By Rev. ARCH. BEATON, Gairloch.
THERE were several parliamentary decrees, known as Acts of Uniformity, passed in England. These were passed in 1549, 1552, 1558 and 1662.
The Act of 1662 deprived 2,000 ministers of their congregations, when they would not conform. These “Dissenting brethren” were the most distinguished for godliness and learning in all England. It is little that one can gather about these at this time of day, but there are some gleanings that might be of interest to our readers.
Bristol had one of these witnesses in the person of Mr. Edward Hancock. He is said to be “an earnest and moving preacher” of the Gospel. He was ejected for non-conformity and suffered imprisonment for preaching after his ejection. His farewell sermon to his congregation, on the eve of his having to leave them, is entitled The Pastor’s Last Legacy and Counsel; and there is much in it for our own learning in these days of spiritual slumbering. Here is an extract from it. The text is II. Cor. xii. 11: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
“At this time I am called to a work, which possibly may be unpleasing to many, even as to myself; that is, to die a civil death, when I am naturally alive. When the sun of this day is set, I shall then cease from having any charge over you, and you will then cease from having me to be your Minister. I may say as one did who was going to die a violent death: ‘I am this day to do a work that I never yet did, I desire of God to give me strength that I never had yet.’ Those that die well do usually these things: 1. Make their peace with God. I think I can give up my account with joy, in reference to the discharge of my duty, having kept nothing back from you of the counsel of God. 2. Die in perfect charity with all men. I hope I do so truly; having not the least thing against any man this day. 3. Set their house in order. You know I have made it my work these two months past to show unto every one his duty. 4. Give good council to friends. I shall take up the greatest part of my time with counsel to you all, therefore attend to the last words of a dying man:—1. Consider the days of grace have their last. The day long threatened is now come, when my preaching and your hearing can be continued no longer: So all your comforts and joys [from thence] will have an end. 2. Let us heartily bless God for so many years of freedom, especially the last three; about which time I have been with you. 3. Depart not from the truths you have received. 4. Let professors study to honour God. 5. Own God in your families. If no family prayer, expect no family blessing. 6. Sanctify the Sabbath. 7. Take heed of sinking under any sufferings. If persecution may come, we know not how soon our sins may deserve it. 8. Get all good from your minister and do all good to your minister, that God shall set over you. 9. Study peace. There is no question but the non-conformists will be used vigorously, but be contented. It is like many may be come this day to catch words to entrap me. I beg and beseech you all, that you think of nothing, nor use any help to deliver yourselves out of sufferings, but faith, patience and prayer. I profess before you all, I have not spoken with, nor heard of any of this persuasion, but they are all against having any hand in any war, even those who had a hand in the last; and therefore a horrible slander is cast upon the most peaceable subjects that God and earthly princes can have. I hope I shall never hear of any non-conformist that has a hand in any rising or sedition whatever. 10. Be not troubled at the reproaches the enemies of God may cast upon you. It is likely many of you may hear say, ‘What is become of your precious preacher?’ Brethren, would we have debauched our consciences, had we not as fair an opportunity as other men to have continued? 11. Learn how to behave yourselves well in the day of Jacob’s troubles. (1) Have the mark of mourners on your foreheads. (2) Keep yourselves pure from the sins of the times wherein you live. (3) Feel the sorrows of the church. (4) Cry mightily unto God that He would have mercy on His people. 12. Be truly wise. (1) View truth and study it. (2) Follow the light of it. (3) Practise self-denial; live crucifying the flesh or thou shalt be crucified by it. (4) Live in sight of, and in dependence on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (5) Live in a good air; keep good company. (6) Exchange temporal joys for eternal. (7) Fill thyself with religious pleasures. (8) If thou lovest life, let death dwell in thy heart. (9) Conform to the terms of Salvation; impartial dependence on Christ. (10) Lastly, never depart from faith and holiness. I am going away and I am not to speak any more unto you, except God find out a way beyond expectation—Great proffers of preferments formerly moved me not, but the terrors of the Almighty now make me afraid. My heart could not be strong, nor my hands endure in the day of the Lord, should I, against my conscience, have continued amongst you. I thank you all for your desire of me to stay; the Lord knows how loth I am to leave you, might I continue with a good conscience. I cannot say more; the sun is even down; my civil life is near an end; my strength is almost spent. Farewell sermons, farewell Sabbaths, farewell fastings, farewell exhortations, farewell this house, farewell this seat for ever; farewell my preaching; farewell your hearing; and farewell your faces in this place. Farewell this world, when we shall arrive in eternity, both old and young. My brethren and sisters all, Farewell!”