ABANDONED BY HIS UNCLE. 21 his conversion, he was frequently invited to visit the sick and dying; and on these occasions he generally used the form of prayer prescribed by the Episcopal Church. But, upon this subject, he remarks," being one day requested to attend an unhappy man, whose criminal indulgencies had prostrated his vital energies, and brought him to the gates of death; I found that the form of prayer, although generally very excellent, did not suit the peculiarities of his case." On this occasion he for the first time, in the presence of others, ventured to express his desires to God, by extemporaneous prayer. Not enjoying the stated ministry of the Gospel in his native town, he embraced every opportunity of going to London, where, to his great edification, and growth in grace; he heard the Rev. Mr. Romaine, and other evangelical ministers of Christ. Here for a time, he seemed to "lie down in green pastures," and to be led "beside the still waters;" but, as in the case of Israel, who had no sooner passed over Jordan, than they were met by the Canaanites, so, although to him unknown, the hour and the powers of darkness were at hand. In his journal he remarks:-"Passing over Wandsworth bridge in a very happy frame of mind; I was strongly tempted to question whether I was a child of God, as I was exempted from those afflictions to which in the Scriptures, the saints are said to be appointed. Little did I then think I was so near the furnace, much less, that I should wear the badge of affliction so many years. By some unknown persons, it was intimated to my uncle, that his nephew had become "strangely religious, left his church, and went after dissenters." This intelligence greatly exasperated him; and one day as he was passing by my window, he saw me reading a religious book, which had a tendency to confirm his suspicion, and he withdrew his attention from me. From this time our intercourse was cut off, and I saw him no 22 DEATH OF HIS UNCLE AND HIS MOTHER. more, until his death, which occured after a few weeks of confinement to his chamber! On inquiry concerning his affairs, I found he had altered his will, left his property to an indifferent person; and bequeathed no more to me, than enough to answer the requisition of the law in my favour as his heir. After so many years sanguine expectation, at the very period when his assistance seemed to be indispensably necessary to my advancement in public life; to have my earthly support fail, and my prospects suddenly blasted; was certainly a severe trial. Young in experience, I could not then penetrate the designs of Providence in that event; but it afforded me great satisfaction to feel entirely conscious, that I had not procured this treatment by any imprudent or sinful conduct; but only, because I had become religious, and had gone after the dissenters.' 6 "When subsequently I walked over those fields which my late uncle had so often told me should be mine, I confess that I felt a degree of disappointment; but I was assisted to reflect, that if my heavenly Father knew that the possession of these fields would have been for my good, I most certainly should have inherited them. This consideration entirely reconciled me to the dispensations of heaven, and enabled me to say, 'Not my will, but thine be done.' "But no sooner was my uncle deposited in his grave, and my mind in a great degree relieved from the distress which his conduct towards me had produced, than a far greater affliction was prepared for the trial of my faith. My mother was now about forming a second marriage, but she was suddenly taken very ill with a bilious fever, and, within the time appointed for her nuptials, she was conveyed to the silent tomb. "This sudden and painful bereavment, which devolved upon me, the charge of three sisters, the oldest not more than twelve years of age, with but a dark prospect before me, almost bowed me down to the dust. MR. STANFORD REMOVES TO HAMMERSMITH. 23 But the Lord enabled me to adopt the prayer of David Guide me in the way in which I should go, for I lift up my soul unto thee.' This affliction was greatly augmented by a near relative who took possession of my mother's property, under a pretext of obligations due to him from my deceased father, and we were left not merely orphans, but destitute of the means of support. In the evening, while sitting alone in the parlour, quite disconsolate, and without an earthly friend in whom I could confide, it pleased God sensibly to apply to my mind this appropriate and invaluable promise Verily thou shalt be fed.' Psalm xxxvii. 3. It was indeed the voice of God, speaking comfort to my disconsolate heart. True, the Lord by this promise did not say when, where, with what, nor by what means I should be fed; but it was enough for me at that time to be assured, that a supply should be granted. Nevertheless, during the ensuing two weeks the cloud seemed to grow darker. I now made my last visit to Samuel Naylor, Esq, attorney in London, in order to settle my mother's affairs. At the close of business, and finding that I had been bereft of all, Mr. Naylor expressed his generous concern for my afflictions, and asked me what now were my prospects? I told him, that as to the result I was of course ignorant, but that my reliance was wholly upon the Lord. I then knew not that Mr. Naylor was a professor of religion. He replied, A minister who keeps a boarding-school at the place where I have my country-house; is going to live upon an estate in Northamptonshire, left him by his grand-father, and you choose to accept the settlement, I will secure it for you.' To this I objected, having no property; but Mr. Naylor generously engaged to become responsible for me, and his offer was gratefully accepted." if Mr. Stanford's removal to Hammersmith was not only attended with many temporal comforts, but ultimately led to the establishment of a church in that 24 HIS CALL TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. place. Thus did the Lord show him, that his "way is in the whirlwind, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." In this field of usefulness he continued to labour with successful assiduity, until the Holy Spirit, the Providence of God, and the Church of Christ, with united voice, called him to the more exalted and responsible duties of the Christian ministry. CHAPTER II. HE EXAMINES THE VALIDITY OF INFANT BAPTISM-JOINS THE CHURCH UNDER THE CARE OF THE REV. BENJAMIN WALLIN-ORDAINED TO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRYCOMMENCES HIS DIARY. HAVING detailed the prominent incidents in the history of young Stanford's life, up to the period when, surrounded with an accumulation of earthly cares, he was thrown upon the Providence of God and his own resources; we shall present an extract from his diary, which will disclose the exercises of his mind respecting believer's baptism, at the time he made a public profession of religion, and became a member of that denomination which he continued to adorn, until, from the toils of the wilderness, he was removed to enjoy the substantial bliss of the paradise above. A change of opinion is no uncommon event, even amongst men of sound and discriminating minds. But when such changes occur, and stand connected with the voluntary sacrifice of every prospect of worldly emolument-when they sunder the dearest ties of consanguinity-and when, as in the case of young Stanford, there is a voluntary relinquishment of the strong prepossessions of early education-then may it with truth be said, that the event not only demonstrates the sincerity of the individual, but becomes a practical commentary on the importance of the subject which occasioned the change. "Truth, though sometimes clad In painful lustre, yet is always welcome; Descending, leads us safely on through stormy life." |