The Life And Testimony Of William Taylor
Gospel Standard 1860:
My dear Sir,—Agreeably to your desire I have enclosed a brief account of the peaceful departure of Mr. William Taylor, whom I have known for many years. He was an industrious mechanic, one that was but little noticed or known, but a most exemplary disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some pleasing traits of his character as a Christian may be gathered from the closing scene of his pilgrimage hereto annexed.
Moreover, he was a member of the church under the pastoral care of the late revered Mr. Huntington, and continued to attend on his ministry to the end of his labours, soon after which, by reason of deafness, he was prevented from attending upon the public ordinances with us. This defect of hearing, with other infirmities, increased, and followed him until the number of his days were fulfilled, and finally closed at the age of threescore and ten years.
The subjoined account was penned down by an intimate friend who was with him during his last illness, and is as follows:
“About three o’clock on Monday morning (August 26th) our departed brother (Mr. Taylor) was seized with all the alarming symptoms of the cholera, which increased rapidly. In the early part of the afternoon an intimate female friend was sent for. On seeing her, Mr. Taylor exclaimed, (Ah! Mrs. H., are you come to perform the last act of friendship? The Lord reward you for all the kindness you have shown me!”—and then he fell into prayer for spiritual blessings to descend on those who had kindly helped him. Mrs. H., in reply, said, ‘It is the Lord, Mr. Taylor, who raises up friends in the time of need.’ He then said to her, ‘Ah! the Lord has dealt very graciously and very kindly with me; his tender mercies are great; he will never forsake the work of his own hands.’ After this he was taken with a violent fit of vomiting, which greatly exhausted him, and that was followed by severe attacks of cramp and spasms, in the midst of which he said, ‘O Lord, if it be thy will to remove this cramp; but O give submission to thy godly wisdom.’ He then burst forth into such a flood of praise as was truly astonishing, blessing and praising the Lord most earnestly for a consider able time. When he got into bed he said, ‘O, Mrs. H., we don’t serve God for nothing. O what a mercy, in such an hour as this, not to have the Lord to seek now. Men may chatter about it when nothing is the matter with them, and all things go smooth; but to find God our help when we come into a dying hour—in distress and suffering—it is mercy indeed. Whom he loveth he loveth to the end. The faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God in Christ Jesus is precious indeed under such misery.’ At another time he said, ‘It is a hard conflict, the cramp and the other together, but it is done in wisdom.’ When one of his relatives came into the room, he said, ‘Ah, Mrs. B., almost gone, blessed be God!’ Being asked at another time, ‘How is all within,’ he replied, ‘All’s right! O the kind mercy of God in Christ Jesus.’ After dozing sometime, being asked, ‘How is it now, Mr. Taylor?’ he said, ‘Talking with God; I have much to do there.’ When he was tossing with agony, Mr. H. said, ‘Your sufferings are great, but I believe they will not last very long.’ He replied, ‘Let patience have its perfect work.’ Late in the afternoon Mr. H. called to see him again, but his agonies were so great and his features so distorted that he thought he would have no knowledge of any one, but he opened his eyes, and, with great vehemence, said, ‘Ah, I see you, my dear friend; God bless you; I have a hard conflict.’ Mr. H., said, ‘It is hard, but I believe it will soon be over.’ He replied, ‘I believe it will.’ At night another friend came to see him, to whom he said, ‘God Almighty bless you, Mr. N., and confirm a good hope in you to the end, and fix you on the eternal Rock.’ Mr. N. then said, ‘Mr. Taylor, do you find that your experience? Do you find yourself on this Rock?’ Mr. Taylor answered, vehemently, ‘Yes, I do, and all the storms and tempests cannot move me, blessed be God!’ About twelve at night all his powers were well-nigh exhausted, yet he seemed in prayer at different times, and when asked, for the last time, how was he within, he said, with great emphasis, ‘All’s well’—which were the last words he uttered. His eyes were soon fixed, and he became motionless, except the action of the lungs and gaspings for breath. About nine in the morning of Tuesday his breath grew shorter and shorter, until half-past nine, when, without a struggle, his breath, ceased. He put off mortality, and entered into his everlasting rest.”
“Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours: and their works do follow them.” (Rev. 14:13.)
T. Keyt
Sept. 2,1833.
P.S.—As I feel at present unwell, I cannot venture out to-day, therefore have sent this by the post, being well persuaded the expense will be no object with you, more especially as the matter contained in this is not a trivial thing, being nothing less than a saint’s translation from this dreary wilderness into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
May we, my dear friend, under the all-genial rays of the Sun of Righteousness, and the prolific, melting, and ripening operations of the ever-blessed Spirit, be made meet to be partakers of the glorious inheritance of the saints in light; and, if it be the good pleasure of God, that we may “finish our course with joy.” Amen.
William Taylor (1790-1860) was a sovereign grace believer. He was an industrious mechanic by trade, and a member of the church under the pastoral care of William Huntington.
