THE REV. JAMES DAWSON, THE subject of this short memoir was born in the parish of Silkston, about eight or nine miles from Huddersfield, in Yorkshire. Though he was not called to labour in the Lord's vineyard at a very early period of his life, yet it appears that the Spirit of God began to strive with him, at times, when he was very young. When he was a boy, he would ask such questions about God, Heaven, and the Scriptures, as - astonished even some aged people. He frequently said, there was something in religion he did not understand, and expressed a suspicion that he and many others were not right. When he heard, or read, of the new birth, he would say, that was the very thing he wanted. At an early age he began to make a public profession; but was afterwards unhappily seduced into a backsliding state, in which he continued for two years, and was more extravagantly wild than he had ever been before. During this interval, his conscience was too much enlightened to suffer him to be easy in his awful departure from the good ways of God. On being brought to a sense of the aggravation of his sins, an uncommon gloom seized his spirits, which continued for five years. His distress of mind, during this time, was so exceedingly great, as to bring him almost to the brink of despair, and reduce his body to a state of extreme weakness. To obtain some relief of mind, he was frequently led to those acts of mortification and penance, that would have led to suppose he was seeking remission of sins, rather by the direction of a father confessor, than by the promises and grace of Jesus Christ. His mother also endea voured to sooth his sorrow, by telling him what a dutiful Vol. IV. 3 K child child he had been---that he never had done wrong to any body, with such additional encouragements as are common to people ignorant of the Gospel. But she proved a miserable comforter. He frequently said, when adverting to this season of distress, that Mr. Boston's Fourfold State, in its description of the cutting off the branches from the old stock, and grafting them into Christ, came the nearest to his case of any thing he had ever met. But here he could take no satisfaction, because he supposed there was some peculiarity in his condition, which that author has not perfectly developed. Blessed be the Lord, the darkest and longest night of spiritual desertion is not without some glimmering ray, and shall be succeeded by a cheerful morning. At length that God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved him, set his captive soul at liberty while reading Mr. Hervey's Theron and Aspasio. There he saw, as in a glass, the way of justification, by the imputed righteousness of Christ, so clearly stated, and so ably defended, that he has since said, if he had a thousand souls, he durst have ventured them all upon that foundation. This important doctrine having been so clearly and satisfactorily unfolded to his view, after a season of such uncommonly deep distress, he became a skilful guide to poor souls, even before he entered upon his public ministry. It may be worthy of notice, that though he lived at a great distance from any place where the Gospel was preached, and seldom heard an evangelical sermon, except when Mr. Thorpe, of Rotherham, came into his neighbourhood, or he was able to attend on Mr. Venn's ministry at Huddersfield, yet he had acquired so large. a share of theological and experimental knowledge, as to enable him to pray and converse to the comfort and edification of a few serious people, with whom, at proper seasons, he was accustomed to assemble. After he had obtained these satisfactory views of the Gospel of peace, and had been, for a considerable time, established in the truth as it is in Christ, he began to think, if it were the Lord's will, he could like to devote himself eutirely to the work of the ministry, that he, thereby, might have an opportunity of shewing to poor sinners the way of salvation. His wishes were soon gratified; for, having approved himself to the religious friends who knew him, and their sentiments coinciding with his own, he was introduced into the academy at Heckmondwike, then under the care of the Rev. Mr. Scott. This was in the 29th year of his age. He and the Rev. Mr. Gulland, Gulland, now of Holmsforth, Yorkshire, were admitted at the same time, and became classmates. Of them their tutor has often said, they drew together like bullocks in a yoke. When Mr. D. had been at the academy almost four years, the congregation of Protestant Dissenters at Cleckheaton, near Halifax, became destitute of a minister; and, having had sufficient trial of his abilities, gave him a call to be their stated pastor. Of this, after due deliberation, he accepted, and continued with them nearly twenty-seven years. The congregation was small when he went, and some of the people not very evangelical in their principles. The church, if it might be called one, was formed in a manner that he did not approve. He therefore new modeled and established it upon the congregational plan. The chapel was also very small, and so much confined, as both to injure his health, and contract his usefulness. After he had been there some years, it was agreed upon to erect a new house, about sixteen yards long, and twelve wide. This was effected much to his satisfaction, it having made way for an increase of hearers, and for additional success. From this situation he had several times an opportunity of removing to his advantage; but it being his opinion that his great Lord and Master had placed him there, not only for the support of his cause among the people of his immediate charge, but for the defence of the Gospel in the neighbourhood, no offers could induce him to remove. He frequently observed, that though there was no par ticular period of his life, in which there had been a remarkable revival of religion, yet there was generally a good work going on among his people. This was abundantly evident to those who were acquainted with the congregation before and during his residence at Cleckheaton. His heart was apparently much concerned for the success of the Gospel. He often said, that he had rather be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, than the greatest monarch in the world; and wished neither for riches, honour, nor long life, so much as to be the happy instrument of converting sinners to God. Mr. D. laboured under a very nervous debility; a disease which often preys upon the spirits, and enfeebles the mind. Owing to this complaint, his exertions were rendered less than those of some of his cotemporaries; nay, for months together he has been incapacitated to preach, and when he has resumed his labours, the work of the sabbath has greatly exhausted him. Notwithstanding this debility, he had the happy talent of instructing his hearers in the great and important truths of the Gospel, above many others. Few men understood understood the great mystery of iniquity in the human heart, or the still greater mystery of redemption by Jesus Christ, better than he did. He was well qualified to direct poor sinners in the way of peace. He seldom preached without method and division, though his divisions were never very diffuse. This mode of teaching he preferred, because he thought it gave him easier access to the understanding of his hearers, and fixed what was said more deeply on their memories, than the multiplication of particulars, or their entire omission. The Jast discourse he delivered to his people was from Isa. lxii. 12. "And they shall call them the holy people; the redeemed of the Lord: And thou shalt be called, sought out, a city not forsaken. He was, however, prevented from prosecuting his design by that illness which terminated in his death. When first attacked, he yielded to this providence with great resignation; bore his affliction with considerable patience, and acknowledged the kindness of God to him through his whole life. He often spoke of the sufficiency. of the righteousness of Christ to justify him, and of his entire dependence on it for his acceptance, in such clear and expressive language, as greatly to please and edify those who waited on him. To his friends he said, "I find the promises of such support to my soul, as to carry me superior to all the Lars of death;" and added, "if the Lord please, he can raise me up, but his will be done; if he see meet to continue the affiction, his will be done; if he see meet to call me away by death, his will be done. He cannot err; whatever he does is right. I beg strength for the day, and grace to glorify him, whether it be by life or by death, and then his will be done.' The night before he died, Mrs. Dawson asked if he could, go to prayer. He said he was very feeble, but desired her to read a few verses. When she had done, he stood up behind his chair, and uttered, with great difficulty, a few sentences; among others were the following: "O Lord! I am come, for the last time on earth, to thank thee for all the mercies thou hast bestowed upon me; I beg thou wilt help me at this time, and I shall need no more." He committed himself, his relations, the church and congregation, most affectionately into the hands of God. To Mrs. D. he said, "I commit you to the mercy and care of the Lord Jesus Christ, and desire you to cleave to him with full purpose of heart; and then I hope, in a little time, we shall meet, to part no more." About three o'clock in the morning, being December 16, 1795, and the fifty-ninth year of his age, he said to Mrs. D. what what a pain in my side! but nature is dissolving, and it cannot be without pain." He then sat down, and breathed his last without a groan. Thus finished this eminent servant of Jesus Christ his mortal race, and received that crown of righteousness which fadeth not away. He has left behind him a disconsolate widow, to bemoan the loss of an affectionate husband, with whom she had lived happily in the conjugal relation above twenty-three years. He is succeeded in his pastoral charge by the Rev. Mr. Ralph, under whose care we hope the church will be both enlarged, and built up in faith and holiness. Mr. Dawson was a minister of a weak constitution, but of strong and manly powers. He was, in sentiment, a moderate Calvinist; in discipline, of the congregational denomination; in morals, rigidly exact. He possessed a considerable share of acquaintance with the plague of his own heart, and with the purity of the law of God. In the discussion of the doctrines of grace, he was acknowledged to be a workman who needed not to be ashamed. It has been said, "if he had a fault, it was in being over-tenacious of his own doctrinal sentiments;" but, between these and the goodness of his whole conduct, there was so great a correspondence, as to excite universal veneration and esteem. We are not fond of drawing comparisons between good men, but, without intending to disparage the gifts and graces of our brethren, we may venture to affirm, that the lives of few are more exactly modeled according to the apostolic direction. He was blameless as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word, as he had been taught." So strongly was he attached to his church, that no offer could induce him to leave it; nor were his people deficient in their returns; for in his frequent indispositions, when unable to preach for months together, they cheerfully procured supplies, without the least deduction from his income. A LETTER From the MISSIONARIES, on board the Ship DUFF, to the DIRECTORS of the MISSIONARY SOCIETY. E, the Missionaries, whom you, under the influences of our common Saviour, Lord, and Master, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the eternal Jehovah, have been inVOL. IV. 3 L strumental |