ERRATA. Ar page 139, in the Contents of Chapter IX., for "J. Blumhardt" read At page 369, in the Contents of Chapter XIX., for "third daughter" read At page 402, for "1832" read "1831." MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. 1768-1802. CHARACTER OF MR. PRATT'S FATHER-SERIOUS ILLNESS IN CHILDHOOD EARLY LIFE, AND FIRST RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS-ENTERS THE UNIVER- ' MR. CECIL-THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY-THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER." JOSIAH PRATT, the subject of the ensuing Memoir, was born at Birmingham, Dec. 21st, 1768. He was one of a numerous family, and was privileged in having exemplary parents, who diligently brought up their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." His Father was a person of simple and most devoted piety, and by his uniform walk with God, and his well-regulated family habits, won and retained to the end the love and veneration of his children. So upright and holy was the demeanour of this good man, that it drew from the lips of the late Rev. Richard Cecil-no mean judge of true excellencethe distinguished commendation, that he knew no person who so frequently called to his mind the cha B racter of Jesus Christ. He was a member of the Church of England, the Church of his fathers, and attended the ministry of the Rev. John Riland at St. Mary's Chapel, and subsequently that of his successor, the Rev. Edward Burn. The Chapel was connected with a large and crowded population. Mr. Riland, on his removal from Huddersfield to this new charge, obtained the aid of several pious laymen to assist him in his pastoral labours. They each undertook to visit a few families, over whom they exercised a Christian influence and care, under the direction of their Minister. The father of the subject of this Memoir was one of the most valued of these fellow-helpers in the Lord.* * A Sermon was preached by Mr. Burn at St. Mary's, Birmingham, on the 12th of March, 1797, upon the occasion of the death of this excellent Christian. The following extracts will give a further view of his character : "Few men had a larger share of those trials which arise from constitutional infirmity. Seldom through the course of a life nearly lengthened out to the age of man, did he enjoy health without some considerable alloy of pain and languor. But it was in this way-and blessed be God he well knew it! his Heavenly Father was gradually and most graciously preparing him for Himself. On the Thursday morning before his death he said to two of his children, who were expressing their affectionate solicitude about his health, 'Oh! how earnestly have I prayed this night that my release might be signed! I have trod many a weary step, but I am drawing near my journey's end, and that's a comfort to a traveller.' On the morning of his dissolution, and as he approached nearer to his rest, his prospects became still brighter, and he spake of his decease in terms of uncommon animation and triumph. Amongst other excellent things he said, 'Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation. I never thought that my death-bed would be so happy. Oh! I cannot tell half what I feel! Now is my salvation nearer than when I first believed: yes, it is! it is! thankfulness have I and you all! but God forbid that I should have any Oh! what cause for spiritual JOSIAH, the second surviving son, received his father's name at his baptism. While yet an infant, he was attacked with a severe illness, in which his life was despaired of. His father, in the bitterness of his sorrow, walked about the room in the night with the child in his arms to soothe him; and as he commended his soul to God, the last verse of the 102d Psalm was powerfully impressed upon his mind— "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee." His mind rested upon this promise. He received comfort from the hope that it might yet please God to restore his child, and it was fulfilled, not only in that, but in a far higher spiritual pride, for I am a poor sinner saved freely by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.' * * * * * "To one of his daughters, who stood weeping at his bed, and inquiring how he was, he replied earnestly, 'Very well: my poor body is weak, but what a happy creature shall I be through the countless ages of eternity!' "There are some leading ideas, in the character of our departed friend, that must not be omitted. In his example, his light was rather clear and steady than overwhelming and marvellous. His zeal was equally removed from the indifference of the formalist and the fierceness of the bigot. His Christian affection was tempered by a holy and jealous watchfulness over the walk of his brethren. His attainments in grace were rather the effect of growth, than the hasty and immature productions of impulse. His fruits were in their season; and the general course of his life was directed more by the constant presence and authority of truth upon the mind, than by the floating uncertainties of various opinion, or the vehement warmth of particular occasions: it was, in a word, the path of the just which shineth more and more to the perfect day.' * * * * "In the case of our departed friend every thing is clear: in his principles, in his conversation, and in his end, there remains nothing perplexed, nothing to be made out, nor any thing to be proved. It is a plain unequivocal instance of the power of Christianity, whether you regard that as a principle of knowledge, a rule of action, or a strong consolation in death." * |