FOR MAY, 1801.

MEMOIRS OF THE REV. ISAAC TOMS.

THE

HE Rev. ISAAC TOMS, was born Auguft 22, 1710. His parents were perfons of great refpectability, efpecially on account of their religious, character. Defirous that he might have the advantages of a good education, they sent him, at nine years of age, to the Grammar School at Duckingfield, near Manchester, where he continued till he had completed his thirteenth year; he then returned to London, and paffed the next four years at St. Paul's school. Whilft he was thus receiving the elements of human learning, it pleafed God to impart that divine knowledge to him, of which the bleffed Jefus has faid, "This is life eternal. The first religious impreffions were made on his heart, whilft in the fchool at Duckingfield, and from this early period, it might be faid of him as of the patriarch Enoch, he walked with God."

His mother (who had an earnest defire that his life might be spent in the fervice of the fanctuary) obferved the influence of thefe impreffions with unfpeakable delight, and from the increafing ferioufnefs of his inind, and holiness of his life, began to anticipate the answer of God to her many fervent fupplications. About the time her fon was leaving fchool, this godly woman was removed from our world, when his father, confulting his worldly advantage, endea voured to fix his attention to trade. But his thirst after knowledge, and his defire to promote the beft interefts of his fellow men, were fuch powerful motives, that he determined to relinquith his fair profpects of fecular advantage, fetting his heart on that moft honourable employment to which his departed parent had frequently devoted him.

He now became anxious to prepare for the service of the church, and with this view, he entered himself as the pupil of Dr. Ridgley and Mr. Eames, under whofe direction he pursued a courfe of academical ftudies. At this period, he lived in the family of Sir Daniel Dolins, of Hackney, in the capacity of chaplain, and private tutor to young Mr. Dolins. From the age of two years, this amiable youth had been almoft blind; a circumstance which greatly increased the labour of Mr. Toms, who conftantly read to, or converted VOL. IX.

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with him, eight hours in the day, on the subjects of religion or feience. So large a proportion of his time being thus occupied, rendered it neceffary for him to hufband every moment, that he might not be deprived of the benefit of those lectures which were given at the academy. He conftantly rofe at four o'clock, and he obferved an exact method in all his engagements, guarding as much as poffible against every interruption of his plans. By fuch means his attendance on the inftructions of his tutors was fo regular, that he never loft a lecture, and his improvements in knowledge kept pace with thofe of the other ftudents.

Some years after the conclufion of his academical courfe, his young friend, Mr. Dolins (with whom he ftill continued, preaching occafionally in and about London) had formed a defign of purchasing an estate in the country, and of erecting a chapel upon it, for the religious worship and inftruction, of his neighbours. In the execution of this defign, he looked to Mr. Toms, whofe co-operation he had engaged: but how fhort fighted is man! God had a different plan to execute this pious youth was to be removed to the inheri tance of the faints in light, whilft his friend and tutor was to enter upon a field of extensive usefulness in the church below. After paffing eleven happy years in the family of his patron, Mr. Toms now took leave of it, bearing with him the regret, and the love of all who knew him. Hundreds of the poor in the neighbourhood of Hackney, who had experienced his compaffionate attention to their fouls and bodies, felt his departure as an unfpeakable lofs.

Flattering offers of patronage were made him, on the intereft of the Bedford family, if he would enter into the national church. But he could not conform; and at a very late period of his life, when he had occafion to look back to this part of his conduct, he expreffed his entire fatisfaction with the decifion which he had made.

The congregation of proteftant diffenters at Hadleigh in Suffolk, being without a minifter, application was made to him for affistance, and after preaching to them about two years, he accepted the paftoral office, and was folemnly ordained by the neighbouring elders, July 31, 1745.

During his labours here, the congregation had gradually increafed, and was become too large for the meeting-houfe; an additional gallery was therefore built, and other alterations made for the accommodation of a still growing auditory. His miniftry was fuccefsful, in many inftances, for promoting the great object which he had in view. Some of the most profligate characters in the neighbourhood, were brought under

Strong

Atrong convictions of their finful and dangerous ftate, began to enquire, What must we do to be faved? and furnished the moft pleafing hopes refpecting their eternal falvation.` These first fruits of his labours, encouraged him to hope that he fhould reap a plentiful harvest, and ftimulated him to more active exertions for the good of immortal fouls. He undertook the important work of catechifing children, and for that purpose, fet apart the morning of every Monday, when he invited young perfons of all denominations to attend his inftructions. At thefe, times, he gave them bibles, teftaments, pfalm and hymn books, catechifms, and various religious tra&s, fome of which he as much intended for the ufe of the parents, as for the benefit of the children. Several of these were drawn up by himself.

Not confining his labours to the town of Hadleigh, he opened houfes in the neighbouring villages, in which he was accustomed to preach frequently; and wherever he met with encouragement, his firit object was to gain the attention and the affection of the young. His lectures, there-' fore, were all connected with a school, in which poor children were taught to read and work; and where they were alfo inftructed in the principles of the chriftian religion. He ufually walked when he vifited thefe villages, and called upon the cottagers at their own habitations. He converfed

with great familiarity on the fituation of their families, the fate of their fouls, as well as on the general truths of the glorious gofpel of Chrift. He was at all times easy of accefs; and as the poor were sensible of his affection for them, and of his readiness to affift them, their applications were numerous. As he had fome knowledge of the healing art, he frequently prefcribed for their bodily diforders, or gave them the medicine they wanted. From his beneficent hands they fometimes received food, at other times fuel, or money; and fo unbounded were his charities, it has happened, more than once, that in relieving the wants of others, he has left himfelf without a fhilling. But he cheerfully trufted Providence, and never had caufe to repent it.. That providence raifed up friends who fent him ample fupplies.

To know the ftate of all his flock, was an object of conftant folicitude, as well as to adapt his converfation and preaching to their refpective circumftances. As he could not fatisfy himself to facrifice unto God ef that which coft him nothing, his fermons were well ftudied, and with great attention to the true meaning of Scripture, for he fpared no pains to understand the mind of the Spirit. His ftyle was plain Cc 2

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and fcriptural; and as no uninfpired writings were fo dear to him as thofe of the former age, a rich vein of evangeli cal truth and fervent piety run through all his difcourfes. Though he difdained to call any man mafter upon earth, his principles were fixed, and he advanced them with freedom and zeal. Nevertheless, he lived in harmony with those who could not entertain the fame views. He loved good men of all denominations, and ftrenuoufly promoted the fame catholic fpirit amongst his people. He had weekly feafons for prayer on behalf of his country, the church of Chrift at large, and the perfecuted French proteftants in particular. At thefe times, his relatives, the members of his church and congregation, his neighbours under affliction, friends refiding at a diftance, and, in fhort, all who were known to be in circumftances requiring particular fupport and confolation, were especially remembered by him. Thus whilft he was ftrengthening the bonds of focial affection, he was continually drawing nearer to God, and increafing in a refemblance of him.

He feldom left the neighbourhood in which divine providence had fixed his abode; fo that when one of his daughters returned from a long vifit which the had been making to different friends, he obferved to her, that he had heard of Dryden's contentment, when fitting under the ftatue of Shakespear; and that Buffon, the celebrated natural hiftorian, felt himself happy at the feet of Sir Isaac Newton: but, fays he, pointing to a picture which hung over his dek, here you find me under the fhadow of good Richard Baxter. "Yet my dear (added the venerable faint) the moft defirable fituation in which we can be placed, is to be under the fhadow of the Almighty: under the protection of the great Redeemer." If any of his children were going from the town on vifits to their friends, great was his anxiety to guard them against the temptations of the world; and at fuch times, his counfels were accompanied with the moft fervent fupplications.

Befides all his other virtues, this good man cherished the deepest humility, and feemed to be totally unconfcious of any fuperior excellency; fo that if the general opinion formed of his character was but hinted to him, he appeared to be displeased, and would afk, "Do you think that I have no tinder in me?" When he had been lamenting that he did fo little good, and withing to be more active and ufeful, one of his children afked, Sir, how can you exert yourself more?" his anfwer was," Never, I befeech you, fpeak thus to your father; he ought to lie low before God

in duft and ashes." Meanly, however, as he thought of him felf, he was difpofed to think the beft of every one befide. To Speak evil of no man was his rule, and when he heard other perfons speaking evil of their neighbours, his advice was, "Cenfure the crime, but fpare the perfon." Yet no one more freely reproved fin in private, when by duty called to this painful office, though he always did it with tenderness.

His views of the divine character, as displayed in the gofpel of Jefus Chrift, as well as of the perfect righteouf nefs and meritorious obedience of that All-fufficient Saviour, were fuch as produced an habitual peace and ferenity of foul; fo that he was in a great degree unacquainted with those diftreffing doubts and painful exercises of mind, by which many excellent chriftians are haraffed of this he used to speak as an unspeakable mercy, whilst he dif covered the greatest compaffion toward those who were not equally privileged.

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Mr. Toms was bleffed with a wife, than whom it would have been impoffible that a more fuitable perfon could have been bestowed upon him. They were kindred fouls; actuated by the fame principles, aiming at the fame objects, travellers in the fame road, and zealous for the fame caufe. She was the daughter of the Rev. Samuel Say, of Westminster; a man of excellent character, uncommon abilities, and great literary attainments. In the absence of her husband, or when he was ill, this excellent woman was accustomed to conduct the worship of the family with great fervor and propriety. She interested herself in the circumftances of all the afflicted poor, and when her hufband was incapable of vifiting them, as far as was in her power, the fupplied his place. This happy pair were, however, exerciled with various trials, particularly in the lofs of children, yet they had great confolation whilst following them to their grave, in the thought of their fitness for a better world.

Mrs. Toms introduced a serious young woman into the family of her husband at the time of their marriage, who had lived in her father's houfe from the age of fix years: The continued her faithful fervices in the family of her new mafter, during the long period of fifty years, and died at the age of feventy-five, when it was not doubted, fhe was removed to the family of heaven.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Toms was happily preferved about fifty-four years. She was firft called hence, and left the world in the most defirable manner. On the day pre