Слике страница
PDF
ePub

to receive it with humility, entered into the very elements of his character, and regulated habitually his conduct. And if the combination of virtues which have been here ascribed to him deserve to be held alike in veneration and remembrance, they are such as even his enemies (should any remain), if they speak the truth, cannot deny him; and it is no mean praise to say, what cannot be contradicted, he was always best beloved by those who knew him most intimately.

MEMOIR

OF THE LATE

REV. GEORGE TOWNSEND,

FORTY-FIVE YEARS PASTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH, RAMSGATE.

THIS venerable servant of the cross was one of the most zealous founders of the London Missionary Society, and at its first public meeting, in 1795, engaged that the county of Kent should contribute one hundred pounds to its funds; a sum at that time deemed considerable, but which he lived to see annually raised by his own immediate congregation. In May, 1802, he was invited by the Directors to preach one of their annual sermons at the Tabernacle, when, with his usual fervour and affection, he addressed a crowded auditory from the words of the prophet Isaiah, chapter lxvi. ver. 19. The text was deemed appropriate, and the sermon was well fitted to rouse and direct the zeal of the Christian church, in sending the gospel of Christ to the far-distant isles of the sea.

Such was the deep interest which Mr. Townsend took in missionary operations in general, and in the plans and proceedings of the London Missionary Society in particular, that so long as health and strength permitted, it was his regular custom to repair to the metropolis in the month of May, and to take part in those spirit-stirring services, which have fanned the zeal of many a Christian pastor, and thereby revived the slumbering energies of many a drooping church. Often have we beheld the amiable and kind-hearted minister of Ebenezer Chapel, Ramsgate, while listening to some powerful appeal, from eloquent lips, on behalf of the perishing heathen, dissolving into tears, or expressing, in his open and manly countenance, the most animated feelings of Christian delight. He was not one who could conceal his emotions, whether of joy or

grief; so that any one who sat near to him in a committee, on a platform, or in the house of God, could form an accurate estimate of the character and depth of his feelings, on any given occasion.

Mr. Townsend did not resemble his excellent brother in the order and regularity of his mind; and thus it is, that scarcely anything has been preserved respecting him worthy of a place in these memorials of departed worth. Gladly would the Editor erect an unostentatious column in honour of a man "whose praise was in all the churches;" but since this pleasure is denied to him, he must content himself by strewing a few sweet flowers over the grave of one whose Christian graces were an inheritance to his family, and to the church of the living God.

George Townsend was born in London, in the year 1755. His parents were devotedly pious, and were strongly attached to the ministry of Whitefield. Early was his cheerful and sprightly mind imbued with the holy principles of the gospel, for at the age of sixteen he became a decided follower of the Lamb; thus escaping the sad remorse of conscience which awaits those who are called by grace at a later period of life.

Mr. T. received his education at St. Paul's school, where he was distinguished by an exuberance of good nature, and by a moderate capacity for the acquirement of knowledge. By the power of conscience, and the inward strivings of the Spirit of God, he was preserved from the vices, and even most of the follies, which distinguish public schools; and relinquished the tasks of the schoolboy to prosecute his studies for the sacred office. About the period of his conversion, when just entering on his seventeenth year, he joined a society of young men, connected with the congregations of Whitefield, who met for religious conversation and mental improvement; from which, it appears, he derived considerable benefit in the way of increased knowledge, and augmented religious feeling. It was their habit to deliver brief exhortations, from given portions of Scripture, and discuss subjects connected with Christian theology and experience. But devotion was the main object of these select meetings; and while they contributed to extend the sphere of his acquaintance with evangelical truth, they effected a still higher purpose in deepening the pious religion of the heart.

These meetings, in the midst of a scoffing and profane age, when serious godliness was almost confined to the despised sect of the Methodists, brought a large measure of ridicule on Mr. T. and his devout companions. But the sneer of the thoughtless and impenitent only increased his boldness in the cause of Christ; and led him to rejoice that he was counted worthy to suffer reproach for the sake of his God and Saviour. He became, indeed, the song of the drunkard, and the derision of fools; but he bound the badge of Christianity around his brow, and gloried in being permitted to carry his Master's cross.

In referring to the contempt which then attended a decided profession of the faith of Christ, and expressing his dauntless courage in following out the convictions of his conscience, he said to a friend, about this time, "Had I a thousand lives, they should be devoted to the cause of Jesus, to his glorious work, to gather in those precious jewels, which shall adorn his crown to all eternity!" This conversation was reported to the late excellent Countess of Huntingdon, who expressed a wish to see a youth whose heart was so set on honouring Christ, whether by life or by death. That godly lady well knew how much decision of character it required to withstand the world's frown and contempt; and she knew, also, how to estimate the value of those agents who, like herself, were prepared to forsake all, and to follow Christ. Young Townsend was accordingly introduced to her ladyship, who treated him with great condescension and kindness, and urged him to "stand fast in the Lord," and to cling to the hope of ultimately entering the ministry of the gospel.

Soon after this interview with this distinguished Lady, Mr. T. was invited to preach a discourse, for the trial of his gifts and graces, at the Mulberry-gardens Chapel, St. George's in the East; and, at the age of twenty, the young champion accepted the invitation, and took for his text Rom. viii. 15, 16. His train of thought was devoted to the illustration of the Spirit of adoption, and the high privileges connected with the believer's joint-heirship with Christ. When he had closed this juvenile attempt, a friend expressed his surprise that a man so young as he should have chosen such a lofty theme for his subject; to which Mr. T. replied, "I am anxious to speak to others of the royalties of adoption, which I have known in my own experience."

"It was on this occasion," observes Mr. Bevis, in his funeral sermon for Mr. Townsend," when he put on the student's gown, his excellent father, who was near him, rejoicing to see the commencement of his useful career, said, Let not him that putteth on the harness, boast as he that putteth it off. My heart,' said Mr. T,' responded to this command;' and he uttered a prayer that he might fight the good fight of faith,' and obtain the crown of glory and immortality, before he put off the harness. Very beautiful are the reflections in the journal of our departed friend on this point.-' He who puts on the ministerial harness, has no reason to boast, as he who putteth it off. The ministry is an honourable and desirable post, but it is a dangerous post in battle. What enemies have the ministers of the gospel to encounter on the right hand and on the left their number is great; their shot and darts are galling; and the man who goes out on the gospel war, must set out by faith, go on by faith, live by faith, receive all his supplies by faith, pray by faith, fight by faith, stand by faith, gain strength by faith, obtain victories by faith, preach in faith, gain increase of strength by faith, grow by faith in the divine life; by faith live upon the promises of the gospel; and thus by faith live, fight, and die: and enter the triumphal realms of bliss, where his faith will be turned into sight, his hope into endless felicity, and his distresses into comfort, joy, and everlasting consolation.'"

The effect of Mr. Townsend's pulpit effort in the Mulberry Gardens Chapel was the determination of the Countess of Huntingdon to send him to her College at Trevecca, where it was intended that he should remain for the space of four years, preparatory to his fully entering upon the office of the sacred ministry. The plan thus arranged, however, was speedily broken in upon; for young Townsend was so popular in the towns and villages to which he was sent on his entering College at Trevecca, that, whether prudently or not, he was almost wholly withdrawn from his studies, and was compelled to abandon them for the more public engagements of the Christian ministry. It was evidently the defect of Lady Huntingdon's arrangements, that when a young man was acceptable in his public addresses, he was hurried away from his studies before he had had any fair opportunity for cultivating the powers of his mind, or making any solid attainments in theology or general literature. Yet it must be acknowledged, that not a few who were there made preachers by preaching, rose to great eminence and usefulness in the church of Christ; and it must also be allowed, that the spiritual destitution of our country at the time went far to justify a deviation from fixed rules of procedure, which in other circumstances would have been highly culpable.

Happily for Mr. Townsend, he had been blessed with a respectable school education; and such was his thirst for knowledge, that at a time when he was preaching all day, he read and studied books the greater part of the night. His general and miscellaneous knowledge, thus acquired, was such as to astonish

all who heard him or conversed with him.

Wherever he

preached, crowds flocked to listen to his message. His manner was energetic and bold, and his matter was full of unction and truth. Many, too, by God's blessing, were the memorials of his usefulness at Wigan, Kendal, Lancaster, Maidstone, Dover, Cheshunt, and other parts of his Lord's vineyard. A sweet savour of Christ attended his steps, and many have now welcomed him in glory, who were the fruits of this early, immature stage of his ministry. At Dover, in particular, his labours were blessed; and there, in one day, he received the cordial greetings of sixteen individuals who had been called to the knowledge of the truth under his ministry.

In 1783, Mr. Townsend was ordained over the Countess's congregation at Cheshunt, where for the space of two years, he did" the work of an evangelist, and made full proof of his ministry," gathering many souls into the fold of Christ, and building up God's people in faith and holiness. It was not the will of Providence, however, that he should long continue in this part of the vineyard; and the following narrative, selected from Mr. Bevis's funeral sermon, will explain the process by which his steps were directed to a scene of labour, where, for the space of half a century, he adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour.

"In the year 1784, when he was settled at Cheshunt, he was invited to visit some friends at Dover. In his way he passed through Ramsgate, and attended the weekevening service in Ebenezer Chapel. Dr. Stafford preached; and after the sermon Mr. Townsend went into the vestry to speak with him. It so happened that the congregation were unprovided with a supply for the next Lord's day. Oh,' said Dr. Stafford, 'our friend Townsend is always ready to preach, he will take your pulpit.' 'No,' replied Mr. Townsend, there are two ministers at Dover, and I will beg one of them to come; and if I cannot prevail, I will promise to come myself.' When he arrived at Dover, the ministers to whom he alluded had gone to France. He waited for their return till the last moment, and then came over to Ramsgate, and undertook the services of the day. The impressions produced on the people by his ministrations were so permanent, that when Mr. Bradbery, their minister, resigned his pastoral charge, eighteen months after, he was invited to take the oversight of them in the Lord. One circumstance may be mentioned, to show the leadings of Providence in his coming to Ramsgate; he had left Dover half an hour, before the ministers of whom he had spoken returned from France, If they had arrived in time, it is probable he would never have been the pastor of the church at Ramsgate."

Mr. Townsend entered on his new and promising sphere of labour with the same feelings of devotedness to Christ which peculiarly marked all his movements, from the period of his conversion. In his journal he inscribed the following prayer, as indicative of the solemn feeling of responsibility which now possessed his spirit.

« ПретходнаНастави »