Baptist Magazine. JANUARY, 1820. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS THOMAS,* OF PECKHAM, It is universally acknowledged, that abstract truth is less impressive than truth imbodied in a living example. This is more especially the case, when biography records the virtues and the excellencies of those whose dispositions and views were congenial with our own. It may also be added, that what would be very coldly regarded by indifferent observers, will be eagerly read, and highly valued, by those to whom the individual was endeared by the ties of blood, of friendship, or of gratitude for instructions, or other benefits received. To these the most minute particulars are acceptable. The subject of the following Memoir was a warm and steady friend to our work from its commencement, for the sake of the widows, whose interest in it he often mentioned with tenderness. In no former year has there been an account given of a man of more sterling worth. We are glad, therefore, to be able to say, that by the kindness of one of bis relatives, we can present our readers with a few particulars, which we proceed to lay before them. Mr. Thomas was son of the Timothy Thomas, their father, began to preach at the age of ed, and remarkably useful. He nineteen, and was highly esteemhad a weak constitution, and in 1768 died, aged 47. His widow, a very pious and excellent woman, still survives. Joshua Thomas, his elder brother, died at Leominster in 1797, aged 78. Zechariah Thomas, his younger brother, lived and preached, nearly ninety years of age; and greatly respected, till he was at sixty, the subject of this Memoir appeared likely to arrive at the age of his uncles. 1759; and from childhood was Our friend was born March 5, the subject of serious impressions, conducting the social wor ship of the family at a very early age, He was baptized and received into the church abovementioned in March, 1776. The church was then under the pastoral care of his late venerable uncle, the Rev. Zechariah Thomas, He was recommended by the church to the Academy at Bristol in July, 1777, at that time superintended by the Rev, B Messrs. Hugh and Caleb Evans, and Mr. James Newton. Mr. Hall, now of Leicester, was one of his fellow-students. There he pursued his studies to consider able advantage till the summer of 1780, when he left the Academy; and having spent the greater part of a year with the Baptist church at Pershore, after the death of their late pastor, the Rev. Dr. Ash, he was ordained with prayer and imposition of hands, by his senior uncle the Rev. Joshua Thomas, then of Leominster. The late Dr. Caleb Evans, one of his tutors, addressed him very impressively, in a most solemn charge, on that occasion. In the autumn of 1781, Mr. Thomas married the youngest daughter of Mr. Robert Moseley, a most worthy deacon of the Baptist church in Cannon-street, Birmingham. After spending seven years at Pershore, with unblemished reputation, the situation of our departed friend was rendered uncomfortable by an unhappy dispute between two very respectable families in the congregation. Though he took no active part in the business, yet being apprehensive that a division would be the result, he thought it most prudent to withdraw. The division actually took place after he left them. when the meeting-house was burnt down. Till their place of worship was rebuilt, Mr. Thomas and his friends assembled on the Lord's-day evening at the meeting-house of Mr. Booth, by whom our deceased brother was ever most highly esteemed. This change operated to the disadvantage of the cause of Christ among them. They, however, continued their union in public worship together till the Midsummer of 1799. A few of those individuals now survive, who retain, and will for ever retain, the impression made upon their hearts by the excellence of his ministry, and the affectionate fidelity with which he watched over them for Christ's sake. Mr. Thomas had a school for some years in Mile End, and when he removed to Peckham,. he pursued the same arduous occupation on a more extensive scale. Many of his pupils have entered, or are now entering, into the cares of the present life, with all the benefit of that solid learning, and of those pious impressions, which, under the divine blessing, his tuition could not fail to produce. Having now no pastoral charge, our excellent friend was at liberty, and discovered great readiness, to assist his brethren of different denominations, and many Towards the close of 1787, on destitute congregations, in which paying a visit to his friends in the doctrines of grace, with their London, he preached with gene- practical influence, were acceptral approbation in the pulpits of able. This introduced him most of his brethren. The Bap-into many societies and families tist church in Mill-yard, Good-in which few ministers have man's-fields, being destitute of a pastor, invited him to settle with them, which he did in the summer of 1788. Here, under his able and faithful ministry, considerable additions were made to the church till the year 1790, been more generally respected. After a long-continued and very heavy affliction, Mrs. Thomas was removed by death in October, 1808. Two sons and three daughters are now living. The general health and ap ly explained in a discourse upon By long experience have I known ex broke." Such was the effect of the peace of God ruling in his heart, and such the solidity of his faith, and the liveliness of his hope, that all around his dying bed were ready to exclaim, "Let me die the death of that righte ous man, and let my last end be like his." pearance of Mr. Thomas seemed to promise that his life would be prolonged to an advanced period; but he whose thoughts are not as our thoughts had otherwise determined. He was seized with an internal complaint, which produced jaundice. In the month of August last it increased upon him, yet not so as to produce serious apprehensions either in After Saturday evening he spoke himself, or among his friends, till but little, his general strength and about a fortnight before his powers of articulation gradually, death, when his strength rapidly and almost imperceptibly, dedeclined. At this time, knowing clining, till about a quarter before that gentlemen of the medical eight on Monday morning, Octoprofession sometimes encourage ber 4, when, as his son their patients, by expressing pressed it in a letter to the writer, hopes much stronger than they" one gentle sigh his fetters themselves entertain, he pressed those who attended upon him to give him their real opinion of his ease. After consulting together, they gave him to understand that their hope did not extend beyond the mere possibility of his restoration, when he calmly replied, "The will of the Lord be done ;" and from that time directed his whole attention to the solemn change that was drawing nigh. He spoke with great satisfaction of the gospel, which he had faith-ber 11, the body of Mr. Thomas fully, for the salvation of sinners, was interred in Bunhill-fields, endeavoured to preach, and add- where it awaits the morning of ed, "It is a holy gospel-a holy the resurrection, when it shall gospel," warning most earnestly rise a spiritual, glorified body, his dear children, and others together with those (which now around him, not to neglect so occupy the same spot) of Owen great salvation." Among many and Watts, Bunyan and Gill, other expressions, which indi- Gifford and Stennett, and a very cated the ground of his faith, great company who also have and the stability of his hope, he slept in Jesus, and whose bodies repeated, a few days before his there rest" in sure and certain death, with peculiar emphasis, hope of the resurrection to eterthat noble avowal of the nal life, through our Lord Jesus apostle Paul, "I know whom Christ." I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." These words were afterwards particular To his numerous friends at a distance, especially in the Principality, it may be gratifying to be informed, that on Monday, Octo At his funeral, as at that of Stephen, many devout men of different denominations, and from several churches, made lamenta tion over him, while his friend, the Rev. Mr. Griffin, delivered an appropriate address. The pall was supported by the Rev. Dr. Abraham Rees, of the Presbyterian, and the Rev. Mr. Innes, of the Independent, denomination, with four of his Baptist brethren, the Rev. Messrs. Button, Ivimey, Hoby, and Broady, who, together with a train of relatives, ministers, and private gentlemen, occupied six mourning coaches-sorrowing most sincerely "that they should see his face no more!" On Thursday evening, October 14, Dr. Newman of Stepney delivered the funeral sermon, from the words before-mentioned, to a numerous and highly respectable audience, at Devonshire-square. As we are fully of opinion that the character there given is correctly drawn, we insert an ex tract. "I always admired the dignity and simplicity, the honesty and warmth, and the noble frankness of his temper. He had a high sense of rectitude and propriety which would have done honour to any man-to any Prince in Europe. He was cheerful without levity. If all our students and young ministers should resemble him, we shall have the satisfaction of seeing them, according to a good old maxim, lively, but not light; serious, and yet not sad.' "Solomon says, Wise men lay up knowledge.' Prov. x. 14. Our friend laid up treasure of this kind in early life; grew richer as he grew older; and possessed much more literary wealth than he ever showed to the world. Ostentation, affectation, and artifice he held in uumixed abhorrence. "He had a very clear, correct, and comprehensive view of Christianity. His sermons, therefore, as might have been expected, were characterized by strong sense, and not less by a strong savour of evangelical piety. Those who meet for worship in this place, must have often heard him expatiate with great solemnity on the dignity of the person of Christ, and the depth of his voluntary abasement for our redemption-the universal depravity and misery of mankind occasioned by the fall-the sovereignty and grace of the Holy Spirit in regeneration and sanctification the privileges of God's electthe perpetual obligation of the law-the necessity of a holy and useful life to prove our faith sincere-and, in short, all the other topics which these must presuppose, or include, or draw after them by necessary consequence. "In public prayer, I think it will be allowed that he excelled most of his brethren. Those of you who knew our late venerable friend Mr. Booth, must have been often reminded of him, when you have seen our brother engaged in conducting that part of public worship. "Having had a free and confidential intercourse with him for more than six-and-twenty years, I need not hesitate to add, I loved him; and, if I live long, I shall long lament the loss I have personally sustained by his death. His heart was open to me at all times. In walking about London he was my guide and my companion. I was accustomed to lean upon his faithful arm. Frequently I have said to him, 'Brother Thomas, I think this must be the true notion of walking by faith-I know not where we are -but you know, and that is enough for me.** When he saw Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit Nulli flebilior quam [mihi.] Hoza any thing wrong in me, or intensively known than they are. others, or what he esteemed to One is entitled, "The Mystery of be wrong, he could say the the seven Stars as emblematical of strongest and the sharpest things the Ministers of the Gospel, exin a manner the most kind and plained and improved." Preached inoffensive. at the Baptist Monthly Association, in the meeting-house, Little Prescot-street, Goodman's-fields, April 20, 1809. The other is entitled, "Jesus Christ the Object of Prayer," and was preached in Dean-street, Southwark, January 21, 1819." This last contains in the conclusion some very "We shall miss him at our weekly meeting of ministers in Cornhill, which he constantly attended. I may apply now to him those lines of Gray's elegy, which I heard Mr. Fuller apply to Mr. Booth One morn I miss'd him on th' accustom'd hill! interesting views of death and the nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he!' "We shall miss him, brethren, at our monthly meeting of minis ters and churches. The last Sermon which he delivered in intermediate state, which we lit tle thought the preacher himself was destined to realize before the year ended! COMPARED. that meeting, will not soon be A. D. 1620 AND A. D. 1820 forgotten by those who heard it." We shall miss him in the Stepney Institution, of which he was the worthy Secretary, and to which he was a cordial and constant friend from its commencement. There are also many in England, and especially in all parts of the principality of Wales, who will say, We shall miss him too.' The mournful tidings of his death will be conveyed to his son resident in India, who will never repent of having been most affectionately and gratefully studious to honour his father while he was living." MUSING on the insensible and rapid revolutions of TIME, I found myself hurried forward towards the year 1820. I no sooner thought of the date, than my recollections were thrown back upon the year 1620; and the events which then occurred, and those which are now taking place, relative to emigration, led me almost insensibly to repeat the observation of Solomon, thing which hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done, is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun." "The At the former of these periods, England witnessed the departure of some of her best subjects; driven from their homes, first to Holland, and then to the inhospitable wilds of America, by the fierce demon of persecution. Two ships, freighted with persons belonging to Mr. Robinson's con |