Part 6 (1/2)
”APRIL 23, MONDAY. It is finished. My dear minister's bitter draught is over. On Thursday, the 19th of this month, a quarter before ten o'clock, A.M., the Lord received his spirit and laid his weary flesh to rest. He had a sore conflict with the king of terrors, who seemed allowed to revel through every part of his mortal frame: his legs were mortified to his knees; he had not been able to lie down for four weeks, and died in his chair. Like his Master, he groaned, but never complained: he had a draught of his Master's cup, but the bitter ingredient _desertion_ made no part of it. I had the honor to close his dear eyes, and to shut those dear lips from whence so many precious truths have proceeded, and to mix with the ministering spirits who attended to hail the released. This honor I had desired, but did not reckon myself worthy, and hardly hoped for it; but the Lord saw the wish, though never formed into a pet.i.tion, and indulged me. I bless him for it. And now, farewell human friends.h.i.+ps; let me gird up the loins of my mind, and run with patience the little further, looking unto Jesus, and following also him my pastor, 'who, through faith and patience, now inherits the promises.'
”This is a great work finished. Dr. Mason was 'a city set on a hill.' He was with the army during all the war after the evacuation of New York; had great influence over the soldiers; preached the gospel of peace uniformly, but never meddled with politics, though he was fully capable. In every situation the Lord supported him in uniformity and consistency of character, and carried him through without a single spot or stain. Glory to G.o.d in the highest for this repeated proof of his faithfulness. 'Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.'
”I. GRAHAM.”
Great was the grief of Dr. Mason's congregation on his removal.
In him, to great learning were united meekness, prudence, diligence, and knowledge of the world, and an affectionate superintendence of the interests, spiritual and temporal, of his flock. He so arranged his avocations and studies in regard to time, that he had always a few hours in the afternoon to devote to visiting the families of his congregation. So regular was the order he observed, that Mrs. Graham and her family knew when to calculate on seeing him, and always expected him with the antic.i.p.ation of profit and pleasure. Once every week they were sure of seeing him, if in health. His visits were short, his conversation serious, awakening, instructive, and affectionate. He inquired about their temporal affairs, and in cases of difficulty gave them his best advice. His counsels were salutary; his knowledge of the world and his discrimination of character rendered him well qualified to advise. In one of his visits to Mrs.
Graham she mentioned to him the want of good servants as one of her trials. ”Mrs. Graham,” said he, ”have you ever prayed to the Lord to provide good servants for you? Nothing which interests our comfort is too minute for the care of our heavenly Father.”
To one of her daughters, who felt a strong inclination to profess her faith in Christ by joining the communion of his church, but yet was afraid that her heart was not sufficiently engaged for the service of G.o.d, Dr. Mason proposed the following question: ”If,” said he, ”the world, with all its wealth, pleasures, and power, were placed in one scale, and Christ alone in the other, which would your heart freely choose as a portion?” On her replying there would be no hesitation as to her choice of Christ, he gave her encouragement to profess her faith, although it might not at present amount to the full a.s.surance of hope.
He was indeed a faithful shepherd of his flock, and his people mourned for him as for an affectionate father. It is much to be desired that his example were more followed by Christian pastors. To preach with eloquence and acceptance is a talent of great value in a minister of the gospel; this makes him respected, and his congregation admire him, because, for one reason, they are proud of him; but to gain their affections, to make a congregation the children of an aged pastor, or the friends and brethren of a younger one, let the minister visit the families of his people; this will seal on their hearts the regard which their understandings had already dictated.
Very few ministers have been more remarkable for a strict attention to this duty, than the late Dr. John Mason and his venerable and attached friend Dr. Rodgers. When the former died, the latter exclaimed, ”I feel as if I had lost a right arm.”
The congregation, bereaved of their pastor, wrote immediately to his son, the late Rev. Dr. John Mitch.e.l.l Mason, to hasten his return from Edinburgh to New York; and after preaching to them with great acceptance for several months, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church in April, 1793. Mrs. Graham entertained for him the most affectionate attachment, and this attachment was reciprocal.
At this date we find some of Mrs. Graham's delightful devotional exercises.
”NEW YORK, 1793.
”Blessed Lord, thou hast, to the praise of thy grace, given me the heritage of them that fear thy name; thou hast prepared my heart to pray, and inclined thine ear to hear; thou hast drawn me into thy fold, and hast fed me in thy green pastures. I rejoice in Israel's Shepherd; not one of his flock shall be lost. Often have I wandered from his presence and sought pasture among the swine, but my Shepherd has ever drawn or driven me back. He has a rod and I have felt it; but I bless the hand and kiss the rod.
”O, how wonderful to look back and see 'all the way by which he has led me, to prove me, to try me, to show me what was in my heart, that he might do me good at my latter end.' Amen, my G.o.d, I leave myself in thy hands. I should lose myself; but thou wilt keep me from foes without and foes within. What then have I to care for? My Shepherd careth for all; he slumbers not nor sleeps, and he will perfect what concerns me; of this I am as sure as that I now write it.
”The law of thy mouth is better unto me than gold and silver. O how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Thou, through thy commandments--or the whole of thy truth--hast made me wiser than my teachers. The law of G.o.d makes the simple wise. How sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. 'Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' How safe, how happy are they who are taught by the word of G.o.d. 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not taught thee this, but my Father who is in heaven.'
”O my children, enrich your minds with a full acquaintance with the word of G.o.d; lay it up in your memories, when you can do nothing more; be a.s.sured, if ever you are made wise unto salvation, it must be by this word; if ever you are taught of G.o.d, he will teach you by the words contained in the Bible. 'Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me;' search the Scriptures, for in them are contained the words of eternal life. 'Be followers of them who, through faith and patience, now inherit the promises.'
”Holy David went forward, heavenward, improving in the knowledge of G.o.d, of himself, and of G.o.d's plan of salvation for ruined sinners, by studying the word, the works, and the providences of G.o.d, but chiefly the word of G.o.d; praying for, watching for the influences of G.o.d's Spirit on his judgment and thinking powers: it was by this that he became wiser than his teachers. He was a king, and had the cares of the nation to occupy his mind; he was a man of war, and had that art to study. But O, the privilege of the Christian! he goes through every part, even of his earthly way, leaning upon G.o.d. David could say, even of war, 'The Lord teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.'
'The Lord subdued the people under me.' In temporals and in spirituals, he is my s.h.i.+eld, my strength, my buckler, my strong tower.' I shall not fear what man can do unto me.' 'In Judah's land G.o.d is well known; there he brake the spear, the bow, and the battle.'
He ascribes all to G.o.d. We hear nothing of his own wisdom, his disciplined armies, his order of battle and warlike powers, though attention to all these was his duty, and not neglected by him. He devoted all his natural talents to G.o.d; he exercised them diligently, but still he knew and acted under the influence of that knowledge, that unless the Lord build the house, the builders lose their pains; unless the Lord keep the city, the watchmen watch in vain. He, as well as worldly men, chose the means best adapted to the end proposed. Let natural men a.s.sert, and let it be admitted, that David knew better how to use a sling and a stone, than mail, helmet, and sword; therefore he chose them. But follow David until he meets the hostile foe. Do we hear a word of his art as a slinger, as a marksman? though we may suppose he was expert at both. 'Thou comest to me with a sword, a spear, and a s.h.i.+eld; but I come in the name of the Lord of hosts, the G.o.d of the armies of Israel whom thou hast defied; and this a.s.sembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear'--these are not essential--'for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.'
”How comfortably might Christians go through life did they walk with G.o.d in their daily business and occupations, carefully observing the leadings of Providence, cautiously avoiding either running before or lagging behind; but in all things making their requests known to G.o.d; at all times committing their way to him, being careful about nothing, but to use with diligence the means of grace, and also the means of acquiring the good things of life, leaving the issues of both to G.o.d, in the full a.s.surance that what is good the Lord will give.
'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.' In spirituals and in temporals, 'the hand of the diligent maketh rich.' Be 'not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.'
”Lord, teach me thy law graciously, in all its perfection, its extent, order, beauty, and harmony, and grant me all the a.s.sistance provided to enable a lost, depraved, corrupted child of Adam, to set out in thy good ways, to go forward, and to finish in the same course; and all the consolation, joy, and peace which thou hast provided to be enjoyed in a measure even here, and to be perfected in the world to come. Amen.
”'O Israel, return unto the Lord, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.' Hos. 14. Yes, fallen, O how fallen from G.o.d the only good, the fountain of happiness. Lost his image, which was the glory of man in paradise. Lost that sweet complacency and delight in his perfections and attributes which innocence enjoyed. Lost rect.i.tude of reason and judgment. No longer can we judge of excellence, no longer love what G.o.d loves. Our wills no longer straight with his will, but crooked, opposing G.o.d, and choosing evil instead of good. 'O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Amen, says my soul, in thee is my help.”
”NEW YORK, October 3, 1793.
”'One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.' Isaiah 44:5.
”I, as one, subscribe to the truth of all that G.o.d has said: I, as one, subscribe my a.s.sent to all he has done. I set my amen to his well-ordered covenant, well-ordered in all things, and sure. And this is the covenant, even Christ, the sum and substance, for he hath given him to be a covenant of the people. The whole and every part of it is G.o.d's covenant. To me it must be a testament, the new testament in Christ's blood. To me it must be a covenant of gifts and promises. I can be no party, having nothing to give; nothing with which to covenant. He hath said, 'Thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.' Amen. Be my help, my deliverer.
”'Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved; for I am G.o.d, and there is none else.' I do look unto thee alone for salvation.