William Dealtry

“ Let the death of those that have toiled in this service, stimulate the industry of them that survive: let every event of this kind be felt as a call to increased energy and activity in all good works: that when this world of strife and perturbations shall close upon us, we too may die in the Lord: and, finally, with all his faithful people, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in his eternal and everlasting glory. ”

“ Here then is the great point of distinction between those who only talk about religion, and those who are the subjects of its effective influence: between those to whom the kingdom of God comes in word, and those who receive it in power.
Wherever this sacred principle is found, it is accompanied by the forgiveness of sins: by faith we are justified: the guilt of our past transgressions is taken away, and we are accounted righteous in the sight of God. ”

“ Having only God and himself to consider, he has no other concern than to make known his wants, and give expression to his feelings in such terms as are best adapted to lay open his heart to that God, who, he knows, seeth in secret, and who requireth to be worshipped in spirit and in truth. He may, therefore, consider himself at full liberty to contemplate the mercy of a reconciled God, in all the variety of its boundless dimensions ”

“ In various instances, from the diseased state of some parts of the bodily frame, so fearfully and wonderfully made, it becomes physically impossible for the most devoted christian to bear his testimony to the truth on the approach of death: the tongue, which had perhaps announced to others the glad tidings of the grace of God, may be silent: the eye may be dim: the intellect, apparently failing with the flesh and the heart, may have sunk into hopeless lethargy: and yet, with the evidence before us of his christian life, we are persuaded that such a man dies in the Lord. ”

“ Faith, working by love, is the grand principle of the renewed nature of man: and thus, living by faith in the Son of God, and thus keeping his commandments, being justified from his sins by the word of Christ, and sanctified from his corruptions by the Holy Spirit, he is, if faithful to his calling, advancing in knowledge, and love, and holiness, even to the end of his days. ”

“ How strong in his mind must have been the influence of that heavenly principle, which, amidst the wreck of his mental, as well as bodily powers, could still survive, and still give proof of its existence!
And shall we be sorry, as men, without hope, for them that sleep in Jesus? I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth;—Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. It becomes us to be thankful, in the behalf of our brother, that he now rests from all his anxieties ”

“ The word labours may include all the harassing occupations and afflictions of the world. Man, by the condition of his birth, is of few days and full of trouble: every rank in society, and every period of life, have their several trials; and we shall not be released from them till we find a shelter in the tomb. To all the ordinary afflictions of mortality, the servants of Christ are as fully exposed as the rest of mankind: and we know that they have likewise troubles peculiar to themselves. ”

“ Tranquillity in death may arise from a variety of causes: from constitutional apathy, from weariness of the world, from gross ignorance of true religion, from a hard and unfeeling conscience: and, therefore, taken simply by itself, without any good evidence that it rests upon a right foundation, it can never be admitted as a proof, that the man who possesses it, is duly prepared for his change. ”

“ Do we turn many to righteousness? We shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. We may state it as the fair inference from these, and a variety of other considerations, that the more faithfully we p. 20improve the talents committed to our trust, by employing them to the end for which they were given, the more patiently we endure tribulation, and the more zealously and perseveringly we devote ourselves, in the spirit of christian love, to the glory of God, and the good of our fellow-creatures, the greater, in some mysterious sense, shall be our reward at the resurrection of the just. ”

“ These works, it is said, do follow them. All that the world calls great, or pursues with avidity, we are doomed, at the hour of death, to leave behind us. Our wealth will not follow us; our dignities and honours will not follow us. ”

“ Faith, working by love, as we have already remarked, is the characteristic distinction of the children of God; and it is here expressly assumed, that they adorn their profession by the performance of good works. ”

“ Here, therefore, as we read, is the patience of the saints; much need will there be to them that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, to possess their souls in patience, and to cultivate that meek and enduring spirit, which shone forth in their crucified Redeemer. In order, then, that under these trying dispensations, there may be no want of encouragement to maintain constantly the faith of the gospel; and, if necessary, to resist even unto blood, striving against sin ”

“ But shall we mourn then for the great cause to which his labours were devoted? And p. 46especially for that Institution, which is now deprived of his services? Did the success of it depend upon human talent or human energy, the loss might indeed be irreparable: but whatever becomes of the agents of the Society, if it have the sanction of God, it cannot fail to prosper. Whatever be the fate of the Society itself, the work which it has so successfully laboured to promote, will eventually triumph. The ways of God will, ere long, be known throughout the earth, his saving health among all nations. ”

“ The dispositions and conduct of such a man cannot be derived from the corrupt nature with which he was born into the world; but are, in some degree, conformable to the spirit of Christ, and manifest the influence of that spirit upon the heart. They are to be viewed, not as independent of a lively faith, but as intimately connected with it, and necessarily growing out of it. ”

“ Only let him be as heartily in earnest on matters of religion, as sober reason must itself admit that he ought to be: only let him abound in the work of the Lord with a spiritual as well as with a temporal object in view: only let him seriously and conscientiously endeavour to walk worthy of his vocation, and sooner than he shall be exempt from troubles, his foes shall start up, as it were, from his own household; he will find enemies among those with whom he might hope to take sweet counsel, and walk to the house of God as friends. ”

“ Now, as a subject of the practical and renewing influence of faith, such a man will be reformed in his dispositions and conduct: if any man be in Christ, there is a new creation, he is a new creature: they, that are in Christ Jesus, walk, not after the flesh, but after the spirit. ”

“ He may confess his sins, and supplicate the mercy of God in Christ, as frequently as he feels the guilt of the former, and his need of the latter;—he cannot confess or supplicate too often, he cannot ask too much, or with too great importunity; if he apply for spiritual things, and apply in faith, God’s ear is ever open to his cry ”

“ Among the individuals who have been raised up in these latter days, for the benefit and consolation of mankind, few can be mentioned who have either been engaged in works more important, or who have brought to the task abilities more remarkable, integrity more perfect, and devotedness more entire and unremitted, than your lamented Minister. ”

“ In this sense we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out; but if we die in the Lord, p. 19the works which we have done for his name’s sake, will go as witnesses on our behalf, to testify the grace of God which was in us, and the manner in which we dedicated our talents to his honour and praise.
The meaning of the expression is, that although we are justified “freely, by God’s mercy, without our deserts, through true and lively faith,” [19] yet shall we receive, at the last day, a gracious recompense according to our works. ”

“ With what inexpressible joy he will turn from the scene of his afflictions, to the rest which remaineth for the people of God! Where is the reasonable man among us who would not devoutly pray, according to the language of our Church, that when he shall depart this life, he may rest in Jesus? ”

“ By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are brought from that state of alienation and hostility in which we had previously lived, and through the merits of our Redeemer, are reconciled to God, and become members of his spiritual household. ”

“ Convinced that all his trials are permitted by infinite wisdom and infinite goodness, he learns to be content with his state, to run with patience the race set before him, and cheerfully to commit himself to the divine disposal. ”

“ The conviction, indeed, that there exists a directing providence, over-ruling for its own high purposes the pursuits and occupations of men, when they, perhaps, little suspect it, might lead us to observe, with some interest, the way in which he had previously become qualified for this particular appointment. It is of great importance to the welfare of the Society, that its Secretary should be well acquainted with modern languages. ”

“ Do men, for example, revile and persecute us, and say all manner of evil of us falsely for Christ’s sake? Rejoice, saith our Lord, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Do we sow plenteously? ”

“ We are often reminded, that, amidst the bustle and tumult of public occupations, there is great danger lest personal religion should be forgotten, and lest, even while endeavouring to promote the salvation of others, we should be tempted to neglect our own. ”

“ We are careful only to guard against the delusion, which is satisfied with frames and feelings: these are not necessarily derived from the communion of the Holy Ghost: and if it were possible, under such an excitement, to give in the alleged cause of the gospel our bodies to be burned, we might still perish for ever. ”

“ We should not hesitate to come to the same conclusion in many cases, where, while the senses are still comparatively perfect, and the mind is still capable of expressing its feelings, there is little manifestation of inward joy. ”

“ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: [5] when a blessing, therefore, is pronounced upon them that die in the Lord, it must belong to those who die in the faith:—that die in the cordial belief of the great doctrines of revelation, and under the influence of their practical and renovating power. ”

“ Private worship, which consists in acts and offerings of prayer and praise, is the peculiar and spiritual duty of the invalid; and the privileges annexed to it are peculiarly his property. In this worship he ought to abound; he cannot perform it too frequently, and in proportion as he abounds and perseveres in the performance of it, may he expect the promised blessing. ”

“ Already, as we may venture to hope, has an impulse been given, which shall not be destroyed till it has reached the farthest nations of the globe. Amidst all the conflicts and disappointments of the world, Divine Providence is still steadily accomplishing its plans of mercy and benevolence, and in due season they shall all be fulfilled. In expressing our gratitude for having been permitted to see the progressive advancement of the kingdom of Christ in our own days, and to share in the privilege of making p. ”

“ The history of many following years in which he discharged the various and important duties of a parochial Minister, warrants the assertion, that had he continued in such a situation with competent leisure, he could not have failed to stand in the first rank among his brethren. So long as the opportunity was afforded him, his parochial labours were indefatigable; and there are many individuals still living who can bear witness to his success. ”

“ Their value we mean not to disparage; but they cannot stand in the place of true religion. p. 10So decisive on this subject is the great Apostle of the Gentiles, as to assure us, that although a man understood all mysteries and all knowledge, and could speak with the tongue of an angel, these distinctions alone would profit him nothing. ”

“ He seemed to have death and eternity most deeply impressed upon his mind; and, on many public occasions, he repeated with great emphasis those striking words; Work while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work!”
It must be acknowledged, that even the most judicious friends may form an incorrect estimate of the religious character and christian virtues of those who stand high in their affectionate regard. To see the interior of a person’s mind, we should follow him into p. ”