Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Pearce

Michael Haykin, Michael Haykin

• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9783110457674
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: History of Christianity

Clearly modeled on Jonathan Edwards' life of David Brainerd, Andrew Fuller's memoir for his close friend Samuel Pearce was written out of the conviction that telling the stories of the lives of remarkable Christians is a means of grace for the church. This new critical edition of the memoir is based on the 1808 third edition and documents the way that Fuller modified the text after its original printing in 1800. A substantial introduction discusses the evangelical use of biography, sets the memoir in the context of Fuller's literary corpus, and provides an overview of Pearce's life, touching on areas not fully treated by Fuller.

Andrew Fuller, compiled,

Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Pearce,

A.M. Pastor of the Baptist Church, Cannon-Street, Birmingham;

With Extracts from Some of His Most Interesting Letters

Introduction

It was observed by this excellent man, during his affliction194, that he never till then gained any personal instruction from our Lord’s telling Peter by what death he should glorify God. To die by a consumption had used to be an object of dread to him: but, “Oh my dear Lord,” said he, “if by this death I can most glorify thee, I prefer it to all others.” The lingering death of the cross, by which our Saviour himself expired, afforded him an opportunity of uttering some of the most affecting sentences which are left on sacred record: and to the lingering death of this his honoured servant, we are indebted for a considerable part of the materials which appear in these memoirs. Had he been taken away suddenly, there had been no opportunity for him to have expressed his sentiments and feelings in the manner he has now done in letters to his friends. While in health, his hands were full of labour, and consequently his letters were written mostly upon the spur of occasion; and related principally to business, or to things which would be less interesting to Christians in general. It is true, even in them it was his manner to drop a few sentiments, towards the close, of an experimental kind; and many of these hints will be interspersed in this brief account of him; but it was during his affliction, when, being laid aside nearly a year, and obliged to desist from all public concerns, that he gave scope to all the feelings195 of his heart. Here, standing as on an eminence, he reviewed his life, re-examined the ground of his hope, and anticipated the crown which awaited him, with a “joy” truly “unspeakable and full of glory.”196

Like Elijah, he has left the chariot of Israel, and ascended as in a chariot of fire; but not without having first communicated of his eminently Christian spirit. Oh that a double portion of it may rest upon us!

Chapter 1

Parentage of Mr. Pearce,197 his conversion, call to the ministry, and settlement at Birmingham

Mr. Samuel Pearce was born at Plymouth on July 20th, 1766. His father was a respectable silversmith,198 and many years199 a deacon of the Baptist church in that place.200

When a child, he lived with his grandfather, who was very fond of him, and endeavoured to impress his mind with the principles of religion. At about eight or nine years of age he came home to his father with a view of learning his business. As he advanced in life, his evil propensities, as he said,201 began to ripen; and forming connexions with several vicious schoolfellows, he became more and more corrupted. So greatly was his heart at this time set in him to do evil, that had it not been for the restraining goodness of God, which somehow, he knew not how, preserved him in most instances from carrying his wicked inclinations into practice, he supposed he should have been utterly ruined.

At times he was under strong convictions, which rendered him miserable; but at other times they subsided; and then he would return with eagerness to his sinful pursuits.When about fifteen years old he was sent by his father to enquire after the welfare of a person in the neighbourhood, in dying circumstances, who, (though before his departure he was in a happy state of mind, yet202) at that time was sinking into deep despair. While in the room of the dying man, he heard him cry out with inexpressible agony of spirit, “I am damned for ever!” These awful words pierced his soul; and he felt a resolution at the time to serve the Lord: but the impression soon wore off, and he again returned to folly.

When about sixteen years of age, it pleased God effectually to turn him to himself. A sermon delivered by Mr. Birt,203 who was then co-pastor with Mr. Gibbs204 of the Baptist church at Plymouth, was the first mean205 of impressing his heart with a sense of his lost condition, and of directing him to the gospel remedy. The change in him appears to have been sudden, but effectual; and though his vicious propensities were bitter to his recollection, yet, being now sensibly subdued, he was furnished with so much the clearer evidence that the work was of God.206 “I believe,” he says, “few conversions were more joyful. The change produced in my views, feelings, and conduct was so evident to myself, that I could no more doubt of its being from God, than of my existence. I had the witness in myself, and was filled with peace and joy unspeakable.”

His feelings being naturally strong, and receiving a new direction, he entered into religion with all his heart; but not having known the devices of Satan, his soul was injured by its own ardour, and he was thrown into great perplexity. Having read Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,207 he determined formally to dedicate himself to the Lord, in the manner recommended in the seventeenth chapter of that work. The form of a covenant, as there drawn up, he also adopted as his own; and that he might bind himself in the most solemn and affecting manner, signed it with his blood. But afterwards failing in his engagements, he was plunged into great distress, and almost into despair. On a review of his covenant, he seems to have accused himself of a Pharisaical reliance upon the strength of his own resolutions; and therefore, taking the paper to the top of his father’s house, he tore it into small pieces, and threw it from him to be scattered by the wind. He did not however consider his obligation to be the Lord’s as hereby nullified; but, feeling more suspicion of himself, he depended solely208 upon the blood of the cross.

After this he was baptized, and became a member of the Baptist church at Plymouth, the ministers and members of which, in a few years, perceived in him talents for public work. Being solicited by both his pastors, he exercised as a probationer; and receiving a unanimous call from the church, entered on the work of the ministry in November, 1786. Soon after this he went to the academy at Bristol, then under the superintendence of Dr. Caleb Evans.209

Mr. Birt, now pastor of the Baptist church, in the square, Plymouth Dock, in a letter to the compiler of these memoirs, thus speaks of him:

Though he was, so far as I know, the very first fruits of my ministry on my coming hither, and though our friendship and affection for each other were great and constant; yet previous to his going to Bristol I had but few opportunities of conversing with him, or of making particular observations on him. All who best knew him, however, will remember, and must tenderly speak of his loving deportment; and those who attended the conferences with him soon received the most impressive intimations of his future eminence as a minister of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Very few, adds Mr. Birt,210 have entered upon and gone through their religious profession with more exalted piety, or warmer zeal, than Samuel Pearce; and as few have exceeded him in the possession and display of that charity which ‘suffereth long, and is kind, that envieth not, that vaunteth not itself, and is not puffed up, that doth not behave itself unseemly, that seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, that beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things.’211 But why should I say this to you? You know him yourself.

While at the academy he was much distinguished by the amiableness of his spirit and behaviour. It is sometimes observable that where the talents of a young man are admired by his friends, and his early efforts flattered by crowded auditories212, effects have been produced which have proved fatal to his future respectability and usefulness. But this was not the case with Mr. Pearce. Notwithstanding the popularity213 which even at that early period attended his ministerial exercises, his tutors have more than once remarked that he never appeared to them to be in the least elated, or to have neglected his proper studies; but was uniformly the serious, industrious, docile, modest, and unassuming young man.

Towards the latter end of 1789, he came to the church in Cannon Street, Birmingham, to whom he was recommended by Mr. Hall,214 now of Cambridge, at that time one of his tutors. After preaching to them awhile on approbation215 he was chosen to be their pastor. His ordination was in August 1790. Dr. Evans gave the charge, and the late venerable Mr. Hall216 of Arnsby,217 delivered an address to the church on the occasion.

About two months after this he wrote to his friend Mr. Summers.218 Whether the sentiments contained in that letter arose from the recollection of his late solemn engagement is uncertain; but they were certainly very appropriate to the occasion. Requesting his friend to pray for him, he says:

Paul speaks of blessings received through the prayers of his fellow Christians; no wonder, therefore, he so often solicits their continuance. But if it be well to be interested in the prayers of fellow Christians, how much more to believe the great High Priest of our profession, Jesus the Son of God, is gone into the holy of holies, with our names on his breastplate, ever to plead in the presence of God for us—for us; oh, transporting thought! Who can doubt of the success of such an intercessor!

I have of late had my mind very pleasantly, and I hope, profitably exercised on this subject, more than ever, and find increasing pleasure from a well-grounded faith in the divinity of my incarnate advocate. I see the glory of his office, arising from the infinite extent of his knowledge, power, and love, as well as from the efficacy of his atoning sacrifice. I do not wonder at those men who deny the priestly office of Christ, when they have refused him the honours of Deity. I rejoice in that he who pleads for us knows our wants individually, as well as the necessities of the whole church collectively. Through his intercession alone I expect my sins to be pardoned, my services accepted, and my soul preserved, guided, and comforted; and, with confidence in his intercession, I cannot doubt but I shall enjoy all. Oh how sweet is it, my dear friend, to exercise a lively faith in a living Saviour! May you and I do this daily. Thus for us to live will be Christ, and to die gain; living or dying, we shall be the Lord’s.

In this early stage of his ministry, redemption by the blood of Christ appears to have been his chosen theme. Writing to the same friend as above, on Sept. 30,2191791, he says:

I have for my evening discourse the best subject in all the Bible—redemption, Ephes 1:7. How welcome to the captive! Forgiveness, how delightful to the guilty! Grace, how pleasing to the heart of a saved sinner! O my dear friend, how much do we lose of gospel blessings for want of realizing our personal concern with them. Hence it is that we are no more humble, thankful, watchful, prayerful, joyful. We view the glories of the gospel at a distance; and for want of that faith which is the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen, think too lightly of them. Lord, increase our faith!

About a month after this he was married to220 Miss Sarah Hopkins,221 daughter of Mr. Joshua Hopkins of Alcester; a connexion which appears to have been all along a source of great enjoyment to him. The following lines addressed to Mrs. Pearce when he was on a journey, a little less222 than a year after their marriage, seem to be no more than a common letter: yet they show, not only the tenderness of his affection, but his heavenly mindedness, his gentle manner of persuading, and how every argument was...