1865 - Davis, R. A Memoir of the Rev. Richard Davis - CHAPTER II.

[Image of page 12]

CHAPTER II.

IN the year 1816 the ministerial oversight of Stourton Caundle, in the county of Dorset, was temporarily confided to me. According to my invariable custom, I prosecuted a house-to-house visitation of the parishioners. This proceeding, unprecedented in Stourton Caundle, caused unwonted surprise, and gave rise to some amusing scenes. Approaching one house, I saw a portly stalwart dame, standing erect and stiff in the doorway. On my asking permission to walk in, she defiantly placed her brawny arm across the entrance, and exclaimed, "No entrance here, sir, till we know who you are!" I smiled. Changing her tone, she said, "Pray, sir, are you the parson who preached here yesterday?" On my reply in the affirmative, I was allowed to enter, and we conversed and parted in perfect amity. In the course of this ministerial visitation, I discovered a shoemaker, named James Crocker, very poor

[Image of page 13]

debilitated in body, evidently hungering and thirsting after righteousness, but enjoying little of the consolations of the Gospel. Whenever I visited the parish, I felt it a sacred duty to read the Scriptures to, and pray with, James Crocker, his wife and two daughters, the only two children of Crocker I ever remember to have seen in his cottage. This ministerial act first called forth hostile remarks, afterwards occasional persecution of James Crocker. On one occasion I asked him what weekly relief he received from the parish. To my surprise he made no reply. I repeated the question. He answered with some hesitation, "Six shillings a week." I remarked, "You used to have seven shillings a week; and, wheat having risen, you ought now to have eight shillings a week. What is the cause of this?" He then told me, that a shilling a week had been taken off his allowance because he was reported to have complained to me of the parish, and to have given the parish a bad name. I asked him, "Who is your overseer?" He answered: "Mr. Richard Davis." I remarked, "I have met with no such person in this parish." "No, sir," said he, "nor are you likely to meet with him, for he lives at Woodrow Farm, which lies at some distance from the village."

I immediately mounted my horse, and rode to Woodrow Farm. When I knocked at the door, a young man opened it. I said to him, "I want to see Mr. Richard Davis, the overseer of this parish." "Sir," replied he, "I am the man." "Mr. Davis, I am come to complain of a shilling a week-having been deducted from the weekly relief granted to James Crocker on account of an accusation with which

[Image of page 14]

my name is connected. Being officiating minister of this parish, application ought first to have been made to me to ascertain whether the accusation was correct or not. It is not true. He never complained to me of the parish, nor ever in my hearing gave the parish a bad name." "Sir," replied Mr. Davis, "had any one but yourself told me this, I should have said that it was a falsehood. A gentleman made the declaration at yesterday's vestry." "Yesterday's Vestry, Mr. Davis; why, this is Monday. Surely you do not hold your vestry meetings on Sundays?" "Well, sir, we do occasionally meet in vestry in Church after the service is over." "Mr. Davis, I pronounce the accusation against James Crocker to be an untruth; and I think reference ought to have been made to me to ascertain whether it was correct or not, before anything was decided." "Sir, I cannot go against an act of vestry, but the law enables me to give a shilling to any poor person applying. I will tell James Crocker to apply to me weekly, and I give you my word, that as long as I remain overseer, he shall be no loser. And if, sir, you will be kind enough to inquire my character in our cottages, you will find me as merciful to the poor as most of us farmers generally are." According to his request, I inquired at several cottages, and found the poor universally to speak strongly in his favour. Being in the habit of giving away religious books, I sent to him, as I had done to others, a copy of the Homilies, as containing the doctrinal teaching of the Church of England, with a brief note, requesting him to read them, to compare them with the Bible, the only infallible standard of faith and practice, and to pray for

[Image of page 15]

the teaching of the Holy Spirit. To my pleasing surprise Mr. Davis promptly replied, requesting further religious instruction in his own house, more religious books for his own reading, and a supply to lend among his neighbours. This providential introduction to Mr. Davis led to religious intercourse, a lengthened correspondence, his acceptance as a missionary on my recommendation by the Church Missionary Society, and finally, his ordination, both Deacon and Priest, by Dr. Selwyn, Bishop and Metropolitan of New Zealand. To God be all the glory.

The following extracts from his letters, written to me in the interval between my first acquaintance with him and his resignation of Woodrow Farm, consequent on his engagement by the Church Missionary Society, clearly evince his growth in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Redeemer.

HIS OWN RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

"I hope the glory of God lies near my heart. Oh that my heart was all the Lord's! Oh that my whole will was swallowed up in God's will! I am at present, dear kind sir, rather cast down on account of indwelling sin, and looking back on my past sinful life. I know, that if ever I reach the realms of bliss, it will be entirely through the merits of my dear Redeemer. All glory be to God, when I consider my state one year ago! I hope and trust that, through His grace, I have made some considerable progress in the Divine life. But of late I have had hard thoughts, and have feared that I had not an interest in the

[Image of page 16]

Redeemer. But why should I disbelieve His precious promise, 'He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' 'Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.' My wish is to lie low in the dust before my God, and in the sight of man.

"There is nothing in this world worth living for but God, and to be employed in His service. If there is nothing for me to do for God, my wish would be to die. To repeat the language of the immortal Brainerd, 'I would not wish to outlive my usefulness.' There seems no prospect of my doing any good in this place. I hope and trust the Lord will be my helper. After a few more rising and setting suns are past; oh, happy thought, you, sir, who have sowed, and I, who have reaped from your instruction, by the grace of God, shall meet in glory to part no more.

"I adjure you, my dear sir, if you see me acting in any way inconsistently with the precepts of the Gospel, to give me a reprimand. Oh, sir, what an unworthy sinner I am! Oh that my heart within me were as humble as the very dust! I would infinitely prefer to die, rather than dishonour the cause of my God; a cause far dearer to me than life itself. But my heart is deceitful. I cannot trust it. I sometimes hope it will not be long, and at the farthest period it cannot be long, before, through the merits and intercession of our Divine Redeemer, we shall meet in glory.

"I find my knowledge very deficient, particularly as to grammar. In the Life of St. Paul there are many words I cannot understand. Please to send me the title of the

[Image of page 17]

best dictionary proper for my use. My soul, sir, is athirst to drink deeper into the mysteries of the Gospel. I hope I may now say, that I feel myself grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

"I fear, dear sir, I have scarcely a true friend on this earth besides yourself, on whom I can rely, or who will deign to look upon me. But I hope and trust that the Lord is my friend and supporter, and will continue to be so through the countless ages of eternity. Oh for a strong faith to rely on Him! I hope it is the desire of my heart that God may be glorified in all things. The motto I would put on myself is--unworthy.

"I am rather low in spirits, but, nevertheless, my soul is resting on the Rock of Ages. How great is the love of God towards such an unworthy, undeserving sinner! I have been refreshed this week by reading the experience of Major-General Burn. There I can read the workings and feelings of my own heart.

"On Sunday last I derived a very great benefit from reading the Life of Rev. Thomas Robinson, of Leicester. I found my own state described therein, and it was a comfort to find that mine was not an unusual case. How lovingly has the Lord been leading me on from step to step! On the 19th of June, when I was reading Scott's Bible on the Fall of our First Parents, the Lord in His goodness was graciously pleased to teach me the nature of original sin more clearly than I had ever understood it before. The 30th of June, my soul was in a great measure set free from reliance on frames and feelings. God graciously blessed the reading of Romaine's Life of Faith

[Image of page 18]

to my soul; so that I hope it is set at liberty in Christ. The Life of Faith is a most excellent book, and has been blessed by God very greatly to my soul. Oh, what reward shall I give unto the Lord for all his benefits! I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I declare with the Psalmist, 'Gracious is the Lord and righteous, yea, our God is merciful.' To Him, and to His free and sovereign grace, be all the glory.

"I find myself very far from what I wish to be. I cannot lift up myself in prayer, as I could wish. But I hope the Lord in His own good time will cast a ray of Divine light into my soul. I can now say with the Prophet: 'Oh that it was with me as in times past.' But this text has come into my mind: 'As many as I love I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent.' Oh that I may be one of the number whom the Lord doth love! Oh that my repentance may be sincere and acceptable in His sight! For I have to repent of everything I do, because in all things there is sin, even in my best actions.

"When I consider the sinless perfection of my dear Redeemer--when I consider that St. Paul hath said: 'As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ' --when I consider that I myself, by my sureties at the baptismal font, solemnly promised to walk in all God's holy ways, keeping in the path that He hath marked out for me to the end of my life--that I by my sureties renounced sin, the world, the flesh, and the devil--I would question my own heart, How in my journey hitherto through this vale of tears have I kept my promise? Where must I go to learn I My heart says: 'Search the

[Image of page 19]

Scriptures,' especially the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of St. Matthew. Then all the good works, which my deceitful heart or neighbours say that I have done, fall to the ground. I give to God the glory. I seek not the praise of men, but of God only. I hope and trust that I have your prayers. Continue to pray for me, that I may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the end of my days.

"I trust, through the merits of my Saviour, that I may number myself among the brands plucked from the burning, through the adorable grace of God. I fear my weakness and the corruption of my nature. Yet I trust that the Lord will not leave the good work unfinished, but that He will be the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. Oh, how unworthy am I of so great love as that of my Saviour! Oh may the Lord make me as humble as I have been and still am wicked! I see wickedness still in my best actions. I see, I feel, that I am nothing, but for the merits of Christ. Yet I know that faith without works is dead. My chief desire is to lead my life so that it may be to the glory of God. 'God be merciful to me a sinner.'"

ANXIETY AND PRAYER FOR THE SALVATION OF HIS PARENTS.

"I went yesterday to see my father. He seems to be on the brink of the grave. He does not seem to realize the power of redeeming love, though he has seen his lost estate by nature, and his need of a Mediator. He seems to wish to cast all his care upon Christ, and to trust to

[Image of page 20]

Christ alone for pardon and salvation. Have we not, dear sir, a well-grounded hope of his pardon and reconciliation with God through the merits of Christ, although he is unable to rejoice in redeeming love? I have some hope also of my mother being brought to Christ and grafted into Him, the true Vine. Oh what a comfort it will be to me to live to see both my parents rejoicing in Christ, and in His redeeming love! I hope I shall continue to pray for this blessing daily.

"I have seen my father again this day. He spoke to me very much of Cennick's Sermons, in reading which he was greatly delighted. Please to procure a copy for me to give to him. I trust that they will be blessed by God's grace to his sorrowful soul. What a comfort it is to me to see my father with his face Zionward. I really believe that the Lord is teaching and guiding him by His Holy Spirit. I have likewise good hopes of my mother, which fill my soul with joy. I have one only sister, who is a communicant. May the Lord open her eyes to understand the saving truths of the Gospel, that she may receive the inward spiritual grace as well as the outward visible signs of that sacrament instituted and ordained by Christ Himself."

ARDENT DESIRE TO BECOME A MISSIONARY.

"I thank you for your kind instructions in regard to my desire to labour for the poor heathen. It is my wish to have my every will sweetly swallowed up in God's will, and for my every wish to centre in His glory. Yet in all

[Image of page 21]

humility I would say with David: 'I had rather he a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the richest tents of ungodliness.' It is my wish and desire to be guided entirely by the Spirit of God, as I am convinced that none can do any good, go where they will, unless they are called and sent by God Himself, and are under the guidance of His Spirit.

"Should the Sunday-school be closed against me from any cause, I shall have no desire whatever to remain in Stourton Caundle. Believe me, dear sir, if my abilities were equal to the task, I would rather inhabit the deserts of Arabia, instructing the poor ignorant heathen, and devoting my whole time to the glory of God. Yet I know it is my duty to be content in that state of life in which it has been the will of God to call me, and my desire is to submit in all humility.

"When reading the Missionary Registers you lent me, my heart seemed so attracted towards the poor perishing heathen, that I could freely have given up my all, together with myself, for their good. Now, sir, this is seemingly out of my power and beyond my line of life; and I know it is my duty to be contented and thankful in whatsoever state of life the Lord is pleased to place me. Yet I almost envy those who are labouring in this righteous cause of instructing the heathen in foreign lands. But if I cannot labour among the heathen, it is my wish to labour here, and to do as much for the promotion of God's glory through His free grace in Christ Jesus, as I am able in the state of life wherein His kind providence hath placed me. And as the Lord has been pleased to bless me with a son, I

[Image of page 22]

desire to devote that son to God in all humility, humbly hoping that he may be an instrument in God's hands for the instruction of poor heathen in foreign lands. Now, dear sir, the first desire of my soul is to drink as deeply as I can into the spirit of our most holy religion, that I may glorify God in all things. And, in addition to learning for the benefit of my own soul, I wish to learn that I may be enabled to instruct my dear child, when he shall be old enough to learn. I hope and trust I have the glory of my God in view. It is my earnest desire to give to my dear boy all the education in my power. And if I do not know myself, how shall I be able to instruct him? I trust to your better judgment to instruct me, how I can best proceed to promote the glory of the despised cause of a crucified Redeemer.

"It is my wish, dear sir, to live only to God and for God. As I said before, I know it is my duty to be content with my station in life. Yet I cannot help expressing a wish, that it had been my lot to have been given up to God even in the meanest office of His sanctuary. My heart seems to be in Hindoostan, among the poor heathen, wishing entirely to be given up to God without any encumbrance from the world. Were I qualified, I should like to give up myself to the poor heathen in the meanest and lowest office.

"Pardon my again requesting you to be urgent with the committee in behalf of my going in the strength of my God to India. How do my bowels yearn over these dear Jewish people! The thought of being near or among them makes me very desirous to go to India. If the Lord should please

[Image of page 23]

to send me there, and make me useful even in the least degree, to Him be all the glory! It is the believer's privilege to rejoice that he is nothing, and that Christ is all in all.

"Oh that the Lord may make us all willing to go where His providence shall see fit to send us! It has been my wish for some time to live more in the immediate service of God. And now, to all human appearance, my wish seems to be on the eve of accomplishment. Oh that the Lord would take my poor heart, and make it all His own, that I may no longer live to myself, but unto Him who died for sinners!"

SPECIAL TEMPTATIONS AND SINS TO WHICH FARMERS ARE EXPOSED.

"How vexing to my soul is indwelling sin! Every one, I consider, has his besetting sin. But in my line of life every track is full of snares, sins, and temptations. If you go to market, there is nothing but cheating, overreaching, cursing, swearing, lying, drunkenness, etc., etc. At a sale it is the same, and much more so at fairs. So that at times I am almost weary of my life by reason of abounding sin. But God says: 'My grace is sufficient for thee--according to thy day so shall thy strength be.' Oh that I could serve my God more fervently! Oh that I could do more for that God who has done such great things for my soul!

"Sir, I have this day been to market. Oh, the wickedness of the world! To how much sin is the life of a farmer exposed!"

[Image of page 24]

ABOUNDING IRRELIGION.

"The more I see of the world, and the more I feel of the power of religion in my own soul, the fewer people I can discern in the road to heaven. In this parish, whereof the population is between 300 and 400 souls, there are not above three or four who seem to be going heavenward. What a lamentable fact is this! And what must I expect to find in Ireland, if the Lord shall see fit to send me there, where there is little else but ignorance and superstition.

"Oh, sir, what a sink of irreligion is our land! Both ministers and people are gone out of the way. But the Lord has reserved unto Himself a remnant according to the election of grace. He is adding daily to the true Church such as shall be saved. That He may add more and more, may God of His infinite mercy grant!

"On recently conversing with one aged eighty-six years, I find him totally ignorant of the scriptural plan of salvation, though he has acted as parish clerk in this county above forty years. He does not like my books nor my doctrines, and thinks that if these doctrines were preached in the Church, they would drive men to despair. I hope the Lord will awaken him and bring him to salvation. By the grace of God he shall hear gospel truths from me. Poor man! he seems scarcely ever to have heard such before. What a lamentable case!

"If any one were to tell the people of this vicinity, at least some of them, that they knew not God, he would be considered a strange sort of gentleman. But the fact cannot be denied. How can a child know his father before

[Image of page 25]

he is born? How can any one know God before he is born of God? We read: 'He that is born of God doth not commit sin.' Then if we allow ourselves in sin, we cannot be born of God. Unregenerate Christians may hear of God and read of God, but they do not know God experimentally, as the regenerate Christian does. I consider the state of such people to be worse than that of the heathen. For when they hear of God, they glorify Him not as God, but by their works entirely deny Him. Such are without excuse, and most deplorable will be their state if they repent not.

"You cannot conceive the wickedness of this parish. The greater part of the poor settle with the shopkeepers on Sunday mornings, when great disputes often arise concerning their accounts, causing swearing, lying, etc. etc. The poor are greatly cheated in many ways by the shopkeepers. Three loaves of bread were taken from one shop before the magistrates, and were found to be fifteen ounces deficient in weight. I trust that Rev. Harry Parr Yeatman of Stock House will make the baker to smart for his dishonesty. ------ has withdrawn his children from our school.

He spends part of his Sunday in looking over the accounts of the shopkeepers, and drawing bills for them. What a stumbling block is a barren professor! I fear that I have been deceived by this barren professor. But he shall have a sharp lecture from me before next Sunday, God willing."

PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

"How beautiful is the Parable of the Sower. Ministers

[Image of page 26]

must sow, but the free grace of God alone can give the increase. AN UNCONVERTED MINISTER RESEMBLES A MAN SOWING CHAFF IN AN UNPLOUGHED FIELD. The Seed of a spiritual minister falls according to the Lord's direction. Where the terrors of the broken law have ploughed up the heart, there the seed of the glorious Gospel is most likely to take root. Until the human heart is broken down by perception of the weight of sin, and sees its nothingness, and its total inability to save itself, it can never receive the seed of the Gospel savingly. The seed of the Gospel sown on the natural heart resembles the sowing of the husbandman who has omitted to plough his land. Some small portion of the seed may come up, but soon dieth away, and is seen no more. But after the heart is once thoroughly convinced of sin, and of its lost and fallen state, and is made willing by the free grace of the Gospel to accept the doctrine of Jesus, and not only made willing, but longeth ardently after the salvation held forth by Christ in the Gospel, on that soul and in that soul the glorious Gospel will bring forth in abundance."

BRAINERD.

"Be so kind as to lend me the Life of Brainerd once, more. How dearly do I love that book! When reading it, I can follow him in all his proceedings. Although he is dead, he yet speaketh. Happy soul! thou art landed safe on the happy shore, where thou art daily receiving fresh acquisitions to thy happiness by the daily arrival there of thy spiritual converts. How may we contemplate him

[Image of page 27]

casting his crown down to the ground before his adorable Saviour; his happy soul quite swallowed up in rapturous wonder, love, and astonishment! My soul is almost swallowed up whilst I write on the subject. Oh, glorious Saviour, sanctify us thoroughly, that we may only live to and for Thee!

GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE OF HIS PEOPLE.

"The consideration has often refreshed me under my difficulties, that the Lord upholdeth all things with the word of His power, and that not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without the knowledge of our Heavenly Father. Oh, delightful thought, the hairs of our head are all numbered! How infinitely compassionate is the sacred Majesty of heaven thus to care for His people, to be their sun and shield! How lovely the frame of our minds, when our wills are sweetly lost in the will of our glorious Jehovah! Oh for hearts to love and trust Him for evermore!"

HAPPY DEATH OF CHARLES HAIN, FARMER, OF STALBRIDGE-NEWTON.

"One more I had expected to have joined our prayer-meeting, but the Lord has seen it best to take him to Himself. I have no doubt that he is now before the throne of that God for whom his soul thirsted and panted on earth, singing the praises of God and the Lamb. Whilst here, nothing seemed to satisfy him but Christ.

[Image of page 28]

Now, he rests where there is nothing but redeeming love. How sweetly by faith can I behold him before the throne of God, casting his crown down to the ground, and ascribing all honour, glory, and power to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. To the free grace of a Redeemer's love he ascribed his conversion. He knew that without Christ he was nothing, and could do nothing. Now, happy soul, he is gone to enjoy Christ for ever in glory. He was reproached for his religion by the world, especially by his own family. How meekly did he bear reproach; and doubtless, like His Divine Master, prayed fervently for his persecutors!"

REGENERATION BY GRACE.

"There is a death which every one born of God encounters; a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness. This death is not experienced by the natural man. Well does our Lord describe this death as a new birth. The natural man resembles the infant in its mother's womb, having ears but hearing not, having eyes but seeing not. Thus the unregenerate have ears to hear the Gospel, and eyes to read the Bible, but until the Holy Spirit comes with Divine power and anoints their eyes with eye-salve, they cannot discern their lost estate. This I feel and know, and this I can testify, that the free grace of God alone can save the soul from death eternal, and raise it from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. The natural man resembles the babe in the womb, which cannot give birth to itself. Man's regeneration is not from

[Image of page 29]

himself, but is the gift of God. From God alone we can have good desires. How entirely dependent is man upon God for grace both to will and to do. He who is born from above finds that nothing but the merits of Christ alone can save him, and plead His cause before the tribunal of a righteous God. No sooner does he throw himself humbly at the foot of the Cross, but the kind Redeemer stretches out His helping hand by means of some comfortable promise, and sets his feet upon the rock, and orders his goings.

"When the world perceives the great change wrought by the grace of regeneration, they join with Satan to make the way of the young convert as rough as possible, who then experiences the hatred of the world in all its various forms. Then the enmity of the carnal heart shows itself most conspicuously. Then the strict adherence of Christians to the Word of God, and the rules of the Gospel, is called needless precision. Then moderation in the pursuit of the things of time is termed indolence. They are designated hypocrites, the men who are turning the world upside down. Their meekness in bearing the calumny of the world is denounced meanness of soul. They are, like their Divine Master, despised and rejected of men. Poor, deluded, vain world, little dost thou think how welcome is the Cross of Christ to the sincere and faithful Christian! Little thinkest thou, that thou thyself by thy calumnies and reproaches art decking the Christian's crown with priceless gems, wherewith they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever."

[Image of page 30]

NOTHING BUT ASSURANCE OF FAITH CAN SATISFY THE NEW-BORN SOUL.

"Nothing but a firm assurance of faith, and of acceptance in the Beloved, with a realizing sense of the forgiveness of sins, can or will satisfy the new-born soul. I must and will, by God's grace, avouch this truth, let the world say what it will."