From this time Mr. Grant had a happy change in his temporal circumstances; for, connected with the liberal aid of her Ladyship, another event took place which terminated in his favour. One of his hearers had £200 left her, but found great difficulty in obtaining her right. Mr. Grant interfered, and obtained it for her. Such was her gratitude, that she left him £100 at her death.
During the first part of Mr. Grant's ministry at Wellingborough, he had to struggle with great pecuniary difficulties; but he now found true what a poor woman said to him on first coming to Wellingborough—"Mr. Grant, I wonder what induced you to come to such a reduced and poor people; how do you think you can be supported?" Then, as the effect of an instantaneous impression, she said, "The Lord says, 'The silver and the gold is mine'; and you, sir, shall have your share." Mr. Grant was in very good circumstances at the close of his life.
In 1734 they determined to build a new Meeting House. They counted the cost of such a building, erected in a plain manner, as they thought would then comfortably contain their congregation, and found it to be about £200. They built the walls, and put up part of the roof; but found themselves, being still poor and weak, under the necessity of asking the assistance of friends. This was obtained, so that the whole expense was shortly cleared.
Mr. Grant's ministry extended over the lengthened period of forty-eight years, during which 259 members were added to the Church. It was on September 9th, 1770, that he preached for the last time, being very ill, and for some time before this having been carried to the pulpit. On March 22nd, 1771, after a long and painful illness, borne with Christian patience and fortitude, Mr. Grant's death took place, closing a devoted and successful ministry.
It is observed, that "Mr. Grant was very lively in the pulpit. His work appeared so much like the work of heaven, that it often very much surprised his hearers." "His charity was such, that he would deprive himself of some comforts for the benefit of the poor." A friend said to him, "I wonder, Mr. Grant, that you do not keep a better fire this cold weather." He replied, "other people want fires as well as myself." He was a firm Dissenter, and had a great aversion to all saints' days, &c. His people frequently pressed him to preach on Christmas-day: at last he complied with reluctancy, and chose these words—"Ye are of your father the devil, and his works will ye do."
When the dreadful fire took place at Wellingborough in 1738, such was the distress of the inhabitants that party names were forgotten; and the town requested the Rev. Mr. Grant and the Rev. Mr. Homes, the clergyman, to combine in collecting for the poor sufferers. When Mr. Homes saw the great influence that Mr. Grant had, and the unlimited respect paid to him, he determined he would go with nobody else, even on this charitable occasion. Mr. Homes retained a great respect for him to the close of his days, and would frequently say, "He was an honest and great man."
In the closing years of his life, Mr. Grant was deprived of sight. An aged woman came to him on one occasion, when two of his friends were leading him to the pulpit, and said, "Sir, how do you do? for I cannot see you." He rejoined, "nor can I see you; but let us rejoice: there will be no blind people in heaven."
The following outline of a sermon is preserved from one of Mr. Grant's manuscripts (Psalm lxxix. 8). After a long introduction, he gives the following divisions:—
I. That God, as he is the God of Zion and the God of his Church, does sometimes remember against his own people their former iniquities, or the Church was mistaken here. "Oh, remember not against us," said they, "our former iniquities." Either God did remember against the Church their former iniquities, or I say the Church was mistaken; for the Church apprehends it so by her prayer. At this time she very plainly believes God did remember against her her former iniquities, and was now dealing with her by laying his rod upon her; therefore under it she cries, "Remember not against us our former iniquities; let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low."
II. When a professing people, or particular persons, are under chastisements and the severe rebukes of their God, to plead his tender mercies is the best argument. "Let thy tender mercies," says the Church, "speedily prevent us;" that is, prevent our ruin, or we should be destroyed—we should be brought to nothing as a Church if thou sufferest the enemy to go forward in destroying them that are useful, cutting them off as they have done in times past, and the bodies of the saints should be still continued to be given as meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of heaven, as in verse 2—then we should be brought to ruin: but, "Oh let thy," &c.
III. We see from the words of our text, that the people of God may plead in their petitions their low estates for God's help; this may come in by way of petition in prayer. Our miseries and God's mercies are very proper pleas at the throne of grace. The poor publican made use of both in his prayer: "God be merciful to me a sinner."
IV. Something by way of use, as (1.) Does God remember the sins of his people by way of chastisement? Let us take heed how we sin against him. (2.) Learn from hence, when God is chastising you, and laying his rod upon you, to turn to him that smites you, when he calls you by his rebukes. Many turn from God. (3.) We learn from hence, as the Church prays that God would not remember against her former iniquities, so we should do.
The following letter is inserted because it presents some pleasing indications of the spirit that prevailed in Mr. Grant and his people.