WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1859.

JABEZ BUNTING, D.D.*

IF the Right Honourable Editor of Boswell's "Johnson" accurately defines "the four most interesting classes of writing," as "biography, memoirs, familiar letters, and that assemblage of literary anecdotes which the French have taught us to distinguish by the termination Ana," the volume announced at the foot of this page will assuredly attain great popularity. Free, lively, seasoned in many a page with more than a sprinkling of Attic salt,-it is recommended, also, by higher qualities. In one word, it will be found not unworthy of its subject.

The author already shows himself quite able to gauge his father's varied powers; to accompany him in the survey of social and ecclesiastical questions; to look from his point of view; to exhibit the reasons on which he took his firm stand, in controversies which he sought not, but could not in conscience elude; and to appreciate what the biographic pen notes with precision as his "exact and luminous theology." The stock of material is ample, beyond our hopes; allowing a somewhat close selection, while captivating by freshness and variety. Details of early life and training show how the servant of Christ was disciplined for a high walk of usefulness, and go far to account for the influence-we need not scruple to say, the unequalled influence-which he came subsequently to wield in the councils of his Denomination. But, first of all, he won eminence in the pulpit. Few in modern days have better exemplified "that union of reason, simplicity, and vehemence," which, according to the just criticism of Sir James Mackintosh, "formed the prince of [ancient] orators." Few have recalled by more vivid similitude the sketch of Apollos, drawn by Inspiration," an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures." Few have been so apt at appealing with Isaac Barrow to the intellect, or with Richard Baxter to the conscience. Not one has more manifestly fulfilled the character of a "legate of the skies," an "ambassador for Christ," ready with a trumpet-word for every fellow-man, "I have a message from God unto thee;" and impelled, by all the weight and solemnity of his commission, now to beseech, and now to warn; now to allure with accents

* The Life of Jabez Bunting, D.D., with Notices of contemporary Persons and Events. By his Son, Thomas Percival Bunting. Vol. I., with Two Portraits and a Vignette. London: Longmans; J. Mason. Edinburgh: A. and C. Black, VOL. V.-FIFTH SERIES.

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of almost celestial sweetness, and now, awful in armour which by its brightness strikes dismay into hosts of aliens, to claim the general homage for Jesus, and command rebel-enemies to yield at once to His victorious mercy. It was for awhile cause of just regret, and probably an occasion of loss to himself, that such a Preacher was not more frequently in the pulpit. But his constant mastery was seen in deliberative assemblies, both within and beyond the bounds of his own communion. They who encountered him in discussion, and who may be least of all disposed to offer incense at his funeral shrine, will hardly challenge this statement. "Heaven sends us Bishops," it has been more than once affirmed, "whether we choose them or not." There is in fact, notwithstanding reluctant theories, a power resident in superior and well-balanced mind. Why not own, with gratitude, that such is the ordination of Providence? Why not rejoice to accept the benefit, and to glorify "the Father of lights," especially when those whom He most richly endows render Him all the praise? "Thou hast given me the shield of Thy salvation," sings the son of Jesse ; "and Thy gentleness hath made me great." (2 Sam. xxii. 36; Psalm xviii. 35.) Those who had the best opportunity of judging are the first to affirm, (and this is the great moral of a fifty-years' story,) that Dr. Bunting held his rank by the uprightness of his course; by the allegiance he conspicuously bore to Jesus Christ, and to His cause; by his Methodist patriotism; by his love to the brethren, his advocacy of truly liberal measures, his care for the flock at large, his marked condescension to the lowly, his zeal in withstanding restless oligarchs, who arose from time to time, professing themselves to be all the church, and all the world beside; and, finally, by the translucent reasonableness of his main arguments and appeals. He did not carry every measure he was known to favour; he would have carried few, without convincing the judgment of his fellow-presbyters and other friends. His general success is an honour to them, and the monument-more lasting than brass-of his own pure and lofty aims.

This volume contains a multitude of anecdotes, apophthegms, sketches, &c., which call up the images of men, now departed, who occupy due space in our earlier annals. The notices are of various merit; but they add greatly to the enchaining interest of the narrative in which they are inlaid. A very few of them might have been spared, as we think: but, perhaps, our taste is unduly fastidious on this head. Thoughts of evil, the moralists will tell us, are not, by consequence, evil thoughts; neither does it follow, on any fair showing, that records of folly are foolish records. Even the frailties of good men, and the intemperate fervours of a zeal which spurns the guards of knowledge and experience, may be reviewed on certain occasions, and in certain aspects, to profit. Still, a word of caution may not be amiss. In treating of the distribution of plants, botanists map out the globe into zones of latitude and altitude, and illustrate the comparative productiveness of these. Now the zone which we are traversing is marked by an abundance of vegetation. Flowers of

fact, and of truly remarkable incident, spring up at our feet in large variety. Hence it is all the more needful to do as the chemist-bee does, to learn her art of extracting the sweet, and leaving the rest behind. Such, it is but just to add, is Mr. Bunting's aim; and, of the excursive passages to which allusion has been made, nineteen in twenty are admirable.*

The traits which may be comprehended in the term domestic, used with a little freedom, are touching, and therefore pleasing, in a very high degree. In refined natures, tenderness blends with courage. St. Paul was undaunted by menaces of the Sanhedrin, and all the array of the Forum; yet, among the churches, he was "gentle," 66 even as a nurse cherisheth her children." To those who knew little of Dr. Bunting, save in public, it is not easy to convey a just idea of his attentive and courteous kindness among his friends, and especially in the "blest abode " of his family.

But we must pause. The design of this article is not to furnish a

* Take an example. It is the memorial of one greatly beloved :—

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JAMES DANIEL BURTON was awakened, as, on his return from a surreptitious visit to the theatre, he met the bearers of a corpse, exposed to public view. His position in life, and the delicacy of his training, did not prevent his hearty consecration of himself to the Methodist Itinerancy. He was an animated, pleasing, and impressive Preacher; and a prudent and conscientious shepherd of the flock; gladly availing himself, in the latter capacity, of the means of liberality placed at his disposal. After labouring diligently for ten years, his strength was spent; and in about two years more he finished his course. I think of Samuel Pearce, of Birmingham, when I read the account of his regrets and hopes, as he felt that his work on earth was done, and waited for the day when the rest of death should also end, and the ceaseless service of a new and perfect life begin. I now consider death," he writes, "as a friendly messenger, that tells me I must go to my future home; as the herald that proclaims my release from this prison-house of clay; as the instrument that breaks the shell of mortality, and lets out my soul to take her wing through the ethereal heavens, till she reaches the celestial mansion prepared for her, and mingles with saints and angels. I desire to depart, and to be with Christ; with Him I love above all creatures; with Him who loved me beyond all parallel, all claim, all praise; who hath redeemed me by His blood, cancelled all my sins, renewed me in the spirit of my mind, sustained me with the bread of life, and saved me from a thousand snares. O, how I could enlarge upon His bounty! Yet I should fail to tell the measure of His love. All I could say would be but as an atom to the globe, a point in the compass, a ray of light in the full blaze of day. O my beloved wife, my bosom-friend; the desire of my eyes, and the choice of my heart! O my children, tender in age, and passing through a world of sin, and trouble, and difficulty! -must I leave you? Must I see you no more, till you, like me, have passed the stream of Jordan? Yes, most probably I must soon be parted from you. But, Margaret, do I not leave you among friends who will use every means to comfort you? Do I not leave you, and our little ones, under the especial care and protection of heaven? Many happy years I hoped to spend with you on earth; many plans of future usefulness I hoped to execute. I was labouring hard to prepare a work which, while profitable to myself, I thought would be beneficial to others; but, by death, the purposes of my heart are broken off. I do not on this account complain; because God can inspire others with the same views and purposes, better qualified to accomplish them, if necessary; and if not necessary, it is better they continue unaccomplished."

regular sketch; which would be scarcely less than to repeat ourselves and others. Our space will be filled with a few select passages, which will send the reader to the volume itself. The "Notices of contemporary Persons and Events" we leave, with a rare exception, that our eye may be fixed on the delineation of the great, central figure; in which the pencil, guided by a filial hand, yet not on that account the less true to its office, freely adorns the canvas, here with a touch of sentiment, there with a ray of philosophic investigation; still painting, nevertheless, with practical aim, and making the venerable portrait a lecture to mankind.

"We have a pressing call," say the Minutes of the Conference for 1769, "from our brethren at New-York, who have built a preachinghouse, to come over and help them. Who is willing to go? "A. Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor.

"What can we do further, in token of our brotherly love? "A. Let us now make a collection among ourselves.

"This was immediately done; and, out of it, fifty pounds were allotted towards the payment of their debt, and about twenty pounds given to our brethren for their passage."

One afternoon, soon after this Conference, Richard Boardman, with some portion of the twenty pounds in his pocket, travelled, on horseback, through the Peak of Derbyshire, on the road from his previous Circuit in the Dales of Yorkshire and of Durham, by way of Bristol, to New-York. When he reached Monyash, he asked whether there were any Methodists in the place, and was directed to a cottager, who gladly received him for the night. Of course, he preached. Who can wonder that, as he pursued his solitary journey, the heart of the Missionary to America, saddened by the recent loss of his wife, dwelt devoutly on words like these,-"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, O that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." (1 Chron. iv. 9, 10.)

This was his text when he preached that evening; "and God granted him," even then, in fit measure, "that which he requested." From that sermon, Mary Redfern "learned the way of God more perfectly;" and she soon afterwards found "peace with God." The "sorrowful" name in the text thus became associated, in her mind, with her highest "joy and gladness;" and, ten years afterwards, she gave it to her first and only son, a solemn record of her pious gratitude, and a presage, not then understood, of his future character and history.

It was during the year before that in which my father left school that his conversion took place. To the particulars of this event many in his own and in other churches will listen willingly; and it is possible that some who seldom read religious biographies may