poor, and poor expression.' The only thing that lay heavy on my heart, when in the nearest prospect of eter nity, was the future situation of my family. I had but a comparatively small portion to leave behind me, and yet that little was the all that an amiable woman-delicately brought up, and, through mercy, for the most part comfortably provided for since she entered on domestic life-with five babes to feed, clothe, and educate, had to subsist on. Ah, what a prospect! Hard and long I strove to realize the promises made to the widows and the fatherless; but these alone I could not fully rest on and enjoy. For my own part, God was indeed very gracious. I was willing, I hope, to linger in suffering, if I might thereby most glorify him, and death was an angel whom I longed to come and embrace me, 'cold' as his embraces are. But how could I leave those who were dearest to my heart in the midst of a world, in which, although thousands now professed friendship for me, and on my account, for mine; yet after my decease, would, with few exceptions, soon forget my widow and my children among the crowds of the needy and distressed. It was at this moment of painful sensibility that your heart meditated a plan to remove my anxieties-a plan, too, that would involve much personal labor before it could be accomplished. 'Blessed be God, who put it into thy heart, and blessed be thou.' May the blessing of the widow and the fatherless rest on you and yours for ever. Amen, and amen!

"You will regret, perhaps, that I have taken up so much room respecting yourself, but I have scarcely gratified the shadow of my wishes. Excuse, then, on the one hand, that I have said so much, and accept on the other, what remains unexpressed.

"My affections and desires are among my dear people at Birmingham; and unless I find my strength increase here, I purpose to set out for that place in the course of a fortnight, or at most a month. The journey, performed by short stages, may do me good if not, I expect when the winter comes, to sleep in peace: and it will delight my soul to see them once more before I dic. Besides, I have many little arrangements to make among my books and papers, to prevent confusion after my decease. Indeed, till I get home, I cannot fully answer your kind letter; but I fear that my materials consist so much in references, which none but myself would understand, that a second person could not take it up, and prosecute it. I am still equally indebted to you for a proposal so generous, so laborious.

"Rejoice with me, that the blessed gospel still 'bears my spirits up.' I am become familiar with

"I have possessed a tenacious memory. I have begun one part of the history; read the necessary books; reflected; arranged; written, perhaps, the introduction; and then, trusting to my recollection, with the revisal of the books as I should want them, have employed myself in getting material for another part, &c. Thus, till my illness, the vo lumes existed in my head-my books were at hand, and I was on the eve of writing them out, when it pleased God to make me pause: and, as close thinking has been strongly forbidden me, I dare say, that were I again restored to health, I should find it necessary to go over much of my former reading to refresh memory.

"It is now Saturday. On Monday next we propose setting out on our return. May the Lord pros per our way! Accept the sincere affection, and the ten thousand thanks, of your brother in the Lord, S. P."

As the manuscripts were found to be in such a state, that no person, except the author himself, could finish them, the design was necessarily dropped. The public mind, however, was deeply im pressed with Mr. Pearce's worth, and that, which the friendship of a few could not effect, has since been amply accomplished by the liberal exertions of many.

TO DR. RYLAND.

Birmingham, July 20, 1799. "MY VERY DEAR BROTHER-Your friendly anxieties on my behalf demand the earliest satisfaction. We had a pleasant ride to Newport on the afternoon we left you, and the next day without much fatigue reached Tewksbury; but the road was so rough from Tewksbury to Evesham, that it wearied and injured me more than all the jolting we had had before put together. However, we reached Alcester on Wednesday evening, stopped there s day to rest, and last night (Friday) were brought safely hither, blessed be God!

"I find myself getting weaker and weaker, and so my Lord instructs me in his pleasure to remove me soon. You say well, my dear brother, that at

MEMOIRS OF REV. SAMUEL PEARCE.

such a prospect, I cannot complain.' No, blessed | goodness of God, we safely arrived at Birmingham
"I feel an undisturbed tranquillity of soul, and
be His dear name, who shed his blood for me, he on Friday evening, the 19th of July.
am cheerfully waiting the will of God. My voice
helps me to rejoice, at times, with joy unspeakable.
Now I see the value of the religion of the cross.
It is a religion for a dying sinner. It is all the most is gone, so that I cannot whisper without pain; and
guilty, the most wretched can desire. Yes, I taste of this circumstance I am at times most ready to
its sweetness, and enjoy its fulness, with all the complain. For, to see my dear and amiable Sarah
And far rather look at me, and then at the children, and at length
Yet the Lord
gloom of a dying bed before me.
S. P."
would I be the poor emaciated, and emaciating bathe her face in tears, without my being able to
supports me under this also; and I trust will sup-
creature that I am, than be an emperor, with every say one word of comfort-Oh!!....
earthly good about him.... but without a God!
port me to the end.

TO MR. Rock.

July 28, 1799.

"I was delighted the other day, in reperusing the Pilgrim's Progress, to observe that when Christian came to the top of the hill Difficulty, he was put to I am now to all appearance within a few sleep in a chamber called Peace. Why, how good is the Lord of the way to me! said I; I have not reached the summit of the hill yet, but notwith-steps of eternity. In Christ I am safe. In him I standing he puts me to sleep in the chamber of am happy. I trust we shall meet in heaven. Peace every night. True, it is often a chamber of which pain; but let pain be as formidable as it may, it has never yet been able to expel that peace, the great Guardian of Israel has appointed to keep my heart and mind through Christ Jesus.

"I have been laboring lately to exercise most love to God when I have been suffering most severely but, what shall I say? Alas! too often the sense of pain absorbs every other thought. Yet there have been seasons when I have been affected with such a delightful sense of the loveliness of God as to ravish my soul, and give predominance to the sacred passion. It was never till to-day that I got any personal instruction from our Lord's telling Peter by what death he should glorify God. O what a satisfying thought is it, that God appoints those means of dissolution whereby he gets most glory to himself. It was the very thing I needed; for of all the ways of dying, that which I most dreaded was by a consumption; (in which it is now highly probable my disorder will issue.) But, O my dear Lord, if by this death I can most glorify thee, I prefer it to all others, and thank thee that by this mean thou art hastening my fuller enjoyment of thee in a purer world.

"A sinless state! 'O, 'tis a heaven worth dying for!' I cannot realize any thing about heaven, but the presence of Christ and his people, and a perfect deliverance from sin, and I want no more-I am sick of sinning-soon I shall be beyond its power. "O joyful hour! O blest abode! I shall be near and like my God! I only thought of filling one side and now have not left room to thank you and dear Mrs. Ryland for the minute, affectionate, and constant attentions you paid us in Bristol. May Our hearty love to all the Lord reward you. around, till we meet in heaven. in Christ, Eternally yours

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TO MR. BIRT.

S. P."

Birmingham, July 26, 1799.
"It is not with common feelings that I begin a
letter to you. Your name brings so many interest-
ing circumstances of my life before me, in which
your friendship has been so uniformly and emi-
nently displayed, that now, amidst the imbecilities
of sickness, and the serious prospect of another
world, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude,
whilst it glows with affection-an affection which
eternity shall not annihilate, but improve.

"We reached Bristol on the Friday after we
parted from you, having suited our progress to my
strength and spirits. We staid with Bristol friends,
till Monday, when we pursued our journey, and
went comfortably on, till the uncommonly rough
road from Tewksbury to Evesham quite jaded me;
and I have not yet recovered from the excessive
At Alcester we
fatigue of that miserable ride.
rested a day and a half, and, through the abundant
13*

"S. P."

TO R. BOWYER, ESQ.
Birmingham, August 1, 1799.
"Much disappointed that I am not released from
this world of sin, and put in possession of the plea-
sures enjoyed by the spirits of just men made per-
fect, I once more address my dear fellow heirs
of that glory which ere long shall be revealed to us
all.

"We returned from Devon last Friday week. I
was exceedingly weak, and for several days after-
My friends compelled
wards got rapidly worse.
me to try another physician. I am still told that I
shall recover. Be that as it may, I wish to have
Through his abundant grace, I
my own will annihilated, that the will of the Lord
may be done.
S. P."
have been, and still am happy in my soul; and
trust my prevailing desire is, that living or dying I
may be the Lord's.

TO DR. RYLAND.

Birmingham, Lord's day evening, }

Aug.

"MY VERY DEAR BROTHER-Still, I trust, hastening to the land where there shall be no more curse,' I take this opportunity of talking a little with you on the road, for we are fellow-travellers, and a little conversation by the way will not lose me the "It is seventeen years within about a week since privilege of getting first to the end of my journey. I first actually set out on my pilgrimage; and when I review the many dangers to which, during that time, I have been exposed, I am filled with conviction that I have all along been the care of Omnipotent love. Ah, how many Pliables, and Timorouses, and Talkatives have I seen, while my quivering heart said, 'Alas! I shall soon follow these sons of apostacy, prove a disgrace to religion, and have my portion with hypocrites at last.'

"These fears may have had their uses-may have made me more cautious, more distrustful of myself, and kept me more dependent on the Lord. Thus

'All that I've met has worked for my good.'

"With what intricacy, to our view, and yet with what actual skill and goodness, does the Lord draw his plans, and mark out our path! Here we wonwas a right path to the city of habitation; and der and complain.-Soon we shall all agree that it what we now most deeply regret, shall become the subject of our warmest praises.

"I am afraid to come back again to life. O how many dangers await me! Perhaps I may be overcome of some fleshly lust-perhaps I may get proud and indolent, and be more of the priest than of the evangelist-surely I rejoice in feeling my outward man decay, and having the sentence of death in what prospects are before me in the myself.

blessed world whither I am going! To be holy as God is holy-to have nothing but holiness in my nature-to be assured without a doubt, and eternally to carry about this assurance with me, that the pure God looks on me with constant complacency, for ever blesses me, and says, as at the first creation, 'It is very good.' I am happy now in hoping in the divine purposes towards me; but I know, and the thought is my constant burden, that the Being I love best, always sees something in me which he infinitely hates. O wretched, wretched man that I am! The thought even now makes me weep, and who can help it, that seriously reflects, he never comes to God to pray or praise, but he brings what his God detests, along with himcarries it with him wherever he goes, and can never get rid of it as long as he lives? Come, my dear brother! will you not share my joy, and help my praise, that soon I shall leave this body of sin and death behind, to enter on the perfection of my spiritual nature; and patiently to wait till this natural body shall become a spiritual body, and so be a fit vehicle for my immortal and happy spirit?

"But I must forbear-I have been very unwell all day; but this evening God has kindly given me a respite-my fever is low and my spirits are cheerful, so I have indulged myself in unbosoming my feelings to my dear friend. S. P."

TO R. BOWYER, ESQ.

On his having sent him a print of Mr. Shwartz, the missionary on the Malabar coast.

Birmingham, August 16, 1799. "On three accounts was your last parcel highly acceptable. It represented a man, whom I have long been in the habit of loving and revering; and whose character and labors I intended, if the Lord had not laid his hand upon me by my present illness, to have presented to the public in Europe, as he himself presented them to the millions of Asia. The execution bearing so strong a likeness to the original, heightened its value. And then, the hand from whence it came, and the friendship it was intended to express, add to its worth.

TO MR. FULLER.

S. P."

Birmingham, August 19, 1799. "The doctor has been making me worse and weaker for three weeks. In the middle of the last week he spoke confidently of my recovery; but to day he has seen fit to alter his plans; and if I do not find a speedy alteration for the better, I must have done with all physicians, but Him, who 'heal

eth the broken in heart.'

"For some time after I came home, I was led to believe my case to be consumptive, and then thinking myself of a certainty near the kingdom of heaven, I rejoiced hourly in the delightful prospect.

"Since then, I have been told that I am not in a dangerous way; and though I give very little credit to such assertions in this case, yet I have found my mind so taken up with earth again, that I seem as though I had another soul. My spiritual pleasures are greatly interrupted, and some of the most plaintive parts of the most plaintive Psalms seem the only true language of my heart. Yet, 'Thy will be done,' I trust prevails; and if it be the Lord's will that I linger long, and suffer much, O let him give me the patience of hope, and still his will be done. I can write no more. This is a whole day's work: for it is only after tea that for a few minutes I can sit up, and attend to any thing. "S. P."

From the latter end of August, and all through the month of September, to the tenth of October, the day on which he died, he seems to have been un

able to write. He did not, however, lose the exercise of his mental powers; and though in the last of the above letters he complains of darkness, it appears that he soon recovered that peace and joy in God, by which his affliction, and even his life, were distinguished.

A little before he died, he was visited by Mr. Medley, of London, with whom he had been particularly intimate on his first coming to Birmingham. Mr. Pearce was much affected at the sight of his friend; and continued silently weeping for nearly ten minutes, holding and pressing his hand. After this he spoke, or rather, whispered as follows:"This sick bed is a Bethel to me; it is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven. I can scarcely express the pleasures that I have enjoyed in this affliction. The nearer I draw to my dissolution, the happier I am. It scarcely can be called an affliction, it is so counterbalanced with joy. You have lost your pious father; tell me how it was." Here Mr. Medley informed him of parti'culars. He wept much at the recital, and especially at hearing of his last words,-" Home, home!" Mr. Medley telling him of some temptations he had lately met with, he charged him to keep near to God." Keep close to God," said he," and nothing will hurt you."

The following detached sentences were taken down occasionally by Mrs. Pearce, within four or five weeks of Mr. Pearce's death.

He once said, "I have been in darkness two or three days, crying, O when wilt thou comfort me? but last night the mist was taken from me, and the Lord shone in upon my soul. O that I could but speak, I would tell a world to trust a faithful God. Sweet affliction, now it worketh glory, glory?

Mrs. P. having told him the various exercises of her mind, he replied, "O trust the Lord—if he lifts up the light of his countenance upon you, as he has done upon me this day, all your mountains will become mole-hills. I feel your situation, I feel your sorrows; but he who takes care of sparrows, will care for you and my dear children."

When scorching with burning fever, he said, "Hot and happy." One Lord's day morning he said, "Cheer up, my dear, think how much will be said to-day of the faithfulness of God. Though we are called to separate, he will never separate from you. I wish I could tell the world what a good and gracious God he is. Never need they, who trust in him, be afraid of trials. He has promised to give strength for the day; that is his promise. O what a lovely God! and he is my God and yours. He will never leave us nor forsake us-no, never! I have been thinking that this and that medicine will do me good-but what have I to do with it? It is in my Jesus' hands; he will do it all, and there I leave it. What a mercy is it, I have a good bed to lie upon; you, my dear Sarah, to wait upon me; and friends to pray for me! O how thankful should I be for all my pains! I want for nothing: all my wishes are anticipated. O, I have felt the force of those words of David, "Unless thy law (my gracious God!) had been my delight, I should have perished in mine affliction." Though I am too weak to read it, or hear it, I can think upon it, and O how good it is! I am in the best hands I could be in-in the hands of my dear Lord and Saviour, and he will do all things well. Yes, yes, he cannot do wrong."

One morning Mrs. P. asked him how he felt? "Very ill, but unspeakably happy in the Lord and my dear Lord Jesus." Once beholding her grieving he said, "O my dear Sarah, do not be so anxious, but leave me entirely in the hands of Jesus, and think, if you were as wise as he. you would do the

MEMOIRS OF REV. SAMUEL PEARCE.

same by me. If he takes me, I shall not be lost, I shall only go a little before; we shall meet again, never to part."

After a violent fit of coughing he said, "It is all well; O what a good God is he! It is done by him, and it must be well-if I ever recover, I shall pity the sick more than ever, and if I do not, I shall go to sing delivering love; so you see it will be all well-O for more patience! Well, my God is the God of patience, and he will give me all I need. I rejoice it is in my Jesus' hands to communicate, and it cannot be in better. It is my God who gives me patience to bear all his will."

When after a restless night, Mrs. P. asked him, what she should do for him? "You can do nothing but pray for me, that I may have patience to bear all my Lord's will."-After taking a medicine he said, "If it be the Lord's will to bless it, for your sake, and for the sake of the dear children-but the Lord's will be done. O, I fear I sin, I dishonor God by impatience; but I would not for a thousand worlds sin in a thought if I could avoid it." Mrs. P. replied, she trusted the Lord would still keep him; seeing he had brought him thus far, he would not desert him at last. "No, no," he said, "I hope he will not. As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Why do I complain? My dear Jesus' sufferings were much sorer and more bitter than mine: And did he thus suffer, and shall I repine! No, I will cheerfully suffer my Father's will."

One morning after being asked how he felt, he replied, "I have but one severe pain about me! What a mercy! O how good a God to afford some intervals amidst so much pain! He is altogether good. Jesus lives, my dear, and that must be our consolation."-After taking a medicine which rated very powerfully, he said, "This will make me so much lower; well, let it be. Multiply my pains, thou good God; so thou art but glorified, I care not what I suffer; all is right.'

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CHAPTER V.

General Outlines of his Character.

To develop the character of any person, it is ne-
cessary to determine what was his governing prin-
ciple. If this can be clearly ascertained, we shall
The governing principle in Mr. Pearce, beyond
easily account for the tenor of his conduct.
all doubt, was HOLY LOVE.

To mention this is sufficient to prove it to all who
knew him. His friends have often compared him
that of the heart. Almost every thing he saw, or
to that disciple whom Jesus loved. His religion was
heard, or read, or studied, was converted to the
feeding of this divine flame. Every subject that
passed through his hands seemed to have been cast
into this mould. Things, that to a merely specu-
lative mind would have furnished matter only for
curiosity, to him afforded materials for devotion.
His sermons were generally the effusions of his
heart, and invariably aimed at the hearts of his
hearers.

For the justness of the above remarks, I might appeal not only to the letters which he addressed to his friends, but to those which his friends addressed to him. It is worthy of notice how much we are influenced in our correspondence by the turn of mind of the person we address. If we write to a humorous character, we shall generally find that of it, will be interspersed with pleasantries: or if to what we write, perhaps without being conscious one of a very serious cast, our letters will be more serious than usual. On this principle, it has been thought, we may form some judgment of our own spirit by the spirit in which our friends address us. to the correspondence of Mr. Pearce. In looking These remarks will apply with singular propriety over the first volume of Periodical Accounts of the Baptist Mission, the reader will easily perceive the those which are addressed to him. most affectionate letters from the missionaries are

It is not enough to say of this affectionate spirit, Being asked how he felt after a restless night, he replied, "I have so much weakness and pain, I have that it formed a prominent feature in his character not had much enjoyment; but I have a full persua--it was rather the life-blood that animated the sion that the Lord is doing all these well. If it were not for strong confidence in a lovely God, I must sink; but all is well. O blessed God, I would not love thee less; O support a sinking worm! O what a mercy to be assured that all things are working together for good."

Mrs. P. saying, If we must part, I trust the sepa-
ration will not be for ever; "Ono," he replied, "we
She said,
sorrow not as those who have no hope."
Then you can leave me and your dear children
with resignation, can you? He answered, "My
heart was pierced through with many sorrows, be-
fore I could give you and the dear children up; but
the Lord has heard me say, Thy will be done; and
I now can say, blessed be his dear name, I have
none of my own."

His last day, Oct. 10, was very happy; Mrs. P.
repeated this verse,

Since all that I meet shall work for my good,
The bitter is sweet, the med'cine is food,
Though painful at present, 'twill cease before long,
And then, O how pleasant the conqueror's song.
He repeated with an inexpressible smile, the last
line "The conqueror's song."

He said once, "O my dear! what shall I do? But
why do I complain? He makes all my bed in my
sickness." She then repeated those lines,

Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are.
"Yes," he replied, "he can; he does; I feel it."

whole system. He seemed, as one of his friends
observed, to be baptized in it. It was holy love that
gave the tone to his general deportment: as a son,
a subject, a neighbor, a Christian, a minister, a pas-
nifestly governed by this principle; and this it was
tor, a friend, a husband, and a father, he was ma-
that produced in him that lovely uniformity of
character, which constitutes the true beauty of ho-
liness.

By the grace of God he was what he was; and to
He felt it,
the honor of grace, and not for the glory of a sin-
ful worm, be it recorded. Like all other men, he
was the subject of a depraved nature.
and lamented it, and longed to depart, that he might
a character, taking him altogether, "whose excel-
be freed from it: but certainly we have seldom seen
imperfections were so few." We have seen men
lencies were so many, and so uniform, and whose
rise high in contemplation, who have abounded but
little in action. We have seen zeal mingled with
bitterness, and candor degenerate into indifference;
experimental religion mixed with a large portion
of enthusiasm, and what is called rational religion,
void of every thing that interests the heart of man.
We have seen splendid talents tarnished with in-
sufferable pride, seriousness with melancholy,
cheerfulness with levity, and great attainments in
religion with uncharitable censoriousness towards
men of low degree: but we have not seen these
things in our brother Pearce.

There have been few men in whom has been united a greater portion of the contemplative and the active; holy zeal and genuine candor; spiritu.

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