His profession of religion, extended as it was, to nearly half a century, was remarkable for its uniform consistency and unfailing constancy. As the disciple of Jesus, he was spiritual, humble, and zealous. In his official capacity in the church, he was watchful, diligent, and active; condescending, affectionate, and kind to the poorest of the flock; loving to all his brethren, and much beloved by them. In all the relations of life he sustained, whether as a husband, parent, friend, or neighbour, the excellencies of his religion were developed with more than common lustre; and secured to him a well-deserved reputation, a most profound respect. That he had his imperfections we readily admit; and if, as astronomers inform us, there are dark spots even on the sun in the heavens, no wonder that feeble creatures, dwelling in dust, should present some shades of infirmity. But yet as the sun of nature, in spite of his spots, pours a constant flood of refulgent light upon surrounding worlds, so our esteemed friend, notwithstanding some manifest imperfections, presented to all who encircled him the light of an eminent example of religion, in the unyielding integrity of its principles, and in all the amiable loveliness of its practice. Through the grace of God which was bestowed upon him, his path was truly as the shining light, which shineth more and more to the perfect day.
Here, however, he had no continuing city, and at length the time of his departure hence drew near. A paralytic stroke, in 1824, had admonished him of his approaching change. Though from that seizure he was soon, in part, mercifully recovered, and was still in a good degree active and useful; yet his mental powers then received a shock, in consequence of which they gradually became still more and more impaired; so that for the three or four last years of his life, his intellect resembled a magnificent structure, fallen and in ruins. As long, however, as any capability remained, he continued to attend the house of God with the liveliest interest; and for a long time was conveyed to it, when much enfeebled, in a Bath chair. He had the happiness of seeing the last of his children received into the church, on profession of repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The last time he ever attended on the public means of grace, was with much difficulty, in October, 1833, when his youngest son was baptized; and it was to him a most sacred season of unspeakable delight and joy. From this time he continued in a very feeble state, both of mind and body, though without much suffering; till Monday, 28th July last, when he was assailed with the illness, that quickly manifested itself to be the harbinger of death. The conflict, however, was short, for on the following Sabbath evening, Aug. 3rd, 1834, he was released, and his emancipated spirit took its soaring flight to his long desired and eternal rest. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." His remains were interred on the following Thursday, by the Rev. John Campbell, pastor of the church in Lion Street, who delivered an interesting, appropriate, and solemn address on the occasion. On the following Lord's-day, Aug. 10th, Mr. Williams of Ryeford preached his funeral discourse, from Isaiah lvii. 1, 2.
May all who read this memoir be followers of our deceased brother, as he was of Christ!
W. W. R.
THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR.
THE GIRDLE.
To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
Amongst other predictions of the Messiah's character and fitness for the offices which he had undertaken, we read, Isa. xi. 5, that "righteousness should be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins:" and the apostle reminds us that, if we would profit by the example of the Captain of our salvation, and the armour which he hath provided for us, we must have our loins girt about with truth. The girdle was used chiefly to strengthen the loins, but was also of great service in uniting the different parts of the armour compactly together. If a body be loaded with armour hanging loosely, many wounds may be inflicted, unless they are fastened together by the belt or girdle: so the Christian's graces may prove insufficient to preserve or fortify him, unless compacted by the girdle of sincerity.
As the apostle had directed the posture in which the Christian should maintain the fight, so he exhorts them to gird the loins, as the seat of bodily strength, which we are to understand spiritually, as "the loins of the mind," (1 Peter i. 13,) to be girt about with truth.
Truth may be considered as opposed to error, or to insincerity; and as characterizing man's creed, or his conduct. There is truth in doctrine, and truth in duty; truth in principle, and truth in practice; and the Christian soldier is supposed to possess all these. We regard it here as synonymous with sincerity, and corresponding with the exhortation of Joshua to the chosen tribes: "Serve the Lord in sincerity and truth;" and of the apostle to the Corinthians: "Keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." In like manner we are to enter on the conflict with our spiritual adversaries with the utmost integrity, otherwise the greatest advantages will prove utterly unavailable. Christian sincerity is too generally considered as nothing more than good intention, which may exist with great error in doctrine, and evil in practice; and has been found in the superstitious bigot, and the blood thirsty persecutor.