Gathered fragments...

Front matter

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Preface

The design of this volume will be distinctly seen by those who are disposed to read the introductory chapter. It is entitled Gathered Fragments, not because it consists of extracts, or unfinished pieces, but because there have been brought together in this volume a number of separate and independent narrative sketches. These sketches, as has just been intimated, have no necessary connexion with each other, though each one illustrates some great principle of Christianity, and constitutes a complete narrative by itself.

Three or four of these sketches have been previously published in a less permanent form, among which are, " The M Ellen Family," « The Baptism," " The Family in Eternity" and " The Meeting of the Travellers." These pieees, however, as they appear in the present volume, have all been revised, enlarged, and altered. The larger part of the volume consists of sketches never before published.

" The M Ellen Family," " The Meeting of the Travellers" and one or two other narratives in this volume, will probably appear to some readers to wear somewhat of a denominational phase, though we trust they will appear to none to be imbued with a sectarian spirit. The object which the Author has proposed to

4 PREFACE.

himself is the spiritual improvement of fallen, blighted, sinful mind, which meets the eye in dense masses on every side. He hopes that this volume may be the means of guiding some strayed and erring soul to the foot of the cross — or of inspiring some faint or faltering believer to run with increased vigour " the race set before him/' He desires now prayerfully to commit this work into the hands of God, that he may bid it go abroad on an errand of mercy, or sleep in obscurity, just as he in his infinite wisdom shall see best for his own glory. Whatever shall be the issue, the Author can never fail to rejoice that the Lord God Omnipotent REIGNETH, YEA, AND THAT HE ORDERETH

ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL.

Contents

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

Pag*

The duty of contemplating the divine operations — From these operations may be deduced inferences to regulate our moral conduct — Illustration — The divine administration in the natural world — All material substances perpetually tend to decomposition; while the constituent parts re-combine into new forms — Not a particle of matter has been lost since the creation of the world — The principle of " gathering up the fragments that nothing be /os/," an essential element in the government of the natural world — There should be no waste of intellectual energy — The power of human intellect — The influence of holiness — The origin and design of this work — Two considerations — The Bible of a narrative character — God has eminently blessed narratives of a work of grace in the heart — An incident — Influence of example — How God works in the economy of grace — The Holy Spirit the agent in man's conversion — The young convert that was not ashamed of Christ — Hopes cherished in relation to this volume 13

Chapter I

The. Pious Mother .- — Pleasing and profitable reminiscences — The scope of this narrative — Early history of the M'Ellens — Emigration to the west — Worship in a log-room — The mother conducting the worship of her family — The impressions of Robert M'Ellen — Religious exercises disclosed — Reluctance in speaking to friends on personal religion — Results of a regular performance of the liturgy 27

Chapter II

The Holy Supper : — Continued affliction — The sick room — The effort to gratify a mother's dying wish — The missionary — Qualifications for the communion — Mary M'Ellen an instance of early piety — The communicant's sense of unworthiness — Administration of the Lord's supper to the 1* 5

O CONTENTS.

Page

sick — Confession of sin — A mother's emotions — An incident — A family in the far west — A mother's last wish. ... 37

Chapter III

A Death Scene .- — The country — Elizabeth M'Ellen — What is implied in infant dedication — The power of trust in God- Blissful death 50

Chapter IV

The Burial.- — The contemplation of death — Funeral in the country — The old farmer — Erroneous doctrinal view — Effect of lay reading — The burial service — Decorums of burial — Act of interment — Singing at the grave — Return from the burial ground — Conversion of an aged sinner — Concluding reflections 55

THE PARALYTIC.

CHAPTER I Affliction .- — Wisdom of this world — The designs of Providence — The uncertainty of the future — John Lewson — Early life — Residence in New York — Exposure — Attack of palsy — Rebellious feeling — Mercy of God — Kind friends — Christian solicitude — Long walk 67

CHAPTER II.

Divine Renewal: — Miss T 's first acquaintance with Mr.

Lewson— Extreme poverty — The designs of God in affliction — The workings of the Holy Spirit — Happy change . . 75

CHAPTER III.

Covenant Dedication : — The path of duty — Baptism — Appearance of the paralytic — Preparations for Baptism — The baptismal vow — Glorified infant — Happy family 50

CHAPTER IV.

The Emblems of Mercy.- — Reverential views in relation to the holy supper — Erroneous conceptions — An answer to prayer — Scene in a basement story — Divine communion. . . 85

Chapter V

Result of Divine Chastening : — God leads by a way which we know not — Advancement in the divine life — The cholera — Trust in God — Concluding inference 90

CONTENTS.

THE WITHERED BRANCH REVIVED.

CHAPTER I. P^t

A young Convert: — The garden — Peach tree — The broken limb— Emma B.— First religious impressions— Bible class- Peculiar trials — Spiritual enjoyment — Early religious experience of President Edwards — Cowper — Brainerd — Views of divine glorj r — The grand design of religion — Emma in her flourishing and prosperous state — Deceitfulness of the human heart 95

Chapter II

The sad Decline: — Adverse influences — Retrograde movement — Sickness — Letter from the author — The causes of declension — Illness 105

Chapter III

Sanctified Sickness : — The inalienable character of God's love— The body killed to save the soul alive — Emma's last letter — View of the past — Self-abasement — Christ the way — Prayer — Thoughts of Death — Sense of sin 112

Chapter IV

The Issue .-—Hopes in death—Payson's contemplation of death- Submission — Worldly conformity — Declining health — Views of heaven— Paternal relation— Communion of saints- Interview with Emma — Retrospect — Peace in believing — Consumption — Repentance on a sick bed — Prayer — Approach of death — Want of the divine Presence — Shrinking from death — Divine promises — Gleams of hope — The last moments and death of Emma — Reflections upon her religious course 120

THE BAPTISM.

Chapter V

The unbaptized Son .- — Trials in the path of every true Christian — Bereavement — Christian resignation — The cloud — Early tendencies of James Northend — Parental unfaithfulness the cause of the ruin of children — The dark night- Trust in Jesus — A mother's bitterness in death — The solemn interview— Fraudulent transaction— The gale— Shipwreck- Awful catastrophe — Submission 162

LITTLE ANN.

Chapter I

Early religious Instruction : — The Sunday-school teacher's WO rk — His crown — Need of faith and prayer — Ann Wenman — Solemn appeal — Impression made upon her mind. . . 173

Chapter II

The fatal Disaster: — Abode of poverty — Ann's clothes on fire — Her first wish — Interview with her Sunday-school teacher, and her pastor 179

Chapter III

Evidences of a Work of Grace : — Socrates and Christ — Office of Christ — of the Holy Spirit — Preparation for death — Peaceful close— Funeral— Beatific state—Goodness of God— The best wish for our children 185

CONTENTS. V

THE MEETING OF THE TRAVELLERS.

CHAPTER I. Page

Ji Journey • — Opportunities of improvement — Incidents of a single day — Thunder storm — Lovely prospect — Country school-house — Glorified little ones — Incidents — Company at an inn 195

Chapter II

The Inundation : — Preparation for death — Beman Hollow — Devastation — Touching facts — Fearful catastrophe — Prayer Book — A surprising discovery 202

Chapter III

The Force of Prejudice .- — Christian union—The effect of a spirit of bitterness — Impressions on the minds of the young — Emigration — New residence — Episcopal church — The occurrence of a Sunday morning — Impressions made by the use of the church service — Great salvation — Prayer meeting — The liturgy — Mutual surprise — Religious prejudice— The Prayer Book — Salvation in and through Christ — The indefatigable missionary — The pond — The ark — Religious impressions on Mr. Truman's mind — Change of heart fully recognised in the liturgy — Baptismal regeneration — Read ing the service — The ground of attachment to the Episcopal church — Hope desired in death 209

Chapter IV

Mrs. Jane way .- — Absorbing topic of conversation — Piety a steady and uniform principle — The walnut grove — The quarterly meeting — The judgment — Distress of mind — The prayer meeting — Excitement of imagination — Danger of pride — Spiritual declension — The zealous efforts of the Methodists — Uncharitable judgment — Young Truman — A mother's anxiety for a sick child — The backslider — Mrs. Maison — The power of sympathy chastened and directed by true piety — Christian counsel — Nature of Christian faith — The object of our visit to the sanctuary — Spiritual worship — The excellencies of the liturgy 230

Chapter V

Mr. Colchester: — Sympathetic influence — Mr. Colchester's Teligious history — Country inn — An incident 252

10 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VL Pw

The Manuscript : — Early life of a reformed profligate — Habits of deceit — Dissolute habits — Desperate resolve — Dark selfcommuning — Suicide arrested in his purpose — Mental anguish — A copy of the Prayer Book — The rude cabin — Solitary life — Instruction and comfort derived from the liturgy — Will of Providence 258

Chapter VII

The Sequel.- — Bar-room conversation— Religious impression- Services of a village church — Aged minister — Abstract of a sermon — Affecting appeal — Convictions of sin — Self-communion — Means of grace 271

CHAPTER VIIL

Providential Bevelopement : — The tour — Accident — Escape — Country scene — Domestic arrangements — Family prayer — Gentle rebuke — Penitence — Singular disclosure — A funeral scene ...... 278

MARY MAYWOOD.

Chapter I

Domestic Relations: — The wisdom and benignity of the gospel — Influence of a single domestic — An irascible man — Triumph of Christian patience — Conscientious views 287

Chapter II

How Mary was brought to Christ : — Interview — Early habits — Rash determination — Effect of kindness — First serious impressions — The Bible our best friend — Workings of an awakened but unregenerate soul — The way of salvation — Influence of divine grace 294

Chapter V

The Infidel on his Death-bed ': — Source of infidelity — Resources of an infidel in sickness — Remorse — Faithful exhortation — Enmity of the natural heart — An aged minister — Interview — Probing questions — Confession of an infidel — Reconciliation 337

Chapter VI

Darkness in Death: — The parted family re-united — Infidel club — Soliloquy — Bitter recollections — Fearful forebodings. 347

Chapter VII

The Christian's Support in Death : — Decline and death of Mrs. Lindsley — Early history of Richard — Calm and tranquil contemplation of death — The eloquence of Christian hope — The effect of a Christian's dying words — Reflections of an orphan daughter — God the father of the fatherless — Sudden death 351

12 CONTENTS.

ONE WHOSE RECORD IS ON HIGH.

CHAPTER I. Page

Discourse by the Way : — A jaunt with a clerical friend — A country scene in autumn — Power of association — A lovely village — Mutability of all earthly things — Early years of Rev. Mr. H . — High ministerial character 359

Chapter II

The Doctrines of Grace: — Conceptions of heavenly bliss- Christ and him crucified — First field of labour — Early mode of preaching — Powerless effect — Causes that retard and depress the Episcopal church-Grand deficiency discovered — Interview at a public inn— Views of a revival — Extraordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit — The Pentecostal blessing — Keen rebuke — Divine influence — The doctrine of special grace, taught in the Prayer Book — Dependence on the Holy Spirit in preaching 367

Chapter III

The Effect of preaching Christ: — The adaptedness, simplicity, and power of the gospel — A rich and worldly-minded woman — Doctrines of the cross — God humbles us before he employs us for his glory — The veil of self-deception torn off — Testimony of a plain Christian man — Rev. Mr. Berridge — Effect of faithful preaching 383

Chapter IV

Profitable Discussions: — Moonlight scene — Sacred ministry approached from improper motives — Reasons why some ministers do not find fields of labour — Christ the corner-stone — Discriminative preaching — How souls are won — Parochial visiting — No insuperable obstacle^ in the way of the performance of this duty — An illustration — Duty belongs to us, consequences must be left with God — The ambassador — Testimony against an unfaithful minister — Preparation for parochial visiting — Results attending the faithful performance of this duty — Conclusion 394

GATHERED FRAGMENTS.

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

It is delightful to gather the lessons of moral duty from the silent, but expressive operations of the Divine Being. It is recorded in more than one instance in the sacred volume, as the marked and peculiar sin of intelligent and rational creatures, that they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.* This contemplation of the divine conduct, which is thus taught to be the duty of every human creature, is to extend, not only to the moral acts of God, but to his operations in the natural world. In this remark we refer not so much to those traces of divine workmanship, and those indications of divine power which are seen alike in the painted pebble and the delicately pencilled flower, in the tremendous volcano and the quiet corn-field, " in the wild winter storm and in the soft summer moonlight," as to those fixed and general principles of divine operation that extend through a whole system.

The idea intended to be communicated is this — that it is our duty to consider not only how Jehovah governs men and angels, how he treats the sinning and the unsmiling ; but how he governs the material universe — what appears to be the principle of divine administration in the natural government of matter and of mind. By such contemplation, we can often deduce inferences of high moral bearing, in relation to the regulation of human conduct. This idea I will endeavour to illustrate.

2 13

The divine administration.

The globe on which we live, with all its varied furniture and appendages, with all its multiplied forms of organic and animated being, and with all its complex arrangements for the support of animal life, is, as a physical or material system, under the government of God. Every particle of matter is under his immediate and absolute control. There can be no such thing as chance within the sphere of such an administration. The heavenly minded Cowper has truly remarked —

Could chance

Find place in his dominion, or dispose One lawless particle to thwart his plan, Then God might be surprised, and unforeseen Contingence might alarm him, and disturb The smooth and equal course of his affairs.

All the changes that occur take place according to fixed principles of divine administration. One of those principles is, that in this mundane system nothing shall be lost or struck out of being. Not a single particle of matter that existed at the original creation of this earth is now missing. Every atom, that is not at present in use, is carefully preserved in the great laboratory of nature, and is destined to enter into new aggregations or organized forms.

It is undoubtedly true, that every thing around us is the subject of constant mutation. " Matter under every visible form and modification, when regarded in its general mass, is perpetually changing ; alternately living, dying, and reviving; decomposing into elements that elude our pursuit; and recombining into new shapes, and energies, and modes of existence. The purest and most compact metals become tarnished, or converted into a calx or oxyde on its surface, and the most durable and crystallized rocks crumble into granules ; and the matter constituting these oxydes and granules, by an additional series of operations, is still farther decomposed, till every vestige of their late character is lost, and the elementary principles of which they consisted are appropriated to other purposes, and spring to view under other forms and faculties. The same process takes

Nothing in nature lost.

place in the organized world. The germ becomes a seed, the seed a sapling, the sapling a tree ; the embryo becomes an infant, the infant a youth, the youth a man ; and having thus ascended the scale of maturity, both, in like manner, begin the downward path to decay ; and so far as relates to the visible materials of which they consist, both at length moulder into one common elementary mass, and furnish fresh fuel for fresh generations of animal or vegetable existence ; so that all is in motion, all is striving to burst the bonds of its present state ; not an atom is idle ; and the frugal economy of nature makes one set of materials answer the purposes of many, and moulds it into every diversified figure of being, and beauty, and happiness."*

Thus we see, that while decomposition is continually going on in the material world around us, and that there is a ceaseless tendency in all bodies to be resolved into their original elementary principles, yet the moment this process arrives at a certain point, dissolution is arrested, and the elementary principles of these bodies are held safe in the great laboratory of nature, till they are needed, and taken up in some new combinations. And hence we learn, that the entire principle of gathering up the fragments, that nothing may be lost, enters as an essential element into the divine administration, as it respects the physical world around us. And this will appear the more striking and remarkable when we consider the fact, that this course of divine procedure is not attributable to any difficulty that stands in the way of calling new matter into existence. The Divine Being could, with a single volition, call into existence, an amount of matter not only adequate to every exigence, but a mass equal to that which now constitutes the whole extended immense material universe. And yet He uses matter with such frugality that not a particle has been lost since the creation of the world. Is not this fact worthy of contemplation ? Does it not read a lesson of moral instruction to every human creature ? The words of

* Good's Book of Nature, vol. i. p. 19.

There should be no waste of intellectual energy.

the divine Jesus, as he stood amid the fed thousands, that sat on the verdant grass, in a field near Bethsaida, gather

UP THE FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN, THAT NOTHING BE LOST,

were but a moral exposition or beautiful comment upon one of the great laws of nature. And I -would here add, that if the divine conduct be placed before us for our imitation, if we regard it as obligatory upon us to copy the divine example, as far as it is imitable, then shall we not be brought to the conclusion, that it is the bounden duty of every moral and intelligent being to strive to be engaged in labours that in their results will be endlessly useful ?

The practical inference to be deduced from the fact which we have been contemplating is, that every human creature is bound not only to use all the objects of external possession, in such a way that nothing will be lost, but so to consecrate all the powers and faculties of his mind to the cause of truth and holiness that, during the whole period of his earthly existence, there shall be no waste of intellectual energy. This is undoubtedly the will of God. But alas ! how wide from this have earth's inhabitants usually acted ! One judiciously remarks, — " The experiment has never yet been fairly made, to see how much pure and ever-burning piety might accomplish, in calling forth the active powers of man. What mighty energies ambition and sin might summon into being, has been exemplified ; and, unhappily, when we wish to gauge the powers of man, we are compelled to resort to some such melancholy exemplifications. History is little else than the record of such disastrous achievements ; in contemplating which, we stand almost equally amazed at the exhibition of gigantic intellect and fiendish malignity. Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon have amazed the world with their daring exploits, and by the mighty powers which they exhibited in the service of ambition ; Nero, Caesar, Borgia, Richard III. have shown to what prodigious efforts unmingled sin may summon the human powers ; and D'Alembert, Diderot, and Voltaire have evinced to what almost supernatural feats of intellectual strength the mind may be

The power of human intellect.

summoned, in a united effort to corrupt a nation, and dethrone religion from the hearts of men. Here, talent has been controlled by sin ; ambition or crime directs all the powers on a single object, and the world trembles before the amazing intellect of fallen man.

" But when we contemplate the influence of holiness upon the human mind, we see it in broken, irregular, and disjointed efforts. Among men, merely, we cannot point to a single instance, where the powers have been as entirely controlled and called forth by holy efforts, as they have been under the control of ambition or infidelity. A few, indeed, have approximated to it ; and we refer to them as rare exceptions to the common laws of holiness over men. The energies of Paul were brought into action under the influence of piety ; and Baxter and Edwards seemed disposed to make trial of what that mind could do, under the operation of Christianity : and Howard is said to have pursued his object with an intensity which the nature of the human mind forbade to be greater. But why do we refer to these instances, as standing, like far distant lights in the darkness of the past ? It is because the power of holiness has not been applied to the mass of the Christian world.

" There are two melancholy facts which stand forth in the past history of the world. One is, that talent which might have made itself felt in shaping the destiny of men, has slumbered and been lost. At any single period of the world, there has been talent enough for all its great purposes of improvement. Who can believe that Luther was the only man who dwelt in a cloister, endowed with native powers to effect a revolution in nations ? Who can believe that there is not power enough in the church to carry the gospel to all the world ? The other fact is, that genius is often wasted, or burns and blazes for naught. Now, splendid talent is called forth by some daring scheme of ambition. Smitten and foiled in its designs, it shrinks back on itself, and withers, and is lost to the world. Now, it is excited by some wild Utopian plan for the philosophic improvement of men. Life is exhausted in the scheme, and the misdi-

2*

The influence of holiness.

rected talent falls useless to the dust, Now, splendid genius seems to be drawn out simply by the love of intellectual exercise — by the mere fondness of its play ; and a useless poem or novel is all the memorial which is left to tell, that the man once lived. And yet again, talent, just adapted to all the hardy enterprises of making the race better, expends itself in some wild and devious plan of wandering, like that of Ledyard ; or in exploring the memorial of ancient folly, like that of Belzoni.

" Now, the same mighty energies of mind, which are summoned into action by ambition, the love of gold, and of sin ; or the very energy, that seeks employment adapted to its nature, in traversing continents, ascending streams, and penetrating frozen seas, might be called forth by the same principle which moved the minds of Paul, and Buchanan, and Martyn. Nay, higher powers of mind might be developed by an inextinguishable desire to be holy, and to save the world, than the love of gold or fame has ever yet excited. If a man wished to make the most of his talents, to put them to the severest and most enduring test, to labour simply to extend and prolong his influence, he would tread the path of Paul and Howard. The influence of the Caesars of the world must die."* The influence of Paul and Howard can never die. The results of their toils will exist throughout the ages of millennial glory, will endure to the end of all things — yea, will last as long as the wasteless ages of eternity.

When the mind is led into a train of thought like this, — and, when viewing the tremendous responsibility that rests upon us, as redeemed and divinely enlightened beings, we see, in looking back upon the past, how little we have ever accomplished for the cause of truth and holiness, — how much of our time has been frittered away, and can never be recalled, — how much of our strength has been wasted for which we have now nothing to show, — who that loves the Saviour, and realizes that he must soon stand at the

* Christian Spectator, vol. vi. pp. 552—554.

The origin and design of this work.

judgment bar, will not feel an irrepressible desire, not only to consecrate all his future labours to the glory of God, and to the promotion of truth and holiness, but will not look around with deep solicitude, and see if some of the results of his past efforts may not be gathered up and devoted to the same cause ?

It was a feeling not unlike this that first suggested to the author the idea of the present volume. He believes that every Christian minister is bound, by the most solemn obligations, to consecrate his time, and talents, and influence to the cause of the great Redeemer, and to seek to bring mind in contact with divine truth, by every means in his power, whether by the pulpit or the press.

With the solemn conviction resting upon his mind, that the time is short, — that as yet, little has been done, and that it is in accordance with the divine will that nothing should be lost, — he has ventured to bring together the fragments that compose this volume, and lay them as a freewill offering on the altar of God, asking him, who not unfrequently " chooses the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are mighty, and base things, and things which are despised," to accomplish his great and glorious purposes, to bless this effort, and make it tributary to his glory.

The only object which the author has proposed to himself in this volume, is the everlasting good of undying souls. The thought frequently presses upon him, that he is floating down the rapid current of time, in company with nearly nine hundred millions of immortal beings, — that he and they will soon be in the ocean of eternity, — that only a very small number, a mere fraction of these millions, have yet laid hold on eternal life, — and that now is the only time in which they can be reached or rescued. As this thought has come up before him again and again, he has been driven back to the conclusion, ' Wo is me, if I do not seek, by every means in my power, to bring the truth of God in contact with undying minds.'

The Bible of a narrative character.

The author has been encouraged to hope that the present volume may exert a salutary influence from two considerations.

The first is, that the method here pursued in the inculcation of truth, has for its model and sanction the record of divine truth. A large portion of the Bible is of a narrative character. A large proportion of the materials that make up that volume consists of a history of God's people, and of his various dealings with them. There is no doubt that the truth contained in the sacred volume, from this very circumstance, has produced infinitely more effect, than it would have done had the same truth been communicated in a more didactic or philosophic manner. Facts have been remembered, and have made an impression, where abstract principles would never have reached the mind, nor left a single lodgement of truth in the heart.

The other consideration adverted to is this — that God has blessed, in an eminent manner, true narratives of a work of grace in the heart. It seems to be a manifest principle in the economy of grace, that every display of divine power put forth in the conversion and sanctification of sinners shall have a moral influence upon those who witness it or hear of it. How often has an extended revival taken its rise from one striking case of conversion in a congregation ! How many minds have been awakened, comforted, and refreshed, by reading what God has done for others ! God certainly has a purpose in all this. An inspired apostle could say, " Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 1 ''