Life and letters of Rev. Daniel Temple...

Front matter

OCT s5 ^

, o o Q'

,.?* ,6-

Preface

This book has not been prepared as a tribute to the loved memory of one departed, but as a precious offering to the living. Affection and gratitude and deep esteem have not been wanting to prompt in surviving members of the family the desire that a Memorial of the departed Husband and Father should be given to the world; but the appearance of this volume is not to be ascribed to these feelings. It is issued not to cherish and honor the memory of the dead ; but to edify and cheer and inspire living pilgrims on their way to the better land.

The pious thoughts and scriptural meditations and spiritual exercises of eminent Christians are the most precious legacy they can bequeathe the church. Like light and air, they should be the common possession of all. To hoard them up and garner them away, or to suffer them to be hid from the light and buried in oblivion, is an injustice by which many are defrauded of that which might have fed and watered and nourished and strengthened them in their Christian life.

(iii)

IV

PREFACE.

The contents of the volume have been selected from about fifteen hundred letters. It will be noticed that very few appear to some, and none to others, of Mr. Temple's well-known friends. This is owing to the perishing of the letters to one friend in a conflagration at Constantinople, to the detention of those to another by the Austrian police at Vienna, and to the unexplained loss of a valuable package of select letters in course of transmission to the compiler. The numerous and valuable letters to Mr. Temple's sons are chiefly reserved for use in another form.

The compiler cannot omit to acknowledge his indebtedness to his Mother for her advice and aid in selecting, arranging, and combining the varied contents of the volume. Whatever of merit may characterize the preparation of the book, is due in no small measure to her taste and judgment and unwearied pains. With the fond, filial satisfaction which kindles in the heart of the son, who now sends forth the Life and Letters of a pious and beloved father, mingle gratitude and joy that this grateful notice of the part borne by her in the work, will meet the eye and gladden the heart of the surviving wife and mother.

Contents

Introduction p.

Part I

Early Life, 1789-1822. Parentage and childhood, 1. Conversion, 2. Entrance upon a course of study, 3. Character in college, 4. In seminary, 5-7. Agent for the A. B. C. F. M., 9, 10. Ordination and marriage, 11. Embarkation for Malta, 13.

Part II

Residence at Malta, 1822-1833. Storm on the voyage, 15. Arrival, 16. Letters to friends, 16-19. Arrival of Mr. Bird and Mr. Goodell, 19. Letters to family friends, 20-23. Superstitious fears of native servants, 24. Letter to his oldest sister, 26-29. Death of Lord Byron, 30. Ill health of Mrs. Temple, 32-34. Preached in Italian, 36. Letters to family friends, 35-41. Death of Mrs. Temple, 42-44. Death of infant children, 45-47. Letters to family friends, 47-51 . Letter to Missionary brethren in Syria, 52-56. Letters to family friends, 57-61. Return to the United States, 61. Letter to Mr. Smith before sailing, 61, 62. Arrival at Boston, 63. Letters to friends, 63-67. Second marriage, 67. Return to Malta, 68. Letters on sailing and during the voyage, 68-70. Letters to friends on arriving at Malta, 71-84. Begins to preach in his own house, 85. Submarine volcano, 88. Attendance upon a condemned murderer, 89. Loss of a brother at sea, 94. Departure from Malta, 99.

Part III

1833-1844, Residence at Smyrna. Danger on the voyage to Smyrna, 101. Letter to his parents on arriving, 102. Is ordered to leave at once, 104. Letters to friends, 107-110. Great fire in the city, 111-113. Plague appears, 114. President's Message, 119.

vi

CONTENTS,

Steam navigation introduced, 120. Custom-house arrangements, 124. Proclamation of the Holy Synod, 127. Frequent murders, 129. Opposition from the Greeks, 132. Death of Mr. Temple's father, 134-138. Patriarch's circular, 139. Principles on which missionary operations should be conducted, 140-143. Opposition to missionary schools, 143-149. Various letters, 150-156. Commencement of a monthly Greek magazine, 156. Circular of the Greek patriarch, 157-161. Labors with the sick, 161-164. Ravages of plague, 164-166. Sickness and death of Mrs. D wight, 167-174. Various letters, 174-178. Letters after sickness, 178- 182. Desires for the conversion of missionary children, 183-185. Various letters, 185-194. An unreasonable man, 195. Friendly relations to native schools, 197. Letters to relatives, 197-201. Services in the Dutch chapel, 202-206. Conversion of his children, 207. Death of his youngest brother, 210. Liberates an impressed printer, 212. Visit to Constantinople, 213-215. Various letters, 216-226. Persecution among the Armenians, 226-234. Letters to friends in the United States, 234, 235. Death of the Sultan and attendant commotions, 236-240. Mr. Bonar and Mr. M'Cheyne, 240, 241. Various letters, 242-259. Visit to Scio, 260. Religious services on board vessels, 262. Letters to near friends, 265-267. Subjects for prayer, 268-270. Various letters, 272-282. Death of Mr. Hebard, 283. Perplexities in transaction of pecuniary business, 285. Various letters, 287-302. Discouragement among the Greeks, 303. Lesson from a wild mulberry-tree, 305. Letters to missionary brethren, 307-309. Visit to Constantinople, 310. Various letters, 312-318. Bible lessons in an English school, 319. Various letters, 320-332. Fears of a comet, 333. Quarantine and the lazzaretto, 334. Doings of the bishop of Gibraltar, 337. Various letters, 341-354. Visit of Drs. Anderson and Hawes, 355. Prospective return to the United States, 357-365. Selling of goods, 366. Final visit to Constantinople, 368. Departure from Smyrna, 370.

Part IV

Return to the United States, 1844-1851. Journal on the voyage, 373-395. Travels and letters on first arriving, 396-404. Labors at Painesville, O., 405-412. Exposure to great danger, 414. Residence at Concord, N. H., 417-434. Admonition of failing health, 434. Residence at Phelps, N. Y., 435-457. Continued failure of health, 458. Resigns his charge at Phelps, 459. Colporteur convention at Cleveland, 466. Voyage to Chagres, 467. Voyage to England, 470-477. Death of his mother, 478. Goes to Reading, 479. Last letters, 480-482. Death, 483. Incidents connected with his last days, 483. Extract from a sermon by his son, 484. Extracts from letters of friends, 486-488. Extracts from Mr. Goodell's sermon, 488-492.

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

Few men have lived who have borne more distinctively the impress of the Saviour's image, than the subject of the following Memoir. Others may have been more distinguished by genius, learning, brilliancy, and force of mind, though in these respects no deficiency appeared ; but none have been more distinguished by simple and fervid piety, nor by unreserved consecration to the work of the Lord ; even Herod observing him, must have recognized him as " a just man and holy ; " not wanting in wisdom and affection, nor in activity and devotedness to the interests of humanity, his eye was yet turned first and last to God and the remembrance of his holiness ; preeminently he lived in the atmosphere of heaven, and threw around him influences derived from intimate communion with the Father of Spirits. Holiness like that of God was the end for which he lived, the object of his constant aspirations, the element in which he had his being, the wide sea in which he daily bathed, and on whose bosom he rode securely into the haven of everlasting rest. The unvarying tenor of his life manifested this ; his everyday occupations and ordinary social intercourse revealed it ; for none could pass a half hour with him in any circumstances without perceiving that he was not of the world even as Christ was not of the world, but had his conversation in heaven.

His love of the Bible, though not singular in its kind, was extraordinary in its degree ; literally, it was his mcdita-

(vii)

Vlll INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

tion by day and by night — the man of his counsel, the guide of his life, and the constant refreshment of his spirit ; when not in his hand, it ever lay open on his desk ; he studied it as a scholar, pondered it as a disciple, fed upon it as both meat and drink, and regaled himself with its perfumes, as if freshly exhaled from the bowers of Paradise ; it dwelt within him richly, and was as living waters perennially welling up and creating beautiful oases in the desert around him ; no subject was either so common or abstract, that upon his lips it dwelt not as a heaven-inspired theme, presenting eternal truths vividly to his mind. In common conversation, his language was eminently the language of the Holy Spirit, as his thoughts were the thoughts that dwell in the mind of God ; so that one enjoying the privilege of his society, felt himself the companion of a fellow-citizen with all the saints, while listening to the breathings of his piety and devotion.

In his veneration for the Scriptures, and the diligence with which he treasured them in his heart, is discovered the secret of the unwonted spirituality that marked his course, from the first hour of his conversion to God down to the last moment of life. Whatever were his toils and conflicts, his duties or temptations ; whatever his sphere of labor, in the field or the study, at the fireside or in the pulpit, in his native land or on foreign shores ; whatever the character of those around him, friends or enemies, Christians or infidels ; and whatever his circumstances of prosperity and joyfulness, or adversity and sorrow, the Lord was alway set before him ; — he felt the beaming light of his eye, heard the accents of his voice, and saw his footsteps in every aspect and event of life ; not a leaf trembled in the breeze, nor the foundations of the earth shook, — not a tear-drop glistened in another's eye, nor the fountains of grief broke up in his own bosom, — not a wing cut the air, nor a sword devoured flesh; — nor did a fellow-mortal die, or a kingdom fall in pieces, but to bear his mind upward to Him, who " weigheth

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

IX the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance," who " commandeth the morning, and causeth the dayspring to know his place."

Strong and sanctified were his native sympathies. Whoever rejoiced, he rejoiced with them, and wept with them that wept, for few are the joys or sorrows incident to humanity with which experience had not made him acquainted ; and remembering that he himself was still in the body, needing support and consolation from above, he was never slow to impart instruction adapted to the diversified conditions of those about him, from his treasured stores of revealed truth.

No man ever believed more firmly or studied more carefully the providence of God, as concerned in all passing events, and directing every movement in the kingdoms of nature and of men ; and, though too self-distrustful to attempt the interpretation of God's special designs in his dispensations, or a decision upon individual character in the light of them, he fairly expounded the general principles of Divine administration, and urged their faithful application. Deeply he felt his own ignorance of the vast profound of Divine counsels, but with other

" Wise men and good, Accused himself, not God; and put his hand Upon his mouth, and in the dust adored,"

rejoicing fervently in the assurance of the perfect Righteousness that holds the throne. For him, it was enough to know that God has made of one blood all the nations of men that dwell on the earth ; and that every man, wherever placed, and of whatever moral character or relations to himself, is his brother, and entitled to his sympathies and fraternal regards.

Prayer was his habitual occupation. If ever man prayed without ceasing, it was he ; whether silent, or speaking with

X

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

a friend, — whether engaged in grave discussions, or lighter topics of conversation, the spirit of devotion ever shone in his countenance and animated his frame. On no theme did he better love to dwell in sermon, counsel, or free converse with his friends, than communion with his God and Saviour. In social and public prayer, the simplicity of his manner, the beauty of his language, the touching aptness of his scriptural quotations and allusions, the tender pathos of his appeals to God's compassions and the wonderful love of Jesus, the humility of his confessions, the gratefulness of his acknowledgments, the importunity of his petitions, the breadth and earnestness of his intercessions, never failed to render the spiritual listener more spiritual, and the most careless bystander solemn ; heaven seemed present, while he wrestled with the angel of the covenant, as though his eye were opened on the invisible world, and as though he were standing amid scenes of grandeur and purity that no man can see and live ; but his communion with God habitually was like that of a man with his friend, and gave to his face a lustre like that of Moses descending from the mount.

Tender and strong was his " love of the brethren." The image of the Saviour, wherever discovered, called out his warmest affections ; nor did it concern him to know what denominational banner waved over the head of a Christian brother, for it was enough that he resembled Christ though imperfectly, in meekness, self-denial, and devotedness. If he had occasion to reprove a brother, he did it rather by turning the eye upon him like Jesus, than by the words of his lips ; — or, if constrained to speak in the language of rebuke, it was with a simplicity and tearfulness that disarmed resentment, and became an excellent oil on the head. Though maintaining an elevated standard of piety, and even abasing himself in the dust before God, he saw the defects of his brethren as though he saw them not, carefully avoiding a censoriousness that wounds without benefit, and gives pain

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

xi without alleviation, while he labored earnestly to promote their sanctification and spiritual enjoyment. Nothing more rejoiced his heart than the visible progress in the Divine life of all who had named the name of Christ; for this he labored as for his own salvation, and the recovery of the world from Sin's dominion.

To his undying love of Jesus, as the all-sufficient Saviour of lost men, not a sermon, nor an exhortation, nor a prayer, nor a conversation, nor an epistle from his pen, fails to bear witness ; this was the ruling passion of his soul ; and to give it full indulgence, he pursued his various studies with diligence, disciplined his mind with carefulness, sought all knowledge with eagerness, and poured forth the treasures of his influence with copiousness ; and, whether he explored fields of natural or theological science, nestled in the bosom of private friendship, or threw himself into the battle field of principalities and powers, — whether he traversed his native hills and vales, or crossed oceans and scaled mountains, or penetrated the recesses of iniquity, it was the love of Christ that constrained him, the instructions of Christ that guided him, — the example of Christ that encouraged him, — and the prospective companionship of Christ that elevated him above life's corroding anxieties ; with him, Christ was the first and the last, the centre and circumference, of all that is precious and glorious in the universe ; because Christ toiled and wept, suffered and died, he too gloried in toils and tears, in sufferings and deaths oft. His own unworthiness and guilt were ever present to his eye, and he felt himself the chief of sinners, deserving of endless death ; hence, when he met the eye of Christ turned upon him with compassion, and felt within him the spirit of adoption, constraining the cry Abba, Father, astonishment at the riches of Grace overwhelmed him, and he exclaimed,

" 0, to grace how great a debtor! " " Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

XU INTRODUCTORY NOTICE.

If these allusions to a few of the many strongly marked features in the character of one that "Jesus loved," be allowed to a heart full charged with sentiments of fraternal affection, as the result of long acquaintance and confiding friendship — nothing more will be claimed in the form of " Introductory Notice," but the assurance that these and their kindred excellences will be found expanded and illustrated felicitously by his own and the compiler's pen in the volume now presented to the Christian public ; not a page nor a sentence here will any warm-hearted disciple wish blotted ; nor is there a sentiment or aspiration that every such disciple will not desire to make his own. Who is ever wearied with the lives of Brainerd, of Martyn, of Payson, or of Felix Neff! and what renders them ever fresh and ever new ? The same inextinguishable love of Jesus, and entireness of consecration to the service of God, that eminently distinguished them in their generation, and identified them with the apostles of Christ, just as they distinguish " the man of God," whose portrait adorns, and whose developed resemblances to the Saviour beautify and enrich each succeeding page.

E. S. S.

Bkaintree, Nov. 21, 1854.

LIFE AND LETTERS.

Part I. Early Life

Daniel Temple, the subject of this Memoir, was born at Reading, Mass., December 23, 1789. He was the first-born of thirteen children, of whom six died before him, and six still live. His parents were Daniel and Sarah Beard Temple. They were both pious, and trained their children faithfully in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The father was for many years before his death an officer in the church in his native place. His means were never large, and his family were trained to habits of industry and thrift. The village in which they lived was inhabited by a quiet and industrious people, most of them plain, substantial farmers, or mechanics. It was blessed with excellent gospel privileges, and the usual opportunities then afforded for a common school education. A strong religious sentiment prevailed. There was but one church in the place, and to that nearly all the inhabitants sustained the rela- 1

LIFE AND LETTERS OF D. TEMPLE.

tion of church or parish members. The Assembly's Catechism was taught in the common school as regularly as any other branch of study. The Sabbath was a day of sacred and quiet rest.

Amid these influences, Mr. Temple passed quietly the first twenty years of his life. His taste for study was marked. He was a bright and correct scholar. To his parents he was ever dutiful and affectionate.

Mr. Temple's conversion occurred during a pentecostal season in Reading, when he was in his twentyfirst year ; and in December, 1810, he made an open confession of Christ before men, and became a member of the church in his native place. The change effected by his conversion was not slight and transitory, but deep and abiding. For a season, it led him to delight so much in solitude and meditation, that he usually walked to church across the fields alone, and constantly sought retirement. He rarely in after life spoke of his feelings at this time, but sometimes mentioned with deep emotion the unutterable delight he experienced, when first able to look up to God as his reconciled Father, and the joy and gratitude which overflowed in his heart, when he was made a visible member of the church.

His attachment to his pastor, Rev. Peter Sanborn, was very strong. He hung upon his words and drank them in with eager delight. They seemed to him in his new state almost like what the words of Christ were, " meat indeed and drink indeed."

A third of a century after this time, in writing to a son, he mentioned him as follows : —

" I once listened to him as to the voice of an angel, as an ambassador of God, and the earliest and most

EARLY LIFE.

permanent impressions of my heart were made bywords uttered by his lips, and rendered quick and powerful by the energies of the Holy Spirit. I can never cease to remember and love and reverence that good man. How often did my heart throb with unutterable emotions of joy and gratitude in the sanctuary, when I united with him in prayer, and listened to the joyful sound of the glorious gospel from his lips ! I felt, and had good reason to feel, that I was sitting in heavenly places in Christ. May his last days be as joyful and happy ever to him, as the first days of my young Christian hopes were to me."

During this winter, the perusal of Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches in India, awakened in him feelings which resulted in a decision to become a missionary to the heathen. With this in view, he immediately commneced a course of preparatory study at Phillips Academy in Andover, where he remained two years, under the instruction of the venerable John Adams.

From Andover he went, in 1813, to Dartmouth College, where he continued through the four years' course of study, until his graduation in 1817, meeting most of his expenses by teaching grammar and singing schools, and receiving a small annual allowance from the funds of Union Academy, N. H.

During his college life a memorable revival of religion occurred, of which he spoke in after years as adding exceedingly to the profit and interest of his course.

. The well-known conflict between the college and the authorities of the State, produced at one time

LIFE AND LETTERS OF D. TEMPLE.

during these years a great excitement, in which the students took sides with the college officers, and Mr. Temple spoke facetiously sometimes of having gone "sword in hand" on one occasion, to guard the library and prevent the opposite party from taking forcible possession of it.

In college, he was distinguished for his conscientious and devout character. Seldom does a college student leave behind him the memory of equally exemplary and active piety. His Christian fidelity resulted apparently in not a few conversions. Several persons are known to the writer, who were led to attend seriously to their eternal interests, and devote themselves to the ministry, through his father's faithful efforts. Some of these have finished their course, and may be named. The late and lamented Prof. Fiske, of Amherst College, was one, and spoke to the writer, who was his pupil, of the affectionate and grateful interest with which he remembered Mr, T.'s faithfulness to him, when they were fellow-stu - dents at Dartmouth. To his winning earnestness of entreaty he ascribed, under God, the saving change in his heart. The father of John M. Mead, was induced to study for the ministry, by his urgent solicitations. Other names might be added, but they are less known.

The esteem in which Mr. Temple's character was held in college, is indicated By the fact that a lady in Hanover invited him to board gratuitously for some time in her family, for the sake of his influence upon her boarders.

After graduating at Dartmouth, Mr. Temple returned to Andover, and passed three years in theo-

EARLY LIFE.

logical study. He was one of those privileged to enjoy the teachings of Professors Woods, Porter, and Stuart, for all of whom he ever expressed feelings of deep respect and affection.

He was not less interested in doing good while at the seminary, than he had been in college.

An extract from a letter from one of his early friends, will show the character of those efforts : —

" In looking back over a period of more than thirty years, to those few weeks of vacation which he repeatedly spent in my father's family at Portsmouth, while an Andover student, much do I remember of the spiritual greatness, if I may so speak, which surrounded your excellent husband when a young man, — much of the strength and sublimity of his piety, resulting from his 'walk with God,' — much of his habit of prayer, formed, I believe, at the very commencement of his Christian life. Much do I remember, of his love for his Bible, — his book, — the book which impressed itself on every line of his character with the seal of apostleship. He loved to repeat it from Genesis to Revelation. It was a good commentary to hear him. Well do I remember the enthusiasm with which he dwelt on the rich imagery of the prophets, the far-reaching consolations of the Psalms, and more than all, how he loved to linger about the pathway of his Saviour through all his journey to the cross! How many times in all these years have I thought of him when meeting these very passages in the Bible, as we remember a favorite line of poetry uttered by some dear friend.

" He longed to have others love the Bible as he did, and gather riches from the same exhaustless 1*

LIFE AND LETTERS OF D. TEMPLE.

mine where he obtained treasure for an eternity. To most observers he walked apart from this busy world. To say, ' he was early weaned from it,' does not seem correct.

" I do not believe he ever loved it. But yet in his walks through it, though often stepping aside to commune with the unseen and the longed for, there was nothing wanting of the genial, the kind, sympathetic, and warm-hearted elements of character.

" You are aware that when Mr. Temple was connected with the Seminary at Andover, it was customary for many of the students to pass the vacation in the neighboring cities for the benevolent purpose of aiding the pastors of churches as missionaries ; voluntarily assuming these self-denying labors for their Master's sake. Golden harvests were gathered by these devoted young men ; and among the more favored, were Mr. Temple and his beloved associate Goodell. During one of these visits at Portsmouth, in his senior year, Mr. Temple was invited to extend his labors to Newcastle Island, which presented a most interesting field of usefulness in connection with the fort and navy yard established by Government. There are many living who yet remember the rich fruits gathered by these young men, Temple and Goodell, forming an era in the history of that island. The little band of Christians were strengthened, and others brought to the fold, among whom was Dr. G., a surgeon at the fort, a gentleman of great worth and intelligence, but whose ear had, till this period, remained closed to the invitations of the Gospel. To the earnest appeals and mild persuasions of the young missionary, he listened with

EARLY LIFE.

courtesy and respectful attention. Attention gave way to surprise at hearing unwelcome truths exhibited so clearly and forcibly. Still, Dr. G. could not absent himself. The ear was opened ; the casement of skepticism which had surrounded the intellect of the strong man gave way, and he bowed down like a little child. I remember the glistening eye and trembling accent with which he first spoke of the love of Christ at my father's house, his hair, already silvered, just turning to go down the slope of life. What an influence followed this fearless but heavendirected effort ! High in office, commanding in position, with great urbanity of manners and kindness of heart, Dr. G. laid all his life-long acquirements at the feet of his Saviour, and from that period, till the hour of his joyful release, he labored for Christ.

" It was an affecting incident, that after the return of the wornout missionary from the East, on a visit to the western world, he called one evening at the house of a friend. A portrait hung on the wall which instantly fastened his attention. 1 That face seems very familiar to me,' said Mr. Temple. ' It is my father, Dr. G ! ' replied the lady. Nearly thirty years ago, and on a spot a thousand miles distant, he led that man to the 'Saviour, and was now permitted to recognize the beloved features again. They are together now, before the throne.

" I used to think it a high privilege to sit in the room with Dr. Payson, to listen to his words, to breathe the same atmosphere. The same thing could be said of your husband. It is difficult to define the power, impossible to measure the extent of influence connected with a man of this stamp. The same

LIFE AND LETTERS OP D. TEMPLE.

Christlike spirit dwelt in both, the same communion with heaven, the same love of the Bible, the same delight in exalting the Saviour above ' every name that is named in heaven or earth.' Let us ever ascribe to the glory of the Saviour all that we love to cherish in both. What a loss to the world when such lips of prayer are forever closed! What a treasure to the world when such a life of prayer can forever be remembered ! "

During the years of academical, collegiate, and theological study, Mr. Temple's class mate and room mate was William Goodell, a name too well known to need more than bare mention. It is rarely the case that persons are found more unlike in almost every natural trait, but it is equally rare for persons to conceive for each other a stronger and more lasting attachment. From their long intimacy, and known affection, their names have come to be indissolubly associated at Andover and Dartmouth.

After they had known each other intimately more than thirty years, Mr. Temple wrote as follows to Mr. Goodell concerning the friendship between them : —