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M EMORIALS 
 
 OF TUB LIFB OP 
 
 EoWAFiD & JL(YDI/ AjMJM JyVCK30JN, 
 
 BY N. BUR WASH. 
 
 Wx\\ §muim 
 
 Preached in the Centenary Church, Hamilton, on the occasion of their 
 
 death, by the 
 
 Revs. W. J. HUNTER and JOHN POTTS. 
 
 TORONTO : 
 
 S. ROSE, METHODIST BOOK ROOM, KING ST. EAST. 
 
 .,_._._...,_.,._..,....._,,,..... ......^ 1876. ■ '-■■■—■ -_ :■■ 
 
W. E. SANFORD, Esq., 
 
 IN REMEMBRANCE 
 
 OF TUR 
 
 PLEASANT DAYS SPENT TOGETHER 
 
 IN THE HAPPY HOME 
 
 OK 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JACKSON, 
 
 THIS LITTLE TRIBUTE 
 
 TO 
 
 THEIR MEMORY 
 
 IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY N. B. 
 
Preface. 
 
 HEREVER, in our day, the attempt is made 
 to verify the acliiovements of heroic men, 
 the individuality of the men themselves becomes the 
 first subject of inquiry. Biography is, perhajw, the 
 most assiduously cultivated of all the departments 
 of serious literature in our age. But what is a 
 biography 1 Is it simply the chronological recapitu- 
 lation of a series of events ? the enumeration of the 
 triumphs of a conqueror, of the writings of an 
 author, of the discoveries of a man of science, of 
 the principles of a thinker, the miracles of a saint 1 
 Nay, is it not rather primarily the progressive 
 picture of the inner life of a man? the history of 
 the education which he first received, as well as of 
 that which he subsequently gave himself ere he be- 
 came, in fine, the educator of his generation 1 It is 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 the story of the way in which he grew into what 
 he ultimately was ; it is the discovery of the true 
 nature of his originality, of the tendencies of his 
 mind, the aim of his efforts, the modes of his 
 working ; it is, in a word, the great drama of the 
 contest of a heroic will, whether with the force of 
 inertia or with the active resistance of traditional 
 authority."* 
 
 It miglit be thought that such an ideal of bio- 
 graj:)hy is suitable for men of great mark in public 
 affairs, for the warrior, the statesman, the philosopher, 
 or the divine; but not for the less brilliant record 
 of men who have followed the common callings of 
 life. But we think not so. The serious aim of 
 biography must always be the instruction of those 
 who are just entering life. Scarcely one in a thou- 
 sand of these can engage in those more public and 
 prominent spheres of action. The great majority 
 of men in every age must be content with the quiet 
 industries of trade and agriculture, as furnishing the 
 prime necessaries of life. And if in these pursuits 
 the highest excellence of character may be developed, 
 and if with these humbler toils the very highest 
 aims of life may be combined, then the history of 
 such development and the exhibition of such noble 
 
 * Reuse, Hist, of Theol. in the Apost. Age. 
 
PREFACE. ix 
 
 aims are the very best examples for universal in- 
 struction. It is at least noteworthy that the beautiful 
 and impressive biographical sketches of the Bible 
 are largely drawn from common life. 
 
 But such biographies are, of all others, the most 
 difficult to write, not from lack of interest in the 
 subject, but from the difficulty of obtaining the 
 necessary materials. The biographer cannot avail 
 himself of the license of the novelist, and supply 
 from the general study of humanity ? warp of inci- 
 dent into which he may weave his ideal character. 
 Public men lead a life full of recorded incident. 
 The incidents of private life are lost to memory 
 because, like the drops of rain, they so much re- 
 semble each other. And yet these incidents often 
 touch the deepest springs of our nature, and thus, 
 as well as by their frequent repetition, mould the 
 character most powerfully. In the brief biography 
 which we herewith present, we have been especially 
 unfortunate in this respect. When the idea of a 
 memoir of Edward Jackson was first suggested, Mrs. 
 Jackson was still surviving ; but the sorrow of 
 bereavement was pressing so heavily that we could 
 not add to it by asking her to recount the story of 
 theii' past life. Ere this only opportunity came, 
 she, too, was suddenly gone, and the children who 
 
X , PREFACE. 
 
 might have remembered much had all gone before, 
 and we found only a few fragments left of what 
 had else been a sumptuous feast. On this account 
 we are forced to crave indulgence for the imperfec- 
 tion of this work, We have been able to touch 
 but one or two more prominent points in the 
 spiritual growth of two persons whom of all others 
 whom we have known we would feel disposed to hold 
 up for the admiration and imitation of our generation. 
 
 There has been left us, however, one other thing 
 to do. The artist has before him a beautiful flower. 
 He may know nothing of the soil on which it 
 has grown, of the sunshine and rain which have 
 nourished it, or of the gardener's skill which hath 
 nurtured it. The secret chemism by which crude 
 matter has been transformed into such beauty may 
 be altogether beyond his ken. But he can produce 
 a life-like picture of the beauteous finished thing 
 which lies before him. To our failure in this work 
 we must humbly confess our lack of skill. 
 
 It affords us great pleasure to be able to associate 
 with this brief memoir the discourse preached by 
 the itev. W. J. Hunter on the occasion of the decease 
 of Mr. Jackson, and that preached by the Rev. J. 
 Potts on the decease of Mrs. Jackson. 
 
IjM MeJV[0F{1AJVI. 
 
gn lHi^m0vlnm. 
 
 EDWARD AND LYDIA ANN JACKSON. 
 
 N the year 1789, Jesse Lee visited New Eng- 
 land, and Methodist zeal came in contact with 
 stern Puritan orthodoxy. Although but twenty-three 
 years had passed since the first Methodist sermon had 
 been preached in America, and the first little society 
 formed in New York, Methodism had already largely 
 possessed itself of the continent. Baltimore, Phila- 
 delphia, and New York were now important centres. 
 The labours of the great missionary bishop, Asbury, 
 extended from the Carolinas to New York ; and this 
 very year, pioneers were pusliing across the St. Law- 
 rence into Canada, and over the AUeghanies into 
 Kentucky and Tennessee. New England had waited 
 so long for her turn, probably on the principle of 
 John Wesley, "Go to those that need you most." 
 
2 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 Her people had long been reputed for religion and 
 morality, a reputation wliicli had not been gained by 
 mere externalisra. In the first half of the century 
 revivals of wondrous extent and power had blessed 
 the Puritan Churches, and many who had known 
 Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield were still 
 living. But since their time there had been consider- 
 able spiritual declension, and the rising generation 
 had generally conceived the strongest prejudices 
 against all religious excitement. However, on his 
 first tour around this newly-formed New England 
 circuit, Lee found a chosen few, who, at an earlier 
 day or in other lands, had experienced the joys of a 
 present salvation, and were ready to welcome those 
 who preached that blessed doctrine. Foremost among 
 those was Aaron Sanford, the first male member of 
 the Methodist Church in New England. The San- 
 ford family, or families, (for there seem to have been 
 at least two brothers,) appear to have emigrated from 
 England a year or two before, where it is supposed 
 Aaron was converted under the preaching of Wesley 
 himself. The family settled in Redding, Connecticut, 
 and here, on his second Sabbath, Lee found this boy 
 ready to welcome Methodism, and to become the 
 pioneer Methodist layman of New England. He 
 afterwards became a local preacher, and was noted as ' 
 a man of deep piety and great spiiitual power, the 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 3 
 
 instrument in GotVs hands of the conversion of many- 
 souls. Through his influence both branches of the 
 Sanford family became associated with the Metliodist 
 Church. The descendants of these early Methodist 
 families have spread widely through the United 
 States and Canada, and to-day are to be found in the 
 pulpit and the college chair, as well as in commercial 
 life, distinguished by great energy and integrity of 
 character and remarkable business ability. The old 
 patriarch himself is also still living to tell the story 
 of that former day. Nearly a century has mul- 
 tiplied the seed sown on the two Sabbaths, the first 
 at Stratford and the second at Redding. Among the 
 garnered fi-uits are Nathan and Heman Bangs, Lydia 
 Ann Sanford, and Edward Jackson. 
 
 The Jackson family were Episcopalians, and had 
 no direct connection with Methodism before the con- 
 version of Edward Jackson. Judging, however, from 
 his subsequent career, he must have been educated 
 after the style of the good old-fashioned churchman, 
 in the fear of God and the practice of vii-tue. He 
 was born in Redding, on the 20th of April, 1799. 
 His education at school, and as an apprentice, were 
 such as would enable him to earn his livelihood, as his 
 family was without wealth. His brilliant social 
 qualities and engaging person, must have rendered 
 him one of the most agreeable of youthful companions. 
 
4 IN MEMORIAM, 
 
 m 
 
 He did not altogether escape the dangers and tempta- 
 tions to whicli sucli qualities expose a young man. 
 But early training and the love of a truly noble and 
 virtuous woman, were influences in the hand of God 
 to restrain and guide him until regenerating grace 
 renewed and established his goings. This woman was 
 Lydia Ann Sanford, of the family we have just de- 
 scribed. She was born in Redding, March 17th, 1804, 
 and so was five years his junior. She was nurtured 
 under the influences of Methodism. Her childhood 
 was spent within a stone's threw of Aaron Saiiford's 
 house, where the Methodist meetings were held in 
 those early days. The old house is still standing, 
 with a curious partition hinged to the ceiling and 
 fastened up by a button, a device by which the two 
 principal rooms were thrown into one to accommo- 
 date the worshippers on the Sabbath. Her mother 
 was here converted, and, while the daughter was still 
 young, died in the faith, strengthened in her last 
 hours by the prayers and exhortations of her godly 
 relative. The daughter was gifted with more than 
 ordinary talent aud beauty, and her family were now 
 rapidly rising to wealth and social position. Her 
 ambitious brothers were therefore not a little disap- 
 pointed to see their favourite sister disposed to wed 
 a man who, whatever his personal attractions, had 
 only his hands, head, and heart, upon which to de- 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 5 
 
 pend for his fortune. However, that fine womanly 
 instinct, which in after years rendered her jud<^ment 
 of men and motives so trust wortliy, stood her in good 
 stead at this important juncture, and under its in- 
 fluence, in 1826 she united her lot with Edward 
 Jackson. It was not many years before the wealth 
 which she discerned in her husband placed her in a 
 position of affluence pnd social respoct{il)ility worthy 
 of the sacrifice which she had made for him, and her 
 brothers were foremost to acknowledge the ftict and 
 to rejoice in her pros^jerity. 
 
 Leaving friends and native place behind them, they 
 at once turned their faces westward, to seek such 
 fortune as God had in store for them. They carried 
 with them only a little household furniture, the 
 implements of his trade, and what money was barely 
 sufficient for the journey. At this time thousands 
 were moving westward ; Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and 
 Canada were all presenting their attractions. What 
 conscious influence directed the way of our young 
 travellers we know not. It scarcely could have been 
 political considerations ; for though they became true 
 and loyal citizens of their adopted country, and did 
 not, like many, carry off the wealth there gotten to 
 spend it elsewhere, yet they ever retained a sincere 
 regard for the land of their nativity. Probably it may 
 have been commercial reasons. There was at that 
 
. IN ME MORI AM. 
 
 time scarcely a single trader in tinware in the western 
 Ijeninaula of Canada, and the rich furs of our noi-thern 
 climate afforded an opportunity for barter not to be 
 obtained elsewhere. If such were the expectations of 
 Mr. Jackson, tl o results certainly proved the wisdom 
 of his venture. But however this might be, it is 
 certain that the God of their fathers was dii-ecting 
 the way of His children's children, though as yet 
 unknown to them. There were gi'eat blessings in 
 store for them, and a great work for them to do in 
 this new country, and for these they were hither led. 
 Towards the end of autumn they landed in Niagara. 
 The sale of some furniture provided the means to 
 purchase a small stock of material, and the young 
 man immediately set to work. His energy and in- 
 dustry soon commanded confidence, and a gentleman 
 loaned him one hundred dollars for the enlargement 
 of his stock. Before fifteen months, this was repaid, 
 a little capital saved, and the foundations of all their 
 future commercial prosperity secured by the economy 
 and industry of the first year of their married life. 
 They then removed to Ancaster, at the head of the 
 lake, as a more convenient centre for a trade which 
 was henceforth to be pushed noi-thward and westward 
 to all the new settlements of the peninsula. On their 
 journey thither they passed through Hamilton. There 
 were then two farm houses with scanty clearing in a 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 7 
 
 magnificent forest, stretching from Burlington Bay to 
 the summit of the mountain. But this place, with 
 immediate water communication to all the East, was 
 destined to bo the permanent commercial centre, and 
 thither, early in 1830, Mr. Jackson removed, pur- 
 chased a lot, and finally established his business. 
 Already the extent of his trade wtis such as to afford 
 employment for five or six young men. The first list 
 included the following names : — William Wheeler, 
 now of Chicago ; the late Hiram Piper, of Toronto ; 
 Murray Anderson, of London ; and Dennis Moore, of 
 Hamilton, the latter but fifteen years of age. These 
 young men were received into his family, and en- 
 joyed all the advantages of his henceforth Christian 
 home. Subsequently they all became active partners 
 of Mr. Jackson in various extensions of his business. 
 The aggi-egate property accumvilated by them has 
 amounted to more than a million dollars. And in 
 almost every instance the foundation of all their 
 future success was laid during this period of intimate 
 relationship, social as well as commercial, with Mr. 
 and Mrs. Jackson. Probably scarcely another com- 
 mercial house in the country could produce a similar 
 record. r-,— .-^ --,■■,-■ .-.--^ .-,- ■<.■■,:,,•.'•- 
 
 The year 1832 was no ordinary one in the liistorv 
 of Canadian Methodism. The terrible scourge of 
 cholera, which passed over this, in common with 
 
8 i IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 other lands, had produced unusual seriousness in the 
 minds of the people. The two branches of Methodism 
 iiad just succeeded in overcoming the prejudices which 
 had separated them, and the arrangements for the 
 first union were completed. With a deep sense of 
 their responsil>ility, and with renewed courage for 
 their work, the ministers of our Church addressed 
 themselves in the autumn of that year to labour for 
 the salvation of souls. Early in the year we hear of 
 great revivals all round our narrow frontier country, 
 from Niagara to Rideau. In October there had 
 already been some forty added to the Church in 
 Hamilton, and before the end of the year there were 
 a hundred converts in the village of six hundred in- 
 habitants. The total reported increase of the year 
 was 1217, nearly ten per cent, on the membership of 
 the previous year. The ministers labouring in 
 Hamilton were James Evans and Edwy Ryerson. 
 The meetings were held in the old King St. Church, 
 at that time the only place of worship in the village. 
 Mrs. Jackson, in a strange land, had not forgotten 
 the Methodist associations of her childhood, and with 
 this sanctuary she had connected herself on coming to 
 the place. "When the special services commenced, Mr. 
 Jackson was absent from home on business. She, 
 however, taking with her Mr. Moore as her escort, 
 found her way regiilarl}^ over the half mile of swamp 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 9 
 
 Ijetween her house and the church. Already God's 
 Spirit was striving powerfully with her, and the con- 
 victions of her own heart she laboured earnestly to 
 impress on the boy who walked with her to and from 
 the house of prayer. Before long she presented her- 
 self at the altar as a penitent, and there soon found 
 peace in believing. This was in the beginning of 
 February, 1833. The next week Mr. Jackson returned 
 home. At once his converted wife, true to the 
 instincts of old-fashioned Methodism, set herself to 
 work for his conversion. We shall describe their 
 first interview in his own words, used at a fellowship- 
 meeting a few weeks later. 
 
 " My bosom companion met me, when I got home, 
 on her knees, and, weeping, entreated me to seek 
 religion. I had never prayed in my life. I was a 
 profane man and fond of ungodly associates. I had 
 embraced the principles of Universalism. But five 
 minutes' conviction of the Holy Spirit scattered all 
 these, and I then determined to serve God and seek 
 salvation." ,., 
 
 That night he accompanied his wife to the meeting 
 and took his seat in a convenient place, well forward. 
 As soon as the invitation was given he arose, laid off 
 his overcoat, and walked to the prayer-circle. Two 
 or three days later, before he yet found peace, he 
 addressed himself to Mr. Moore, who regularly at- 
 
10 . IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 tended the meetings, and was deeply serious. He 
 elicited from him his convictions, and offered to 
 accompany him to the altar, and that night the two, 
 who were to be so many years associated in business 
 and Christian work, were found bowed together as 
 penitents. The blessing still tarried. But a few 
 days later Mr. Jackson was alone in his shop, walking 
 to and fro behind the counter, meditating upon his 
 position. He was in great perplexity. He felt the 
 responsibility of the profession to which he had en- 
 gaged himself, and it seemed greater than he was able 
 to bear before his men and his former ungodly asso- 
 ciates. The way of faith, too, seemed dark, an 
 impenetrable mystery. Out of this distress he tried 
 to look up to God, when like a flash of light the 
 witness of sonship was given, and his heart was filled 
 with joy and praise. In a short time not only Moore, 
 but Anderson, and nearly all the other young men 
 in the shop were converted, and there was indeed a 
 happy Christian household. 
 
 At once Mr. Jackson assumed that foremost posi- 
 tion in Christian labour and influence for which his 
 talents fitted him. He learned that there was a debt 
 on the parsonage of $600, for which the ministers 
 were personally rf ..^jonsible. With some friends he 
 assumed the obli/',tion, and made an efibrt to raise 
 the needed i^oney. All the inmates of the house 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 11 
 
 presented tlieir contributions, the youngest, Moore, 
 bringing a sovereign, his entire savings from his 
 apprentice wages, and offering it to the cause of God. 
 A thousand-fold return he has since reaped from this 
 first precious investment. 
 
 All the enterprises of the Church, her missions, her 
 college then just building, as well as her local in- 
 terests, now presented their claims to Mr. Jackson, 
 and nobly did he respond to them. But the financial 
 interests of the Church were far from being his sole 
 concern. The gi'eat extension of the Church member- 
 ship had created a necessity for new classes and 
 leaders. The newly organized class to which Mr. 
 and Mrs. Jackson were attached, found its place of 
 meeting in their own house. For some weeks the 
 minister himself acted as leader. As the pressing 
 duties of the close of Conference year came on, he 
 sought release, and nominated a brother Clement, who 
 declined. Then Mr. Jackson was nominated, and 
 struggling against reluctance and fear he accepted, 
 and nobly filled the office in that class for forty years. 
 The class continued to meet in his own house until 
 the erection of the McNab St. Church, in 1851. 
 
 The united career of our friends, for the next 
 twenty-five years, ran in a somewhat even course, 
 without those incidents which make turning points in 
 life. Ability and industry in commerce in that in- 
 
12 _ IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 terval accumulated a princely fortune. Tlie talents 
 and early training of both enabled them to fill, with 
 no ordinary grace and dignity, the position in society 
 which they were now called to occupy, and they were 
 honoured and respected as among the excellent of the 
 earth. Meantime their magnificent home was still 
 the home of the humble Methodist preacher. The 
 class-meeting and prayer-meeting were as highly 
 prized and as faitlifully attended as in early days. 
 They warmly sympathized with all the interests of 
 the Church, and in some of the most trying emer- 
 gencies through which Canadian Methodism passed, 
 Edward Jackson with his means, his commercial 
 credit, his counsel, and his influence, was the right- 
 hand supporter of those who were called to guide the 
 ship. Their domestic life was not without its sha- 
 dows. The little blossoms of hope, son and daughter, 
 lent by their Father in Heaven, were soon called 
 back, and but one lovely flower was left. Mr. Jack- 
 son's health was often feeble, and sometimes he was 
 driven, by our severe climate, to spend the winters 
 in the South. But these shadows were lightened by 
 many blessings. They had the satisfaction of seeing 
 many young men and two young ladies trained up in 
 their home to lives of promise and usefulness. The 
 Church of their choice, and the city of their abode, 
 . were sharing in the general prosperity of the country. 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 13 
 
 Above all, their home was lightened by the presence 
 of a remaining child, who more than satisfies, all 
 their fondest hopes. Gifted by nature with the 
 soundest judgment, and engaging person and man- 
 ners, she added to the refinement of the highest 
 culture the most tender affections, and the most con- 
 scientious piety. Seven years after her decease, when 
 it was our privilege to become a member of this 
 household, we found many a book in the library with 
 marginal notes in her hand-writing, testifying to her 
 intellectual culture and fervid piety. And when, in 
 1857, her parents saw her happily married to one 
 worthy of her affections, it would seem as if their 
 cup of earthly bliss were full. 
 
 But the Master was already saying unto them, " I 
 will show you greater things than these." These 
 greater tilings were to purify their hearts as gold is 
 tried by fire. 
 
 By one sudden stroke child and grandchild were 
 taken from them and laid together in the grave, and 
 their home left empty and desolate. This was indeed 
 the hour of extreme anguish, but they bowed their 
 heai'ts to it as to a father's chastening. To the out- 
 side world they seemed to shut themselves up with 
 their grief for weeks. But they were dwelling with 
 their God, humbly seeking strength to learn the 
 lessons of His rod. Day after day, known only to 
 
14 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 their houseliold attendants, they spent in the chamber 
 of the departed, now bowed in earnest prayer, now 
 walking to and fro with the Word of God in their 
 hands. And when they came forth from their hours 
 of son'ow, seclusion, and supplication, it was to a 
 1 igher, grander Christian life than they had expe- 
 rienced ever before. Property, time, talents, influ- 
 ence, all were henceforth to be consecrated to God. 
 A true estimate of the importance of this period of 
 their religious history can only be formed from the 
 activities of their subsequent life. But the following 
 rules, which appear to have been adopted by Mr;s. 
 Jackson at this time, though drawn up probably by 
 herself and her daughter during the preceding year, 
 will show how entire was the consecration which she 
 now made of herself to God. 
 
 RULES OF LIFE. 
 
 1. That the salvation of my soul shall be my first and great 
 concern. 
 
 2. That I will never be ashamed of my religion, but will 
 always avow it, when and where it may be proper so to do. 
 
 3. That I will always carefully speak the truth, and will 
 never indulge in the very least equivocation, but always be 
 both verbally and substantially correct, and to this end I will 
 watch the meaning of all I utter. . . 
 
 4. That I will always be ready to confess a fault, or ask 
 forgiveness for it, no matter what the character or position of 
 the person against whom I have offended. 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 15 
 
 5. That I will do nothing to others whieli I would object 
 to their doing to me. That I will never do anything which, 
 if T saw committed by another, would cause him or her to 
 fall in my esteem. 
 
 6. That as far as in me lies I will never do or be anything 
 upon Inch I cannot confidingly and expectingly ask the 
 blessing of God. 
 
 7. That when I have fixed a principle in my mind, I will 
 never abandon it, whatever occurs, unless I am convinced it 
 is a wrong one, or would involve me in bad conseriuencea. 
 
 8. That in fulfilling a clear duty, or in the pursuit of a 
 good and proper object, I will never allow myself to be over- 
 come by any trials or difficulties whatever. 
 
 9. That I will daily study the Scriptures. 
 
 10. That I will encourage meditation on death and eternity. 
 
 11. That I will live to God with all my might while I do 
 live. That I will strive never to engage in anything which I 
 should shun if assured I was living the last hour of my life. 
 
 12. That I will decide nothing which is brought before my 
 judgment until I have thoroughly examined it on every side. 
 That what I have once decided shall be fixed and irrevocable. 
 That I will take nothing for granted, but that I will en- 
 deavour to discover what is truth in reference to the smallest 
 principles. 
 
 13. That upon all occasions I will discountenance improper 
 levity and conversation, in whatever company I may be. 
 
 14. That I will carefully guard my temper, and never show 
 the least symptom of impatient emotion, not even by an 
 altered tone of voice, or expression of countenance. That I 
 will do this even if from physical causes I feel fretful and 
 uneasy, as no one else should suffer on my account. , 
 
 15. That 1 will never speak crossly to servants, but be 
 gentle and affectionate, which will gain my desires the sooner. 
 
16 • IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 IG. That my conversation shall be always in love, and as 
 far as possible a(la])ted to the tone of feelinpj of those witli 
 whom I converse. That I will never converse upon trifles, or 
 self, or the failings or defects of others. 
 
 17. That 1 will never waste a moment. 
 
 18. That I will be temperate in eating and drinking. 
 
 19. That I will strictly guard against pride in dress, and 
 every other of its manifestations. 
 
 20. That I will live only to serve God, and for the good 
 of others, never seek my own pleasure or satisfaction at the 
 expense of that of any one else, but, as far as possible, forget 
 that there is a self to please. 
 
 21. That 1 will love my dear husband with all my might, 
 and do everything in my power (no matter what the sacrifice 
 required), to promote his happiness. 
 
 "We have no such written record of the exercises 
 of Mr. Jackson's heart at this time, but his subse- 
 quent actions, as well as remarks, occasionally clropt 
 to most intimate friends, show that they were neither 
 less deep nor permanent. His brethren in the 
 Church have testified to us that henceforth he was a 
 new man. Referring to this period in his life, he 
 once said in our hearing, " I went with my Bible to 
 the upper room, and when I came down I had a new 
 heart, and felt that it was all right." Within the 
 next two years his regular permanent contributions 
 to the cause of God were quadrupled. About this 
 time our missions on the Pacific Coast were founded 
 under the charge of the Rev. E. Evans, D.D. The 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. l'7 
 
 means at the disposal of the Society were limited, and 
 to lay the foundations of our Church without dispar- 
 agement by the side of the incoming denomination so 
 munificently endowed by Miss Burdett Coutts, was 
 no easy matter. Dr. Evans built in faith, becoming 
 himself personally responsible for a considerable part 
 of the cost of the church. As his liabilities were 
 maturing, he wrote to Mr. Jackson, asking for aid. 
 There was scarcely a day for delay if the answer was 
 to return in time. Meantime the darkness thickened 
 around the missionary. On the morning when his 
 note matured, and he expected his name to be dis- 
 honoured at the bank, his only son was a corpse 
 waiting for burial on the morrow. But that very 
 morning came to the crushed man a letter from one 
 whom Grod had likewise brought through tribulation, 
 with $1,000 to meet the pressing note. To those 
 thousand dollars five hundred more were added im 
 mediately afterwards, which were the proceeds of 
 the sale of his deceased daughter's jewelry. And this 
 last costly and precious gift was again nearly doubled 
 by subscriptions obtained from Mends in Hamilton. 
 The later years of the life of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson 
 were devoted to a series of great Christian enter- 
 prises, with which their names will always be 
 * identified in the future. In these Mrs. Jackson 
 
 appears not simply as the partner of her husband's 
 2 
 
18 IN MEMORIAM, 
 
 liberality. The inheritance left her by her father, 
 at his death, had been so judiciously managed by 
 her husband that it was now a handsome fortune, 
 yielding her an income of more than a thousand a 
 year, over which he always insisted that she should 
 have absolute control. And when, hereafter, we see 
 her name appearing for a succession of large gifts to 
 the cause of God, they were gifts in her own right. 
 
 One of the first works in which we find them 
 engaged was the foundation of the Wesleyan Female 
 College, at Hamilton. In the success of this Insti- 
 tution, even as a commercial enterprise, Mr. Jackson 
 had the strongest faith. He was by far the largest 
 subscriber to the stock, and was the active, interested 
 President of its Directorate till his death. The 
 teachers and pupils of the school, in its early days 
 of struggle, will also remember how generously the 
 social courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson was extended 
 to them, and how much this contributed to the 
 pleasure of their residence in Hamilton. , . ■ 
 
 For many years Mrs. Jackson had been associated 
 with " The Hamilton Ladies' Orphan Asylum and 
 Benevolent Society." As Treasurer and Directress, 
 by careful management of its funds, by wise distri- 
 bution of its charities, by personal appeals to the 
 citizens on its behalf, as well as by her weekly visits 
 to the home of the children, and many a pleasant 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 19 
 
 treat provided for the little ones at her own residence, 
 she contributed perhaps as largely as any other in- 
 dividual to the success of the Institution. There was 
 no interest dearer to her heai*t than that of these 
 destitute children, and it was a touching token of 
 the affection with which she inspired them, to see 
 the little ones with emblems of mourning solemnly 
 and silently following her to the grave. 
 
 In the year 1866 Mr. Jackson set his heart upon 
 the erection of a central Methodist church, in 
 Hamilton, worthy of the cause and of the rapidly 
 extending city. Enterprises of this kind were in 
 progress at this time in all the great centres of 
 Methodism in the United States. New York, De- 
 troit, Chicago, Washington, and Boston had just 
 completed or were building magnificent structures, 
 centres of attraction and power and denominational 
 influence. Hamilton was the first to extend this 
 enterprise to our country. We had already, it is 
 true, in Montreal, Kingston, Belleville, Toronto, and 
 London, large, and some of them beautiful, churches. 
 But these had grown up in the ordinary extension 
 of the work, and not with a view to providing a 
 denominational landmark in the city. It was no 
 easy matter to inspire others with the enthusiasm 
 which he himself felt for this work. They wor- 
 shipped in a very comfortable and somewhat com- 
 
20 . IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 modioiis church in a central part of the city, and 
 why should they expend an immense sum in building 
 anew % However, he was not to be discouraged by 
 ordinary difficulties. He led the way with a sub- 
 scription hitherto unexampled in the church-building 
 of Canadian Methodism. He himself canvassed, not 
 the city, but the congiegation, for subscriptions, for 
 he was determined that no one should be asked to 
 contirbute outside of their own congregation. Finally, 
 by the most active efforts he succeeded in bringing 
 the subscription list to a point at which the trustees 
 considered themselves justified in beginning to build, 
 and the corner-stone was laid by Mrs. Jackson, 
 shortly after Conference, 1866. Meanwhile the ladies 
 under her leadership were equally active, and had 
 accumulated a large sum for the complete furnishing 
 of the church as soon as it passed from the builders' 
 hands. After two years of the most watchful interest 
 and active effort, they had the satisfaction, in May, 
 1868, of seeing the magnificent sanctuary dedicated 
 to the worship of Almighty God by the Rev. Wm. 
 Morley Punshon, immediately on his arrival in this 
 country. ■:;.:' ,;-,>w.r;v «./ ^:.'"v ':\H,H^:\hi..:..H->L....-'.:, . (_:,.. ,-, 
 During these same years the Centenary movement, 
 the effort to remove the debt and to provide for the 
 endowment of Victoria College, and the removal of 
 the debt of the Missionaiy Society, as well as all the 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 21 
 
 ordinary local and general claims of the Church, 
 received the liearty support and co-operation of Mr, 
 and Mrs. Jackson, and drew upon their resources to 
 the extent of thousands of dollars. Thp,' were also 
 deeply interested in the movements on behalf of the 
 freedmen of the Southern States, and contributed 
 largely to several societies organized for that good 
 work. 
 
 In 1871 an effort was made by our Church for the 
 establishment of a theological department in Victoria 
 College. This was a work in which Mr. Jackson 
 had long felt a deep interest. He had been familiar 
 with the history, and had rejoiced in the success of 
 the Garrett Biblical Institute, of the M. E, Church, 
 of the United States. The class of six young men 
 who assembled at his house for instruction in the 
 winter of '65 and '66, had enlisted his hearty sym- 
 pathy, and he followed each of them in his subse- 
 quently successful ministerial career with a kind of 
 paternal pride. Several young men had been assisted 
 at College by his liberality, and by more than ordi- 
 nary gifts and graces had shown how wisely he 
 discerned men for the work. As soon as a more 
 extensive work in this direction was presented to 
 him he entered into it with all his heart. He did 
 not feel justified in taking upon himself the entire 
 financial burden, but contrived a plan by which the 
 
22 • IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 first chair in theology in the institution might he 
 provided for. But this design was scarcely entered 
 upon ere he heard the messenger calling for him. 
 Being fully assured that the end was near, he at once 
 set about making preparation for it. Few men less 
 needed preparation. For years he had lived in the 
 experience of a Christian joy and peace, simple, 
 fervid, and fresh as that of a converted child. A 
 present, happy faith in Christ, was his constant theme 
 in the class-meeting and love-feast. His worldly 
 affairs were in admirable order, and could scarcely 
 be better arranged. It only remained that he should 
 strengthen the heart of his sorrowing companion, 
 and in consultation with her perfect the plans of work 
 for God and the Church which were now beginning 
 to engage his attention. The few weeks which 
 remained were devoted to this work. Lying on his 
 couch, suffering in body but clear in mind and strong 
 in heart, he spent hours in quiet conversation with 
 her. All important points were minutely considered, 
 and the difficulties of her future proAdded for, so that 
 in his departure she felt that she knew all that was 
 in his heart. 
 
 At this time his friends were far from anticipating 
 his speedy decease, but he was ready, and ere they 
 were aware the hour had come. It was a beautiful 
 Sabbath evening in July. The hour of worship was 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 23 
 
 over, and the pastors, with a few privileged friends, 
 had come to join in praise and prayer with the Lord's 
 prisoner. After words of pleasant greeting, he him- 
 self led the way to the parlour, showed each one a 
 seat, opened the piano, and asked Brother Benson to 
 lead in his favourite hymn, " The power of prayer." 
 They then kneeled together, and Brother Benson led 
 in prayer. The aged saint was heard responding in 
 fervent "Amens." Mr. Sanford, who was kneeling 
 beside him, looked up, saw his face covered with a 
 radiance of joy, and the next moment caught him in 
 his arms, as the earthly tabernacle fell backwards, 
 and the spirit was gone to the songs of the blest. 
 He rested in Jesus July 14th, 1872, aged 73 years 
 2 months and 24 days. 
 
 The genial, graceful, intelligent countenance of 
 this great and good man is before us still with vivid 
 distinctness. But our language must utterly fail to 
 describe his grand Christian character. Taking him 
 all for all, he was the most perfect man we ever 
 knew. 
 
 Pre-eminent in his religious character was his 
 unaffected simplicity. His words were like the words 
 of a child to his father, and his experience was always 
 like the story of one, who, but yesterday had been 
 converted. He never learned to use stale cant, and 
 few could listen to his admonitions as a class-leader. 
 
24 , IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 full of plain, practical common' sense, without being 
 roused to appreciate the simple reality of the Chris- 
 tian life. 
 
 His integrity and veracity were of the highest 
 order. His was the soul of honour and the spirit 
 of truth. Every man who dealt with him knew how 
 safely he might rely on his conscientious regard for 
 the rights of others. He was not the man to specu- 
 late, which generally means to make money out of the 
 losses of others. His property was accumulated by 
 prudent foresight, and constant industry and economy. 
 In the social circle he was a man of the most en- 
 gaging qualities, and a universal favourite with the 
 young. His keen humour and brilliant wit often 
 excited their merriest laughter. But he was always 
 gentlemanly, he used no slang, and condescended to 
 no coarse vulgarity. No one, after his conversion, 
 ever heard from him words of profane levity. He 
 was a man of remarkable quickness of apprehension. 
 His conclusions, which were generally sound, seemed 
 to flash upon him like an intuition. This readiness 
 of discernment gave liim great power in directing 
 the efforts of others. Father Carroll tells of sitting 
 down with him at a meeting of church ofl&cials where 
 the accounts of the treasurer seemed in inextricable 
 confusion. Mr. Jackson himself did not put a pen 
 to paper, but dii*ected Mr. A. to reckon this, and Mr, 
 
 ♦♦«*• 
 
MR, AND MRS. JACKSON, 26 
 
 B. to reckon that, and in a few minutes, with the 
 aid of half-a-dozen heads and pencils, he was able to 
 present a plain and accurate statement of the whole 
 affair. This power of directing others made him 
 acknowledged leader wherever he appeared, and was, 
 doubtless, one important cause of his success in life. 
 
 These strong points of character were directed by a 
 humanity which was universal in its sympathies, tem- 
 pered by great humility and meekness, and sanctified 
 by entire consecration to God. 
 
 Mrs. Jackson had scarcely become accustomed to 
 the first keen sorrows of bereavement ere she ad- 
 dressed herself to the great work which her husband 
 had committed to her. The objects contemplated 
 were three, — first, to enlarge the endowment of the 
 superannuated ministers' fund ; second, to give a 
 fresh impetus to the great mission work j third, to 
 provide fully and permanently for the chair of 
 theology in Victoria College. To do for these ob- 
 jects v.'hat they desired, required some $50,000. Mr. 
 Jackson had himself devised $10,000 to the last- 
 named work, but left the full accomplishment of his 
 wishes to his wife. Her first aim was so to increase 
 the estate left in her hands, as to make it sufficient 
 both to meet the claims of kindred and to complete 
 these great projects for the Church. For two years 
 she devoted herself entirely to this, managing her 
 
26 . IN MEMORIAM. • 
 
 affairs with the most rigid economy until, by the 
 end of that time, she had added $25,000 to her 
 capital. Her motives were understood by few. Some 
 even insinuated that the spirit of avarice had taken 
 possession of her. But in a quiet conversation with 
 the writer, she explained the convictions of duty and 
 the plans upon which she was acting. At the Con- 
 ference, held in Hamilton, June, 1874, her end was 
 attained. She then completed the execution of her 
 husband's will, and of his further expressed desire 
 as to the theological chair. She shortly after can- 
 celled the temporary arrangement of her estate, by 
 which she had provided against the contingency of 
 death, and in her last will and testament made full 
 provision for all those noble designs which, two years 
 before, she and her husband had together devised. 
 Immediately this was done she returned to the walks 
 of active usefulness which had so long occupied her, 
 and save that she carried a widow's heart as well as 
 garb, she appeared like herself again. But even 
 this last year of her life was by no means a year of 
 rest from projects of Christian work, and when death 
 so suddenly called her, the plans and funds for a 
 new parsonage for the Centenary Church were en- 
 gaging her most earnest attention. 
 
 The last few months of life were marked by a 
 rich development of religious experience. She shared 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 27 
 
 largely in the refreshing influences which accompanied 
 the labours of Messrs. Inskip and McDonald, in 
 Hamilton, and the sojourn of Mr. and Mrs. Inskip 
 in her house was, doubtless, a special pleasure and 
 profit. So greatly was she strengthened that she, 
 who for forty years never ventured beyond a few 
 words in class in relating her Christian experience, 
 was now seen rising in the public fellowship meeting 
 and love-feast, to declare fully the saving grace of 
 God. She had always been noted for her sympathy 
 with the bereaved and afflicted. Wherever there 
 was sickness or death she was a quiet, useful visitor 
 and friend. One who had long been associated with 
 Mr. Jackson in business had been called away. 
 Early in the morning she started for the house of 
 mourning, saying, as she went, " We know not how 
 soon we may need some one to do this for us." 
 Immediately she joined in making the needful pre- 
 parations for the funeral ; and while engaged in this 
 mournful work of love, her spirit heard the Master's 
 call, and instantly dropping its clay tenement, passed 
 from labour to reward. She entered into rest May 
 5th, 1875, aged 71 years 1 month and 18 days. 
 
 The character of this noble woman was, in many 
 respects, the complement of that of her husband. 
 While so much alike as to be perfectly congenial 
 and harmonious, they seemed necessaiy to each other 
 
28 .; .. IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 to fill out to the full the grand life which they lived. 
 The very last momenta of life were a striking illus- 
 tration of this : the one was praying, the other work- 
 ing, when summoned so quickly to the better life. 
 
 She was a woman of great energy and tireless 
 industry. Excellent taste, a keen sense of propriety, 
 and a knowledge of human nature which almost 
 infallibly discerned the motives of those with whom 
 she had to deal, combined to guide her own works 
 to almost invariable success, and to make her the 
 most valuable friend in , counsel we have ever 
 known. Her great administrative ability, whether 
 in the ordering of her domestic affairs or in the 
 management of the various Christian enterprises in 
 which she was engaged, gave her the most perfect 
 command of every paii; of the work in hand. 
 
 She was a woman of the deepest domestic affec- 
 tions, and of the most kindly social disposition. In 
 the exhibition of these she was never demonstrative. 
 With her there was no latent insincerity, no osten- 
 tatious show of kindness, no fair speeches which 
 could be suspected of even unconscious hypocrisy, 
 of fine sentiment. From her lips the vulgar incense 
 of flattery was never offered, and few would even 
 dare to have offered it to her. But notwithstanding 
 all this, those who knew her best understood well 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. £9 
 
 the deep earnest nature which lay beneath that quiet 
 exterior. 
 
 Her ti'eatment of her household servants was one 
 of the finest examples of Christian conduct we have 
 known. A parental solicitude for their temporal 
 and spiritual welfare marked all her dealings with 
 tliem. Perhaps no one ever ruled a household more 
 diligently than she, but the veiy exercise of her 
 authority taught her servants to respect themselves 
 as tliey respected her. There were no menials in 
 her employ, and we believe the chai'acters of many 
 young persons have been permanently formed for 
 good while in her service. 
 
 There was something truly grand in the unwar 
 vering strength of her conscientious convictions. 
 When you heard her say, " I don't care what they 
 say, it is not right," you felt at once, that in the 
 light of that clear moral intuition, the sophisms of 
 all worldly wisdom and plausible poKcy lay exposed. 
 She had inherited all the stern morality of her 
 Puritan ancestors, and to her, duty was inviolable 
 law. Such a natm'e, so strong, earnest, active, and 
 yet womanly, we seldom find. 
 
 To us, the study of the lives and character of 
 these servants of God has been a profit and plea- 
 sure. We have ventured to make this brief record, 
 believing it to be a sacred duty to transmit the 
 
aO • IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 influence of their example to the coming generation. 
 Theirs was no life severed from the ordinary pro- 
 vidential ways of men. It was purely human in 
 all its work and sympathies, human and yet Chris- 
 tian, and for its broad humanity all the more useful 
 as an example to mankind. 
 
A SERMON 
 
 PREACHBD BT 
 
 THE REV. W. J. HUNTER, 
 
A SERMON 
 
 PRBACIIBO BT TUB 
 
 REV. W. J. HUNTER, 
 
 Sn tf)e Centenar22 (!rf)urcf), IQamtlton, 
 On the occasion of the death of Edward Jackson, E$q.'* 
 
 " Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours ; Whether 
 Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things 
 present, or things to come ; all are yours ; And ye are Christ's ; and 
 Christ is God's."- 1 Corintuiajjs iii. 21, 22, 23. 
 
 JT. PAUL'S resolution touching the life-work 
 given him by the Master is set forth in 
 the second verse of the previous chapter. " I de- 
 termined not to know any thing among you, save 
 Jesus Christ and Him crucified." How firmly 
 he adhered to that resolution is strikingly instanced 
 in the case before us. Cei-tain foolish rivalries hatl 
 sprung up in the Corinthian Church, occasioned by 
 the diversified talents of those who preached the 
 
 * On this occasion the audience assembled was perhaps the largest ever 
 gathered in this church. The other appointments of the Circuit were 
 withdrawn. Representatives of all denominations were present, and 
 friends from the surrounding country came, some of them fifteen miles. 
 It was a time long to be remembered. 
 
 3 
 
34 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 Gosiiel amongst tliem. The partisans, first divided 
 in judgment, were soon divided in spirit, and then 
 became intemperate in language. " Every one saith, 
 I am of Paul ; and I of Apollos ; and I of Ctiphas." 
 
 Now certainly in this race for popularity Paul 
 stood a fair chance to win ; but had he encouraged 
 their pai-ty spirit he would have drawn off their afiec- 
 tions from Christ instead of uniting them to Him in 
 whom all hearts should centre. Therefore he comes 
 promptly to the rescue, and unsparingly denounces the 
 mischievous and unscriptural partialities of the Corin- 
 thians, laying down that eternal axiom of Gospel 
 philosophy : " Neither is he that planteth anything, 
 nor he that watereth ; but God that giveth the in- 
 crease." And in my text he proclaims that, through 
 Christ, all things are, by God's giant, made the pro- 
 perty of true believers. 
 
 I shall endeavour, on this solemn occasion, to con- 
 firm your attachment to the Saviour of our departed 
 father by a plain illustration of the several particulars 
 of this charter of privilege. The Apostle presents his 
 declaration first of all in the form of a comprehensive 
 generality, "All things are yours," which has been 
 appropriately paraphrased thus : " All things are sub- 
 ordinated to your use and benefit. It is a gracious 
 promise vouchsafed to you that the whole assemblage 
 of visible things, the entire succession of events in 
 
MR, AND MRS. JACKSON. 86 
 
 which you are interested and concerned, shall contri- 
 bute to your benefit. The wisdom and goodness of 
 God HO orders everytliing, leads you through such a 
 succession of beneficent intricacies, so fits the events 
 of this year into the events of that, the chastisements 
 of yesterday into the mercies of to-day, that in the end 
 you shall not wish to have had anything altered. You 
 will feel that you have had a property in creation, a 
 proi)erty in providence, a property in the issues of all 
 being — ' All things are yours." ' 
 
 But St. Paul will leave no ground for doubt or un- 
 belief, and therefore rests not his declaration on this 
 comprehensive generality, but proceeds to specify the 
 items included in it. " Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the 
 world, life, death, things preser.t, things to come." 
 
 These items will find a place under the following 
 general heads : — 
 I. Man. 
 II. Creation. 
 
 III. Providence. 
 
 I. Man is ours. Next to God himself, the highest 
 of man's possessions is man. An eminent wi-iter has 
 said, " In every star that looks down from heaven, in 
 every flower that opens its calix to the sun, in every 
 tree laden with summer fruits, in every rill that falls 
 down the mountain side, we see the wisdom and good- 
 ness and glory of God; but what would this whole 
 
36 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 creation be, with the fulness and variety of its phe- 
 nomena, but for man — the image of God, called of 
 God to leave on this created world the stamp of his 
 spirit, and the impression of his nature % " Yes, man 
 is ours. Paul, Apollos, Cephas — Punshon, Spurgeon, 
 Talmage — Newton, Locke, Bacon — all are ours. The 
 wisdom and learning of the past have come down to 
 us, so that to-day the mind of every scholar is rich 
 with the spoils of time. Its divines have preached 
 for us. Its poets have sung for us. Its men of 
 science have studied for us. And so also of the pre- 
 sent. Ministers in the pulpit, laymen in the pew, the 
 professor in his chair, and the merchant prince in his 
 counting house — all are ours — with all their genius, 
 talent, wealth, and labour. The most eminent 
 amongst them is but a " steward of the mysteries and 
 manifold mercies of God," appointed by Him to dis- 
 pense them to His people : an earthen vessel in which 
 treasures are deposited by Him for our use. They 
 are Christ's servants, and our servants for Jesus' sake. 
 And yet, my brethren, this item of privilege and 
 possession, standing at the head of the list, seems to 
 be ours least of all. How feeble and uncei-tain is the 
 tenure by which we claim it. The " silver cord," 
 brittle and unseen, is all that binds our friends to us 
 and the world. Accidents that no human forethought 
 can avert, diseases that no human skill can arrest, 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 37 
 
 surround our pathway and our resting-place by day 
 and by night. And how often it happens that men of 
 eminent usefulness are removed from the Church and 
 the world just when, in human estimation, their pre- 
 sence and service are most required. Stricken down 
 by disease, or caught up into heaven like Elijah, we cry 
 after them in broken accents, " My father, my father, 
 the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." 
 
 At the family table ;^ a vacant chair, in the pew is 
 a vacant iseat, in the prayer-meeting and the official 
 meeting well-known words of counsel and encourage- 
 raent are wanting. The bereavement of orphanage is 
 ours, and we say of departed worth, " it is gone ; he is 
 dead." But, friends, we are mistaken. The good 
 never die. The body goes down like seed corn into 
 the grave; the soul lives, and the influence and ex- 
 ample remain to cheer and bless the world. Elijah 
 was translated, but Elisha caught the falling mantle, 
 and the sons of the prophets exclaimed, " The sjnrit of 
 Elijah doth rest upon Elisha," St. Paul was put to 
 death, but the doctrines he preached, the confession he 
 witnessed, the example he left, and his victory over 
 death, have come down through the long ages to us, 
 and are felt in our hearts, and manifested in our lives, 
 as vital, energetic, and controlling principles. "When 
 the blood of Christian martyrs was poured out on the 
 sands of Rome, theii' persecutors imagined lliat they 
 
38 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 had made an end of them and their doctrine. But 
 that blood, washed into the Tiber, was carried by its 
 waters into the sea, and by the sea into the ocean, and 
 by its waves to every kingdom of the earth ; and thus 
 became a type, not more of the spreading doctrines of 
 Christianity than of the augmented and widely diffused 
 influence of these holy men." So it is still. The 
 family may lose a pious father, but they retain his in- 
 fluence and example. The Church may lose its best, 
 most gifted, and most liberal supporters, but their in- 
 fluence and example remain as a priceless heritage. 
 A double portion of their spirit descends upon some 
 youthful and timid Elisha, and, snatching up the fall- 
 ing mantle, he smites the waters of Jordan, that he 
 may pass over on dry land. 
 
 God's servants are ours. Edward Jackson is oui'S. 
 Identified with the rise and progress of this city, 
 known throughout our Isiael, God spared him to a 
 ripe old age. His intelligent, unaffected, and earnest 
 piety ; his sterling integrity and Christian liberality, 
 have stamped his memory with the seal of immortality. 
 His example will go down on the page of history, and 
 generations yet unborn will follow in the good man's 
 footsteps. 
 
 II. Creation is ours. " Tlie world." St. Paul 
 seenis impatient here. He searches after some term 
 or expression to convey the fulness of his thought, and 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 39 
 
 cries out abruptly, " the world is yours " — " the world 
 and all its inhabitants, however excellent in gifts and 
 gi-aces, are your servants for Christ's sake." Human 
 laws provide for the security of personal property, but 
 God in His wisdom and goodness has so constituted 
 society that no man can be independent of his 
 fellows. Nor can any monopolize the creatures of 
 God. The sun, moon, and stars ; the rain and the 
 produce of universal nature, belong to rich and poor 
 alike. 
 
 But it does seem to me that, in the distribution of 
 wealth amongst His own people, God acts on certain 
 fixed principles, chief amongst which is the one that 
 our earthly possessions should never exceed our 
 spiritual graces. ' No man is qualified to use wealth 
 aright without a measure of piety commensurate with 
 it. There can be no more beautiful sight on earth, 
 and no more evident proof of the influence and power 
 of religion than that which is presented in the pros- 
 perous career of a young man rising in the world, and 
 at the same time retaining liis integrity, his moral 
 principle, his piety ; " as humble and courteous and 
 unassuming in his wealth as in his poverty." But 
 one of the saddest sights on earth is to see a man as 
 he rises in the scale of society forgetting the humble 
 piety of his youth, ashamed of the Church of his 
 fathers, and seeking for some genteel religion with no 
 
40 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 blood-stained cross in it — some fashionable Church, 
 where sin, and the law, and hell, are seldom mentioned, 
 but where oimscience is rocked into slumber by the lul- 
 laby of cold and lifeless formalism. I speak to you to- 
 night, young men, from the gi-ave of one who began at the 
 foot of the hill, and climbed inch by inch and foot by 
 foot till he reached the summit. What was the secret 
 of his success % " The fear of the Lord is the begin- 
 ning of wisdom." That was the starting point. 
 " Not slothful in business ; fervent in spirit ; serving 
 the Lord." That was the life motto and regulating 
 principle. To him was richly verified the promise, 
 " the world is yours," and in him was strikingly exem- 
 plified the injunction, " they that use this world, as 
 not abusing it." Now I am not here to promise every 
 young man setting out in life a like success. God 
 knows what measure of this world's goods is best for 
 each of us. But I am here to promise that if you 
 " seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous- 
 ness," if you are diligent and attentive to your calling, 
 if you live in obedience to all the laws by which you 
 are governed, if your Christian graces keep pace with 
 your temporal prosperity, and, if you possess talent 
 and capacity, wealth and honour and happiness are 
 yours as certainly as though you had them at your com- 
 mand this moment. Let those of us from whom 
 wealth is withheld remember that " godliness with 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 41 
 
 contentment is great gain." Our " bread shall be 
 given, and our water shall be sure." The world is 
 ours, and it owes every honest Ckristian a living. 
 
 I now pass to touch on the main point. 
 
 III. Providence is ours. Dear friends, there is a 
 superintending hand — a hand that not only controls 
 the universe, but also directs the ways of private life 
 and family circumstance — a Being without whose con- 
 sent not even a sparrow falleth to the ground. All 
 the dispensations of His providence are ours. These 
 are grouped together in my text in the terms, " life, 
 death, things present, things to come." 
 
 The term life, as used in this passage, means pre- 
 sent existence. Life has furnished a theme for endless 
 productions. The philosopher, the orator, the moralist, 
 and the poet, have all attempted a solution of the 
 question, " What is your life % " Ask the philosopher 
 and he will tell you that it is one of the deepest mys- 
 teries of metaphysical science. Ask the orator, and 
 in the loftiest flights of imagination he will picture 
 life as a stage on which men are the actors and the 
 hosts of heaven the spectators. Ask the moralist, and 
 his sage reply is, " Life is that which we measure by 
 our sorrows, and note by its loss." Ask the poet, and 
 he will answer by breathing forth in solemn strains 
 its rapid flight and deep uncei-tainty. Would you 
 find a satisfactory answer to the question, you must 
 
42 SERMONS ON THE DEA TH OF 
 
 consult tins Book of Books, this key of knowledge. 
 It teaches iis that life is a portion of infinite duration 
 — the vestibule of eternity — the soul's discipline for 
 immortality. What is the value of life? Go, ask 
 yon spirit, hopeless, ruined, lost. O ! ask him quickly, 
 while the roar of the eternal ocean falls upon his ear ; 
 and the answer will come back in the words of the 
 dying queen, " Millioros of money for a moment of 
 timer Life has been fitly likened to a book. It has 
 a page for every day we live. Our actions, words, 
 and thoughts are all written in this book. When 
 life on earth terminates, the book is closed. In the 
 eternal world it will be given us again, and forever 
 we shall turn over its leaves and read their contents. 
 My brother, hast thou written aught in the book of 
 life that would paint thy cheek with a crimson blush 
 when read aloud in the presence of an assembled uni- 
 verse % Then haste thee now to Calvary, and place 
 thy book beneath the purple flood which streams from 
 the wounds of the Crucified, for this alone can obli- 
 terate the characters made with the pen of life. 
 
 These thoughts suggest another question. What is 
 ' the work of life % What its great mission % Is it to 
 heap up gold and silver as the dust % to possess broad 
 acres and stately dwellings % Ah, no ! this is not the 
 work of life. Is it to acquire fame and renown % to 
 secure a name whose heroic deeds shall be wafted from 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 43 
 
 sea to sea and from shore to shore % No, this is not 
 the work of life. The great work of life is to so cul- 
 tivate the faculties of intellect and soul that when our 
 present existence terminates we may be prepai-ed for 
 the society and enjoyments of heaven. There is a 
 blissful or an awful eternity before each one of us. 
 Immortality is stamped upon every human soul. The 
 sweet flowers that open at your feet must wither, fade, 
 and die. The charming landscape that spretK^.s out 
 before you the beauties of nature, must mingle with 
 the ashes of a burning world. The day is approach- 
 ing when " the heavens shall pass away with a great 
 noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, 
 the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be 
 burned up." But the soul will survive this universal 
 ruin, and remain imperishable amidst the flames of 
 the universe. And yet it must — Spirit of the living 
 God fasten the truth upon every conscience — at last 
 be shut in with God, or be banished from His pre- 
 sence, an exile from glory and a traitor to the cross. 
 
 The soul is fallen, deeply fallen. Sin runs through 
 its every ramification, but, thank God, it has been re- 
 deemed ; it may be regenerated, and, clotlied with 
 righteousness divine, it may scale the mount of God 
 and bask undazzled in the refulgent splendours of 
 Deity. Now put all these facts together and you 
 have an answer to the question. What is life's mis- 
 
44 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 sion ] Take first the fact that man is a sinner and 
 unfit for heaven. Secondly, the fact tliat through the 
 mediation of Christ he may be pardoned and saved. 
 Thii'dly, the fact that only in this present life is salva- 
 tion attainable ; and lastly, the fact that if not saved 
 in time he must be lost forever, and as a rational and 
 intelligent being you are constrained to confess that — 
 
 " Nothing is worth a thought beneath 
 But how I may escape the death 
 
 That never, never dies ; ' 
 
 How make mine own election sure, 
 And when I fail on earth, secure 
 
 A mansion in the skies." 
 
 But this is not all. It is not enough that I save my 
 own soul. I am placed in this world as a member of 
 the wide-spread human family. The law of God re- 
 quires of me that I shall " love my neighbour as 
 myself." It is the duty of every man to employ time 
 and talent and money in seeking to save the lost and 
 rescue the perishing. 0, men of the world, why build 
 on a foundation of sand 1 Wliy embrace shadows so 
 soon to be dissipated 1 Why, O why, with the grave 
 open at your feet, rush on heedless and regardless of 
 the undecaying glory, honour, and immortality set be- 
 fore you in the Gospel. Brethren in the Lord, our 
 day of labour is short and rapidly receding. Every 
 badge of mourning, every funeral we attend, all that 
 we hear and all that we see, unite to give emphasis to 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 45 
 
 the admonition of God's word. "Whatsoever thy 
 hand findeth to do, do it with thy might ; for there is 
 no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in 
 the grave, whither thou goest." 
 
 " Death " is ours. Properly speaking there is 
 no death. What we call death is simply a change in 
 our mode of existence. Death has become the gloomy 
 thing it is on account of its consequences and asso- 
 ciations. 
 
 Take as the first and principal of these, the dissolu- 
 tion of the body. Examine the human body ; the 
 bones, the muscles, the nerves, the circulation of the 
 blood, the organs of sight, speech, and hearing. Con- 
 sider the adaptation of each member to the use in- 
 tended, and you will feel the force of the Psalmist's 
 exclamation, " I am fearfully and wonderfully made." 
 And there is something sad in the dissolution of this 
 beautiful piece of mechanism. And then again, death 
 dissolves all earthly relationships. It separates hus- 
 bands and wives, parents and children, friends and 
 acquaintances. In short, death is an enemy. " The 
 last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 
 
 And yet, strange at first sight, death finds a place in 
 this inventory of Christian possessions. The Apostle 
 calls death a privilege. Do you wish that he had left 
 this item out of the charter 1 Nay, my brethren, be 
 not too hasty in arriving at such a conclusion. 
 
48 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 Consider that death is to the Christian a conquered 
 foe, a vanquished enemy. Consider that to him it is 
 the end of trial and of conflict, and you will aj)preciate 
 the gii't, and realize the full meaning of the Apostle 
 when he says, " death is yours." Yours to conduct to 
 the gates of glory, yours to clothe in the garments of 
 immortality, yours as the end of labour, the end of 
 sorrow, the end of sin. Go weep at the grave of 
 buried love, if you will, but weep as the Christian 
 poet wept when he said : — 
 
 " But we have parted, sister, thou art dead, 
 On its last resting-place I laid thy head ; 
 Then by thy coffin-side knelt down and took 
 A brother's farewell kiss and farewell look. 
 Those marble lips no kindred kiss returned ; 
 From those veiled orbs no glauce'responsive burned. 
 Ah ! then I felt that thou hadst passed away, 
 That the sweet face I gazed on was but clay ; 
 And then came memory with her busy throng 
 Of tender images forgotten long. 
 Years hurried back, and as tbey swiftly rolled, 
 I saw thee, heard thee as in days of old. 
 Sad, and more sad, each sacred feeling grew, 
 Manhood was moved and sorrow claimed her due ; 
 Thick, thick and fast the burning tear-drops started, 
 I turned away and felt that we had parted. 
 But not forever ; in the silent tomb 
 Where thou art laid, thy kindred shall find room ; 
 A little while, a few short years of pain, 
 And one by one we'll come to thee again. 
 The kind old father shall seek out the place. 
 And rest with thee, the youngest of his race ; 
 Th3 dear, dear mother, bent with age and grief, 
 
MR. AND MRS, JACKSON. 47 
 
 Shall lay her head by thine in sweet relief, 
 
 Sister and brother, and that faithful friend, 
 
 True from the first and tender to the end, 
 
 All, all in His good time who placed us here 
 
 To Jivo, to love, to die and disappear. 
 
 Shall come and make their quiet bed with thee 
 
 Beneath the shadow of that spreading tree ; 
 
 With thee to sleep througli death's long dreamless night, 
 
 With thee rise up and bless the morning light." 
 
 " Things present " are ours. At first sight we are 
 somewhat perplexed as to the true interpretution of 
 this expression. The idea seems to be embodied in 
 the terms life, and the world, but a little attention 
 will clear away the difficulty. By the terms life and 
 the world, we are to understand the period of our 
 probation, and the supply of our daily wants. And 
 as the phrase, " things present," is used in contrast 
 with the phrase, " things to come," it evidently means 
 all the vicissitudes connected with life and the world. 
 All the particulars of life, all the changes it may ex- 
 perience, all its pleasures and pains, trials and comforts, 
 are ours. They are all over-ruled for our benefit, and 
 " all things work together for good to them that love 
 God." 
 
 " Things to come " are ours. I frankly confess 
 my inability to picture the world of meaning contained 
 in these three short words, " things to come." Even 
 Paul himself, with all his eloquence, and all his inspi- 
 
48 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 ration, could not do it. Caught up into tlio third 
 heaven, looking at its matchless beauty, and hearing 
 its marvellous melody, he comes back to earth, not to 
 gratify our curiosity, but to say that he " heard un- 
 speakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to 
 utter." And yet, my friends, we are not left in utter 
 ignorance of the world beyond. Heaven is revealed 
 to \\A as a gi'eat reality. It is " a better country," 
 "a city that hath foundations." Our "Father's house," 
 " the throne of God and the Lamb." Its inhabitants 
 " can die no more." " They shall hunger no more, 
 neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on 
 them, nor any heat ; for the Lamb who is in the 
 midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 
 them to living fountains of water, and God shall wipe 
 away all tears from their eyes." Precious Bible. 
 Glorious, peerless Christianity, thou art the only lamp 
 lighting up the " valley of the shadow of death." We 
 shrink back from annihilation. We feel and know 
 that we must live forever, and we long for the certain 
 knowledge of a resting-place into which the soul may 
 be received after the shipwi-eck of the body is over. 
 Where can we find such a refuge 1 Who amongst all 
 the wise men of earth can impart this certain know- 
 ledge 1 I search the world's library and question the 
 learning of the ages. I address myself to Cyrus, edu- 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 49 
 
 cated in the schools of the moat illustrious Persinu 
 sages. Tell me, Cyrus, — 
 
 "Are there no bowers, no lov'cl retreats, 
 Remote from sin, from sorrow free ? 
 
 Eternal calm, eternal day, 
 Tell me, tell, if such there be ? " 
 
 Mark his answer. " I cannot imagine that the soul 
 lives only as long as it remains in this mortal body, 
 and ceases to live when it is separated from it. I am 
 rather inclined to think it wHl then have more intelli- 
 gence and greater purity." 
 
 Rather inclined to think. That is all he knows 
 aljout it. I address myself to Socrates. See ! Socrates 
 is dying. Come near and catch the last words of the 
 great man. He is speaking to his friends : " I go to 
 die, you to live ; which of us goes the best way is 
 known to God alone." 
 
 Enough of the schools. I question Paul. He ap- 
 proaches me with beaming eye and uplifted look, ex- 
 claiming, " O death, where is thy sting ? O gi-ave, 
 where is thy victory ? " " For we know that if our 
 earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we 
 have a building of God, an house not made with hands 
 eternal in the heavens." But, tell me, Paul, what is 
 the ground of this boasted confidence 1 Is it thy 
 logical acumen, thy speculative knowledge acquired in 
 Tarsus and at the feet of GamalieH No, no; Paul 
 
50 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 lefers not to these, but rather to the word of One 
 who cannot lie. One who, to evidence that death 
 cannot retain his victim forever, approached the 
 sepulchre of the dead and called him back to life. 
 Yea, he gi-ounds his assertion on the woi'd of One 
 who, by His own resurrection from the dead, destroyed 
 death and him that had the power of death, and en- 
 couraged his followers with the words, "In my father's 
 liouse are many mansions. If it were not so I would 
 have told you." " My father's house." O, brethren, 
 this is no shadow filling in the horizon. It is a place 
 — a house — a home where friend meets friend — where 
 there is love and joy and peace forevermore. 
 
 But we must not overlook the doctrine of the text. 
 These rich possessions are the heritage of believers, by 
 virtue of their union with Christ. Read the Apostle : 
 " Christ is God's." This is the first link, and it takes 
 hold of the throne. " Ye are Chi'ist's." This is the 
 second link. And because ye are Christ's, and Christ 
 is God's, and God is infinite, " all things are yours." 
 
 In accordance with the life-long feelings and oft- 
 expressed sentiments of our departed father, and out 
 of deference to the expressed wis^ ^f surviving re- 
 latives, I am debarred the privileg-- ^l lecounting the 
 many amiable and praiseworthy traits of character 
 which marked his happy, prosperous, and useful life. 
 To those who knew him such a task were needless. 
 
MR. AND MRS, JACKSON. 51 
 
 His life is before you. Some of you have read it 
 daily for many years. If you ask me again for the 
 secret of its prosperity and sunshine, my answer is, 
 " Trust in the Lord and do good ; so shalt thou dwell 
 in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." " Wait on 
 the Lord and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee 
 to inherit the land." " Mark the perfect man and 
 behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace." 
 If you would have such a life and such a death, "trust 
 in the Lord and do good." That is the whole seciet. 
 If I may not dwell upon his life, I am at liberty to 
 speak of his death. What a beautiful death was 
 Edward Jackson's ! It was more like a translation 
 than like death. In his own parlour, surrounded by 
 his wife and a few intimate friends — his favourite 
 hymns had been sung by one of his favourite singers — 
 the company had knelt in prayer, when, suddenly, 
 " he was not, for God took him." I visited him on 
 that beautiful Sabbath evening. The family had not 
 yet returned from church, and he was alone, sitting in 
 the library. The gas was not lighted, and as he rose 
 to welcome me, he said, " I am musing in the twilight, 
 thinking of Jesas and heaven." After stating, in 
 answer to my inquiries, that he had passed a pleasant 
 day, entii-ely free from pain, and from the spasms of 
 the heart which recently had distressed him, he added, 
 " But, Brother Hunter, I have an impression that the 
 
52 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 end is near; all the day I liave seemed as though 
 floating in the atmosphere." Just then the friends to 
 whom I have alluded came in, "it:^ '. left the house to 
 visit another death chamber. 
 
 My colleague, the R«^ r. Mr. Benson, was one of the 
 company, and Mr. Jackson said, " Light the gas in 
 the parlour, and Bro. Benson will sing some of the 
 songs of Zion; it will be beautiful thus to close up the 
 day." 
 
 All sat down in the parlour, save Mr. Sanford, his 
 son-in-law, who sat just outside the front door in the 
 cool of the evening. When about to kneel, Mr. 
 Jackson said to the latter, whom he regarded with all 
 a father's affection and tenderness, always calling him 
 by the familiar name Willie : " Now, Willie, come in 
 to prayer." These were the last words addressed to 
 earth. Mr. Benson had proceeded some way in his 
 devotions, praying that if consistent with the Divine 
 will this valuable life might be spared, when he 
 added, " But whatever the result may be, suffer no 
 cloud to come between Thee and Thy servant's soul." 
 Mr. Jackson responded audibly, " Amen," and that 
 moment fell from his knees and was supported in the 
 arms of a friend. Medical aid was instantly sum- 
 moned, but it was useless. The happy spirit had 
 
 " Taken its last triumphant flight 
 From Calvary's to Zion's height. " 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 53 
 
 He did not see death — there was no conflict, no 
 struggle, no bitter agony. He slept in Jesus, and his 
 features wore the same sweet smile, which always 
 made him a welcome guest in the social and religious 
 circle. Who will take his place ] Who will gi-asp 
 the fallen banner, and bear it to such a death ] 
 
 " may /triumph so 
 
 When all my v/ar fare's past, 
 And dying find my latest foe 
 
 Under my feet at last." 
 
« 
 
A SERMON 
 
 PREACUED BT 
 
 THE REV. JOHN POTTS, 
 
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 Minw-'. [iTffi)piu kWM j^m^mm. 
 
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 .** 
 
A SERMON 
 
 PREACHED BY TUB 
 
 REV. JOHN POTTS, 
 
 5n tfte CCentcnarji flTtjurtfj, ?t|amiltan, 
 On the occasion of the death of Mrs. Edward Jackson. 
 
 " But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly."— Heb. xi. 16. 
 
 AN, wherever found and however cultured 
 and circumstanced, is a being of desire. It 
 is characteristic of him, and its nature and extent 
 are largely affected by his character and condition. 
 As he rises in the scale of intellectual and moral 
 manhood, his desire rises and becomes more enlarged 
 and worthy of him. Desire, according to character, 
 may be animal, intellectual, and spiritual. Chris- 
 tianity has enlarged and ennobled human desire — 
 has lifted it to a higher altitude, and greatly extended 
 its vision and objects. Christianity has done moi-e 
 than beget and increase spiritual desiie, for it has 
 furnished the wherewith to satisfy its largest and 
 intensest longings. The revelations of the Christian 
 
58 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 system are designed to accomplish this. Humanity 
 is ignorant and desires instruction ; and Christianity 
 furnishes light and knowledge on these gi-eat prob- 
 lems which pertain to sin and salvation — to probation 
 and immortality. Humanity is guilty, depraved, and 
 comfortless, and desires a God to meet such neces- 
 sities. Christianity reveals a God just adapted — a 
 personal God — a forgiving God — an indwelling God 
 — a God of all consolation. Humanity is immortal, 
 and, therefore, has desires that overleap the confines 
 of probation and penetrate the future ; and Chris- 
 tianity meets these God-implanted desires with 
 revelations of the rest that remains for the people 
 of God, and of the inheritance that is incorruptible 
 and undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Place 
 man where you may, furnish all that earth can 
 afford and all of earth that he can enjoy, he must 
 go out after something better and higher — something 
 in harmony with his redeemed and immortal in- 
 stincts. Like those spoken of in the text, he will 
 desire a better country. 
 
 Our theme to-night is Heaven. — A more glorious 
 subject cannot occupy human thought. The heaven 
 of the Bible has many attractions for all those that 
 confess themselves strangers and pilgrims, and that 
 can testify, " We are journeying unto the place of 
 which the Lord has said, *I will give it you. 
 
 > »> 
 
MR. AND MRS. yACk'SON. 69 
 
 Concerning the house of many mansions, the pre- 
 pared place and the glorious city, this Book reveals 
 much that is encouraging to faith and hojio. Yet 
 there is a certain reticence relative to the future 
 maintained from the Genesis to the Revelations of 
 this sacred volume. Many questions come to us and 
 are propounded by us to which there is no authorita- 
 tive response. Where is heaven*? I cannot define its 
 locality in the universe ; I cannot describe the 
 geogi-aphy of that better country. How do the dis- 
 embodied exist and recognize each other? It is hard 
 for us whose ideas of existence and recognition are 
 all identified with the terrestrial and the material, 
 to know how they live and hold fellowship with each 
 other. Are they familiar with what occurred on 
 earth? Do those who go carry tidings of those left 
 behind 1 Do they speak of us, who so often think 
 and speak of them? You are all interested in the 
 theme of our text, because there is not one here 
 who has not relations and friends in the land of 
 pure delight. We are all interested, because of our 
 personal relations to a future state. I need hardly 
 state the reason for selecting these passages. You 
 are all familiar with the mysterious Providential 
 dispensation that bows you to-night with no common 
 grief, and yet somehow makes you feel that heaven 
 is not far away. That visitation causes you to think 
 
60 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 of heaven, and causes me to preach upon the subject 
 on this memorial occasion. From the scene and 
 sun-oundings of death " the elect lady " was trans- 
 lated to the scenes and surroundings of immortal 
 life and glory. From the sympathizing and un- 
 gi'udgiiig services of pure Christian benevolence, the 
 handmaid of the Lord was summoned to the liiglier 
 service find reward of the heavenly state. It is 
 difficult for some of us to realize that we shall never 
 look upon that familiar face again ; that we shall 
 never hold converse with that truest of friends ; 
 that we shall never hear her speak, as was her wont. 
 of the Centenary Church, of the Orphan Asylum, 
 and of the sick and sorrowing. Who can think of 
 this sanctuary without being reminded of the name 
 of Jackson % For it she worked, as many here 
 know right well ; in it she worshipped, in the beauty 
 of holiness ; in its impressive services she was made 
 heaverdy-minded ; and from yonder pew she looked 
 up and desii-ed, with intensity of desire, the better 
 country, that is, the heavenly. With her and many 
 others that I could mention, whose cherished names 
 now pass before my mind, heaven is not an object 
 of desire. Tlie life-long desire of Christian character 
 on earth is now realized, and they are present with 
 the Loi'd. It is to us that the beautiful words of 
 the text are ai)plicable. May they be the sentiment 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 61 
 
 of every heart in tliis vast assembly : " But now 
 tliey desire a better country, that is, a heavenly." 
 Noble d(;sire, wortliy of man ! A better country 
 than the land of promise — than the land flowing 
 with milk and honey % Where is it % Not on en rth 
 — only in heaven. Of heaven as a country we are 
 to speak ; and as the text involves the idea of com- 
 parison, we must treat it accordingly. May medita- 
 tion of heaven make us heavenly, so that it can be 
 said of lis — " But now they desire a better country, 
 that is, a heavenly." I will first present a few 
 consid(; rations to justify the description of heaven as 
 a better country ; and will then show that to reach 
 that heavenly country is the desire of every Christian. 
 1. Let me justify the description here given 
 OF heaven. Illustration rather than argument is 
 what will best elucidate the meaning of the text. 
 (I) Heaven is better because it is the antetype. 
 Canaan was a defective type of heaven. It failed, 
 in many essential particulars, to typify the heavenly 
 land of promise. But for ages, in the grand and 
 poetical teaching of the Church, it has been regarded 
 as a typo of the better country, and as such we must 
 review it. All types are of less iinpoi'tance and 
 value than their antetype. This is clearly taught 
 in the relation of Judaism to Christianity. The 
 sacrifioes of the law, the high priest of the law. 
 
62 SERMONS ON THE DEA TH OF 
 
 the services of tlie law were all inferior to the One 
 glorious sacrilice, wliicli is perpetually efficacious, to 
 the High Priest of our profession, and to the more 
 simple and spiritual service of the Christian dis- 
 pensation. This principle of interpretation may be 
 applied to the earthly and heavenly Canaan. The 
 heavenly Canaan is as much better as the spiritual 
 is better than the temporal. It is as much better 
 as the heaveidy is better than the earthly — the im- 
 mortal better than the transitory. (2) Heaven is 
 a better country because of its safety J'rom foes. 
 When the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, 
 entered the promised land, they found it inhabited 
 by tribes and nations hostile on national and religious 
 grounds. They were opposed at' every point, and 
 had to light and conquer to have the undisturbed 
 possession of the land. Like the earthly Canaan, 
 this world is not free from foes to goodness and to 
 grace. The believer is taught most clearly that 
 there are foes visible and invisible. These enemies 
 war against the soul — against the soul's safety, holi- 
 ness, and happiness. If there be no antagonists, 
 where is the need for such counsel as that urjred 
 by the Apostle : " Put on the whole armour of God, 
 fight the good tight of faith, endure hardness as good 
 soldiers of Jesus Christ 1" It is never safe in this 
 territoiy to be found without the armoui. There is 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 63 
 
 no security while here against attacks, and there 
 is no certainty as to the time, the place, or the mode 
 of attack. All spiiitual foes are subserviently leagued 
 with the chief enemy, " who goeth about like a 
 roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Martial 
 glory and the prospect of the laurels of victory may 
 cause men to pant for the sight of the foe and for 
 the excitement of the contest. So it has been, as 
 history attests. But the bravest veteran of the field 
 rejoices when the conflict is over and peace reigns 
 on all the borders. And so it is with the spiiitual 
 army of Jesus, the Captain of our salvation. The 
 soldiers that compose it do not dread the field of 
 battle. They are often eager for the fight, because 
 the result is the extension of the Kedeemer's king- 
 dom among men; yet they exult in the L'ublime 
 prospect of a universal victory and a perpetual peace. 
 In this respect is not heaven a better coiintiy in 
 its absolute and eternal safety from foes^ When 
 the spii'itual pilgrims of the desert would pass over 
 the Jordan of death, it is not to enter a land in- 
 habited by enemies ; it is not to meet in conflict the 
 embattled hosts that must be conquered lor the 
 possession of the heavenly inheritance. That better 
 country is indeed populated, but it is with friends 
 and kindred of the same family. There reside in 
 it the friend that sticketh closer than a brother — 
 
64 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 the angelic friends innumerable who have manifested 
 such sympathy in relation to the redemption and 
 salvation of man — and then there are the redeemed 
 fi'om the earth, who are sharers with us of the 
 favours and the grace of God. Surely, then, the 
 description is justified — a better country. (3) Heaven 
 is a better country because of its freedom from sin 
 and sorroio. Delightsome as was that goodly land, 
 fruitful as were its vine-clad hills, and refreshing as 
 were its living streams, it was not free from sin, 
 and could not exempt its inhabitants from sorrow. 
 There, in the midst of covenant blessings, and in 
 the presence of remarkable evidences of special divine 
 regard, the people sinned against God — against the 
 God who had delivered them from Egypt, guided 
 them through the desert, and sustained them miracu- 
 lously. They departed from God in cultivating an 
 evil heart of unbelief, and in tarning from the 
 heaveii-aj)pointed worship to idolatry. Nor was that 
 land fiee from sorrow. Wherever there is sin there 
 must be sorrow and grief and suffering. The sorrow 
 of affliction and of death darkened the Israelitish 
 dwellings in the land flowing with milk and honey. 
 If our thoughts be transferred from the Israelites 
 in Canaan to the militant Church generally, in it 
 we find both sin and sorrow. 8in is widespread, 
 and of multiform manifestation. It disturbs, and 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 65 
 
 often destroys, our harmony and peace ; it touches 
 life's lioliest actions, and pollutes our best ofi'erings. 
 A poisonous malaria rises from every part of this 
 sin-cursed world. If it be not the flagrant sin of 
 commission, it is the God-dishonouring sin of omis- 
 sion. And there is also sorrow. It darkens all the 
 land. At one time or other its shadows rest on 
 every heart and on every home. This is a rule 
 without an exception. " Man is born to trouble, 
 as the sparks fly upward." It comes in all days, 
 at all hours, and in all forms. Now it may be the 
 sorrow of disappointment, when prospects are blighted 
 and hojies lie crushed and bleeding. It may be the 
 sorrow of separation : — 
 
 " Friend after friend departs, 
 Who has not lost a Iriend? 
 
 There is no union here of hearts, 
 That has not here an end." 
 
 It may be the sorrow of affliction which presses down 
 the soul ; or it may be that of bereavement. What- 
 ever other sorrow we escape, none of us has been 
 exempt from the sorrow that wrings the soul, when 
 kindred — and friends as loved as kindred — are taken 
 from us by the ruthless hand of death. In view of 
 all these things, is not heaven a better country ? 
 Therj, there is freedom, absolute and eternal freedom 
 
 from sin and sorrow. Nothing that defileth can 
 5 
 
66 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 enter that perfect and holy place. The breath of sin 
 never taints the celestial atmosphere. The voice of 
 sin is never heard amid the pure harmonies of the 
 skies. The loathsome and deformed wretch never 
 walks the streets or enters the homes of the heavenly- 
 city. A region without a sinful thought, pui'pose, 
 word, look, or act. All the inhabitants holy. There 
 is no sorrow there. Every tear is wiped away. 
 Every sigh of earth has been converted into a hal- 
 lelujah of the skies. The emblems of sorrow are 
 never seen in the wide range of that better country. 
 The white-robed multitude are never attired in the 
 weeds of mourning. Whiter than snow are their 
 robes of blissful purity. The inhabitants never say 
 that they are sick ; and death is unlcnown in that 
 fadeless and graveless land. Heaven is surely better, 
 since it is a sinless and sorrowless state. (4) The 
 description is justified in its more complete and un- 
 ceasing enjoyments. The blessedness of heaven is 
 not all negation. That there were enjoyments in 
 Canaan none can deny. Compared with Egypt and 
 its bondage and drudgery, and the wilderness with 
 its weary and desolate wanderings, the Land of 
 Promise was indeed a joyous country. That the 
 l^eople of God now on earth have enjoyment, all 
 must admit. There are earthly enjoyments, which 
 belong to the natural : the joy of home and family 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 67 
 
 and frieiidy — the joy of reception and communica- 
 tion. There are spiritual enjoyments, too : the joy 
 of rehitionship to God, of communion with God 
 and of fellowship with the people of God. While 
 all this is cheerfully acceded, it must be confessed 
 that the enjoyments of earth are liable to change 
 and to sad interruption. The cup of happiness may 
 be dashed to pieces from our very lips. To-day we 
 may be jubilant and satisfied, and to-morrow we may 
 be hushed and crushed with trouble and grief. The 
 joys of earth are mostly unsatisfying. They are 
 certainly short-lived ; they flourish in the moi uing 
 and, not seldom, are withered in the evening. 
 Heaven is a better country, for its enjoyments are 
 both complete and increasing. There is no admix- 
 ture of the bitter with their sweetness. There is 
 no unhappy reflection following their most prolonged 
 participation. There is no interruption to their con- 
 stancy by the dark shadows of fear that trouble 
 is right at hand. Amid the spiritual festivity of 
 heaven's glorious banquet, no hand is seen upon 
 the wall, pencilling — " Mene^ mene, Tekel " — God 
 hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it ; thou 
 art weighed in the balances and found wanting. 
 The enjoyments of heaven are complete and per- 
 petual. " In thy presence, there is fulness of joy ; 
 and at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever- 
 
G8 SERMONS ON THE DEA TH OF 
 
 more." The joy of eternal security is complete. 
 The joy of perfect holiness and hai)piness is complete. 
 The joy of a restful yet ceaseless and progressive 
 activity is complete. The joy of recognition and 
 companionship is complete. The sundered friends 
 of other years have met in the unending re-union 
 of heaven's bright and glorious home. The joy of 
 being near and like Christ is complete. Christ is 
 the full-orbed glory of the heavenly metropolis. In 
 the renewed lustre of His light they shine. In 
 His love they live and rejoice. On His glorified 
 person they gaze with unutterable rapture until each 
 of the innumerable multitude feels the same glorious 
 sentiment — " Whom have I in heaven but thee." 
 And the immortality of the whole renders this joy 
 unceasing as well as satisfying. Nothing could com- 
 pensate for the want of the certainty of immortality. 
 Such want would darken heaven's light and hush 
 the music and the song into the silence of an irre- 
 coverable desj)air. 
 
 ** Oh ye blest scenes of permanent delight, 
 Full above measure ! lasting beyond bound ! 
 A perpetuity of bliss is bliss. 
 Could you so rich and raptured fear an end, 
 That ghastly thought would drink up all your joy 
 And quite unparadise the realms of light. 
 blessed Heaven ! Thou rest of the weary ! Thou 
 Home of the pilgrim ! Thou inheritance of the saint.? ! 
 Thou sinless, painless, sorrowless, deathless 
 Graveless land ; thou art indeed the better country." 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. 69 
 
 11. We pass to notice briefly that to reach 
 
 THIS better country IS THE DESIRE OF ALL TRUE 
 
 Christians. "Bat now they desire a better country." 
 (1) It is a univp.rsal Christian desire. However 
 Christians may differ on other matters — upon Church 
 government — upon docrines of theology — upon in- 
 strumental music in the service of the sanctuary — 
 they all agree in desire for the heavenly country. 
 It would be impossible to find a Christian pilgrim, 
 in any part of the world, not desiring the family 
 home of God's household. Go where you may, 
 wherever Christ is loved and trusted, heaven is de- 
 sired. Whatever else is partial or peculiar among 
 Christian persons, and in various times and places, 
 the love and desire of the better country are universal 
 and constant in the household of ftiitli. (2) It is an 
 influential desire. The desire of knowledge, of 
 position, of wealth, is influential. The desire of 
 heaven is influential also. It influences thought, 
 motive, conversation, and conduct. It is the desire 
 of heaven that leads men to pray, to believe, to 
 engage in those acts of mind and heart which tend 
 to prepare for heaven. Take away the desu-e of 
 heaven, and the energies of the Christian are at 
 once paralysed. He that has no desire of heaven for 
 himself has surely no desire that others may obtain 
 it. (3) It is an evinced desire. The desire of heaven 
 
70 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 may be evinced by reading and speaking of it. 
 Those that intend to visit a distant country gather 
 information concerning it by reading and conversa- 
 tion. They will speak of its climate and government, 
 of its inhabitants and scenery. They will read what 
 has been written about it, to correct their errors 
 and to enlarge their appreciation. Christians speak 
 to each other about the heavenly country. They 
 read with peculiar interest all that is written about 
 its Government and King ; about its population, 
 angelic and redeemed, and about its associations 
 and privileges. This desire is evinced by going to it 
 as a yernianent home. The desire is not all that it 
 ought to be if it be evinced only in reading and 
 speaking of heaven. Heavenly desire evinces itself 
 by the actual journey of the pilgrim of Zion. It is 
 as they go that they read and talk of it, and invite 
 others to join them : " Come, then, with us, and we 
 will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good 
 concerning Israel, ' ' 
 
 Heaven is not far off — not far to the eye of faith. 
 You are nearing it; you shall enter it. What a 
 change from eaiih to heaven ! from probation to 
 immortality ! When shall it come? Who can tell ? 
 Our departed friend had no intimation of the change 
 that M^as to be her experience in the twinkling of 
 an eye. I cannot tell you of her dying testimonies 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON, 71 
 
 to tho presence, power, and preciousness of Christ 
 to sustain and make triumphant. Had weeks of 
 suffering been appointed her, we might have goUlen 
 sentences of peaceful and victorious testimony to 
 present, but not a word was spoken. What then ] 
 I point you to her life as an illuminated record of 
 Christian and benevolent service — a record of three 
 and forty years. Her end was eminently character- 
 istic. The sudden call found her engaged in her 
 Master's business. Edward Jackson died praying, 
 and his devoted widow died, or rather was translated 
 from the exercises of Christian sympathy ami woi'k 
 to enter the rest and reward of heaven. On the 
 morning of the last day of Mrs. Jackson's life she 
 conducted fiimily worship, as had been her custom 
 since the removal of Mr. Jackson to the skies. Her 
 prayer on that occasion was wonderful in its fer- 
 vency of spirit, and in its comprehensiveness. The 
 members of the household were deeply impressed and 
 awed by a sacred sense of God's presence. It would 
 seem as though she was admitted to a special near- 
 ness of access at that her last season of domestic 
 worship. I feel to-night as a mourning son, having 
 lost in Mrs. Jackson one of my best and dearest 
 friends. While a seat among yonder mourners woul(f 
 most accord with my feelings, I confess that it is 
 a comfort to me to be here, and to have taken part 
 
72 SERMONS ON THE DEATH OF 
 
 in the funeral of our dear departed mother in Israel. 
 I was not so favoured when God was pleased to 
 call Mr. Jackson. Just beibre leaving home for a 
 voyage over the Atlantic, I received a letter, I 
 tliink about the last he ever wrote, in which he 
 expressed the hope of recovery, but if not, the hope 
 that I would follow on and overtake him in the *""' 
 heavenly home. When tidings of his death reached ' 
 me, I was standing in front of City R-oad Chapel, 
 in London, only a few yards from the grave of 
 Wesley. 1 felt then a deep regret that I had left 
 this country, and was thus hindered from paying^* ; 
 my respects to one of the best men I ever knew. 
 As I stood there, three thousand miles from home, 
 I reipiembered how he told me, while I was pastor , 
 of this Church, that he regarded it a special . favour 
 from the Lord to be called home suddenly. It 
 seemed to me that God gratified the desii-e of hia ■ 
 faithful servant. Our dear and glorified friend, Mrs. ,- 
 Jackson, did not express a wish for death, but had 
 a great dread of living to be a burden to any one. 
 She felt not suffering ; she saw not death-; but 
 ceased at once to work and live. I address not only 
 mourning kinsfolk, but a mourning Church to-night. 
 What shall I say fo you? To the relatives I say, 
 see that her interest in God's cause — whether of his 
 Church or his poor — be ^produced in your character 
 
MR. AND MRS. JACKSON. ■ 73 
 
 and lives. To the sisterhood Of this Church, who 
 fenl to-night without a leader, I would say, "That 
 ye be not slothful, but followers of her who, through 
 faith and patience, inherits the promises." Take up 
 the work where she left it; and, like your long- 
 acknowledged leader, when you die, die at your post. 
 What shall I say to the unconverted, and, therefore, 
 the unprepared for death % This is the source of 
 the dispensation to you, "Thus saith the Lord — 
 set thy house in order, for thou shalt die and not 
 live." 
 
I 
 
 mm^ in %\mmj 
 
 OP 
 
 MRS. LYDIA ANN JACKSON. 
 
", > 
 
 
Lines in Memarij of 
 MRS. LYDIA ANN JACKSON, 
 
 BY MISS S. J. WHITE. 
 
 S she dead ? Is the wheat-ear dead, 
 Laid low by the reaper's blade ? 
 Is it dead, though the leaves were doomed so soon 
 To fall and fade? 
 
 Is it dead? Thrown into the ground 
 In silence to decay ? ' '. 
 
 Is it dead, though it lie there buried deep 
 For many a day ? , . - 
 
 Is it dead ? When the whole earth rings 
 With the greeting of the spring, 
 
 It will rise with jcy to obey the call — 
 A beauteous thing. 
 
 When its lovely petals fade, 
 
 That the fruit may swell and grow, 
 
 Is the flower dead, though its transient bloom 
 Wither below ? 
 
78 LINES IN MEMOR Y OF 
 
 Is this death ? and is she dead 
 Whom wt? lately missed from earth \ 
 
 Is this the end of a noble life 
 Of matchless worth ] . 
 
 Ah no ! let the wheat decay ; 
 
 For we see in the future years 
 Great harvest fields all covered o'er 
 
 With golden ears. 
 
 And let the sweet flowers fall 
 
 Like flakes of summer snow ; 
 The fruit will be sweeter, richer far 
 
 Than we can know. 
 
 The Christian knows no death, 
 Though the earthly life decay. 
 
 Death ! 'Tis the breaking of a bright 
 And glorious day. .; 
 
 A holy woman's name > , 
 
 Lives on, and can never die 
 Wherever her sympathy has dried 
 
 A mourner's eye. 
 
 She lives where her prayers have raised 
 
 A soul to a higher life ; 
 Wherever her gentle, loving words 
 
 Have banished strife. 
 
 She lives in the many souls 
 
 By her bright example led, 
 Who are following close her footsteps now. 
 
 She is not dead ! 
 
MRS. LYDIA ANN JACKSON. 
 
 Shu lives ! ah, best of all ! 
 
 She lives with Christ above ; 
 Where naught can ever mar her peace 
 
 Or quench her love. 
 
 She lives far, far beyond 
 
 The reach of mortal eye. 
 " Death, where's thy sting '\ " The saved of God 
 
 Can never die. 
 
 Hamilton, Ofit. 
 
 79 
 
t *. 
 
 1 1 
 
The following fine hymn is that referred to in the 
 memoir, as the last one which Mr. Jackson joined in 
 singing ere his spirit took its flight to join in the songs 
 of the sanctuary on high. 
 
THE POWER OF PRAYER. 
 
 Moderato. O. F. Root. 
 
 ifcr 
 
 
 ih 
 
 -^ 
 
 -|.^f-:?^=S5l 
 
 Chorus, 
 
 f=^ 
 
 g^^^^iS 
 
 
 ^fc=. 
 
 
 
 :^--- 
 
 
 :^^r^- 
 
 
 I-«-2-SrS^ 
 
 
 
 1 When my soul was distress'd, and my spirit was bow'd, 
 
 And the daric waves of trouble ran wild ; 
 Then I pray'd to the Lui d and He parted the cloud, 
 And He look'd down upon me and smil'd. 
 
 Chorus.— Oh the sunshine drove darkness away, 
 
 And freed my glad heart from its i)all ; 
 And I wish'd, oil 1 wish'd that the whole world would pray 
 For the smile of the Lord on us all. 
 
 2 When my friends had all left me alone to my lot. 
 
 Then I went to my Saviour and Friend ; 
 And He soothingly spake to my spirit, " Fear not ; 
 I am with thee e'en unto the end." 
 
 3 When billows of sorrow did over me roll, 
 
 Then I pray'd for His help from above ; 
 And He looked down upon me and filled up my sonl 
 With emotions of rapturous love. 
 
The following letter was kindly handed to me by 
 the Rev. Mr. Potts, after these "Memorials" had 
 gone through the press. So far as I know, it was the 
 last letter Bro. Jackson ever wrote. It speaks for itself. 
 It will no doubt be read with profit by the numerous 
 friends of the deceased, as it has been by 
 
 The Publisher. 
 
Hamilton, June 28th, 1872. 
 
 Mv Dbak Buo, F*orr.s 
 
 Your kind and sympathising letter of the 2Gtli 
 is received, and is refreshing to my thirsty soul. I am 
 truly under the chastising hand of my Heavenly Father. 
 It is in f^rcat pain and with much diiiicnlty that I write 
 these few lines. I will tell you briefly the nature of my 
 atUiction. I was at St. Paul, with Mrs. J. and Emma 
 Spencer, partly (»u a visit and partly on business, when I 
 was taken with a chill ; and in taking a sueat, I got slightly 
 burnt on the left limb, a little below the hi{)-joint. f 
 travelled home with it in that comlition, and it got irri- 
 tated ; and when I commenced to poultice, it developed 
 into a frightful ulcer, of great virulence, giving me much 
 pain, so as to deprive me of sleep and appetite, and i/i the 
 end it may have a fatal issue. But I aui thankful to say, 
 my <lear Brothei', that I feel myself to be in the liands of 
 a merciful and kind Father, who sustains me in my severe 
 trial, and wlio, 1 doubt not, will bring me through, whether 
 by life or death, all the better for having passed tlirough 
 the furnace. This is my desire, and for this I pray. My 
 dear wife has a heavy trial in nursing me, but she seems 
 endued with strength for the occasion. She is in good 
 health, and wishes to be kindlv remenil)ered to you, Mrs. 
 ]*otts, and the dear children ; likewise to Dr. Douglas and 
 family, 
 
 1 am glad to hear that you are going, for the recupera- 
 tion of your worn-out powers, over the old Atlantic, and 
 that you and your friend, Dr. Douglas, will be companions 
 on the voyage. May j^ou have a prosperous voyage and a 
 safe return. If it is the will of my Father, I hope I may 
 be here to hail your return ; if otherwise, overtake me in 
 that 
 
 " Land of pure delifjht, • 
 
 Where saints immortal reign," 
 
 Again, with kindest love to Maggie and the children, 
 and with reiterated wishes for your continued prosperity in 
 things temporal and things eternal, I bid you adieu. 
 
 Your affectionate Brother, 
 
 EDWARD JACKSON.