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LIFE

OF

REV. JOHN BERRIDGE.

LIFE

OF THE LATE

Rev. JOHN BERRIDGE.

T

HE REV. JOHN Berridge, the son of John Berridge, a reputable and wealthy farmer and grazier, was born at Kingston, March 1st, 1716. Being a particular favorite of an aunt, who resided at Nottingham, he spent the greater part of his early years with her in that town, and there he received all the education which was necessary to qualify him for business. His father intended to bring him up to agriculture; but God designed him to occupy a more exalted station in society; and began to prepare his mind for it, at so early a period, that his piety excited the attention of all who knew him.

At the age of fourteen, God was pleased to convince him that he was a sinner, and must be born again. About this time he left school, and returned to his father, with an intention to apply himself to business. A tailor, who was occasionally employed in the family, being a man of strict sobriety, and struck with the uncommon appearances of piety in one so young, conversed with him on serions subjects, whenever he came to the house on business. As opportunities of this nature seldom occurred, his love for religion induced him to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with this man, by going frequently to his house for the purpose of serious conversation. His relations, at length, suspecting he had too much religion, and fearing to what it would grow, discovered some inclination to discourage it. They insinuated, that since his

attachment was so strong to his new companion, he should be bound to him in articles of apprenticeship.

This threat had not the designed effect for so prevalent was his bias to reading, prayer, and serious discourse, that he frequently repeated his visits. Finding this their scheme unsuccessful, and conceiving that his predilection for reading, and religion, would entirely unfit him for business, they resolved, though reluctantly, to send him to the university. In this determination, which was perfectly congenial with his own inclinations, he most readily concurred; and after previous preparation, entered Clare Hall, October 28, 1734, in the nineteenth year of his age. A neighbor soon after meeting his father, and inquiring for his son, he jocosely replied, “He is gone to be a light to lighten the Gentiles." This testimony

was true.

Being now in his element, he pursued his studies with uncommon avidity, and made such progress in every branch of literature, as rendered him in no respect inferior to any of his cotemporaries. But as he seemed to have known very little of the plague of his heart, and less of Jesus Christ, it required more grace than he yet possessed, to withstand the temptations of his situation and connections. Favored with a good understanding, improved by literature, and possessing a natural vein of humour, which was extremely fascinating, he rose in respect; and his acquaintance was courted at the university by ecclesiastics of superior rank, though of wider principles, and less rigid morals. As evil communications corrupt good manners, he caught the contagion, and drank into the Socinian scheme to such a degree, as to lose all serious impressions, and discontinue private prayer, for the space of ten years, a few intervals excepted. In these intervals he would weep bitterly, reflecting on the sad state of his mind, compared with what it was when he came to the university, and would frequently say to a fellow-student, now an eminent Minister in the Establishment, O that it were with me as in years past! Conscience, however, at length resuming her authority, he was compelled to relinquish sentiments so derogatory to God,

and so subversive of every good principle and practice. He now discovered that they not only lessened God the Son in his esteem, but God the Father also; and tended to promote no higher a morality than what comported with all the max. ims and pleasures of the present world. With the renunciation of his former errors, he returned to the regular exercise of devotional religion, although it was but a small remove, if any, from pharisaical.

Soon after this he began to feel strong inclinations to exercise his ministry, and accordingly in 1749, in the 33d year of his age he accepted the curacy of Stapleford, near Cambridge, which he regularly served six years from College. His parishioners were extremely ignorant and dissolute, and he was much concerned to do them good. He took extraordinary pains, and pressed very earnestly upon them the necessity of sancti fication; but had the mortification to find that they continued as unsanctified as before. "There was indeed a little more of the form of religion in the parish; but nothing more of the power." In the year 1755, on the 7th of July, he was admitted to the Vicarage of Everton, in the gift of Clare Hall, where he continued to reside to the end of his life. Here again he pressed sanctification and regeneration upon his hearers, as strenuously as he could, but with as little success as before. "Nor was it to be wondered at, as his preaching rather tended to make them trust in themselves as righteous, than to depend upon Christ for the remission of sins, through faith in his blood."

Having continued for two years in this unsuccessful mode of preaching, he began to be discouraged. A doubt now arose in his mind, whether he was right himself, and preached as he ought to do. This suggestion he rejected, for sme time with disdain, supposing the advantages of his education, which had improved to a high degree, could not leave him ignorant respecting the best method of instructing his people. This hap pened about Christmas 1757 : but not being able to repel,though he strenuously opposed these secret misgivings, his mind was wrought to a degree of embarrassment and distress, to which As

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