But at the solemnities of interment, the strongest demonstration of public feeling was afforded. The concourse of people assembled to witness or assist in the last sad token of respect to his remains was never, perhaps, equalled in Liverpool. Religion, Humanity, Friendship, and Genius, mingled their tears at his grave. The funeral took place on Tuesday, the 13th August, 1811: the procession moved from the Park about eleven in the morning, in the following order : The Gentlemen of the Faculty; Ministers, four abreast; The Body, The Pall supported by ten Ministers, five on each side; The Mourners; Friends of the deceased, To the number of One Hundred and Thirty, Six abreast. All the streets through which the procession passed were crowded to excess, as also were the windows and balconies of the houses. But the greatest decorum was observed-and a seriousness, according with the solemn occasion, was manifested by all. The corpse was borne into the chapel, late the scene of Mr. Spencer's labours, and the Rev. Mr. Charrier, of Bethesda chapel, read part of the 15th chapter of the 1st of Corinthians, and the 4th and 5th of the 1st of Thessalonians, and offered a most solemn prayer. At the grave an eloquent and impressive oration was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, A. M. of Blackburn. The mournful service was concluded by a prayer from the Rev. Mr. Lister, of Lime street chapel. "The whole scene," a Liverpool journal observes, "was affecting-it could not be otherwise. Every idea which could be associated with the spectacle was such as to excite the deepest sympathy. The flower of youth, scarcely opened, snatched from the stem of life by a sudden and rude attack of mortality: a minister, who lately fixed the attention of crowded audiences by the power of his eloquence, conveyed to the house of silence and darkness; the fairest prospects of honour and usefulness in life blasted; the warm hopes of his friends wrecked in a moment; and the deep, the dreadful wound inflicted in the feelings of relatives, and the dearest connexions. Such, however, are the appointments of a supreme governing Intelligence, to which human ehoice and wishes must bow with reverence, supported by the general principle of the justice, wisdom, and benevolence, which direct the affairs of men. Similar afflic tions are of frequent occurrence in private life, though they there pass unnoticed. Public characters excite attention both in their zenith and fall; and so far as society is bereft of virtue, useful talents, and active zeal, their death is a public calamity." On the following Sunday evening, a funeral sermon was preached at Newington Chapel, by the Rev. William Roby, of Manchester, from Heb. xiii. 7, 8, Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation: Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.' This sermon, so admirably adapted to sooth the disconsolate congregation to whom it was addressed, has been presented to them, by its respected author, from the press. But not in Liverpool alone was the shock of Mr. Spencer's death felt or the loss occasioned by his sudden removal deplored. Scarcely was there a district in Britain to which the melancholy tidings did not reach. The universal esteem in which the beloved youth was held, was manifested by the numerous sermons which were preached throughout the country, to embalm his memory, and to improve his death. In London several were delivered,-many singularly eloquent and appropriate; several have issued from the press, and have been noticed in the preceding pages. The sympathy awakened for the mourning church, was as general as the regret occasioned by their pastor's death. Of Spencer it may be truly said, devout men carried him to his burial, and made great lamentation over him,' whilst the situation of his bereaved people, excited in every bosom compassion and grief, for they were left as sheep without a shepherd.' 6 It now remains that I present the reader with a general sketch of Mr. Spencer's character. The opportunity afforded in such works as these, of illustrating great and important principles, in their influence upon human conduct, ought to be seized with avidity, and improved with care. In this respect Biography is particularly valuable, and possesses a considerable advantage over general history. The subjects and characters of general history are numerous, complicated, and often but indistinctly seen--here the object is single. The mind dwells, without diversion or distraction, on the charaeter presented to its contemplation. Being relieved from the toil which variety occasions, it has leisure to dwell upon its several features, and to observe their mutual influence or associated harmony. The scenes and events of an individual's life, when faithfully and judiciously recorded, are admirably adapted to develope the formation of character whilst lessons of wisdom, and principles of action are better understood and more correctly appreciated, when drawn out in the scenes of actual life, than they possibly can be, when simply, and abstractedly delivered. And, moreover, the peeuliar sentiments which the delineation of certain characters is especially calculated to illustrate, are better remembered, when associated with names, with places, and with deeds; whilst they make a far deeper impression upon the heart, from the circumstance that their nature and tendency are at once demonstrated, by the actual consequences to which, in these individual cases, they have led. In the pages of the biographer, the man lives again for us. "Being dead he yet speaketh." We are put in possession, in an hour or two, of knowledge, which it cost him years of anxious labour to acquire. We obtain confidence--we awake to an honourable ambition--we feel the animating influence of hope, whilst we mark the excellencies of his character, and the successful labours of his life. Self-examination is induced, by a contemplation of his failings -and caution, by the disclosure of his errors. Humility is promoted, by observing with how much imperfection the noblest and the loveliest qualities in man are unhappily combined-and the provision which the gospel makes for our final acceptance with God, derives importance and value from the assurance, which every faithful piece of biography must tend to establish,-that the purest character -the fairest life, must sink before the high standard and demands of Jehovah's perfect law. In calling the attention of my readers to views of Mr. Spencer's character, I am aware that the objection may be started-that in one so young, a character could hardly be formed at all. The objection is founded in reason. But although his character had not obtained its maturity-or assumed those fixed and established habits, with which years and experience would have invested it-still it had arrived at such a stage of its progress, as already to present strong lines, and obvious features. Some, so deeply marked as to be recognised by all who knew him-and others, upon the infancy of which, the eyes of his most intimate associates dwelt, with unspeakable delight. And, young as it was, the character of Spencer at the age of twenty, was such, as even an aged Christian might not blush to own. I have often gazed, with pleasure, on the animating picture which my fancy drew, when it has added years of experience and of culture, to what was the character of Spencer at his death, and imaged to itself what, after the lapse of time, that character might possibly have been; and when recalled from the delightful reverie, I have mourned that the lovely object existed only in my fancy. But we do wrong to mourn. His removal from our world was the dictate alike of Infinite Wisdom and Love. |