You know my object is the glory of God in the good of souls-that this may be accomplished, by my exertions, is my prayer, my hope, my aim. Whether living or dying, may we be the Lord's. I have, however, at present no other idea, than that I shall be spared yet, and not die, but live and declare the works of the Lord. Wishing you the enjoyment of the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush, and assuring you of my steady attachment, "I remain yours affectionately, "THOMAS SPENCER." On Wednesday, the 28th of February, being a day appointed for a general fast, Mr. Spencer preached a sermon at Hoxton chapel, adapted to the occasion; his text was Ezek. lx. 4. "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof." The general scope and style of this sermon may be ascertained by the following extract from the communication of his friend : "A minister said to me, 'I don't know how a good fast sermon can be preached, without touching upon politics.'-'If you will hear Spencer to-morrow, I think you will find that it can be done.' When we met again, he told me that he had heard an excellent fast sermon, without a word upon politics. I remember, that in that sermon he said, 'when your ear is pained with oaths and imprecations as you pass the street, remember that that swearer is your fellow countryman, calling for vengeance upon your country, and do you, by ejaculatory prayer, strive to avert it."" ton. many more. Would to God that I may experience Affectionately yours, "THOMAS SPENCER." We now arrive at the period of Mr. Spencer's first visit to Liverpool. Before we pass on with him to that new and interesting scene, it may be well to pause, and take such a general view of his mode of thinking and acting, while a student, as the following characteristic sketches from the hand of his most intimate friend, will furnish. I shall Thus the reader will converse with himpresent them in a miscellaneous way just as they occur. hear his own sentiments, expressed in his own language, and imperceptibly become familiar with the man. "That passage,' said he, 'is much upon my mind'-'Let no man despise thy youth. I understand the apostle thus:-Let your walk and conduct be such, that no man can despise thy youth. And such shall be my own.' To enter into a minute detail of the places at which Mr. Spencer preached between this period and the ensuing vacation, would be useless. Suffice "He was favored with peculiar facility in compoit to say, that his labors were unremitting; that he visited several congregations in the country-particu-sition. Many a sermon,' said he, have I comlarly those at Hertford, Reading, Henly, and Brigh-posed between Hoxton and your house.' His ideas flowed faster than he could write them, and when alone our conversation has met with frequent interruption from his stopping to commit to paper, before they escaped him, the ideas crossing his mind. Turning to me privately, as I sat by his side one It was the sketch of a serevening at the tea-table of a friend,Look at that,' said he, 'will it do?' mon, which he had composed during the conver'I don't know,' said he, (and those who sation. suppose my friend was boasting, did not know him) His col-'I don't know,' said he, that for a long time I have had time enough for any one sermon: I was crampt in every head for want of time.' His sermons at that time were 65 minutes to 75 in preaching; though his hearers were not aware of it. He was appointed one of the three students who should deliver the public orations at the coming This preyed anniversary-held at midsummer. with considerable anxiety upon his mind, and although one should have imagined that by this time he had become familiar with large auditories and critical hearers-yet we find him shrinking from the task, and expressing many fears respecting it. The subject allotted to him was, "THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL ON THE SPIRIT AND TEMPER." leagues in that trying service were, Messrs. John Burder and Stenner; and to these gentlemen were given as topics of discussion, "THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT," and "THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." The day before that on which the discourses were to be delivered, he expressed his feelings thus: XXVI. TO MR. JOHN HADDON. Hoxton, June 19, 1810. "MY DEAR FRIEND-Consonant with your request, I here transmit to you the notes of the sermon on Eutychus: if you can, let me have them again before I go into Lancashire. You mention to-morrow, and oh! what anxiety do I feel in the prospect of it; already it has cost me some tears, it may cost me * Alas! how blind are we to futurity! A clergyman not long since, while uttering these very words in the pulpit, suddenly turned pale-his voice faltered-he fell back and expired! Little did the amiable Spencer think, that the hand which thus conveyed to his friend the pleasing anticipation of a long and useful life, should lie so soon in the impotence of death! "In composing, he used to fold a sheet of foolscap paper in eight leaves, leaving the last side for the heads of application. However long the sermon might be, he never wrote more of it, and in preaching, varied the sermon every time he preached it. How do you obtain your texts?' 'I keep a little book in which I enter every text of Scripture which comes into my mind with power and sweetWere I to dream of a passage of Scripture, ness. I should enter it; and when I sit down to compose, I look over the book, and have never found myself at a loss for a subject.' "His memory was remarkably tenacious; he could regularly repeat every service in which he had ever engaged, with the chapter which he had read, and those of his acquaintance who were present. Returning from Halloway, after preaching, said he, 'Did you perceive any thing particular in me this morning?' 'No.' 'I was very ill in the pulpit; my memory totally forsook me; I could not recollect my subject, but having my notes in my pocket, I took them out and read them.' 'I am glad of it; I give you joy; you can no longer condemn assistance to an imperfect memory.' O no, I boast no more; from henceforth, I am silent upon that subject.' 616 The young man that has just passed my study door,' said he, is fearful that he shall not keep up variety in his sermons. The best way that I find to attain variety is continually to ask myself' What is there in the circumstances before me, that will benefit my sermon on Sabbath morning?' for a minister should turn every thing into gold. And by keeping my eye continually upon that point, I am seldom at a loss for variety.' "How I wish they would begin the service with Watts' 152d hymn, 2d book.* That hymn always soothes my mind in the opening of worship. My whole soul enters into it, especially the last two verses.' 'Why do you not request that it may be given out?' 'Because it does not become one of my age to dictate.' "Tis no dictation, but a gratification of your friends; it secures congeniality through the service when you mention the hymns you wish.' 'And can we have it to Staughton?' 'No, to Prospect.' 'No, no, Staughton; that is my tune for a common metre, and Shirland for short metre.' The 5th verse he frequently quoted. "Few persons have held pulpit eloquence in "One day mentioning to him an interesting text higher estimation than Spencer did, or in more of Mr. Cecil's, preached on the last night of the contempt when it stood in competition with the in- year, said he, That will just do for me to preach terest of souls. I remember asking his opinion of at Brighton, to conclude the services of the present an eloquent sermon which he had been hearing-year. But don't show me Mr. Cecil's till I have 'Why,' said he, 'I could have wept over it-I could composed mine. I would not borrow a single idea.' have wept to hear immortals so treated.' 'Preaching one morning at Hoxton, after he had prayed as usual at his entrance into the pulpit, I missed him; he bent forward for a considerable time so low, that I could scarcely perceive him from the gallery. When I afterwards asked him if any thing ailed him, said he, ' When I went into the pulpit, and saw that crowded audience, recollecting that they were all looking to me for instruction, and remembering my own youth and inexperience, I was overwhelmed, and leaning forward, implored more earnestly the divine assistance.' "Your morning sermon yesterday was approved, but not that in the afternoon.' 'No, I suppose not, and I will give you the reason. In the morning, when I preached on privileges, they were pleased; but when in the afternoon, I came to duties, they remembered their treatment of their late venerable pastor. I particularly respect aged ministers, and love to assist them, and generally add a trifle to the collection, when I have been preaching in behalf of a church which has an aged minister.' 'He was much tried by the envy of some little minds. Mr. S. said to him, You was very late, I hear, at Walworth.' 'Yes, Sir, and there you may see your own error; you know you say I am too eager for the pulpit, now you see your mistake.' At another time, Spencer,' said a person whose name shall be secret, 'Popularity is a dangerous thing.'It is.' 'No one is popular long.' 'Very true.' 'You are popular now, but you will not be so long.' That I certainly shall not, Sir, if your wishes are accomplished; but I fully believe, that my popularity hurts you more than it does me.' The bell soon after summoned him to read (in his turn) a sermon for general criticism. The first person called upon said, that its merits were such, that he had nothing to say of its defects. That sentiment was universal. And,' said he to me afterwards, 'when I considered what had passed, I felt that that was a moment of gratification.' "A lady, who had misunderstood an idea in his sermon, wrote me a hasty letter, charging him with antinomianism, and me with gross impropriety in hearing him. It was a Saturday night, and he was to preach in the same pulpit the next day. I went to inform him of the circumstance, that he might take an unperceived opportunity of explaining himself. He held out his hand to give his usual affectionate squeeze, when I drew back. 'I don't know how to shake hands with an antinomian.' 'An antinomian! What is the matter? Read this proof of it.' He read it; his pleasantry subsided; and with a countenance which spoke the feeling of his noble soul, 'O,' said he, 'this letter does me good.The attention of that congregation would have led me to suppose that they were pleased, and perhaps profited by what they heard; and yet you see that there were those present who not only misunderstood me, but supposed that I was a preacher of antinomianism. This letter does me good; for sometimes Satan claps me on the back, here in my study, and says, 'That sermon will do very well, and especially from one so young as you'-and then I begin to mount, and fancy that I am somebody; but such a letter as this clips my wings-and then,' said he, (with indescribable expression,) I drop into my place the dust. Do bring me all the intelligence of this kind that you can.' "While preaching at Jewin-street, he one after- The tempest, fire and smoke; But we are come to Sion's hill, Behold th' innumerable host, Of angels, clothed in light! Whose faith is turned to sight! Behold the bless'd assembly there, Whose names are writ in heaven; The saints on earth, and all the dead, In such society as this My weary soul would rest: meeting, in jumping up the pulpit stairs.' 'Did you see it more than once?' 'No.' Then I can tell you, that that once he felt and lamented as deeply as you could; and I am sure that he never repeated it. Is not that satisfactory ?' 'It is.' "Spencer followed Cecil; he united deep humility with true ministerial dignity; nor do I conceive it possible for a youth to be less affected by popularity than he was; and as to flattery, if his flatterers had known the light in which he viewed them, they would have been silent. Coming from a vestry, where adulation had been offered-'Don't fear for me,' said he, 'on account of what has passed; it was too weak to hurt: my danger is when those, on whose judgment I depend, speak unguardedly! At another time, after a young man had been very lavish in his praises, (who had several times been guilty of the same impropriety,) I told him I thought the next time he addressed himself to me, I should give him a hint of it. O no,' said he, treat it with the same contempt that I do. To mention it, would give too much importance to his judgment. I would not have him think that his judgment could do any harm.' 6 Spencer was particularly happy in his choice of texts for particular occasions: 'I feel great difficulty,' said he, 'in preaching at Hertford, where I have to address many who walked with God before I was born. To-morrow will be the first Sabbath that I have regularly supplied there. I have chosen for my subject, Romans xvi. 7.'. In which he showed what it was to be in Christ; and the duties which aged Christians owe to younger ones-faithful reproof and exhortation-prayer for them, &c. For his sermon on regeneration, he chose James i. 18, which, as he said, comprised the whole subject:-the efficient cause-The will of God;' the grand means used-'the word of truth;' the great end in viewthat believers should be-' First fruits of His crea tures. A gentleman, who possesses a fine mind, said to me, I have heard so much of Spencer, that when I went to hear him, I expected to be disappointed; but I found the reverse to be the case. When he gave out his text it was with an emphasis which so forcibly laid open the apostle's argument, that my attention was rivetted, and I was perfectly astonished.' He loved to improve the festivals of the church. such as Christmas and Easter, 'because' said he, 'people expect then to hear upon the subject, and I think we ought to meet every appearance of preparation of mind with suitable instruction. The passage of Scripture which led my mind to the ministry, and which satisfies me as to the propriety of my engaging in it, is that promise of God to the Gentile church, Isaiah lxix. 21.-Oh! that text is very precious to me; while the death of Miss at Brighton, and Miss- at tends to convince me that I am right.' Those ladies died in the Lord, and were called under Spencer's ministry. "I used,' said he, 'to feel very much in preaching before certain characters. My difficulty is now removed by considering, that, let them be as learned or as pious as they may, it is probable that they have not turned their attention to the individual point before me so closely as I have, and therefore it is likely that my sermon may afford some instruction even to them, and this thought gives me courage.' "Mr. Spencer's simplicity in dress was well known. He avoided in that respect, the very appearance of evil, that his ministry might not be blamed. One Sabbath morning, when he called for me, he had a new coat on, which I told him I thought was more fashionable than he would approve. did not know it,' said he, and on the next Sabbath morning, he asked me if I thought it more becoming then: he had had it altered. I "I was desired by several medical gentlemen to inform him, that unless he slackened his exertions, he could not live to see five and twenty. When I mentioned it, he said, that it certainly must be attended to, for that his hope was to live a long and useful life.' He therefore determined to alter the length of his sermons from an hour or sixty-five minutes to forty-five. "I am going,' said he, 'to preach at Vauxhall tomorrow, where you may come with a very safe conscience. You need not be afraid of a large congregation there. You do not like large congregations for me; but don't you remember how much more encouragement and satisfaction the man has who fishes in a pond which is full of fish, than he who fishes in a place where he knows there are but two or three.' "Before S. left the academy, a gentleman, whose judgment, or piety, few are disposed to dispute, said to me, 'If it were not for the sound of his voice, with my eyes shut I could suppose him a man of seventy. He is ripening fast for heaven-I can fancy him an angel, come down into the pulpit, soon to return.' "Another gentleman, possessed of undeniable critical skill, and difficult to please, after he had heard him, said, 'I stood the whole service-and I could have stood till midnight. I felt as under the influence of a charm I could not resist, and was rivetted to the spot, intent only upon the fascinating object I saw before me.' "It was with sincere pity that he saw any young minister descend from the holy dignity of his station, by attention, as soon as the service was concluded, to the advances of females, who, had they really received the benefit they professed, would have shown it in a very different way." Mr. Spencer was appointed by the committee to ington chapel, Liverpool, then destitute of a pastor, spend the midsummer vacation in this year at Newby the death of the Rev. David Bruce. The report of his extraordinary talents and amazing popularity had already from various quarters, reached that place. And the congregation amongst whom he was, for a few weeks to labor, had some pleasing expectations, that they might find in him a future of usefulness, which so large and populous a town pastor, every way qualified for the important sphere presented. But on the mind of Mr. Spencer far other impressions had been unhappily produced. From whatever sources he had drawn his information of the state of religion and manners in this place, it was certainly most incorrect and such as led him to anticipate his visit with feelings of considerable uneasiness and reluctance. Nor did he seem at all anxious to conceal the fact, that his coming was the consequence of a necessity, to which he was compelled to bow. So deep was his prejudice against Liverpool, that it seems to have caused which he yielded to the arrangements made by his the only exception to that uniform submission with constituents for his labors. But on this occasion, he did not hesitate frankly to assure a gentleman, who meeting him in London, expressed a hope, that they should soon have the pleasure of seeing him in Liverpool, that "it was not his wish to see Liverpool-and that although the committee had appointed him to go, he should do all in his power to prevail upon them to send some other student." But a visit upon which so much depended, and *This is to Spencer's honor. Those who are accustomed to attend the vestries in London, after the sermons of popular preachers. will enter into the meaning of this observation. It would be well, if some whom it may concern would also take the hint it affords. whence such amazing consequences were to flow, could not be abandoned by a superintending Providence, to the obstacles of his prejudices, or the influence of his feelings. His destination was fixed. -It was the voice of duty, and he obeyed. He arrived in Liverpool on Saturday, the 30th of June, 1810, and commenced his public labors on the following Sabbath. Mr. Spencer selected for the subject of his first discourse, Luke xxiv. 32, " And they said one to another, did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures." In the afternoon he preached from Heb. xii. 24. "And to the blood of sprinkling, which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel." And in the evening from 1 Cor. xv. 25," For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet." The impression produced by the labors of this Sabbath will be long remembered. The emotion then awakened has not subsided to this day. Every sermon that he preached tended to deepen the conviction of his piety and talents—and to endear him to the people. His lively, affectionate manner, and the simple but elegant style of his discourses, captivated all who heard him. Every sermon produced accessions to the congregation of such as, drawn by the report of his extraordinary powers, pressed to witness their display. The chapel soon became crowded to excess-and not alone the thoughtless and the gay, whom the charms of a persuasive eloquence and an engaging manner might attract, but pious and experienced Christians sat at his feet with deep attention and delight. There seemed to be indeed a shaking amongst the dry bones. A divine unction evidently attended his ministry, and such were the effects produced, that every beholder, with astonishment and admiration, cried "what hath God wrought!" Liverpool, July 17, 1810. ing for a letter for a day or two past from your "MY DEAR FRIEND-I suppose you have been lookfriend at Liverpool, so here it is come at last. I did not preach at Manchester, for notice had been given the Sabbath before that there would be no preaching there the next Wednesday evening-nor have I saw no one from his house when I was at Manchester, nor have I heard any thing from him since; most likely I shall not see him at all. In fact I have quite visiting enough among the people of the congregation. I been to * With some of them I "Here are some excellent people, very pious, and zealous for the honor of God, and the good of imshall be almost sorry to part. mortal souls, in this town. Hoxton; we collected about 40%. The place I preach "Last Sunday evening I preached the sermon for I forget the name In his own views of Liverpool, too, a great change was wrought by the remarkable circumstances attendant on his ministry. The kind assiduities of the family under whose hospitable roof he resided, and an intercourse with the pious part of the congregation, which they carefully promoted, tended in is called Newington chapel. gradually to weaken his prejudices, and at length of the street it stands in. There are many more completely to turn the bias, and reverse the purpose dissenting places of worship here than you seem of his mind. The period of his stay was limited to aware of. I am not yet certain whether I stay six Sabbaths. five Sabbaths; but at the earnest solicitation of the people, he consented, after communicating with his friends in London, to add another to the number. And in the afternoon of the last Sabbath, he preached from Deut. xxxiii. 3, 'Yea, he loved the people,' in such a style of endearment and affection, as seemed to warrant the indulgence of their warmest hopes. The last week of his visit was spent in the most delightful intercourse with Christian friends; and on Tuesday, the 7th of August, he left Liverpool with reluctance and tears. The following extracts are from his correspondence while at Liverpool. "Mr. has written me a long and pressing letter for me to go to Plymouth Dock, which he says is just the thing for me-he wishes me to settle there-gives an exceeding high character of the place. According to his request I must write to him soon, but I scarce know in what manner. It is a large congregation, and he says, that there is there a huge army of the soldiers of the cross.' I hear that a fire has consumed Huntingdon's cha"I will take care to get you a plan of the town. pel in Tichfield street-is it true? Dr. W. has written to me requesting me to supply New Court the first Sabbath in August. "The Wednesday after I wrote to you, I preached on Psalms lxi. 2. Following Sabbath-morning, Colos. iii. 3: afternoon, John x. 9: evening, Job xxxvi. 18. The next Wednesday evening, Gal. iv. 7. Last Sabbath morning, Zech. vi. 13: afternoon, the same concluded: evening, Zech. iii. 7. Monday evening, at the prayer meetings, I either go over the outline of one of the sermons preached the day before, or else give a short exhortation, as at Hoxton. "I suppose you know that I have written to D. C- but not to Mr. B. For the fact is, I had rather not. I do not know how, and I do not see that it would do any good, so must decline it. I am out almost every day. Oh why should people be afraid to let me be alone: why will they not let me enjoy my much-loved solitude! On several ac- | nations. A review of the partial degree of success counts I feel anxious to get home; and can now indeed say, 'Hoxton, with all thy faults, I love thee still.' Very soon after his return to Hoxton, Mr. Spen with which my labors in Liverpool were honored, does afford me considerable pleasure, and I must say, that I speak the real sentiments of my heart when I confess, that the manner in which you, my respected friends and brethren in the gospel, have conducted this important affair, has raised you exceedingly in my esteem, and given me to believe, that a preacher would find among you as a people, happiness in the prosecution of his work, which, those motives to diligence and those sources of real alas! are denied to many a faithful minister of the New Testament. "When I regard you as a church and congregation, I feel anxiously concerned for your spiritual consistent with the good pleasure of His will, the and eternal welfare, and indeed earnestly desire, if great Head of the Church would make use of me to build you up in faith and holiness; but my motives for thinking favorably of your invitation arise also of inhabitants in that vast town, to many of whom from other sources. I look at the state of thousands I hope to be the instrument of conveying the 'joyful sound;' my soul longs that they may receive the salvation which is in Jesus Christ, with eternal glory, and influenced I have reason to believe by the direction of my God, I resolve to preach among them the unsearchable riches of Christ. cer received from the church and congregation at Newington chapel, an unanimous and pressing invitation to accept the pastoral office over them. The call was dated on the 8th of August, 1810. After near seven weeks deliberation, Mr. Spencer returnEd an answer in the affirmative. In what exercises of mind these seven weeks were spent, those who knew the peculiar circumstances of his situation can well conceive. On the one hand-the unanimous request of a people to whom God had directed him contrary to his wish, and to whom he had become singularly endeared:-the imperious call of duty to a sphere of action for which his talents seemed every way adapted, in which his labors had been already remarkably successful, and which promised most extensive usefulness. These were circumstances of no common magnitude. But on the other hand, there were many powerful ties to bind him to the neighborhood of the metropolis. His "I assure you, my fellow travellers to Zion, I family-his best friendships-his most endeared can observe, with admiration, peculiarities in this connections-the scenes of his early and honorable dispensation which never before struck me in labors-all conspired in the prospect of his removal reference to any other situation. Oh may it apto so great a distance, to awaken the most painful pear, that this work and this counsel is of God! and distressing feelings in his mind. And reso-fices must be made, by me, when I leave the scenes Some difficulties must be met, and some sacrilutely to resist the importunities of friends, the va- of my former exertions in the cause of Christ, for lue of whose society we fully know-to rise supe- the sake of the people at Newington. But these are rior to those local attachments which long and things which I must ever expect; these are circumhappy intercourse cannot fail to form-and to leave the circle to which time and frequent interchange of sentiment have rendered us familiar and endeared, for a land of strangers-involve a sacrifice which only the voice of duty can demand, or the hope of usefulness repay. Yet such are the sacrifices which the Christian minister must frequently be called to make; and whilst on his part they are with cheerfulness surrendered to the call of duty, and the cause of Christ, let those in whose particular behalf they are claimed, seek by every affectionate office of friendship, to blunt the edge of separation, and relieve as much as may be by kindness, the memory of distant friendships and endeared connections. I insert a copy of Mr. Spencer's answer to the call which he received from the church and congregation at Newington; as it will afford to the reader an additional opportunity of obtaining an acquaintance with its amiable author. XXIX. stances which I resolved should never move me, when I first gave myself to God and His Christ! direction of an all wise Jehovah, and humbly "Truly believing then that I am acting under the asking that this may be made manifest in after days, I accept the invitation you have given me to exercise over you the pastoral office. I comply with your unanimous request, and shall from this day consider myself as solemnly bound to you, if you see it right to allow me the following requisi tions: "That I preach among you regularly but twice on the Sabbath, viz. morning and evening. I mennot admit of three services in the day, and I am sure tion this, because I know that my constitution will it is not consistent with your wishes, that I should prevent myself from future exertions by presuming on too much at first; and the plan I propose will, I am persuaded, after trial prove beneficial rather than injurious to the cause at Newington. To To the Independent Church of Christ, assembling in preaching to you twice on the Sabbath and once in Newington chapel, Liverpool. "MY CHRISTIAN FRIENDS-Being unwilling to keep you any longer in suspense than is absolutely necessary, upon the important subject of my settlement with a church and congregation, I feel it my duty to reply to your obliging and respectful invitation. You are well aware, that I came amongst you influenced by the strongest prejudices against the place, and resolutely determined never to think of it as a sphere calculated for me. Whilst I was amongst you, however, several circumstances united to remove the strength of my prejudices, and I trust to make me determined by every appointed and lawful means to ascertain the will of God, and when ascertained, cheerfully to fulfil it, however opposed it might be to my private wishes and incli the week, I shall never feel the least objection. My other wish is "That I may have in the spring of the year six weeks annually to myself, to visit my friends, and occasionally see other parts of the Lord's vineyard. "I do not leave Hoxton academy till after Christmas, and perhaps may not be with you so early as you wish. It is my intention, however, to commence my labors among you, if convenient to yourselves, on the first Sabbath in February, 1811. Your sentiments on the subjects I have mentioned, you will be pleased to communicate to me as early as possible. "And now just allow me, my respected friends, to request you not to form too sanguine expectations in reference to the pleasure you expect to enjoy |