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The Life And Legacy Of Joseph Swain
This useful and worthy Baptist minister died very young, like the immortal Toplady, but the work of many years was pressed into a few, and the Lord used and honoured his instrumentality to the conversion of many souls; and though a century has elapsed since his death, his seraphic poem on "Redemption," with many of his precious, animating hymns of praise, with other works, serve to keep his memory fresh in the minds of God's people. He was born at Birmingham in 1761, and left an orphan at an early age. He was apprenticed to an engraver in his native place, but before he had finished his term he left and removed to London, where he had a brother in the same business. Here he…
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The Life And Ministry Of Richard Conyers
The name that heads this short article is worthy of a place amongst our former Christian leaders, from his intimate acquaintance with such men as Berridge, Newton, Thornton, Romaine, and others. He was born at Helmsley, in Yorkshire, on February 13th, 1725. He was early deprived of both parents, and was brought up by his aged grandmother. He was first sent to school at Coxwold, and afterwards, at a suitable age, to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was unwearied in his studies; and when still quite young, was appointed to a curacy at Overcarr, twelve miles from Helmsley, which he served for five years, when, on the death of the vicar of Helmsley, he was presented to that living. Like many others of his own…
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The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Medley
“Samuel Medley was born at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, on the 23rd of June, 1738, and was educated under his grandfather, Mr. Tonge, at Enfield. About the age of 14 he was apprenticed to an oilman in London; but this calling does not appear to have suited his active turn of mind, and he resolved to quit it as soon as possible. Accordingly, when the war broke out in 1755, amongst other offers held out as an inducement for young men to enter into the navy, there being one that apprentices might finish their time in the king's service, he resolved to leave his master, and turn sailor; so he entered as midshipman on board the Buckingham, 74-gun ship. His two brothers were already at sea.…
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The Life And Testimony Of Samuel Medley
Mr. Samuel Medley was for twenty-seven years the pastor of a Baptist church in Liverpool, but as he frequently preached in the metropolis, he was well know there, and in many parts of the country, where his labors were extensively useful. His views of divine truth were nearly the same as those of Dr. Gill; and although he was far removed from a party or bigoted spirit, he was too faithful to escape the revilings of many, who were willing to bury the doctrines of the gospel under the pretence of universal charity. In the latter part of his time, the sentiments of Mr. Fuller were beginning to prevail, but had not then obtained an entrance into the church at Liverpool, a circumstance for which…
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The Life And Testimony Of Thomas Goodwin
Dr. Thomas Goodwin was, it is well known, one of the ablest writers in defense of eternal election and particular redemption that this country ever produced. During a great part of his long life, he held fast of these doctrines with uniform consistency and died in the fullest assurance of their truth. In the account of his life and death, prefixed to the 5th vol. of his works, we have the following particulars of his triumphant departure. "In February, 1679, a fever seized him which in a few days put an end to his life. In all the violence of it he discoursed with that strength of faith and assurance of Christ’s love, with that holy admiration of free grace, with that joy in believing,…
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The Life And Ministry Of Augustus Toplady
Mr. A. M. Toplady. If ever a believer of modern times finished his course with joy, and was honored to bear his dying testimony to the truths of the gospel, it was the celebrated Mr. Toplady. For nearly two years before the Lord took his highly favored servant to himself, he was pleased to fill him most remarkably with the Holy Spirit, and to give him extraordinary foretastes of glory. He was delivered from all doubts and fears, and possessed the fullest assurance of an eternal salvation in Christ. In public ministrations he was sometimes carried out beyond himself, and appeared almost in an ecstasy while discoursing on everlasting love, full redemption, free grace, and absolute salvation. The divine consolations with which he was favored…
