OF THE REV. JOHN BERRIDGE, A. M. LATE FELLOW OF CLARE HALL, CAMBRIDGE, VICAR OF EVERTON, BEDFORDSHIRE, AND CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF BUCHAN. WITH AN ENLARGED Memoir of his Life; NUMEROUS LETTERS, ANECDOTES, OUTLINES OF SERMONS, AND OBSERVATIONS AND HIS ORIGINAL SION'S SONGS. BY THE REV. RICHARD WHITTINGHAM, VICAR OF POTTON, BEDFORDSHIRE. "He was a burning and a shining light." He, being dead, yet speaketh." London: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND COMPANY; AND FRAZER, MARKET-PLACE, POTTON. 1838. Gift Tappan Presb, Ass. 11-12-1931 PREFACE. IT has been for a long time the earnest wish of many persons, that I would undertake to publish the Life and Works of the Rev. JOHN BERRIDGe. This I purposed to do a few years ago, and have at length accomplished my design. Twenty years ago I published his "Christian World Unmasked," with a short sketch of his life. In the Work now offered to the public, the account of his life is very considerably enlarged, as every trait, which appeared in his character, from the time I became his Curate to the end of his life, has been recollected, and inserted in the narrative; and which, I doubt not, will prove a source of pleasing instruction, and much edification. Though some, who may read his life, may not approve of his eccentricity; for he did not move in a regular orbit; but, like a planet, steered his course with great irregularity, and thereby attracted the attention of multitudes; yet his splendid piety, and incessant endeavours to promote the glory of God, the interests of Christ's kingdom, and the welfare of immortal souls, rendered his path so luminous, as to excite the surprise of all who beheid his career. And, whatever opinion may be entertained of his proceedings, it appears that they were attended with great success, and blessed to thousands. Will those, who condemn him for acting as he did, find in the great day, when every work will be fully developed, that they were equally useful in bringing sinners to the knowledge of the truth? Will not in that day his crown of rejoicing appear far more brilliant than the crowns of numerous ministers of religion? Whatever therefore appeared disorderly in the manner of performing his ministry on earth, the Judge will forgive, and assign him a place in the firmament of heaven amongst the stars of the first magnitude. In executing a portraiture of John Berridge, I have been careful to exhibit him in his real features: for genuine biography does not allow of partiality, or any deviation from the reality of chaWe find in the sacred scriptures, that the Holy Spirit influenced those, who wrote them, to be faithful in delineating the lives of the Saints therein recorded. They had their spots and blem racter. ishes; none of which are concealed to render them more excellent than they really were: all are mentioned, that human nature in its best appearance might be seen to be imperfect even in the most eminent servants of God. In Noah, Abraham, Lot, Moses, and others we discover no absolute perfection. They were men of like passions with the rest of the human race. It is very evident that writers of lives are in general actuated by a concern to delineate excellencies only, and suppress every blemish that might tend to tarnish the character they admire. It will be seen that the life of the devoted Vicar of Everton, now so fully presented to the public, consists almost entirely of a tissue of facts: every particular, as far as could be obtained from observation, and other sources, has been inserted without suppression, or mutilation. His full length and breadth, with every other part of his moral, and ministerial form, are faithfully exhibited. To the narrative of his life, which I have written, is appended a considerable extract from Mr. WESLEY'S Journal, which contains some peculiar and extraordinary occurrences that took place at the time the Journal refers to. I have deemed it more proper to add the account given in the extract in its own simple narration, than to interweave it with the history of Mr. Berridge |