THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR OCTOBER, 1814. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM STEVENS. IN 1799, he was removed to Wetherby. The work of this circuit was much easier than that of those in which he had spent his former years, and his accommodations were much better in general than he had had in other parts of the kingdom. These pleasing circumstances, so well suited to the weak state of his body, added to the great kindness of many of his friends, caused him to adopt the sentiment of the Psalmist, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places." Yet, notwithstanding all these advantages, his asthma was so severe during the winter season, as to render his labour very hard and difficult. To afford a proper view of the state of his mind, I shall here transcribe the solemn covenant into which he entered with the Lord, and which he renewed every year, about the 1st of January. "O my God, and my father's God, who keepest covenant and mercy, to a thousand generations!-I prostrate myself at the footstool of thy throne, and allured by thine ineffable grace, I join myself to thee, in an everlasting covenant, never to be forgotten. Receive, I beseech thee, thy revolted creature, now convinced of thy right to him, and desiring nothing so much as that he may be thine. This day I renew my vows: I reiterate the sacred obligation. Let my soul collect all her powers, let me entirely devote myself to thee: let me confirm every former engagement; and if it be possible, make the ties more strong. With what pleasure do I reflect on the obligations I am under to thee; obligations from which I would not be free for ten thousand worlds. I never knew a happy moment till I was thine. All my joys are dated from that blessed period: from thence VOL. XXXVII. OCTOBER, 1814. they took their rise, and from thence they will for ever flow. O! therefore let me joyfully renew my vows to thee. Let thy Holy Spirit instruct me how to confirm them; and do thou impress upon my glowing heart the signature of an heir of glory. Let him teach me the devotion of angels, and impart to me their flames. I would have my obligations sacred, unchangeable, and everlasting as the covenant to which they relate. "I take heaven and earth to record this day, and appeal to the Most High God, from whom no disguise can veil my thoughts. Even thy sacred name, O LORD, I dare attest, whose favour is my life, and whose anger is the only thing I have to fear; that "I renounce the world and all its flattering vanities, and take thee, the Supreme God, for my portion and happiness. No action of my life has ever been more deliberate and voluntary; my soul gives its entire and cordial assent, and offers up all its powers to thee. I make no reserve; thou hast my whole, my undivided heart. With the utmost solemnity, I consecrate to thee my whole person, body, soul, and spirit, every member of the body, every faculty of the mind; understanding, will, reason, conscience and memory; renouncing every other master and lord. To thee I surrender myself, my whole possessions, my time, my talents, usefulness, and my influence over others; together with the beloved partner of my life, and the dear pledges. of our vows. All that I have, all that I am, all that I have received from thee, 1 bring thee with a cheerful heart, and lay them down at thy feet. Reject them not, O Lord, though they are poor and unworthy of thy acceptance; but condescend to receive thine own gifts, returned back to thee with a grateful mind. Let them be used entirely for thy glory, and henceforth employed in obedience to thy commands. Teach me always to hold myself in an attentive posture; to observe the first intimations of thy will; and may I spring forward with zeal and readiness, to the immediate execution of it: and grant my earnest desire and resolution that I may continue thine, through all the ages of eternity! "To thy direction also I resign myself, to be disposed of in such a manner as thou in thine infinite wisdom thinkest fit, for the purposes of thy glory. To thee I leave with confidence, the care of futurity, and the supply of all my wants; and say, without reserve, 'Not my will, but thine be done.' Leave me not to choose for myself; give me no advantage but what I may employ for thy glory. Grant me every good and perfect gift, though I ask it not with the fervency I ought; and cancel every prayer which has not been agreeable to thy will. It is thee, and not myself, I would honour; I would live, I would die unto thee, O Lord. On full experience, I have found all the objects of time and sense to be vanity and a lie. With pleasure I have seen my favourite schemes and purposes perish, in view of thy superior wisdom. "I bless the happy instances that have thrown a reproach upon all human trust, which have torn my heart from earth, and have broke my engagement from every thing below, and more firmly united me to thee, thou supreme and sovereign Good. I am convinced that there is no relation so near and intimate, as that which subsists between God and sanctified souls, He is their God, and they are his people. This is all my salvation, and all my desire. I disdain all dignity, I renounce all honour save what arises from my union with, and my relation to the Saviour, by whose blood I am washed from my sins, and whose Spirit I implore to reside in me continually, that my body may be the temple of the Holy Ghost. Let me be filled more abundantly with his fruits and graces; let me experience all his sanctifying and saving operations, that I may put off this weakness, survive this state of infancy, and advance to the state of a perfect man in Christ Jesus. And whatever else thou art pleased to deny me, grant me thy free gift, which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ my Lord. "In my dangerous journey through life, O God, intrust me not to my own art, nor leave me to myself; for my strength is weakness, my wisdom is folly, and my light darkness. Thou hast been witness to the tears I have shed over myself, and over my inexcusable follies and neglects. My purposes and resolutions are all weak as the arm of a man that shall die, and the son ́ of man who is grass. O send forth thy light and thy truth, that they may guide me, and stablish all my steps. When I go astray, let thy good Spirit gently and speedily bring me back into the way everlasting. Enable me to pray without ceasing, and watch with all perseverance; and preserve in my heart a sense of thy presence, that frame of devotion, and those devout regards for thee, wherein the happiness and joy of my life consists, Employ me, O God, as an instrument to promote thy glory, and teach me to be faithful and diligent in the care of souls, as one that must give an account.. Hast thou any work to be done?-any sons of grace to raise up to Abraham? Hast thou any hard heart to soften ?-any dark understanding to enlighten?-any irresolute mind to determine?-any sinners to save?-any lost sheep to seek out and recover?-any new triumph to be added to the cross of Christ? Send, Lord, by the hand of thy unworthy servant, and he will bless thy name while he has a being. And let me especially recommend my family unto thee; may I have the happiness of leading them home to thee. Accept them as a sacrifice, which I would lay upon thine altar; preserve them from the pollutions of the world, and let not the pains taken in educating them, and all my labour of love be thrown away; but do thou graciously establish thy covenant with me, and with my house; to be a God to me, and my children after me. "When the solemn period of death shall arrive, be thou, O eternal God, my refuge. In that important hour, may I remember this my covenant, and employ my latest breath in thy service: do thou, O Lord, remember it too, and look down with pitying eye upon thy languishing, dying servant, and embrace me in thine everlasting arms. Support me in my last agonies, put strength and confidence into my departing spirit, and receive it into the abode of them who sleep in Jesus, peacefully and patiently to wait the performance of thy last sweet promise to all thy saints, even that of a glorious resurrection, and an entrance into thine everlasting kingdom. O divine Saviour! thou hast purchased this soul of mine with thine own blood! before God and angels, I have put it into thy custody. As I know no other name that has salvation, with thee I do solemnly deposit the sacred charge; into thy hands I commend my precious treasure; on thee I suspend the happiness of eternity. I know in whom I have believed. And when I shall be numbered among the dead, if this solemn memorial shall fall into the hands of my dear children, or surviving friends, may it be a means of making serious impressions on their minds; may they learn to fear the Lord my God, and put their trust under the shadow of his wings. May they recognise the God of their father, and make this sacred engagement their own. And do thou graciously admit them to partake of all the blessings of the covenant, that, with me, and all the nations of the Redeemer, they may ascribe to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, that eternal tribute of praise so justly due. Amen and amen! "In the presence of the adorable Trinity, and ministring angels, I sign, seal, and deliver this as my act and deed. "WILLIAM STEVENS." The other part of the year, Mr. S. was called upon to pass through many trials, which he bore as a Christian. At the Conference in 1800, he was appointed to the Ripon circuit, at which place he arrived August 21, and entered upon his important work with an increasing determination to devote all his powers to the service of God. His rules for the redemption of time were the following: "1. Allow eight hours for eating, drinking, and sleeping. "2. Eight hours for travelling, visiting the sick, and the members of society, from house to house, and for the other works of my important calling. "3. Eight hours for reading, writing, meditation, and prayer.” |