Joined to fidelity, diligence, and perseverance, was continual watchfulness. He waited for the Lord’s coming, he watched unto prayer, as one who was to give an account. The exhortation of the prophet Ezekiel (iii. 17), “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel,” was deeply impressed upon his mind, and every means in his power he used to win souls to Christ. He watched over the young of his flock with a father’s love and a father’s anxiety, and many present can testify to the affectionate kindness with which he received them in little parties to explain and enforce the precepts of the Gospel. In visiting his people he was watchful to speak a word in season, making it, I believe, a rule never, or very rarely, to leave a house or family without speaking of the one thing needful. Ever remembering that the vows of God were upon him, he was studiously careful that even in manner he might act as became a minister of God, whilst at the same time few were more cheerful than himself. His pulpit preparations were also subjects of much anxious watchfulness and prayer: he studied what he conceived to be his people’s wants, and in love endeavoured to declare to them the whole counsel of God.
And whilst watchful over those committed to his charge he was not unmindful of that solemn hour which has come upon him. For some time previous to his death, he seemed to have the subject continually present to his mind, and would frequently observe to the servant who drove him, on returning from his accustomed rides, “Once more the Lord has brought us home in safety;” and particularly during the last week his conversation at every house he visited, was on death, and the necessity of a constant state of preparation for it, warning the careless, and entreating the almost Christian to come out from an ungodly world, and so to live as to be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of Man, when he shall come to judge the world in righteousness.
A few days since he observed to his servant, “I shall not be long here,” and mentioned with satisfaction that the house was his private property, and that Mrs. Mortimer would not have to leave it, as she must have done had it been a parsonage. These remarks were made when his bodily health appeared to be improving, and, humanly speaking, there was every probability of his being spared many years; and it is satisfactory to dwell on these minute particulars now, as they give us the most certain evidence that the sudden call to render up the account of his stewardship found him ready and watchful for the summons.
Our beloved friend was found watching, and the blessing promised is his portion; he received the earnest of it in this world, he doubtless enjoys it more fully now.
He was blessed in the enjoyment, in no small degree, of the confidence and affection of his people; he was looked up to as a father and a friend, and the outward demonstrations of respect and sorrow which appear on every side this day prove that the loss is felt to be no common one, and many are ready to exclaim, “My father! my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.”
He was blessed in being permitted to see that his labours were not in vain in the Lord. Whilst we would by no means lay down ministerial success as the certain token of God’s favour, or the want of it a mark of his displeasure—for sometimes the most faithful devoted ministers are only permitted to sow the seed, while others reap the harvest, in order practically to prove to us that it is not by human might or power, but by the Spirit of God alone, that souls can be converted to Him; that a Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but it is God alone who giveth the increase—yet it is a blessing, and a great and precious one, to be permitted to see the work of the Lord prospering in our hands. Little, perhaps, do some present think of the anxious hopes and fears which fill the minister’s heart while preparing for his public ministrations, or striving to bring before his people the whole counsel of God. How often in the bitterness of disappointed hope he is ready to exclaim, “Who hath believed our report?” But when he marks the earnest attention paid to his ministrations, the vanities of the world forsaken by some, who boldly, and yet with humility declare, Whatever be the conduct of others, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord;” great is his encouragement, and he goeth on his way rejoicing. This blessing was vouchsafed to our dear departed friend, and he was also permitted to see that his ministrations were so highly valued that the church in which we are now assembled required twice to be enlarged to accommodate the increasing congregation.
There is something painful in the thought that so good a man should be thus suddenly, and in such a manner, taken from the midst of us. We should have chosen for him a long and peaceful old age, and when, at length, he must depart this life, like corn fully ripe, the Master whom he loved and served would come and gently receive him to himself. But his death and the manner of it was appointed by One wiser than man, and who loved him better than his dearest earthly friends. Even in his sudden death, there was a blessing and an answer to many prayers. From the state of his bodily health, and what he had previously suffered, he used to dread the pains of dying, and earnestly prayed that he might either be spared these pains, or be strengthened under them. And God gave him more than he asked; for nearly two years past this dread was taken away, and the bodily pain he suffered after the accident, was, I have been informed, not equal to the uneasy sensations experienced at fainting. At first, he did not consider that he had received a fatal injury, and on being taken up, exclaimed, “He keepeth all my bones, not one of them is broken.”
His kind friend and physician Dr. Paget, hastened to his assistance, and brought him gently home. The family, naturally much alarmed, eagerly met him as he was being carried into the house, anxious to ascertain the extent of the injury; he strove to calm their fears by telling them, what he then really thought, that he was not seriously hurt. But when laid upon his bed, and he found, as he expressed it, that it would be instant death for him to lie in any but the one position, then he felt that he should never rise again, and was thankful for being brought home to his own comfortable bed. He then spoke with much feeling of the kindness and gentleness of the persons who took him up immediately after the accident, repeating, “Kind—kind,” and expressed himself as quite resigned to the will of God, not anxious to live, and ready to die. He alluded briefly to his temporal affairs, and when he felt his end approaching, desired that those who were not present might be called, when he addressed a few words separately to each, ending with “God bless you.” It was evidently an effort for him to speak much, and his memory appeared to be in some degree affected, as he mentioned none of the family who were absent, and only addressed those present as they stood directly before him. Having spoken to his family, he then prayed for his people; they had always been very dear to him, and often had his prayers ascended before the throne of grace on their behalf, and now, ere the spirit took its flight, whilst yet he might plead for a blessing to descend upon them, he lifted up his heart with the words, “God bless my poor dear people;” and having uttered this prayer, he lay for a time quite still, and then so gently fell asleep in Jesus, that an old and valued servant of the family observed, “How sweetly master is sleeping!” and knew not that it was death until told by the physician, “It is the sleep of death.”
He was permitted to retain his senses to the last, having lived about four hours after the accident.
Beloved friends, may the dying prayers of your late valued minister be heard and answered abundantly on your behalf! “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours.” Our departed friend has fought the good fight, has finished his course, and entered into his rest. He now beholds Him whom having not seen he loved. Oh that those who are ready to exclaim “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his,” may treasure up the instruction they have received from him they will see no more, till all meet at the judgment-seat of Christ, and seek to follow in the steps of their departed minister as he followed Christ.