f- 
4'                    -




"3 fluting la a  ai ikin11g U  t +t*
BEING THE
LIFE AND DI-SCOURSES
OF
REV. THOMAS SPENCER,
OF LIVERPOOL.
BY REV. THOMAS RAFFLES, D.D. L.L.D.
HIS SUCCESSOR IN THE PASTORAL OFFICE.
WITH AN INTRODUCT ION.
NEW  YORK:
SHELDON, LAMPORT AND BLAKEMAN,
115 Nassau Street.
1855.




JOHN J. REED,
Stereotyper and Printer,
16 Spruoe street.




CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Preface,........................................ 7
Introduction,..........................................
CHAPTER I.
Parentage and early years of Thos. Spencer. Love of learning. Religious impressions. His inclination to the Christian ministry. Apprenticed to a glover in London. Rev.
Mr. Heward. Acquaintance with Thomas Wilson, Esqr.,
commenced, under whose patronage he enters upon his preparatory studies with the Rev. Mr. Hordle, of Harwich.
Rapid progress in learning. Returns to his father's residence
in Hertford........................................  19
CHAPTER II.
Letters written from home. His return to Harwichl. Resumes
his studies. Interesting correspondence. Papers submitted
by Spencer to the Committee of Hoxton academy.........  52
CHAPTER II1.
Spencer's call and qualifications for the ministry in his fift
teenth year. Enters at Hoxton. Diligence in study. Vacation. ReturntoHertford. First sermon in public. Continues to preach to the country people during his stay at
yHertford...                 e..                   74




iv                       CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV,
PAGE,
His return to Iloxton. Christmas vacation. First sermon at
Hertford.  Appointed to assist in the pulpit at Hoxton.
At the earnest entreaties of the people, allowed to preach.
First sermon at Hoxton, in his seventeenth year. His success and popularity. Itineracy. Correspondence with Mr.
John Haddon.  Visits Brighton. Preaches with great acceptance and effect. Again at Hoxton. Preaches a sermon on fast day. Appointed to deliver an oration at the
academy......................................            94
CHAPTER V.
His first visit to Liverpool. Preaches at Newington Chapel.
His popularity as a preacher. Correspondence. Return to
the academy. Invited by the congregation of Newington to
become their pastor. Calls from other congregations. Acceptance of the call from Liverpool. Last sermon at Hoxton...............................,142
CHAPTER VI.
Mr. Spencer commences his pastoral labors at Newington
Chapel. Suddenly called by affliction to Brighton.' His
fears relieved. Correspondence. Success of his ministry.
Lays the foundation stone of a new chapel for his concregation. Correspondence.  Ordination.  His first administration of the Lord's Supper. Death. Funeral. Concluding
reflections............................................ 169




CONTENTS.                         V
SPENCER'S SERMONS.
SERMON I.
PAGE.
Atoning efficacy of Christ's death.......................... 221
SERMON II.
All men accountable to God.............................. 235
SERMON III.
Salvation through Christ...................... 249
SERMON IV.
No fellowship with sin................................... 265
SERMON V.
Delight in God's worship.......................... 282
SERMON VI.
Deity of Jesus Christ.............................. 298
SERMON VII.
The fellowship of the saints.............................. 813
SERMON VIII.
The believer's joy in Christ..............................  823
SERMON IX.
Eternal life, and how gained............................  336
SERMON X.
The rainbow about the throne..................           347




Vi                     CONTENTS.
SERMON XI.
PAGE.
The glory of Christ in the work of redemption.............. 369
SERMON XII.
The wilful obstinacy of impenitent sinners..........  373
SERMON XIII.
God the defence and glory of his Church................ 385
SERMON XIV.
Christ the angel who guides his Church................... 394
SERMON XV.
Sinners abuse the long suffering of God.................... 404
SERMON XVI
God's ability to bestow inconceivable blessings............. 416
SERMON XVII.
Influence of the Gospel on those who believe it......  428
SERMON XVIII.
Christ at Emmaus....................................... 438
SERMON XIX.
Death by Adam, Eternal life by Christ.....................  448
SERMON XX.
Religious Heroism-a Farewell sermon....................  462
SERMON XXI.
God's gracious regard for the penitent..................... 472
SERMON XXII.
The Searcher of Hearts............................. 482
ADDRESS,
Delivered at laying the corner stone of the New Chapel..... 492




P R E F A  E
THE volume now presented to the public, owes its origin
to one of those mysterious events in Providence, which
seem commissioned, at distant intervals, to alarm and admonish the church of God. A loss so sudden, so awful,
so universally deplored as that of Mr. Spencer, demanded
improvement.  Many impressive discourses were delivered
on the sad occasion, several of which have issued from the
press. But his life was not less instructive than his death;
and the more it was contemplated by his friends, the more
deeply they felt the importance of rescuing from oblivion
those traits of his character, and circumstances of his history, by which their own private circles had been interested. Upon my acceptance of the solemn office from which
he was so unexpectedly removed, his bereaved people anxious to see some authorized memoirs of their beloved pastor embodied and preserved, committed the mournful duty
to my hands. My respect for the honored dead, and attachment to the living, induced me to accept the charge;
how I have executed the important trust reposed in me, I
must now leave it with a candid public to decide.
Various causes have contributed to create the delay
which has attended the publication of the book. It was
with considerable difficulty that I collected the materials
necessary for my purpose. I had imagined, from the general impression which prevailed, at least among Mr. Spencer's friends, of the propriety of such a publication, that




Vlii                 PREFACE,
information would have been spontaneously offered from
every quarter whence it might be furnished. But in this
I was disappointed; and it was some considerable time
from the annunciation of my design, before I was sufficiently supplied to commence, with any degree of prudence, the composition of the volume.
In addition to this, the laborious duties of a new and
most extensive charge, conspired often to suspend the prosecution of the work, for the appearance of which I knew
many to be anxious, but none more so than myself.
Had I at first anticipated the extent of these Memoirs,
I should most probably have shrunk from the undertaking.
But the volume has grown almost imperceptibly beneath
my hand. What I have recorded of the dear departed is
strictly true, so far as the veracity of the most excellent
men can warrant the assertion; and whatever opportunity
the narrative has afforded of administering instruction I
have gladly seized, and conscientiously improved, leaving
the issue to a higher agent.
I have at length completed the work; and now, with the
deepest humility and diffidence, I resign it to the blessing of God-the consideration of friendship-and the candor of the public. If to those who knew and loved him,
it shall sometimes recall, with grateful emotions, the image and the excellences of their departed friend; if it
shall induce any to emulate the bright example of his
manly virtues, and his Christian graces; or if but one, anticipating or commencing the laborious duties of the Christian ministry, shall derive from the contemplation of
Spencer's character, instruction, caution, or encouragement
— I am amply recompensed —I have not labored in vain!
THOMAS RAFFLES.




INTRODUCTION.
"How many fall as sudden, not as safe." —YouNG.
THE first half of the Nineteenth Century was adorned
with some of the rarest illustrations of youthful genius.
Among these might be named many whose gifts have shone
with resplendent lustre in some of the most elevated pursuits of life; but, among them all, none are more conspicuous than those whose noble and rich endowments have
been consecrated to the great work of preaching Christ.
The memories of such men as PEARCE, and MCCHEYNE, and
SUMIMERFIELD, and SPENCER, are familiar and dear to the
people of God every where, and the influence of their deep
piety, and the honor awarded to their distinguished talents
may be justly claimed as a precious heritage by the entire
church.
True, their earthly career was exceedingly brief; but
the history of their labors and the measure of their usefulness are not to be estimated by years.  Their work was
accomplished with prodigious speed. They witnessed as
much impression and effect in the labors of a few months
as many would rejoice to observe after the toil of long
years, and the moral power of their lives will be felt down
to the end of time.  One of the strongest circumstances,
perhaps, tending to the support of this view, is the fact that




X                  INTRODUCTION.
every day witnesses an increasing demand for their biographies and works.
Noi is it a little remarkable, that,while some years have
elapsed since the death of one of these, the sensation excited by his extraordinary labors, and the circumstances
attending his sudden removal have not subsided nor abated
much of their force.  We are led, therefore, to conclude,
that, " The unequalled admiration he excited while living,
and the deep and universal concern expressed at his death,
demonstrate him to have been no ordinary character; but
one of those rare specimens of human nature, which the
great Author of it produces at distant intervals, and exhibits for a moment, while He is hastening to mnake them up
amonogst his jewels.
The REV. THOMAS SPENCER was in every respect a wonderful youth, and the deep interest felt in his history, and
the general astonishment awakened by his distinguished
abilities, are fully justified by the most judicious estimates
that can be formed of his character as a christian, and his
gifts as a preacher.
Before noticing these, however, it may not be amiss just
to allude to a few of the points which mark the progress of
his brief career.  lie was born, we are informed, at iertford, January 21, 1791.  In his twelfth year he considered himself to have become the subject of serious impressions, and " to have felt something experimentally of the
power of religion." In his fifteenth year he was placed
under the care of the Rev. Winm. Hordle, of Harwich, to
enter on his preparatory studies. In January, 1807, he
was admitted into Hoxton College.  During the vacation
in the following midsummer, he preached his first sermon
in public, at Collier's End, a small village near Hertford.




INTRODUCTION.                   x
Three years subsequent to this, he spent a vacation in supplying the congregation worshipping at Newington Chapel,
Liverpool.  His sermons excited very marked attention,
and he was invited to the pastoral office. Accepting of
this in~vitation, he entered upon his stated engagements on
the third Sabbath of February, 1811, having just attained
his twentieth year.  His preaching attracted at once,
such overflowing congregations, that in a few weeks it was
found absolutely necessary to erect a much larger house,
of which he laid the corner stone on the 15th of April,
1811. But it pleased Him whose designs are inscrutable
to man, though always wise and good in themselves, to cut
short the days of this most promising and devoted young
minister. On Monday morning, August the 5th, he resolved to bathe in the river Mersey, thinking it might
brace his nerves after the exertions of the preceding Sabbath, and prepare him for the duties to which he intended
to devote the day.  He had folded his paper and prepared his pen, in order to compose a sermon to be preached
in the ensuing week, on behalf of the Religious Tract Society, of whose anniversary meeting he had just received a
particular account, with copies of the addresses then delivered. Mr. Spencer left his paper and pen prepared for this
purpose, and proceeded to the river, but soon after he had
entered it, he was borne out by the current, sunk in the
deep water, and was drowned.  Thus suddenly was he
called from his early labors on earth, to an eternal reward in heaven.
It is not pretended, of course, that the character of Mr.
Spencer at that early age, had attained its maturity,
and yet it must be admitted that in all its prominent features, there was evinced a development rarely witnessed in




Xii                INTRODUCTION.
one so young. Experience would doubtless have done
much toward confirming or chastening some of its peculiarities, and the varied circumstances of a longer life would
have afforded ampler opportunities for testing its qualities
and proving its strength-still, that character had already
arrived at such a stage of progress, as to leave us in no
difficulty in estimating its virtues as it was, or in conjecturing what it might have become with the discipline and
habits of years.
As a man, he was generous, frank, independent, and sincere; and these noble qualities, having been brought under
the influence and direction of a heart deeply imbued with
the spirit of Christ, served to make him one of the most
lovely and devoted Christians that the world has ever beheld.  "W With him," writes the distinguished author of his
Memoir, "religion was no matter of mere profession and
convenience; nor did it lose its impression by the frequent
recurrence of its subjects and duties-he seemed to live
under its abiding influence-it was wrought into the constitution of his nature-its principles were the springsits precepts the rule-its objects the end of all his actions.
To this he ever had respect; what opposed it he heartily
abhorred-what clashed with it he cheerfully resignedwhat injured it he conscientiously avoided. His love to
God was ardent.  In this I think he much resembled Mr.
Pearce, of Birmingham; and, indeed, often, when contemplating the life of Spencer, my thoughts have involuntarily
recurred to certain traits of character preserved in the
memoirs of that glorified saint.  His love to God shed a
glorious lustre on his whole character and conduct; everything that came within the sphere of his influence or operation, was irradiated by it. But chiefly would I confine




INTRODUCTION.                  xii
myself now to the influence of this noble principle upon
himself. It inspired him with a love of piety: as a Christian he was eminent for holiness.  He contemplated the
character of God, and was attracted to it by its purity."
"I shall not," says one of his friends, " easily forget the
delight which sparkled in his eye, when conversing upon
the divine attribute, holiness.' How sweet,' said he,'is
that word holy! —holy Father-holy Saviour-holy Spirit
-holy Scriptures.  Surely, if there is one word dearer to
me than another, it is the word holy.' " During his residence at Hoxton, the same individual observed to a friend
in the institution, whose attention he wished to direct to
the character of Spencer.  "Perhaps, you perceive youthful levity in him?"  c" No," he replied, " I have remarked
him particularly, but it was for his spirituality."
Equally impressive was his humility.  Never, perhaps,
did one so young enjoy such friendships, or occupy such a
space in the public eye. Admired, and ardently loved by
all who knew him, he was, at the same time, the subject of
a wide and unexampled popularity; and.yet, he ever exhibited "' the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," walking in
all lowliness, and in his conversation and conduct, evincing
the most attractive modesty. So prominent a feature was
this in his character that his ministry, no doubt, derived
from it no small measure of its success. This it was that
gave him such favor in the eyes of men, and this it was that
led him, distrusting himself, to look to God for those abundant supplies of grace, which, while they beautified his life,
gave peculiar effect and power to his preaching.
But, striking as were SPENCERn's qualities as a Christian,
that which constituted the chief. ground of his popularity,
was his distinguished ability as a preacher. His appearance




Xiv               INTRODUCTION.
in the pulpit was both interesting and commanding.  His
countenance had the fine bloom of youth. His action was
graceful and appropriate, and with a beautifully distinct
and clear voice, he stood before his crowded congregations,
the very embodiment of manly dignity, displaying with
spontaneous ease, all the characteristics of genuine eloquence.
The justness of this representation is fully sustained in
the high opinion expressed of his abilities, by that distinguished pulpit orator of England, Robert Hall: " I entertain no doubt," said he, " that his talents in the pulpit were unrivalled, and that had his life been spared, he
would, in all probability, have carried the art of preaching,
if it may be so styled, to a greater perfection than it ever
attained, at least, in this kingdom. His eloquence appears
to have been of the purest stamp, effective, not ostentatious,
consisting less in the striking preponderance of any one
quality, requisite to form a public speaker, than in an exquisite combination of them all; whence resulted an extraordinary power of impression, which was greatly aided by
a natural and majestic elocution."
The mnatter of his discourses was always carefully arranged
and eminently evangelical, while his manner is represented
as having been peculiarly animated and solemn. With all
the serious drafts upon his time, by the public engagements
he performed, he made it a point to give himself to a diligent and thorough preparation of the important subjects
intended for the pulpit.  Most of his sermons, indeed, were
written throughout, except the heads of application; here
he usually trusted to the ardor of his mind, quickened by
the train of remarks which he had pursued, and guided by
a holy influence.  Not that he slavishly committed his
compositions to memory, and delivered them by rote, but




INTRODUCTION.                  XV
he thus carefully wrought a channel for his thoughts, leaving room for such enlargements, especially at the close, as
the fresh and holy promptings of his heart might dictate.
" The sermon in the study was completely formed-correctly arranged-and well connected-but to the lifeless
form, delineated on his paper, and impressed upon his memory, in the pulpit he imparted a living soul; a principle
of ardent piety, which operated as a charm, the power of
which few were able to resist."
But while this was his usual custom, yet we are told
that " when extraordinary circumstances conspired to render a departure from it necessary, he could with the greatest propriety and ease, delight and interest an audience
from the rich treasures of his exalted mind. One instance
of his powers, in extemporary and unpremeditated address,
is related of him in Liverpool. Some important affair of
a public nature engaged the general attention of the religious world, on a Sabbath evening, when as usual he had
to preach; and, anticipating a thin attendance, he had prepared a sermon adapted to the supposed state of his auditory-but, when he reached the chapel, and saw it filled
with anxious crowds, waiting to receive from his lips the
words of life-his ardent mind seemed instantly inspired
-he immediately fixed upon a passage more adapted to
the scene, and with his pencil sketched the outline of a discourse, which, perhaps, in the whole series of his ministry,
he never excelled."
The general cast of his preaching, perhaps, may be inferred from the texts noted in the following pages. His
great absorbing aimn seems to have been to win souls to
Christ, and to accomplish this, he faithfully exhibited on
one hand, the hopeless condition of men by nature, and on




xvi               INTRODUCTION.
the other, the freeness and infinite value of that Salvation
revealed to us in the gospel.
After a lucid exposition of his text, which was invariably marked by great simplicity, his whole soul would
pour itself forth in a most impressive and impassioned application.  " Here," says his biographer, " he wrestled with
the people, with a fervor resembling that with which, in
prayer, he wrestled with his God.  He seemed to exhaust
every argument which might be brought to bear upon his
great object, and to these he often added appeals and entreaties, the most tender and affecting.  Then he seemed
to lose sight of every consideration, but his own responsibility, and his people's good-and as though the congregation before him were the only people remaining to be saved,
and as though every time of preaching was the only opportunity afforded him of using the means of their salvation,
he besought them as an ambassador for Christ, to be reconciled to God."
This intense earnestness, indeed, was with SPENCER, a
prominent peculiarity.  Hence, says the Rev. Mr. Styles,
than whom no man, perhaps, was better able to form and
express an opinion of his worth:  " If I were to sum up
3Mr. Spencer's character in one word, comprehending in it
only what is excellent and ennobling to human nature, I
should say it was ANIMATION. His intellect was feeling,
and his feeling was intellect. His thoughts breathed, and
his words glowed. He said nothing tamely, he did nothing with half a heart."
But if this was a general trait in his character, it certainly appeared strikingly preeminent in his ministrations
from the pulpit. Nor was his animation here to be regarded simply as a constitutional peculiarity. Active and




INTRODUCTION.                    Xvii
ardent, he doubtless was in his natural temperament, but
the source of his energy and the great impulsive power of
his being was piety.  With the Apostle, he acted under
the influence of constraining love.  This glowed in his
heart-animated his countenance, sustained him  in his labors, and gave him such power over the minds of his fellows. And the flame of this piety, let it be remarked, was
not only kindled, but constantly supplied at the altar.  It
was invariably from  communion with God in the closet,
that he passed to what he described as that awful place-a
pulpit." And those who heard him could never forget the
devotional simplicity and fervor of soul which he manifested, when proclaiming the glories of the Redeemer, or when
pronouncing that adorable name to which "every knee
shall bow."
He was indeed —" A  BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT,)
and many there were who "for a season," rejoiced in his
light. But suddenly he finished his course-his sun went
down while it was yet noon, and, now, while we delight to
cherish his memory on earth, he sweetly rests from his
labors in heaven.
" 0 there was ONE, on earth awhile
He dwelt; but transient as a smile
That turns into a tear;
His beauteous image passed us by;
He came like lightning Mgom the sky,
He seem'd as dazzling to the eye,
As prompt to disappear.
Sweet in his undissembling mien
Were genius, candor, meekness seen,
The lips that lov'd the truth;
The single eye, whose glance sublime
Look'd to eternity through time;
The soul, whose thoughts were wont to climb
Above the hopes of youth.




XViii                  INTRODUCTION.
Of old, before the lamp grew dark,
Reposing near the sacred Ark,
The child of Hannah's pray'r
Heard, midst the temple's silent round,
A living voice; nor knew the sound
That thrice alarm'd him ere he found
The Lord, who chose him, there.
Thus early call'd and strongly mov'd
A prophet from a child approv'd,
SPENCER his course began;
From strength to strength, from grace to grao,
Swiftest and foremost in the race,
He carried vict'ry in his face,
He triumph'd while he ran.
How short his day!-the gloriousprize,
To our slow hearts and failing eyes,
Appear'd too quickly won:
The warrior rush'd into the field,
With arm invincible to wield
The spirit's sword, the spirit's shield,
When lo! the fight was done.
The loveliest star of evening's train
Sets early in the western main,
And leaves the world in night;
The brightest star of morning's host,
Scarce ris'n, in brighter beams is lost.
Thus sunk his form on ocean's coast,
Thus sprang his soul to light.
Revolvingahis mysterious lot,
I mourn him, but I praise him not;
To God the praise be giv'n,
Who sent him-like the radiant bow,
His covenant of peace to show,
Athwart the passing storm to glow,
Then vanish into heav'n."  MoTrseomxxrY.
A. S. P.
HOBOKRm, May, 1855.




OF
REV. THOMAS SPENCER.








M E M: o I R
REV, THOMAS SPENCER,
CHAPTER I.
Parentage and Early Years of Thomas Spencer-Love of Learning-Religious Impressions-His inclination to the Christian
Ministry-Apprenticed to a Glover in London-Acquaintance
with Thomas Wilson, Esq. commenced, under whose patronage
he enters, upon his preparatory studies with the Rev. Mr.
Hordle, of Harwich-Rapid Progress in Learning-Returns to
his father's residence in Hertford.
SELDOM has a task so painfully arduous fallen to
the lot of a biographer, as that which, in the mysterious providence of God, has unexpectedly devolved on me. The recollection of departed excellence,
which a long series of years had developed and matured, is mingled with a melancholy feeling, and not
unfrequently excites the tribute of a tear; but the
individual who erects a monument to friendship,
genius, usefulness, and piety, prematurely wrapt in
the oblivion of the grave, must necessarily prosecute
his mournful work with trembling hands, and with




22                MEMOIR OF
a bleeding heart. And yet the mind is soothed by
the communication of its sorrow; the bosom is relieved of an oppressive burthen, while it tells the
virtues of the friend it mourns; and the best feelings of the heart are satisfied with the consciousness, that instead of indulging in solitude, the luxury of unavailing grief, it has employed its powers
to portray, in lively colors, for the improvement of
the living, the excellencies of the beloved and pious
dead. For myself, with mournful pleasure, I hasten to sketch the rude outline of one of the loveliest
and most finished characters the present age has
known: —pausing only to express my deep regret,
that one so ripe for heaven, and yet so eminently
useful upon earth, should be called from the important sphere he occupied so soon; and that to hands
so feeble should be committed-together with the
solemn trust which he resigned in death, the painful duty of erecting this monument to his worth.
THE REVEREND THOMAS SPENCER, was born at
Hertford, January 21, 1791. He occupied the third
place out of four who surrounded his father's table,
but shared equally with them in the tender and affectionate solicitude of parents, who, placed in the
middle sphere of human life, were respectable for
their piety, and highly esteemed in the circle in
which a wise Providence had allotted them to move.
It cannot be expected that any thing peculiarly interesting should mark the early childhood of a youth




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          23
retired from the observation of the world, and far
removed from the presence of any of those circumstances which might be considered as favorable to
the excitation of latent talent, or the display of early
genius. And yet the years of his infancy and childhood were not undistinguished by some intimations
of a superior mind, from which a thoughtful observer might have been induced to augur something of
his future eminence, and which his amiable father
it appears did with silence watch. He himself observes, in a hasty sketch of his life, which now lies
before me-" As far back as I can recollect, my
memory was complimented by many as being very
retentive, and my progress in knowledge was more
considerable than that of my school-fellows; a natural curiosity and desire of knowledge, I think I may
say, without vanity, distinguished even the period
of my infancy. I now remember questions that I
asked when about four years old, which were rather
singular, and which were confined chiefly to biblical subjects. No child could be more attached to
places of worship, or could be more inquisitive about
their concerns than myself; and I may add, more
given to imitate the actions of the minister and
clerk."
When he had completed his fifth year, he suffered the severest earthly privation a child can know,
in the loss of an affectionate mother. Though then
too young correctly to appreciate a parent's worth,




24                MEMOIR OF
he deeply felt the stroke; and in the liveliest manner he recalls the impression which at that early
period this melancholy circumstance produced upon
his tender mind.  "When the funeral sermon was
preached I could not help noticing the grief which
seemed to pervade every person present. Deeply
affected myself, I recollect, that after the service, as
I was walking about our little garden with my disconsolate father, I said to him,'Father, what is the
reason that so many people cried at the meeting this
afternoon.'-He, adapting his language to my comprehension, said,'They cried to see little children
like you without a mother.' " This event which
shed so deep a gloom upon his family, seems to
have excited emotions of a serious nature in his
mind never totally effaced.
From this time he applied himself with diligence
and delight to the business of his school. There
was at this early age something amiable and engaging in his manners; and this combined with his
attention to his learning, soon secured the esteem
and approbation of his respective teachers, and
gained him, together with the first place and highest honors of his school, the character of a " good
boy." It is pleasing to mark the early combination
of superior talent and sweetness of disposition in
this'extraordinary young man; and it would be
well, did the patrons of early genius more deeply
ponder the reflection, that the graces of a meek and




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           25
quiet spirit are far more estimable than the rare
qualities of a prematurely vigorous mind; and that
the talents they cultivate with such anxious care? if
unassociated with real excellence of soul, may render the idols of their fond adulation sources of anguish to themselves and incalculable mischief to
mankind.
While a school boy, he became passionately fond
of novels, histories, adventures, &c., which he devoured with the greatest eagerness in numbers truly
astonishing.  The perusal of these he always preferred to play and other amusements adapted to his
years. He delighted much in solitude; nor did he
know a happiness superior to that of being alone,
with one of his favorite books. He took no delight
in the games of his companions, nor did he ever
mingle in their little feuds. His natural levity,
however, was excessive; and his wit, fed by the
publications he so ardently perused, would often
display itself in impurity of language to the laughter and amusement of his fellows. Yet he was not
without his moments of serious reflection, and that
of a very deep and dreadful kind.-He was often
overwhelmed with religious considerations, and the
solemn sermons he sometimes heard, filled him with
terror and alarm.  So intolerable at one period were
the horrors of his mind, that in an agony of despair,
he was tempted, as many have been before him, to
destroy himself. Thus at an early age he became
2




26.                MEMOIR OF
intimately acquainted with the depravity of his nature; and from the deep waters of spiritual distress
through which he was called to pass, his soul imbibed an air of humility and a habit of watchfulness, which enabled him to meet with firmness the
dangers of popularity, and to maintain a steady
course, notwithstanding the press of sail he carried.
To these deep convictions of his early years may
perhaps be traced the peculiarly pressing and impassioned manner of his address, when he strove to
arouse the slumbering conscience, or direct the
weary wanderer to the cross of Christ. The sacred
poems and the passages of holy writ, which most
he loved, were those of a cast similar to that of his
own fervent mind; and I have heard many tell,
with tears, of the animation and rapture with which
he would often repeat from that beautiful hymn of
Henry Kirke White, his favorite author, whom in
many shades of character he much resembled, and
alas! too much in his early and lamented fateOnce on the stormy seas I rode,
The storm was loud, the night was dark;
The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd
The wind that toss'd my found'ring bark.
Deep horror then my vitals froze;
Death struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem,
When suddenly a star arose,
It was the star of Bethlehem.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                27
It was my guide, my light, my all,
It bade my dark forebodings cease:
And through the storm of danger's thrall
It led me to the port of peace.
Now safely moor'd-my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in niaht's diadem,
For ever and for ever more
The star!-the star of Bethlehem.
The bias and inclination of his mind began at
this early period to be disclosed; preachers and
preaching seemed to occupy all his thoughts, and
often he would exercise himself in addressing such
domestic congregations as may be supposed to constitute the usual auditories of an infant. Thus in
his earliest childhood he. displayed his fond attachment to the Christian ministry, and the first efforts
of his infant mind were directed to that sublime and
dignified profession, in which the capacities of his
maturer age were so brilliantly displayed.  These
infantine compositions were not unfrequently entirely his own; and when they claimed not the
merit of originality, they were derived from  hints
collected from what he had heard or read.  But his
rrecac7liny exhibitions could not long be confined to
the narrow circle and scanty congregation his father's house supplied; tidings of his early pulpit
talents soon circulated through the neighborhood;
many were anxious to listen to the instructions of




28                MEMOIR OF
this extraordinary child: and most regarded him,
as he himself expresses it, "C a parson in embryo."
At this age, also, he wrote verses. He seems,
however, to have had but a mean opinion of his
talent for poetry. It certainly was not the art in
which he most excelled. Though an individual may
have a power of rhyming sufficient for throwing his
feelings into tolerable easy verse, yet something
more than this is required in a production which,
under the dignified title of a poem, is to meet the
public eye. And while most men of an enlightened mind and cultivated taste, have solicited the
muses' aid for purposes of private instruction and
amusement, and the domestic and social circle have
been privileged to share in both, yet it is not necessary to the perfection of the pulpit orator, that he
should be an exquisite poet, nor is it at all a detraction from the greatness of his character, that the
world should hesitate to pronounce unqualified
praise upon poetical effusions, on which the eye or
the ear of friendship might linger with delight.
These observations will serve to account for the
circumstance that none of Mr. Spencer's poetical
productions are preserved in these pages. And
while some partial friends, who saw with pleasure
the pieces which circulated in private, may regret
for the moment their entire exclusion here, his biographer hopes, that he shall render a more essential
service to the memory of his departed friend, by




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          29
occupying their place with extracts from his papers
of a more solid and interesting kind.
These early displays of talent however introduced
him to the notice and friendship of some individuals
of wealth and consequence. This was doubtless
considered by himself and his fond parent as no inconsiderable circumstance in the history and prospects of a child, who, if he rose into eminence at
all, could have no facilities afforded him, by the
auspicious omens of his birth, or the rank of his
father's family. But, alas! the fond anticipations
which from this quarter he cherished, and perhaps
with some degree of reason, were not all realized,
to the full extent to which his sanguine mind had
urged them. It was doubtless well for him, however, that they were not. The disappointments of
childhood will give a sober cast to the else too glowing pictures and too anxious hopes of youth; and
while they excite a caution in respect to the confidence we should place in the prospects that unfold
themselves before us, admirably prepare the mind
for the event, when the pledges of friendship lie
long unredeemed, and the fair blossoms of hope are
blasted and destroyed.
In the mean time he applied himself with surprising diligence to the acquisition of knowledge.
In his favorite pursuit he met with the most important aid, from the valuable friendship of the lato
Rev. Ebenezer White, then the pastor of the Inde



30                   MEMOIR OF
pendent church at Hertford. For this amiable and
pious man, so early lost to the church of Christ,:
Mr. Spencer ever cherished and expressed the
warmest affection; whilst he survived but a few
weeks the melancholy pleasure of paying the last
tribute of respect to his beloved remains, and giving
utterance to the warm and authorized feelings of
his heart, in a most impressive oration at his grave.
From Mr. White he learned the rudiments of the
Latin tongue; and though the early removal of that
gentleman to Chester deprived him of his kind and
valuable assistance, yet his father, who had discernment to perceive, and wisdom to foster the unfolding talents of his son, afforded him the means of
more ample instruction, by sending him to the best
school his native town supplied.  Approbation cannot be expressed in language too unqualified of the
conduct, in this respect, pursued by the parents of
this amiable youth, who though surrounded by every
circumstance of a worldly nature to check its progress, yet nobly determined to afford every degree
* Mr. White died Sunday, May 5th, 1811. An interesting memoir of his life (together with his select remains) has been published by the Reverend Joseph Fletcher, A. M. of Blackburn;
with a recommendatory preface, by the Rev. Dr. Collyer, of London. In the melancholy but pleasing task of selecting these papers
for the press, Mr. Fletcher was originally joined by the subject of
these memoirs:-but whilst Mr. Spencer was thus engaged in
rearing a monument to the memory of his departed friend-he too
was suddenly removed, and it devolved upon the hand of friendship to perform the same office for himself.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              31
of culture, which such sacrifices as they might be
able to make would yield to a mind which promised
to rise superior to the obscurity of its birth, and consecrate at some future period no common share of
genius to the noblest and the best of causes. Nor
must these expressions pass unmingled by regret,
that many important accessions are lost to the interests of religion and literature by the neglect of
ignorant, or the reluctance of sordid parents, who
in the one case have not the capacity to discover
talent, or in the other a disposition, where their
worldly circumstances are narrow and scanty, to
make any sacrifice of ease on their part, or expected emolument on that of the child, for its cultivation.
"Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
At about the age of twelve years, Mr. Spencer
considers himself to have become the subject of serious impressions of a deep and permanent kind, and
to have felt something experimentally of the power
of religion. This most interesting circumstance he
simply states in the memoir of his life before referred to, but mentions no particulars respecting
the mode in which these impressions were wrought
upon his mind, or in what way they operated upon
his character, his conduct, and his views. The gen



32                MAI0wIOIR OV
eral effect, however, he distinctly records to have
been that of heightening his desire of the Christian
ministry, for which, it was strongly impressed upon
his mind, God had destined him; whilst it reconciled him to his present situation, which was most
uncongenial to the bias of his mind, and most unfriendly to the accomplishment of his ardent wishes;'for the circumstances of his father's family were at
that time of such a nature as to render his assistance necessary between the hours of school, and at
length compelled his parent, however reluctantly,
entirely to remove him. His removal from school,
however, was not in consequence of his father's having abandoned the prospect of his one day entering
on the work of the ministry, but an act dictated by
prudence, which afforded him an opportunity patiently to wait, and calmly to watch the leadings
of Providence, and the occurrence of any circumstances which might tend to fix the future destiny
of his son. These prudential arrangements, however, were a source of keenest anguish to the mind
of Spencer. He bowed at first with reluctance to
the yoke of manual labor when but partially imposed-rapidly performed the appointed task, and
leaped with joy from toils so repugnant to the elevated and ardent desires of his soul, to solitude and
to books; and when compelled entirely to leave his
school and pursue from day to day the twisting of
worsted, which he calls the worst part of hisfath



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           33
er's business, his grief was poignant and his regret
severe. But religion in early life, assumed in him
her mildest and most amiable forms. Its characters
were those of uncomplaining acquiescence in the
will of God, and cheerful resignation to his earthly
lot. If, indeed, with patient submission to the
arrangements of Providence he occasionally mingled
a warm expression of desire, and suffered his imagination to dwell upon the bright visions of better
days, and the animating promise of pursuits more
congenial to the tone and inclination of his mind,
which hope would give, till, for a moment, it seemed
reluctant to return;-it was natural;-nor is it
incompatible with the most perfect resignation to
the ]Divine will thus to dwell on scenes of promised
pleasure with delight.  Such a combination of light
and shade is beautiful in nature; and not unfrequently in the history of a Christian's feelings does
the sunshine of resignation break in upon the tears
of sorrow, and produce a commixture of indefinable
feelings, which, like the bow of heaven, are a pledge
not unredeemed, of fairer scenery and happier
(ays.
The writer, in thus recording the mingled feelings of his friend, has participated too deeply in
circumstances and emotions similar to his, not to do
it with the warmth of sympathy. He knows how
hard it is to give a cheerful and undivided attention
to one pursuit, though less repugnant than mechaniC2*




34                 MEMOIR OF
cal employ, when the heart is intently fixed upon
another. Illy does the mind adapt itself to the narrow rules of business, the drudgery of manual labor, or the habits of commerce, when panting after
study, devoted to the love of books, or eager to engage in the noblest work that can occupy the powers of man-the ministry of the gospel:-impressed
with a consciousness, that if it is the will of God
that the desire enkindled and cherished in the
bosom should be fulfilled, some event will transpire
to afford facilities and point the way-but day after
day, expecting that event in vain, till hope deferred,,takes the heart sick, and all the visions with which
she has charmed, seem  gradually yielding to the
influence of despair. Yet even here, religion has a
power to soothe: she sheds the mild influence of
resignation, when the glare of hope is gone" Gives even affliction a grace,
And reconciles man to his lot."
He continued working at his father's business and
in his father's house, for about a year and a half,
anxiously expecting some situation to present itself
more congenial to his wishes, but no circumstance
arose to interrupt the monotonous sameness of his
every day's employ. It seems, however, that he
still attended to the cultivation of his mind, and
never wholly lost sight of the Christian ministry.Meanwhile business languished, and his father was
desirous of seeing him comfortably settled. Their




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           35
mutual anxiety increasing to impatience, and his
father reading on the cover of a magazine an advertisement for a situation which appeared to be suitable, they set out for London, but upon an interview with the advertiser they found insuperable
difficulties in the way, and returned, with disappointment, to Hertford.
Some weeks after this fruitless journey, Mr. Spencer was recommended by a friend to place his son
with Messrs. Windwood and Thodey, respectable
glovers in the Poultry, who also introduced him to
Mr. Thodey's notice. The first interview between
the parties was satisfactory; every arrangement
was made preparatory to his being bound apprentice, and Thomas soon after entered, in a new capacity, this worthy gentleman's house. The services
connected with his new situation, the better part of
which was far from grateful to the wishes of his
heart, still panting for the ministry with unconquerable attachment, were some of them such as his
spirit, at first, but reluctantly submitted to perform;
yet aware that then the providence of God pointed
out no other path, he cheerfully acquiesced, and exchanged, not without regret, the calm and tranquil
enjoyments of an endeared domestic circle, for the
bosom of strangers, the drudgery of a shop, and the
bustle of the Poultry. But here, as formerly at
school, his amiable manners-his modest behavior,
and engaging appearance, soon won the affection of




36                    MEMOIR OF
the family, (which was large,) whilst his fervent
piety and superior talents, excited emotions of the
highest order. An extract of a letter, obligingly addressed to me from  Mr. Thodey himself, will best
record his manner of life, whilst under that gentleman's roof:
"His appearance, his genuine modesty, diligence, and integrity, created an interest in our hearts, so as it were almost to
identify him as one of our own children; he shared our privileges; united with us in family devotion; and I occasionally
took the same opportunities of conversing with him on divine
things, which I had been accustomed to do with all those under
my care. I well recollect one Sabbath evening, being thus
engaged with him alone, when from his pertinent replies to
some questions I put to him about the concerns of his soul and
the importance of an interest in the Saviour, I perceived he
possessed an uncommon share of talent and intellect. This
conversation gave me an impressive idea of his general knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, and I saw in him the traits
of a very strong and ardent mind."
Whilst at Mr. Thodey's, he conscientiously devoted himself to promote the interests of his employers, notwithstanding his natural aversion to business.
He even became peculiarly attached to the family,
and receiving from them tokens of affectionate attention, superior to any thing he had a right to expect,
and of which he always spoke with gratitude, he became as happy as the circumstances of his lot could
possibly allow him to be. IHe formed an acquaintance with several pious young men, who, though




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                  37
rather above his station, did not hesitate to respect
genius and religion, even in a lad of inferior rank in
life.  Several times, also, he exercised his preaching
talents at the house of a relation of the young man
who was then his fellow-servant, but was afterwards
a student in the same academy with himself.:
He describes the exercises of his mind, and the
mode in which he passed his time, during his residence in the Poultry, with great simplicity and
feeling.
"At this place my time was entirely employed, as it was fit
it should be, in executing the will of my two masters; for the
young man, who was active and friendly, I formed a great attachment, and was indeed interested in the welfare of the whole
family. Marks of respect were shown me, which were I believe unusual to any of my predecessors. I made myself upon
the whole tolerably comfortable: some difficulties and disagreeable circumstances of course fell to my lot, yet upon the
whole I had many enjoyments. My acquaintance, whilst here,
increased: with several young men, who indeed were rather
above my station in life, I was particularly intimate. and more
than twice or thrice did I give an exhortation at the house of
a relative of the young man's, who was my fellow-servant.The opportunities I had of hearing the word were very delightful, and- a higher relish was given to them by the toils and
business of the week."+
To youth who may be placed in similar circumstances with the amiable subject of these memoirs,
his mild and cheerful deportment in scenes so un* Rev. Thomas Heward.          t MS. Memoirs.




38                MEMOIR OF
congenial to the bias of his mind, should prove a
salutary and impressive lesson.  Impatience and
fretfulness are but ill adapted to the furtherance of
any design, and a disposition to murmur, under the
arrangements of our present lot, marks a state of
mind most unfriendly to the patient sufferance of
the toils, the anxieties and the disappointments inseparably connected with the ministerial life; and
whilst it is an obvious fact, that every young man
possessed of piety cannot be employed as a preacher
of the gospel, to such as conceive themselves endowed with talents for that solemn office, and yet are
placed in circumstances which seem to forbid the
indulgence of a hope they still cherish with an anxious pleasure; to such, the subsequent history of
Mr. Spencer will afford another striking proof in an
innumerable series-that where God has actually
called and qualified an individual for the ministry,
he will, in his own time and by unexpected methods,
make the path of duty plain before that individual's
feet. Let no one, then, rashly attempt to break the
connected chain of opposing circumstances by which
his providence may have surrounded him; but
rather wait in patience till the hand that has thus
encircled him opens up a passage, and by events,
which may justly be considered as intimations of the
Divine will, invites him to advance.
These remarks, the result of frequent observations on the ways of God in cases similar to this,




REV. THOM3AS SPENCER.          39
not improperly connect the future scenes of Mr.
Spencer's life, with those we have already contemplated. For the time was now arrived, that the
cloud which had hovered over his future prospects
should be dissipated, and another path —a path to
which he had from infancy directed his attention
with fond anticipation and intense desire-present
its varied and momentous objects of pursuit for the
cheerful, but, alas! the short-lived exercise of his
superior powers. After a residence of about four
months with his employers in the Poultry, circumstances occurred of such a nature as to render his
services no longer necessary, on which account he
left London and returned for a while to his parents
at Hertford; but some time previous to the event
which caused his departure from London, he had
been introduced to the notice of Thomas Wilson,
Esq., the benevolent and indefatigable treasurer of
the academy for educating young men for the work
of the ministry, at Hoxton. Mr. Wilson perceived
in him piety and talents far above his years. His
whole appearance and his engaging manners excited
in that gentleman's breast an interest in this amiable youth, which he never lost, and he gave it as
his decided opinion, (without elating him with a
hope, of the ultimate failure of which, there was
still a probability,) that his views should in some
way or other be directed towards the ministry.
This revolution in Mr. Spencer's affairs was not,




40                MEMOIR OF
unnoticed or unimproved by Mr. Wilson, who wisely
regarding it as a favorable opportunity for carrying
into effect those generous designs respecting him,
which from their first interview he had cherished,
sent for him; conversed with him upon the subject, and introduced him to Rev. William  Hordle,
of HaLwich, a gentleman to whose care some of the
young men were committed, whose youth or other
circumstances did not allow of their immediate entrance into the academy, though they were considered as proper objects of its patronage. To this
gentleman, at length, Mr. Wilson proposed to send
Mr. Spencer for trial of his talents and piety, and
for preparatory studies; a proposition to which Mr.
Spencer acceded with unfeigned gratitude and joy.
The time fixed for his entrance into Mr. Hordle's
family was January, 1806. The interval between
this period and that of his departure from the
Poultry, which was in October, 1805, he spent in
his father's house, and for the most part in his
father's business. Though this was repugnant to
his feelings, he had yet learned, by five month's
absence, in the bustle of a shop in the city, to appreciate the calm and tranquil pleasures of a
domestic circle, to which he became more endeared
as the lovely qualities of his mind unfolded, and
the dignified and pleasing prospects of his future
life were disclosed. But though considerable light
was thrown upon his destiny, yet on leaving Lon



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.            41
don, it was not finally determined; and this pressed
with peculiar weight upon his spirit, which, susceptible of the slightest emotion, must have deeply
felt in leaving one scene of action, the uncertainty
of which as yet partially veiled from him that which
should succeed. Of the day of his departure he
thus writes: "I anticipated it with mingled emotions; a strong desire to see my father, mother,
brother, and sisters, a sensation of sorrow at parting with my old friends, and the idea of uncertainty
as to my future engagements in life, equally affected
me.  Although I had been absent from home but
five months, the desire I had again to see Hertford
was very great, nor do I suppose I shall often spend
more pleasant evenings than the first one I spent
at home, after the first time of being absent for any
considerable season; two or three days were spent
in seeing other relations and friends, till —.":Here the narrative, first referred to, and often
quoted, written by his own hand, and evidently for
his own use, abruptly closes; and here for a moment
his biographer will pause.    It is a charming domestic piece, which the hand of his departed friend,
obedient to the warm and vivid recollections of his
fervent mind, has sketched; but scarcely has he
pictured to hlmself the countenances of that interesting group which gathered around him again to
bid him welcome to his father's house, and commit* MS. Memoirs.




42                    MEMOIR OF
ted the rude outline to his paper, than he is suddenly called off, and lays down the recording pen
for ever! So did his life abruptly terminate; but
the mysterious voice that summoned him from his
endeared connections upon earth introduced his
emancipated spirit to the bosom of a happier family
above-not another family, but one most intimately
connected with his own, for which whilst here he
cherished  such a warm  affection.  The sentiment
this sentence breathes was familiar to himself, and
often seen in the energy and fervor with which he
would repeat these admirable lines of Kelly:-' One family, we dwell in him;
One church above; beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God,
To his command we bow;
Part of the host have cross'd the flood,
And part are crossing now.
Ten thousand to their endless home
This awful moment fly;
And we are to the margin come,
And soon expect to die:
Dear Jesus, be our constant guide;
Then when the word is giv'n,
Bid death's cold stream and flood divide
And land us safe in heav'n."
At Harwich, Mr. Spencer was completely in his




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           43
element. He commenced the year 1806 in Mr.
Hordle's family, and was then about completing the
fifteenth of his own life. At this interesting age,
when the powers of the mind begin rapidly to unfold-when a tone is often given to the future cast
of thought, and sentiments and habits are imbibed
and formed, which constitute the basis or become
the germ of the matured and finished character;it was a circumstance peculiarly auspicious in the
history of this lamented youth, that he was introduced to the pious and enlightened care of such a
man as Mr. Hordle. In his preaching, in his lectures, and in his conversation, he saw most admirably applied, those elementary principles of theological science, the scholastic forms of which must
else have been unintelligible or insipid to his mind.
In the liberal and sacred current of his habitual
thought, Mr. Spencer would find a safe channel for
the yet infant stream of his own conception;
whilst he would imperceptibly form his character
upon that mild, correct, and amiable model, constantly before him.
It must be of incalculable advantage to a young
man destined for the Christian ministry, as it evidently was to our departed Spencer, to pass a year
or two beneath a faithful and enlightened pastor's
roof-to be a spectator of his toil-a daily witness
of the varied scenes of duty and of trial which the
Christian ministry perpetually presents. It is true,




44                 MEMOIR OF'
that in academies, lectures on the pastoral care are
read, and discourses on the duties of the Christian
ministry delivered; but one week of actual observation must impress more deeply on the mind all that
such lectures can contain, and unnumbered other
circumstances, equally important, but which no general analysis can include, than months or years of
the most devoted study. And to the diligent improvement of this peculiar advantage, perhaps, may
in part be attributed that early maturity at which
Mr. Spencer's capacity for the sacred office had arrived. He had the seriousness, the reflection of the
pastor while but a student; and when he actually
entered on that holy office, the exercises of the pulpit, and the habits of his ministerial life, bespoke
the knowleldge of long experience, rather than of
recent theory, and indicated the presence of a master's, not a learner's hand.
At Harwich his diligence was exemplary; a judicious course of reading was marked out for him by
his respected tutor, which he conscientiously and
unweariedly pursued; but besides this, he had the
use of an excellent library, with rich supplies from
which he amply occupied his leisure hours.  He
had made considerable progress in the Latin; and
soon after his introduction to Mr. Hordle, he commenced, under his direction, the study of the Hebrew.  With this sacred language he was particularly pleased, and soon demonstrated his attachment




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              45
and his diligence, by completing, with considerable
labor, an abridgment of Parkhurst's Hebrew Lexicon.  This work he accomplished in a small pocket
manual) which proved of considerable use to him,
and was almost his constant companion.":Here, too, he first became acquainted with the
principles of Moral Philosophy; and whilst from
the lectures of Doddridge, and the essays of Locke,
his mind derived vigor and energy; from the study
of the Latin poets, and the classic authors of our
own country, it gained amusement, and his compositions gradually assumed an air of elegance and
ease.
But not only in literature and science was his progress conspicuous during his residence in Harwich;
but he also made considerable advances in the
knowledge and experience of divine things.  That
in the midst of all his studies, which yet he pursued
with diligence and ardor, religion was the object of
his chief regard and dearest to his heart, is evident
from  the uniform  strain of his letters to his most
intimate and beloved friend Mr. Heward, whose
fellow laborer he had been at Mr. Thodey's, and the
privation of whose society he seemed deeply to deplore. His views of the Christian ministry became
* Of this manual he made two fair copies, one of which is in
possession of his tutor, and the other is amongst the papers from
which these Memoirs are supplied. The design is honorable to
his judgment, and the execution to his perseverance and his accuracy at that early age.




46                MEMOIR OF
more and more consistent, and the impression of
its vast importance more deep and solemn on his
mind. The intense desire with which he panted for
that sacred and honorable office became tempered,
though never checked, by an awe of its vast responsibility, and a consciousness of incapacity for the
full discharge of its numerous and laborious duties.
With Mr. Hordle he would sometimes indulge
in the most free and unreserved converse on the
state of his heart, and his private walk with God.
In such conversations he was always much affected,
and susceptible, from the constitution of his nature,
of the most delicate impressions and the keenest
feelings, it may be well supposed that in religion
he would deeply feel. Hence the tenderness of his
conscience, and the susceptibility of his mind would
often overwhelm his bosom with convictions of guilt,
and agitate him with unnumbered inward conflicts.
Yet in the midst of all he evidently grew in spiritual strength-his mind acquired confidence-his principles became daily more and more confirmed-and
he had advanced far in a deep and experimental acquaintance with the ways of God at an age when
such advancement is rarely to be found.
Whilst at Harwich he regularly shared with Mr.
H. the pleasing duty of conducting the devotions of
the family, and frequently performed the sacred service with an enlargement of heart, a fervor and propriety of expression truly astonishing. But this was




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.            47
a circumstance he particularly wished should be
concealed; his modesty and diffidence shrunk from
the observation of men, even of his nearest friends;
and in one of his letters to his friendl:~ he writes,
" My situation is comfortable, more so than ever;
I am considered like one of the family; of an evening I generally, by Mr. H.'s desire, engage in family
prayer, he in the morning.  0 tell it to no body on
any account. When he is out I always do."
To those who knew not the beloved original, the
outlines of whose character these pages but imperfectly present, the detail of minute particulars may
be uninteresting and insipid; but those who were
familiar with him will dwell with pleasure on the
faintest lineament that may be here -preserved of a
dear departed friend, so ardently, so deservedly, esteemed; whilst a combination of these varied and
retired beauties may form a portrait on which the
eye of a stranger may dwell with admiration, and
the mind reflect with profit. It is in confidence of
this that his biographer pauses to record another and
a pleasing trait in his character at this early agethe peculiar warmth and constancy of his friendship.
He seems, indeed, at this period to have had but one
bosom friend, except those of his own immediate
family; to him  his letters breathe an affection the
most glowing, spiritual and pure; and perhaps no
little incident more strikingly displays the tender
* Mr. Heward.




48                  MEMOIR OF
cast of his mind than that which he himself relates,
with great simplicity, in a letter to his friend:
"This morning we read (Mr. H. and myself) the second
night of Young's Night Thoughts-the very place that treats
of friendship; I was rather affected at the reading of it; and
after it was finished, and we were alone, I told him (Mr. H.)
I was no stranger to Young's sentiments in that place. He
asked me'If I had lost any friends T?' I told him no —not by
death. He asked me'if I had by treachery?' 0 no, sir.'How then?' Only by separation!"
Thus in'pleasant and familiar intercourse with
one for whom he mingled veneration with affection,
and of whom he never ceased to speak with all the
rapturous energy of gratitude and filial love-in exercises and pursuits every way adapted to satisfy his
ardent thirst of knowledge-in scenes and in society
congenial to the tone and bias of his mind-in conscientious preparation for closer studies and severer
labor, previous to his entrance on that sacred office
long the object of his choice-and in deep communion with himself and God-did he pass the allotted
period of his stay at Harwich.
As the term (a year) fixed for his residence with
Mr. Hordle drew towards its close, his anxiety considerably increased; he anticipated, with regret, a
departure from scenes and society so much endeared
to him; and the trial through which he was to pass
previous to his admission into the academy at Hoxton, when viewed in connection with his youth, ex



REV. THOMAS SPENCER            49
cited in his mind considerable apprehension and
dread. But the hope of success never entirely abandoned him; whilst the pleasing prospect of being
again associated with his friend, who had by this
time entered as a student in the same academy,
tended not a little to gladden and animate his heart.
In November he drew up a statement of his religious experience, his views of theological truth, and
his reasons for desiring the Christian ministry, according to a standing order of the academy with
respect to young men proposing themselves as candidates for its patronage.  These papers, written in
a style of dignified simplicity, and disclosing a knowledge and experience of divine things, which in a
youth, scarcely sixteen years of age, must have excited the admiration of all to whom. they were submitted-were duly presented to the committee, and
passed, though not without some difficulty, arising
from his age; but the extraordinary qualifications
he appeared to possess, and the strong recommendations of his friend and tutor, Mr. Hordle, overcame
this obstacle, and the fifth of January following was
appointed for his personal appearance before the
constituents of that institution, in order to give them
a specimen of his talents for public speaking.
Mr. Spencer left Mr. Hordle's family on the 18th
of December, and spent the interval of time between
his departure from Harwich and the day of his ex3




50               MEMOIR OF
amination at Hoxton (which was postponed to the
7th of January) at his father's house at Hertford.
Whose imagination does not follow this beloved
youth into the bosom of his family again; who does
not picture to himself the charming scenes of social
and domestic joy his presence would inspire! With
what tenderness and affection would his venerable
father bid him welcome to his paternal home again;
with what delight would he gaze upon the animated
features of his countenance, smiling in all the ingenuousness of youth; while with nobler feelings of
delight he marked the unfolding graces of his mind,
saw his improvement in the best of sciences-religion, and beheld him daily growing in favor both
with God and man. With what adoring gratitude
would they retrace together the scenes of his childhood, and the many alarming obstacles which once
almost forbade the indulgence of a hope that the
object of their ardent wish would ever be obtained;
and how, in the transport of those happy hours,
would his family anticipate for him they loved, in
the future stages of an honorable ministry, years of
usefulness and comfort. Ah! pleasing visions never
to be realized! Little did that interesting group
conceive that it was his appointed lot but just to
taste the joys and sorrows of a pastor's life, and then
expire. Already they had seen the bud swelling
with fullness-teeming with life; now they beheld
the blossom, and admired its beauty; and they




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          51
thought long to gaze upon the promised charms of
the unfolded flower; happy strangers of the melancholy and mysterious fact, that so soon as it had
opened it must be suddenly cut down and die! But
such and so frail is man-" In the morning they are
like grass that groweth up5, in the evening it is cut
down and withereth."-Psalm xc. 5, 6. Such and
so uncertain is human life —" It is even as a vapor,
that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away."-James iv. 14.




CHAPTER II.
Letters written from Home-His Return to Harwich-Resumes
his Studies-Interesting Correspondence-Papers submitted by
Spencer to the Committee of Hoxton Academy.
At this interesting period of Mr. Spencer's life,
it will be perhaps gratifying to the reader to pause,
and gain a more familiar acquaintance with him
than can be supplied by a narration of events and
circumstances in his history, by perusing some extracts from his correspondence and other papers,
which will throw much light upon the formation of
his character, and afford a pleasing specimen of his
early genius.
I have now before me a packet of letters addressed to his friend Mr. Heward, dated at various periods, from October, 1805, to December, 1806.Though at the commencement of this correspondence he had not attained his fifteenth year, these
letters breathe a spirit of the purest piety, and often express sentiments by which age would not be
dishonored, in a style remarkably correct and vigorous. But the reader shall participate with me in
the pleasure which the perusal of this interesting




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                53
correspondence-this simple and unaffected utterance of early piety and friendship, has afforded me.
HERTFORD, November 12, 1805.
" —-  I join with you in saying,'how wonderful are God's
ways.' We indeed little thought that Mr. H. was the person
under whom I should be instructed, when we were at Hoxton,
hearing him preach, or I, when I breakfasted with him; at the
same time. I cannot forbear adoring that favor which is shown
to me from God; ME who am utterly unworthy of the least of
all God's mercies. Goodness and mercy have hitherto followed
me, and, I doubt not, will through life. May that goodness
which was so gloriously displayed in the salvation of sinners,
and that mercy which has snatched so many brands from the
burning, be our consolation all through life-our joy in deathand the burden of our song to all eternity."
The following observations are worthy of a much
older pen, and display a judgment and discretion,
rather unusual in a lad, not yet fifteen years of age.
"You informed me in your last, that your desires for the
work of the ministry had not at all abated. I sincerely wish
that they may be fulfilled, and that you and I may be fellowlaborers in the Lord's vineyard. God certainly can do this for
us; let us pray that he may. You still appear dubious of your
own ability for that important work. I would have you consider, that God works by whom he will work. He has many
ministers in his church, real sent ministers, who have not those
great gifts that distinguish many of his servants; and not only
so, but these men have often been the means of doing more
good than those of great talents-and what is the reason of
this? Even so, Father,for so it seemed good in thy sight-is
all that we must say. And you, my worthy friend, should also
remember, that as yet, you cannot form any idea of your own




54                    MEMOIR OPF
abilities. As I have often told you, when I lived with you, I
doubt not your abilities, when improved by application to
study, &c. will be as fit for that employ, (if the will of God) as
any other. God, you know, in every thing acts as a sovereign:'I will work, and who shall let it,' is his language-will work
by the feeblest means, and the weakest instruments. I hope
you will still be kept low in your own eyes, for, that, I am sure,
is one quality, or rather property, of a gospel minister. At
our best estate we are altogether vanity, and less than nothing.
May the Lord keep us all truly humble. Luther used to say,
there were three things made a minister-affliction, meditation,
and prayer; that is, sanctified affliction, scriptural meditation,
and earnest prayer; in which last particular I hope you are
perpetually engaged. Pray, my dear friend, for direction of
God-pray for grace, which is of more value, by far, than great
gifts, and say in the language of resignation, hope, and faithHere am I, Lord, send me to labor in thy vineyard.' You have
appealed to me in saying,'You well know I shall never rely on
my own strength for success and usefulness'-I know you will
not. (at least whilst in your present mind) and I pray that God
would keep you still so determined. Let us then pray, that we
may both of us be able, useful, and humble ministers of the
New Testament.
"  I am glad to find, that you generally hear three
times a day. Young men who wish to be ministers, cannot
hear too much of the gospel, provided they are anxious to improve on what they do hear-."
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER TO THE SAME.
HERTFORD, November 18, 1805.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND: —I expected to have heard from you
before now, but as I have not, it becomes me to bear the disappointment with fortitude and resolution, hoping that it will not
be long before I have a few lines from you. On Saturday last, I
heard that that good and worthy man, Mr. Winwood, was dead.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 55
It will, I doubt not, be a great stroke to the family; but I am
well assured, that to him death was eternal gain. Truly, the
righteous hath hope in his death. May you and I both be
found at the last day on the right hand of the Judge with our
respected master! While he is tuning his harp to the praises
of a precious Jesus, we have to combat with many enemies;
we have many trials to pass under
Before we reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets!
We shall, I am persuaded, feel our own depravity in many instances here below, ere we join with him in everlasting songs
above; but if we are enlisted under the banners-the bloodstained banners of the cross, we shall certainly arrive there.
Let us then seek, earnestly seek, after the one thing needful;
and whilst earthly objects vanish and decay in our estimation;
nay, whilst the world dies daily in our view, and its perishing
things appear in their proper light-may we feel our hearts
panting after the wells of salvation-our souls, with all their
faculties, engaged in the noblest of all undertakings-our feet
running in the good ways of God-our tongues making mention of his righteousness, and of his only-in short, may we be
crucified to the world-risen with Christ-and transformed
into his divine image and likeness. This, I trust, I can say is
my desire, and I know it is the earnest wish of my dear friend.
"I am sensible that your attachment to me is as unshaken
as ever. I hope you pray that both of us may be made ministers of the gospel; and in some future day, have our wishes
respecting that completely fulfilled. I am very desirous that
you may be shortly placed in a situation in which you will
have more leisure for reading, writing, studying, &c. 0 that
you were going with me to Harwich. Still continue to pray
for one who feels his own unworthiness for the service of his
God, and yet wishes to be an instrument of doing great good
to souls: and if I should not be very successful in my minis



56                    MEMOIR OF
try, methinks it would be reward enough to have labored for
Cod, and not to have been employed in the drudgery of Satan."'
The next letter, to the same correspondent, contains a specimen of his talent for the composition
of sermons at that age.  It affords a pleasing proof
of his early skill in the practice of an art, in which
he eventually so much excelled.
ITERTFORD, December 3. 1805.
": ---- I have sent you my thoughts upon (or rather my
way of discussing) that text MAr. Knight preached from. I
hope your candor will excuse imperfections. I never read any
thing upon it, and it is the production of a boy.
MATTIIEW V: 20.-' For I say unto you, that except your
righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in nzo case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
GENERAL HEADS.
Jst.-ExPLAIN THE NATURE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE
SCRIBES AND PHIARISEES.
2d.-SHow IN WHAT RESPECTS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED
THEIRS.
3d.-NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSESSING A RIGHTEOUSNESS NO BETTER THAN THEIRS.
1st IIEAD.-EXPLAIN THE NATURE, &C.
It was self-righteousness.-Luke xviii: 9.
lst.- This rig-hteousness is founded in ignorance.
Of God's nature,
Of the spirituality of his law,
Of the deceitfulness of the heart,
And of the true method of salvation.
2d HEAD. —SHOW IN W5HAT RESPECTS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOULD
EXCEED THEIRS.
The righteousness here termed'yours' is the righteousness
of Christ, which becomes ours by imputation, in the same man



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                  57
ner as our sins became Christ's.  This righteousness thus becoming ours, exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and
Pharisees,     -*
lst.-In its origin. It is divine-the other human, or Satanic;
as we doubt not, Satan first infused self-righteous thoughts
into the minds of men, &c.
2d. —Its nature and particular properties.
This righteousness
Delivers us from bondage,
Saves us from sin,
Gives us holiness of life,
Makes us victorious in death,
Joyful in judgment, and
Happy through all eternity.
The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees cannot do
this.
But our Lord might also allude to that righteousness which
is implanted in us, as well as that which is imputed to us, and
that far exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees
in its effects, which are real good works, which
Spring from a good motive,
Are directed to a good purpose.
And have a good end.
These works are not meritorious, but serve for the justification of our faith, not of our persons, and they far exceed the
legal performances of the self-righteous.
3d HEAD.-NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF POSSESSING A RIGHTEOUSNESS NO BETTER THAN THEIRS.
Ye shall in no case enter into, ~4c.
lst. —Here we must necessarily dwell a little upon the nature
of the kingdom of heaven.-Consider
1. The person of the King.
2. The happiness of the subjects.
3. The eternal duration of his reign, &c.
2d.-How dreadful a thing to be shut out of this kingdom.
0.*




58                     MEMOIR OF
3d.-How peculiarly striking is the language of the Saviourye shall in no case, 4 c.
Notwithstanding all your professions, lang prayers, alms
givings, &c.,' Ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven.'
From this subject we draw a few inferences.
1.-We may learn from hence, the evil nature of sin. If all
self-riglhteousness be so bad, what mustunrighteousness be?
2.-We here see the only true method of salvation-the righteousness of Christ.
3d.-How necessary is daily, serious self-examination, in order
to ascertain to which class we belong.
4. —We likewise infer the necessity of prayer, for instruction
and grace.
5.-How dreadful is the case of the self-righteous character.
6.-The believer may hence draw some comfort.  He is interested in Jesus Christ, and shall outride all the storms
and troubles of life, sing the dear name of Jesus in the
hour of death, and stand unmoved amidst the jarring elements,'the wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds.'
"May the God of hope bless us both-fill us with all joy and
peace in believing-enlarge our spiritual coast-give us to see
more and more of the sinfulness of our nature-the depravity
of our hearts-the imperfection of our graces-the smallness
of our knowledge-the sufficiency of Jesus-the stability of
our hope-the fullness of Christ. May he give us to see that
our names are written in heaven-may he brighten up our evidences for glory-establish our faith-enlarge our desiresand give us hungerings and thirstings after righteousness.
May we enjoy the blessings of salvation-the sweetness of
communion with God-the peace bought and purchased for us
by Christ Jesus-and that joy in the Holy Ghost, produced by
his influences —and may we learn more and more of the heights,
lengths, depths, and breadths of the love which passeth knowledge. May we dwell together in that happy land, where none




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 59
but the righteous can enter, and where our worship shall be
undisturbed.':And now, my dear brother, I commend you to the hands
of that God who doth all things well, and who taketh care of
those who put their trust in him; and hoping soon to hear
from you, I subscribe myself,
"Your truly affectionate friend,
THOMAS SPENCER.)
HERTFORD, December 31, 1805.
" MY DEAR FRIEND. —I think myself very happy in having
such a friend as you prove yourself to be.  I know affection
towards me is too deeply rooted in you ever to be erased by
separation. Life's greatest blessing is a well chosen friend,
and I do feel it so.  You cannot imagine (only by your own
feelings) what pleasure I take in recollecting past scenes, and
recalling to the mind occurrences relating only to us, which
never shall be forgotten. I hope we have the same'friend
that sticketh closer than a brother.' I am affected, peculiarly affected, when I read the solemn confessions you make of depravity, &c. You know Paul acknowledged himself the chief of sinners. When, therefore, you are bowed down under a sense of
sin, look unto Jesus, there only salvation is to be found for
those who, like you, are sensible of sin.  But I verily believe
my friend has already been washed in the fountain of his blood.
Yes, I doubt not but you have passed from death unto life, and
are called according to God's eternal purpose; therefore, instead of writing bitter against yourself, rejoice in Christ Jesus
whilst you have no confidence in the flesh. Ah! my friend, you
know not fully how I have lifted up my puny arm in rebellion
against God; so that I cannot think myself a whit behind the
chief of sinners. Young as I am, I am a great sinner; but
blessed be God who has, I hope, given us both a good hope
through grace: to him be all the glory.
"I shall, I expect, be in town a day sooner than was in



60                    MEMOIR OF
tended, viz: Wednesday, the 8th; my father will not come till
the next day.  Mr. F, in his letter, mentions a desire
that I would give them a lecture (in the old way) at his house
in the evening. I am very willing to do it, and I hope we shall
have your company.
His next letter is from Harwich, and contains a
pleasing disclosure of the state of his mind on the
accomplishment, so far, of his ardent wishes.
HARWICH, February 6, 1806.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND-i1 with pleasure embrace the opportunity which now offers itself, of writing you a few lines for
the first time since I have been here. While I hope you enjoy
your health, I can say I never was better in my life than I
have been since I have been at Harwich. The air is very cold
and healthy: I am sure I have felt the difference. In the town
there are many inhabitants and a Methodist place besides Mr.
Hordle's: by Methodists, I mean Wesley's people. Mr. Hordle preaches three times on a Sabbath day, and is very well attended, and on Wednesday evenings; prayer meeting on Monday night. I doubt not but you will join with me in returning
thanks to the all-wise disposer of events for placing me in that
comfortable situation which I now fill. I live with Mr. H. entirely; his study is where I pursue my learning, and in an
afternoon I meet his boys (there are only nine) at his vestry to
say a lesson or two with them. I learn Latin, Geography, and
have got a considerable way in Doddridge's Lectures on Pneumatology, in which I meet now and then a philosophical subject; indeed, my dear friend, I really am very comfortable.
0! that my improvement may keep pace with the advantages
I enjoy.
" But, my dearest friend, what a separation between us. I
often think of you when in this study pursuing my learning;
think! did I say?  I cannot help thinking of you, and I will




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 61
cherish every tender thought of a friend I so much love. Ofttimes I think of an evening, when we ark surrounding the
family altar, you are engaged in the busy concerns of lifewhilst I am enjoying the advantages of a kind teacher, a good
library, and various other blessings, you are behind the counter of a glove shop.  You do not despair.  I hope we shall
some future day enjoy one another's company, and these advantages connected with it. When I walk out, as I in general
do every day for exercise, I imagine you to be here-I converse with you —I see you-and fancy many other enjoyments,
which perhaps will not come so soon. When I last saw you I
was exceedingly vexed that we could not have half an hour
together in private; but, however, I know you regard me still
-and am sure I love you much; and it is some pleasure to
think that we can yet pray for one another. 0 do not forget
me, unworthy as I am, in your approaches to the throne of
grace.  Pray that I may not abuse my privileges; but that
whilst I am here it may be manifest that I am possessed of a
principle of divine grace in my heart. But I hope I need not
mention this to you, for you do, I trust, still remember me in
your best moments. I have not forgotten the pleasure I experienced the last time I saw you in London, nor the affectionate manner in which you conversed with me from Mr. F.'s to
my cousin's the last evening.
" I had a very tedious journey here, as I could not sleep all
night in the coach. But I think I am well repaid. I did not
imagine that I should be treated with such care; I have a nice
little bed to myself; and, in short, am surrounded with blessings. I take some pleasure in contrasting my present situation
with what it was when at Mr. Thodey's; but after I have considered the peculiar advantages of this to that, I find that there
was one pleasure I enjoyed there, which I do not here-that
of your company and conversation; and thus is life made up of
hopes and fears, pleasures and pains. May we be among those
who are strangers and sojourners here, who seek a better
country.




62                    MEMOIR OF
" The evening I generally employ in promiscuous reading, as
the time is then as it were my own. As I come home from
the vestry about an hour before the other boys, from that time
till tea I am engaged in secret meditation, reading God's word,
and prayer to him. Ah! Thomas, you are then more on my
mind than during the other parts of the day, for I cannot but
remember how often you have pressed on me the duty of private prayer; and indeed, my friend, you are then most remembered by me in the best sense. I do continue to pray for you;
and I hope God will hear our petitions for one another, and
send us answers of peace. I beg of you, I entreat you to
be earnest in supplication for me, that if God has appointed
me for the work of the ministry, I may be fitted for it, and
have a divine blessing attending me in all I undertake.
" Mr. H. bids me write now and then the heads of a sermon
of my own, and show it him. I have yet only done one: it
met his approbation.
" Be so kind as to remember me to Mr. F., &c., &c. I suppose you like your business as little as ever; but I hope you
will soon be put in a situation where you will yourself enjoy
more-I mean in the best enjoyments. I still hope that we,
formed for each other's comfort, shall yet be made blessings to
each other, and that in a particular way.  Then let the conceited, covetous worldling say,'Friendship is but a name'we know it is something more-it is a great blessing; and
where the friends have grace in their hearts, it is so eminently
and especially.  David and Jonathan found it so.  I often
think of your noticing particularly that expression, their souls
were knit together. Dr. Young thought so when he said,'poor
is the friendless master of a world.' I am thankful that I have
had such a friend cast in my way that will be, I trust, a blessing to me all through life, and that will dwell with me ina better
world. May the hope of that happiness stimulate us to more
resignation to the divine will, and holy disdain of the vanities
of time and sense.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                63
"And now, my dear friend, my letter draws to a close; I can
scarcely forbear tears while I write it. I hope you will overlook its very visible imperfections, and remember that it comes
from one that loves you. Need I again beseech you to pray
for me, that I may find mercy of the Lord, be blessed with
every blessing here below, and crowned with glory hereafter.
" Write to me what religious intelligence you know I am
ignorant of: I see the Magazine here, and other periodical
works. And now I desire to commit myself, ny dear friend,
and all our concerns, into the hands of a covenant God; and
wishing you every blessing, I rest your ever faithful and affectionate friend,                     THOMAS SPENCER.)
IN ANOTHER LETTER TO THE SAME, HE WRITES:
HARWICH, April 4, 1806.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND-I received, with the greatest pleasure, your letter of the 29th of February, together with my
father's; and, as I was sorry you did not write to me before,
so was I equally grieved at the cause; I sympathize with you in
your afflictions, and hope that you are now quite recovered andthe rest of the family. I believe you when you say it affords
you so much pleasure to hear of my welfare. 0! Thomas,
pray for me that my very comforts do not become snares. I
should like to have had more of the heads, texts, &c., of the
sermons you have heard in London; and hope that you find
the ministry of Mr. K-, and those you hear at Hoxton,
beneficial to your soul; for it is my earnest desire that, under
the influences of the sacred Spirit, your soul may be like a
well-watered garden. I (of course) hear Mr. H. three times
on the Sabbath day, and I think I can say it has been to my
profit: his sermons are indeed very judicious, experimental
and practical, and I find it to be just the preaching I want. I
keep a book, in which I put down the heads of most of his sermons, which, when it is full, I intend (if you would like) that
you shall see. I suppose of an evening we have not less than




64                   MEMOIR OF
four hundred and fifty people; in the day time not quite so
many. There is a band of singers in the table pew, generally
a bass viol is played, and Mr. H. preaches in a gown, and I
think the people are more attentive than any I ever saw. Once
in a fortnight Mr. H. preaches at the work-house; I have been
twice, and I like it very much. In the week day I go to the
Methodist chapel, and sometimes hear a good sermon there. I
find by the Magazine that Mr. S5- is at Spa-fields chapel.
I have spoken often about him to you, and have mentioned
him in my letters, (though by the bye I spelt his name wrong.)
He is a Cheshunt student-has preached very frequently at
Hertford chapel. I would advise you, if convenient, to go and
hear him, for he is a very bold and very faithful preacher. If
you do, give me a little account of the sermon, &c. If I were
you, I would try to hear Mr. B ——'s missionary sermon.
" I am very glad that you informed me of Mr. F.'s and Mr.
W.'s conversation. I liked it all very well, except that about
my preaching, and, indeed, I had much rather that Mr. F. had
not mentioned that for various reasons. If you have heard
any more, pray tell it me.-'He must not be put too forward.'
" But you have raised my curiosity very much about the certain minister, who has, unsolicitedly, offered you his recommendation for Hoxton. But why this reservedness? I shall
expect a friendly, satisfactory reason for your not telling me
his name, &c. Do you think that I would abuse your confidence? I hope not-I think I should know better. As the
month has expired, you must tell me in your next more about
it, as whether you have seen this certain minister? what he
said to you? &c., &c. I hope I have obeyed your request, and
prayed for you; may God grant us both more of a praying
spirit. and may he answer our petitions, one for another. I
thank you for Mr. E.'s address. I have not yet written to him
-must-though, Thomas, I think now I should be completely
unhappy were I again to have anything to do with business,
and I feel for you, as you say your time is wholly taken up in




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 65
it every day, from six in the morning to eleven at night. I hope
that while your aversion to the cares of the world increases, your
spiritual affections are more animated, and your whole soul,
from day to day, transformed more into the likeness of our
lovely Jesus.'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.'-You seem peculiarly pleased with this passage, observe therefore,
1st.-That it is the righteous God regards; those who are redeemed by the Son's blood; loved by the Father's grace;
sanctified by the Spirit's influence. Those who are weaned
from the vanities of earth and time-whose affections are set
on things above-in a word, who are born of God, and bound
for heaven.
2d.-That they must pray. Prayer is the breath of the new
born soul, a believer cannot live without it, for
Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw;
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
And brings down blessings from above.
3d. —They must pray fervently.' Cold prayers,' saith one,' do
but beg a denial.' In vain we offer up lifeless devotion to a
heart-searching and rein-trying God.
4th.-These prayers are effectual, and avail much; they
avail much in the sanctifying of our souls, and forming Christ
there.
" Pardon this digression, as these thoughts have just sprung
from my own mind.
"I hope you continue to enjoy your Sabbaths more than
ever. IHow delightful it is'to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of our life? to behold the beauty of the Lord, and
inquire in his temple.'-That was Mr. H.'s text last Sabbath
day morning and afternoon. In the morning he applied it to
the church here below; showed what was meant by beholding




66                    MEMOIR OF
the beauty of the Lord, and inquiring in his temple, and how
desirable it was, &c. In the afternoon he applied all (with the
greatest propriety) to heaven. Two very excellent sermons.
"I cannot yet give up the thought that we shall soon live
together again; if we are to be so favored, how thankful should
I be; if not, we must learn to know no will but God's, and
acknowledge that the Judge of all the earth will do right. As
yet let us not despair, but commit all our concerns into the
hands of our covenant God and heavenly Father. We know
he will do all things well. My situation is as comfortable, or
more so, than ever, and I am considered like one of the family.
We have a nice house, and here are only Mr. HI., Mrs. H.,
the little child about eight months old —a sweet babe he isthe servant and myself. I read Virgil in Latin now, and what
I do learn of anything serves to showy me more of my ignorance. May the Lord keep me humble. I have theological
questions to study, such as:' Wherein appears the possibility of a divine revelation?'Why it is desirable?' &c.
"I may consult books upon the subject, and here is a very
good library. You will not forget your promise to write in
your next about grace thriving in your heart. As for me, it
is with tardy steps I creep, sometimes joying, and sometimes
sorrowing. And yet without boasting, I think I can say I
have known more of heart religion since I have been here than
before; but it is very little altogether. I have experienced
many happy moments in secret, such times as remind me of
our last Sabbath afternoon together. But 0! what a deal of
pride, rebellion, carelessness, and all kinds of wickedness, is
there in my heart; I tremble to think of what I deserve for
my former levity, &c. But 0, pray for me, that I may find
grace in the eyes of the Lord, and live to some purpose in the
world. I am afraid that there are yet improper motives in my
desiring the work of the ministry. Since I have been here I
have seen some little of its nature, &c. I am sensible that no




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 67
learning, or human qualifications, are enough to fit me for that
all-important work; and I hope that God will pour down
showers of grace on me, instead of what I deserve,  vials of
wrath.' When you give me a little account of your'growth
in grace,' and how the lamp of religion keeps alive, I hope you
will retrace some of the paths in which the Lord your God
has led you, and tell me something of your former experience,
present enjoyments, and future hope. If you wish to go on
from one degree of grace unto another, which I do not doubt,
commune much with your own heart, read the Bible as much
as possible, and above all things pray fervently. I am perfectly well in health, as I hope you are. My father told me in his
letter that Mr. M- is still at —, and that the chapel was
still continued. I should like to have all the numbers of the
Youth's Magazine, (but September and October last, those I
have,) if I could have them sent conveniently; and it is not
worth while to send by the coach, for you know the carriage
will be more than the books are worth. Wishing you every
spiritual blessing, I remain your affectionate and faithful friend,' THOMAS SPENCER."
HARWIcH, June 14, 1806.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND: —I received your parcel the morning
after you sent it, and read your letter with the greatest pleasure. You judge rightly when you say, you suppose that I
was anxiously waiting to hear from you. The providential
dealings of God with you have (I hope) filled me with wonder
and praise. Surely both of us have great reason to say,' Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is within me bless his
holy name.' Let us not forget any of his benefits, but for these
displays of his goodness, dedicate our bodies and souls to his
glory, which is only our reasonable service. Let us both rejoice, that God has put this his treasure in earthen vessels, that
the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of man.
Little did you expect a few years ago, that you should be




68                      MEMOIR OF
providentially called into the work of the ministry; but now
you can rejoice, that unto you, who, in your own view, are less
than the least of all the saints, is this grace given, that you
might preach among poor sinners the unsearchable riches of
Christ. Observe now the dealings of Providence in this circumstance. You are in a waiting frame, and when so God appears to grant you the desire of your heart. He has now
made your path clear before you, and as to its being the call of
God, I have not the least doubt; but, however, I hope you will
recollect, that though your way has been thus shown to you, it
may not always be so; difficulties, great and many, may await
us both in our journey through life; but God has said, when
thou passest through the waters, 1 will be with thee, and will
prevent the floods from overflowing thee. Having such promises as these, my dear friend, let us press forward, and with
holy resignation say,' Where he appoints I'll go and dwell.''Tis true, we know not what a day may bring forth; but this
we know, that God will never forsake those who put their
trust in him, but will be their sun to illuminate them, their
shield to defend them, and their God eternally to bless them.
I do not at all wonder at your being perplexed in your mind
about mentioning matters to.. Had I been in your
state, I should have dreaded it; but you did well in making it
a matter of prayer before God, and God was very gracious in
ordering it as he has done. You know that prayer to God is
the best way of making things sure, so you, I trust, have
found it. I should like to know the other circumstances at
which you hint, but I dare say they are too tedious to mention; perhaps we may see each other soon, when conversation
will settle it. I am much pleased, nay delighted, with the conversation you had with Mr. W. He is, I doubt not, a warm
friend to the cause of Christ, and does all he possibly can to
forward it in the world. I am like him in regard to zealous and
earnest preachers, and like to see animation and life in a pulpit,
and where the preacher's mind is fettered with notes there can
be none."




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                69
HARWICH, Oct. 14, 1806.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND:-As it is now considerably more
than a month since you wrote me a note from Hoxton academy,
and I answered it, I conclude that a letter from me will be
what you now desire; and yet I am not quite certain whether
you should not have written first; but by way of compensation for my too long silence before, I am willing to converse
with you on paper. And as Mr. Hordle is gone to Ipswich today, to an association of ministers, and I have nothing particular to be engaged in besides, I embrace the opportunity. You
are now, I suppose, a little inured to study, and begin to find
the difficulties of a student's life not so many as you apprehended they were. I long to know in what studies you are
engaged, and how you like them. I have just begun the Greek
language; so of course do not know much about it, my time
having been of late principally employed in the Hebrew, of
which I am very fond, especially as I now read it' unsophisticated by Rabbinical points.' I please myself with the idea of
seeing and conversing with you in the course of about ten
weeks; but at that time there will be something else which I
shall not so much admire. Do you ask me what it is? It is,
my dear friend, nothing less than appearing before the committee of Hoxton academy. The thought of it makes me almost
tremble. Yesterday morning Mr. Hordle told me that I must
prepare the account of my experience, sentiments and motives
for wishing the ministery, by November, to be then laid
before the gentlemen of the committee. This you know must
be done; and when I go to London about Christmas, I must
go through all that painful task, which, as it respects you, is
all over. He told me, too, that he supposed there would be
some demur about admitting me merely on the account of my
youth; but he does not know that it will be so as to hinder
my admittance. Mr. Wilson has, it appears, written to Mr.
H. about it; so, if the affair succeeds well, I shall be in the
academy after Christmas with you. That one circumstance,




70                    MEMOIR OF
your company and friendship, will make amends for all my
trouble of mind on the occasion. You may be sure I shall
communicate every circumstance to you, and keep nothing back,
that so by one occurrence and another, our mutual attachment
and sincere friendship may be increased and strengthened. What
a long separation we have experienced: may we be brought
together again to strengthen each other's hands, and be both
engaged in the best employment. You must inform me in
your next, how long you think it will be before you begin to
preach, and tell me all your places of preaching, texts, plans,
&c. I hope you have written to my father, as I requested you
would. I believe they are going on as usual at Hertford. Mr.
M. continues among them. May great grace rest upon them
all. I do not doubt that I shall feel some degree of uneasiness
when the time comes for my separation from my friends here
at Harwich. I mean such as Mr. Hordle, &c, &c. But my satisfaction will be, that I shall see you who are still, and I hope
ever will be, my dearest friend. We live in a world of changes.
Life is indeed a checkered scene. And here we have no continuing city. May we seek one to come. May it be our happiness to enjoy the favor of Him who never changes, but is the
same yesterday, to-day, and forever. When I consider my exceeding sinfulness and depravity, besides my inability, I feel
almost disposed to wish my views had never been directed towards the ministry, but it does appear a call of Providence.
How could I do any thing else than come here. And now, perhaps, a door may be opened even for my being a student at
Hoxton; but I shall go there under several disadvantages; for,
being so young, I may expect a good deal of contempt from
some self-sufficient and arrogant students, (if such there are)
and you know they stay no longer than four years, and after
that I shall be but twenty years old, and what can I then say
to old experienced Christians! I do indeed feel a deal of discouragement.'0 may the Lord encourage me,' &c. But I
shall come under some advantages; for, as I am not altogether




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                        71
ignorant of many things taught at Hoxton academy, I shall
find my studies easier than if I had to begin learning them,
&c.  I wish we could be in one class.  Another disadvantage
which Mr. Hordle has told me of is this —The students generally spend their money which they are paid for preaching, in
books,* &c. Now, I shall be too young to preach for at least
these four years, consequently I can have no books, &c. till that
time. This appears a very great disadvantage. However, I
would wish to leave all in the hands of God.  He knows what
is best for me. And if I am one of those who love God, and
are the called according to his purpose, he will make all things
work together for my good. I want that calm disposition
which is careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and
supplication, makes known its requests unto God. I often reflect on the dealings of Providence with us when I first came
to Mr. T.'s. You, I suppose, had not the least prospect of
being a student at Hoxton. And I could not see how my
coming there to learn that business, could at all further my
preparation for that sacred work.  We there became friends.
I was there just long enough to secure a worthy and affec* It may perhaps be considered as departing from the design of this
volume, or descending too much to minute particulars —-yet I cannot satisfy
myself without directing the eyes of those gentlemen who may have the
care of providing supplies for the pulpit in destitute churches, or in cases of
the pastor's absence, to this important circumstance. But few of the students
in our academies are overburthened with money —-yet money is absolutely
necessary for the purchase of books, without which their studies must be
considerably retarded. Deacons, and others whom it may concern, should bear
his in mind, in the compliments which they may make them for their occasional services; and remember, that there is no case in which they can with
greater delicacy or propriety, display a generous regard to their wants in
this respect, than when thus remunerating them for their acceptable labors.
It is needless to express a disapprobation, which every candid mind must
feel, of a conduct directly the reverse of this, which is perhaps too often
practised when the consideration is diminished for the very reason on account of which itought to be increased —-it is but astudent.




72                   MEMOIR OF
tionate friend, and to have the notice of Mr. Wilson. Now
you, too, have left Mr. T. and are in the academy. I went, you
know, home, not knowing what the event would be. Providence has sent me here; and O0'what am I, or my father's
house, that he has brought me hitherto.' XWe are now blind to
futurity. We know not where we shall be placed in future
life, whether far from, or near to each other. I hope you are
happy in your own soul, and that you live near to God. There
is a great danger of forgetting the concerns of our own souls,
whilst we are constantly employed in studying divine things.
I know a little of this from experience, and perhaps you do.
I hope you continue to pray for me; that I may be kept from
sin and evil, for you know'the effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.' Does your brother David make
progress in the divine life? You must, in your next letter,
give me some account of the change which I hope is wrought
in him, for I feel an affectionate regard for all who belong to
you. I ought to write to Mr. E. Is he well? When
you see him, remember me to him, and also to your cousin
T.  Tell him to write to me, if it will suit him. You
may, likewise, if you please, tell him how my affairs stand, as
I have stated to you. It will be needless for me to give you
any advice respecting the composition of your sermons, or the
prosecution of your studies, as you, without doubt have access
to so many books on the subject. I hope you will read'Watts'
Improvement of the Mind.' I think it must be charming to
attend Walker's lectures on philosophy. Do you attend them?
I should like it very much. Mr. H. told me, that he did give lectures at the academy: of course you are there when he does.
You know now when to expect me in London, a little before
Christmas, cannot say the exact day; so that now, if you like,
you may count the time. Do not be long before you let me
hear from you; and when you write, write a good deal. I remain, with the tenderest affection, your sincere and faithful
friend,                            THOMAs SPENCER."




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           73
Such, at this early age, were the letters of this
amiable youth. For the introduction of so large a
number it is unnecessary to apologize, since that
heart is surely in an unenviable state which can
derive no pleasure or profit from their perusal.
Their simplicity is not their smallest ornament;
whilst for the many useful hints which they suggest, as well as for the fervent and exalted piety
which breathes throughout the whole, they may be
consulted with considerable advantage by youthful
candidates for the sacred office. Let such as early
feel the desires he felt, and pant with an equal ardor for the work of God, imitate his modest diffidence-his devotional temper —his jealousy of the
motives which influenced his choice-his intimate
communion with his own heart-his love of retirement-his habitual reference of his affairs to the
will of God-his addictedness to self-examination
and to prayer-and above all, that deep and solemn
consciousness of the important work in which he
desired, with fear and trembling, to be engaged!
4




CHAPTER III.
Spencer's call and. qualifications for the Ministry in his fifteenth
year —Enters at Hoxton —Diligence in Study-Vacation-Return to Hertford-First Sermon in Public-Continues to preach
to the country people during his stay at Hertford,
IN resuming the thread  of the narrative, which
the introduction of these extracts from his correspondence has suspended, it cannot but be gratifying
to the reader, to be presented with that deep impression of Mr. Spencer's call and qualifications for
the Christian ministry which his familiar intercourse
with him had produced on Mr. Hordle's mind.
In a recent lettef to a friend, that gentleman observes:
"I have had but one opinion concerning our late young
friend, which is-that he was born a preacher, and as much
called to it, as Jeremiah to the prophetic, or Paul to the apostolic office. All the powers of his soul were evidently formed
for it. While he was under my roof, preachers and preaching
were the constant topics of his discourse; and those studies
which had an immediate reference to them were his delight.
His remarkable gift in prayer, though then just turned of
fifteen, astonished and pleased all that heard him. He usually
took his turn in leading the devotions of our little family; and




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                  75
in his attendance on my ministry, I have sometimes seen the
feelings of his heart in the tears that gushed from his eyes."
In perfect accordance with these sentiments are
those expressed by the same gentleman, in a letter
to a friend at Liverpool, dated Harwich, 13th Dec.
1811: —
"Of his genuine piety, his fine imagination, his early attachment to theological pursuits, his love of study in general, his
amiable disposition, and the powerful bias of his mind to the
work of the Christian ministry, I have repeatedly declared my
firm conviction; and had Divine Providence spared his valuable life, I have no doubt, as his judgment ripened, his character, excellent as it was, would still have improved."
Whilst such were the impressions, so truly honorable to his character, left upon his tutor's heart,
by the sweetness of his temper, and the vigor of his
mind —it is pleasing also to observe the grateful
and lively remembrance which the pupil cherishes
of the kindness of his early friend.
In a letter, addressed to the Rev. Mr. Hordle,
from Hertford, he observes: —
" The day of my examination is now fixed for the 7th of
January. To that day, dear Sir, I look forward with trembling:
may God grant me all that strength and boldness I shall then
need. It is impossible for me to describe my feelings the night
I left you. I tried to suppress my outward expressions of them
as well as I could. But 0!'tis trying to part with friends who
are become very dear to us; but is it not, also, comforting to
look forward to a never ending eternity, when those who are
cemented into one glorious body by the bonds of divine love
shall never part?"  Afterwards he adds:-" For my part, I




76                   MEMOIR OF
desire to be entirely his, (God's) but still I find a heart of unbelielf, ever prone to depart from the living God. I hope I feel
my own unfitness for the important undertaking, for which it
appears God designs me. May he keep me holy and humble,
and fit me for all he has in reserve for me in the womb of
Providence, whether prosperous or adverse."
In a subsequent letter, dated Hoxton, 25th March,
1807, he says:
" I am told S —, of Kensington, is going to Harwich: hope
you will find him a blessing to your family, and when he shall
leave you, may he review with as much pleasure the year 1807,
as I do the year 1806. I trust I shall be constantly enabled to
obey the kind advice which you gave me, and to lay every human attainment at the foot of the cross of Jesus; to dedicate
all I have to him, of whom I would always esteem it my highest honor to learn; to give up every thing that I may be called
to sacrifice for the promoting of his glory, and constantly to
seek not my own things, but the things which are Jesus
Christ's."
In another, towards the close of the year 1807, he
writes: —
" I shall never forget the year I spent at Harwich; viewing
one circumstance with another, I doubt not, but that it was as
happy a twelve month as I shall ever live."
With such mutual feelings and expressions of
affectionate regard, was Mr. Spencer's departure
from Mr. Hordle's family attended. And this review of them will not be in vain, if it suggests to
the young persons who may contemplate this imperfect portrait of one, whom living they so much admired, the vast importance of that impression, which




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              77
the conduct of their childhood or their youth may
leave in the scenes of their earliest association.
For the most part, the character of the youth is the
character of the man.  If, on the circle of his earliest
intercourse, an unfavorable impression of his disposition or his conduct is produced, there it is likely
to remain; but, alas! there it cannot be confined;
it not unfrequently travels further than the person
with whom it is connected, and the character is familiar where the countenance is unknown.  Who
that has a respect, then, for himself, but must be
anxious that the impression, upon which so much
depends, should be a happy one; and that the correcter habits of maturer age should not be counteracted in their favorable operation by the injurious
fame, or unpleasant recollections of his early years..
But we must follow the amiable object of our
contemplation to. a new scene.
The following are copious extracts from the papers which he submitted to the inspection of the
committee at Hoxton, on his formal application for
admission into that institution; they were accompanied by a note to T. Wilson, Esq.'' HARWICH, Nov. 10, 1806.
HONORED SIR: —With diffidence I present the following account of my short experience, doctrinal sentiments, and motives for wishing to engage in the solemn and important work
of the ministry, to your judgment and that of the committee.
I am with the sincerest gratitude for your favors, your humble
servant,                         THOMAS SPENCER. "




78                    MEMOIR OF
"' HARWICH, 1Vo. 10, 1806.
" It was my happiness to be born of parents, who maintained
a regard for real piety and the fear of God; by them  I was,
from my infancy, taught to read the Scriptures, together with
other books of a serious nature. I think I may safely say,
that from my childhood I felt some more than common impressions on my mind, with respect to the existence and perfections
of God, the evil and awful consequences of sin, and the advantages of being religious; but alas! these impressions, though
so frequently felt, had not that abiding- influence which they
bave had on the minds of others, but were like the'morning
cloud and the early dew which passeth away.' As I grew
rather older, I began to perceive some excellencies in religion,
and to envy the happiness, which I believed serious people enjoyed. I knew something of the form of religion and the doctrines of it, from having been taught catechisms, and lessons
calculated to give youthful minds some ideas of the worship
and conduct which God requires. Yet notwithstanding this,
I gave too much (far too much) attention to the reading of
novels and romances, the unhappy effect of which I lament to
the present day. Many of these books I procured of lads,
without the knowledge of my father. I felt a degree of pleasure in hearing lively, animated sermons; but I have reason to
believe that this sprung from a desire to please my friends, and
give myself an opportunity of imitating the preacher's voice
and gesture. I also composed little pieces of poetry on sacred
subjects, which I have since destroyed, because I then knew
nothing of experimental, vital godliness, and of course was
only mocking God in them; but I did not give up making
verses. All this while, I was totally ignorant of that divine
principle of grace in the heart, without which, I am sensible,
nothing we can do is acceptable to God. I knew nothing of
the Holy Spirit's work, in convincing me of sin, and leading
me to Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I knew nothing of communion with God and with his Son. I hope some of the ser



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 79
mons of Mr. Ebenezer White, of Hertford, were not altogether
useless to me, as well as some which I heard at Lady Huntingdon's chapel there; but from my conduct at that time, in
various particulars, I cannot say that I had experienced what
was meant by being born again. If you ask me from what
time I date my conversion to God, I must say, that the exact
time I cannot tell; but I think I may also say, that the Lord
drew me gradually to himself, and by degrees I loved devotional
exercises more and more; and I hope that I have, within these
four years, experienced many refreshing seasons. How I wish
to have my evidences brightened, as it respects personal interest
in the Lord Jesus Christ! I desire to cast my all upon him,
and wait his will concerning me. However short my experience
in the divine life has been, can I not appeal to God, and say,
Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee?'
" I hope that my reasons for wishing to be a laborer in the
Lord's vineyard are sincere, and that they do not spring from
any improper motives. If I should be called into it, I pray
that I may be kept faithful, and never shun to declare the
whole counsel of God. As I know something of the excellency of the ways of wisdom, I am anxious that my fellowmortals may be partakers of the same grace, and that they may
be brought to know God, and experience the riches of divine
love and mercy in Christ Jesus: and if God should so honor
me, as to make me an instrument in his hand of doing them
real good, how happy should I be; how willing to endure hardships for Jesus' sake. As I trust God has given me a desire
to act for his glory, and I know that he is glorified in the salvation of sinners, I am willing, if He should call me to the
work, to engage in it. I am aware, that it is an arduous and a
difficult work, yet from these principles, I would fain be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. I would follow the leadings of
Divine Providence. By the good hand of my God upon me,J
amn brought hitherto; and although some circumstances are
against me, yet,' where ho appoints, I'll go and dwell.' I am




80                   MEMOIR OF
not quite sixteen years old, yet young as I am, I have committed many sins, and experienced many mercies. Now, unto Him
that is able to keep me from falling, and to present me before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, for ever and ever. Amen.
"I believe in one God as the object of religious worship,
that this God is from everlasting; and that in our Jehovah
there are three distinct persons, viz.: the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Ghost, and yet these three are one; that this is
a mystery which we cannot explain, yet we must believe, because it is declared in Holy Writ. That man was created holy,
but fell from his original rectitude, and sunk himself and all
his posterity into sin and wo. I believe also, that God from
all eternity elected and chose his own people unto eternal salvation; that men are in a lost state and condition, and are
spiritually dead; that they cannot be saved by any merit or
works of their own, but only by the righteousness of Christ
the Saviour; that it is by the operation of God the Holy Spirit
on the mind of man, that he becomes a sensible sinner; that
his understanding must be enlightened before he can choose
God for his portion, or the paths of religion as those in which
he will walk. It was for this end and purpose that Christ
Jesus came into the world, viz.: to save sinners by his own
blood; and I am persuaded that there is salvation in no other
but in him, and that' he is able to save to the uttermost all who
come unto God by him.' I believe that he is the eternal God,' the same yesterday, and to-day, andforever;' that his grace
is all-sufficient, his name, person, and all that concerns him, is
precious to them that believe; that those who exercise a living
faith upon him, are justified from all their sins-at the same
time I know, that believers are called to be holy, and that it is
by the consistency of their walk, that they are to evidence
to those around them that their profession is sincere, for'without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' As I am fully
satisfied with respect to the divine origin of the Scriptures, and




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                81
the inspiration of the holy men who wrote them, so I believe
that they are the unerring standard by which to try our faith,
and upon which we are to rest our opinions. I believe, that
the people of God should form themselves into separate
churches, that they may enjoy the benefit of divine ordinances,
such as baptism and the Lord's Supper, together with the
hearing of the word, &c. I believe, that, notwithstanding
all the Christian's enemies and dangers, he shall hold on his
way, and grow stronger and stronger; and, though the doctrine of final perseverance has been much abused, as
well as its truth much questioned, it is an article of my
faith, because God's truth declares it. I believe in the approach of a judgment day-the eternal glory of believers, and
the insufferable torments of the wicked in hell. I believe that
God will have the whole glory of the salvation of those who
are saved for ever and ever; and that through all eternity they
will ascribe dominion, power, and glory to Him who loved them
and washed them in his own blood-at the same time sinners
will everlastingly blame themselves for their perdition and wo."
On the 7th of January he appeared at Hoxton,
before the committee, and underwent the examination which he had so long and so anxiously anticipated-with success and honor: was admitted a
student, and became immediately an inmate of the
house. In a letter to his friend Mr. Hordle, dated
Hoxton, January 21st, 1807, he says:-' Two things make this day remarkable to me: one is, that
it is my birth-day, as I am now sixteen years old; the other
is, that I have been a fortnight in this house. On Wednesday,
the 7th inst., that long dreaded day, I appeared before the
committee. Your imagination may represent a little boy
speaking before them. I felt a good deal of timidity, and
waited the event with feelings of anxiety." " I hope I can say
4*




82                  MEMOIR OF
I feel the importance of that work for which it appears God in
his providence has designed me: but oh! I need larger degrees
of grace to fill that station in such a manner, as that my own
soul, and the souls of my fellow creatures may be benefited
thereby."-" I recall to my mind occurrences which transpired
when I was at Harwich. 0 may I have all God's dealings
sanctified unto me. I want a deeper acquaintance with my own
heart, and a more influential knowledge of God my Saviour."
That, on his entrance into the academy at Hoxton, Mr. Spencer was no novice in the knowledge
and experience of divine things, is obvious from a
perusal of the papers above cited. With a mind
already the subject of considerable culture, and
habits formed for the pursuits of science, he commenced his academical course under circumstances
the most auspicious. The importance of such a previous preparation in candidates for the Christian
ministry, and the patronage of our dissenting colleges, is not, perhaps, sufficiently considered. It is
to be regretted, that so many enter without having
previously obtained the lowest rudiments of general
science, or even a tolerable acquaintance with their
native tongue. The time allotted for a student's
residence is, in the most liberal institutions, but
short, compared with the immense labor and magnitude of-the object to be obtained. But much of
this time, short as it is, must be expended in the inculcation'of those first principles of knowledge,
which might be easily obtained elsewhere; and then
when the student is somewhat prepared for studies




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           83
more suitable to the dignity of a college, he begins
to preach. Thus an attention which ought to be
undividedly devoted to the labors of the study, and
the exercises of the class, is partly lavished on preparations for the pulpit and public services. Hence
arose the plan, so judiciously adopted in certain
cases, in connection with the college of which Mr.
Spencer was a member, and of the beneficial tendency of which he was so striking an example, of
sending the candidates who may be defective in
these radical points, or too young for admission, to
some pious and able minister for preparatory instruction.
In the mean time, to remedy, as far as may be,
by his own exertions, this serious defect, should be
an object of conscientious regard to every young
man whose views are directed to the Christian ministry. By a diligent improvement of his time —by
a careful employment of those smaller portions of
it, which in too many cases are suffered imperceptibly to slide away-aided by the friendly direction
and advice of some prudent and well-informed minister, which may without much difficulty be in'every
case obtained-any one of tolerable capacity and
perseverance might afford his own mind a considerable degree of cultivation, and attain a portion of
knowledge, ere his entrance into an academy, most
favorable to the facility and success of his pursuits
whilst there.




84                MEMOIR OF
These remarks more particularly apply to those
young men, who, with views directed towards the
ministry, are still engaged in secular employments,
and to whom the privileges of an academy must be,
in the first instance, regarded as a distant object.
Little of importance can be expected to have
transpired, in connection with the early part of Mr.
Spencer's residence at Hoxton. It appears, however, that here, as in the Poultry and at Harwich,
his interesting appearance and amiable manners
soon gained him the love and esteem of all. The
tutors and the students alike felt an interest in this
new and youthful member of their literary society
-and he applied himself with diligence to the improvement ofPthose advantages which he there enjoyed. He was now introduced to awider range of
observation and of study.  But whilst a respect to
the orders of the institution, and a desire to render
himself, by useful acquirements, respectable in any
circle in which it might be his future lot to move,
induced him to apply with becoming diligence to
the various occupations assigned him, he yet dwelt
with peculiar attachment on such as were more immediately connected with the work of preaching.
And with an ardent desire to be early and extensively employed in the ministry of the gospel, a desire strengthened and confirmed by time, it can be
no matter of surprise, that to this darling object
were directed all the hours of his leisure, and all
the ardor of his soul.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.            85
At the vacation in June he returned to his father's
house at fIertford.  During  his stay there  he
preached his first sermon in public. It was at the
small village of Collier's End, six miles from Hertford.  His auditory consisted of about thirty plain
country people —and his text was I John i: 7.
" The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us
from all sin."  Simple and unlettered, however, as
his audience might be, they had sufficient penetration to discover the uncommon talents of their
youthful preacher; which, together with the novelty and loveliness of his juvenile appearance, excited in that little village an astonishment and admiration, which have since circulated through all the
districts of the great metropolis, and almost every
town in Great Britain. How beautiful is the progression which marks all the dispensations of nature,
providence and grace. From the smallest springs
the mightiest.rivers rise, to promote the fruitfulness
or waft the commerce of the world. From the grain
of mustard seed, the kingdom of heaven gradually
rises and expands, till it becomes a great tree, beneath whose shade all the nations of the earth repose; and in the history of individuals —from the
day of small things, has not unfrequently arisen a
career, wiose brilliancy has dazzled and surprised
the world; and from the remarkable concurrence of
circumstances, events the most important to the
interest of the individual, and the happiness of




86                MEMOIR OF
mankind, have sprung. It is for the most part denied to men, who move in a public arkl extended
circle, to witness those early displays of genius, and
that gradual development of talents, afterwards so
eminent for their usefulness or splendor, upon which
the eye of a philosopher would love to dwell. This
is usually the privilege of a few obscure individuals
in some retired spot. The new fledged bird first
tries its pinions in its own sequestered bower ere it
soars above its native glen, and courts the admiration of man by the boldness of its flight, or the
sweetness of its song. And yet thereis such a peculiar interest connected with the early efforts of a
mighty mind, and the first stages of an eminent
career, that we gather with diligence all that can be
gleaned respecting them, and listen with delight to
the narration of those who were spectators. But
few perhaps who have heard of Spencer, but would
gladly be transported to the peaceful village of Collier's End, and mingle with the auditors under his
first sermon there. And it requires no uncommon
acquaintance with the principles of our nature, and
the doctrine of association in the human mind, to
predict that the villages of Hayfway, Street, and
Lewisham, in Kent, will derive some celebrity in the
religious world from having been the scenes of ministerial labor, when a youth, to a preacher, who for
these twelve years past has held the delighted auditories of the metropolis the willing captives of his




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           87
eloquence.: And surely such a principle as this,
whilst in its gratification it yields an indescribable
pleasure, may be cultivated to no small advantage.
It banishes from the mind that despair of reaching
it, which a contemplation of exalted eminence
might inspire, by an assurance, that the object at
which he aims is not unattainable, since its present
possessor once occupied the same level with himself,
and was attended by circumstances as unfavorable to
his elevation as those which at present may encompass him.
Our amiable young preacher's first sermon excited a strong desire in his hearers for a repetition
of his labors; and his fame rapidly circulating produced an invitation also, from another quarter, for
the following Sabbath. To these solicitations, we
may suppose without much reluctance, he complied;
and he preached again on the morning of July 12th,
at a village called Broughin. His text on this occasion was Col. iii. 3, " Ye are dead, and your life
is hid with Christ in God."  In the afternoon and
evening of the same day, he preached again at Collier's End. In the afternoon from  Acts xix. 2,
" Have ye received the Holy Ghost?"  In the evening from Phil. iii. 18, " They are the enemies of the
cross of Christ." The attendance at Collier's End,
was, on this second Sabbath, so much increased,
that the room would scarcely contain the people
* Doctor Collyer.




88               MEMOIR OF
who were desirous of hearing, and every one seemed
still more deeply affected by the impressive manner,
the solemn doctrines, and the surprising powers of
this young divine. On the following Thursday he
preached again at a place called Brickenden, from
John iv. 29, " Come see a man, which told me all
things that I ever did; is not this the Christ?"
On Sunday, July 19th, he again resumed his labors
at Collier's End, and preached in the afternoon
from 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13, "And when he was
in affliction, he besought the Lord, his God, and
humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him, and he was entreated of
him, and heard his supplication, and brought himn
again to Jerusalem, and to his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God."  In
the evening the multitude that assembled was so
great, that to gratify them all, he was under the
necessity of preaching out of doors, which he did
with great animation and effect, from Romans xiv.
12, " So then every one of us shall give account of
himself to God."  It appears from the report of
one who was present at the delivery of this sermon,
that it was remarkably impressive. Although surrounded by so great a crowd, he seemed quite undaunted, and expressed himself with an ease and
an energy which produced the most serious impressions upon many, and excited the astonishment of
all. To see the old and grey-headed melted into




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          89
tears beneath the simple touches and fervent appeals of a youth, but little more than sixteen years
of age, proclaiming with the boldness and propriety
of an experienced veteran the glorious gospel of the
blessed God, must have been truly interesting. And
it is also gratifying to know, that by the earliest labors of this excellent youth, happy and saving effects
were produced, which remain to this day. On the
evening of Thursday, July 23d, he preached at
Buntingford, a town about ten miles from iHertford, from John x. 9, " By me if any man enter in,
he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture."  On Sunday, July 26th, he preached
again, afternoon and evening, at Collier's End. In
the afternoon from John vi. 44, " No man can come
to me except the Father which sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day."  In the
evening from 2d Tim. ii. 19, " Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal,
the Lord 7knoweth them that are his, and let every
one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." On the Wednesday eAening following he
preached at Hormead, from Psalm iv. 6, " There
be many that say, who will show us ang good?
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon
us."  And on the Thursday evening again at Brickenden. At Hormead his congregation amounted to
six or seven hundred persons, and the place where
they were assembled was a barn. Indeed by this




90                MEMOIR OF
time his fame had so widely circulated, that whereever he preached, numbers flocked from all parts to
hear and see this wonderful youth; and he might
have preached every day in the week, had he been
so inclined, so numerous were the invitations that
crowded upon him. However, his vacation drew
towards a close; and his return to Hoxton suspended for a while these public exercises. He preached on the evening of Sunday, Aug. 2d, at Roydon:
and we hear no more of his preaching till December.
It certainly admits of doubt, whether these early
exercises in public preaching are beneficial or injurious. That they are injurious, may be argued from
the circumstance, that they tend to elate and dissipate the mind-to inspire it with conceited notions
of its own superior powers-too soon, alas! to familiarize the ear to the insinuating sounds of flattery, and, investing the youth with high conceptions of his present qualifications, to annihilate those
humiliating views of his own ignorance and imperfection-and that ardent panting after knowledge
in which lies the great source of respectability and
usefulness in after life. Not to notice those practical errors into which the ignorance and incaution
natural to youth may lead him, when engaged in directing men in affairs of infinite and eternal moment. If the aged evangelist-the venerable pastor,
is heard so frequently to deplore his imperfection and
lament the possibility of error in his public instruc



REV. THOM~AS SPENCER.          91
tions-a young man may well proceed in his early
labors with caution, and had need to be possessed of
no common discretion and knowledge, to counteract
the suspicions necessarily excited, in the breasts of
the thoughtful, by his youth.
But, perhaps, on the other hand, there are peculiar advantages connected with an early entrance on
the work of preaching. The novelty of the circumstance excites attention, and many are converted,
who, but for the juvenility of the preacher, had never
heard the gospel from his lips, and this is doubtless
amongst the many means which an Infinite Wisdom
has selected, for accomplishing, in the conversion of
sinners, the purposes of an infinite love. Besides
that on the preacher's own mind, his early employment in ministerial labor may have a most happy
influence.  By an early initiation into the difficulties
and trials of the work, he may attain an ease and a
skill in its execution, which is perhaps but seldom
reached by the man who has commenced much later
in the day. In youth the mind is all activity, and
difficulties which are met with then are far more
easily surmounted than when they are presented
to the opposition of maturer age. But after all,
much depends upon the peculiar circumstances of
the individual case. Many a man is better prepared
for the work of the ministry at sixteen than others
are at forty; and whilst the popularity and flattery
which usually attend the course of youthful preach



92                MEMOIR OF
ers would be the ruin of some, there are others indued with a prudence and a piety sufficient to resist
their influence. And be it remembered, that the
time allotted to every man for labor is at best but
short, and that for many of our ministers-alas!
that these should be, for the most part, the most
eminent and useful!-is prepared an early grave!
To be squandering away the precious time which
ought to be devoted to the salvation of immortal
souls, in the acquisition of profound and extensive
erudition; to be immured for years in the walls of
a study, and confined to the precincts of a college,
impairing the physical strength by midnight application, and smothering the flames of holy zeal amid
the ices of metaphysics and the lumber of heathenish
philosophy, whilst thousands of immortal souls are
perishing, to whose eternal interest those years
might be successfully devoted —is certainly a conduct highly culpable, and not in the spirit of Him
who said-" work whilst it is day, for the night
cometh, when no man can work!"  Far be it from
the writer of this volume in any way to undervalue
or decry that knowledge, which, in a minister of the
gospel, the circumstances of the present times render so essential. These remarks only apply to those
cases in which years are expended in adding to a
stock already more than sufficient for present purposes, without beginning to apply to any practical
use that which is so largely possessed; and may




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           93
affect such institutions as, having for their object
the preparation of young men for the work of the
ministry, suffer the zeal for God, and the love of
souls, which led them to its patronage, at least to
lose a little of its fire by years of dry scholastic disquisition, ere they are suffered to go forth into the
wotld and expend them on their proper object —the
conversion of their dying fellow men.
With respect to Mr. Spencer, the world will judge
whether he began to preach too soon or not. I believe that Liverpool, by far the most competent to
judge in this case, will, without hesitation, decide
in the negative. Perhaps there are, who may be
disposed to say, " this was an exception."  Granted;
but in such exceptions, let a similar liberty be allowed. Where extraordinary gifts, attended by extraordinary grace, so early develop themselves, allow
them a proportionably early exercise, nor rob the
church of God of an useful minister, who, ere the
period a cautious policy has fixed for the commencement of his labor is arrived-may be summoned to
his rest.




CHAPTER IV.
His return to Hoxton —Christmas Vacation-First Sermon at
Hertford-'Appointed to assist in the pulpit at Hoxton-At the
earnest entreaties of the people, allowed to preach-First Sermon
at Hoxton in his seventeenth year-His success and popularity
-Itineracy-Correspondence with Mr. John Haddon-Visits
Brighton-Preaches with great Acceptance and Effect-Again
at Hoxton-Preaches a Sermon on Fast-day-Appointed to deliver an Oration at the Academy.
ON his return  to  Hoxton we find Mr. Spencer
preaching occasionally in the work-houses, an admirable school for young divines.'Surely this is no
inconsiderable circumstance in which our dissenting
colleges are superior as schools of practical divinity,
to those of the establishment.  There the student
emerges at once from the retirement of private life,
to all the publicity of the sacred office; which sudden transition, to a delicate mind, must often be attended with considerable pain, and may lead, in the
first few instances, to a confusion  and  embarrassment most distressing to himself, and most unfriendly to his prospects of future respectability and




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           95
usefulness. On the other hand, with us, the student gradually, almost imperceptibly, glides into
the ministry, and bly continued, but slow enlargement, of the sphere in which he is allowed to move,
he rises from a few poor people in a work-house, to
address the most respectable auditories.
On his return to his father's house, for the Christmas vacation, Mr. Spencer preached for the first
time at Hertford. It did not happen to him, as is
often the case, that he had no honor in his own
country. Numbers pressed, urged no doubt, in the
first instance, by curiosity to hear him; and those
who are accustomed to mark the influence of similar circumstances upon a susceptible mind, will
enter a little into his emotions, when rising to address, upon the most solemn of all subjects, a vast
multitude of his fellow-townsmen, amongst whom
he recognised many of his juvenile companions-the
several members of his own family-and, not the
least interesting object in the group, the venerable
matron who had early instructed him in the principles of his mother tongue, and whose lot it was to
observe the first faint dawnings of a talent, then
fast hastening to its fullest exercise and strength.
But long after the influence of novelty may be supposed to have subsided, he continued to excite the
admiration of his native town. His first sermon at
Hertford was preached on the evening of Sunday,
December 20th, at the Rev. Mr. Maslin's chapel,




96                MEMOIR OF
from Eph. v. 11, " And have no fellowship with the
zunfruitful works of darkness."  He preached again
on the Wednesday evening following, and on the evening of Christmas day, on which occasion his text was,
Mich. v. 2,'" But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though
thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out
of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be
Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of
old, from everlasting."
The passages of Scripture selected by Mr. Spencer, as the subjects of his earliest discourses, afford
another demonstration, in addition to many others,
of the general bias of his mind. They are such as
one may well imagine a preacher panting for the
salvation of his fellow men, would select for the
commencement of his public labors. The topics
which they suggest are of all others, the most solemn,
as they are the most simple and the most important
in the whole range of inspired truth, and hence they
were best adapted to the preacher's age, and the
unlettered character of his auditors. It seems, that
in his earliest sermons there was nothing of that
parade and glare-nothing of that excessive fondness of figures and love of imagery, which too often
mark the first compositions of youthful preachers —
preachers who, in a more advanced stage of their
ministry, have not been less respectable or useful
than he.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           97
WVhether this is to be considered as an excellence
or defect, it is probable, with some, may be a matter of debate. Dr. Blair, (or rather Quintilian, from
whom he copies,) in his remarks on the early compositions of public speakers, urges in favor of that
exuberance of imagination and excess of ornament
-that time and experience will prune all this away,
and in proportion as the fire of youth declines, the
glare of the composition will sink into the settled
lustre of maturer age. And hence he argues, for
an excessive indulgence of the imagination at this
period; since by the time the powers are called into
full and steady exercise, they will have undergone a
certain train of discipline, and have found their proper limits; but if the composition has all the judicious sobriety of that maturer age, amid the vigor
and vivacity of youth, what is it likely to be in the
more advanced stages of its exercise, but cold, insipid, and dull!
But surely all depends upon the nature of the
subject, and the source whence the public orator is
to draw the energy which must give animation to
his discourses. The fire of genius, the glow of imagination, must be the enkindling torches in the
senate-at the bar; but though not altogether useless in the pulpit, yet they are not the lawful sources
of animation there. It is not the blaze of genius,
or the glow of imagination; but the sacred flame of
fervent piety-the holy kindlings of a mind moved




98                 MEMOIR OF
by principles derived from heaven, and the generous
efforts of a soul impelled by an intense desire for
the salvation of a dying world, that must impart life
and energy to the correct, but glowing statements,
the warm and impassioned appeals of the ambassador for Christ. Other sources of animation may be
exhausted by exercise, and dried up by time; but
this can never fail. It will remain the same when
the head of the venerable prophet is covered with
hoary hairs, and the body is sunk in the decrepitude
of age. Nay, as in the case of the apostle Paul, it
will rise into brighter radiance as he advances to
the termination of his course-a more ardent panting for the salvation of mankind will mark his dying
hours, than that which attended his entrance on
his labors; and with David, the last prayer his
spirit breathes will be for the universal diffusion of
that gospel, which it has been the business and the
honor of his life to preach-" Blessed be the Lord
God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous
things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever;
and let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen."
We now arrive at a period in Mr. Spencer's history, peculiarly critical and important. During the
vacation of Christmas, 1807, the Rev. Mr. Liefchild,
of Kensington, was supplying the pulpit at Hoxton
chapel. One Sabbath afternoon, in January, Mr.
Spencer being then returned to the academy from




REV. THOMAS SPENCERB                    99
Hertford, Mr. L. expressed a wish that he should
assist him, in the public service, by reading the
Scriptures and engaging in prayer.  The  request
was granted, and an extract of a letter obligingly
addressed by that gentleman to me, will convey a
lively picture of the deep impression which his appearance and manner produced upon the large congregation before whom he stood.
"... But when he appeared in the pulpit —after the first
emotions of surprise were over, and after the mistakes of some,
who supposed that he was a little boy belonging to the gallery, who, from ignorance or thoughtlessness, had gone up the
pulpit stairs, instead of those leading to his seat, had been corrected, so sweetly did he read the chapter,* so earnestly, so
scripturally, so experimentally, did he engage in prayer, that
for the whole six Sabbaths afterwards he became the chief
magnet of attraction to the place. The people now insisted
upon it he should preach. I need not name his subsequent
success."
The  entreaties of the people having  prevailed,
Mr. Spencer, though contrary to the standing order
of the institution, was allowed to preach. It was a
delicate situation. Yet it was one to which he had
long and anxiously aspired. Indeed, so strong was
his desire for the public engagements of the ministry, that the fear of being long denied the gratifica* Oil the evening of the following Sunday, Mr. L. addressed young people; when Mr Spencer again conducted the devotional part of the service.
The chapter which he then read was Ecclesiastes xii. A person since received into the church at Hoxton, dated her first serious impressions from the
reading of that chapter, and the solemn prayer then offered up.




100               MEMOIR OF
tion of his wishes, on account of his youth, actually
preyed upon his spirits so severely as even to affect
his health. But it was not from the love of fame
or popular applause that he cherished this desire,
but from the hope of being early and extensively
useful; —as if urged by a presentiment of his impending fate —immediately to commence those
honorable labors from which he was to be called so
soon. When he appeared in the pulpit at Hoxton,
a youth just seventeen years of age, he betrayed
none of that distressing anxiety which marks the
candidate for public approbation; but stood with all
the dignified composure, and spoke with all the unembarrassed energy of an ambassador for Christ.
His text was, Psalm xxxii. 6, " For this shall every
one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou
maydest be found; surely in the floods of great waters
they shall not come nigh unto thee!"  At the close
of his discourse, the sentiments which dwelt upon the
lips and countenances of his auditors were those of
pleasure, admiration, and surprise. His excessive
youth-the simplicity of his appearance-the modest dignity of his manner-the sweetness of his
voice-the weight and importance of his doctrineand the force-the affection-and the fervor with
which he directed it, to the hearts and consciences
of those who heard him-charmed and delighted,
whilst they edified. And retiring from the sanctuary to the social circle, they dwelt alternately on




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          101
the loveliness of the preacher, and the importance
of the truths which they had heard from his lips.
Upon this scene the Christian student may, with
advantage, pause and meditate. Looking forward,
perhaps with considerable apprehension, to the period of his public entrance on the labors of the ministry, he may be anxious to ascertain what was the
secret spring-the hidden source, of that calm composure and unfettered boldness, which characterised
the earliest addresses of this interesting youth. To
such then I can confidently say —it was not the
proud consciousness of superior powers-of erudition-of genius, or of eloquence; but it was the
influence of a heart warmed with the love of Christ,
big with the vast moment of his solemn theme, and
panting with an ardor which no circumstances of
difficulty could suppress, for the salvation of sinners. Such an influence as this will make the
coward bold, and convert the most timid and feeble
into valiant and successful champions of the cross.
Before an influence like this, the love of fame-the
glare of popularity, the opinions and the plaudits
of mankind retire. No consideration remains but
that of the worth of immortal souls, and the importance of their salvation. This, under the agency
of the eternal Spirit, whose assistance every faithful minister may with confidence expect, will supply a closeness of appeal to arrest the attention —
furnish topics of discourse to inform the judgment,




102               MEMOIR OF
and animated expostulations to warm the heart.
When the blaze of genius and of oratory is extinguished, this will continue with a steady flame.
And whilst many, his acknowledged superiors in
talent and in literature, are left behind, the preacher
in whose breast it glows will be conducted to scenes
of extensive usefulness, and the enjoyment of an
honorable renown.
Mr. Spencer now  became the topic of general
discourse-the subject of universal inquiry. His
name spread far and wide. His danger became
daily more and more imminent. Letters pressed
upon him, filled with flattery —invitations arrived
at the academy from all parts, for his services; and
he appeared, as a friend, who witnessed his sudden and extraordinary elevation, observed, like
one standing on the brow of a precipice, amid the
most violent gusts of wind. Disapprobation cannot
be expressed in terms too strong of the conduct
which is usually adopted by the religious public
towards their favorite, and especially their youthful
preachers. And the censure which may, in a lamentable degree, admit of universal application,
falls with preeminent propriety on the professors
of religion in the metropolis and its neighborhood.
There, indeed, by the constant accession of fresh
objects, to the sphere in which they move, such a
love of novelty —such a fondness of variety —such a
taste for something perpetually original-is excited




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          103
and constantly fed-that whatever is uniform and
solid, in the ministry of their established and experienced pastors, while it secures the attention and
regard of the judicious and discerning, is too often
neglected as stale and insipid by the more lively
and enlightened class of hearers. A new name is
announced on the cover of a magazine, or from the
pulpit of some celebrated chapel, and thither the
unstable multitude direct their steps. They sit in
solemn judgment on the preacher's manner-his
appearance —his action, and his voice; for amongst
too many, alas! it is to be lamented, that the
solemn truths which he delivers are but secondary
objects of regard. If there should be nothing
striking in his manner —nothing melodious in his
voice —nothing singular in his appearance —nothing
peculiar in his system —and nothing particularly
favorable in the circumstances of his introduction
to the pulpits of the metropolis, there he may continue his appointed period, and when it has expired,
return to the peaceful village or the quiet town,
where it is his lot to labor —
"The world forgetting-by the world forgot."
On the other hand, with this class of hearers the
preacher who secures their admiration instantly becomes their idol. As if irresistibly impelled to extremes, they lavish on him the warmest eulogies and
adulation, often too palpable to be endured. For



104                    MEMOIR OF
getting that he is a man of like passions with themselves, they heap their honors on his hecad as though
he could remain insensible to the plaudits they bestow, and perfectly superior to the influence of every
principle of pride.  The following lines of the inimitable  Cowper too well express the sentiments
which in these remarks must suggest themselves to
every thinking mind, not to obtain insertion here:
" 0 Popular Applause! what heart of man
Is proof against thy sweet seducing charms!
The wisest and the best feel urgent need
Of all their caution in thy gentlest gales;
But swell'd into a gust-who then, alas!
With all his canvass spread and inexpert,
And therefore heedless, can withstand thy power' 
Praise fiom the'rivell'd lips of worthless bald
Decrepitude, and in the looks of lean
And craving Poverty, and in the bow
Respectful of the smutch'd artificer,
Is oft too welcome, and may much disturb
The bias of the purpose. How much more
Pour'd forth by beauty splendid and polite,
IIn language soft as Adoration breathes'
Ah, spare your idol! think him human still.
Charms he may have, but he has frailties too.
Dote not too much, nor spoil what ye admire."
But the preaching of Mr. Spencer, even in his
earliest discourses, was not of that light and meretricious kind which may secure the temporary-: ad* I believe that general experience will justify the observation,
that however attendant circumstances may contribute, in the first
instance, to render an individual popular, nothing but sterling




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                105
miration of the wandering and unsettled. It possessed much of the solid-the experimental, and judicious; and this secured him the attention and
esteem of those, whose approbation any man would
esteem it an honor to possess. But this only tended
to heighten his danger.  God, however, gave him
grace equal to his day. His letters during his popularity in London breathe the same spirit of humility as that which marked his earlier correspondence;
and a piety seldom surpassed in fervor and sincerity
tended to preserve him steady in the midst of that
tempestuous sea, upon whose billows, though young
and inexperienced, it was his lot to ride.
Numerous and pressing however as were the invitations from different parts of the metropolis and
its neighborhood, yet Mr. Spencer did not preach
again in London (except in the work-houses, which
the students regularly supplied, and also once in a
small chapel in Hackney Road) until September.
worth can secure its perpetuity; and whenever the preaching of a
popular minister has endured, without injury to his reputation,
the ordeal of a ten or twenty years trial, he may safely be regarded as possessing an excellence superior to any thing his manner
could exhibit. But I feel the delicacy of the topic I have thus
ventured to introduce, and gladly refer to illustrations of the same
subject by more experienced and far abler hands.-See Fuller's
Life of Pearce; and Jay's Life of Cornelius Winter. Books in
which examples, the one of more public, the other of more retired,
but not less transcendant excellence, seem to live before us for our
instruction. To every student for the Christian ministry they
must prove an invaluable treasure.
5*




106               MEMOIR OF
In the meanwhile his talent for preaching had ample exercise in various parts of the country, which
during this period he was allowed to visit. So that,
from January 7th to September 8th he preached no
less than sixty times. The following are the principal places which were then favored with his labors:
— Royden, Godmanclester, Ripton, Buntingford,
Hertford, Dorking, Rumford, Harlow, Royston,
Hadhamn, Hays, Chigwell, and Mill-Hill. At all
these places the attention he excited was considerable, and the impression he left remains with the
people to this day.
Mr. Spencer's second sermon at Hoxton chapel
was delivered on the evening of Thursday, September 8th. It confirmed the opinion of his excellence
produced by the first. His text was, Acts x. 6,
" He is Lord of all."
The general sentiment of approbation and delight
at first excited by his youthful appearance, and his
extraordinary pulpit talents, was now deepened and
established, and he began to preach pretty extensively in the pulpits of the metropolis and its neighborhood.  On Sunday, September 18th, we find
him in the pulpit in Holywell Mount chapel, and on
the Sunday following, in that of Kennington chapel;
and on the afternoon of Sunday, December 13, he
supplied the chapel in Old Gravel Lane, Wapping.
During the autumn of this year he also visited several parts of the country immediately surrounding




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           107
London; and he preached, among other places, at
Uprminster, Upsorn, Guilford, Roydon, and High
Wycombe.
With respect to the wisdom and propriety of permitting such extensive public labors, in one so
young, and at so early a stage of his academical
course, there will be perhaps a diversity of opinion.
On the general question, in. which this is but an individual case, there can be but one sentiment. Nothing tends more to dissipate the mind, than much
traveling and much society; and particularly injurious to the fixed and laborious habits of a student's
life is that kind of intercourse with society, which
the young minister, in his occasional visits, usually
obtains. The esteem in which, for the most part,
the name of a minister is held, in the circles which
he enters, secures him an attention and an ease by
far too flattering not to be injurious; whilst the refined and fascinating.manners of some societies but
illy prepare the mind for the imperatively severe
characters of academic life. But perhaps a far more
serious object of regard is the time which is thus
necessarily and irretrievably lost to the great and
avowed object of his pursuit. It is impossible to
take a review of the past year of Mr. Spencer's life,
and number up the several places at.which he has
preached-at some of them two or three times,
whilst others he visited more than once, calculating
their respective distances from Hoxton, and the




108               MEMOIR OF
time necessarily occupied in traveling, together with
the many hours, perhaps days, which must have
been consumed in preparing the discourses there
delivered-without being struck with a conviction,
of the immense loss which in a literary point of
view he must have sustained; and the pursuit of
literature is, after all, the professed object of our
dissenting colleges.  Considering too, that this was
but Mr. Spencer's second year of study, and connecting this with the shortness of the term he had
to stay, and his exceeding youth, the impression is
yet deepened. But Mr. Spencer's was an extraordinary case. His forte was the composition and delivery of sermons. He was at home and happy only
in this sacred work. He seemed but to live for this
object. Other objects he might contemplate, with
respect and even esteem, excited by an impression
of their utility and excellence —on this his heart
perpetually dwelt with a fervent and impassioned
love. It was evidently for this God had especially
designed him; and for the work he had to accomplish,
and the early account he had to render-all perhaps
are now convinced that he was not suffered to begin
too soon. For one whose day of usefulness has
proved so short, and over whom the night of death
so early and so suddenly has shed its gloom, we can
not but rejoice that the first dawn was devoted to
his honorable labor, and not even a solitary hour
neglected, from the commencement to the termination of his career.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             109
Mr. Spencer preached again at Hoxton chapel on
Christmas day, morning and evening; and also delivered an address, on the following evening, at the
prayer meeting. A day or two after he left London
for Brighton, and preached his first sermon in that
celebrated seat of gaiety and fashion on the evening
of Thursday, December 29th, at the Countess of
Huntingdon's chapel, from  Zach. vi. 12, "Behold
the man whose name is the branch, and he shall
build the temple of the Lord."   On Sunday, Ist
January, 1809, he preached in the afternoon at the
Rev. Mr. Stiles' chapel, and again in the evening at
the Countess'.
I am the more particular in marking the date of
his first visit to Brighton, as it commences a new
year, and forms also a most important epoch in his
history. The interesting and endeared connections
which he afterwards formed there, tend to throw a
new and brilliant light upon his character; whilst
they shed a softer air of melancholy around the circumstances of his early and lamented fate!-:`
Alas! of what moment to the Christian minister
is the formation of connections suc'h as these. Delicate as the subject may be, and illy qualified as I feel
* Those who knew Spencer, will enter fully into the meaning
of this paragraph. I owe it, however, to those who knew him not,
to say, that tenderness to feelings I should dread to wound, compels me to draw a veil over one of the most interesting scenes of
his life.




110               MEMOIR OF
I am to enter fully into its discussion, I yet cannot
suffer it to pass without some observations on its
vast importance. —By imprudence here, how many
have destroyed, if -not their character, yet to an
alarming extent their usefulness and comfort. Upon
the partner which a minister selects, much of his
happiness depends. He must be indeed a child of
sorrow, who with a heart broken by disappointment,
and a brow clouded by care —such cares and disappointments as too frequently impart a character of
gloom to many a pious pastor's life —finds no relief
in his domestic circle, and seeks in vain for the
soothing influence of sympathy in the individual
whom he has chosen to be a " help meetfor him."
The important subject thus reluctantly though
unavoidably introduced, distributes itself into many
branches, each interesting in its kind, on each of
which, age and experience might with considerable
propriety descant; and however unwilling I might
be to enter more largely into the discussion, yet did
I think myself sufficiently possessed of either, I
would certainly reprobate in the severest terms that
rash and thoughtless haste which too often marks
the decision of students and youthful ministers in
this respect, and which too frequently leads to settled
distress —final ruin-or shameful infidelity! To
the honor of Spencer be it recorded, that his choice
in the first instance displayed his wisdom: his uniform attachment until death, his constancy!




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.        111
Mr. Spencer preached again at the Countess of
IHuntingdon's chapel, at Brighton, on Thursday
evening, January 5th, and left that place on the following day. On the ensuing Sunday he preached
at Holloway, morning and afternoon; and on the
evening of Tuesday the 10th, addressed animmense
congregation from the pulpit of that truly excellent
man, the Rev. Rowland Hill, at Surry chapel. The
subject of his discourse was Deut. xxxiii. 3, " Yea,
he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand, and
they sat down at thy feet, every one shall receive of
thy words."
Between this date and the following midsummer,
his labors appear to have been, in point both of number and success, truly astonishing.  He now
preached much in and about London, and wherever
his name was announced, the crowd that flocked to
his ministry, proved how extensive and deep the
impression was which it had excited. Besides occupying many of the most respectable pulpits in the
metropolis, during this period, he visited and
preached in the following places: Guilford, Epsom,
Worthing, Barking, Roydon, Dorking, Buntingford, Winchmore-Hill, Saffron, Walden, and Hertford.
During his stay at Worthing, which was in the
month of February, he made several excursions to
Brighton, which became more endeared to him by
every visit. The attachment was mutual. His




112               MEMOIR OF
ministry excited universal attention; multitudes
pressed to hear him. The public prints declared
their admiration of his powers; and the private circle forgot the trifling topics of the day, intent upon
the discussion of his rare and extraordinary talents.
More especially did he bind to him, in affectionate
remembrance, the hearts of the young, by the
warmth, simplicity, and affection of his addresses
to them: and in no place which was honored by his
labors, was his worth more fully appreciated in life,
or his loss more deeply and universally lamented in
death.
On the evening of Thursday, the 18th of May, he
preached again at Hoxton chapel. His text on that
occasion was Isaiah lxi. 10, " I will greatly rejoice
in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for
he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he
hath covered me with the robe of righteousness."
But by so much preaching and fatigue, his strength
became exhausted, and his health impaired; and
during the midsummer vacation, the committee
superintending the stations of the preaching students
appointed him to spend some weeks at Dorking, in
Surrey, where the labor was but small, the retirement deep, the country beautiful, and the air salubrious.  To this place he went in the beginning of
July —having first paid a visit to his family at Hertford, and preached again in his native town. At
Dorking he was committed to the care of Mrs. Alex



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         113
ander, a kind and pious matron, whose hospitable
attention to all the servants of Christ who have had
the happiness to repose beneath her roof, renders
her worthy of the appropriate epithet of " Mother
in Israel." The praises of such pious women are,
and ought to be, in all the churches. Happy is
that congregation which possesses one or two such
valuable and useful characters. To the youthful
preachers who may be commissioned from their respective academies to labor for a while in the congregations to which they belong, they often prove
an inestimable blessing. By their timely assiduities,
not unfrequently, diseases the most serious and
alarming may be averted, by which valuable ministers might have been early snatched from the church
and from the world.; and, at any rate, those little
offices of unaffected kindness, in the performance of
which they so much excel, will tend to soothe the
anxieties by which, in early life, many a delicate
frame is prematurely wasted and impaired.
For Spencer, too, the spot was admirably chosen.
Nothing could better suit his fondness for retirement,
and love of social or solitary walks. I am not a
stranger to the scenery —I once visited it, like him,
for relaxation; and the remembrance of those happy
days, in a thousand pleasing pictures and enchanting forms, crowds at this moment on my mind. The
country is sufficiently bold and varied to inspire with
ideas of grandeur and magnificence, though not so




114                  MEMOIR OF
romantic and vast, as to excite astonishment and
terror.  From the summit of abrupt and lofty hills,
clothed with luxuriant foliage, the delighted eye may
roam at leisure over woods and valleys, that will not
yield in fruitfulness and beauty to the fairest plains
of Italy; and in deep embowered glens, made cool
and fragrant by meandering streams, the mind may
yield to melancholy musings, and to solemn thought
— so unbroken is the silence-so profound the solitude!
During his stay at Dorking, it was his happiness
to form a friendship the most intimate and endeared with Mr. J. Haddon, of London; and on the
return of that gentleman to town, Mr. Spencer began an epistolary correspondence with him, which
continued till his death. A valuable assortment of
these letters have been kindly put into my hands,
and with the greater part of them I shall enrich
these pages.  The following is, I believe, the first
in the series: —
TO MR. JOHN HADDOn.
" DORKING July 25th, 1809.
"MY WORTHY FRIEND:-I know no other way of expressing
the pleasure your letters and your society have afforded me,
than by endeavoring to repay your kindness, or at least by
showing you that I am sensible of the obligations under which
I am laid by you. The pleasant interviews, the truly social
walks, and the various other enjoyments which we experienced
together, have left an impression of attachment to yourself on
my mind, which I am persuaded will not be easily obliterated.
The country is indeed as pleasant in itself now, as it was the




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                115
week before last; yet, believe me, it is not half so much enjoyed by me as it was then. The same streams indeed glide
pleasantly along-the same hills majestically rise-the same enlivening prospects strike the eye, and pervade the soul, with
admiration-and every thing around me seems to say, "Tis
Surrey still;' but there is a sad deficiency in all my perambulations-it is,'that I am all alone.' Yesterday I went to
Brockham; but there was no Haddon to meet me on my way
thither, or to return with me any part of the way home. Last
Tuesday evening Mr. Moore very politely offered to take me to
Epsom, to hear Mr. Clayton the next day; which offer I most
willingly accepted. On the whole, we had rather a pleasant
day. Mr. George Clayton preached on Matt. xxi: 28. It may
perhaps give you pleasure to hear, that I preached very comfortably last Lord's day from the new Bible, which is exactly
the thing. I should know very little of the trials and difficulties of life, were I always to live as I now do. I really feel
sometimes as if I needed something to quicken me to diligence,
and put the graces of the Spirit in exercise, which, I am afraid,
were I long to glide down life's stream so easily as I now do,.
would begin to die. Ease is a dangerous foe to the prosperity
of religion in the soul, and opposition of some kind is essentially necesssry for us who profess a religion which is described
as a race to be run; as a battle to be fought, and which is represented to us by every metaphor which gives us the idea of
active labor and unceasing exertion. I hope to have the happiness of frequently meeting with you after my return to town;
and I have the pleasure to inform you, that my appointments
favor such intention. Mr. Wilson has written to inform me
that I shall preach in town for five Sabbaths after the vacation.
The manuscripts you sent highly delight me. Mrs. Smith
wishes me to leave Herbert with her, to which I know you
will not object. I continue about the same in health as I was
when you left me; and am very thankful that here I have not
to preach so many times as at several other places. That the




116                   MEMOIR OF
good will of Him who dwelleth in the bush may ever countenance and console you; that the divine Spirit may ever lead you
into all the truth; that you may possess every evidence that
you have found favor in the sight of the Lord; and that Christ
Jesus may be your eternal portion, is my humble, earnest
prayer. Let us hope hereafter to behold his face together, in
a world where we shall be liable to change and separation no
more, but where we shall be enclosed in glory, changeless as
his ovwn. This is the desire of one who can truly call himself,
"Yours most affectionately,
THOMAS SPENCER.'
"My kind hostess desires to be respectfully remembered to
you. I expect I shall be in town next Tuesday."
IMr. Spencer left Dorking after the last Sabbath
in July, and preached the six following Sundays in
and about London. The places at which he labored
during these six weeks were White-Row, Pell-street,
Jewin-street, Camden chapel, Adelphi chapel, and
Hoxton chapel. At Jewin-street he preached four
Sabbaths, out of the six, afternoons and evenings.
In the mean while his health still continued but indifferent, and indeed so much exertion both of mental and of physical strength was but illy calculated
to promote its vigor.  His mind, however, seemed
every day to grow in activity and zeal. In the pulpit-in society, he was all animation and life.  Like
most who are the victims of much nervous irritability, his flow of spiritswas excessive, which frequently led to ungenerous and merciless observations
from those, who either had not the wisdom or the
candor to attribute, what might appear as levity in




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              117
him, to its real cause. It is indeed an unhappy
circumstance, when such is the natural tendency of
a man's mental constitution, and from nothing perhaps have young ministers suffered more than from
this. At the same time, it is a shame and scandal
to the Christian world, that there should be so many,
who, professing to be the friends of students and
youthful preachers, encourage and excite this unhappy bias, for their own amusement, and are then
the first to censure the youth they have betrayed!
But where such is the natural disposition of a
pious and devoted mind, its exercise in company is
often followed by the keenest anguish and the deepest melancholy, in hours of solitude and reflection.
The severe and malignant censurer should remenmber, that he is not omnipresent; and that there may
be scenes in the retired life of the character he injures, which would put him to the blush! These
remarks have been suggested by some passages in
the following letter:
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
" HOXTON, AUgust 15, 1809.' MY DEAR FRIEND: —I am sorry to inform you, that it is not
in my power to gratify yourself; to please our friends, or to
fulfill my own wishes, by devoting any evening in the week to
visiting. I really cannot do it. My engagements this week
are such as peremptorily to require my continuance at home,
most likely till Sabbath day, at any rate till Saturday afternoon. I am obliged to those kind friends who expressed their
concern about my exertions. I feel that I am not worthy of




118                   MEMOIR OF
their sympathy. May their compassion lead them to pray for
me, that I may be strengthened with all might by the Spirit in
my inner man; and that He whose pleasure it is to increase
strength to those that have no might, would help the infirmities of one who is weaker than a bruised reed, and yet has undertaken an office, to the discharge of which an angel is incompetent. My health is certainly in a better condition than it
has been, but I am afraid I am still far from well: my head
frequently aches, and I feel a sickness in my stomach. These
are some of the miseries that flesh is heir to; but it is a joyful
thought, that in the kingdom of glory our bodies will be no
longer. susceptible of pain, nor our minds of disquietude. Perfect health, composure, and joy, will be our happy lot when we
see each other in a better world. And can we not hope that
we shall do this; and that for ever we shall adore our common
Saviour together?  The leadings of his providence first
brought us acquainted with each other; and the methods of
his grace will, I hope, lead us on to glory, and in our way
thither make us helps to each other. Pray for me, that my
diligence may be excited; my levities checked; and my spirituality promoted. After all I say against the world, I must
confess with shame that I aim very like many of the men of the
world in this respect; that I indulge in a lightness of disposition which is inconsistent with the character of a Christian,
and makes us resemble those who never think of eternity and
the solemnities of religion. Ah! my dear friend and brother,
I have experienced in my short life many a bitter hour, occasioned by my own folly in this respect. But what a scandal
is it to a professing Christian, that natural dispositions and surrounding temptations should overcome a principle of grace in
the heart-a principle which ought ever to operate powerfully
in weaning us from folly, and making us every day more and
more serious and holy. Never do you be afraid of cautioning,
or reproving me, but give me opportunity to prove that' Faithful are the words of a friend!' I have felt more, in reference




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                119
to yourself, than I have ever yet expressed. More affection for
you; more gratitude that Providence placed you in my way;
and more determination to make you my counsellor and friend
-than I have ever yet told you.  The Lord help us to
strengthen each other's hands in his good ways. I shall not
like your letters so well if you do not direct them yourself.
This you will say is folly, but I cannot help it. Adieu!
Yours affectionately,
THOMAS SPENCER."
"N. B. Saturday afternoon, if possible, I will see you."
The history of the following month is from the
pen of his most intimate friend:
"At his return (from Dorking) he supplied Jewin-street
meeting for a month, in the afternoons and evenings, where
the attention he excited will not be easily forgotten. Before
he left, numbers could not get admittance. The church were
very anxious that he should settle among them, but their desire
could not be complied with. I have heard him blamed respecting that business; but it was only by those who did not know
the circumstances of the case. I was in the possession of his
heart in that affair, and it would be unjust to his memory not
to declare, that he was free from blame. His affectionate spirit
keenly felt for them in their disappointment.'The good people
at Jewin-street,' said he, in a letter to me,'have a strong
claim upon our prayers;' and it was to soothe their minds that
he composed his sermon upon Isaiah xxxiii: 20. The time of
his supplying at Jewin-street was very pleasant to me. I
claimed the whole of his time between and after the services,
which inclined him to enjoy that retirement wlhich was so congenial to his lowly soul. When going to preach no one saw
him. I used to knock at his door-give in his refreshmentand watch the time for him. It was from the mount of communion that he always went to the pulpit, and this caused his
sermons to shine gloriously. Frequently in passing to the




120                  MEMOIR OF
house of God we kept perfect silence, while his mind has been
so entirely absorbed, that I have found a necessity for guiding
him; and after worship he loved to stop as long as he conveniently could, that he might pass away unnoticed. But such
was the character of Spencer-his deep humility-fervent
piety-and amiable simplicity, that I am fully convinced it can
not be fairly stated without suspicion of exaggeration; and I
must confess, that I should have found great difficulty in giving
fallen nature credit for the excellencies, which, from the closest
inspection, I saw resident in that truly illustrious and holy
youth."
Having completed his engagements at Jewinstreet, Spencer's labors became again miscellaneous
and widely diffused. On Sabbath day, the 17th, he
preached at Roydon, a village near Hertford, when
he availed himself of the opportunity which this
appointment afforded him of visiting his family.
I cannot but conceive the bliss which such occasional interviews would cause in that little circle,
which had once the happiness to call him theirs. To
them the recollection of those happy hours devoted
to social or sacred intercourse with their departed
friend, must yield a soothing, though a melancholy
pleasure. Nor is the reflection less honorable to his
memory, than it is consolatory to their minds.  In
the midst of the unbounded popularity which he
enjoyed-surrounded by new and splendid connections-the admiration of listening crowds, each eager
to express his approbation; all ambitious of his friendship-he ever thought with the warmest affection
upon those whom he had left in that obscurity from




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          121
which he had himself emerged. Gladly did he seize
the opportunity, when it occurred, of retiring from
the public eye to taste again the tranquil pleasures
of his home, and enjoy the interchange of all those
sacred and delightful feelings which strengthen and
endear the ties and obligations of social or domestic
life. He was not unduly elated by his popularity.
In his new associations he did not forget his kindred
and his father's house. His family did not sink in
his regard, in proportion as he rose to eminence.The voice of universal praise did not drown the
milder whispers of paternal love. But in a heart
whose best affections were devoted to the noblest
objects, and to which new scenes of exertion were
perpetually unfolding, the family at Hertford held
an honorable and distinguished place.  The most
extensive public engagements, are not incompatible
with the retired duties of private life —and the cares
and responsibilities of the most laborious ministry
may be sustained and discharged, without absorbing
those affectionate regards so justly claimed by parental kindness and fraternal love.'Tis true, that as
a Christian, and in his official capacity, every believer in Jesus is to the faithful minister a father —
a mother-a sister-and a brother.  But as a man
the relations of life exist for him-and the feelings
of humanity must be common to him too. A heart
from which these ties are rudely severed, is but illy
adapted to that soothing influence by which the
6*




122                  MEMOIR OF
office of the ministry becomes a source of comfort to
the wretched; and a inan whose bosom is a stranger
to the tender sympathies of human life-alike insensible to joy or sorrow-may with propriety administer the cold rites of a Stoical philosophy-but
must ever be a living contrast to the religion of
Jesus-a system whose characteristic spirit is that
of the purest and tenderest philanthropy.
Before his departure for Roydon, the following
letter was addressed by Mr. Spencer to his friend.
The observations at the beginning upon Christian
boldness are judicious-and, though ignorant of the
particular circumstances which might have called
them forth, cannot fail to prove interesting and instructive:
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
Thursday evening, September 14, 1809.
"MY DEAR FRIEND:-I know you wish me to write you a
great deal; but I must plead the old excuse-want of time;
for I find that, instead of calling to-morrow morning,
must have this directly, and I have but this minute left the
chapel. You tell me your'mind recoils from public duty,
however plain and clear,' and you need not be told that this is
a pity; and in this respect you do not display that Christian
boldness which is after all consistent with genuine humility —
which the apostles displayed and enforced-which the Bible
every where recommends —and which is well calculated to evidence our decided attachment to Jesus and his cause. It shall
be my part, however, not to reproach you for the want of it,
but to carry your wants before our Father's throne, and entreat him to fill you with all holy boldness and Christian courage;




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               123
whilst at the same time I would most earnestly entreat you to
consider the foolishness of your fears: the little need we have
to seek to please our fellow-creatures, or to dread them, and
above all the constant inspection of Him who said whosoever
shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also
confess befors his holy angels. But I am persuaded that you
are not ashamed of Jesus; yet there is great need for us all to
ask ourselves repeatedly, am I fully on the Lord's side T' because this very examination itself produces the best effects, as
it prompts us to give evidence before others of the reality of
our hope, and it brings us near to God, who can make us
strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and faithful even
unto death. Your letters always affect me; your company
you know delights me; and what shall I say of your attachment to me, but that it meets return. I am often indeed induced to believe that you are too careful of me, and too much
concerned about me. Expressions of gratitude on my part
from my mouth or pen I know you do not want, therefore I
shall not trouble you with them. My mind is perfectly at ease
about the present or future laws of the house, as well as about
any situation after I have filled it. 0 that I maybe stayed on
God! I often think what a pity it will be, if from our friendship there should arise no good effect; however, here I am
wrong, because I am myself a witness that good effects have
arisen to me; but I long that to us there may be opened fresh
sources of comfort and joy in God, and that we may then be
made abundant blessings to each other. I am going to preach
next Sabbath at Roydon, a village near Hertford, where I have
reason to hope God has owned and blessed my unworthy labors
before. May he do so again. Perhaps I may go to Hertford
to-morrow afternoon, as it was the place of my nativity, and
is now the residence of my dear father, my sisters, brother,
and mother-in-law. I could say much more, (though in the
same feeble and desultory style) but you perceive my paper is
full. I cannot expect to see you at all till Tuesday. The coach




124                MEMOIR OFf
comes in town on Monday evening, about half-past six. If I
can, I will walk then to Fleet-street.
Adieu, my dear friend,
THOMAS SPENCER.I"
From this period to that of his first visit to Liverpool, I am not in possession of any remarkable occurrences in Mr. Spencer's history.  At any rate, I
am aware of none which tend to illustrate any particular feature of his character, or of such a nature
as to warrant their publication to the world. But
there yet remain many interesting letters to his
friend, Mr. Haddon, which will tend very much to
supply the want of a connected narrative —and that
friend who, during this period, enjoyed the most intimate acquaintance with him, and obtained a most
accurate knowledge of his character, has furnished
me with a series of anecdotes and observations,
which will make the reader familiar with the man,
and most strikingly exhibit the holy, humble, and
fervent bias of his mind. For the present I shall
content myself with making a selection from these
letters, with such occasional remarks as may be
necessary to illustrate their subjects or occasions;
whilst the characteristic sketches above alluded to,
will occupy some of the succeeding pages.
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
HOXTON, Oct. 12, 1809.
"MY DEAR FRIEND —With pleasure it is that I inform you
that I am appointed for Vauxhall. I feel pleasure, because
this assignation gives us another opportunity of enjoying each




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               125
other's society. I have not yet written to those friends in the
country, but intend doing it to-morrow. May the young lady
die in such a peaceful and happy state of mind, as shall, instead of suffering the survivors to sorrow as those who have no
hope, rather give them to say —Behold how he loved her! I
mentioned the circumstance to Mr. W., at the same time stating the wish of the Roydon people that I might supply them
on Sabbath day. lie told me it could not be complied with,
assigning as a reason, that I was given out at Vauxhall. As
the affair now stands, I am quite satisfied, because I wish to
resolve all my appointments into the will of the Head of the
Church.' Where he appoints, I'll go.' Of all evils, I pray to
be particularly delivered from leaning to my own understanding, and indulging my own wayward will. May obstinacy
never characterize me. May grace always be given me to
suppress it when it rises. To these requests I know, that
from your inmost soul you say Amen. One of our fellow students has just delivered us a good sermon from-'The righteous hath hope in his death.' I enjoyed his sermon much
more than I generally do those which are delivered to us on a
Thursday evening. This was so experimental-so scriptural
-so pious, that it found its way to my heart. May you and
I, whenever we shall come to die, have a lively, a sure and
a certain hope of reigning in life by Jesus Christ. Whilst so
many are called away around us, surely we should recollect
the uncertainty of our own continuance upon earth; and as
death is still potent, still inexorable, and still delights to surprise, let it be our chief concern to have an interest in the affections of the heart of that Saviour, who shall destroy this
last enemy, and give to his followers a crown of glory changeless as his own. On him may we now both live by faith, so
that when we have served our generation according to his will,
we may fall asleep in his arms.
"Adieu! Your's affectionately,
" THOMAS SPENCER?'




126                  MEMOIR OF
The young lady to whom he refers in this letter,
appears to have been one of the seals of his early
ministry, and then at the point of death. One of
the letters written by him  on that occasion, I am
able to lay before the reader.
TO MIRS.
" DEAR MADAM-Both your letters were safely and joyfully
received by me. I say joyfully, because they show that God is
putting honor upon my feeble and unworthy labors, and making
use of them for your spiritual welfare-a circumstance that gives
me more real pleasure than any other circumstance possibly
could. You are much mistaken in supposing that I neglected
to write to you because you had in your letters said anything
improper; nothing could be more opposite to my ideas. Had
this been the case, I should have felt it my duty to have set
you right: but I can tell you what I can tell my God, when I
say that I never heard or read an account of a young convert
which appeared more satisfactory, or filled me with more delight, than that which you give me of yourself. I say this not
to puff you up with spiritual pride, but to make you more
thankful that you have obtained mercy, and to assure you that
your suspicions of any dissatisfaction on my part are altogether
groundless. Rather would I exclaim,'what hath God wrought?'
and wrought too (well may I wonder) by his blessing upon
my weak exertions. Oh! let the glory be ascribed to Him
who gives testimony to the word of his grace. The excuse I
have to plead for not writing to you before, is want of time
and multiplicity of engagements-for in the academy my time
is not my own. I have just been writing a long letter to Mrs.
W., stating my views, wishes and hopes for the welfare
of her amiable and beloved daughter. May she be resigned to
the Divine will, and ready when the heavenly bridegroom
cometh! From all that I can learn, I have no doubt of her interest in the affections of that same Jesus who is now, I trust,




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               127
all your salvation and all your desire. When [ recollect that
she, a seal to my ministry, is apparently going to join the
heavenly musicians in singing that song which no man can
learn but the redeemed, it is impossible to express my feelings.
I am very desirous to hear from her own lips an account of
the way in which the Lord met with her, and a statement of
the sensations of her mind in prospect of the last conflict. I
wished to come down to see her-I asked permission. This
could not be granted me, because I was given out last Sabbath
day at the place to which I am going. But I have the happiness of informing you that next Lord's day I shall preach at
Roydon, and so shall have an opportunity of going to Thundridge Bury Farm. I hope that our covenant God is leading
you in a plain path, and teaching you more of the corruption
of your own heart and the love of Christ, by his holy Spirit.
All I can recommend you to do, is to be much engaged in secret prayer to him. Oh! aim to get near to him in holy communion, then you will find a heaven begun below. You will
have Christ for your constant companion, and you will obtain
the desire of your heart. I view this as the time of your first
love. May the zealous affection for Christ, which I hope you
now discover, increase yet more and more. Live by faith
uapon the Son of God, who loved you, and gave himself for
you. Commit your soul into his hands, and the souls of all
the members of your family. It is my earnest prayer that you
may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ; that so I may have to rejoice that you
received the gospel when delivered by me, as in deed and in
truth the word of God and not of nmIi  As for your request
about a settlement for me at Roydonl  I should recommend you
not to exipect it. I am always happy to come amongst you as
an occasional supply, but I must venture no further. I have
a variety of reasons for not considering it nmy duty to settle
with any congregation as yet, or even to think of it, and I
have thus far not engaged to do so at Roydon. Therefore I




128                MEMOIR OF
must request you not merely to check, but actually to eradicate the thought. Wishing you-your respected partner-and
all your family the best of blessings, I remain,
"Your's sincerely,
" THOMAS SPENCER."
Had he then been sufficiently advanced in his
studies to have cherished the idea of an immediate
settlement —and had he been left to the free, unbiassed expression of his feelings —there is no spot
on which he would have fixed as the scene of his
stated and pastoral labors, in preference to a village
so tranquil and retired as Roydon. He did not value
popularity, except as it afforded him an opportunity
of doing good. No one ever was more averse to
pomp or to parade. He loved simplicity in all its
forms. It was indeed a characteristic feature of
himself; and had not the prospect of more extensive
usefulness allured him to a wider and more public
sphere, his passion for retirement would have guided
him in his selection of a residence for life.
Talking with him on the subject of his health,
which seemed declining, beneath the pressure of so
much exertion, his friend said-" Do you wish to
be early laid aside-or do you desire a premature
grave?" " Oh, no," said he, "you know my wishto have a meeting in the country, surrounded by
trees-occasionally to see the shadows of the leaves
quivering on the walls, in the reflection of the setting sun. A burial ground near, in which I and




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                        129
my people can together lie!':    To live a long, honorable, and  useful life, bringing many souls to the
Saviour! This is the summit of my wishes."
Though it was denied him to enjoy the first, the
last object of his desire, and by far the most important and dearest to his heart, he did possess; for
never was so short a ministry honored by the conversion of so many souls. Every week in Liverpool
discloses some  fresh  instances  of its  success-and
one and another is perpetually rising up to say"' By the grace of God I am what I am,' but it was
* May I be indulged in another extract from the poems of Kirke White?
It was a passage which Spencer often read with peculiar emphasis, and
seems a melancholy comment on his own ideas:
"Beneath this yew I would be sepulchred.
It is a lovely spot! The sultry sun,
From his meridian height, endeavors vainly
To pierce the shadowy foliage;'Tis a nook
Most pleasant."
"Yet may not undistinguish' d be my grave;
But there at eve may some congenial soul
Duly resort, and shed a pious tear,
The good man's benison-no more I ask.
And oh! (if heavenly beings may look down
From where, with Cherubim inspir'd, they sit,
Upon this little dim discovered spot,
The earth,) then will I cast a glance below
On him who thus my ashes shall embalm."
" Wishing he may not long be doom'd to pine
In this low-thoughted world of darkling wo;
But that, ere long, he reach his kindred skies."
6*




130               MEMOIR OF
the ministry of Spencer that led me first a humble
suppliant to the throne of mercy."
The situation of young ministers is peculiarly
delicate and dangerous. The eyes not only of the
religious public, but also of the world are fixed on
them. And it is to be deplored, that where they
have a right to expect the greatest kindness, they
often meet with an undue severity; and those who
ought to be the first to throw the mantle of love over
their defects, are not unfrequently the most forward
and exulting in their exposure. To an unhappy and
inordinate love of scandal, many a fair and unblemished reputation has fallen the victim. The scattered wrecks by which they are surrounded, should
inspire succeeding voyagers with caution. There
is a cheerfulness, compatible with the deepest seriousness-the most fervent piety; and there is a levity, in which th'e dignity of the minister and the
sanctity of the Christian, may alike be lost. Where
this is witnessed, whatever claim the individual
may have upon the generosity and lenity of the spectators, he has none upon their justice-they have a
right to censure-and however we may deprecate
their severity, none can deny them its exercise.
And here it is perhaps that students are most exposed to danger. Fatigued and wasted by-the close
application and intense thought of many studious
weeks, they enter, as they imagine, the circle of
friendship, and instantly relax. Those who only




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               131
see the effect, and are unacquainted with its cause,
hastily form an unfavorable opinion of their character, and cruelly propagate the opinion they have
rashly formed.   These observations are not altogether inappropriate to the subject of the following
letter:
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
HOXTON COLLEGE, Oct. 27, 1809.
"MY DEAR FRIEND-The expression of affection your last letter, all your letters, and the whole strain of your conduct towards me evince, greatly affect me, and you will find my feelings upon the subject in Prov. xxvii. 19. Sanctified friendship
appears to me to be one of the best sweets in the cup of life.
It is what the Saviour recommended by his own example, and
what the best of men have experienced benefical in every age.
May this kind of friendship he exemplified in us, and may we
mutually share in the affections of the heart of Him, who,'having loved his own which were in the world, loved them unto
the end!' To his will in all things we must bow, and in his
dispensations, however contrary to our inclination, acquiesce;
but'not my will but thine be done,' is language which requires
a large degree of grace to use in all cases, and from the bottom
of our hearts.
"Many eyes are indeed upon me, and much do I fear that
they will see something in me ore long that will take them
from me. Your warnings are faithful, but my heart is still deceitful, and Satan may, for any thing I know, be about to sift
me as wheat. You are not ignorant of his devices. Oh! then,
pray for me, that my faith fail not, so that, instead of the number of those who behold me, turning away from me with disgust and aversion, they may rather glorify God in me, and
take knowledge of me that I have been with Jesus. The
thought that affords me some degree of encouragement, is that
Jehovah knoweth my path, and that he is able to make me




132                  MEMOIR OF
stand, yea, to remove the suspicions of those who'fear and
wait to see.' But really, I cannot help thinking that there are
some people in the world who seem as if they wished for
something to hinder one's usefulness; and who, by their too
significant expressions on the subject, lead me to suppose that
they would rejoice in such a circumstance, and say,'Oh! so
would we have it.' And why? Because then their clever
prophecies would be fulfilled, and we should for the future put
such confidence in their forebodings as to view them as certain
omens of ill events. I do hope, however, that God will in
great mercy either keep me from the snares that lie in my
way, or take me to himself.
*' I have to-day written to the Kidderminster people, referring them to the Doctor, or Mr. Wilson. I will try and be
with you to-morrow by 12 o'clock. Do not be disappointed if
I should not be able.' I remain yours affectionately,' THOIAS SPENCER.."
On Sunday, the 5th of November, he was appointed to preach at Cambridge, in the pulpit lately occupied by the Rev. Robert Hall, A.M., a name dear
to genius, as to religion.  The clay following, he
spent in viewing the University.  In a letter dated
the 3d, he says   " Last night my surprise was excited by seeing that I am not appointed on the list
for any place in town, but for Cambrigdye. I am to
stay Monday over at Cambridge, to look at the colleges, &c. I shall think much of Kirke White;"
and aware of the respectability, both in wealth and
talent, of the congregation he was called to address,
he adds, " the Lord make me prudent and faithful;




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         133
may it appear that he has some good end to answer
by conducting me thither."
He was exceedingly attached to the poetry of
Henry Kirke White. He could repeat a great part
of it, and frequently quoted it with great emphasis
and feeling. "And yet," said he in conversation
with the friend to whom these letters are addressed,
"there is a thirst for fame sometimes discovered,
which pains me.'Fifty years hence, and who will hear of Henry T
Well, suppose nobody does, and what then? If
Henry has served his day and generation, and is
gone to glory, neither the church nor he will be
losers; and the hearing of Henry will be too small
a consideration to be brought into the account."
Public as Spencer's life had now become, and exposed as he was to the influence of every unholy
passion which popularity might awaken, he yet
maintained a close and holy walk with God. He
courted solitude, and for the best of purposes. Of
him it may be truly said,'hisfellowship was with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.' The
holy and the heavenly tone his mind received in
those retired hours, gave a peculiar unction to his
ministry; and the knowledge which by deep communion with his own heart, and constant intercourse
with God, he had obtained, rendered his preaching
remarkably profitable to believers, and gave him a




134                   MEMOIR OF
skill in administering instructions adapted to all
the varieties of their experience. Of this the following is a pleasing specimen:
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
November 9. 1809.
" MY DE.AR FRIEND-Be assured that I, as well as yourself,
have walked in darkness, and complained that there was no
light. Fluctuations in experience are, I am sure, my lot, whilst
my only consolation in such circumstances still remain —tis
the unchangeableness of Christ. Oh! what is so calculated to
reconcile our minds to the way our Father calls us to travel,
as the recollection, that whilst we are found in it, Jesus is the
same, and that to the end of the journey; and in every trying
circumstance he is a present help. In darkness he will enable
us to trust in the Lord, and to stay ourselves upon our God;
yea, he will cheer our desponding souls with visitation sweet.
Seasons in which we experience darkness of mind, and depression of soul, are necessary: they form the analogy between
us and those who through tribulation are gone to heaven:
they render us fit subjects for the illuminating and refreshing
grace of Christ; they add a higher relish to the renewed enjoyment of the light and liberty of the gospel; and they serve
to prepare us for that world where the Lord shall be our everlasting life, and our God our glory.
" Reflecting upon deliverance from such times of depression
should teach us to say —: Return uito thy rest, 0 my soul,for
the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee!' It should lead us
to anticipate future favors, and rejoice that he that hath delivered us, can and will deliver; and since the day has dawned,
and the shadows have fled away, we should most cordially
adore Him who has been appointed to give light to them who
sit in darkness, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
May you and I ever enjoy the presence of Jesus, our best
friend; share in his tender sympathy; his kind reproofs; his




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               135
excellent counsels. May he be our God for ever and ever,
and our guide even unto death.  Then we need fear no evil.
If sensible that he is with us, we may pass through midnight
glooms, and experience a season of great darkness, and yet
look forward to a future time, when with pleasure we shall
sing,' The Lord is my light, of whom shall I be afraid.' Oh!
that I may be enabled to commit your soul and my own into
the hands of Jesus as unto a faithful Creator. I can now add
no more, than to say that
"I remain affectionately yours,
C" THOMAS SPENCER."
About this time his health again declined. A
severe cold for some days deprived him of his voice
-and he was compelled to rest one Sabbath day
from his public work. What were his feelings in
prospect of that Sabbath, this letter will declare.
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
December 6, 1809.
"MY DEAR FRIEND-It appears that your suspicions that I
should preach three times to-morrow, will not, cannot be
realized, for Mr. Western, as well as those around me are
agreed, that I must not go to Hertford at all, judging it dangerous for me to go out, much more so to preach. Yesterday
I passed a miserable day. The thought of the pain of mind
the letter I sent home would occasion to my friends, hurt me
much, and I was much worse than I had been before, as my
lungs and throat felt more inflamed. To-day I think I am better, but still very far from well. I can scarcely bear the prospect of a silent Sabbath. I think I shall be quite out of my
element to-morrow. Oh! that I did but more firmly believe,
that he who is my Saviour does all things well, and that he
who sustains the dread character of Judge of all the earth,
must do right. If I am able, I shall hear Mr. Hordle in the
morning. I have no voice yet. I hope it is not irretrievably




136                  MEMOIR OF
lost. I need not say, that if you can call this evening it will
give me unspeakable pleasure.
"Yours affectionately,
" THOMAS SPENCER." ~
Reflecting on this temporary indisposition in a
letter to his father, he says:-I have reason to hope
that the measure of affliction with which our heavenly Father thought fit to visit me, has been made
a blessing to my soul. It gave me time for reflection and close self-examination. It gave a new zest
to my feelings, and when it was removed, I hope I
was inspired with fresh ardor' to live for the glory
of God."
Amid the constant bustle of a public life, the retirement which temporary indisposition affords, must
be most beneficial to a pious mind. Then it can
relax into a calm and intimate communion with itself.  It can quietly indulge in such a review of the
past, and such an anticipation of the future, as will
tend not a little, under the sanctifying influence of
the Holy Spirit, to curb its impetuosity-correct its
levity-and regulate its principles. From the chamber of sickness, the exercises of the pulpit will be
furnished with materials of the highest order; and
the beds of the diseased will be attended with a
sympathy which experience of similar affliction only
can excite.
The greater part of the Christmas vacation Mr.
Spencer spent at Brighton, and on the first day of
the year 1810, he preached at the Rev. Mr. Styles'




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           137
chapel, to young people, from 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27,
28: "Because thine heart was tender, and thou
didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardst
his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and
didst rend thy clothes and weep before me: I have
even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold I will
gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace. Neither shall thine eyes
see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and
upon the inhabitants of the same."
The good seed which he was the instrument of
scattering in Brighton, very rapidly sprang up. In
a letter to his father, written immediately on his return from thence, and dated Jan. 12th, 1810, he
says, "a young person who heard me at Mr. Styles'
last year, was called, by divine grace under my instrumentality, and died before I went this time,
bearing an honorable testimony to the religion of
Jesus, and to her interest in it. Ob! what hath
God wrought!"
During his stay at Brighton, he had occasion to
solicit a favor of his friend in London, the performance of which was acknowledged in the following
letter:
TO MR. HADDON.
BRIGHTON, January 1, 1810.
"MY DEAR FRIEND-However you may smile at the idea of
my writing you a'letter of thanks,' I assure you I think you
have a claim upon it, for you have done for me what I should




138                   MEMOIR OF
have liked few others to have done; but suffice it to say, it
came safe to hand. Last Thursday I preached on Luke xxiv.
32. Yesterdayv morning at the Countess', on Eph. ii. 14. In
the evening at Mr. Styles', it being the close of the year, on
Exodus xxiii. 20. To-night I shall only preach, as one minister will commence and another close with prayer.  It is said
that I shall preach at the chapel on Thursday evening. You
ask me, where I shall be next Sabbath.  Many advise me to
remain at Brighton; but it is my present intention to return
home on the Friday, though I really feel myself in a difficulty
about it. I hope I have, since I have been at this place, enjoyed the divine blessing-those with whom I associate are the
excellent of the earth-with no others have I any occasion to
be at all connected. In this respect I am like your good friend
Mr. H. of Westminster. We certainly do not in general sufficientlg estimate the worth of the society of those who discover
the mind that was in Christ;-great is the benefit we may derive from their company. Oh! let those of us who fear the
Lord speak often with one another; one may thus come at
each other's follies, and stimulate each other to the performance of that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.  I think
my cold is getting better. After I had preached last night, a
valuable young Scotch clergyman who was there, wished I
might live to preach many such sermons-what could I say, but'all the days ofnmy appointed time will I wait till my change
come?' It is a great satisfaction to know, that we are training
up for heaven and'ripening apace for the vision of G od.'
Pray for me, that this perseverence may be given me. 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.*  WishiDg you the enjoyment of the good will of
* Alas! how blind are we to futurity! A clergyman not long




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               139
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 Ezk. 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.'"
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
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!




140                 MEMOIR OF
it to say, that his labors were unremitting; that he
visited several congregations in the country-particularly those at Hertford, Reading, Henly, and
Brighton.
He was appointed one of the three students who
should deliver the public orations at the coming anniversary-held at midsummer.  This preyed with
considerable anxiety on 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  shinking 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." His colleagues
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: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 many more. Would to God that I may experience the assisting grace of Him who has before proved himself able to do
for me exceeding abundantly above all that I could ask or
think. If the light of his countenance shine upon me, then




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                141
I shall shine in the sight of heaven, and in the eyes of his
saints, who know and can recognize the reflections of the
Saviour9s glory. From what I can anticipate of the congregation, it will be terrific; but does not the promise,'LI am with
you always,' extend to particular occasions?  Most certainly
it does; then it takes in this trying service. May I have faith
and trust in it, and be favored with an experimental confirmation of its truth. Believing that you do sincerely and constantly commend me to the kind care of your Father and my
Father, of your God and my God, I remain'" Affectionately yours,
"THOMAS SPENCER.)




CHAPTER V.
His first visit to Liverpool-Preaches at Newington Chapel. His
popularity as a Preacher-Correspondence-Return to the
Academy-Invited by the Congregation of Newington to become their Pastor-Calls from other Congregations-Acceptance
of the call from Liverpool —Last Sermon at Hoxton.
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
present them in a miscellaneous way just as they
occur.  Thus the reader will converse with himhear his own sentiments, expressed in his own language, and imperceptibly become familir 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 condnct be such, that no man can despise
thy youth. And such shall be my own.'
"He was favored with peculiar facility in composition.' Many a sermon,' said he,' have I composed between Hoxton
and your house.' His ideas flowed faster than he could write




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                143
them, and when alone our conversation has met with frequent
interruptions 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 evening at the tea-table of a
friend,'Look at that,' said he,' will it do?' It was the sketch
of a sermon, which he had composed during the conversation.'I don't know,' said he, (and those who suppose my friend
was boasting, did not know him)'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 sixty-five to seventy-five minutes in
preaching; though his hearers were not aware of it.
" 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 sweetness. Were I to dream of a passage of Scripture, 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
repeatevery service in which he had ever engaged, with the
chapter which he had read, and those of his acquaintances 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.'
"' The young man that has just passed my study door,' said
he,' is fearful that he shall not keep up variety in his sermons.




144                   MEMOIR OF
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.'
"Few persons have held pulpit eloquence in higher estimation than Spencer did, or in more contempt when it stood in
competition with the interests of souls. I remember asking
his opinion of an eloquent sermon which he had been hearing-'Why,' said he,'I could have wept over it-I could have wept
to hear immortals so treated.'
"'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.'




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               145
"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 subside; 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.'
" One day mentioning to him  an interesting text of Mr.
Cecil's, preached on the last night of the year, said he,'That
will just do for me to preach at Brighton, to conclude the services of the present year. But don't show me Mr. Cecil's till
I have composed mine. I would not borrow a single idea.'
"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
7




146                  MEMOIR OF
looking to me for instruction, and remembering my own youth
and inexperience, I was overwhelmed, and leaning forward, implored more earnestly the divine assistance.'
"While preaching at Jewin-street, he one afternoon took
the two lower steps at once, in ascending the pulpit stairs.When we afterwards met, I asked,'-Did you notice the manner of your going into the pulpit'' I did, and thought that
you would also-it was inadvertent; but it was wrong.  It
did not become the solemnity of the place.-I never remember
such a circumstance before, and will be more guarded in future.' As a proof of the necessity of his watchfulness over
the minutiae of his actions, I mention that an aged Christian
said to me some time afterwards,'I loved Spencer's sermons,
but there was a lightness about him.''A lightness! when,
and where did he discover it?''At our meeting, in jumping
up the pulpit stairs.'  Did you see it more than once T'  No.''Then I can tell you, that that once he felt and lamented as
deeply as you could; and I am sure 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 is 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.'




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                147
"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 exhortationprayer for them, &c. For his sermon on regeneration, he
choose 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 view-that
believers should be-' First fruits of His creatures.' 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.'
"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.'I 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 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 to-morrow,
where you may come with a very safe conscience. You need




148                    MEMOIR OF
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
spend the midsummer vacation in this year at Newington chapel, Liverpool, then destitute of a pastor,
by 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
* 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.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         149
was for a few weeks to labor, had some pleasing expectations that they might find in him a future -pastor, every way qualified for the important sphere of
usefulness which so large and populous a town 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 the only exception
to that uniform submission with which he yielded to
the arrangements made by his 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
whence such amazing consequences were to flow,
could not be aban1oned by a superintending Providence, to the obstacles of his prejudices, or the infiu



150               MEMOIR OF
ence of his feelings. HIis 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




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          151
deep attention and delight. There seemed to be
indeed a shaking amongst the drg 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!"
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 gradually to
weaken his prejudices, and at length completely to
turn the bias, and reverse the purpose of his mind.
The period of his stay was limited to 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.
Very soon after his return to Hoxton, Mr. Spencer received from the church and congregation at
Newington chapel, an unanimous and pressing invi



152               MEMOIR OF
tation 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 family —his best
friendships-his most endeared  connections-the
scenes of his early and honorable labors-all conspired.in the prospect of his removal to so great a
distance, to awaken the most painful and distressing feelings in his mind. And resolutely to resist
the importunities of friends, the value of whose society we fully know-to rise superior to those local
attachments which long and happy 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




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              153
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.
TO THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF CHRIST, ASSEMBLING 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 inclinations. A review of the partial degree
of success with which my labors in Liverpool were honored,
does afford me considerable pleasure, and I must say that I
7*




154                   MEMOIR OF
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, those motives to
diligence and those sources of real happiness in the prosecution
of his work, which, 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 and eternal welfare, and
indeed earnestly desire, if consistent with the good pleasure of
His will, the 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 from other
sources. I look at the state of thousands of inhabitants in that
vast town, to many of whom 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.
" I assure you, my fellow travelers to Zion, I can observe,
with admiration, peculiarities in this dispensation which never
before struck me in reference to any other situation. Oh, may
it appear that this work and this counsel is of God!'Some difficulties must be met, and some sacrifices must be
made, by me, when I leave the scenes of my former exertions
in the cause of Christ, for the sake of the people at Newington. But these are things which I must ever expect; these
are circumstances which I resolved should never move me,
when I first gave myself to God and His Christ!
" Truly believing then that I am acting under the direction
of an all-wise Jehovah, and humbly 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




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               155
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 requisitions:
"That I preach among you regularly but twice on the Sabbath, viz.: morning and evening. I mention this because I
know that my constitution will not admit of three services in
the day, and I am sure 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 preaching to you twice on the
Sabbath and once in the week, I shall never have 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 myintention, 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 when I become your pastor. You
will doubtless find in me much to pity and to blame; yet it is
my earnest prayer that you may never have to charge me with
neglect in watching over you in the Lord; finally, I request
your supplications for me at the throne of the heavenly Majesty, that a door of utterance may be opened unto me, that on
me the communications of divine grace may ever be bestowed,
that Christ may be magnified by my preaching and my life,
that I may be preserved faithful unto death, and then receive
a crown of life.
"Accept my cordial wishes for the prosperity of your own




156                    MEMOIR OF
souls, of your families, but especially of your Christian society
and of the cause of Zion amongst you. Cease not to pray
solemnly, fervently, and without intermission for me, and believe me yours, in our glorious Lord,
" THOMAS SPENCER."
HOXTON, September 26, 1810.
This official communication to the church was
accompanied by a private letter to the friend, under
whose roof he had resided during his occasional
visit, and to whose care the preceding document was
addressed.
HOXTON COLLEGE, September 19.
" MY DEAR SIR-If you wish immediately to know the purport of my enclosed answer to the respectful and pressing invitation I have received from Newington, turn to the 22d
verse of the Epistle to Philemon.
" I hope you will forgive me for the long, the doubtful suspense, in which I have been obliged to detain you; in my own
view I have acted rightly, and I have no doubt but you will
say that it was all proper, when you come to hear my statement.
It is astonishing what I have had to meet with through the
kindness of my London friends-kindness you will think improperly manifested when I tell you that they, with very few
exceptions, entreat, beg, and request, that I would not settle
at Liverpool. I can only tell them that in this affair'I hear a voice they cannot hear;
I see a hand they cannot see!'
And have the leadings of Providence lost their importance? or
the direction of Heaven become merely matter of idle talk? I
have not written individually to any person in Liverpool besides yourself: I should have found a difficulty in speaking of
the business before I had made known my determination. By




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                157
the first Sabbath in February next year I shall (God willing)
be again in Liverpool, when I hope the presence of my covenant God will accompany me, and his Spirit grant me wide
success. The prospect of leaving my friends and connections
for so distant a place as Liverpool, and especially as many of
them oppose the plan, sometimes fills me with melancholy
gloom; but'thy will be done' is a petition that well becomes
me in my situation; may I have grace given me to use it with
a sincere and believing heart.
"I trust it will appear that the general good of the church
of Christ, and of the inhabitants of Liverpool, is the object to
which I have directed my warm and unremitting exertions.
Farewell.            I remain sincerely yours,
" THOMAS SPENCER."
To this may be added an extract from  a letter
dated September 1st, 1810.
"My mind still inclines to Liverpool, and that for the most
substantial reasons. If I accept this invitation, I shall be
obliged to make some sacrifices; but ought I not to make
them cheerfully, when the honor of God and the happiness of
immortal souls require them? especially as I am bound not to
count even my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my
course with joy. The sacrifices to which I allude are chiefly,
perhaps altogether, occasioned by absence from my friends
and connections, and a removal from those interesting scenes
of exertion which have witnessed my first efforts to disseminate divine truth, and in which I have been favored with some
success."
Thus happily was a point of so much importance
to the interests of religion in Liverpool determined.
A consideration of the issue of this affair, together




158               MEMOIR OF
with many others perpetually occurring, should
teach us to suspend our judgments of persons and
places we have never seen-and should tend to
weaken those unjust and injurious prejudices against
them which we too hastily form —too tenaciously
cherish. Often we picture to ourselves the most
enchanting scenes, the most delightful associations,
in connection with a spot we are about to visit, and
are disappointed-and as often we find those charming scenes, and happy associations, in regions which
our prejudices had invested with every thing gloomy
and repulsive. Had Spencer yielded to the impulse
of his feelings, he had never become pastor of a
church in Liverpool. And although the memory
of his lamented fate may induce, from feelings
generally regarded as honorable to humanity, a wish
that he had not-yet the Christian sees in this the
hand of God —and, contemplating the mighty work
which in his short ministry he was honored to perform, rejoices that, however mysterious the decree,
it was ordered so. It is not for us to calculate
whether he would have been more useful, or less
useful, or as useful elsewhere —he was eminently
useful in Liverpool —and though all must weep
that he should be so soon, so suddenly removed —
yet none who witnessed the extraordinary impression which his labors produced in so large and
populous a town, but must rejoice in their success,
and adore the Providence which brought him there.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         159
Nor was it from the want of other calls that Mr.
Spencer was induced to accept that which he received from Liverpool. Many were the churches
which desired to enjoy his valuable ministry;
amongst others, the following places may be named
— Kiddernminster, Kentish  Town, Jewin-street,
Worthing, Southampton, and Tonbridge chapel.
From the period of his acceptance of the call to
Liverpool, till February, 1811, when he actually
entered on the pastoral office there, his time was
wholly occupied in the diligent pursuit of his studies, and the labors of the pulpit. Not a Sabbath
passed, but witnessed twice or thrice his faithful
publication of the gospel of peace. On Sunday, the
26th of August, he revisited Dorking-a spot endeared to him by the beauty of its scenery-but
more by the memory of those happy hours, which
introduced him to the knowledge and esteem of a
most beloved and valuable friend.
The first Sabbath in November he spent at Brighton, where he preached three times in the pulpit of
the Rev. Mr. Styles.
Returning to town he continued preaching in and
about London till the close of the year, when he
again visited Brighton, at which place he entered
on the year 1811-the last of his life.
In what way his mind was exercised during this
period —and how his principles as a Christian triumphed over his feelings as a man in the prospect




160                  MEMOIR OF
of a long and painful separation from those he loved
-may be seen by the following letter to a friend in
Liverpool:iOXTON, Dec. 5th, 1810.
"MY DEAR SIR-I am persuaded that you will excuse my
neglecting to write to you so long, when you recollect that the
hope I daily entertained of seeing you in town appeared to
represent my troubling you with an epistle as unnecessary. I
am extremely pleased to hear of the increase and welfare of
your family; I cannot but feel an interest in their prosperity
and happiness; may the Lord pour his Spirit upon your seed,
and his blessing upon your offspring, that they may spring up
as among the grass, as willows by the water courses! I suppose I need not inform you, that I anticipate my journey to
Liverpool with mingled emotions of mind. The idea of a long
and painful separation from my connections does certainly at
times overwhelm me with melancholy gloom; I have not yet
learned to conquer my feelings, nor am I particularly eminent
for philosophic heroism. The idea that I am going where
divine Providence has directed me, does occasionally impart to
me strong consolation; may my wishes as to extensive usefulness among you be answered; may they be exceeded in the
prosperity of the church and congregation, and in the increase
of spirituality and holy enjoyment in my own soul!
" I am glad you are successful in getting acceptable supplies;
this is a point which should be attended to. I should like the
congregation to have the best of preachers. My books, &c, I
must send from London before Christmas day, that I may have
no trouble with them after my return from Brighton.
" I am extremely happy in the prospect of being with your
family on my first entrance into Liverpool; it will be far
superior to my being with- strangers. This half year has been
a trying one as to preaching engagements, both on Sabbaths,
and on week days. I continue supplying Hoxton, and the New




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.            161
Chapel, Somer's Town, till Christmas: the day after Christmas
day, I hope to go to Brighton, to stay there three Sabbaths,
and to return on the 17th of January, to supply Roydon and
Hertford the next week; and the last Sabbath in January, to
take my leave of this part of the kingdom by two sermon at
Hoxton.  *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
" Tell our friends at Newington chapel that I am tolerably
well, and wish to be kindly remembered to them. Farewell,
my valued friend. I am sincerely yours,' THOMAS SPENCER.'
The purposes expressed in this letter were accomplished according to the order in which they are
stated.  He visited Brighton, and preached on the
last Sabbath of the old year three times, at Mr.
Styles' chapel-in the evening a sermon adapted to
the season, from 1 John ii. 17, "And the world
passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that
doeth the will of God abideth for ever!"  On the
evening of the 1st of January, 1811, he preached an
appropriate discourse at the Countess of Huntingdon's chapel, and on the following Thursday, and
three times on the Sunday, he preached at Mr.
Styles'. On the Monday evening, being the first
Monday in the month, the missionary prayer meeting was held in Brighton, when he delivered a most
animated and impressive address from Matt. xiii.
16-17, " Blessed are your eyes for they see, and
your ears for they hear; for verily I say unto you,
that many prophets and righteous men have desired
to see those things which ye see, and have not seen
them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and




162              MEMOIR OF
have not heard them."  He continued another Sabbath in Brighton, and left that place some time in
the following week. Passing through London, he
went into Hertfordshire. On Sunday, January the
20th, he preached at Roydon, morning and afternoon, and at Hoddesdon in the evening. On the
Tuesday evening he preached at Hertford, and slept
again under his paternal roof. On Wednesday evening he preached at Stansted, and on Thursday evening again at Hertford. This was, I believe, his last
visit to his native town, and to his father's house!
The separation which then took place between himself and his beloved family was final. The farewell
which he bade to the scenes of his infancy and
childhood was eternal!  I cannot suppress the
melancholy feeling which this reflection has awakened in my mind. I am arrived at length upon the
eve of a mournful detail, which all along I have anticipated with emotions of distress.  Alas! that
one so useful should be so soon removed i And that
ere we enter on the solemn engagements of his pastoral life, we should be compelled to notice circumstances so closely connected with his death!
The following Sabbath, January 27th, was the
last he spent in London. On that day he preached
in the morning at Hoxton chapel, from Phil. iii. 8,
" Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord." And in the evening at Tonbridge chapel,




REV. THOS. SPENCER.         163
from 2 Cor. iv. 3, " But if our gospel be hid, it is
hid to them that are lost." The.labors of this Sabbath completed his engagements at Hoxton and
Tonbridge chapels; but on the evening of the following day (Monday,) he took an affectionate leave
of his beloved friends-the constituents-the tutors-the students-and the congregation at Hoxton, from the pulpit of that chapel.  The crowd
that pressed to hear his last sermon (for so it proved)
in London was immense.  One common sentiment
of attachment and grief seemed to pervade the assembly. A friend charged him on that occasion not
to play upon the passions. Not that he was in the
habit of doing this; but there appeared on this occasion a probability that he might.  To that suggestion he replied, that " neither his feelings nor
his conscience would admit of such trifling." He
addressed the people on this interesting occasion
from those memorable words of Paul-Acts xx. 24,
" But none of these things move me, neither count
I my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my
course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus."
Thus were Spencer's labors in the metropolis
closed for ever-labors, the renewal of which thousands anticipated with delight. But he was ripening fast for glory-and rapidly advancing to the
termination of his course. Yea, the impression of
his excellence-the feeling of regret at his depar



164               MEMOIR OF
ture-was yet strong and lively in the hearts of
many, when the tidings of his death shed a deeper
sorrow through the scenes and circles which he had
edified by his public instructions, or enlivened by
his private friendship!
It was on the 28th of January, that Mr. Spencer
preached his farewell sermon at Hoxton chapeland it was on the 15th of August, in the same year,
in the same pulpit —and to nearly the same congregation-that his funeral sermon was delivered by
Rev. Henry Foster Burder, one of the tutors of
the academy. In that discourse, a just and elegant
tribute was paid to the mingled piety and talent
which formed the charm of his ministry. From the
known endowments of the preacher, and from the
opportunities which he enjoyed of obtaining a correct estimate of Mr. Spencer's powers, that tribute
must derive considerable propriety and force: and
as it chiefly regards his ministerial labors in London,
I shall close these imperfect memoirs of them with
an extract from it.
"During the last two years of our valuable
friend's residence at Hoxton, he was very frequently
engaged in preaching in London and its vicinity.
As this chapel has been, on many occasions, the
scene of his labors, and has been often thronged
with the multitudes attracted by his ability and
piety, I need scarcely attempt an estimate of his
pulpit talents. That they were eminent —that they




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         16 5
were brilliant-that they were captivating-will
not, I think, be denied by any who witnessed their
exhibition. He undoubtedly displayed no small degree of pulpit eloquence, and his eloquence was distinguished by characteristic features. It was not
the kind of eloquence in which a youth of genius
might be expected most to excel, and of which luxuriance of imagination constitutes the chief attraction; it was not a peculiar vivacity of fancy, which
gave life to his addresses, although in this respect
they were not deficient; but they rather owed their
effect to the energy and animation infused by the
ardor of his soul, and to the unaffected fervor of his
religious feelings, the impression of which was aided
by no small advantages of person, voice, and elocution. In endeavoring rightly to appreciate his qualifications for the duties of the Christian ministry, I
must not omit to notice the truly edifying manner.
in which he conducted the devotional exercises of
the pulpit. His gift in prayer was peculiarly excellent. The language of his petitions seemed to
breathe the ardent aspirations of a heart alive to
God, and accustomed to enjoy fellowship with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
That he was maturing fast for the enjoyment of
his reward, even when he left London to commence
his pastoral engagements, is a conviction indelibly
impressed upon the minds of those -who were aceustomed to attend his preaching, or mingle in his




166               MEMOIR OF
society. They remember certain expressions, both
of countenance and language, which seemed to indicate a tone of piety —a spirituality of feelingtoo exalted for a long continuance here. And it is
to be regretted, that such expressions, at the time
so powerful in their influence, and so carefully preserved by a tenacious memory, no pen-no pencil
can portray. Hence the sermons of animated and
extemporary preachers, when introduced to us from
the press, lose half their force and beauty. The
scope of the discourse-the process of the argument
— may be indeed preserved; but the unpremeditated, momentary flashes of holy fervor, and of brilliant genius, cannot. The eloquence of the eyethe expression of the countenance —the meaning
which is sometimes thrown into every limb and muscle of the frame, are wanting. And though it is
pleasing to possess a memorial of those whom living
we revered and loved, yet the imperfection of the
copy only deepens our regri at the loss of the origifial. In the preaching of Spencer, it seemed as
though he saw before him every object he described
— and felt the full force-the vast importance of
every subject upon which he spoke."
Preaching one evening at Back-street, Horsley
Down, and speaking of the reward of the faithful
gospel minister, " Methinks," said he, " I already
hear the melodious accents of the Saviour's voice,
saying,' Wel done, good and faithfcul servant, en



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               167
ter into the joy of thy Lord.' " It was remarked,
that he appeared as though he heard a voice, personally addressing him. His anticipation was in a
very few months realized!
Anxious for the usefulness and variety of his
ministry, he begged of his friend, upon his leaving
London, to send him any useful pamphlets or
works which might come out; "Let me know,"
said he, "when popular ministers are in townthe texts they take for particular occasions —festivals, &c., the settling or removal of my fellow students, &c."
The last time he was with his friend alone, prior
to his setting off for Liverpool, their approaching
separation was, as may be well imagined, the topic
of discourse-when, with his own peculiar affection
and energy, he said: —
"Through Christ when we together came,
In singleness of heart,
We met, oh Jesus! in thy name,
And in thy name we part.
We part in body, not in mind,
Our minds continue one;
And each to each, in Jesus join'd,
We happily go on.
Present in spirit still we are,
And intimately nigh;
While on the wings of faith and prayer,
We Abba! Father! cry.




168             REV. THOMAS SPENCER.
Oh, may thy Spirit, dearest Lord,
In all our travels still
Direct and be our constant guard
To Zion's holy hill.
Oh! what a joyful meeting there,
Beyond these changing shades;
White are the robes we then shall wear,
And crown upon our. heads.
Haste, Lord, and bring us to the day
When we shall dwell at home;
Come, oh Redeemer, come away;
Oh, Jesus, quickly come."




CHAPTER VI.
Mr. Spencer commences his pastoral labors at Newington Chapel
-Suddenly called by affliction to Brighton —His fears relieved
-Correspondence-Success of his ministry —Lays the foundation stone of a New Chapel for his Congregation-Correspondence —Ordination-His first administration of the Lord's Supper-Death-F uneral-C oncluding Reflections.
ON Sunday, 3d of February, 1811, Mr. Spencer
commenced his stated, pastoral labors at Newington chapel, Liverpool. He was then just twenty
years of age-possessed of every endowment that
could render him eminent as a minister-and every
amiable disposition that could endear him as a
friend. The people of his charge, together with
numbers who participated with them in their joy,
hailed his entrance on his sacred duties with delight. From him they fondly anticipated a long
series of. varied and useful instructions-on him they
gazed with admiration, as affording them no mean
example of a holy and devoted life-and to him
they looked with pleasure as their children's friend.
That he was prepared to meet these high expectations, none who have contemplated the superior endowments of his mind can, for a moment, doubt8




170                 MEMOIR OF
his literary attainments, though not splendid, were
respectable-his theological knowledge was considerable-his acquaintance with mankind indeed
was scanty; he had only moved amongst the excellent of the earth; but this, while it might expose
him to certain inconveniences, gave him this advantage-that he appeared in all the native ingenuousness of unsuspecting youth. His love of study was
great, which insured a constant supply of interesting materials for his public ministry-whilst he possessed a facility, an ease, an elegance, in the communication of his thoughts, displayed by few. To
all these, he added the graces of the Spirit in no
common degree-the glorious attributes of a soul
eminently devoted to God-a solemn awe of his
sacred office-an habitual reference to the final account he should be called to render-and an ardent
zeal for the Redeemer's glory!  Such was Spencer
when he entered on the duties of his stated ministry!
But I shall justify this sketch of his character by
some extracts from his letters.
In one dated Brighton, January 9th, 1811, he
says" I dread the termination of the happiness I now enjoy. It
will be the commencement of a long and agonizing separation.
Oh! that henceforth I may live more devotedly to God than I
have ever yet done. I can truly say this is my desire; for to
be a preacher of the gospel, and not to feel its due abiding influence on the heart, is awful indeed. Since I have been here




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                171
I have trembled for myself, when I have recollected the numerous follies of the four years I have spent at Hoxton. The Lord
pardon me, and teach me to be more holy. Pray for me.
" Affectionately yours, --    "
The following letter was written the day after his
arrival in Liverpool.
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
LIVERPOOL, February 2d, 1811.
"MY DEAREST FRIEND-I am safely arrived at the scene of
my future labors. My journey, though long, was far less irksome than any one I have before undertaken. The roads were
bad; this made us late in our arrival at Liverpool. We did not
reach it till a quarter before twelve last night. The short time
that I have yet spent here has been quite pleasant-it has been
happy. The serious people of the congregation have already
paid me many kind and Christian attentions. With the blessing of the Master whom I serve, I expect to-morrow to spend
a very delightful Sabbath. My best feelings for the glory of
our Lord and the increase of his kingdom, will I hope be more
strongly excited than ever they have yet been. I cannot but
think that the Head of the Church has some great work to accomplish in Liverpool, and the desire of my heart is that I may
be the instrument employed to effect it. Oh! for a large measure of the influence of the blessed Spirit to render me
ardently pious, and to keep me zealous in my endeavors to do
good to souls. I know here are numbers who pray earnestly
for me, and whilst these pious people besiege the throne of
grace on my behalf, I will not fear that my God will desert me.
To be holy and to be useful at this moment, appears to be the
first wish of my heart. Do you say,'indulgent God, let it be
accomplished!'
" I am tired with my journey and pressed for time. Believe
me in the bonds of Christian affection, Sincerely yours,
THOMAS SPENCER.'




172                 MEMOIR OF
According to his anticipation, he did enjoy on the
Sabbath a happy day, although in the morning he
was considerably agitated by the peculiarly solemn
circumstances of his new and most responsible situation. In the morning his text was admirably
adapted to the occasion.  Gen. xxviii. 22-" And
Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God will be with me
and keep me in this way that I go, and will give me
bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I come
again to my father's hoqlse in peace. then shall the
Lord be my God, and this stone which I have set up
for a pillar, shall be God's house, and of all that thou
shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."
In the evening he preached from I Cor. xv. 49,
" And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we
shall also bear the image of the heavenly."  In the
course of the ensuing week, he wrote as follows;
LIVERPoOL, Feb. 7, 1811.
"Oh! what a memorable day to me was the first Sabbath I
spent in this place; every circumstance that took place appeared worthy of attention and big with events; never before
had I entered a pulpit, with those awful, solemn feelings with
which I was impressed that morning. The idea of appearing
in a new character, of entering on a station which I have no
view of relinquishing till the day of my death; the weight of
responsibility which attaches to the ministerial character; the
dread lest I should act in any way unworthy of my sacred
office; all these things would naturally impart an unusual
solemnity to the mind. ON THAT DAY heaven is my witness of
the holy resolutions I formed. Oh that God may ever enable
me to put them in execution."




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         173
The attention which his labors had excited, while
an occasional supply, was repeated, now that he had
commenced his stated ministry.  Soon the chapel
became again crowded to excess. The town was
filled with his praise —the most respectable of the
inhabitants were perpetually disappointed in their
attempts to hear him, not being in any way able to
gain admittance to the chapel, so excessive was the
throng. His coming seemed to be the commencement of a new era in the religious interests of Liverpool-at least amongst the dissenters. The prejudices of many were gradually subdued. The tone
of public sentiment, with respect to that class of
Christians amongst whom he labored, considerably
raised. Many, by no means anxious to conceal their
opposition to his principles, were compelled to pay
a just, though reluctant tribute to the fascinations
of his eloquence; and many whom the fame of that
eloquence brought beneath the sound of his voice
were savingly converted unto God; and of these,
some are at this moment honorable members of the
church of which he was the pastor. So far from being elated by his popularity, and rendered vain by
the uncommon attention he excited and received
from all.ranks —every Sabbath, while he grew in
public estimation, he seemed to sink in his own esteem, in humble acknowledgments of his own unworthiness, and in a yet deeper sense of his awful
obligations. The next is an extract of a letter to
his father.




174                   MEMOIR OF
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 26, 1811.
"I assure you I have every reason to believe, that this is- the
sphere in which Infinite wisdom intends me to move. My congregation is vast every time I dispense the word of life. A
general spirit of hearing seems excited in this large town-the
prospect is in every respect encouraging, and I am induced to
hope, that great good will be done. I feel the awful responsibility that attaches to my employment; and when I recollect
the multitude of souls committed to my care, I tremble, and
exclaim, I Who is sufficient for these things?' I often think how
different is my situation now, to what it was when I lived at
my father's house. I am called to an active and laborious scene.
Once it was enough for me just to execute your wishes, and
then in the quiet enjoyment of our own family circle to experience satisfaction and comfort. Now God has blessed me by
making me a blessing to others. May he preserve me faithful
and make me an honorable and holy Christian!"
Scarcely had Spencer entered on the full discharge
of his public duties at Liverpool, when severe affliction in the endeared circle of his connections at
Brighton called him to that place. A letter written
about this period, displays the agonized state of his
feelings-but abounds with expressions of holy acquiescence in the Divine dispensations. He left
Liverpool on the 18th of March, accompanied by the
valued friend under whose roof he resided, and
whose guest he was during his first visit. Arrived
in London, the following hasty note bespeaks the
anguish of his mind:
LUDGATE STREET, Tuesday night.
"MY DEAR FRIEND-This moment I am  within a few doors
of you, but cannot reach you. Mr. H-  is with me: we




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                175
have just got in from Liverpool, and start for B. to-morrow, at
seven o'clock in the morning. I shall write to you from
Brighton. Pray for me: I am in unutterable distress. Farewell.                                     T. SPENCER."
The Sabbath after his arrival in Brighton, he did
not engage in any public service.  Much of the day
doubtless was spent in administering comfort to the
afflicted.  The fears which he had sometimes been
induced to harbor, were not, however, realized;
health slowly returned.  His friend was under the
necessity of hastening to Liverpool, after the lapse
of a few days-but Mr. Spencer remained at Brighton. His affectionate heart dictated the following
letter, to welcome his friend on his arrival home:
TO ER. H —BRIGHTON, Thursday vaornzing.
"MY DEAR AND VALUED FRIEND-I am pleasing myself with
the idea that before this reaches Livcrpool, you will have
shared the hearty and affectionate welcome of a beloved and
happy family: this is a blessing which you know how to improve and enjoy aright, and for u-hich I am persuaded you will
express the sincerest gratitude to the God of our mercies.
May the same kind and watchful Providence which has, I
trust, led you to your home in peace and safety, also preserve
and defend me, that I may be again restored to the church and
congregation at Newington, and be enabled to pursue a course
of active and useful labor in the services of the Master whom
I hope I really love.
"I frequently think that by this visit to Brighton on so
mournful an occasion, I shall be better fitted to sympathize
with the afflicted in general, and be taught how to commend
them to God. Before this I had not been at all familiar with




176                   MEMOIR OF
scenes of sorrow and distress. In the two sick rooms you
visited last Mo9nday evening, I have learned lessons which I shall
never forget, and the benefit of which may probably be communicated to the church of Christ, as well as to myself.
"Our Redeemer himself, in order to be rendered a merciful
and compassionate high-priest, was' tempted like as we are;'
endured the various ills and sorrows that flesh is heir to; and
hence (oh! blessed sympathy and kind relief,) he is able to
succor them that are tempted.
" Next Sabbath morning I intend to preach at the Countess'
chapel, and in the evening at Mr. Styles'; pray for me, that I
may be supported and blest. It is still my design to reach
Liverpool on Friday night: tell oulr friends that they may expect to see me in the pulpit on the following Sabbath. May I
be there richly ladened with the good things of the kingdom;
may I be animated by a mind fraught with rich and heavenly
favors. I am sure that if my God restores those who are so
dear to me to perfect health and strength, my heart, hard as it
is, will not be insensible to the feelings of gratitude. No; it
will leap as doth a hart; it will pant with the sensations of
unutterable joy. I have received a very kind letter from our
worthy friend, Mr. N. H-; do tell him it afforded me real
pleasure, and give him my hearty thanks for his solicitude for
my happiness. I hope you are going on well with the new
chapel business; if possible, let us make Satan tremble;
against the kingdom  of darkness let us use the most active
and unwearied exertions, and God shall bless us in our deed.
I wish I could have attended the meeting of the Bible Society;
my absence, however, was unavoidable. Give my affectionate
regards to my dear friend Mrs. H — and to your dear children. I hope I shall soon see you happy and well. Your unremitting kindness to me has produced impressions upon my
mind which will never be obliterated. I shall be happy again
to mix with your family circle, and to occupy my own pulpit.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          17r7
To the hearers at Newington I intend to show my regard and
best wishes by constantly laboring in their service.
"I am more than ever yours,
"THOMAS SPENCER."
The uncommon attention excited in Liverpool by
Mr. Spencer's ministry, soon suggested the necessity of providing more accommodation than Newington chapel could afford, for the numbers who were
anxious to enjoy the benefit of his stated labors.
At first the idea of enlarging the old place of worship presented itself; but some difficulties arising,
this was relinquished, and early in March it was resolved, that a chapel capable of accommodating two
thousand persons should be erected-a committee
of management was appointed-and an eligible spot
of ground soon selected for the purpose. A most
judicious plan for the building was proposed and
adopted —the dimensions of which were thirty-two
yards long outside, and twenty-one yards and a half
broad outside. A liberal subscription was soon obtained, and the affair was in a state of such forwardness on his return from Brighton, that on the 15th
of April, Mr. Spencer laid the first stone of the
chapel, in the presence of an immense assemblycomputed to consist of about six thousand persons.
On that truly interesting occasion, he delivered an
appropriate address, and solemnly dedicated the
place to God by prayer.
About this time Mr. Spencer removed from the
8*




178.                 MEMOIR OF
hospitable abode of his early friend, with whom he
had resided on his first coming to Liverpool, in order
to lodge with Mr. Thurston Lassel, in the Park
Road; a pleasant situation, about half a mile from
the town. It was the lot of Spencer to be beloved
in every circle which he entered-and none who
were honored to behold his excellence, and enjoy his
friendship, ever resigned him without feelings of the
deepest regret. I cannot deny myself the pleasure
of extracting a sentence or two from the willing testimony which that friend has borne to the sterling
worth of his most amiable guest. I am the more
anxious to do this, as it will unveil his character in
private life, and show us what he was as the member
of a family.
" We had the great advantage of Mr. Spencer's pious conversation and fervent prayers in the family for near four
months, for he did not leave us till the latter end of April; it
was indeed a pleasant and, I trust, a profitableseason, which we
often review with great delight. With what pleasing emotions
have we often surrounded our domestic altar and witnessed
the fervor of his addresses to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. In this delightful employ he never seemed to
engage with half a heart, his whole soul was alive to the service of his God: he was serious in a serious cause, nor did any
circumstances that arose ever seem to unfit him for the discharge of religious duties. Morning and evening he generally
engaged in prayer at family worship; the variety he produced
on these occasions has often astonished us; it was impossible
to trace anything like repetition; every prayer seemed quite
new, and gave fresh proof of the powers of his mind and the
ardor of his soul.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              179
"Mr. Spencer naturally possessed an amiable disposition,
and was innocently cheerful; no one could say that gloom or
melancholy was connected with his religion. In his manners
he was simple and unaffected; any thing like ostentation or
parade he disliked exceedingly; he would always, if possible,
avoid mixing with large parties. The company of serious,
pious, plain Christians was his delight. He was kind, generous, and tender-hearted; the wants of the poor and necessitous he was ready and willing to relieve;'to do good and communicate he forgot not, knowing that with such sacrifices God
is well pleased."
But whilst all around him was prosperous and
happy —whilst his ministry was successful beyond
his most sanguine expectations, and hundreds were
anxious to administer to his comfort; his heart was
the victim of anxiety and grief.  The continued and
alarming indisposition of his friends at Brighton,
inspired his delicate and susceptible mind with the
most gloomy and agonizing fears.  It was well.  His
Heavenly Father saw he needed some thorn in the
flesh, under the circumstances of his unexampled
popularity, to prevent his being exalted above measure, and to preserve his soul in a frame of holy
solemnity, and humble reliance on himself. Lest
the sun of his prosperity should dazzle him  too
much, these friendly clouds were permitted to intervene. Their salutary influence may be traced in
the following letter:
TO MR. JOHN HADDON.
LIVERPOOL, April 16, 1811.
"MY DEAR FRIEND-The melancholy state of depression in




180                      MEMOIR OF
which I have been held so long must form my excuse for neglecting the sacred duties of friendship, in not writing before
this to you.  Oh! how soon can Jehovah blast our hopes of
happiness from creature comforts, to convince us of the uncertainty of all earthly good! We must "walk by faith,' and live
in the exercise of a lively hope, that we shall obtain a better
and more permanent rest.  I scarcely dare. for my own part,
anticipate any other kind of happiness on earth, but what may
arise from communion with the Saviour, and the delightful
work in which I anm engaged, which, I must say, amidst all my
trials affords me increasing happiness and pleasure. Thanks
be to God, the work of the Lord is prospering in my hand;
and though I may not have much pleasure in this worldc myself, I hope I shall be the means, in the hands of the IIoly
Spirit, of putting into the possession of my fellow creatures,
real and substantial felicity; this, the gospel I am enabled to
preach is sent to confer. The next week I expect to go to my
lodgings. I shall reside in a retired, rural and delightful spot,
with a family (three only in number) who belong to the congregation in which the Lord has graciously called me to labor;
it is about half a mile from  the town, away from all bustle
and noise, commanding a most delightful and enchanting prospect of both land and water.  My study affords a most extensive view of fields and hills, the river and the adjacent county,
(Cheshire.) I am persuaded it is every thing I could wish for
as a plan for my residence. In that pleasant study* I expect
*' To me it is a melancholy reflection that I should so soon become the
occupier of a spot in which he had fondly pictured to himself so many years
of pleasure. In his own study; on his own table; in his own chair; I am
now drawing up these memoirs of his life; around me are the fruits of his
short but laborious exertions; and immediately before my eyes the path by
which he descended to his grave! From every object within my view, I
am admonished "work whilst it is day,for the night cometh, when no man
can work." I would tlat every loiterer in the vineyard of Christ were attended by mementos such as these.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               181
to spend much time. and enjoy some degree of pleasure; and
my dear friend will believe me when I assure him that amidst
the afflictions which our righteous Father judges the best
school for me, it would tend to alleviate my sorrows, and
cheer my spirits,. could he be in my new study, and as he did
in my old one, occasionally spend an hour or two with me in
social chat.
" Yesterday I laid the foundation stone of my new chapelgave an address upon the spot, and dedicated the place to God
in solemn prayer. The auditory consisted of not less than
five thousand people, who were all fixed in their attention.
May I, on that ground, often find a solace for my cares in the
public worship of God! May he bless the undertaking! May
his eyes and his heart be there perpetually!
"Farewell. I must break off by assuring you that I am
sincerely yours,                    ThOMAS SPENCER."
The week following that in which he laid the
foundation stone of the new chapel, Mr. Spencer
made an excursion into the country, and preached on
the Tuesday evening at Darwen, and on the Thursday evening at a meeting of ministers at Blackburn.
During this journey, he suffered much from. the
complaint to which he was subject; but although
laboring under the pressure of severe indisposition,
in the pulpit he rose superior to the influence of
langour and pain; and his exertions on that journey
are still spoken of by those who witnessed them, and
they were many, with delight.
On his return to Liverpool, Mr. Spencer received
a melancholy summons to Chester, to attend the
funeral of his early and amiable friend, the Rev.




182                MEMOIR OF
Ebenezer White, and to deliver the oration at his
grave. His obligations and attachment to that excellent man have already been recorded. When
arrived at the scene of death, his delicate mind seemed overwhelmed in an agony of grief. He stood
weeping in unutterable distress over the cold remains of his departed friend. His bosom formed
for friendship, and even then the seat of no ordinary
sorrow, was illy prepared to sustain the pressure of a
stroke, by which he was suddenly bereft of one who
had discharged for him the relations of the father,
the tutor, and the friend! Mr. Walter White, who
was the witness of his grief, has thus described it:
—' I shall not easily forget this dear young man's
behavior on the evening preceding my brother's
funeral at Chester. We were standing together by
the side of the coffin, viewing the corpse-he wept
excessively, and clasping his hands with great emotion, exclaimed,'Oh! that I may but finish my
course like him!' and turning to me, he said with
his usual energy,'Oh! what a fine thought it is,
that the bodies of the saints are purchased by Christ
as well as their souls.' And then passing his friendly hand gently over my brother's face, he said, with
great emphasis,'This body is the purchase of
Christ: it cannot be lost-it must revive againall these limbs must resume their activity. Oh!
with what fine sentiments and ideas does the Christian religion furnish us to what any of the heathen
systems did!'"




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              183
Though excessively agitated in his whole frame,
he yet sustained himself to deliver at the grave a
funeral oration, characterized by tender and solemn
eloquence —the eloquence of feeling and of piety.
His letters to his friends for some time after this
event, contain occasional allusions to the death of
Mr. White —and in a way which proves how much
he loved him-how deeply he deplored his loss. In
one he says" I have lately been visiting a scene of death at Chester;
my worthy friend, Mr. White, is now no more in this world;
but I doubt not he shines illustriously in another state of existence. When I was eleven years of age he came to ilertford, and used to spend a great deal of time with me; ah!
little did I then think I should have to deliver a funeral address at his interment, and so far away too from the place with
which we were then familiar. Peace to his ashes, and eternal
joy to his departed spirit! and ere long may I meet him in
that blessed state, where disappointments will no longer be
his lot or mine."
On the Sabbath evening following, Mr. Spencer
preached a funeral sermon for his friend, in his own
pulpit at Liverpool, from  Dent. xxxiv. 5, "So
Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land
of Moab, according to the word of the Lord."  The
sermon was solemn and impressive. Thus we record the mortality of others, and drop into eternity
ourselves. On that Sabbath evening three months,
his own funeral sermon was preached in the same
pulpit.




184               MEMOIR OF
Mr. Spencer seemed now to become more and
more interested in his important work; the scenes
of every day appeared to present it to his mind in
some new and interesting light. The powers of his
soul were absorbed in its concerns. He could think
and speak of nothing else. In the pulpit, or in the
preparations for it —in serious conversation with his
friends-or in the chambers of the deceased and
dying, he was at home. He lived but for the discharge of his high obligations; and in the prosecution of his arduous work he was both useful and
happy.  With astonishing rapidity his character
and talents ripened.  He seemed to grow daily in
favor both with God and man. All that saw him,
admired him, there was something so engaging in
his manner —all that heard him, respected and revered him, so serious and important were the truths
which he delivered —all that knew him, loved him,
for his was every amiable quality that could. excite
and retain the best affections of the human heart.
Valuable as our public institutions for the education of students for the Christian ministry really
are, they can afford but an inadequate conception
of the complicated duties of the pastoral office. The
work of the pulpit is perhaps, after all, not the
most difficult or trying part of the pastor's employ
-and the reason why so many fail when called into
active service in the church of God, is probably this,
that they never calculated upon one-half of the en



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           185
gagements which then press upon their regard.
They had formed a most incorrect estimate of the
numerous claims which the office of the ministry
involves, upon their time-their talents-their patience —and their faith. They had imagined, that
in the composition and delivery of sermons was the
chief of their labor-and that when this duty was
discharged, by far the heaviest burden was removed.
The visitation of the sick, with all the peculiar delicacy, prudence, affection, and faithfulness which it
requires-the consolation of the distressed, with all
the caution and skill which the varieties of their
grief demand —the reproof and admonition of the
irregular, with all the mingled tenderness, constancy
and fidelity, which, in such difficult cases, must be
exercised —the care of the young, with that adaptation of temper and manner to their capacities which,
in the work of catechising, familiar conversation or
public instruction, is absolutely necessary-the advising, comforting and relieving the distressed, the
embarrassed, and the indigent, who all press to him
for counsel, solace and relief;-these, and unnumbered other duties connected with the pastoral office,
are but seldom contemplated with sufficient seriousness amid the exercises of a college. And even in
the public engagements of ministry, the circumstances of the pastor differ materially from those of
the student.  The pulpit compositions of the student are general; those of the pastor must be par



186               MEMOIR OF
ticular.  The student has no individual case to
suit; the congregation to whom he preaches are
strangers to him; the pastor has as many cases as
there are people committed to his charge. The
student can select his topics, and adapt his preaching to the tone of his mind-or if peculiar reluctance
should be felt, may enjoy the repose he wishes, and
not preach at all; but the pastor must appear at
the stated hours of worship, whatever be the frame
and temper of his soul.  Often he is called to the
discussion of subjects but illy adapted to his feelings;
and it becomes his duty to administer consolation to
others which his bleeding bosom needs, but cannot
take.  IHe must sometimes cover with a smiling
countenance an aching heart; and his lips must
exhort to tranquillity and confidence in God, whilst
over his own spirit broods the cloud of anxiety and
sorrow! Happy shall I be if the perusal of these
imperfect memoirs tend to excite in the breast of
any a spirit of Christian sympathy and prayer for
the ministers of the gospel; or if these statements
of the labors and anxieties of their office, shall induce'those to pause and count the mighty cost, who
may be thoughtlessly pressing forward to the arduous work. Let such remember the worth of souls
— the guilt of becoming accessory to their ruin —
and the solemn account all must render at the bar
of God, who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of seeking, by every possible method, to
promote their eternal interests.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               187
The considerations seemed ever present to the
view of Spencer. The feelings of an affectionate
and faithful pastor's heart breathe in every sentence the following letter.
TO MR. HADDON.
LIVERPOOL, May 31, 1811.''"M   DEAR FRIEND-YOU really must excuse my apparent
neglect in not writing you before; but if you knew the number and pressing nature of my avocations, you would not wonder. I now feel, and deeply too, the dreadful responsiblity of
my employment. I have sick beds constantly to attend-a
numerous congregation committed to my charge-a character
to sustain, which ought ever to appear free, even from the
very appearance of evil-and all this with the most depressed
state of feelings, and but little experience of the arduous duties the course of the Christian ministry embraces. Often do
I exclaim,'who is sufficient for these things?' Oh! that I
may find that my sufficiency is of God. I am led at times to
derive encouragement from the good which I trust the blessed
Spirit has accomplished by my feeble labors; but then I think
again of my youth, my inexperience, my exposure to the fiery
darts of the wicked one, and the possibility of my eventually
becoming a'a cast-away.'
"Oh! there are many feelings of this painful class in my
mind, which few can share, which I cannot dare frequently to
communicate.
"All this and much more, do I daily feel. I wish you were
with me. I could say a thousand things I cannot write, and
you might console me with the comforts wherewith you yourself are comforted of God! Do pray for me, for I need it
more than ever now. Often do I dispense to others that consolation I cannot take myself.
" Thank you a thousand times for Cecil. Oh! they are admirable; what a character was he. Oh! that the Head of




188                  MEMOIR OF
the Church would but make me like him. The tracts are just
what I wanted; may a Divine blessing attend the distribution
of them. Farewell!
"I am yours affectionately,
" THOMAS SPENCER."
In another letter he writes:
" Cecil's works are a high treat indeed: you cannot think
how I enjoy the perusal of them. There are such valuable
hints for ministers-such inestimable directions, that I hope I
shall evince the benefit of reading them to the last hour of the
day in which I am appointed to work!"
The church and congregation at Liverpool now
became anxious for Mr. Spencer's ordination, and
Thursday the 27th of June was appointed for that
solemn service. In the following letter he announced it to his early friend and patron, Mr. Wilson, whose presence on that occasion he earnestly
desired.
TO THOMAS WILSON, ESQ.
LIVERPOOL, June 4, 1811.
"MY DEAR SIR-I am happy to inform you that Thursday,
June the 29th, is the day appointed for my ordination. Will
you allow me to expect the pleasure of your presence and society on that solemnity? If you were here you would be
pleased with my prospect of usefulness, and you would be
able to suggest some hints to our friends about the new chapel.
Little things are apt to be neglected, and their neglect, though
apparently trifling, would spoil the whole concern. We may
well congratulate each other on the triumph the dissenters
have obtained over an intolerant and oppressive spirit. They
have imagined a vain thing: the Lord reigneth, let the people




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               189
tremble. You know the great depression of spirits under
which I have for some time labored; may the Lord appear a
present help in this time of trouble. The walls of Zion are to
be built, it appears, in troublous times, for such they are to
me; yet I would submissively commit my cause to God; he
may ordain that the benefit of his church, and the good of
others, shall be promoted by the ills I endure. You know
poor White, of Chester, has received the end of his faith-the
salvation of his soul; I delivered the oration over his grave.
Mr. Fletcher, of Blackburn, preached his funeral sermon. We
are all dying creatures, hastening to the world of immortality.
I think that lately the world has appeared to me in its true
light —' it passeth away.' May we by every dispensation of
Providence be rendered more meet for the inheritance of the
saints in light: in due time may we be clothed upon with our
house, which is from heaven. Present my kind respects to
Mirs. and Miss Wilson. I'hope you will try to visit Liverpool
by the time mentioned. Wishing much to see you, I remain,
dear sir,             Affectionately yours,
" THOMAS SPENCER.'
The day of ordination at length arrived.  The
chapel in which Mr. Spencer preached being but
small, that service, which, amongst dissenters of
the congregational order, is remarkably solemn, was
performed at the chapel in Byrorn-street, Liverpool,
which was handsomely granted  to the people at
Newington chapel for that special purpose. It was
indeed an interesting day. The services were commenced by the Rev. Mr. Evans, of Stockport, who
read suitable portions of Scripture, and implored
the Divine blessing upon the sacred engagements
of the day.  The Rev. Joseph Fletcher, M. A., of




190               MEMOIR OF
Blackburn, then delivered an admirable introductory discourse, and received from Mr. Spencer his
confession of faith, together with answers to the
questions usually, on such occasions, proposed to
the minister to be ordained; Mr. Spencer then
kneeling down, surrounded by his fathers and
brethren in the ministry, the Rev. John Cockin, of
Halifax, offered up, with deep solemnity, the ordination prayer, accompanied by the imposition of
hands. To this act of ordination succeeded a most
impressive and affecting charge from the Rev. William Hordle, of Harwich, Mr. Spencer's former tutor
and friend. The passage on which this excellent
address was founded was Col. iv. 17, " Take heed to
the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,
that thou fulfill it." The Rev. Mr. Roby, of Manchester, preached to the people of Mr. Spencer's
charge, upon the duties which devolved on them in
the relation that day publicly recognized, from Gal.
iv. 18, " It is good to be zealously afected always in
a good thing." The service was throughout most
affecting and impressive; it was characterized by a
peculiar solemnity, both in the feelings of the ministers and the people. The tender frame and delicate mind of Mr. Spencer was nearly overwhelmed
by the awful considerations which then pressed upon
him. Had the melancholy event which so rapidly
succeeded this interesting service been at that time
certainly announced, a seriousness more suitable to




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              191
the occasion could hardly have been inspired; and
indeed in Mr. Hordle's charge there were passages
which in the sad sequel of this history appear most
singularly appropriate-bordering even on the prophetic!  One in particular deserves to be recorded:
"You, my dear young brother, must die, and stand at the
bar of God. Your ordination service may be only a prelude
to your funeral service, for what is man? Man is but of yesterday, and his days are as a shadow. How often have we
seen the sun go down while it is yet day! and while the
church has been pleasing itself with the prospect of enjoying
the pious, fervent labors of an endeared minister for years. has
an unexpected stroke separated them forever i Mourning survivors wondering have said,' Verily thou art a God that hidest
thyself 0 God of Israel, the Saviozr.' "'
Too often such remarks as these are passed by
unnoticed by the thoughtless-are merely considered as expletives to supply the want of other matter
or splendid furniture to decorate and give effect to
the address. The anticipation, though founded in
reason, warranted by Scripture, and authorized by
experience, is yet unaccompanied by any just assurance of the event it realizes; and its connection with
any special decree of God is concealed from mortals.
But there are seasons when the lips of holy men
seem to utter something more than those vague admonitions of death, which, from their frequent recurrence, or the uncertainty of their immediate accomplishment, lose their power to impress. And to




192               M1Ei1oIR OF
those who admit the doctrine of divine influence
upon the minds of men, and more especially upon
such as are appointed to state and enforce the solemn doctrines of revelation to mankind, it can be
no source of astonishment that God should sometimes direct the thoughts and expressions of his
ministers into a current adapted to certain ends he
has to answer, or particular events he intends shall
shortly come to pass. With respect to the passage
above cited, and its corresponding event, persons
will form their own opinion. I cannot, however,
but regard it as adding somewhat to the force and
propriety of observations such as these, since here
was another instance, in which the event anticipated by the speaker as possible, though, at the time,
perhaps, regarded by the hearers as highly improbable, was but too surely realized
MIr. Spencer was now fully invested with that sacred office, which from his infancy he had desired;
and he set himself diligently to the discharge of its
momentous duties. That he felt its importance,
was evident to all. His habitual conduct and conversation proved it. To his most intimate friends
he freely expressed his anxieties respecting it, and
earnestly did he implore an interest in the prayers
of his people and his brethren in the ministry. In
the assurance that he labored amongst a praying
people, he felt confidence: and no consideration is
more adapted to relieve the mind of a faithful min



ReV. THOMAS SPENCER.          193
ister than this-while it pours unseen a thousand
blessings on his head, it secures to his labors an affectionate attention) and an earnest desire rightly
to appreciate and improve them. That which persons make the subject of earnest prayer, they will
usually value; and it is hardly possible but that good
must be uniformly the result, when both minister
and people come from their closets, which have witnessed their fervent intercessions for each other, to
the house of God. The apostle knew how to estimate the prayers even of the meanest Christians
who enjoyed his labors.  " Brethren, pray for us."
It is true that a people will for the mosf part take
the cast of their religious character -from that of
their minister: if he be much alive to God, and
zealous in the discharge of his ministry, he will communicate the sacred flame to all around him, and
cause his people to reflect on every side the light
his preaching and his example shed. But, on the
other hand, are there no instances in which the reverse of this has been the case; the minister has
been gradually disheartened and dispirited by a cold,
supine, and worldly-minded people, who have continually thwarted him in his generous designscounteracted his benevolent efforts-and quenched,
by indifference and neglect, the ardor of his zeal.Instead of assisting him in his glorious work, they
have hung like weights about his garments; and instead of acting as pioneers to prepare the paths of
9




194               MEMOIR OF
Christian benevolence for his willing feet to tread,
they have clogged up the avenues with obstacles, and
lined the way with insuperable difficulties. The
spirit of the man has been broken by perpetual disappointment-vexation has gradually enervated his
mind-and by slow and imperceptible degrees he
has sunk into torpor and indifference-and the languor of the pastor has at length presented an unhappy counterpart to the supineness of the people.
And even where neither the cause nor the consequences obtain to so alarming and fatal degree, still
it is to be deplored that any approach to them should
be suffered to exist. Here the stated attendants on
a gospel ministry may often find a reason for that
want of pleasure and improvement which sometimes
they deplore, though most unjustly, at the preacher's cost. If prayer, special and fervent, for a blessing on their pastor's labors, has been neglected, the
mystery is at once developed. For they have no
right whatever to expect a blessing without prayer;
and as they have no right to expect it without
prayer, neither are they in a suitable frame to receive it; and thus it often happens, that where the
prayerless soul departs empty away, the humble and
earnest petitioner obtains a rich and suitable supply
from the same table, and of the same food. It is
light bread to the one, but it is life-giving and substantial provision to the other. " Ask and ye shall
receive."




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.           195
On the first Sabbath in July, Mr. Spencer dispensed, for the first time, the solemn ordinance of the
Lord's Supper. It was a time of love-a season of
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The sweet
impression of that happy day still remains, and its
memory is yet dear to many. On the following
Monday at the social prayer meeting in the evening,
in the bosom of his people, he again solemnly dedicated himself to God, and renewed his vows to consecrate all his powers to their service in the work
of the ministry. Indeed, all he wrote, or said, or
did, indicated the holy fervor of his soul. Tenderly
alive to the sacred delicacy of his character, he was
anxious to sustain it well, that the cause of Jesus
might not suffer by any spots it might contract. —
Conscientiously awake to every call of duty which
his most responsible station might involve, he was
ready to obey them all, that the ministry might not
be blamed.  The following letter is from his correspondence about this time, and may be numbered
with the last he ever wrote. The expressions which
I have copied, are mingled with others sacred to the
privacy of friendship. They promise pleasures never
realized —unfold prospects suddenly destroyed —and
record arrangements he was not permitted to fulfill.
TO MR. HADDON.
LIVERPOOL, July 8, 1811.
"  Mr DEAR FRIEND:-h
" The ordination has for the last fortnight, occupied almost




196                   MEMOIR OF
the whole of my attention, and the impression, the solemn, the
holy impression, of which I trust I shall never forget. Yesterday for the first time in my life, I administered the ordinance
of the Lord's Supper, and found it to be indeed'a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.' My duties are more
and more important and pressing.  Conversations upon
religious experience with candidates for admission into
our church, and the calls of the sick and dying, must
necessarily engage much of my attention. But I can sincerely bless God, that amidst all the depression of mind
I have suffered, my work has been my delight. The duties of
the ministry have often refreshed, instead of oppressing me.
The pleasure of the Lord has prospered in my hands. I love
the service of the Head of the Church better than ever I did:
when I am watering others, I find that Jehovah the Spirit
waters my own soul too! Oh! is not this an encouraging token
for good?      In great haste,
"I am ever your affectionate friend,
" THOMAS SPENCER."
But we must, however reluctant, pass on to the
closing scenes of Mr. Spencer's life. As his death
was sudden, I have none of those sayings or sentiments to record which occupy the last pages of most
biographical sketches of departed saints; and yet
his friends remember, with peculiar pleasure, in
what a holy frame of mind he appeared to be during
the whole of the week previous to his removal. If
I should be more minute than may be deemed absolutely necessary in what remains of these important
memoirs of this lovely youth, I trust that I shall be
forgiven. I write for friendship; and to his friends
it must afford peculiar gratification to follow him




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.        197
through all the scenes he visited, and mark the
slightest movements of his mind during the last
week of his residence on this earth.
On Sabbath day, July 28, being the day appointed for a collection for the new chapel, Mr. Spencer
preached a most excellent sermon in the morning
from Ezra ix. 8, "And now for a little space grace
has been showed from the Lord our God to leave us
a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his
holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and
give us a little reviving in our bondage." In the
evening his text was Acts xiii. 26, " To you is the
word of this salvation sent." On that day he exerted himself greatly, and complained much of a
pain at his heart, but did not seem at night particularly fatigued. The following day he spent chiefly
in conversation with his friends respecting the state
of the church, and some candidates for communion
who were to be visited and received during that
week-he dined at the house of a friend-in the afternoon visited the sick room of one of his members
-and in the evening attended the prayer meeting
at the chapel, when he recapitulated the outline of
a sermon which had been preached on the Wednesday evening preceding, by the Rev. Mr. Davies, of
London. His memory was remarkably retentive,
and he gave in that exercise a proof of its powers,
which astonished all that heard him. That evening
he slept in Liverpool, and early on Tuesday morn



198                   MEMOIR OF
ing he went with a friend to Prescot, and laid the
foundation stone of a new chapel there, and delivered an address adapted to the occasion, in the presence of a large assembly.
On Friday he was occupied until the afternoon
in writing letters to his friends. I am able to present the reader with extracts from two of them.
August 2, 1811.
"I find growing pleasure in my ministerial employment;
this evening I have to admit eight new members to *church
communion; indeed when I accepted this situation, I never
conceived that I should have half the engagements or duties to
attend to, which I now find must be accomplished, if I would
merit the character of an active, useful minister of religion. I
think my recent afflictions, and the solemn duties which now
devolve upon me, have in a considerable degree chastened my
character, and imparted, perhaps, a seriousness to my general
deportment, which may prove highly advantageous to me in
future life. How long this will last I cannot tell, but I think
affliction adds a weight to a character nothing else does, and
especially to young people and young ministers. I have lately
been preaching in the villages round Liverpool. Oh! let us
aim to glorify God, and then trust all our concerns in his hands,
that so at the last we may be accepted of him."
In another, to his father, he says:
" I was much hurt at the account of my mother's illness; I
hope no distressing circumstances have arisen. and by this time,
perhaps I may indulge the idea that you are better yourself. Oh!
how necessary that we should all seek a better country, since
here there is so much change, affliction, and wo. May every
trial be sanctified to us all, and we be meetened for the inheritance of the saints in light."




REV. THOS. SPENCER.           199
Having concluded his earthly correspondence with
his distant friends, for ever, he left his residence
and resumed his pastoral visits amongst his people
and the candidates who were to be that evening received. At the church meeting he was particularly
lively; with holy joy he welcomed the new members
into the communion of the church, and as he gave
to each the right hand of fellowship, he addressed
a short but most affectionate and solemn exhortation, admirably adapted to their respective ages,
stations, and feelings. Indeed, all the duties of the
pastor's office were conducted by him with a propriety and an ease, which years of experience are
frequently unable to supply.  With the unaffected
simplicity of youth, he tempered the dignity of age
-he seemed to be at once at home in the duties of
his new and important station —never embarrassed
or confused; he appeared to have an intuitive perception of what belonged to his character and office,
in every case as it arose; and following the inward
suggestion, he acquitted himself well, and discharged
with undeviating consistency the high responsibilities he bore.
After the meeting, Mr. Spencer spent the evening in serious conversation with a few friends; leading with great fervor the devotions of the family,
and closing a day of sacred duties, with uncommon
calmness and placidity of mind.
The following morning, Saturday, he spent in his




200                 MEMOIR OF
study, in preparations for the pulpit. In the course
of the day he wrote to a young lady, one of the
number received, the preceding evening, into his
church-at the close of the note he said"I suppose you anticipate to-morrow with feelings of solemnity; you will appear in a new light to the church of Christ,
and the spectators of our holy solemnities; we shall share tomorrow Zion's chief feast. May the blessing of the God of
ordinances be upon us all. Wishing you the enjoyment of perfect health, and much communion with your best friend,
"I remain, &c.
THOMAS SPENCER."
After dinner on the Saturday, the conversation
turned upon a passage in Ezekiel-" I will cause
you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into
the bond of the covenant;" from which Mr. Spencer
took occasion to speak much at large upon the nature and stability of the covenant of grace. In the
evening he met the Rev. Messrs. Charrier, Lister,
and Wray, the missionary, together with Mr. Laird,
of Greenock, and others, at the house of a friend.
It was a pleasant interview, and in reflection has
afforded to the persons who composed that social
party the sincerest pleasure. To his most intimate
friends, it is a source of much satisfaction, that his
pastoral engagements that week were such as every
day to bring him into their society-so that they
had constant intercourse with their departed friend
— and passing with him from house to house can




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         201
look back and say, " Did not our hearts ournz within us while he talked to us by the way, and opened
unto us the Scriptures."-Like the companion of
Elijah, they walked with him in close connection
from spot to spot, charmed and edified with the holy
strain of his discourse, and the rising lustre of his
character; but all unconscious, that whilst they were
thus conversing with him upon earth, the chariot of
Israel and the horsemen thereof were preparing to
conduct him triumphantly to heaven. But the scene
closes rapidly upon us. On the last Sabbath of his
life, August 4th, he rose with unusual health and
spirits. The family with whom he resided always
beheld him with peculiar interest on the morning of
the Sabbath, such an air of angelic mildness and
composure sat upon his countenance-and so deeply
did he seem absorbed in the contemplation of the
sacred duties of the day. That morning he preached
from Jer. xxxi. 3-" I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I
drawn thee." The way of his discussing the subject was simple and interesting: I have drawn thee
to the cRoss-to the THRONE-to the CHURCH-were
the leading ideas in the discourse. It was particularly adapted to the occasion, so many new members
being that day added to the church. He afterwards
administered the Lord's Supper in a most solemn
and affecting manner. Such as witnessed the scene
-and the number of spectators was about three
9*




202               MEMOIR OF
hundred-bear an unanimous testimony to the deep
solemnity by which it was characterized. His appeals to the conscience were so close and overwhelming-his invitations to the faint and weary were so
pressing and tender-his countenance-his voice —
his whole manner were so expressive of holy fervor,
that every eye was fixed-every heart seemed moved.
How long the impression will remain I cannot tell;
but the emotions enkindled by the transactions of
that day are yet lively in the hearts of many —and
numbers love to converse upon it, as one of those
rare and highly favored seasons, in which the distance between earth and heaven seems annihilated
-and so transporting is the joy, that whether in
the body or out of the body, the happy Christian can
scarcely tell! To a friend who afterwards hinted
that he appeared to be very happy in prayer at the
Lord's Supper, he replied —" 0 yes; I thought I
could have prayed, and prayed, and mounted up to
heaven!" At the close of that memorable service
-one, the ardor of whose feelings age had checked,
observed, that' Mr. Spencer seemed that morning
twenty years older in experience than he really
was."  At dinner he mentioned to the family, that
he had received that morning a letter from a friend
in London who had been formerly reluctant to his
settlement in Liverpool, as though it were not the
sphere designed by Providence for him. lIe then
expressed the full conviction of his own mind, that




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         203
he was precisely where he ought to be —under such
an impression, he observed, that he was perfectly
satisfied and happy; and adds, " if it had not been
the will of God, I should never have settled here."
In the evening, in the midst of a throng, such as
is rarely witnessed, and from which hundreds departed unable to gain access, he preached from
Luke x. 42, " One thing is needful, and Mary hath
chosen that good part which shall not be taken away
from her."  His chief object in this sermon was to
show, that communion with the Saviour is the one
thing needful. Throughout the whole discourse, it
seemed as if all the powers of his mind, all the ardor
of his soul, were infused into his composition, and
his delivery. In the application, he was uncommonly urgent with the young —earnestly exhorting
them to an immediate decision on the side of Christ
— representing to them the folly and the danger of
deferring the important concerns of salvation and
eternity to an uncertain futurity —and assuring them,
that very soon he should meet them at the bar of
God, and that there he should be a swift witness
against them. By those who are best able to decide, it was observed, that his last sermon was perhaps the most adapted for usefulness of any he had
preached —and this observation, which was made
immediately after its delivery, has been since most
amply confirmed, in instances perpetually presenting themselves, in which that sermon proved instru



204               MEMOIR OF
mental in effecting the happiest impressions, many
of which have issued in a saving change.
After the labors of the clay he went to the house
of a friend to supper; he did not appear to be unusually fatigued. With great fervor he led the devotions of the family. He read a portion of Scripture, and gave out the 165th hymn of the 2d book.
He was remarkably copious and earnest in prayer
-commending especially to God —the family-the
church-the members who had recently joinedthe missionary, (who was present) and every object
to which his holy and benevolent mind recurred.
At supper the conversation was pure and spiritual
— such as the book of remembrance in heaven preserves-such as will not easily be forgotten upon
earth. The subject was sudden death. The countenance of Spencer, always animated, was lighted
up with holy joy as he discoursed upon the glory of
departed saints-he seemed to realize the scenes he
attempted to describe, whilst he expressed his own
conceptions of the transport and surprise in which
the disembodied spirit will be lost, when first admitted to the immediate presence of God. He spoke
much upon the blessedness of putting off the garments of mortality in a moment, and being caught
up unexpectedly and instantaneously to heaven!
He seemed to lose the memory of the day's fatigue
in the interesting theme, and frequently observed,
that he had not for a long time felt himself so free




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          205
from weariness. A little after eleven, he parted
with his friends for ever. Never did they discover
more of the warmth of his friendship, or the ardor
of his piety, than in this last, happy interview. His
countenance seemed irradiated with smiles of ineffable benignity-his whole deportment indicated a
mind abstracted from the world, except so far as
bound to it by the benevolent desire of doing good,
and wholly devoted to communion and fellowship
with God. So mature indeed did his character appear-so ripe did he seem for glory, that some of
his friends could not but entertain a presentiment
of his early removal. Though not then elevated to
a higher sphere, he still appeared mysteriously
weaned from earth. His loins were girt, and his
lamp burning with unusual brightness, as though he
expected the coming of his Lord. In its anticipations of future glory, his happy spirit seemed to try
its pinions, preparatory to the glorious flight it was
about to take.
On Monday morning, August the 5th, the last
day that dawned for him, he rose rather later than
usual; his mind was too active for his body; the
exhausted frame required rest. After breakfast, he
received a visit from a young lady, one of the members lately admitted into the church. He entered
the room with a cheerful smile; and the family
having retired after some general conversation, he
said, " Well, M   —, you are now a member of a




206                MEMOIR OF
Christian church; yesterday you solemnly professed
your faith in Christ, while the attention of many of
our fellow creatures was fixed on you; God also beheld your profession-all heaven and hell witnessed
the solemnity." On her expressing some fears lest
she should be unable to act consistently with the profession she had made, he replied, " Live near to
Christ-be much in communion with your own
heart-be very frequent in addresses at a throne of
grace, and there is no fear of you." Then referring
to the long and agonizing distress which he had
suffered through the alarming indisposition of his
dearest connections, and which seqmed now happily
removing, he said, " This severe affliction has not
been sent, but for reasons the wisest and the best;
from it I have learned many lessons, and have enjoyed much of the presence of God under it. Oh,
may my heart be filled with gratitude to Him who
is the author of all our mercies." He frequently
bathed; he found it beneficial to his health. He
purposed doing so that day, and had expressed his
intention in the morning. He had just repeated
the first verse of Cowper's admirable hymn"God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm,"
when one of the family came into the room, and
said, that if he intended bathing, it was time that




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.        207
he should go, as it would very soon be high water.
He assented; but whilst a towel was being procured
for him, he turned to his young friend, and said,'" I can't tell how it is, but I don't feel so much inclined to go, to-day, as usual." She asked if it was
thought good for his health-he answered " Yes, it
will brace my nerves after the exertion of yesterday." And, indeed, he had an immediate object in
view, for he had folded his paper, and prepared his
pen, in order to compose a sermon to be preached
in the course of the ensuing week, on behalf of the
Religious Tract Society, in London; and he was
anxious that, by bathing, his mind might be invigorated for study, as he had frequently observed it to
have that pleasing influence.. Mr. Spencer and his
friend left the house together, when turning towards
the water, he said, "I must go this way."  They
parted. His friend sought again the bosom of her
family-he went the way whence he never returned!
The following pages of this history must be filled
with weeping, and lamentation and wo. They must
detail as sad a catastrophe as ever humanity or religion mourned. With cheerfulness Mr. Spencer
took the path which lead across the fields towards
the Herculaneum potteries, a little above which it
was his design to bathe. The eye of his friend, beneath whose roof he dwelt, followed him till distance hid him from his sight.  Arrived at the spot
which he had selected, not so much from a know



208                MEMOIR OF
ledge of the ground, as from the circumstance of its
retirement, he asked a gentleman, who had been
bathing, and who was then dressing, " if that was a
good place to bathe at?"-he answered that it was,
but that it was rather stony near the side, but better when further in. Mr. Spencer replied, "I
rather think that it is a good place myself, and I
don't like to bathe near the pottery, there are so
many people." Mr. S. then asked again, " Is the
tide nigh up?" to which he was answered, " About
half past eleven."  " Oh! dear," said Mr. Spencer,
" it is near twelve." As this conversation passed,
Mr. Spencer was undressing, and, at intervals,
humming a tone. When undressed, he walked towards the water, and spoke to a workman belonging
to the pottery, of the name of Potter, who also was
bathing, and who directed him which way to come
into the water. While walking in, Mr. Spencer
observed, that it was, very cold-to which Potter
replied, " You will not find it so cold when in.
Potter then plunged into the water about breast
high, and when he next saw Mr. Spencer, he was
swimming within his depth, but soon afterwards the
tide swept him round an abrupt projecting rock,
where the water was some six or seven feet. Potter himself, who was an expert swimmer, soon found
the current driving him round the same rock; but
he immediately, with difficulty, swam to the shore,
when he looked about for Mr. Spencer, and, not




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         209
seeing him, was much alarmed. At length, after
the lapse of a minute or two, he saw the top of his
head floating above the surface of the water. Potter could not tell whether he was amusing himself
or drowning. He however cried out to him; but
receiving no answer, plunged in again, and swam to
the rock, in order to render him assistance-but
found it impossible-Mr. Spencer having sunk in
seven feet water, and the currents being remarkably
strong. Potter, with considerable trouble, and not
till some time had elapsed, got up the side of the
rock, and communicated the intelligence to Mr.
Smith, of the potteries, who immediately ordered
out two boats, which were directly manned and
brought to the spot, when every exertion was made
to find the body.
I have frequently examined'the place; indeed, I
take a mournful pleasure in visiting the scene; and
I have sought the opinions of medical gentlemen
respecting the immediate cause of Mr. Spencer's
death. The spot is most unfavorable for safe and
pleasant bathing. Whoever sees it at low water, is
astonished that any person, acquainted with the nature of the shore, should venture there. There is
a ridge of sharp and slippery rock, running in a
curved direction, for many yards, into the water,
and terminating abruptly; on either side of this
most rugged ridge the fall is instantaneous, and from
one to two feet. It is highly probable, then, that




210                    MEMOIR OF
Mr. S. swimming, as was described, along by the
shore, might bring himself up immediately on the
edge of this treacherous rock, which being slippery,
deceived him, and by suddenly precipitating him
into deeper water, caused a spasmodic fear-a combination of instantaneous terror and spasm-which
directly suspended the functions of life, and he
sunk, without further agitation or conflict, in the
arms of death.
"So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed,
And yet anon repairs his drooping head,
And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky;
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high,
Through the dear might of him that walk'd the waves;
Where, other groves and other streams along,
With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves,
And bears the unexpressive nuptial song,
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
There entertain him all the saints above,
In solemn troops and sweet societies,
That sing, and, singing in their glory, move,
And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes.
In the meanwhile, the gentleman whom Mr.
Spencer first addressed, returned, and, discovering
the sad event, apprized them  that it was Mr. Spencer, the minister, who was lost. Potter renewed
his exertions to find the body, assisted by the people in the boats, in which they at length succeeded,
after it had been under water about fifty minutes.
By this time the melancholy tidings had spread




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.          211
abroad; and happily some gentlemen of the faculty
being in the neighborhood, and hearing of the event,
hastened immediately to the spot, so that, ere the
finding of the body, every thing was in readiness
for instantly commencing the resuscitating process.
When drawn from the water, the body exhibited
no symptoms of violence or struggle in the act of
dying-the countenance was placid and serene-its
features were perfectly undisturbed, and so lovely
was its expression in death, that one of the medical
attendants observed-a painter could not desire a
finer object.
On the arrival of the body on the beach, the
water was easily expelled, and being then wrapped
up in flannel, it was immediately conveyed to the
house of Mr. Smith, where, by the kind exertions
of the family, every necessary arrangement had been
made for its reception.
The apparatus having arrived from Liverpool, and
three medical gentlemen being present to receive
the body, the usual methods adopted in cases of
suspended animation were instantly pursued. They
were soon joined by three other gentlemen of the
faculty, who rendered every possible assistance;
every expedient was, in the course of the afternoon,
resorted to —but, alas, in vain! and at five o'clock,
in the opinion of all present, there remained not the
faintest hope of restoring animation-the spark of
life was totally extinguished.




212               MEMOIR OF
Thus, in one sad moment, was lost to society and
to the church of Christ, one of the loveliest of men
— one of the most eloquent of ministers; upon
whose lips, only the preceding day, hundreds had
hung with delight, and the long continued and extended exertion of whose powers, in a larger sanctuary, the foundation of which he had but recently
laid, thousands anticipated with eager desire! To
tell how many hearts have bled, beneath this awful
visitation, would require a fortitude which I do not
possess —and constitute a volume, not surpassed in
the anguish which it would describe, by any similar
catastrophe in the records of human wo. The tidings spread through the populous town of Liverpool
with a rapidity, such as, in cases of public calamity,
is usually inspired. They circulated through all
ranks, and excited one common feeling of regret in
every bosom. They reached the exchange, and produced an extraordinary impression there; those who
knew him, mourned the loss of one they loved —and
those who knew him not, felt the agitation of that
sudden shock, which the premature removal of such
men occasions-they participated in the general
sympathy, and deplored the loss of Spencer, as an
event demanding general regret. Numbers hastened to the spot. Some incredulous, to obtain the
sad assurance of the truth —and others to enjoy the
mournful satisfaction of beholding that countenance
in death, on which they had often gazed with trans



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               213
port, when kindled into radiance by the ardor of the
soul that lately animated it. All was confusion and
distress. Such a day has been seldom seen in Liverpool; a day of such dreadful gloom —such universal
grief.  From the countenance of every one to whom
the tidings came, one might have imagined he had
lost a friend; whilst many, to whom by intimate
acquaintance he had become peculiarly endeared —
petrified at first with mingled horror and surprise,
when recollection and feeling returned, yielded, for
awhile, to the influence of the deepest sorrow.
The estimation in which Mr. Spencer was held in
Liverpool, was most decidedly marked after his decease. The public prints severally bore testimony
to his worth, and pronounced a warm, but just eulogium on his extraordinary merits; the introduction
of some extracts will not be unsuitable here:
"  Mr. Spencer was about twenty years of age; in his person
and countenance eminently prepossessing; and of manners most
amiable, conciliating, and engaging. As a preacher his talents
were held in a degree of estimation, or possessed of an extent of influence which have seldom been equalled in the annals of pulpit eloquence. His discourses were rather persuasive and hortatory than argumentative and disquisitive: they
were addressed more to the imagination and affections, than to
the judgment; and this, apparently, not so much from any deficiency of talent, as from a firm persuasion that, in matters of
religion, the avenues to the understanding are chiefly to be
sought in the heart'. His sermons, thus constituted, were
adorned with a felicity of expression, and delivered in an unremitted fluency of language, altogether surprising in extem



214                   MEMOIR OF
poraneous discourses. These essential qualities of eloqueice
were assisted by an uncommonly distinct articulation, a tone
of voice singularly melodious, and great gracefulness of action.
Thus gifted by nature, and improved by cultivation, it is not
surprising that he possessed the power'of attaching an audience, in a manner that will never be forgotten by those who
attended his ministry. Perhaps it scarcely ever before fell to
the lot of any individual, at so early an age, to have diffused
religious impression through so extensive a circle of hearers;
and those who looked forward to the maturity of his powers,
with the hope naturally inspired by his early excellence, will
regard his loss as a public misfortune."' The deceased was about twenty years of age, a youth of
amiable and engaging manners; and his pulpit talents were so
far above his years as to obtain for him a large share of public
admiration and popularity. His premature death has most
deeply affected the feelings of his numerous friends, who
looked forward to the maturity of his early powers with the
highest hope of obtaining in him a most valuable accession to
the dissenting ministry."
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.
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.



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               215
The corpse was borne into the chapel, late the scene
of Mr. Spencer's labors, and the Rev. Mr. Charrier
of Bethesda chapel, read part of the 15th chapter of
1 Corinthians, and the 4th and 5th of I 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 hoe 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 honor
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 connections.
Such, however, are the appointments of a supreme governing
Intelligence, to which human choice and wishes must bow with
reverence, supported by the general principle of the justice,
wisdom, and benevolence, which direct the affairs of men. Similar afflictions 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.




216               MEMOIR OF
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
for ever." This sermon, so admirably adapted to
soothe 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."
At first sight the event might stagger the strong



REV. THOMAS SPENCER.         217
est faith, for he was snatched away at a period when
his life seemed of the utmost moment to the people
over whom he presided, and the circle in which he
moved. Scarcely had his talents reached their maturity; his character was even then unfolding; from
the promise of his youth, his friends dwelt with rapture on the anticipations of his manhood, and every
day added some strokes of reality to the picture they
drew-when suddenly, in the bloom of his youthat the commencement of his course —just entered on
his labors-he is arrested by the arm of death, and
conducted to the silent grave. Was his death untimely? No-he had seen a good old age in usefulness, though not in years: " that life is long that
answers life's great end." His end was fully answered-, and he was gathered to the grave in peace.
Was his death severe? No —to him it was tranquil
and serene; he crossed the river of Jordan, singing
as he went, and in an unexpected moment, found
himself safely landed on the shores of immortality.
10




I
I I
I                   




BY
REV. THOMAS SPENCER,
OF LIVERPOOL.
FROM HIS OWN MANUSCRIPTS.








DISCOURSES OF REV, THOS. SPENCER.
SERMON I.
ATONING EFFICACY OF CHRIST'S DEATH.
" The blood of Jesus Christ his SON cleanseth us from all sin." —
1 JOHN 1: 7,
IT has been the characteristic of really faithful ministers
of the gospel, in every age, to speak of those blessed
truths, the power of which they have felt in their own
souls. This was the case with the apostles: they one and
all declared the power of that divine grace which had
melted their frozen hearts, enlightened their dark understandings, and renewed their stubborn wills. We see this
in the first verse of the chapter from which we have read a
text; in which the apostle says, " That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our
hands have handled of the Word of life;"-" that
which we have seen and heard declare we unto you."
Thus he puts the saints in mind of the gospel he had written, in which he declared to them that " Word of life" who
had been with the Father, and was manifested to the world;
and whom he now declares again unto them, that they
might have fellowship with him, and all the true apostles;
221




6                  DISCOURSES OF
assuring them, for a motive, that their fellowship was with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. The fellowship of the saints is with the Father, as the source and
spring of eternal life and happiness; and with the Son, as
Mediator, who has opened the way, removed every obstacle,
and given them an access by one Spirit unto the Father.
The design of the apostle in writing these things was,
that their joy might be full. It was his earnest prayer, as
well as the prayer of the apostle Paul, that the God of
hope would fill them with all joy and peace in believing.
He excites them to preserve fellowship and communion
with God, by considering the transcendent excellence of
the divine nature; " God (says he) is light, and in him is
no darkness at all." How clear is his knowledge, for he is
omniscient; and how unstained is his nature, for God is
holy.
Our conduct then is awful, if while we pretend to holy
communion with God, we walk in darkness. For there can
be no communion between purity and impurity; heaven
and hell; God and the devil.  God hath fellowship with
saints in affection and delight.  They have fellowship with
him in salvation and happiness. He gives himself and all
he possesses to them, and they are enabled to give themselves to him. He bestows grace and pardon on us, and
we resign our hearts, our affections, and our all to him.
But in order to our doing this, some important change must
take place in us; for by nature we are averse to God, prone
to wander from him, and having the greatest enmity to him,
yet there is a way by which man can be brought nigh unto
God, have his natural enmity subdued, and be reconciled
unto the Father of spirits.  Therefore, lest any should be
excited to despair, by a view of the enormity of their
222




REV. THOMAS SPENCER,                  7
crimes, let them hear the consoling language of our text:
"The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all
sin." When once our sins are pardoned by the blood of
Jesus, we are admitted into communion with God, and with
his Son. Oh! that our meditations on this passage may
be profitable!
You will observe, that these words speak of the sacrifice
of the Lord Jesus Christ, of the atonement of the Saviour;
and we may consider them —as pointing out its value-as
declaring its continual efficacy-and, as asserting its universal influence.  Let us view the text —
I. As pointing out its value.
It declares the way of pardon to be by the blood of
Jesus Christ the Son of God. By the blood of Jesus, in
our text, we are to understand the last sufferings and the
death of the Saviour. This blood is the ransom of our
souls, the price of our redemption, and the expiation of our
sin. This was the highest and most excellent part of his
obedience.  " Being found in fashion as a man he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of
the cross."
His whole life was a scene of suffering, but his death
completed his obedience; in that he manifested the greatest
love to God his Father, and men, his people. The expiatory
sacrifices under the law were always bloody: death was to
be endured for sin, and blood was the life of the creature;
so the blood, the death of Christ, is the cause of our life,
justification, sanctification, and glorification. The value of
this sacrifice is infinite; and its value is plainly pointed out
in the passage before us.  It is the blood of Him whose
name is Jesus; a name which is above every name; a name
223




8                 DISCOURSES OF
which is as ointment poured forth; and a name which
causeth those who know it, to be joyful in Him that bears
it. It is a name at which every knee shall bow, and every
tongue confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. It is a wonderful,. glorious, ineffable, and unspeakable name. The honorary title by which the Saviour is
distinguished, stamps the greatest dignity on his sacrifice,
and confirms its value. The blood mentioned in the text
is the blood of a Saviour, as the name imports. It is the
blood of one appointed and commissioned to save his people
from the guilt, the power, the practice, and the love of sin.
He rescues their souls from  the power of Satan; and,
having delivered them from all their vain expectations and
false refuges, he saves them from the curse of the law;to them there is no condemnation, because they are in
Christ, by a living faith and vital union.
Jesus is a Saviour, because he finally delivers all his
people from sinking into the pit of hell, being himself their
ransom; and the blood of which we speak is the blood of
one who has almighty power to save, even to the very uttermost, all that come unto God by him; and he has a full
commission from God the Father to execute his eternal
purposes of love to men, in saving them with an everlasting
salvation; hence he is called Christ, having been anointed
by the Father for this express purpose.  The blood of
which we speak is infinitely valuable, because it was shed
by the Christ of God. Of him it is said, " Grace is poured
into thy lips; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows:"-for him
hath God the Father sealed.  He himself said, "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
me." The priests, under the mosaic dispensation, were
224




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                 9
anointed; see Leviticus, the 4th chap. and 3d verse; Numbers, the 3d chap. and 3d verse; besides many other passages. Now Jesus is the anointed of the Lord, the Spirit
was poured upon him without measure. Hence, when we
pray for acceptance with the Father, we say with the
psalmist, " Look upon the face of thine anointed." This
anointing eminently qualifies him for the important office
of a Saviour to his people. And must not that sacrifice be
exceedingly valuable, which was made by the Christ of
God? Must not that blood be precious which was shed by
the Lord's anointed? The text then evidently points out
its value, when it calls it the blood of Jesus Christ. It
would be well for us, if our consciences were more and
more assured of our interest in the salvation of Jesus
Christ; then with what deep humility, unfeigned gratitude,
and joyful praise; should we contemplate the subject.
Jesus is the Son of God, therefore his atonement is infinite; and, consequently, unspeakably valuable. It is the
blood of Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, that cleanseth us
from all sin. It is true that this blood was the blood of
Christ's humanity, yet the merit of it was derived from his
divinity. It was not his blood, as the Son of the virgin,
which is the means of salvation, but his blood as he was
the Son of God. We need not wonder then that it has
efficacy sufficient to cleanse believers in all ages of the
world from their vast load of guilt, when we recollect that
it is the blood of Christ, who is God over all, blessed for
evermore. Oh! how infinitely valuable does the sacrifice
of Christ appear, on account of the divinity of his person!
Let us all then highly value the atonement, the sacrifice of
the Lord Jesus, for his was the blood of the Son of God.
What a privilege it is to belong to that church which he
10*               225




10                 DISCOURSES OF
has purchased with his own invaluable blood! Our faith
is precious, inasmuch as it lays hold on the atonement of a
precious Saviour, who shed his invaluable blood for sinners
of the human race. It is the blood of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, which cancels the debt we all owe to God,
which is the way by which we are delivered from condemnation, which insures our pardon, and by virtue of which
we arrive at glory.  Having considered the text, as pointing out the infinite value of the blood of Christ, we hold it
up to your viewII. As declaring its continual efficacy.
The blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth from all sin;
it has a cleansing quality. And here it is evidently implied,
that man by nature is defiled-is brought into such a state as
to need cleansing-andwho can doubt this solemn truth?who, that studies his own heart, makes daily observations
on mankind, reads the page of history, and peruses the
sacred volume? There is not one who does these things,
but will confess that man is by nature defiled. Sin is of a
defiling nature, and it renders the subject of it impure in
the sight of a holy God, who can never look upon sin with
the least degree of approbation. It makes a man the disgust of angels and glorified spirits, the abhorrence of good
men, and the fit companion for devils. Who can bring a
clean thing out of an unclean?  Not one. So none but
God can new create the soul. All men by nature are defiled with sin; they come into the world polluted, and
soon, by a long list of actual crimes, they render themselves more obnoxious to Divine justice, and expose themselves to eternal wrath. From the crown of the head to
the sole of the foot, there is nothing but wounds, bruises,
226




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               11
and putrifying sores.  Sin has completely ruined usmade us defiled in every power and faculty of the soul, and
left us without God, and without hope in the world.
Oh! what great reason have we all to lament the polluted state of man, and to put up the prayer of the Psalmist, saying: " Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and
renew a right spirit within me!" Or to say, in other
words, " Lead us to the blood of Jesus Christ thy Son,
which cleanseth us from all sin."  Blessed be God there
was a day when'" this fountain was opened to the house of
David, and to the'inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for
uncleanness." But here we would observe, that the blood of
Christ does not perfectly cleanse us from the sense of -sin.
The sparks of the fiery law will flash in our consciencesvery often the smiles of God's countenance seem changed
into frowns-Satan accuses, and conscience knows not how
to answer.  Unbelief very often starts in the mind of the
believer, and he distrusts the Lord that bought him; but,
however, the blood of Christ shall never lose its cleansing
virtue-it shall be perfect in its effects-it has rent the
veil between God and us-and it will rend that veil that is
between us and conscience. The soul of a Christian shall
be, ere long, presented before the throne of God, without
spot or wrinkle, or any such thing.
Nor does the blood of Jesus entirely remove the risings
of sin. The mind of a good man continues to be vexed,
not only with abominations without, but corruptions within.
WVe are not freed from the remains of sin, whatever some
men may talk about perfection. Paul knew nothing of it,
when he said, " Oh! wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?"  We may see an
end of all perfection, if we are led into the wickedness of
227




12                 DISCOURSES OF
our own hearts, and the spirituality of the divine law;
nevertheless, the blood of Christ will, in some future
period, remove every stain, and make us holy as God is
holy. It shall perfect what it has begun. The soul of a
child of God shall be made pure as snow, and white as
wool. Although the blood of Christ does not yet cleanse
from the sense, nor the risings of sin, yet, adored be the
name of Jesus, it removes the condemnation of sin —it frees
us from its punishment. Although the nature of sin does
not cease to be sinful, yet the power of it ceases to be condemning. Sin is not imputed to them that believe; and
where the crime is not imputed, the punishment cannot be
inflicted. Jesus having suffered, justice is satisfied, and
God can demand no more. The cause and effect of Almighty vengeance are removed (as it respects those that
believe) by the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ
cleanseth them from sin.  The pardon of sin properly consists in a remission of its punishment.  It would be contrary both to the mercy and justice of God, to punish a
man who had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Contrary to his justice-for he has accepted the sacrifice made
by Christ, who paid the debt and acquitted the criminal,
when he bare our sins in his own body on the tree. Contrary to his mercy-because it would be cruelty to adjudge
a person to punishment who had been legally acquitted, and
made innocent by the imputation of the righteousness of
Christ. The believer, then, being freed from the charge
of the law, is no longer obnoxious to its curse, for there is
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. An
accusing conscience, a violated law, a hostile world, and the
enemy Satan, may bring their sentences of condemnation
on others, but they cannot condemn believers; for there
228




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                13
is nothing left that shall condemn them for sin, because
Christ by his own sacrifice has condemned sin in the flesh.
The blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God, cleanseth us
from all sin. The cleansing efficacy of this blood shall be
made manifest before an assembled world. Believers shall
then be collected out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people, to have their purification made known to all the
world.  That will be a time of refreshing, indeed-sin shall
no longer distress-conscience no more reproach-and God
no more correct.  In the present life there is a secret grant
of pardon to the believer, but then there shall be a solemn
publication of it before men and angels.  Christ will pronounce all his children righteous, and present them unblameable, and without spot to God his Father.
When the apostle says, " The blood of Christ cleanseth,"
it evidently implies that that blood is the only means of
obtaining pardon. He joins nothing with it. It possessing the sole, the  sovereign virtue of cleansing from
iniquity, in vain do men expect pardon from mere mercyfroln the intercession of saints-or from any righteousness
of their own. None of these things can cleanse from sin.
The types and ceremonies of the mosaic dispensation could
never make the comers thereunto perfect, holy, or clean.
They only prefigured the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ,
which is the only way of pardon. Salvation is of grace
from first to last, and you may depend upon it there is no
fountain that can cleanse from sin but the blood of Christ;
for it is that which cleanseth from all sin; and this blood
cleanseth perfectly-removes every stain.  The blood of
the Redeemer being shed for his people, God looks on his
church and says,'" Thou art all fair, there is no spot in
thee."
229




14                 DISCOURSES OF
Thus does this text declare the efficacy of Jesus' blood.
Let us consider that this efficacy is perpetual, is continual.  For it is said, " it cleanseth;" not, it hath cleansed,
or shall cleanse at some future period, but it now cleanseth.
And this may always be said of this precious blood, for it
shall never lose its power, till every elect vessel is gathered
in, and saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.
There is a continued cleansing act; Jesus perpetually
pleads it for us, and it constantly flows unto us. There is
a stream of corruption always in our nature, so there is a
constant flow of cleansing blood. It is a fountain now
standing open for sin and for uncleanness. It was shed
but once. It is often applied; and its virtue will be felt
to all eternity. The blood of Jesus is never lost or congealed, like the blood of the legal sacrifices. It is, as a
good writer observes, " as new and fresh for the work it was
appointed to, as when it was shed upon the cross; as full
of vigor as if it had been shed but this moment." The
justification of a believer before God, stands upon as certain ground as the justification of Christ himself before
God. He was accepted, because he shed his blood; and
we are accepted, because we are cleansed by it. And the
meritorious plea of this blood continuing forever, is not
without the perpetual act of the righteous Judge, justifying
them for whom it pleads.
Hence will follow our security at the last judgment.
As his blood now cleanseth from sin, so his voice shall
then absolve, completely absolve us from sin. Those poor
sinners who are alarmed, as it respects their state, need not
fear that the blood of Christ has lost its efficacy; for it
continues to cleanse, and so it shall continue, whilst one
elect character remains on the earth to be directed by the
230




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                15
Divine Spirit unto it for salvation. And after that, when
all good men shall be safe in glory, every tongue shall be
employed in adoring that sovereign grace, which directed
them to this all-cleansing fountain. Since we contract
guilt every day, this medicine can daily be applied. The
pleas of this blood are renewed according to the necessity
of our persons. Every time an Israelite was bitten by a
fiery serpent, he must look up to the brazen serpent for
cure; so we, upon every sting of conscience, must look up
to Him who was raised on the cross, as for a remedy.
Since the fountain is open every day, and we contract
guilt every day, let not a day pass without fresh applications of this blood upon any defects in our walking
with him, since the blood of Jesus Christ continues to
cleanse us from all sin. But not only does our text denote
the continual efficacy of the blood of Christ, but we would
contemplate it,
III. As asserting its universal influence.
It cleanseth, not all persons, but from all sin.  Since it
was the blood of so great a person as the Son of God, it is
as powerful to cleanse us from the greatest sin as from the
least. It is a universal remedy. It absolves from the
guilt of sin, and shelters from the wrath of God. The
nature of our sins, and the defilement of them, are not
regarded when this invaluable blood is set in opposition to
them. Jesus was delivered for our offences, not for some
few of our offences, but for all; therefore his blood
cleanseth from them all-from all original transgression,
and actual sin-from the guilt incurred, by omitting the
good which God has commanded-and the commission of
that evil which he has prohibited. God has laid on his
231




16                 DISCOURSES OF
Son Jesus the iniquity of us all-the sins of all believers,
in all parts, in all ages of the world; from the first moment
that Adam sinned, to the time when the last sin shall be
committed. As all the sins of the people were laid upon
the head of the scape-goat, to be carried by him into the
wilderness, so are all our sins pardoned and forgiven by
the blood of Jesus. The greatest wickedness that was ever
committed by men, was the murder of the Son of God;
whom they took, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain. Yet, to the very persons who did' this, pardon was
offered. The Gospel was preached, " beginning at Jerusalemn." Herein we behold an evidence of the inestimable
value of this blood, and of its inexhaustible virtue. Oh!
well might the apostle say, " It cleanseth from all sin."
Do we come into the world obnoxious to the Divine vengeance, and hateful in the sight of God?  Is the guilt of
Adam's sin imputed to us? It is. Yet the atonement of
Jesus extends to original pollution. Although born in
sin, and conceived in iniquity, if he purge us with hyssop
we shall be clean; if he wash us, we shall be whiter than
snow. Have we omitted the performance of his holy law,
and withheld that reverence which he so justly demands
from us?  We have. But the blood of Jesus makes full
atonement for this-he has done more for us than we could
have done for ourselves-had we a whole eternity to work
out our own salvation. His blood cleanses us from sin;
it removes all that guilt which is upon our consciences, for
our not keeping the law of God. Although we have left
undone the things which we ought to have done, yet Jesus
hath done all things well. Again; by the atonement of
Jesus, every actual sin is done away; for his blood cleanseth from all sin. We have sinned in thought, word, and
232




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                17
deed. Our sins are heinous and numerous; yet they shall
never be laid to our charge, if we are believers in Jesus.
Should their number exceed the number of the luminaries
that gild the arch of heaven, or of the particles of sand on
the sea-shore, yet this precious blood removes the guilt of
them from our consciences-their pollution from our hearts
-the love of them  from our minds-and, shall we add,
the practice of them from our lives. Have we sinned in
public? If we are believers on the Son of God, it shall
be publicly declared at the last day, that God has pardoned
all our sin. Have we offended him in secret? Alas! we
have, in ten thousand instances. His Spirit shall secretly
bear us witness, then, that our sins are all forgiven. Oh I
let every believer unite in ascribing praise to Him-be.
cause he would love. Let each of us say0"! to grace, how great a debtor,
Daily, I'm constrain'd to be:
Let that grace, now, life a fetter,
Bind my wandering soul to thee."
From what has been said, we learn the infinite evil of
sin, which required such a sacrifice as Jesus Christ; and
should we not then detest it, and flee from it, as from the
face of a serpent? Oh! let us beware of sacrificing the
son of God afresh, and putting him to an open shame by
our guilt and crimes. If there were nothing else to teach
us the evil and damnable nature of sin, the blood of Christ
loudly proclaims it. Let us not, then, attempt to excuse
our sins; but whilst we are blessing God for the remedy,
let us, as long as we live, lament over the disease. Sin
must be hateful in the view of every good man; and, depend upon it, that that system of religion which allows sin,
233




18                 DISCOURSES OF
in any shape whatever, is a diabolical system-it is from
Satan, and not from God —for he is of purer eyes than to
behold iniquity with the least degree of approbation.
Need I say, that we learn from this subject the folly of
self-righteous men, who attempt to find salvation apart
from Christ.  Oh! remember, that nothing but the blood
of Jesus is sufficient to atone fot the sins of men.  All
your legal performances amount to just nothing at all, as
it respects obtaining your salvation. Oh! why will you
not submit to the righteousness of God? Flee, sinners, to
the Saviour's blood —wash there, and be clean —so shall
you be made eternally happy, and shall be brought to join
all the blood-bought race of ransomed sinners, in ascriptions of eternal praise to God and the Lamb forever. Then
shall this triumphant language be the burden of your song
-" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins
in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto
God, and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." Amen.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               19
SERMON II.
ALL MEN ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD.' So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
-ROMANS XIV. 12.
THESE words were first addressed to the Romans by the
apostle Paul: they spoke loudly to them, and bid them
prepare for their final judgment. And are they of no importance to us, c" on whom the ends of the world are come?"
Do they demand no serious attention from us?  Ought
they not to lessen our attachment to present things, and
inspire us with holy boldness and resolution in the cause
of God our Saviour? They represent the great Eternal
as our Judge, and we all, every one of us, giving an account of ourselves to him. And if the Judge is at the
door, how careful should we be to live, not to ourselves;
but whether we live, we should live unto the Lord, or
whether we die we should die unto the Lord; so that,
whether living or dying, we may be the Lord's.  " For to
this end," says the apostle, " Christ both died, and rose,
and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and
of the living." Why then, should we judge one another?
" for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ."
For it is written, " As I live, saith the Lord, every knee
shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
235




20                DISCOURSES OF
Oh, let the artful hypocrite, the openly profane, and the
real believer, hear the solemn language of the text. It is
language that concerns them all, and demands from every
one of us earnest attention, close examination, and fervent
prayer. " So then every one of us shall give account of
himself to God." For a few moments, then, let us lay aside
every other concern, and attend to this most important
subject. From the text we shall make two plain observationsI. That at the general judgment, we must give an account of ourselves: and
II. That this account will be rendered to God.
Oh! that the Holy Spirit would impress the subject on
all our minds, and cause our meditations to be very profitable to all our souls.  Observe thenI. That at the general judgment we shall give an account of ourselves.
It is a subject which concerns us all, for it is said in the
text, " Every one of us shall give account of himself to
God."  " The hour is coming in the which all that are in
the graves shall hear his voice."  " I saw the dead, small
and great, stand before God"-that is, persons of all ages,
states, and degrees of men, will have to make their appearance before the great white throne.  The sea shall
give up the dead which are in it, and death and hell (that
is earth and the grave) shall give up the dead which are
in them, and they shall all be judged, every man according to his works, even from the king on the throne to the
beggar on the dung-hill. Then shall the rich and the
236




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              21
poor meet together-the Lord shall be the Judge of them
both: there will be no distinction made on account of
former riches or poverty. Both the man of property and
wealth, and he who in the sweat of his brow did eat
bread, shall be judged at one tribunal. The man of learning and study will receive his sentence at the same tribunal, and from the same tremendous Judge, as the ignorant
and illiterate man, who has neither opportunities to be
wise, nor desire to be learned. All the various classes of
men will stand before God on th.t solemn day. Then
will the minister who labored, toiled, and spent himself in
the service of God, give up his account. Being raised
from the long sleep of death, with holy serenity and joyful triumph on his countenance, he approaches the Judge
of all the earth. Accompanied with those who were called
by his ministry, he exclaims: " Here am I, Father, and
the children whom thou hast given me;" thou knowest
that I aimed not at the great things of the world, though
I was thankful for those conveniences which thou gavest
me. I preached not to display learning or to acquire human applause, but, being washed in Jesus' blood myself,
I longed to direct others to that blessed fountain: I
preached in compassion to souls, and with an earnest desire to please and honor thee. Then shall the Judge say
to this faithful laborer, "' Well done, good and faithful
servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
There also shall appear the time-serving loiterer in the
vineyard of the Lord: and oh, what a dreadful sentence
will be passed on that unhappy man who never faithfully
warned of sin or of approaching danger! Many will rise
up and accuse him in that day, because he did not warn
them to flee from the wrath to come. Oh! in what unut237




22                 DISCOURSES OF
terable anguish will he behold the Searcher of all hearts,
and the Trier of the reins of the children of men, who
will punish sinners with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power!
All that have believed through grace, and fled for refuge
to Jesus, shall receive their acquittal before an assembled
world. All whom everlasting love elected, sovereign
mercy redeemed, and sanctifying grace made holy, shall
hear their Judge saying, " Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world." And every worker of iniquity, every enemy
of the cross of Christ, shall then meet this Judge. And,
oh! awful will be his sentence! Words cannot express
the terror, the horror, the despair, which shall pervade his
soul when that God, whose word, ways and people he despised, shall say to him, " Depart from me, thou cursed,
into everlasting burning, prepared for tile devil and his
angels." Awful as this sentence is, it will be executed to
its utmost extent, and the unhappy lost soul will to all
eternity experience the weight of Almighty vengeance.
In a word, our text says, "Every one of us shall give
account of himself to God." Every one that has ever
lived on this earth; every one that now inhabits it; every
hearer of the gospel; every father of a family; every husband, wife, and child; every professor of religion; every
enemy to God. Every one in this assembly will give up
his account. All that the fire has consumed, that the sea
has contained, or that the earth has inclosed, shall hear the
trumpet sound, and awake either to everlasting life, or to
eternal shame and confusion. The part allotted to us, our
text informs us, will be to give an account of ourselves:
we shall give an account of the talents which we possess
238




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              23
-the mercies which we enjoy-the judgments which we
have abused —and the actions which we performed.
1. We shall give an account of the talents which we
possess.
Our Lord represents our giving an account of the talents with which we are entrusted by a parable (you will
find it in the 19th of Luke, 1 th to 27th verses.) By this
parable, he reminds us of that awful reckoning to which
we shall be called, and which is mentioned in our text.
He therein shows us that it will be in vain for us to approach the Lord of heaven and earth, saying, " Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept, laid up in a
napkin." For why does God give men natural talents
and abilities, but that they may improve them to his
glory? There have been many who have been blessed
with capacious minds and great abilities, who have prostituted that midr and those abilities to the vilest of purposes. These persons will all be summoned before the
great tribunal to give an account of themselves to God,
and will undoubtedly hear their tremendous Judge saying, " Those, mine enemies, which would not that I should
reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me."
And those to whom God gave but moderate talents, who
yet improved them, and spent all their lives in that service which is perfect freedom, namely, the service of God,
those persons shall be honorably acquitted, and, having
been faithful in that which is little, shall be instantly received into the joy of their Lord.
Oh, let us never forget that we shall be called to give
an account of our stewardship, and that we shall either be
hailed to eternal glory, or banished to unutterable despair.
Letlus employ the abilities God has given us in the best
239




24                DISCOURSES OF
of causes, in promoting the honor and glory of God our
Saviour, by telling to all around us, the unsearchable
riches of divine grace, that they may be encouraged to apply to the Friend of sinners, and find in him all that salvation which they need.
2. We must give an account of the mercies which we
enjoy.
For what has God given us our time, but that we may
catch the fleeting moments, and spend them all in wisdom's
ways? Soon there shall be time no longer. Oh, then, let
us not waste it but redeem it, because the days are evil:
so shall time bear us away to a happy eternity. But, oh,
what an awful reckoning will those have to give, who employ every art to kill time! We are favored with innumerable blessings of a temporal nature, of which we must
give an account. God has given them to us, that they may
lead us to repentance; and happy will it bee for us, if they
produce that desirable effect. And why does the trumpet
of the gospel salute our ears with glad tidings of great joy?
Oh, for how much more shall we have to answer than those
who have never heard or known the joyful sound! Great
is the company of those who preach the gospel of the Son
of God: from time to time we hear them delivering their
message; and for every sermon that we have heard, we
must give an account. One Sabbath succeeds another, and
one opportunity for meeting with the saints follows another; and for all these things we must give an account.
In short, every mercy with which we are favored, whether
temporal or spiritual, will pass before our eyes, and demand
of us how we have improved it. Oh, for grace to keep this
awful account in mind, that so we may highly esteem our
privileges, and see to it, that we not only duly estimate,
240




REV. THOS. SPENCER.                25
but properly use the mercies we enjoy, seeing the time is
approaching when we shall enjoy them no more for ever.
3. We shall give an account of the judgments we neglect.
Sinners are often reproved, yet, nevertheless, they harden
their necks, and will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.  How often does God display the terror of
his frown to a nation by awful calamities, such as war,
famine, or pestilence.  Ile says to them, in these judgments, when he beholds their iniquity, " Shall I not visit
for these things? and shall not my soul be avenged on
such a nation as this?"  Yet, though his hand is awfully
lifted up, they will not see.  But let the people of such a
nation recollect, that they must give an account of that
contempt with which they have treated national visitations.
How often does God make irreparable breaches in families!
visiting them for their impiety, he removes a darling son,
a beloved daughter, a tender parent, an affectionate husband, or a much-loved wife, with a stroke! And yet, after
all this, they are numbered with the families that call not
upon his name.  There is nothing short of efficacious grace
that can cause the inhabitants of the world to learn righteousness. Oh! that the arm of the Lord might be revealed, in convincing men of sin, and forewarning them of the
account they will shortly have to give of the little success
attendant either on the mercies or judgments of God!
And has not God already spoken to us by the loud voice
of an awakened conscience? Have we never been exercised with personal trials, difficulties, or conflicts? Have
we never known what it is to feel alarm in our own souls,
and dreadful forebodings of the day of judgment? If we
are not awakened by these evils to a sense of duty, our
11               241




26                DISCOURSES OF
condemnation will be increased by them: for, for all these
things we must give an account,
4. The righteous Judge will inquire into the actions
which we performed.
"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be
evil." The penetrating eyes of God will notice the motives
from which our actions spring. Probably we have done
numerous actions, well enough, in themselves considered,
but which are rendered impious and unholy by the desires
from which they sprung. All this shall be laid open before an assembly of angels, devils, and men. And for
every idle word that men speak they must give an account.
Oh! that before we shall be called to this tribunal, we
may have our persons and services washed in the precious
fountain of Immanuel's blood!  Then the terrors of
Sinai's fiery law will not molest us; nor will any one vial
of divine wrath be poured out upon us. Then God will
look upon us, and be well pleased for his righteousness'
sake.  They that have done good, shall rise to eternal life;
and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation. There is not even a wicked thought that will escape
the notice of his eye, but they will be unto him like destruction, which is open before him, or hell, which is without a covering. Every thing will be noticed by God, the
Judge of all, before whom we must all appear.
" So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God."  Oh! that our account may be delivered with
joy, and not with trembling; but a happy entrance may
be administered to us, into his eternal kingdom and glory!
Having thus endeavored to show that, at the general
242




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               27
judgment, we shall give an account of ourselves, we proceed to remarkII. That this account will be rendered to God.  "We
must give account of ourselves to God."
In the fifth chapter of the Evangelist John, and the
twenty-second verse, it is said, " The Father judgeth no
man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;"
and again, in the twenty-seventh verse, he "hath given
him (that is, Christ) authority to execute judgment also,
because he is the Son of man."  These passages seem to
prove that God the Father will not appear as Judge, but
God the Son, that is, Christ, in his now glorified state.
And there are many other passages which confirm this idea,
such as these:-" The Son of man shall come in his glory,
and all his holy angels with him, and before him shall be
gathered all nations," &c.  "Behold, he (namely, Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness, who loved us, &c.) cometh
with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also
which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail
because of him."  And that this was the apostle's idea, is
clearly deducible from the I 0th verse of the chapter before
us; at the close of which he says, " For we shall all stand
before the judgment-seat of Christ." He uses similar language in the second Epistle to the Corinthians, the fifth
chapter and 10th verse, where he says, "' We must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ."  The apostle, in
the text, says, " So then every one of us shall give account
of himself to God." Now, can any one deny that this
proves the deity of Jesus Christ? It is said, that God
shall judge the world, and that act is ascribed to Jesus
Christ, which plainly demonstrates that he is " God over
243




28                  DISCOURSES OF
all, blessed for ever."  The godhead of Christ is the
triumph of the christian, who can look up to him, and with
filial fear, mingled with holy boldness, can exclaim, " My
God!" And those who now deny that Jesus Christ is the
eternal God, will, in the day of judgment, have sufficient
evidence of his deity. He will appear in all the uncreated
glories of his godhead to banish all his enemies to the
gulf of perdition, the lake of fire and brimstone, whence
the smoke of their torment will ascend up for ever and
ever. Yes, they who now oppose the reign of Jesus, will
then have to give up their account to him. All men shall
appear before him, and he will give to every one according
to his works.
We shall now observe, that our giving up our account
to God, will heighten the solemnity of the scene-secure
the impartiality of the sentence-and display the power
and authority of the Judge.
1. It will heighten the solemnity of the scene.
It will be an awful thing to hear the sound of the angel's trumpet; —to behold the elements melting with fervent heat;-to see the graves opening, and the race of
Adam shaking off the sleep of thousands of years;-to
hear the doleful shrieks of souls lost for ever.  Oh! it
will be a dreadful sight to see unhappy thousands, standing at the left hand of the Judge, to be cast into the lake
of hell, which already yawns to receive its new possessors!
But, when we recollect that God himself is the Judge;
that he who made heaven and earth, and is "c glorious in
holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders," is to decide on
the final state of every man, we are filled with solemnity
and dread. Those who now treat the doctrine of a resur-.
rection and future judgment with unconcern, nay, with
244




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               29
contempt, who laugh away gloomy thoughts of an awful
eternity, will then be serious in reality, when they behold
God the Judge of all. For they must give an account of
themselves unto God.  Oh! what a solemn thought! to a
God who knows all hearts, and has declared that he will by
no means clear the guilty! Oh, that we could always feel
the import of the solemn words of the text! for it will be
an awful thing, a fearful thing, to fall into the hands of the
living God. Not only will our rendering our account to
the God-man Jesus heighten the solemnity of the scene, but
it will also2. Secure the impartiality of the sentence.
That a sentence, final and irrevocable, will be passed on
the actions of men in the last great day, is clear from the
assertions of scripture. If our fellow-mortals had to pass
this sentence, it might be adjudged with partial hands;
but we have to adore God that this sentence will not be
passed either by men, devils, or angels, but by God himself; forHe deals to all the due reward,
Or by the sceptre, or the sword.
He only knows what an infinite evil sin is, and therefore
he only can be the Judge to pass a final sentence on the
bold transgressor. The excuses which men bring to their
fellow-mortals, will avail nothing before the judgment-seat
of Christ; and we may all rest assured, that God will acquit none in that awful day, but those who are clothed with
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. How disappointed will those persons be, who are merely resting on
the possibility of their doing as well as others! they should
know that none will do well, but those who have fled for
245




30                 DISCOURSES OF
refuge to Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. Oh! that mankind would recollect that they must give an account of
themselves to God, and that his sentence on their actions
will be impartial: for he will not look on sin with the
least degree of approbation, but will assuredly bid every
worker of iniquity depart fromn his presence into the lake
of fire and brimstone. We must appear before an impartial Judge.
3. Our giving up our account to God will display the
power and authority of the Judge.
7We have remarked before, that all power and judgment
is committed unto the Son; and in that day he will display the arm of his power; his authority shall be displayed in sending his angels to rouse the dead, in calling
them all to his bar, in giving them a sentence of impartiality and justice,. in banishing ungodly sinners to remediless woe, and in receiving his favorites to the kingdom of
eternal glory. And this power, majesty, and authority,
will be displayed before the whole company of angels and
glorified spirits; the race of man, from the first that was
created to the last that died; and the host of wicked angels
and condemned souls.  Before all these our Jesus will display his eternal power and godhead, to the glorification of
all his attributes and perfections; the justifying all his
dealings; and the final happiness or complete and eternal
misery of every individual.  " Now consider this, ye that
forget God, lest he tear you in pieces, and there be none to
deliver." Remember, that he who will be your Judge is
almighty, —that his power is uncontrolled,-and that the
weight of his vengeance will be intolerable. Every one of
you must give an account of yourselves to God. Oh, that
his grace and mercy may be manifested, in welcoming us
246




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               31
to everlasting happiness, instead of his vengeance being
displayed, in banishing us from his presence and from the
glory of his power!
This awful subject is calculated to alarm the sinnercomfort the believer-and instruct us all.  When the
apostle Paul reasoned of judgment to come, Felix trembled.
And does not this subject, 0 sinner, affect thee?  Can
you be stupid and unaffected when you hear of the account
you must shortly give? Those who at that awful day are
found Christless, will also be speechless, hopeless, and helpless! How will their heads hang down, and their knees
knock together! Oh, what pale faces, quivering lips, and
fainting hearts! Oh, dreadful day! when the earth shall
be trembling, the stars falling, the trumpet sounding, the
dead rising, the elements melting, and the world on fire!
RIecollect the solemn tribunal before which you must appear, the impartial sentence you will receive, and the happiness or misery which will be your portion.  What kind
of account will you have to give of your talents, your
time, or anything with which you have been favored? Oh
that this subject might be properly impressed on your hearts
and consciences, then you would never trifle with solemn
things! You would be often examining yourselves, that
you might know whether you had a good hope through
grace. Remember that you have been warned of approaching danger, and of appointed death and judgment. Say
not, with many of old, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation." There are
sufficient proofs from reason and revelation, that there will
be a judgment-day; and woe be unto those who are not
anxiously concerned about the decision of their state on
that important day.
247




32                  DISCOITRSES OF
We said, that the subject was calculated to comfort the
believer.  The second advent of Christ is to the christian
a desirable event: he loves his appearing, and says,
" Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." At that day, when
he shall give an account of himself unto God, all his woes
will be redressed. No longer shall he have to mourn over
a body of sin and death.  No more shall he cry out, Deliver me from temptation. All his sorrows will be done
away: the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall
wipe away all tears from his eyes. Then the pardon of all
his sins will be declared. God will show to angels, men,
and devils, that he is well pleased for the righteousness'
sake of Christ. All the angelic host will admire and adore
the grace which has been displayed in his conversion; and
the saint himself shall say, Amen, to all the praise.  For
he shall come to be admired in his saints, and to be glorified in all them that believe.  At that day his soul will be
taken to eternal glory, to dwell for ever in the contemplation of the Saviour's beauties, enjoying his eternal smiles.
God will be his eternal all, and he shall be full of glory.
But " eve has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive, what God has prepared for them that love him."
To conclude:-This subject instructs us all: it teaches
us to be concerned, to be always ready for our account; to
walk hunmbly and closely with our God; to sit loose to all
created objects; and to set our affections on things above:
to improve all our mercies; to redeem  every hour of our
time; to hear the word of God, so that we may profit; to
look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal
life: and to keep in view the end of our journey, being
constantly looking unto Jesus. In short, what our text first
said to the Romans, it now says to us all,-" WATCH."
248




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                33
SERMON III.
SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST.
"I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved
and shall go in and out, and find pasture."-JOHN 10: 9.
ONE striking feature of the gospel of Jesus Christ is,
its variety; for it makes known the same truths by various
methods, and in various ways. In the book of God, our
attention is arrested to consider the things that belong to
our peace, by well-chosen metaphors and suitable language;
and as it is God's own word it shall accomplish the end
whereunto he has sent it, for which he has designed it, and
to which he has said it shall prosper.
The chapter out of which we have read you a text,
abounds with metaphors: in it God's people are represented as sheep, to denote their simplicity, patience, usefulness, and meekness. Jesus Christ speaks of himself as the
good Shepherd who has laid down his life for these sheep;
and the church of God is described as a fold, into which
our Lord will shortly bring all his flock, so that there shall
be "one fold under one Shepherd." In the beginning of
the chapter, the Saviour shows the folly which those men
manifest who seek to get into his fold by some other way,
than by the door. The disciples understood not these sayings, yet without a parable spake he not unto them; but,
1l'* t            2419




34                  DISCOURSES OF
having compassion on their infirmities, he told them, that
he himself was the door of the sheep, that all who ever
came before him were thieves and robbers, but the sheep
did not hear them.  " I (says he, in the words of our text)
am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture." It is our design
to consider these words-as affording a significant representation of Christ,-and as describing the blessedness of
all his people. Praying therefore, for the divine illumination, and trusting that our meditations will be profitable to
all our souls, let us consider the passageI. As affording a significant representation of Christ.
The name of our Lord Jesus is as ointment poured
forth: as, in all his offices, relations, and characters, he is
exceedingly precious to the believing soul, he must be at
all times worthy of our attention, nay, deserving of our
highest admiration, ardent love, and constant praise.  Let
us, then, laying aside every other concern, fix our minds on
Him, who is the object of angelic adoration, the delight of
God the Father, and the only foundation of human hope.
It is very remarkable that Jesus Christ is always spoken
of in Scripture, in that manner which is best suited to the
sinner's wants. Does he hunger and thirst after righteousness? Christ is that bread of life, of which if a man eat,
he shall live for ever. Does he want a foundation on which
to rest his eternal all?  " Other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Does he
lament his ignorance?  Christ is the great prophet and
teacher of his church. Is he oppressed with sin and guilt?
Christ is an atoning priest; " the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world." Does he groan under the power
250




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                35
of his enemies?  Christ is King in Zion, and shall subdue
them all. Or, is he put to flight through terror? "'The
name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth
into it and is safe."  Does he often forsake and wander
from the Saviour? Christ is the good Shepherd that will
bring him back to the fold. Are any of you desirous of
entering into the state of believers here, and into the house
where they expect to dwell above? " Christ is the door,
by him if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture." This representation of
Christ, therefore, is designed to teach us this one great and
important truth: that Christ is the only way of entrance
into the church militant below, and into the church triumphant above; yes, we say that Jesus is the door through
which poor sinners of the race of Adam are admitted1. Into the privileges of the gospel church.
That this is the true literal meaning of the passage is
evident, both from the design of the chapter, and from the
latter part of the verse. From the design of the chapter,
which represents Jesus as sustaining a character which he
exercises in the church militant, and describes the people
of his choice as scattered about, and shortly to be gathered
together: from the latter part of the verse, which mentions
blessings that are to be enjoyed in the present state, " He
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
The privileges of the saints are very great and numerous; and what renders them so infinitely valuable is that
the possession of them is secured to all real believers, by
the oath and promise of the Lord.
What excellent enumerations of many of them  do we
find in the book of God, especially in the eighth chapter of
St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans: there you may find a
251




36                 DISCOURSES OF
list of the greatest blessings that God can bestow upon
man, or that man can possibly receive. It would be irr
vain for us to attempt to mention all these inestimable
privileges, but it may not be amiss to mention one or two
of them, and see that they are all enjoyed through Christ;
that he is the gate that leads to the garden of the Lord,
where grow the choicest flowers; where spring the best
delights. To approach unto God, to be favored with sweet
access to the God of heaven and earth; to have fellowship
with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, by the
means of prayer, and other exercises of religion, is the
most honorable and satisfying employment in which we can
engage. It is a privilege which we can never too highly estimate, and a duty which we cannot too frequently perform.
I" Let their money perish with them, (said a noble marquis,)
who esteem all the gold and silver in the world worth one
hour's communion with Christ." And to this there is no
doubt, but every one who feels the power of real religion
will heartily assent. But the man who is yet in his sins,
who has not known Christ, or entered in by the door,
knows nothing of this privilege; he knows not what we
mean by communion with God, does nor see its necessity,
and having never enjoyed it, cannot feel its advantages, for
it is through Jesus, that " we have access, by one Spirit,
unto the Father."
"Wicked men often attend the means of grace, and some
of them who are awfully deceiving themselves, fancy that
their attendance upon the means will save their souls, not
recollecting that Jesus Christ is the only way of entrance
into  sich a state as that in which a man can properly enjoy the means of grace.  When the man has had a view by
fiit:h of Jesus, and has been conutemplating with wonder,
2,2




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                37
love, and praise, the expressions of his tenderness, the
dignity of his person, the riches of his grace, and the love
of his heart, then it is that he can properly enjoy the
means, or rather the God of the means.  Without an entrance by Jesus the door, our prayers will be formal, our
praises hypocritical, and our whole services adapted to
make the Lord refuse to hear us.
The great and precious promises of the word of God, are
only applied by the Spirit to those who are interested in
the Saviour.  To him who has passed through Jesus the
door, are the promises of the Bible made; for they are all
yea and amen in Christ Jesus, and heaven and earth shall
sooner pass away, than one of these shall fail of its accomplishment. Whilst those who are in a state of nature
have no solid satisfaction left when affliction seizes them,
and outward circumstances seem to frown upon them, God
keeps them in perfect peace whose minds are stayed upon
him; their faith in God and in his Son is the best remedy
for the troubles of human life, and they are blest with strong
consolation. Having entered in by Jesus the door, they
derive real, solid, and lasting happiness, from the source
where alone it can be found, and in God himself are all the
springs of their felicity.
In short, let it be remembered, that there is not one
privilege enjoyed by the children of God, however great,
but is enjoyed through Christ. It was in him they were
chosen; through him they are freely justified, really sanctified, and graciously adopted; through what he has done
we shall be safely conveyed over the troubles of life, sweetly consoled in the terrors of death, freely acquitted in the
day of judgment, and finally admitted into the glories of
heaven.
253




38                DISCOURSES OF
Do you want proofs of this? Read the sacred word,
where you will always find that Christ Jesus is the Alpha
and Omega, the first and the last, the all and in all in a
sinner's salvation.  " Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Here you
see the apostle plainly shows the source of all our mercies,
namely, Christ Jesus; and, indeed, the volume of inspiration is filled with proofs, that Jesus is the only way by
which we can obtain the enjoyment of any spiritual bless.
ing. And if you ask any who have been enlightened by
divine grace, whence it is that they are so happy, they will
ascribe it all. to Christ, and say; " By his grace we are
what we are." Thus is Jesus the door by which we are
admitted into the privileges of the gospel church.
2. He also is the way of entrance into the blessedness
of the heavenly state.
It is lamentable to consider on what weak foundations
many of our fellow-creatures rest their immortal concerns.
Oh! what numbers build their eternal all on the absolute
mercy of God, the external privileges they have enjoyed,
or their own legal performances, and they look for salvation from no other source; they will not hear that Jesus
is the only Saviour, but vainly attempt to save themselves;
and, whilst the Bible asserts, and experience proves, that
" there is no other name under heaven, given among men,
whereby we can be saved, but the name of Jesus," they
will apply to any other person for relief but to him from
whom alone it is to be obtained. " Being ignorant of God's
righteousness, they go about to establish their own righteousness, not submitting themselves to the righteousness
of God."  Jesus is the door to the regions of glory:
254




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               39
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
kingdom of God?" The foundation of all our preparation
for heaven must be laid in our being washed, justified, and
sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God.
The joys of heaven are unspeakable, complete, and eternal: " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him." " In the divine presence
there is fullness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures
for evermore:" but, however great the glory, or lasting
the happiness of heaven, it must be well understood and
remembered by us, that iP we know not Christ as our only
Saviour, we shall never see its glory, or enjoy its pleasures.
Would we be partakers of the felicity of the heavenly
world, we must enter in by Jesus the door; it is only he
who can prepare us for that happy state. And do you
ask, How it is that he makes us " meet for the inheritance
of the saints in light?" the answer is, By imputing to us
his own immaculate righteousness, whereby our sins are
pardoned, and by affording us the sanctifying influences of
the Holy Spirit whereby we are made holy. Without this
blessed preparation for glory, where God is we never can
come, " the gift of God being eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord." Oh, let every one in the present congregation, lifting up to God the voice of prayer, exclaim,
"Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go in unto
them and praise the Lord: this gate of the Lord, into
which the righteous shall enter!" That Jesus is the way
to heaven, is abundantly evident from the songs of the
glorified, who ascribe all their felicity to him that " washed them from their sins in his own blood, and made them
255




40                  DISCOURSES OF
kings and priests unto God." Yes, my orethren, those
who now stand round the throne of God, to hunger no
more, nor thirst any more, are " they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb." Jesus is the only
door, then try no other; he is an open door, then try him:
bless the Lord, who, in his designs of love and mercy, and
in his preached gospel, has set open this way to himself;
adore him for giving you an assurance of your acceptance
through Jesus, and for sweetly drawing you to himself,
whilst others were left to perish in their sins. Thus have
we considered the representation of Christ which our text
affords: Let us now view the passageII. As describing the blessedness of all his people.
They are here mentioned as entering in by the door.
What we have already said is sufficient to teach us that
the language is metaphorical; that it implies their cordial
reception of Christ, and their hearty belief in him; for, inscribed on this door, stand the soul-quickening words,
" Believe and live." The blessedness of such as enter in
by Christ is thus described:-m" They shall be saved;""they shall go in and out, and find pasture."
Need we here observe that these promises relate. to the
present life, are great and unspeakable in their nature, as
vast as God can make them, and as suitable to the exigencies of the soul of a poor sinner, as it is possible for them
to be. To be a little more particular, three things are
contained in the declaration of the text, namely, salvation,
-liberty,-and provision.
1. Salvation.
By entering in through Jesus the door, you secure your
25(;




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                41
safety as it respects temporal calamities,-spiritual distresses,-and eternal woes.
Those who enter in by Jesus the door, are safe in temporal calamities; for, "' They that trust in the Lord shall
be as Mount Zion, that cannot be removed, but abideth
for ever." What, though the nation in which they live is
the object of divine displeasure and almighty wrath, God
is saying unto them, " Come, my people, enter thou into
thy chamber; and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation
be overpast." Yes, Jehovah has an ark, in which he shuts
up all his Noahs in public distresses. For it shall be well
with the righteous in what circumstances soever they may
be placed.  The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the
righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Jesus is the believer's " rock, and fortress, and deliverer, his God, his
strength, in whom alone he trusts, the horn of his salvation, and his high tower."  " The eternal God is his refuge, and underneath him are the everlasting arms."
" Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." The Christian's way being committed to the divine care, and the
Lord being acknowledged in all his ways, he shall not be
destitute of domestic mercies; and although he may be
tried in his family and circumstances, he shall be delivered
out of his embarrassments, and all things shall work together for his good. Nay, though he is visited with bodily
pains and afflictions, he shall be saved from their distracting influence, and blest with their purifying tendency. He
shall glorify the Lord in the fires, and be made wiser and
better, holier and happier, by all the trials he may be called to bear.
257




42                  DISCOURSES OF
The saints, then, wherever they are, are safe as in the
hollow of his hand: the Lord keepeth them as the apple
of his eye. "c The eyes of the Lord are always upon them,
from the beginning of the year, to the end of the year," to
notice their condition and to supply their wants.  Oh, how
great was his care of his ancient Israel   " In all their
afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence
saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
and lie bare them, and carried them all the days of old."
And we may rest assured, that as he is an unchanging God,
the same care which was so remarkably exerted in behalf of
Israel, shall be the protection of the saints to the latest age.
" He shall deliver them from the snare of the fowler, and from
the noisome pestilence:"  1" They need not be afraid for
the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for
the destruction that wasteth at noon day; there shall no
evil befall them; neither shall any plague come nigh their
dwellings; for he shall give his angels charge over them to
keep them  in all their ways; they shall bear them up in
their hands, lest they dash their foot against a stone;
they shall tread upon the lion and adder, the young
lion and the dragon  shall they trample under foot."
"I," saith the Lord, "will be with them  in trouble,
I will deliver them and honor them, with long life will
I satisfy them, and will show them my salvation." And
all this their security, is the happy consequence of their
entrance in by Jesus the door. What, though they are
persecuted by the world, they have to recollect that it hated
Jesus the Master, before it hated Christians the disciples;
they are assured that Christ has overcome the world, and
t)y that assurance are encouraged to be of good cheer.
258




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                43
So also shall they be saved as it respects spiritual dis
tresses. When assaulted by Satan, " the Spirit of the
Lord shall lift up a standard against him," and'" the God
of peace shall bruise him under their feet shortly." Although they now groan under the wickedness of their
hearts, and long to be delivered from the body of this
death, their great Master has declared for their encouragement, that " sin shall not have dominion over them;" that
"' he will present them faultless before the presence of his
glory, with exceeding joy; yes, they shall appear as a
glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such
thing." Sometimes they are distressed on account of the
hidings of God's face, yet are they safe, because he will return unto them in mercy, he will not finally leave them,
nor forsake them.
Once more, we say, they are safe from eternal woes. It
is an awful truth, that " the wicked shall be turned into
hell, and all the nations that forget God;" but it is a glorious fact, that to those who have entered in by Jesus the
door, there is no condemnation, that they are safe from
the avenging justice of an angry God, and from the direful
effects of the divine displeasure, which the ungodly must
endure to all eternity. They shall not fall into hell, because eternal love chose them, Almighty grace redeemed
them, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies them for the enjoyment of heaven.
And is not this a great salvation? It is the salvation
of which "the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto
you." It is that which is the subject of the Scriptures, the
joy of Christians, and the song of heaven. 0 then, let all
beware of neglecting it; let those who have entered in by
259




44                 DISCOURSES OF
the door rejoice in their title to it, and let no presumptuous wretch dare to lay a claim to it, who, instead of being
united to Christ, is dead in trespasses and sins.  True believers are not only promised salvation, but2. Liberty.  " They shall go in and out."  Alas! they
were once with the rest of mankind held in bondage and
confinement, but " by the blood of the covenant, God has
sent forth his prisoners out of the pit wherein there was no
water." They were once the prisoners of the law, as they
had all broken its righteous requirements; they were all
exposed to its fearful curses; it demanded of them that
satisfaction which they were incapable of giving; it therefore threatened them with eternal death, and held them in
bondage; but when they entered in by Jesus the door,
their debt was discharged by him, and he liberated them
out of their bondage. " The prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience,"
the old serpent, the devil, formerly had them under his
power, confined in his strongholds, bound in his chains, and
employed in his drudgery; but God, having weakened his
power, turned him out of his strongholds, broke the prisoners' chains, and has taken them into his service, and made
them free.
Once they were tied and bound with the chain of their
sins, but suffice it to say, that when they entered in by
Jesus the door, they were made free from sin and every
kind of bondage, in which they were held; no longer do
they strive after the gratification of their own evil propensities, but yield themselves the servants of God, and bring
forth the fruits of holiness. "c Where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty."  " Stand fast, therefore, in the
liberty wherewith Christ has made you free."  " By me, if
260




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                45
any man enter in," says Christ, " he shall go in and out."
And how shall we describe or explain the liberty of the
children of God? It includes real pleasure and holy boldness in communion with God.  The saints shall go in and
out. Their communion with the Father and the Son,
through the Spirit, shall be constant and unwearied. They
shall walk in all the ordinances of the Lord. That service
in which they are engaged is perfect freedom. Their
slavery is changed into the state of children, and their duty
into choice; hence, their grateful enquiry now is, " What
shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?"  So that
the liberty of God's children is by no means a liberty to
sin; no, they never court that liberty, but detest it as the
greatest slavery.  How awful must that system be which
encourages sin under the idea of gospel liberty.  Such a
system is not from God, but from  the devil, the father of
lies.  Avoid it then, fly from  it, detest it; nor ever imagine, that God will countenance, or in the least way approve sin in his people.  For holy are all his ways, and
holiness becometh them that serve him for ever. That man
who pleads for the commission of sin, and calls it the liberty of God's chosen, plainly proves that he is in bondage
even until now.
There is one great and important blessing more mentioned in the text, and that is3. Provision.  "He shall find pasture."
Real believers are the sheep of God's pasture.' The
Lord," says the Psalmist, " is my Shepherd, I shall not
want; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he
leadeth me beside the still waters: he restoreth my soul;
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake."  " Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of
261




46                 DISCOURSES OF
mine enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup
runneth over." The spiritual wants of those who have entered in by the door, are supplied with spiritual blessings:
for your support and nourishment, ye children of God,
there are the lively oracles of God, and Jesus himself.
"Thy word," says one, " was found of me, and I di4 eat it,
and it was the rejoicing of my heart." Make the Bible
your constant study; by this blessed book you understand
the will of God, your mouth is filled with arguments, and
your soul derives fresh strength.  Oh, let it be your meat
and drink; live upon the glorious truths it reveals, and the
glorious prospects it opens; let it be the man of your
counsel: it well deserves your highest estimation, for it is
the field in which the pearl of great price is hid; it is the
pasture in which God appoints you to feed. Oh, then, " as
new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby."
Our Lord, in the most charming accents exclaims, " I
am the bread of life." " My flesh is meat indeed, and my
blood is drink indeed." "Except ye eat my flesh and
drink my blood, ye have no life in you." He then must
be the support of your souls; live upon his almighty fullness, his rich grace, his abundant mercy, and overflowing
goodness. We cannot enlarge here, but must just say,
that the food of the christian is-divine in its nature,-and
nourishing in its effects.
It is divine in its nature. The Bible is the word of God
and not of man: the subject of the scriptures, the manner
in which any thing is treated, their obvious design, the
wonderful harmony of all their parts; the unblemished
character of their writers; the wonderful way in which
they have been preserved; the number of miracles by'262




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                47
which they have been confirmed; the exact fulfillment of
their prophecies; and above all, the application of them
to the conscience by the Holy Ghost; are all incontestible
arguments for the divine authority of scripture: and this
divine word, christian, is to be your food.  Jesus, too, is
divine, for " he is the bread which came down from heaven:
he that cometh to him shall never hunger, and he that believeth on him shall never thirst."
The believer's portion is also nourishing in its effects.
The natural tendency of " the sincere milk of the word" is
growth. " He that eateth the flesh and drinketh the blood
of the Sdn of man shall live for ever." Christ gave his
flesh for the life of the world, and he that partakes of this
living bread, hath everlasting life, and shall be raised up
at the last day.
Do we not learn from this subject, that Christ is the first
and the last in a sinner's salvation?
Without him you are condemned, enslaved, starving, and
in the road to hell. Oh then, look to Calvary for mercy,
for salvation, for liberty, and for food.
Are we not taught by these considerations, that those
who gain admittance into the church any other way than
by the door, are in an awful condition? This is positively
asserted in the first verse of the chapter before us. " He
that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but
climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." Oh, beware then, beware, of resting in a religious
education, in your being members of christian churches, or
any thing short of an approach to God through Christ; for
if you profess to be in his fold, without passing through
the door, you are accounted a hypocrite, and may expect a
fearful looking for of judgment. Oh for grace to " strive
263




48                  DISCOURSES OF
to enter in at the strait gate; for broad is the way that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat; and strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadoth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Is it not clear, that gratitude to that God who has opened this door for sinners is our incumbent duty?
This is your way to Zion, 0 believer; sing of the goodness of God; sing to the praise of him who brought you
into the good old way: and oh, " glorify God in your
bodies and in your spirits, which are his."  Glorify him in
your hearts, lips, and lives.
Are we not to expect, that the time when Jews and Gentiles shall both enter by this door, will soon arrive? Read
the sixteenth verse, where the Rledeemer says, " Other
sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must
bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold and one Shepherd."  Blessed be God for such a declaration! 0 that he would bring in the Jews with the
fullness of the Gentiles! He shall accomplish it in his time;
shortly they shall beAll traveling through one beauteous gate
To one eternal home.
Oh, let us pray that God would hasten the number of his
elect, and bring them all through the door into the way to
glory.  Amen.
264




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                  49
SERMON IV.
NO FELLOWSHIP WITH SIN.
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."
EPHESIANS V. 11.
SUCII is the command of the God of heaven and earth,
to all those who profess to love his Son, and enjoy the influences of his Spirit; who have espoused his holy and divine religion, and profess to be traveling through a world
of trials and difficulties, to that rest which remains for the
people of God.  Our text is the'voice of God himself
through the instrumentality of his servant and apostle
Paul, and therefore not only demands attention, but requires obedience, on pain of the displeasure of the Ruler
of the skies.
Indeed we may suppose, we may say, that all the writers
of the Scriptures, all the providences of God, all the heirs
of glory, all the angels in heaven, all the damned in hell,
are now saying to us, in the language of the text, " Have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."  The
text, my brethren, is the voice of every line of the Bible,
of every poor backsliding soul, of every trembling conscience, and of every drop of the blood of Jesus. And
shall these join their pleas in vain? Gracious God! enable us now to c" cast off the works of darkness, and to put
on the whole armor of God:" let it not be our condemna12.265




50                DISCOURSES OF
tion that light is come into the world, and we love darkness rather than light because our deeds are evil; but may
we do the truth and come to the light, that our deeds may
be made manifest that they are wrought in God; and
henceforth, may we have this testimony that we please
Thee.
The perceptive part of the Bible is neither to be reckoned the ground of our acceptance with God, nor thrown
aside as legal; for upon our obedience to that depends our
recommending the gospel to others, our imitation of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the evidence of our possessing the Holy
Spirit, and the justification, not of our persons, but of our
faith before God and men.
Our text is introduced just after the apostle Paul had
been warning the Ephesians against being partakers with
the children of disobedience, by avoiding their former condition and their present state. "Ye were," says he,
" sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord;
walk as children of the light, proving what is acceptable
untothe Lord."  Therefore might he say with propriety
on this account, because ye were once darkness, but are
now light, "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness."
May He who said, "I am the light of the world," illuminate our dark minds, and give us in his light to see
light, that, in our meditations on this passage, we may not
darken counsel by words without knowledge; but may be
encouraged to proceed in our journey towards that place
where the sun shall be no more our light by day, nor the
moon by night, but where the Lord shall be our everlasting light, and our God our glory.
266




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               51
We observe that our text, I. Describes the sins of men;
and, II. Cautions us against them.
I. This language of the apostle describes the sins of men
-They are " the unfruitful works of darkness."
Man was at first created holy, placed in a happy situation by his Maker, and endowed with the greatest blessings; but, by his disobedience to the command of God, he
rendered himself exposed to the death of the body and the
soul, and, ever since, all his numerous posterity have been
born in sin, and have continued to live and die under the
influence of enmity to God, where divine grace has not
changed the heart.  The condition of every one in a state
of nature is truly lamentable and awful: he is a sinner
against God, an enemy to God, and at an awful distance
from God; he is said to be alienated from the life of God.
Sin is his element, his business, his study, his delight;
and, if it be not pardoned, will prove his ruin.
Surely, it need not be proved to persons who have the
least knowledge of their Bibles, that their sins are the unfruitful works of darkness, which are elsewhere called
" the works of the flesh."  " Now the works of the flesh
are manifest, which are these,-adultery, fornication," and
such like; "the deeds of the body."  "If we, through
the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, we
shall live."  They are also called dead works.  "How
much more shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience
from dead works?" And they are styled, the lusts of the
devil. " Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do."
But, in our text, sins are called " the works of darkness,
the unfruitful works of darkness;" to this description it
267




52                 DISCOURSES OF
behoves us now more particularly to attend. You see
that they are described by their nature and tendency.
1. By their nature.." The works of darkness." Good men are elsewhere
said to be called out of darkness, and to be delivered from
the power of darkness, and here the sins committed by the
ungodly are expressly styled the works of darkness. Does
not this denote the uncomeliness of sin? What is there,
my brethren, in the vast creation of God, that is more
filthy, more abominable, either in the sight of a sanctified
soul, of a holy angel, or of the eternal God? As sin is
the work of Satan, as it is the delight of those who never
tasted the refined joys of Jesus's salvation, and as it proceeds from a heart deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, it must be loathsome. Darkness itself is not
half so uncomely; nay, that darkness which might be felt
was but a faint shadow of the disagreeable appearance and
odious nature of sin. Those whose minds have been illuminated by the divine Spirit to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, need no other arguments to convince them, that
it is uncomely: for, beholding it with eyes anointed with
his eye-salve, they cry out, Unclean, unclean.
Again, does not the phrase, " works of darkness," denote the bewildering nature of sin?
And sin, my brethren, is the means of rendering men insensible to the voice of God and conscience; stupid, notwithstanding the loud calls of the ministers of the gospel,
nay, hardened under its sound: having once set your foot
in the broad way that leadeth to destruction, you find it no
easy thing to turn back, to come to the way of peace; for,
" Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his
spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to
268




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              53
do evil." It is really astonishing how men are led on from
one sin to another, till, at last, they fall into the lake of fire
and brimstone, to remain for ever with all the nations that
forget God. Before they are carried down so low as others
by the torrent of iniquity, could you foresee some of their
future actions, and tell them of them, they would not believe themselves capable of performing such atrocities;
nay, they would detest the thought. How strikingly do
we see this exemplified in the conduct of Hazael, who, when
conversing with the prophet Elisha, saw him weep, and
said to him, "Why weepeth my lord?  And Elisha answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto
the children of Israel; their strong holds wilt thou set on
fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword,
and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with
child. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog,
that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath showed me that thou shalt be king over
Syria." And afterwards he did those very things. Oh,
then, see here the bewildering nature of sin; like a man
in thick darkness, the sinner is led on he knows not whither.
And here I cannot help mentioning the salutary caution
of the Apostle Paul, " Avoid the very appearance of evil."
Again, does not this expression denote the awful state
of those who commit sin?
They are in a state of ignorance. "They know not,
neither do they consider the work of the Lord, or the operation of his hands." They know not whither to apply for
happiness, and therefore seek it in improper directions.
They are altogether ignorant of God, of Christ, and of
themselves; for (0 lamentable fact!) darkness has covered
the earth, and gross darkness the people.
269




54                 DISCOURSES OF
They are also in a state of unbelief. Numbers of them
will not believe that the darkness of the Mosaic economy
is past, and the true light now shineth. They will not believe, therefore, on Him whom the Father hath sent, but
" This is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, but they love darkness rather than light."
Consequently their state must be a state of error.
In vain do they attempt to illuminate the darkness by
natural religion, or systems of philosophy: one man professes to teach the way of heaven by the works of the law;
and another sets up the false glare of human reason, as the
true light of the world. " The blind lead the blind, and
they both fall into the ditch." No reformation of their
own has ever been sufficient to destroy in them the love
and practice of the works of darkness. But the apostle in
our text describes the sins of men2. By their tendency.  They are " the unfruitful works
of darkness."  The apostle, addressing the Romans, says,' For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness; what fruit had ye then in those things of
which ye are now ashamed?  For the end of those things
is death." By their being unfruitful, we are to understand
that they are of no good tendency, but that they are hurtful, inasmuch as they now defile, and will hereafter damn
the soul.
Men are dreadfully mistaken, when they suppose that
they are in the road to happiness, whilst they are in the
way of sin; for, saith the Scripture, Who hath hardened
himself against God and prospered? Those who practice
the works of darkness, expose themselves to want, to disgrace, to pain, to mental distress, to temporal calamities,
and to hell itself. That some fruit is produced by sin we do
270




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                55
not deny, but it is of the most awful kind. The direful
effect and the sad fruit of Adam's transgression is felt by
all. That brought death into the world, and all our woe;
and let us for a few moments, look at the ill effects of sin,
as strikingly displayed in a few instances in Scripture.
For what, was the wife of Lot turned into a pillar of salt?
It was that God might thereby display his hatred to sin:
for you will remember that she had transgressed the divine
command, and for that transgression was made an eternal
monument of his displeasure. Again, I inquire, why was
Gehazi struck with the leprosy?-why was his body made
white as snow? My brethren, it was for sin; it was one
of the fruits of the works of darkness; and to this day it
remains recorded in the Scripture, that we may see that
our God is the God of truth, and will manifest his displeasure against the workers of iniquity.  Let me ask
again, Why was Herod smitten by the angel of the Lord,
and eaten up of worms? Scripture itself replies, " Because he gave not God the glory." He had long practised
the works of darkness, and their awful effects he experienced in the pain of his dissolution.  And why did
Ananias fall down and give up the ghost after his conversation with Peter?  Or, why did Sapphira, his wife, expire so soon after? Both these circumstances took place
by the just vengeance of God upon sin; for they had not
"lied unto man bnt unto God."  And let me ask once
more, Why were Nahab and Abihu fearfully devoured by
fire from the Lord?  This, also, was for sin: "for they
offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded
them not."
These, then, are a few of those temporal calamities with
which God has visited the workers of darkness; but what
271




56                 ]DISCOURSES OF
are these to that dreadful doom which succeeds them?
Compared with that, all these things are but as the small
dust of the balance, without weight, and without regard;
for we are told, " the end of these things is death." Yes,
my friends, "Death is the wages of sin,"-death temporal and spiritual,-but chiefly, death eternal. Whilst
the righteous are called to inherit " glory, honor and immorality, and eternal life," sinners " go away into everlasting punishment;"-are "turned into hell, with all the
nations that forget God;" —are "punished with everlast.
ing destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of his power;" —are doomed to endure the gnawings of " the worm that never dies," and to burn eternally,
" in the fire that never shall be quenched."
And, oh sinner! can you call your life a life of pleasure?
Will you not " die as a fool dieth, and will not your end
be without honor?" Is God to be discarded, religion to
be despised, and your soul neglected for this, for the torments of everlasting despair? Oh, sinner! consider your
ways.
Thus you see that the apostle, when he denominates sin
the unfruitful works of darkness, does not mean to say that
it produces no effect-that it is followed by no consequences-that it is entirely a neutral thing, and makes a
man neither better nor worse-but he shows us that it
produces no solid, real, lasting good. Sin may and does
afford momentary gratification to the minds of its unhappy
and unhallowed votaries; but this gratification will not
bear being reflected upon, and never lasts, but invariably
makes a man discontented and dissatisfied. The works of
the flesh are to every good thing unfruitful. Solomon,
who had tried them all, gives us their amount, their. sum
272




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                57
total, in the following words: " Vanity of vanities, all is
vanity and vexation of spirit."  " There is no peace, says
my God, to the wicked," exclaims one of God's favorites;
and surely we must believe these holy and heavenly men;
but, if this be not enough to prove that the works of darkness are unfruitful, you are called upon to witness the
death-beds of those who have spent their whole lives in the
commission of them, and we cannot refuse to believe their
testimony; and they unite in showing us, that " The way
of transgressors is hard;" that there is no peace in the
conscience of an ungodly man; that they never have enjoyed any thing which it is worth living to enjoy, but that
there was the rankest poison in their cup of pleasure; and
that when dying they endure the awful anticipations of the
pains of hell.
Will not this suffice for the discussion of the first part
of our subject? we now hasten to the latter, and observe,
that the apostle, in the text, not only describes the sins of
men, butII. Cautions us against them.
" Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," is his language.
Here observe, that he does not say, Partake not of such
and such a sin, whatever you do of the rest; but condemns
sin altogether, and says, " Have no fellowship with any of
them, but rather reprove them."
The word fellowship, in Scripture, is used to signify
joint-interest, partnership, and familiar intercourse; hence
the saints are said to "have fellowship with God, and with
his Son Jesus Christ;" and ministers and people are united
in the fellowship of the Gospel. The Lord's Supper is the
273




58                 DISCOURSES OF
communion and fellowship of the body and blood of Christ;
and we are commanded to " have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness." We shall illustrate this exhortation by saying, Do not associate with those who commit
them-do not occasion them  by your evil exampledo not defend them by aiming to extenuate themdo not partake with them, by not praying against them.
And we will try to enforce these things by suitable
motives" Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness;" then, that is,
i. Do not encourage them, by associating with those who
commit them.
The saints are described in Scripture, as being " men
much wondered at;" "as a peculiar people, a holy nation,"
and sQ on. God blesses them with peculiar nearness to
himself, and loves them with a peculiar love. They are
strangers and sojourners here; this is not their rest, it is
polluted; it is only a wilderness through which they must
pass, a place that lies in their road; an inn at which they
must lodge; they are the friends of one another, and the
heirs of glory; as such, therefore, it behooves them to conduct themselves wisely, discreetly, towards those who are
without, who do not belong to their fraternity, and are not
traveling their road. You cannot understand us as saying
that you are to have no concern with the world; that you
are to neglect your business and turn monks; or that you
must not speak or deal with those who make no profession
of religion; neither would we intimate, that you are supposed to have that faculty by which you can know who are
real Christians, and who are not; or that, in every case,
274




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               59
you can tell whether you are to be familiar with this or
that man.
But there is great propriety in an expression which you
have, no doubt, frequently heard, and which cannot be too
often repeated: " Be in the world, but not of the world."
Let it appear by your actions, that the sons of Belial are
not your favorites, nor the votaries of pleasure your intimate friends. Seek to be delivered from the evil that is
in the world. Let the language of David be uttered from
the bottom of your heart, " I am a companion of them that
fear thee, and of those that keep thy precepts."
For why should you associate with the persons from
whom you will be eternally separated?  And why should
you not delight in the company of those, who, like yourselves, are traveling to that place," Where our best friends and kindred dwell,
Where God our Saviour reigns' "
I think that one reason why every good man dreads hell
so much is, because of the vile company it contains; and
really, if you would have no fellowship with the works of
darkness) you must not associate with the transgressors,
and those who keep not the divine law. But again, if you
wish and long to obey the command in the text, respecting
the unfruitful works of darkness,2. Do not occasion them by your evil example.
The saints " are called to holiness;" " they are said to
be the true circumcision, who worship God in the spirit and
have no confidence in the flesh;" and God says to them,' Be ye holy, for I am holy." " Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity." " Christ gave
himself for us that lie might redeem us, and purify us unto
075




60                  DISCOURSES OF
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."  " Let
your light so shine before men, that they, seeing your good
works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven." The
end of Christians in their walk and conversation should be
to recommend religion; so that, by their attachment to one
another, by the good fruit they produce, and the virtues
they exhibit, men may be constrained to admire the
blessed effects of the Gospel of Jesus.
But is this the case?  Alas, alas, if it be it is but in a
very small degree; as professors of religion, shame and
confusion of face belongeth unto us, because so few of us
" adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things;"
and so many cause the name of professors of religion to be
hated by the men of the world.  Oh, this is a serious
charge; if our conduct is unholy and unclean, we are actually forwarding the devil's work, and encouraging men to
continue to practice the works of darkness.  Oh, for more
of the influences of the divine Spirit! Oh, for more application of the blood of Jesus! Oh, for more enjoyment
of the light of the divine countenance! These things
would, undoubtedly, tend to the transforming our bodies
and spirits into the likeness of Him, whose we are and
whom we serve. But how often do we grieve the Spirit,
think little of the blood of Jesus, pray but formally for
the light of God's countenance! and then we need not in
the least be astonished, that it should please the Lord our
God to permit us to fall into sin. Oh, then, by all means,
avoid the works of darkness, and,3. Do not defend the works of darkness by aiming to
extenuate them.
The saints should exercise continued acts of repentance,
should pray to see sin in its worst colors, in its blackest
276




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                61
features, and in its exceeding sinfulness; that so they may
be confirmed in their hatred to it, and their desire to be delivered from'it. But very often it happens, that after a
child of God has fallen into the snare of the enemy, he
wishes to make his sin appear as little as possible, and
tries to extenuate it; which shows that he still feels a desire after it, that it is yet hid in his heart, nay, it shows us
that he has fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.  Never, Christian, never contrive sin, assist in it, rejoice in it, share the profits or pleasures of it: never provoke men to it, never forbear to do all in your power to
hinder men from committing it, never command it, nor
commend it; never neglect to reprove it, and then you
will not have occasion to endeavor to extenuate it.
Oh, how much of the spirit of the world do we, who call
ourselves Christians, daily exhibit! When we come to
look into our own hearts, and examine ourselves upon these
points, does not conscience tell us that we have fellowship
with the unfruitful workers of darkness; nay, that we are
partakers of other men's crimes?
It would be an excellent thing for us, if we looked into
the law of God more frequently; then should we, in discerning the spirituality of the law and the broadness of the
commandment, see our own sinfulness and vileness. Then
we should be obliged to confess our little conformity to the
divine commands, and to acknowledge our little likeness to
God and Christ.
Again, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness," that is,4. Do not partake with them, by not praying against
them.
The saints are to be men of prayer, and, on every oc277




62                 DISCOURSES OF
casion, are to lift up holy hands to God, praying always
with all kinds of prayer and supplications. The necessity
of prayer arises from numerous and interesting sources
which we cannot now examine. Prayer and intercession
are to be made for all men, and certainly the ungodly part
of mankind demand a share in our prayers as well as the
righteous.  Notwithstanding the assertions of men, respecting the propriety of limiting our petitions and not extending them to the whole world, we do assert that the man
who does not pray for the pardon of the sins of men has
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Oh, be
not partakers with other men's sins by this.  Believer, do
Satan, sin, and the world, tempt thee by various allurements, to various crimes? the remedy is still before thee,pray. The Divine Being takes pleasure in seeing you
striving against sin, against spiritual wickedness in high
places; and so shall you best show your aversion to sin,
either in yourselves or others, even by praying repeatedly
and earnestly against it; and here is a promise for your
encouragement, "' The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."  And again he has said, " Sin shall
have no dominion over you." But never forget that your
great Master requires this of you, that you have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
"' Thus shall you best proclaim abroad,
The honors of your Saviour God;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love,
Your inward piety approve."
"Those that honor me," says the Lord of heaven and
earth, " I will honor."  "And they shall be mine," saith
the Lord, "when I make up my jewels."
278




REV. THOMAS SPENCER,,             63
As motives to excite you to have no fellowship with the
works of darkness, I would remind you that by so doing
you obey the divine command,-follow the example of
Christ,-answer the expectations of the world,-encourage
your distressed brethren,-and yield comfort to the minister of the gospel.
We say, Do not have fellowship with the works of darkness, and then you will obey the divine command.
We need not repeat the numerous passages of Scripture
in which God calls you to holiness; read your Bible, and
then you will find them; but we wish you particularly to
recollect, that God is your Father and your Friend. Christ
Jesus is your Creator and Preserver, and therefore obedience to him is reasonable and equitable; and surely, if you
have any reason to believe that God has called you by his
grace, gratitude will lead you to show forth the praises of
him, "who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
If you obey the injunction of the text, you will also answer the expectations of the world.
Professors as well as preachers are as a city set upon a
hill that cannot be hid, you are watched by the world:
they readily expect more from you, than from those who
never made a profession of the gospel. Do not then suffer
men to say to you with contempt, " What do ye more than
others?" But let them see that religion is a thing that
not only affects the heart but influences the conduct, and
makes a man what he formerly was not. And remember,
that whilst you are doing this, you are glorifying God, and
promoting the intents of him, whom you profess to love
and serve.
279




64                 DISCOURSES OF
Again, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, and then you will imitate the example of Christ.
Of him it is said, that he was " holy, harmless, undefiled,
and separate from sinners."  " Follow me," was his own
language; and we are told that he suffered, " leaving us an
example, that we should tread in his steps." And surely
it becomes us to grow up into Him who is our living Head
in all things: to be made like unto Christ is an unspeakable blessing and honor.  0, then, let that mind be in us,
which was also in him. He had no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.  Then let not us.
Again, By a holy conduct and conversation you encourage your distressed brethren.
When a poor, doubting, weak believer, who is much
afraid that he shall backslide from the truth, and disgrace
his Master's cause, beholds your good conversation among
the Gentiles, he will be comforted, and will reason thus:
" There I behold an amiable christian, he walks circumspectly, redeeming the time, he puts to silence the ignorance of foolish men by his actions; now naturally he is
no more able to do this than myself, he is assisted by divine grace; that grace also shall assist me, shall shield and
guard me from the power of my foes, shall make me hold
out to the end, shall be my staff when I pass over Jordan,
and my song for ever and ever."
Once more, By avoiding the works of darkness, you
comfort the ministers of the gospel.
Alas, they need comfort. Theirs is an arduous employment, it is a work to which angels are incompetent; they
study, preach, and spend themselves for you, and will you
refuse to comfort their minds? And you must not think
that going to them, and telling them you were comfortable
280




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               65
under their ministry is enough, but let them see by your
fruits that their labor is not in vain in the Lord, but that
the truths they deliver have a blessed and lasting influence
upon your life.
REFLECTIONS.
The man who yet works the works of darkness is in an
awful condition.
The saints should cultivate fellowship among themselves,
and with God, and with his Son.
The hypocritical professor will hereafter be discovered
and condemned.
281




66                DISCOURSES OF
SERMON V.
DELIGHT IN GOD'S WORSHIP.
"Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still
praising thee."-PsALM lxxxiv. 2.
THIS Psalm is generally supposed to have been penned
by David at the time, when, by the ambitious and rebellious disposition and conduct of his son Absalom, he was
driven from his city. The chief subject of it appears to be
the sanctuary of God, and the ordinances of his house, for
by their loss he had learned more highly to estimate their
worth.
With the most animated language, the holy man expresses the amiableness, the loveliness of the tabernacles
of the Lord of hosts; breaks out in ardent longings towards the courts of the Lord: represents his heart and his
flesh crying out for the living God; envies the sparrow her
house and the swallow her nest, because they were near the
altars of his King and his God; and in the verse which
we have selected as a text, pronounces a blessing upon
those who dwell in his house. We are persuaded that this
subject is highly interesting to every one in the divine
presence, who is saying, " One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house
282




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               67
of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty
of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." From the
text then we shall attempt to raise, illustrate, and confirm
these three propositions:I. That there is a place peculiarly distinguished as the
house of God.
II. That there are persons who find an abiding residence
in it.
III. That such characters are truly blessed.
We remark,1. That there is a place peculiarly distinguished as the
house of God.
The whole creation is the workmanship of God; for he
is the Former of all things visible and invisible; for his
pleasure they are and were created; to him all beings bow,
angels and archangels; men and devils submit to his control, and are subject to his disposal. He is the sovereign
of universal nature, and the Manager of all worlds. He
filleth all in all. This great God, in making known to us
his mind and will, in order to suit our circumstances, and
in compassion to our infirmities, has been pleased to represent the great things of his love in familiar language, and
in terms with which we are well acquainted. Hence we
read such language as our text, when mention is made of
the house of God. The question then is,-What is intended by the expression, and what place is that which is
so honored, as to be called Jehovah's house? For since
" the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof," how can
he be said to have any particular dwelling-place? The
place of glorified spirits is in scripture called " a house;"
hence, says our Lord, "In my Father's house are many
283




68                 DISCOURSES OF
mansions;" and the apostle, contrasting the future with
the present state, exclaims, " For we know that if our
earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens." In that heavenly house, all the spirits of
just men made perfect, all the angels of God, securely,
happily rest and dwell; for that is a house which cannot
be removed, but abideth for evermore. And justly may
the words of the text be applied to its heavenly inhabitants; for they indeed are truly blessed, being for ever engaged in the worship, and employed in the service of a present Saviour. But to us, it does not appear, from the connection of the text, that heaven is here intended, but rather,
reference is made to the house of God below, to the church
militant, to the worshipping assemblies of the saints, to the
tabernacles of the Most High.  David refers evidently to
the Jewish tabernacle, whither, no doubt, he constantly
went up to worship, and the term, house of God, applies at
large to the whole church, to every congregation of believers, and to every assembly of the people of God. The
church of God, we say, is a house; it is called so in different passages of Scripture; thus, we read, that'wisdom
hath builded her house:" that the spouse was "brought
to Christ's banqueting house, and his banner over her was
love:" that " Christ, as a Son, was faithful over his own
house, whose house are we:" " that he was a High Priest
over the house of God:" " that the mountain of the Lord's
house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow
unto it:" that " holiness becomneth the house of God."
With respect to this house, be it observed, that Jesus
Christ is the foundation on which it rests: for " other
12               284




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               69
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ."  The inhabitants of it arc redeemed sinners, who
have been taken from the ruins of the fall, and adopted
into the family of God; here they reside and share domestic blessings, expecting, ere long, to be transplanted from
this earthly residence, to the house of God above; where
they shall all be made pillars, to go no more out for ever.
Spirituality is the characteristic feature of' the men who
dwell in this house, of the code of laws by which every
thing is regulated, and of the employments and engagements of all belonging to it.  But the idea of our text is
not merely that the church is a house, but that it is the
house of God. Let us for a moment investigate the propriety of the term, and show the claims of God to this
building.  The psalmist calls it thy house, and it will evidently appear to belong to no less a person than Jehovah,
if we consider him as the planner,-the former,-the furnisher,-and the inhabitant of the church. Observe then1. That Jehovah planned it.
In the councils of eternity, he determined to make man,
foresaw his fall, and devised a scheme for his recovery.
He was resolved, in his almighty mind, to rescue man from
the pit of perdition, and frustrate the designs of hell, by
sending his dear Son into the world, to lay down his life
to redeem  him.  Hence he knew the number of all his
saints, and determined on the objects of his sanctifying
grace, so that those who really belong to the church of
Christ are the chosen of God; thus saith David in another
Psalm: "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and
causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy
courts."   Nor less did the Almighty fore-ordain the
means by which this church should rise in the world; for
285




70                 DISCOURSES OF
he beheld it from eternity, withstanding all opposition, and
looking like the temple of God amidst all the attacks of
his enemies; he so ordained it, that the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it, and he well knows the time when its
great Zerubbabel " shall bring forth the head stone thereof
with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it." The Almighty, however, not only planned, but2. He actually formed the church.
" Every house is builded by some man, but he that built
all things is God:" all the creation is the product of his
infinite power and skill: "' The heavens declare his glory,
and the firmament showeth his handy work;" but in a more
particular sense, in a spiritual point of view, is Jehovah
the builder of the church: hence, says the apostle, " We
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God had before ordained that we should walk
in them." He laid the foundation, and he erected the edifice: by calling men under the preaching of his gospel, he
makes them members of the mystical body of Christ, and
inhabitants of the church of the living God. Every man
that is a christian, is so by the work of God: no human
aid, nor will of man, can make a new creature; for the
church of Christ consists of men that are " born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man,
but of God." Whatever believers are, they are so by the
grace of God. How mistaken then are those persons who
imagine that they have always been in the church even
from their birth; have been brought up in the house of
God! whereas a man must be a new creature, must be
born again of the incorruptible seed that liveth and abideth
for ever, before he can say that he dwells in " thy house,
O Lord of hosts." But once more we observe286




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                71
3. That it is by God that this house is furnished.
When we say that it is furnished, we mean that it is pro
vided with every thing needful; and who can doubt that
this is done by God?  For the perusal, the instruction,
the correction, the nourishment of his children, he inspired
and conveyed to them his own precious word. The saints
also are adorned with every gift and grace of the Holy
Spirit: their faith, their love, their patience, their hope,
their zeal, their humility, are all of the operation of the
Holy Spirit: by these they are enabled to believe the promises of God; to entertain the highest affection for their
great Householder, and for one another; to suffer the difficulties of the present state, and to bear them all with the
prospect of a glorious immortality; to promote the cause
of their Redeemer, and to wear the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit. Adorned with these graces they look
forth as the morning, " fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners." They are all glorious within; how wisely and how well are they provided
in their spiritual house, with every thing that is necessary
for their welfare! they are by no means left to themselves;
for God " is their sun and shield: he will give grace and
glory; and no good thing will be withheld from them
that walk uprightly." 0 how " beautiful for situation is
Mount Zion, the joy of the whole earth!"  "Walk about
Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye
may tell it to the generation following." But I must observe, lastly, and chiefly, that the church is called the house
of God4. Because it is inhabited by God.
The Lord dwelleth in Zion: there in a peculiar manner
287




72                 DISCOURSES OF
he displays the greatness of his glory, the wonders of his
power, and the riches of his grace.  Of the church he
says, "' This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell, for I
have desired it."  " This is the hill which God desireth to
dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever." The
apostle John says, " If we love one another, God dwelleth
in us and his love is perfected in us:" and " Thus saith the
high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also
that is of a contrite and humble spirit."   Here he constantly bestows his ordinances, and affords his gracious,
supporting, and comforting influences.   Oh, what honor
does this confer upon us, to have God himself dwelling
among us i Oh, what condescension does it display, that
he should reside among those who have rebelled against
him! Oh, what safety does it insure! for if God be for
us, nothing can possibly hurt us! Oh, what happiness does
it promote! for it is his presence that makes heaven;
and surely no person is so happy as he whom God designs
to visit and to bless by his constant presence.
Thus you see that the Lord's people is his portion;
Jacob is the lot of his inheritance: thus you learn that
the church is the hduse of God.  This is the place so peculiarly distinguished; it is the church.  Observe then,II. That there are persons who find an abiding residence in it.
" Blessed," says my text, " are they that dwell in thy
house." The psalmist here has a reference to the priests
and Levites, who were frequently officiating there, in their
turns, night and day; and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Gibeon, where the ark and tabernacle were, who
288




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                73
had frequent opportunities of attendance upon divine worship. Blessed then are the ministers, the priests, and the
Levites, that have their residence about the temple, and
are in their courses employed in its services.  But the
words are of larger import, and the blessing contained in
them, belongs to all those who count it their happiness, and
enjoy it as their privilege, to serve and worship God in his
courts; who dwell in God's house, who are at home there,
and therein transact their most important business. There
are several passages of Scripture of similar import with
our text: the saints are said to dwell in God's holy hill.
David himself says, in another psalm, " I will dwell in
the house of the Lord for ever:" and speaking of Zion too,
in another place, he says, " They that love his name shall
dwell therein."
What is it then to dwell in God's house? An answer
to this question will form the whole of our discussion on
this part of the subject; and you will bear with us whilst
we remark that it includes in it, —
1. The most ardent attachment to the house of God.
David himself is an evidence of this: hence you hear
him saying, " Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy
house and the place where thine honor dwelleth."  His
great love to the ordinances of God's house caused him to
break out in such language as that of the Psalm before us;
and his attachment to it arose from a renewed nature,
without which no man can love God's house for its spirituality: it sprung from past experience of divine favor; it
originated in a sense of the need of that blessed water
which can only be drawn from the wells of salvation. And
this disposition will never fail to characterize the persons
alluded to in our text: those who dwell in God's house
13              289




74                 DISCOUJRSES OF
must necessarily possess a sense of the value of a station
there; for would you choose a dwelling-place without some
degree of attachment to it? David was king over Israel,
and yet he felt a love to the tabernacle and temple.  He
might have employed himself in the business of the world,
but still love to God's house predominated in his mind.
And oh, how often do real Christians long for the Sabbath-day! they are frequently supported through the vicissitudes of the week, by recollecting that soon the day of
rest will come, when they shall serve God in his temple.
They hail the morning of that day with prayer and praise,
and find it to be the " best of all the seven."  But here I
must remark, how very different is the conduct of those men
who think a Sabbath a burden; and say, When will it be
over, that we may set forth wheat, and pursue our callings!
That man can never be said to dwell in God's house, who,
when he attends it, comes only out of an idle curiosity, or
sits and sleeps when he is there.  None of you can be
said to dwell in God's house who do not love the place;
whilst those of you who know how to value divine ordinances, are the persons who, I have no doubt, find an
abiding residence in the Lord's house.  I)welling in the
house of God implies2. Constant attendance upon it.
Can that man be said to dwell in God's house, who
visits it but once a year, but once a month, but once a
Sabbath? Impossible! They that dwell in God's house,
love as well one part of the sacred day as the other; and
do not mind sacrificing a few trifles to be constantly there.
Is it likely that the man who dwells in God's house, can
content himself with coming in late, and thus disturb the
worship of others? No: rather he will be one of the first
290




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                75
that assemble in the sanctuary.  He is always glad when
it is said to him, " Let us go into the house of the Lord:
our feet shall stand within thy gates, 0 Jerusalem." The
worship and service of God is the delight of all the saints.
And here lies the distinction between them and others:
sinners visit God's house, but the saints dwell in it. They
dwell there as a child dwells with his father; "for there
they find a settled rest, while others go and come." It is
their wish to obey their Lord, who tells them to " consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works:
not forsaking the assembling themselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so
much the more, as they see the day approaching." The
good man is thoroughly persuaded, that the time cannot be
far distant, when he shall go up to God's earthly tabernacles no more.  Sickness may seize him and confine him
to his bed, and hereafter death must arrest him, and remove him from this world; so that whilst he has to lament
the loss of the outward ordinances, one consolation still
remains, namely, the prospect of the better house above,
and the hope of engaging for ever in the worship of Him,
whose service is now his delight. How dear are the ordinances of the Lord's house to the believing heart! Whilst
the men of the world constantly resort to the unhallowed
haunts of pleasure, he as constantly attends upon God's
house; his heart is there: there dwell all those who are
united to him, by being partakers of the same heavenly calling with him; and it is there that God himself, that Jesus
Christ his beloved Saviour, and the Lord the Spirit, peculiarly discover themselves to the child of God: hence, we
remark, in the last place, that dwelling in God's house includes,2~9 1




76                  DISCOURSES OF
3. The greatest enjoyment in it.
Where ought a man in the general to enjoy so much, to
be so happy, as at home? the house of God then is the believer's home, therefore he is happy there. It would be in
vain for me to attempt to mention all the privileges of the
house of God, or to describe that blessedness which belongs to the pious, the sincere worshipper of Jehovah in
his earthly courts. There his memory is refreshed in the
things which he has heard, felt, and experienced, lest at any
time he should let them slip; there the doubts that harass
and perplex his mind, respecting his personal interest in
the joys of salvation, are dispersed, and
"Light breaks in upon his eyes,
With kind and quickening rays."
The graces that are in him ready to die are strengthened,
fresh life is put in his soul, and by the public worship of
the sanctuary, he is inspired with courage to go on the remaining part of the journey of life, leaning on his Beloved.
Believe me, my friends, the Christian's dwelling-house is a
happy place: everlasting love secures the habitation of the
just, and God, even their own God, delights to bless them.
The ordinances of the church are the glass, through
which the face of our adorable Immanuel is beheld: they
are the channels through which God is pleased to convey
his blessings down to men: in short, they are, in every
point of view, calculated to promote happiness in the minds
of the children of God. 0 Christians, whilst you dwell in
the house of the Lord, never despair of enjoying the blessings of grace. You know that he never said to any, Seek
ye me in vain: be diligent then in the use of the means,
that God may therein be precious to your souls. Never
292




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               77
think of relinquishing your situation in the house of your
God, because you have not always immediately found what
you wanted: you recollect, no doubt, that when our Lord
appeared after his resurrection to the disciples, Thomas
was not there: now had he been there, he would never have
had occasion to disbelieve that Jesus was raised from the
dead. God loves them that loves him, and dwells with the
humble and contrite spirit. You have reason, you are
bound, to expect the greatest of favors in the church of
God; and you may depend upon it, the great Head of the
church has not raised your expectations to disappoint
them, but will supply them, nay, will do exceeding abundantly above all that you can ask or think. Still then
make the church of Christ your abode, your residence, your
home, for it was for that purpose that it was designed: it
was intended by God to be an earthly tabernacle, in which
you should pass the years of your minority; to be the
place of your abode antecedent to your entrance into the
better house above. How well is it observed by the admirable poet,"The saints on earth, and all the dead,
But one communion make;
All join in Christ, their living Head,
And of his grace partake."
It is wisely and well adapted for a residence for you, furnished with every thing necessary, having the most glorious,
the great Householder to superintend all its concerns, and
every member of the family being a subject of the King in
Zion. In short, it ever has been, now is, and shall continue to be, the dwelling place of the saints; for they are
they that dwell in this house. Let me show you293




78                 DISCOURSES OF
III. That such characters are truly blessed.
For on them a blessing is pronounced in our text, and
wherein does their blessedness consist? Is it in an increase
of worldly prosperity? Are we told that they shall be
more respected by the world than their fellow-creatures?
or are they to expect that their attendance upon divine
worship procures the favor of God, and by it they merit
heaven? No, beloved, no such things are mentioned, and
I will venture to assert, that none such are expected by
the sincere believer. But their reward is in their work,
their blessedness is in their employment; for, says my
text, " They shall be still praising thee." It is true that
there are numerous privileges insured to the attendants
upon God's house, mentioned in various other parts of
Scripture, but we shall confine ourselves at present to the
idea of our text: their blessedness then arises from the
nature, and from the perpetuity, of their engagement.
1. The nature of their employment is a source of their
happiness.
Their work is praise.  " Praise waiteth for thee, O God,
in Zion: unto thee shall the vow be performed."  " In
the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."
" Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders."
When Christians properly consider the glories of the divine nature, and the wonders God has wrought for them
in their election, calling, adoption, justification, redemption, and sanctification, they cannot forbear bursting out
in songs of praise and thanksgiving; and truly "praise is
comely for the upright." The Lord Jehovah himself is
the object of their praise and adoration: and what is he?
294




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                79
he is the source of all true knowledge, the author and
donor of every good and perfect gift, with whom there is
no variableness, nor the least shadow of a turn; with him'
is the fountain of life.  In him are all the supplies that we
need, and from him proceeds every blessing, both temporal
and spiritual. Viewing God then in this light, the saints
make his temple echo with his praise: and must it not be
blessedness itself to engage in such a delightful employment?  While many think it their happiness to fawn and
cringe to their fellow-creatures, my brethren, be it our happiness to worship the King, the Lord of hosts.  He must
be blessed that praises God, because he is led to see that
excellency and glory in the Divine Being, which must engage the adoration of those who are favored with the enjoyment of it.  Ask the true Christian why he praises
that God whomn others neglect and slight: he will tell you,
a' Because I am enabled to see him engaged on my behalf,
and all his perfections are on my side; and I know that
if God be for me, nothing that others are able to do against
nle can do me any injury."
The believer praises God for the blessings of his grace,
for all the mercies he enjoys, and for the prospects he has
of eternal life and blessedness; then who can doubt that
those who dwell in God's house are truly blessed?  Their
employment comes the nearest to that of glorified saints in
heaven, and has, connected with it, the most distinguished
favors. Tell us no more then of carnal amusements, of
sensual joys, which never yield any solid satisfaction: be
it our happiness to dwell in the temple of God, and by
Jesus Christ to " offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks unto
his name."  But if the blessedness of the saints arises from
295




80                 DISCOURSES OF
the nature of their employment, much more will it do
so2. From its perpetuity.' They will be still praising
thee." Similar to this is the resolution of the psalmist,
contained in the 146th Psalm.  "' While I live will I praise
the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have
my being."  The pleasures of the followers of the Lamb
are not transient, but lasting; they are never to be interrupted: by day and by night they warble the praise of
their Creator and Redeemer.  Thanksgiving to God shall
check the mourning sigh, to which they are liable to give
vent under trouble: all through life the divine praise shall
employ their tongues, nay, when the powers of language
fail in the article of death, their streaming eyes shall intimate the joys they cannot speak.  And what think you
shall be their employment after the last conflict is over,
and the chains which confined them to flesh and blood are
broken? Then shall they rise to join the heavenly musicians, to sing that song which none can learn but the redeemed.  Nor shall the glowing troops that surround the
throne of God and the Lamb, sing more loudly than those
who have been brought out of every nation, kindred, and
tongue, and people, to shout for ever, " Unto Him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
and has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen."
The sweet work, the glorious theme of praise to Jesus
shall occupy eternity itself, and when unnumbered ages
have rolled away, yet it may be said, " They shall be still
praising thee."
Such is the employment of those who dwell in the Lord's
296




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              81
house; it is a perpetual engagement, and therefore they are
truly blessed to whom it belongs. If there are any believers here in the house of God at this time, let me tell
them never to be dumb in the praise of their great Lord.
Praise him, Christian, with joyful lips. Praise him, by
reviewing and acknowledging his goodness; by speaking
to those around you of his greatness; and by acting before
all to his glory. Praise him in your families, praise him
in the world, praise him in your closets; but more especially praise him under the sacred roof, within the temples
of the living God: so shall he grant you the light of his
countenance, and the visits of his love; so shall he meeten
you for the rest that remrnaineth for the people of God.
Having gone through what I proposed, I will close this
discourse with one remark, which is this:Regularity of attendance upon the house of God is a
pleasing sign, but no decisive evidence of a man's being a
real Christian.
We cannot tell the motives that bring you to the temple
of God. You may come, for aught we know, from custom,
or because you feel a curiosity to know what is done there:
we are not acquainted with the feelings of your mind when
you are there; they are only known to that God, whose
prerogative it is to judge the heart.  Examine yourselves
to know whether your after conduct is influenced by anything you have heard from the mouth of God's servants in
his temple.  See whether you are the characters that dwell
in God's house, and have any right to claim their privilege,
or any taste for it. May God bless his word, through
Jesus Christ. Amen.
13*             297




82                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON VI.
DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST.
" He is Lord of all."-ACTS 10: 36.
THE ardor of that affection which the apostles and primitive Christians felt for the Saviour, is truly remarkable,
and well worthy of our imitation, upon whom the ends of
the world are come. When they were addressing their
fellow-mortals on the important concerns of the soul, if his
name did but come under their notice for a moment, they
left their subject to speak of some of his distinguished excellences. In many instances we behold this in the discourses and epistles of the apostle Paul; and can it not
be perceived in the language of Peter, which now lies before us?  " The word," says he, " which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ;" and
then, as he had formed the highest ideas of his character,
he adds that sentence which we have selected for a text,
and which, in the New Testament, is enclosed in a parenthesis, " IIe is Lord of all."
The honor of the Saviour cannot be an unwelcome or an
unpleasant subject of consideration to those among us to
whom " his name is as ointment poured forth:" our hearts
are inditing a good matter, when the things concerning
the King are our subject; for " Hle is fairer than the chil298




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                83
dren of men, grace is poured into his lips; therefore
God hath blessed him forever."  His name shall be remembered in all generations; the people shall praise him forever and ever. The glories of Jesus are the objects of
angelic research: why should they not be the theme of
our meditations? for " He is Lord of all."  We will attempt, then, to illustrate the honor this text confers on
the Saviour; to prove its truth; to show its propriety;
and to point out its influence.  Let us, then, briefly, in the
first placeI. Illustrate the honor this text confers on the Saviour,
that so we may understand it.
It represents him as'" Lord of all;" and does not this
intimate his right of creation, possession, and dominion over
the inanimate creation, the whole church-yea, all things
in heavenor on earth? When our Redeemer is styled " Lord
of all,"it includes1. His creation of all things.
It is the Lord that made heaven and earth, the sea, and
all that in them is; Jesus made them, therefore he is
Lord.  " All things were created by him, and without
him was not any thing made that was made."  "He is the
image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature,
for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones
or dominions, principalities or powers. All things were
created by him and for him, for he is before all things, and
by him all things consist:" so that when the believer surveys the beauties of nature, he can say, " My Jesus made
them all!"  The sun that rules by dlay, the moon that
29!9




84                 DISCOURSES OF
shines in the night, "that great and wide sea, wherein are
things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts,"
and this earth which we inhabit are all the work of his
fingers.  The heavens declare his glory, and the firmament
showeth forth his handy work. The whole universe was
made by him, and formed, when as yet it was not; the
glory of his perfections is displayed in the works of his
hands; his power in producing them; his wisdom in arranging them, and his goodness in preserving them. But
some will say, Do we not, in ascribing the work of creation
to Jesus, wrong the Father and eternal Spirit? By no means;
for the acts of the three that bear record in heaven are, like
their nature, one.  But this doctrine is thus represented
in the sacred volume, especially in the New Testament,
and it is well said to be a truth which imparts an unutterable dignity to Christianity; a truth which lays a foundation for the comfortable hopes of a Christian; a truth
which will render the mystery of our redemption the wonder and delight of eternity.
Oh! that we may all experience the new-creating power of
Christ; for all believers are his workmanship, created in
him unto good works, which God has before ordained, that
we should walk in them.  He that formed the universe,
can create in us a clean heart, and renew in us a right
spirit. Grace has made a new world. Oh! that we may
dwell in it! for " He that sat upon the throne said, Behold
I make all things new!" and " He is Lord of all."
Again, does not the language of our text intimate2. His universal possession. For he not only made all
these things, but he now holds them in the hollow of his
hand. All are his, and this appears to be the meaning
300




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                85
of the term " Lord " in various passages of Scripture.
Every thing is the property and right of Jesus; for has
any one taken them out of his hands? or, has he lost his
power to uphold and preserve them? Both these things
are impossible.  He possesses all glory in his own nature,
for he is the Lord of glory; he only has life, and it is he
that animates every living soul: all things subsist by his
bounty. But oh! how extensive are his riches of grace!
how large the store-house of blessings he commands! how
abundant that fullness which it hath pleased the Father
should dwell in him!  Not only does he possess these
blessings, but he bath promised to communicate them to us,
for " He will give grace and glory, and no good thing will
he withhold from them that walk uprightly." As he possesses all things, he has said, " Whatsoever ye shall ask
the Father in my name, I will do it." And the saints may
rejoice that all are theirs, whether the ministers of the gospel, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or
things to come; all are theirs, for they are Christ's, and
" Ie is Lord of all."  But the honor that our text confers on the Lord Jesus includes in it3. The extent of his dominion.  For the term "Lord," in
Scripture, very frequently signifies one that has rule or
authority. And does not Jesus govern all? Angels, men,
and devils, are all either his willing or involuntary subjects.
It is his to say to this man, Go, and he goeth; to another,
Come, and he cometh. He maintains an uncontrolled sway
over heaven, earth, and hell, but most eminently is he
Ruler in Israel, and King of saints. He exercises a spiritual government over his church; and of the increase of
his government there shall be no end. It behooves us to
submit to his will, for his commandments are not grievous;
301




86                  DISCOURSES OF
to conduct ourselves as faithful subjects; to be jealous of
his honor; to place on his head many crowns; to shout for
joy saying, "Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth;" and to expect to be ourselves kings and priests
unto him forever, where there shall be no enemies to him or
us, and opposition shall have fled forever. As Lord or
Governor of all, it belongs to him to communicate his
blessings just as he chooses, to send men to preach his
Gospel wherever he will, and to bestow on his faithful subjects a crown of glory, brilliant, like his own.
The language of our text then does imply that he first
formed all things, that he still possesses them, and that
whilst earthly honors totter to the ground, and states once
illustrious fall to rise no more; his is a kingdom which
cannot be removed, but abideth forever, for " He is Lord
of all." Having thus attempted to illustrate the text, that
so we may understand it, let usII. Prove its truth; that so we may believe it. And
if it be asked, How do we know that Jesus is Lord of all?
we answer, by referring you to the language of infinite
wisdom-the universal assent of all the saints-the confession of his most inveterate enemies-and the songs of the
glorified in heaven. As the law and the testimony should
ever be the arbiter in cases like these, we will adduce1. The language of infinite wisdom, as a proof that Jesus
is Lord of all. And here he is called a Saviour, Christ the
Lord, Lord both of the dead and the living, the second
Man, the Lord from heaven, the Lord of lords, and King
of kings, the Lord of hosts, God over all blessed forever.
These honorable titles distinguish the Saviour above all the
sons of men, or all the angels of God; they bid us view
302




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               87
him as Lord of all. Jehovah himself has universally declared him as such; that word which is true and faithful,
one jot or tittle of which can never fail, that word, which is
the word of God, and not of man, plainly shows that he is invested with the greatest honor. Had he been so denominated
only by our fellow-men, we might have called it in question; but when we recollect that it is the voice of God,
and not of a man, which distinguishes him as the Creator,
Possessor, and Governor of the ends of the earth, this must
satisfy us. We may attend in the next place2. To the universal assent of all the saints.
Was there ever one of the redeemed of God, who would
refuse to crown him Lord of all? Has there ever been a
single instance of a Christian not loving the Saviour, or
not feeling the tenderest concern for his honor and glory?
Have not might, majesty, and dominion, been ascribed to
him by all really enlightened men? The sound of " Thou
art the King of glory, O Christ," now reverberates on my ear,
as proceeding from the whole church throughout all the world.
This, indeed, ever characterizes the children of Zion, that
they love to glorify their king; Abraham, David, Isaiah,
Daniel, Micah, and all the patriarchs and prophets, entertained these views of the Saviour  And were these fools
or madmen? No: rather say, they were enlightened to
behold his glory, and divinely taught this grand mystery
of the kingdom.
Who is there that has believed through grace, that does
not view the Saviour as thus glorious, or find his name, person, work, and office, to be precious? Not one of God's
redeemed ones in the present assembly, will refuse to acknowledge Jesus, and to ascribe to him great glory. All
of you who have felt the power of his grace, in renewing
303




88                 DISCOURSES OF
and changing your hearts, now unitedly exclaim, "  He is
Lord of all." Observe,3. The testimony of his most inveterate enemies.
When he was upon earth, the Jews, his persecutors,
could not help confessing, that never man spake like him,and that even the winds and the sea obeyed him: they saw
the miracles he wrought, and were filled with astonishment.
A centurion, at his remarkable death, exclaims, " Verily,
this man was the Son of God!"  Nay, Satan himself must
acknowledge his power, and say, " I know thee who thou
art, the Holy One of Israel;" and again, the foul fiends
whom he overcomes, cry, " Art thou come to torment us
before the time?" Thus confessing his remarkable power
over them, and saying, in effect, " He is Lord of all." And
how often is there, even now, a conviction on the minds of
his enemies, that the same Jesus with whom we have to do,
is an awful Judge, and that there is no escaping the fierceness of his anger!  But oh, how much they concede to
the honor of the Saviour on a death-bed, when they exclaim,
" Oh, Galilean, thou hast overcome me!"  The judgment
day, too, will disclose his terrors, and terrible indeed will
be their sensations, when the pit of hell has enclosed them,
and they are left as eternal monuments, everlasting instances of the justice and terror of his power.  Those who
denied his authority on earth, must, with doleful lamentations, confess it in hell, " For he must reign till he has
put all enemies under his feet:" being, even by the acknowledgments of his foes, " Lord of all."
Let us then urge for a further proof of the dignity of
the Saviour's character,4. The songs of the glorified in heaven.
They being no longer vexed with a body of death, nor
304




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                89
liable to form imperfect ideas of the glory of the Saviour,
are exclaiming to him, " Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to re
ceive glory, and honor, and power; for thou hast created
all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
They sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the
song of the Lamb, saying, " Great and marvellous are thy
works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways,
thou King of saints: who shall not fear thee, 0 Lord, and
glorify thy holy name? for thou only art holy: for all
nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest."  They ascribe to him alone the
complete and final victory over the beast and his followers,
and over Antichrist at large, and sing " Salvation to our
God that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever." To him that " hath on his vesture and on his thigh,
a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords," are
all their praises directed; for they own him as over all,
God blessed for ever, and celebrate his praises whilst eternity rolls along, for " He is Lord of all."
Having thus briefly endeavored to prove the truth of the
text, that so you may believe it, I would now endeavorIII. To show its propriety, or equity, that so we may
admire it.
Here we intend to investigate the claims of the Saviour
to this preeminence, and see that it is right that he should
be," Lord of all." And we say that it is altogether equitable that he should be so, because of the divinity of his
nature-the appointment of his Father-and the merits
of his sufferings.  Jesus " is Lord of all," —
1. On account of the divinity of his nature,
It is well known, that some maintain that our Lord
305




90                 DISCOURSES OF
Jesus Christ is but a mere man, like ourselves; that he
had no existence prior to his being born of the Virgin
Mary; and that he is the Son of God merely by office;
but we have every necessary proof from Scripture, that he
is God: for the Father has testified that he is such, saying, " Thy throne, 0 God, is forever and ever:" as such
the angels adore him; his miracles attest it; and his own
declarations put it beyond the possibility of a doubt. In
believing that Christ is God, we have not followed cunningly devised fables, and in asserting it, we speak forth
the words of truth and soberness. And if it be so that his
nature is divine, ought he not to be acknowledged as Lord
of all?  He " is not a man that he should lie," and therefore, when he says that he and his Father are one, we must
confess, that the high honor conferred upon him in the
text, does most properly belong to him.  He is "the
man that is my fellow, says the Lord of hosts:" therefore
divine honors are most justly his due, and who are we that
we should refuse to render him the honor he demands?
for he is Lord of all. Let no bold blasphemer dare to
murmur at the distinguished honors of the Son of God;
but let every one of us fall prostrate at his feet, saying,'i My Lord, and my God!"  Whilst cursed is the man that
trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, blessed are all
they that put their trust in him: for he is God, and beside
him there is none else; and justly has he ordained that
" they who despise him shall be lightly esteemed."  He
will be acknowledged as Lord of all,2. On account of the appointment of his Father.
Here we must particularly regard the honor of the
Saviour in his mediatorial character. Has not the Father
exalted him with his own right hand to be a Prince and a
306




REV. THOS. SPENCER;               91
Saviour, to give repentance unto Israel and the remission
of sins? Has he not highly exalted him, and given him a
name which is above every name; that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that
he is Lord to the glory of God the Father? Jehovah has,
indeed, conferred the highest possible honor upon his Son
Jesus, and made his kingdom stand firm as his own eternal
throne; he has glorified him with the glory that he had
with him  before the foundation of the world.  He has
passed a decree, that all men shall honor the Son, even as
they honor the Father. He has committed all judgment
into his hands, and views him as his coequal Son, now he
appears before him in heaven. And shall we dare to question the right of the Saviour to this title, when it is given
to him by God himself? The Father views his own honor
and that of his Son as intimately connected. Whatever
God appoints is right. The honor of the Saviour is of
divine appointment, therefore he may well say to us, 1" Be
still, and know that I am God."
That day which shall burn as an oven: that day for
which all other days were made, shall reveal to us the uncreated glories of the Saviour; till then, let us rejoice that
he is by the will of the Father c" Lord of all."
We argue the right of this honor belonging to the
Saviour3. From the merit of his sufferings.
"' For we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than
the angels, crowned with glory and honor for the suffering
of death." The promise of God the Father to his Son
Jesus was, that he should see his seed, that he should prolong his days, and that the pleasure of the Lord should
prosper in his hands; that he should see of the travail of
307




92                 DISCOURSES OF
his soul and be satisfied; that he should divide a portion
with the great, and the spoil with the strong; that he
should have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; that he should
break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces
like a potter's vessel. Verily, Jesus was made perfect
through sufferings, and these expressions of his glory are
the consequence of his abasement: for, because he endured
the cross, despising the shame, and overcame principalities
and powers, therefore " He is Lord of all."
Having just glanced at the import, the truth, and the
equity of the text, let us nowIV. Point out its influence, that so we may be affected
by it.
Observe, then, that it warrants in us the most ardent attachment to him-it bears an unfriendly aspect on the
enemies of the cross of Christ-it teaches us all to lift up
to Jesus the voice of prayer and praise-and it gives us
every reason to believe, that all things will terminate in the
benefit and glory of the church.
1. Our text warrants in us the most ardent attachment
to the Saviour.  Because it represents him as invested with
every excellence, and possessed of all possible power; and
whilst we have this thought, that he is the Friend of mortals, as well as " Lord of all," surely we cannot help admiring and loving him.
He has exhibited undeniable proofs of his attachment to
us; and shall the Lord of all be a " Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief," and we not be filled with attachment to him? Does his life of suffering and death of infamy, produce no effect on us? Remember, his love to us
308




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                93
was great indeed, was prior to ours, was from everlasting,
and as unmerited as it was unsought  and shall it meet no
return?  His glory, when viewed in connexion with his
regard to sinners, is enough to make every heart flow with
gratitude and burn with love.  Who is so proper an object
of our affection as the " Lord of all?' Whilst every
thing else changes, he is the same.  0, say to him then,
m "Whom have we in heaven but thee, and there is none upon
earth that we desire beside thee."
2. This subject bears an unfriendly aspect to the
enemies of the cross of Christ.
For if " he is Lord of all," none can oppose him with
impunity, or reject his claims, and go away unpunished. As
soon as Judas's band heard him say, " I am he," they fell
immediately to the ground: and since his arm is so strong,
I tremble for those who deny his divinity, despise his
atonement, laugh at the influence of his Spirit, and will not
have this Man to reign over them.  He never will clear
these guilty characters, but has threatened them ~"with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of his power:" and as " Lord of all," he is
able to execute every threat, and to perform that awful
word which is gone out of his mouth. Oh, what will
the despisers of Christ do in the day of their visitation?
How can they escape the damnation of hell? He will soon
appear as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending, the first and the last; and his glories will be viewed
by these very persons with astonishment and confusion of
face. As no honor was ever ascribed to him by those men,
no glory shall be conferred on them by him; for he is able
to cast them, both body and soul, into hell! Let them all
then bow with submission and " kiss the Son now, lest he
309




94                 DISCOURSES OF
be angry, and they perish from the way, when his wrath is
kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their
trust in him."
3. Our text teaches us all to lift up to Christ the voice
of prayer and praise.
For if he be " Lord of all," he ought to be adored, worshipped, and had in reverence by all the creatures he has
made. " Let all the angels of God worship him," is the
high command of God himself: and whilst the angels are
paying him their adoration, shall the proud mortal man
refuse to do so?  It is not idolatry to worship our Jehovah
Jesus, it is only rendering him the homage he deserves, requires, demands, and expects.  O Christian, recollect, that
in every time of trial you have to look up to him, who " is
Lord of all," for support: supplicate then the help of his
hand, adore the wonders of his love, praise him for the assistance he has already afforded you, nor ever imagine that
you can be too lavish in adoring him who is exalted far
above all blessing and praise. As " Lord of all," he is
able to answer every petition that is put up to his throne,
and will take no excuse for our neglecting to pray to him.
His very nature, too, induces him to hear and answer
prayer, so that this consideration ought to bring us low at
his footstool, to implore of him the blessings of his grace.
Had he indeed been but a man like ourselves, he could
have no authority to demand our worship; but as he is
God over all, blessed for ever, it is at the peril of any one
to refuse rendering honor to him.
4. Our subject gives us every reason to believe that all
things will terminate in the benefit and glory of the church.
Because the honor of Christ and the interests of his
saints are closely connected, and he cannot fail to attend
310




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                95
to the interests of those whom he has purchased with his
own blood.  Amongst them peace shall be published by
Jesus Christ, who "is Lord of all:" it shall be dispensed
to one nation as well as to another: he will be a wall of
fire round about his saints, and the glory in the midst of
them.  The power, wisdom, and goodness he possesses,
shall all be displayed in the behalf of that ship of which
he is the Pilot, and of the family of which he is the Householder. And as he is the Head of the church, and " Lord
of all," her walls shall be called " Salvation, and her gates
praise:" by his blessing upon her, she shall become the
Zion of the Lord, the city of the Holy One of Israel; and
" the praise of the whole earth shall she be called." Even
the machinations of our enemies shall be overruled for our
good, and the divine glory shall be effectually promoted by
every individual member of his family: so greatly will he
distinguish his faithful servants from an ungodly world,
that he will finally receive them to himself, and place them
near his throne; where his glory shall be seen, his presence
felt, his influence communicated, and his virtues sung, for
ever and ever: for " He is Lord of all."
Brethren, what think ye of Christ? Is he all your salvation, and all you desire? or, are you despising and refusing to adore him?  Istthis Lord of all, your portion,
your treasure, and your hope? or, are you yet ignorant of
his glory, and destitute of his grace?
There is one passage of Scripture which I would wish
might make an impression upon your minds, and then I
shall have done; it is this: " No man can call Jesus Lord
but by the Holy Ghost."   Now the influences of this
Spirit are essentially necessary to give Christ a throne in
311




9 6                 DISCOURSES OF
your heart.  Has he testified of Jesus there, and taught
you to sayO that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We'll join the universal song,
And crown him Lord of all!
312




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                97
SERMON VII.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS.' Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and
the Lord hearkened and heard it; and a book of remembrance
was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord, and that
thought upon His name: and they shall be mine, saith the Lord
of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare
them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
MALACHI iii. 16, 17.
IT has often been remarked, and certainly with truth,
that in the most abandoned ages of the world, the Lord
has had a remnant according to the election of grace; he
has preserved a seed to serve him; he has had numbers
that have not bowed the knee to Baal.  The chapter out
of which we have read our text, gives us an account of deplorably wicked times, records the rejection of divine ordinances, the robbery of the honor of Jehovah, and the
general impiety which were chargeable upon the Jewish
nation: and yet it makes honorable mention of characters,
whose holy zeal, and active endeavors to revive religion,
should stimulate us, who hear things they never heard, and
see glories their eyes never beheld, to be doubly concerned
for the honor of Him, in whose hand our breath is, and
whose are all our ways.  Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that there are now many in our
14              313




98                 DISCOURSES OF
own land, as well as elsewhere, who are cleansed in the
blood, sanctified by the Spirit, and passing to the enjoyment
of the presence of Jesus Christ; and who, like the faithful worthies, whose pure religion is noticed by Malachi,
and approved by Jehovah, fear the Lord, speak often one
to another, and think upon his name. Let us considerI. The excellences of good men which are here celebrated.
II. The approbation of them which God here testifies.
I. The excellences of good men which are here celebrated. And you will observe that they are more particularly distinguished by their holy fear of God; their pious
meditation upon him; and their Christian fellowship one
with another.
1. The first excellent trait which we behold in their
character is their holy fear of God.
They are said to be " they that feared the Lord."  And
" who shall not fear thee, 0 Lord, and glorify thy name?
The Divine Being, brethren, claims your reverence, and
" blessed are they that fear the Lord, that greatly delight
in his commandments." The persons mentioned in our
text were like Obadiah,who feared the Lord greatly: they
were like Abraham, of whom the angel testified after his
trial, saying, " I know that thou fearest God."  They
were like the churches mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, who;" walked in the fear of the Lord." They were
like Cornelius, who was "a devout man, and one that
feared God with all his house."
This divine principle, far from being the produce of the
barren soil of nature, must be wrought in us by the power
of the Spirit; for one of the promises of the new covenant
314




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               99
is, " I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not
depart from me." It springs not from a sense of guilt, for
this fear is cast out by divine love; but it induces love to
Jesus, it teaches us to hate evil, it prompts to ready obedience, and it leads to the throne of God; for where he is,
there shall also his servants be.
2. These Old Testament believers were noted for their
pious meditation upon God.
We are told that they " thought upon his name."  Ah,
how unlike those who have not God in any of their thoughts!
how unlike many (must I not say most of us?) who suffer
our minds to be so employed with earthly things, as to let
our God, our Saviour go! These men of God, while some
trusted in chariots, and some in horses, remembered the
name of the Lord: in the multitude of their thoughts
within them his comforts delighted their souls; their meditation of him was sweet; they were glad in the Lord;
their minds were stayed upon him: the desire of their
souls was to him and to the remembrance of his name;
and do you know any thing of this? Have you ever enjoyed much of God in the secret silence of the mind?  Do
you daily, hourly, in your desires and contemplations, rise
to the heavenly world? Isaac went out into the fields to
meditate; upon whom do your thoughts delight to turn?
There is enough in the name of God for contemplation.
Review what he is in himself, and especially what he has
done for you; frequently contemplate that work of redemption, which is to be your wonder for ever and ever; think
of Jesus with thoughts of affection and desire; let your
minds trace his actions; let the eye of faith behold him
in glory pleading your cause; let it penetrate the cloud
that separates between him and you; let it realize the
315




100                 DISCOURSES OF
happy time when you shall come before him. And if these
are your contemplations, the effects of them will appear;
the world will behold you as the Israelites beheld Moses,
when he came from the mount, with his face shining exceedingly. Your whole deportment will savor of it, and
your conversation will be in heaven, from whence you look
for the Saviour.
3. These men, of whom the world was not worthy, were
remarkable on account of their Christian fellowship one
with another.
"' They spake often one to another;" and, no doubt, they
spake of the best things; they considered one another, to
provoke one another to love, and to good works, and so
much the more as they saw the day approaching.  We can
imagine them saying, " Come unto me all ye that fear God,
and I will tell you what he has done for my soul." Methinks
I hear them together reviewing the divine dealings towards
them, till their hearts burn within them, while they talk to
one another by the way. They were to one another what Jonathan was to David, when he strengthened his hands in
God, thus proving that two are better than one. And do
we not know that " He that walketh with wise men shall
be wise, whilst a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
How truly deserving of imitation was the conduct of
Anna the prophetess, who came into the temple when Simeon was blessing Jesus, " and spake of him to all them
that looked for redemption in Israel." We see also fine
instances of the same communicative disposition in the disciples who conversed together about Christ, and brought
one another to him. So let us, then, comfort ourselves together, and edify one another, and exhort one another daily,
316




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               101
"looking diligently, lest any one of us fail of the grace of
God."
We know that men, like Simeon and Levi, are brethren
in iniquity; but, "   my soul, come not thou into their
secret; unto their assembly mine honor be thou not
united."  They invite one another for the worst of purposes: why should not we for the best?   They say,
" Come with us, we shall fill our houses with spoil; cast
in thy lot with us; let us have one purse." But let us
turn our eyes from them to the select society of Christians, and "behold howgood and how pleasant a thing it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity of love." They are
all loved with the same everlasting love, all united to the
same precious Jesus, all traveling to the same glorious
heaven; surely, then, those communications ought to be,
must be sweet. Learn to bear one another's burdens, to
pity one another's faults, to pray for one another's best
interests; so shall you copy the example of the best of
men, and evidence that there is no bond in heaven or in
earth so uniting as the love of Christ, which begets, preserves, and powerfully constrains to love.
While infidelity prevailed over many in those days, yet
the grace of God influenced some: the Spirit of Christ
dwelt in them, the presence of Christ was enjoyed by them,
even that presence which turns mourning to joy, and death
to life; which cherishes our weak faith, and illuminates our
dark understandings; which adds new life to fainting
hearts, and would make a heaven of hell. It is our mercy,
that whenever two or three are gathered together in his
name, there his presence is, to chill our corruptions, and
bring heaven into our souls.
317




102                DISCOUIRSES'OF
Having considered the excellences of good men, which
are here celebrated, let us now noticeII. The approbation which God here testifies of them.
And, taking up the ideas of our text, we observe, that
this approbation appears, in his paying kind attention to
their employment,-in his granting them a share in his
affectionate remembrances,-and in his promising to own
and spare them in the day of judgment.
1. Let us see how God evidences his approbation of
them, in paying kind attention to their employment: for
" the Lord hearkened and heard it."
God, indeed, has searched us and known us, for there is
not a word in our tongues, but lo, 0 Lord, thou knowest
it altogether! and so vast is his notice, that " for every idle
word that men speak, they shall give account in the day of
judgment."  But in a peculiar manner, in a gracious way,
does he attend to the groanings of the prisoners, to the
cries of the needy, to the conversation of fellow-pilgrims.
W~hen you, brethren, unite in enquiring, What has God
wrought for our own souls, for our families, for the churches
to which we belong, or for the world at large? the Lord
hearkens and hears it.
With real pleasure he sees, he listens to the public testimonies you give of the excellences of his cause, for, 0 glorious truth! the Lord taketh pleasure in the prosperity of
his servants.  Think not that the heavens are brass against
you, or that he takes no notice of your actions, for he
knows and he approves the way of the righteous. What
real consolation does this convey to our minds! for though
our spiritual conversation may be neglected by most, and
held in the greatest contempt by many, the Lord hearkens
318




REV. THOMAS SPEN CER.              103
and hears it. As God could remonstrate with the ungodly
in the days referred to in the text, so his eyes were upon
the righteous, and his ears were open to their cry.  Satan,
your subtle and too powerful enemy, cannot, after all, prevent the approbation of your God in covenant, and your
God in Christ. 0, then, go forward to sing in the way to
Zion: " Be of one spirit, and of one imind, striving together for the faith of the gospel," and the Lord will
hearken and hear it.
2. Jehovah manifests his approbation of them, by granting them a share in his affectionate remembrance; for "a
book of remembrance was written before him" for them.
" Remember me, 0 my God, for good," was the prayer
of Nehemiah: " Lord, remember me, when thou comest
into thy kingdom,"' was the petition of the dying thief;
and an interest in the Divine recollection is indeed a great
blessing; and great as it is, it is granted to them " that
feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name."  "A
book of remembrance was written:" this language is metaphorical, and is used to express the particular, the abiding,
the never-to-b)e-forgotten recollection, which God has of the
honor his saints put upon him. " He tells even their wanderings, and puts their tears into his bottle; are they not
in his book? Of every thing, you, Christians, are enabled
to do, to the glory of his grace it may be said, " It is written before him." The deeds of Bigthana and Tereshwere
written in the book of the Chronicles before king Ahasuerus, to their infamy and disgrace; but yours are inscribed
by an immortal pen in the book of God's remembrance, to
your joy and the lifting up of your head.
It is evident, from the following verse, that this is one of
the books which shall be opened in the day of judgment;
319




104                DISCOURSES OF
and do you not recollect in what approving strains "the
King eternal, immortal, and invisible," speaks of the acts
of his saints, as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew's
gospel? But remember, these deeds are by no means
spoken of as approved by God as meritorious; no, but only
as testimonies of their real religion, as evidences of their
possessing faith, without which, none of these things could
be acceptable in the sight of God; and as proofs of their
superiority to those on the left hand of the Judge.
And what are we that God should think of us? Say,
brethren, are we not altogether unworthy of his notice?
Have we not indeed merited his wrath? And yet he gives
us every blessing, and records our names on the palms of
his hands, yea, prints them on his very heart.
3. God gives an evidence of his delight in their services,
by promising to own and spare them in the day of judgment.  " They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in
the day when I make up my jewels."
Yes, he accounts them his jewels; despised as they are
by men, they are chosen of God and precious. They are
dear to him; he has rendered them comely by the rightcousness of his Son, and in them he magnifies his bright
and glorious perfections.
There is a day coming when he will make them up; when
he shall send his angels to gather his elect from the four
winds of the earth, when they shall have his name written
on their foreheads in legible characters, and when Jesus
shall say, " Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye
into the joy of your Lord." Come, subjects of my conquering grace, ever children of my love, and partakers of my
Spirit, " inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world." Then shall all believers, the
320




hREV. THOMAS SPENCER.              105
poorest not excepted, be owned before an assembled world,
be dignified with the blessings of heaven: when Christ,
who is their life, shall appear, they also shall appear with
him in glory; crowns of honor shall be placed on their
heads; palms of victory shall be held in their hands; robes
of glory shall adorn them; and hymns of praise shall be
heard from  them, to the sovereign grace of Jesus; then
they shall be ever with the Lord of hosts.
" And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son
that serveth him." They are his sons, begotten by his
grace, adopted into his family, and distinguished with all
the privileges of the children of God; whilst on earth they
were active for him: they love him with the affection, the
zeal, and the constancy of a son: and " like as a father pitieth
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." I
will spare them (as the passage may mean) till that day; I
will preserve them from every evil, to the enjoyment of
myself; they shall be kept by the mighty "' power of God,
through faith unto salvation."  And then, when the last
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised, I will
spare them according to the multitude of my mercy; since
I did not spare my Son for them, I will spare them for
him. "W When he shall appear, they shall be like him, for
they shall see him as he is:" grace shall be brought to them
at the revelation of Jesus Christ: they shall find mercy of
the Lord in that day: they shall have no part in the fury
of God's wrath, in the fire of hell, which is the second
death; they shall be delivered from going down to the pit,
for he has found a ransom. Oh, then, Christian, lift up
your head, for your redemption draweth nigh.
Sinner-this subject proclaims your misery: instead of
fearing God, you hate and disobey him; instead of medi144             321




106                DISCOURSES OF
tating on him, your mind is occupied on what you shall
eat, what you shall drink, and wherewithal you shall
be clothed. You never stretch a thought half-way to God;
instead of going with others in the road to heaven, the conversation in which you mingle is sensual and devilish:
Your friends are the enemies of God, and you delight to
confirm one another in your opposition to Jehovah; he
sees you, but it is with indignation; he marks it down, but
it is that it may appear against you another day; you shall
be consigned over to the devil; instead of being spared,
you shall be damned.
Oh, believer, live up to your character as delineated in
the Bible; rejoice in the prospect of eternal life; when
called to it, pass the river Jordan with a hope full of
immortality, and so shall you be ever with the Lord.
" Wherefore, comfort one another with these words."
Amen.
222




REV. THOMIAS SPENCER,              107
SERMON VIII.
THE BELIEVERIS JOY IN CHRIST.' Whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see
him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full
of glory."-1 PETER, i. 8.
THE second appearance of the Son of God is an event
for which every Christian, when in a proper frame of mind,
ardently longs, and earnestly prays; it is his employment
and delight, to be " looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ:" it behooves him always to be hasting unto the coming of the day of God, and to hope to the end for the grace
that shall be brought to him at the revelation of Jesus
Christ. On that day a display will be given of the grandeur and glory of the God we worship: those dispensations
which appear to us at present irreconcilable with his perfections, will then strike our admiring minds as being altogether right, yea, absolutely necessary, to accomplish his
own designs, and illustrate the depths of his infinite love.
This mortal shall then put on immortality, and this corruptible be clothed with incorruption; a final termination
will then be lout to all those fiery trials, which are now sent
to try us; the Christian shall, both in the glory of his
323




108                DISCOURSES OF
body and in the purity of his soul, resemble his Redeemer;
and, in fine, the kingdom of heaven will be opened to all
believers, and a loud voice shall proclaim, " Blessed are
they that have done his commandments, for they have a
right to the tree of life, and may enter in, through the
gates, into the city." Since these shall be some of the
grand transactions of that illustrious period, the saints
cannot forbear exclaiming, " Come, Lord Jesus, come
quickly."
But whilst the high expectations of the redeemed are
directed towards the Saviour's second advent, it is worthy
of remark, that he is not an uninteresting character to them
now. Although they glory in the thought (which is so
beautifully expressed in the verse preceding our text,) of
" the trial of their faith being found unto praise, and honor,
and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ," still there
are present enjoyments in religion, and the believer has all
good things in possession, as well as all glorious things in
reversion. They have earnests given them of the happiness of that day; and do not Christians feel an anticipation of that rapture which will then begin, when they are
enabled to say, in the words of our text, which immediately
follow an allusion to the day of judgment, " whom having
not seen we love: in whom, though now we see him not,
yet believing, we rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of
glory?"
From the passage then, thus introduced, we shall endeavor to show you two things: That Jesus Christ is yet
invisible;-that notwithstanding this, he excites the Christian's best sensations.
I. Jesus Christ is yet invisible.
324




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              109
"Whom," says the apostle, " having not seen," and " in
whom, though now ye see him not."
No doubt Peter here refers to a sight of Christ in the
flesh; since the greater part of those to whom he wrote,
had not " beheld his glory, the glory of the only-begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth:" it was his design
to comfort their minds, and to inform them that, although
Christ lived no longer on earth, there is a possibility of
enjoying the blessings of his undertaking in our own souls,
and that this shall be the case till time shall end.
But the idea of Jesus being unseen, must not only be
viewed in reference to those to whom the apostle wrote,
but in its bearings upon us; for the words of our text are
as applicable to us, upon whom the ends of the world are
come, as they were to those who lived a short time after
the ascension of the Saviour. And we may contemplate
our Lord Jesus Christ as invisible in two respects, namely:
in the glories of his person-and in the mysteries of his
providence. We would consider our Lord Jesus Christ as
an invisible Saviour, as it respects1. The glories of his person.
He, my brethren, is " that blessed and only Potentate,
who alone hath immortality. Dwelling in light, to which
no man can approach; whom no man hath seen nor can
see."
Formerly, indeed, he was beheld, arrayed in human nature; and we might have addressed those who were familiar with him: " Blessed are your eyes, for they see what
many prophets and righteous men desired to see, but saw
not:" but you remember that, before his resurrection, he
said, " A little while and ye shall see me, and again a little
while, and ye shall not see me, -and because I go to my
325




110                DISCOURSES OF
Father."  Now the heavens have received him out of our
sight, "till the times of the restitution of all things:" the
eye of sense cannot trace his glory now; we cannot soar to
the third heavens, and say to the angels of God, " Sirs, we
would see Jesus:" it is impossible that his beauties should
ever be viewed by mortal eyes; the sight would dazzle,
would confound us. He is inclosed in a veil of glory
which we cannot penetrate, appearing in the presence of
God for us: a miracle must be wrought before we can discover him on earth: this was done in the case of Stephen;
for, when standing before the council, he, looking steadfastly into heaven, said, " Behold I see heaven opened, and
the Son of man standing on the right hand of God;" and
the animating sight caused him to leave the world with a
holy calruness, yea, to die like Jesus, imploring forgiveness
for his enemies.  Instances like these, are, however, very
rare; for, as to the state of the church in general, and as
to the discharge of his mediatorial office, he is not seen of
any. The high priest, you recollect, was not to be seen
after his entrance into the holy place until he returned
again; so you, Christian, must live by faith, and not by
sight: faith is the evidence of things not seen. And should
not this consideration, namely, that ye have not seen the
glory of the person of Christ, urge you, stimulate you, as
a powerful motive, to run with renewed alacrity, toward
the mark, in the road to heaven, the chief pleasure of
which place will be to see him as he is? Is it not worth
dying for, to contemplate'his excellences? to see that
glory which has been hid from ages and from generations,
but which will catch the gazing eyes, and employ the eternal adoration of the saints of God for ever? But till that
day when "this same Jesus, who is now taken up from us
326




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               111
into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as he went into
heaven;" I say, till then we must speak of him as one
whom we have not yet seen.
But in another sense Christ is invisible, and that is2. In the mysteries of his providence.
WVe know not his designs in his dealing with us, and
could we know them, yet we cannot see how his methods
of acting tend to accomplish them; our blindness, as creatures, is one thing that prevents us from searching and
finding out God, or tracing the Almighty to perfection.
" His ways are in the deep, and his judgments past finding
out;" he is unsearchable in all his deeds; nor man, nor
angel can give any account of some of his ways.  His reasons are known only to himself; and it is enough for us,
that the Judge of all the earth will do right. What is the
reason that, under afflictive dispensations of providence,
when perhaps God is taking from  us those comforts of
which we are but stewards, we murmur, and complain, and
grieve?  It is because we cannot see how these things are
uniting with other occurrences, to promote our holiness
and happiness.  Here then Jesus is unseen, even in the
designs of his mind, when he tries us in this way. We
cannot sound his judgments with mortal lines, we cannot
view them by feeble sense.
A believer cannot walk by sight; Jehovah has seen fit
to render it impossible; yet, amidst all the storms of life,
however driven upon seas of distress, it should always
afford us consolation, that our Father is at the helm, and
that ship is well conducted of which he is the pilot.
Is our life a journey? It is an unseen hand that guides
us, that prevents our foes from overcoming us, that shields
us by night and by day from innumerable dangers; and it
327




112                DISCOURSES OF
is the part of faith to rejoice that however obscure the
dealings of God are now, they will all be made clear hereafter; it shall be shown that the great chain of events
most wonderfully illustrates the character and perfections
of God. That wisdom which led us through every danger
that kind hand that even robbed us of our comforts, for the
most beneficial purposes, shall be viewed with unutterable
pleasure when we are blessed with strong immortal eyes.
God will be his own interpreter, and every mystery will be
made plain; so that we shall no longer worship an invisible Saviour, but be filled with gratitude for a view of the
deep things of God.
Jesus is invisible then, as to the glories of his person,
and is not now beheld by us; and as for his judgments, we
have not known them: but though he is unseen by the
saints, we observeII. That notwithstanding this he excites their best sensations.
This he must do because he is their all and in all: from
him all their mercies flow, in him all their happiness centres, and to him all their exertions are directed; hence his
religion engages in its service the best passions of the human soul: the finest feelings of the mind are called into
exercise, by him who is yet unseen; and particularly is
the Saviour the object of strong affection,-lively faithand unutterable joy. Jesus Christ has attracted, though
he is invisible1. Strong affection.
" Whom having not seen ye love." You have no doubt
often heard that Jesus possesses the greatest possible excellences. that he is perfectly amiable, and altogether loveo28




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              113
ly. As God he possesses every perfection, being equal
with the Father: " In him dwells all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily." As man he had every thing that can
adorn human nature, and make it more honorable than it
was before our first parents fell; and, as our Mediator, he
has every thing suitable and necessary for us men, and for
our salvation: his countenance is as Lebanon excellent as
the cedars, it is as the sun when he shineth forth in his
strength; so that he has united in himself all human
and divine beauties: this is our Beloved and this is our
Friend.
The saints, having discerned this, are ravished with his
excellences, the flame of divine love is kindled in their
souls, and they esteem it the heaven of heavens only to see
his face. All the beauty of creation is deformity itself
when compared with the person of Jesus: angels are not
half so fair, nor the stars half so bright; and, if this is the
case, no wonder that he is the object of attachment to all
enlightened minds. And they love him too, let it be remembered, because he first loved them; therefore it was
that he revealed himself unto them, because he had set his
love upon them: the fullness of grace that is treasured up
in him, the offices he sustains in the economy of their salvation, and the relations he bears to them, all endear him
to their souls: hence they love him with a superior and
peculiar attachment, with a love that is shed abroad in
their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, and which is
distinguished for its constant duration. All that belong
to him, that bear his image, and are conformed to his lovely likeness, have a share in their affections, even for the
sake of Him, who alone is worthy of the highest place in
our affections: the members of his family, the truths of
329




114               DISCOURSES OF
his gospel, the ordinances of his appointment, and the precepts of his love, are all beloved by Christians, because of
their connexion with the Lord Jesus Christ, "of whom,
and through whom, and to whom, are all things." They
love him with all their souls, and hearts, and mind, and
strength; the affection that they feel for their friends in
the flesh, great as it is, and ought to be, is coldness, when
compared with the glowing ardor of their love to a Saviour, for whom, if called to it, they would cheerfully
suffer the loss of all things, yea, rejoice and be exceeding
glad that they are counted worthy to suffer for his sake.
It was divine love that animated them in the prospect, yea,
in the very feeling of the flame, and that gave them joy in
the most critical period, causing them to leave the world
rejoicing in that everlasting attachment, the pleasing effects
of which they so clearly displayed.
Oh, how this holy principle deadens the warmest passions to the things of time and sense! with what holy contempt it enables us to look down upon the pursuits of those
who are unacquainted with the joy of loving Jesus! and at
the same time that the Christian dwells on this delightful
name, the angels are surrounding him with pleasure, rejoicing to hear the name they love, from a mortal tongue.
He is the bright morning-star, before which all the twinkling sparks of night begin to die away.  The greatness of
the Godhead, and the sweetness of the creature, meet harmoniously in him: neither the shades of the night, nor
the business of the day, must hide the image of Jesus from
the sight of the Christian. Yea, the company of the saints
in heaven, and the brilliancy of the place, would be all nothing, if Jesus removed: the Christian would be tired of
life, would long to die, would find immortality a curse, if
330




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                115
he were placed far from Jesus.  When he is brought very
near to him, even here upon earth, when glory is introduced into his soul here, he begs of God to stay his hand,
for he call bear no more happiness whilst he is in the body
of sin and death; he feels the great yet delightful pressure
of glory, and he cries, " Turn away thine eyes, for they
have overcome me."  The inhabitants of the heavenly
worll can sustain the vision; its joys are too intense for a
mortal, the glare overcomes us.  Yet love me still, and
translate me whenever thou choosest to the place where I
shall behold thee with strengthened sight, and my heart
shall be all love, and thou all my joy!
2. Jesus is the object of the saints' lively faith.' rn
whom, though now we see him not, yet believing."
This expression shows us the very nature' of faith, or at
least its peculiar characteristic, which is, to regard invisible
things; in this way it acts upon Jesus the Son of God, for
" Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed:" those who are regenerate and love Christ, have
their faith drawn towards him: and it is not merely a
notional, historical, or temporary faith, which they are
enabled to exercise upon him, but a scriptural, heartfelt and
constant act. It is not merely crediting the truth of his
assertions, but our text has a reference to a perpetual looking to him as the Author and Finisher of faith, a quitting
self for his sake, a leaning upon him as the only Saviour, a
casting our all into his hands, and an expectation of grace
and glory from him; and all this is done whilst he is unseen. Now to make a man believe in this way to the
saving of his soul, divine influence is essentially necessary;
it belongs to the same Spirit of faith, who taught sinners
331




116                DISCOURSES OF
in former days to believe in Jesus, to work this gracious
principle in our hearts at the present time.
The saints have faith now instead of vision; but shortly
their faith shall be changed for the sight of God; and they
shall be satisfied, when they awake up in the divine likeness: the use of faith is to give them to know all this, for
they believe that they shall behold him, whom now they
see not; they must exercise faith in the second appearing
of Christ, because he has himself asserted its truth; the
dispensations of providence are paving a way for it, and
they have in their own breasts the earnest of it, and now
in their possession the Holy Spirit.
This principle is, however, liable to change, it has its
different degrees; there is such a thing as little faith, and
we may be strong in faith, giving glory to God; this consideration should teach us to say, with the disciples of old,
"Lord, increase our faith!"  Faith is always acceptable in
the sight of God; an implicit reliance upon the atonement
of Jesus is the best sacrifice we can offer to the Searcher
of the hearts, and Trier of the reins of the children of
men: whilst without faith it is impossible to please him.
Great and many have been the exploits performed by it;
what wonders it did for Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and the Israelites in
general! and what shall I say more?
The last sensation which we mention among those which
Christ excites in the minds of his people, is3. Unutterable joy.  " Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory."
The covenant engagements of Jesus, his very name, his
incarnation, his blood, his promises, his work, and intercession, all seem to say to us, " Rejoice evermore." They
332




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               117
have introduced grand, solid ground for joy; and heartfelt
pleasure is connected with faith and love. This is a transport that is better experienced than described; for when
God lifts up the light of his countenance upon a soul, that
soul has more joy than the men of the world have, when
their corn, and wine, and oil increase; strangers intermeddle not with this joy, they know nothing of it, it entirely
surpasses their understanding: saints themselves cannot
tell it half, they have not language to express it, they cannot convey proper views of it to others; for it is unspeakable, being excited by a participation of God's unspeakable
gift: it is full of glory. There is a rejoicing in iniquity,
an evil and a scandalous triumph; but the joy alluded to in
our text, makes the subject of it appear truly honorable in
the eyes of angels, good men, and God; it is a pleasure
that maketh not ashamed, that leaves no sting behind, for
it is substantial; whilst the joy of the hypocrite is but for
a moment, and the laughter of fools is like the crackling of
thorns under a pot: this holy sensation, increasing more
and more, is the beginning, the pledge, the presage of eternal happiness; it is glory begun below; it is a kind of first
fruits of the new life, which we shall pluck from  heavenly
trees in the kingdom of glory above: the saints can tell
something of the happiness of the world of spirits, by the
bliss which a discovery of divine love causes in their souls,
even in the midst of the greatest calamities.   Such was
the rapture which Peter, James and John felt, when in the
mount of transfiguration, with the Son of God! and far
greater will be the rapture of the glorified spirits round
the throne of God and of the Lamb for ever.
That mount, how bright, those forms how fair!'Tis good to dwell for ever there;
333




118                DISCOURSES OF
Come death, dear envoy of my God,
And bear me to that blest abode.
Oh, let us never forget that Christ Jesus is the. proper,
the appointed, the only object of religious joy. Whatever
the Christian rejoices in must have some connection with
him.  Are the promises the matter of his rejoicing?
These were all made by him, are all ratified, c" are all yea
and amen in Christ Jesus to the glory of God by us." Is
it any spiritual blessing? It comes to us only through his
mediation.  Oh, then, Christians, joy in God, by whom
you have now received the atonement; " rejoice and be
exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven:"'   rejoice in hope of the glory of God:" let your heavenly inheritance be the matter of your triumph, " though now for
a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold
temptations."  While the rich man glories in his riches,
and the mighty man in his might, do you rather rejoice
that your names are written in heaven: declare his works
with rejoicing; go to God your exceeding joy; with joy
draw water out of the wells of salvation; shout for joy,
all ye that are upright in heart; joy in God, the God of
salvation: finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord; rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say, rejoice.  So
shall the Lord your God rejoice over you with singing, yea,
rest in his love.
Let me remark, by way of conclusion, that these sensations, from various causes, are not always felt; but our
love is cold, our faith dying, and our spark of joy quenched,
so that we go daily mourning; but these things ought not
so to be: they indicate that religion is at a low ebb in our
souls; and if this be the case with us, we may cry, " O,
my leanness! my leanness!" But must we not lay the
334




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              119
blame of our little enjoyment of religion upon ourselves?
Surely we must.  0 that the Spirit of true faith and joy
would fill us with all joy and peace in believing!
Let me ask, how many of us, in the divine presence, can
appropriate the language of the text to ourselves, and say
of Jesus, " Though now I see him not, I love him, I believe in him, I rejoice in him with joy unspeakable and full
of glory?"
Let me tell the sinner who has no interest in the bliss
of which we have been speaking, the fearfulness of his
character, and the certainty of his punishment.
Oh, Christian, go on to glorify Him who having not seen
you love, and in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing ye rejoice, with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Amen.
335




120                DISCOURSES OF
SERMON IX.
ETERNAL LIFE, HOW GAINED.
"Lay hold on eternal life." —1 TIMOTHY 6: 12.
WHIIAT a peculiar solemnity is there in the advice of an
aged Christian to a young convert: to hear one whose hopes
of a happy immortality are strong and lively, whose prospects of eternal glory are sufficient to make him long for
the cold embrace of death, and look with triumph on the
ghastly horrors of the tomb; to hear such a one instructing those who are just commencing their journey to heaven
is truly affecting, because we know, that at such a time, the
most important truths will drop from his lips; and hard
indeed must be the heart of that man, who can think of
them without an awe upon his mind, without a determination to fulfill the best wishes of a dying friend. So Moses
addressed the children of Israel, just before he died in the
land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. So
Jesus, when his hour was not yet come, discoursed with his
disciples and cheered their minds, which experienced the
sorrow of disappointed expectations and terminating
friendship. And so such a one as Paul, the aged, gives the
kindest and best advice to Timothy, his own son in the
gospel, while he shortly after presents him with his own
situation and the feelings of his own mind, saying, "For I
am ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure
is at hand."
336




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               121
One of his last exhortations to Timothy, before his rapt
spirit was borne to God, was, " Lay hold on eternal life;"
and permit inme to say, that obedience to this injunction is
as all-important to us, as it was to the young evangelist to
whom  it was addressed.  I intend, then, to offer a few
thoughts upon-the object presented to our view,-and the
exhortation concerning it.
I. The object presented to our view.  Eternal life.
By this expression, the happiness of the heavenly world
is evidently intended; and when it is called eternal life, we
are not merely to understand that it will have no termination, that there will be no more death; but we are taught
that every thing that can render life desirable or delightful,
will be there enjoyed, without interruption, in rich abundance, so that God's people will be eternally satisfied with
his goodness. It is impossible for me to describe to you
eternal life, or to tell half the glory which is felt in that
happy land from whence no traveler returns.  Had I, like
Paul, been caught up to the third heaven, and heard unspeakable words, and seen its inconceivable excellence, I
could not, even then, tell it you: there are glories which
it is not lawful to utter: eye has not seen it, ear has not
heard it, the heart of man cannot conceive it; the tongue
of Gabriel, the favorite angel, could not describe it: yea,
nothing short of the full possession of it, can give us an
adequate idea of its excellence.  Hear what you may of
eternal life, and conceive of it to the utmost stretch of
your powers, when you arrive at the threshold of heaven,
you must exclaim, with the astonished queen of Sheba,
"The half has not been told me!"
All we can do is, to form some ideas of it, from the
15               337




122                DISCOURSES OF
views under which it is represented in the divine word; and
lest we should darken counsel by words without knowledge,
we shall deduce our observations upon eternal life, from
that unerring source; and we remark, for the sake of distinction, it especially includes in it, a perpetual enjoyment
of-divine favor,-divine knowledge,-and the divine presence.
Eternal life comprehends1. A constant enjoyment of the divine favor. This idea
is founded upon the following passage in the Psalms, " His
anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life."  As
the favor of God runs through our natural life, and is the
source and support of our spiritual life, there is no doubt
that it will be the felicity of our eternal life. For ever,
brethren, will believers rejoice that it was through the free
favor and unmerited grace. of God, that they arrived at the
kingdom of glory: the song of the redeemed is, "Not unto
us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the praise."
They will acknowledge in devout exclamations, that they
owe all their purity to Him that loved them, all their conquests to him that died for them, and all their happiness to
him that rose again, and thus begot them again unto a
lively hope. The favorable smiles of God, too, will delight
them for ever and ever; they shall be approved by him,
and acceptable in his sight, through the mediation of the
Son of his love.
That must be eternal life, which embraces the complete
enjoyment of the lifting up of Jehovah's countenance, and
the everlasting smiles of a covenant God. Even now, the
consciousness of interest in the benevolence of the God of
the whole earth, puts more joy into the mind of a Christian, than the men of the world receive when their corn,
338




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               123
and their wine, and their oil increase: but what will be
their pleasures when they arrive at the shores of that
peaceful land, where doubts and fears are known no more,
but the full assurance of divine favor is enjoyed for ever
and ever.
2. Eternal life includes divine knowledge.
This is evident, from these words, " This is life eternal,
to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou hast sent:" and this knowledge is eternal life; not
only as it prepares us for the enjoyment of it, but as it
contributes the very essence of its felicity and joy. " Whoso findeth wisdom findeth life." 0, take fast hold of instruction, let her not go, for she is thy life. In heaven we
shall know even as we are known. Our ideas of God will
be clear and consistent, our eternal life will be a life of intelligence, and the divine character will unfold and open to
us a wide field for active enquiry and diligent research.
Hence we may well be so anxious to enquire in God's
temple, to be perpetually making new discoveries, under
the teachings of God himself, of his own character and dispensations, and to be learning the manifold wisdom of God
for ever and ever. Thus shall we eternally possess an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we
shall be in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.
And who amongst us all, that knows any thing of the
Saviour, would not wish to know more, and to see more of
his excellent greatness through the countless ages of eternity? Lord Bacon would say, "knowledge is power."
But the Bible gives us to see that true knowledge is life,
is nothing short of eternal life.
3. The last ingredient in our eternal happiness, that we
mention at this time, is the divine presence.
339




124                 DISCOURSES OF
Jesus Christ is, indeed, the life of his people now, his
ordinances delight their minds, and his spiritual presence
removes all thoughts of solitude; but hereafter their eyes
shall see the King in his beauty, even in the land that is
yet afar off. It is the principal part of the glory of the
inhabitants of the new heaven above, that the Lord God
shall dwell amongst them; thus they behold his beauties,
and have him as their kind companion forever and ever.
Innumerable passages of Scripture that represent Christ
as the life of his people, suggest the idea that his presence,
his constant presence, makes eternal life.  And what a
glorious life is this, existence and complete felicity unite
in the land of Canaan above! Judge, if you can, what a
redeemed soul experiences the moment it enters into the
midst of the heavenly city; and think too highly, if you
can, of that most wonderful of all subjects, " eternal life."
Having thus briefly reflected on the object presented to
our view, let us now turn our attentionII. To the exhortation concerning it.  "Lay hold
on it."
We may lay hold on eternal life —by embracing the
Gospel which reveals it-by believing on Jesus, who bestows it,-by relying on the promises which ensure it,and by pressing towards the full enjoyment of it.
1. Lay hold on eternal life, by embracing the Gospel
which reveals it.
In what a benighted state was the world before the diffusion of the Gospel: what vague, uncertain, and confused
ideas were entertained by the most enlightened men of that
day, of a future state: all was wild conjecture and mere
speculation.  Hence arose the absolute necessity of a light
340




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                125
to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of Israel, the
need of a day-star to visit us, and to guide our feet into
the way of peace.  For this the Gospel was inspired, and
to accomplish this it is evidently calculated; for by the
Gospel our Lord Jesus hath abolished death, and brought
life and immortality to light. The Bible, brethren, discovers eternal life. This mystery is concealed in the Gospel of Jesus, from carnal eyes, while it is revealed unto
babes.  Hence appears the superiority of the Gospel
to the volume of creation: " The heavens indeed declare
the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handy
work; but the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the
soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening
the eyes."  The Gospel reveals a heaven to come; shows
us that by nature we have no title or claim  to it; and
teaches us where it may be found.  Hence it is called the
word of life. Oh, what a treasure is contained within the
covers of the Bible! This is the field where the pearl of
great price is hid, and eternal life is brought to view. And
shall this Gospel be neglected by you? rather bid farewell
to every other system, call it vanity and lies, and bind the
Gospel to your heart. Where the truth is received in the
love of it, where the Gospel is esteemed as invaluable, and
that kind epistle which assures us of pardon and glory, is
not only perceived there, but actually believed and embraced; there eternal life is laid hold of.
2. Lay hold on eternal life, by believing on Jesus who
bestows it.
" This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son
341




126                DISCOURSES OF
hath life: he that hath not the Son shall not see life, but
the wrath of God abideth on him."  " The gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  He, brethren,
is the only medium through which this blessing can be communicated to us, as is evident from the language of the
glorified themselves, who are now singing that song which
no man can learn but the redeemed.  We shall be eternally
indebted to Christ for our felicity; then lay hold on eternal life by faith in him; let it not appear that there is
" none of us that stirreth up himself to lay hold on God."
Oh, take hold on God's strength that you may be at peace
with him, and you shall be at peace with him.
If Jesus is the life of the Christian, and the very sum
and substance of eternal glory; and heaven the enjoyment
of him; how concerned should we be to apprehend him by
faith. Jacob laid hold on eternal life when he wrestled
with the man Jesus till the break of day, and said, " I
will not let thee go, except thou bless me." The church
laid hold on eternal life, when she said of -Jesus, " I held
him and would not let him go, till I had brought him to
my mother's house."  Simeon had hold on eternal life
when he took Jesus in his arms and blessed hinm.  The
afflicted woman in the Gospel had hold on eternal life, when
she said, " If I touch but the hem of his garment, I'shall
be whole." Go ye, then, and do likewise. Believe in the
name of the only-begotten Son of God, and because he
lives, ye shall live also; yea, as long as he exists, shall you
remain in the mount of glory; for your faith itself shall
prove that a union subsists between himself and you, more
intimate and inseparable, than that which subsists between
the firm foundation and the stately edifice; the fruitful
vine, and the living branch; the influential head, and the
active members.
342




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                127
Faith in Christ, and eternal life, are always inseparably
connected in the word of God. Oh, may they be so in our
experience, that the abundant grace may, through the
thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God.
3. Lay hold on eternal life, by relying on the promises
that insure it.
You are to spend your days in hope of eternal life, which
God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Eternal life is the grand, the best promise contained in the
Scriptures: it is that to which all the rest are subordinate.
Oh, then, live by faith upon the promises, so shall you lay
hold on eternal life.
Who were they 1" whose carcasses fell in the wilderness,
concerning whom God sware in his wrath, that they should
not enter into his rest?" They were those who believed
not.  So we see that they could not enter in, because of
unbelief.  And unbelief will ever be a barrier to our possession of the heavenly Canaan, for it is a virtual rejection
of God himself.  The accomplishment of the promises of
God is certain; why, then, will ye not enjoy those blessings which are so intimately connected with a firm expectation of that eternal life, with which the promises of God
are fraught?
Lay hold of eternal life in the promise: your Father's
legacy, Christians, secures it for you; read with pleasure
your title to it, and look upon yourselves as no longer
strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints,
and of the household of God. Rejoice in the security of
your claim to eternal life, dwell upon it with pleasure, and
this thought will cheer the rugged path of life, and reconcile you to your present condition.
"Seize the kind promise while it waits,
And march to Zion's heavenly gates;
343




128                DISCOURSES OF
Believe and take the promis'd rest,
Obey, and be forever blest."
4. "' Lay hold on eternal life," by pressing toward the
full enjoyment of it.
This appears to be the principal idea of the text; for in
the expression there is an allusion to the active exertions
of racers to gain the prize.  We are not to count ourselves
to have apprehended; but this one thing we are to do, forgetting those things which are behind, we must press forward towards those which are before, aiming at the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
You are not laying hold on eternal life if you rest satisfied
with present attainments, and are inactive in religion.
You should daily become more and more animated in your
pursuit of the prize, by faith's view of its glory.  If the
famous Carthagenian general, Hannibal, could inspire his
troops with so much courage, by a prospect of the fertile
plains of Italy, from the barren Alps over which they were
passing, how much more courageous should Christians become, by a prospect of that glory which Christ exhibits to
their view, and promises in his word 
You can have no better proof of sincerity than that
which will be afforded by constant exertion: you are only
safe in this way.  0 that the Holy Spirit may enable you
to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset you; and to run with patience the race set before
you, looking unto Jesus as your example, who, in obtaining our redemption, persevered through difficulties, even
to the end.
To excite you to such a conduct as I have been recommending, I might mention the two motives subjoined in
the verse whence our text is taken: to lay hold on eternal
344




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              129
life, namely,-as the end of your calling,-and the language of your own profession. This is the end of your
calling: "Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called." We are called, brethren, to glory and honor;
but as preparatory to our possession of it, we are called to
warfare and unwearied exertion in the divine life. This is
the language of your own profession: " Lay hold on eternal
life, whereof thou hast professed a good profession before
many witnesses."  When you entered on the cause of
Christ, you engaged yourself by a solemn pledge to war a
good warfare. The vows of God are upon you; 0, then,
lay hold on eternal life; if you do not, you belie your
own profession, and give those of us who behold you
reason to suspect that you have no part or lot in the
matter.
By way of inference, I would remark,Of how many things may a man lay hold, and yet come
short of eternal life. You may amass riches, till they take
to themselves wings and fly away: you may pursue your
own gratification, and prove yourself " a lover of pleasure
more than a lover of God," till your delights are exchanged
for insufferable torments: you may have a large share of
honor, till that puff of noisy breath, gives place to indelible infamy, and everlasting confusion of face: you may fill
a conspicuous station in the church of Christ, till the Master of assemblies declares you to be one of those whom he
never knew. All these things, and many more, may be
possessed by you on earth, and yet you may fail of the
grace of God, and see eternal life, as Balaam said he should
see Christ, afar off.  0, then, be concerned to let your
treasure be in heaven, that you heart may be there also.Again-.15,~          345




130                 DISCOURSES OF
How  essentially necessary is the influence of God's
Spirit, and grace, to enable us to possess so vast a treasure, and hold so valuable a possession. Heaven, may one
say, is too great a prize for me to seize: so it is-, if you
are possessed of mere mortal power; but, " I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me," is language
which becomes the most weak and humble Christian. True
it is, that unless we are "' strengthened with all might by
his Spirit in the inner man," the hand of faith will become
palsied, so that we shall not be able to lay hold on eternal
life; but if the same glorious Being who says, Stretch
forth thy hand, at the same time gives us power to apprehend the blessing, we may rejoice that heaven and all its
glory properly and inalienably belong to us.
Men and brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: those
of you who have yet never heard the heavenly voice of
Wisdom, nor entered the society of believers, let me faithfully tell you, that you are daily making the wrath of God,
-Which is the second death, more and more certain; you
are advancing rapidly to hell, the mouth of which is open
to receive you. Ah! you may wish to lay hold on eternal
life, when it will for ever shrink from your touch.
O, let those of us who have a good hope through grace,
endure unto the end, so shall we be saved: let us persevere,
in hope of understanding more of the heights, and depths,
and breadths, and lengths of this subject in the kingdom
of glory.
To all of you, sinners or saints, professors or profane,
young or old, I would say, The voice of God's ministers,
of dying friends, of opening graves, of the Holy Scriptures,
and of Jehovah himself is,-" LAY.HOLD ON ETERNAL
LIFE."
34. 6f




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               131
SERMON X.
THE RAINBOW ABOUT THE THRONE.
"And there was a rainbow about the throne, in sight like unto an
enerald."-REvELATION iv. 3.
AMIDST the chequered scenes of life, the insignificance of
the pursuits in which mankind in general are engaged, and
the prospects of mortality and death, which must sometimes strike our minds, it is the privilege and happiness
of the real Christian to look beyond the grave; to summon
all the powers of his mind to contemplate the glories of a
future world; to bid farewell to earth; and inspect, yea,
anticipate for himself, the happiness of the glorified in heaven. The vanity of the creature is made use of as an impulse to drive him elsewhere to seek for solid joy; and
finding that beneath the skies there is no proper satisfactidn for the vast desires of an immortal soul, he looks beyond; above them he soars within the veil; beholds his
ever-loving Saviour scattering the best of blessings on all
the happy tribes; hears them recounting the wonders of
his grace; and feels the animation in his mind which the
sight of the joys of heaven ever more inspires.
O, my brethren, let us aim to do this: the things of
time and sense have engaged by far too much of our atten3417




132                DISCOURSES OF
tion through the week; on God's own day then, let us
rise " to the general assembly and church of the first-born,
whose names are written in heaven:" let us, in spirit at
least, join the spirits of the just made perfect, in their admiration of Jesus, in the homage which they pay him.
The highly favored apostle John shows, in the chapter
before us, how, in vision, a door was opened in heaven, and
a voice calling him, promised to show him things that
must be hereafter; immediately, he says, he was in the
Spirit; his mind was supernaturally impressed with those
ideas which he had to reveal to us: the objects which he
beheld must not be thought by us to have a real existence
in the world of spirits, for the language is altogether metaphorical; and we are presented with hieroglyphics; the
meaning of which may be developed, and will instruct us
much in our views of the kingdom. Like Paul, then, not
knowing whether he was in the body or out of the body, in
his own apprehension; he was admitted into the presence
of God, and he was favored with a vision of a glorious
throne, on which sat One whom it was utterly impossible
for him fully to describe: for glory, to look upon, he was
like a jasper and a sardine stone; the throne itself, however, was surrounded by a phenomenon, which may well
attract our notice at this time; for, says our text, " There
was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto
an emerald."
You ask, what this rainbow is? The bow which God
set in the clouds after the flood, was a token of the covenant he had made with man, that he would never destroy
the earth any more by water; and there is no doubt,
brethren, that the rainbow spoken of in my text, is the
better covenant, the covenant of grace, far exceeding any
34S




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               133
other covenant whatever.  The manner in which a rainbow
illustrates this well-ordered covenant, and the several
other ideas of it contained in our text will now come under
our notice; and let us, my brethren, all pray earnestly,
that the God of creation, providence and grace, would give
us to see how one part of his works illustrates another; and
how they shall show forth his eternal power and Godhead,
while they are calculated to excite our admiration, joy,
and praise.
Permit me then, my friends, to ask youI. Is the rainbow a reflection of the rays of the sun
upon a thin watery cloud?  The covenant of grace owes
all its excellences to Jesus Christ, the " Sun of righteousness."
That beautiful appearance in nature, the rainbow, is
never seen but when the sun shines, and is evidently
formed by a refraction of his rays on a watery cloud.  It
has often been asked, whether there was an appearance of
this kind before the general deluge: it seems most likely
that there was not; and therefore the rainbow is a more
certain proof of the truth of the divine promise than it
otherwise would be: every disposition of a rainy cloud
will not produce a rainbow; and it is asked, who knows,
but before the flood, the God of creation might have so
arranged the clouds that they should not form any: but
be it how it may, it is evident, the sun is the cause of the
rainbow's beautiful appearance.
So, brethren, in that covenant which the rainbow represents, Jesus our Sun is all in all.  Did he not submit to
all the conditions of this covenant, and appear before his
Father, as ready to lay down his life for his sheep?  Yes,
349




134                 DISCOURSES OF
brethren, he declared his determination to fulfill the law,
and make it honorable, and to bring in an everlasting
righteousness. The whole administration of this covenant
was committed into his hands; he is the surety, the trustee of it; all the blessings of it are lodged in his hands:
so also is he the testator of this covenant, for he, in the
promises of his gospel, has bequeathed all these mercies to
us sinful men: as an Intercessor, he pleads for us, and obtains the full possession of all those favors; yea, in his
offices he reveals and applies them to our hearts. There
would never have been any covenant of grace at all, if it
had not been for Jesus: "For of him, and through him,
and to him, are all things; to whom be glory for ever and
ever."  No wonder, then, that he is represented to us in
another part of this book, as having a rainbow upon his
head; for the covenant of grace is his, and we must all
give him the glory of its existence, stability, and blessings.
On this account it is that we must crown him with honor;
and through eternity we shall be praising him for the
weight of sufferings that he endured as its condition; for
his divine perfections which he has displayed in it; for his
administering its rich mercies to us on earth, and causing
them to flow uninterruptedly into our souls for ever and
ever.  The covenant of grace is a reflection of the glory of
the Sun of righteousness, and owes all its beauty to him:
therefore, whenever we look upon the rainbow, let it serve
to remind us of the covenant made with Jesus; and thus
let us look from nature up to nature's God.
II. Are our minds struck with the diversified colors of
this beautiful phenomenon in nature?  Let them remind'50




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               135
us of the numerous blessings which are treasured up in
the everlasting covenant.
The beauty of the rainbow consists in its various and
well-disposed colors; and, oh what a grand variety of
blessings is there in the covenant of grace! What clusters, what heaps, what numbers of favors are contained
here! Blessings for time and for eternity; temporal and
spiritual good; our election, calling, justification, sanctification, comfort, righteousness, possession of the Spirit in
all his influences and operations, and the security of eternal glory, are all covenant mercies: hence, you know, they
are called "The sure mercies of David." Yea, the believer may look upon the food he eats, the raiment he wears,
the air he breathes, and all the common blessings of life, as
tokens of covenant-love, and sanctified to him as much
through the mediation of Jesus, as his everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.  Oh, with what distinguishing privileges is this covenant fraught for all the
chosen seed! the blessings of the saints are numerous:
"This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; and
their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."
There is nothing that the child of God can possibly
want, but is secured to him here; the blessings that proceed from infinite wisdom, infinite power, and infinite love
are promised to the true Israelites; their " God will give
grace and glory; and no good thing will he withhold from
them that walk uprightly."  On account of this covenant,
all things are for our advantage; whether the world, or
life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are
ours, for we are Christ's, and Christ is God's. Upper and
nether spring blessings are secured to us here; support
351




136                DISCOURSES OF
under trouble, calmness in the prospect of death, a lively
hope at the very moment of nature's dissolution, an open
acquittal before an assemblage of all worlds, and a triumphant admission into the society of the blest, are all
included in this rainbow. " There is none like the God of
his saints, who rideth upon the heavens for a help, and in
his excellency on the sky: the eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall
thrust out the enemy from before thee, and shall say, Destroy them. Israel, thou shalt dwell in safety alone; the
fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine,
also his heavens shall drop down dew!  Happy art thou,
O Israel! Who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the
Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy
excellency: and thine enemies shall be found liars unto
thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places." These
blessings then form the various colors in the bow round
about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
III. Was the rainbow an emblem of peace between God
and man after the flood? The covenant of grace declares
reconciliation, and secures the redeemed for ever from the
deep waters of affliction, which had often before overwhelmed them.
That the rainbow is to be regarded by us, as a security
against another universal deluge, is evident from God's language to Noah immediately after the flood: " I do set,"
says he, " my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token
of the covenant between me and the earth. And it shall
come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the
bow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember my
covenant which is between me and you, and every living
352




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              137
creature of all flesh: and the bow shall be seen in the
cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the
everlasting covenant between God, and every living creature of all flesh, that is upon the earth."   The covenant
of grace, brethren, reconciles man unto God; it is the
source of all Scriptural and divine peace; indeed, its
character is, that it is the covenant of peace; through its
influence we shall " dwell in quiet habitations and sure
resting places" for ever.  Yea, God, giving his own account of it, says, "For this is as the waters of Noah unto
me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should
no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would
not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee: for the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant
of my peace be removed,.saith the Lord, that hath mercy
on thee."  This rainbow, then, that surrounds the throne
of God, is a sign that the happiness of the saints shall be
no more interrupted, that they shall be no longer subject
to the inundations of trouble of any kind: seas of tribulation, and floods of distress, shall be known no more: the
former things will be passed away.  Here, indeed, they
were liable to torrents of temptations, to persecutions, to
famine, to sword, and nakedness; but, over all these things
they shall be " more than conquerors through Him  that
loved them;" and the bright rainbow will make known to
them the designs of God; will show them  their unfading
felicity: Jesus their Sun shall display his beams of glory,
and thus gild the clouds with the most beauteous rays: the
saints of God then will have to be thankful for so peaceful
a sign, when sun and stars shall be extinguished for ever.
Deluges of woe shall never overspread the city of our God,
O3O




138                DISCOURSES OF
which is the New Jerusalem: there, there shall be no more
pain, no more iniquity, no more death. Violence shall no
more be heard in that land, wasting and destruction within
its borders: the heavenly inhabitants shall hunger no more,
nor thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat; but the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes.
Remember, then, Christians, that for all this you are
indebted to the free grace of God, and that it is all secured
to you in the covenant of grace; it is because your names
are enrolled in the record of the skies, because you are
given into the hands of Christ by the Father, that heaven
and all its glory will be revealed to your view, and possessed by you forever and ever. Oh, with what delight
will you survey this significant bow; what rapture will fill
your minds under the pleasing idea, that the wild dismaying scenes of life are over forever; and that, instead of
anarchy and confusion, the Prince of peace reigns, dispensing quietness and assurance forever: the wearied spirit
will weep no more, but will wear an eternal smile of joy,
since its communication with its God will be without interruption, and its holy pleasures without an end.
"Oh, may I bear some humble part
In that immortal soncg:
Wonder and joy shall tune my heart,
And love command my tongue."
IV. Is the rainbow said to be round about the throne
of God? The covenant of grace includes in it, and glorifies, all the persons in the Trinity, and is ever in their sight
and remembrance.
354




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              139
Our text says, " There was a rainbow round about the
throne:" the throne of God is enclosed in it: so the covenant of which we speak, interested the whole Deity; the
powers of the eternal mind were engaged in the salvation
of poor and miserable sinners; and herein he thus displayed
and harmonized all his perfections.  What wisdom there
was in devising a scheme like this, which could never have
entered into the mind of any but The Eternal! What
goodness, what power in putting it into full execution; and
what faithfulness in consummating the scheme of human
redemption! Not one of the adorable persons in the Trinity, but was engaged in this covenant: the agreement was
peculiarly entered into between the Father and the Son;
and the Holy Spirit brings home all the blessings of this
covenant to the consciences of sinners; he applies the
work of Jesus to our hearts, and herein glorifies abundantly
all that the Father and the Son hath done before.
More of God, too, let it be remarked, in his character
and designs, is developed to us by the covenant of grace,
than could otherwise ever have been known, and by this
covenant a revenue of glory will redound to his own great
name.
And if this rainbow is round about the throne, it must
be always in the sight of God; he beholds it, and is well
pleased for his righteousness' sake. Amidst our backslidings, a sight of the rainbow caused our covenant God
to say, " For a little moment I hid myself from thee, but
with everlasting mercies will I gather thee." It is our
mercy that he cannot be unmindful of his covenant, and
that, because " he is of one mind, and none can turn him;"
and never can he cease to be mindful of the welfare of
those whom he chose out of the world, and whose names
are continually before him.
355




140                DISCOURSES OF
This rainbow will be before Him forever and ever; he
will delight in his covenant; it will never repent him that
he saved sinners; with complacency will he behold the glorified spirits of his saints, who will be enjoying more
largely than ever they had done before, the distinguishing
favors of the covenant of grace: being made thus accepted
in the Beloved, he will bless them with the smile of approbation, and the lifting up the light of his countenance.
Finally,V. Are we informed that the rainbow was in sight like
unto an emerald, green, beautiful, and durable?  How
delightful to contemplate and enjoy the blessings of the
covenant of grace! it is always new and lasting as the
throne which it surrounds.
An emerald is a precious stone, next in hardness to the
ruby, and its green color much refreshes and strengthens
the sight. The rainbow of the new covenant then is like
unto an emerald. What beauties meet in it! what order
how admirable to consider its nature and institution! and
is it not like that faith which apprehends it? like the
promises with which it is fraught, exceedingly precious?
David of old could testify its value to his mind amidst
domestic trials, saying, " Although my house be not so
with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; for this is all my salvation and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."
This covenant may animate us in the greatest depressions; it may cast a lustre upon the dark dispensations of
providence, because it teaches us that they will all end
well: a knowledge of an interest in it disarms death of its
terrors, yea, bids him lay our ruins in the grave; seeing
356




REV. THIOMAS SPENCER.                141
that death and hell combined cannot interrupt the repose
of a saint in the bosom of his covenant God.  No emerald
is so beautiful, so precious, or refreshing, as this rainbow;
this covenant claims the last accents of our poor faltering
tongues, and will employ the first notes of our celestial
harmony.
It is also more durable than an emerald: hard and lasting as precious stones may appear, they are mouldering
dust and perishing atoms when compared with the designs
of God. This is styled an everlasting covenant; it endures
as long as its Author; the blessings of it are enjoyed
through the unnumbered ages of eternity; it was first entered into never to be broken, and it will remain immutable. This rainbow will surround the throne of God, as
long as God will have a throne for it to surround; for,
"iHath he spoken and will he not do it; hath he commanded, and shall it not stand fast?"'
"My God, the covenant of thy love
Abides forever sure;
And in its matchless grace I find
My happiness secure."
"c The Lord loveth judgment, hates robbery for burntofferings, will direct our work in truth, and has made an
everlasting covenant with us: so that all that see us shall
take knowledge of us, that we are the seed which the Lord
hath blessed.j"
By way of inferenceLet believers be always mindful of this covenant.
Since God has done so much for you, can you let his favors
be buried in unthankfulness, and die without praise? Shall
it be said of you, "' They remembered not his holy cove35 7




142                 DISCOURSES OF
nant?" Shall this bright rainbow display its beauties all
in vain for you?  0! let it be the ground of your triumph,
the foundation of your prayers for yourselves and others,
and let it always influence you to be joining yourself to the
Lord in perpetual acts of self-dedication, in an everlasting
covenant that shall never be forgotten: nor be discouraged
that you are at present perplexed with trials and difficulties; but evermore boast that the rainbow still is nigh,
and that it as much secures your admission into heaven, as
it prevents any storms or deluges there. This covenant is
a proper subject for investigation; in it lies a mine for you
to dig in; it contains pearls of great price, such as will
well repay your labor, and delight your soul. View yourselves as redeemed by the blood of the covenant, and rejoice that you shall admire it forever and ever.
The sinner should think of this subject with the greatest
awe; for God says to him, " What hast thou to do that
thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth?"  Not interested in it, you cannot share its blessings.
This subject points out the necessity of self-examination.
Shall we ever behold the glory of this rainbow?  Be
ever enclosed in it? If it be the case,
"Then will he pour salvation down,
And we shall render praise;
We, the dear people of his love,
And he our God of grace."




REV. THOMAS SPENCEER.            143
SERMON XI.
THE GLORY OF CHRIST IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION.
" And he shall bear the glory."-ZECHARIAH 6: 13.
OF whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself or of
some other man? It is spoken, brethren, of Him who is
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and whose name is
called the Word of God. Whilst the second temple was
erecting, the voice of the prophet Zechariah was directed
by the Spirit's inspiration to that glorious building which
this but prefigured. Divinely directed, he adorned Joshua
with crowns of silver and gold, and was commanded to behold him as a type of the man whose name is " The
Branch," who was to grow up out of his place, and who alone
was appointed, and about to build the temple of the Lord,
and who is well described in the words I have read you as
a text, as having all possible power, for," He shall bear
the glory."
These words intimate, that all the honor of the erection,
preservation, and completion of the spiritual temple, properly and solely belongs to Jesus: they show us that the
whole glory of our salvation, from first to last, must be ascribed to him; and they lead us to view him as having on
his head many crowns. God forbid that this should be an
unprofitable subject for our meditation at this time.
359




144                DISCOURSES OF
We may remark then, that all blessing, and glory, and
might, dominion, and power, must be ascribed to Christ, in
opposition to the idea of any praise belonging to man:
since his hands laid the foundation, and raised the superstructure of this edifice, the honor belongs not unto us,
not unto us, but unto his venerable and adored name.
Neither Zerubbabel nor Joshua, were to be looked upon as
the prime causes of the erection of this temple at Jerusalem; for it might well be said of it, " This is the finger of
God!" and surely the kingdom of universal nature, the
fullness of almighty power, and the whole glory of our salvation, must alone be ascribed to the man whose name is
" The Branch." Indeed no others could bear the glory but
himself; it would be a weight too heavy for them, and a
burden intolerable to sustain; but " the government shall
be upon his shoulders:" since " of him, and through him,
and to him, are all things; to him be glory for ever and
ever."
Permit me, then, to call your attention to the different
ways in which Jesus is glorified, on account of his mediatorial work; and to view him as receiving abundant honor
from both the other divine persons in the Trinity;-from
the plaudits of the angelic world;-from the ministry of
the gospel;-from the conduct of all his saints; —from the
dispensations of his own providence; —and from the acclamations of the glorified spirits in heaven.
Our text is true, which declares that Jesus shall bear the
glory, because he has borne it, and still is abundantly honored and glorified,I. By both the other divine persons in the Trinity.
That there are three that bear record in heaven, the
360




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              145
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and that these
three are one, is explicitly taught in the pages of inspiration, which are true and faithful: being one in essence and
dignity, they also unite in glorifying each other, and by the
different offices which they have been pleased graciously to
discharge in the economy of our redemption, they show us
that the Lord our God is one Lord. The Saviour of sinners, the second person in the Trinity, always delighted
when on earth in glorifying the Father, by discharging his
will, fulfilling his law, and reflecting his honor in all his
perfections; as well did he make honorable mention of the
Holy Spirit, in his diversified operations upon the human
mind, and intimate that his own work would be incomplete,
without the work of the Holy Spirit.  And shall not both
the Father and the Spirit unite in causing him to bear the
glory, who had so wonderfully glorified them on earth?
God the Father has " glorified his Son, with the glory
which he had with him before the world began:" and he
has done this by acknowledging, accepting, and exalting
him.
He acknowledged him, as the man that was his fellow,
as his servant whom he upheld, his elect in whom his soul
delighted: he testified of him, saying, "' This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." He never
left him without witness of his entire and hearty approbation of himself, and of the work in which he was engaged.
Of no other did he ever say, " Thou art my Son, this day
have I begotten thee;" and again, "I will be to him a
Father, and he shall be to me a Son." The voice from the
excellent glory recommends only Jesus as the Saviour of
the ends of the earth. Again, he accepted him, and thus
made him to bear the glory. He received him into the
16               361




146                DISCOURSES OF
highest honors, when he had by himself purged our sins;
he looked for no more than what Jesus had accomplished,
and could not but admire his finished work; yea, he was
well pleased for his righteousness' sake. The Lord smelled
a sweet savor from his oblation and death, and smiled with
divine benignity upon his victorious Son, in whose work he
rejoiced, as it was the frustration of hellish schemes, the
effect of heavenly counsels, the fulfillment of inspired
prophecies, the glorification of divine attributes, and the
salvation of immortal souls.
The Father glorified him  too, for he has exalted him.
"He has set him on his own right hand7 far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world, but in that
which is to come."  We speak of Him " whom God raised
from the dead, and gave him glory." "' Wherefore God also
has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name." He has placed him far beyond the
reach of his enemies; and vowed, that upon himself shall
his crown flourish.  The Father's exaltation of his Son,
shows us that he has glorified hinm above all his name,
while it teaches us to sue for the blessings he has appointed
him in that state to bestow.
But the Holy Spirit also comes forward to place honors
upon his head, and to " anoint him with the oil of gladness
above his fellows."'" He," said Jesus himself, " shall
glorify me, for he shall take of mine, and shall show it
unto you."  He glorifies him then, by witnessing of his
person, as being lovely and amiable; adorned with every
grace, and shining more illustriously than the sun in his
strength.  Hie testifies too of his work, as being suitable
and complete, as it is essentially necessary for the salvat62




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              147
tion of our souls: it is the office of this Spirit to direct the
eye of the mind to him, taking it away from every other
refuge.  So also does he glorify him, by witnessing of his
fullness, for the supply of all our wants; he leads us to
him for every thing we need, and teaches us to cry to him
mightily for spiritual blessings.  Thus do both the Father
and Holy Spirit unite in giving glory to the Son.  0,
how true is the text then, which says, " He shall bear the
glory!" Let us now view him as honored and glorified
II. By the engagements of the angelic world.
Of angels we know but little; suffice it to say, that they
are superior to man in the scale of being, as they are invested with strength of intellect and activity of mind,
which we do not possess; and remember, especially, that
whatever they are in their nature, their employment is to
glorify that same Jesus, who is all our salvation and all
our desire. They promote his honor, and cause him to
bear the glory, as they constantly adore him, —and as they
invariably execute his will.
Observe, he is glorified by angels, because1. They constantly adore him.
" Let all the angels of God worship him," is the mandate
which they have to obey; and as he is the Lord of angels,
they readily offer him that homage which a sight of his
glories evermore inspires.  For Him, brethren, " the morning stars sing together, and the sons of God shout for joy."
Those active intelligences can exclaim, " Worthy the
Lamb," though they cannot add,' He was slain for us."
At his feet they cast their crowns; before his glory they
veil their faces with their wings; to him they cry, " HIoly,
363




148                DITSCOURSES OF
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty."  He bears the glory
too, because2. The angels invariably execute his will.
They are ministers of his, and do his pleasure: commissioned by him, they wait on his saints; witness their devotions; preserve them from danger; and watch affectionately over them till they arrive at glory. From Jesus
it is, brethren, that they receive their orders: to one he
says, Go, and he goeth; to another, Come, and he cometh.
He is the Captain of this host of the Lord.  He marshals
them; they are altogether in subordination to his will;
and with pleasure they fly through his vast empire to fulfill his orders. And whilst they do all this, are they not
glorifying him? Are they not crowning him with honor
and glory? The highest archangel glories in the thought
of being a servant of Jesus of Nazareth.  The angels of
God may all be heard to say, " He shall bear the glory."
We remark once more, that the Saviour of sinners receives
a revenue of glory and honor
III. From the ministry of the gospel.
This promotes his glory by revealing-exalting-and
applying him to the heart.
1. The gospel reveals the Saviour. True it is, that he
needs only to be seen to be adored and loved; and it is
the excellency of the Bible, that it exhibits Christ; holds
him up as the only Saviour; and presents him to our view
in almost every page. In fact, every part of the Bible
should be viewed in its bearing upon him: he is the substance of the promises, the prophecies, the types, the narratives, and the epistles.  By testifying of him  in this
way, the gospel glorifies him; and every faithful minister
364




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               149
is enabled to say to him, " If I forget thee, 0 Jesus, let
my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember
thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth." The
gospel glorifies Christ2. By exalting him.
Oh, in what high terms does it speak of Jesus! what
figures, what metaphors, what language it employs, to set
forth " his eternal power and Godhead," his rich grace, and
his wonderful love! Who is so highly spoken of in the
ministry of reconciliation as Jesus Christ, who " shall bear
the glory?"' Here he is styled " Lord of all," " King of
kings," " The image of the invisible God," yea, "All in
all." The writers of the Scriptures seem at a loss for
words to communicate their ideas of his infinite glory, and
seem sensible that they can but lisp out a few broken expressions to his honor and praise. Every leaf of this book
seems to say to us, " He shall bear the glory." The gospel glorifies him further, as it is the means in the hands of
the Spirit3. Of applying him to the conscience.
When this gospel is viewed, as it is indeed and in truth,
the word of God, and not of man, then Christ Jesus is all
the confidence and boast of the sinner. By its influence
the sinner's eyes are enlightened to behold his glory; his
prejudices are removed; so that he contemplates him " as
the Son of God with power:" his will, which before resisted, and would not submit to the righteousness of God,
is so subdued, the bias of it is so turned, that he desires
earnestly and humbly to be saved in God's own way. In
short, through the instrumentality of the gospel, Christ
Jesus is formed in his heart the hope of glory; and so is
he abundantly honored.
2c,~j




150                DISCOURSES OF
Thus, you see, that the grand design of the gospel, in
its inspiration and diffusion, is to recommend and glorify
the Saviour, and promote his praise, who alone shall build
the temple of the Lord.
Once more, Jesus shall bear an exceeding weight of
gloryIV. From the conduct of all his saints.  " They shall
hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house." The
saints honor him when they believe on him,-imitate him,
-obey him, —and suffer for him.
They testify his honor when they believe on him to life
everlasting: a poor sinner is enabled to put honor upon
Jesus, by simply taking him  at his word, and relying on
him for life and salvation. Yea. we are bold to remark,
that this is the best way to glorify him; that by faith we
honor his attributes and perfections, and cause a revenue
of praise to be rendered to his own great name; and,
"' whoso offereth praise," we know, " glorifieth him, and to
him will he show the salvation of God."  He that believes,
honors the plenitude of his redemption, the riches of his
grace, the efficacy of his blood; and this is the glory which
he alone shall bear, since " there is salvation in no other;
neither is there any other name given under heaven, among
men, whereby we must be saved."
Further, Christians glorify the Saviour when they make
him a model for their imitation; when they endeavor so to
walk even as he also walked; to mark the footsteps that
he trod; to be holy as he was holy; and to evidence the
same mind that was also in him.  Hereby they honor the
holiness of his nature, and the rectitude of his life: in his
service below he must ever have the preeminence.  You
366




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              151
are not called to be like heroes, philosophers, or politicians,
but to be conformed to the image of the Son; so" shall
he bear the glory."
You will honor him, then., by obeying from the heart,' that form of sound words which he has delivered unto
you." " His commandments are sot grievous, " then let
them be your study, your delight, your path in which you
shall go. " If ye love me," says he, " keep my commandments:" nor is there any better evidence of strong attachment to his person, than prompt and steady obedience to
his precepts.  In your different spheres of action, in all
your engagements and pursuits, in your intercourse with
the world, as well as with the saints, never forget you are
bound to glorify the Saviour, and to put honor upon his
name, by 1iving not to yourself, but to him that loved you,
and died for you, and rose again.
Nor should you forget, that you must glorify him by all
that you endure.  Here I am reminded of the remarkable
testimony that is borne of the sickness of Lazarus, of
which it is said, that " His sickness was not unto death,
but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might
be glorified thereby:" by your patient submission to the
divine will; by your earnest desire that your afflictions
nay be sanctified; and by your preparedness for glory;
you honor his love, his goodness and his grace.
Christians are to live only to the glory of Jesus; they
are bound to promote his honor, in all their thoughts,
words, and actions; and we know that their death promotes
his glory; so that he is honored in them, whether: by life
or by death: and in that great day, " for which all other
days were made," he shall come to be admired in his saints,
and to be glorified in all them  that believe.  The noble
367




152               DISCOURSES OF
army of martyrs praise him; the goodly fellowship of the
apostles praise him; the wh'ole church, throughout all the
world, doth acknowledge him as God's honorable, true, and
only Son.  Once more, "C He shall bear the glory,"V. From the dispensations of his own providence.
" All his works praise him." His great design, in governing all things, is to secure to himself abundant glory.
It is evident that the government is upon his shoulders;
that without his permission not a sparrow falls to the
ground; and that " by him it is that kings reign, and
princes decree justice."  In all the events, then, of a providential nature, that have taken place in the world, Jesus
Christ is honored; but he is especially so, in the guidance
and direction of the saints to Zion's holy hill.  They are,
indeed, the children of providence, peculiar favorites of
Heaven; and no wonder that Jesus glorifies himself on
their behalf.  Do you ask, what in him  does providence
glorify? I answer, much every way. It glorifies all his
attributes and perfections; but peculiarly does it honor
his power, his wisdom, and his goodness.  The power of
his arm is herein abundantly displayed, seeing we are led
to understand that there is nothing which he cannot accomplish; that there is no work too hard for him; that
he can very easily tread a monarch down, or dash a world
to pieces: he can raise the poor fiom the dunghill, and set
them among princes; he effects whatever he chooses: and
does not all this glorify him? especially when we recollect that he produces all things by a word, or by the mere
volition of his own mind.  Yea, very often for this cause
doth he raise men up, that he may show his power in them.
His peculiar providence glorifies also his wisdom, which ap368




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               153
pears in his causing all things to work together for good:
every pin of this tabernacle is, indeed, in its proper place:
there is not a trial borne by a Christian, but is absolutely
necessary for mim.  At the day of judgment, when the
dispensations of his providence shall be unravelled, we
shall see him to be the only wise God, and trace that inimitable skill, which had been displayed in the construction
and government of the world.  These things also glorify
his goodness, which is over all, and his tender mercies
which are over all his works. Every thing he does is done
well; and what we know not of his dealings now, we shall
know hereafter.  0, then, speak of the glory of his kingdom, and talk of his power; make known to the sons of
men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom; "For his kingdom  is an everlasting kingdom, and
his dominion endureth throughout all generations:" all his
providential dealings say, " He shall bear the glory." We
hasten to remark, that Jesus will receive abundant gloryVI. From the acclamations of the glorified spirits in
heaven.
That Christ Jesus is the theme of heaven is abundantly
evident, from the representations given us in the word of
God, of the employments and songs of those who appear
before God in the new Jerusalem. It is Jesus's name that
sounds so melodiously upon their harps; it is his love
which excites their triumphant praise; it is his unrivalled,
uncreated beauty, which strikes them with admiration, and
fills them  with delight.  Jesus must be considered as
greatly honored by their acclamations, if we recollect, that
they are unquestionably sincere, united, uninterrupted, and
eternal.
16d)*.369




154                DISCOURSES OF
" He bears the glory" of their triumphs, for their
homage is sincere.  Here, indeed, men profess to know,
him, but in works deny him; with their mouths they acknowledge him, but by their conduct they betray him; they
call him Lord, Lord, but do not the things which he says:
and suppose ye, for a moment, that Christ owns himself
honored by such characters? I tell you nay; but he will
appoint them a portion with hypocrites and unbelievers.
But the language of a glorified soul is the expression of its
pious feelings; there is no formality in worship there, nor
is there any hypocrisy or deceit, for the former things are
passed away. Whilst they exclaim, " Worthy is the Lamb,"
they feel that he is exalted above all blessing and praise.
Jehovah himself, who searches the heart and tries the reins
of the children of men, testifies of them, that they are
Israelites indeed, in whom there is no guile. Amidst all
the numbers of the blood-bought throng, there is not an
individual but feels his obligations to the grace of Jesus;
and who, when he pronounces his charming name, does not
glow with sincere affection towards him.  He himself
knows, then, that he alone bears the glory of their praises;
because, when they adore him, their hearts are notwandering after other good.
Large is the revenue of glory which Christ receives from
the spirits of the just made perfect, because their adorations are united. In praising him they all agree; not one
refuses to join the song, not one wishes it to close.  Jesus
himself is the delightful bond of union to them all; they
are all united in Christ. Those that were redeemed from
different tribes, and tongues, and people; that were called
by grace at different perio'ds of their existence; that were
separated from each other, when on earth, by different sen-.70)




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               155
timents, or by other once existing circumstances; now all
join in one common hallelujah, and in one loud amen. The
Saviour has the satisfaction of finding himself to be the joy
and wonder of them all, for a" He shall bear the glory."
Their acclamations, too, will be uninterrupted. They
will honor him, then, not with frail, but with incorruptible
bodies: they will never feel languor or weariness; being
so glorified, that every thing in their constitution, when
on earth, which was calculated to impede their devotions,
and to control their holy pleasures, shall be known no more.
Wandering thoughts, cold affections, and earthly desires,
shall not break in upon their solemnities, or cause them
any more to render an unaccceptable sacrifice, or to present
to Jehovah the blind and the lame.  And there, too, " the
wicked will cease from troubling, and the weary be at rest."
How great, then, must be the honor which they will present to the Saviour, if it were only from the consideration
that it will be uninterrupted.
He will also bear surprising glory, because the acclamations of his redeemed will be eternal. As they see fresh
wonders in him; they will present to him fresh praise and
new honor: they will not grow weary of adoring the name
of Jesus: but whilst unnumbered ages pass along, they
will adore him, and cause him to " bear the glory." For
ever and ever will they adore his wisdom in conducting the
affairs of his church; his triumph in completing that spiritual temple: and while immortality endures, all their
harps, and all their songs, will be employed in praising
Jesus, the God of Zion.
Let me tell those who do not love to praise the Saviour
now, that they are totally unfit to join the grand assembly
above, and that they cannot be admitted into heaven, till
q/7 1




156                DISCOURSES OF
they have higher thoughts of Jesus Christ, and lower
thoughts of themselves: yea, till they are divinely taught
to hate sin, and live here with that holiness without which
no man can see the Lord.  Let me beg of the obstinate
sinner, for his own sake, not to go on insulting this lovely,
this glorious Redeemer, because he will certainly slay his
enemies, with the sharp two-edged sword that goes out of
his mouth; he will consume them with the brightness of
his coming. Let me excite you all to join in praising Jesus: your obligations to him, Christian, are infinite: diffuse
then the savour of his name in every place; ascribe to him
the kingdom, the power, and the glory: say, " Now is the
Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him." Blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth
be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              157
SERMON XII.
THE WILFUL OBSTINACY OF THE IMPENITENT SINNER.
" As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the
Lord, we will not hearken unto thee."* —JEREMIAH xliv. 16.
UNDER Johanan, the son of Kareah, the Jews fled into
the land of Egypt, contrary to the expostulations of the
prophet Jeremiah, and dwelt in the country of Pathros.
When they were there, he delivered his own soul of their
blood, by faithfully setting before them their idolatry and
impenitence, and clearly prophesying their utter destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of
his power; declaring to them, that God would take this
remnant of Judah, who had set their faces to go into the
land of Egypt to sojourn there, and cause them all to be
consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt: " That they
should even be consumed by the sword, and by the famine;
and that they should be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach."
You are, perhaps, ready to suppose, that when the
mourning prophet had delivered this heavy burden of the
* During the vacation, Mr. Spencer preached at Dorking; on
closing his labors there, he repeated all the passages from which
he had preached, and then announced this text.-Ed.
373




158                DISCOURSES OF
word of the Lord, they, like the inhabitants of Nineveh,
clothed themselves in sackcloth and ashes, and cried
mightily, saying, " Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish
not?" No such sentiments pervaded their minds; no such
expressions dropped from their lips; and judge what hard
hearts they must have possessed, when you hear that our
text contains their impudent reply to the word of God by
his servant.  " For all the men and all the women that
stood by, even a great multitude, yea, all the people that
dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah,
saying, " As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in
the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.
But," say they, "we will certainly do whatsoever thing
goeth forth out of our own mouth; and then they acquaint
him with their decided determination to pursue their idolatrous and impious course, notwithstanding all that the prophets of the Lord could say against it. And since the unrenewed heart is still hard and impenitent; since the will
of man, by nature, is obstinate and perverse; and since the
love of sin predominates in the hearts of the unregenerate;
mankind frequently pay no better attention to the messages of the heralds of salvation, than these deluded Jews
did to the warnings of Jeremiah. Faithful ministers are
frequently obliged to return to their closets with an aching
heart, under the idea that many are saying in their hearts,
and by their conduct, " As for the words which thou hast
spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken
unto thee." These words, then, lead me to show,-that it
devolves upon ministers to address sinners in the name of
the Lord;-and to point out the unpleasant reception with
which their message often meets.
374




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               159
I. We will show, that it devolves on ministers to speak
to sinners in the name of the Lord.
These impious Jews, in our text, mention the word
which Jeremiah had spoken to them in the name of the
Lord.  We said, that it devolved on ministers to speak to
sinners in the name of the Lord.  Yes, brethren, to sinners. Foolish,' and inconsistent with the tenor of Scripture
and apostolic preaching, is the idea, that the people of God
only are to be addressed from that awful place called a
pulpit. The messengers of Christ have to alarm, exhort,
and reprove: their embassy is calculated to interest those
who are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, as well as those who have believed through grace.
The watchmen upon the walls of Zion are to endeavor to
dissuade those who are without from living and dying ignorant of the way of salvation, as well as to tell the church
that her warfare is accomplished, that her sin is pardoned,
and that she shall receive of the Lord's hand double for all
her sins. Those ministers who are held as stars in God's
right hand, lead men to avoid the blackness of darkness for
ever, as well as guide our feet into the way of peace.
We find that the prophets addressed the vilest of men:
the voice of Wisdom itself is directed to the foolish, and
those who have no understanding.  John the Baptist calls
upon those whom he terms a generation of vipers, to " repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus Christ
himself expostulates with, and exhorts, and weeps over
sinners: to sinners the apostles preached, whose danger
affected their hearts, and excited their earnest prayers; so
that no wonder they cried, "Why will ye die!" and, Ye
fools, when will ye be wise? Ministers of the present day,
37).5




160                DISCOURSES OF
endued, w& hope, with the same Spirit, and inspired with
the same sentiments, adopt the same conduct, and cry aloud,
not sparing, but earnestly addressing those, to many of
whom (awful thought!) they are a savour of death unto
death.
To sinners they have particularly to declare the mischief occasioned by sin.  They represent to them  their
deplorable situation; they describe to them the horrors of
the pit wherein there is no water, in which they lie; the
miseries of that prison in which they are closely confined;
the unprofitableness of the drudgery in which they are engaged; and the tribulation and anguish which they have
to expect. Knowing the terrors of the Lord, they persuade
men; and sensible, that if they are unfaithful, the blood
of souls will be required at their hands, they are instant in season and out of season, if by any means they
could persuade them to flee from the wrath to come.
Hence, to sinners they have to exhibit the compassion of
the Saviour; to them they cry, " Now is the accepted time,
now is the day of salvation:" they are earnest in exhorting such to flee to the Saviour's open arms, and to apply
instantly to him who never casts out those who come to
him. They tell them, that the Saviour's heart is made of
tenderness, and that his bowels melt with love. The servants of Christ say continually, " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money, and without price;" and they direct them
to Him who hath said, " If any man thirst, let him come
unto me and drink."
The ungodly part of a congregation must never consider
themselves as uninterested in the truths of the gospel; for,
like the Jews of Pathros, they can call the message of their
376




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              161
minister, when they address him, " The word which thou
hast spoken to us."
But what we wish you particularly to notice is, that they
do all this in the name of the Lord. They speak in the
name of the Lord; for they speak in obedience to his command.  They remember that the Head of the church, the
Governor of Zion, and the Owner of the golden candlesticks said, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." They recollect too, that when the
blessed and holy Trlinity cried, saying, " Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us?" they replied, " Here am I, send
me."  They call to mind a period, when they, led by the
providence of God, devoted their talents and their lives to
him, and conferred not with flesh and blood: do they not
then, when the path of duty is made so abundantly plain
to them, speak in the name of the' Lord?  Jehovah calls
them his prophets, his servants; (for he is never ashamed
of those who, in an abandoned age, show to men the way
of salvation,) and says to them, " Be not afraid of their
faces, for I am. with thee to deliver thee.'
They speak in the name of the Lord, too, because they
speak in perfect agreement with the divine word.
"To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them." The ministers of the gospel have to declare among
the churches, " the manifold wisdom of God;" and " This
is the word, which, by the gospel, is preached unto you."
No minister can be said to speak in the name of the Lord,
who does not make Jesus Christ, who is the subject of the
Scriptures, the sum and substance of his ministry; or who
does not view the Bible as the unerring test of truth,
and never-failing fountain of light and life.  Faithful
377




162                DISCOURSES OF
ministers do speak in the name of the Lord; for they are
chosen vessels, and they go their ways to bear his name
unto the Gentiles.  The authority of Heaven is stamped
upon all they say, when they speak, as led by the Spirit
of truth into the truth contained in the Bible. They speak
to sinners in the name of the Lord also, because they address them in a firm dependence on his Spirit. The Spirit
shall direct them in their studies, shall give the enjoyment
of the gospel in their own souls, and shall animate their
hearts, by taking of the things of Jesus, and showing them
unto them. This Spirit they depend on for illumination,
for power, and for success; and if they have so divine a
teacher, and derive help from so blessed and exalted a
source, do they not speak in the name of the Lord? Because SGod pours out his Spirit upon them, therefore it is
that they prophesy; and because the power of the Highest
overshadows them, their words are often "quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of the joints and marrow;" their tongues
are like the pens of ready writers; and their own souls rejoice within them, when they testify the glorious majesty
of Jesus's kingdom.
Do they not speak in the name of the Lord, lastly, since
they preach in the hope of promoting his glory?
From a sincere desire to honor him, ought they ever to
dispense his glorious gospel; nor have we any reason to
think that that man preaches in the name of the Lord, who
preaches himself and not Jesus Christ.  If the motives of
the company of preachers are right ones, they are to glorify
God by debasing the sinner, exalting the Saviour, and aiming to promote holiness of heart and life. If these are
their aims, brethren, they speak to you in the name of the
378




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              163
Most High God. And well may they ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?"  The faithful ministers of Christ
can say, " We are not as many who corrupt the word of
God, but as of sincerity, as of God, in the sight of God,
so speak we in Christ." It is a work that might fill the
heart of an angel, and has occupied the hands of the
Saviour. When I consider what it is to speak in the name
of the Lord, I tremble for myself, I tremble for my
brethren, but, most of all, I tremble for those time-servers,
who love the praise of men more than the praise of God,
and do not commend themselves to every man's conscience
in the sight of God.
Having endeavored, then, to show you that the ministers
of the gospel, like Jeremiah, speak to sinners in the name
of the Lord; I would nowII. Point out the unpleasant reception with which their
message often meets. Their hearers say to them, " As for
the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the
Lord, we will not hearken unto thee."
We hope that there are but few who would plainly say
this in words; who are so hardened as to glory in their
shame; or so incorrigible as to tell God's ministers that
they cast his words behind their back, as unworthy of attention, and beneath their notice: yet we are persuaded,
that there are many professors who say this in their hearts,
and who will not see when the hand of God is lifted up:
for, if this were not the case, would ministers so often have
to lament over them, saying, 0 that they were wise; and
O that there were such a heart in them, to keep his commandments and do them? To show that there are many,
who in their hearts say, " As for the word that thou hast
379




164                DISCOURSES OF
spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken
unto thee," let us inquire, whether mankind in general
hear the word of God attentively, believingly, and obediently.  Many there are who seem to say, We will not
hearken unto thee attentively.  God has written to these
characters the great things of his love, and they account
them small things: hence, his ministers have to address
"a disobedient and gainsaying people." Are there not
some of you who never think of engaging the powers of
your mind to hear the word of God; who think his service
long and tiresome, and say, " When will the Sabbath be
over, that we may set forth wheat;" who think so lightly
of God's ordinances, as to come in late, and disturb the
worship of others; or who, as if you wished us to believe
that you have no couch at home, make God's house of
prayer a place of repose, and the time of worship an opportunity to indulge in sleep? Careless hearers, then, all say,
"We will not hearken unto thee."  And oh, how few are
there that will hear believingly! The word does not profit,
"not being mixed with faith in them that hear it;'" men
often reject the counsel of God against themselves, and disbelieve the record that God has given of his Son.  Their
conduct shows that they believe not in the name of the only.
begotten Son of God.  There are many hearers of the gospel who view the atonement of Christ as unnecessary; the
evil of sin as greatly exaggerated; the influences of the
Spirit as nothing but enthusiasm; and the doctrines of
original sin and imputed righteousness, as cunningly-devised
fables. To such we would say, " O fools, and slow of
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"
Jesus Christ is set forth crucified among you; but this is
your condemnation, that light is come into the world, but
380




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               165
you love darkness rather than light, because your deeds
are evil.  Nor will they hear obediently.  For there are
many who profess to admire the truths of the gospel, but
do not the things which his servants say: their temper is
not reformed; they are as idolatrously covetous as ever;
not one single alteration is produced in tl'em by the gospel.
God says to one of his ministers concerning them, " And
lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that has
a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for
they hear thy words, but they do them not; with their
mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after
covetousness."  Thus, they do not hear, so that their souls
may live; and their minister is obliged to say to thenm, " I
am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed on you labor in
vain;" and he is confirmed in his suspicions, by their rooted self-righteousness and unabated love of the world.
They really seem to have formed the resolution contained
in my text, and to say,' "We will not hear thee."  They
have made a covenant with their eyes, to behold nothing
but vanity; with their ears, to refuse to listen to the voice
of the charmer, charm he ever so wisely; and with their
hearts, never to receive the engrafted word of truth, which
is able to save the soul. And, let me ask, Why is all this?
WVhat is the reason that they will not attend to those
things, which, it is evident, belong to their peace?  I
firmly believe, that the reason why they say, " As for the
word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the
Lord, we will not hearken unto thee," is, —because they
are in league with sin,-and what ministers teach, loudly
speaks their condemnation.  It is, we remark,1. Because they are in league with sin.
This is what you love, sinner; and therefore you cannot
381




166                DISCOURSES OF
bear to hear it represented as an evil and a bitter thing.
What your ministers represent as amiable and lovely, is
diametrically opposite to your carnal taste; and being like
these impudent Jews at Pathros, determined to fulfill the
desires of your own heart's lusts, you refuse him that
speaketh on eartI by the authority of Heaven. You hear,
perhaps, without much regret, the holy name of the Lord
continually blasphemed: you hear, with satisfaction, any
thing else, but the things pertaining to God and to his
church. Because the works of darkness are your delight,
you set at naught all his counsel, and will have none of his
reproof. You scorn the messages of his grace; despise one
of his servants after another; and your hearts say of
Jesus, whom the Father sent, saying, " They will reverence my Son;" This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and
the vineyard shall be ours.
It is sin that hardens your heart against the impressions
which the Gospel should make upon you; it is sin that
shuts your eyes against the heavenly light.  It is Satan
who teaches you to say, " As for the words which thou
hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not
hearken unto thee." You say so, too, because, —
2. What your ministers preach loudly speaks your condemnation.
No debtor more unwillingly looks into his books, which
show him the extent of his arrears, than you examine your
own hearts, when your consciences are roused to attend to
the words of the law of God, as repeated by the ministers
of the sanctuary. Ahab, the king of Israel, is a striking
instance of this: you remember, that when Jehoshaphat
asked him, if there was anot another prophet of the Lord of
whom they might inquire; he replied, " There is yet one,'? 




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              167
man, Micaiah, the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire
of the Lord; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy
good concerning me, but evil."
See here, then, sinners, the reason why you will not
hearken to your ministers. You know that they show you
your own truly awful characters; they tell the exceeding
sinfulness of your lives; and represent to you the terrors
of the Lord; they must prophesy evil concerning you,
whilst you continue in your present state: for living and
dying unconcerned about the word, they tell you in the
name of the Lord, that all the curses that are written in
this book shall lie upon you, and God shall blot your name
out of the book of life forever.
Two or three remarks shall close the present discourse.
I would say, by way of inference, in what an awful state
are those persons who are making the resolution contained
in the text. They are evidently exposed to the loss of
their privileges, to hardness of heart, and contempt of
God's word and commandments: and to utter and eternal
destruction. For, " if he escaped not, that despised Moses'
law, but died without remedy, under two or three witnesses,
of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be
thought worthy, who (by rejecting the Gospel) tramples
under foot the Son of God, and counts the blood of the
covenant an unholy thing?"  " He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear." c" Hear, and your soul shall live." The
voice of God demands attention. Listen to the Friend of
sinners, as he speaks in his word, and great advantages will
result: so shall it appear that the word has not fallen by
the way-side, upon a rock, or among thorns, but upon good
ground.
How blessed are they to whom faith cometh by hearing!
383




168                DISCOURSES OF
What reason have they to be thankful for the preaching
of the Gospel, and the news of salvation! What prejudices it has opposed; what ignorance it has enlightened;
what consolation it has afforded; and what blessings it has
diffused!  Live, then, as those who have received the
Gospel. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and
to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.




REV. THOMAS SPENCERt.               169
SERMON XIII.
GOD THE DEFENSE AND GLORY OF HIS CHURCH.
"Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes shall
see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be
taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed,
neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken."
ISAIAH xxxiii. 20.
IT is probable, that when this prophecy was delivered,
the city of Jerusalem was threatened with an immediate
siege; but Jehovah engages to defend it from the attacks
of its enemies, the Assyrians, and to render it at once quiet
and secure: but yet the text which I have read to you,
appears to have a direct reference to the privileges and
stability of the Gospel church; for Jerusalem, after this
period, was never long preserved from hostile invasions;
therefore our attention is turned from it, to that glorious
city against which the gates of hell shall never prevail.
We shall therefore, without any further introduction, proceed-To take those views of the church of Christ, which
our text recommends, and-Enforce that attention to it
which it demands. Let us,I. Take those views of the church of Christ which our
text recommends.
17               385




170                 DISCOURSES OF
And we are led to regard it in a three-fold point of view:
as a solemn city-as a quiet habitation-and as an immovable tabernacle.
We have the church of Christ represented to us,I. As a solemn city. " Look upon Zion," says my text,
" the city of our solemnities."
The church of the Lord on earth is called, 1" The holy
people,"-" The Redeemed of the Lord," —" Sought out,
a city not forsaken."  It is that great city, " the holy
Jerusalem."  It is " Mount Zion, the city of the living
God." It is " the holy city, which is the mother of us
all." The orders and laws necessary for the city of Zion,
are contained in these lively oracles, which may also be
considered as the charter of the privileges of its happy and
active citizens.  Peace is within its walls, and prosperity
within its palaces; and every thing is conducted well,
being managed by him who is the God of order and not of
confusion. Its great King ever dwells in the midst of it,
and its walls are continually before him: the immunities,
for which its inhabitants are distinguished, are numerous
and inestimable; including deliverance from the bondage
of corruption and sin, together with a full enjoyment of a
right to the tree of life, and to all the blessings they can
need: these they obtain by pleading the name, blood, and
righteousness of Jesus, the King's Son.  Watchmen are
set upon its walls, to assure the citizens that their iniquity
is pardoned, and that their sin is covered; as well as to
promise a sanctuary to the weary and distressed, who yet
remain without the gate.
Its walls are called salvation, and its gates praise; its
streets are all pleasant, and its towers may well strike the
eye with admiration. We, however, briefly sum up its ex386




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               171
cellences, when we say, that it is " the city of the Lord,
the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." But we particularly
wish to notice the solemnities for which this city is distinguished: it is well called in my text, " The city of our
solemnities." This name may be applied to Jerusalem, on
account of the most solemn feasts that were there made;
the solemn assemblies that were there held; and the solemn
sacrifices which were there offered. Nor is the term at all
inapplicable to the church of God, which consists of serious
believers, who enter into the most solemn engagements
with Jehovah; who are employed in the most solemn exercises of mind that can be possibly imagined; and whose
minds are peculiarly affected with the solemnities of death
and judgment.
Real religion, brethren, is altogether a solemn thing; its
exercises are abused, when they are not entered upon, and
pursued with real devotion of heart: nothing trifling can
be viewed with approbation by the Father of the spirits of
all flesh.
Oh that when we entered the church of God, we were
more impressed with the idea, that it is the city of our
solemnities; then would our levities be checked, our minds
be prepared for the devout service of God, and he would,
indeed, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit.  In the church of God, we are
called solemnly to give ourselves up to him, saying, Lord,
I am thine; here we are, with all seriousness, to aim to
promote the best interests of our immortal souls; here we
are, with reverence and godly fear, to offer the sacrifice of
a broken and contrite spirit. Never look upon Zion, then,
without remembering, that there the most solemn transactions pass between God and the soul.
387




172                 DISCOURSES OF
2. Our text views the church of God as a quiet habitation.-" Thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation."
It is "builded together for an habitation of God,
through the Spirit;" for he hath chosen the tribe of Judah:
the Mount Zion, which he loved: and he built his sanctuary
like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established
for ever.   God himself is the householder, for he hath
chosen Zion, and desired it for his habitation; and here,
too, dwell all the faithful.  There is something very consolatory in the idea, that all the worthies now in glory,
that ever trusted in Christ, were all members of that
church which is one; and that all real believers are considered by Jehovah as forming a part of it, as united in
Christ.  It is a habitation that incloses all real believers,
by whatever name they may be called amongst men, and
however far they may be separated from each other on the
wide earth, or wider seas; they are, in a spiritual sense,
all lodged under the same roof, and all inhabit the house
of God, whose house are we.  This dwelling-place of the
just, then, is remarkable for the security which is there
enjoyed, and the peace which pervades the whole. It is a
quiet habitation; here the Prince of Peace takes up his
residence, and dwells, and reigns: here the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness
and assurance for ever; and God's people dwell here in
a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet
resting-places.  Those who reside in this habitation need
not be afraid of evil tidings, but should rather have their
hearts fixed, trusting in the Lord, and thus be quiet from
fear of evil. Peace is the legacy which the Saviour left to
all the members of his family; and it is promoted in and
388




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              173
among us, by the benign influences of the sacred Dove.
Blessed then are the people that are in such a case; yea,
thrice blessed are they whose dwelling is Mount Zion.
What a happiness it would be, if those of us who profess
to be Christians, evidenced more of that pure affection to
each other, which is " like the precious ointment upon the
head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard,
that went down to the skirts of his garments."
3. The church is described as an immovable tabernacle.
"A tabernacle," says my text, " which shall not be taken
down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed,
neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken."
The church of Christ may here be described as a tabernacle, in opposition to the superior glories of the New
Jerusalem in heaven: for it is true, that the church militant is but a tabernacle, when contrasted with the inconceivable excellences of the paradise of God. Divine glory
is manifested to us, and known by us here, but in part; but
there we shall know even as we are known: there are grand
discoveries reserved for us in heaven, and church-privileges
laid up for the redeemed ones in the house not made with
hands. As a tabernacle, brethren, the church of God may
often change its place: this is shown us by the state of
those cities in which once the cause of our Redeemer prospered, but where now his name is never heard. Here, Asia,
I cannot but think of thee; for I behold the glory which
once distinguished thy solemn assemblies, now shining in
the churches of the saints in the British isles. Yes, brethren, though the place of the church militant may be
changed, its situation altered, yet its privileges can never
be taken away, nor can its stability be ever shaken, or its
duration ever cease; for, as the mountains were round
389




174                DISCOURSES OF
about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about them  that
fear him, to show himself strong on their behalf.  The
Jerusalem church, though it might verify the promise in
the text, by experiencing a long space of peace, and season
of rest from war, together with the restoration and continuance of their sacred privileges, has now lost all its exccllence, and Ichabod (the glory is departed) may evidently
be seen inscribed upon it.  The true church typified by it,
the tabernacle referred to in our text, shall never be taken
down whilst the world itself remains.  A seed to serve
him is secured to the Redeemer, as the reward of the travail of his soul, and a generation to call him blessed shall
never be wanted whilst he is called Head of the church.
The promises of the covenant, which declare that Zion cannot be removed, but abideth for ever, confirmed by the invaluable blood.of Christ, and the ordinances and institutions of his gospel, never can be shaken whilst they rest
not only on the authority, but on the preserving power of
Christ.  These are things which cannot be shaken; and we
may even rejoice, that, notwithstanding the rage of a hostile world, or of the enemy Satan, still the church's foundations are in the holy hills; the Highe'st himself shall
continue to establish it; and to the end of time it shall be
said of this and that man,-that They were born there., Having endeavored then to place before you the church
of God, as described in the text, I would now,II. Enforce that attention to it which it demands.
My text says to all, " Look upon Zion." Here I may
say,1. Look upon it, angels, with complacency and delight.
We know that your exalted minds rejoiced at the idea of
the erection of this temple of God; you saw the plan and
390




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             17 5
admired it: nor less were you struck with amazement at
the great grace which the blessed and Holy Trinity displayed in putting it into execution. You have, with pleasure, often beheld our Jesus, from time to time, taking men,
one of a city and two of a family, and bringing them to
Zion. Still then let its increasing honor be the subject of
your investigation; surround its walls night and day; and
minister for good to all its individual members.: but ye
need no exhortations from mortals on a subject like this;
we know that you, with desire and praise, still look upon
it; and this moment I hear you all unite in saying, "Zion
is a place which we all desire to look into." Then leaving
the angelic host to gaze upon the Zion of God, we would
say,2. Look upon it, sinners, with astonishment and desire.
To you who know not God, I would address myself, and
say, Look upon Zion; behold real Christians, in the union
they experience, and in the temple where they worship, and
remember that Zion stands, though you have endeavored
to oppose it. Look upon Zion, sinner, and there you will
see the arm of the Lord exerted in the success of a cause
which you seem determined to oppose.  Look upon Zion,
and recollect, that though you have often said, " Let us
break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from
us," yet the Lord holds you in derision; and that your attempts against his cause are feeble and vain, and that your
hope of success is an idle dream.  But we would excite
you to look upon Zion, that you may long to join its holy
society, and unite in the solemn vows that are therein paid
to the mighty Maker of heaven and earth.  Can you behold its order, happiness, and joy, and not feel a wish that
you might exchange the dissatisfaction and the melancholy
391




176                DISCOURSES OF
you often experience, for the good of God's chosen, and
the felicity of his heritage?  Do not you think that 1" it
will be an honor to appear, as one new born and nourished
here?" Go then, and express your wish to the great Head
of the church, that he would write the name of the Lord
on your foreheads, and invest you with the privileges of
the inhabitants of Zion. Again,3. Look upon it, Christians, with wonder, love and praise.
Of all characters in the world, it behooves you to " walk
about Zion, and go round about her, to tell the towers
thereof, to mark well her bulwarks, and consider her
palaces; that ye may tell it to the generations following."
Surely, as you reside in it, you ought ever to admire it,
and call it the city of your solemnities, a place to which
you are no strangers, but which is the place you have chosen
to dwell in.  O, let your eyes ever see Jerusalem  a quiet
habitation. Gaze on it with pure affection towards all your
fellow-citizens: you shall be blessed if you love Zion: look
on it then as the lot of your inheritance, and the place in
which your soul delights; and ever praise, magnify, and
bless Him, who constituted it what it is, who made you to
dwell in so quiet a habitation, so secure a resting-place: be
it your glory to be joined to the saints, and near to the
Saviour.
All of us, in the presence of God, should look upon
Zion; should contemplate the solemnity, the peace, and
stability of the church; and this will inspire us with contempt of the world.  For what is the world and all the
glory thereof, compared with Zion, the city of our solemnities? Our worship is serious; they are fools, who never
raise their thoughts above the ground they tread on: they
sport now, but their laughter will be turned into sorrow,
392




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               177
and their pleasure into the bitterest pain: all around them
is serious, but they are without consideration, and consequently without hope. We have a quiet habitation; but
" There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked:" the
church of God is secure; they are exposed to every evil
in the world, and in that which is to come. Looking upon
Zion, too, will direct our attention to its great Original.
It will teach us to ask, Who formed all this? And thus
from Zion our thoughts will pass to Zion's God, and our
meditation upon him shall be sweet, yea, we will be glad in
the Lord. Looking upon Zion will show us God's chief
work; for here he is seen, and here he is great in Israel;
so that we shall be led to rest in him, whose workmanship
we are.
I have already anticipated the idea, that looking upon
Zion will also fill us with desire to be inclosed within its
walls. For who can look upon it without suing for a residence in it, if the saints are so quiet from fear of evil, and
so secure, notwithstanding the number, power, and situation of their enemies? A child of God, must be a name
better than that of sons or daughters; who can survey it
without saying, Lord, bring me, keep me there?
And, finally, looking upon Zion will tend to strengthen
our confidence and faith.  For we shall say, If God has
already defended his church so long, he will continue to do
so; will be a wall of fire round about it, and the glory in
the midst of it; yea, will raise the members of the church
militant to the glories of the church triumphant. 0, then,
"turn away your eyes from beholding vanity," and "look
upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; see Jerusalem, a
quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down,
not one of whose stakes shall ever be removed, not one of
whose cords shall ever be broken."
17"',,




178                DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XIV.
CHRIST THE ANGEL WHO GUARDS HIS CHURCH.'Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the. way,
and to bring thee to the place which I have prepared."
-EXODUS xxiii. 20.
AT the period when these words were spoken, the children of Israel were about to leave Sinai, and proceed on
their journey towards the land of Canaan. The Sovereign,
Judge, and Lawgiver of his saints, had already given them
plain directions for the regulation of their conduct, and
now encourages them by a promise of the care of infinite
love and by an assurance that he would commission an
angel to go before them, to keep them in the way, and to
bring them to the place which he had prepared.
And who was this angel? certainly not a created one:
true indeed it is, that the whole host of angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall be
heirs of salvation; and that it is their perpetual employment and delight to guard the saints of God from danger,
or to bear them up in their hands, lest at any time they
dash their feet against a stone.  It is most evident, that
the sons of God, the children of the light, those who are
Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise, are the
objects of their peculiar charge; yea, the angels of God are
powerful guardians, to whose care we are partly committed
394




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              179
during the time of our minority, previous to our possession
of our heavenly inheritance.  Yet it is not one of these
who is referred to in our text, because this great and
mighty Messenger from heaven possesses more honors than
they can claim, and is invested with authority and power
which they could never hold. This Angel has God's name
in him; this Angel can forgive sins: for the next verse to
my text says, " Provoke him not, for he will not pardon
your transgressions:" this Angel was ever to be present
with them, and to conduct them safely to the land of
Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. See, then,
his superiority to those who, notwithstanding the powers
they possess, are but the creatures of God; and ask, Who
this Angel is? It must be evident, that he is a divine person, if it were only from this consideration,-that he pardons transgressions;-for, as the Jews justly asked, "Who
can forgive sins but God?"  But surely you have frequently heard and read of the Angel of the covenant; and
you remember Him that dwelt in the bush. It is far more
than probable, that this Angel, then, is no less a person
than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is that Angel
of whom dying Jacob testified, that he had redeemed him
from all evil, and whose presence and blessing he wished
ever to accompany the lads upon whose heads he laid his
hands. We know that he attended the children of Israel, for
" the Angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his
pity, he redeemed them; and he bare them and carried them
all the days of old." It is the same that wrestled with
Jacob; that kept the burning bush unconsumed; that did
wonders before Manoah and his wife; that struck the admiring eyes of Daniel; and that explained the mystery of
the vision to Zechariah: and so here he engages to keep
g35,




180                 DISCOURSES OF
God's chosen ones in their way, and to bring them to the
place which he had prepared.
The glories of the Saviour are the same in every age;
he being subject to no change, but subsisting, as the Father
of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor the least
shadow of a turn. Every thing that may be of use to
lead us to his glory and excellence, should be the subject
of our contemplation and delight; nor should we refuse to
take any view of him, which the Bible warrants, or recommends: wherefore, let us turn our attention to him as the
Angel of the Lord. Hle still performs for his church what
he accomplished for Israel; for the Lord has given him for
a Leader and Commander to the people; yea, he is our
God for ever and ever, and our Guide even unto death; so
that we may safely view him  as conducting his chosen
tribes through duties, dangers, and trials, till they all appear before him in Zion. Let us first then view the Lord
Jesus under the representation of an angel; and secondly,
contemplate that office mentioned in our text, for the discharge of which he is so eminently qualified.
We will endeavorI. To view the Lord Jesus Christ under the representation of an angel.
" Behold," says God, to those who have turned their
backs upon the world, and go in quest of a happier state,
" Behold, I send an angel before thee." WVe would observe
here, that it is utterly impossible fully to represent his excellence, either by this or any other allusion; but the idea
of an angel may serve to show us somewhat at least of His
loveliness, of whom we hope to be learning for ever and
ever.
396




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               181
From the language of scripture we are led to connect an
idea of personal glory with that of an angel: we read of
men being astonished at the brightness of their appearance; and by several other expressions to the same intent,
are led to conceive of their superiority to man in point of
form and comeliness: this may at least remind us of the
beauty and heavenliness of the person of Christ.  This
Angel of the Lord is, indeed, " fairer than the children of
men, grace is poured into his lips, and God hath blessed
him for ever." Glory and majesty ever characterize him;
nor is it any wonder, that when the beloved disciple had a
view of him, he fell at his feet as dead. No tongue can
tell, heart conceive, or imagination represent, the personal
glory of this Angel of God's presence, for " he is altogether
lovely. "
Strength also appears to be a scriptural idea when considered as applied to angels.  Hence, says the Psalmist,
"Ye angels, that excel in strength."  All their power is
evidently communicated to them from above; but it is
clear that it is very great. The power of angels is intimated, when our Lord says, " Thinkest thou that I cannot
now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me
more than twelve legions of angels?" leaving us to infer
that they, by their power, could deliver him from all his
foes.  And, speak we of strength, the Angel of the covenant is mighty,-" the Lord of Hosts is his name;" let the
deliverances he has wrought for his favored people teach
us " his eternal power and Godhead," and show us that
his arm is all-powerful, and that he can accomplish whatsoever he pleaseth in the worlds of nature, providence, and
grace. An angel could loose Peter from the prison, and
set him free. Christ Jesus has delivered us who were tied
397




182               DIScOURSES OF
and bound with the chain of our sins, and has demolished
the strongholds of Satan.
Intelligence is another property of angels, and may serve
to form a resemblance between them and the Captain of
this host of the Lord. Their active minds are ever employed in investigating the things of the kingdom, and in
looking with reverence and desire of perpetual instruction
into the ark of God, and in learning from the churches the
manifold wisdom of God. But what is their information
when compared with that of him, " in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge?" their knowledge is
indeed great, but not infinite; they cannot search the
hearts of men, nor know future events in any other way
than as they are taught by the Lord of hosts. But he
tries the reins of the children of men; nor do we ever
speak a greater truth than when we say to him, " Lord,
thou knowest all things."
Holiness must also ever be viewed by us as one grand
characteristic of the angels of God; hence in Scripture
they are so frequently called, " his holy angels." Living
so near Jehovah as they do, no wonder they reflect his image: they were first created pure, and they have ever been
preserved so; they are the angels that sinned not, and
therefore never fell. And the idea of their sanctity should
impress our minds with shame, when we recollect that they
watch our conduct, and inspect our devotions. But the
Angel of whom we speak, here lays a sole claim to the title
of " He that is holy, and he that is true."  When we bow
before him, let us cry, " Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" and desire to see him as the eternal God, as a real
man, and as our Mediator: he has ever maintained unspotted holiness.
c)(oOS




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               183
The last excellency which we shall mention as existing
in the angels is, concern for our welfare. For they are all
ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to them who shall
be heirs of salvation. They lose no opportunity of doing
good to the saints, by suggesting good thoughts; by restraining Satan; by averting dangers; and by assisting and
providing for them.  But, as it regards benevolent deeds,
Jesus has far outdone them all; he flew to help us, he
ran to save; how ready was he to lay down his life in
our behalf! how well pleased was this angel of the Lord
to acquit us, when we stood before him justly charged with
numerous crimes! how gracious is he to the present moment,
in supplying our wants, and doing for us what no angel in
heaven could ever accomplish! Our interest lies near his
his heart; yea, he is not ashamed to call us brethren: there
is mercy in all his dispensations; nor have any of us ever
had reason to complain that he has been unfaithful to his
promise, or unkind to us. These, then, are the characteristics of the Angel spoken of in my text, who befriended
the Israelites of old, and who ever encampeth round about
them that fear him. He possesses personal glory, unlimited strength, universal intelligence, untainted holiness, and
a benevolent disposition. May his glory be the object of
our admiration and study; his strength be exerted in delivering us from evil: his understanding be in a measure
communicated to us, that we may be wise and understand
the fear of the Lord; his holiness be the means of leading
us to aspire after personal sanctity, and his benevolent
actions excite our gratitude and praise forever.
Having admired the character of the Angel who was
sent before the children of Israel, let us now399




184                DISCOURSES OF
II. Contemplate that office, for the discharge of which
he is so eminently qualified.
Observe his divine commission.  "I,"' says God, " send
an angel before thee." He has been divinely dedicated to
the office of Guide and Leader of his people; and hence,.
as he was present with the believing Israelites, and glorified
their families, and their assemblies, with his heavenly grace,
and conducted them forty years in the wilderness; so will
he guard us from danger; the Lord himself shall be our
Sun and Shield, we shall go whithersoever he leads us, and
where we reside, there shall he also dwell.  He shall lead,
direct, and advise us: the rising generation shall cry after
this glorious Angel, and say, " Be thou the guide of my
youth:" and, to those in the decline of life, he says, " Even
to old age I am he, and even to hoary hairs will I carry
you." Oh, how happy ought we to be under the conduct
of so divine a guide! he goes before us, then, for two purposes specified in the text: to preserve us all through our
journey, and-to administer to us an entrance into the
wealthy place.
1. This Angel of the Lord goes before us so preserve us
all through our journey. " I send an angel," says God,
"before thee, to keep thee in thy way."  He preserved
them from wandering, for he led them forth by a right
way, that they might go to a city of habitation: he keeps
them in the way marked out by unerring skill; the way
that has been trodden by the whole host of the redeemed,
and, consequently, the way that leads directly to our
Father's house.  And if this great and mighty Angel goes
before us, surely our safety is made abundantly certain;
for what enemy can withstand him, if he slew Sihon king
of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan for the Jews?
400




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               185
surely an army of corruptions, shall be by his power laid
level with the ground, and the world, sin, and the devil,be
trampled under the feet of his followers, while they shout,
" The Lord God of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is
our refuge." If he goes before us to keep us in his way,
how animated should we be by his conquests; and while
he says, " Fight on, my faithful band," let us wage war
with every spiritual foe, and have respect to the recompense of the reward. This Angel goes before us to keep
us in the way, and thus displays his infinite perfections:
his goodness, wisdom, condescension, ability, and holiness,
arc manifest on every occasion; and whilst he plants fear
in the hearts of his foes, his grace and love will never fail
to delight those who are chosen, called, and faithful. In
conducting them through this world, he makes use of the
directions of his word, the excellences of his own example,
the influence of his divine Spirit, and the hand of his providence: these things say to us, " This is the way, walk
ye in it."  Having then such a glorious Companion, let us
not fear the difficulties that lie in our way, but forget our
troubles; and in the strength of the Captain of salvation,
who leads us in paths of righteousness for his name's sake,'" Let us run with patience the race set before us, looking
unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of our faith."
2. The Angel of the covenant, too, goes before us to
administer to us an entrance into the wealthy place.
" I send an angel before thee, to keep thee in the way,
and te bring thee to the place which I have prepared:"
thus he did for the Israelites when he introduced them into
Canaan: but, oh, what will he do for believers when he
brings them to the place which he has prepared!-a place
of which Canaan, after all, affords but a feeble representa401




186                DISCOURSES OF
tion: a place prepared for our reception before the world
began, and taken possession of by Jesus as our forerunner,
who has entered within the veil for us: to this place our
exertions are directed, and at this place we shall all eventually appear; whilst to bring us thither is the part of our
adorable Leader, the Angel of the covenant.
He shall cause us to loose our anchor from the earth, to
pass into eternity, a gallant vessel, with every sail set to
the favoring breeze, and entering into the harbor of eternal
peace, amidst the plaudits of redeemed men and waiting
angels. Jesus shall be the medium of our access to God in
heaven, and through him, we shall have an abundant entrance administered unto us into his eternal kingdom and
glory. He shall receive our disembodied spirits to himself,
and at the end of our journey, open to us the door of everlasting bliss, and show us the regions of glory; yea, say to
us, " Come in, ye blessed of the Lord: why stand ye without?"  Yea, he will present us to his Father, " blameless
before him in love;" he will glory over us as the objects
of his love, and the purchase of his blood: yea, through his
mnediation and death, we shall be forever " holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight, being presented
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding
joy." Oh, what a distinguished part in the economy of
our salvation does the Angel of the covenant bear! He
first leads to the road that will conduct us to his kingdom and glory; and he finally introduces us into the august presence of God, even the Father, and so brings us to
the place which he hath prepared. This shall be the portion of all his saints, for in glory they will all finally appear,
though some on boards and some on broken pieces of the
402




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              187
ship, yet it shall come to pass that they shall all escape
safe to land.
Who is our guide?
Reason? passion? or the Angel of the Covenant?
Sinners, destitute of a guide, &c.*
What is the object of our hope?
It is being brought to the place which God has prepared,
or are we yet attached to earth? If we now have our conversation in heaven"See the kind angels at the gates,
Inviting us to come;
There Jesus the forerunner waits,
To welcome travelers home."
IMPROVEMENT.
Our text suggests a motive to obedience: a test of examination, and a ground of hope.
* No doubt Mr. Spencer enlarged on these subjects in delivering
this Sermon, and also, as usual, in the improvement.
403




188                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XV.
SINNERS ABUSE TIIE LONG SUFFERING OF GOD.
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,
therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do
evil."-ECCLESIASTES viii. 11.
How dreadfully depraved is human nature! How abject is the condition in which the fall of our first parents
has placed us! What a sink of pollution is the heart of
man!  Considered, indeed, as creatures in the eye of
Deity, we must appear meanness itself: of the dust of the
earth we were formed; and as soon as our sovereign Creator says, "Return, ye children of men," we mix with our
original, we are obliged to say to corruption, " Thou art
my father; to the worm, Thou art my mother and my
sister."  But, oh, viewed as sinners, how offensive must we
be in the sight of the God of infinite purity and immaculate
holiness! Alas, for us, for we have fallen! fallen low indeed from the state of rectitude in which we were created:
being in honor, we did not abide: now darkness overspreads our understanding, perverseness distinguishes our
will; earthly mindedness characterizes our affections: the
path of folly, is that we choose; the course of impiety, the
404




REV. THOMAS SPFENCER.               189
resolution of living in direct enmity against God, is that
which we decidedly adopt. We need not go far for proofs
of the truth of these assertions: that man is depraved, is
written in his countenance, is discovered in his conversation, is betrayed in his deportment.
I have now before my eyes one of the most striking evidences of human depravity, that can ever be produced; it
is in my text, which declares, that "L Because sentence
against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
Which passage justifies four observations:-that sin is an
evil work; —that sentence is gone out against it;-that the
execution of this sentence is often deferred; —that this
circumstance, through the depravity of men, frequently
produces the worst effects.
I. Sin is an evil work.
Our remarks upon this part of our subject will, indeed,
be very brief; and they must be regarded as only introductory to the rest. But I would charge home upon all
my hearers, the guilt of sin; I would, as in the presence
of God and his elect angels, tell every individual in this
place, that he has, ever since he had a being, been doing
an evil work.  Our text may, perhaps, directly refer to
some particular sin; but it will do us no harm to consider
the expression, " an evil work," as descriptive-of sin in
general; sin, brethren, to the commission of which our
constitution is prone; sin, in the practice of which some
amongst us have lived long; sin, which, perhaps, many in
this congregation roll as a sweet morsel under their tongue,
is "1an evil work."  A moment's reflection may show us,
-that it is evil in itself,-and in its consequences.
405




190                DISCOURSES OF
1. Observe, it is evil in itself. For what is sin? It is
the transgression of the law; it is the breach of the commandment which is holy, just, and good.  The law of God
is divinely excellent; it is the line of human conduct, marked out by infinite wisdom and unquestionable authority;
now sin is a departure from it, and therefore is evil: it is
a violation of the wholesome and excellent injunctions
which are- stamped with the broad seal of Heaven. To see
that sin is an evil work, you need only contrast it with
what the Bible recommends, and with that at which the
most enlightened and holy men ever aim: in its nature it
is exceeding sinful; it is alienation from the divine life;
it is opposition to the divine will; it is enmity to God, the
Judge of all. Surely that which satan brings into action,
by influencing an already depraved and abandoned heart,
must be evil. It is the abominable thing which God
hateth. The reason why man is filthy, is because he
drinketh in iniquity like water.  Hence,2. Sin is evil in its consequences; for it was the cause
of pain to the Saviour, and of wo to man. I say, it occasioned pain to the Saviour: but for this evil work, he
never would have become destitute, afflicted, tormented;
but for this, he never would have had to toil up Calvary's
hill, bearing the weight of his own heavy cross; but for
this, he never would have endured the burden of the Father's wrath, or the insults of his inhuman foes. This evil
work, too, introduced the whole train of calamities amongst
mankind; gave being to wretchedness and despair; gave
a sting to conscience, and a sting to death. It is this that
is now training up so many for hell, and preparing them
for the endurance of the fiercest pains.  Oh, is not sin then
an evil work? Ought you not with holy haste, and deter406




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               191
mined aversion, to flee from  it?  Cry mightily to God,
saying, Deliver us from evil? So vile a thing is sin. Let
us show,II. That sentence is declared against it. And a sentence which, permit me to say, is divinely announced,awfully severe,-strictly just,-and certain of its accomplishment. The sentence against an evil work is,1. Divinely announced. Who can, who should, sit in
judgment upon it, but the God against whom it is committed?  He now decides on human actions, and he will
hereafter publicly investigate them at his dread tribunal,
before an assembled world.  He has sworn in his wrath
that iniquity shall not stand in his sight; he has declared
that he will, by no means, clear the guilty; that sin shall
not go unpunished, is one of the fixed principles of the
moral government of God, a rule of which he has never
yet lost sight, nor will till the great burning day. On the
account of this evil work he has kindled a fire in his anger,
which shall burn to the lowest hell: all the curses contained in this book against sin, are affixed, to the commission of it, by God the Judge of all; so that we speak of
no trifling thing when we describe the sentence against an
evil work. It must strike you, too, if you think at all,
that the sentence adverted to in my text is,2. Awfully severe. God has shown us that we commit
a great evil in forsaking him, the Fountain of living waters; he has intolerable pains for the workers of iniquity:
the sentence is severe, for it condemns the miserable offender to the torments of conscience, to restless uneasiness,
to insatiable desires, even in the present life; and we know
that death is the wages of sin; that a painful separation of
407




192                DISCOURSES OF
soul and body, that a dreary lodging in the house appointed for all living, is the reward of human guilt. Mortality
is our portion, death is our inheritance; there is no discharge in that war, no delivery from that trial, no method
of escape from the stroke of the last enemy: we are sentenced to death for the commission of an evil; and behold,
brethren, the solemnity,-judgment and eternity succeed
the king of terrors! The sentence pronounced upon us
for sin is severe, and it condemns us to shame, and everlasting contempt. It assigns us our lot in " Tophet, which
was prepared of old: it is made deep and large; the pile
thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like
a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it." This is the sentence declared against the evil work, and it is3. Strictly just. Would it be at all consistent with the
attributes and perfections of the Deity, if he were to be
regardless of the contempt that is cast upon his authority;
the disaffection men express to his government; or the
temerity with which they violate his commands? Would
he, then, be a God jealous of his honor? But we know,
that to him it belongeth justly to punish sin.  Shall sin,
which intruded itself into our world, which otherwise would
have been a blissful paradise of pleasure; shall sin, which
has ilsurped his dominion, be unnoticed or unpunished by
him? To vindicate his own character, to display the glory
of his own perfections, especially to manifest to all his unspotted holiness and purity, to show that he will not wink
at sin, he has pronounced sentence on all who practise it.
You have just viewed the evil of sin, yea, seen that it has
occasioned incalculable and irreparable mischief: I leave
it with yourselves to judge, whether the sentence pronounced against it be not just. Yes, brethren, in the con408




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               193
fidence of this fact, the justice of God in sentencing sin,
" every mouth shall be stopped, and all the world become
guilty before God."
This is a sentence, too, that is4. Certain of its accomplishment.  For hath the Lord
spoken, and shall it not be done?  Hath he commanded,
and shall it not stand fast? Be it known to you, brethren,
that though the sons of 3Belial take the timbrel and harp,
and rejoice at the sound of the organ, and spend their
days in wealth, yet in a moment they shall go down to the
grave, and the candle of the wicked shall be put out. The
sentence that God passes against the workers of iniquity,
must be, in all its rigor and severity, put in force, that the
terror of the Almighty's frown may be manifested, and the
malignity of sin displayed.  The fulfillment of the severe
determination, respecting the doom of sinners, rests on the
justice of God; nor is there one threat that goes out of
his mouth, which he will not awfully put in force, and that
to all eternity, upon the devoted head of the impenitent
miserable offen)der.  This is the sentence then which is declared against this evil work. But now I am to remark,III. That the execution of this sentence is frequently
deferred.
It " is not" (in the language of my text) " executed
speedily." This cannot be from any want of power in the
Almighty to put it in immediate force, because it requires
no peculiar exertion from him, to dash a world to atoms, or
send a soul to hell. He could take you away with a stroke;
could call you, sinner, from the midst of this congregation
into eternity; yet he delays, and " sentence against an
evil work is not executed speedily." He might, indeed,
18              409




194                DISCOURSES OF
summon more than he does to appear before his bar, from
the scene of pleasure and from the couch of sensual indulgence; but often, whilst they are doing these things,
God keeps silence. Yet shall he, hereafter, come as the
Lion of the tribe of Judah, to tear his enemies in pieces.
But this circumstance of God refusing to execute the sentence speedily, arises —
1. From the forbearance of God. There is not a greater
truth stated within this holy book, than that the Lord is
long-suffering; that he bears with our manners in this wilderness: hence he does not now deal with mankind as he
did of old, when he said, he would destroy man, whom he
had created, from the face of the earth; but now he, in his
long-suffering, waits: he is, as his word acknowledges him
to be, "slow to anger, gracious, and full of compassion;"
hence it is that the sons of Jacob are not consumed: since
there is this disposition in the Almighty, his sentence is
not executed speedily; "his mercies fail not." Here, then,
we have human preservation, in the midst of dangers and
snares, traced to its proper source, and we see why it is
that his wrath delays. Again, Is sentence against an evil
work, in many instances, yet unexecuted?
2. This represents our life as a state of trial. It shows
us that the Lord is leading us in the wilderness, to humble
and to prove us, to know what is in our heart, whether we
would serve the Lord our God or not: it proves to us that
this is a probationary state: it sets this matter beyond the
possibility of a doubt, that whilst we are sojourners and
pilgrims here, as all our fathers were, the eye of God is
upon us, that he inspects our conduct, and spies out all our
ways; he gives us space and opportunity for repentance.
O that we may, whilst sentence against an evil work is not
410




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               195
executed speedily, properly fill up our days, and, by fleeing
to Jesus, avert the threatened danger. For, if the sentence
is yet unfulfilled, I remark3. This lays a foundation for hope
The messenger, Death, has not yet visited you; you may
perhaps have yet no peculiar cause to imagine that you are
going the way whence you shall not return; then, whilst
the lamp of life burns, the trumpet of the gospel sounds;
whilst the sentence is unexecuted, the blood of Christ has
all-powerful efficacy. This thought, sinner, that as yet you
are out of hell, should constrain you to look all around for
help; should operate on your mind to lead you to the door
of mercy, where, even now, if you knock, it shall be opened unto you. But, oh, I am obliged, from the sentiment
and spirit of my text, to observe,IV. That this circumstance, through the depravity of
man, often produces the worst effects.  On account of it,
my text assures us, that " the heart of the sons of men is
fully set in them to do evil." Here is mercy abused, longsuffering despised, compassion slighted. What ought to
be the effect of the patience of God with sinners? It
should lead them to repentance. If he comes so often, and
so long, seeking fruit, ought he not to find it? But God
says, " Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has
settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel
to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity, therefore his
taste remaineth in him, and his scent is not changed."
Your hearts are hardened, sinners, by the forbearance of
God; you become more and more resolved on iniquity, and
determined in sin; your hearts are fully set in you to do
411




196                 DISCOURSES OF
evil.  Here observe that, because sentence against sin is
not yet executed, —
1. Mankind imagine that it will not be so dreadful as
scripture represents it. Men act as if they thought that
every day they spent in sin, diminished, instead of added,
to their future sufferings; and " though favor is shown to
the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; even in
the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not
behold the majesty of the Lord. He is wearied in the
greatness of his way; yet, says he not, There is no hope:"
he is not sufficiently grieved   He determines to do evil,
because, as the sentence is not yet executed, he foolishly
wishes and persuades himself, that what is so long delayed,
may probably be tolerable to bear.  But further, because
the former part of my text is true,2. Sinners presume that judgment never will come.
Since it is delayed, they look not forward to the period
when it will be awfully felt; they suppose the Almighty
to be altogether such a one as themselves, and therefore
" their hearts are set in them to do evil."  Thus, when
Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart
and hearkened not, as the Lord had said; neither would
he let the people go.  Because the sentence against sinners
is not speedily executed, they say, in their hearts,," We
shall not be moved, for we shall never be in adversity:"
they tantalize those who are looking forward to the day of
God's wrath, and say, " Where is the promise of his coming,
for, since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they
were from the beginning?"  They do not see, "' that one
day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day;" but they determine to do evil, because
they would persuade themselves that justice sleeps, and
412




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               197
vengeance will never fall on them.  There is one step
more in this stage of impiety, and that is, that many
of them are, from this circumstance, resolved to do evil,
because,3. They boldly and impiously challenge the divine wrath.
" They draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it
were with a cart-rope;" they say, " Let him make speed
and hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh, and come, that
we may know it:" and because the Lord delayeth his
coming, this " evil servant begins to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken:" their hearts
are set in them to do evil; they encourage this propensity;
they indulge this evil bias; by drinking deeper and deeper
of the fountain of pleasure, they endeavor to fortify their
minds against the fear of ruin: with hell in all its terrors
before their eyes, they go on to sin.
But, oh, how awful is the state of obstinate sinnersl
God often lets them take their course, nor stops them in
the road to hell.  But, sinner, stay, "' We are sure that
the judgment of God is according to truth against them
which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O
man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest
the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness
of God leadeth thee to repentance? But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath
against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God; who will render to every man according
to his deeds." Rom. ii. 2-6. The promises of God are no
less true than his threatenings. He has pardoned believers;
413




198                  DISCOURSES OF
he will not revoke it: but will encourage to holiness: how
consolatory, &c.*' Let uspray for sinnersSwift may thy mercy, Lord, arise,
Ere justice stops their breath;
And lighten those deluded eyes,
That sleep the sleep of death.
* No doubt, Mr. Spencer enlarged here in the delivery of
this Discourse, as was his custom in the improvement of his
subjects.
414




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              199
SERMON XVI.
GOD'S ABILITY TO BESTOW INCONCEIVABLE BLESSINGS.
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us;
unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout
all ages, world without end. Amen."-EPHEsIANS iii. 20, 21.
THERE certainly cannot be a more astonishing subject
for human or angelic contemplation, than the love of Christ.
It is, indeed, immense and unsearchable,-vast in extent,
-without any commencement,-enduring to eternity-unfathomable in its depths, and superlative in its heights: it
challenges the most enlarged powers fully to comprehend
it. All the ideas that may be entertained of it by men or
angels are infinitely surpassed, since no stretch of thought
can embrace its nature, or the grand manifestations that
have been given of it. And yet, mysterious as this subject is, God has thought fit to enlighten the minds of a favored few, in every age of the world, so that they are enabled
to understand, at least somewhat of that divine theme, the
full excellence of which cannot be told.
Hence the great apostle of the Gentiles is emboldened
to ask for the believing Ephesians no small boon; but to
beg the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to make them
able to comprehend, as far as a human mind can, the love
415




200                DISCOURSES OF
of Christ; that they might feel its virtue, power, and
sweetness, and be favored with a delightful view of its
boundless riches. And when he had asked this great, and
apparently to many, hard thing, lest they should suppose
for a moment, that they ought not to dare to expect such
a favor, or that it was too much for God to grant, he intimates that even this, and more than this, can be accomplished for us by the God of all grace; and therefore, to
raise their expectations and confirm their faith, he says,
"Now unto him who (I can tell you, if you think this a great
request) is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that
we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in
us; unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus,
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
In proposing this text for your contemplation, I remark,
that it gives us an insight into Jehovah's ability to bestow
the greatest blessings on his saints,-the proof that he has
already given of it, —and the honor that should be ascribed
to him on account of it.  Hoping that our reflections will
be made useful to strike us with admiration of the exceeding riches of grace, we will, in the first place, indulge a few
thoughts on,I. Jehovah's ability to bestow the greatest blessings on
his saints.
H' e is able," says my text, "' to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." And who (may some
say) can doubt it? Do we not all know that he is God
all-mighty? Have we not often heard, that nothing is too
hard for the Lord?  Do you think that any of us doubt
that with God all things are possible?  But, 0 believers,
have you always faith in this?  Does your experience and
4!6




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               201
your conduct show, that you always believingly rest your
soul upon the divine omnipotence? Rather do you not, by
your needless fears, frequently give us reason to suppose
that you do not believe in the power of the arm of God?
This being the case, let your minds be stirred up by way
of remembrance, that you may be encouraged to trust in
the Lord Jehovah, by beholding, that " in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." We are not now called to
dwell upon Jehovah's creating power, or to see how easily
he can dash a world to pieces.  It is not the power of his
anger, which solicits your attention now. It is not what
he can do to beautify and bless angels, or to torment with
eternal anguish the lost spirits in hell; but it is what he
can do in your behalf; what he can accomplish for you,
who are, without his assistance, helpless as the new-born
infant, or weaker than the feeble worm. And let us observe, that he is able to fulfill and to exceed the most enlarged prayer of faith,-or the most vast desire of the heart.
Our text shows us that he can exceed,1. The most enlarged prayer of faith.  " He is able,"
says my text, " to do exceeding abundantly above all that
we ask." In our petitions at the throne of the heavenly
Majesty, we never need be afraid to ask too much. " Open
thy mouth wide," says the Lord of all, " and I will fill
it;" be not scanty in your desires. Ask what I shall give
thee, and for the sake of Jesus it shall be all bestowed.
Is any grievous trial before you? 0, display the same
faith in the power of God, that Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego did, when they said, " Our God, whom we serve,
is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he
will deliver us out of *thine hand, 0 king." Are you fearing that the Redeemer's interest will not succeed in the
18               417




202                DISCOURSES OF
world, when you plead the cause of Zion? Recollect that
he is able, of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham. Are you afraid that you shall one day fall into the
hand of your enemy, or backslide from the Lord that
bought you, when you pray for persevering grace? Remember, that " he is able to make you stand." Are the
stores of the divine bounty exhausted?  Is there not a
perfect fullness of grace in the Saviour? Cannot our God
supply all our need " according to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus?"
Ask then for spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ, and you shall receive them; for God is able to bestow them. Not only will he fulfill the desire of them that
fear him, but he will far exceed it; for," he is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask."  This is
illustrated in a memorable part of the experience of Solomon: he asked wisdom of the Lord; he gave it him, but
said to him, " And I have also given thee that which thou
hast not asked, both riches and honor; so that there shall
not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days."
Abraham, the father of the faithful, seemed to be, in the
midst of trial, firmly persuaded of the truth stated in my
text, that God was able to do exceeding abundantly above
all that lie could ask or think; hence, says the apostle,
", he offered up Isaac, of whom it was said, that, in Isaac
shall thy seed be called; accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he
received him in a figure." So let us all believe and act
upon the truth, that he is able to save to the very uttermost, all that come unto him by the Son of his love. And
when a Christian has been constantly praying for years,
and has asked for all the blessings, the need of which his
418




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              203
mind suggested, he may still say, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I ask.  He is able also to
exceed,2. The most secret desires of the heart.  He can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. There
are some periods in our experience, when certain blessings
can only be thought on by us, and we have not faith to
plead for them with our heavenly Father; we seem to look
at them with a wishful eye, but scarcely dare say, Lord, make
them mine! But the ability of our covenant God, however,
extends to this. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel,
but see that he can exceed all that we can even think.
When a child of God has received any particular blessing
from Heaven, for which he is, as he ought to be, especially
thankful, we may say to him, as the man of God said to
Amaziah, " The Lord is able to give thee much more than
this."' For it has not entered into the heart of man to conceive, what God has prepared for them that love him; and
therefore he must do more than we can think.  We
sometimes see the cup of blessing in the dear Redeemer's
hand, and secretly long to taste. Well, at that time he shall
say, " Drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved."  Our
highest thoughts shall be surpassed by the stores of his
grace, and that grace shall be exceeding abundant towards
us with faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus. Yea,
though at times we dare not think of possessing hereafter
a station among God's redeemed ones in glory: yet "an
entrance shall be administered to us abundantly, into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ." 0, then, let us not stagger at the promises, but
" be strong in faith, giving glory to God." Let us rejoice,
tflat; what, he has promised he is able to perform; and if he
419




204               DISCOURSES OF
is so abundant in goodness and truth, as to exceed our
strongest and largest desires, surely his loving-kindness is
excellent; " therefore the children of men put their trust
under the shadow of his wings."   Yea, "we shall be
abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house, and he
shall make us drink of the river of his pleasures, for with
him is the fountain of life, and in his light shall we see
light."
Think over as many temporal and spiritual blessings as
you can; anticipate as many favors from the hand of God
as possible; enumerate covenant blessings till you can proceed no further; and yet say, " He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we think." Surely he gives
like a God, and withholds no good thing from them that
walk uprightly. This is what God will do. Let us view,II. The proof that he has already given of it.
Even in the power that worketh in us; for says my text,
" He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Thus intimating, that the energy of divine grace, as operative on the heart, is the best evidence that God could give
us of his ability to exceed our desires and wishes.
This power, you know, was exerted in snatching you as
a brand from the burning, in calling you from darkness to
light.  It made you willing to submit to the righteousness
of God; it worked effectually in you; hence you threw
down your weapons of hostility against the Saviour, and
took up, yea, put on, the whole armour of God, that you
might go forth to fight, the battles of the Lord. You
would have had no grace in your heart, had it not been
communicated with power from on high; and so even now
420




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              205
this mighty power worketh in you, whereby he is able to
subdue your evil passions and propensities to himself, and
shall ever be exerted in your behalf.
The apostle's argument then seems to stand thus: there
is a divine power continually exerted in your behalf, constantly maintaining the life of faith in your soul: now,
since God has exerted, and continues to exert, his potent
arm in your behalf, you may learn from it, that he will
even exceed your largest desires, and give you all necessary
good. And we might indeed dwell with peculiar pleasure
on this part of our subject, in endeavoring to show how it
is that the power of divine grace, as exerted within us, affords us an evidence of the truth of Jehovah's ability to
exceed all that we ask or think; but we will briefly remark, that this power displays itself-in subduing our corruptions,-in confirming our faith,-in preserving us near
to himself,-and in enabling us to glorify his name; and
that all this is but an earnest of better things.
1. This power is put forth in subduing our corruptions.
What but the arm of Omnipotence could crucify the old
man? What but the effectual working of the Redeemer's
power could mortify the flesh with its affections and lusts?
And this power does prevent sin from having dominion
over us; it restrains our appetites and passions; it keeps
the body of death in subjection.  Inbred corruption would
indeed prevail against us, were it not for the power that
worketh in us; but there is a secret, silent operation of
God upon the soul, which subdues the power of sin; and it
shall soon appear, to our joy and satisfaction for ever, that
the grace of God is much stronger than our sins, and more
powerful than corruption itself.  Surely, then, we have
every encouragement to believe, that if the arm of the Lord
421




206                 DISCOURSES OF
has been lifted up to slay our corruptions, he will not refuse even to do for us " exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think."
2. See this power exerted in confirming our faith.  To
believe in the Son of God, without the assistance of the
Lord himself, is utterly impossible; as well might you attempt to create a new world.  Did not he first teach you
to believe?  And must not the same spirit of faith be
given to you now, to teach you always to believe that he is
faithful who has promised?   It is only by being assisted
with power from on high, that you can cast anchor upon the
Rock of Ages, or do the will of God by believing in him
whom he has sent into the world.  But a constant act of
faith is preserved in the soul by this mighty power. Moral
suasion could not work faith in your heart; the Lord must
give it and increase it. Those who are ordained unto eternal life, and believe the gospel, are the men on whose minds
the Spirit of God works in a most gracious and effectual
way; and this he does to give them to know that he will do
yet more, and to make them persuaded that he is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
3. You may learn this, too, from considering that the
power of God appears, in preserving us near to himself.
Does it not require divine agency to keep you near to
Christ, from whom, alas, you would be always wandering,
did he not engage to put his fear in your heart, that so you
might not depart from him?  The blessings of communion
and fellowship with the Saviour, would, alas, be all strange
things to us, did not God, by his powerful hand, raise us to that
state of dignity in which we may enjoy them. God answers the
prayers of the Saviour, by keeping us through his own
italne, and so influencing our conduct, thatwe are led on to
4 )'




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              207
follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. When our sinful inclinations would lead us from him, he gently, delightfully, restrains us, by saying to our souls, " I am your salvation," and causes us to esteem the light of his countenance more than any other enjoyment.  If he does this for
us, never let us fear but he will convince us of his ability
to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
4. What gracious power does he evince, in enabling us
to glorify his name! Without divine strength, should we
ever adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things,
or, with well-doing, put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men? Left to ourselves, should we not rather bring a
reproach upon that worthy name by which we are called?
This divine energy assisted the apostle Paul in his labors;
hence he said, " Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily;" and
again, " I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not
I, but the grace of God which was with me." This power
working in us, too, shall influence our conduct; shall make
us fill up our days to the divine glory; and serve our generation according to the divine will. But, oh, never let us
forget that the same power which makes a man a Christian
in this untoward generation, will also exceed all that he
asks or thinks. This is the mighty power of God, which
will accomplish so much for our good.
III. Consider the honor that should be ascribed to him
on account of it.
" To him," says the apostle, "be glory."  And is it not
equitable that we should give unto the Lord, the glory due
unto his name; and that, since we can view the attribute
of divine power engaged on our behalf, we should give him
4223




208                 DISCOURSES OF
the praise he so justly demands; for his is the kingdom,
the power and the glory. But observe three things in the
honor we must give to God; for, being able to exceed our
desires,-it must be ascribed to him in all the churches;it must be presented to him through the mediation of
Christ; —and it must be rendered to him to the latest
period of time, and throughout eternity.  The text shows
us1. That honor must be ascribed to Christ in all the
church. Unto him be glory, says my text, in the church.
For this power, you know, can be exerted on the behalf of
every individual member of his church, however mean or
contemptible in the eyes of the world; therefore the joy,
occasioned by the contemplation of it, shall pervade all the
members of the mystical body of Christ. Every Christian
who has experienced proofs of this ability, has a right to
call upon those members of the church of Christ with whom
he is connected, to rejoice with him; and the gladness
should be like the precious oil that ran down from the
beard, even Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of
his garment. For this power God is alike praised by men
below and saints above, whether we regard the church militant or triumphant; they praise him for the glory of his
mighty acts, and they say, " Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and
the majesty; for all that is in the heaven, and in the earth,
is thine. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all: both riches and honor come of
thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is
power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great,
and to give strength unto all."
2. This glory must be presented to him through the
424




REV, THOMAS SPENCER.               209
mediation of Christ. To him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus. We should never have dared to offer the
sacrifice of praise to God, had it not been for this glorious
Redeemer; since he has by his cross glorified the divine
perfections, we can contemplate them with holy pleasure
and delight, and adore him for them all. But he would
spurn at our attempts at adoration, if we had no reference
to the atonement of his Son.  Our praises will never be
acceptable in his sight, unless they are offered through
faith in Christ Jesus. Besides, he must present them to
God, even the Father; hence we rejoice that " we have a
High Priest passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God," who bears our praises to the eternal throne. Yes,
he stands at the altar, " having a golden censer, and there
is given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with
the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which
is before the throne."  How pleasing is the thought, that
our imperfect praises are conveyed to God the Judge of all,
by the Angel of the covenant.  What need have we of
saints to be our advocates, when we have Christ Jesus?
WVho else can render our acknowledgments worthy of
the acceptance of the eternal Father, but Jesus only?
hence,
Jesus alone shall bear my cries
Up to his Father's throne;
He, dearest Lord, perfumes my sighs,
And sweetens every groan.
And so shall it be with our songs of praise, even till we are
admitted into his presence. Oh, to him be glory by
Jesus Christ.
3. The honor must be rendered to him  to the latest
425




210                 DISCOURSES OF
period of time, and throughout eternity. " To him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages,
world without end. Amen." So long as Jehovah possesses this divine power, so long must he be honored on
account of it.  And I leave with yourselves to judge,
whether this will not be forever and ever. It must be
throughout all ages; when the present generation shall
have passed away, and another shall have come; when our
heads shall be all laid beneath the clods of the valley, and
the worms feed sweetly on our bodies; even then there will
be a generation to call Jehovah blessed, and a seed to serve
him. For then this power shall be exerted, and the people
that shall be created shall praise the Lord. Yea, till all
his saints are gathered in, must the Head of the church be
glorified, and world without end. When all the redeemed
shall be united in Christ, this glory shall be rendered to
Jehovah; since the sweet work of praise shall be our employment in heaven, forever and ever.
Now, to all this, you are called upon to add the solemn
word-Amen.  My text is a prayer for the glory of God.
Oh, offer it up from the bottom of your hearts!
And what think you, sinner, of the power of God? it
will be exerted in destroying you. Oh, dread his anger,
and take refuge in Jesus, the Sanctuary.*
* We have before noticed, that Mr. Spencer was accustomed to
enlarge on his written notes, in the improvements of his Sermons:
we annex the following specimen, which was taken down in shorthand." Now, to all this, my dear hearers, you are required to pronounce the solemn word-Amen! Because God possesses this
power, you ought to rejoice in it; because he can do exceeding
abundant above all that you can ask or think, you ought to entreat
him, from the bottom of your hearts, that he would do it for you.
426




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                211
" My text is a prayer, a prayer for the glory of God, to which all
>ur exertions ought to be directed. Is this, then, the object to
which your exertions are directed. Are you saying, by your
lives and conversations,'Worthy is the Lamb 2' Are you glorifying Jesus by your lives. Remember; that you have now an opportunity of showing that you desire to glorify him; and I trust
that Jesus will receive a revenue of praise, within the walls of this
place, at this opportunity.
" Sinners! what aspect does the mighty power of God wear toward you. It wears the most terrific aspect. You may think of
defying the power of God; but.once hath God spoken, yea, twice
have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God; and power to
destroy as well as to save. I have told you that there was a power
that worked in the hearts of them that believe; but oh! you have
not submitted to it; your lusts are your guide; and God may say
of you, He is joined to his idols, let him alone! IHe is able to inflict exceeding abundantly more pain upon you than you can
think; he has so much ability, that he can terrify you by his
anger, frown you into hell, and make you the eternal subject of the
gnawing of the worm that never dies. Whither will you flee from
his anger. Jesus shall be a sanctuary; but if you refuse him,
whither will you flee from the divine anger? A man shall be a
covert from the tempest, and a shelter from the wind, and you can
only take shelter in that way. But so soon as you have embraced
him, he will present you to God as one who has received his good
Spirit. The moment you lay hold on the hope set before you,
that moment the omnipotence of God shall be engaged on your
behalf, and the prayer of Christ shall be answered,' Keep through
thine own name, thosewhom thou hast given me."'Now to the God whose power can do
More than our thoughts or wishes know,
Be everlasting honors done,
Through all the church, by Christ his Son.'
Amen."
427




212                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XVII.
INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL ON THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT.
" For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared
to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world."-TITus ii. 11, 12.
IF any thing is calculated to excite the tears of commiseration from  a generous mind, surely the wretched state
of the lost sons of Adam must produce such an effect.
Placed upon the stage of life as they are, with a propensity
to evil, and pursuing, as they do with eagerness, the desires
of the flesh and of the mind; surely when we recollect
that state of primeval dignity and eminence in holiness
from which they have so awfully, so deeply fallen, we must
say, " How is the gold become dim, how is the most fine
gold changed!" The children of men, from their natural
depravity, and the influence of habits acquired by continuance in sin, are all unholy and impure; the image of God,
wvhich was once impressed in such lively and pleasing characters upon the heart of their first parent, their head and
representative, is now entirely lost, the glory is departed.
Sin, that abominable thing which God's righteous soul
hateth, which breaks his law, opposes his government, and
428




REV. THOMAS SPENCEP.               213
insults his Spirit, is the delight, the unhallowed source of
pleasure to the creatures he has made.  He looks down
from his high throne in glory, he sees men walking in a
vain show, and he says, concerning us, considered in the
condition in which we were born, " There is none that doeth
good, no, not one."  Well may we then look around us for
help; it surely becomes us to enquire what shall raise us
from this abject state of sin, and deliver us. from those iniquities which prevail against us. HIow shall our tempers,
which are by nature evil, become excellent and divine?
How shall our conduct, which is that of the children of
disobedience, be so changed as to become that which men
shall love, angels admire, and God himself approve?
Shall we sit at the feet of heathen sages? They will, indeed, give us excellent precepts, but they cannot touch the
springs of action; they cannot reach the heart.  Their
advice may be excellent, but the reformation which it can
accomplish is, after all, but partial; it arises from no noble
principle: it is imperfect, it is unacceptable in the sight of
God.  Shall the law of Moses produce in us that holiness,
without which no man shall see the Lord?  Its commands
are, indeed, represented by the pen of inspiration, as holy,
just, and good: it is a transcript of the divine mind; it is
an exact rule for the conduct of men; but instead of possessing power to render us Israelites indeed, in whom there
is no guile, its office is, by its own spirituality, to show us
our exceeding sinfulness, to condemn us, and to declare to
us that we are accursed, because we have not continued in
all things written in the book of the law to do them.
Whither then shall he who hungers and thirsts after righteousness direct his attention? Where shall those of us,
who, sensible of the plague of our hearts, and the sins of
429




214                 DISCOURSES OF
our lives, long for purity, and grasp after holiness, find that
which we so eagerly desire? It devolves on me to show
you that it may be found in the gospel of Jesus. Descending from the skies, it points out to us the path of piety and
peace; it shows us the mount of holiness, bids us climb it,
and gives us strength to reach its summit. This holy
guide, then, shall direct our enquiries, yea, it shall do more,
it shall influence our hearts. It is not enough that we hear
a voice, saying, " This is the way, walk ye in it;" but we
wretched and depraved as we are by nature, must, by the
potent, the blessed influence of the glorious gospel of the
blessed God, become holy in all manner of conversation
and godliness. Then shall we display to the world, the
triumphs of grace, the genuine effects of religion, and the
vast superiority of the gospel, to all the schemes that men
devise.
Permit me, then, with as much brevity as possible, to establish the fact, that the gospel does produce the most salutary effects on the mind and deportment;-and to trace it
in the mode of its operations.
I. We will establish the fact, that the gospel does produce the most salutary effects on the mind and deportment.
We mean to say, that the gospel, by its holy power, produces a radical, a total change; that it forms us new creatures in Christ Jesus; and makes us partakers of a divine
nature: the members of the body, and the faculties of the
soul, are alike affected by its blessed influence; that
tongue, which was once an unruly member, full of- deadly
poison, now tells the wonders of redeeming grace; those
eyes, that were once evil and full of adultery, are now
turned to heaven with pious adoration, or gushing with
430




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              215
tears of penitence for sin; those ears which before could
listen to nothing but what was sinful and depraved, are now
opened to attend to the things of the kingdom; the hands
are lifted up to God in prayer; the lips praise the name of
Jesus. That heart, which was once a cage full of unclean
birds, is now a temple for God to dwell in, through the
eternal Spirit.  When the power of the gospel is experienced in the heart, the obstinate become mild; the selfwilled, submissive; the careless, thoughtful; and the dissolute, holy. It is not enough that the gospel enlightens
the judgment, and elevates the affections, but it must do
more; it must transform both soul and body into the image
of Christ, and thus affect the temper and the conduct; and
that it does this, may be proved-from the design of God,
-and the testimony of example. Learn that the gospel
produces a holy effect upon the disposition and deportment
of mankind,1. From the design of God.
Jehovah determined to accomplish, by the inspiration
and diffusion of the gospel, what the law could not do, in
that it was weak; he chose it to be the grand means of
turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of
sin and Satan to God. He ordained it to be the sword of
his Spirit, that should slay our corruptions; the rod of his
strength that should rule in our hearts; and the noblest
display of the power of God, in raising us to a high elevation of mental and moral excellence.  He resolved in his
eternal mind, that his word should heal the nations of the
deadly plague of sin, and clothe the people in the garments
of purity. Then, surely, the purpose of the Lord must
stand, and he will do all his pleasure, because he wisely
determined that it should be so; therefore his gospel pow431




216                DISCOURSES OF
erfully influences the temper and conduct. This may be
also seen2. By the testimony of example.
Let those who have received the gospel in the love of it,
be viewed by us as a long cloud of witnesses to its truth
and divine effects; for into what heart has it darted its influence that has not, fiom being obdurate and hard, become
tender and susceptible? Who is there that firmly believes
the gospel testimony, that does not adopt a different line
of conduct from that which is pursued by the children of
disobedience?  Through the power of the gospel, those
who were cruel and profane, as Manasseh, like him begin
to seek the Lord their God, and repent with full purpose of
heart. Those who were as extortionate as Zaccheus, when
the salvation of the gospel comes to their ears and their
hearts, like him feel a spirit of pure benevolence to the
world, and love to HIim, who caused his grace to abound
much more than sin.  Those who persecuted the saints,
like Saul of Tarsus, when the light of the gospel shines
into their souls, throw down their weapons of hostility to
Christ and his chosen, and determine to war a good warfare
under the protection of the Captain of salvation. When
all other attempts at reforming the character have failed,
the gospel has gloriously succeeded. It has taught the liar
to become sincere; the intemperate to become sober; the
proud to become humble; the wanton to become chaste;
and the self-righteous to submit to the obedience of faith.
Yea, am I not addressing some who glory in the thought
that they are trophies of its power, and who stand in the
church of Christ as monuments of its grace: though ye
were sometimes foolish and disobedient, the time past of
your life has sufficed you, wherein to have wrought the will
432




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                217
of the Gentiles; and you now desire to serve God in all
holiness and righteousness.  What, though I might, after
I had mentioned some of the slaves of sin, say, 1" And such
wvere some of you:" yet I rejoice that I ani able to add,
"' but ye are washed, but ye are justified, but ye are sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of
our God;" and therefore you display the influence of the
gospel, in your temper and conduct. But I shall detain
you no longer in attempting to prove what must, to those
who know the purity of the gospel, appear a self-evident
proposition; but shall now,II. Trace the gospel in the mode of its operation, or
show how it is that it produces so happy an effect; and
admire the wise adaptation of the means to the accomplishment of the end.
The gospel, then, influences the conduct, —as it strikes
a death-blow at our evil propensities, —as it implants new
principles in the soul,-as it presents us with a perfect
pattern of all that is excellent,-as it proposes the noblest
motives to purity of heart and life,-and, as by the enjoyment of its consolations, it gives us strength to obey its
precepts.
i. The gospel is every way calculated to influence the
conduct, because it strikes a death-blow at our evil propensities. When we believe the record that God hath
given us of his Son, our corruptions begin to weaken; and
the man of sin dies daily.  The gospel nails our abominable rebellion to the cross of Jesus, and takes away the
enmity of the heart; this being done, that which before
opposed the will of God is removed, and we desire to run
19                  433




218                 DISCOURSES OF
in the way of his commandments, since he has enlarged
our hearts. Well has the immortal Cowper said"Let this hint suffice;
The cross once seen, is death to every vice;
Else He that hung there, suffer'd all his pain,
Bled, groan'd, and agoniz'd, and died in vain."
The gospel controls the power and dominion of sin within
us; it subdues the enmity of the heart; and therefore
bends us to obey the laws of Heaven.
2. When we receive the gospel in the love of it, new
principles are implanted in the soul. For it imparts to us
a taste for hbliness; a perception of its beauty; an ardent
desire to cultivate Christian purity in the thoughts we indulge, the words we speak, and the actions we perform.
As soon as the gospel has come to us, as it is indeed and in
truth the word of God and not of man, we begin to love the
divine law; we discover a tendency to holiness; an increase in grace; yea, an earnest aspiration after being perfeet, even as our Father in heaven is perfect. By the gospel, the seeds of divine grace are sown in the naturally
barren soil of the human heart, which, under the blessing
of Heaven, spring up, and present us with those fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the praise
and glory of God.
3. The gospel influences the conduct too, as it proposes
the noblest motives to purity of heart and life. It gives
us to feel that the love of Christ constrains us.  This is
indeed a spring of action, an incentive to obedience, with
the force of which the unregenerate are totally unacquainted, yet the power of which is mighty beyond conception;
for whenever the soul of an individual is touched with the
love of Christ, he readily yields him implicit and constant
434




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               219
obedience. The gospel secures a pleasing change in our
spirit and temper immediately, as it makes us glow with
affection to its glorious subject, its adorable Author. This
justifies us in sayingTalk they of morals? 0 thou bleeding Love!
Thou Teacher of true morals to mankind!
The grand morality is love of Thee!
The gospel teaches us to aim to please God, as well as
to show to the world that we are travelers to a heavenly
city, within whose gates nothing that defileth, or is defiled, can ever enter.
4. The gospel presents us with a perfect pattern of all
that is excellent. It sets before us Jesus the Son of God,
whose immaculate purity heaven and earth can attest. In
him, indeed, all the rays of moral excellence meet as in one
point; and we not only view in him the brightness of the
Father's glory and the express image of his person, but
we behold human nature adorned and dignified, by a lively
combination of all the virtues of which it is capable. And
after the gospel has exhibited to us the holy Jesus, it says
to us, " Let the same mind be in you which was also in
him." Yea, by its heavenly power, it assimilates us to
his image; it changes us into his likeness; it forms us
upon a divine model; for we all with open face beholding,
in the glass of the gospel, the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as
by the Spirit of the Lord.  Oh, blessed influence of the
glorious gospel!
5. The enjoyment of its consolations gives strength to
obey its precepts.  If you ask here, Does the gospel influence the temper and conduct? we can tell you that it
takes you to Christ's banqueting house, where his banner
over you is love; it places you at his table, where you
435




220                I)ISCOURSES OF
hear him say, " Eat, 0 friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved!" and where you are abundantly satisfied with his presence, and drink of the wine of the kingdom.  Sentiments of gratitude are then excited in your
mind to the Founder of the feast; you feel thankful to
him, and you rise from your seat animated by his favor,
and sensible of his love. You evidence that you are not
only refreshed by his bounty, but determined to execute
his commands; and when you have enjoyed the most, you
say, " Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"  So much
life and vigor are imparted. to our minds by a firm belief
of the glad tidings of the gospel, that no duty appears too
hard for us to discharge, no trial too heavy to bear; but
our triumphant exclamation is, "I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me!" Hence follows
a cheerful acquiescence in the duties we owe to one
another, to God, and to the world.
Our tempers, by those frequent and solemn interviews
with which we are indulged, become spiritual, heavenly,
and divine; admiring spectators see that we have been
with Jesus: like Enoch, we walk with God, and, like him,
shall be wafted away to the world of purity and peace.
And are these the triumphs of the gospel?  Does it indeed produce so divine a change in the moral world?
Then surely it is worthy of its Author; of him"' for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things." Is it any
disgrace to the wisdom that devised it, or the love that
gave it to the nations?  No: for in the gospel God has
declared the glory of all his perfections, and particularly
does his holiness shine in it with radiant lustre.
Is it the tendency of the gospel to refine and exalt the
character; to make the temper and conduct such as God
requires?  Then who would not long for its general diffu436




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              221
sion? Who would not exclaim with ardor, "Fly abroad,
thou mighty gospel?" Who would not love those noble
institutions which have in view its wider circulation, and
which God has honored for the conveyance of its blessings
to the children of men?
But oh! are there not many who profess to love the
gospel, and to feel its power, who are filled with envy,
malice, and all uncharitableness! Yes, there are! But
O thou blessed Jesus, are these thy disciples! Most glorious gospel! are these the men in whose hearts thy truths
have made a deep impression? The Saviour and the gospel alike disown them; and, " Depart from me, I never
knew you," will hereafter be uttered to them by God the
Judge of all.
I dare not persuade myself to leave this pulpit without asking my hearers, What has the gospel done for
you?  In the presence of God and all his holy angels, I
would put this question to you, and leave you with all solemnity to consult God and your own consciences on the
subject. But 0, do remember that you may hear the gospel; you may avow your attachment to it; you may liberally support its interests, and yet die after all without
experiencing its blessings, and have a neglected gospel
rise up in judgment against you to aggravate your condem nation.
Here, however, allow me to turn from man to God;
suffer me to express my wishes for all who compose this
congregation; and, looking around you, permit me to say
to the God of purity and the God of the gospel, " Sanctify
them all through thy truth-thy word is truth."*
* This Sermon was preached at the Anniversary of Hoxton College.
437




222                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XVIII.
CHRIST AT EMMAUS.
" 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?" —LuKE xxiv. 32.
THE connection of this text shows us, that after the death
and resurrection of the great Messiah, two of the disconsolate disciples, who knew not that he was raised from the
dead, went to a village called Emmaus; that on their way
thither they conversed, as was likely they would do, upon
the wonderful events that had lately transpired in Jerusalem, and spake of him  they loved.  His person-his actions-his sermons-his prophecies-and, above all, his
most extraordinary exit occupied their solemn attention,
and afforded a subject for the most interesting discourse.
Whilst they were thus engaged in conversing about him,
with whom they had before been familiar, and from whom
they had learned most excellent lessons, a third came up
and joined them; this indeed was Jesus of Nazareth, who
had been raised fromn the dead by the glory of the Father.
But he chose, for wise ends, to conceal himself from them,
and to cause that their eyes should be holden, that they
should not know him, appearing to them as a stranger de438




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              2203
eirous of knowing the subject of their conversation, and
the cause of their grief, and to sympathize with them under
their sorrow —weeping with them that wept. They intimated to him their wonder that he, even supposing that he
were but a stranger in Jerusalem, should be unacquainted
with the things which were come to pass there in those days;
then proceeding to tell him how Jesus, a prophet, mighty
in deed and word before God and the people, was condemned to death and crucified; giving him to understand at
the same time, that the hopes they had entertained of him
were most sanguine, for they trusted that it had been he
which should have redeemed Israel; and, finally, they informed him of some peculiar phenomena that had been witnessed by certain women of their acquaintance at his sepul.
chre, where his body could not be seen, though they saw a
vision of angels, who said that he was alive. The courteous
and mild fellow traveler then began to speak and detain
them with delightful converse; for he showed them 1" that
Christ ought to suffer these things, and then to enter into his
glory."  He spread before them the mysteries of the inspired page, and showed how they were illustrated in the
life and death of their best friend. Sooner than they
thought they arrived at their journey's end, where he made
as though he would have gone further; but they prevailed
on him, by their great importunity, to go in and tarry with
them-with them he took bread, blessed it, break it, and
gave unto them-then first their eyes were opened to behold him as the same Jesus who was crucified, and to discover in him the lovely features of their Lord who had
done all things well-when, lo! he vanished out of their
sight, and was seen no more. After which, we may reaflonably suppose to have taken place-a solemn silence;
4.2 9




224                DISCOURSES OF
and then they used to each other the admirable expression
we have selected as a text-" Did not our hearts burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while
he opened to us the Scriptures?"  Having, then, taken a
slight glance at the whole account of this wonderful circumstance, in confining our attention more particularly to
the words of the text, we shall view them as leading us to
reflect on-the conversation of our Lord with his disciplesand the effects it produced upon their minds —" their hearts
burned within them, while he talked with them by the
way." Behold
I. The conversation of our Lord with his disciples.
And here the passage presents us with the kind familiarity which he displayed, and the lustre that he cast on the
divine word-the first remarkable thing in our Lord's conversation with the travelers to Emmaus, is1. The kind familiarity which he displayed-their own
expression is, " He talked with us by the way."  It is condescension in the Son of God, to notice the concerns and
(cceept the worship of his holy angels; how much more
must it be so to sojourn with mankind-to go where they
go-and freely to tell them the secrets of his heart.  The
Saviour was now, you remember, even on earth, a most
dignified character-he was now no longer to suffer and be
cruelly entreated-he had now finished the work his Father had given him to do-and had shortly after to ascend
to claim his high seat in glory.  He now showed himself
to be the Christ, the Son of God, and confirmed the reality
of his appointment and mission, by his bursting the bars
of the tomb. He would not now be viewed by any as a
common character, but as the most wonderful being that
had ever appeared in the world-as such even his enemies
440




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             225
must consider him. Yet all this did not make him forget
his friends, or cause him to lose any thing of that social
and condescending disposition he had ever before manifested: but almost as soon as he was risen, he goes to meet
some of the members of his little family, and confirm them
further in himself.  " He talked with them by the way."
Oh! what a heaven does Christ here by his example stamp
upon Christian intercourse and sacred friendship. Behold
he talks with his disciples, proving to them that " as ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness
of a man's friend, by hearty counsel." And to this day
we are permitted to converse with our God —" he talks
with us by the way"-tells us our true character, and reveals his own excellence-he appears as our wonderful
counsellor! and to whatever place we journey, we should
be concerned to have him talking with us by the way. The
next remarkable circumstance in this conversation of our
Lord, mentioned in the text, is2. The lustre that he cast upon the divine word-" HIe
talked with us by the way, and opened to us the Scriptures." And well he might, for he told us before that
"the Lord had given him the tongue of the learned; that
he should know how to speak a word in season, to him that
is weary."  " He began," says the evangelist, " at Moses
and all the prophets, and expounded to them in all the
Scriptures, the things concerning himself" —blessed interpreter -divine teacher.  We have no reason to suppose
that he forgot the first promise that was made of him;
even in the garden of Eden, that he should bruise the head
of the serpent: no doubt but the intended sacrifice of
Isaac, the patriarch's son-the erection of the brazen serpent on the pole-and the various sacrifices under the law,
441




226               DISCOURSES OF
were all delightfully commented on by Jesus the Saviour.
He did justice to all the passages —he showed their full
import-he gave them an insight into the meaning of all
the prophecies respecting his death and glory-he took up
every part of Scripture in its bearing upon himself, he
showed [that he] was " all in all"-even in the Old Testament; and thus by his teachings they discovered far more
of the beauty, harmony, and fulfillment of the word of God,
than they ever did before, or ever would have done without
his instruction. And does he not now give his people to
understand the doctrines of his word —does he not now
daily open to us the Scriptures —has he not given to us his
Holy Spirit in order to make us more wise in the mysteries of his kingdom-and are we not directed to seek for
him in the field of divine truth as for hid treasure? Oh!
how much is there respecting Christ in this holy book, and
who is so able to make us know it as himself —" he opens
our understanding that we may understand the Scriptures"
— he ever teaches his ministers to open and allege " that
Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the
dead, and that this Jesus whom we preach unto you is
Christ," —as he taught his apostles to " testify the kingdom of God, persuading men concerning Jesus, both out
of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." Having then admired the conversation
of our Lord with his disciples on the way to Emmaus, we
notice —
II. The effects it produced in their minds.
It was not at all probable that this discourse should be
without effect, or fail deeply to interest their minds, since
it w.is the very theme on which they chose to dwell; and
442




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              227
it was conducted in so wise and endearing a manner —it
was such that, according to their own confession, it made
their hearts to burn within them while he talked with them
by the way-and surely I need not say this was not the
glow of shame, lest they should be found in his company.No, brethren, they would not have cared who of all the
great men of the land had met them in company with this
most intelligent stranger-they felt themselves highly
honored by his company, even before they knew his name.
Nor was this the heat of anger, or of any bad passion excited by any thing that he delivered; his communications
were sweet and soothing.  Had they been so disposed, they
could find nothing in them that was improper, untrue, or
provoking; —he talked with them as a man talks with his
friend; the communion was sweet, and the intercourse
highly gratifying; hence, though their hearts burned within
them, it was neither with shame, nor anger.  But this,
brethren, permit me to say, was the glow of fixed surprise;
of grateful feeling, of humble love, and of holy animation
of soul. Observe it was the glow
(1) of fixed surprise.
They wondered much that he who appeared a stranger,
not only to them, but also to the place where they were,
should know so much about them, Jerusalem and Jesus;
they were astonished at his wisdom, at his eloquence. I
almost fancy that they exclaimed, " Never man spake like
this man." With emotions of amazement, they perceived
that his " word was quick and powerful, and sharper than
any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and that
it is a discoverer of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Wiitl! wlhat pryin  eyes must they lnTve lnoloed upon him
441




228                 DISCOURSES OF
and yet not so as to behold him who he was, because himself had prevented it; yet their hearts burned within them;
sentiments of unutterable admiration were hid in their
breasts whilst he opened to them the Scriptures.  Again it
was the glow
(2) of grateful feeling.
They must have discovered that they were greatly indebted to this benevolent stranger, who had so effectually
enlightened their judgments, and alleviated their sorrows.
Their hearts burned within them with the sensation of
thankfulness; they saw that he was a praiseworthy character, and, methinks, were devising some acknowledgments
for his attention to them, little thinking that is was the
Lord. Did your hearts ever glow in this way with a sense
of utter incapability of making any suitable returns to him
that loved you, and revealed to you his will?  For your
fellowship with him, have you ever said, what shall I render
to the Lord?  Did you ever feel the high honor of being
with Jesus; admitted into his presence, and being made
partakers of his grace?  All your hearts, Christians,
should glow with gratitude, and burn with love.  Hence,
we remark again, their hearts burned within them with the
sensation
(3) of humble love.
Finding as they did, that his words " were found of them,
and they did eat them," and they were to them the joy and
the rejoicing of their hearts, they manifested a strong attachment to him whom  they supposed to be a new friend.
He engaged their affections, hence they desired more of his
company, and said, when their fears were excited lest he
should depart from them:'"Abide with us, for it is toward
evening."  So do the hearts of the people of God burn
444




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              229
within them to the present day, with like sensations under
similar enjoyments; the flame of divine love is kindled in
their souls; the words of his mouth appear to them
sweeter than the honey of the honeycomb; his doctrine
drops like the rain, and distils like the dew, and sensible
that none teacheth like him, they admire and love him before all others.  Oh! how excellent a thing it is thus to
love the Saviour.  Let it be our happiness to sit at his
feet; and with meekness receive the ingrafted word of
truth, which is able to save the soul, so shall its admirable
Author rise daily more and more in our estimation.
Finally it was the glow
(4) of holy animation of soul.
Divine light broke in upon their minds, and dispersed their remaining unbelief; they were elevated above
the world to the contemplation of their adorable Redeemer. e-Ic touched their finest feelings; he filled their
souls with the sublime joys of his salvation; he inspired
them with pure devotion, and fixedness of heart, and while
he led them  to the consideration of Him who endured:
such contradiction of sinners against himself, he prevented
them from being weary and fainting in their minds.  And
oh! Christians, what sweet moments; rich in blessing, have
you enjoyed, when in converse with Immanuel. " Whether
in the body, or out of the body," you have hardly been
able to tell; drops of heaven have been bestowed upon you
here below, the light of the Divine countenance has caused
you to take your harp from the willows, and make every
string speak to the praise of love divine.  Did not your
hearts burn within you?  Were you not like Peter on the
mount, who, in an ecstasy of joy said, " Lord, it is good to
be here?"  You anticipated the joys of the blessed, you
445




230               DISCOURSES OF
drank of the brook by the way, and seemed ready to depart and to be with Christ, to drink wine new with him, in
the kingdom of his Father. This holy delight in God is
real, and not enthusiastic; it is bestowed only on the new
born heirs of grace, and it is given them as a pledge of
joys to come; their hearts burn within them  while he
talks with them by the way.
In reflecting on this subject we are struck with the idea
that we often have to blame ourselves for not sufficiently
estimating our mercies during the time of their continuance.
These disciples, notwithstanding the pleasure they had
found in his society, did not, till just as he left them, discover him to be their Lord; to the present day Joseph
often knows his brethren, whilst they know him not. And
then afterwards they say, did not our hearts burn within
us?  True, they did.  But why did not we value the
blessing while we enjoyed it?  Why did we not say, as the
word of wisdom dropped fromn his mouth, it is the Lord?
Again, a review of past favors greatly supports the mind
under present bereavements.
WVhen we seem forsaken; when our affections towards
Christ appear but cold, oh! what a privilege it is to be
enabled to revert to a period when our hearts did burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way.  This
thought cheers the drooping spirits, and raises the fainting
head; it excites our hope, too, that he will be with us
again, and hold converse with us, even till the hour of
death; yea, it makes us argue, that if the Lord had intended to destroy us, he would not have made our hearts
burn within us by his divine communications.
11 11 6




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              231
It is the duty and interest of us all earnestly to pray for
the society and conversation of Christ.
The blessing itself is so desirable, for it is to have the
honor of dwelling and walking with Christ, and the sensations which he, by his discourse excites in the mind, are so
pleasing and delightful, that we ought earnestly to beseech
him to tarry with us; if he is an instructor and companion,
how short will the distance to heaven appear, and how light
and momentary the trials of the way.-Lastly,
If those who travel with the Saviour, are thus blessed,
how miserable are they who are altogether alienated from
him.
Sinner, you never yet enjoyed the society of Christ, nor
do you wish it. You are loading him with reproaches, and
will have none of his counsel, and he will never say of you,
" they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy;"
the fever of lust, and the torment of envy shall be your
curse, while you live in the pains of hell, your portion
after death, when you will burn in the " fire that never can
be quenched, and the smoke of your torments shall ascend
up for ever and ever." Oh! may we, instead of this awful
doom, be honored and glorfied with his constant presence
in a better world; so shall the chosen of Nazareth be
praised and adored by us for ever and ever.




232                DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XIX.
DEATH BY ADAM-ETERNAL LIFE BY CHRIST.
"As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear
the image of the heavenly." — CORINTHIANS XV. 49.
" THE proper study of mankind is man;" and the best
science to which any of us can attain is, to know ourselves;
for " all wisdom centres there."  Human nature is a fit
subject of investigation, and will well repay the mind's
attention to it; it has frequently been represented in unjust and improper points of view; men have formed very
mistaken ideas of themselves and of their condition, and
have too often represented their case to be rather what they
wished it, than what it really is.  The testimony of the
Bible, however, viewed in connection with facts which we
are every day called to witness, will appear to be the best
teacher of what we are in our true character, our real condition, and our bounden duty.  Here we learn what man
originally was, what he now is, and to what standard of
excellence he ought to attain. From the Bible alone, that
fruit of heavenly wisdom, can we derive proper ideas of
human nature.  Here its past excellence, its present degradation, and the only means by which it can possibly be restored, are detailed with unquestionable veracity, and told
1448




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               233
by the Spirit of God. Here we learn that, as in Adam
all whom he represented, the whole human race, fell and
died; so in Christ Jesus all to whom he is a covenant head
shall live forevermore: and that as these characters, before
conversion, gave awful evidence of fatal union to their
head, so by the grace of God shall they now be made to
resemble Jesus, who is given as a covenant of the people,
who is the Head of the body, the church.  " As we have
borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image
of the heavenly." Here, then, you perceive the depth of
misery to which you fell, and the height of happiness to
which you are raised. My text shows you the man, by
whose disobedience you lost your peace, your happiness,
your God. MIy text presents you also with that glorious
Redeemer, who has restored that which he took not away,
and given you more blessings than your father lost. In discoursing upon this text, we mustI. Confirm the lamentable fact, that, by nature, we all
bear the image of the earthy.
II. Rejoice in the glorious truth, that, as believers, we
shall bear the image of the Lord from heaven.
It is necessary that II. Show that we all bear the image of the earthy Adam.
So says my text; so says experience, the melancholy experience of all ages and nations; so witness the shrieks, the
groans of dying infants; so testify our own eyes, beholding
the miseries that are abroad in the world; so witness our
own feelings in the endurance of those ills to which mortality is subject. Here, too, let it be remembered, that the
449




234                DISCOURSES OF
mischief we lament is universal; that the evils we deplore
are experienced all over the world; that all mankind suffer
from their connection with their first parent; that every
individual on the globe bears the image of the earthy
Adam.  Oh, show us, if you can, the spot of earth to
which the effects of the curse have not yet reached; and
tell us, if among all the tribes of men in Europe, Asia,
Africa, or America, there are any to be found who do not
discover a depraved nature, who do not bear the image of
the earthy.  So extensive are the calamities introduced
into the world by sin; so general the dire effect of our first
parent's disobedience to the will of Heaven.
In order that we may enter into the import of the expression, " bearing the image of the earthy," permit us to
observe, that we bear this image in our bodies-and that
we bear it in our souls. Behold it1. In our bodies, which are earthy, frail, and tending
to dissolution.
Observe this image is evident in our bodies, as they are
earthy; for the Lord God formed nman of the dust of the
ground: so poor in our origin that we have no pretension
at all to nobility of descent, but must look upon the earth
as our common parent, and say, Oh, how poor a creature is
man, that is a worm, and the son of man, that is a worm!
Oh, what a lecture does the constitution of our frame read
us upon the folly of human pride, upon the ridiculous absurdity of towering ambition! Never let us suppose ourselves to be some great ones, since it is evident that we are
vile as the dust; and the ground we tread on contains the
materials of our formation, and the means of our support.
Verily, our bodies are but clods of clay, and soon must
450




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                235
they return to the earth out of which they were taken.
Now the condition of our frame points out the resemblance
between Adam and all his race, between the father and
his children. It is the image of the earthy Adam.
Our bodies are also frail, and thus bear the image described in the text.  To what a long train of diseases and
disorders are they liable! To what a list of accidents and
ills are they exposed! What is your life?  It is even a
vapor that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth
away. Our bodies are easily borne down by weariness and
fatigue, are soon brought low by affliction. How little can
they sustain or endure! With what numerous proofs of
their weakness are they daily presenting us! How shortly
may the strongest among us, the man who boasts most of
the soundness of his health and the vigor of his constitution, be confined to the chamber of sickness!  Ah!
God may weaken your strength in the way; he may
shorten your days.  WTe that are in this tabernacle do
groan, being burdened.' And is the body a tabernacle?
Weak cottage where our souls reside,
Flesh but a tottering wall;
With frightful breaches gaping wide,
The building bends to fall.
All round it storms of trouble blow,
And waves of sorrow roll;
Cold waves, and wintry storms beat through,
And pain the tenant soul.
O Adam! what hast thou done!
Again, Our bodies tend to destruction. They give us
repeated proofs that this is not their final abode; they
show that they are hasting to the grave, and that in its
451




236                DISCOURSES OF
gloomy repository they must all shortly lie. Death reigns,
and all men are his subjects: before the king of terrors
we all must shortly bow; he will change our countenances
and send us away. Now, in the whole of our passage to
the house appointed for all living, in every step we take to
the solemn dwelling of the dead, we are bearing the image
of the earthy.  You lose a friend; a dear relative leaves
you and life, and enters the world to come, whereof we
speak; his immortal spirit has ascended to God who gave
it; but here, with you, he has left his body, to be placed
in the ground till the morning of the resurrection.  Before
you inter it in the gloomy cavern, its destined abode, you
gaze on it with the most gloomy and inexpressible feelings. Oh, who can tell your sensations, as you behold
that cabinet now without its jewel; that tabernacle of the
soul now without its tenant: as long as you can, you retain it near you; you are unwilling to part with the remains
of your companion, and your friend; you appear to grudge
the earth its clue, and the worm  its prey; till at length
you are obliged to say, Bury my dead out of my sight!
The ghastly, the loathsome ruins of your well-beloved
friend offend you.  But, as you draw near, to take the last,
last look of all that was mortal in your friend, let me ask,
What is that you behold, and at which you shudder?
What is that in the cold corpse which shocks the feelings
of humanity, and harrows up the soul?  What is it?  It
is the image of the earthy Adam! And ere long you shall
bear it too. It is seen in the countenance of the dead.
2. We all bear this image in our souls. You have seen
the impression of it upon our mortal part; now let us be.
hold it upon that within us, which can never die, the soul,
the immortal principle which was at first endowed with the
452




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               237
noblest faculties, pervaded with the finest feelings, and rendered capable of glorifying its great Creator; the soul,
that once appeared the resemblance of the Deity, the genuine copy of the mind of God, now bears this inscription,
Ichabod, the glory is departed. It now bears the image
of the earthy Adam, for observe,-It is defiled with sin,and it is exposed to divine wrath.
1. Our souls are defiled with sin.
Oh, how impure, how unholy is the mind of man! It
has received such a taint, such a stain, as you cannot remove. The moment we come into the world we bring with
us the most hateful, the most perverse dispositions; a tendency, a bias to evil; and we bear the imputation of the
guilt of Adam's sin.  Now who can bring a clean thing
out of an unclean?  What but renovating grace can purify the polluted soul of man? Our guilt, how deep it
stains!  How loathsome! how  offensive! how guilty are
our souls before God! This is bearing the image of the
earthy Adam.
2. Our souls are exposed to divine wrath, and thus bear
the image of the earthy.
While we remain in the condition in which we were
born, God is angry with us every day.  Our souls are by
nature fit subjects of the divine vengeance; and well will
it be for us if the vials of divine wrath are not poured upon our devoted heads for ever and ever.  The soul that
sinneth, it shall die.  It is the decree of Heaven,-the
judgment of the skies,-the doom of man. I have, says
the great Eternal, kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall
burn to the lowest hell; and our exposure to all this wrath,
our fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation
which shall devour the adversaries, shows us the image of
453




238                  DISCOURSES OF
the earthy Adam. Here you behold an awful representation of the dire effect of human crimes, and see to what
miseries and consequences sin has exposed us. Well may we
mourn over the lost image of God! Surely, if we have feelings, they must be excited here. Shall no anxiety be roused
on account of the dreadful the universal depravity of human
nature? Shall no concern be discovered at the miseries of
the world?  God forbid!  0 that our head were waters,
and our eyes, as it were, fountains of tears, that we might
weep over the melancholy condition of our own souls, the
souls of our brethren, of our countrymen, and of all mankind; for all these bear the image of the earthly Adam.
But the more pleasing part of our subject now courts
our attention. Let us therefore, —
II. Rejoice in the glorious truth, that, as believers, we
shall also bear the image of the Lord from heaven. "As
we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear
the image of the heavenly."
The second Adam shall restore
The ruins of the first,
Hosanna to that sovereign power
That new creates our dust.
And here I cannot but pause for a moment to observe,
what an illustrious character is here introduced to our attention, the Second Adam! This is He who has been declared to be the Son of God with power. It is Jesus, the
first-born among many brethren! And behold the excellences that meet in his character; see his superiority to the
first Adam! The first Adam was of the earth, earthy;
the second Adam is the Lord from heaven: the first Adam
transgressed the divine command, and suffered for his fault;
454




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              239
the second Adam  magnified the law, and made it honorable: the first Adam ruined himself, and all his posterity;
the second Adam gives us abundance of grace, imputes to
us his own righteousness, and causes us to bear his image
in the world. This divine image, however, is not borne by
all the human race, but by those alone to whom Christ is
a covenant head; for, as in Adam all those, whose representative he stood, fell and died; so in Christ Jesus all, in
whose stead he suffered and bare the curse, shall be made
alive to God, and to the enjoyment of happiness.  These
characters evince, that they were chosen in him from before
the foundation of the world, by their belief of the gospel
while they live; and all these characters shall, according
to the promise, and through the grace of their heavenly
Father, bear the image, and reflect the glory of Christ,
their great Redeemer.  Concerning this blessed image, I
make three remarks-It is first impressed upon us at the
time of our regeneration,-It shall visibly discover itself
through the whole course of our Christian life,-It shall
be rendered more conspicuous and glorious in the morning
of the resurrection.
1. It is first impressed upon us at the time of our regeneration. For that is the time when it pleases God, who
separated us from our mother's womb, to call us by his
grace, and to reveal his Son in us; then it is that we are
enabled " to put off the old man with his deeds, and to put
on the new man, which, after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness." Effectual grace then gives a new
bias to the mind, and the Father of the spirits of all flesh
then makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus.  O most
memorable day, when we were sealed to the day of redemption! O day, well worthy to be remembered with grateful
455




240                DISCOURSES OF
feelings, when the image of Christ was first impressed upon
our minds! With what new powers, what new feelings,
what new desires, were we then enriched! The Saviour
imparted to us the principle of grace; he made us, who
before lived only for folly and sin, to pant after holiness, as
our noblest pursuit; to grasp after purity, as our noblest
attainment. Oh, what a difference did this make in our
character! We were, indeed, formed anew; we were made
partakers of Christ, and of a divine nature; we then first
began to bear the image of the heavenly: there is a people,
a host of worshippers, whom Jehovah has formed for himself, and they shall shew forth his praise; every one of
them has had a divine impression made upon his mind by
the Eternal Spirit, which altogether rendered him a new
creature, and made him to bear the image of the heavenly.
Never let us forget, that nothing but the regenerating
grace of the Holy Spirit can make us bear this sacred
image; for without his gracious work upon the heart, the
children of men remain still the slaves of Satan, the heirs
of destruction, and God is not in all their thoughts; his
word has not taken root in their minds; his image has not
yet been impressed upon their hearts. But ye who believe
have an unction from the Holy One; ye know all things;
you bear the image of the heavenly.
2. This image shall visibly discover itself through the
whole course of the Christian's life.
It shall be seen in the walk and deportment of a good
man, that he bears the image of the heavenly. This lovely
image shall produce a happy effect upon his temper, his
passions, his pursuits; it shall make him to speak, to look,
to live, like the children of God. To the world, to angels,
and to men, it shall appear that he bears the image of the
456




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              241
heavenly Adam; but if ever this holy image is made particularly visible, it is at the time when we walk closely with
God, and live in the delightful enjoyment of intercourse
with Heaven.  Oh, what a lustre of piety does this shed
over all that we do and sayl! 0 God! Blessed are the
men that habitually draw nigh unto thee! The men who
are most with God have imparted to them by their familiarity with their Maker, and the holy discoveries they enjoy, a general, a holy dignity in them; we behold the grace
of God, the power of God, the image of God.
I will endeavor to illustrate what I mean, by an example
or two contained in the inspired records. When Moses
had been with God on the mount of communion, he wist
not that the skin of his face shone, but Aaron his brother,
and all the children of Israel saw it, and the lustre was so
great that he was obliged to put a veil upon his face, because they were dazzled with the sight; and I would enquire, What was this that rendered his appearance so
glorious? What was that effulgence of glory and splendor,.
at which they were so astonished and almost afraid? What
was it?  It was the image of the Lord from heaven.
Stephen, you know, was once summoned before the Jewish
council, to give an account of the doctrines he preached, of
the holy doctrines which ever inspired his mind with the
liveliest joy, and the persuasion of the importance of which
ever quickened his zeal, and enabled him to suffer and die
for Jesus; and while these divine realities occupied his
thoughts, and were the subject of his communication with
those before whose tribunal he appeared, it is said, All that
sat in the council saw his face as it had been the face of
an angel. It was the image of the heavenly Adam. By
nothing else could such an effect have been produced; and
457




242                 DISCOURSES OF
we may be certain, that in one way or other, the same image
will, more or less, discover the reality of its existence in all
them that believe.
3. This image shall be rendered more striking and glorious on the resurrection morning.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be; but we know that when He shall
appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
Such are the rational, the well-founded, the solid and certain hopes of the favorites of the second Adam. With eager
anticipation and joyful hope, they look forward to the day
when the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised;
for then they are persuaded, that the image of the heavenly
Adam  will be far more conspicuous and glorious than
it had been before, whether we regard their bodies or their
souls. It will appear in our bodies; for " He shall change
our vile bodies, and fashion them like unto his own glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself."  These now frail and dying
bodies shall then be formed upon the model of the glorified
body of the Redeemer: and in holiness and purity our
souls shall resemble our Lord's, since they shall sin no
more, but be entirely and for ever freed from every corruption, purified from every moral stain, and constituted
holy and unblamable before him in love.  The image of
the heavenly Adam will then gloriously appear in all the
saints; to his likeness they shall all be conformed; his
glory they shall all reflect; they will then for ever beautify
and adorn the palace of our God.  "Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father," while their enemies will be obliged to say, We
fools counted their lrves to be madness, and their end to be
458




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               243
without honor; but now how are they numbered with the
just, and their portion is with the righteous.  Now it is as
certain that believers shall thus bear the image of the
heavenly Adam, as it is that all mankind bear the image of
the earthy; and this is the force of the apostle's reasoning:
" As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also
bear the image of the heavenly." And to show that this
is no foolish conjecture, or absurd speculation, consider that
this is the end of predestination,-of the inspiration of the
Scriptures,-and of the afflictions with which believers are
exercised, that they should bear this lovely image.
It is the end of their predestination.  " For whom he
did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Scn; that he might be the first born
among many brethren." Jehovah elected them for this express purpose, that they might resemble the Saviour; he
chose them in Christ, that they might be like unto Christ;
and by the sovereign purpose of his will he secured their
real, evident, beautiful, and everlasting conformity to
Christ, their living head.  These his all-wise designs, his
excellent counsels, would not be fulfilled, if his servants did
not bear the image of the heavenly.
So, also, this is the design of the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Bible was written and circulated that we all,
" with open face beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the
Lord, might be changed into the same image, from glory
to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Our hearts
are purified by the love of the truth, and the written word
ever directs us to the incarnate Word. The holy oracles of
God are the means of sanctifying the souls of his servants,
for his word directs them, and when applied by his spirit,
enables them to bear the image of the heavenly Adam.
459




244                 D1SCOURSES OF
Finally, This is the object to be promoted by all their
afflictions. The apostle represents himself, and his fellowlaborers, as enduring a great fight of afflictions; as tried,
distressed, perplexed, and persecuted; but, he adds, " always bearing about in our body the dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest
in our body;" and God is daily teaching his saints to glorify him  in the fires.  Often are the trying exercises
of his servants the happy means of furthering their resemblance to Christ, and of promoting within them the
life of faith upon him.  When our imperfections and sins
would render the possession of this blessed image doubtful
to ourselves or to others, those afflictions are sent again to
discover it, and to impart to it fresh lustre and excellence.
When our afflictions have answered their designed end, we
leave the chamber of sickness, or the scene of our sorrows,
wherever it be, to evidence more strikingly our possession
of the image of the heavenly Adam.
Permit me now,-having finished the discussion of my
subject,-permit me to ask you, my hearers, Whose image
and superscription do you bear?  I shall not ask you
whether you bear the image of the earthy Adam, because
I know it well; for here " every mouth must be stopped,
and all the world become guilty before God."   But we
wish you to be concerned to ascertain whether a new and
divine impression has been made upon your souls? Are
you, then, daily departing from all iniquity? hourly aspiring after conformity to Christ?  Some men carry the mark
of the beast, and bear the image of the devil; not only do
they show us their connection with Adam, but their alliance with the powers of darkness.  We speak this to their
shame.  O that they may be confounded before God, and
460




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              245
led to pray that, instead of their being the very vassals of
Satan, they may be numbered among the friends of Immanuel!
What thanks are due to the Redeemer, for the restoration which he hath made of peace and happiness to man!
My text shows us how the great Saviour has triumphed
over human depravity and satanic force; and how, by his
own grace, he hath restored the image of God in the soul,
and directed our hopes to a better world, where this image
shall be perfect, this resemblance inimitably correct. And
has he indeed done all this; thenPraise! flow for ever, (if astonishment
Will give thee leave,) my praise for ever flow;
Praise ardent, cordial, constant, to high Heaven
More fragrant than Arabia sacrific'd,
And all her spicy mountains in a flame.
O Saviour! stamp thine holy image upon our souls; there
let it appear; there let it shine, in life, in death, and for
ever! Amen.
461




246                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XX.
RELIGIOUS HEROISM.
FAREWELL SERMON AT HOXTON.
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and
the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God."-Acts 20: 24.
THIS is not the language of stoical apathy; the man
who uttered these words, my hearers, was a man possessed
of the keenest sensibility; a man of real, honest, and es:quisite feeling; in his heart, cold indifference and unfeeling stubbornness had no place: nor do the words express
philosophical heroism; a foolish bravado; for our apostle
derives his support from sources far different from these;
he was animated by principles; he was delighted with
prospects which the natural man never possesses; the
power of which principles, and the view of which prospects,
produce an effect which is mighty beyond all conception.
The passage I have read you introduces to our view Paul
the preacher, at the time of his departure from his friends,
when his mind was led to expect, and prepared to meet
bonds and afflictions in every place; and the words of the
text do most strikingly show us the way in which the principles of the gospel discover themselves, and prove their
462




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               247
power to strengthen and support.  Viewing this passage
as not unsuitable to the present opportunity, I shall exhibit it to your view, as showing us that the principles of the
gospel of Christ display their power and virtue.
I. In rendering us insensible to the power of affliction.;
C' none of these things move me."
II. In raising us superior to the love of life; " neither
count I my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my
course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of
the Lord Jesus." Let us behold here the glorious gospel
of the blessed God. How the religion of Christ displays
its potent influence; its mighty efficacy.
I. In rendering us insensible to the power of affliction.
Its supports enabled the holy, zealous apostle to say of
painful separation-of the labors of the ministry, and of
the large measure of persecution which in that age of the
church every where attended the preachers of the gospel,
t'none of these things move me."  Paul had, however,
without doubt, the feelings of humanity; and, as I have
already intimated, these things would affect his soul as a
man., and occasionally overwhelm his spirits; but when he
felt the happy influence of the gospel in all its power, he
triumphed over these difficulties; he heroically conquered
himself, subdued his own feelings, and appeared a ready, a
joyful martyr for Christ. Thus did Paul, yet did not he,
but the grace of God which was in him. These trials,
then, these difficulties, which to many would be insurmountable, did not "'move" him: that is, the anticipation of.them, the endurance of them, did not so move him as to
damp his ardor; as to discourage his soul, or as to make
him wish to exchange with the world. Observe, they did
not so move him46a




248                 DISCOURSES OF
As to damp his ardor. These trials and apparent obstacles to the success of his work, and to his own happiness in it, did not make him less anxiously desirous of doing
good in the world, did not at all diminish the fervent wishes
of his soul to be the means of conducting many sons unto
glory. Notwithstanding these difficulties, he was still "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmluch as he knew that his labor was not in vain in the
Lord." And as he had this ministry, as he had received
mercy, so he fainted not; hence he could say to othersno man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves
know that we were appointed thereunto.  He remembered
the long cloud of witnesses who, through much tribulation,
had entered the kingdom, and he determined to imitate
their example; he did more; he considered Jesus, who
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself; and
this prevented him from being weary, or from fainting in
his mind: he looked unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of his faith, and by that means obtained encouragement to
proceed, and grace sufficient for him. Oh i never let the
servants of the most high God relax in their endeavors to
do good, or grow cold in their desires after the immortal
welfare of mankind because some difficulties await them:
of these difficulties they ought to say " none of these things
move me."  Nor did these trials so affect the apostleAs to discourage his soul; that is, to make him shrink
at the thought of enduring them; to make him afraid to
meet them: no, for supported by the consolations of the
gospel, he could welcome reproaches, pain and death; yea,
rejoice and be exceeding glad that he was counted worthy
to suffer for the sake of the Lord Jesus.  "What mean
ye," says he elsewhere, "what mean ye to weep and to
464




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              249
break my heart, for I am ready not to be bound only, but
also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
Divine grace so supported him that, though he was troubled
on every side, he was not distressed; though perplexed,
he was not in despair; though persecuted, he was not forsaken; though cast down, he was not destroyed. I suffer,
says he, these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed; " for
I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he
is able to keep that which I have committed unto him,
until that day." Thus he could endure, and the Saviour
enabled him to suffer as well as to preach for him, and
none of these things moved him.
Finally, they did not so move him as to make him wish
to exchange with the world.
Because he thus reckoned that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory
that should be revealed in us. He saw that "our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."   He
looked not at the things which are seen, which are temporal, but at the things which are not seen, which are eternal. There was a pleasure even connected with the sufferings which far excelled the joy of worldlings: hence he
says, "I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful
in all our tribulations."  For the Lord stood by him and
strengthened him; yea, the Lord delivered him from every
evil work, and preserved him to his heavenly kingdom.
The apostle, taught by the Spirit of God, loved even the
difficulties of his Master's service far better than the ease
and the pleasures of the world. Oh! that, like him, we
may wisely count the reproach of Christ greater riches than
all the treasures of this world; prefer even the worst, the
20*              465




250                DISCOURSES OF
most painful circumstances in the cause of the Saviour, to
the most fascinating pleasures of the world; to the enjoyments which the men who know not God reckon most valuable and most dear; thus shall we show that we are willing to be any thing that the Saviour chooses, so that he
may be glorified; thus shall we show that we speak the
feelings of our hearts when we say of the difficulties of our
work, " none of these things move me."  Thus was the
apostle enabled to enjoy strong consolations in the midst
of trials. Thus did Immanuel's grace quicken him to diligence and fortify his mind against the numerous ills that
flesh is heir to. Oh! that the Spirit of glory and of God
would rest on us also; that all our duties may be so discharged, and all our trials to endured, as that the power
of the gospel may be evinced, and the supporting grace of
the great Head of the Church abundantly magnified. And
what can so teach us to endure trials as the religion of
Christ? What supports have infidels, mere moralists,
and speculative philosophers, like those which may be derived from the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ? Theirs
are refuges of lies, ours a never-failing foundation. " Their
rock is not as our rock, even our enemies themselves being
judges." The gospel of Christ presents the only sovereign
balm for human woe; it supplies us with real, and with
sure support; it emboldens us to say, in the face of difficulties, dangers, and death, " None of these things move
me."  The gospel, however, does not merely display its
power in rendering us insensible to the power of affliction,
butII. In raising us superior to the love of life.
For, adds the apostle, " neither count I my life dear
466




REV. THOMAS SPENCER                251
unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy."
"' Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give for his
life." The preservation of life is the first law of nature.
That man is unworthy the character of a rational being,
who intentionally shortens, or daringly terminates his own
life. And yet here a man comes forward and says, " neither count I my life dear unto myself", —and he is taught
to form this estimation of life, too, by the gospel of Jesus 1
How is this? The apostle did not choose strangling rather
than life; but the case may be stated thus. The gospel
taught him  the right use of life, and made him earnestly
to desire to fulfill it; the gospel taught him as a minister)
that life was only valuable to him so far as he accomplished
its purposes-the joyful completion of his Christian race,
the honorable close of his ministerial exertions.  Further
than this, life was not dear to him, or highly prized by
him, for he was willing to be "absent from  the body,
and to be present with the Lord." His earnest expectation and his hope was, that in nothing he should be
ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now,
Christ should be magnified in his body, whether it were by
life or by death. " Yea," says he, "' and if I be offered upon
the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with
you all." Oh! what a noble principle is this that renders
a man willing to suffer and to die for Christ, " for herein perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for
us; and we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren." And now it is said of the apostle, and all who like
him triumphed over Satan, " they were faithful unto
death." They overcome him by the blood of the Lamb,
for they loved not their lives unto death. But I digress
from  the subject.'Observe, then, that the gospel raisedl




252                DISCOURSES OF
the mind of Paul superior to the love of life, as it showed
him that it was only useful for two purposes.
1. That he might joyfully complete his Christian race.
So he says, " that I may finish my course with joy."
The course to which he alludes is the Christian race,
which he had some time before undertaken in divine
strength. God had called him so to run that he might
obtain, and hence he " laid aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily beset him, and ran with patience the race
set before him, looking unto Jesus."  He set out with a
full determination never to grow weary, or to decline his
eager pursuit after glory, honor and immortality.  Hitherto he had pursued it with alacrity; he did not count
himself to have apprehended; but this one thing he did,
forgetting those things which were behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which were before, he pressed
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus. Personal religion had flourished in his
soul, and he had not left the path marked out for him, by
the great forerunner, to be led aside either to the right
hand or to the left, and now he wished to finish it with joy:
and that man finishes his course with joy when he expresses gratitude for any ardor he has discovered in it,
and when he has a full view of the crown of glory, and
prospect of eternal rest.  To finish our course with joy,
we must express our gratitude for the assistance grace has
offered us in it.  [When a Christian can say, through the
good hand of my God upon me, the care of his love, and
the animation of his grace, " I have finished my course."]
Oh! what pleasure it must afford a believer who completes his race on earth, to look back upon the path he has
trod, and to remember even the trials he endured, and to
468




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                253
bless God that he was enabled to persevere to the end.
The Christian race cannot be joyfully completed without a
bright prospect of eternal glory and a splendid crown.
The man finished this race with joy, who could say,
" henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me in
that day." Let others run to obtain a corruptible crown,
we do it for an incorruptible. And oh! that when we
finish our course it may be with this firm persuasion, that
we shall enter into the joy of our Lord, where toil and fatigue will be known no more. For this purpose life is of
use, as it conducts us to the end of the Christian race.
But the apostle views himself not only as a Christian, but
as a minister of the New Testament, and therefore he
views life as desirable.
2. That he might honorably close his ministerial exertions. That I may finish, says he, my course with joy,
and ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus.
Here you behold the author of the gifts and the graces
of ministers, "the Lord Jesus."  The Lord had said of
Paul, "he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name
unto the Gentiles.  And he had received his ministry of
the Lord Jesus.  The subjects of his ministry came from
him, or he taught him to preach human depravity —the
atonement of Christ, and the influence of the Spirit, and to
be witness unto all, for Jesus, of what he had seen and
heard.  His call to the ministry was from the Lord Jesus.
He told him to publish the gospel, and immediately he
conferred not with flesh and blood. He was an apostle not
of man, nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the
Father.  His qualifications for the ministry came from
the Lord Jesus-he gave him a freedom of speech —he
469




254                DISCOURSES OF
made him apt to teach-he furnished him with wisdom and
knowledge-he made him a minister that needed not
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. His
success in the ministry was from the Lord Jesus-he
made him fruitful and he made him useful-he opened the
hearts of his hearers-he attended his message with the
power of his Spirit-he gave testimony to the word of his
grace. Thus he assisted him in his work-owned him as
an honored servant, nor suffered him to labor in vain, or
spend his strength for naught.  Now, he wishes to close
this ministry with joy.  He does not want to leave it, to
quit it for worldly ease; but to go on in it to the end of
his life. Hie does not wish to grow weary in well doing;
but to persevere to the last; and thus finishing his work,
he would do it with joy, as he would review instances of
usefulness, and behold the grace of the Lord of the harvest, in raising up more laborers to enter into his vineyard.
A minister closes his work with joy when he reviews instances of usefulness, when he knows that there are many
whom he may view as his joy and crown of rejoicing-that
he shall have to say of a goodly number, here am I, Father,
and the children which thou hast given me. Thus our
Lord rejoiced at the close of his labors, saying, "I have
given them thy word; I have finished the work which thou
gavest me to do." So also does the good minister finish
his course with joy, when he beholds other laborers crowned with success in the vineyard; when he dies with the
full confidence that Zion's glory increases, and that the
work of the Lord is promoted.  He rejoices that others
shall enter into his labors, and that by their exertions the
Saviour will be honored when he is cold in dust. Thus
he rejoices, that instead of the fathers he raises up the
~1';'0




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             255
children, and that the Saviour's name shall be known to
all generations.. Happy man!  Like Simeon, thou shalt
depart in peace; like him, thou shalt have the Saviour enclosed in thine arms, and eternal glory full in thy view.
Let those of us who are aged in the ministry imitate
the apostle's example.
Students, be diligent; honor Christ and the Holy Spirit;
aim sincerely to do good; be not afraid of difficulties; let
us go on, &c., &c.
In so doing, we shall both save ourselves and those that
hear us.  Amen.
471




256                 DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XXI.
GOD'S GRACIOUS REGARD FOR THE PENITEFT.' Hle looketh upon men, and if any say I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profitted me not; he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the
light."-JoB xxxiii. 27, 28.
How desirable a thing is genuine penitence; it appears
eminently so from the attention God pays to it; from the
salutary and holy feelings it calls into exercise; from the
blessed effects which arise from it to the penitent individual, for " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy;"
from  the pleasure it occasions in heaven, for " There is
joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."  All this you may see in the testimony of God, and in the experience of every true penitent.
O that you may see it in your own!
We will endeavor now to gain instruction upon this sub
ject, from the passage I have read to you, a passage re;
plete with consolation, and fraught with the richest truths.
O that while we meditate upon it, its goodness and suitableness to our case, its kind report of the mercy of the
Lord Jehovah, may dissolve our hearts in thankfulness, and
melt our eyes to tears! "He looketh upon men, and if any
say I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and
472




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              257
it profited me not, he will deliver his soul from going into
the pit, and his life shall see the light." Observe here,
how this textI. Presents to us the extent of the divine inspection,
" He looketh upon men."
II. Unfolds the language of genuine repentance, "I
have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it
profited me not."
III. Discovers the triumphs of reigning grace, "He
shall deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life
shall see the light."
And all these things are closely connected together; for
the truth of my text is, that God, in surveying the different ranks of men, beholds a penitent individual, hears his
earnest cry, and forgives him the iniquity of his sin, We
say, then, that our text, —
I. Presents to us the extent of the divine inspection.
"Jehovah  looketh upon men."  God's omniscience
ought to make us adore and tremble; for He confines not
his observation to the heavens, in which he more particularly dwells, but he also looketh upon men. Though He
surveys the bright armies of saints and angels, who are
ever before him, hearkening to the voice of his word, yet
he also looketh upon men. Mortals are beheld by him.
The inhabitants of the earth are looked on as grasshoppers, yet not ohe escapes his notice. He watches over their
actions, and there is no darkness, or shadow of death,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves from
his eye. The text teaches us that he looketh upon men
473




258               DISCOURSES OF
universally, and at once. I say, he surveys men universally. He looks upon all the tribes and conditions of men,.
from the helpless babe to the hoary sage; he sees them all.
Every one of the human race must exclaim, " Thou God
seest me!" For " the eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect before him."  " The
Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in
heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of
men."  " O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me:
thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off; thou compassest my path
and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways;
for there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou
knowest it altogether: thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me." Thus he does from
his throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; and here the
wise and the illiterate, the righteous and the wicked, the
just and the unjust, meet together; the Lord is the observer of them all! So he surveys them at once. He
looketh upon men, he sees them all at one glance, in one
view; his eyes behold all that is done upon the face of the
earth, and the darkness and the light are both alike to him.
At once the Lord looketh from heaven upon the children
of men, for " the ways of man are always before the eyes
of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." The eyes
of the Lord are at one moment in every place, beholding
the evil and the good. " Can any hide himself in secr(t
places, that I should not see him, saith the Lord? Do not
I fill heaven and the earth, saith the Lord?" " All things,
then, are naked and open before the eyes of Him with
whom we have to do." Yet are there, amongst the numero
474




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.                259
ous objects which engage his notice, some particular ones
that attract his special and marked attention; while he sees
all, some he observes with peculiar pleasure, as well as with
the nicest inspection; for "; Though the Lord be high, yet
hath he respect unto the lowly;" his name is holy and he
dwells on high, yet to that man he looks, and with him he
also dwells, that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at his word.  For among all the tribes of men that
pass before him, it is not the rich man, it is not the mighty
man, it is not the self-righteous man, that attracts his notice; but he that confesses his sins with " a humble, lowly,
penitent, and obedient heart." He sees and he loves to
see, he hears and he loves to hear, the man who says, " I
have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it
profited me not." Having attempted to illustrate the text,
on the divine inspection, let us now behold how itII. Unfolds the language of unfeigned repentance.
For here God fixes his eyes upon one who says, " I have
sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited
me not." The man who makes a confession like this, is far
better in the sight of God, than he who says he has no sin,
and thus deceives himself.  The humbled publican shall go
down to his house justified, rather than the vaunting
pharisee. This is a confession which deserves attention;
it is one that will suit us all. It is a confession, an acknowledgment, 1st, of having committed enormous crimes,
"I have sinned;" 2d, of having abused the best of blessings, " I have perverted that which was right;" 3d, of having experienced disappointment from sinful pursuits, " and
it profited me not." This is, I say,1. A confession of having by sin offended against God.
475




260                DISCOURSES OF
He says, c" I have sinned." Like Job, a penitent appears
to say, "' Behold I am vile." "1 I have sinned, what shall
I do unto thee, 0 thou Preserver of men?" Like David
to Nathan, he says, " I have sinned against the Lord."
Like the prodigal, he cries, saying, "  Father, I have sinned
against Heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy
to be called thy son." I am 1" verily guilty concerning
this thing." Wherever the Spirit of God has begun to
work upon the soul, there will be this sense of unworthiness; this conviction of sin; this inward consciousness
that all has not been right between God and the soul.
" God be merciful to me a sinner," is a cry which the great
God knows well would suit us all. " I have sinned." Born
in sin and shapen in iniquity, as I grew up to manhood I
gave awful proofs of the depravity of my nature. I neglected God and prayer; I secretly loved and cherished
sin; I walked in the broad road that leadeth to destruction. There must be a measure of shame and confusion of
face upon every one of us, when we approach a holy God;
and the true penitent, feeling that it is of no use to attempt
to conceal sin, because God looketh upon men, and knows
it all; I say, being conscious of this, he confesses and forsakes his sin. He sees his guilt and shame, and casts himself upon the pure, free mercy of God in Christ.
2. This is a confession of having abused the best of
blessings. " I have perverted that which was right." That
is, thy holy providence gave me many peculiar and rich
favors, which I employed to a bad purpose, or entirely neglected: a true penitent confesses that the goodness of God
had not, till lately, led him  to repentance.  There are
various right things, excellent blessings, which, in the state
of nature, we have perverted. Divine forbearance is a great
476




REV, THOMAS SPENCER.               261
good; for, "' It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not
consumed;' and yet, perhaps I am addressing some, who,
because sentence against an evil work has not been executed
speedily, have their hearts fully set in them to do evil.
This was perverting that which was right. The time of
youth is a season of peculiar importance, and gives special
advantages; but how many a penitent has had to regret that
he perverted it, wasted its precious hours, and his own
strength, in the ways of folly and sin; did not remember
his Creator in the days of his youth, but passed them in
carelessness, or perhaps in open depravity!  Health is a
great blessing, but how little have we estimated it, how
much have we perverted and abused it! forgetting to be
thankful for the favors we have received, we have not glorified the God " in whose hand our breath is, and whose are
all our ways." Time is a great blessing, but how have we
squandered it, idled it away in unnecessary visits, perhaps
in unlawful amusements, or tried to kill time, while, in fact,
time has been gradually killing us! Providential supplies
are great blessings; but we have perverted them by luxury,
by profaneness. The tables of the luxurious man cry out
against him; you may fancy that they groan under the
weight of the abused creatures of God. The glutton, the
wine-bibber, the man that is prodigal in any thing, perverts
that which is in itself right.  Money, property, possessions, are all right in themselves, but foolish man perverts
them all.  But oh, a true penitent most of all regrets that
he has abused the Bible, and the publication of the gospel.
" The law of the Lord is right, the commandment of the
Lord is perfect and pure;" yet, oh, may a penitent say,
How I abused it, how I neglected its calls, its invitations,
its promises! How I refused to behold Christ crucified,
477




262                DISCOURSES OF
to look unto the Saviour of sinners! I perverted that
which was right; despising the book, the day, the people
of God: so have I abused the best of blessings.
3. This is a confession of having experienced disappointment in the ways of sin. I have done all this, "and it
profited me not." * Some men foolishly and wickedly say,
It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself
in God; but every penitent can truly testify, that the way
of transgressors is hard, and that it ensures disappointment
and dissatisfaction,-" it profiteth me not."  Now can I
testify that it is all vanity and vexation of spirit. We may
try the pursuit of gold, of fame, or of lawless pleasure;
but, " What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?"  " For when ye were the servants
of sin, what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye
are now ashamed?" The sincere penitent confesses, that
he was quite mistaken in the hope of happiness from the
world; that as yet he has not obtained it; that all has
been delusion and deceit; that he has grasped at shadows,
and thus proved his own folly and misery.  "It profiteth
me not." Oh, sinner, if you never made this confession
before, I am sure you will make it on a dying bed; you
will then see that the things which now please and amuse
you, profit you not. O that you would now go and tell
this to God before that solemn hour arrives. Htumbled for
sin, confess the cheat the world has played on you; it has
profited you nothing.
III. My text discovers the triumph of reigning grace.
" For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  " I have, surely," says God, " heard Ephraim be478




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               263
moaning himself thus: Thou hast chastised me, and I was
chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; turn
thou me, and I shall be turned, for thou art the Lord my
God.  Surely, after that I was turned, I repented; and
after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was
ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.  Is Ephraim  my dear son?  Is he a
pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled
for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the
Lord."  "Whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall
find mercy." This humble penitent, who sincerely makes
the confession I have mentioned, and looks to the Redeemer,
obtains grace in his sight; for the Lord1st, prevents his soul from enduring eternal perdition.
2d, raises him to the everlasting enjoyment of divine
illumination.
1. The Lord prevents his soul from enduring eternal
perdition. " He will deliver his soul from going into the
pit:" evidently implying, that to a pit of misery he was
rapidly tending, and of falling into it was afraid; perhaps
he was saying, " Let not the water-floods overflow me,
neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit
shut her mouth upon me." Then God says, " Deliver him
from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransom."
Jesus is a sufficient Saviour, I will accept him for his
righteousness' sake, It may be, that there is here a reference to the grave, in allusion to which, it is said in Scripture, "They shall go down to the bars of the pit, where
our rest together is in the dust." But does it not rather
479




264                DISCOURSES OF
refer to that awful pit of destruction, mentioned in the 20th
chapter of the Revelation, where Satan is bound, where
sinners are lost?
"Behold," says a penitent, "for peace I had great bitterness, but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from
the pit of corruption; for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back."  Jesus, the Redeemer, then, delivers us
from the wrath to come, saves from the power of death and
hell; he prevents our souls from going into the pit, from
whence there is no redemption. On us the second death
hath no power.
2. The Almighty raises him to the perpetual enjoyment
of divine illumination.  " And his life shall see the light."
This implies the dispersion of his melancholy, the introduction of happiness and peace to his soul: for, through the
grace of the great ransom, Jesus, 1" the people that walked
in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined." But further, this expression carries our thoughts
to the period when we shall behold the light of heaven:
for God intends to bring every believing penitent to that
city of which it is written, that God and the Lamb are the
light thereof.  We, " who truly repent and unfeignedly
believe his holy gospel," shall possess the inheritance of
the saints in light, shall be for ever illuminated and, encircled by the rays of the Sun of righteousness, and so
shall we be ever with the Lord.  The Lord shall be our
light, our God shall be our glory, and the days of our
mourning shall be ended.
Learn from the subject,The richness of God's pardoning mercy, extending even
to sins of perverseness.
480




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              265
The madness of impenitent sinners: they must be banishod to the pit, never to see the light.
The importance of imploring daily a penitential spirit:
we sin daily, therefore beg always for mercy. Believe in
the testimony of God, " I, even I, am he that blotteth out
thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
21            481




266                DISCOURSES OF
SERMON XXII.
THE SEARCHER OF HEARTS.
"All things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom
we have to do."-HEBREWS iv, 13.
WIHERE should a creature look, but to his Creator? and
what being should engage so much of our attention, as the
God that made us? 0 my soul, forget, forget thy trifling
cares; relinquish thy foolish chase after the world and sin,
thy eagerness for the things of time and sense, and look
upward to the Being who ever looks on thee.
Think on his perfections, adore him for his greatness,
and tell of the glorious majesty of his kingdom. He, my
hearers, who is God over all, blessed for ever, requires us
frequently to meditate on his ways; to consider in what
relation we stand to him; to remember our own accountableness; and to think how holy and reverend is his name.
We will therefore now contemplate that divine and holy
Being, who made us, preserves us, and before whose bar
we shall all shortly stand; we will remember, that to him
all hearts are open, all desires known; and that his power
no creature is able to control; " neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight;" but, says the pas482




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              267
sage I have read for my text, " All things are naked and
opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."
Let us then,I. Take that interesting view of Jehovah, with which
the text presents us: He is the God with whom we have
to do.
II. Glance at his penetrating omniscience as connected
with such a view of him, " All things are naked and open
in his sight."
III. Deduce from the subject some suitable reflections.
1. Let us take that interesting view of Jehovah, which
the text presents to us: as the God with whom we have to
do. Here you perceive the great God described, not so
much by what he is in himself, as by what he is to us:
here you are allowed to indulge no idle speculation upon
the nature of the Godhead, for you cannot by searching
find him out, nor trace the Almighty to perfection; but
you have the awful. relation in which you stand to him,
strikingly set before you. We might speak of God, indeed,
as happy in himself, as independent and self-existent, but we
wish to excite you to prayer; we want to urge you to adore
and tremble; and therefore, instead of answering your
fancies, pleasing your ears, or entertaining your imaginations by discussing those perfections of the Deity, or those
parts of his works, with which we are not so immediately
concerned; we shall rather lead you to view him as the
God, "with whom we all have to do." Yes, with this God,
"glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders,"
we shall have some solemn transactions, transactions that
will never be forgotten. Here I may address every one
of my hearers, whether a lost sinner, or an heir of God
483




268                DISCOURSES OF
through Christ, and say, It is He with whom thou hast to
do.  0 solemn thought! Ye careless sinners, ye artful
hypocrites, ye deluded votaries of sensuality and uncleanness, ye unholy and profane, ye all have to do with God;
there is to be a commerce between your souls and the great
Eternal. And ye blest saints that love him too, have communications to carry on with heaven, he is the God with
whom you have to do, in the way of solemn dedication,
habitual dependence, and lively hope that you shall be
found accepted of him.  HIe is indeed and in truth, the
God with whom we all have to do, especially on these memorable occasions;-in the seasons of religious exercises, —at
the day of death,-and at the last Judgment.  In each of
these times Jehovah is the God with whom we have to do.
Let us look at our vast concerns with him1. In religious exercises. And thus we shall be able to
ascertain the importance, and discover the solemnity of
our engagements at the throne of grace, and in the house
of God. Be it known unto you, men and brethren, then,
that when we pray and sing, and attend public ordinances,
we are carrying on commerce with heaven; we have to do
with God.  How ought the thought of creatures to be altogether banished from our minds, when we profess to worship! for the place where we stand is holy ground. The
worship in which we engage has Jehovah for its object, as
well as its minute observer; it is intercourse with Heaven.
It is having to do with'" the high and the lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity."' It is bringing our powers and our
services into his august and awful presence: it is dust and
ashes speaking to the great Lord of the universe, and begging him not to be angry with us.  Remember, ever remember, in all your acts of worship, the God with whom you
484




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             269
have to do.  Careless worshippers do not, will not recollect
that they are dealing with God! but oh, will they not be
destroyed by his anger,-and consumed by his fury; since
they are offering the Lord strange fire, which he commanded them not?
O that the great God we worship would himself convince us, and impress us with the truth, that we are, in
ievery act of prayer and praise, dealing with "the King eternal, immortal, and invisible!"
2. We have to do with God in the hour of death.  To
that solemn hour, every pulse we tell brings us nearer.
The youngest may say, Soon this hand will cease to move,
this throbbing heart be still.  And oh, as soon as we have
drawn our last gasp, and uttered our last sigh, we shall
have to do with God, in a way we never had before! " Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel:" thy God must be met
and terrible indeed will he appear to thee in that dread
moment, unless thou hadst before had dealings with him
through Christ, as the God of salvation, the hearer and
answerer of prayer! Yes, we shall have to do with him;
for he is corning to stop the warm current of existence and
call us to himself; we shall have to do with him; for yet
a little while, and he will call our spirits to his bar, and
take them kindly to himself, or assign them their lot with
the wretched beings on whom his wrath is poured out for
ever, without the least mixture of mercy. In the hour of
death, let every soul solemnly recollect, he shall have to
do with God; may it be to say, " Into thine hands I commit my spirit." "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord."
May the exchange be this: for me to give him a spirit redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and renewed by the
Spirit of God; and for him to give me heaven and himself
485




270                DISCOURSES OF
for my everlasting portion. Then I shall not regret, that
in death he will appear the God with whom I have to do.
Once more, we shall particularly have to do with God,3. At the last judgment.  " For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil."  We shall then have to do
with him: for he is coming in his glory, and all the holy
angels with him, sitting upon the throne of his glory; before him shall be gathered all nations: " for the hour is
coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his
voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto
the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto
the resurrection of damnation."  Is there not a "' day appointed in which the God with whom we have to do, will
judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he has
ordained?" Yes, he will in that day " judge the secrets of
men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."  " Why
then dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at
naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." " For it is written, As I live, saith
the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue
shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God."  The dead, small and great,
shall stand before God, the books shall be opened, and the
dead shall be judged out of those things which are written
in the books. We shall all have to do with God as our
King, our Lawgiver, and our Judge: we shall all stand
before him either pale, trembling and in despair, or in all
the ecestacy of holy joy. Each of us shall hear the voice,
Well done; or the sound, Depart.  Thus shall we have to
do with God at the last day.
486




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              271
Having endeavored to illustrate the view of Jehovah,
with which the text presents us; we will nowII. Glance at his penetrating omniscience, as connected
with such a view of him. For " all things are naked and
opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."
All things are naked and open to his view. He beholds
the whole universe, and every thing done in it. He knows
all that passes in heaven, for there he displays his glory,
and sees his servants ever before him, standing to hear his
wisdom, or occupied in singing his praise. The dark abodes
of despair, too, are inspected by him.  Hell is naked before him, and destruction is without a covering.  But his
minute attention to individuals, is what I wish to enforce
upon you now, that you may see how every mortal is immediately concerned in the omnipresence and omniscience
of Jehovah; for " all things are naked and opened to the
eyes of him with whom we have to do."
They are exposed to his view, they are marked by him.
All the things we did in our infancy, in our youth, and all
we are doing now.  This shows us, I remark, by way of
distinction and impression, that he is acquainted-with our
state, —our feelings,-and our characters.
I. He knows well our state.  It is naked and open before him. The God with whom we have to do, perceives
accurately the circumstances of our condition.  At once
he knows, whether we are " in the gall of bitterness, and in
the bond of iniquity," or whether we have been " translated
into the glorious liberty of the children of God."  " Be
not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap." A hypocrite's heart alway lies naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we
487




272                DISCOURSES OF
have to do.  Christ's members and ministers may be deceived, in the estimation they form of a man's personal
religion, but God cannot be deceived.  As he looks now
upon this assembly, he knows, to the nicest certainty, who
fears him, and who fears him not: he recognizes the men
that have been in their closets in prayer to-day; he sees
the sincere worshipper, and distinguishes him from the cold
formalist, and the pharisaical professor. The state of every
one of us, as a child of God, or an heir of hell, is " naked
and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
2. So also he knows and is privy to all our feelings.
Those not accepted, which we foolishly think are locked up
in our hearts, and hidden from perception; he knows them
altogether.  The secret desires any of you may entertain
after sinful gratifications, and unhallowed pleasures, are all
witnessed by him, and recorded in his book. Your desires
to check conviction, to flee from remorse, to kill time, to
obtain worldly honors; all these "are naked and open to
the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." All your
hopes, whether well founded, or resting on false foundations, are all known to God.  All your attempts at selfdeception, or to deceive others.  Ah! he knows them all.
All your fears of dying, your dread of hell, these things
are ever before him.  The sensations of your mind, the
feelings of your heart, which prompt you to the performance of the actions you accomplish, he detects, he sees even
afar off. No wonder, then, that3. All our characters "are naked and opened to the
eyes of Him with whom we have to do." What we are at
home, and what we are abroad; what we are in the closet,
what we are in the family, what we are in the church, and
what we are in the world. The proportion of what is
488




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               273
called virtue, and what is styled vice, that forms our character, is "all known by Him with whom we have to do;"
and hence " There is no darkness, nor shadow of death,
where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves from
his view."
Almighty God, thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night,
And our most secret actions lie
All open to thy sight.'There's not a sin that we commit,
Nor wicked word we say,
But in thy dreadful book'tis writ,
Against the judgment-day.
"All things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with
whom we have to do."  Let us,III. Deduce from the subject some suitable reflections.
And oh! how this voice of God may be heard to urge us,1. To evince holy reverence. A being, like Jehovah,
privy to every thought, acquainted with all our ways, understanding even the secrets of our minds, should be
looked up to and addressed with holy awe. His name is
so holy and reverend, that when we approach him, we ought
even to rejoice with trembling. 0, let us never dare trifle
before him: let us entertain for him the highest sentiments
of veneration: let us not even mention his name, but with
the most solemn feelings of holy reverence; for we are not
worthy even to take his name upon our polluted lips. He
is in heaven, and we are upon earth; all the things we do,
and say, and think, are naked and open before him. Let
us think on him, then, with all reverence and awe.
2. Learn hence to practice devout circumspection.
489




274                DISCOURSES OF
Watch over your hearts, and guard against every sin, for
God's eye is ever upon you. Were an intelligent, upright,
and dignified fellow-creature always to inspect your actions,
ever to attend you, to witness all your conduct by night
and by day, would you not, oh! would you not, be, in
every respect, a different character from what you are?
And shall all this alteration of conduct be occasioned by a
fellow-creature's presence; and shall not the scrutiny of
omniscience alarm you? shall not the inspection of God
lead you to consider your ways? 0, set a watch upon
every thought and deed, for "all things are naked and
opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."
Let us learn3. To seek after internal sincerity. For oh, what a disgusting spectacle must the heart of the hypocrite present
to the God who " searcheth the hearts and trieth the reins
of the children of men!"  Oh, if every thing is witnessed,
known, and recorded by him, how essentially desirable is
it, that we should be upright characters; wearing no mask,
assuming no characters which do not belong to us! How
necessary that we should be Israelites indeed, in whom
there is no guile.
As God inspects us, O let him see that we wish to appear in our true light; that we have renounced the hidden
things of dishonesty; and now conduct ourselves with the
carriage which simplicity and godly sincerity warrant and
enjoin. O that we were but always sincere before God!
4. Learn to make perpetual approaches to the Lord
Jesus Christ. For in him alone have you a shelter from
the wrath of God, and a covert from the storm.  "Hide
me, O miy Saviour, hide." The Lord Jesus Christ renders
even the omniscience of God, a friend to sinners; for God
490




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.             275
beholds us in him, and accepts us for his sake. Nor need
any one who believes in his name, and loves and serves him,
at all fear, or be alarmed from the consideration, that " all
things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with
whom we have to do;" for he knows the desires of them
that fear him; he knows every act of worship, and approves them all. Interested in Christ, we can deal with a
holy God, with satisfaction, profit, and joy.  Escape for
thy life then, sinner, flee to him; nor need you fear, though
" all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him
with whom you have to do."
491




276                DISCOURSES OF
ADDRESS
AT LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF THE NEW CHAPEL.
" And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be
God's house." So said the patriarch Jacob on a memorable occasion, and so may we say, assembled as we are to
lay the foundation-stone of an edifice to God. We have
found out a place for the Lord-an habitation for the
mighty God of Jacob: beholding this spot of ground on
this interesting morning, a thousand delightful sensations
pervade our souls, and we are ready to anticipate the
presence of the Great Eternal in this place, or " is not this
the hill which God hath chosen to dwell in it for ever?"
Let us please ourselves with believing, that here holy incense shall ascend to God-that from this place the voice
of prayer and praise shall rise tuneful to the court of
heaven —that here pious men shall enjoy the sublime happiness of devotion-that here the ungodly and the sinner
shall be induced to begin their lives anew. How often may
many have to say, on the very ground we tread, " How
dreadful is this place! this is none other than the house of
God, and the gate of heaven."  The Master of worshipping assemblies, Jehovah, by whose call congregations assemble, and by whose blessing their souls are benefited,
may here afford his watchful care, his animating smiles:
we have every reason to believe he will do it, entreated by
the earnest and fervent supplications of the men he lQves;
492




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.               277
himself inclined to bless the gates of Zion, his eyes and
his heart shall be here perpetually; with pleasure will he
behold the favored spot; and in the liberality of his heart
afford to his assembled saints an earnest, a foretaste, a
lively representation of what those happy spirits know and
feel who are ever with the Lord.
We flatter ourselves, that the erection of an edifice like
this is the effect of benevolent feeling to mankind, and an
ardent love to the Great Lord of all.  We unite in endeavoring to maintain the honor of the Saviour's name,
and to support the glory of his cross. We feel, and deeply
too, the necessity of possessing somewhat more than this
earth can afford: we regard men as immortals, and we
know that there are blessings, without the enjoyment of
which, those souls will experience continued disappointment
here, and will languish forever in another world.  These
necessary and holy blessings, the Eternal has chosen to
communicate by the instrumentality of a preached gospel.
We know that Jehovah, in making up the number of his
elect, works by means; therefore it is that we endeavor to
bring that gospel, the report of which is indeed a joyful
sound, to the ears of mankind, praying that the blessed
Spirit would send it to their hearts. The erection of this
place is a, direct attack against-against whom? say my
hearers, alarmed at the idea of hostility-against the
Church of England? No! God forbid; the very reverse
of all this. We cheerfully take the present opportunity
of informing this numerous auditory, that the doctrines
which will be proclaimed on this ground will exactly correspond, will be just the same, with those contained in the
doctrinal articles of the Church of England, which are the
bulwarks of its faith, and may be read in most of the
493




278                DISCOURSES OF
Books of Common Prayer. Is it, then, you ask again, an
attack against any other congregation, or body -of professing Christians? My soul revolts and spurns at the idea;
for in the cause of Immanuel we wish cordially and constantly to unite with all those who believe in the Lord
Jesus, both theirs and ours. But in one word, this is an
attack directed against the kingdom of Satan, and the
prince of darkness.  Its object is the translation of our fellow creatures from his hateful power and dominion, and
their transition into the family of the blessed household of
their Redeemer. With the sword of the Spirit we wish to
combat the old serpent the devil. In this large and populous town he has maintained his seat, he has reigned and
triumphed: we long to see him fall, like lightning from
heaven; and hence we preach that glorious gospel, which
opposes his works, which rescues from his power, which
gives us to expect a final triumph over him  and his followers.
Here we expect that the preaching of the cross will be
heard-that self-righteousness will in no shape meet with
encouragement-that man will be represented as nothing,
and Christ as all in all. We erect no altar to an unknown
God, but are boldly confessing, that we wish every day to
approach the Father of Spirits, through the mediation of
God our Saviour, and all this by the gracious aid of the
Holy Spirit. And are any of us so hardened, through the
deceitfulness of sin, as not to wish that here many souls
may be born to God-may be trained up for heaven; or
shall we not, at the last great day, rejoice to see a goodly
company of men, who on this spot shall have met with the
Saviour Jesus, and commenced an honorable path to heaven.
We rejoice in the thought, that the cause is God's, and
494




REV. THOMAS SPENCER.              279
must prevail, and with pleasure we celebrate the growing
empire of our King. His church must flourish, because it
is purchased with his blood, and preserved by his grace. The
names of the several denominations among which it is scattered may be lost and forgotten, but its numbers shall increase, and its honors spread to the end of time.
The Episcopalian church may totter to the ground; the
Presbyterian church may be known no more; the Independent church may no longer exist as a separate body;
but the true church, made up of many of all these, and confined to no one of them, shall increase yet more and more,
and ever be acknowledged the Zion of the Lord, the city
of the Holy One of Israel.
This morning have we cause for gratitude, that amidst
the spread of infidelity, and a vain philosophy, the work of
God is not forgotten: that still his churches rise and
flourish; that still souls are born to God, and the saints
shout aloud for joy. In the sanctuaries where we worship,
we have the solace of our cares, a kind refreshment afforded us in our journey to heaven, and new light and joy
bestowed.  May all this be known amongst us-be known
by posterity when we are cold in death.
I cannot lose sight of the opportunity which this morning affords me, of assuring this large and mixed assembly,
that real religion is a personal thing; that the gospel we
preach must be believed, and its consolations enjoyed, or
there remains for us no hope of pardon or of peace.  My
fellow immortals, you have all sinned, and come short of
the glory of God; but we exhibit to you a blessed and
perfect Redeemer! Believe in him, and you shall not be
confounded world without end. And when I meet you in
an assembly far larger and more solemn than this, I mean
495




280                 DISCOURSES.
at the judgment day, you shall be accepted of him; yea,
believing in him, you shall then enter a temple, not made
with hands eternal in the heavens; and for ever adore the
hand that formed it, the grace that conducted us to it, and
the Saviour who fills it with his glory. Amen.
496