LETTER XIX.
Achor’s Vale, September 1, 1818.
Miss Davies,
MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,
I fear my nerves will scarcely permit me to drop you a few lines. What a day have I passed through! Solemn period, but I hope blissful one to the unhappy, happy men. No doubt you felt for me exceedingly, knowing how near to me the late events would occur. On Sunday our worthy Chaplain preached the condemned sermon, I choose rather to call it their coronation sermon, as he then gave a most, affecting, but blessed account of their state, and looking round upon a weeping congregation, he begged leave to use the words of his master, on a very affecting occasion, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep for yourselves, not me.” The poor men who were condensed to die, wanted no pity, they had obtained mercy, they now only needed the prayers of God’s people, for his upholding hand, his supporting power, and his soul-comforting presence, at the last, the solemn, the affecting moment of their dissolution. I am informed they had it, but as I have not yet had the particulars of their conversion and happy death from any spiritual person, I cannot write you to that effect, but as soon as I can possibly gain the account, I will send it to you, knowing your heart will, and does leap for joy, at the real conversion of any sinner, but especially those who were so near death and eternity. I hope the account will be well authenticated. This morning, Monday, I awoke early, and was enabled to pour out strong cries and supplications to God, for the poor men, that they might feel the joys of salvation, as they approached their painful end. At seven o’clock the solemn church-bell tolled; but at eight o’-clock, all my powers were affected by the chapel bell answering it. I knew then the procession was begun, I knew then the subject was real, every stroke of the church bell seemed to say, Come! and every sound of the chapel bell responsed, We come! We come! I felt every sound at my heart, and it again brought me on my knees in earnest prayer, that a dear Saviour would meet them at the place of execution. They arrived about an hour after on the place; I could not see them, but I heard nearly all that passed. The first sound was singing, I judged it was the lamentation of a sinner, one verse, and which I think comprehends every thing at once.
Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask—
This is the total sum,
For mercy, Lord, is all my suit,
Lord let that mercy come.
This prayer will suit the holiest believer, living and dying. After a pause, as I judged, everything was preparing for the awful stroke. I heard one of them pray, but not being near enough I could not distinguish his words. As he drew to a close I heard the fatal drop fall which launched them into the presence of God. I burst into tears, yea I thought my heart would have broke. I could only then dart up ejaculatory prayers that the Lord Jesus would receive their departing spirits. But grief overpowered me all the day; I could not lift up my head with any pleasure. I was pensive and distressed. A multitude of very affecting ideas floated on my mind, and grief and gratitude took their several turns; but I am as well as can be expected after so severe a shock. I only fear a revival of sorrow on Sunday, when I sit in view of the spot where I last saw them. Glad shall I be to send you some good account of them in my next.
On the evening previous to the execution, I read part of the solemn funeral service of the Church, and expounded to the prisoners in this class, the 15th of the first of Corinthians. The subject of the Resurrection was very interesting, and my mind was devoutly engaged for some time with the chapter. I had occasion, for the first time I believe, to expatiate on that singular verse, 29, Else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not?—The passage would receive some easier comment if rendered over the dead, as Greek critics will allow, it being customary for the primitive christians to baptize their proselytes over the graves of the believing dead. This is the way some learned men make it out. The plain matter of fact is, that superstition had began to encroach on the simplicity of the Gospel, even in Paul’s days, and many ignorantly supposed that the ordinance of Baptism was inseparably connected with the pardon of Sin. From this mistaken notion, many postponed their Baptism till their last moments; the consequence of which was, many dying suddenly were not baptized at all—their superstitious relatives imagined it would be an act of charity to the dead to be baptized for them, in their name and stead, begging of God at the same time, to accept the Baptism of the proxy, as though it had been administered to the principal. Hence others translate the passage, What shall they do who are baptized for, or instead of the dead. But if the dead rise not again this imaginary labour of love can answer no valuable end. Why then do you doubt the Resurrection of the dead?
May God the Holy Spirit quicken our souls into the enjoyment of the favour of God, the knowledge of our pardon and justification in Christ, and enable us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, is the earnest prayer of
Ruhamah.