against Dr Harris, which, if true, would prove him to have been one of the very basest of men. He charges him with having taken for his own use two bags of gold, containing one hundred pounds each, which he found among some old rubbish in Trinity-college, soon after he became president. He also affirms, that Dr Harris told most glaring falsehoods, with a view to secure the money to himself. One very judiciously observes here; "Though our documents will not afford us materials for a complete refutation of these charges; yet the whole of what is asserted, and especially the worst part of it, is so contrary to the uniform spirit and deportment of this learned and pious divine, that the account appears extremely suspicious, and only designed to reproach the memory of the Puritans.” b Many attempts, in those times, were made to reproach the memory of the Puritans. They were, like the apostles and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, in former times, accounted as the off-scouring of all things. Dr Harris was eminently distinguished by his prudent government of himself and of his family, as well as of his college and of his flock. His government of himself was very remarkable. He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. But the prudent subject of this memoir had much rule over his own spirit, and was like the standing city, having strong walls. He was most exactly temperate in the use of all things, confining himself strictly to hours for food, sleep, labour, and recreation. He ate sparingly and seasonably, which had a strong tendency to preserve in him much vigour, even to a great age. His principal time for recreation was the afternoon of Saturday, when he would unbend his mind, and allow himself some harmless recreation, in order that he might be more vigorous for the important and deeply interesting work of the Lord's day. He was very seldom seen angry; but, if at any time, his mind was discomposed by the improper conduct of other persons, he had such a remarkable a Wood's Fasti Oxon. vol. ii. p. 67. 2d edition. command of himself, that he could very quickly turn his passion into wholesome instruction. In his censures of others, he was very sparing, gentle to all, and severe only to himself. He had a very peculiar gift of forgetting injuries, without offering any. He was very mindful of favours. And, in the government of his family, he was not less remarkable. He ruled well his own house. He carefully maintained his authority over his children, which was equally tempered with lenity and gravity. He loved them without shewing fondness, and he ruled them without rigour. As soon as they could speak, they were taught to repeat some historical passages of the Holy Scriptures. As soon as they could walk, they were sent to school. When they were able to recollect any part of a chapter, which had been read, or commit to memory, and bring home any passage of a sermon which they had heard, he began to instruct them in the first principles of religion. When they were farther advanced, he enjoined upon them the practice of religion, and he diligently observed their private performance of religious exercises. He was very attentive unto them every way, carefully observing their capacities, inclinations, and constitutional sins. And he used all caution and means, that they might be enabled, through divine grace, to avoid those sins. His laudable endeavours were crowned, by the blessing of God, with success equal to his largest wishes. He was an example of strict and serious godliness in his family. He was an affectionate and good husband. To his servants he was a kind and gentle master, carefully instructing them and exhorting them unto their duty; and some of them had much reason to bless the Lord that ever they came under his roof. 1 He found very much sweet delight in God, and in divine things. He accounted those his best days, when he enjoyed most intercourse with Heaven. Upon a person in his sickness asking him how he did, he said, "O, this has been a sweet day, I have had sweet communion with God in Jesus Christ." He had an early sense of religion, though he neither knew the preacher, nor the sermon, by which he was converted. In his self-exami nation, he marked down in writing his evidences for heaven, some times in propositions from the Holy Scriptures, and at other times in syllogisms. These evidences he often subscribed in a book which he had for the purpose: but they were best read in the course of his life, which was an exact walking with God, in piety, charity, humility, patience, and an entire dependance upon Him. When he had settled his worldly affairs and his children, and left himself nothing to do but to turn his attention more particularly to preparation for death, the Lord was pleased to visit him with a very sore affliction. His wife, who was eminently religious, having lived about fifty years with him, was now delivered up to such strong temptations of Satan and horrors of mind, as terrified all spectators. On this mournful occasion, he often said, "God made it appear to all beholders, that the best man is no more than God makes him. Grace and comfort are all from Him." He bore this heavy affliction with much meekness and patience, and it served only, under the blessing of God, to throw greater lustre on his graces, and to excite him unto more diligence and fervour in religious exercises. Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised thereby. We come now to the close of this laborious and valuable life, in this world. The following lines were strikingly verified in our celebrated preacher, both in the course of his life, and at his death. "I preach, as if I ne'er should preach again; Dr Harris, in his last sickness, being desired to admit company, said, "It is all one to me whether I am kept alone, or have my friends with me. My work is now to arm myself for death, which assaults me, and to apply myself unto that great encounter." Accordingly, he spent his time in prayer, meditation, and reading the Holy Scriptures; especially the book of Psalms, the prophecy of Isaiah, and the Gospel by John. He delighted exceedingly in the 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th, chapters of that Evangelist. And when he became unable to read himself, he desired his friends to read unto him. He collected the principal things which were contained in the chapter, and expounded what seemed to be difficult in it, feeding most sweetly on this spiritual food. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; yet thy commandments are my delights. He warmly exhorted those persons who visited and attended him, to seek above all things to obtain the precious grace of faith. He said to them, "You must put on all the spiritual armour of God, and then go forth in the Lord's strength. Stand in the fight, and the issue shall be glorious: only forget not to call in the help of your General. Do all from him, and under him." He hindered none, on the Lord's-day, from public worship, to attend him; but greatly encouraged them to go unto the house of God. And And upon their return, he said, "Come, what have you for me?" meaning that they should repeat to him some part of the sermons which they had heard, to which he carefully attended. And having given a summary of every sermon, he said, "O what excellent truths are these! Lay them up charily, you will have need of them." When his friends came to visit him, being weakly, he said, “I cannot speak, but I can hear." "Notwithstanding, upon being asked where his comfort lay, he answered, In Christ, and in the free grace of God. He derived his comfort from the Lord Jesus Christ, and the unsearchable riches of divine grace, reigning through righteousness unto eternal life. When it was observed that he might take much comfort from his labours and usefulness, he replied, "All is nothing without a Saviour. Without Him my best works would condemn me. Oh! I am ashamed of them, being mixed with so much sin. Oh! I am an unprofitable servant. I have not done any thing for God as I ought. Loss of time sits heavy upon my spirit. Work, work apace. Be assured nothing will more trouble you, when you come to die, than that you have done no more for God, who has done so much for you." He farther said, "I never in all my life saw the worth of " Christ, nor tasted the sweetness of God's love, in so great a measure as I now do." Here we may observe, That the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed an all-sufficient Saviour, and the only real support of a departing soul. I cannot refrain transcribing in this place the admirable words of the celebrated Mr Davies, president of the college of New Jersey, in America, in a letter to his dear friend and brother, when he was beginning to creep back from the valley of the shadow of death, to which he had made a very near approach, using his own words. Mr Davies, in that letter, says, "In my sickness, I found the unspeakable importance of a Mediator in a religion for sinners. O! I could have given you the word of a dying man for it, that that Jesus whom you preach is indeed a necessary, and an all-sufficient Saviour. Indeed he is the only support for a departing soul. None but Christ, none but Christ. Had I as many good works as Abraham or Paul, I would not have dared to build my hopes upon such a quicksand, but only on this firm eternal rock.” a When Dr Harris's friends asked what they should do for him, he replied, "You must not only pray for me, but also praise God for his unspeakable inercy to me; and in particular, that he has kept Satan from me, in my weakness. O, how good is God! Entertain good thoughts of him. However it be with us, we cannot think too well of him, nor too ill of ourselves." The inexpressible goodness of God in Christ seems to have made a very deep and lasting impression upon his religious mind; for in all his wills the following legacy was always renewed; Also, I bequeath to all my children, and their children's children, to each of them a Bible, with this inscription, None but Christ." He said to his particular friends, "I am now going home, even quite spent. I am now at the shore, but leave you still tossing on the sea. Oh! it is a good time to die in." Nearer the time of his departure, being asked how he did, he said, "In no great pain, I praise God, only weary of useless life. If God has no more service for me to my 66 a Middleton's Biogr. Evang. vol. iv. p. 349. |