The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A. / Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West

by John Armstrong

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!