The advantages of early piety displayed in a memoir of Mr. John Clement

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Dedication

antly. If the contemplation of the moral portrait of one so dear, shall tend in the least to diminish your sorrows, and augment your joys, I shall deem myself amply repaid for all my trouble in selecting and arranging, so as to give as faithful a representation as possible. May David's consolation be yours, may you with him be enabled to anticipate with pleasure the hour of your own dissolution, as the period which shall reunite your happy spirits to his, never to separate more.

You, my dear Sir, the much esteemed pastor of our departed young friend, whilst you mourn the loss of such an amiable friend, such an attentive hearer of the word, and so valuable a member of your church, may yet rejoice to think that you were honoured in being usesul, as an instrument, in instructing and establishing his mind, and in training him up for glory. Nor is this a solitary in* stance wherein your ministerial labours have been blessed to the young; you have had from this interesting class, many seals to your ministry, and some who are ?ioio occupying important stations in the church of Christ, acknowledge you as a spiritual father. Permit me, my dear Sir, to embrace this oppora 3

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Preface

The following Memoir of a very valuable youth is with much diffidence and respect presented to the public, and solicits their attention ; and it is hoped, that a careful perusal of it will leave a salutary impression on the mind. In the present day, the press is teeming with works whose tendency is to vitiate and corrupt the minds of our youth. Works of fiction and romance are making unfavorable impressions, giving a wrong bias, leading astray from the sober useful walks of life into the airy regions of fancy, unfitting many for the regular discharge of necessary and important duties, and rendering them tiresome burdens to themselves, and useless lumber in society. The patrons of infidelity are either openly or covertly conveying deadly poison to the youthful mind, by endeavouring to annihilate the distinction between virtue and vice ; — by relaxing the obligation of the law of God ; — by under-

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mining the authority of revealed truth ; — by representing divine institutions as the result of policy and priestcraft, and all who pay any regard to them as enthusiasts or fools ; — by dressing up vice in the gaudy attire of a harlot to allure the thoughtless — and by caricaturing virtue, stripping her of her native charms, and beautiful proportions, and giving her an uncouth and an unlovely appearance-, to excite ridicule and disgust : while the patrons of vice and infidelity are thus busily employed on the one hand, it is the duty of those who are friends to virtue, and to revealed truth to supply an antidote ; to exhibit genuine virtue, not in an unembodied, philosophic form merely, but to exhibit her alive and in action, to display her beauties, and point out her advantages, in the character which she forms, and the happiness which she imparts. This is the design of the following pages; here the excellence of religion will be seen in its influence on the character, considered as filial, social, professional, intellectual, moral, and religious; here will be seen the possibility of uniting piety and rationality, — seriousness and cheerfulness, — true devotion and every thing that is lovely and

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amiable, — diligence in business, and fervour of spirit in serving the Lord : here it will be seen, that a submission of the understanding to the humbling truths of the gospel, and a subjection of the heart to its holy precepts, are quite compatible with general philanthropy, true patriotism, and intellectual pursuit; and it ought to put to the blush, and for ever to silence those, who calumniate evangelical religion as the fruitful parent of every thing that is unlovely in itself and prejudicial to the best interests of society.

The world has already been favored with memoirs of eminent young men. And it may be asked what need of any addition ? In reply to such a question, it is presumed that this work is not superseded by any of the kind already published. Seeing it occupies different ground, or rather fills up in the same department that which before was unoccupied. In the memoirs of Kirk White, we see an eminent and a pious youth secluded from the world, and devoted to literary pursuits. In the memoirs of Gilpin, we see an amiable youth nursed on the lap of parental affection, removed from every care, having every wish anticipated, every want supplied,

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and so of the rest. But in the memoirs of a Clement, we see a youth leaving the bosom of parental indulgence, departing from under the wing of parental care, going into the wide world, engaging in the duties of a laborious profession, in a situation where he was exposed to great temptations; yet, amidst all, resisting temptation, discharging his numerous duties with fidelity and diligence, securing some time for intellectual pursuits, but, above all, cultivating true piety, maintaining the fervour of devotion in his closet, walking humbly and closely with God before the world, and rising to eminence as a pious, devoted youth.

Some little time has elapsed since the death of our young friend, during which his memoir has been anxiously expected by those who knew and esteemed him. It is needless to offer any apology, or to detail the various causes by which the publication has been retarded. What would have been interesting and useful if published immediately on his decease, may, it is hoped, yet be so ; the great body of useful instruction remains the same, although a little lapse of time may have caused the charms of noveltv to vanish.

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But it is not of so much importance to enquire when he died, as it is to see how he died, and to examine what it was that enabled him to depart so happily and so triumphantly.

If any benefit shall be reaped from the perusal of the following pages, if any young man, especially, any of the same profession shall be led to adopt the maxims, and cultivate the spirit of young Clement, the compiler will think that he has not laboured in vain, and God shall have all the glory and praise .

MEMOIR,

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John Clement, the subject of this memoir, was the son of Thomas Clement, Esq., collector of excise, and was born at Greenwich on the 10th of September, 1786. Being an only child, and blessed with affectionate and pious parents, as might be expected, the greatest concern was manifested for the welfare of their son; and the success which attended their endeavors frill be fully, and, it is hoped, satisfactorily unfolded in the sequel. To them was fulfilled, in a remarkable manner, that encouraging promise: H Train up a child in the way in which he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.*

It has been frequently observed, that the maternal character is of greater importance, and is more intimately connected with the character and welfare of the offspring, than the paternal; and happy is that youth who is blessed with a sensible and a pious

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mother. In this respect, young Clement was highly favoured. He had a mother, on whom, though still living, I cannot forbear pronouncing an eulogy; whose general excellence and maternal tenderness yielded to nothing, except her eminent piety and devotedness to God.

When our young friend was about a month old, his parents were removed to Bristol, where they continued about eight years. There the foundation was laid, on which his future excellence was built. To the instructions, the prayers, and the example of his parents, must be attributed, under God, the formation of that amiable character, which he afterwards manifested through the short period of his existence, (alas, how short!) in every gelation, domestic and social; in the church and in the world.

The next place to which Providence directed his parents, wasWareham in Dorsetshire; there he first became acquainted with the Rev. Dr. Cracknel], and a strong mutual attachment was formed, which continued till the death of this interesting youth. Soon after his arrival here, there is an anecdote recorded of him, which displays the attention with which, at that early period, he listened to the word of God, and the practical effect it produced. After hearing two sermons from 1 Cor. x. 13., in which glorifying God in all the pursuits of life had been strongly enforced, he retired with a mind deeply impressed.

After some time, he addressed bis mother, and said : "You have of my pocket-money half a guinea : half that sum I will give to Mr. C. to purchase religious tracts, to distribute among the poor people in the villages where be preaches :" adding, " I do not this to obtain the praise of men. No; in this case, I would not let my left hand know what my right hand doeth. I would do it entirely to the glory of God." The money was applied according to his desire; and a proposal so benevolent and pious afforded a happy presage of future usefulness, and must have been highly gratifying to his parents and bis minister.

During his residence at Wareham, which was nearly five years, he was placed under the tuition of the Rev. Mr. Kell. From Wareham his friends removed to Poole, where his literary pursuits were directed by the Rev. Mr. Lamport; thus he enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education. With a mind ardent in the pursuit of knowledge, he made considerable proficiency in the several branches of science to which his attention was directed. Amongst his MSS. appears a literal translation of Horace, ode i. book i. Mcecenas at avis, &c. ; which, though as a whole it may not be able to endure the scrutiny of a Bentleian eye, displays considerable judgment and taste ; but, perhaps, his greatest attainments were t in the French language. He continued at school till about sixteen years of age, when parental prudence dictated the propriety of choosing some employment.

Being consulted as to persona] wishes and inclinations, and manifesting an attachment to the medical profession, an opportunity was embraced, which offered itself at Weymouth. He went on trial for & month to Mr. Bryer, surgeon ; and at the end of this period, appearing highly delighted with the profession, he was bound to serve an apprenticeship of five years — But higher destinies awaited him. For about three years, he continued to discharge the duties devolving on him with the greatest assiduity and fidelity, manifesting the most intense ardour in the pursuit of general knowledge and professional eminence, but especially of that knowledge which is connected with salvation. Aiming to seize every opportunity of doing good, and exhibiting such a bright constellation of excellencies, it is no wonder that he excited general attention in the sphere in which he moved, and became the object of universal esteem ; but his course, though brilliant, was short. He was arrested by the arm of death, and soon removed to shine in a higher sphere.

From the perusal of his writings, a good idea may be formed of his character ; and a faithful portrait cannot fail of making a favourable impression, and exciting a wish to be like him. To hold up this portrait, to inspire this wish, to engage in the pursuit of similar excellence, is the design of the present memoir. To effect this, he will be presented in different lights and in various attitudes : in other words^ he will be exhibited in various relations and characters : in his filial, social, professional, intellectual, moral, and religious character. From these views it will be seen in what manner he discharged the threefold division of duties, devolving on every rational and moral agent : the duties he owed to himself, to his fellow-creatures, and to God.

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Chapter I. His Filial Character

We shall first view him in a relation the most intimate and endearing, the filial. As a son he manifested those dispositions, and displayed those excellencies, which render him a model worthy of imitation. From his childhood he was very obedient, and careful to please; insomuch, that his mother declared, in a letter which she wrote to a friend after his decease, when busy memory was recalling the idea of departed worth, that she never had occasion to say to him, " John, why do you do so?" Having been always brought up under the inspection of kind parents, he was well instructed in his duty ; and having, under their fostering wing, experienced for many years their assiduous attention, he was fully acquainted with parental worth. When he left home, and embarked on the ocean of life, he carried with him a mind imbued with good principles, and a heart overflowing with filial affection. Various extracts made from his letters and diary, manifest submission, gratitude, strong affection, high esteem, and desire to please, which he ever discovered. As he advanced in life, instead of throwing off restraint, he was all submission and paid the greatest deference to his parents, consulting them in every thing relating to his expenses, not venturing to purchase any article without permission, readily yielding when his proposals were not approved, and in all his expenditures observing the greatest ceconomy. <( Be so kind as to give me your opinion," said he on one occasion, when consulting his mother on the propriety of purchasing some article; " as i would not wish to do any thing without consulting you, give me leave to ask your advice, whether it would be better for me to purchase the things necessary here, or for you to do it as usual?" In another letter, after requesting some books and surgical instruments, he says, " If it will not be intruding too much upon good nature, may I be permitted to send for a French Bible, with notes and observations to each chapter? If you think this too much at once, I will willingly wait- to any period." Such was his uniform language, marked with the greatest submission and deference to parental authority.

His gratitude towards his parents was overflowing, and expressed in varied and animated language. Soon after his departure from home, he wrote thus: " I bless God that you have been able to give me a classical education, which I hope I shall improve to the best advantage." In another letter he says : " I am very happy that I can afford you some pleasure, and I hope I shall one day or other be the joy of your old age: I pray God that he may never suffer me to bring down your grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." — " T am much indebted lu you for the kindness you are continually shewing me; and only regret that I cannot repay you. I will endeavour to gain as much medical knowledge as I can." On a subsequent occasion he thus expresses himself: " I have been looking over my account this morning, and find that I have expended an enormous sum : it is enough to make me tremble, and enquire, what returns I can make to such kind parents. I have nothing to give you for the tenderness and compassion you have always shewn me. All I can do, and that I will do in a most earnest manner, is, to supplicate God, the giver of every good gift, to bestow upon you, not only temporal favours, but eternal life." In another letter he expresses himself thus : "I can never be grateful enough for you : you, my dear parents, are doing all you can to stir me up to activity, and to make me happy. May 1 not be wanting on my part!" In animated language, on another occasion, he says ; " Words are inadequate of themelves to express my gratitude to you, for the kindness and indulgence which you are ever manifesting towards

Whilst he felt grateful to his parents, he held them in very high esteem, and frequently made honourable mention of their varied excellencies. In a letter addressed to his mother, he thus expresses himself: " I have great reason to bless God on your account.

Yon, 1 hope, have been an instrument, in his hand, of making me acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus. O what a great thing it is to have godly parents!" And in another letter: " What an inestimable blessing is it to have kind friends; such friends as ray clear parents! The consideration of your watchfulness and care over me, while in the slippery paths of youth ; the golden mean which you took to train me up, not with all that severity which produces fear, but with all that mild authority which enkindles leve, makes me leap for joy, and fills me with gratitude to that Providence which directed mv path." In another letter, which, both as to sentiment and composition, deserves to be inserted as a whole, he says: " I coincide with you, that my best friends are at Poole. What should I do without you? Alas! feeble and weak as I am, I should be thrown on the world's wide stage, to contend with all its terrors and disagreeables; and after struggling sometime, might, perhaps, fall at last. But I desire to be thankful to God and to you. To God, for prolonging your lives ; to you, for that support, assistance and direction, as well as the love, tenderness, and parental affection-, you daily evince. May I ever act worthy of such parents as you are. May I never do any thing to disturb your peace; but ever be watchful to please, reverence, and obey you. Words cannot express my gratitude .... What can actuate you to be always kind, compassionate, and mindful r Oh, may I ever follow your bright example ! may I always posses* thai mildness of disposition, and that suavity of manners, which shine so eminently in you !"

In another very excellent letter, he thus gives vent to bis feelings . " What shall I say for your kind attention, in regarding my wants so soon ? I need not ask what I shall say, because all 1 can say is, to thank you in the most unfeigned, undissembled manner; but your favours, so numerous, so often repeated, seem to require something more than the word thanks, though it may be accompanied with all the tender sensibilities of a dutiful son to his kind and indulgent parents. Indeed, to speak the truth, I am almost tired of monotonizing the word thanfa ; but I have nothing better to offer." He then indulges in a train of reflections on %he wisdom and goodness of God, in providing a source of affection in the breast of the mother toward her infant offspring; and adds: u it is this love which actuates you to provide for me ; and, with such continued beneficence, to load me with every comfort that renders my life happy. Thus I think I have explained the cause of your goodness to me, not only in granting me food and raiment convenient for me, but in giving me the means of furnishing and adorning that noble faculty, the understanding. The benefit arising from this is mutual. If you had bestowed every thing that heart could wish, and had withheld my invaluable education, and the bright example you set before me, I might have had no regard for you. I might have treated you with disdain, and contemned your authority. 1 might have given you unspeakable pain, and ruined myself My dear parents, with such a view I cannot be too. grateful. Accept my feeble efforts to convince you what motives actuate me to love, esteem, venerate, and obey you ; which I shall do to the latest period of my life."

On returning to Wej r mouth, after having been at home some time for the recovery of his health, he represents himself in his diary, as having come from kind parents, " who are attentive to every complaint; ready to bestow every thing that may render life comfortable; happy in themselves; cheerful, compassionate, and kind to all ; who wish every one to partake of what they possess;" and, to crown the whole, " who fear God."

In a letter addressed to his mother not Ions before his death, he expresses his affectionate regard, and anxious concern for his father, in the following beautiful and affecting manner : " I am now by the side of a comfortable fire, which conveys a genial warmth, surrounded with every comfort, and I feel myself quite content. Where is my dear papa this evening? The wind blows, and the northern blast is conveying from its store all its treasures; perhaps my dear parent is exposed to this inclement weather, while I am thus enjoying myself con versing w r ith you. I think every day, when the wind beats, and the rain descends, whether he is exposed to it or doc. What mercy that, notwithstanding his frequent exposures, he enjoys his health and such a degree of strength. I frequently consider how often he has been carried out, and returned in safety ; I hope I can say I am truly thankful ; and I have no doubt but that such a soul as his feels his obligations to the Almighty for all his goodness/'

In one part of his diary, he indulges reflections on the probability of being deprived of his parents; and seems to think that such a dispensation would be quite insupportable, without extraordinary supplies of divine assistance : but this was a trial which he was never destined to experience. It was his lot to be summoned first. On his kind parents devolved the sad office of following to the silent tomb the mortal remains of an only, a dutiful, an affectionate, and a pious son, who promised to be an ornament to society, and a source of high satisfaction to his parents. But they are now bereaved, and are left to seek consolation in the exercise of devout resignation ; in the firm persuasion that it is well with him ; in the satisfying recollection, that they discharged their duties with success; and in the animating hope of one day meeting, to part no more.

Chapter II. His Social Character

A mind so well formed, a soul so finely touched, might be expected to display its excellence in every relation. We pass from the filial to the social character of our young friend. Not only as a son, but as a friend, he appears in a very amiable light, and exhibits a model worthy of imitation. He held genuine friendship in high esteem, and had a soul formed for relishing its exquisite delights, and discharging its sacred duties. As a friend he was distinguishecl, by his grateful sense of favours, by his sympathy under sorrow, and his readiness to do good ; by the ardour of his affections, and the sincerity of his heart. The price at which he valued friendship may be seen by the following extract from one of his letters : — l( What an inestimable blessing is it to have kind friends, to whom you can unbosom your hearts ; who are able and willing to relieve; who mourn when I mourn, and rejoice when 1 rejoice; whose hearts are made up of sympathy, and whose bowels yearn with love."

When at school, he formed some attachments which were lasting. In the expectation of seeing some of his old school-fellows at Wevmouth, he savs : — «

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" I am looking forward, and anticipating the day when I shall once more see some of those who were school-fellows with me; and I shall behold them launched out into the ocean of life, and quitting themselves like men ; but these skies are not without clouds, and those of the blackest kind."

He felt grateful to his. preceptor ; and expressed a willingness to do any thing in return for the care he had taken to instruct him in the fundamental principles of literature. While at Poole, he found a valuable and a faithful friend in a Mr. James, # then resident there, with whom he continued to correspond, and on whose letters he set a high value. " Words cannot express my gratitude, and the pleasure which I feel," says he, " when I receive a letter from you. The letters which you have from me are not worth reading ; but yours to me are an invaluable treasure. I would not part with the joy I feel, when reading your epistles, for the riches of the Indies. This joy is inexpressible. The advantage I reap is more to me than that contemptible wealth : it relates to the soul, which is of more value than ten thousand worlds." Expecting soon to see his friend, he says : " I look forward with pleasure to the period when I shall have the privilege of receiving my friend James into my arms, at this place. It will be the highest gratification to me to enjoy the conversation of one so nearly allied to me, in the bonds of Christian friendship.

* The Rev. J. James, Birmingham.

Having received an account of the dangerous illness of his friend in his next letter, lie writes thus : " I have read many experiences, but none has affected me so much as yours : and how is it possible to think upon the sufferings of one, between whom and myself the closest ties of friendship subsist, without being affected, and without mingling my tears with hisi Can I behold him cast on a bed of sickness, tossing to and fro in all the agonies of pain, and calling out in the morning, would God it were evening ? Can I still draw the curtain farther back, and behold the apothecary's art in vain ? But, oh! can I still proceed, and see a mortal paleness seizing him, and the pangs of death taking hold of him, and not stand motionless ? And could I then refrain from, casting myself on my knees, and imploring the all-gracious God in his behalf? No, my friend, no. Had I seen you in your distress, I should have retired into my closet, and there should T have disclosed the whole of my heart." Such was the truly pious and affectionate strain in which he unbosomed his feelings to his friend.

When at Weymouth, he was beloved by all who knew him ; and he attached to himself many friends, who valued his company and conversation, and frequently applied to him for advice in difficulties, or consolation under sorrow. It was his delight to associate with others for the purpose of mutual benefit. " At half past eight," he observes in his diary, " I

Was called away by a friend, with whom I conversed till ten, and found great pleasure in the proposal which he made concerning an institution which I shall, by divine assistance, as far as I am able, forward with perseverance and diligence." In another place he writes : " I met some young friends, when we formed ourselves into a society for conversing with each other on religious subjects., This concluded with a prayer, and we broke up."

He also engaged in teaching at a Sunday school; and with what feelings^ may be judged by the

following extract from his diary:- " Another

duty is devolving on me; the instruction of youth. May I have assistance from God ; and then I shall find it a delightful task, ' to teach the young idea how to shoot;' to be the means of convincing one youth of his sins, and making him a serious character — Perhaps that youth may be instrumental in turning many to righteousness." In him the needy and the afflicted found a sincere friend. After noticing in his diary a case of distress, to which his attention had been directed, he says : " Blessed be God, if he is giving me ability, in some measure, to help the distressed, and a heart to feel for them." When some intimate friend was severely afflicted, he observed in his diary: "This morning I wrote a letter to my dear afflicted friend, expressing my concern, and at the same time my joy> on account of her pleasing submission. O how comfortable is it to reflect on having alleviated, in the smallest matter, the distresses of a friend ! May I at all times prove myself a friend ! From eight till nine in the evening visited my friend ; and oh ! what inexpressible pleasure did it afford me to see one so young in the ways of God prepared to meet death.

On hearing of the dangerous illness of another valuable friend, he says, in a letter to his parents, " I am exceedingly sorry for the state of Mrs. B., and am loth to have her torn away by the resistless hand of death ; but when I take into the account the happy state of her mind, the composure of her spirits, and her possessing by faith in Christ living supports in dying moments; when I view again the glories laid up in store for her, I cannot, with satisfaction to myself, pray for her restoration to health, knowingit is far better for her to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Therefore, though I shall lose a valuable friend, yet, on these conditions, I would rather she entered into the mansion prepared for her, than dwell here, where troubles are, as it w r ere, our meat and drink, and as to having her loss made up, I would leave that with God."