Clipston, Collection, by Rev. John Mack....... Lockwood, near Huddersfield, Collection and Subscriptions by 90 Southampton, Collection and Subscriptions, by Rev. B. H. Draper 11 3 G Birmingham, Auxiliary Society, by Mr. Thomas King : Govan and Partick, Society for Religious Purposes, by Mr. Fullarton including the following Donations from various Societies: St. John's Parish, Association, by Mr. P. Association of Theological Students in the Uni- 13 8 3 0 0 0 10 0 10 Glasgow, Female Association for Oriental Paisley, Auxiliary Bible Society, by Mr. Sym- Dumbarton, Auxiliary Bible and Missionary to Greenock, Female Missionary Association.... 15 0 0 ...... ་ 10 .... 2 0 0 Penny Association, in Rev. Messrs. Kidstone and Brash's Congregation, Glasgow TRANSLATIONS 5 0 0 Berwick on Tweed, Baptist Church, by Rev. W. Innes.. by Ditto...... Beith, Auxiliary Society, &c. by Rev. G. Barclay ..... ... Anonymous, to the Secretary, by Two Penny Post (5550) SCHOOLS. Leith, Juvenile Bible and Missionary Society, by Rev. W. Innes FEMALE EDUCATION. Lockwood, near Huddersfield, Female Friends, by Mrs. Willett J. BARFIELD, Printer, 91, Wardour-Street, Soho. Baptist Magazine. MARCH, 1824. BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF THE REV. W. TURNBULL: A Sketch of his Funeral Sermon, preached December 24, 1823, by the Rev. J. Ryland, D.D.* YOU are aware, my dear friends, that it has pleased God to remove one of the students in the Academy, whom you have repeatedly heard in this pulpit, and whom you must, I am persuaded, have considered as possessing very hopeful talents for the work of the ministry, to which he had devoted himself, I doubt not from the purest motives. His eminent piety, his diligent application, his progress in literature, his humble and unassuming deportment; his fervent piety, and habitual seriousness, recommended him to the esteem of his tutors, and the affection of all his fellow-students; while, between two of them and himself, who were fellow-members of the same church, there was a brotherly affection of a peculiarly endearing kind, which they manifested by the most assiduous attention during his long protracted affliction. By one of them I have been informed that he was a native of Edinburgh, where his father and mother are yet living, with five sisters and a brother. By them he was exceedingly beloved; and no wonder, for he was a most dutiful son, and most affectionate brother; though, in conse quence of his conscientious change of sentiments, and his subsequent entrance on the Christian ministry, he was obliged to resign a situation which had enabled him to lend them considerable assistance. Mr. Wm. Turnbull was brought to the knowledge of the truth by the instrumentality of the Rev. Christopher Anderson; and about eight years ago he proposed himself to unite with his church. Mr. Anderson being then unwell, Mr. Turnbull was baptized by Mr. Howard Hinton, now at Reading, but then at Edinburgh, In that church he was highly esteemed for his piety, prudence, and humility, as well as for his cordial benevolence, and the uniform kindness of his deportment. Under their sanction he was sent to preach in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, for about a year and a half, previous to his being recommended to this Academy, into which he was admitted August, 1821. The affliction, which terminated in his death, it is probable, commenced about twelve months ago. His health appeared precarious in last spring; on which account he was seldom sent out to preach, * This article arrived too late for insertion in our last; and, by an oversight, was forgotten to be acknowledged.-Ed. VOL. XVI. L as he found himself scarcely able to deliver two sermons without sensible injury. He looked forward with pleasure to the last vacation, and hoped that a visit to his native land would be the means of re-establishing his health; while he anticipated much pleasure from an interview with his beloved relatives, and his Christian friends. illness be clung to life, but this arose from the nature of his disease, and from that love of life, which is wisely implanted in our nature; but he discovered little or nothing of the fear of death. When his kind medical attendant thought it best to suggest that the symptoms of his disease were serious, and led him to forbode that he would not recover, he received the intelligence with per tion. When his affectionate fellow-student asked if he was afraid to die, he said expressively, "No, never since he had believed in Jesus." He was not tired of life, but desired to be resigned to the will of his Heavenly Father. Aud it ought to be noticed, that it was not life itself to which he clung, but the great object to which he had devoted his life—the glory of God in the salvation of sinners: on this his heart was so eagerly set, that even the hope of personal happiness in heaven could not induce him at once to give it up, without a kind of regret. He indulged the hope of a different mode of promoting the glory of God in this world, to what would be enjoyed in heaven itself. But he found the journey very fatiguing, and the weather prov-fect self-possession and resignaing very unfavourable, he derived more harm than benefit from removing to a colder climate; and he preached too much for his constitution at Edinburgh; after which he went to Glasgow, to supply a destitute church, when the weather was peculiarly wet and stormy. He there preached three times on the Lord's-day, and delivered an address on Monday evening, which was the last time of his speaking in public, and brought on an inflammatory attack, from which he never completely recovered. He indeed hoped, as well as others, that his disorder was likely soon to subside, and expected the voyage back, and a return to a warmer climate, would remove his complaint. The surgeon at Glasgow At the same time, he never disnever seemed to think his lungs covered any uneasiness in the were affected, though some of prospect of death, nor did he, in his friends wished him not to re- all his affliction, utter a murmurturn to his studies. He himself, ing word, but shewed the utmost however, was eager to come back gratitude for all the attention paid to the Academy; but again he him. He had some expectation found the voyage increase his that God might still raise him up, weakness and though he re- till the last six weeks, when he sumed his studies with pleasure, found himself sinking apace; but yet his illness obliged him ere though his mind was then full of long, though with much reluct- the thought of eternity, yet he ance, to give them up. During had no appalling apprehensions. his long and gradual decline, his He said he could venture into whole demeanour was very exem-eternity, relying solely on the meplary, and delightful to his con-rits of his Redeemer. Sometimes, stant companions. It was obvi- when conversing with his most ous that in the beginning of his intimate friends, he would shed tears; but when one of them ex- | pressed his regret at being left in a world full of sin and temptation, without the benefit of his friendship, he replied, "God will be your friend.' After he had given up the hope of recovery, he wrote a very serious and beautiful letter to his relations, though his weakness was so great that he could not finish it but at three different times. At the first sitting, he said to his bosom friend, "I must speak to them about their souls, what shall I say?" He was much affected at this time, and at the subsequent sittings added much faithful and affectionate counsel, closing his letter with the solemn charge," Prepare to meet thy God." The last words he ever wrote. Toward the end of his affliction, his weakness caused his mind to wander; but even then it was evidently employed on heavenly subjects. Once, when his friend was about to pray with him, he charged him to request, that his lucid moments might be distinguished for spirituality; that he might be delivered from the evil suggestions of Satan and his own heart; that he might have patience to endure without murmuring; that his mind might be occupied with the love of God, as manifested in Christ: and that, when it pleased the Almighty, he might be liberated from all his weakness and sin, and admitted into the purity and felicity of heaven. One of his fellow-students going in, and asking him how he did, he looked at him earnestly, and said these three words, "Oaths, Promises, Blood." His friend said, "I suppose you mean the promises of God, which are all Yea and Amen in Christ." "Yes, I He replied with energy, know of no other." He then quoted that passage, "God, because he could swear by no greater, sware by himself;" adding, "Why did he swear? there could be no necessity for him to swear,"-intimating his sense of God's infinite condescension in so doing. He then asked him if he was going to preach; and being answered in the affirmative, said, May an unction from above rest upon you; for without that it will be of no use." Dec. 10. He was overheard praying, O Lord have mercy upon me, in my present weak and helpless condition. Let my passage to heaven be mitigated, and may I not be so pained with the cough, if it be thy holy will. I am a poor, weak, helpless creature, but I commit myself to thee, O Lord; all the days of my appointed time will I wait. Bless my two brethren, and may their souls flourish before thee. O Lord, if it be thy holy will, may I be translated this evening from this wicked world to thine eternal kingdom, where there is no sor row, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." Dec. 12. His intimate friend heard him praying thus: "Father of mercies, have mercy on me, a poor, weak, helpless creature, and grant that my faith may not fail; but if it be thy will, take me to thyself this night. O Lord be with me, and grant that thy praise may be continually in my mouth. Bless my father and my mother, and my brethren, and all that are present, and all that are absent. Bless us all for Jesus' sake. Amen and Amen." 14th, Lord's-day. The day before he died, he prayed, "O Lord! thou art the maker and governor of the minds of all the children of men. Thou art the one living and true God. May I cleave to this truth that there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus our Saviour. Let not, O Lord, I beseech thee, my foolish heart depart from thee in all my reveries, for Jesus' sake. Amen." 15th, Monday, he died. He lay without speaking above two hours, and then his spirit departed to be with his beloved Lord, in the gentlest and most peaceful manner, without a struggle or a groan; so that they who stood by scarcely were aware when he breathed his last. Thus died this excellent young man, when just turned of twentyeight. He had no extraordinary raptures; but his mind was kept in constant peace, and his whole deportment ever since I knew him, and for years before, (as I am satisfied by the testimony of his worthy pastor, and other friends,) evinced that in simplicity and in godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, his whole conversation was regulated. Our hopes of his usefulness in the church of God have been disappointed; but his hopes of happiness in the presence of the Lord have been exceeded and we must acquiesce in the divine will, knowing the truth of that passage which I have selected for the improvement of this solemn providence "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm cxvi. 15. The author of this psalm is not specified; many have ascribed it to David, but Venema is of opinion that it was composed later, even as late as the time of the Maccabees. Be that as it may, the sentiment in the text is equally worthy of our regard, whoever it was that first expressed it in writing. But, before we attempt to explain the principal truth in the text, we must 1. Notice some important truths implied in the language. God has a people that are called his saints; a people that he has separated from the world and set apart for himself, having a gracious and glorious object in view, for which he here begins to fit and prepare them. Psalm iv. 3. "Know ye, that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself." Gal. i. 15, and part of 16. "It pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me." Is. xliv. 21. "This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise." The term commonly rendered saints in the Old Testament denotes persons who are separated and set apart for sacred purposes. That in the text denotes their being the objects and subjects of mercy. But, though God has shewn to them his distinguishing mercy, and set them apart for himself, and renewed and sanctified them by his Spirit, and appointed them not to wrath, but to obtain salvation and eternal life, viewing them as his peculiar people, whom he hath made "Kings and Priests;" yet he has not exempted them from the troubles of life, nor from the stroke of death: nor has he made any visible discrimination between them and others as to the termination of life, nor the external circumstances of death. Their death may be as painful, either by disease, by accident, by violent hands, or by cruel persecutors |