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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1811.

BRIEF MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REV. BOOTH CALDWELL,

OF SLIGO.

THE REV. Booth Caldwell was born in the county of Tyrone. He was a faithful laborious minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Sligo for fourteen years. On the 24th of October, 1810, his happy spirit took its flight, 'from Calvary's to Zion's heighth,' in the 49th year of his age. An apoplexy was the cause of his death. With very little pain or suffering, he was taken from all his labours to his eternal reward. It is much to be regretted, that, amidst the labours of his pen, nothing concerning himself has been found. In the early part of his ministry he was ignorant of the way of salvation. By degrees the light dawned upon his mind; and he did not long continue in that deplorable wretchedness, and lamentable ignorance of the divine method of salvation. It should be remembered, that this was not effected by any human means, but by the good providence of God, and the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures opened their heavenly doctrines and holy consolations to his mind. He saw that God had laid help upon One who is mighty; that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to them that believe; that there is a kingdom of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, set up in the heart of the Christian; that the gospel warrants the enjoyment of all its mercies to those who repent and believe in Jesus. Hope sprung up in his soul. He rested his guilty spirit, by faith, on the atonement of Christ, and found that invitation of the Redeemer,' He that cometh unto me, I will in nowise cast out,' did not mock his confidence, nor disappoint his hope. He saw that if he was justified, it was because Christ had died, whose blood speaketh better things than that of Abel. Heavenly joy, and a peace which passeth understanding, entered and possessed his soul. It was like the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion, where the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.'

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From the time that light and love dawned upon his soul, he was up and at work. He did not sleep as do others.' As a preacher, he succeeded in what was his chief aim and object, viz. in declaring the whole counsel of God,in a clear impres

XIX.

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sive manuer. He was zealous for the honour of his Re deemer, and laboured faithfully for the salvation of souls.He did not spare himself, but spent his strength freely in the great work to which the Lord had called him. It was evident to all that he richly tasted the good word which he declared to the people. Though of a delicate habit of body, he knew not how to be idle. He appeared like one who was journeying fast to a better country. He had a burning zeal for the salvation of immortal souls. In this great work he was the honoured, instrument of turning many to righteousness. He was sound in his doctrine, and consistent and unblemished in his life and conversation; this was the means of pleading strongly the cause of holiness in the town of Sligo. He was the constant and feeling attendant on the sick, the poor, and the afflicted. The rising generation particularly experienced his fatherly care; for their sakes he composed a Catechism upon the first principles of religion, and got it printed, to be given away. He was blest with a firm confidence in God, and a lively hope of being happy with him for ever. Being united to Christ, he knew that he was made an heir with him of an incorrupti ble, undefiled, never-fading inheritance. When death made its approach, he was supported by the powerful arm of God, and comforted by his Spirit. When the journey of life was nearly finished, and his happy spirit was longing to take its flight to the mansions of eternal felicity, he was heard to say, 'My peace is made with my heavenly Father.' The man of the world may indulge his unrestrained passions, and tread the round of vanity with apparent delight; but follow him through life, and visit him in his final hour, and you will find his remembrance of past joys bitter and disgusting, and reflection turning his pleasure into pain; the props of earth, on which he has reclined, giving way, he is left utterly un supported when he most needs assistance; but such is not the case with the Christian;-such was not the case with this dear departed saint, now in glory. He knew in whom he had believed, even in Christ, the resurrection and the life; and reflection heightened his assurance. He felt the sublime pleasures of true religion; and faith realized to his enraptured view, the opening, the boundless prospects, of a happ eternity! He was neither deceived nor deserted in his latest moments; but, in passing through the dark valley and shadow of death, he feared no evil, being supported by the rod and staff of a gracious and all-sufficient God,-who has promised never to leave, never to forsake, such as serve and put their trust in him.

His warfare is now over. He has fallen a victim to the all conquering arm of the King of Terrors; - but death is his eternal gain. It has broken down the middle wall of partition between him and God; and, by loosening the pins

of his earthly tabernacle, removed him to the church above,: and iutroduced him to the possession of a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. He is borne above to the spirits of just men made perfect,'-to the innumerable company on mount Zion, who rejoice in the victory obtained.. Having fought the good fight, kept the faith, and finished his earthly course, he is crowned, through the merits of the Redeemer, with glory, honour, and immortality. What encouragement for us to tread in his steps!-May every reader be enabled to follow and imitate him as he followed and exemplified the life of his adorable Master!

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In Mr. C, the church has lost an able, zealous, and upright, minister, and his acquaintance, a kind and sincere friend. He lived esteemed, and has died lamented; and his memory will be engraven on the hearts of many in the town of Sligo. His last sermon from the pulpit was from 1 John ij. 28, And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.'

Dublin.

ADOLESCENS.

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.

CHRIST, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame.

THOUGH men will sometimes forego present comfort, and make great sacrifices, in the prospect of something that will, afterwards amply recompence them, we can form no proper idea of the views which Christ must have entertained, even in his most humbled state, in so far as his case so much surpasses any that can be compared with it. The ideas, however, that are suggested froin the state of mind in which he is represented in his last moments, are quite coincident with those which arise from similar, though inferior cases, with which we ourselves have some acquaintance, viz. That the prospect of future honour, of happiness, or of joy, will support the mind under present calamity; and the certainty of enjoyment with which this prospect is attended, must animate with patience and fortitude under those sufferings, which, otherwise, could not well be endured. The joys that were set before Christ, or those objects he had in view, which

inspired with joy in the prospect, were too great not to raise him above the misery of temporary sufferings, and to induce him to overlook life and every thing that is usually esteemed precious in the world, compared with what was to be attained by his ignominious death. The honour and happiness, the peace and joy of the heavenly state, in the presence of God, were blessings to Christ most desirable. In the lan guage of prophecy, his expectations and desire of this happiness were thus expressed: 'Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.' But it is not supposeable that Christ, who devoted his life for so gracious a purpose, could be actuated by such selfish views, as to have a regard only to his own good in that future state, on the glory and happiness of which his mind was so intent. From the design of his death, the joy set before him could not be separated; and as he loved us, and gave himself for us; as he gave himself a propitiation for our sins, that he might redeem us from all iniquity; the prospect of accomplishing, by his death, this good and gracious end, supported him under the pain and ignominy of the death he underwent. This was one ingredient of the joy set before him.

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Every view that is given us of Christ, from the earliest discovery of him, represents him as actuated by love the most disinterested, and as intent on accomplishing the great object on which he was sent. Though he knew, that before he could finish the redemption of his people, he must endure all those sufferings he did undergo, the arguments of his friends could not dissuade him, nor the ill-usage of his enemies deter him, from his purpose. To redeem thousands of our race out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue, was the design he had in view; and to minister such happiness to them as they must enjoy in the presence of God, could not but afford the greatest joy to such a one as Jesus, who had the heart of benevolence to devote his own life in the cause. To deliver them from misery, and from the curse of God, to conform them to his image, to raise them to sit with him in the heavenly places, and to exalt them to unspeakable happiness in the presence of God for ever and ever, was an act of love, exceeding abundant, above all that they could ask or think. This was what he performed for them, and what he had in view, when he humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross! Their obtaining all this he counted his joy and his crown, and, with this object in his view, he endured the cross, despising the shame.

This joy set before him must have animated him with patience and fortitude to endure. God the Father had given him every assurance of this, as the fruit and reward of his work. That the should have the heathen for his inheritance, and the

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