Memoir of Harlan Page: or the power of prayer and personal effort for the souls of individuals

Front matter

Young Men's

Christian

Association,

Chapter I. Introductory

Importance of personal effort and prayer for individuals — Christian influence not brought into contact with men — A principle of the divine economy — Inculcated by Christ and the apostles, and by examples of eminent Christians — Object of this memoir, 9

Chapter II

FIVE YEARS' RESIDENCE IN HIS NATIVE PLACE FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONVERSION.

His birth — Marriage — Conversion — Appeal to a hardened sinner — Severe illness — Letters to an awakened sinner — Her conversion— Directions for Christian duty — Letter to one in affliction — Various efforts — Reflections on a Sabbath — Letter to a young man — Resolutions to be active — Evidences of good — Conversion of the young man above addressed — Letter to an impenitent acquaintance — Warning to a young lady against enticing company — Laments his deadness in religion — Letter to an impenitent relative — Letter from an awakened sinner— His reply — New resolution to be faithful — Several awakened — Solemn appeal to the impenitent printed as cards — -Letter to a late pupil — Letter from one awakened, and reply — Letter to a cousin in the state of New York— His conversion, .... 15

CHAPTER, III.

RESIDENCE OF TWO MONTHS IN BOSTON, AND NEARLY THREE YEARS IN COVENTRY.

Letters from Boston — Visits churches and Sabbath-schools there — Church music — Rev. Levi Parsons — Monthly concert — Death-bed of a Universalist — Settlement of a pastor in Coventry — Laments his want of spirituality — Interesting visit in a revival of religion — Work of grace in Coventry — Letter to one persisting in sin — To an esteemed friend not pious — To a young lady — Motives to early piety — Letter to a young convert — Extensive revivals — Letter to a young lady, and reply- — Letter to a relative — Letter to an "almost Christian," 58

Chapter IV

RESIDENCE OF TWO MONTHS IN JEWETT CITY, AND EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN COVENTRY.

Journey to Jewett City — Efforts in a family and factory on the way — Visit to a school-house— Sense of responsibility- Commences a prayer-meeting on Wednesday evenings and on Sabbath mornings at sunrise — Visit to a sick man- Efforts for thoughtless youth — Monthly concert — Questions his motives — Sabbath-school gathered — Prayer-meeting of Teachers — Increase of Sabbath-school — Several seriously impressed— Conversions — Letter to a gentleman — Books lent — Summary view of his usefulness in Jewett City — Compelled by ill health to return to Coventry — Unable to converse, but writes to one resisting the Spirit — Narrative of conversation with a young lady on dancing, etc. — Her conversion — Letter to a young lady on professing Christ — To a young lady on the death of a friend — To a young gentleman — A desperate effort for one who still delayed repentance — Outpouring of the Spirit — His abundant labors — Testimonies to his fidelity, 85

Chapter V

HIS NARRATIVE OF THOMAS HAMITAH PATOO, A NATIVE OF THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS, HOPE- FULLY BROUGHT TO CHRIST IN COVENTRY.

Thomas steals away from his father, and embarks in an American ship — Is found in Boston by a benevolent individual, and placed in Coventry — Becomes anxious for his soul — His conversion, as narrated by himself — His anxiety for the impenitent — Urgent entreaties to a delaying sinner, and to one now in the ministry — Mr. Page accompanies him to the Foreign Mission school in Cornwall — His letter to Mr. Page— Death, . ." 115

Chapter VI. Close Of His Labors In Coventry

Severe sickness — Engages in engraving — Letter describing the Missionary Museum at Andover — To a young lady — To one who had given up her hope — Testimony of his pastor and other individuals — Gratifying results — Faithful efforts being by some perverted no valid objection, . 128

Chapter VII

FROM TEE TIME OF HIS CONNECTION WITH THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY TO THE REVIVAL OF 1831, EMBRACING THE PERIOD OF THE SIGNAL DISPLAYS OF DIVINE GRACE IN THE TRACT AND BIBLE HOUSES.

Constant pressure of duty — Superintends a large Sabbath-school of boys — Conversions in his Sabbath-school and in the congregation — Interesting work of grace in the Tract and Bible houses — Boldness of infidelity — Exertions for supplying the destitute of the city — Concern for the salvation of his children — Conversion of a friend residing in his family- — Anonymous note to a skilful player on the piano — Consecrated as an officer of the church — Request for the services of his former pastor — Ardent hopes for our country — Letter of thanks from a teacher of his Sabbath-school, then in college — Letter to his sister — To afflicted relatives — Communication for London — History of the revival in Tract and Bible houses — Letter from a fellow-laborer — Cheering results — Conversions — Letter to a bereaved brother — Encouragement to a missionary — Commencement of systematic Christian effort connected with Tract distribution — Its usefulness — Brief and severe illness — Son and daughter unite with the church, 142

Chapter VIII

FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVIVAL OF 1831, TO HIS LAST SICKNESS; EMBRACING RE- SULTS OF HIS SABBATH-SCHOOL, HIS SUPERIN- TENDENCE OF CHRISTIAN EFFORT CONNECTED WITH TRACT DISTRIBUTION, AND THE TRANS- FER OF HIS LABORS TO A NEW CHURCH.

Wonderful effusions of the Holy Spirit — Encouragement to praying parents — Usefulness of a letter to a friend in Boston — His burning zeal and incessant efforts — Failure of health — Resigns superintendence of Sabbath-school — Most gratifying results — Visits Coventry — Sketch of his father's house — Counsel to his son on entering an academy — Instructs a female Bible-class — Superintends Christian effort connected with Tract distribution in Fourteenth ward — Means to secure direct efforts for the salvation of individuals — Success of his own efforts in a district — Labors during the prevalence of cholera— Communication to a meeting of his Tract distributers^ — -To the female Bible class — Letter to his parents — To his son— Tract distributers' day of fasting— -Interesting family scene— ^Transfer to a new church — Closes his connection with Tract distribution in Fourteenth ward — Results — Testimony of the pastor of the church he left — Superintends a new Sabbath-school — Decline of health — Letters to his son and daughter — Testimony of the preacher at the new church — Last item of business, 172

Chapter IX. Prominent Characteristics Of His Efforts For The Salvation Of Men

It was the burden of his heart — List of names — Efforts unremitted — Waking in tears — Object not to be happy, but useful — Felt necessity to all of being "born again" — Anecdote of a young merchant — Labored for individuals — Followed up impressions made — Clear sense of obligation — Appeal to a Christian who watched with him — A farewell message — Labored to bring men to a decision, illustrated by two anecdotes and a letter — Expected success from God in answer to prayer — Prayed much — Character of his prayers — Effect on himself — Obtained premium for tract on prayer — Acknowledged perfect obligation and perfect dependence — Uniform, and unwearied — Spirituality of religion not to be excluded from social meetings — Fruitfulness in expedients for doing good — As the father of a family — Letter from his son — Paragraphs for religious papers — Albums — Temperance cause — Young men directed to the ministry — Did not live to accumulate property — Anecdote — Skill in selecting tracts — All the efficiency of God — Great blessing on his labors — Testimony on his death-bed — Powerful influence of such a life for the conversion of the world, 204

Chapter X

TRIUMPHS OF GRACE ON HIS DYING BED. His certainty of his departure for many weeks — Clear state of mind — Reception of the announcement that he must die —

I CONTENTS.

Seeks continual presence of Christ— Not obtained for some days — New view of his love — How obtained — Love of the brethren, and of souls — Affecting conversation with the author — Gratitude for mercies — Sense of unworthiness — Commits his family to God — No more concern about his burial — Messages to his parents and friends in Coventry — Longs to depart — Ascribes all his usefulness to divine grace — Deep sense of sin — Delightful anticipation of heaven — Ptelishes only what is spiritual — Portions of the Bible and hymns — Urges Christians to duty — Longs for a spirit of love in the churches — Utterance in disturbed sleep — Visit of a fellow-laborer — Influence of sacred music in the chamber of death — Instrumental music — Tenderness of spirit — Gratitude to his physician — Exhorts his companion to trust in God — Anecdotes illustrating his dread of sin and sense of unworthiness — Arrival of his son- — Prayers — Dying messages to his family — Commits them and himself to God — Subscription for his family — Anecdote — His grave — Hymns "Rock of Ages," and "My faith looks up to Thee," ' 220

MEMOIR

HARLAN PAGE.

Chapter I. Introductory

Faithful Christian biography has at once its sanction and its model in the word of God ; and in our own times, its excellent practical influence is confirmed in the history of many eminent individuals. Most of these, by their superior talents, education, or commanding spheres of action, present an example which the community in general may indeed admire, but which few, comparatively, can hope to imitate.

The present unpretending memoir exhibits the fidelity and success of a humble Christian, whose opportunities and powers were scarcely superior to those of thousands ; and is chiefly designed to illustrate a single point — the power of prayer

AND PERSONAL EFFORT FOR THE SOULS OF INDI- VIDUALS.

It is obvious to all, that the kingdom of Christ can be extended in our world only by the accession of individuals. His blood avails not to the salvation of men in the mass; but to those who individually repent of sin, and accept of his mercy. The Holy Spirit strives with men and sanctifies them only as individuals. It is as individuals that the inhabitants of our world must be raised to heaven, or sink to hell. Yet to how great an extent are the prayers and contributions of Christians made indefinitely for the conversion of the world as a whole, while the salvation of no one individual is the object of their personal and persevering endeavors. How great a portion of that " light of the world," which the church is commanded to reflect, is so " hid," that no one individual sees it and feels its influence ; how great a portion of the <; salt of the earth," by which men are to be purified and saved, is so kept in the mass, as to be brought INTO CONTACT with none !

The truth evidently is, that personal efforts for the souls of individuals — the lip and thoughts and heart of a living man, brought into contact with the lip and thoughts and heart of a living man —

INTRODUCTORY. H

is a grand institution of God for the conversion of the world ; and we must expect success, not in neglecting, but in coinciding with the divine economy. It was when " they that feared the Lord spake often one to another" that his book of remembrance was written. His command is, " As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another" Not only " the Spirit and the Bride," but " he that heareth" must " say, Come." Christians are exhorted to '• shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life;" and the blessed encouragement is given, " He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins." The parable of Nathan illustrates this principle with inimitable force and beauty : " Thou art the man," humbled the king in the dust before God.

The same principle is exemplified in the success off the personal efforts of the pious mother ; of the skilful Sabbath-school and Bible- class instructor; and of faithful pastoral visitation: in all which divine truth is happily pressed upon the heart of the individual. It has also an irresistible confirmation in the fact, that wherever the Holy Spirit is largely poured out, the ministers and members of the church abound in faithful conversation and prayer with each other, and with the impenitent.

Much of the "preaching" of the New Testament was unquestionably of this sort. To such labor were the apostles sent out by our Saviour, who sanctioned his instructions by his own divine example.

Paul, with all his crushing public responsibilities, could testify to the Ephesian elders, that he had labored among them both "publicly and from house to house ;" and appeal to them as witnesses of his own fidelity, in the memorable and most emphatic words, " Remember, that, by the space

OF THREE YEARS, I CEASED NOT TO WARN EVERY ONE, NIGHT AND DAY, WITH TEARS."

By such labor preeminently have 'pagans and men far from God, in all circumstances and periods of time, been brought to attend on the public means of grace, and join themselves to his people.

Of the signal outpouring of the Holy Spirit among the natives of Ceylon, in connection with the American mission, the Hev. Mr. "VYinslow states, that " there were few cases of permanent conviction, in which religious impressions were not cherished by much patient labor of the missionaries or their assistants, in conversing and praying with individuals alone. It was this repeated and personal application of truth, which principally took effect."

This class of efforts was a grand means of the

INTRODUCTORY. 13

unparalleled success of the ministry of Baxter at Kidderminster.

" If I had true love to souls," said Henry Martyn, when contemplating a foreign mission, " I should long and labor for those around one, and afterwards for the conversion of the heathen ;" and often did he "redeem time from study, from recreation, and from the intercourse of friends, that he might enter the abodes of misery, to arouse the unthinking slumber er, or administer consolation to the dejected penitent."

" Our views," said James Brainerd Taylor, when a student in college, must "not be confined to the end of our preparatory course. There are many opportunities noiv of doing good. The call from many a loivly cottage is, ' Come over and help tis. 9 " Again: "Resolved, that I will, the Lord being my helper, think, speak, and act as an individual; for as such I must live, as such I must die, stand before God, and be damned or saved for ever and ever. I have been waiting for others ; I must act as if I were the only one to act, and wait no longer."

If adding another example of the steadfastness of aim, self-denying perseverance, skill, and success with which a humble Christian discharged the same duty — connected, through the grace of God, with a most blessed and triumphant death — shall have any influence in encouraging other Christians thus to labor for God and the souls of men, the publication of this little work will not be in vain.

It is proper the reader should be informed that there does not appear the slightest indication that the subject of this sketch anticipated the publication of any memorial of himself. Of many of the most interesting scenes of his life he left no record whatever, except incidentally in hasty letters to his friends — evidently so intent on securing the results as to forget the record of them, or so constantly occupied as to have no time to prepare it. Almost all his communications here inserted have been abridged and condensed, with slight changes in the phraseology, while the sentiment is scrupulously retained.

HIS CONVERSION. J£

Chapter II

FIVE YEARS RESIDENCE IN HIS NATIVE PLACE FROM THE TIME OF HIS CONVERSION.

Harlan Page was born in Coventry, in the county of Tolland, Connecticut, July 28, 1791. He was the only son of pious parents ; always sustained a good moral character ; was taught by his father the trade of a house-joiner, and received a good common education.

In May, 1813, he married Miss Mary Kingsbury, who was to be the helper of his spiritual course till his death, though at the time of their marriage neither of them were pious. The earliest letter written by him, which has come to hand, is the following, addressed to Rev. E. T. W., who was then his minister.

" Sabbath morning, Oct. 17, 1813. " Rev. and dear Sir — Your prayers, I trust, have been heard. My dear companion hopes she has accepted of the Saviour, and devoted herself and her all to him. But I am yet in the gall of bitterness, in opposition to God — my anguish last night was almost insupportable. I could see my Saviour nailed to the cross, bleeding and dying for sinners. I could see him with open arms, saying, ' Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' I could pray, but this only increased my pain. I fear the Holy Spirit will leave me to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. do remember me in your prayers, for the prayer of faith availeth much. " Your affectionate and distressed friend,

"HARLAN PAGKE."

His distress for his sins was such at this period that he frequently left his work to retire and pray ; and as he rode to and from a neighboring town where he was engaged in business, he often felt constrained to stop and go into the grove to plead for mercy. He soon engaged in instructing a school, where, after dismissing his pupils, he often remained for meditation and prayer. He was thus engaged in solitude one evening, when his sense of his lost condition as a sinner became so intense that he felt that he could not again leave the throne of grace till the controversy with his Maker was closed. There, in the darkness of midnight, and under the guidance, none can doubt, of the Holy Spirit, he consecrated himself to his Redeemer : not merely in the confidence of pardon and acceptance, but with the determination to live and labor to promote his glory in the salvation of the perish-

HIS CONVERSION. 17

ing. "When I first obtained a hope," he said on his dying bed, " I felt that I must labor for souls. I prayed, year after year, that God ivould make me the means of saving souls."

On Sabbath, March 6, 1814, he and his companion, with twenty others, publicly professed their faith in Christ, and joined the visible church.

Only three days after this we find the date of an interesting and faithful letter, addressed to a relative who had long been hardening himself in sin and resisting the strivings of the Holy Spirit. He seems to suppose his friend to be perverting the doctrine of his dependence upon God, as an excuse for wilfully continuing in sin. He first quotes the objection as it is strongly stated by Baxter in his Call to the Unconverted, together with the whole of Baxter's reply. He then presses the same considerations in his own language, supporting them by numerous* commands and promises from the Bible, and adds,

" Were you in a boat just above an awful cataract, already feeling the force of the impetuous current, would you not endeavor to reach the shore ? Would you say, * I can do nothing : God must save me without my own exertions, if I am saved at all V Why then will you not strive to escape a more terrible destruction — the eternal, inconceivable horrors of a lost soul ?

" You allow that a change of heart is necessary ; and will not be offended with my plainness. Could I but see you earnestly engaged for your salvation, how would my heart beat for joy; how would I give thanks to the eternal God.

"Dear sir, do consider and picture to yourself the dying hour. Then you must see your danger. "Will you then say that, when in health, you could not attend to the salvation of the soul ? Will you not rather exclaim, ' that I had a few days more to live, that I might prepare to die V

" Do not say you cannot pray. Do you believe in the joys of heaven and the torments of despair ; and will you not so much as ask God to grant you the one, and save you from the other ? Turning away from God and heaven, I am sure your own reason must convict you of madness and awful presumption. Your affectionate friend,

In the summer of this year God saw fit to discipline his servant by a very severe, protracted, and painful illness, by which he was brought to hold intimate converse with death, and taught to sympathize with the suffering. His sickness is thus described in a letter to an aunt, dated, Coventry, October 18, 1814.

SEVERE SICKNESS. 19

" About the 20th of May I was attacked with fever, which continued two or three weeks ; and left me with an affection of the liver, attended with severe pain, which baffled the skill of physicians. It continued for eleven weeks, when a swelling began to rise on my back, which was exceedingly painful, and was at length opened by Dr. W., who was obliged to make a deep and long incision in the live flesh. I have been chiefly confined to my bed for seventeen weeks."

To another friend he writes, " Expe?'ience, more than observation, I find, teaches our need of divine support in affliction. With it we can endure the most piercing pain, and rejoice with thankfulness; and even in the immediate prospect of death, no terror alarms. The spirit, in a near view of eternal glory, forgets the pain, and longs to soar on high."

The grand lesson which he felt that this sickness taught him was, that he must devote the life God had preserved more faithfully to him, in labors for the salvation of all to whom he had access.

His next letter which has come to hand was addressed to a pious female relative in spiritual darkness, and was designed to aid her in self-examination. He inquires whether she had neglected prayer, indulged in any known sin, been remiss in efforts for the spiritual welfare of those around her, or in any known duty ; and entreats her to return to her heavenly Father, and consecrate herself anew to him, assured that his grace should he sufficient for her.

The next is to a young lady who had been under serious impressions while a member of his school, urging her not to delay repentance, but come with all her heart and embrace the Saviour.

The next to a young friend who had professed Christ, but was exposed to temptations from thoughtless companions.

The next, bearing date September 3, 1815, is addressed to one who was a playmate of his childhood, but of whose conversion, at M., New York, he had heard, requesting a particular account of his religious exercises, and especially that he would address a letter to his former acquaintance in Coventry, who continued out of Christ, and remember them in his prayers.

" Since you were here," he says, "we have been visited with the gracious outpouring of the Spirit, and nearly fifty have been added to the church ; but alas, there are yet many promising youth who neglect offered mercy ; and who, if sovereign grace do not interpose, must sink into unending woe. I doubt not you feel how great is their danger, and long for their salvation. Do write to them ; it may be God will make you the instrument of sal-

LETTER TO A YOUNG LADY. 21

vation to their souls. They respect you, and should you address them, they may listen to your warnings and come to Christ. Do also pray for us and them. God is everywhere present, and will hear the prayer of faith."

Two days after, we find a letter addressed to E. L., a young lady for whose salvation he had labored during her residence of a few days in his family, and who was under the strivings of the Holy Spirit.

" The language of Jehovah is, ' The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' There is not one of Adam's lost race who has not forfeited eternal life by his sins. But there is one refuge, and one alone. Jesus Christ can save us ; and he is ready to receive every returning sinner, and make him an heir of eternal joy. Sleep not, E., take no rest day nor night, till you have obtained peace with God. The billows of his wrath roll just beneath the steps of all the unconverted. Delay not a moment. No future time can be more favorable. Call upon God without ceasing ; and if you perish, perish pleading for mercy. Let nothing divert your attention. If you grieve the Holy Spirit, his gracious influences may never return ; and you — 0, overwhelming thought ! — must sink where hope can never come, where mercy never gains admission. A few Christian friends are praying for you daily. Nothing but love impels me to write. Will you inform me what progress you are making, and what are your unshaken resolutions ?

" With affection and esteem,

"H. PAGE."

To the same.

"Monday Evening, Sept. 11, 1815. " Friend E . . . . — Are you yet without hope ? Gloomy and dejected, do you yet go mourning without one ray of heavenly grace ? If so, your situation is trying ; but I trust you would not for worlds return to your former state of thoughtlessness. You say you desire more pungent and heart-piercing convictions — to be awakened from your dangerous stupidity. Call upon God to place your sins before you ; to humble you in the dust for them ; and to show mercy to a guilty, repenting, returning prodigal. All you have to do is to cast yourself unreservedly, with all your sins, upon the mercy of Christ ; to be deeply humbled for them ; and with faith in the Redeemer's blood, take him as your only hope and portion. Never can you make yourself more acceptable to him. He only can clothe you with his own righteousness. He is ready to receive you. Go then, dear friend, in the best manner you are able, and cast yourself into his arms with all your guilt,

HAPPY RESULTS. 23

"'There is a mercy-seat Sprinkled with blood, where Jesus answers prayer j There humbly cast yourself beneath his feet, For never needy sinner perished there.'

" Beware of every sin. Cling not to your thoughtless companions. If you will serve God, you must expect the neglect and reproaches of some of them. But who are they ? Are they the truly wise ? Are they truly happy ? Are they safe ? Alas, they are on the brink of perdition.

" Faint not while you have life. Fear not enemies. Fight the warfare of faith, and you shall win the glorious inheritance of the hlessed. " With affectionate regard, your friend,

"H. PAG-E."

The result of these faithful efforts, through the divine blessing, maybe gathered from the following extract of a letter to a Christian friend, dated,

"Monday, sunset, Oct. 30, IS 15. u I have joyful news to tell you — news which has made heaven glad. Our friend E. appears to be enjoying as much happiness as mortals are allowed this side of eternity. c 0,' says she," in a letter she had just written him, with an overflowing heart, " ' the height and depth of the love of Christ. How precious does this dear Saviour now appear to me. Tongue can never express, nor heart conceive, which has not experienced the same, the sweet peace and joy I have found in him.' "

In a subsequent letter to Mr. Page, she says, " Your first epistle found me in the gall of bitterness ; and but for your friendly advice, I fear I should now have been pursuing the vanities of the world. The Saviour was pleased to make you the happy instrument of showing me my sins, and bringing me to partake of his love."

His own views of Christian duty at this time may be gathered from the following extract of a letter addressed to this young convert, November 16, 1815.

"Let us, E., cast our eyes around on the poor, thoughtless, dying impenitent. How should Ave supplicate the throne of grace in their behalf. But this is not all. We must tell them of their danger, and point them to a bleeding Saviour.

" An excuse is made by many Christians, which I conceive will not bear the scrutiny of the judgment-day : they say they have not the talents for addressing the impenitent and conversing with them on the subject of religion. But are the simple truths of the gospel so dark that only the learned can understand them ? Are the words, • He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned,' so obscure that we

BEREAVEMENT IMPROVED. 25