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 O-^ 
 
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THE 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 OK THE 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
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 COLLEGE 1 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS 
 
 Of THE 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 RECTOK OF THORNHIIil., 
 
 Iff TBS DIOCBSB Of TORONTO, CANADA H^RST. 
 
 COMPILED AND PREPARED 
 
 BY THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG, B.A., 
 
 BRITISH CHAPLAIN OF MONTE VIDEO, 
 SOUTH AMERICA. 
 
 " I bear the greatest veneration for the memory of that man (Arch- 
 bishop Leighton) that I do for any man; and reclcon my early 
 knowledge of him, and ray long and intimate conversation with him, 
 among the greatest blessings of my life ; and for which I know I must 
 give an account to God, at the great day, in a molt particular manner." 
 Biihop Burnet. 
 
 LONDON : 
 AYLOTT AND JONES, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 U 
 
 H\OH 
 
 
m 
 
 STACK 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 3, I;^WIN, RrCKLERSiiKiir. 
 
 2 1950 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Though I feel it to be really a privilege to be the 
 instrument of introducing to the public the life and 
 correspondence of the most intimate friend, especially 
 of my early life, that I have ever possessed, and of 
 one of the truly excellent in the earth ; yet, from an 
 unfeigned consciousness of my incompetency for the 
 task, I would most willingly have left it to other 
 hands, and to other hands I offered it, and urged 
 upon them my earnest desire that they would under- 
 take it ; but from all I received excuses as to them- 
 selves, and pressing invitations to myself to engage 
 in the work. They conceived that I might possess 
 more materials for the purpose than any other 
 person ; but they knew not the slenderness of my 
 capacity to prepare the memoir of one whose general 
 character, talents and excellences, merit a much abler 
 pen than mine, to set them forth with perspicuity 
 and advantage. 
 
 His old friend and associate at Wellington, the 
 Rev. John King, now Incumbent of Christ Church, 
 
VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Hull, to whom I wrote on the subject, thus addressed 
 me : — ** But independently of all considerations of this 
 kind, I believe you would be much better qualified 
 than myself, or than any other person I know, to do 
 justice to the excellent yet peculiar character of the 
 departed. Let me beseech you, iherefore, to arrange 
 your correspondence and materials with a view to 
 publication." 
 
 His excellent and much-loved sister, Mrs. Holland, 
 wrote to me as follows : — " The early, close, con- 
 tinued, and personal acquaintance you had with my 
 dear brother, constitute you, in my opinion, his 
 most suitable biographer." 
 
 And his brother, the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, 
 wrote to me in a similar strain : — " On the very day 
 that I received your letter, I was fully intending to 
 write to you, entreating you not to abandon your 
 design of writing a memoir of your dear departed 
 friend, my beloved brother George. You, above all 
 persons I know, are the man to undertake that work 
 of love with any prospect of a successful issue. Your 
 own correspondence with him, through such a long 
 series of years, would alone furnish rrh matter, I 
 doubt not, for a biographer." 
 
 Thus urged and encouraged, I was unwilling not 
 to do my best : and if I have proved myself but an 
 unfit steed to draw such a chariot, the friends, at 
 least, of my dear departed friend must not forget that 
 it was they who put me into it; and this same con- 
 sideration also will, I hope, lead others to view the 
 faults and imperfections of the work with indulgence. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 vn 
 
 Happily for me, the work is one rather of selection 
 and compilation than of original composition, and 
 the life of my friend will suffer less from the hand 
 that draws it up, by reason of his speaking chiefly 
 for himself; his correspondence is, perhaps, his best 
 memoir, and this is the kind of life that it falls to my 
 lot to prepare of him. 
 
 The attentive perusal of his letters for publication 
 has most vividly brought to my mind and remem- 
 brance the man whom, I can truly say, I loved 
 almost as my own soul ; very delightful was our 
 intercourse with one another when associated together, 
 very close was our intimacy, and warm and stedfast 
 our friendship : and the great point of union between 
 us, the connecting link in the chain of our connexion, 
 was our common, and, I trust, unfeigned faith in 
 Christ crucified for the salvation of mankind. We 
 were neither of us originally destined for the service 
 of the sanctuary ; but it pleased God, early in life, to 
 call us to the knowledge of himself, and to inspire us 
 with an ardent desire to preach that gospel to others, 
 who had ourselves been made personally sensible of 
 the deliverance brought to the soul by it. Through 
 God's good providence also it was that we were 
 both led to the same retired and secluded village of 
 Chobham, in Surrey, where, under the instruction of 
 the Rev. Charles Jerram, then curate of the parish, 
 but since successively vicar of it, and Rector of 
 Witney, Oxon, we received the finishing part of our 
 education preparatory to our college course ; and up 
 to the time of our leaving the university, we were 
 

 Vlll 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 V' i ' 
 
 u 
 
 fl 
 
 [I 
 
 I' ^ 
 
 1,; 
 
 H 
 
 personally, as well as cordially, united, in no ordinary 
 bonds of friendship, few days passing without our 
 meeting together. From that time our personal 
 intercourse may almost be said to have ceased ; he 
 spent a week with me in my first curacy in Bedford- 
 shire, and I spent a week with him in Canada about 
 two years before his death. In the intervening long 
 period, we did not meet, I think, more than once ; 
 and that after promising one another a yearly ex- 
 change of visits, so little dependence can be placed 
 upon the events of time. The time is coming, 
 however, I trust, when our union will be again 
 renewed, and become as personal and as cordial as 
 before, but infinitely more pure and spiritual, and 
 therefore more perfect and satisfactory — subject to no 
 painful fluctuation or interruptions, and coeval with 
 eternity. 
 
 Monte Video, January/, 1847. 
 
LIFE AND LETTERS. 
 
 George Mortimer, the interesting subject of the 
 present Memoir, was the third son of Harvey 
 Walklate Mortimer, the well known gun-maker 
 in Fleet-street, London. He was bom May 20th, 
 1784; and it pleased God to deprive him of his 
 excellent mother the latter end of the following 
 year. Thus bereaved of watchful maternal care, he 
 was placed with a relative at Birmingham, who 
 loved him tenderly. His health was delicate, and 
 the deformity which ever after made "his bodily 
 presence weak," was caused by suflFering him to 
 sit and lie in one posture during a long illness, in 
 which his restoration seemed impossible ; God, 
 however, was graciously pleased to spare him for 
 future usefulness. 
 
 In the year 1787, his father again entered the 
 married state, and George and his elder brothers 
 were treated with the fondest attention. Little 
 deserving of remark is known of the days of his 
 childhood and youth ; as he grew in years he 
 attained to an average measure of bodily vigour, 
 enjoyed a good share of health, and was generally 
 beloved and esteemed. His first instruction was 
 received under Doctor Hall, of East Acton ; and he 
 finished his scholastic pursuits with the Rev. Mr. 
 Audinet, a French Protestant Clergyman, near the 
 British Museum, who used to perform divine ser- 
 vice in French, near the Seven Dials ; here, in 
 
2 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 addition to other attainments, he aci^ui^'ed a know- 
 ledge of Latin and French, in November, 1798, 
 he was bound apprentice to Mr. Otridge, a respect- 
 able bookseller in the Strand, with whom he con- 
 tinued for the usual period of seven years. 
 
 It is not exactly known at what period he became 
 truly earnest and decided in the Christian life, 
 though it appears to have been in the earlier years 
 of his apprenticeship ; and, as will hereafter be seen, 
 he considered the late Joseph Butterworth, Esquire, 
 for some time Member of Parliament for Dover, as 
 his spiritual father. The first notice which we have 
 of the state of his mind is found in a letter written 
 to his elder sister, to whom he was fondly attached, 
 dated August, 1801. Alluding to that happy period, 
 he says : — 
 
 " When I first set out in the Christian race, I was 
 mocked and laughed at, but this only drove me to 
 my Saviour. I remember with what joy I could 
 appeal to the Lord, and say, *Thou seest, O my 
 God, what I endure for thy sake ;' and I assure you 
 no moments were spent so pleasantly as those which 
 I could get by myself in some retired place, to lift 
 up my heart to God ; sweet, indeed, were the com- 
 forts I thus enjoyed. I gave all into the hands of 
 my Saviour, and everything I undertook prospered. 
 "When in want of anything, I prayed, and all my 
 wants were supplied ; indeed, I never remember 
 anything being held from me, but, sooner or later, 
 I saw it would have been hurtful. What encourage- 
 ment to give all into his hands !" 
 
 Strand, 17th March, 1802. 
 
 It is with thankfulness to my kind and indulgent 
 God that I can tell you my soul is in a prosperous 
 state, and my desires after a higher degree of divine 
 
m race, I was 
 
 J drove me to 
 
 joy I could 
 
 seest, O my 
 
 I assure you 
 
 s those which 
 
 place, to lift 
 
 were the com- 
 
 the hands of 
 
 ok prospered. 
 
 and all my 
 
 i^er remember 
 
 ooner or later, 
 
 lat encourage- 
 
 March, 1802. 
 
 and indulgent 
 (1 a prosperous 
 gree of divine 
 
 A 
 
 ;« 
 s 
 
 RET. 6B0R0B MORTIMER, M.A. 3 
 
 life greatly increased. The Lord is indeed blessing 
 me ; for though I still find wrong tempers unsub- 
 dued, these are my burden, and I cannot rest till 
 I find daily pardon in the Redeemer of mankind. 
 
 Many extracts might be given from his letters 
 written about this time to his sister, which indicate 
 his uncommon devotedness to God, and his earnest 
 desire for her advancement in the Christian life. 
 
 It has already been stated that he looked upon 
 the late Mr. Jos. Butterworth as the instrument, in 
 the Divine hand, which brought him into an ac- 
 quaintance with his God and Saviour. Through 
 the advice also of this same excellent man, it seems, 
 he was led to turn his attention towards the service 
 of the sanctuary ; and, prior to his going up to the 
 University, he went to the Rev. C. Jerram's, to 
 prepare himself for his collegiate course ; and from 
 that gentleman's house the two following letters to 
 his sister were written : — 
 
 Chobham House, 5th Nov. 1806. 
 
 Dear Mary, 
 That kind and gracious God who watches over his 
 children for good has brought me safely to this 
 place. The country, though at present deprived 
 of many of its ornaments, has not lost its charms 
 to me. I have now visited my accustomed haunts, 
 and have experienced that pleasure in recalling past 
 ideas, which is better conceived than expressed. 
 On this spot I am reminded of a glorious view of 
 the unchangeable love of God, and on that of his 
 amazing condescension and my astonishing vileness ; 
 here I recollect the excellent Fenelon furnished me 
 with pious considerations, and there the industrious 
 and indefatigable bee stimulated my sloth ; and the 
 
 B 2 
 
■1 Lltb -ND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 result of these recollections produced in my heart a 
 glow of sincere affection to that God who liad so 
 variously visited me, and a determination to devote 
 all my powers to the advancement of his glory. 
 
 Notwithstanding my haste to leave Islington, I 
 found, on my arrival, I was the only one of Mr. 
 Jerram's pupils who had returned. At first I re- 
 gretted not taking your advice, hut the spiritual 
 treat reserved for me soon made me change my 
 mind. This treat was no less than the unexpected 
 company of Mr. Venn, of Clapham. Mr. V. had 
 come the day hefore to see Mr. Cecil, and spent 
 that evening with Mr. Jerram. As it is natural 
 when we taste fruit of a superior flavour to wish 
 others to share our enjoyment, I could not help 
 wishing my sister had been with me to partake of 
 the pleasures I then received. I sat in all the 
 luxury of silence, and listened to the gracious words 
 which fell from his lips. Among the many things 
 which warmed aild charmed my heart, I think those 
 made the greatest impression which related to his 
 father. Oh, what a spiritual heavenly man ! Mr. 
 Jerram mentioned that he considered a few hours he 
 was permitted to spend with him as the happiest and 
 most profitable he ever experienced ; ** and so power- 
 fully," said he, "was his conversation impressed upon 
 my mind, that it was uppermost in my thoughts for 
 the succeeding half-year. It was such an epocha in 
 my Christian life as I never enjoyed, cither before 
 or since." 
 
 This day eight years I went to Mr. Otridge*s. 
 What a variety of changes has taken place since that 
 period ! Of all I esteem that the most blessed which 
 has brought me into my present circumstances. 
 May God so bless me in this path that good may 
 be imparted to my own soul, and glory ascribed to 
 his name. 
 
 M 
 
 ill 
 
I my heart a 
 who Iiad so 
 an to devote 
 J glory. 
 Islington, I 
 one of Mr. 
 t first I re- 
 the spiritual 
 change my 
 5 unexpected 
 Mr. V. had 
 1, and spent 
 it is natural 
 ^our to wish 
 Id not help 
 to partake of 
 t in all the 
 racious words 
 many things 
 [ think those 
 elated to his 
 man ! Mr. 
 few hours he 
 happiest and 
 ,nd so power- 
 pressed upon 
 thoughts for 
 an epocha in 
 either before 
 
 r. Otridge's. 
 ice since that 
 )lessed which 
 ircumstances. 
 at good may 
 y ascribed to 
 
 aSV. QEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 Chobham. 27th June, 1807. 
 
 Thank you for your kind, affectionate, and Christian 
 remembrance on my birth-day ; I had quite forgotten 
 it ; but this I remember, I was more than commonly 
 blessed in prayer, and had peculiar delight in reading 
 the Scriptures ; indeed, I intended to note it down as 
 a day of choicest blessings. May God favour me 
 with many such days during the year on which I 
 have entered ! May many pentecostal seasons be 
 given ; may much humiliation and self-abasement 
 before God be daily felt ; may the foot of the cross 
 be hourly visited, and may my views be incessantly 
 directed to Him who lives in heaven to plead for mc ! 
 I received much good lately in reading Wilberforce 
 on Christianity. I took it up as a book which I 
 thought I ought to read, but did not expect that 
 rich vein of excellence which I found in almost every 
 part of the work ; his Christianity is truly vital, and 
 his diction admirable. I have also finished the life 
 of Judge Hale, by Burnet, and am now reading Mr. 
 Fletcher's Letters. I scarcely ever read a few pages 
 without profit ; the wonderful spirit of this excellent 
 man frequently brings tears from my eyes ; I stop 
 and reflect, and would give all the world, did I possess 
 it, could I enjoy the same spirit. I am well per- 
 suaded that no blessings, excepting these, considered 
 merely in themselves, are worth our pursuit. 
 Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, are but a poor por- 
 tion, if we have nothing more; it is my constant 
 endeavour, therefore, that these things should sit 
 lightly on my mind, that, while conscientiously im- 
 proving every particle of my time, I may still reserve 
 my heart for God. 
 
 The following extract is taken from the first letter 
 of a correspondence with the writer's endeared friend, 
 
* 
 
 F 
 
 « 
 
 LIFB AND LETTERS OF THE' 
 
 which lasted almost without interruption during a 
 period of twenty years, and, at distant intervals after- 
 wards, until about two years before his death. 
 
 TO MR. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Chobham House, Jan. I3th, 1807. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 Me. J. favoured me with a sight of the letter you 
 wrote to him. It gave me great pleasure to find you 
 in the first class, and to hear, also, that you are 
 fagging for your next term ; though, blessed be God, 
 human science is no indispensable requisite, either for 
 salvation or for a minister of the Gospel, yet it 
 possesses innumerable advantages, and I doubt not 
 but you will hereafter reap the fruits of your present 
 exertions. Our greatest fear, my dear Armstrong, 
 is that we should substitute learning for religion, and 
 lest we should endeavour to regulate our conduct 
 more by our present supposed circumstances than 
 by the will of God ; but I am persuaded your fears 
 on this subject are similar to my own, and, therefore, 
 I need not enlarge. As for myself, when I some- 
 times stand still, and consider how ardently I am 
 engaged about trifles, and, as Young observes, 
 
 ** Wasting my strength in strenuous idleness," 
 
 I am quite ashamed, and I go making fresh resolu- 
 tions of more devotedness to God and more zeal in 
 his service : but, alas ! how little ground do I gain 
 after all ! Assist me with your prayers, your con- 
 stant daily prayers ; and though we are distant in 
 place, let us meet one another in spirit. My time 
 of evening devotion is from six to seven ; let us 
 endeavour in simplicity of heart to meet one another 
 at this time at the throne of grace ; and may God 
 
 M 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 7 
 
 pour on each of us that which will not only impart a 
 present blessing, but diffuse a sacred tune of heavenly 
 affection through the residue of our lives. Our em- 
 plovnients necessarily require the exercise of thought, 
 and very much tend to produce what the Methodists 
 term " distraction ;" but still the constant influence 
 of the Divine Spirit, and a continued simplicity of 
 intention, will enable us to be recollected, even in the 
 midst of our studies. I was very much pleased lately 
 in reading in the "Epistles of the Apostolic Fathers 
 a passage in one of St. Ignatius' Epistles, somewhat 
 to this effect ; he is giving us some directions for 
 our conduct in life, and adds, " But even the worldly 
 things which i/e do are spiritual, for ye do all things 
 in Jesus Christ." Oh that this may be the temper 
 and spirit of our lives ; may all our worldly things 
 be offered upon this altar, which sanctifies the gift ; 
 and after this transitory scene of being is ended, may 
 we with pleasure retrace a life entirely filled with God. 
 I remain, my dear Armstrong, 
 
 Yours, affectionately and sincerely, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 He was accustomed to spend his long vacations, 
 during his residence at Cambridge, with a private 
 tutor, who spent the time in some salubrious and 
 pleasant part of the country. The following letter 
 was written on one of those occasions, and is a proof 
 of his taste for fine scenery, as well as of his great 
 application to study. 
 
 TO HIS sister. 
 Dawlish, near Exeter, Aug. 12th, 1809. 
 
 My dear Sister, 
 You are, no doubt, returned from Broadstairs, and 
 enjoying the pleasures a ' ing from quiet and regular 
 
i 
 
 I 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 movements, and now and then, perhaps, in the midst 
 of your retirement a thought wanders towards Devon, 
 and you begin to wonder " what has taken the httle 
 fellow that he does not write." I confess, time has 
 glided on so insensibly, that I was not aware how 
 long I had been here ; I shall really feel sorry to 
 leave my present situation, for I never spent five 
 weeks so agreeably before. I lodge with good people, 
 who do all they can to accommodate me. I make 
 progress in my studies, which is another source of 
 gratification, and I am situated in the midst of a 
 country the most diversified and beautiful. As it is 
 quite new to me, and I may probably never visit 
 it again, I avail myself of the present opportunity 
 of seeing everything worthy of notice, and since my 
 purse will not allow me to enjoy any " leathern con- 
 venience," I have commenced pedestrian, and fre- 
 quently walk from fourteen to eighteen miles a day. 
 I take a syllabus with me, and go over my subject 
 in my mind, so that a peep now and then is all I 
 require : by this method I lose no time, and combine 
 profit with amusement. My stated walks, however, 
 are much shorter, and devoted to relaxation only. 
 But there is another source of gratification which I 
 must mention, and which far exceeds all the rest ; 
 it is this, I feel I am advancing in the best of things ; 
 rehgion has an increasing and diffusive influence over 
 my mind ; it seems more and more my element, and 
 I am enabled to live in that spirit which a friend of 
 ours on a late occasion attempted to ridicule — I 
 mean a spirit of recollection and prayer ; not, 
 indeed, so much so as I could wish, or as I ought 
 to do, but still much more so than formerly. "When 
 my time for devotional exercises comes round, it is 
 welcomed as the happiest of the whole day, and 
 my Sabbaths are days of real pleasure and perma- 
 nent good. May such in kind, though greater in 
 degree, be the happy experience of my dear sister. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 9 
 
 and may no studies, no employments whatever, 1/e 
 prosecuted, but in subordination to those of a spi- 
 ritual nature. Religion, I am persuaded, should be 
 everything or nothing; here only a middle course 
 is dangerous. If we profess to admire and to be 
 influenced by heavenly objects, we should prize 
 them above everything; and yet, alas! (O shame 
 to our Christian profession!) to what poor and 
 paltry considerations are they not daily sacrificed ! 
 Adieu, my dearest sister; may God preserve you 
 pure and unspotted from the world until the day 
 of his appearing ! 
 
 Yours, most aflfectionately and sincerely. 
 Both in Christian and fraternal bonds, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 f 
 
 Cambridge, December, 1809. 
 
 Study is, I am persuaded, at present my duty; 
 but I shall be heartily glad when another year is 
 over, and I shall be left to pursue the duties of the 
 sacred office in peace and quietness, if it please 
 God. . . . How often do I picture to myself 
 these happy scenes, and "catch a momentary 
 joy ;" but, perhaps, this hand which now glides 
 swiftly along the page may soon forget to move. I 
 may be summoned to another world in the midst 
 of my academical pursuits, and may never have the 
 honour granted me of building the house of God. 
 Should this be the case, should your brother be 
 called to the peaceful tomb before another revolving 
 year, bear in mind, when he is gone, that his supreme 
 wish has been unfulfilled, and that his studies and 
 trifling successes have not so filled his mind as to 
 call it ofl^ from the care of souls, and the earnest wish 
 for their salvation. In this work I would gladly live 
 
10 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 1 ! 
 
 and die ; but the Supreme Disposer of events knows 
 what is best, and in that I hope, not only to ac- 
 quiesce, but to rejoice. You wish for my thoughts 
 on letter-writing. I do not think you should make 
 two copies of any letters, except it be necessary to 
 keep one by you for reference ; few such circum- 
 stancei occur, and therefore I would advise you to 
 write at once what you intend to send. I ao not 
 mean that you should put down whatever comes into 
 your mind, but write deliberately and with caution. 
 I would illustrate my meaning by referring to what 
 takes place in polite conversation ; supposing yourself 
 to be in company, and obliged to converse, you would 
 not weigh and ponder your sentences over and over, 
 but merely endeavour to avoid anything indecorous, 
 and to express yourself in tolerably good language ; 
 or, if you will, in the best manner you are able. 
 When you write, then, you should endeavour to let 
 your thoughts flow freely and easily, and express 
 them in the most suitable words which occur at the 
 moment, but by no means to be solicitous in seeking 
 fine words or eloquent phrases. Horace has a 
 famous line in his Art of Poetry, which has great 
 strength in the original, but I must content myself 
 with Francis' translation, 
 
 " For if the mind with clear concept iona glow, 
 The willing words in just expressions flow." 
 
 The substance of what I would say is this, having 
 settled your subject in your mind, write at once, in 
 the best manner you are able at the time ; practice 
 will give considerable ease, and you will shortly 
 write, not only well, but with despatch. 
 
events knows 
 ot only to ac- 
 
 my thoughts 
 should make 
 c necessary to 
 such circum- 
 advise vou to 
 
 BET. OBOBOB MOBTIMBB, y.A. 
 
 11 
 
 ise yoi 
 I do 
 
 d. I do not 
 ver comes into 
 with caution. 
 ?rring to what 
 )osing yourself 
 rsc, you would 
 )ver and over, 
 ig indecorous, 
 )od language; 
 you are able, 
 ideavour to let 
 , and express 
 1 occur at the 
 :ous in seeking 
 Horace has a 
 lich has great 
 content myself 
 
 glow, 
 flow." 
 
 5 this, having 
 ite at once, in 
 time; practice 
 1 will shortly 
 
 1 
 
 TO THE BBV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Qaeen'it, June 2Uh, 1810. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 You are now, Armstrong, engaged in an employment 
 to which you have been for years looking forward as 
 the most pleasing in your life ; your ardent spirit 
 could not bear inactivity in your Master's service, 
 and now your wishes are granted, and you at last 
 experience the blessedness of sounding in the ears of 
 a thoughtless and giddy multitude the glad tidings of 
 reconciliation through the death of our blessed Re- 
 deemer. I need scarcely tell you that you have of late 
 engrossed many of my thoughts, and been the subject 
 of many of my prayers. I hope that I feel no common 
 degree of interest when I hear of any true labourer 
 being called into the vineyard of our Lord ; and shall I 
 be less concerned when one of the dearest friends I 
 have upon earth is called to a similar employment? 
 You are entitled to my best of wishes ; you have 
 them freely ; and I have no doubt but the blessings 
 of God will rest upon your labours, and that many in 
 that great and dreadful day of account — many will 
 arise from Melchbourn and Bletsoe, and declare in 
 the ears of an assembled world, 
 
 " I owe it to his care that I am here, 
 Next to Almighty grace ; his faithful hand, 
 Regardless of the frowns he might incur, 
 Snatched me, reluctant, from approaching flames, 
 Ready to catch and burn unquenchable." 
 
 O my friend, when I think of these inestimable 
 blessings as connected with the sacred office, I long 
 to lay aside the drudgery of mathematics; but I 
 
12 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 check myself; the future should employ but little 
 of my thoughts ; how to improve the present should 
 be my principal concern. Much is to be done here 
 as respects my studies, and much more as to the 
 formation of my mind, the subjugation of my 
 tempers, and the sanctification of my heart. I 
 would, therefore, content myself with my present 
 situation, and endeavour to make it my chief care 
 to prepare for death and judgment. These awful 
 concerns have, for many weeks past, engaged my 
 mind more steadily and frequently than for some 
 years before. I seem to myself as a dying man 
 amidst dying men, and it is my aim to live accord- 
 ingly. I have heard you say, when you were at 
 college, that retirement and your Bible have afforded 
 you some of the most exalted joys you ever wit- 
 nessed ; these joys have been lately mine. I go up 
 to my little room (which I have fitted up and conse- 
 crated to sacred purposes alone), and there I meet 
 my God, find my Saviour precious, and experience 
 the gracious influence of the blessed Spirit. When 
 my hours of retirement come round, I joyfully lay 
 aside everything in which I may be engaged ; for I 
 feel, I know, assuredly and experimentally, that I 
 am going up to commune with the best, the most 
 gracious and compassionate of friends. There I leave 
 all my cares and all my sorrows, and come down 
 again to the concerns of life with an unburdened, 
 soberized, and tranquil mind. Blessed be God for 
 all his benefits ! I had frequently looked forward to 
 this last year as the most trying of the three, and 
 had imagined that if I found it so di£Scult to keep 
 my ground before, I should necessarily give way at 
 present; but JEHOVAH has been better to me 
 than my fears, and I have found the truth of that 
 promise, " When thou passest through the waters, 
 I will be with thee ; and through the rivers, they 
 shall not overflow thee ; when thou walkest through 
 
 1 
 
 
 .n i iinnriMiTrr-r rf i 
 
HE 
 
 iploy but little 
 
 present should 
 ;o be done here 
 nore as to the 
 igation of my 
 my heart. I 
 th my present 
 
 my chief care 
 These awful 
 It, engaged my 
 than for some 
 I a dying man 
 to live accord- 
 n you were at 
 e have afforded 
 
 you ever wit- 
 nine. I go up 
 1 up and conse- 
 l there I meet 
 and experience 
 Spirit. When 
 , I joyfully lay 
 engaged ; for I 
 lentally, that I 
 bestj the most 
 . There I leave 
 id come down 
 n unburdened, 
 ied be God for 
 iked forward to 
 the three, and 
 ifficult to keep 
 •ily give way at 
 
 better to me 
 e truth of that 
 igh the waters, 
 le rivers, they 
 alkest through 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 13 
 
 I the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the 
 
 flame kindle upon thee." 
 i Believe me to be. 
 
 Yours, truly and affectionately, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 i 
 
 to the rev. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Q. C, Camb., Nov. 19th, 1810. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 Within a week or two past I have had to thank 
 my God also for many providential interferences ; 
 for success in our late examinations ; for being kept 
 most mercifully from engaging in something which 
 would have been highly detrimental to me ; for the 
 acquisition of a most valuable Christian friend (who 
 is a great helper of my faith, and a very pleasing 
 and agreeable companion ; he was, like myself, 
 formerly engaged in business, and also a Methodist); 
 as also for a providential opening of my path 
 respecting my future situation in his church. Of all 
 the places I have yet heard of, this seems most 
 suited to my views and inclinations. It is, Mr. 
 Ey ton's, of Wellington, Shropshire, six miles from 
 Madeley, and surrounded by pious ministers. The 
 vicar is very pious and laborious, of similar senti- 
 ments with myself, humble and affectionate. I 
 know three men in Cambridge who are very well 
 acquainted with him and his situation, and they 
 each say that they would go there in preference to 
 any place whatever. My mother and sister (to 
 whom I wrote a few days ago concerning him) met 
 him when in Shropshire ; and they advise me by all 
 means to accept of it. I wrote to him lately, and 
 received an answer, which has done my heart good. 
 I have not yet finally settled in my mind, but I shall 
 write either to-day or to-morrow, giving my final 
 
14 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THB 
 
 i. 
 
 i'. 
 
 answer. 1 hope to be directed from above. I would 
 not trust my own feelings or inclinations, but in the 
 all-wise Disposer of events. Pray for me, my dear 
 friend, that if I should not be useful there, or in 
 any manner out of my proper place, that something 
 or other may intervene to put a stop to all further 
 proceedings. I am daily obliged to make some little 
 preparation for orders, for Mr. E. is in want of 
 assistance. Should I go to the place, I shall endea- 
 vour to be ordained soon after I take my degree; 
 perhaps in a month or six weeks, if I can procure 
 a private ordination. My degree may suffer in some 
 measure, but I cannot help that ; we must expect 
 sometimes to be called to make a little sacrifice, but 
 it will all be eventually well. 
 Accept my best wishes 
 
 From your faithful and affectionate 
 
 Mortimer. 
 
 to his sister. 
 
 Q. C. Camb. Jan. 19th, 1811. 
 
 My dearest Mary, 
 My time of anxiety is now completely over. 1 
 have just been admitted B. A., and have no more 
 college matters to divide my attention, or call off my 
 thoughts from the grand concern which lays before 
 me. You will wish to know how I succeeded in 
 my late struggle. I have no flaming honours to 
 plume myself with, but through the mercy of God 
 have passed through in such a manner as to afford 
 cause neither for self-complacency nor discontent. 
 I am a wrangler, though eleven from the top. My 
 tutors, I am happy to state, tell me they are quite 
 satisfied with my degree ; as it respects myself, 1 
 have not the least wish it were otherwise. You 
 would find it difficult to enter into my present 
 feelings. I seem of late to have been like a ship 
 
'HB 
 
 above. I would 
 ions, but in the 
 or me, my dear 
 'ul there, or in 
 that something 
 3p to all further 
 make some little 
 is in want of 
 e, I shall endea- 
 ake my degree; 
 f I can procure 
 ly suffer in some 
 we must expect 
 tie sacrifice, but 
 
 ffectionate 
 
 MORTIMEB. 
 
 Jan. 19th, 1811. 
 
 ipletely over. I 
 id have no more 
 »n, or call off my 
 vhich lays before 
 
 I succeeded in 
 ning honours to 
 le mercy of God 
 nner as to afford 
 
 nor discontent, 
 n the top. My 
 ne they are quite 
 spects myself, I 
 otherwise. You 
 nto my present 
 
 been Uke a ship 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 15 
 
 tossed and driven by the fiercest tempests, and in 
 danger every moment of sinking ; but now I have 
 gained the long-looked-for shore, and am enjoying 
 for a time those sweets which my temporary leisure 
 affords me. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Q. C. Camb. Jan. 19th, 1811. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 Your letter reached me, as you supposed it would, 
 in the midst of a " mighty contest," and I may 
 congratulate myself upon having fewer bones broken 
 than I might reasonably have expected. In all our 
 Lord's dealings with his people, there is the greatest 
 display of wisdom mixed with loving kindness and 
 mercy ; to satisfy our wishes would frequently be 
 only to administer poison instead of a balsam, 
 and therefore He prescribes for us. "With these 
 introductory remarks you may perhaps expect to 
 hear of some considerable disappointment in my 
 place in the tripos, but this is not the case ; I have 
 had every reasonable expectation answered. I am 
 eleventh wrangler, and the fifth from the bottom ; 
 had I been higher I might have been vain of my 
 little successes ; if lower, I might have felt depressed 
 and discouraged. As it is, I am not only contented 
 but happy ; I wish I could say as much of another 
 of the Jerramites, but I am sorry to say I cannot ; 
 
 poor C , though fifth v rangier, feels quite 
 
 disappointed, and receives the congratulations of his 
 friends with a very poor grace. Our good friend 
 Frazer is a man of a different spirit ; he is third 
 senior opt., but is nearly as much pleased with it 
 as any in the tripos. Johnson is the highest Johnian, 
 who is tenth wrangler, just one above your humble 
 servant. Dicey, of Trinity, is thirteenth. The 
 
10 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 order of the men you will soon see in the Christian 
 Observer^ and therefore I need not insert them at 
 large. 
 
 I feel quite happy, my dear friend, in having done 
 with every academical contention. I seem now to 
 have nothing to do but to improve my mind by the 
 acquisition of useful knowledge, and to prepare for 
 that most important concern, the sacred ministry. 
 I take it very kind in your calling my mind to these 
 things in the midst of my late hurry ; we are too apt 
 to be absorbed with the things of the moment, but 
 through the rich mercy of God, so great has been 
 my composure for some months past, that the Senate 
 House and all its a])pendages ceased to be objects 
 of terror or soUcitude. I may account for this 
 in a great measure from my having fixed upon the 
 curacy which I alluded to in my last. The saving 
 of souls seemed more important than the acquiring 
 of honours ; so that my mathematical studies were 
 entered upon more from a sense of duty than incli- 
 nation ; but I must not trouble you with these 
 reflections upon a matter which is now gone by, 
 though gone for ever ! 
 
 Adieu, my dear friend. 
 
 And believe me to remain. 
 
 Your ever faithful 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 As soon as he had passed through the Senate 
 House, and taken his degree, he was desirous of 
 entering, without delay, upon the great work which 
 had so long engaged his thoughts ; early, therefore, 
 in the following month he accepted the curacy of 
 Wellington, in Salop, of which parish the Rev. John 
 Eyton was vicar ; and in a letter to his sister, dated 
 1 1th Feb. 1811, after alluding to the prospect of ordi- 
 nation and of enjoyment with Mr. Eyton, he says : — 
 
 " My way is now clear, and all I want is gratitude 
 
 If i 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 17 
 
 the Christian 
 insert them at 
 
 in having done 
 '. seem now to 
 ly mind by the 
 to prepare for 
 cred ministry. 
 ' mind to these 
 we are too apt 
 ! moment, but 
 jreat has been 
 that the Senate 
 I to be objects 
 count for this 
 ixed upon the 
 t. The saving 
 i the acquiring 
 al studies were 
 uty than incli- 
 Du with these 
 now gone by. 
 
 ithful 
 
 GE Mortimer. 
 
 »h the Senate 
 as desirous of 
 ?at work which 
 u'ly, therefore, 
 the curacy of 
 the Rev. John 
 lis sister, dated 
 rospect of ordi- 
 on, he says : — 
 int is gratitude 
 
 to my gracious God for all his past mercies, and a 
 richer, fuller baptism from above, to qualify me for 
 the important, solemn duties which will soon engage 
 my attention. I have been enabled lately to recal 
 some of those lively feelings which I experienced 
 when I thought of entering into the ministry ; a love 
 for immortal souls, and a desire to spend and be 
 spent for them in every possible way, in a more 
 constant feeling of earnest desire than when I was 
 buried under an enormous load of academical lumber. 
 I suffered myself to bear it as a mean to an end, but 
 that end being obtained, I shall dismiss the larger 
 portion for ever; what is useful I shall retain. 
 However, I am now free from these incumbrances, 
 and shall hope to improve my liberty by turning 
 the habits thus acquired to beneficial purposes." 
 
 Thus all seemed in a fair way for his immediate 
 
 removal to Wellington, when an unexpected hinder- 
 
 ance was put in the way of his ordination, by the 
 
 bishop of the diocese. Such hinderances, in those 
 
 days, to the dishonour of our Episcopal Bench, 
 
 I were frequently thrown in the way of men both of 
 
 :l unimpeached character and of sound learning, to 
 
 ; whose moral excellence and literary qualifications 
 
 their respective colleges bore ample testimony ; but 
 
 they were men held in suspicion on account of their 
 
 great attention to religious duties, and their warm 
 
 attachment to the great doctrines of the Reformation : 
 
 they were men of scriptural piety, and of sound 
 
 Church-of-England principles ; but they bore a name 
 
 of reproach ; they were considered as agitators in the 
 
 Church, as holding extravagant views, and as going 
 
 'n out of the ordinary path of formality and heartless- 
 
 i ness, which characterized the great body of the 
 
 I Church in those days. Happily, such prejudices 
 
 I have, in a great measure, passed away, and no such. 
 
 I obstacles exist to the ordination or preferment of men 
 
 '^ c 
 
11 
 
 I 
 
 '!■. 
 
 ( 
 
 ( 
 
 18 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 of such views and principles ; not that such men are 
 altogether exempt from slight and neglect, from dis- 
 couragement and opposition, on the part of many of 
 the rulers in the Church at this day ; but they are 
 now constrained by the weight of their character, by 
 their well-known laborious habits in their pastoral 
 duties, as well as by their wealth, their influence, 
 and their number, to pay them some respect and 
 attention ; and, blessed be God ! there are many of 
 our ecclesiastical governors who now know the worth 
 of such men, and who afford them all suitable en- 
 couragement and support. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer deeply felt this disappointment; 
 but that God was pleased to make it the means of 
 calling forth the exercise of his Christian grace, may 
 be seen by the three following letters : — 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 With a mind willing to acquiesce in whatever my 
 God shall appoint, 1 am enabled to leave this and all 
 my concerns to his gracious disposal, being fully 
 persuaded that the Lord reigneth. If I have at all 
 profited by past experience in anything, it is in this, 
 a strong and operative conviction that so long as we 
 trust in God, our concerns, however unpleasant at 
 the time, will materially conduce to our welfare ; and 
 oh ! what an intolerable load of foolish anxiety and 
 trouble does this persuasion remove from our la- 
 bouring minds! You will perhaps remember that 
 one of the last topics of conversation, when you and 
 Eliza so kindly accompanied me to the Wash, was 
 the necessity of sacrificing our own will to others, if 
 we would enjoy comfort ourselves. I was naturally 
 led to speculate on the future, but could not help 
 being forcibly struck with the mighty efficacy of this 
 principle, if suffered to operate freely on our conduct. 
 
E 
 
 : such men are 
 leet, from dis- 
 Eirt of many of 
 but they are 
 r character, by 
 their pastoral 
 heir influence, 
 e respect and 
 re are many of 
 now the worth 
 all suitable en- 
 
 sappointment ; 
 t the means of 
 ian grace, may 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 19 
 
 1 whatever my 
 ave this and all 
 i\, being fully 
 If I have at all 
 ig, it is in this, 
 t so long as we 
 r unpleasant at 
 ir welfare ; and 
 ish anxiety and 
 e from our la- 
 remember that 
 , when vou and 
 the Wash, was 
 ill to others, if 
 I was naturally 
 30uld not help 
 efficacy of this 
 on our conduct. 
 
 As I think it very probable my continuance in 
 college may be prolonged, I intend availing myself 
 of the opportunity thus aiforded me of attending a 
 course of lectures on anatomy, cbemistry and mi- 
 neralogy. When I thought it my duty to ask for 
 orders in March, I willingly gave up all thought of 
 enjoying this gratification. 1 was enabled to sacrifice 
 it to more important considerations, but since these 
 reasons no longer exist, I shall gladly avail myself of 
 the privilege. 
 
 Upon the subject of general knowledge for a 
 minister, I was much pleased with Herbert's " Priest 
 to the Temple." " The country parson is full of all 
 knowledge : they say, that it is an ill mason that 
 refuseth any stone, and there is no knowledge but 
 serves either positively as it is, or else to illustrate 
 some other knowledge : he condescends even to the 
 knowledge of tillage and pasturage, and makes great 
 use of them in teaching, because people by what 
 they understand are best led to what they understand 
 not." As one means of preparing me for the great 
 charge which lies before me, I have begun a regular 
 course of the lives of eminently pious characters. 
 The good I received from this kind of reading some 
 years ago, makes me indulge the hope that it may be 
 equally serviceable now ; but I would not rest here — 
 I^ is a real baptism of the Holy Spirit alone which 
 can properly qualify me for usefulness in the pulpit, 
 and a consistent course out of it. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTUONG. 
 
 Q. C. Camb. Feb. 26, 1811. 
 My very dear Friend, 
 
 d Since I last wrote to you I have been spending a 
 '* c 2 
 
20 
 
 LIFK AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 few days at Islington ; but my stay being very short, 
 
 ^self wholly to home. I | 
 
 ! i 
 
 I was obliged to contine niyselt wholly to home, 
 visited but one person all this time. I had hoped, 
 however, to have returned again soon, and to have 
 done myself the pleasure of calling on my several 
 friends ; but a very unpleasant circumstance has 
 hindered me — the bishop has refused me ordination 
 at present : and I am under the necessity of waiting 
 till it shall please my gracious God to show my path. 
 ]My vicar is a notorious character, and my friends 
 have all along been apprehensive lest I should find 
 some difficulty in getting ordained to his curacy. I 
 must say, I shall not be a little disappointed should 
 I be obliged to relinquish all thought of Wellington ; 
 but the matter is in the Lord's hands, and I would 
 willingly leave it to his all- wise disposal. If I have 
 learned anything by my past experience, it is this, to 
 feel fully persuaded tliat all our concerns, however 
 unpleasant they may be at the present, will, either in 
 this world or in the world to come, terminate in our 
 good. In affairs of this kind it is better to make as 
 little fuss as possible : I must therefore beg you will 
 not mention it to any one. I shall wait quietly for 
 the present, in hope that the bishop may relent ; but 
 should not this be the case, I must content myself 
 with some other situation. Poor G. is similarly 
 circumstanced with mvself: he has been refused 
 three times, and that, too, in spite of the interest of 
 the Master ; he wishes to be ordained on his Coll. 
 Fellowship, and that lover of the truth, the good 
 Bishop of Ely, has every time put a spoke in his 
 wheel. But what a mercy it is that, notwithstand- 
 ing all the opposition which serious candidates meet 
 with, still they are not, cannot be, entirely hindered 
 and excluded ! * * * * * # 
 
 And believe me to remain. 
 
 Your ever faithful and affectionate 
 
 Mortimer. 
 
 I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 21 
 
 ng very short, 
 { to home. I 
 I had hoped, 
 , and to have 
 )ii my several 
 Limstancc has 
 me ordination 
 lity of waiting 
 how my path, 
 id my friends 
 I should find 
 Ids curacy. I 
 ointed should 
 >f WeUington ; 
 , and I would 
 al. If I have 
 e, it is this, to 
 lerns, however 
 , will, either in 
 rminate in our 
 ter to make as 
 re beg you will 
 ait quietly for 
 lay relent ; but 
 content myself 
 r. is similarly 
 
 been refused 
 the interest of 
 d on his Coll. 
 •uth, the good 
 a spoke in his 
 
 notwithstaud- 
 mdidates meet 
 tirely hindered 
 
 * He « 
 
 rectionate 
 
 Mortimer. 
 
 TO IMS sister. 
 
 Cambridge, March 2, 1811. 
 
 I HAD imagined, some months ago, that the exercise 
 of mind I was under when preparing for the 
 Senate House, was the greatest I should ever expe- 
 rience ; I was greatly mistaken. O my sister, 
 did you know how much I have felt lately, you would 
 truly sympathise with me ; but I now enjoy com- 
 parative rest ; my feelings, indeed, have been 
 strongly mixed, but the better have generally, 
 though not without considerable struggle, predo- 
 minated. I have enjoyed more of the power of vital 
 religion, and that has been my support and stay ; 
 and would it but please my God to indulge me with 
 more communion with himself. He might do with 
 me and my poor concerns whatever might please 
 Him. He alone is truly and absolutely necessary 
 for my comfort, and would He but say, in my sub- 
 sequent career, "My presence shall go with thee," 
 I should feel that enough. I could ask nothing 
 more. 
 
 The clouds which overcast his prospect of ordina- 
 tion for the curacy of Wellington, were after a time 
 dispersed, and he was admitted to deacon's orders at 
 Eccleshall, on the 2Gth of May, 1811, and on the 
 following day he went to reside at Wellington. He 
 not long after wrote to his sister, in reference to his 
 new situation, as follows : — 
 
 " Through mercy I am going on pretty comfortably 
 in parochial matters, and have reason to believe I 
 am in the situation which God designed me to fill. 
 My employment is my delight — my heart is in it — a 
 circumstance I could seldom boast of when toiling 
 through the drudgery of mathematics. Mr. E. and 
 
i 
 
 ■; ( 
 
 n 
 
 , f 
 
 ' 
 
 \\ 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 L . '" aL 
 
 22 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 I go on in perfect harmony. I feel very much 
 attached to him ; and from the marks I am daily 
 receiving of his kinthiess, I may conchide he looks 
 with a favourahle eye on my endeavours to help him 
 in his important work." 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. ! 
 
 Wellington, 12th November, 1811. 
 
 In my last I promised an account of my paiochial 
 proceedings : though I have nothing brilliant to com- 
 municate, yet I hope I may say, after nearly six 
 months' residence, that I have good ground to be- 
 lieve I have not mistaken my path in entering 
 the ministry. The increase of congregation, both 
 among the poorer as well as the richer sort, aiford 
 me some encouragement, and I have frequently ob- 
 served persons manifestly affected under the word 
 delivered. I am not so sanguine as to expect great 
 things should be done by so feeble a labourer as my- 
 self. " The honest and good hearted " among 
 the congregation have already gladly received and 
 profited by the word under my most excellent vicar, 
 and, consequently, it is not to be expected that any 
 remarkable change should be effected ; but, as I have 
 observed before, I have perceived that the Spirit of 
 God is among us to apply the word, and so long as 
 persons are not completely hardened, we may indulge 
 some hope concerning them. 
 
 A few Sundays ago I supplied the church of a 
 neighbouring minister who has not been long in these 
 parts. I preached from these words, ** The Lord 
 turned and looked on Peter." I had taken another 
 sermon with me, but some how or other could not 
 make up my mind to preach it, and it will appear by 
 the sequel that the Lord had some gracious purpose 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 23 
 
 ^fovember, 1811. 
 
 to answer by it. A poor woman, a former hearer of 
 
 Mr. happened to come into this part of the 
 
 '•ountry, and she mentioned to her daughter that she 
 should Uke to go and hear her old minister, but re- 
 lated at the same time a dream that she had the night 
 before, tliat a strange minister at IMr. C — 's church 
 was the means of doing her good and recovering her 
 from her backsliding state. She accordingly came, 
 and no sooner did I enter the desk than she said to 
 her daughter, '* That is the clergyman I dreamed of 
 who recovered me to God." The subject by the 
 
 Divine blessing was suitable to her case, and Mr. , 
 
 who related the anecdote to me, stated, that she be- 
 gan with fresh earnestness to devote herself to the 
 service of God, and gave manifest tokens of the work 
 being from above. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, September 17th, 1811. 
 
 My very dear Armstrong, 
 I HAVE been regaling myself this afternoon with a 
 perusal of a large packet of your letters, forwarded 
 to me from time to time. They present my much 
 esteemed friend under a great variety of feelings and 
 circumstances : but they uniformly exhibit him as 
 the sincere and devoted Christian, and as the warm 
 and substantial friend. Oh, how do I pity that poor 
 soul who has never experienced the exquisite delights 
 of friendship ! Believe me, Armstrong, I would not 
 exchange the feelings which at present animate my 
 soul for all the wealth in the universe. It would be 
 bauble when contrasted with the inestimable blessing 
 of a friend, whose heart, whose sentiments, whose 
 pursuits, are congenial with your own. God forbid 
 that I should ever see the time in which this blessing 
 
*H!II 
 
 n 
 
 'i 
 
 II 
 
 24 
 
 LIFE AND LETTKRS OF THE 
 
 should 1)0 witliholden from inc. 
 those words of Shakspeare : — 
 
 How do I admire 
 
 *• The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, 
 Grapple them to thy soul with hooks of steel." 
 
 I lament, however, one circumstance in which my 
 sentiments and mv conduct were in this respect 
 diametrically opposite ; I mean when I so fur gave 
 way to the feelings of the moment as to write that 
 letter, which seems to have caused you so much 
 pain : your conciliatory answer, which I have just 
 hecn reading, makes me more ashamed of myself 
 than I can express ; I hope, however, that it will 
 prove a salutary warning through the whole of my 
 subsequent life. You will be surprised, perhaps, at 
 this apology made so long after the offence : 1 make 
 it from a conviction that my former letter did not 
 sufficiently express the feelings which I ought to 
 have entertained. ****** 
 Believe me, 
 
 Your aflfectionately sincere 
 
 G. M. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, Jan. 28th, 1812. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 I VERY much long to see you and your little domestic 
 circle, and, especially so, in consequence of the in- 
 formation contained in your last : for I am given to 
 understand that personal intercourse will not much 
 longer be vouchsafed me. 
 
 Do not suppose, however, that I would wish that 
 any personal advantage, which I might promise my- 
 self from your remaining in England, should prove the 
 
HE 
 
 vr do I admire 
 
 Hon tried, 
 of steel." 
 
 e in which my 
 n this respect 
 
 I so fur gave 
 8 to write that 
 
 you so much 
 ih I have just 
 med of myself 
 ir, that it will 
 I whole of my 
 jd, perhaps, at 
 (Fence : 1 make 
 
 letter did not 
 ch I ought to 
 
 5fl *IC !(% 
 
 ately sincere 
 G. M. 
 
 4G. 
 
 an. 28th, 1812. 
 
 ' little domestic 
 ice of the in- 
 I am given to 
 will not much 
 
 uld wish that 
 t promise my- 
 lould prove the 
 
 REV. OEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 25 
 
 least ohstncle to that most glorious work which it has 
 pleased God to incliiu' you to desire and pursue. I 
 rejoice most sincrri'ly in the grace which he has poured 
 upon you, and I admire the leadings of Divine Provi- 
 dence,\vliieh have so clearly and manifestly openedyour 
 path. Ihit still, notwithstanding the approval which 
 my judgment is constrained to give, yet I cannot alto- 
 se'ther divest nivself of that affection which would 
 fain inihice me to chain you to some nearer spot. It 
 tells me that /wi/ friends are few; it whispers also that, 
 among all my friends, no one has ever yet so com- 
 j)letely merited the name. But still, as it has pleased 
 God to ])ut it into the heart of my friend to under- 
 take so nohle, so glorious an employment, I cannot 
 for a moment indulge any feeling of complaint. It 
 is all well ; and, as I said before, I rejoice in the grace 
 and j)rovi(lential dealings which have been manifested 
 on your behalf. 
 
 It requires no small measure of faith and self-denial 
 to leave the pleasures of social life — the intercourse 
 of friends and the innumerable ties which a long 
 series of years has tended to strengthen. I have 
 often gazed in silent admiration at the peculiar kind 
 of spirit which must animate a missionary, and have 
 concluded that it must be peculiarly acceptable in the 
 sight of Almighty God. But, alas ! much as I have 
 
 ' admired the spirit, I feel that I have scarcely a spark 
 of it — not, indeed, that I should find it difficult to 
 forego the pleasures which at present surround me, 
 not that I should be staggered at leaving my present 
 situation to live in one which is remote, and which is 
 now unknown to me; but that I am sensible that these 
 
 feelings would not last. The inconceivable ignorance 
 of some, the stupidity of others, and the state (I 
 was going to say) of moral and religious incapacity^ 
 to which a long indulgence in vicious habits has 
 reduced the generality, would check my fervour, 
 damp my zeal, and cause me either to slacken my 
 
26 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 exertions, or else to desist from the work in despair. 
 When we get into discouraging circumstances, how 
 readily do we slide into despondency. We may not, 
 perhaps, altogether lose sight of the power of God, 
 and its all-sufficiency to help us through ; but we are 
 apt to conclude that we are not the proper instru- 
 ments ; that we have protruded ourselves into situa- 
 tions which God never designed for us ; and that, 
 though he could most easily help us, yet that, for wise 
 purposes, he sees fit to leave us in a great measure 
 to ourselves. Such, my dear Armstrong, are our 
 reasonings in general, when brought into discouraging 
 circumstances ; and, from a close examination of ray 
 own heart for some years past, I am persuaded that 
 whatever zeal and self-denial might animate me in 
 the first instance, yet that these blessed feelings 
 would not last when brought to those severe trials 
 which are the lot of the missionary/ — I mean of that 
 person who has to contend with all the difficulties 
 arising from a foreign station. These difficulties, 
 however, in your case are greatly diminished, and 
 even were it otherwise the Spirit vouchsafed to you, 
 may enable you to grapple with them with the greatest 
 ease. Oh ! that this may be your constant experience! 
 I rejoice in that spirit and temper which has hitherto 
 regulated the conduct of my friend, and my constant, 
 my stated prayers shall ascend up before the God of 
 power and grace, that he may ever enjoy a rich 
 unction — a complete baptism from above. 
 
 Assure Mrs. A. of my kind regards. Much as I 
 admire your faith and self-denial, I think that of your i 
 dear partner no less conspicuous. When God' has 
 work to be done, how sweetly can he influence our 
 minds so as to make us co-workers with himself. 
 Believe me. 
 Your most affectionate though unworthy Friend, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 -T 
 
 ,-^ 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 27 
 
 Mr. Mortimer was married February 21st, 1812, 
 to Miss Barford, a lady of pious habits and of amiable 
 manners, and who proved herself a most useful and 
 affectionate helpmeet to him. In the view of this 
 event, he prepared, some months before it took place, 
 the following resolutions for his government in the 
 married state : — 
 
 " Since it is very probable I shall soon be united 
 with my dearest friend M. B., and since we are always 
 in danger of overlooking the duties of each relation 
 in life, while engaged in it, though, before we enter 
 upon it, we may perceive them plainly enough, I 
 would, therefore, now, in an humble dependence upon 
 Almighty God, and as in his sight, set my hand to 
 the following resolutions, which I would purpose 
 never to swerve from upon any occasion, let it be 
 ever so trivial : — 
 
 " 1st. Since the grand secret of domestic comfort 
 depends upon the regulation of our tempers, I would, 
 in the first place, endeavour to keep a strict watch 
 over these ; would avoid pettishness, of every de- 
 scription, and would guard against a degree of perti- 
 nacity, which has always been more or less troublesome 
 to me : would never be positive in argument, and will 
 strive to remove every appearance of self-will, and 
 never to oppose my dearest friend in any thing, 
 excepting when duty imperiously calls; and even 
 then, in such a manner as shall impress her more 
 with an idea of my affectionate regards towards her, 
 than of any wish to consult my own gratification. 
 
 " In the 2nd place : will cultivate a tender and 
 affeclionate manner, always seeking out means of 
 promoting her comfort, and lessening her troubles ; 
 sharing every domestic and maternal anxiety with 
 tender solicitude. 
 
 " In the 3rd place : will be completely open ; will 
 have no secrets ; on the contrary, will consult her 
 in everything ; will give her the freest access to all 
 
 H 
 
 N 
 
I ^ilt 
 
 28 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 my papers, letters, &c. ; will also commit to her 
 entire management all my money concerns ; and 
 will take no more for my private purse than we shall 
 amicably settle between ourselves. 
 
 " Fourthly. With regard to company, will make 
 choice of those persons who shall be most agreeable 
 to herself, and will be very attentive to those of her 
 relations with whom she may wish to be connected— 
 especially her mother and sister. 
 
 " Fifthly. Being aware of the foolish trouble occa- 
 sioned by fastidiousness in the choice of Jood, am 
 determined never to express my partiality for any par- 
 ticular joint or dish, and never to make the smallest 
 objection to anything which comes to tabic . Remem- 
 ber Duke Fortunatus, and the incessant squabbles 
 occasioned by his fluctuating taste and pettish 
 tempers. 
 
 " So lastly. As to the arrangement of domestic 
 concerns, will interfere as little as need be, and will 
 never meddle either in the choice or dismissal of the 
 servants, and will be careful never to find with them 
 unnecessary fault. 
 
 " These rules and regulations I will read over the 
 first day of every month, so long as it shall please 
 God to spare me, and will make them matter of most 
 serious prayer. 
 
 " Should I see fit to make any additions to the 
 above, will still never destroy this identical paper, but 
 keep it as exhibiting my views previous to marriage, 
 and as a witness against me in future life, should I 
 deliberately violate them. 
 
 " I write these rules in my college rooms on the 
 20th of May, 1811, being the day on which I 
 complete the 27th year of my age, and being also 
 the last of my remaining in Cambridge. 
 
 "George Mortimer." 
 
 •4 
 
 ■J 
 
 \L 
 

 1 
 
 HE 
 
 ^1 
 
 :!ommit to her 
 
 " ■ '^ 
 
 concerns ; and 
 
 '4:- 
 
 e than we shall 
 
 •n i._ 
 
 
 \any, win maKe 
 most agreeable 
 to those of her 
 
 be connected— 
 
 sh trouble occa- 
 ice of food, am 
 ility for any par- 
 ike the smallest 
 tabl( . Remem- 
 Bssant squabbles 
 ite and pettish 
 
 ent of domestic 
 
 ;ed be, and will 
 
 dismissal of the 
 
 ) find with them 
 
 ill read over the 
 as it shall please 
 a matter of most 
 
 additions to the 
 jntical paper, but 
 ions to marriage, 
 ire life, should I 
 
 ge rooms on the 
 day on which I 
 and being also 
 Ige. 
 E Mortimer." 
 
 UEV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 29 
 
 to THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, April 10th, 1812. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 I cannot describe the feeling of regret which the 
 receipt of your last letter occasioned, and I sit down, 
 with depressed spirits, to dictate an answer. There is 
 something exceedingly gloomy in the recollection 
 that one of the dearest friends I have on earth, is 
 about to depart to a place where there is no human 
 probability of our ever meeting ; and that he should 
 depart also without my being permitted to look him 
 in the face, to clasp his hand, and to bid him a 
 parting adieu. I feel truly grieved at the circum- 
 stance, and the more so, as I had expected that you 
 would have been detained on shore longer than the 
 time fixed on for your departure, and consequently 
 that you would have had some little spare time to 
 j)ay us a farewell visit. 
 
 ^f* •!* 3|5 Sp 5|« 3|? *J5 •(• 
 
 I feel comforted, however, with the hope of hearing 
 
 from you occasionally, and do give you my promise 
 
 that I will endeavour to write to you every other 
 
 month, whether I hear from you or not ; and my 
 
 . poor scrawls shall be duly forwarded to your good 
 
 i brother, as you have desired. I will inform you of 
 
 ^ our proceedings here as minutely as I can ; and will 
 
 take care to touch upon such of a more public nature 
 
 as I conceive may possibly escape the attention of 
 
 your other correspondents. But while I am thus 
 
 writing, •! cannot conceal from my Armstrong what 
 
 has receutlj passed in my mind. I have long thought 
 
 ; it to be a circumstance highly disgraceful to our 
 
 J Clmrch that so few individuals have appeared who 
 
30 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 are willing to leave the comforts of life, and to endea- 
 vour to forward, l>y their own exertions, the grand 
 and momentous work which the God of all grace is 
 evidently carrying forward in all quarters of the 
 globe ; and I now begin to feel a desire (should the 
 providence of God be i)leased to open my path), to 
 step forward in this great work. I have o})ened the 
 matter to my Mary, and she tells me that she is 
 willing to accompany me to any place where I should 
 see it my duty to go. It has ])leased God to give 
 us a competency as to this world's goods, and should 
 any situation similar to the one you are going to, 
 occur, we should really feel no hesitation in accepting 
 it. What our future path may be is uncertain ; but 
 I should not wonder if my dear Armstrong hears of 
 our following in the steps which he has marked out 
 for us. There seems much to he done abroad, and 
 few inclined to do it ; should, therefore, God be 
 pleased to accept of my poor intentions to be engaged 
 in forwarding it, I shall rejoice in the circumstance, 
 and gladly spend and he spent in so glorious an 
 employment. I have said to my Armstrong what 
 has been mentioned to no other individual whatever, 
 my Mary excepted ; I must therefore request he 
 will not make the slightest allusion to it for the 
 present. 
 
 I have taken the liberty to send you and Mrs. A. 
 a small token of parting love ; may they prove the 
 means of your frequently remembering the unworthy 
 donor, and whenever you think of him offer up a 
 silent prayer for his spiritual advancement. I have 
 also to request that you will accept of the enclosed 
 notes ;* they may, j)erhaps, prove serviceable in pro- 
 curing a few more additional comforts for your 
 voyage and future accommodations. May the God 
 of love accompany you in your voyage, make 
 
 
 * Twenty pouwds. J. A. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 31 
 
 ?, and to cndca- 
 ions, the grand 
 
 I of all grace is 
 juartors of the 
 ire (should the 
 en my path), to 
 lave opened the 
 
 me that she is 
 
 where I should 
 
 scd God to give 
 
 >ods, and should 
 
 II are going to, 
 ion in accepting 
 
 i uncertain ; hut 
 nstrong hears of 
 has marked out 
 one ahroad, and 
 irefore, God be 
 ns to he engaged 
 le circumstance, 
 I so glorious an 
 A.rmstrong what 
 vidual whatever, 
 jfore request he 
 )n to it for the | 
 
 you and Mrs. A. 
 y they prove the 
 mg the unworthy | 
 ■ him offer up a 
 cement. I have 
 ; of the enclosed 
 erviceahle in pro- 
 mforts for your 
 J. May the God 
 p voyage, make 
 
 A. 
 
 
 you abundantly useful in your passage, and still 
 more so in your destined situation. My prayers, 
 my best wishes, do certainly attend you ; and though 
 we may not meet on earth, yet I hope — I would I 
 could say more, but my treacherous heart will not 
 permit me — but still I hope that you and I, our 
 partners, and the children whom God may graciously 
 give us, may all meet in that blissful state above. 
 My Mary desires her kindest regards to Mrs. A. rnd 
 yourself. 
 
 Believe me. 
 
 Your ever affectionate Friend, 
 
 G.M. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, July 6th, 1812. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 As it respects myself, I must say that I feel the 
 comparatively trifling duties which I have to perform 
 to be a burden, which at times seems insupportable ; 
 I but it is the burden which God has placed upon me, 
 '> and, therefore, I strive to go on and to press forward, 
 notwithstanding all my difficulties. You would 
 hardly conceive how much I dread any public exercise 
 until the moment in which I am actually engaged in 
 it ; I am filled with the most dismal forebodings ; but 
 then, through mercy all my fears vanish ; and I have 
 reason to believe, that my feeble efforts are not 
 altogether in vain. 
 
 Nothing further has elapsed respecting any change 
 in my situation. My Mary feels a good many ap- 
 prehensions on the subject at present, and I heUeve I 
 must leave matters till some circumstance or other 
 makes my way clear and evident. Our time is very 
 seldom God's. There is a haste — a precipitancy — in 
 our proceedings, which is never to be discovered in 
 
'-;. f 
 
 i| 
 
 T, ' \ 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 
 « 
 
 ', 
 I 
 t 
 
 - 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 32 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 those of God. The creation of the world — the calling 
 of his peculiar people — the coming of the Messiah — 
 all show that God is slow in operation. I feel, my 
 dear friend, that I have daily and hourly need of 
 learning a lesson on this subject. Whenever I feel 
 hurry of spirits, and solicited to do something or 
 other in haste, I invariably find that it turns out 
 badly. It is the power of the enemy — God's pro- 
 cedure is orderly — calm — deliberate : he leads us 
 gently on, and, while he forcibly convinces the mind, 
 he opens our providential path. 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 We live in troublesome times, in a, troublesome 
 world. But still we have much to be thankful for, 
 notwithstanding all, and we have a blessed hope of 
 things infinitely better in the world to come. I 
 delight to think of those blessed scenes, and am 
 persuaded that we all of us lose much for want of 
 reverting to them more frequently. "With heaven in 
 our eye, how cheerfully are we enabled to march 
 forward ; how courageously do we charge through all 
 opposing difficulties ; how contemptuously do we 
 look upon the things of time and sense ! Here was 
 the grand support of the Redeemer ; " For the joy 
 which was set before him he endured the cross, and 
 despised the shame." 
 
 I have lately been very much gratified by reading 
 apiece of Dr. Watts' on the Separate State. We are 
 apt to form too spiritual notions of the world to come, 
 and, consequently, having nothing upon which we can 
 solidly ground our investigations, we lose much of 
 the interest and delight which would otherwise be 
 imparted. When the literal meaning of Scripture 
 seems to be absurd, we think we are fully justified in 
 seeking other interpretations ; but to reject the plain 
 and obvious sense merely because it interferes with 
 our pre-conceived notions of the subject, is, in my 
 opinion, quite unwarrantable. We read of cities, 
 
REV. GEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 33 
 
 temples, altars, mansions, feasts, trees, and rivers. 
 And no doubt but many of our enjoyments will be 
 exceedingly similar to those which Jldam enjoyed on 
 earth, when in a state of innocence ; and it is very 
 probable that the employments which engage us now 
 will/? us for similar hereafter. All our peculiarities 
 of mind and disposition will have room for their full 
 exercise : the traveller may be permitted to take 
 excursions into distant worlds. The philosopher may 
 pursue, without limitation, the investigations of science 
 and of art. The soul which is enchanted With, harmony, 
 may, like David, be the leader of some celestial band ; 
 and the divine will be delighted with fresh discoveries 
 into the nature, the attributes, the perfections, of his 
 God ; while the other myriads of beings, each in 
 their proper class and society, will be enjoying to the 
 utmost of their capacity the blessings which are most 
 calculated to administer to their delight. 
 
 •I* •n V 1* 
 
 From your sincere Friend, 
 
 \ 
 
 l\ 
 
 It I 
 
 w 
 
 G. M. 
 
 se ! Here was 
 
 TO A YOUNG LADY. 
 
 Wellington, August 13th, 1812. 
 
 You have my condolence, my dear Miss in 
 
 not being able to attend the kind of ministry yor. 
 approve of. Most individuals have a turn of mind, 
 a peculiarity of thinking, which, in a great measure, 
 may be considered as their own ; and hence it should 
 seem advisable that when the choice rests on ourselves, 
 we should attend that ministry which comes nearest 
 to our own case and circumstances. But, alas ! this 
 privilege is seldom allotted us ; local situation, 
 parental restraints, and a variety of other things, 
 render it in general necessary to attend some place 
 
 D 
 
34 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 or other, which is not, perhaps, in every view, that 
 which, if left to ourselves, we would have fixed upon. 
 The question, then, is merely this — ought we, under 
 the circumstances, to quarrel with the dispensations 
 of providence, or quietly and patiently submit, en- 
 deavouring to extract from existing circumstances all 
 tlie good we possibly can ? The language of wisdom, 
 as well as of piety, seems to direct to the latter course, 
 as that best calculated to promote our present comfort, 
 and future welfare. God has certainly some wise 
 end or other to answer in every thing of this nature, 
 and if we recollect, at the same time, how tenderly he 
 loves us, how much he desires our spiritual improve- 
 ment, as well as our eternal felicity, we shall rest so 
 completely satisfied that we shall not have a single 
 desire to alter in the minutest particular. But we 
 are too apt to lose sight of the wisdom and love of 
 God, as connected with our affairs , we listen to the 
 suggestions of Satan, and fondly imagine that if we 
 had the disposal of things we could easily regulate 
 our concerns, so as to make them more effectually 
 conduce to our welfare. How presumptuous is such 
 language, when stripped of its false colouring, and 
 presented under its real and proper appearance. 
 
 On the 30th November, 1812, he writes to his 
 sister — I think that I mentioned in my last that 
 there was an increase of congregation, and that I 
 could discover some traces of the operation of the 
 Spirit of God in applying the word. These effects, 
 I gratefully acknowledge, are still to be seen, and it 
 has pleased God to encourage me by bringing to my 
 knowledge two instances in which I hope a decided 
 and saving change has been produced — one on a lady 
 of respectability in an adjoining parish, and the other 
 on an individual among the lower circles. 
 
 On the 11th January, 1813, he writes to the 
 same, on the birth of his eldest son ; — I feel grateful 
 to God for his goodness and mercy, as manifested on 
 
REV. GRORQE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 35 
 
 the present occasion, and I am cheered with a pleasing 
 hope that the deposit which has this day been placed 
 in my hands, will become an heir of immortaUty, a 
 glory to his God, and an instrument of good to all 
 around him. He has been the subject of my prayers 
 for some time past, and I feel persuaded that God 
 will not disappoint my hope. I, and its dear mother, 
 feel anxious on its account, but what is our solicitude 
 concerning him compared with that of the dear Re- 
 deemer ! How kindly is he interested in his welfare ; 
 how ardently does he long to see in him of the 
 travail of his soul that he may be satisfied ! What 
 encouragement does this consideration afford to the 
 exercise of patient hope and persevering prayer. 
 
 And on the 24th of the following month, he wrote 
 in reference to the baptism of the infant. "We hope, 
 should all be well, on this day se'nnight, to devote 
 our little charge to his gracious God in baptism. I 
 feel it to be a solemn occasion, for I cannot but think 
 that much, both of its future happiness and useful- 
 ness, may depend on the manner in which it is thus 
 surrendered. I am somewhat apprehensive that we 
 shall not quite please you with respect to the name 
 which we think of giving it. But it has long struck 
 me as being a foolish custom which prevails at present 
 of giving those names by way of distinction, which, 
 in fact, owing to their commonness, are no distinction 
 at all. George, Thomas, Henry, John, are used from 
 generation to generation, and thus individuals are in- 
 cessantly mistaken and confounded either for other. 
 We have, therefore, ventured to step out of the 
 beaten track, and have accordingly fixed upon Cecil, 
 as one which, from many pleasing associations, has 
 become endeared to both of us. 
 
 D 2 
 
3d 
 
 LIPE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Wellington, March ICth, 1813. 
 
 I have enclosed a copy of a new edition of Alleine's 
 Alarm, published by Mr. Gilpin. It was this book, 
 to which, under God, I feel indebted for the determi- 
 nation which some years ago I received, with respect 
 to my views and conduct. I love it greatly in its 
 old and less inviting garb, but far better now. Ah, 
 my dear sister, many profess religion, many enjoy 
 some of its comforts, feel pleasure in an attendjince 
 upon its institutions and its ordinances ; but, to walk 
 closely with God, to get a deep and thorough know- 
 ledge both of him and of our own souls, to penetrate 
 beneath the surface of religion and to forward the 
 life — the inward life of God in the soul, something 
 more is required. In order to this, our eye must be 
 kept constantly directed to one and the same point ; 
 we must learn that one thing is supereminently 
 needful, and that everything which stands in compe- 
 tition with it must be considered as dung and as dross. 
 May God in mercy impart to both of us such clear, 
 such vivid and luminous views of its importance, 
 that the present world and all its gaudy trifles may 
 be lessened in our estimation, and that true and vital 
 godliness, deep and genuine spirituality, may become 
 more and more the objects of our pursuits. We were 
 yesterday with dear Mrs. Fletcher, and received, as 
 usual, much profit from her choice, savoury, and 
 spiritual remarks. The book, which lay open before 
 her, was her Eible. I could not help thinking how 
 much more efficaciously we should all of us proceed, 
 both as ministers and private Christians, if this 
 blessed book were more frequently and more seriously 
 perused. There is a strange feeling with respect to 
 It existing in the minds of most persons who may be 
 
REV. G£ORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 37 
 
 considered as even pious characters. They would 
 not feel happy if they suffered the day to pass over 
 without reading their chapter or chapters, but still 
 they do it as a duty, merely as a duty. IIow rarely 
 is it taken up as a privilege, as the book of books, as 
 the very choicest treasure which we could possibly 
 open ; and yet, unless it be thus resorted to, thus 
 feelingly read and studied, how can we expect to be 
 great proficients in the Divine L'fe — how can we 
 drink deep into the Spirit of our God ? Could we 
 see into the manner in which many individuals per- 
 form the duties of their closet, we should not be 
 much at a loss to discover the reason of their want of 
 spirituality. It might all be easily and naturally 
 traced to this one single source — their hour thus set 
 ^part is gone through in a manner not very dissimilar 
 to a horse in a mill ; they go round and round with 
 the same lifeless formality ; and when their duty is 
 over, they pass with unaltered uninfluenced feelings 
 to anything which may next engage their attention ; 
 but how different from those who walk in their soli- 
 tude with God ; who go to their closets as if they 
 were about to meet the very best friend they have 
 upon earth; who feel heavenly emotions on every such 
 occasion rekindled ; whose hearts are made to bum 
 within them ; in short, who so wait upon God as to 
 renew their strength; who carry from their privacy a 
 holy influence which is easily discovered in the whole 
 of their converse, tempers, and pursuits. Give our 
 kind love to Eliza, and accept the same yourself. To 
 both of you we feel no small degree of affectionate 
 regards ; we often talk of you, but still oftener make 
 you the subject of our thoughts. 
 
 I 
 
 '1 
 
38 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, April, I8I3. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 I HAVE of late been obliged to give up all thoughts 
 of missionary exertions ; my present ministerial 
 labours (small, alas ! as they are when contrasted with 
 the more extended operations of my dear friend) are 
 a weight which presses very heavily upon my mind ; 
 they drink up all my spirits, and have so completely 
 transformed me from the cheerful happy individual 
 which I formerly used to be, that could you break in 
 upon me accidentally and unawares you would hardly 
 recognise me for the same. Ah, my dear friend, 
 could I have foreseen these things, I should scarcely 
 have dared to have encountered all the anxieties and 
 perplexities attendant upon the ministerial office. I feel 
 indeed that I have to sustain a burden ; but there is 
 one cheering consideration — it is the Lord's burden ; 
 it is placed and appointed by him, and if patiently 
 sustained, not only his glory, but my own eternal 
 welfare, and perhaps that of others also, will be ad- 
 vanced. But if I feel the burden so great at present, 
 how little am I cut out for so great a work as that 
 which you have the honour and the privilege to be 
 employed in f 
 
 In the service of the sanctuary there were hewers 
 of wood and drawers of water. I seem to be of this 
 description. But, though these individuals were 
 mean and insignificant, compared with others, yet 
 were they useful in their way ; and, if God do but 
 bless my labours, I trust I shall be content and be 
 willing to be employed by him to the end of my days. 
 I would gratefully acknowledge some of his gracious 
 manifestations in this respect. Two individuals have, 
 I trust, been savingly brought to the knowledge of 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 39 
 
 (iocl, and some few have, in other respects, been 
 ))onefite(l. This is the Lord's doing, and it is 
 marvellous in our eyes. 
 
 But though my ministerial duties are thus op- 
 pressive, I have reason to be thankful in other 
 respects. I have a dear wife, whom I tenderly love, 
 and God has been pleased to present mo, about three 
 months since, with a sweet and interesting little son. 
 He is healthy, animated, and vigorous, and proves to 
 me a source of comfort which, I must frankly confess, 
 I but little anticipated. I feel I have an important 
 deposit placed within my hands , but I trust God 
 will enable me to train him for the skies, and then all 
 will be well. We have named him " Cecil," after 
 our trusty, excellent, and most valuable friend. I 
 should have preferred to have prefixed in its stead 
 that of my good friend whom I am addressing ; but 
 its length, as well as the number of consonants which 
 compose it, render it as a Christian name somewhat 
 harsh and sonorous. 
 
 Since I last wrote to you, I received a letter from 
 
 our friend F , of Trinity. It was the bearer of 
 
 melancholy tidings ; the cup of this excellent young 
 man seems to be composed of sorrows peculiarly 
 severe. He lost some time ago, as you will doubt- 
 less recollect, a tender father, under circumstances 
 trulv afflictive, and now he has lost his still dearer 
 mother. 
 
 He heard, by letter, of her illness, rode to Inver- 
 ness, where she then was, without the least inter- 
 mission ; but when he arrived, she was dead. The 
 weight of this calamity upon his mind, together with 
 the accumulated pressure of temporal and domestic 
 concerns, have caused him to pass through deep 
 waters ; but God has given to them a sanctifying in- 
 fluence : you would be truly gratified at the genuine 
 stream of piety which pervades the whole of his 
 letter. It characterizes a real child of God. 
 
 ■^\ 
 
40 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 f > 
 
 I ! 
 
 3 
 
 u 
 
 
 i 
 
 I have lately been turning my attention towards 
 botany. Should you ever be sending a packet to 
 your brother, would you be so kind as to enclose me 
 a few seeds of some of your choice and beautiful 
 flowers; I mean those which are peculiar to your 
 climate ? You will favour me still further by affixing 
 the names by which they are commonly known. If 
 you have never amused yourself in this way, you will 
 be surprised at the inexhaustible source of pleasure of 
 which it is capable. I walked out with my Mary this 
 morning through the adjoining country. We were 
 pleased and exhilarated on various accounts ; but our 
 botanic pleasures were by far the greatest. Little, ex- 
 quisitely tasty beauties were discovered by us, which 
 before had completely escaped our notice ; they lie 
 before me on my table ; and while I look at them, I 
 am led to adore the Hand which so elegantly and in- 
 geniously formed them. 
 
 My best wishes and my constant weekly prayers 
 attend you. I greatly love you — am tenderly con- 
 cerned in your welfare, and shall always rejoice on 
 being able to congratulate you on its realization. 
 From your ever sincere Friend, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 About the middle of the year 1814, Mr. Mortimer 
 was joined by a coadjutor in the curacy of Welling- 
 ton, of a kindred spirit with himself, and one with 
 whom he seems to have taken sweet counsel, walking 
 to the house and service of God as friends. This 
 was the Rev. John King, already mentioned in the 
 preface. In a letter to his sister, on the 3rd of June, 
 1814, is this short notice of the event just referred 
 to : — " My dear friend King has joined us — he is 
 beloved by all." In another letter dated the 30th of 
 the same month, he mentions his great attachment 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 41 
 
 to Mr. King, their delightful opportunities of 
 studying together, and that he esteems his coming 
 under his roof as one of the greatest blessings ever 
 vouchsafed. His intimacy with this gentleman was 
 formed at the University ; " being introduced to 
 him," as he mentions in a letter to the writer, " the 
 very first evening of his coming to college, and we 
 have," he adds, " ever since remained in the closest 
 bonds of union." 
 
 i 
 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, Sept. 1, 1814. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 I FEEL thankful that a day of comparative leisure 
 enables me to fulfil my eugagement as to writing 
 to you. It is the Lord's goodness ; and I cannot 
 help considering it as one out of many thousand 
 other instances in which prayer and simple reliance 
 upon God tend most effectually to forward us in our 
 concerns. I fear to trust my own unstable and 
 treacherous heart, and therefore begged of God that 
 he would graciously assist me ; and, were I to do so 
 constantly, how much better would it be for me ! 
 how many good plans and well concerted schemes, 
 instead of being rendered abortive, would have been 
 sped and prospered I But, trusting in the goodness 
 of the plan, instead of the blessing of the Lord, and, 
 at the same time, overlooking my own utter insuffi- 
 ciency, I have been manifestly left to learn lessons 
 of dependence, through the unwelcome medium of 
 failure and disappointment. But, after all the pains 
 which a gracious God has been pleased to take with 
 me, how slow I am to learn, how unwilling to become 
 nothing, that God may become all in all. And yet this 
 is the only way in which we can be either extensively 
 
 m 
 
 •>.• 
 
 i 
 
\ 
 
 r^: 
 
 ii 
 
 
 \i 
 
 42 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 or permanently blessed. We are dealt with as 
 children ; but on which of his children will a judi- 
 ciously affectionate parent bestow the greatest honour? 
 Not on the forward and self-sufficient. This is a 
 spirit which he must chasten and subdue by patient 
 and humiliating discipline. It is the child who is 
 modest, distrustful, and unassuming, who is diffident 
 of his abilities, and afraid of leaning to his own 
 understanding, that will meet with the countenance 
 and support of the wise and tender father. But to 
 one of a contrary temper, such a mode of treatment 
 would be ruinous, and, therefore, utterly inadmissible 
 on the part of a parent whose affectionate heart was 
 regulated by a sound and enlightened judgment. 
 Ah, my dear friend, how often do we put it out of the 
 power even of the tender Father of mercies to speed 
 and prosper us ! How much humiliating discipline 
 are we incessantly courting by attempting to rob God 
 of that glory which belongs to himself alone ! 
 
 A few evenings ago i received a letter from my 
 agent in town, giving me an account of some loss 
 which I had lately sustained. I took my dear wife 
 with me into my study, and falling on our knees, we 
 prayed to the Lord to bring us into a ready acquies- 
 cence with his divine will, and to keep us from every 
 the least feeling of dissatisfaction or expression of 
 complaint. While engaged in prayer, those words, 
 " God is love," came with sweet power to my mind. 
 I felt convinced that it was that divine attribute, and 
 that alone, which had appointed the circumstance ; 
 that I could not have done so well vdthout as with it; 
 and, consequently, that I had far more reason for 
 gratitude and praise than for anything else. Since 
 that time how clearly have I seen that the love of 
 God is the only proper key to unlock all God's dis- 
 pensations, and that when this is used it will open to 
 us treasures of mercies and of blessings which would 
 otherwise be for ever closed from our view. The 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 43 
 
 Lord teach me for the future to profit hy the 
 instruction ; and enable ub to label, as it were, each 
 passing trial with some such inscription as this, 
 "From your loving Father." 
 
 You, my dear friend, have had much to bear ; and 
 perhaps Satan has whispered at times into your mind 
 those considerations which are likely to distress and 
 to discourage you ; but all is well ; all originates in 
 love ; and, therefore, as Pai ne.' ho sweetly teaches, 
 "Where you can't unravel," ^ t? should learn to 
 trust." 
 
 I hope you feel confidence in these blessed results 
 of your labours. "What a word is that of our gracious 
 Redeemer's, and how worthy to be graven on the 
 palms of every minister of his truth ! " Said I not 
 unto thee, if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst see 
 the glory of God ?" Surely it is nothing but our 
 unbelief which hinders the Lord from laying bare his 
 arm, and doing wondrous things in righteousness. 
 In our parish and neighbourhood we have lately seen 
 a far more extensive w6rk both of conversion and 
 progression than we have ever yet been indulged 
 with ; and I cannot but ascribe it to the many 
 prayers which have been recently offered up in refer- 
 ence to this point. Many of us have felt great con- 
 fidence that the Lord would revive his work among 
 us ; and he who has taught us daily to pray that his 
 kingdom might come, has in no way disappointed our 
 hope. We trust, however, that what we have hitherto 
 seen are merely the drops before the shower. 
 
 Mary and King unite with me in kindest love to 
 yourself and dear Mrs. A., and 
 I remain. 
 
 Your ever sincere and truly affectionate Friend, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 ' t 
 
 \\ 
 
 Mr. Mortimer, from his early connexion with the 
 Methodists, imbibed many of their views, and followed 
 
/ 
 
 hi 
 
 44 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 out some of their practices. I cannot say that he 
 succeeded in convincing me of the expediency of the 
 plan described in the following letter, though pos- 
 sessed probably of some advantages ; nor do I think 
 that he continued always to approve of the same ; 
 but I think it right that he should speak for himself, 
 and therefore I shall give several copies or extracts 
 of his letters on the subject : — 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, Salop. October 27, 1814. 
 
 Ah, my dear friend, what need have we all of being 
 occasionally pulled down, stripped of our fancied 
 excellencies, spoiled of our boasted props, and laid 
 low in self-abasement and humility of soul at the feet 
 of Jesus. And considering this our need, how kind 
 is it in the Lord to take the painful pains with us 
 which he does. He had much rather rejoice over us 
 in unclouded prosperity ; but our perverseness will 
 not suffer him, and therefore he forces himself to 
 grieve us. He constrains himself to cut off the 
 dangerous limb — to amputate — when it would be 
 injurious to spare. 
 
 We have two classes, after the manner of the 
 Methodists ; one consisting of men, and the other of 
 women. The former led by Mr. Eyton, and the 
 latter by myself. Out of the men's class, Mr. E. 
 has selected six young men, four of whom go out on a 
 Monday evening, in turns, and expound to the poor in 
 four cottages in different parts of the parish ; and 
 much good, I trust, has already been seen resulting 
 from the plan. Mr. E. did not think of the classes 
 till about a year and a half ago ; but we all feel truly 
 thankful to God that they were begun at last. You 
 would have been struck at the effects which soon 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 45 
 
 began to follow. A standard, if I may so speak, was 
 by this means erected, and many, who in all pro- 
 bability would have remained halting and hesitating 
 till the very end of their days, were induced, one after 
 another, to flock around it, and I have been surprised 
 at the degree of help which they have all received 
 since they were thus united. And, in addition to 
 their own personal benefit, they soon became instru- 
 mental of good to others. Our little society became 
 a kind of nursery of expounders, exhorters, and 
 assistants in prayer ; and now, instead of a compara- 
 tively barren wilderness, we are rejoiced to behold, in 
 many places, an incipient garden of the Lord. 
 
 Another benefit 1 would just beg leave to notice, 
 and that refers to yourself. You will know much 
 more of the state of your people, you will obtain a 
 greater insight into their temptations, difficulties, and 
 trials, and will be led to look around you for the 
 means of obviating, or else helping them to bear 
 them ; and thus your manner of preaching will 
 become far more experimental, and, consequently, far 
 more useful. "Without some such knowledge of our 
 people as we thus obtain, our discourses, as Mr. Jerram 
 used to say, will be about it, and about it, but seldom 
 actually upon the mark. I have found a very mate- 
 rial benefit myself in this way, and I would not have 
 been without it for worlds. Now, my dear friend, 
 what hinders but that you should enter upon such a 
 class meeting ? If you have only three or four, begin 
 with them ; meet with them weekly ; begin with 
 singing and prayer ; relate to them the state of your 
 own mind during the week, and then inquire into the 
 state of their' 8. Prayer may conclude. Mr. E. began, 
 I think, with only four, and was some weeks before 
 he got above two or three more ; but now the men's 
 class is between thirty and forty, and the women's 
 not far short. Do not be afraid of the Methodistical 
 appearance of the procedure. It is full of benefits. 
 
 
Mil 
 
 •:f 
 
 •I 
 
 
 46 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 and I have no question but that if you can prevail 
 upon yourself to adopt it, yourself and thousands 
 more will have eternal reason to bless God for its 
 institution. And, under such circumstances, should 
 a name, or an appearance, cause you a moment's 
 hesitation ? I trust it will not. * * * 
 
 I remain, 
 
 Your very sincere Friend 
 
 And Brother in the Lord, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 The following letter is a beautiful manifestation of 
 the greatest humility as to his own Christian expe- 
 rience ; it was addressed to his sister : — 
 
 Wellington, Nov. 17th, 1814. 
 
 My dear Mary, 
 
 I HAVE to thank my dear mother and yourself for 
 the printed account, and the accompanying letter 
 relative to the Lord's gracious dealings with our 
 dear departed brother: they have proved highly 
 interesting, and, I trust, truly profitable to us. May 
 our ears ever be disposed to listen to, and our hearts 
 prepared to receive, instruction from all the gracious 
 means which a God of infinite love and mercy is ever 
 taking with us, in order to our good, and when it 
 comes to our turn to drop the garments of mortality 
 may it be with us, as it was with dear James, to be 
 clothed with those of light. A tear may now and 
 then involuntarily escape me when I advert to the 
 difference between his envied situation and my own. 
 He quite safe, I still surrounded with danger ; still 
 called to many a conflict with the Christian's three- 
 fold enemy ; still smarting from the wounds which 
 my own unfaithfulness and presumption rendered 
 expedient that I should receive. But I comfort 
 
can prevail 
 thousands 
 rod for its 
 
 ces, should 
 moment's 
 
 Lord, 
 Mortimer. 
 
 Testation of 
 istian expe- 
 
 7th, 1814. 
 
 ^ourself for 
 ying letter 
 5 with our 
 ved highly 
 • us. May 
 our hearts 
 he gracious 
 ercy is ever 
 ad when it 
 f mortality 
 imes, to be 
 ly now and 
 ert to the 
 d my own. 
 nger; still 
 iau's three- 
 inds which 
 1 rendered 
 I comfort 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 47 
 
 myself with the recollection that the time will soon 
 come when I hope to be crowned as victor, and 
 that my continuance here below is with the merciful 
 intention of giving me increased opportunity of 
 getting some fresh jewels to my crown, and of 
 getting those brightened which are already there. 
 May the great Captain of my salvation so stand by 
 me, that all these His gracious purposes may be 
 abundantly answered ! I bless God, I do feel an 
 increasing desire to live to Him, and to the 
 glory of his name; and there are times in which 
 I feel that I have an increased power to do so. 
 When I compare the general state of my reU- 
 gious experience with what it formerly was, I 
 find that I am enabled to exercise more uniformly 
 submission to his divine will, and to depend upon 
 him more habitually for the supply of all my wants. 
 I feel in many respects more crucified to the world, 
 and the world seems to have become more so to me ; 
 so that I care but little about a variety of things 
 which were at one time accustomed to engross much 
 of my time and affections. In a word, I am led to 
 conclude, that the life which I now live in the flesh 
 is somewhat more a life of faith in the Son of God, 
 a simple dependence and reliance upon Him, as 
 my wisdom, righteousness, strength, and happiness, 
 as my all-sufl[icient Saviour. But while I feel great 
 cause foi thankfulness in these respects, yet how far 
 am I from so walking as to please my God ! I was 
 thinking over the state of my mind the other morn- 
 ing, and I felt deeply humbled before the Lord on 
 account of it. My religion strikes me as being more 
 superficial and circumstantial, than deep, inward, and 
 spiritual. I possess a measure of union with God, 
 but very little communion with Him. I am engaged 
 in His works, and doing His will in the main, but I 
 hold slight and frequently interrupted converse with 
 Him. But how can such a walk be pleasing unto 
 God ? But, perhaps, you will not be able to enter 
 
h/ 
 
 48 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 into my feelings — as connected with this my defect 
 in religious experience — unless I have recourse to 
 some familiar illustration. An individual may be 
 walking by my side, towards the place which I would 
 have him proceed to, and in the way in which I would 
 have him walk ; but should he walk for miles and 
 hours together, in total silence, never, during these 
 intervals, drop a word expressive of his views and 
 feelings, never communicate to me the least thing 
 which is passing in his mind ; or should he manifest 
 a similar indifference concerning my communications 
 to him, should he never listen to my voice, or suifer 
 himself to be so amused with the surrounding pros- 
 pect, or the incidents of the journey, as to have no ear 
 for me, what opinion should I form of such an indi- 
 vidual ? Would he be walking so as to please me ? 
 The application is easy — we may be walking in God's 
 commands towards the place he would have us 
 direct our face, and in those paths which he has 
 been pleased to appoint ; but if we do not hold con- 
 verse with him, if we are backward to tell him what 
 is passing in our minds, or if we have no ear to 
 listen to his kind communications, suffering our- 
 selves to be previously engaged with the things by 
 which we are surrounded, how little can such a 
 walk be gratifying to the blessed God ! Now, my 
 dear Mary, here is my defect ; I do not cultivate, as 
 I ought, that loving, gracious intercourse with my 
 loving Redeemer which it is my privilege to enjoy : 
 not only many moments, but, sometimes, even hours, 
 pass without anything like direct communion with 
 him. Oh, when shall I be able to adopt the 
 language — the beautiful expressive language — of one 
 of Sir. Wesley's hymns — 
 
 "Far above all earthly things. 
 
 While yet my hands are here employed ; 
 Sees my soul the King of kings, 
 And freely talks with God." 
 
I my defect 
 recourse to 
 al may be 
 ich I would 
 ich I would 
 > miles and 
 iring these 
 
 views and 
 least thing 
 le manifest 
 nunications 
 :e, or suffer 
 iding pros- 
 have no ear 
 ch an indi- 
 please me ? 
 ng in God's 
 d have us 
 lich he has 
 »t hold con- 
 [1 him what 
 
 no ear to 
 'ering our- 
 ; things by 
 ;an such a 
 Now, mv 
 jultivate, as 
 36 with my 
 ;e to enjoy : 
 even hours, 
 lunion with 
 
 adopt the 
 ige — of one 
 
 yed; 
 
 REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 49 
 
 Let us help one another, my dear sister, in this im- 
 portant matter by our mutual and fervent prayers. 
 Good Archbishop Leighton, alluding to the effects 
 of intercourse kept up on the part of ministers with 
 the blessed God, has happily expressed himself : — 
 "They that converse most with the King, and are 
 inward with him, know most of the affairs of state, 
 and even the secrets of them, which are hid from 
 others. And, certainly, those of God's messengers 
 who are oftenest with Himself, cannot but under- 
 stand their business best, and know most of His 
 meaning, and the affairs of His kingdom." "What a 
 luminous proof did this most excellent man afford 
 in his conduct of the truth of his own assertion, and 
 what need have we, who are the ministers and stewards 
 of the same mysteries, to follow him as he also fol- 
 lowed Christ ! 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, Salop. Dec. 29, 1814. 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 9|C *|5 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^* 
 
 In my last I mentioned to you the illness and expected 
 removal of my youngest brother, James. He has 
 since been called to his rest, and I am truly thankful 
 to be enabled to state that his death was attended 
 with circumstances highly satisfactory, especially 
 when it is remembered that he was not in any ';yay a 
 communicative lad, but, on the contrary, very silent 
 and reserved. Well ! he is gone — gone, I trust, to 
 eternal glory. The Lord, in his rich mercy, prepare 
 us all to follow him ! He was the youngest among 
 us, and the least likely to be first called. I hope 
 that we have most of us been induced by the cir- 
 cumstance to watch and to be sober ; " so to number 
 
 £ 
 
 
 I'S 
 
 iV 
 
 11 t 
 
 J ' 
 
mi: 
 
 i 
 
 50 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 1 
 
 our days as to apply our hearts unto wisdom." As 
 far as regards myself, I think I may say that the 
 lesson has been very salutary. I have been led to 
 consider myself as the next which shall be called, 
 and, of course, eternal and invisible things have ap- 
 peared exceedingly near. I thank God that death 
 has no sting to me. Its sting is sin, and that my 
 gracious Redeemer has mercifully removed. The 
 anticipation, therefore, far from being a means of 
 uneasiness, is matter of entire and sober satisfaction ; 
 not that I have any cause for disquietude here below 
 — not that I have any restlessness of desire arising 
 from a querulous or pettish feeling of discontent. 
 No, my dear friend, God has been, and still continues 
 to be, abundant in mercy and truth. But still these 
 things are not my God — this world is not my home. 
 I seem to myself like a school-boy very agreeably 
 placed at school — fond of his master, pleased with 
 his companions, and interested by his studies, he 
 has every sober ground for satisfaction, and, as 
 such, does not pettishly wish to he gone — does not 
 for a moment think of leaving till his vacation shall 
 arrive : but still the thoughts of home delight him, 
 and when the summer which calls him there arrives, 
 he most cheerfully complies — his kind master, his 
 pleasing companions — his engaging studies — all are 
 most gladly left ; for these are not his home. Ah, 
 my dear friend, how lightly should we all sit to the 
 things beneath, to those which are nearest and 
 dearest, did we but consider heaven more as our own 
 place — as our heavenly Father's house ! 
 
 I often wish, my dear friend, that the bounds of 
 our habitation were so fixed that we might not only 
 correspond with, but f-ice to face converse with, each 
 other. This privilege I now enjoy with my friend 
 King, who for nearly a year has been on the same 
 spot, and even in the same house. But I still feel 
 my heart longing afler my absent friend. This 
 
 indeed r 
 
 titude ai 
 
 the mer 
 
 And ye 
 
 the case 
 
 thank G 
 
 metlium 
 
 and vak 
 
 yit the ( 
 
 did I cv 
 
 tached t 
 
 tiou of I 
 
 me in lil 
 
 in the gi 
 
 yet graci 
 
 thankful 
 
 to whon 
 
 can do n 
 
 forted wi 
 
 we shall 
 
 heritanc« 
 
 shall be 
 
 no impel 
 
 our lovir 
 
 the life,' 
 
 kingdom 
 
 Your 
 
 Anotl: 
 rector o 
 duced- 
 This ge 
 was eng 
 desirous 
 and of 1( 
 office. 
 
om." As 
 |r that the 
 jeen led to 
 be called, 
 ;s have ap- 
 that death 
 d that my 
 ived. The 
 
 I means of 
 itisfaction ; 
 here below 
 jire arising 
 discontent. 
 
 II continues 
 t still these 
 ; my home. 
 f agreeably 
 [eased with 
 studies, he 
 
 , and, as 
 I — does not 
 
 ation shall 
 light him, 
 lere arrives, 
 master, his 
 les — all are 
 lome. Ah, 
 ,11 sit to the 
 learest and 
 
 as our own 
 
 e bounds of 
 ht not only 
 J with, each 
 
 my friend 
 ^n the same 
 
 I still feel 
 iend. This 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 51 
 
 indeed may originate in some latent feeling of ingra- 
 titude and discontent, which leads me to overlook 
 the mercy vouchsafed, and to long for that denied. 
 And yet I am not conscious that this is altogether 
 the case : hardly a day elapses in which I do not 
 thank God for the blessing granted me, through the 
 medium of my present friend. He is a most choice 
 and valuable young man — one of ten thousand. And 
 yet the question frequently arises in my mind, why 
 did 1 ever know^ — why did I feel so exceedingly at- 
 tached to my absent friend, if it were not the inten- 
 tion of a gracious and indulgent God to give him to 
 me in like manner ? But the ways of the Lord are 
 in the great deep : his footsteps are not known ; and 
 yet gracious, though unknown, I would therefore be 
 thankful that I have a dear — dear — very dear friend, 
 to whom I can write, and for whom I can pray, if I 
 can do no more ; and my mind is solaced and com- 
 forted with the hope that a day is coming in which 
 we shall join to part no more ; that glorious in- 
 heritance is at hand where some adjacent mansion 
 shall be assigned us, or where distance shall prove 
 no impediment or barrier to our intercourse. May 
 our loving Saviour, who is " the way, the truth, and 
 the life," guide us and ours all safe to this glorious 
 kingdom ! 
 
 I remain, 
 Ypur very affectionate Friend and old Collegian, 
 
 " MORT." 
 
 Another of his friends, the Bev. J. C., the present 
 rector of a parish in Cheshire, may be here intro- 
 duced — a friend whom he esteemed very highly. 
 This gentleman, in the former years of his life, 
 was engaged in business, and his friend was very 
 desirous of detaching his mind from this pursuit, 
 and of leading him to tu :n his attention to the sacred 
 office. In one of his early letters pressing this 
 
 E 2 
 
 .. K 
 
52 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 I 
 
 , s 
 
 change upon his consideration, he makes the fol- 
 lowing pertinent remark :— 
 
 " It is not easy, when fixed by circumstances, and 
 extensively surrounded by our secular concerns, to 
 follow the example of Matthew, and immediately to 
 arise. The din of business and the clamour of dear 
 friends drown the soft intimations of our passing 
 Lord, and, questioning the reality of his call, we find 
 it difficult to leave all behind." 
 
 In the following extract of a letter to the Rev. J. 
 Armstrong, Mr. Mortimer states what he conceived 
 to be the qualifications of a minister of the word in a 
 foreign or uncultivated soil ; and also his views of 
 Arminianism. His remarks on the latter subject 
 were addressed to the editor, to whom, in a former 
 letter, he had given some account of a plan which he 
 and some of his friends had devised of raising a fund 
 for the purchase of livings, and had given to the 
 designation of the object an Arminian character. 
 The editor, who has often been considered as a 
 Calvinist, wrote to his friend to say he objected to 
 the title of his projected association ; adding, that, 
 in the event of his returning home invalided, or 
 from other causes, he could expect to derive no 
 benefit from his friend's patronage : — 
 
 WelUngton, Salop. Feb. 25th, 1815. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 Were I required to point out those qualifications 
 which should distinguish the minister of the word in 
 a foreign or uncultivated soil, I should not specify 
 those qualities which are too exclusively dwelt upon 
 by many. I should not inquire into the fervour of 
 his spirit, the commanding or winning nature of his 
 aspect and address, the robustness of his frame — 
 
REV. OEOROB MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 53 
 
 J the fol- 
 
 nces, and 
 icerns, to 
 diately to 
 ur of dear 
 ir passing 
 U, we find 
 
 16 Rev. J. 
 
 conceived 
 
 word in a 
 
 views of 
 
 er subject 
 
 a former 
 
 which he 
 ling a fund 
 ven to the 
 
 character, 
 ered as a 
 objected to 
 ling, that, 
 'ahded, or 
 
 derive no 
 
 5th, 1815. 
 
 lahfications 
 he word in 
 lot specify 
 iwelt upon 
 fervour of 
 ture of his 
 Is frame — 
 
 " his iron sinews, and his bones of brass ; " — nil 
 these things are good auxiliaries, but they are not 
 essentials. The grand requisite seems to be this, a 
 quiet steady application to present duty, combined 
 with a peaceful and unbroken reliance upon the Lord ; 
 for if an individual be possessed of a spirit and 
 temper which this conduct supposes, he must succeed. 
 Hosts of opposing difficulties will, one after another, 
 fall before him like the petrified band who came to 
 seize the person of our Lord. All his patient labours, 
 the produce of his faith, shall bear the approving 
 seal of God — ^all that he doeth shall prosper. But, 
 if present duty be neglected, or supinely, or unin- 
 terestingly conducted — if his reliance and confidence 
 on God be broken— if his oppressed spirit sink under 
 every wave of discouragement which for the trial of 
 his faith is permitted to pass over him — under such 
 circumstances, prosperity is impossible ; for even our 
 gracious and our willing Lord can in no wise help us. 
 From these considerations, I feel truly thankful that 
 your spirit faints not, that your confidence in God 
 still remains, and that yo" still apply yourself to 
 your arduous work. This Moravian (I should rather 
 have said this Christlike) spirit will, with the super- 
 added blessing of the Lord, bring to you and your dear 
 flock a train of mercies far exceeding the most san- 
 guine of your expectations. ** Be strong, therefore, 
 and of a good courage ; fear not, neither be dismayed ; 
 and then the Lord thy God. will be with thee whither- 
 soever thou goest." He will " Cover thy head in 
 the day of battle ; he will, take hold of shield and 
 buckler ; he will fight for thee, and thou shalt hold 
 thy peace." But -while I am thus alluding to your 
 ministerial duties, I would again recommend to you 
 what I took the liberty of urging upon you somewhat 
 at large in a former letter. I allude to class meetings. 
 Whatever you do, my dear Armstrong, do not omit 
 these. I have seen already, and daily continue to 
 
 
 }. 
 
 .1 1 
 'I. 
 
 ■> l\ 
 
 ' I'. 
 
H/, 
 
 i: 
 
 J 
 
 ; 
 
 Fi 
 
 54 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 see, advantages the most unequivocal resulting from 
 them ; and am convinced that no one endued either 
 with a spiritual mind, or with a desire after it, would 
 make an experiment of their efficacy without most 
 convincingly perceiving it. In your own case, 1 have 
 no question hut that the adoption of the plan I am 
 recommending, would become quite an era to you in 
 spiritual prosperity, both as a church and as a private 
 individual — an epocha upon which you would ever 
 look back with the most unqualified delight. 
 
 You seem prepared, my good friend, to receive 
 from me somewhat of an Arminian trimming for the 
 heretical, alteration which you have ventured to pro- 
 pose as connected with our " Living and Peri)etual 
 Advowson Plan." It happens, however, that I feel 
 no such disposition at present ; not that I am less 
 anxious than before for the maintenance of sound 
 doctrine within the walls of our churches, but because 
 .1 have a good hope that in your case a caution upon 
 these points is almost unnecessary. I trust that, 
 notwithstanding the force of certain prejudices im- 
 bibed in the early part of your Christian life, the 
 leaven of real unadulterated truth has been intro- 
 duced into your mind, and that a time will come in 
 which it will predominate to the leavening of the 
 whole lump. I should be glad to find that this was 
 the case even now ; for, though the circumstances in 
 which you are placed at present forbid the introduc- 
 tion of any extensive evil, yet still, I fear that some 
 degree of evil will almost unavoidably find an entrance. 
 For every portion of error has its corresponding por- 
 tion of evil. Truthy simple, unmixed truth, is that 
 which sanctifies^ and truth alonCi But as to en- 
 deavouring to lead you through all the mazes of 
 controversy and debate to this desirable end, I have 
 not the least intention, nor even desire. I had rather 
 leave you in the hands of God, by prayer, begging 
 that lie, the God of Truth and the Father of Lights 
 
king from 
 ued either 
 ' it, would 
 lOut most 
 ase, I have 
 )lan I am 
 
 I to you in 
 s a private 
 ould ever 
 t. 
 
 to receive 
 Ing for the 
 ed to pro- 
 
 Perjjetual 
 that I feel 
 
 I am less 
 ; of sound 
 ut because 
 ition upon 
 trust that, 
 ludices im- 
 n life, the 
 3een intro- 
 
 II come in 
 mg of the 
 it this was 
 1 stances in 
 ; introduc- 
 that some 
 1 entrance, 
 adiug por- 
 h, is that 
 as to en- 
 mazes of 
 
 id, I have 
 bad rather 
 r, begging 
 of Lights 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 5.-) 
 
 would, in his mercy, condescend to instruct you him- 
 self, and, guided by him, you will then be led into 
 all truth. As to the alteration you propose, we are 
 perfectly of your mind, that the word " Arminian " 
 had better be omitted, and as such intend to drop it. 
 For, though we should naturally be led to make choice 
 of individuals the most accordant with our own views, 
 yet neither liberality nor candour would teach us 
 to exclude others. Besides, all the good purposes 
 arising from the insertion of the term may certainly 
 be answered without. It will be well known in whose 
 hands the conduct of the affair is vested ; this of 
 itself will show the bias of our mind, and this is all 
 we wish. Exclusion upon the general scale is cer- 
 tainly no part of our intention ; we are thankful, 
 therefore, for your friendly hint. 
 
 ^^ ^p ^^ ^^ ^^ ^p ^^ T* 
 
 We all unite in kindest love to you and yours, 
 and I remain, 
 
 Your truly affectionate Friend and Brother, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO the rev. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Wellington, Salop. May 1st, 1815. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 Your last letter gave me an account of dear Mrs. A.*s 
 indisposition. She has been much on my mind of 
 late. I feared lest her protracted illness should be 
 the forerunner of something worse ; and my mind 
 shrunk from the idea of the painful circumstances in 
 which yourself would be placed, should her removal 
 be the ultimate issue. But I have left the whole in 
 the hands of our wise and loving God, and I have no 
 doubt but that all will be well. To be a stranger in 
 a strange land, oppressed vrith cares and surrounded 
 
 1 
 
 \i 
 
 I 
 
56 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 with more than ordinary difficulties, and at the same 
 time reft of his bosom friend, the sharer of his 
 troubles, and the assuager of his griefs ; this is a 
 trial from which the mind revolts. But still, " God 
 is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above 
 that we are able." He will proportion our supports 
 to our trials, and with Christ's strengthening us we 
 can not only do, but bear all things ; and, therefore, 
 all that we have to do is to shut our eye, and to 
 yield our hand, and to suffer our kind Lord to lead 
 us whithersoever he shall please. We have nothing 
 to do with anticipation respecting the future. Grace 
 is indeed promised to us, not however in advance — 
 not as a stock which we may possess beforehand, but 
 as we need it. " As thy day, thy strength shall be." 
 I have found this consideration a great source of 
 comfort to my own mind when I have been recoiling 
 at the painful possibilities of the morrow ; for, though 
 I could not bear this and the other trial to-day with 
 my present strength, yet to morrow's strength may 
 and will be sufficient for me, provided I do but look 
 for it. "Were a martyr's trials in reserve for me, a 
 martyr's grace would also be prepared for me. 
 
 With regard to myself all at present is peaceful in 
 the extreme ; my mind calmly reposing on the God 
 of all my mercies in tranquil dependence. My wife, 
 my children, my servants, my property, all so suit- 
 able, so calculated to administer to my comfort, and 
 to leave me no reasonable earthly wish unfulfilled. 
 All, my dear friend, is so well ; all so mercifully 
 regulated, that I sometimes look around me with 
 surprise, and am almost led to suspect lest the 
 treacherous calm should be merely the forerunner of 
 some tremendous storm. But the consideration does 
 not alarm me ; for " God is love." 
 
 From your truly affectionate 
 
 and ever sincere Friend, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 57 
 
 the same 
 r of his 
 this is a 
 11, " God 
 ;ed above 
 supports 
 ng us we 
 herefore, 
 and to 
 d to lead 
 ) nothing 
 Grace 
 ivance — 
 mnd, but 
 hall be." 
 jource of 
 recoiling 
 p, though 
 day with 
 igth may 
 but look 
 for me, a 
 le. 
 
 ;aceful in 
 I the God 
 My wife, 
 i so suit- 
 ifort, and 
 iifulfilled. 
 nercifuUy 
 me with 
 lest the 
 runner of 
 ition does 
 
 1, 
 
 ORTIMBR. 
 
 In the month of May, 1815, he was invited to 
 Madeley by many of the parishioners, a deputation 
 from whom waited upon the rector, the Rev. H. 
 Burton, to request he might be appointed curate; 
 and, accordingly, he removed thither on the 8th of 
 the ensuing month. The following letter addressed 
 to the editor refers to the event, and enters some- 
 what into the particulars of it : — 
 
 Madeley, near Shiffnal, Salop. 
 June 15th, 1815. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 Few things were further from my thoughts, when I 
 last wrote to you, than that I should now be ad- 
 dressing a letter to you from the above-mentioned 
 place; but, "the Lord's ways are not our ways, 
 nor his thoughts our thoughts ;" we may contrive, 
 but he controls. I had imagined that my lot was, 
 for some time to come, assigned to me among my 
 dear people at Wellington, and that in. my late 
 house of mercies, surrounded by the family of my 
 excellent vicar, and his valuable assistant, I should 
 continue to flourish and grow like a tree planted by 
 rivers of waters. But the Lord has seen fit to 
 transplant me; of its being his work I feel fully 
 assured ; and, therefore, I can now expect my com- 
 forts and blessings in a diflbrent way and through 
 other channels. Thus, goodness and mercy have 
 followed me all t? o days of my life, and will still 
 follow me. I do, Ii'deed, quite wonder at the ciiange; 
 it seems more lii ^ a dream than otherwise, that I 
 should be fixed in this place and parish, of which I 
 had so often read, and which has always been associ- 
 ated in my mind with that wonderful and astonishing 
 man of God, the late venerable Mr. De la Fl^chere. 
 But you will, perhaps, wish to know the steps 
 
58 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 il 
 
 which led me hither. Mr.Walters, the late curate (or 
 rather the present, for he does not leave till next Tues- 
 day) having heard of a situation which seemed, in many 
 respects, more congenial to his views than that of Made- 
 ley, gave notice of its being his intention to leave, in the 
 church on Sunday after divine service. The people 
 were much surprised at the commur'ntion; but 
 since the choice of their minister has usually been 
 left to themselves, they immediately began to look 
 around them ; and, having fixed upon me, they 
 begged of Mr. Eyton, that he would give me up, 
 and of myself, that I would undertake the cure of 
 the place. Had I been disposed to consult merely 
 with flesh and blood, Madeley would have been the 
 last place to which I should have consented to have 
 gone ; but, as dear Mrs. Fletcher and the people of 
 all descriptions seemed desirous of my coming among 
 them, I thought it would be wrong to resist the order 
 pf God, and, as such, professed a willingness to let 
 them do anything with me which they should please. 
 A deputation was accordingly sent to Mr. Burton, 
 the vicar, who resides qn another living a few miles 
 oflF, requesting him to appoint me. He received 
 them, in the first instance, with a degree of cool- 
 ness which led them to conclude that there was but 
 little hope. He did not even tell them that he 
 would consider the application, but put them off 
 with mentioning another person who, he thought, 
 would suit him. Under such circumstances, prayer 
 seemed the only resort, and to the prayers of the 
 church I belie;ve I have been given, and to these 
 alone. In about ten days after the first application, 
 I heard through the medium of a relation of his, 
 that he had some intentions of appointing me, and 
 as such I waited upon him, and was received both by 
 ^aimself and his wife with a degree of cordiality and 
 attention which quite surprised me. We soon came 
 to terms, aad I have since heard, from various 
 
mrate (or 
 ext Tues- 
 , in many 
 ofMade- 
 ive, in the 
 people 
 ion; but 
 ally been 
 
 to look 
 ne, they 
 
 me up, 
 ! cure of 
 t merely 
 been the 
 I to have 
 people of 
 ig among 
 the order 
 ess to let 
 d please. 
 . Burton, 
 few miles 
 
 received 
 
 of cool- 
 was but 
 
 that he 
 them off 
 thought, 
 IS, prayer 
 •s of the 
 to these 
 plication, 
 ►n of his, 
 ; me, and 
 I both by 
 iality and 
 )on came 
 I various 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 59 
 
 sources, that he is not only well disposed towards 
 me, but quite congratulates himself upon my having 
 undertaken his cure. Such wonderful revolutions, 
 both in mind and in circumstances, is the Lord able to 
 effect. All things being thus far adjusted, I began 
 to look out for a situation for myself, and for a suitable 
 tenant for the house I was about to leave, and in 
 both respects have I been led most remarkably to 
 see the hand of God. The house I now occupy has 
 been desired by many, as it is the only one in the 
 place at all suitable for a person in my circumstances; 
 
 but a disacreiement 
 
 among 
 
 the persons who had to 
 
 let it, prevented everything like an avnicable prospect, 
 and it has been strangely left in the midst of all for 
 me. How kind arid how condescending is the care of 
 God! How does it reach even to the minutest 
 particulars, and much more to the commodiously 
 and pleasantly assigning the bounds of our habita- 
 tion. Our removal also has been attended with 
 blessings. Scarcely anything, in the shape of injury, 
 has hitherto been perceived, and what trivial matters 
 have, been noticed have only terided to increase our 
 gratitude, by shewing us what might have been, had 
 not God given his charge as connected with them. 
 You will smile, perhaps, at these kind of enumera- 
 tions; but I feel a pleasure in adverting to them 
 piyself, and, therefore, I must beg your indulgence. 
 " A special and minute providence is an object of my 
 firm belief, as well as a source of my calmest and 
 most extensive J!oys. I love to dwell on such a truth 
 as this> /The very hairs of your hfead are all num- 
 bered.' " 
 
 You have heard, perhaps, of the Honourable Mr. 
 Byder having been made Dean of Wells, and of 
 his most decided and open exhibition of piety in 
 his exalted situation. About a month ago he was 
 ^ade Jfishop of Gloucester, an event which has 
 filled the hearts of the pious in our Establishment 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ! f 
 
 i; 
 
 si ; 
 
 
 -J' 
 
60 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 \i \r^ 
 
 with inexpressible gratitude. It may, indeed, be 
 said by us on such an occasion, " The Lord hath 
 done great things for us, whereof we are glad," and 
 to his name would we ascribe the praise. A lady 
 of my acquaintance happened, at the time when his 
 appointment was known, to be dining in a party at 
 which Mr. Wilberforce was present, and she states, 
 that two or three times he could not help saying in 
 the most animated manner, '*I am afraid, I am too 
 glad at it, but it is such a great thing." 
 
 I remain, 
 Your ever affectionate Friend, 
 
 Geo. Mortimer. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer's post at Madeley was, upon his 
 entrance on the duties of it, one beset with great 
 difficulties; but by the blessing of God upon his 
 Christian spirit and conduct he overcame them all. 
 This will be seen from the following extracts of three 
 letters, the first and third directed to his sister, and 
 the second to his friend abroad. 
 
 After alluding to the difficulties referred to, he 
 says, August, 1815 : — 
 
 " I feel a power to stand still and see the salvation 
 of God ; my chief attention is directed, not to outward 
 circumstances, but to my own spirit. I am desirous 
 of cultivating kindness and affection, and am convinced 
 that so long as nothing is cherished by me contrary 
 to love, all will eventually be well. We have had a, 
 most gratifying visit from Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth, 
 and feel truly thankful for the kind, providence which 
 brought them among us. What a stimulus to in- 
 creased activity for God and our fellow-creatures 
 does the animating example of such a character as 
 Mr. B. afford. Such sobriety of mind, such solidity 
 of judgment, such earnestness of C-Jlwuirour : I could 
 not help applying to him the words of my favourite 
 Herbert, - 
 

 tdeed, be 
 jord hath 
 ad," and 
 A lady 
 when his 
 1 party at 
 he states, 
 saying in 
 I am too 
 
 d, 
 
 [qrtimer. 
 
 upon his 
 ith great 
 upon his 
 them all. 
 s of three 
 ister, and 
 
 d to, he 
 
 salvation 
 )outward 
 I desirous 
 jonvinced 
 
 contrary 
 Eive had a 
 terworth, 
 ice which 
 us to in- 
 
 creatures 
 
 iracter as 
 
 h solidity 
 
 I could 
 
 favourite 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 ' Let thy mind still be bent, still plotting where, 
 And when, and how, the business may be done. ' 
 
 61 
 
 " Mrs. Fletcher still continues to speak once a week 
 to her people and also to meet her class ; her breath- 
 ing is much affected, and she continues to break very 
 fast. She spoke on the Monday evening, while Mr. 
 and Mrs. B. were here, for the last time on the week- 
 days. The assemblage was highly gratifying. After 
 we came home, we reckoned upwards of fifty who 
 had come from Wellington to hear her. Such honour 
 has this distinguished saint of God.*' 
 
 Madeley, near ShifFnal, Salop. Sept. 1st, 1815. 
 
 Since I last wrote to you I have had to encounter 
 many difficulties in my parish, but I am thankful to 
 state that they have now nearly subsided. You 
 must understand that my parish abounds with 
 Methodists, or at least that the greater part of the 
 serious people are such, and of course the church, 
 though generally attended by them once a day, is 
 looked upon as a mere secondary concern. Now 
 though I respect the Methodists, so long as they 
 keep to their own place, and would gladly give to 
 them, under such circumstances, the right hand of 
 fellowship, yet when they leave their proper place and 
 wish to occupy that post of pre-eminence which the 
 Lord has given to the church, then I feel it to be my 
 duty to step forward and to show them where they 
 ought to remain. My predecessors here, namely, Mr. 
 Fletcher, Melville Home, and Mr. Walters, all of them 
 preached at regular times in the Methodist chapels. 
 When I came here they solicited me, andMrs. Fletcher 
 among others was exceedingly urgent. I felt it my 
 duty, however, most stoutly to refuse. This, as you 
 may suppose, gave great offence, and they imagined 
 that instead of a friend and encourager, they had most 
 
 :l f 
 
 i *: 
 
 i,i 
 
62 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 strangely stumbled upon a most determined enemy . 
 Time, however, has shown them that they misjudged 
 me, and that I can be friendly and yet not go all the 
 lengths which they, through a regard to precedents, 
 had most unaccountably expected ; and now, the 
 s ober-minded come to church as usual, and every- 
 thing seems to be pro ceeding in a spirit of love and 
 of kindness. It is true, that some of the more violent 
 have seceded, but this is no more than I might 
 reasonably have expected, and, to speak the truth, 
 no more than what I should have wished ; for I could 
 never have felt at home, with individuals of this 
 description. They have always been troublesome 
 characters, and had they remained, they would doubt- 
 less have been troublesome to me. While the mouths 
 of many were opened loudly against me, I one day 
 met with an old Methodist of the place, who was a 
 convert of dear Mr. Fletcher's. In the course of 
 conversation, I said to him, "Well Mr. P., do you 
 think that I have been a sinner above all others, in 
 not preaching in your chapels?" "Why, sir," said 
 he, " to speak truth, I must say that I think no such 
 thing, and I have always said, that as you are our 
 minister you ought to know your own business 
 a great deal better than we do, and therefore that we 
 have nothing to do but to be quiet." I was much 
 struck at the time with his remark, and I believe, 
 now, that the generality think with him. My mind 
 was at first much pained, but I endeavoured to 
 maintain through the whole a loving demeanour and 
 a praying spirit. I said little, took care to avoid all 
 exaggeration, and yet, at the same time, kept steadily 
 to my point. And God has stood by me and brought 
 me through in a way that I could hardly have sup- 
 posed. To his name be all the praise. 
 
 You will be pleased to hear that one of my younger 
 brothers, Thomas, has recently been truly converted 
 to God, and wishes to enter into the church. My 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 63 
 
 father most cordially enters into his views, and has 
 been urgent upon me to receive him into my house, 
 by way of preparation for college. This I at length 
 consented to do. And though it is somewhat of 
 trouble to me to do my duty towards him, in point of 
 attention — for he is quite a studious young man— yet 
 I feel that his being with us is quite in the Lord's 
 order, and am truly thankful for that grace which 
 has changed him, and that providence which has 
 directed his steps among us. From a letter which I 
 saw from a Methodist preacher, who attended the 
 conference last month, I understand that no less than 
 thirteen preachers in their connex ' n have left them 
 with the intention of preparing tor orders. These 
 are the men we want in our churches ! What does 
 our excellent establishment want, but Arminian 
 preachers and Methodist discipline! But I must 
 forbear lest I get a second trimming. Leaving joking 
 however, aside, I felt truly thankful to hear of this, 
 and I hope many will follow their good example. 
 The Church wants them, and the Methodists can well 
 spare them. 
 
 \^ 
 
 \\: 
 
 Madeley, Sept. 26th, 1815. 
 
 You will be pleased to find that matters are pro- 
 ceeding with quietness and comfort in my parish. 
 For some weeks past I have not heard the least 
 syllable of complaint relative to my first obnoxious 
 proceedings. The church is increasingly attended, 
 and the spirit of God seems among us in the appli- 
 cation of the word, I feel now at length thoroughly 
 convinced that my coming here was of God. All I 
 fear is lest my bodily strength should not be quite 
 equal to my duty. My Sunday work is certainly 
 fatiguing. 
 
 t'i 
 
 \ 4 
 
 n I 
 
 % f 
 
64 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, near Shiffhal, Salop. Oct. 26th, 1815. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 
 •p *l» T" ^ V n" V T* 
 
 Since I last wrote to you I have seen it my duty to 
 give up myself wholly to the work of the Lord. I 
 am ashamed to confess to you, that the former years 
 of my ministry have been very partially devoted to 
 his service. I have too frequently picked and chosen 
 among my duties, avoided too many which seemed 
 to promise humiliation and mortification, and entered 
 upon others only so far as they left me an opportu- 
 nity of cultivating and enjoying other more favourite 
 pursuits. Oh, my dear friend, what a cage of unclean 
 birds is the polluted heart of man, and how many 
 corners of it still remain impure, even after it has 
 been for the most part cleansed. How much selfish- 
 ness, (latent, indeed, or glossed over with some 
 speciousness of appearance,) still keeps lurking 
 behind. The Lord, however, has very mercifully 
 been leading me to part first with one favourite pur- 
 suit and then with another, till at last I seem to have 
 but one business, and that is, to do the will of him 
 who has called me to the ministry. That I perform 
 this business in such a way as daily humbles me, and 
 fills me with confusion of face, I need scarcely tell you ; 
 for you have long known the pride and the naughti- 
 ness of my heart, and, though I keep fighting with 
 my spiritual enemies, and am determined by the 
 grace of God, neither to find for them any apology, 
 nor to give them any quarter, yet I am but an un- 
 skijful combatant, and fall under a severe wound 
 
REV. OEORQE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 65 
 
 instead of habitually conquering through him who 
 hath loved me. As to my parish, I am very thank- 
 ful to be able to state that matters are goins; on very 
 comfortably. The spirit of dissent seems to be 
 weekly abating, and all seems harmony and love. Two 
 of the principal men among us have not only given 
 the most cordial and unexpected support, but have 
 discovered a degree of seriousness under the word, 
 and a willingness to con\erse about it, when not 
 actually hearing it, as encourages me to hope, that 
 they are inquirers after the things which make for 
 their peace. I was much struck yesterday with the 
 very friendly conduct of a Mr. A., one of the masters 
 of a considerable coal and iron work in the neigh- 
 bourhood. I had been mquirmg about a place where 
 I might go near the Iron Bridge, one of the most 
 populous places in the parish, to expound the Scrip- 
 tures and thus prepare them, by means of this stepping 
 stone, fc ' an attendance upon the church, and for 
 their meeting in one of our little classes. I soon 
 heard of a room over the market place, which was 
 employed as a day school, nicely accommodated with 
 benches, and capable of holding between two and three 
 hundred people; I was told it belonged to Mr. A., 
 but was let by him to the person who now held it, 
 upon the express condition, that it should never be 
 used for any religious purpose. An application under 
 such circumstances seemed somewhat uncertain, but 
 when I waited upon him, he expressed not only his 
 willingness, but his great satisfaction in having it so 
 employed, and told me, moreover, that he would give 
 immediate orders to his foreman to see that evi;ry thing 
 by way of whitewashing, and so on, should be done, 
 so as to make it as comfortable as might be. I don't 
 Know how it is, but I feel my heart peculiarly united 
 with this amiable man. One night, after spending 
 two or three hours in his company, I felt just the 
 same sensation of indescribable union which I felt 
 
 I Hi 
 
 V 
 
 '^ 1 
 
 ( I 
 
 F 
 
 
66 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 towards yourself the first day I knew you. O how 
 should I rejoice to be made serviceable to his soul, 
 and to meet him a saved character in the day of the 
 Lord Jesus. My Iron Bridge meeting I begin to 
 morrow evening. I feel it much upon my mind, and 
 should be greatly obliged by your praying for a par- 
 ticular blessing as connected with it. The population 
 there and within a short distance extends to some 
 thousands. « # * * * 
 
 With our kind and united regards to Mrs. A. and 
 yourself, 
 
 Believe me, my dear Friend, 
 
 Yours, most affectionately, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Madeley, Nov. 20th, 1815. 
 
 My dear Mary, 
 
 Mrs. D. "Whitmore has offered to enclose a letter 
 for me to yourself in her frank. I have availed my- 
 self of the opportunity thus afforded me, and have 
 the comfort of reflecting that for once, at least, my 
 poor scrawl will not cost more than its worth. 
 
 Mrs. D. and Miss Whitmore have lately been 
 spending a few days with us, and they have left us 
 with a pleasing and powerful conviction of the bless- 
 edness resulting from the society of those who live 
 near to God. We felt, in the first instance, some- 
 what of reluctance in inviting them ; but, being 
 persuaded that the law of love required that we 
 should seek our pleasure in the endeavour to com- 
 municate pleasure to others, we thought it right to 
 break through our cozy habits of retirement, and to 
 welcome them under our roof. I need not tell you 
 that we have been abundantly repaid. Christian 
 
how 
 
 tiis soul, 
 y of the 
 :)Cgin to 
 iiul, nnd 
 jr a j)nr- 
 ipulation 
 to some 
 
 . A. and 
 
 DRTIMEK. 
 
 li, 1815. 
 
 ? a letter 
 iled my- 
 md have 
 east, my 
 I. 
 
 ely been 
 3 left us 
 he bless- 
 who live 
 !e, some- 
 it, being 
 that we 
 r to coin- 
 right to 
 t, and to 
 tell you 
 hristian 
 
 HEV. GEORGE MOIlTIMEn, M.A. 
 
 or 
 
 intercourse, when sought and conducted on Christ inn 
 principles, must be productive of good, and I would 
 gratcfidly adore the goodness of the Lord for all the 
 refreshment of spirit, and the im[)rovcnient of mind, 
 which have been conveyed to nie through them as 
 channels. How clearly, my dear Mary, would the 
 Lord be teaching us, provided that we would learn of 
 him that the faithful taking up of the cross, even in 
 those matters which aj)pear hut trivial and insignifi- 
 cant, is the most effectual way of procuring present 
 peace and future blessedness. In short, that the 
 spirit of surrender is the one thing needful, the grand 
 prejiarative for happiness and holiness here, and for 
 eternal glory hereafter. I do not know how you 
 feel on this point ; but I must, with humiliation, 
 confess to you, that this yoke of Christ does not sit 
 so gracefully and so easily upon me as it ought. I 
 would, however, be thankful that I am endeavouring 
 to bear it. I am comforted with the thought, and I 
 may say with the experience, that the effort to ac- 
 commodate it to my stubborn neck is the most 
 effectual way of making it natural and easy. I have 
 been much helped to this endeavour by a persuasion 
 that the bearing of the cross is not the end, but the 
 way ; that humiliations, mortifications, trials, and so 
 on, are only so many means which God is obliged to 
 have recourse to in order to communicate blessings ; 
 that he does not wish to harass, pain, and mortify us, 
 but to promote our comfort, and that the moment 
 we are ready to take up the cross, and begin to sub- 
 mit to the only terms on which it is safe in God to 
 bless us, then he cheerfully avails himself of the oppor- 
 tunity of conveying to us, not the pain which we 
 anticipated, but some gracious token of his love. 
 "For the Lord taketh pleasure in the prosperity of his 
 servants." His name, His nature, is love. In my 
 last, I think, I stated to you that matters were going 
 on pretty comfortably in my parish. I did not, 
 
 f2 
 
 Si 
 
 li 
 
 f 
 
 ' li 
 
 1 i 
 
 I' SI 
 
 
 I ]i 
 
 I 
 
68 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 however, enlarge, lest I should be conveying to you 
 a more favourable idea than contingent circumstances 
 would authorize. I now feel that gratitude towards 
 God ought to lead me to speak to his praise. Many 
 persons in the place have, to say the least, been very 
 favourably impressed, both among the higher, as well 
 as the lo>ver orders, and show a considerable change 
 in the whole of their demeanour. The congregation 
 in the church, both morning and evening, continues 
 to increase ; and the expositions, both in the town 
 and the outskirts of the parish, are fully attended. 
 If there is one thing more than another which seems 
 to encourage me, it is that of witnessing on all occa- 
 sions, that the Lord has graciously given to me what 
 I have all along been led more particularly to pray 
 for — the heart and affections of my dear people. 
 They not only tolerate — they evidently love me. 1 
 seem to myself the same poor blundering stutterer as 
 ever, and yet they meet me with pleasure, and go 
 from my ministrations with profit. The Lord make 
 and keep me humble and thankful! I sometimes 
 think that all this is too good to last, that the peaceful 
 calm is but the harbinger of the treacherous storm ; 
 I feel, however, that this is no necessary conclusion. 
 Could humility and gratitude be the predominating 
 feeling of our mind, we then might be safely trusted 
 with success. But this is the grand difficulty — pride 
 and self-congratulation are ever apt to insinuate 
 themselves into our minds, and then adversity is 
 necessary. " Ii is difficult," as the pious Leighton 
 observes, " to carry a full cup even." Pray for me, my 
 dear sister, that all the will of the Lord may be 
 done in me, and by me, and that no evils on my 
 part may put any impediment to the free course and 
 glorification of God's blessed word. 
 
 The following letter to his friend, Mr., now the 
 Rev. John Cooper, will show how much IMr. Mortimer 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 69 
 
 was in advance of the time in which he wrote 
 on the subject of lay-agency — a kind of help which, 
 at that time, was considered of very questionable 
 propriety ; but which has now come to be admitted 
 very generally, as expedient to meet the pressing 
 wants of a rapidly increasing population. These 
 wants, indeed, the editor believes can never be 
 effectually supplied by any means less than an extensive 
 augmentation of the number of clerical labourers. 
 To supply these means, he regrets much that the 
 Lord Primate, together with the Episcopal Bench, 
 should not see it to be their duty to admit to deacon's 
 orders upon a lower standard of literary attainments 
 than is now required ; keeping persons so ordained, 
 if it be thought good, in that order, until they pos- 
 sess the usual portion of literary and theological 
 knowledge, as well as the ordinary title o:" priest's 
 orders. On this subject also, as will be seen from 
 the same letter, Mr. Mortimer appears to have been 
 equally in advance of his brethren ; for, at that time, 
 the notion of such an augmentation of the number 
 of the clergy was little thought of, and would have 
 been in most quarters, as it is still in many, very 
 generally condemned. His opinion is, I think, a 
 just one — viz. that the stability and true respectabi- 
 lity of the church is more effectually promoted by 
 sound piety, than by a certain portion of Latin and 
 Greek. "The union of sound learning with genuine 
 piety, is what every one must admire and desire in a 
 Christian pastor; butaman maydo immense good with 
 nothing more than an unlearned familiarity with the 
 Scriptures, with sound practical sense and activity, 
 taking part in all the business of the parish, and devot- 
 ing himself to intercourse with men rather than with 
 books. I honour such men in the highest degree, 
 and think that they are among the most valuable 
 ministers that the church possesses."* In the mean 
 * " Dr. Arnold's Letters." Vol. ii. p. 170. 
 
 f> 
 
 
 11 
 
70 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 time, however, until the clergy shall bear some pro- 
 portion to the population, we must have recourse to 
 lay-assistants to supply, in some small measure, the 
 much to be deplored deficiency. " For myself, I will 
 openly declare, that I see not how we can dare for 
 any of those small professional objections, which may 
 be urged, if they are sought for, against every 
 comprehensive scheme of good, to refuse such aid 
 in this our great necessity. It might be well enough 
 for men, sitting calmly in their closets, and forget- 
 ting all these mighty issues, to cavil and to speculate, 
 to raise difficulties as to the exact mission of the lay- 
 reader, and 1 wish (as which of us does not wish ? ) 
 that bands of zealous, well-timed, devoted deacons 
 ministered instead among these crowds ; but it will not 
 do for us, my reverend brethren, who know that souls 
 are thus perishing around us, to bring upon ourselves 
 the guilt of their blood ; to let them be unwarned, 
 and drag us with them into their destruction, because, 
 through blinding prejudice, or the widely compre- 
 hensive sin of omission, we have, for a whole genera- 
 tion, shut out of a })arish the light which might have 
 streamed into it." "• 
 
 Madeley, Dec. 4th, 1815. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 On the evening previous tu my receiving your very 
 kind and truly acceptable letter, I had been speaking 
 in the town from those words of our Lord, " Pray ye, 
 therefore, rhe Lord of the harvest, that he would 
 send [or rather thrust] forth labourers into his har- 
 vest ;" and we all seemed to find it a profitable 
 season, especially when, in conclusion, we were pray- 
 ing that this important blessing might be realized. 
 
 * " Archdoacou (now Bishop of Oxford) Wllberforcc's 
 Charge, lH4o," p. 17. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 n 
 
 When your kind favour arrived, I saw more than 
 ever, the propriety of beseeching God to " thrust" 
 them out ; for surely nothing but main force can com- 
 pel desirable labourers. Others come at a moment's 
 bidding — no useful employments detain them — no 
 endeared relatives or friends hang about them, con- 
 scientiously and feelingly pressing their continuance 
 among them. But when a prepared labourer, one 
 whom " the Lord of the harvest" has previously 
 been fitting for his ministerial work ; when such a 
 one is fixed on, none but the Lord himself can bring 
 him out. I have, therefore, only one resource, and 
 that is prayer ; this, however, I am privilged to use, 
 and this I must still hope will eventually prevail. I 
 assure you it would prove a source of no small joy 
 to myself to welcome you among us for your initiatory 
 work ; for, independent of the personal gratification 
 and profit which T must promise myself, your help 
 in various ways would be exceedingly acceptable to 
 the people. The most populous parts of the parish 
 greatly want help, and most gladly avail themselves 
 
 of the little which I and T are able to give 
 
 them. At present I feel as though I could do but 
 little more ; I have, indeed, one leisure evening 
 during the week ; but even this they have been 
 asking from me, and I fear to deny them. My good 
 friend need not, therefore, be afraid of eating the 
 bread of idleness, by secluding himself for a short 
 season among us; and with regard to his future 
 employment, a single month's actual residence in a 
 place tolerably populous will fully convince him 
 how much work of the highest importance will call 
 for his daily and even hourly attention. And are 
 there not hundr'^^^ of places of this description 
 opening to our v.&hes? "Truly the harvest is 
 plenteous," but with pain I must still add, that 
 "the labourers are few." 
 
 I felt very thankful to hear of the determination 
 
 
72 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ill 
 
 of your friend B , relative to entering into 
 
 orders, and of the kind and judicious conduct of the 
 bishop — a conduct, however, but seldom adopted. 
 The determination of many on the bench to admit 
 those only into orders who have previously been at 
 college, is, indeed, calculated to secure a certain 
 portion of Latin and Greek in the Establishment ; 
 but, at the same time, to exclude from it, in many 
 instances, that which it more needs and which 
 would more effectually conduce to its stability and 
 true respectability ; I mean, vital, genuine piety. 
 What a mercy it is, however, that their determination 
 has been in so many cases made void, and that there 
 is not an instance to be found in which a pious young 
 man has eventually been exclud-rL I think, I 
 hinted to you, when you kindly visited us in the 
 summer, that I am too sensible of the dismal fore- 
 bodings of kind friends to let slip an opportunity of 
 putting you again in remembrince. But, my dear 
 friend, with all our zeal for the progress of the 
 Lord's work around us, we must not forget its 
 progress within us. I know not hov/ you may feel, 
 but, with regard to myself, I am constrained to 
 acknowledge, that while I am endeavouring to mind 
 the vineyards of others, I too frequently neglect my 
 own. I get more and more of the habit of thinking 
 spiritually — speaking spiritually — and even acting 
 spiritually ; but there seems in my own experience a 
 great deficiency in point of feeling. Spiritual things 
 are not brought home to my own mind by an im- 
 mediate and constant self-application. I seem like a 
 spiritual purveyor who is convinced that nothing 
 but spi) ituality will do, and, therefore, my constant 
 endeavour is to convey, and to exhibit it. But 
 still, I fear, at times, lest all this is more in reference 
 to others than to myself. I hope, however, that the 
 act of conveying and exhibiting it, is not altogether 
 unattended with good to myself; for the channel 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 73 
 
 imbibes some of the water which passes through it ; 
 and, as Leighton observes, " The boxes in which our 
 perfumes are kept for garments and other uses, are 
 themselves perfumed by keepinj; them." 
 
 *«^ ^^ ^^ ^> %^ ml^ ^^ 
 
 ff* ^% ^^ 'T^ *^ ^^ V^ 
 
 What a world of instruction is conveyed to us in 
 that beautiful passage of the prophet, " In returning 
 and in rest ye shall be saved!" Now when I fail, 
 or when I wander, too often, instead of quietly 
 returning and resuming my endeavours, I am apt to 
 sink into myself, and be discouraged. In short, I 
 seem rather to brood over my failures than to get 
 pardon for them, and t set about their amendment. 
 My paper tells me that I cannot enlarge ; I must, 
 therefore, conclude, with the assurance that the best 
 wishes of Mrs. M. and myself continue to attend 
 yourself and all your circle. 
 
 I remain. 
 Your truly aifectionate and s^icere Friend, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE rev. JOHN ARMSTRONG, 
 
 Madeley, Dec. 29tli, 1815. 
 
 * 
 
 My dear Arr; strong, 
 
 :>: * * :l; i * * * 
 
 O^' the 9th instant, dear Mrs. Fletcher was removed 
 from the church militant to the church triumphant, 
 from a sorrowing church below to a glorious ono 
 above. The last few months of her life were attended 
 with much pain, but liow sweetly did the Christian 
 beam through all ! In her former years she seems 
 to have been called more particularly to glorify God 
 by an unusual degree of activity and usefulness. 
 Latterly, she has been called to bear and suffer ; but 
 all in the spirit of her Divine Master. O my dear 
 
74 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ill 
 
 I 
 
 I'' 
 [') 
 
 friend, how gladly would I join her glorified spirit 
 hy makinjr my osripefrom a world of sin and sorrow! 
 Do not, how ,u, mistake me; I do, indeed, love 
 home, and si nn^r- would it be were it otherwise, 
 hui still [ wjui't iiot run away to get there. I see 
 thfii tJicre Hi much for me still, both to do and to 
 sulVi'v r aaJ ny such, rather than pettislily desiring to 
 dep u't, I WO! 1(1 . almly and quietly wish to wait — 
 wait till all xuy discipline is over, till I am better 
 fitted and prepared for my inheritance among the 
 saints in li^^ht. 
 
 * 
 
 While my Mary's letter lies before me, I feel 
 disposed to copy another part of it, relative to the 
 management of school children. " I was much pleased 
 a few weeks since at the national school. Dr. Bell's 
 arrangements are well made, and the mistress he has 
 appointed is an uncommonly clever woman, just fit for 
 that situation, and apparently for none else. I asked 
 her how she managed with the children when any 
 of them used improper language, having myself been 
 much troubled with this at our Shoreditch school ? 
 She said such a case rarely occvrred, bnt when it 
 did, she found it better to convince the understamling 
 of the evil, than merelv to correct for tlie individual 
 fault ; and as she was particular in explaining the 
 catechism, commandments, &c., she had in general 
 little troubk in bringing such faults home. For 
 example, she said, 'A 1 v days since, about twenty of 
 the girls came to me, and said, " O Governess ! 
 little Chambers has said a very wicked v;ord." 1 
 lifted up my hands, and said, " Blessed are the peace 
 makers." If twenty of you had come to tell me of a 
 good deed, I would gladly have listened, but go away 
 and be ashamed at being so pleased to publish the 
 faults of a school-fellow. I thought it right, however, 
 not to let it go unnoticed ; and therefore called to me 
 jirivately tL. monitor of the class. She said, " Indeed, 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMEU, M.A. 
 
 75 
 
 governess, it was a very naughty word, it was O God." 
 I said, " Very well, that is enough." I then went 
 round to the diflferent classes, who were saying the 
 catechism ; after a while I came to this class, and after 
 having asked several children the commandments, I 
 said (pointing the fore finger,) ** Little Chambers, 
 do you say the third." She immediately burst into 
 tears, and said, ** O Governess ! I did say a naughty 
 word, but I will never do so again, if you will forgive 
 me this once." ' This is not according to the plan of 
 correction generally pursued at schools, but it appears 
 to me much more judicious and more likely to pro- 
 duce lasting: benefit." 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 My Mary joins me in kindest and most Christian 
 regards to yourself and dear Mrs. A., and in love to 
 all your family, and 
 
 I remain. 
 
 Yours ever affectionately, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO HIS sister. 
 
 Madeley, Jan. 26tb, 1816. 
 
 jNIv dear Marv, 
 I HAVE been much struck of late with the forcible 
 manner in which the providence of God has been co- 
 operating with his word in the endeavour to teach 
 me a lesson, which, of all others, I find so exceed- 
 ingly ditficult to learn ; I mean that of so numberiug 
 m}'^ days as to apply my heart unto wisdom. The 
 removal of my dear mother-iu-law, the unusual num- 
 ber of deaths among all uescrijitions of persons in 
 my own immediate neigl bourhood, and especially 
 that of Mrs. Fletcher ; all these conspirini^ circum- 
 stances loudly enforce the necessity of hmit:; sober 
 and watching unto prav) ;, of having my loins girt 
 
 li'i 
 
 * 
 
76 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 and my lamp burning', of being in a prepared posture 
 of expectation, waiting for the coming of my Lord. 
 These effects, I am thankful to state, have in some 
 measure been gratefully traced by me in my recent 
 experience. One thing seems to me more than ever 
 to be truly needful, not indeed the obtaining and the 
 securing of inheritances below, but the getting pre- 
 pared for my inheritance above — an inheritance to 
 which every day and every hour spent for God is 
 adding some increase of comfort, and which, when 
 once possessed, will be found to be worth the pos- 
 sessing — an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and 
 which fadeth not away. my dear Mary, how does 
 the grand enemy of our souls destroy by deluding ! 
 how does he infatuate the world at large ! how gross 
 also the deception which he practises even upon be- 
 lievers themselves, making then live nine-tenths of 
 their time, if not sinfully, at least uselessly for them- 
 selves, or for the world, instead of for God and eter- 
 nity, as a matter of course, instead of with a pure and 
 single aim. But, alas! what is any action when 
 stripped of its proper motive, I mean the glory of 
 God. A man may give liberally to the poor, he 
 may carefully regulate his household, bring up his 
 children decently and even morally, and restrain his 
 domestics from immoralities and inconsistencies. 
 But if our liberality is connected with our own repu- 
 tation, if our children be merely educated that they 
 may bring credit and comfort to us, or if our depend- 
 ents are restrained and their good consulted, be- 
 cause it would reflect dishonour upon us to pursue a 
 contrary course ; if these be our motives, what are 
 they after all but mere selfishness ? There is no re- 
 ference to God in all these Jiotions, and, of course, no 
 eternal reward can be exjvected from them. Their 
 reference is to ourselves and that also in our present 
 state, hue the future is Wft entirely out of the question. 
 1 grant, indeed, that a present reward is obtained. 
 
REV. OEORGE MOUTIMER, M.A. 
 
 77 
 
 but this is all, and, in fact, it is all which in most 
 cases is sought for. The benevolent man has the repu- 
 tation for benevolence, which he seeks ; the moral 
 educator of his children has the satisfaction of seeing 
 them orderly and decent, and they bring to him the 
 temporal comfort which he desired ; the strict and 
 moral master has in the same way the present fruit 
 of his labours. But if God's glory, if a sincere de- 
 sire of pleasing him, has not been combined with the 
 motives of these respective individuals, no eternal 
 fruit will be found from them. They die with this 
 present world. How uselessly, then, if not sinfully, 
 are the generality of persons employed, and what 
 need have we all to strive to live more completely 
 under the influence of unseen celestial realities ! I 
 feel these truths while I am writing them, and the 
 earnest prayer of my soul is, that, as a consequence 
 of them, my inheritance may rather be in reserve 
 than in immediate possession. 
 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Salop. March 4th, 1816. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 
 't* T» *?• '^ 
 
 * 
 
 You may perhaps recollect that in one of my former 
 
 letters 1 mentioned as a violent opposer of 
 
 everything which had the least appearance of real 
 godliness. He also has been called from among us, 
 and that in a manner which of all others seemed 
 most likely to excite attention, and lead to serious 
 inquiry. O, my dear friend, what a mercy is it 
 that our feet have not been treading in the same 
 unhallowed })aths ! We see in him what we our- 
 selves should have been, had we been left to our- 
 selves. To the grace of God — Arminian as you 
 
 'M 
 
 I 
 
 ;1 
 
78 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF Tllli 
 
 ) 
 
 conceive me to be— 
 should be ascribed, 
 afflictive stroke with 
 perfect resignation 
 
 am fully couviiired the reason 
 
 Dear Mr. bears the 
 
 of acute feelings and 
 I should 
 
 have imagined the 
 
 a unio)i 
 
 such as IS seldom seen. 
 
 stroke would have almost over- 
 whelmed him ; but what cannot the grace of God 
 enable us to bear ? 
 
 You imagine that now I am fixed at Madeley, I have 
 become more a Methodist than ever. If by the term 
 you mean an attachment to their peculiar doctrines, 
 I must confess that you are not very far from the 
 mark ; for I feel more than ever persuaded that with 
 some sHght n)odiiicatior,> they are the truth. The 
 more I pray, and study, and ex}»erience, and preach, 
 the more do I see of their aceorJancy with the whole 
 revealed will of God. All seems intelligible, all in 
 unison. But though more decided than ever, I trust 
 that I am no bigot. I exclude, I would deal out 
 contemptuous pity to, no one ; and, therefore, God 
 forbid, that I should at any time lay that stress ui)on 
 dispaced points which sli )uld lead my dear friend to 
 imagine, that because we do not quite see alike, that, 
 therefore, I feel the least atom of diminution in j)oint 
 of affection. I can from my heart assure him that 
 it is no such thing. Should you, however, fancy that 
 by my coming to Madeley, J am more of a Methodist, 
 because I am less of a Churchman ; in this respect, I 
 feel, then, I can altogether clear myself. The fact is, 
 the more I see of Methodism, the less do i admire 
 it. There is that party spirit, that uncommon wish 
 to proselyte, that settled jealousy against those who 
 ai'e more successful in their endeavours — in short, 
 that spirit which, if suffered to proceed, would com- 
 pletely undermine our most excellent Establishment, 
 and erect itself in its stead, that though I cannot but 
 greatly love and admire some of its members, as a body 
 I dare not give them that countenance or support 
 which I should do were their doctrines the only point 
 
REV. OROROB MORTIMER, M. V. 79 
 
 in coii"<i(len' ion. I tljorctbrc hnvc adopted all tlmt 
 strikes nie as good in their system, but at the same 
 time keep uyseU' and ])eo{)le j)erteclly distinct. Hy 
 this iiicnus, 1 have ill-will and opposition to an extent 
 which ywu wcxild hardly conceive ; but I go quietly 
 and lovjhL^ly tbrvard, and T thank God my j)lans 
 have hitherto well succeeded, and 1 feel quite con- 
 vinced that all will cventuallv be wdl. What i)ro- 
 vokcs most opposition, is my usiiii^t ic same weapons 
 which have so successfully been employed by them- 
 selves, and that with the increased advantage of their 
 being combined with all tlie weight of influence con- 
 nected with the Establishment. I wish my dear 
 friend would try the same weapons, and he would 
 soon see the most beneficial effects. * * * * 
 
 Believe me, with kindest regards to yourself and 
 Mrs. A., 
 
 Your truly affectionate Friend, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Salop. Aug. 5, 1816. 
 ]\Iy dear Armstrong, 
 
 *^ kU «V *l^ ^ *^ *i* 
 
 #1* rj* *J» r|^ ^p •^ ^% 
 
 Your tv,o or three last letters, but more particularly 
 the latst of all, seem written under a degree of de- 
 pression which I am greatly concerned to observe. 
 While engaged in doing a great work, while filling an 
 important post, and that with no small measure of 
 patient perseverance, you suffer yourself to suppose 
 that you are doing almost nothing. While your 
 friends which you have left behind you are admiring 
 the zeal and the love which have enabled you to tear 
 yourself from the comforts of civilized and refined 
 society, and thus to forget, as it were, your own 
 
 

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 23 WEST MAiN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) •72-4S03 
 
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80 
 
 LIFB AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 people and your father's house, while they are 
 thankful for the grace of God within you, you are so 
 diseouragingly comparing yourself with a Schwartz 
 and a Van der Kemp, as to request of your unworthy 
 friend that he would pray for you, lest, after all, you 
 should prove a castaway. Now, my dear Arm- 
 strong, what must I say to such feelings and 
 requests ? Must I sympathise with my dear 
 desponding friend ? I do so from my heart ; but I 
 must also chide with- him : you overlook the tender 
 mercies of God towards you ; you keep your eye not 
 on the bright side, but on that which is dark, gloomy, 
 and foreboding; and thus faith and confidence in 
 your loving and omnipotent Redeemer seem dormant 
 and inactive principles. But what is the language 
 of the Saviour under such circumstances of dis- 
 couragement ? It is that which he addressed to 
 Martha at the grave of Lazarus : " Said I not 
 unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, thou 
 shouldst see the glory of God?" It is that also 
 which he used towards the afflicted father, who with 
 tears requested that, if he could do anything, he 
 would have compassion on him, and help him : " If 
 thou canst believe, all things are possible to him 
 that believeth.*' Believe then, my dear friend, 
 through all your difficulties and discouragements, 
 and your temporary darkness will be succeeded by 
 glorious and abiding Ught. The clouds which for a 
 season overspread your horizon will be dispelled, and 
 your glistening eye will be cheered with a bright and 
 resplendent day. Perhaps, however, you may tell 
 me, that faith is the gift of God, and that we must 
 wait till this hinging blessing be bestowed. But are 
 not all the gifts of God to be obtanied upon the 
 simple condition of asking ? and were you to ask for 
 this gift, or for its increase, would the blessed. God 
 deny it ? I have often found it exceedingly useful 
 to my own mind, after having fallen upon my knees 
 
 (( 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 81 
 
 to pray to that God who has promised to give to us 
 all that we ask in faith, — I have found it profitable to 
 ask previously, that the Lord would give me faith to 
 believe that the petitions which I should present 
 before his throne of grace, would be answered by 
 him, and, as a consequence, my faith has been 
 strengthened far beyond its usual exercise. And 
 with regard to discouraging circumstances, my con- 
 stant prayer has been that my faith might not fail. 
 Since I came into this parish, I have had di€iculties 
 to encounter, such as some of my dearest friends and 
 fellow-labourers have confessed that they should not 
 have dared to meet, and I must acknowledge, that, 
 at times, I have sighed, and wept, and groaned, 
 being burdened ; and have had many a thought of 
 leaving my arduous post to some more intrepid and 
 persevering spirit. But something seemed con- 
 tinually to be whispering to my dejected mind, " only 
 believe," "let not your faith fail you," and I 
 blessed God that through all I was enabled, in some 
 sort, to believe, though not without many a tre- 
 mulous assertion, and equally trembling prayer, 
 " Lord, 1 believe, help thou mine unbelief." And 
 it is with unfeigned gratitude towards the blessed 
 God, that I feel it my duty to add, that all my 
 storms have, for the present at least, completely 
 blown over, and that success has been vouchsafed to 
 my poor mean insignificant labours, such as my most 
 sanguine expectations could in no wise have imagined. 
 Should I not say, then, to my dear friend, as an 
 experimental result " from believing verily to see the 
 goodness of the Lord in the land of the living," — 
 ** O tarry thou the Lord's leisure, be strong, and he 
 shall comfort thine heart;" "Wait, I say, on the 
 Lord" ? But here I feel, as usual, that I must 
 check myself. I forget to whom I am writing, and 
 likewise what I am inditing : I forget that I am 
 addressing one who has that anointing from above 
 
 ^> 
 
 A 
 
 I. 
 
 G 
 
 m 
 
82 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 which teacheth all things, and that I am not com- 
 posing a sermon, but scribbling a letter. 
 
 I know not whether you were acquainted with 
 
 S , of our college, and B , of Trinity. The 
 
 former I used occasionally to meet, and was accus- 
 tomed to consider him as one of the very holiest 
 men at college. Since my last letter, however, he, 
 B , and two others, have left the Church, be- 
 cause they could not read the ten commandments, 
 and are nov/ preaching all the heights and depths of 
 eternal election, eternal justification, and eternal 
 sanctification : they have likewise begun to ordain 
 
 others, and R K , the member for L , 
 
 has vacated his seat, and received ordination from 
 them. The moderate Calvinists are endeavouring to 
 stop the growing evil, but I am sorry to say, that 
 among many it is sadly spreading. It has had one 
 good eflFect, however ; it has made many of the high 
 men, as they are termed, much more guarded and 
 circumspect. ****** 
 
 Mary and my brother unite with me in very 
 kindest love to yourself, and most respectful and 
 affectionate remembrances to Mrs. A., and I may 
 likewise add, in very best wishes and earnest prayers 
 for your dear children. 
 
 I remain your very sincere Friend, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Sept. 30, 1816. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 I SUPPOSE that you are aware, that, as resident curate, 
 I am entitled to the use of the vicarage-house. 
 During Mrs. Fletcher's life, I waved my claim in 
 her favour : but after her decease, I appUed to the 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 com- 
 
 with 
 The 
 
 BICCUS- 
 
 loUest 
 r, he, 
 h, be- 
 [nents, 
 )ths of 
 eternal 
 ordain 
 
 L , 
 
 n from 
 iring to 
 jr, that 
 lad one 
 be high 
 led and 
 
 in very 
 ful and 
 I may 
 prayers 
 
 RTIMER. 
 
 L 1816. 
 
 curate, 
 3-house. 
 klaim in 
 to the 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 83 
 
 Tiear, and now that it has been put into pretty 
 extensive repair, we have taken up our abode in it, 
 and a most holy happy spot we do indeed find it. 
 In the room where I am now writing, some of my 
 older parishioners state, that they have frequently 
 taken their tea with both Mr. and Mrs. F., and 
 well remember the happy seasons they enjoyed. In 
 the room in which we commonly sit, they both of 
 them departed in the Lord. In a third chamber, 
 
 Mr. F was accustomed to retire for more private 
 
 and wrestling prayer, and, as we read in his Ufe, the 
 wall of which was stained with his breath while 
 importunately pleading. Another room nas the 
 bureau at which he was accustomed to write, and 
 which, with many other things, he left in his will 
 for the use of his successors, that the house might 
 not be the worse for his having had it. In a word, 
 almost every spot and fixture reminds us pleasingly 
 of those exalted characters who have preceded us, 
 and call forth many an earnest prayer, and many a 
 private ejaculation, that those who follow them may 
 drink deeper and deeper into their blessed spirit, and 
 tread more and more closely in their pious and 
 spiritual steps. 
 
 Dear Mrs. Fletcher once mentioned to us, that one 
 day, shortly after her coming to Madeley, she re- 
 marked to Mr. F., as they were entering upon their 
 premises, that she did not know how it was, but that 
 she always felt a measure of divine influence whenever 
 she entered within the gate. The holy man answered 
 that he was not surprised to hear her say so, for that 
 there was not a single brick or a stone in the whole 
 premises which had not been sanctified by prayer. I 
 feel somewhat in the same way with Mrs. F — y and 
 though I am aware that God is everywhere present, 
 and that all spots may equally share in this his 
 glorious presence, yet I cannot but think that some 
 places are privileged beyond others, and though, per- 
 
 g2 
 
 "R'l 
 
 Cli: 
 
 iil 
 
84 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 haps, my Honduras friend may smile at his Madeley 
 enthusiast, yet I must frankly confess to you, that I 
 consider it as no small privilege that I dwell in the 
 house, as well as labour in the parish, of one so 
 peculiarly devoted to God. The days I have already 
 spent here have been, without any exception, the 
 happiest I have spent upon earth. Week after week 
 has rolled round in the peaceful enjoyment of the 
 presence of the blessed God. My most painful and 
 laborious duties have been not only easy, but a 
 source of thankfulness and joy far beyond any of my 
 former experience. In a word, I seem to have known 
 some little, at least, of what is so beautifully described 
 in one of my favourite hymns : — 
 
 
 "Far above all earthly things, 
 
 While yet my hands are here employed ; 
 Sees my soul the King of kings 
 And freely talks with God." 
 
 Pray for me, my dear Armstrong, that these feel- 
 ings may not be transitory, but abiding and ever 
 increasing. I too often rest contented with the 
 mere husks of religion, instead of feeding on the 
 substantial and the nourishing corn. I am too gene- 
 rally satisfied with the outward life of the Christian, 
 the regulation of my conduct, temper, disposition, 
 pursuits, and so on ; while that inward life of God 
 within the soul, that communion with the Father of 
 spirits and the Son of his love, is too commonly over- 
 looked. I want a deep work of his grace within my 
 soul, and this I am now endeavouring in my poor 
 feeble way to pray for, if so be that I may eventually 
 obtain ; but my unbelieving heart tells me, that I 
 never was cut out for anything like spirituality. One 
 text of Scripture, however, still encourages me, " This 
 is the will of God even your sanctification;" and 
 therefore though faint, I would still be persevering. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 85 
 
 To-morrow evening, being the first Tuesday after 
 €|uarter-clay, our church classes hold their quarterly 
 meetings for the second time. The first time of their 
 meeting was a season which will long be remembered 
 by me with gratitude. My heart quite melted to 
 hear so many declare, that, under God, they owned 
 their first religious good to my poor feeble ministra- 
 tions, and when in the fulness of their hearts they 
 could not refrain from thanking the good Lord who 
 had brought me among them. And I felt the more 
 astonished and thankful inasmuch as I never had a 
 fourth part of the like success in all the former years 
 put together in which I had been labouring elsewhere. 
 Oh, what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits 
 conferred upon me ? I will take the cup of salvation 
 and call upon the name of the Lord — still call upon 
 him for his future help and blessing, for without 
 this I feel I can do nothing. Our little classes, I am 
 thankful to state, are gradually increasing. I think 
 we reckon sixty-seven in all. As to one or two, I 
 feel constrained to stand in doubt, but the rest 1 
 trust are sincere souls. But, while I thus number 
 my little flock, I feel that there is necessity to 
 guard against the spirit of David : I endeavour to do 
 this, and to sink down before God under a continual 
 sense of my own nothingness ; but pride is a subtle 
 enemy, and, as Dr. "Watts so correctly observes, 
 
 ** We cannot make his glories known, 
 But self-applause creeps in." 
 
 
 I remain yours very truly, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 
80 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Madeley, May 24, 1817. 
 My dear Mary, 
 In the course of Mr. Bailey's attendance upon Mary, 
 we had frequent opportunities of conversation, and, 
 as I feel desirous of turning the conversation to those 
 points on which persons feel most capable, as well as 
 most desirous of talking, we frequently touched upon 
 medical subjects. One day I told him my fears that 
 both Mary and myself were consumptive, and that 
 we had often talked about the possibility of our being 
 removed in this way. He said, in reply, that Mrs. 
 
 M was not a consumptive subject, at least he had 
 
 discovered nothing as yet which led him to suppose 
 it ; and that, with regard to myself, whatever pre- 
 disposition I might have had towards it in early life, 
 it had since taken another course. I wished to 
 know what he meant by its having gone off in a 
 different channel, even supposing that the predisposi- 
 tion once existed, when he told me the following 
 anecdote : — His father was a medical man and accus- 
 tomed to speak his mind without reserve. He used 
 
 to visit the C s in the place where they then 
 
 lived, and knowing their constitutions pretty accu- 
 rately he used to say, the B s (meaning his own 
 
 family) will go oiF into livers, and the C s into 
 
 lungs, intimating that these disorders would carry 
 them oflF. Fanny, however (who was one of the 
 
 C s, and similarly deformed with myself), he 
 
 thought, owing to her form would out-live them all, 
 
 and escape the family disease. The B s removed 
 
 from the place, and Mr. B having occasion to go 
 
 there again after about twenty years' absence, was 
 naturally led to inquire after his old friends, when he 
 found that all of them, excepting Fanny, had been 
 removed by consumption, and that she, feeling her 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 87 
 
 in a 
 
 spirits affected by living in the place where all her 
 family had died, had gone eitlier to London, or some 
 such place, for society, but was otherwise quite well. 
 
 Mr. B then told me, that he had no doubt that 
 
 this was the case with myself also, and that very 
 many similar cases had occurred. I had often 
 thought that I could trace much spiritual benefit as 
 resulting from ray bodily form; nay, I have even 
 been led to thank God for it, conceiving it very pro- 
 bable that it had been the saving of my soul ; but 
 little did I imagine that it conduced in any way to 
 my bodily comfort, and that it has probably been 
 the saving of my life. O my dear sister, how little 
 do we know of the goodness of the Lord towards the 
 children of men ; and how little, with our present 
 imperfect powers, shall we ever be able to know in 
 this present world; but what we do know tends to 
 show us in characters written as it were with a sun- 
 beam, ** He doeth all things well." 
 
 Extracted from a letter to his sister, dated Mav 
 
 17, 1817:— 
 
 ** Happy in married life. 
 
 " Should your union, my beloved sister, with Mr. 
 H. prove to you what mine has with Mary, you 
 will be disposed to consider with myself that this 
 ordinance is not merely divine, but to be ranked 
 amongst the foremost of God's gifts to man." 
 
 Extract of a letter, dated June 2, 1817 : — 
 
 " As to myself, I feel that I have increasing cause 
 for gratitude in all that concerns me. I think I 
 never felt so truly blessed in any former period of 
 my life. I really have no earthly desire unfulfilled ; 
 my cup literally runs over. God is also very gra- 
 ciously pleased to prosper me in my ministerial 
 labours. I have the satisfaction of seeing fresh 
 trophies of the Redeemer's power to save ; and my 
 heart is rejoiced in seeing those whom the Lord has 
 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
88 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 gathered around me, walking, in some measure at 
 least, as bccometh the Gospel of Christ. To these, 
 indeed, there are, as there is reason to fear there 
 ever will be, some painful exceptions ; but, upon 
 the whole, I have abundant cause for thanksgiving 
 and praise. In the midst of all these causes for joy, 
 I have many a memento that the excellence of the 
 power is of God, and not of men ; the cracked 
 earthen vessel is but too apparent. For this, how- 
 ever, I hope I feel grateful ; for what is so great a 
 blessing to a poor, proud, selfish being, such as I am 
 constrained to acknowledge myself, as occasional hu- 
 miUations ? They are the very medicine of my soul.'* 
 
 After referring to two cases of affliction in his 
 family, he writes to his friend abroad, dated August 
 4,1817:— 
 
 ** But out of all the Lord has most graciously 
 dehvered us ; and I can look back upon the whole 
 with real gratitude to God. There was not a stroke 
 or a drop too much ; all was merciful in the design, 
 and I hope the benefits still remain. Tribulation 
 working * patience,' a calm waiting upon God. 
 Patience an * experience' of his divine support at 
 the time, and an experience of his eventual deliver- 
 ance. Experience * hope,' an expectation of future 
 help and future deliverance ; and this hope will not 
 make me ashamed. There were times in which I 
 felt this to be a weary land ; but still I found the 
 shadow of a great Rock, and this shade was truly re- 
 freshing to my soul. Oh, that I could ever there abide ! 
 
 " I think I mentioned to you that our mutual friend 
 Cox had the Uving of Bridgenorth presented to him. 
 He has been there now some months, but he labours 
 under very great discouragement, owing to the little 
 effect resulting from his ministrations. A few weeks 
 ago he wished that we should exchange duties, 
 hoping that my Methodistical zeal might arouse 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 89 
 
 ■ 
 
 them. After an enumeration of the probable con- 
 sequences to which he must make up his nihul, I at 
 length consented, and, as I supposed, the stir has 
 been great ; rascal, villain, ranter, field preacher, are 
 the usual epithets attached to my opprobrious name. 
 A petition has been drawn up, with many signatures 
 attached, requesting Cox to forbid me his pulpit ; in 
 short, the whole place has been in a hubbub. In- 
 quiry, however, begins to take place, the stagnant 
 waters are moved, and after the working off of the 
 scum and the grosser particles, we may expect to 
 see purer and even living waters. Cox answered 
 their petition with becoming spirit, united with 
 pleasing conciliation. It has, I find, given great 
 offence, notwithstanding all ; but we wait for the 
 issue in a spirit of prayer. It is somewhat remark- 
 able that Bridgenorth was the place in which Hichard 
 Baxter, author of the "Saint's Rest," met with such 
 decided opposition, that as he went out of the town, 
 he shook off the dust of his feet as a testimony 
 against them ; and, since that time, no preached 
 gospel has prospered among them. The Dissenters 
 and even the warm-hearted Methodists have hitherto 
 laboured almost in vain. But who knows how soon 
 the curse may be removed ? We keep encouraging 
 Cox all that we possibly can, but he seems deter- 
 mined at present to leave. tJnite your prayers, my 
 dear friend, with ours, that he may not be permitted 
 to desert this wilderness and solitary place, but that 
 he may patiently wait till he rejoices over it as a 
 peculiarly verdant spot in the garden of our Lord.'* 
 
 \ 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Madeley, 21st Nov. 1817. 
 
 My dear Mary, 
 The case of conscience with which your letter begins 
 is such as would puzzle a much more expert casuist 
 
90 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 than I ever expect to be ; and, therefore, after 
 reading all that you have written upon the subject, 
 as explanatory of your views and feelings, I feel 
 more disposed to commend you in prayer to the 
 teachings of God's most Holy Spirit, than attempt 
 to darken counsel by words without knowledge. I 
 am sensible, however, that this may originate in an 
 unwillingness to meet a difficulty from a conscious- 
 ness of the scantiness of my spiritual information, 
 and from a fear of the consequent poor opinion you 
 might entertain of me for my want of success, I 
 will, therefore, hazard a few remarks. It has always 
 struck me that the creature occupies an improper 
 place when we consider it in any way essential to our 
 good, when we fancy that there is any absolute and 
 positive necessity for the presence of any one thing 
 m order to constitute us happy. It was God's de- 
 claration to Abraham, " I am the Almighty [the 
 all-sufficient] God ; walk before me, and be thou 
 perfect." And St. Paul so fully realized this, that 
 he lived, as it were, completely independent of the 
 creature ; he found his God an all-sufficient portion, 
 quite adequate of himself to satisfy the largest de- 
 sires of his soul. He could, therefore, take pleasure 
 in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, &c. ; 
 for he experimentally found that, as his afflictions 
 abounded, his consolations did much more abound. 
 In a word, he discovered in his God a happiness 
 which was not merely independent of the creature, 
 but which flourished and abounded under circum- 
 stances most hkely to interrupt or destroy it. The 
 fact is, that the creature is only an arbitrary channel, 
 the pipe, if I may so speak, which a God of love has 
 been pleased to choose, in order to convey his bene- 
 fits. The pipe is neither the benefit, nor the source ; 
 and, of course, though it is conducive to our comfort, 
 though it may in many respects be subservient to our 
 welfare, yet it is by no means essentially necessary. 
 
 ' 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 91 
 
 . 
 
 for God is the God of all consolation, whether 
 intermediately or immediately conveyed, and should 
 He, on any occasion, see fit to remove the medium, 
 the same and even more abounding happiness may 
 be received immediately from Himself; and since 
 God is infinite in his wisdom and in his love, tliis 
 will be so, provided it be for our good. And if we 
 need not the former quantum of happiness, if it 
 would prove injurious to us, is it not a mercy that 
 it should be denied? But perhaps you will ask. 
 How are we to know whether we love the creature 
 too much or not? How is it to be ascertained 
 whether we regard it as essential to our good, or 
 merely subservient to it ? This may be ascertained 
 in two wavs — Ist, How do we feel when our channels 
 are removed ? Does it seem as though our all were 
 gone ? If after a prop has been removed from under 
 us, we immediately fall, it is evident that our whole 
 weight has been placed upon it ; if we stagger and 
 stumble, though by dexterity we may recover our- 
 selves, and not actually fall, yet we show that too 
 much of our weight was resting on it ; but if, after 
 its removal, we stand upright as before, it is manifest, 
 as Archbishop Leighton observes, that we have been 
 leaning not on our prop, but on an invisible arm for 
 support. The application is easy. But I suggested 
 another means of ascertaining the same point. What 
 are our feelings under any probable expectations of 
 the removal of our channel ? This, however, is so 
 closely allied with the former that it needs no sepa- 
 rate enlargement or elucidation. It is evident that 
 the man who is filled with alarm at the bare idea of 
 the removal of his gold, is too much in love with it, 
 and, more or less, is making it his god. And he 
 who, with more specious refinement of taste, dreads 
 the interruption of his social pleasures, or the re- 
 moval of some of his wonted sources of good, follows 
 but too closely in the same steps. God must be 
 
 s 
 
92 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 owned and felt as our all in all. He must be re- 
 garded, not merely as our supreme good, but as our 
 only good, as that which is alone necessary. In a 
 word, all I have to say is summed up in those two 
 expressive lines in the Methodist hymn-book, 
 
 111 
 \i 
 
 ** Lead me where I my heaven may find, 
 The heaven of loving Thee alone." 
 
 About the end of the year 1817, Mr. Mortimer 
 entertained serious thoughts of going out to New 
 Zealand as a missionary, and for this end corre- 
 sponded with the secretary of the *' Church Missionary 
 Society" on the subject; and it so happened that 
 about this time also two New Zealand chiefs. Tool 
 and Teterree, arrived in England, and it was proposed 
 that they should abide for awhile at Madeley, which 
 they accordingly did. The providence of God, how- 
 ever, did not seem to open his way for removing to a 
 far-distant land, and he acquiesced in the result with 
 his usual loving submission to the will of God. The 
 following letter to the writer gives some account 
 of the way by which he was led to contemplate the 
 step referred to : — 
 
 Madeley, Nov. 26th, 1817. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 Many incidents have occurred since it has pleased 
 God to separate us, in which I should have regarded 
 it as an exceedingly great comfort to my mind could 
 I have consulted you, and obtained from you either 
 your veto or procedas ; but I think that I never felt 
 the want of it more than at present. I hardly know 
 whether I ought to puzzle you with a long detail, pro 
 and con., of what has of late been passing in my mind, 
 or to wait till I come tc some conclusion. But as I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 93 
 
 feel that I should unbosom my mind to you in the 
 fullest freest manner, were you now sitting by my 
 side, I will use the same freedom, though you are at 
 a distance. You must know, then, that 1 have lately 
 been exerting myself among my parishioners on 
 behalf of the Church Missionary Society, have read 
 in my different exposition-rooms the very interesting 
 accounts published in their quarterly papers and 
 missionary registers, and, to make myself somewhat 
 master of the matters upon which I spoke, I began 
 to go regularly through the whole of the volumes 
 which they have hitherto published. A great sensa- 
 tion has been excited among my people. I thought 
 we should do exceedingly little ; but God has opened 
 the hearts of my people, and I rejoice in the event. 
 This, however, is not the only effect which has been 
 produced. My own heart has been so completely 
 won over to the missionary cause that I am inclined 
 to think, I shall not easily be persuaded to remain 
 quietly and cozily at home, while so much remains to 
 be done abroad. The call to continue here must be 
 much stronger than it has hitherto been, or my 
 struggling spirit will be found to burst its ties and 
 make its escape to more needed labours. I trust I 
 shall not force my way ; this, under no circumstances, 
 can be desirable, but I think that hitherto my mind 
 has leaned too much one way, and has been too ready 
 to interpret the suggestions of some, and the opposi- 
 tions of others, into providential intimations of its 
 being the will of God, to hesitate and eventually to 
 abandon my object ; but now I feel very differently. 
 In the spirit of sacrifice, with our lives in our hands, 
 and almost our all of earthly good at stake, we shall 
 hold ourselves ready to proceed whenever we can with 
 any consistency make our escape. You will ask, 
 perhaps, what are our plans ? I have often thought of 
 joining my very very dear friends at Honduras, but 
 the unhealthiness of the climate, and the stings of 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
94 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 your musquitos quite deter my good wife, and she 
 slirinks from your shore with feelings which I dare 
 not any further attempt to correct. To speak honestly, 
 I fear your climate would soon bring her to her grave, 
 and therefore I should not think myself at all 
 authorized to press the point further than I have 
 already done. New Zealand is the place which we 
 have in our minds, and though the inhabitants are 
 cannibals, and though the ill treatment of the Euro- 
 peans has exasperated them to a degree of determined 
 retaliation, which might deter the mere worldly cal- 
 culators from venturing to settle among them ; yet as 
 we trust that the spirit of love and kindness will ever 
 actuate us in our intercourse with them, we trust 
 likewise that our gracious God will become a wall of 
 fire round about us to keep them from injuring us. 
 A very amiable, interesting, and truly pious young 
 man, who has lately been through college, and is now 
 waiting till he becomes of age for orders, has fully 
 made up his mind to join us so soon as his friends 
 can be persuaded to part with him. Ever since I 
 have been in the parish the Lord has been pleased 
 to knit his heart to me in a very singular way. His 
 mind has been turned to New Zealand for nearly 
 three years. 
 
 The whole circle of my friends, together with 
 myself, feel much obliged to you for your communica- 
 tions to Mr. Pratt, which he has published in the 
 last Missionary/ Register ^ October, 1817. They 
 greatly interested us, and we could not help rejoicing 
 in all the good which the good Lord is effecting 
 through you. May all this be only the promise 
 of a more abundant shower. 
 
 Letters passed at sea some time about the be- 
 ginning of this year, between Mr. Mortimer and the 
 editor, each asking, without knowing the intention of 
 the other, that his friend would become sponsor for 
 
REV. OEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 95 
 
 t 
 
 t 
 
 his next-born child — a circumstance which explains 
 the allusions made to the subject, in the three fol- 
 lowing extracts : — 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, June 1, 1818. 
 
 The honour which my dear friends have conferred 
 upon my unworthy name affected me greatly, and 
 the more so, as within three or four weeks of the 
 time your letter reached me, two other similar 
 instances of the very great affection of my friends 
 here had occurred. Unknown to me, many of them 
 put their contributions together, and forwarded them 
 to the Church Missionary Society, for the support of 
 two African children, to be named after myself and 
 my dear Mary ; and a young man among the 
 Quakers, to whom the Lord has made me (his most 
 unworthy servant) a channel of good, has likewise 
 taken my name. What shall I say to these tokens 
 of love ? 1 know not what to say — but that I am 
 ashamed and confounded before God, to think that 
 any mark of love and respect should be shown to me 
 whom He sees as so abject and polluted ; and as to 
 my dear friends, all I can say is, the Lord reward 
 them a thousand fold for all that their hearts con- 
 trive, and their loving conduct so fully expresses. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Madeley, near Shiffnal, July 20, 1818. 
 
 My dear Thomas, 
 We think of naming the dear little one Phoebe, a 
 name much endeared to us, as borne by one dear 
 relation now no more, and by another still reserved 
 
 " I 
 
96 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 to US, whom we sincerely love. It is a name like- 
 wise which has not as yet been introduced among us. 
 We were thinking of joy and gladness, hut this we 
 have left to be, as we hope, long enjoyed by one 
 already in our family, and to be in reserve in case it 
 should be wanted for another, on whom we should 
 rejoice to see even an equal portion of her parents' 
 spirit. A servant of the church is what we claim 
 for our little one, and may the claim be abundantly 
 realized ! 
 
 If Mrs. T. M. would not object to become one of 
 the sponsors for our little girl, and would permit us 
 to employ some one as her proxy, we should feel 
 ourselves much obliged by her compliance. My 
 dear Honduras friend has kindly consented to take 
 upon him this charge for one, and we purpose ap- 
 plying to Mr. John Eyton, as the third. Perhaps 
 you will be so good as drop me an early line, and 
 thus set me an example I so much need. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Aug. 3, 1818. 
 
 With regard to myself I have nothing to write to 
 you but a continued series of failure and disappoint- 
 ment ; and, if I might speak of the future from the 
 present, I should say, that the Lord is calling me to 
 remain at home rather than to go anywhere abroad. 
 The state of the case is simply this : — When first I 
 proposed myself as the servant of the Missionary 
 Society, I did not apprehend anything like difficulty 
 with regard to a supply for Madeley — the vicar, who 
 is not resident, had always consulted the wishes of 
 the people, and had given them the choice of their 
 minister. No sooner, however, was it known by 
 him that I had some thoughts of leaving, than he 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 97 
 
 declared, in the most positive terras, that he would 
 not admit to a curacy a person of my recommending, 
 and he quite wondered that I should ever think he 
 would, or, in other words, he did not intend to have 
 a person of my stamp. It soon, however, occurred 
 to me, that if an application were made in behalf of 
 
 my young but very dear friend, , the 
 
 vicar would, for the sake of his father, permit him to 
 succeed me : this he in fact promised, but when he 
 found out that the son was of a different stamp from 
 the father, and that the wrong kind of person was 
 thus most unintentionally selected, he drew back and 
 
 would not take another step ; and Mr. , hurt 
 
 at the whole procedure, declares that he will not, 
 upon any consideration whatever, make another ap- 
 plication, and thus matters are completely in statu 
 quo. I dare not leave my people to an ungodly 
 successor, and therefore the present intimation seems 
 to be, " stand still." I feel it a time of suspense, 
 but I am quite persuaded that all is in the very best 
 hands, and of course that all will be sweetly ordered 
 for good. I need not request you to pray for us ; I 
 am assured of your love, and love will necessarily 
 lead vou to a throne of grace on our behalf. 
 
 About a fortnight ago my dear Mary was confined, 
 and safely delivered of a little girl, whom we pur- 
 pose naming Phcebe, and may God grant she may 
 prove a servant of the church, as that honoured 
 individual whose name stands prominently distin- 
 guished in the Word of God — not, indeed, by be- 
 coming a lady preacher, as you designated Mrs. 
 
 F , in one of your letters, but in such a way as 
 
 is becoming her sex ; and in how many blessed 
 ways this is possible we shall neither of us be at a 
 loss to determine. We purpose avaiUng ourselves 
 of your kind permission to employ you as one of 
 the sponsors, and we feel ourselves much, very 
 much obliged by your compliance with our wishes. 
 
 II 
 

 98 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 Indeed, everything which seems Hke bringing us 
 nearer together affords us a degree of pleasure we 
 cannot easily express. 
 
 The humility of my beloved friend was not only 
 deep but uniform, and it was also most unfeigned. 
 I believe no sentiments conveyed in his letters with 
 regard to himself were more sincerely the utterance of 
 his heart, than such as appear in the two following 
 extracts ; and a savour of which, indeed, runs more 
 or less, through all his correspondence. 
 
 M i:. 
 lit i 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Oct. 5, 1818. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 Yours of the 8th of August reached me yesterday 
 evening, and afforded me much refreshment of spirit 
 after the labours of the day, as your kind and in- 
 teresting communications almost invariably do ; but 
 if they sometimes may fail in imparting refreshment, 
 they are never wanting in interest and in solid in- 
 struction. The only effect sometimes produced, is 
 in deeply humbling me, in abasing me before my 
 friends, and in the presence of my God. I feel 
 myself so wretched a sinner, and so completely 
 unworthy of your least notice. Indeed, I sometimes 
 think that if you could but see me instead of hearing 
 from me — could we but renew our personal acquaint- 
 ance — ^you would detect in me such evils as would 
 almost make you ashamed of acknowledging me. 
 In my letters, hurried as they generally are, you see 
 me under assumed appearances. I step a little out 
 of myself, sentiments are expressed, prayers and 
 wishes are breathed forth, and statements Ukewise 
 made, which are so very very far from being 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 t 
 1 
 s 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 q 
 
 a 
 n 
 
u 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 99 
 
 tging us 
 isure we 
 
 not only 
 Lfeigned. 
 ers with 
 jrance of 
 bllowing 
 ins more 
 
 U 1818. 
 
 esterday 
 of spirit 
 
 and in- 
 do; but 
 ishment, 
 solid in- 
 luced, is 
 sfore my 
 I feel 
 mpletely 
 imetimes 
 ' hearing 
 icquaint- 
 Eis would 
 ing me. 
 , you see 
 little out 
 ^ers and 
 
 Ukewise 
 01 being 
 
 1 
 
 habitual, that you can know but little of me in this 
 way. Were you actually to know me, even all the 
 joy of meeting an old friend would soon give way to 
 some such exclamation as that uttered by iEneas at 
 the sight of Hector, "Oh quantum mutatus ab 
 illo." I thus write in consequence of the first para- 
 graph in your letter, in which you speak of having 
 looked over some old letters of mine. The reflec- 
 tions in which this re-perusal made you indulge 
 quite startled me as I read them, and I cannot but 
 still think that no small measure of hypocrisy must 
 attach to my character, if my communications do 
 really convey such sentiments to your mind as those 
 which you express ; for I dare not withhold from 
 you the humbling confession that, gratified and 
 thankful as I should be for the discovery, I cannot 
 perceive the impress of truth on any of them. But 
 I fear I shall tire as well as disgust you with so much 
 about self, and therefore turn to some other subject. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Madeley, December 29, 1818. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 
 With respect to myself, I can say but little, except- 
 ing what must tend to humble me in the dust before 
 the Lord and my fellow men. I am still stationary 
 here, and from all that has transpired, both within 
 and without, I feel now convinced that whatever the 
 duty of others may be, mine is to remain at home; 
 and, I think, I shall not easily be induced to make 
 any further eflbrt to make my escape. I am now 
 quite content to remain quiet here, and while set 
 aside by the Lord, as an instrument in whom he has 
 no such pleasure, can adore him for the greatness of his 
 
 H 2 
 
100 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 tender compassions, which intervened as an effectual 
 barrier, and kept me from bringing chastisement 
 upon myself and my family for my presumptuous 
 folly, in thinking of stretching out my unhallowed 
 hand in supporting a cause, which, perhaps, I should 
 only have touched, to have impressed on it a mark 
 of indelible disgrace. 
 
 But amidst these feelings which humble me in 
 the. dust, and even confound me before the Lord, 
 I still find him most graciously condescending to visit 
 me, and still perceive abundant tokens of his love in 
 my parish, and in my family. All seems to wear a 
 cheerful and exhilarating smile, and if ever I was 
 convinced that my being hindered in my plans was 
 from the Lord, I think it is now. The affection 
 manifested by all classes among my dear people, 
 when it was known that I had given up the idea of 
 leaving them, was such as will long be remembered 
 by me with gratitude towards my kind and loving 
 God : for it is He, and He alone, who can thus give us 
 the hearts of our people. O, may I serve in the 
 Gospel of his Sou more faithfully than I have hitherto 
 done ! 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Madeley, February 26, 1819. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 
 If I recollect right, I just alluded in my last to the 
 very striking and unexpected change which has 
 
 taken place in my brother . The more 1 think 
 
 of it the more am I filled with astonishment and 
 gratitude. Had I been required to select an in- 
 dividual, which, in my estimation, was the least 
 likely to become a trophy to the powerful grace 
 of our Redeemer, would have been the person 
 
n effectual 
 istisement 
 umptuous 
 nhallowed 
 , I should 
 it a mark 
 
 ble me in 
 the Lord, 
 ng to visit 
 liis love ill 
 to wear a 
 iver I was 
 plans was 
 } affection 
 ar people, 
 the idea of 
 membered 
 md loving 
 us give us 
 ve in the 
 re hitherto 
 
 RF.V. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 101 
 
 26, 1819. 
 
 ast to the 
 ^hich has 
 re 1 think 
 ment and 
 ct an in- 
 the least 
 rful grace 
 he person 
 
 upon whom I should have fixed. The grace, however, 
 of his so long despised Lord has at length triumphed, 
 and he now delights to build up the faith which he 
 once so malignantly endeavoured to destroy. 
 
 You will readily conceive that I have derived no 
 small encouragement from these dealings of my gracious 
 God with my dear brother. But the encouragement 
 has been greatly increased by the change which has 
 recently passed upon dear Tool, one of my New Zealand 
 guests. After they had set sail for New South 
 Wales, in the Baring, the ship struck against a 
 brake, and they were obliged to put again into port. 
 During this interval, Tooi was taken dangerously ill, 
 and, in the estimation of all who saw him, had not 
 the least probability of recovery. This painful visi- 
 tation, however, to his poor body, seems to have 
 been the means of salvation to his soul. All the 
 pious friends who surround him, speak of the change 
 as most unequivocal ; and Mr. Hall, who attended 
 them while with me, and who is as far, as any one 
 I know, from attempting to colour, speaks in decided 
 terms of the divine change which he has experienced. 
 Among other things in one of his letters, writing 
 of Tooi, he says, "I cannot help mentioning one of 
 his si mple speeches, which 1 think will please you. 
 * When I in New South Wales my heart no good : 
 I come to England, and hear the word of God, and, 
 I think, O dear me, I want a new heart ; 1 begin to 
 pray to Jesus to give me a new heart. In my own 
 country, I sin very much, and, when in South 
 seaman, the sailors teach me to curse and swear — 
 miserable work. But the blood of Jesus runs down 
 my heart, and washes away my sins, and my heart 
 feel comfortable and happy, and I no fear to die. 
 Believe in Jesus is the way to go up to heaven, and 
 be happy for ever with Jesus, and all Christian 
 friends ; (naming many, and you and your's amongst 
 the number).' " O, my dear friend, how blessed is 
 

 102 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 true religion, and how touching is this simple account, 
 which shows, I think, that dear Tooi has become 
 possessed of it. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Madeley, May 3, 1819. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 Since I last wrote to you, I have been called to 
 pass through some painful and unexpected scenes. 
 About twelve months ago my dear father began to 
 decline very rapidly in his health, owing to some 
 serious reverses which he experienced in his temporal 
 concerns, and which preyed very much upon his 
 mind ; the full extent we are none of us able to 
 determine, but one of my uncles and his son who 
 were privy to many of his transactions, can distinctly 
 reckon up ^675,000 which came under their own 
 observation. All these losses had their measure of 
 effect upon his spirits ; but, there was a lawsuit pend- 
 ing, and which had been commenced some months 
 since, which, if determined against him, threatened to 
 sweep away all that remained, and even to leave him 
 insolvent. Of this he informed no one, but kept it 
 working secretly within, till, at length, it proved too 
 much for him, and his constitution irrecoverably 
 gave way. On the day of his removal, indeed, he 
 was unusually well ; was out in the garden a great 
 part of the forenoon, and very cheerful while taking 
 his tea, but about seven in the evening he was seized 
 with a fit of apoplexy, and he was a corpse by a 
 little after nine. His death much affected me, and 
 especially as I had my fears lest it should have been 
 produced by a mere sorrow of the world ; but when 
 I joined my dear mother, I was much comforted by 
 finding that the Lord's gracious intentions in all this 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 103 
 
 apparently severe discipline, were mercifully answered ; 
 that they produced in him a gradual weaning from 
 the world, and an increased esteem and relish for the 
 things which concerned his soul. And in this effect, 
 I hope, that we are all, at least most of us, enabled 
 to rejoice, though, in order to produce it, it was 
 necessary that he sliould suffer the loss of almost 
 all things. To think of his departed spirit, as 
 happy with the ijord, affords to us a balm of con- 
 solation which thousands upon thousands could not 
 effect without it. 
 
 But amidst all this wreck and ruin of property 
 which I have gradually been called to witness, what 
 abundant cause have I for gratitude that it has not 
 come nigh me. How graciously has God been 
 pleased to provide for me and mine! For though 
 my family is large, and its wants are continually 
 iacreasing, yet I have all and abound. I have ever 
 yet had enough, and a little annually to spare; and 
 I have no doubt but that, with a little frugality, 
 I shall be able to put by a little more towards 
 the settling of my dear children when they shall 
 come of age. Had I known of the present posture 
 of affairs, I might have done a little more for them, 
 but I am very thankful that I have done what I 
 have. And may the God of love so regulate my 
 conduct for the future, that I may never, in any 
 instance, unnecessarily encroach upon their due ; 
 for I feel the force of the apostolic observation: 
 " He that provideth not for his own," &c. 
 
 The following is a deeply affecting letter; but, 
 like many of David's Psalms, if it begins in com- 
 plainings, it ends in praises. 
 
104 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Madeley, July 3, 1819. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 As to myself, I can say but little : I seem to be more 
 of a loitering formalist than anything else. Many 
 things which I began when I first entered upon my 
 charge here have gradually dwindled into the merest 
 nothings, and these have at length been given up. 
 And most of those which are still continued seem to 
 have lost that interest and power with which they 
 were once accompanied. As to my own feelings and 
 conduct in the midst of all, they are my shame and 
 constant humiliation. I am so accustomed to see this 
 gradual deterioration in many instances, that I almost 
 invariably expect it in all others, and this makes me 
 less earnest in prayer and less zealous in action. In 
 all the coldness of apathy, I seem anticipating nothing 
 but eventual failure in everything ; and then, when 
 nothing further is to be done here, 1 as coldly antici- 
 pate a removal to some other scene, where similar 
 eiforts will be productive of similar results. These, 
 my dear A., have been my general feelings for some 
 months past. I have often paused to analyze my 
 spirit and my conduct : sometimes I have been ready 
 to imagine that my indifference argued a deadness to 
 popularity and applause, and that while I was so 
 content that others should see that I was nothing, I 
 was gaining some increase of humility, and, of course, 
 was !naking some little advancement in the Divine 
 life. But within these few days, I have been awakened 
 from my sleep of carnal security, and have been 
 deeply humbled before my God on account of it. I 
 see that, instead of stemming the torrent, I have too 
 criminally suffered it to spread, till it has threatened 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 105 
 
 ruin to nil the plniii below. Instead of propping I 
 have rntlier nnilerniined the tottering fahrie, anil 
 tlms aided the natnral decay from time and seasons. 
 Had spirituality been cherished in my own soul — 
 had patient selt-denying labours been nnitbrndy pur- 
 sued — had ardent believing prayer been constantly 
 oftered — who can tell how much this tendency to de- 
 teriorate might have been counteracted .' Who can 
 tell, rather, what increase of i)rosperity might have 
 now called forth my grateful |)raise / My motto, 
 therefore, has now become that of the cheerful, be- 
 lieving and animated Apostle St. Paul. It is said 
 of him, " He thanked God and took courage." In- 
 stead of dejectedly witnessing this natural process, 
 and as des})ondingly anticipating still more and more, 
 I feel, through the grace of my Saviour, enabled 
 thankfully to adore him for all the good which yet 
 remains ; and, with a measure of cheerful courage, 
 to devote myself to my future work. And I cannot 
 tell you the sweet peace which has been im})arted to 
 my distrusting mind, and the animated glow which 
 has been dift'used through my cold and apathetical 
 heart ; but to think that this blessed peace and love 
 should have so long been strangers within my breast, 
 is cause of my humiliation before my compassionate 
 Redeemer. May my endeared friend never have 
 similar cause of complaint ! 
 
 TO HIS SISTER. 
 
 Madeley, Oct. 4, 1819. 
 
 My last informed you of the seeming health of our 
 dear little Basil : on Monday last, we availed our- 
 selves of a favourable opportunity of having him 
 christened, and we all thought that, though a little 
 fallen away, he was looking very well. On Wednesday, 
 
106 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 however, he was attacked with infantine cholera 
 morbus, and on the morning of yesterday his happy 
 spirit burst its way to God. To us, indeed, the scene 
 was very aflFecting ; it was the first inroad death had 
 been permitted to make among us, and his entrance 
 spread a degree of awe upon our minds such as we 
 had not known before. The strong feelings of 
 affection hkewise, and numerous endearing recol- 
 lections, kept making us weep till, like David and 
 his men, we seemed to have no more power to weep, 
 and even all the grateful expressions which kept 
 bursting from our thankful hearts, could only be 
 uttered amidst our quickly flowing tears. These 
 stronger feehngs, however, have now somewhat sub- 
 sided, and a holy calm of gratitude has regained its 
 seats within our breasts : our dear little one has, in- 
 deed, fled from among us, but he has fled to a far 
 happier place — fled to the arms and bosom of his ever- 
 to-be-adored Redeemer ; and oh ! how quick, as well 
 as blessed, the transition! 
 
 " We scarce can say he's gone, 
 Before his happy spirit takes 
 Its station near the throne." 
 
 To-morrow, we think of committing his dear re- 
 mains to the silent tomb. I have been selecting and 
 marking out a suitable spot to be employed, should 
 we continue here, for the successive members of our 
 family, as they may be called from among us, and 
 my prayer has been ascending to my blessed Re- 
 deemer that we may every one of us leave as firm a 
 persuasion behind us of the safety of our eternal state, 
 as our dear little Basil has. And, indeed, his removal 
 has given me an increased confidence that this will 
 be the case ; for our united prayers for our dear 
 children have ever been, that they might either live 
 a holy life, or die an early death. My dear wife, 
 though weak, is very mercifully supported in the 
 
 V. 
 
ne cholera 
 his happy 
 I, the scene 
 death had 
 8 entrance 
 uch as we 
 'eelings of 
 •ing recol- 
 David and 
 r to weep, 
 hich kept 
 1 only be 
 rs. These 
 what sub- 
 egained its 
 le has, in- 
 i to a far 
 )f his ever- 
 ck, as well 
 
 dear re- 
 cting and 
 d, should 
 Ts of our 
 5 us, and 
 essed Re- 
 as firm a 
 rnal state, 
 s removal 
 
 this will 
 
 our dear 
 
 lither live 
 
 lear wife, 
 
 ;d in the 
 
 
 u 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 107 
 
 season of our trial ; she feels, and that at times very 
 sensibly, but peaceful gratitude is still her constant 
 companion : I say gratitude ; for it is not mere sub- 
 mission, it is the peaceful grateful adoration of that 
 gracious God who is too wise to err, too good to be 
 unkind ; and I am very thankful for all the support 
 and consolation which our kind Saviour so mercifully 
 affords her. I think of having a small head stone 
 for my little boy, mentioning his name, the day of 
 his death and his age, and, underneath, the following 
 lines which I put down in my pocket book when you 
 and I were at Enfield, little, indeed, imagining at the 
 time that I should ever have a dear child of my own 
 over whose grave they would be inscribed : — 
 
 " On Life's wide Ocean sorrowful and pained, 
 How many Voyagers their course perform ; 
 This little bark a kinder fate obtained, 
 It reached the Haven ere it met the storm." 
 
 Mr. Mortimer very kindly received the writer's 
 son "William (now a clergyman, and British chaplain 
 at Valparaiso, in South America) into his family, to 
 be educated with his own children, and it is to this 
 child that allusion is made in the following letter 
 addressed to him. 
 
 Madeley, February 28, 1820. 
 
 ig» 
 
 My dear Armstronj^ 
 I HAVE entered into these details, conceiving that no 
 communication can be more interesting to a father 
 than those which concern an endeared child ; and 
 happy shall I be if all my future communications be 
 equally pleasing. Of this, however, I have but little 
 expectations. Many and very painful fluctuations have 
 I witnessed in my own children, and have heard of 
 the children of others, and therefore my dear friend 
 must not be surprised if my little charge should at 
 
108 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 times disappoint our expectations or our wishes. 
 Oh what lovely, what heavenly blossoms have I some- 
 times delightfully discovered in my eldest little boy ! 
 He has seemed even ripening for glory, and that also 
 so rapidly, that we have almost imagined that his 
 stay would not be long among us. Tears of grati- 
 tude have stood in our eyes while we have seen the 
 gracious evidences, or while we have been relating 
 them to each other. In a few weeks, however, the 
 blossoms and the fruit have almost totally disap- 
 peared, and have left us to sorrow in temporary 
 disappointment, or to find comfort only in the 
 cheering exhilaration of hope. Then, again, the 
 winter has passed, and lovely spring has once more 
 appeared. But it is all well ; the harvest of none of 
 our labours is to be expected here; it is in that 
 blessed world above that we shall reap, provided 
 that we faint not ; and what greater stimulus can we 
 need to keep urging us forward even in the midst of 
 every species of discouragement ? 
 
 William told me a few evenings ago that Mrs. 
 Armstrong had received a letter from you, which 
 kept her in doubt as to whether you would join her, 
 or she you. I know so little of what would be for 
 the best, that I would not attempt to influence you 
 in one way or other. The greatest benefit which I 
 can confer on my endeared friend is, to bring him 
 and his concerns to One who loves him infinitely 
 more than I can do, and whose infallible direction is 
 promised in his holy word to the inquiring soul. It 
 was the prayer of my kind friends, I am persuaded, 
 which kept me in England when I had felt it my 
 duty to take even most decided measures for leaving 
 it. When they objected to my step, I almost inva- 
 riably requested them to pray for providential hin- 
 derances, if my intentions were not in the divine 
 order ; and I told them, if I knew anything of 
 myself, I should not attempt either to break through 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 109 
 
 the hedge, or to overleap the wall. The kind Saviour 
 heard their prayer, and I have never been so fully 
 persuaded of anything as of this, that my being 
 detained in England was completely of the Lord. 
 Should my dear Armstrong be projecting that which 
 is not in the will and order of his God, may the 
 same merciful Saviour hedge up his way, and plant 
 the piercing thorn at every step, to render his pro- 
 gress painful, and eventually to deter him ! But 
 should his removal be from God, then may all diffi- 
 culties and impediments vanish completely from 
 before him ! 
 
 Mary joins me in kind love to yourself and Mr. 
 Ditcher, and I remain. 
 
 My ever dear Friend, 
 
 Yours very affectionately, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Madeley, Dec. 22, 1820. 
 
 My dear Brother, 
 We have named our little boy Herbert, after our old 
 and mutual friend ; and happy, indeed, should we 
 think ourselves were he even in some small degree to 
 resemble that saintly man. I give you his name, 
 with the hope of its being inserted in your list of 
 those whom you remember in your hours of inter- 
 cession ; and in the hope, likewise, that he will not 
 be forgotten by your dear wife. He seems unusually 
 well at present, better, we think, than any of our 
 children have been at his age. The suddenness, 
 however, both of the indisposition and removal of 
 our little Basil, has made us consider the health and 
 life of an infant as exceedingly uncertain in its 
 tenure ; and we hope we are enabled to leave him 
 
 'I 
 

 I ' 
 
 I f 
 
 no 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 completely in the best of hands. You may perhaps 
 have heard, through Eliza, of the removal of dear Mr. 
 Purton : you know his worth, his strong attachment 
 to myself, and the right hand he was to me in every- 
 thing in which I could in any way use him, and, 
 therefore, are prepared to suppose what a loss has 
 been sustained by myself and others. I do not like 
 funeral sermons in general, but I thought I ought to 
 take up my cross on such an occasion, and endeavour 
 to hold up his uncommon, unobtrusive, and retiring 
 excellence to the view of others, and then, at the 
 same time, pay my own tribute of friendship which 
 I felt I myself owed to him. 
 
 In parochial matters, and in my ministerial con- 
 cerns, we go on much as usual. Mr. Purton's 
 removal has put some extra burdens upon me, but 
 they are not as yet too oppressive, and, if they 
 should become so, the Lord, I doubt not, will give 
 me some one who will share them with me. Attend- 
 ance on church classes and expositions, nearly in 
 statu quo; and this, considering the tendency in 
 everything to deteriorate, I consider as rather en- 
 couraging than otherwise. Our good friends and 
 fellow-helpers, the Methodists, however, seem to be 
 more prosperous than ourselves. The chapel at the 
 Green has just been considerably enlarged, and there 
 is some talk of its being opened in church hours, 
 morning as well as evening, and some rumours of 
 sacraments and christenings are now and then reach- 
 ing my ears. As to myself, I dare say nothing : I 
 am rather disposed to think that the morning service 
 would be a benefit to the parish in inducing many 
 poor to attend, who, through shame or idleness, 
 would not come so far as to the church ; and, as 
 they are my parishioners, I hope I should rejoice in 
 their good, though this good should not be conveyed 
 through myself. The sacrament and christenings, 
 in the present state of Methodism, follow almost as 
 
 3 
 
 ^ii 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ftV perhaps 
 
 af dear Mr. 
 
 Eittachment 
 
 le in every- 
 
 him, and, 
 
 a loss has 
 
 do not like 
 
 I ought to 
 
 I endeavour 
 
 nd retiring 
 
 len, at the 
 
 [ship which 
 
 sterial con- 
 '. Purton's 
 in me, but 
 id, if they 
 ;, will give 
 le. Attend- 
 nearly in 
 endency in 
 rather en- 
 riends and 
 seem to be 
 lapel at the 
 , and there 
 rch hours, 
 rumours of 
 hen reach- 
 lothing : I 
 ing service 
 cing many 
 idleness, 
 and, as 
 i rejoice in 
 e conveyed 
 iristenings, 
 almost as 
 
 a matter of course, and therefore I am equally silent 
 on this subject. All these things were not the 
 original intention of the founder ; but were I a 
 Methodist myself, I do not know but that I should 
 consider them as expedient, and almost as necessary 
 parts of present Methodism : why then should I feel 
 on these accounts ? They are doing a great work. 
 I find them most important auxiliaries in my own 
 parish, and do sincerely wish them all that prosperity 
 which, for their works' sake, they deserve. A few 
 months ago, I began to pray for them, and have 
 continued at stated times ever since ; and though I 
 never reckoned myself exceedingly stiff in my 
 Churchmanship, I am certainly less so now than 
 before. God permits, and, not only so, he most 
 evidently owns and blesses ; and why should we feel 
 the spirit of Joshua, and pettishly, or enviously, or 
 selfishly wish to forbid them ? 
 
 TO THE REV. J. ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, Dec. 27, 1820. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 * * * * 
 
 * 
 
 I WAS very glad to hear, through my sister, of your 
 
 servant Lucy, who came over for Mrs. A , whom 
 
 she saw at Mrs. W. A. 's ; she spoke of you in 
 
 the most afiPectionate terms, and described, in her 
 simple but strong manner, the change which had 
 been effected in the settlement through your ministry 
 among them. " Before massa came, many very bad ; 
 now, good, and love great Massa," and so on. Oh, 
 my dear friend, amidst all the discouraging feelings 
 arising from your not being able to do all you would, 
 
 ou should not forget what has already been done. 
 
 "e are most of us too sanguine in our expectations, 
 
 yoi 
 
112 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 not suspecting that what exceeds the cool and sober 
 calculation of tried and well-disciplined faith has too 
 much to do with self, arises from self-confidence, and 
 ends in self-humiliation. We are too apt, in imagina- 
 tion, to seize the magic wand of Harlequin, and 
 suppose that every touch will effect wonders ; but, to 
 change the wilderness into the garden of the Lord, 
 requires the enduring spirit of the toilsome labourer, 
 the stones must be cleared, and the soil must again 
 and again be turned : and even when the precious 
 seed is safely deposited, the patience of our hope 
 must succeed to the labour of our love. How long 
 does it usually lie beneath the surface, and when the 
 tender blade appears, how much longer the interval 
 before the perfection of the fruit ! so long, that my 
 endeared friend may never live to see it in his own 
 case : though he may sow, yet others may enter into 
 his labours ; yet will both he that sows and they 
 that reap, rejoice together in that glorious and eternal 
 harvest. 
 
 Since I began my letter, I have had a visit from 
 our mutual friend, Mr. Cox. Since his residence in 
 Shropshire, I have frequently had opportunities of 
 seeing him, and it is with unfeigned pleasure that I 
 have seenhim evidently advancing in the best of things. 
 1 think, however, that I never saw him to so great 
 advantage as now — the truly Christian minister and 
 the warm and steady friend. He still continues at 
 Bridgenorth, and has apparently lived through all the 
 hostility and prejudice which his preaching and 
 residence among them once excited. He begins also 
 to see some important fruits of his labours. How 
 cheering is all this ! Well, my dear friend, let us 
 catch the animating glow, and strive to live more for 
 our loving Saviour and the great glory of his name. 
 
 Kind faithfulness towards our friends is a truly 
 Christian grace — this grace the subject of this 
 
 II 
 
 & 
 
h 
 
 A and sober 
 'aith has too 
 ifidence, and 
 , in imagina- 
 rlequin, and 
 lers ; but, to 
 of the Lord, 
 )me labourer, 
 il must again 
 the precious 
 of our hope 
 J. How long 
 and when the 
 ;r the interval 
 ong, that my 
 it in his own 
 may enter into 
 ows and they 
 pus and eternal 
 
 id a visit from 
 is residence in 
 )portunities of 
 leasure that I 
 I best of things, 
 im to so great 
 
 I minister and 
 
 II continues at 
 through all the 
 preaching and 
 He begins also 
 labours. How 
 
 friend, let us 
 J live more for 
 of his name. 
 
 ids is a truly 
 Ibject of this 
 
 IJ 
 
 
 i 
 
 .■"ft" 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 113 
 
 memoir eminently possessed, of which the following 
 letter is a proof : — 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Madeley, April 28, 1821. 
 
 My much endeared Friend, 
 Though circumstances certainly appear against me, 
 and give you just reason to suspect that no very over- 
 whelming tide of affection flows towards my expatriated 
 brother and fellow-labourer ; though I seem to have 
 lost all the ardent, or the softer feelings of the 
 friend, in the cold and apathetical conclusions of the 
 mere calculator ; though like the callous brethren of 
 the afflicted Joseph, I seem unconscious of your 
 grief, and can, like them, selfishly sit down to eat 
 and to drink, or rise up to consult with others, to 
 decide your fate, and fix you in sorrow ;— though, 
 I say, all these things appear against me, and though 
 my friend is constrained to number me among the 
 annoying trio, yet still I feel within me a pleasing 
 conviction of real genuine afl^ection, which enables 
 me to rise above appearances, and which persuades me 
 that I am not quite a stranger to that love which 
 vTHny waters cannot quench, and which the floods 
 cannot drown. The fact is, my dear friend, that the 
 decision to which you allude in your last was my 
 painful and not my pleasant duty. I felt, I hope, 
 something like the surgeon who has been called to 
 perform some operation on the most beloved of his 
 friends ; were he to hesitate, or were he to decline, 
 how justly would he be answerable for all the painful 
 consequences which might result : but while he 
 j)roceeds, though steady to his point, though the 
 fixedness of his eye seems to proclaim him devoid of 
 pity, though his unshaking hand seems to indicate 
 
I] 
 
 114 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 no shrinking from his work of torture ; yet still the 
 tenderest emotions may exist within, and to the dis- 
 criminating eye may be seen in a thousand varying 
 turns. I do not, indeed, wisli you to give me credit 
 for a perfect similarity to all this, and yet I do hope 
 that when time has a little more sobered down the 
 strength, and perhaps intensity, of feeling, you will 
 feel more disposed to thank me for the thankless duty 
 which my friendship for you enabled me to perform. 
 My sister and brotlier Holland are with me at 
 present and have been here for some weeks past. 
 Many, indeed, are the pleasures of endeared and 
 social intercourse, and I feel truly thankful that we 
 have been permitted to enjoy them. We have never 
 met as a family since my sister was married, and, 
 though there has been all along an interchange of 
 thought and feeling through letters, yet we have 
 found how far short all this comes of viva voce and 
 personal communications and endearments. I have 
 no doubt but that a similar result would be experi- 
 enced, could you and I occasionally meet together. 
 And when we consider the almost insuperable im- 
 pediments which lie in the way of such a meeting, 
 some feeling, perhaps, steals into the mind which 
 would have us think somewhat hardly of the divine 
 appointments. Let us, however, be thankful that, 
 though we have not all the sweets of friendship, yet 
 that so many are still reserved to us. And who can 
 tell but that these may be increased, if we are only 
 more faithful in bringing each other, with our 
 mutually known concerns, to our compassionate God 
 and Saviour ? 
 
 iM 
 
 ■'4 
 
 !|| 
 
 After speaking of the arduous duties of his parish, 
 as oppressive to the flesh, the mind, and the spirits, he 
 adds, in his usual heavenly strain, to the same friend : — 
 
 " It is still very blessed to be engaged in any 
 way for the blessed Saviour. This is, indeed, a 
 
REV. GEOUOE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 115 
 
 vet still the 
 id to the dis- 
 sand varying 
 ;ive me credit 
 yet I do hope 
 red down the 
 ling, you will 
 liankless duty 
 ne to perform, 
 re with me at 
 le weeks past. 
 
 endeared and 
 ankful that we 
 We have never 
 ; married, and, 
 
 interchange of 
 , yet we have 
 f viva voce and 
 pents. I have 
 ould be experi- 
 
 meet together. 
 
 insuperable im- 
 mch a meeting, 
 lie mind which 
 
 ily of the divine 
 thankful that, 
 friendship, yet 
 And who can 
 if we are only 
 
 [ther, with our 
 
 Ipassionate God 
 
 es of his parish, 
 id the spirits, he 
 B same friend: — 
 engaged in any 
 is is, indeed, a 
 
 ■538 
 
 i 
 
 work which pays in the doing. I pray God I may 
 love it even more and more. But, were it otherwise, 
 were every step toilsome and thorny, were there no 
 biook to drink of by the way to enable us to lift up 
 our heads, were the yoke galling and the burden 
 heavy, were the cross, instead of concealing a latent 
 good, only cruciating, were the cup of sorrows divested 
 of all sweets and only filled with strongest bitters ; 
 still we have enough of stimulus arising from the 
 glorious prospect of that blessedness above to inspirit 
 our souls, and to enable us to toil up the most arduous 
 ascent, and not only to drag on our wearied feet, but 
 to lift them up with all the alacrity of cheerful obe- 
 dience ; for the joy which is set before us, we may well 
 endure the cross, and, like our blessed Master, despise 
 the shame. O, my dear Armstrong, may we both of 
 us live more with heaven in our eye, and with a lively 
 feeling of our Saviour's love in our hearts ! And 
 then every murmur will be hushed, and nothing be 
 heard from our joyful lips but the language of thanks- 
 giving and praise." 
 
 I hope the children of my late endeared friend will for- 
 give the following little notice of a father's practice and 
 of the habits of his children in their juvenile days : — 
 *' Your letter, received yesterday evening, speaks 
 somewhat at large on pocket money. I think it 
 probable, from what you there say, that threepence 
 a week will be less than you would choose ; if so, I 
 will alter, though I think that threepence altogether 
 unearned is quite sufficient. I do not give a single 
 penny to my own altogether gratuitously — i. e., inde- 
 pendent of their own conduct and exertions ; but 
 still, while William was with me, I gave most liberal 
 inducements to him and them, that they might 
 readily gain sixpence each weekly, and have some- 
 times gone as far as a shilling, and even more Two 
 of my children have some of their earnings in the 
 
 i2 
 
1 1 
 
 t I I 
 
 > 
 
 A 
 
 i \ . 
 
 ! I 
 
 IKi 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 Savings' Bank ; one has a guinea and another has 
 
 £\ 3s. Indeed, my boy is always scheming so 
 
 largely that he has only a few shillings in hand, and 
 these are devoted towards making a present of the 
 new Life of Mr. Fletcher to a poor lad, who, a few 
 weeks since, had behaved generously to him. But 
 this his excess of generosity arises, I think, more 
 from his ability to acquire, than anything else. "Oh," 
 he says, "I will soon earn it ;" and in earnest he begins, 
 and soon does. But then, he is always poor, and unless 
 I can snare him into something like saving habits, I fear 
 
 he will always be so. , who has a guinea in the 
 
 bank, is as generous as , nay, has the greater 
 
 appearance of generosity ; for he has always some- 
 thing by him, and brings it out whenever anything 
 
 benevolent is proposed ; while , being always 
 
 behind hand, has to gain his before he can give it. 
 But all my children have habits of giving ; some are 
 careful, but none are penurious, and 1 hope never 
 will become so. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 Madeley, June 1, 1822. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 It afforded me great pleasure to see, on Tuesday last, 
 your kind friend. Colonel Arthur [now Sir George 
 Arthur, Bart, and Governor of Bombay], who arrived 
 at Liverpool on the preceding Friday. He was ac- 
 companied by his lady, three children, and two 
 servants, all of them in good health, though Mrs. 
 Arthur and the children bore the usual paleness 
 which Europeans so readily discover in the coun- 
 tenances of West Indian residents. I felt much 
 gratified by the colonel's urbanity of manners, 
 and had great pleasure in showing him and his 
 
 I: 
 
RFA'. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 117 
 
 another has 
 schemin}? so 
 n hand, anil 
 ■esent of the 
 1, who, a few 
 ) hhn. But 
 think, more 
 ;else. "Oh," 
 est he begins, 
 )r, and unless 
 r habits, I fear 
 guinea in the 
 s the greater 
 always some- 
 !ver anything 
 being always 
 le can give it. 
 ng ; some are 
 [1 hope never 
 
 SG. 
 
 rune 1, 1822. 
 
 Tuesday last, 
 w Sir George 
 ], who arrived 
 He was ac- 
 ■en, and two 
 though Mrs. 
 isual paleness 
 in the coun- 
 I felt much 
 of manners, 
 him and his 
 
 lady all the lions of the ])lace. He seemed 
 greatly to like our neat church and rural quiet 
 chtdcliyard, and the ver>' ground appeared in 
 liis \ iew to be more than ordinarily consecrated by 
 the residence of the venerable Fletcher. He gave me 
 much interesting detail respecting Honduras, its 
 church, its schools, its people, and its minister ; and 
 of the Inst, he forgot not to mention his difficulties, 
 his battles, and his eventual successes. He spoke 
 also of his health, and described him (though per- 
 haps he would not in this respect receive any great 
 superabundance of thanks for his pains), as being 
 peculiarly suited to bear all the labours of his arduous 
 post, and that a change of place, however it might 
 recreate the spirit, was by no means necessary for the 
 continuance of his health. Now, I need scarcely tell 
 you that all this was very refreshing to my spirit. 
 I am not permitted to see you, and yet such have 
 been the singular circumstances which have brought 
 me in contact with those who have long lived in the 
 Bay of Honduras, that I have been favoured with 
 details almost as lively and circumstantial as an 
 actual visit could have afforded me. And all the 
 accounts strengthen in me the conviction that my 
 endeared friend is in his own real, identical, proper 
 post — the one by Heaven's signature stamped with 
 appointment and approbation too. May the Saviour 
 who has appointed and approved, still bind him to it 
 by his constraining love ! 
 
 The colonel was very kind in his inquiries respect- 
 ing William ; I sent to Mr. Thurgar for him, and the 
 counsels he gave him were very affectionate and ap- 
 propriate. He left with him a sovereign when he 
 parted from us. He seemed particularly anxious for 
 his welfare, and was very desirous of gleaning every- 
 thing encouraging that he might have the satisfaction 
 of communicating it to you — a satisfaction evidently 
 very strons:. 
 
' I 
 
 irl 
 
 ill 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 118 
 
 LIFE AND LF.TTF.KS OF TIIF, 
 
 Last night, I received a letter from that vcrr 
 
 Mi 
 
 rancis Hall, who 
 
 excellent 
 
 resided some months in my parish, as the companion 
 of the New Zealanders, and who went with them to 
 New Zealand. His whole condnct, while among us, 
 left an indehble impression of the genuine piety 
 which so humbly but gracefully dwelt within him. 
 Every recollection of the dear good man is refreshing 
 to my spirit. But I wander from my point. I re- 
 ceived from him, yesterday, a letter which ought to 
 make us all truly thankful that we have been provi- 
 dentially kept here, instead of being suffered to go, 
 as we liad once intended, along with himself or 
 others to this inhospitable shore. He begins with 
 congratulating us on this point, and illustrates his 
 congratulation with such a narration of discourage- 
 ment, connected with the state of the mission, as 
 would convince every unprejudiced mind tJ.at a family 
 such as mine has no business there. A time possi- 
 bly may come when the signs may become more favour- 
 able ; but certainly they are most discouraging now, 
 I hope I am thankful to God, as the only source 
 of our good, for the state of things in my own parish. 
 To say there was an outpouring of the Spirit upon 
 us, would be using language by far too strong, 
 and yet some gracious drops have descended — the 
 dew has been resting upon us. Our classes increase 
 — the pubHc means are better attended ; our Sunday 
 schools are more than doubled, and a spirit of hear- 
 ing generally prevails. And I feel the more grateful 
 for all this, as I have all along expected that a seven 
 years' residence among them would produce a list- 
 lessness and indifference bordering on satiety ; but, 
 though this term is now attained within a few days, 
 vet there seems no want of attention and no diminu- 
 tion in interest. The hearts of the dear people are 
 still given to me, and, as such, they still bear with 
 and love me. And if old things are said in their 
 
nEV. OEOnOE mortimer, m.a. 
 
 119 
 
 )iii that very 
 iicis Hall, who 
 thi; companion 
 with them to 
 hile among us, 
 genuine piety 
 t within him. 
 ,n is refreshing 
 point. I re- 
 hich ought to 
 ire been provi- 
 sufFered to go, 
 ith himself or 
 [e begins with 
 illustrates his 
 of discourage- 
 he mission, as 
 lid tLat a family 
 A time possi- 
 ne more favour- 
 30uraging now. 
 le only source 
 my own parish, 
 le Spirit upon 
 ■ar too strong, 
 descended — the 
 classes increase 
 1 ; our Sunday 
 1 spirit of hear- 
 e more grateful 
 ed that a seven 
 produce a list- 
 a. satiety ; but, 
 lin a few days, 
 and no diminu- 
 dear people are 
 still bear with 
 J said in their 
 
 hearing, they appear to come home to them with n 
 new power, and that power I would gratefully acknow- 
 ledge is from above : to the grace, therefore, of my 
 Redeemer, I would ascribe the praise. And I do 
 still cherish a hope that, so long as he shall be 
 pleased to continue me here, he will graciously com- 
 mand that the barrel of meal shall not waste, nor 
 the cruse of oil fail ; that neither matter nor unction 
 shall be wanting in my humble ministrations. Humble 
 they, indeed, are and always will be : the little treasure 
 which 1 l)ear, is in an earthen, a cracked earthen 
 vessel. But I hope I am still content, so long as the 
 excellency of the power may be seen of God and not 
 of man. Here, my dear friend, is the grand point — 
 we nothing ; Christ all. Oh, blessed feeling ! Never 
 are we so truly hapi)y as when we most fully realize it. 
 We all unite in kind love to yourself and Mrs. A., 
 and I remain, « 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 Yours ever sincerely, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 The friend to whom the following extract of a 
 letter to the editor refers, was one whom Mr. 
 Mortimer had strongly urged to turn his attention 
 towards the service of the sanctuary. The extract 
 exhibits so beautiful a picture of a good man that I 
 cannot prevail upon myself to omit it, and yet, not 
 to offend the retiring feelings of the excellent indi- 
 vidual alluded to — he being yet alive — I suppress his 
 name, though to himself and some few of his friends 
 the name will not be unknown. I hope he will for- 
 give me this wrong which I have committed for the 
 sake of others. In a note which the editor received 
 from this gentleman, forwarding to him several of 
 the letters which he had received from Mr. Mor- 
 timer, he says, "*In honour preferring one another,' 
 seemed to be one of his (Mr. M.'s) constant rules of 
 
 n 
 
120 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ! ii 
 
 h I 
 
 I ) 
 
 action. For myself, I may most unaifectedly say, 
 that while I feel grateful to God for the affection of 
 such a friend for so many years, I equally feel my own 
 utter unworthiness of such a privilege and blessing." 
 *' Two evenings ago, I receiv^ed a letter from my ex- 
 cellent friend, , late of . He has at length 
 
 applied for orders, and was admitted deacon, two 
 Sundays since, by the venerable Bishop of Norwich. 
 Mr. Home of Christ Church, Newgate-street, whose 
 work on the Scriptures you have no doubt seen re- 
 viewed, was admitted by the Bishop of London 
 three years since, and these two together with my- 
 self were a trio of friends meeting in Mr. Butter- 
 worth's class. Orders were at one time the furthest 
 from all our thoughts, and yet have we been gra- 
 dually led forward, and the third has at length joined 
 us in the blessed and honourable employ. I much 
 regret that he did not break through his snares and 
 impediments when, about seven years ago, I strongly 
 urged him to the point ; for he would then have not 
 only spent seven more years in the more immediate 
 work of the sanctuary, but would have saved himself 
 many painful exercises and many severe losses. 
 
 ^S^ ^^ ^^ ^g ^^ ^^ ^j# ^j 
 
 " But oh, how I admire the man ! If he shone in 
 prosperity, how much more in adversity ! No mur- 
 mur ever escapes him. He does, indeed, glorify his 
 God in the fires. His altered circumstances make 
 no alteration in the man, unless, indeed, they have 
 induced greater spirituality of mind, more complete 
 deadness to the world, and more unreserved surrender 
 of all his affections and powers to the service of his 
 God. But here 1 am backward to speak ; for he 
 shone so conspicuously before, that I find it difficult 
 to determine which is stronger of the two lights, both 
 so strong that few could bear with them a momen- 
 tary comparison. Oh, may our lights, my dear friend, 
 so shine in every alteration of our circumstances. 
 
 ■'I-j"^ 
 
 I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 1 L 1 
 
 iflfectedly say, 
 e affection of 
 y feel my own 
 ind blessing." 
 T from my ex- 
 has at length 
 . deacon, two 
 ) of Norwich, 
 -street, whose 
 oubt seen re- 
 p of London 
 ther with my- 
 n Mr. Butter- 
 le the furthest 
 we been gra- 
 t length joined 
 (loy. I much 
 lis snares and 
 igo, I strongly 
 then have not 
 ore immediate 
 saved himself 
 re losses. 
 
 If he shone in 
 ! No mur- 
 ed, glorify his 
 istances make 
 3d, they have 
 nore complete 
 rved surrender 
 service of his 
 speak ; for he 
 find it difficult 
 wo lights, both 
 ;m a momen- 
 ny dear friend, 
 circumstances, 
 
 that we also may, like him, bring glory to our 
 God I" 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1823, it pleased God 
 to deprive the church of the valuable labours of the 
 Rev. John Eyton, Vicar of Wellington, to whom Mr. 
 Mortimer was exceedingly attached. About seven 
 weeks before his removal, he left home with the in- 
 tention of wintering at the Isle of Wight, but the 
 weather becoming very cold he was obliged to remain 
 at Portsmouth. The children being all at home, he 
 did not wish Mrs. Eyton to accompany him ; but a few 
 days before his death, she received an intimation that 
 he wished to see her, and though she set off the very 
 day she received this information, she did not arrive 
 till some hours after his departure. In reference to 
 this painful event, Mr. Mortimer, in a letter to his 
 sister, says, • 
 
 "The death of Mr. Eyton has filled us with a 
 degree of consternation and surprise which I find it 
 difficult to express. In what a changing world do we 
 live, and how many evils does that part of our punish- 
 ment "death" introduce among us. Prayer seems 
 at present our only refuge, especially with regard to 
 his bereaved people. The delicate and very difficult 
 duty of preaching the funeral sermon has been 
 assigned to me : the flesh would dispose me to decline 
 were I to attend to its dictates ; but I dare not listen. 
 I owe so much to my endeared and highly honoured 
 friend, that I feel I must proceed. Let me, however, 
 entreat tne assistance of your prayers." 
 
 Some time during last year Mr. Mortimer was 
 induced to undertake the editorship of a monthly 
 publication for young persons. He refers to this 
 engagement in the following letter : — 
 
n 
 
 lA 
 
 
 It,'- 
 
 in .' 
 
 I . 
 
 122 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO THE UEV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Madeley, Feb. 13, 1823. 
 
 My dear Brother, 
 I AM obliged to you for thinking of me in reference 
 to my monthly engagements. I can hardly expect 
 that you should enter with anv very lively interest 
 into this matter, though, I can assure you, your kind 
 assistance would prove a very acceptable service both 
 to myself and my readers ; nor would the lime be 
 altogether lost, if the matter were considered in sole 
 reference to yourself; at least I should so conclude, 
 from what I have observed with respect to my own 
 mind and habits, and I very greatly regret that, for 
 so many years, I suffered my feelings to prevail over 
 my better judgment, and cause me to neglect the 
 throwing in of my mite into some channel of useful- 
 ness. But I do not blame others, knowing how very 
 unwillingly I was pressed into the service myself. 
 I do not expect that my friends should, by any touch 
 of my poor leaden wand, start into active and willing 
 contributors. Had I Orpheus-like powers, the trees 
 and stones might follow me ; but I possess none of 
 these magical or touchingly persuasive means, and 
 therefore, though, as a point of duty, I every now and 
 then turn an entreating eye, and raise a feeble suppli- 
 cating voice, both the priest and the Levite are afraid 
 of messing themselves in my poor concerns, and 
 prudently pass over to the other side. I would not, 
 however, ungratefully involve all in this sweeping and 
 indiscriminate crimination. A Samaritan or two have 
 kindly pitied me, and for their equally unexj)ected 
 and unwearied act of friendship, I feel myself pecu- 
 liarly indebted. But why all this enumeration? Should 
 I not honestly confess that it is not altogether without 
 
 . ,1 
 
HE 
 IMER. 
 
 Feb. 13, 1823. 
 
 me in reference 
 hardly expect 
 y lively interest 
 I you, your kind 
 ble service both 
 Id the lime be 
 msidered in sole 
 lid so conclude, 
 pect to my own 
 regret that, for 
 s to prevail over 
 to neglect the 
 aannel of useful- 
 lowing how very 
 I service myself, 
 lid, by any touch 
 ctive and willing 
 powers, the trees 
 ! possess none of 
 sive means, and 
 I every now and 
 B a feeble suppli- 
 Levite are afraid 
 )r concerns, and 
 ;. I would not, 
 his sweeping and 
 ritan or two have 
 ually unexpected 
 feel myself pecu- 
 meration? Should 
 dtogether without 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 123 
 
 t 
 
 reference to yourself? I am not a stranger to my 
 good brother's Samaritan-like feehngs, and a distant 
 hope is cherished by me, that he will yet pour in of 
 his truly welcome supplies. 
 
 T. L., I should think, would at present pass quite 
 as good an examination as his brother B., but I 
 w^ould not recommend him to be over hasty in apply- 
 ing for orders, nor indeed does he feel thus disposed 
 himself. Young men, I think, sadly err in this 
 matter ; they hasten into the ministry far too soon, 
 and repent of their haste all through their subsequent 
 years. But perhaps it is hardly fair to ascribe all 
 the blame to them : it originates, in great part, with 
 those who bear the expense of their education, aud who 
 are glad of the first opportunity which presents itself 
 of getting them off. But T. L. supports himself, 
 and, therefore, the burden and the advantage both 
 fall, as they ought, upon the same individual, and he 
 so feels the desirableness of improving the present 
 time, that he prefers waiting a little longer. Another 
 pupil who is reading with me, a very nice young man, 
 supports himself in a similar way ; and I do not 
 intend, for the future, to superintend the studies of 
 any who do not, in some way or other, pursue the 
 same method. And 
 
 I remain, my dear Brother, 
 
 Yours very affectionately, 
 
 G.M. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Madeley, Feb. 5, 1824. 
 
 My dear Thomas, 
 
 ******* Matters 
 proceed among us pretty much as usual. My people 
 are kind, our congregations good, classes very fair, 
 and attendance on the weekly expositions pleasingly 
 
124 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 increasing. As to myself, I can say but little ; some- 
 times I am enabled to live in the spirit of the petition, 
 
 " Each moment draw from earth away 
 
 My heart, which lowly waits thy call ;" 
 
 and then my peace flows smooth and tranquil as a 
 river ; then all my affections take their proper channel, 
 and are directed to a holy spiritual end. But, alas ! 
 too generally I find my feelings and conduct better 
 characterized by complaint than exultation, and have 
 too much reason to say, 
 
 ** Yet hind'rances strew all the way ; 
 I aim at thee, yet from thee stray." 
 
 •ji 
 
 But I still keep fixing my eye upon the beauteous 
 light, even when furthest from it, and most ardently 
 do I sigh after its most blessed repose. Well, 
 perhaps, after all my failures, I may still become 
 habitually possessed of it ; and indeed without it, I 
 feel that I shall never enjoy anything like true and 
 substantial rest. A minister without the inward 
 grace, and that also in a more than usual measure, is 
 of all others a character most to be pitied —I mean of 
 all other Christians ; for in order to instruct others, he 
 must of course be more advanced in knowledge, and 
 consequently will be called to a far stricter account. 
 Besides, the whole routine of his employments, carry- 
 ing with them the exterior of sanctity, are apt to 
 impress, not only others, but himself also, with 
 fallacious hopes respecting the safety of his state. 
 The constant repetition also of his duties has a strong 
 tendency to render the spiritual impression on himself 
 less and less vivid, till at length the pious feeling, in 
 many instances, is entirely absent, and he detects him- 
 self half hypocritically acting or ^)erforming a part, 
 attempting to raise emotion in others to which he is 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 i2r. 
 
 little ; some- 
 f the petition, 
 
 1;" 
 
 tranquil as a 
 •oper channel, 
 . But, alas ! 
 ionduct better 
 ion, and have 
 
 the beauteous 
 most ardently 
 pose. Well, 
 
 still become 
 1 without it, I 
 
 Uke true and 
 t the inward 
 lal measure, is 
 id— I mean of 
 ruct others, he 
 nowledge, and 
 ricter account, 
 j^ments, carry- 
 ;y, are apt to 
 jlf also, with 
 
 of his state. 
 s has a strong 
 iion on himself 
 3US feeling, in 
 le detects him- 
 »rming a part, 
 which he is 
 
 so much a stranger himself. These, my dear brother, 
 are our snares — at least they are mine ; but I hope 
 I not only perceive them, but am watching against 
 them. And my comfort is, that amidst all my con- 
 sciousness of weakness, it is still my privilege to rely 
 on an all-sufficient Saviour. 
 
 You kindly speak in your letter of your being able 
 to assist me in my editorial labours, by furnishing me 
 with accounts connected with the different societies. 
 1 fear, however, that the work will not proceed beyond 
 the present volume. Its sale, I am thankful to state, 
 has increased since it was placed in my hands, and 
 is still increasing ; but it will not cover the attendant 
 expenditure — at least not so much so, as to make it 
 worth the publisher's while to continue. Its discon- 
 tinuance, however, will prove no great loss to me. 
 I edit the numbers of the present volume for £1. 10s. 
 a number, and, when my monthly expenses are 
 deducted, I have only about £.\ each remaining. My 
 object, however, is not gain, but a desire of being in 
 some way useful ; and as a work of the kind seems 
 desirable, I shall feel a little regret that it should 
 cease. But perhaps, after it stops, some London 
 bookseller will venture upon something of a similar 
 kind, and, if so, it will then, in all probability, succeed. 
 ***** We all unite iu 
 
 sincerest love to yourself, Mrs. T. M., and my dear 
 niece, and 
 
 I remain, my dear Thomas, 
 
 Your aifectionate Brother, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 to the rev. thomas mortimer. 
 
 Madeley, Deo. 1, 1824. 
 My dear Brother, 
 
 afraid, from your intimations respecting your being 
 
a 
 
 III 
 
 I '! 
 
 I 
 
 1/1 
 
 ! 
 
 !<i 
 
 126 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ill quest of a morning service, that Mr. Pratt has 
 failed in substantiating his claim ; if so, I shall be 
 much concerned. Retired from the emoluments of a 
 former occupation, he will possibly feel this diminu- 
 tion in point of income ; but for such a servant in 
 the house of our God, I trust that not mere adequacy, 
 but even the munificence of our merciful Lord, is in 
 abundant reserve. 
 
 You inquire concerning my health. It has been 
 
 far from well ever since my return from G , strong 
 
 as I seemed while there ; no sooner did I enter upon 
 my parochial duties, than I began to fail, and in 
 about a fortnight, I was nearly as ill as ever. This 
 induced me to lay the whole matter before Mr. 
 Burton, and to request him to relieve my mind with 
 an assurance that, in case I should be under the 
 necessity of leaving, he would kindly indulge the 
 parishioners with a suitable person in my stead. His 
 kindness has removed my difficulties, and left me at 
 full liberty to leave my work in more efficient hands. 
 I have had an application for the curacy from a 
 gentleman who strikes me as being very suitable, 
 and Mr. Burton has accepted of his services. One 
 difficulty, however, is in the way. He holds a living 
 in the diocese of Worcester ; but, being peculiarly 
 circumstanced, he expects that the bishop will permit 
 him to hold it in conjunction with Madeley, and to 
 divide his time between them, his curate sharing the 
 twofold duty with him. Should his application to 
 the bishop not succeed, he has recommended to me 
 another person, who seems equally eligible with 
 himself ; but with this latter person I have had no 
 communication. 
 
 As to myself, I am of course in uncertainty ; but 
 I feel confident, that as I have hitherto been guided 
 by the wisdom and goodness of my condescending 
 God, so he will still point out to me the way in which 
 I should go. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 127 
 
 Ir. Pratt has 
 so, I shall be 
 lolumeuts of a 
 I this diminu- 
 a servant in 
 lere adequacy, 
 i\ Lord, is in 
 
 . It has been 
 
 G , strong 
 
 d 1 enter upon 
 ,o fail, and in 
 as ever. This 
 r before Mr. 
 my mind with 
 
 be under the 
 y indulge the 
 my stead. His 
 
 and left me at 
 jfficient hands, 
 luracy from a 
 very suitable, 
 services. One 
 3 holds a living 
 jing peculiarly 
 hop will permit 
 adeley, and to 
 ate sharing the 
 
 application to 
 amended to me 
 ' eligible with 
 
 I have had no 
 
 icertainty ; but 
 
 rto been guided 
 
 condescending 
 
 tie way in which 
 
 You speak of the mine of paper and print, and, like 
 too many others, comfort yourself with consider! nij 
 that your work is but a little one. But good, my 
 brother, beware, beware ! Three services on a Sabbath, 
 occasional weekly ministrations, and numerous offi- 
 cial employments, should almost entirely exclude every 
 kind of preparation for the press. With kindest love 
 &c.. 
 
 Believe me, my dear Thomas, 
 
 Your ever affectionate Brother, 
 
 George. 
 
 In the spring of 1825, Mr. Mortimer visited his 
 London friends, one of whom writes as follows : — 
 
 " Your dear brother appeared so full of love and 
 tenderness, and, at the same time, so interested 
 himself in everything that appeared to interest us, 
 that we could not help wishing for a much longer 
 enjoyment. I heard him preach but once : his 
 sermon was truly edifying. I will transcribe a brief 
 outline of it, as you may find it a word of con- 
 solation in some season of sorrow. Matt. xv. 28, 
 ' O woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even 
 as thou wilt.' The advantages resulting from strong 
 faith were pointed out in four important particulars ; 
 viz. — I. It yields to no discouragement. II. It 
 bears and even overcomes the most humiliating dis- 
 coveries. III. It receives the strongest marks of the 
 Saviour's approbation. IV. It is put into eventual 
 possession of every needful good. Each of these 
 points was marked out as strikingly illustrated in 
 this affecting and interesting narrative." 
 
 His brother, the Rev. Thomas Mortimer, has 
 kindly furnished me with the following communi- 
 cation respecting the same sermon : — 
 
 "On Sunday, the 27th March, 1825, my beloved 
 
iT 
 
 ^J^ 
 
 ■' 'i 
 
 ( ;■;! 
 
 .1 
 
 I I 
 
 ii'i 
 
 I'JS 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 brother preached for me at my lecture at St. Olave's., 
 Southwark. I shall never forget that sermon. Being 
 the only church at that time usually open in the 
 Borough for Sunday evening service, there was gene- 
 rally a large attendance, and that evening the church 
 was crowded. On entering the pulpit, my brother's 
 diminutive figure excited attention ; and, in some, 
 produced a smile. When, however, he had com- 
 posed himself in the pulpit, his fine countenance, 
 beaming with intelligence, evidently inspired some 
 with respect, who, at first, had looked up with in- 
 diflerence, if not with scorn. His announcement of 
 his text was most solemn and yet most tender ; * O 
 woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even as 
 thou wilt.' From that moment the silence of death 
 reigned ; and, after a few minutes, every eye seemed 
 fixed upon the preacher, and every tar listening to 
 his voice. The scoffer soon discovered that the 
 preacher was no ordinary man : the candid inquirer 
 ielt interested in the subject : the timid and weak 
 believer took courage : and the mourner drank 
 in the water of life, with the eagerness of the 
 thirsty soul. Many a time, during subsequent years, 
 have the tenderest and most grateful reference been 
 made to that sermon bv those who were accustomed 
 to converse with me on the great concerns of their 
 souls. Though nearly twenty years have rolled 
 away since that memorable night, the recollection of 
 my beloved brother, of the touching words that fell 
 from his lips, and the * unction of the Holy One, ' 
 which evidently attended them, is still vivid and 
 delightful, and will, I doubt not, accompany me to 
 my grave." 
 
 Intimation has already been given, in a letter to 
 his brother, of Mr. Mortimer's entertaining thoughts 
 of leaving Madeley, owing to the declining state of 
 his health. The following several letters refer to 
 
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 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 129 
 
 ,t St. Olave's, 
 rmon. Being 
 open in the 
 ere was gene- 
 ig the church 
 my brother's 
 nd,* in some, 
 he had corn- 
 countenance, 
 inspired some 
 id up with in- 
 louncement of 
 5t tender; 'O 
 thee even as 
 ience of death 
 sry eye seemed 
 bar hstening to 
 ered that the 
 andid inquirer 
 mid and weak 
 lourner drank 
 erness of the 
 )sequcnt years, 
 reference been 
 re accustomed 
 ncerns of their 
 •s have rolled 
 recollection of 
 words that fell 
 ;he Holy One,' 
 still vivid and 
 iompany me to 
 
 ni a letter to 
 lining thoughts 
 dining state of 
 etters refer to 
 
 that event and to arrangements for filling up his 
 important post in that parish. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 Yardley, near Birmingham, Sept. 12, 1825. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 Your very kind and acceptable letter reached me 
 three or four weeks since; and I should have 
 answered it much earlier had I not been in some 
 uncertainty as to my proximate movements ; and I 
 thought I would wait till something definite should 
 have transpired. I have been here very nearly seven 
 months, and was thinking of returning to Madeley 
 in about a month from the present time ; but it is 
 now arranged that we should continue here till the 
 middle of February. From what you mention in 
 your letter, I should suppose that you have been 
 informed that I had left Madeley altogether, but this is 
 not the case ; I have only exchanged duties with the 
 vicar of this place, who has been, like myself, out of 
 health for some months past, and who thought that 
 a complete change of sphere and situation would 
 prove beneficial to him. He and his family, there- 
 fore, reside in the vicarage at Madeley, and myself 
 and family here ; both of us having left our furniture, 
 library, &c., &c., for each other's accommodation. 
 The duties in this place being light, as compared 
 with Madeley, and the air exceedingly salubrious, 
 I have found great benefit from the change, and am 
 pretty nearly as well as I was before I began to fail ; 
 the whole of my family, also, have ^odnd their health 
 considerably improved ; so that in this point of view 
 we have reason to be thankful for the exchange. 
 And I hope, also, that the change of ministrations 
 will be beneficial to both our parishes. I hear of an 
 
( 
 
 
 i I 
 
 ( ■ h 
 
 I 
 
 l.*30 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 increased attention being produced at Madeley, and 
 I ought to acknowledge with gratitude the acceptance 
 with which I am favoured here. 
 
 You mention in your letter that your engagement 
 in your present curacy will terminate early in 1827. 
 I read that j)art of your letter to Mr. Gwyther (the 
 gentleman with nhom I have exchanged duties), who 
 was over horc a few days ago, and he said, " Could 
 we not contrive between us to keep the curacy open 
 for Mr. C. till he should be able to take it?" 
 
 Our present arrangement will, if we are spared, 
 bring us to the middle of February, 1826, which is 
 only a year short of the time when you will ne 
 released from your present charge. Now, if we 
 could manage so as to supply till then, would you 
 like to undertake the charge of the parish, provided 
 the incumbent would admit you, which, from what 
 I have lately ascertained, I think could easily be 
 managed ? Since I saw you I have engaged with an 
 assistant, but merely pro tempore; the expense of 
 which is to be principally borne by the parishioners. 
 The sum allowed to him will be 26! 00 a year; 
 towards which I myself give ^30, on condition of 
 being occasionally absent, should my health require 
 it, at the sea or elsewhere. The value of my curacy 
 is full i'lOO a year besides the house. You will 
 perceive, then, that matters are now made much 
 easier for you, should you think of fixing your lot 
 among the Madeley people, and I am confident that 
 the arrangement would be highly gratifying to them. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 Yardley, February 21, 1826. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 Though I fully intended to have answered your very 
 
 h: 
 
f 
 
 IlEV. OKOIUJE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 13! 
 
 Jadcley, and 
 le acceptance 
 
 f engagement 
 arly in 1827. 
 Iwyther (the 
 I duties), who 
 said, "Could 
 J curacy open 
 
 eit?" 
 
 e are spared, 
 826, wliicix is 
 . you will '»P 
 
 Now, if we 
 jn, would you 
 irish, provided 
 3h, from what 
 :ould easily be 
 igaged with an 
 the expense of 
 le parishioners. 
 ^100 a year ; 
 on condition of 
 
 health require 
 e of my curacy 
 use. You will 
 w made much 
 fixing your lot 
 1 confident that 
 tifying to them. 
 
 ER. 
 
 jruary 21, 1826. 
 iwered your very 
 
 kind letter within the time that you specified, yet, 
 as it boars date October 1 .5, I find that I have ex- 
 ceeded the proposed interval hy more than a month. 
 So much for my friendship. Had it been a letter on 
 business, I have little hesitation in saying that it 
 would have been duly despatched ; and, had there 
 been a dozen of this kind, I th'nk I might venture 
 to assert the same. But my friends, and those also 
 the most intimate and endeared, are too generally 
 neglected ; and many are the kind reproofs whicn 
 my remissness thus draws upon me. You, indeed, 
 my dear friend, have, in silence, borne with all ; and 
 this ought to have made me more cautious in giving 
 you fresh occasions of pain. But nothing seems of 
 sutticient influence to correct the inveteracy of my 
 habit ; and, therefore, I must still, I fear, keep con- 
 fessing my reiterated faults, and as often keep 
 tlirowing myself upon the kind forgiveness and for- 
 bearance of my friends. 
 
 I am still, as you will perceive from my date, at 
 Yardley, and, from a fresh arrangement, our exchange 
 will be prolonged from March till the latter end of 
 July next. Nothing has as yet been done about an 
 assistant curate for Madeley. About 
 
 a 
 
 fortnight 
 
 ago, I was congratulating myself on the acquisition of 
 
 a very desirable fellow-helper, the Rev. A. B , 
 
 who had consented to join with me in the duties of 
 the parish, and had engaged the residence of our 
 
 late departed friend Mrs. E ; but some obstacles 
 
 have since arisen, so that I fear we shall now lose 
 hl.n. Should he decline, I shall not be over anxious 
 in making any permanent arrangement with any one 
 else until my return in July, by which time I should 
 hope you will be able to speak somewhat more defi- 
 nitely as to your own movements, as there will be only 
 about six months to the time of your own projected 
 removal. The impediment? which have been thrown 
 in the way of every negotiation which I have entered 
 
 k2 
 
a 
 
 n; I 
 
 ; I 
 
 132 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 into for ao many months past, incline me to think thnt 
 it is more than possible the situation may, after nil, he 
 reserved for my endeared friend. But of the future 
 how little, or rather, how completely nothing, are wv 
 permitted to know ; and if we busy ourselves in the 
 shrewdest guesses, or the most cool and sober cal- 
 culations, how generally are wu disappointed! It is 
 our wisdom, therefore, to be more occupied with the 
 duties which more immediately devolve upon us at 
 the present, than with speculations about the pro- 
 fiabilities of more remote and distant periods. 
 
 In the foregoing ])age, I mentioned the name of 
 
 dear Mrs. E , and I had no sooner done this than 
 
 the recollection of all that transpired between us, 
 during your short visit to us at Madeley, passed 
 vividly through my mind. What a painful winding 
 
 up of W matters ! But yet, in many respects, 
 
 how merciful t * * * "With respect, 
 however, to the endeared individual so lately severed 
 from her important charge, I have nothing to say, 
 but what is encouraging : most clearly, most satis- 
 factorily, had she been latterly ripening for that 
 blessed world of spirits. And as to the dear family 
 which she has left behind, " let us not sorrow as those 
 without hope." They are beloved by many for their 
 parent's sake, and, in a qualified use of the term, 
 we may, perhaps, state the same respecting their 
 parent's faithful and condescending God. For He 
 will, no doubt, remember them peculiarly for good, 
 and that for their parent's sake ; for the good in- 
 heritance of their anxious desires and their holy 
 fervent prayers, will, sooner or later, be abundantly 
 possessed. We were truly thankful to hear of dear 
 
 Mrs. C 's gradual amendment in health ; and 
 
 though it may not be commensurate with our 
 naturally impatient and restless desires, yet every 
 increase of so invaluable a blessing should call forth 
 our grateful praise. We beg to unite in very 
 
REV. GPOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 l.'U 
 
 ; to think that 
 y, after nil, bf 
 of the future 
 othuig, are we 
 irsclves in the 
 and sober oal- 
 lomteill It is 
 ipied with the 
 ve upon us at 
 about thejjro- 
 periods. 
 I the name of 
 • done this than 
 d between us, 
 adeley, passed 
 painful winding 
 many respects, 
 
 "With respect, 
 p lately severed 
 lothing to say, 
 rly, most satis- 
 )ening for that 
 
 the dear family 
 ; sorrow as those 
 y many for their 
 ise of the term, 
 respecting their 
 
 God. For He 
 mliarly for good, 
 or the good in- 
 
 and their holy 
 r, be abundantly 
 
 to hear of dear 
 
 in health; and 
 urate with our 
 
 jsires, yet every 
 
 should call forth 
 unite in very 
 
 
 kindest and Christian regards to her, yourself, and 
 family, and I remain, 
 
 Mv dear Friend, 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE REV, TUOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Y.rdley, June 20, 182C. 
 
 My dear Brother, 
 From what you must have perceived of the evident 
 inclining of my mind while you were here, you will 
 not be much surprised at the contents of the nccon»- 
 panving circular. I have long pmsed, and, I hope, 
 deliberately weighed, as well as sincerely prayed, and 
 now I must leave the result in the overruling hands 
 of an all- wise and ever-gracious God. Tliis I am 
 thankful to state, that I am at present enabled to do, 
 with a measure of calm and peaceful reliance, which 
 I did not at all anticipate. 
 
 TO THE INHABITANTS OF MADELEY. 
 
 Yardley, June 19. 1820. 
 
 My much-endeared Parishioners, 
 When I left Madeley, in consequence of the delicate 
 state of my health, I had fully intended to have re- 
 joined you in a few months. Various*circumstances, 
 however, induced me to accept the proposals made 
 at diflferent times by Mr. Gwyther, for lengthening 
 the period of our exchange : and now that this period 
 is nearly terminated, I regret to be under the necessity 
 of stating, that I feel so strongly my total inadequacy 
 to resume my wonted station among you, that I dare 
 not venture upon it. 
 
134 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ' i 
 
 )i 
 
 i i 
 
 My health has indeed, through the blessing of 
 God, upon the diminution of my parochial duties, 
 been considerably amended. It is the opinion, how- 
 ever, of all my more intimate friends, that, should I 
 return to my charge, I shall in a few weeks sink 
 under the pressure of those numerous parochial cares 
 and duties which before so materially injured me. 
 I have, therefore, felt constrained to resign my 
 situation; and have just written to Mr. Burton, 
 stating to him, that I shall vacate the Curacy at 
 Michaelmas next. 
 
 I have not mentioned to him anything respecting 
 my successor, leaving a matter so materially affecting 
 yourselves to your own superior judgment. I hope, 
 however, that the principal inhabitants of the parish 
 will lose no time in making a proper application to 
 him ; and from the repeated proofs vhich I have 
 had of his kind feeling towards yoa, I have no doubt 
 but that he will comply with any request which they 
 may see fit to make to him. 
 
 As to my own future movements I am altogether 
 ignorant. I trust, however, that the same gracious 
 God, who guided my steps among you, will still ap- 
 point for me my future path: and with regard to 
 yourselves, a people who wiU never cease to be re- 
 membered by me with feelings of the strongest affec- 
 tion, I do most sincerely pray that a pastor may be 
 given to you who shall, in all respects, answer your 
 most sanguine wishes : and thus supply my own nu- 
 merous and often-lamented deficiencies. 
 
 Believe me to remain. 
 Your very affectionate though unworthy Minister, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 The above was also sent to his friend, the Rev. 
 John Cooper, accompanied by the following letter: — 
 
 i 
 
 'I 
 
 i 
 
 ^] 
 
 "> 
 
 
 J 
 % 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 13j 
 
 le blessing of 
 rochial duties, 
 opinion, how- 
 that, should I 
 !W weeks sink 
 parochial cares 
 y injured me. 
 to resign my 
 ) Mr. Burton, 
 the Curacy at 
 
 ling respecting 
 erially affecting 
 [lent. I hope, 
 s of the parish 
 application to 
 vhich I have 
 '. have no doubt 
 lest which they 
 
 am altogether 
 e same gracious 
 a, will still ap- 
 with regard to 
 lease to be re- 
 strongest affec- 
 pastor may be 
 s, answer your 
 3ly my own nu- 
 ;s. 
 
 thy Minister, 
 RGE Mortimer. 
 
 friend, the Rev. 
 lowing letter: — 
 
 Yardley, June 26, 1826. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 I FEEL that I ought not any longer to keep you in 
 ignorance of my recent decision re::pecting Madeley, 
 though from what my brother has told me as to in- 
 quiries made for you in London, I have no expecta- 
 tion of the situation being really desirable to you. 
 Nor, indeed, if it were so, would the time of your 
 leaving your present charge admit of your accepting 
 it ; for some one will, no doubt, be immediately en- 
 gaged, and to whom I would surrender as soon as 
 might be required. Our own movements, as I have 
 expressed in the accompanying circular, are quite 
 uncertain ; my wife, however, seems strongly to in- 
 cline towards the neighbourhood of Clifton, in wliich 
 spot she wishes to be permanently established. It is 
 probable, therefore, that we shall bend our steps 
 thither, and when somewhat established I will try 
 to obtain some light permanent duty in the neigh- 
 bourhood. "Que Dieu nous dirige," is the fre- 
 quent aspiration of my too solicitous mind — too so- 
 licitous ; for if I knew all the gracious intentions of 
 a God of love concerning us, I should peacefully leave 
 everything to his all-wise disposal, without the least 
 degree of restlessness or fear. 
 
 With respect to dear Madeley, I need scarcely add, 
 that should you know any one who strikes you as 
 being suitable, and to whom the situation would be 
 agreeable, I should feel obliged by your mentioning 
 it to him, and getting him to communicate with Mr. 
 G on the subject. 
 
 We beg our very kindest and Christian regards to 
 yourself and Mrs. C, and, with much affection. 
 Believe me, my dear Friend, 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 G. M. 
 
III 
 
 
 
 136 
 
 LIFB AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 After receiving the above with its enclosed circular, 
 Mr. Cooper wrote to his friend as follows : — 
 
 Wherwell, June 29, 1826. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 I WAS not prepared for the intelligence contained in 
 your very kind letter of the 26th, having hoped, 
 from the improvement of your health at the date of 
 your previous letter, that you would shortly return 
 to your important charge at Madeley, and that you 
 might have continued there many years, an instru- 
 ment of blessing others, and being increasingly blessed 
 yourself in your work. But, I doubt not, all is well 
 and wisely ordered, and will add my affectionate 
 though feeble prayers that you may be divinely di- 
 rected in all things. 
 
 Your letter, the end of February last, left it doubt- 
 ful, whether Mr. A. B might not have finally 
 
 determined to become your assistant in the parish ; 
 and, prior to your last favour, I was looking to hear 
 from you next month, to know how this matter had 
 terminated, in order that I might judge whether the 
 expectation of being associated with you, which I 
 had not entirely relinquished, might not be realized. 
 I now beg to state, that, owing to the inquiries of a 
 beloved clerical brother, two curacies have been oifered 
 tome within the present month, both of which I have 
 declined. And now, my dear friend, I put it to you, 
 whether you think Madeley is such a post as would 
 suit one with such slender ministerial qualifications 
 as I deeply feel that I possess ; and whether you 
 think your parishioners would be disposed to receive 
 me favourably ? If you do, I leave myself in God's 
 hand and yours, desiring that He may do with me 
 as seemeth good in His sight ; and requesting you to 
 take such steps as you may judge proper. The difH- 
 
RBV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 137 
 
 losed circular. 
 
 une 29, 1826. 
 
 culty as to the time o£ resigning my present cure 
 may probably be got over soon after Michaelmas; 
 my vicar having said, when last I saw him, that he 
 would release me on reasonable notice, if anything 
 eligible should be offered to me : still I wish to re- 
 main ill my present sphere as long as I conveniently 
 can. Having said thus mneh, I will only add that 
 Madeley has been regard*, d ' mo for many years as a 
 spot peculiarly sacred ; it i . ;. i lore endeared tome 
 by the consideration that m^ oeloved and highly es- 
 teemed friend has been labouring for ten years in that 
 favoured scene of the apostolical Fletcher's ministry. 
 I wait with interest, but not with any anxiety, to 
 hear from you the result of my present communi- 
 cation. Believe me ever. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 Yours very affectionately, 
 
 John Cooper. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Yardley, July U, 1826. 
 
 Mv dear Brother, 
 You will be glad to hear that dear Cooper has ex- 
 pressed a wish to succeed me at Madeley ; and, in 
 consequence, an application has been made by myself 
 and the parishioners on his behalf, which has been 
 most favourably received, and Mr. Burton has nomi- 
 nated him to succeed me. Most truly thankful do I 
 feel that it has pleased God to give to the dear people 
 such a man. May he long be continued to them, 
 and may very blessed days be still in reserve for that 
 honoured spot. 
 
 My visit among them was highly gratifying to 
 myself, and I hope I may say not unacceptable to 
 them. I never witnessed in them such overflowings 
 
> > 
 
 f ; 
 I I 
 
 i I 
 
 Hill 
 
 «< 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 [J 
 
 \ ' 
 
 138 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 of kindest feelings, and, what I hardly anticipated, 
 while they manifested affectionate regrets, 1 do not 
 recollect a single instance in which they censured or 
 chode ; but, on the contrary, seemed to think that 
 the step, though painful, was necessary. 
 
 Our own plans are still somewhat uncertain. We 
 think, however, of moving towards Bristol, and of 
 fixing somewhere within a mile or two of the city, 
 and have written to George Yate to engage us a ready- 
 furnished house for about a month. We expect to 
 leave this place the 30th of August. 
 
 But I have said nothing of dear Mr. Butterworth's 
 removal, on which your last letter principally dwelt. 
 I felt surprised and pained beyond my ordinary feel- 
 ings on such occasions ; for almost all that I possess 
 spiritually, I owe, under God, to him. But after all, 
 he is not lost to me, for I trust I shall rejoin him ere 
 long ; and, even during the short interval of apparent 
 separation, who can tell how near he may still be to 
 me, and how materially he may still be permitted to 
 help me ? But, however this may be, Jesus remains 
 the same, and I trust that the removal of every en- 
 deared medium of good may be the means of uniting 
 me more fully to Him. 
 
 Our kindest love to yourself and family, to my 
 dear mother, Eliza, &c.; and 
 I remain. 
 
 Your ever affectionate Brother, 
 
 George. 
 
 The letter from which the following extract is 
 made, is chiefly in reference to the providing means 
 for an assistant-curate at Madeley ; towards which, 
 Mr. Mortimer proposed to furnish £10 per annum, 
 and also a further sum of ^10 per annum to aid the 
 Curate's Poor Fund, for relieving the sick and dis- 
 tressed poor of the populous parish of Madeley ; and 
 it is due to Mr. M.'s kindness and benevolence to 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 139 
 
 ly anticipated, 
 
 ;rets, 1 do not 
 
 ijy censured or 
 
 to think that 
 
 ncertain. We 
 Jristol, and of 
 o of the city, 
 ige us a ready- 
 We expect to 
 
 Butterworth's 
 ncipally dwelt. 
 ' ordinary feel- 
 that I possess 
 But after all, 
 
 rejoin him ere 
 val of apparent 
 may still be to 
 )e permitted to 
 
 Jesus remains 
 •al of every en- 
 eans of uniting 
 
 family, to my 
 
 late Brother, 
 George. 
 
 ing extract is 
 roviding means 
 towards which, 
 10 per annum, 
 inum to aid the 
 B sick and dis- 
 ' Madeley ; and 
 benevolence to 
 
 state, that during the period of his friend's curacy, 
 he generously contributed each year the proposed 
 amoimt for the poor; and for three years (during 
 which time only an assistant curate was employed), 
 the like sum towards the other object named. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 Yardley, July 31, 1826. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 Our way towards Bristol appears to be opening. A 
 very singular circumstance connected with it has just 
 occurred. It seems to us all to be too pantomimic — too 
 magical — to be true. But yet, what cannot the God 
 of wisdom and of love effect ! We are striving to 
 wait, as you expressed yourself in a former letter 
 about Madeley, ** with interest but without anxiety" 
 to see the result. Oh, what a comfort it is to teel 
 calmly assured that, while we are leaving ourselves 
 in God's hands, all must eventually be well. Mary 
 unites with me in kindest regards to yourself and 
 dear Mrs. C , and 
 
 I remain, my dear Friend, 
 
 Yours, very sincerely, 
 
 G. 
 
 M. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Horfield, near Bristol, October 18, 1826. 
 
 My very dear Friend, 
 Had not circumstances of various kinds interfered, 
 you would ere this have seen me at Wherwell ; but, 
 as I had no control over these, and kept expecting 
 that in a few more days I should be able to write to 
 
140 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 you definitely, I hope you will not too harshly cen- 
 sure me, when I tell you at length that my projected 
 visit, like too many of my projections, has come to 
 nothing, and that it will not be in my power to see 
 you before you leave. But, after all, your removal is 
 not to a distant country, and many may be the cir- 
 cumstances which the kind Providence of God shall 
 permit for our future intercourse. You speak, indeed, 
 of a kind of necessity for 'conference and consultation 
 at the present juncture. Of this, however, I am far 
 from being convinced ; for I think a stranger always 
 proceeds best with the least previous acquaintance 
 with the minutiae of characters and proceedings. A 
 general idea is quite necessary ; but everything that 
 is circumstantial creates a prejudice either to the ad- 
 vantage or disadvantage of the parties concerned. 
 The fresh unbiassed inspection brings us, for the 
 most part, nearest the truth. Every one with whom 
 I converse, who has any knowledge of you, joins 
 with me in thankfulness to God that it has pleased 
 Him to direct your steps to Madeley ; most fully does 
 it seem to have been, from beginning to end, from 
 Him ; to Him, therefore, may we ever give the 
 praise. And may you, my much-endeared friend, be 
 so fully qualified for your important charge ; may 
 the barrel of meal also granted for your dear people's 
 supply waste not, nor the cruse of oil fail ; or, in 
 other words, may matter and unction be so abun- 
 dantly imparted, and so graciously continued, that 
 the time may never come in which your ministra- 
 tions may prove burdensome to yourself, or either un- 
 interesting or unedifying to your hearers. With 
 kindest regards, I remain. 
 
 Yours, ever aflcctionately, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer's life has now been brought down 
 to the close of his services at Madeley, where he had 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 141 
 
 been resident pastor for about ten years. In taking 
 a review of this period, we find him to have abounded 
 in the great duties of his office — in works of faith 
 and labours of love. What with his Sunday duties, 
 his classes, his expositions, his schools, his pastoral 
 visits, and his manifold acts of charity and kindness 
 to the poor, in a parish containing very nearly six 
 thousand souls, with his weakly constitution, and by 
 no means robust health, the wonder is that he was 
 enabled to carry on so arduous a course for so long a 
 time. Madeley has been long and highly favoured ; 
 it is to he hoped that the people have both appreci- 
 ated and improved their privileges. Mr. Mortimer met 
 with much kindness, encouragement, and acceptance 
 in the diligent pursuit of his self-denying career in 
 that parish, and the decade of his services there was 
 no doubt attended with much usefulness, though the 
 extent of it may never be known until the great day 
 shall reveal it. He met also with much that was 
 trying and perplexing to him ; much to wound his 
 loving spirit ; much to grieve his affectionate heart ; 
 much to prove his faith and try his patience ; but he 
 neither flinched from duty, nor swerved from the 
 line of conduct which became him as a minister of 
 the Established Church; and, what is more, he 
 treated neither opposition in the spirit of retaliation, 
 nor nnposers in a spirit of harshness or severity. 
 He was eminently a man of peace, j. man of love, a 
 man of placability. The commencement of his ser- 
 vices in the parish was attended with great diffi- 
 culties. Considerable irregularities had been practised 
 by his predecessors ; in their steps, in this respect, 
 he was determined not to tread ; and though he felt 
 himself bound to resist all entreaty on this subject, 
 to the offending of many, yet was it his prayer, his 
 study, his endeavour to conciliate all. His steady 
 though moderate Churchraanship was, perhaps, 
 always more or less a ground of offence in a parish 
 which had long been under the influence of Method 
 
 t 
 
142 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ism ; but wherever good sense and piety prevailed his 
 motives were respected, and his conduct appreciated. 
 It was on the manifestation of some unhallowed 
 zeal of party spirit that the following addresses were 
 printed and circulated in his parish, and which ex- 
 hibit the very moderate and conciliatory spirit of 
 their truly Christian author. 
 
 ADDRESS OF THE MINISTER OF MADELEY TO SUCH OF 
 THE INHABITANTS OF COALBROOKDALE AND ITS 
 VICINITY, AS DO NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES 
 MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. 
 
 // 
 
 Vicarage, February 21, 1822. 
 
 My endeared Parishioners, 
 It has lately appeared to me an indispensable duty 
 to visit more extensively my parish, and to devote 
 myself more fully to other branches of my minis- 
 terial office. In the course of my visits I found a 
 strong regret expressed by many, that it was not in 
 their power to connect themselves either with me as 
 their minister, or with the Established Church as 
 their religious communion: and that this, their 
 inability, arose principally from the great distance of 
 the parish church from their respective abodes. 
 This difficulty I have endeavoured partially to remove 
 by beginning an exposition on alternate Monday 
 evenings:* and I hope soon to be able still further 
 
 * It must not be understood, however, from this statement, 
 that I wished to invite to these expositions only such indi- 
 viduals as are mentioned above, I must candidly confess that it 
 was not altogether without reference to yourselves. I hoped 
 that by these occasional meetings we should come somewhat 
 nearer into contact : and that, as a consequence, feelings of 
 love and of kindness might more diffusively prevail. It 
 afforded me, therefore, real pleasure to see so many of you 
 kindly giving me the meeting on the two evenings on which I 
 have been in your neighbourhood. 
 
n 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 143 
 
 to meet their wishes by assembUng with them every 
 other Sunday morning, on a plan similar to that 
 now adopted at the Ironbridge school-room on the 
 Sabbath evenings. 
 
 I feel a little apprehensive, however, lest these my 
 proceedings should be considered by some as inten- 
 tionally interfering with other modes and places of 
 worship already adopted and attended in your neigh- 
 bourhood ; and lest my motives should be so far 
 misconstrued, as to be identified with narrow-minded 
 prejudice, or with intolerant hostility. 
 
 It should be remembered, however, that all persons 
 have, and cannot help having, their preferences ; and 
 likewise, that these preferences may be openly shown 
 by them, and even occasionally employed in influ- 
 encing others, without the least hostility towards 
 those who continue in another persuasion. And I 
 can appeal with the greatest confidence to my own 
 conduct during nearly seven years' residence among 
 you, as a proof of this assertion. For though I 
 have uniformly shown a decided preference towards 
 the Established Church, yet I am not aware of having 
 discovered, in a single instance, the least opposition 
 or hostility towards any individual of another com- 
 munion, merely as such. Much, indeed, on my first 
 coming into the parish, was unhappily advanced to 
 the contrarv ; but I was determined to take no notice 
 of such remarks, assured that they had no founda- 
 tion in myself, and that, when my line of conduct 
 should be better understood, they would gradually 
 die away, and a different feeling be eventually 
 adopted. This different feeling has, I am happy to 
 state, long been cherished by many ; and it was from 
 a strong desire that nothing contrary to it should 
 prevail in consequence of my present ministerial pro- 
 cedures, that I have been induced to send you this 
 circular address. 
 
 Oh, let me then, as your minister, entreat you not to 
 
144 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 regard me with a misgiving or suspecting mind ; 
 but from the fulness of a loving and a Christian 
 heart to wish and to supplicate for me abundant 
 success. And be not hasty in censuring either myself 
 or others for attachment to our venerable and 
 established forms. Give to us what you feel entitled 
 to demand for yourselves ; I mean the right of pre- 
 ference. And amidst certain shades of difference, 
 let brotherly love not only contiime among us, but 
 let it abound yet more and more. And with regard 
 to myself, I do most sincerely pray God that no 
 feeling may be cherished by me, no single expresciion 
 uttered, and no conduct whatever pursued, which 
 may, in any respect, tend to its diminution. 
 
 With feelings, then, of unfeigned affection, believe 
 me, my much-endeared Parishioners, 
 
 Your sincerely devoted Friend and Minister, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 ADDRESS of THE MINISTER OF MADELEY TO THE IN- 
 HABITANTS OF MADELEY WOOD AND ITS VICINITY. 
 
 Kl 
 
 Vicarage, March 23, 1822. 
 
 My endeared Parishioners, 
 The very kind reception given to the Address which 
 I circulated among the inhabitants of Coalbrookdale 
 and its vicinity, and the feelings of mutual love and 
 affection it has been the means of eliciting, encourage 
 me to hope that a similar appeal to yourselves will be 
 attended with equally beneficial results. 
 
 The principal reaso»i of my now addressing you, 
 is, that I have very painfully witnessed, within the 
 short space of two or three weeks, a great increase of 
 party spirit arising from the measures recently 
 adopted towards forming and carrying on a Sunday 
 school separate and distinct from that which has so 
 
ing mind ; 
 a Christian 
 le abundant 
 ither myself 
 iierable and 
 
 feel entitled 
 ight of pre- 
 »f dift'erenee, 
 ong us, but 
 
 with regard 
 God that no 
 ;le expression 
 sued, which 
 ion. 
 jction, believe 
 
 Minister, 
 
 E Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE IN- 
 VICINITY. 
 
 »rch 23, 1822. 
 
 Vddress which 
 >albrookdale 
 
 tual love and 
 ng, encourage 
 
 irselves will be 
 
 • 
 
 ddressing you, 
 ed, within the 
 •eat increase of 
 sures recently 
 on a Sunday 
 'which has so 
 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 145 
 
 long boon establislied among us. The natural con- 
 sequences of such procedures, I am willing to hope, 
 you did not sufficiently estimate, or I can hardly 
 imagine you would so hastily, and at such a time, 
 have adojjted them. You arc sensible, I think, that 
 my wish is for peace ; that my great desire is, that 
 love may not only i)revail, but abound more and more ; 
 and that I am striving to pursue that line of conduct, 
 which, as a consistent minister of the Established 
 Church, devolves upon me, so as not to give the 
 least unnecessary offence to others. Permit me, then, 
 to ask, whether these recent measures are at all 
 likely to produce such pacific results ? Do they not 
 rather tend to range more decidedly than ever under 
 distinct and separate parties, not only the super- 
 intendents and teachers, but likewise the parents of 
 the children themselves ? Do they not in some 
 measure force persons to declare themselves on one 
 side or other, and that not merely in oj)inion, but 
 likewise in decisive action ? And are not the indi- 
 viduals, thus compelled to declare themselves, re- 
 garded with suspicion by those who move in contrary 
 directions ? I would inquire, then, is all this cal- 
 culated to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond 
 of peace ? And are those individuals our best 
 friends who are most earnest in this work of aliena- 
 tion ? I mean no personal allusions, I assure you, 
 to any individual among you : I hope I very sin- 
 cerely love you all ; and I wish that bonds of union 
 may be multiplied, which may bring us closer and 
 closer together, instead of these cords of separation 
 which, drawing in other directions, will every day 
 remove us to a greater and yet greater distance. 
 
 Permit me also to ask whether this is the time for 
 such exertions? If indeed your minister were 
 sleeping at his post • if he were lying down, and 
 loving to slumber ; if the schools ha])pened to be on 
 the decline in respect of numbers, or in regard to 
 
i,sfr — ' — 
 
 Hi 
 
 1:1 
 
 li'! ; 
 
 
 146 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 the insufficiency of superintendents or teachers ; if 
 scarcely anything were going forward adequate to the 
 necessities of the parish ; tlien, indeed, such exer- 
 tions might he called for. But how contrary is ail 
 this to the real state of the case ! It is at a time 
 when the schools are so crowded as to render it 
 impossible to instruct them in the usual place : it is 
 at a time when, to afford greater facilities of instruc- 
 tion, the larger schools are being divided into twenty 
 or thirty minor schools, and these so situated as to 
 be almost at the door of every child in the parish, 
 and so arranged as to admit of every one being 
 taught who is capable of instruction. You will 
 readily perceive, then, that the stir which is making 
 at present, is by no means called for in the existing 
 necessities of the case. To what, then, must it be 
 attributed } It is commonly reported that it arises 
 from a fear entertained by some, lest my present 
 plans and procedures should attach too many children 
 to the Established Church, and thus eventually make 
 them Churchmen instead of Methodists. This 
 reason, however, I feel I ought by no means to 
 admit ; for, whatever may be said of others, the 
 Methodists of the parish of Madeley have long made 
 it their boast that they were firm in their attachment 
 to our venerable Church : and so strong has been 
 their attachment, that the majority of them would 
 never listen to any proposals of having their services 
 so conducted as at all to interfere with the services 
 of the church, and would never permit the sacra- 
 ment to be administered in their chapels ; and there 
 are many who feel a secret satisfaction in being able 
 to state, that they have never yet partaken of the 
 sacred ordinance, excepting from a clergyman ; and 
 thev are still determined that no one shall ever make 
 
 m 
 
 this their consistent glorying to be in vain.* It is 
 
 * It has been strangely imagined, and even reported by 
 some, that I do not wish those who consider themselves 
 
 
 iiisc 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 147 
 
 teachers; if 
 quate to the 
 such exer- 
 ntrary is all 
 is at a time 
 to render it 
 i place : it is 
 IS of instruc- 
 1 into twenty 
 tuatetl as to 
 n the parish, 
 ry one being 
 [1. You will 
 ich is making 
 1 the existing 
 n, must it be 
 that it arises 
 t my present 
 many children 
 entually make 
 odists. This 
 
 no means to 
 )f others, the 
 ave long made 
 eir attachment 
 •ong has been 
 f them would 
 
 their services 
 h the services 
 mit the sacra- 
 els; and there 
 
 in being able 
 artaken of the 
 
 ergyman; and 
 shall ever make 
 1 vain.* It IS 
 
 even reported by 
 asider themselves 
 
 with peculiar satisfaction, that I consider m^' relation 
 to such individuals ; and I assure you, I rejoice over 
 you as my parishioners ; I point you out as an 
 example to others ; and 1 hope we shall never see 
 the time when the parishioners, and more especially 
 the spiritual sons and daughters of the venerable and 
 apostolic Mr. Fletcher, shall cease to be identified 
 with that Church of which he was so bright an orna- 
 ment, as well as minister. I feel, therefore, that it 
 would be the height of injustice to suppose, that the 
 mass of such of my people as are termed Methodists 
 have any fear of their children becoming members of 
 the Established Church ; nay, they would rather 
 rejoice in it ; — they rejoice in it even now ; — and 
 some of them go so far as even to recommend it. 
 They tell their children, in the fulness of their 
 Catholic spirit, that their own attachment to the 
 people with whom they are joined, never arose from 
 dissatisfaction to the Church, but from a natural love 
 to the private means which their own people at that 
 time so exclusively possessed. But they add, that 
 as these same private means are now offered to them 
 in connexion with the Established Church, they 
 would advise them to join themselves with its 
 respected members ; and hence it is, that not a few 
 
 Methodists to join with the rest of my people in partaking of 
 the sacrament, and that I object likewise to administer it to 
 them at their own houses, when unable to attend the church. 
 I feel pleasure in availing myself of this opportunity of 
 assuring them, that such statements are altogether erroneous. 
 My heart rejoices to see them whenever they attend : for it 
 reminds me of that general assembly in heavon, where all party 
 distinctions will be lost in one common feeling of love, and 
 when we shall all join in sweetest unison in singing that new 
 and never-ending song. My feelings also are similar when 
 kneehng around their beds of sickness, and consecrating those 
 elements of which we are about to partake in remembrance of 
 that Redeemer who has taught us so emphatically that his 
 tlisciples should love one another. 
 
 L 2 
 
148 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 HI 
 
 ! ,' 
 
 \' M 
 
 among our classes are the sons and daughters of 
 such honoured individuals. I say honoured, for 
 who can withhold from such the proper meed of 
 approbation ; for such heal the breaches of our 
 Zion, they build up its waste places ; they repair the 
 desolations of many generations. 
 
 I am aware, however, that the same extent of 
 feeling is not cherished by all. Some prefer their 
 own communion, their own instructors, and classes. 
 But I have heard such with the greatest candour 
 acknowledge, that their predilection arose merely 
 from the circumstance that they happened to receive 
 their first religious good among them ; and that 
 notwithstanding this their preference, they very 
 highly respect the Church, and that they wish its 
 ministers abundant success in their very important 
 work. And this I am persuaded is the feeling of 
 ninety-nine out of a hundred of the Methodists who 
 compose my parish. The welcome they invariably 
 give me when I enter their houses or cottages ; the 
 smile of approbation which brightens on their 
 countenance when we exchange salutations as we 
 pass ; and the liberality which they discover in all 
 points of possible difference whenever they are acci- 
 dentally touched upon : all these things convince me 
 that they have no hostility either to the Church or to 
 myself, and of courbe that they would not willingly 
 enter upon any plan which might have the least 
 semblance of opposition. 
 
 To what, then, some will still ask, must these 
 procedures connected with the schools be attributed } 
 I feel, I confess, somewhat at a loss to determine. I 
 hope, however, that they have arisen merely from a 
 well-meant, though certainly an ill-timed, zeal — a 
 zeal, likewise, which has a direct tendency, though 
 not previously estimated, to promote disunion among 
 us, and a diminution of loving Christian feelings. 
 But whatever may have been the cause of tliese 
 
 m 
 
 II 
 si 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 149 
 
 lughters of 
 loured, for 
 er meed of 
 les of our 
 y repair the 
 
 e extent of 
 prefer their 
 and classes. 
 ;est candour 
 irose merely 
 ed to receive 
 i; and that 
 ., thej^ very 
 ;hey wish its 
 rv important 
 ;he feeUng of 
 3thodists who 
 ley invariably 
 cottages; the 
 ns on their 
 ;ation8 as we 
 iscover in all 
 they are acci- 
 s convince me 
 Church or to 
 not wilUngly 
 lave the least 
 
 procedures, I do hope, that the serious evils which 
 are beginning as a consequence to break forth, will 
 not only be checked, but entirely subside ; and that 
 all parties, superintendents, teachers, and parents, 
 will each in their respective stations be ready to show 
 that they are not among the last to bring about so 
 desirable an issue. 
 
 And now, with very sincere affection, believe me, 
 my much-endeared Parishioners, 
 
 Your faithful Friend and Minister, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 The following simple narrative, related by his 
 attached and faithful servant Fanny, also beautifully 
 displays the very kind and earnest, though very 
 decided, character of the excellent pastor of Madeley. 
 
 " Some of the beer shops at the Iron Bridge used 
 to be kept open very late at night, and master was 
 determined to put a stop to their being open later 
 than ten o'clock. He used to go to them, and turn 
 out all the men that were drinking in them after 
 that time. This enraged some of these men so much, 
 that they declared they would kill master ; for they 
 said, * they were determined that no parson should 
 interfere with them.' Some of master's friends heard 
 of this, and told him, and tried to persuade him not 
 to go to the Iron Bridge the next night ; and Mr. 
 and Mrs. Thomas did not wish him to go ; and we 
 all begged him to stay at home that night ; but he 
 told us he was not at all afraid of the men, and when 
 I said that they would be sure to do him some harm, he 
 said, * Why, Fanny, they have no power over me to 
 hurt me ; the Almighty is above them.' So master 
 went to the public house, and saw the very men that 
 had threatened to kill him, and he talked to them 
 for a long time, and told them that they ought to 
 have been at home with their families, and that he 
 
150 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 '! 
 
 iSi' 
 
 hoped he should never see them there again. He 
 spoke so kindly, that they all listened to him, and 
 never onered to hurt him ; and when he had 
 done talking to them, they told him, that they had 
 fully determined to make an attack upon him that 
 night, but that then they felt as if they had no power 
 to hurt him. So master shook hands with them all, 
 and then they all took oif their hats and wished him 
 • safe home,' and * long life to him.' And they 
 were never there again after ten o'clock ; and I think 
 what master said to them then, did one or two of 
 them so much good, that they afterwards became 
 pious." 
 
 Mr. Mortimer was equally desirous of putting a 
 stop to the desecration of the Lord's day by the 
 bargemen on the River Severn, and, for this purpose, 
 he tried every means to prevent the barges from 
 saihng on the Sunday. In doing this, he experienced 
 great opposition from some of the barge owners, who 
 purposely, as it appeared, kept their vessels locked 
 at Coalport at the latter end of the week, and released 
 them on the Sunday. At length Mr. M. was com- 
 pelled to take them before the magistrates, and have 
 them fined, by which means he succeeded in entirely 
 putting a stop to this desecration. 
 
 He exerted himself also to have the law enforced 
 against keeping open the pubUc houses and beer 
 shops during the time of divine service. 
 
 He took pains to prevent the children from playing 
 about the roads and fields on the Sunday, and to 
 secure the orderly behaviour of the Sunday scholars 
 in going to and returning from the Sunday schools. 
 There were at one period six hundred children in the 
 different schools in the parish of Madeley. 
 
 The class meetings consisted of six ; one for women, 
 conducted by Mrs. Mortimer, and the other five by 
 Mr. M. Once a quarter, the six classes met at one 
 place. Mr. Mortimer's object in having these cla*- 
 
 
 
 ■ i 
 
 l-% 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 151 
 
 M 
 
 meetings, though he evidently considered them as 
 auxiliary to the public ordinances of religion, was to 
 prevent the serious members of his congregation 
 from joining the Methodists, vrhich he had constantly 
 found to be the case at Wellington. 
 
 The following token of affectionate esteem was, no 
 doubt, very acceptable to the feelings of Mr. Mor- 
 timer, not so much from the worth of it, as from 
 the motive which gave rise to it — a motive at once 
 honourable to the hearts of the donors and to the 
 character of the receiver. This token was a handsome 
 octavo Bible, bound in morocco, inscribed on one 
 side, 
 
 '•To the Rev. George Mortimer, m.a. 
 
 A Token of Christian Regard 
 
 From the Male Class, meeting under his care at Lincoln- hill , 
 
 1817." 
 
 And on the other side, 
 
 "With a sincere desire that the rich promises contained 
 herein may be his consolation through life, and his support in 
 death." 
 
 The following anecdote may, perhaps, be more 
 suitably introduced here than elsewhere, because, in 
 all probability, it was during his residence at Madeley 
 that the fact recorded took place, though it was not 
 related to his daughter, who communicated it to me, 
 before the winter of 1842 — 3, during a sleigh-drive 
 with her father, v'We descending a hill, which was 
 in a dangerous stive, owing to its slipperiness and to 
 there being no bai ier on the one side which was the 
 edge of a precipice. 
 
 " K and I (and perhaps a third person, hut I 
 
 am not sure about that) were travelling from Welling- 
 ton to Madeley in a post chaise. When we were 
 about to descend a precipitous hill, something seemed 
 to say to me, ' Pray, you are in danger.' I resisted 
 
152 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 I ;' 
 
 the impression, and said to myself, it is all nonsense; 
 I will not give way to superstitious fears. Again the 
 warning was impressed on my mind, and I then 
 paused and lifted up my heart in prayer to God. I 
 had no sooner done so, than I heard the postillion 
 contending with his horses, which were pl'viging into 
 the hedge on one side of the road ; then they dashed 
 to the other side, and it appeared as though we should 
 have been precipitated rver the side of the hill ; but 
 we reached the bottom in safety. I then said to 
 
 K , ' I will tell you what has been passing in my 
 
 mind,' and related to him all the circumstances. 
 
 K then told me, that just at the same time, as 
 
 he supposed from my description of the spot, the 
 same thing was suggested to his mind, and that at 
 first he repelled the suggestion, but afterwards 
 yielded to it ; but that he had not the honesty to 
 confess the circumstance till I had done so. I know 
 
 K well, and feel perfectly assured that he would 
 
 tell me nothing but the truth ; and from the remark- 
 able circumstance of the suggestion being made to 
 the minds of both of us, I cannot, but believe it was 
 an intimation from above of our danger and of the 
 necessity of prayer. For, although his angels are 
 always at hand to succour us in danger, yet God has 
 been pleased to make prayer a necessary means for 
 obtaining their aid. When I am in my grave, tell 
 this for the benefit of others as an encouragement to 
 prayer." 
 
 My dear young friend and god-daughter adds, " I 
 was very much impressed by the charge with which 
 my dear father concluded, and, that I might be the 
 better able to fulfil it, I wrote down the whole rela- 
 tion when I returned home, of which the above is a 
 copy." 
 
 I very gladly comply with a hope expressed by 
 Mr. Mortimer's eldest daughter that I will insert in 
 the memoir of her dear father, a letter addressed to 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 153 
 
 her by him when she was about ten years of age ; 
 and, as it was written during his residence at ^ladeley, 
 I insert it here before we take leave of that place : — 
 
 " We returned to Madeley on the evening of last 
 Thursday week ; and I am thankful to state that we 
 have all of us received considerable benefit from our 
 journey. Your brothers and sisters seemed to enjoy 
 themselves exceedingly. The latter part of the time 
 we were joined by your uncle, who spent about eight 
 days with us ; and having hired a car for that time 
 capable of holding eight or nine persons, we were 
 enabled to see all that was worth seeing in the neigh- 
 bourhood. We often wished that you and C 
 
 had been with us in our excursions ; but more parti- 
 cularly while we were going over the castle of Aber- 
 conway, for it struck us as conveying one of the most 
 perfect ideas of both the extent and uses of a castle 
 of any we could recollect to have seen. The town 
 also is surrounded by a strong and turretted wall, 
 and gives a good notion of a walled city, such as we 
 read of as connected with former t.imes. 
 
 " We greatly prefer Glau y don to Barmouth. It is 
 about six miles from Abergeley, in Denbighshire, 
 North Wales. It is situated in a delightful recess 
 termed Llaadrillo Bay, and the scenery all around is 
 picturesque in the extreme. Such a pleasing com- 
 bination of the sublime and beautiful I have seldom 
 seen. The sea-shore, however, after all, presented 
 us with the chief attractions. I collected and fixed 
 the names of many of our English shells, and that 
 also in a state far more perfect than before. I began 
 also a collection of marine plants. These I shall 
 have pleasure in showing to you when you return 
 home. You will be surprised, perhaps, when I tell 
 you that they amount to upwards of sixty diiferent 
 sorts, and these are exceedingly few in comparison of 
 those I should have met with had we been there a 
 longer time, or had we waited for the equinoctial. 
 
 !- ; 
 
 -r 
 
154 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 i 
 
 • i 
 
 i; i 
 
 'i»] 
 
 1 '' 
 
 winds, which, perhaps you know, bring the greatest 
 quantity of marine substances to the shore, tearing 
 them from the rocks to which they adhere and grow. 
 
 " A begins to learn the names of a few of the 
 
 more common shells, and was much pleased with 
 making an incipient collection. He has purchased 
 some plain cards, and, after dividing them by pencil 
 marks into regular departments, he pasted his speci- 
 mens upon them ; and I think you will say, they 
 look tolerably well. 
 
 " Your aunt stopped with us about a fortnight 
 
 after you left us, and I accompanied her up to London. 
 The only coach, which we could with any convenience 
 go by, was principally occupied by nine convicts, who 
 were being conveyed from Shrewsbury to London, 
 previous to transportation ; and, during the night, 
 two of them were in the coach with your aunt and 
 myself. These were two of the most noted pick- 
 pockets belonging to a Shrewsbury gang, and, as you 
 will readily suppose, we were not at first much dis- 
 posed to relish their company. But, as they were 
 ironed and exceedingly well-behaved, we soon got 
 reconciled to them, and were not a little interested in 
 the observation of this novel description of character. 
 It presented, however, a melancholy admixture of 
 ingenuity and depravity. 
 
 " You will be sorry to hear that during our absence 
 
 at the sea, poor Mr. P died. He dropped down 
 
 suddenly while standing in the rope-walk, and never 
 spoke afterwards. He was advanced in years and 
 his death was expected ; but still, in such an uncer- 
 tain world as this, who can be secure ? May we all be 
 fully prepared when our summons shall arrive. 
 
 " You inquire concerning H. He began his letters 
 whiL .,u were at Glan y don ; but I cannot say any 
 great things as to his proficiency. Within these few 
 days we have permitted him to dine at our table, and 
 he has behaved so very well that we intend he should 
 
 I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 155 
 
 continue to do so for the future. L. and P., for 
 nearly a month past, have been introduced to our 
 morning family prayer, and I am happy to state that 
 they conduct themselves with much propriety." 
 
 After spending about eighteen months at Yardley, 
 near Birmingham, exchanging duties with the vicar 
 of that parish, Mr. Mortimer finally left Madeley 
 and removed to Clifton, August 30, 1 826 ; but the 
 situation not being in accordance with his retired 
 habits, he took a house at Horfield, whither he 
 removed on the 10th of October of the same year. 
 From this place was written the letter of which the 
 following is an extract, bearing date, January 1 7, 1827. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG, BUENOS AYRES. 
 
 From my brother, who joined us here the day after 
 the arrival of your letter, I was rejoiced to find that 
 Mrs. Armstrong and your family had arrived in 
 safety ; for though your frequent voyages must have 
 familiarized you in some degree to danger, yet we 
 who encounter nothing beyond the minor and com- 
 paratively trivial perils by land, feel a something 
 approaching to wondering gratitude at your seemingly 
 hairbreadth escapes. But possibly I misjudge my 
 endeared friend. The observation which he has thus 
 had *• of the works of the Lord and of his wonders 
 in the deep" has called forth his augmented tribute 
 of praise. And I trust that being once more sur- 
 rounded by his dear family, his comforts will thicken 
 around him, and his sun of prosperity will become 
 brighter and brighter, and that, if consistent with the 
 divine will, it may set again no more. 
 
 By the commencement of my letter, you will 
 perceive that / have been wandering as well as your- 
 self ; and, considering the difference of our locomotive 
 
15G 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ■ill 
 
 powers, I am almost disposed to regard my own 
 movements as the most astonishing. Madeley I 
 have entirely given up, and left in the hands of my 
 dear friend Cooper, than whom, I know not any one 
 more suited to the place. He is, I find, very accept- 
 able. I can say but little at present of myself : 
 for my first object in settling here was the health of 
 myself and family, which has already, I am thankful 
 to say, been considerably improved. And now I am 
 waiting for the first eligible employment which shall 
 present itself in Bristol, that my renewed health 
 and strength may be devoted to the glory of Him 
 who has mercifully restored them, and to the benefit, 
 I trust, of those around me. But though I have 
 not as yet any settled employment, I am almost con- 
 stantly engaged twice on the Sabbath, and, were I 
 not resolutely to refuse, I should frequently be 
 requested to take a third service. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 i M 
 
 M i: 
 
 Horfield, near Bristol, May 23, 1827. 
 
 My much-endeared Friend, 
 For with these appellations I must address you, 
 though the long intervals which I suffer to transpire 
 between my addresses may perhaps induce the 
 suspicion that they are not the legitimate expressions 
 of the heart. But as this is the general, not to say 
 the universal, character of my correspondence, and 
 as you must, by this time, have had sufficient oppor- 
 tunities of discovering my weak points, I will comfort 
 myself with the hope, that though you find me tardy, 
 yet that yoa will not regard me as insincere. 
 
 Your letter of the 1 8th of August last was conveyed, 
 I presume, through some private hand, and did not 
 reach me till some months after its date. It 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 1."): 
 
 my own 
 ladeley 1 
 nds of my 
 )t any one 
 ;ry accept- 
 if myself: 
 ! health of 
 [11 thankful 
 I now I am 
 fhich shall 
 fved health 
 )ry of Him 
 the benefit, 
 agh I have 
 almost con- 
 and, were I 
 jquently be 
 
 iddress you, 
 • to transpire 
 induce the 
 e expressions 
 i\, not to say 
 ondence, and 
 ficient oppor- 
 
 will comfort 
 ind me tardy, 
 icere. 
 was conveyed, 
 
 and did not 
 ts date. It 
 
 contained, as you will perhaps recollect, the painful 
 accounts of the bereavements which you have lately 
 been called to endure, in the loss of your two most 
 beloved daughters ; and to one of your disposition 
 and habits — one so affectionate, and domestic, and 
 in everv sense paternal — the dispensation must have 
 been one of no ordinary suffering ; and yet so sweetly 
 do the feelings of the true Christian combine with 
 those of the sorrowing parent, that I almost envy you 
 the power which you so blessedly possess ; an attain- 
 ment to which I look up, when I consider it in 
 reference to yourself, with admirng gratitude ; but 
 which, when I advert to, in contrj. ;t to my own im- 
 perfect and limited experience, humbles me in the 
 dust. Hitherto, indeed, I have had but little 
 affliction in my family ; yet that little has not been 
 borne with that meek and patient submission — with 
 that deadness to the world and that detachment from 
 the creature — which ought to characterize the child 
 of God. But if I so readily faint in the day of com- 
 paratively minor sorrows, how can I be expected to 
 stand in the day of increased and lengthened suffer- 
 ing — the evil day, asked for by Satanic malignity, 
 and rendered but too necessary in order to bring 
 before me the latent evils of my own unsanctified 
 heart ? Still, however, the divine panoply has been 
 mercifully provided ; and what should hinder me 
 from becoming strong in the Lord and in the power 
 of his might ? I will therefore hope in his mercy. I 
 will expect, that should sufferings await me, such as 
 those with which my endeared friend has been visited, 
 I may still be enabled to glorify my God in the day 
 of my visitations ; and then all will be well. For 
 sanctified sorrow not only loses all its pungent and 
 corrosive, and deadly qualities, and thus leaves our 
 neutralized minds in the possession of calm and 
 settled peace ; but it has reference also to that happy 
 and eternal state above, where all our light and 
 
 
158 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 uionieutary alflicdons shall be succeeded by that 
 inconceivable weight of glory which shall suffer 
 neither diminution nor end. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer's next engagement in the duties of 
 his sacred office, was at St. Mary ]( Port, Bristol, 
 first undertaken temporarily during the serious illness 
 of the regular minister, the Kev. Thomas Grinfield, 
 which lasted for some months, and afterwards sharing 
 the services with him for a year, before his going to 
 the curacy of Button. He entered upon this duty 
 for the first time, on Sunday, December 10, 18l2G, 
 and continued in the discharge of it until the end of 
 September, 1828. In this sphere he seems to have 
 laboured with peculiar pleasure, acceptance, and use- 
 fulness ; his talents as a preacher appear to have 
 been better appreciated, and his services more valued, 
 than in any other situation that he filled either before 
 or afterwards ; and, speaking after human judgment, 
 I cannot help regretting that ever he felt it to be his 
 duty to leave a field of so much promise, and one 
 which he was so well calculated to improve and cul- 
 tivate ; and, if I do not greatly mistake, his own 
 mind was not entirely free from feelings of regret on 
 this subject. Of his adaptation to the place and of 
 the benefits resulting from his ministry there, he was 
 not himself insensible. He thus writes to his sister, 
 Mrs. Holland, August 5, 1828 :— 
 
 •* In my ministerial duties it has pleased the Lord 
 to give me a degree of acceptance among my present 
 charge which I was never favoured with before. At 
 Madeley, indeed, the attendance was good, and as 
 much of interest was kept up and spiritual benefit 
 conveyed, as kept my naturally anxious and misgi\ing 
 mind from quite sinking ; but in Bristol it has been 
 far otherwise. The attendance at church has greatly 
 mcreased ; the affection of the people seems to be given 
 me in an unusual degree ; and I do hope the blessinir 
 
 I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 aj) 
 
 . by that 
 lall suffer 
 
 e duties of 
 rt, Bristol, 
 rious illness 
 s Grinficld, 
 irds sharing 
 lis going to 
 m this duty 
 ;r 10, IB'iG, 
 i the end of 
 ems to have 
 ice, and use- 
 ,ear to have 
 more valued, 
 either before 
 m judgment, 
 t it to be his 
 lise, and one 
 rove and cul- 
 ike, his own 
 of regret on 
 place and of 
 there, he was 
 to his sister, 
 
 ased the Lord 
 ig my present 
 before. At 
 good, and as 
 .ritual benefit 
 and misgiving 
 ol it has been 
 ch has greatly 
 ;ms to be given 
 ,e the blessing: 
 
 of the Lord keeps bringing home the word witii 
 power to their hearts." 
 
 He makes reference also to his labours at St. Mary 
 le Port, in a letter to the Rev. John Cooper, in terms 
 which sufficiently indicate his own feelings and senti- 
 ments, and which are plainly expressive of his own 
 judgment upon a comparative view of his services at 
 Bristol with those performed elsewhere. 
 
 Hutton, near Cross, Somersetshire, Feb. 4, 1829. 
 
 My much-endeared Friend, 
 1 AM quite ready to acknowledge my faults ; and lest, 
 through forgetfulness, I should in a similar manner 
 offend in this instance also, I am determined to de- 
 spatch my communication at once. You kindly allude 
 to gratification received from this source in time past. 
 Such hiu-s coming even from an indifferent quarter, 
 always frighten me ; they make me fincy that some- 
 thing will of course be expected for the future ; and 
 knowing so fully the mere business-like strain in 
 which I am generally accustomed to write, and my 
 want of spirituality when I touch upon serious sub- 
 jects, I have such a shrinking, not to say horror 
 and dread of letters of mere friendship, that while 
 intending to pay my just and lawful debts in this de- 
 partment, I keep insensibly postponing their discharge, 
 till I fancy my answers would be out of date, and 
 would fain sit down with a quiet and contented mind. 
 Creditors, however, are those merciless kind of beings 
 that it is no easy matter to escape out of their hands, 
 and ever and anon some ipbraiding or threatening 
 communication appears in due form before me. Not, 
 licwever, that I could be so wanting in urbane feel- 
 ings, as to speak in such terms of Madeley despatches ; 
 they are, of course, the merest and most gentle of 
 all mementos— all lapses of time are so graciously 
 
 I = 
 
 
IGO 
 
 LIFE AND LI. TIERS OF THE 
 
 i li 
 
 overlooked, and the most unblusliiujj; halts on the 
 ])art of the most notorious offender are rather imj)licd 
 than expressed. You will therefore be kindly pleased 
 to accept my most humble and grateful aeknowlcdi;- 
 ments for such unmerited mercy ; and ho])ing for 
 ever to profit by such benignity, I now beg leave to 
 conclude my lengthened exordium. 
 
 As you appear to have seen my good friend Y , 
 
 you have no doubt heard from him most of the par- 
 ticulars connected with my recent change. I do, 
 indeed, most fully believe, that I am in the spot to 
 which I have been most evidently directed of the Lord ; 
 and in respect to outward comfort and suitableness 
 of employment, I suppose I should hardly find 
 another situation equally eligible ; buty after all^ I 
 cannot help regretting the termination of my Mary 
 le Port engagements. Much kindness have I re- 
 ceived in various forms from my Madeley people — 
 much also, and most strongly expressed, from ray 
 temporary charge at Yardley ; but I never seemed to 
 live so fully in the hearts of any of my people as 
 those, from whom unavoidable circumstances have so 
 recently separated me. I am persuaded, however, 
 that all is right both for me and for them ; and if 
 developing circumstances should not reveal this to 
 the eye of sense, yet that faith which brings its lumi- 
 nous atmosphere around the results of cautious pro- 
 cedure and humble dependence will cheer the mind 
 with its present assurance, till it shall conduct us to 
 that world where, without the least shadow of a 
 misgiving, we shall acknowledge that our guiding 
 and gracious Saviour "hath done all things well." 
 My outward path has indeed, for some time past, 
 been in many respects somewhat mysterious and 
 painfully perplexing; but such are frequently the 
 movements even of those who not only have the 
 cloudy pillar to guide them, but who also are careful 
 to follow its guidance. And, even allowing that 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M..V. 
 
 161 
 
 Us on the 
 
 her implied 
 
 lly pleased 
 
 end Y , 
 
 of the i)ar- 
 ngc. I do, 
 I the spot to 
 of the Lord ; 
 suitableness 
 hardly find 
 after all, I 
 of my Mary 
 3 have I re- 
 »ley people — 
 led, from my 
 ;er seemed to 
 ny people as 
 unces have so 
 dcd, however, 
 them ; and if 
 reveal this to 
 •ings its lumi- 
 cautious pro- 
 eer the mind 
 conduct us to 
 shadow of a 
 t our guiding 
 things well." 
 ne time past, 
 ysterious and 
 requently the 
 )nly have the 
 so are careful 
 allowing that 
 
 ourselves have not thus followed with this undcviating 
 step, still we have the privilege of penitent return ; 
 and, from whatever point we may retrace our wander- 
 ing step, we see the same heavenly guidance before 
 us, waiting to conduct us onward in the unerring 
 way. 
 
 i feel much obliged for your interesting allusion to 
 Madeley procedures ; your dispensary, infant-school, 
 and clerical meeting, have all of them, not only thi 
 approval of my judgment, but of my heart. . . . 
 And therefore I do, in all respects, most sincerely 
 rejoice that the kind and gratifying permission of 
 which you speak was ever given to me. My fear, 
 however, is, lest you should be doing too much, en- 
 couraged by that haff-untrue and sadly delusive 
 maxim, " Better to wear away than to rust away.'* 
 I would rather have you patronise that far more pru- 
 dential substitute suggested by the biographer of 
 Leigh Richmond, " I labour less that I may labour 
 longer." 
 
 I do indeed most sincerely rejoice with you in the 
 blessed testimony afforded to you by your endeared 
 and dying sister, to the faithfulness of our gracious 
 and Omnipotent Redeemer. How few are the families 
 where the leavening influence of true religion has 
 been more extensively or more blessedly experienced ! 
 
 We had not heard of the arrival of our Ceylon 
 friends till your last reached us. Most truly rejoiced 
 shall we be to be permitted to meet them ; but the 
 notorious offender has some draw-back to his antici- 
 pated pleasure — a four or five years* halt keeps 
 haunting his perturbed mind. Nor let your gifted 
 men of punctuality smile, as they read these com- 
 punctious movements — these reiteratedconfessions, — 
 lest our insulted spirits spring from beneath the igno- 
 minious tread, and, elate with all the consciousness of 
 our newly acquired powers, hold ourselves in readi- 
 ness to repel the charge and to retaliate the affront. 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 '.! !■ a 
 
 hi4 
 
162 
 
 UFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 You hare heard, I suppose, of my having taken 
 three pupils to instruct with my own children ; my 
 time, ns you can readily imagine, is far from sluggishly 
 employed ; my health, however, is, and has been for 
 some time past, through God's blessing, unusually 
 good. Within the last three weeks, I have been a 
 little threatened with a return of Madeley feelingss, 
 but this has been through attempting too much. 
 Our united and very kindest love attends Mrs. C. 
 yourself, and family, and 
 
 I remain, my dear Friend, 
 
 Yours, ever affectionately, 
 
 6. Mortimer. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 The next step in the life of my endeared friend, 
 which comes under our notice, is one which filled all 
 his friends with surprise— one which they could not 
 contemplate without much concern — one, the expe- 
 diency of which, they could none of them fully 
 perceive — one, indeed, which they could not but 
 consider as uncalled for and unnecessary. I refer to 
 his leaving England, and proceeding with his family 
 to settle in Canada. At an earlier period of his life 
 he appears to have been animated with a pure and 
 holy zeal for the cause of missions to the heathen, 
 and would, if his way had been open, most gladly 
 have entered upon that self-denying service. But 
 now he was not stimulated by such a motive ; indeed, 
 he can hardly be said to have made even ministerial 
 duties his chief object : it was not to seek a new 
 fortune in the vineyard of Christ, but to improve his 
 worldly fortune for the temporal benefit of his 
 children. I do not presume to censure Mr. Mor- 
 timer for this step, though I agree with many of his 
 friends in consideriug it a very questionable measure. 
 He was not like a man in needy circumstances ; 
 Providence had supplied him with a very comfortable 
 
 SI 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 163 
 
 independent income ; one perfectly adequate to pro- 
 vide for all the reasonable wants of his family, and to 
 enable him to place out his children in suitable 
 situations, as they grew up ; much more so, if I do 
 not greatly mistake, and with much greater satisfac- 
 tion, too, than he has been able to do in Canada. 
 Where the object is the cause of God, I should be 
 among the first to recommend a man to leave his 
 home, his friends, and his country, and go to the 
 very ends of the earth, if called to such a service ; 
 and I see no reason why men of business, if their 
 disposition lead to it, though they possess even good 
 properties, should not expatriate themselves for the 
 purpose of commerce, or the increase of their 
 fortune; but I hesitate as to granting the same 
 liberty to the minister of Jesus Christ, ^specially 
 where it has pleased his heavenly Father co furnish 
 him with the necessary supplies of life in a tolerably 
 competent measure. It is clearly the duty of a 
 clergyman, as it is that of a layman, to make such 
 provision for his family, in the event of his removal 
 from them, as his circumstances will permit ; but to 
 make this the first object of consideration in deter- 
 mining upon an important movement in life — in 
 leaving one's own country and settling in another — 
 does seem to me not very warrantable. Upon these 
 considerations, I cannot, I confess, perfectly concur 
 with my late beloved friend in the measure under 
 contemplation. No doubt he was fully satisfied in 
 his own mind of the propriety of the step on which 
 he had determined, and that the accomplishment of 
 it was in accordance with the path of duty and the 
 order of Providence. 
 
 But let Mr. Mortimer speak for himself. Four, out 
 of the five following letters, touch more or less upon 
 the subject, and explain his views of the measure 
 and of the desirableness of it. In the dark view 
 taken in some of these letters of the prospects of 
 
 M 2 
 
 I 
 
 i:, 
 
 t 
 
 :1 
 
1()4 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 his native country, the writer of them by no means 
 stood alone ; and though commerce seems to have 
 recovered itself, and the prosperity of the nation has 
 assumed a more promising aspect, yet the encourage- 
 ment given to Popery by the State on the one hand, 
 and the movement in the church towards the increase 
 of its ranks, and the augmentation of its influence 
 on the other ; the unmanageable state of pauperism, 
 and the ungovernable, and, I fear, to any considerable 
 extent, the unimprovable condition of the peasantry 
 and the poor of our great cities, cannot be contem- 
 plated by the Christian patriot without fear, alarm, 
 and consternation. "We are evidently in the state of 
 a volcano, and everything seems to indicate a no very 
 distant eruption, which may rase the foundations of 
 the Church and State, and scatter misery and wretch- 
 edness, rapine and bloodshed, murder and destruction, 
 over the face of the land. The elements of some 
 general convulsion are preparing with a rapid pro- 
 gress ; and awful, it is to be feared, will be the 
 catastrophe, if, by timely repentance, the blow which 
 threatens us, and which undoubtedly we deserve, be 
 not averted.* 
 
 ,'1 
 
 I I 
 
 * '' Unquestionably our aristocratical manners and habits 
 have made us and the poor two distinct and unsympathising 
 bodies ; and, from want of sympathy, I fear the transition to 
 enmity is but too easy when distress embitters the feelings, and 
 the sight of others in luxury raakes that distress still more 
 intolerable. This is the plague-spot to my mind in our whole 
 state of society, which must be removed, or the whole must 
 perish. And under God it is for the clergy to come forward 
 boldly, and begin to combat it. If you read Isaiah iii., v., 
 and xxxii. ; Jeremiah v., xxii., and xxx. ; Amos iv. ; Habak- 
 kuk ii. ; and the Epistle of St. James, written to the same 
 people a little before the second destruction of Jerusalem, you 
 will be struck, I think, with the close resemblance of our 
 own state to that of the Jews." — Dr. Arnold's Letters, vol. i. 
 p. 286. 
 
REV. GEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 16.5 
 
 Hutton, near Cross, Somersetshire, 
 Nov. 1830. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 I DO indeed feel myself much obliged to you for 
 kindly breaking through the impediments which my 
 lengthened silence put in the way of our renewed 
 intercourse. I often reproached myself for not 
 writing ; and yet there seemed such an awkwardness 
 in recommencing, that I fear I should never have 
 had courage to combat with it. But your truly 
 welcome letter has opened my way, and I most 
 gladly avail myself of the unexpected facility. But 
 before I proceed to other matters, I ought to assure 
 you that yours is not any personal or any peculiar or 
 isolated case. All my friends, and even relatives, 
 are successively neglected ; and if it were not that so 
 manv of them are touched with a similar feeling of 
 kindness with yourself, and ever and anon renew the 
 needful impulse, I should soon be forsaken by them 
 all, and find myself, what I so richly deserve, " a 
 desolate old man." 
 
 All your topics of communication cheer me. I 
 truly rejoice with you in the erection of the church. 
 It was a noble emprise, characteristic of my endeared 
 friend, and peculiarly owned and blessed of his God; 
 of its extent of good, eternity will alone unfold. Your 
 account also of your dear children was read by me 
 with much interest, and with real gratitude. How 
 faithful is God. In the spirit of the Levite you have 
 thrown up your ' ' ^ritance among your brethren. 
 And some of us, not sufficiently aware of the nature 
 or extent of your faith, and but little called to tread 
 in similar paths, were inwardly dreading some disas- 
 trous shock. But the whirlwind, the earthquake, 
 and the fire, were only the creatures of our own 
 
 11 
 
166 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 / 
 
 imagination ; while all that is real is " the still small 
 voice " of our God, proclaiming, as is usual with him, 
 to those who can trust him, his goodness, and his 
 love. May the same goodness attend all the other 
 branches of your dear family. And may you and 
 your beloved wife be long spared to them, to the 
 church, and the world. 
 
 I know your friendly feeling would prompt you to 
 enquire respecting our several movements. But 
 where shall I begin ? All is and all has been well 
 with us ; and yet much has been transpiring which 
 we little anticipated. The calls of our family have 
 induced struggling and self-denial. My curate could 
 not be retained. The tutor for lii, children, when 
 he left for college, has not been replaced. First, his 
 duties devolved on me ; then the extra care of three 
 pupils. Removing, too, has been attended with loss. 
 And various other matters hai^e all been tending 
 toward the same point. But still I would reiterate 
 the declaration — all is and has been well with us. To 
 some spirits, struggling and difficulty is absolutely 
 necessary. Like stagnant waters, they must be 
 shaken, or they will acquire the evils consequent on 
 inactivity. 
 
 I have for some years past been endeavouring to 
 feel my way as to a settlement in one of our colonies ; 
 having little expectation of being able to settle my 
 children at all advantageously in England. All I 
 wished for was something in the shape of ministerial 
 duty, without much regard to the emolument, but as 
 a kind of satisfaction that I was not going out of the 
 way ot usefulness. But my inquiries were fruitless. 
 Indeed my friends were not over anxious about my 
 success. They mostly inclined to my remaining in 
 England ; and therefore did not, 1 believe, at all 
 exert themselves. Now I begin to fancy that I am 
 getting too old for such an experiment. Thov;gh 
 possibly should anything desirable present itself, I 
 
 i I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 167 
 
 should not wonder at my old feelings reviving. But 
 I should not now be tempted, I think, with anything 
 short of a chaplaincy ; and the^e are so far from 
 being come-at-able, that I consider my emigrating 
 schemes as at an end. My views, however, with 
 regard to my own country are still the same. I was 
 never a national croaker ; and have, I think, always 
 been disposed to look at the bright side. Still I can 
 anticipate nothing but rapidly increasing distress, 
 and not very far distant ruin. And this has almost 
 invariably been the case with great commercial 
 nations. The influx if extraneous wealth, pro- 
 ducing such increase of population, and such extent 
 of luxury, and when these arrive at a certain point, 
 other countries, other markets, successfully compete, 
 and eventually surpass. At one of these points we 
 are already arrived, and the retrograde impuke is 
 beginning to be most painfully felt. All classes, 
 indeed, are much suffering at present ; and had it 
 not pleased God to have given us a popular king and 
 a most j)lenteous harvest, it is most generally believed 
 that a revolution would ere this have taken place. 
 Many, I know, are still dreading it. A letter which I 
 received but a/ew days since from a General, a father 
 of one of my pupils, is strongly expressive of the 
 feelings which still prevail in the metropolis. To 
 add to other cafses of apprehension, we have just 
 received the account of the resignation of the Wel- 
 lington ministry. All is indeed perplexity. But 
 still the Lord Omnipotent reigneth ; all is in his 
 hands. And possibly what we are dreading is only 
 the small cloud of needless apprehension, which will 
 either soon blow over, or only discharge itself in 
 unexpected and undeserved mercies. But why should 
 I allude to public events ; for, with letters from your 
 friends, you receive, no doubt, a budget of the public 
 papers, which bring all these matters before you in 
 all their diversified aspects and bearings. 
 
1G8 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 •' »; 
 
 As to iny mlm:iterial employments, I feel on the 
 whole conifoi^'yly engaged. My sphere is but 
 small ; and r-> , success not very apparent ; and yet 
 circairiot'iDCi ;i .>rf 11 to require my continuance ; nor 
 doe: any mo'\'ug of the cloud point out any other 
 placi.. I iVtnr.fore go labouring on ; and should it 
 pleac',' (jiod to fix me eventually in some other situa- 
 tion, i s-.4fu] ihid ail the benefit from my past exer- 
 tion; for i make a point of preparing one new 
 sermon every week. 
 
 Mrs. G. M. unites with me in very kindest re- 
 membrance to yourself and dear Mrs. A. 
 
 And I remain, my much endeared Friend, 
 
 Yours, ever sincerely, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 TO THE RET. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 !)/ U i 
 
 I. 1 
 
 Hutton, January, 1831. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 I AM much obliged by your kind riid prompt com- 
 munication respecting the removal of poor Mr. 
 Burton, your vicar. I am afraid it will prove the 
 precursor of many difficulties, both with regard to 
 yourself and beloved Madeley. We must look, how- 
 ever, beyond these probable perplexities with that 
 steady eye of faith on t' promises and perfections of 
 our ever faithful God, which shall enable us not only 
 eventually, but at each successive movement, to feel 
 the grateful persuasion that all is well. I hear from 
 Mrs. D. W , that Mr. B gives her some en- 
 couragement to hope that your continuance there is 
 more than probable. Should any aid be required 
 under such an arrangement, I shall be happy to con- 
 tinue the 3^10 yearly which I have already devoted 
 t(» this object, and 1 beg you will not feel the least 
 scruple in the transfer. 
 
 frit 
 
eel on the 
 ere is but 
 t ; and yet 
 lance ; nor 
 any other 
 should it 
 ther situa- 
 past exer- 
 : one new 
 
 dndest re- 
 
 iend, 
 rely, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 lary, 1831. 
 
 •ompt coui- 
 
 poor Mr. 
 
 prove the 
 
 regard to 
 
 look, how- 
 
 with that 
 
 rfections of 
 
 us not only 
 
 ent, to feel 
 
 '. hear from 
 
 er some en- 
 
 ice there is 
 
 )e required 
 
 3py to eon- 
 
 cly devoted 
 
 H'l the least 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 169 
 
 I have been, with much contrivance, plotting an 
 arrangement for you in conjunction with myself and 
 
 Mr. H , but one or two matters would not, I 
 
 fear, fall in with your wishes, and therefore I have 
 let this slip. I have written however to a dear 
 friend to be on the look out for you, and shall try to 
 call in other aid, as well as keep an observant eye 
 myself. I feel persuaded that mercy is still in reserve 
 
 for my much endeared friend. Mrs. M unites 
 
 with me in very kindest regards to yourself, Mrs. 
 
 C , and your family, and 
 
 I remain. 
 
 Yours, ever aflFectionately, 
 
 G. Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 Hutton, Aug. 9, 1831. 
 
 Mv dear Friend, 
 I DID, indeed, intimate to Miss P my intention to 
 write to you at an early opportunity, and I am 
 quite ashamed and sorry that I should have de- 
 layed doing this so long. Your very kind and most 
 interesting letter, received a few days since, has not 
 only opened my eyes, but warmed my heart ; and, 
 even were I disposed any longer to postpone, I 
 should find it somewhat difficult to do it. 
 
 I do, indeed, most sincerely rejoice with you in all 
 the goodness and mercy which have attended you 
 during your residence in MadeJey. 
 
 You kindly and delicately suppose that the inci- 
 pient attentions showed yovi, on your first going there, 
 were in some measure from their kindly feelings to- 
 wards myself. Possibly, the glowing descriptions of a 
 friend might have prepared (he min'ls of ^tiany For 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 I 
 
 1- I 
 
170 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 expectation, and have procured for you the more 
 than ordmary courtesies of introduction. But such 
 expectations vrould have terminated in all the vexa- 
 tion of contrast, had there not been that suitableness 
 in my dear friend which I had supposed, and which 
 the parishioners were in no way backward to discover. 
 It is with much gratitude to our God and Saviour 
 that I look back on the whole of the past transac- 
 tion : the circumstances which seemed indispensably 
 to require my own separation from the dear people 
 of Madeley ; their hopelessness respecting a suitable 
 successor ; your willingness to accept the charge ; 
 the kind vicar's willing consent ; and the long interval 
 of reciprocal endearment which has since been ex- 
 perienced — one so cordial, and so thorough * * * 
 and, surely, that most munificent and touching act 
 of their kindly feeling and high respect which they 
 showed you on your departure, is no small proof of 
 the accuracy of my supposition. 
 
 *' Hitherto hath the Lord helped me," may be the 
 encouraging motto of my friend. And greatly will it 
 rejoice me to hear that in his new, and yet more exten- 
 sive sphere of labour, the same distinguishing mercy 
 from on high attends him : you go accompanied with 
 many prayers, and encouraged with many a cheering 
 recollection of the past ; and, what is more comfort- 
 ing, I will freely acknowledge, to my own mind, 
 you go onward with a humble sense of your own 
 nothingness , surprised at the results of mercy 
 which you see ; pausing, not in self-congratulation, 
 but in lowly gratitude, to survey and express them. 
 
 * 
 
 The account which you giv€ of the new vicar is 
 very encouraging, and answers, m all respects, to the 
 other testimonies which have reached me. 
 
 The times seem peculiarly perilous, both politically 
 and ecclesiastically ; though I was never given to 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 l/l 
 
 " croak," yet I cannot but feel that we are on the 
 eve of danger. God only can avert it, and in Him 
 is my hope ; but out of Him everything seems 
 gloomy and foreboding. Could my dear wife see 
 and feel with myself, I think it probable, that I 
 should make some effort to escape from all this 
 stormy wind and tempest, to some one or other of 
 our colonial shores, and there endeavour to establish 
 my family under more auspicious promises than 
 those afforded by our native land : for the mercan- 
 tile day of England has long been declining, and 
 with our increasing population no very cheering 
 prospects can be cherished.* My way, however, is not 
 yet clear ; and till my path is opened, I feel no desire 
 to proceed. "With your own large family, thoughts 
 of the future will no doubt, at times, be attempting 
 anxiously to intrude. But I know full well the 
 accustomed sobriety of your mind, and can easily 
 imagine how quietly and peacefully you leave these 
 bewildering anticipations with Him who has encou- 
 raged us to cast all our care upon Himself. In 
 this, as in other respects, may I ever be endeavouring 
 to follow you. 
 
 We are truly glad to hear of Mrs. C.*s amended 
 health, and of the comfort which you have in 
 your residence and situation. It seems, indeed, 
 in all respects, the very place for you, and long 
 may you and your beloved wife be spared to 
 
 * At the date of this letter, the public mind was much agitated 
 by the question of Parliamentary Reform, and an alarming 
 spirit of lawlessness prevailed in many parts of the kingdom. 
 In a few weeks after this was written, the city of Bristol was 
 for about two days in the hands of a numerous mob ; setting 
 all authority at defiance, and committing the most fearful de- 
 predations, burnings, &c. These events, happening within a 
 few miles of Mr. M.'s residence, would doubtless increase his 
 wrebodings as to his native land, and his desire to remove to a 
 foreign scene of ministerial labour. 
 
 1 n 
 
172 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 reside among them. Our united and very kind 
 regards attend you both, and all the members of 
 your dear family. 
 
 Believe me ever to remain, 
 
 Your very sincerely attached, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 rt Ji 
 
 ■' i ! 
 
 Ml 
 
 •13 
 
 Hatton, March G, 1832. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 I BELIEVE you are almost the only one to whom this 
 peculiar and endearing appellation is considered by 
 me as truly belonging, who has not as yet been made 
 acquainted with my intended movements. Had it 
 been at all practicable, I should have taken you in 
 my way, in my late lengthened tour to Hull, Raithby, 
 and London; but cii cumstances would not then 
 admit this, and 1 cannot now indulge the hope. A 
 similar tour, about eight years since, found you in 
 Liverpool, and my residence in Shropshire ; and then 
 I was permitted to enjoy with you a few hours. 
 But much as my spirit ^as always been refreshed 
 with the pleasing and profitable intercourse with 
 yourself, a few hours lately would have been par- 
 ticularly valued by me; for I know not whether 
 such may ever again, in this world, be afforded me ; 
 my late tour having been a leave-taking visit previous 
 to my finally leaving this country for Ohio. 
 
 I know not what your views may be on the subject 
 of emigration, for I do not recollect to have touched 
 upon it in any of our conversations. My own mind, 
 however, has, for many years past, been directed 
 towards it, and I have only been waiting for the 
 most eligible opportunity of putting my plans into 
 execution. My three sons go with me in the first 
 
UEV. nEORor mortimer, m.a. 
 
 7^ 
 
 instance, and u a few months after, my dear wife 
 and three daii_,Iitor^. Our mutual friend, the Kov. 
 Josiah Pratt, has written to Bishops Chase and 
 Mcllvaini, aboi ^ minihierial employment, and I 
 expect to hear from them soon. But, I understand, 
 there is a great want of Episcopalian ministers 
 throughout the United States ; they are, therefore, 
 gladly welcomed, and handsomely supp rted, so that 
 I have no grounds to fear in this respect. The 
 climate also of the State, to which I am intending to 
 proceed, is considered as very fine and healthy, and 
 living is Httle more than one half of what it is 
 even in country places here. In addition to these 
 advantages, I hope, with God's blessing, to find 
 remunerating employment, and suitable settlement 
 for my children — n matter which has been long per- 
 plexing me, and .)f which there is certainly no 
 prospect in ^his country. I had intended at first to 
 have made an extensive purchase of uncultivated 
 land, which, in the inland States, is selHng for two or 
 three dollars an acre ; but this plan I have relin- 
 quished; for my min' rerial avocations, and the settle- 
 ment of my children, together with the enjoyment 
 of suitable society, were hardly compatible with a 
 situation surrounded by uncultivated districts. I am 
 thinking of sailing from Liverpool, in preference to 
 Bristol, as I hear that the accommodations are much 
 superior, and the time of sailing more certain. Do 
 you know any friend there to whom you could 
 obligingly write yourself, or recommend to me to 
 apply to, who would be so good as, first to make 
 enquiries about the packets, and finally bargain for 
 me ? I wish to sail as soon as I can after Easter- 
 day, April 22 ; and I want five cabin places, for 
 myself, three sons, and a pupil, or proteg6. During 
 your residence in the vicinity of Liverpool you may, 
 probably, have become acquainted with some persons 
 now resident in America, to whom an introduction 
 
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 (716)872-4503 
 
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 174 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 might prove to me of considerable service. It is, 
 indeed, held forth as the land of liberty, prosperity, 
 and religion ; but there is no place in which we shall 
 not find the need of friends ; and, especially, will 
 they be valuable in a strange land. If, then, you 
 could obligingly help me in this matter, I should 
 feel much indebted to you. I am particularly de- 
 sirous of getting my books exempted from duty, if 
 I possibly could. I have diminished these, with 
 many a shrinking feeling, to about one-third of their 
 number; but, even now, there are four hundred 
 weight, and the duty is one shilling and three pence 
 per pound, on bound volumes, the chief of which 
 mine are. Books are, in fact, my implements of 
 trade ; almost all of them either ministerial or 
 scholastic; and as the common artisan is permitted 
 to take his tools, why should not the minister and 
 tutor his ? Perhaps, the justness of this would be 
 allowed on our arrival at New York, if I could be 
 put in the way of obtaining it. 
 
 Strange and startling, perhaps, as my projected 
 movements may seem to you on their announcement, 
 I shall not venture to ask you whether revolving 
 months or years may induce my Madeley successor 
 to follow my steps. Unprepared, however, as he 
 may be, at present, for such a scheme, even in 
 imagination, it would be no macter of surprise to me, 
 should he, ere long, be as fully persuaded as myself 
 of its expediency. Beneficed clergymen, who have 
 charges they cannot without much cost, either of 
 feeling, or temporal sacrifice, detach themselves from, 
 may see it their bounden duty to remain; those, 
 also, who have connexions which may help to settle 
 their children in after life, or those who have only 
 one or two children to provide for — these may still 
 linger in their once prosperous, and ever endeared 
 country; but the unbeneficed — unpatronized heads 
 of large families must, I fear, sooner or later 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 175 
 
 decamp. " Our hive" (as our mutual friend Mr. 
 Pratt, observed to me) " is too full, and we must 
 lead out our respective swarms." But may the 
 God of providence and grace ever guide us, and, 
 wherever we either go or remain, may He both 
 •* bless us, and make us a blessing." Our very 
 kindest love attends yourself, dear Mrs. C, and your 
 family, and I remain. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 
 Yours, ever sincerely, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO THE rev. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 Hutton, June 6, 1832. 
 
 My endeared Friend, 
 I LEAVE Button to day for Bristol, and expect to go 
 on board the brig Active for New York, to-morrow ; 
 and, as my only remaining means of communication, 
 I take up my pen to bid you adieu. Had I sailed 
 from Liverpool, as I was once intending, I should 
 certainly have endeavoured to have spent a few hours 
 with yourself and family ; but the expenses of travel- 
 ling and of conveying luggage so far across the 
 country, together with the higher charges in the 
 Liverpool vessels, obliged me to consult my purse 
 rather than my feelings ; and I am persuaded that 
 my endeared friend will not be th ";rst to censure me. 
 
 We are now proceeding to Uppe: Canada by the 
 way of the United States ; and though the climate is 
 somewhat colder in winter, and hotter in summer, 
 than our own, it is considered as very fine and healthy. 
 To myself also it has this no small recommendation, 
 that it is under British Government, and is princi- 
 pally inhabited by British settlers. 
 
 I have used all endeavours to procure ministerial 
 
Hi 
 
 m 
 
 I "6 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 employment there, but as yet in vain. Our present 
 leading men are too liberal to give support to any 
 religious object ; and the Canada company prefer the 
 recommendations which arise from local knowledge 
 and representations. But on this latter account, I 
 still hope, that when I arrive there, I shall not be 
 long before I hear of some situation or other in which 
 I may be usefully employed. Some desirable intro* 
 ductions to residents have been kindly afforded me. 
 
 The want of religious instruction is almost the only 
 drawback from the Canadas. In many instances 
 persons are thirty or forty miles from a place of 
 worship. This, however, is no small call on the 
 superabundant labourers among ourselves ; and I do 
 expect, that ere long this call will be fully regarded. 
 
 And now my endeared friend, what shall I say as 
 to all the comfort — the unmixed satisfaction — which, 
 for so many years, I have been permitted to enjoy 
 in our occasional intercourse ? To our gracious and 
 faithful Redeemer let us give all the praise! And 
 may we ever be looking forward to the time, when the 
 friendship of earth shall be followed by the blissful 
 and never terminating enjoyments of heaven. 
 
 Mrs. G. M. begs to be united with me in kindest 
 remembrances to yourself, Mrs. C, and family, and 
 I remain, my endeared Friend, 
 
 Yours, ever sincerely, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer and his three sons set sail on the 
 1 Ith of June, 1S32. He gave an account of his pas- 
 sage to America, of his reception in Canada, and of 
 his first impressions and expectations there, in the 
 following letters to Mrs. Mortimer. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 177 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Ang. 6, 200 miles from a Port. 
 
 June 12th, Tuesday, 9 o'clock. Driven from the 
 cabin by disposition to sickness, I write on deck 
 on one of the hen coops. Last night all of us fell 
 giddy and beginning to be squeamish — took the 
 brandy in sips and all were immediately relieved. — 
 Herbert also lost his head-ach. Our nightly abode 
 was, I confess, an uninviting concern. When I lay 
 down I seemed as though I should be suffocated and 
 was obliged to rise up in haste, but soon got recon- 
 ciled, and managed, at last, to get off and slept pretty 
 well till five. The wind has been favourable ever 
 since we sailed, the captain in good spirits, nothing 
 could be better. At nine, yesterday evening, we cast 
 anchor ; the captain, in consequence of the haziness 
 of the weather, being afraid of proceeding, lest, not 
 being in open sea, he should run foul of land ; we re- 
 sumed operations, however, between two and three. 
 The ship remaining stationary was the cause of the 
 close and confined sensations which we had on getting 
 into our berths at night ; for when the vessel is in 
 motion there is no want of fresh air and no feeling of 
 oppression. I am again, my dearest Mary, on deck. 
 I have just been humming over three or four times my 
 favourite verse, 
 
 •* O may I ne'er forget, 
 
 The goodness of the Lord ; 
 Nor ever want a tongue to spread, 
 Hb loudest praise abroad." 
 
 Ah ! we called upon him in our trouble, and he 
 hath delivered us out of our distress : we could, there- 
 fore, " praise the Lord for his goodness and for his 
 
 N 
 
 il'fii 
 
liJ 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 
 178 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 wonderful works which he showeth to the children 
 of men." I had scarcely finished writing the contents 
 of the first side of my sheet, when the wind began to 
 veer round, and blowing from the west with great 
 violence, the ship heaved and rolled to such a degree, 
 that the whole of the passengers, without exception, 
 were taken so suddenly and so distressingly ill, that 
 they were obliged to dash, as quickly as possible, 
 to their beds — no time for undressing, and none, of 
 course, for arranging our little alleviations and pre- 
 ventives against sickness. Our party were all diifer- 
 ently affected, but all suffered much for about twelve 
 hours. Arthur was quite unconscious of what he 
 did — Cecil occasionally incoherent — Herbert very 
 quiet, but at times greatly suffering. Indeed, I had 
 serious thoughts, whether we should ever recover ; 
 but I lay musing, and praying, and casting the weight 
 of my oppressed spirits on my covenant God in Christ 
 Jesus, and soon had a most blessed state of peace. 
 
 Sunday, June 17, 12 noon. We have just had 
 service on deck — an interesting scene, and seemingly 
 not unacceptable to the auditors, who, in pleasing and 
 attentive groups, were lying, or rather sitting, round 
 me. We had three or four good singers. H3niin, 
 
 ** God moves in a mysterious way." 
 
 Text, Gen. xii. 1 . The deck presents quite a Sabbath 
 scene, most of the men either reading or quietly sit- 
 ting. God openly honoured. Wind greatly against 
 us, out nearly a week and only 200 or 300 miles from 
 land; but I have no restlessness, indeed scarcely a 
 wish ; peace more than usual. On deck we fared but 
 badly, the spray besprinkled most in their turn. One 
 wave, more unmannerly than the rest, drenched the 
 mate, soaked the captain, and soused myself and 
 Cecil and Herbert. We shook ourselves as well as 
 we could, and sat quietly till we were dry. The mate 
 says he has been thirty-one voyages and never knew 
 
REV. OEOROB MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 179 
 
 such rough weather at this season of the year. In 
 the evening, all was calm and we ate in quietness, and 
 with good appetite, a meat supper, followed by biscuit 
 and cheese, and supported by our good bottled porter. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Brig Active, August 13, 1832. 
 
 This day week, I forwarded to you by the ship 
 Science, Greenock, three letters, written at different 
 times during our voyage. After reading my third it 
 seemed so vapid and uninteresting that I determined 
 to discontinue my journal, and, of course, my extracts 
 from it; for, though many things seem interesting to 
 us in our isolated and pent-up situation, yet, when 
 soberly reviewed, they amount to a mere nothing. As, 
 however, we are now approaching the shore, I am 
 desirous of having a letter nearly finished that I may 
 forward it as soon as possible after our arrival, should 
 it please God to permit us to reach the much longed- 
 for shore. The last week has been one of much 
 anxiety and perplexity to most of the passengers. 
 The ship we spoke with told us we were out in our 
 reckoning, and this communication proved but too 
 true. We thought we were within 200 miles of land, 
 but it then appeared we were distant between 500 
 and 600. Our provisions and our water had already 
 begun to fail, and many on board had been reduced 
 to very short allowance. Judge, then, of the feeUngs 
 which prevailed when our actual distance was ascer- 
 tained. The Science, indeed, spared us half a barrel 
 of flour, but what was this for our increasing neces- 
 sities ? The privations, therefore, have daily become 
 greater, and, to such a degree has murmuring and 
 dissatisfaction prevailed, that a mutiny by many is 
 daily expected. The Lord, however, is in this, as in 
 
 N 2 
 
 f 
 
 it 
 
 m 
 
1.' 
 
 180 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 everything else, the all-sufficient God, and he will still 
 continue to protect and to bless us. And, indeed, 
 since I last wrote to you, we have had many and 
 most striking instances of his watchful and paternal 
 care. On one occasion we were exposed to the most 
 terrific storm of thunder and lightning, which we 
 had ever witnessed, and its nearness was so great, 
 that we appeared in immediate danger of being shat- 
 tered to pieces. Upon the most accurate calculation, 
 it was at one time only a quarter of a mile distant, 
 and if it had actually passed over our vessel, loaded 
 so extensively with iron, the consequences would, in 
 all probability, have been fatal to us all. During the 
 last week we fell in with the fog, and one of the 
 West India Island hurricanes, terrific and awful 
 beyond previous conception: it must be witnessed 
 to be fully understood. Towards its close I ventured 
 upon deck, and truly thankful was I to learn that no 
 damage had been sustained, no mast shattered, not a 
 single leak sprung. Some, indeed, attributed this 
 to the tightness and excellence of our fine little vessel, 
 overlooking the goodness and faithfulness of our 
 God. Ah, how it grieves me to the heart to see the 
 loving-kindness of our God so generally lavished 
 upon us in vain ! But the confinement of a ship calls 
 into exercise almost every latent quality of the mind ; 
 the secrets of hearts are indeed most fully revealed, 
 though the exhibition is by no means gratifying. In 
 many respects, however, it is useful, and I feel very 
 thankful for it as it regards our little party. Habits 
 and dispositions have unfolded of which I had scarcely 
 the least idea, but which discovery will materially 
 influence me as to the steps which should be taken 
 in reference to my future movements and the eventual 
 disposal of my children. We are now, I believe, 
 about 100 miles from land, and it is well that we are 
 no more ; for most of our comforts have failed us in 
 the cabin, and we are brought under allowance as to 
 
he will still 
 nd, indeed, 
 many and 
 ind paternal 
 to the most 
 , which we 
 IS so great, 
 heing shat- 
 calculation, 
 lile distant, 
 ssel, loaded 
 js would, in 
 During the 
 one of the 
 : and awful 
 »e witnessed 
 e I ventured 
 earn that no 
 ttered, not a 
 ributed this 
 little vessel, 
 ness of our 
 rt to see the 
 lly lavished 
 I a ship calls 
 jf the mind ; 
 lly revealed, 
 tttifying. In 
 I feel very 
 rty. Habits 
 had scarcely 
 materially 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 181 
 
 Id be taken 
 the eventual 
 V, I believe, 
 1 that we are 
 failed us in 
 Dwance as to 
 
 water, and they speak of this as to other provisions ; 
 so that we manage, as you may suppose, but badly ; 
 and were we to continue much longer in our present 
 state, I fear that our health would materially and 
 even permanently sufiPer. But we make the most of 
 what remains, and keep cheering ourselves with the 
 hope that it will not be for long : the wind, however, 
 is far from favourable, and we proceed with great slow- 
 ness. Nine weeks to-day have we been out at sea — I 
 should rather say, since we set sail — and few calcu- 
 lated upon a longer time than five or six weeks ; so 
 that it is not surprising many among us are begin- 
 ning to suffer. But, as I mentioned, hope sustains 
 us, and the God of love and mercy will, in his own 
 good time, extricate us out of all our troubles. 
 
 Delaware River, August, 1;"<32. 
 
 We are at length, dearest Mary, through the good 
 providence of God, brought about midway up the 
 river on which the city of Philadelphia stands ; but, 
 in consequence of the cholera still prevailing there, 
 we shall be obliged to perform a short quarantine of 
 two or three days in a place about twelve miles on 
 this side of it, and after that we may possibly be 
 detained, previous to our passing the Custom House, 
 for a day or two longer. In less than a week, how- 
 ever, from the present time we are hoping to proceed 
 to New York, and thence on our Canada journey, 
 liike the great Apostle we should thank God and 
 take courage. Many have been his tender mercies 
 towards us, and I feel a calm and blessed power to 
 resign all the future into his hands. We have just 
 passed a most beautiful village (Newcastle), built 
 completely in the English style ; but everything now 
 is so fresh and novel that we view it with tenfold 
 interest. We are all, thank God, in very good health. 
 
 ' :i 
 
 i;] 
 
182 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 )i 
 
 ' 
 
 li 
 
 /I 
 
 and the cholera has considerably abated at New 
 York. I should hope vi'* are running no risk in pro- 
 ceeding in our intended line, and, indeed, no prudence 
 would be any sufficient safeguard, for I hear that it 
 has spread to very many of the surrounding places, 
 and therefore there is no possibility of getting entirely 
 out of its way ; but that God, who directed our 
 steps through the United States, will, I am confident, 
 preserve us. I have been reading twice with great 
 attention a small work of Dr. Granville, which has 
 thrown great light upon my mind, both as to the 
 origin, treatment, and prevention of the disease. It 
 was given by Mr. Grant to Arthur, and I consider 
 it quite providential that it was thrown in my way. 
 
 Philadelphia, August 22. 
 
 And so, my Mary, through the mercy of my God, 
 we are brought at length to the long-wished-for 
 shore, and the thrilling feelings of pleasure which we 
 experienced as we stepped once more on land were 
 half delirious — it seemed scarcely a reality. In a 
 short time, however, the delirium of joy subsided into 
 a most delightful state of peaceful gratitude. We 
 came here yesterday afternoon, and soon began to re- 
 connoitre ; passing from street to street in rapid suc- 
 cession, and for the first time since I left England I 
 was thoroughly tired, but at the cost of my poor 
 bleeding toes, which were so sore that I could hardly 
 put on my shoes, but on they went, and a little after 
 five I awoke our party to proceed on fresh adven- 
 tures. The first exploit was in the captain's boat, 
 which he kindly lent to us, and a fine rowing we had 
 across the Delaware to a small island near the State 
 of New Jersey, where three of the young people en- 
 joyed a most delightful bath. On our return to 
 breakfast such a scene of rapacity was exhibited as 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 183 
 
 ed at New 
 
 risk in pro- 
 
 10 prudence 
 
 lear that it 
 
 ing places, 
 
 ing entirely 
 
 irected our 
 
 n confident, 
 
 with great 
 
 which has 
 
 as to the 
 
 disease. It 
 
 I consider 
 
 I my way. 
 
 August 22. 
 
 f my God, 
 g-wished-for 
 re which we 
 L land were 
 ility. In a 
 ubsided into 
 itude. We 
 began to re< 
 n rapid suc- 
 
 England I 
 )f my poor 
 ould hardly 
 I little after 
 •esh adven- 
 tain's boat, 
 dng we had 
 ' the State 
 
 people en- 
 • return to 
 inhibited as 
 
 would have astonished even an indulgent and ever 
 apologetic mother. The captain had previously talked 
 of a good blowhig out, but now we experienced it. 
 Your half-famished eldest son has, I think, taken 
 precedence, but we were none of us far behind him, 
 with such relish did we apply to the abundant and 
 novel and delicious fare which was set before us. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 York, Upper Canada, Sept. 21, 1»32. 
 
 Nothing as yet has been determined respecting 
 myself. The bishop was absent on a long tour of 
 visitation, but I obtained a letter of introduction to 
 Archdeacon Strachan, through Captain Fitzgibbon ; 
 and His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir 
 John Colborne, having heard of my arrival, expressed 
 a wish that I do wait upon him. Both he and the 
 archdeacon behaved with great kindness, and men- 
 tioned places which they thought desirable ; but I 
 wait for the advice of the bishop, to whom I have 
 written on the subject. I am disposed; however, 
 to fix on Hamilton, a rising village near Ancaster, 
 beautifully situated, and bidding fair to become the 
 third town in the province, York and Kingston only 
 taking precedence. No church, indeed, is as yet 
 built — service is performed in the Court House — 
 but one is fixed on. My salary will be ^100 sterling, 
 a rectory house, forty acres of cleared land, besides 
 some — I forget the quantity — ^uncleared, and the sum 
 I may obtain by letting the pews. The Governor 
 and his lady are both truly pious. I dined with 
 them on Tuesday and spent a most pleasant evening. 
 The archdeacon is uncommonly friendly; our whole 
 party took tea with him on Saturday evening, and I 
 nave called on him since. 
 
 I;- 
 
 t'i 
 
 >i 
 
 .1 
 
 li 
 
184 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Thornhill, near York, Oct. 8, 1832. 
 
 I DO not wish to raise your expectations in any im- 
 proper way, but I still think 1 ought in justice to 
 say, that I think you will be tolerably pleased with 
 the situation in which I have been led to settle. 
 There is, indeed, no fixed salary, and perhaps nothing 
 beyond ^40 or ^50 — the sum given by the congre- 
 gation — may be obtained by me. But the Bishop 
 and Governor both expect that I shall receive from 
 the clergy reserves ^100 more, and, if so, this ^150 
 will be very fair. As to the distance (only thirteen 
 miles from York) it has a decided preference over 
 Hutton, and the society is in my estimation far supe- 
 rior, and mostly English. The church is small, but 
 the attendance good, far more than the Hutton 
 average. They appear also quite pleased with my 
 coming, as my predecessor, though a learned man and 
 a great orientaUst, had no aptness for parochial en- 
 gagements. I forgot to mention that the spot and 
 neighbourhood is considered most healthy. If the 
 young folks are desirous of seeing their future loca- 
 tion, they may look into a map of Canada, and they 
 will see a road leading from York to Simcoe Lake, 
 directly north ; this is called, George Street Road, 
 each side of which is cleared for the space of two or 
 three fields. It is on this road that Thornhill is 
 situated. I intimated in my last letter that I had 
 some thoughts of building a house to be ready to 
 receive you on your arrival, but you will be glad to 
 hear, that I have entirely given up all idea of it ; it 
 never will do, at least for me, and therefore I have 
 made my continuance here depend on the trustees 
 of Thornhill Church, allowing me ^0 or ^50 per 
 
;. 8, 1832. 
 
 a any im- 
 justice to 
 sased with 
 to settle, 
 ps nothing 
 16 congre- 
 le Bishop 
 jeive from 
 thisaei50 
 ly thirteen 
 pence over 
 1 far supe- 
 small, but 
 le Hutton 
 I with my 
 d man and 
 ochial en- 
 spot and 
 r. If the 
 iture loca- 
 and they 
 coe Lake^ 
 eet Road, 
 of two or 
 lomhill is 
 Lat I had 
 ready to 
 i glad to 
 of it ; it 
 e I have 
 i trustees 
 ^50 per 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 185 
 
 annum, and their providing me at a moderate rate a 
 house suitable for my family, some time before the 
 10th of June next, 1833, at which time, through 
 God's blessing, I hope to see you all here. And 
 surely he will preserve you ; not a box, or package, 
 or anything has been lost, everything brought safe 
 over the perilous ocean and the intervening space, 
 and shall not the same faithful God of love preserve 
 my Mary and all her accompanying charge ? I will, 
 therefore, trust, and not be afraid. 
 
 I received a message from the Governor last night, 
 in which he tells me, I may depend on having the 
 ^100 he mentioned to me. He is peculiarly kind 
 and a great blessing to the province. The people 
 
 seem very desirous of detaining me ; Messrs. 
 
 assure me that some house sufhciently large shall be 
 provided. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Thomhill, near York, Nov. 4, 1832. 
 
 To-day, dearest Mary, when I arose, I found the first 
 snow lying on the ground, and, as the thermometer 
 now indicates, that we are fast approaching our 
 Canadian winter. I have staid at home ' day to 
 get matters more fully in order, that I may meet it 
 as pleasantly as I can. A few days previously I 
 quitted my cold, smoky sitting room, and took up 
 my quarters in my favourite bed room, removing 
 into it my books, boxes, and in fact everything, 
 except the chairs and one table, which I have left 
 below to receive company when they shall honour 
 me with their visits ; which, in spite of my bachelor- 
 ship, and the non-attractions of my place, they feel 
 themselves bound in courtesy to do. Think not, 
 however, that I freeze my visitors, for I too well 
 
 I 
 
 ; i 
 
 n 
 
 i 
 
186 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 remember the cold rooms into which I have been 
 ushered myself, while in England. Mrs. Crosby, 
 therefore, has received a strict charge to keep up a 
 fire from ten to five, and when visitors are expected 
 a semi-mountain of logs is added to the pile. My 
 bed room has been greatly improved by nailing up 
 three of the bedding wrappers (and which, for the 
 purpose, I found a most invaluable treasure), against 
 three of the windows, so as to exclude all the search- 
 ing, piercing, cold winds and air, which, I hear, 
 penetrates so bleakly when the winter fully sets in ; 
 for this aforesaid bed room of mine has no fewer than 
 four windows; for the Canadians, not being taxed for 
 their lights, think they can never have enough, and 
 hence we are broiled in summer and frozen in winter, 
 as the concomitants of our delectable liberty. I 
 have now, therefore, as you will perceive, only one 
 window remaining ; but this is quite enough, and 
 you would join me in my conclusion had you to-day 
 seen the snow forcing its way by some unaccountable 
 means through some imperceptible apertures, so as 
 quite to wet some clothes which for a few minutes I 
 had incautiously placed under the window. My 
 removal to the bed room was the day before yester- 
 day, and the two last nights were the only two in 
 which I slept comfortably. I got an extra blanket 
 that was of no perceptible benefit ; a second counter- 
 pane was added to the weight of the superincumbent 
 clothes, but not apparently to the warmth : I then 
 slept in a pair of silk stockings; but these also, 
 though the best of all my auxiharies, were not ade- 
 quate, and I was therefore obliged to put over these 
 a pair of my worsted warm socks ; bat even then I 
 had a chilly feeling towards morning. Since, how- 
 ever, I have been sitting constantly in my room, and 
 have had a fire there, and a good one too, all the day 
 long, lighted before I rise, and left burning with 
 renewed logs when I go to rest : with all these helps 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 187 
 
 have been 
 rs. Crosby, 
 
 keep up a 
 re expected 
 
 pile. My 
 
 nailing up 
 ;ch, for the 
 re), against 
 the search- 
 ch, I hear, 
 lly sets in ; 
 ) fewer than 
 ig taxed for 
 nough, and 
 n in winter, 
 liberty. I 
 ?, only one 
 lOugh, and 
 you to-day 
 accountable 
 tures, so as 
 V minutes I 
 idow. My 
 fore yester- 
 )nly two in 
 tra blanket 
 nd counter- 
 rincumbent 
 th : I then 
 these also, 
 ire not ade- 
 over these 
 ven then I 
 lince, how- 
 room, and 
 all the day 
 rning with 
 these helps 
 
 and adjuncts I do now exceedingly well, but what 
 I shall do in the real winter I know not. Now the 
 thermometer is not lower than 20° or 25° below 
 freezing point in the night, but then it is frequently 
 10° or 12° below zero, and once last year it was 29° 
 below it. Perhaps I shall have recourse to the 
 Russian fashion, and sleep with the feather bed over 
 me, or between the blankets, but even then, poor 
 nosey and its neighbours will receive no benefit, and 
 the gentlemen, I suppose, will complain of the 
 injustice done to them, while all the other parts are 
 so cozy, and they are left to bounce against the icy 
 formations produced by the moisture from the breath ; 
 but, as little Herbert would say, we must breathe, 
 and so poor nosey and company must take their 
 chance. I think I have not, as yet, alluded to one 
 of the chief Canadian annoyances, the amazing pre- 
 valence of the house fly. All places swarm with 
 them, and the most respectable persons, who feel 
 the annoyance greatly, quite despair of getting rid 
 of them. In a few days, however, I effected a 
 clearance, and afterwards only a comparatively few 
 stragglers made their appearance, which were daily 
 removed ; and this must be done, if you would have 
 any comfort. I took up a volume in boards at a 
 lady's here, which had been lying on its side on the 
 shelves, and when I touched it it was so rough with 
 the abundance of their excrement, that I wondered 
 what kind of excrement it was covered with, till I 
 examined and discovered the cause of the evil. 
 Gauze or muslin covers most of their things, but as 
 to the mass of them, they are filthy beyond endu- 
 rance ; and then the creatures keep buzzing about 
 you incessantly, and keep you in a ccutinual fidget 
 with their intolerable tickling. Then, again, they 
 almost cover your plate while you are eating, and as 
 to indulging in a siesta, that is impossible. If a loaf 
 of bread is left uncovered a shoit space, its surface 
 
 ■ -i 
 
 I I 
 
 
 ! U 
 
 iii 
 
 
188 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 is SO eaten as to appear quite grated ; and all other 
 articles are laid by them under similar contribution, 
 though it may not be quite so discernible. I guess 
 that my Mary will be equally zealous with myself in 
 attempting this clearance. 
 
 Mr. has just been here ; he is one of the 
 
 trustees of Thornhill Church. To him and his 
 associates the Governor has this day made over 600 
 acres for the use and benefit of the minister out of 
 the clergy reserves. These they will perhaps ex- 
 change for half the number of acres near the church, 
 situated on the George Street Road, and when the 
 exchange shall be effected, they will proceed with 
 the house. You have heard about the long and still 
 unsettled disputes about the Clergy Reserves. In Mr. 
 Pitt's administration, a certain portion of the land 
 was reserved for the clergy in each township ; but the 
 Presb3rterians of the Scotch Church and the other de- 
 nominations have lately put in their claim, and since 
 the litigation commenced, nothing has been done, no 
 lands, in any case here, I believe, have been assigned. 
 His Excellency wrote to Lord Goderich, and has 
 just obtained from him permission to assign lands to 
 such clergy as at present are just being fixed in 
 their respective districts. Sir John is now acting 
 upon this permission ; some lands belonging to the 
 clergy reserves have been sold to form a fund, in 
 hand, and out of this he builds the parsonage house. 
 "We are much indebted to the Governor, Sir John 
 Colborne, for his perseverance, without which no 
 adequate provision for ministers of our church could 
 have been made, for none of our congregations would 
 hear a word about contributions as long as there was 
 a chance of the clergy reserves being obtained. 
 
 Oh, how glad I am, my Mary, we came here, 
 instead of going to the United States, and that the 
 good providence of God directed us to this country. 
 Depend upon it, we shall never regret the step we 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 189 
 
 id all other 
 intribution, 
 I guess 
 I myself in 
 
 ane of the 
 and his 
 e over 600 
 ster out of 
 erhaps ex- 
 he church, 
 1 when the 
 Dceed with 
 ig and still 
 es. In Mr. 
 f the land 
 p ; but the 
 e other de- 
 
 and since 
 n done, no 
 Q assigned. 
 , and has 
 ^n lands to 
 s; fixed in 
 low acting 
 jing to the 
 a fund, in 
 age house. 
 
 Sir John 
 
 which no 
 irch could 
 ions would 
 
 there was 
 led. 
 
 !ame here, 
 d that the 
 s country, 
 le step we 
 
 have taken, every day convinces me of its expediency, 
 in every point of view. May the same God of love 
 who brought us safe and directed us, as the pioneers 
 of our little party, bless, preserve, and keep those 
 that remain, and bring you through every perplexity 
 and trial to this land of his pecuHar smile. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Thomhill, Nov. 8, 1832. 
 
 I have for the last two or three weeks been expecting 
 another letter from Locking, and supposing that it 
 would contain various things which I should like 
 to touch upon in reply ; but, as the roads keep me 
 at home for a day or two, I am unwilling to let this 
 state of leisure pass by. Yesterday, I returned from 
 York, having been conveyed there and back by the 
 kindness of a lady in this place, the weather just held 
 up for the time. Had we been a day later it would 
 have been terrific work, but I live in hopes his 
 Excellency the Governor will mend the great north 
 road on which Thomhill stands. Sir John has com- 
 menced operations both in the town and neighbour- 
 hood of York, and his success there encourages 
 hope in this, though the sum to be raised for the 
 purpose is a620,000. My reception among the great 
 in York was gratifying — the condescension and kind- 
 ness of all parties quite surprises me. My abode 
 was at the hospitable bishop's, who in this, as well as 
 in all other respects, is a truly Christian bishop : he 
 pressed me to lengthen my stay, and was almost hurt 
 that I did not comply. His chaplain is a true Chris- 
 tain, and of very pleasing manners. When he found 
 that Arthur was residing in York, he oifered me his 
 kind attentions on his behalf, and before I left he 
 
 -■ 
 
 t y- 
 
 t;™ 
 
 u 
 
 
 f! 
 
 '■ 
 
 !? 
 
190 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 M ' i 
 
 mentioned him also to the bishop. I was much 
 struck with the pious solemnity with which he put 
 the licence for Thornhill into my hands ; it seemed 
 a real committal of souls to my charge, so different 
 from the matter-of-course transactions which I had 
 in all other instances witnessed. Sir John's party 
 I joined in the evening, dinner six o'clock, not mucli 
 in this respect to my liking; but everything else 
 connected with the visit most agreeable. He has re- 
 ceived permission from Lord Goodrich to proceed 
 with the projected plans for settling the clergy, and 
 he tells me he will make the commencing trial with 
 myself. When it is more fully and definitely known 
 to me, I will report to you ; but what I gather at 
 present is, that he will give me as incumbent 300 
 acres of land, forty of which shall be cleared at his 
 expense, and a suitable house erected ; and he thinks 
 all can be done with ease for your reception, on or 
 about the 10th of June. He does not promise me 
 a salary, but, till this be accompliGlied, the bishop 
 will try to give me at the rate of £100 per annum. 
 He however cannot engage. The people promise me 
 £50 per annum : they are very kind to me, and show 
 me the greatest attention. The congregation in- 
 creases, and though I am not forward to speak upon 
 such subjects, I do feel that the situation is impor- 
 tant, and the Lord has much work for me in this 
 place. My heart also is in some measure in my 
 work; I feel it blessed; its former anxieties and 
 oppressiveness are astonishingly removed, and thus 
 the Lord has at length granted unto me what I almost 
 regarded as impossible ; so that the anticipated wil- 
 derness has been made to smile and blossom as the 
 rose — the peace and blessedness within having shed 
 its transforming influence all around. I had often 
 read the 45th of the Madeley Hymns in reference 
 to the future, but I little thought how completely it 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 191 
 
 was much 
 ich he put 
 
 it seemed 
 80 different 
 lich I had 
 ►hn's party 
 
 not mucii 
 
 lathing else 
 
 He has re- 
 
 to proceetl 
 
 clergy, and 
 
 trial with 
 telv known 
 
 gather at 
 mbent 300 
 ired at his 
 1 he thinks 
 ion, on or 
 Promise me 
 the bishop 
 )er annum, 
 iromise me 
 !, and show 
 sgation in- 
 ipeak upon 
 I is impor- 
 me in this 
 are in my 
 ieties and 
 , and thus 
 at I almost 
 ipated wil- 
 3om as the 
 iving shed 
 had often 
 I reference 
 mpletely it 
 
 would be realized. The hymn begins with, " That 
 man no guard or weapon needs," and the last three 
 verses you will perhaps excuse my transcribing — 
 
 '* His love possessing I am blest, 
 
 Secure whatever things may come ; 
 Whether I go to east or west, 
 With him I shall be still at home. 
 
 If placed beneath the northern pole, 
 Though winter reigns with rigour there; 
 
 His gracious beams would cheer my soul 
 And make a spring throughout the year. 
 
 Or if the desert's sun-burnt soil 
 
 My lonely dwelling ere should prove. 
 
 His presence would support my toil. 
 
 Whose smile is life, whose name is love." 
 
 Many of the Irish Protestant clergy are coming out 
 in the spring, with large quotas of their flocks, driven 
 out as they are by the violence of those who refuse to 
 pay the church tithes. I met one of this description 
 the other evening at the bishop's, a warm-hearted 
 and spiritually minded Irishman; his details were 
 most affecting, but highly interesting, and I thought 
 I could see a striking providence in their being thus 
 compelled to flee at this present time to a country 
 where they were so particularly needed, and where 
 their own temporal comforts would be so materially 
 increased. The good bishop quite rejoiced over his 
 anticipated treasure. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Thomhill, January 18, 1833. 
 
 * * * The delight of a warm bed the 
 Canadian can fully appreciate. The other morning 
 
 ^1 
 
192 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 M" 
 
 the thermometer stood 18° below zero, or 50* below 
 freezing point, and during last night I conceive it 
 must have been much lower: it is now near the 
 middle of the day, and the glass is only T above 
 zero, and yet, difficult as you may feel it to credit 
 me, it seems to me a mere nothing. I can hardly 
 imagine that I am in the midst of a Canadian winter, 
 that horrible and terrible of previous anticipation : 
 the fact is, that the severe weather only lasts for two 
 or three days at a time, which is far different from a 
 continuous season of four or five months, and though 
 sharp and searching in itself, yet fire, clothing, and 
 due attention, bring all to a common English tem- 
 perature ; and then the air is so cheering and bracing 
 that you smile cheerily, rather than feel oppressively. 
 But, in reality, I can hardly proceed in my descrip- 
 tion, not for want of words but of ink ; for it not 
 only freezes in the ink glass while on the table, but 
 after I place it on the hearth and thaw it, the pen-full 
 freezes while I am writing ; so that I am obliged to 
 stop ever and anon to thaw it in the pen, and yet 
 with this acme of congelating miseries, I smile and 
 laugh and go battling on ; but all this sounds worse 
 than it really is, so do not be alarmed. 
 
 ON EMIGRATION. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 I FEEL somewhat puzzled as to what I ought to say 
 with regard to emigration. As to agriculture, em- 
 ployment can easily be procured in the upper pro- 
 vince, and the wages are good ; but the state of 
 destitution in which some of the families arrive is 
 very distressing, and keeps them back for a con- 
 siderable time. I cannot recommend any family to 
 come out unless they have £9 a head for each 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 193 
 
 r 50" below 
 conceive it 
 w near the 
 ly 1° above 
 it to credit 
 can hardly 
 lian winter, 
 iticipation : 
 ists for two 
 •ent from a 
 and though 
 )thing, and 
 iglish tem- 
 ind bracing 
 )pressively. 
 ny descrip- 
 tor it not 
 J table, but 
 ;he pen-full 
 obliged to 
 in, and yet 
 smile and 
 unds worse 
 
 ight to say 
 ilture, em- 
 upper pro- 
 e state 'of 
 i arrive is 
 ibr a con- 
 ' family to 
 L for each 
 
 individual. It hapj)ened to one young man who 
 had paid £\. 15s. for his passage to Quebec, and 
 yet with one and another charge he had only a few 
 shillings left out of ^61 2. At Kingston I heard of 
 a family of emigrants whose baggage was sold by 
 auction to enable them to find the money to proceed 
 to the agricultural districts. If emigrants can 
 proceed with their baggage, and a few shillings in 
 their pockets, they soon feel thankful for their 
 altered circumstances. As to the two men and their 
 families, I must leave it to your decision, and to 
 influence them as you judge best. If they come, it 
 should be as early as possible : leave England in 
 February and get to Quebec in March. 
 
 TO MRS. MORTIMER. 
 
 Thornhill, Jan. 18, 1833. 
 
 As to emigration I feel at a loss what to write. 
 There is in fact hardly a man living but in some way 
 or other may succeed in this fine country, and yet 
 there is scarcely a man who may not fail and suffer 
 disappointment, so that I dread recommending ; but 
 were I in the condition of nineteen out of twenty, 
 I would make every eifort to come out. Most have 
 to rough it for about a year ; few need do this much 
 longer ; that is, if thoughtful, prudent, and moral : 
 their wilderness soon begins to smile, and comforts 
 one after another crowd around them. I must turn 
 to my log-book for something to say on this score. 
 " Of all settlers the medical profession seems to have 
 least encouragement ; they are worse oft* than 
 even ministers ; for in this country the population 
 is so scattered, and the roads so impracticable, 
 that they slave and toil beyond all endurance for a 
 scanty pittance, and finding so small a remuneration, 
 
 
 
 .. 
 
 4 
 
 'i ; 
 
194 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ! ^ 
 
 I 
 
 tbey are obliged to merge their professional engage- 
 ments into those of the largely cultivated farm. 
 Should they speculate on more extensive practice 
 and larger returns in some of the towns there, so many 
 have anticipated them, that they half starve before 
 they can get into practice, and, after paying dear 
 for their rashness, are compelled to return to the 
 country, and to rough it like others in employments 
 for which their previous habits have but little quali- 
 fied them. Another evil is that all the three 
 branches are here united, there not being a sufficient 
 call to admit of a division ; and then, again, we are 
 all so healthy, excepting, indeed, the whiskey 
 drinkers, who die by inches, but who have no 
 peculiar penchant for bitter drugs; so that had it 
 not been for the cholera, which so extensively visited 
 us, I fear the medical gentlemen must have had no 
 great cause to congratulate themselves on their 
 speculations. The best description of settlers are 
 young persons with or without families, married or 
 single, who can command about ^1000 in cash, and 
 have about ^680 or ^100 per annum, on which they 
 can regularly calculate. These can purchase a fair 
 quantity of land in cultivated districts, where there 
 is good society and English comforts ; can build 
 their house ample, commodious, and well-looking ; 
 and can realize from their farm what will enable 
 them to live as gentlemen. I know two or three 
 families of this description, in this neighbourhood, 
 who have freely exhibited their finances before me, 
 and they are just what I have noticed above. And 
 if these do well, much more those whose income is 
 larger. Such are the settlers we most need, for 
 improvements follow so fast in their train. Capital 
 and taste are in their case combined, and their 
 respective neighbourhoods start into notice and com- 
 fort." As to young men of the more respectable 
 order, they must be willing to go into trade, and in 
 
onal engage- 
 vated farm, 
 live practice 
 ere, so many 
 starve before 
 paying dear 
 }turn to the 
 imployments 
 t little quali- 
 il the three 
 ^ a sufficient 
 gain, we are 
 he whiskey 
 bo have no 
 that had it 
 sively visited 
 tiave had no 
 'es on their 
 settlers are 
 s, married or 
 in cash> and 
 1 which they 
 •chase a fair 
 where there 
 can build 
 rell-looking ; 
 
 will enable 
 wo or three 
 ghbourhood, 
 IS before me, 
 ibove. And 
 )se income is 
 it need, for 
 in. Capital 
 and their 
 ice and com- 
 
 respectable 
 ;rade, and in 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 195 
 
 this they have abundant encouragement, not so 
 much in specific trade as in the keeping of stores, 
 both wholesale and retail, and to such they give a 
 salary for five or six years, and then either take them 
 into partnership, or else set them up in some country 
 store, furnishing them with goods on easy terms to 
 begin with. Farming will not do for young men of 
 this description, till they are of age to farm for 
 themselves, and then they may begin, if they have 
 a small capital to purchase land and stock it. They 
 want very little of any previous training ; the advice 
 of some friend or neighbour on the spot is quite 
 adequate, if he be of any tolerable capacity. As to 
 settlers I can say little beyond what I have intimated 
 before. "With ^610 or £\2 a head, they need not 
 hesitate a moment. The principal thing is raising 
 sufficient money to bring them far enough into the 
 country, and without this it is almost cruelty to 
 to say a word to induce them to leave England. 
 
 To finish these remarks on emigration, from one 
 who knew what it was from his own experience, I 
 shall add one other short extract from a letter dated 
 Feb. 21, 1835, addressed to Mrs. D. Whitmore: — 
 
 But vnth all this improvement in society and 
 literature, the matter of emigration puzzles me more 
 than ever. Produce is sadly falling; my wheat I 
 sold last year for 4s. 3d. a bushel ; the same sample 
 would now fetch only 2s. 6d., and all other farming 
 produce of course in the same ratio. Farmers, there- 
 fore, are crying out that they shall now be ruined. 
 Stores also abound so greatly, that a very small 
 profit can be obtained, where competition is so great. 
 Fortunes, therefore, are not, as they once were, so 
 easily procured ; and most classes of emigrants are 
 sadly disappointed. Those who come out with ample 
 means will easily succeed ; for living is r.o cheap, 
 
 o2 
 
\ 
 
 l( 
 
 196 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 and capital wanted, and amply remunerating interest 
 in various ways obtained. But then, again, those 
 who already have fortunes, or ample means, will 
 mostly prefer the good old country, and well they 
 
 mav. 
 
 TO MISS E. FORD. 
 
 Lockport, State of New York, 
 Mayl, 1833. 
 
 Mv dear Madam, 
 
 It was very unexpectedly but most joyously that I 
 received your kind communication respecting the 
 sailing of the B?'istol,* and I lost no time in leaving 
 Thornhill for New York. I am now on my way 
 thither, and hope to find a few leisure intervals dur- 
 ing my journey to fill my sheet, reserving merely a 
 small space for a postscript, that I may communi- 
 cate, should all be well, the tidings of the safe 
 arrival of the endeared party: they have much occu- 
 pied my thoughts of late, and, sometimes, with too 
 much of anxious solicitude, for which I have as often 
 felt reproved; for such has been God's mercy to us 
 hitherto, that it is not merely infirmity, but positive 
 sin to be distrustful of his faithfulness and love. I 
 feel much indebted to you and Miss Ford, for your 
 peculiar kindness to my dear Mary. I am never 
 surcharged with feeling, I wish it were my habit; 
 but still great kindness quite affects me, and as 
 requital will be ever out of my power, I must look to 
 the beneficent and faithful retributor above, and 
 would give vent to the utterance of my heart in the 
 language of the holy and grateful apostle, "The 
 
 * This vessel sailed from Bristol the 22nd April, 1833, 
 bound to New York, having on board Mrs. Mortimer and her 
 three daughters as passengers. 
 
ting interest 
 those 
 
 ^gam, 
 
 means, will 
 d well thev 
 
 New York, 
 1833. 
 
 lusly that I 
 meeting the 
 e in leaving 
 )n my way 
 tervals dur- 
 ig merely a 
 y communi- 
 )f the safe 
 much occu- 
 s, with too 
 ave as often 
 nerey to us 
 but positive 
 id love. I 
 •d, for your 
 am never 
 my habit; 
 ne, and as 
 lust look to 
 above, and 
 eart in the 
 stle, "The 
 
 April, 1833, 
 timer and her 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 197 
 
 Lord grant that you may both find mercy of the 
 Lord," and especially "in that day." 
 
 Your kind present of the newspapers, &c., will be 
 very acceptable, and yet, perhaps you are hardly 
 aware of the extent of either our political or literary 
 information. We have two monthly magazines pub- 
 lished in York, and three or four newspapers, and 
 from New York we have two weekly newspapers, 
 designed expressly for English readers — the Albion 
 and the Emigrant, full of English news and English 
 literature; so that in a month or six weeks, we have 
 all the cream of the London and country news, as 
 well as the best of the lighter articles from the British 
 periodicals. The Edinburgh and Quarterly Reviews 
 are reprinted at two-thirds of the English price ; also 
 the Christian Observer, and other standard and 
 monthly and quarterly works. Messrs. Harper, also, 
 in New York, reprint the best of the English works 
 in the Family Library, at three and sixpence each, 
 executed like Murray's, and their series amounts 
 already to fifty-three volumes. Another series is 
 furnished by Lee and Carey, at Philadelphia, and a 
 third of a religious sort at Boston ; so that in a few 
 months, when I can spare a few pounds, I hope to 
 be able to furnish my family with an extent of litera- 
 ture far beyond my capabilities in England. Among 
 my own congregation we have also a book society, 
 well supported and well supplied ; we are, therefore, 
 not a little chagrined when your boasting Englishers 
 think of us as in a semi-barbaric land of literary des- 
 titution: for we not only feel ourselves a part of the 
 great nation, but regard ourselves on nearly an equal 
 footing as to the comforts and luxuries, while in 
 many respects we feel that we have the most decided 
 advantage, so we warn you not to treat us either 
 politically or personally with scorn. 
 
 On the day I left York, government despatches 
 had just arrived, which announced the dismissal of 
 
 ; 
 
198 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 our two Crown Officers, the Attorney and Solicitor 
 General, owing, it is supposed, to too great freedom 
 in debate in our House of Assembly — the ferment it 
 excited was almost ludicrous — "delenda estCarthagd* 
 was emphatically pronounced. The Whig Ministry 
 must be annihilated. The province, though hardly 
 prepared for such a measure, must at once be severed 
 — such despotism could not be endured. I acted, 
 as I generally do on such occasions, as pacificator, 
 and smilingly quoted the well known lines of old 
 Dr. Byron, in the conclusion of his Bedlamite — 
 
 " Kill your enmnies', kill a foors head of your own, 
 They'll die of themselves, if you let them alone." 
 
 It is whispered also that our excellent and deserving 
 governor (Sir John Colborne) has not escaped cen- 
 sure ; this I am truly grieved to hear, for his services 
 cannot be too highly estimated, and our province 
 is indebted to him beyond all expression. I fear, 
 however, that his removal is not very remote ; he is 
 too pious, and too tame a politician, to give satifac- 
 tion to the administration at home ; but my con- 
 tracting limits oblige me hastily to conclude, and 
 to assure yourself and Miss Ford how truly I 
 remain. 
 
 Yours, gratefully, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 P.S. June 6, New York. Yesterday the dear 
 party arrived all in health and safety. Never did I 
 feel more truly thankful. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Rochester, State of New York, 
 May 2, 1833. 
 
 9|C n* 9|C •!• vp •!• 3|C ^T Oil 1* 
 
 fame, my frater, has long ago reached this far distant 
 province, and I ought gratefully to acknowledge that 
 
 as 
 
REV. OEOROB MORTIMF.R, M.A. 
 
 199 
 
 Solicitor 
 t freedom 
 'erment it 
 Carthago" 
 
 Ministry 
 5h hardly 
 )e severed 
 
 I acted, 
 acificator, 
 es of old 
 ite — 
 
 • own, 
 one." 
 
 deserving 
 iped cen- 
 s services 
 
 province 
 
 I fear, 
 
 te ; he is 
 
 e satifac- 
 
 my con- 
 ude, and 
 
 truly I 
 
 ORTIMER. 
 
 the dear 
 ver did I 
 
 fork, 
 
 Your 
 • distant 
 %e that 
 
 it has, in more instances than one, proved the pass- 
 port to gracious and kindly recej)tion. It was to 
 this, I think, that my hoys were principally indehted 
 for the footing they obtained in Kingston, and many 
 other little turning points of good are pleasingly 
 associated in my mind with the high estimate and 
 kind feeling, which has been cherished towards you 
 as a minister, or an author. Once, indeed, it 
 appeared rather the precursor of evil ; for our good 
 bishop, previous to my introduction, fancied that I 
 was the actual man ; the great Mr. Mortimer him- 
 self, the author, the distinguished preacher in London. 
 And many a congratulation had he cherished within, 
 to think that he had obtained so goodly a fish in his 
 Canadian net. "Then you are not Mr. Mortimer 
 from London, the author." "No, my lord, his 
 brother." "Oh, only his brother!" was the con- 
 solatory adjunct ; and the dismaved little man was 
 left in his own littleness, unpatromzed, unbefriended, 
 to make his own way ; and to this day is, in all 
 probability, reaping the bitter fruits of the unhappy 
 prepossession ; for, though his self-complacency keeps 
 him from concluding, that his diocesan regards him 
 as a mere blank, yet he cannot but be aware that the 
 rich prize still remains in the wheel, and which he 
 had fondly imagined had been proclaimed as his 
 very own. 
 
 My ministerial matters, however, notwithstanding 
 this inauspicious commencement, are pleasingly pro- 
 gressive. My salary has been fixed by our good 
 governor at ^100 per annum ; £20, or £25, 1 obtain 
 from the rental of pews; a house is provided for 
 me by my congregation, free of expense ; and I have a 
 promise of some good glebe land, which, in a few years, 
 will be of considerable value. My people are kind; 
 ministrations seemingly acceptable ; church and expo- 
 sitions well attended ; temporal matters encouraging ; 
 
 f- 
 
200 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ' 
 
 living cheap ; and two tolerably advantageous pur- 
 chases secured for the children ; so that the good 
 hand of the Lord appears to be resting upon me. 
 Indeed, never for a moment, that I recollect, have 
 1 repented of my step since I have been here. 
 Once or twice, during our voyage, " when no small 
 tempest lay upon us," when the raging billows seemed 
 on the point of ingulphing us, so great did my 
 responsibility seem, as connected with the immortal 
 souls of my little unprepared party, that I almost 
 wished that I had never ventured on the perilous 
 step. But, never for a moment, since our arrival 
 here, have I had the least cause to retrace : and mv 
 only regret is, that I did not proceed before. But, 
 perhaps, all is right, as to time also ; and, indeed, 
 when I glance upon some few of the deterring 
 circumstances which intervened to retard me, I 
 cannot doubt but that these also were from the 
 Lord ; that the deed, the time, the place, have all 
 been under the direction of an agency superior to 
 our own ; and what a comfort does this assurance 
 impart ! 
 
 I forgot to mention, in my last, how much I felt 
 obliged to Mr. Hartwell Home, for the sundry 
 introductions, and other tokens of kindness, which 
 his parcel conveyed to me, just on the eve of my 
 departure from England. Be so obliging as to 
 convey to him my sincere thanks. 
 
 As to tuition, I have, 1 beUeve, myself altogether 
 done with it. Hundreds of pleasant hours has it, 
 in various ways, procured me, and during some few 
 of the weeks I have been in Canada, have my 
 classical studies been resumed with peculiar interest. 
 This, partly for their own sake, and partly as a 
 preparation for any opening that might arise in the 
 college, or elsewhere. But I have now taken my 
 final leave, not in dudgeon, nor with painful regret j 
 
fi 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 201 
 
 geous pur- 
 tlie good 
 upon me. 
 llect, have 
 )een here, 
 n no small 
 tws seemed 
 t did my 
 immortal 
 ; I almost 
 e perilous 
 )ur arrival 
 '■ ; and my 
 )re. But, 
 id, indeed, 
 deterring 
 rd me, I 
 from the 
 >, have all 
 uperior to 
 assurance 
 
 uch I felt 
 e sundry 
 ss, which 
 ve of my 
 ng as to 
 
 iltogether 
 •s has it, 
 some few 
 liave my 
 interest, 
 'tly as a 
 se in the 
 iken my 
 I regret ; 
 
 but in calm surrender to the will of a superior 
 power. Dear King, was, I think, in his kind and 
 affectionate counsel in the matter, quite wrong ; such 
 employments are not so much my duty as my snare. 
 The scales have at length fallen from my eyes, and 
 though I cannot say, I can now see clearly, yet I see 
 enough to convince me that, for the residue of my 
 short life, I ought to give myself wholly to my one 
 grand and absorbing avocation. Let, therefore, 
 collegiate honours be sought and enjoyed by others. 
 With these altered views, perhaps, were I permitted 
 to gain the ear of an endeared relative, whom you 
 well know, I should whisper certain cautionary 
 monitions in reference to similar points ; for though 
 from his endeared lips the confessed " weakness of 
 his heart" has had a charm and a persuasive influence 
 which won my full approval, yet now that the syren 
 notes can no longer bewilder me, I see, as in my own 
 case, the snare rather than the duty, and the couplet 
 of the almost forgotten Dryden, in which he cau- 
 tions the aspirant parson, chimes in with my own 
 overlate, but salutary musings : 
 
 " Those who contend for place and high degree, 
 Are not bis sons, but those of Zebedee." 
 
 Whisper, then, in my stead, in some auspicious 
 moment, to this endeared individual what I am so 
 desirous to convey ; but mind that you whisper it 
 in tenderness and love. 
 
 But my sheet is filling up so fast, that I have 
 hardlyleft myself room to assure you of the interest 
 which I still, and I hope, ever shall feel in all the 
 concerns — personal, domestic, and ministerial — of my 
 endeared brother. His opportunities of leisure are 
 so few, that I must not often expect any direct 
 communications, but whenever conveyed they will 
 be most grateful. Accept then yourself, and convey 
 
 i 
 
202 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 to our dear mother, Eliza, and all your beloved 
 family, the sincere and warmest love of your ever 
 attached brother. 
 
 George. 
 
 TO MRS. D. WHITMORE. 
 
 Thornhill, near York, Upper Canada, 
 August 18, 1833. 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 We were much indebted to you for your last most 
 kind and welcome letter: most joyfully was it re- 
 ceived and opened, and with peculiar interest were 
 its instructive and interesting contents perused. So 
 long and so closely written a letter, however, must, 
 we fear, have been sadly trying to your eyes ; and 
 we fear this the more, as we learn from Miss E. Ford, 
 that you have recently been experiencing somewhat 
 of failure in your sight. We know how peculiarly 
 trying this circumstance must prove to one, whose 
 enjoyments have been so principally derived from 
 this source ; and we tremble at the least intimation 
 of its probable diminution. But we would still say 
 in the language of the man of God, " But the Lord 
 is able to give you much more than this." And, 
 from what you have experienced under past seasons 
 of privation and discipline, you may still expect that, 
 should God be pleased to try you yet further in this 
 most painful visitation, he will not withhold from 
 you that superabounding grace, which in its blessed 
 issue of spiritual and eternal good is more than 
 tantamount to the most valued of our other joys. 
 My endeared mother, as you well know, has been 
 called to the acuteness of the same trial with your- 
 self; but, O, how sweetly does she bear it — so 
 cheerfully resigned — so peacefully yielding all to the 
 
ir beloved 
 your ever 
 
 George. 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 203 
 
 wise and loving discipline of her kind and compas- 
 sionate Lord, saying, in the language of her favourite 
 hymn : — 
 
 " All that I prized below is gone, 
 Yet, Father, still Thy will be done." 
 
 * Canada, 
 
 last most 
 N&s it re- 
 trest were 
 used. So 
 er, must, 
 (yes; and 
 b E. Ford, 
 somewhat 
 peculiarly 
 le, whose 
 ived from 
 ntimation 
 
 still say 
 the Lord 
 
 And, 
 t seasons 
 pect that, 
 er in this 
 old from 
 s blessed 
 ore than 
 her joys, 
 has been 
 th your- 
 ir it — so 
 il to the 
 
 But to return to your letter. Your decision re- 
 specting York (now Toronto), exactly corresponds 
 with that adopted by ourselves ; and, therefore, we 
 have no intention of going there ; nor, indeed, any 
 present intention of fixing in any other place, though 
 many outward circumstances are far from being in- 
 viting. We are sadly cramped together in a wooden 
 frame house, consisting of only four rooms, and 
 these, owing to the badness of their construction, pe- 
 culiarly hot and oppressive in summer and more than 
 usually cold in winter. Nearly half of our things 
 too are unpacked, and our landing and other places 
 crowded and littered by the boxes and trunks, which 
 contain them ; in short an air of untidiness and dis- 
 comfort meets our long-trained English eye, where- 
 ever we turn it, and, at times, our heart almost sickens 
 at the sight ; and, were it not for the counteracting 
 influence of better feelings, we should adopt some 
 hasty measure to accomplish a retreat into some 
 situation, which might authorize the expectation of 
 somewhat more of outward comfort. On Mrs. M's. 
 arrival we were in hopes of being settled in a far 
 more suitable abode, and had, in fact, engaged to 
 take : b ; but its distance from the church and the mass 
 of GUI' population was so great, and so many other 
 inconveniences attended it, that we decided on re- 
 maining for the present where we now are. They 
 promise, indeed, to build for us a small house near 
 the church, which is to be ready by spring ; but their 
 promises have hitherto been so fallacious, that I 
 hardly know how to trust to them, and the plan 
 
204 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 of the building is so small, that I am not without 
 strong misgivings, lest we should feel it our duty to 
 decline it. And if so we must cither build for our- 
 selves, (seldom either a wise or lucrative act), or else, 
 in true Canadian style, must turn out and seek other 
 quarters. The people, indeed, are kind to us, and 
 the attendance on my ministry is far from discou- 
 raging ; but if they so little prize the residence and 
 settled ministrations of a clergyman among them, as 
 to refuse to accommodate him with a plain and com- 
 modious residence, — while for themselves many of 
 them have built elegant and spacious mansions, — 
 they must not be surprised, if their miscalculating 
 selfishness terminate in his withdrawing from among 
 them. 
 
 Our temporal matters are encouraging ; for living 
 here is so cheap, that our income is far more than 
 adequate to our regular demands. I have purchased 
 two cultivated farms of 100 and 105 acres, with 
 clearances of forty and sixty acres respectively, and 
 out of my savings have already paid off the first in- 
 stalment of a6'250, and in a few days hence shall pay 
 ^150 more; in all, ^400 ; so that, through God's 
 blessing, we are already beginning to reap the benefit 
 of our expensive removal, and, without being over 
 sanguine, we may perhaps indulge a hope, that still 
 further mercies are in reserve, if not for ourselves, 
 still for our dear children. We are very rapidly ad- 
 vancing as a province. God has been very gracious 
 to us in our Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Colborne, 
 a pious, discreet, and sound intentioned man. Capital 
 also is gradually finding its way among us ; so that 
 we are beginning to attract the notice of our jealous 
 neighbours, who see the rudiments of a vast empire 
 rising up close beside them. And, hitherto, we have 
 been singularly prospered. A radical party, however, 
 of considerable strength is, as you will perceive by 
 the public prints, beginning to trouble us : it is 
 
 hea 
 Wi 
 to 
 coni 
 
t without 
 ir duty to 
 d for our- 
 ), or else, 
 icek other 
 ► us, and 
 tn discou- 
 ence and 
 them, as 
 and corn- 
 many of 
 nsions, — 
 alculating 
 m among 
 
 br living 
 lore than 
 turchased 
 res, with 
 i^ely, and 
 ( first in- 
 shall pay 
 ;h God's 
 »e benefit 
 ;ing over 
 that still 
 mrselves, 
 pidly ad- 
 gracious 
 !^olborne, 
 Capital 
 so that 
 r jealous 
 t empire 
 we have 
 however, 
 ceive by 
 s: it is 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 20") 
 
 headed by the discontented worthless . 
 
 Without this drawback, we might almost be tempted 
 to exclaim, " O nimium fortunati." But I must 
 conclude. Our kindest and united love attends your- 
 self and all your party, and 
 Believe me. 
 
 Yours, ever gratefully, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 It is not without considerable hesitation that 1 
 have determined to insert the letter which follows in 
 the Memoir of Mr. Mortimer, not only because he 
 might not himself have fully concurred in the pub- 
 lication of it, but because there may be a difference 
 of opinion as to the expediency of it. The subject, 
 however, is, in my mind, one of such importance to 
 the interests of the church in Canada, that I should 
 not think I had done my duty were I to exclude it ; 
 and I am happy to say that, so far as the subject 
 itself is concerned, I have the full concurrence of 
 some who, from their experience in the ecclesiastical 
 affairs of Canada, are fully competent to give counsel 
 in the ease, and who perfectly agree with myself in 
 thinking that a much larger spirit of liberality is 
 necessary, not only to the extension, but also to the 
 support and prosperity of the existing church in that 
 country. 
 
 There can be no greater benefit to a community, 
 nothing to contribute more to its general well-being, 
 than an adequately supported and efficient church 
 establishment. It is the foundation of everything 
 really good and great, useful and advantageous, 
 honourable and praiseworthy. It is the grand 
 means of promoting religion and morality, peace and 
 good order, charity and good-will, kindness and 
 sympathy between the different ranks in society, 
 diligence and industry, subordination and allegiance 
 
 t> 
 
 ' t 
 
 ! St 
 
206 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 to the powers that he : in a word, everything that 
 can make a nation happy and prosperous in itself, 
 and respected by neighbouring countries. The duty, 
 therefore, of making strenuous eiforts for the accom- 
 pHshment of so desirable a purpose must be apparent 
 to all who feel the paramount necessity of religion, 
 and to all such, perhaps, it may be apparent ; but 
 the difhculties of every infant colony are urged in 
 bar against it. These difficulties are fully admitted, 
 and due allowance made for them ; neither is it the 
 intention of the writer to say one unkind or unrea- 
 sonable word on the subject ; his design is ratlier to 
 encourage for the future than to condemn for the 
 past, feeling, as he does, very forcibly, the circum- 
 stances of trial and privation with which the settlers 
 of new colonies are for the most part surrounded. 
 Bodily support — food and raiment — must necessarily 
 be had in the first place ; but, except to this, I 
 should be disposed to say, that to no other could a 
 provision for religion be second ; for not more neces- 
 sary is food and raiment to the body than the offices 
 of religion to the soul : indeed, the supply of these 
 wants is equally necessary, and where they are not 
 simultaneously provided for, but where the former is 
 over and exclusively cared for, it is more than likely 
 that the latter will be neglected for years to come. 
 Under the difficulties, however, in whic\ ^migrants 
 to a newly formed colony find themselves, it seems, 
 in the first place, the plain duty of every state to 
 provide for the support of religion in their infant 
 settlements, or, where this is withheld, it clearly 
 becomes the duty of private Christians, possessed of 
 wealth and competency, either individually or incor- 
 porated into societies, to afford, as far as may be, the 
 aid required. 
 
 Happily for Canada much has been done for it in 
 this way ; first by the state, and now by the contribu- 
 tions of a more private and voluntary kind, and 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 20; 
 
 hing that 
 in itself, 
 The duty, 
 le accom- 
 apparent 
 religion, 
 •ent; but 
 urged in 
 admitted, 
 • is it the 
 or unrea- 
 ratlier to 
 I for the 
 5 circum- 
 e settlers 
 rounded, 
 jcessarily 
 this, I 
 r could a 
 re neces- 
 he offices 
 of these 
 Y are not 
 former is 
 an likely 
 to come, 
 migrants 
 it seems, 
 state to 
 r infant 
 ; clearly 
 essed of 
 )r incor- 
 ^ be, the 
 
 for it in 
 ontribu- 
 id, and 
 
 especially by the venerable Society for the Propaga- 
 tion of the gospel But a country ought not to be 
 always looking to and depending upon such adven- 
 titious assistance ; she ought at some time to rise 
 above eleemosynary aid, and make an effort to 
 provide for her own spiritual wants. The enquiry 
 then naturally arises. Whether Canada is, or is not, 
 become of sufficient age, or standing, or competency, 
 to take upon herself the responsibility of supporting 
 for her own use and benefit the services and ordi- 
 nances of religion ? I should unhesitatingly reply, 
 that it is more than time that a beginning were made 
 to throw off the state of childhood and reliance, and 
 to assume that of manhood and independence. But 
 are there to be found in Canada more than a very 
 few towns, and those too only of the first class, that 
 have taken upon themselves to provide altogether 
 for their own church establishments? Wherefore? 
 Because there are not more that are capable of doing 
 so ? I fear this would not be found to be the real 
 state of the case. Mr Mortimer's statement is 
 much more likely to be the correct and faithful one. 
 I feel assured that there are many towns or town- 
 ships which might have done much more than they 
 have towards this great and honourable work. 
 What! shall the Presbyterians, the Independents, 
 the Roman Catholics, in towns of a second-rate class, 
 support entirely their own churches and ministers, 
 and shall Episcopalians constitute the lagging party, 
 the one most backward in this most blessed and holy 
 work ;— nay, shall the American Episcopalians, 
 dwelling on the very borders of Canada, and there- 
 fore little differing in their circumstances from those 
 living in the colony, support their own religious 
 establishments, and shall the English Episcopalians 
 be found deficient? Surely this does not speak 
 much either for the liberality or the churchmanship 
 of our Canadian countrymen. If we claim a pre- 
 
 t 
 
208 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 fv. 
 
 \l 
 
 l-\ 
 
 eminence for the reformed and catholic Church of 
 England, all the mcmhers of that Church should be 
 pre-eminent in their attachment to, and zealous in 
 their support of it ; they should not he behind any 
 others in their gifts and graces, waiting for the 
 coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Let every reader, then, of Mr. Mortimer's Life, 
 ask' himself, have 1 done what I could? Have 1 
 contributed liberally, with a willing mind, according 
 to my ability, towards the erection, enlargement, or 
 in giving comfort and convenience, and a suitable 
 appearance to my church ? Do I dwell in my ceiled 
 house, while the house of God lies waste? Am I 
 anxious to see all things about the house of God and 
 the services of religion done decently and in order ? 
 And do I take my share in the management of the 
 secular affairs of the church? Am I sufficiently 
 anxious to promote the comfort and well-being of my 
 pastor ? If he have sown unto me spiritual things^ 
 is it a great matter that he should reap my temporal 
 things ? More than persuaded, confident I am, that 
 if every member of the church of England in Canada 
 would seriously lay this subject to heart and urge 
 upon himself the great duties connected with it, 
 much more would be done there to promote her 
 interests, and to make her independent of all extra- 
 neous aid. All might contribute more than they do; 
 some in money, some in lands, and they who could 
 give neither, might give of the produce of their 
 lands, or the fruits of their labour, or occasionally 
 their labours to assist in tilling their pastor's 
 grounds, or in planting and cultivating their gardens. 
 Depend upon it, that he who feels adequately the 
 real benefits and blessings of being taught in the 
 word, will minister unto him that teacheth in all 
 good things. Pastors should not be imrcasonable, 
 and, if they be right-minded, they will have no wish 
 to lay unnecessary burdens upon their people : but 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 209 
 
 'liurcli of 
 sliould be 
 ealous in 
 ihiiid any 
 ' for the 
 
 er's Life, 
 
 Have 1 
 
 according 
 
 ement, or 
 
 I suitable 
 
 my ceiled 
 
 ? Am I 
 
 God and 
 
 in order ? 
 
 !nt of the 
 
 ifRciently 
 
 Ing of my 
 
 a/ things^ 
 
 temporal 
 
 am, that 
 
 n Canada 
 
 and urge 
 
 with it, 
 
 mote her 
 
 ill extra- 
 
 they do ; 
 
 ho could 
 
 of their 
 
 lasionally 
 
 pastor's 
 
 gardens. 
 
 itely the 
 
 in the 
 
 in all 
 
 asonable, 
 
 no wish 
 
 pie : but 
 
 their people, if their minds be duly influenced by 
 religion, will be as desirous to provide for them, free 
 of all charitable support, as to maintain their own 
 families in perfect independence. 
 
 Besides, the good Churchmen of Canada should 
 really consider the many and great calls now made 
 upon that source from whence their church receives 
 its chief support ; I mean, the Society for Propaga- 
 ting the Gospel. It has only been by renewed efforts 
 and extraordinary exertions that the society has been 
 able to maintain so great an expenditure in Canada ; 
 perhaps, too, at the expense of withholding very im- 
 portant help from other needy parts of our extensive 
 colonial possessions; and it is not reasonable, nor 
 generous, nor just, to require assistance one moment 
 beyond what is absolutely necessary. Every town- 
 ship, therefore, in the colony should begin, with as 
 little delay as possible, to make its own provision for 
 the public worship of God. 
 
 Verily, earnestly do I pray that the foregoing re- 
 marks, together with the letter of my late dear friend, 
 which has elicited them, may be kindly received, 
 deeply felt, and earnestly followed, not only by good 
 resolutions, but by personal and immediate exertions 
 for the gradual accomplishment of a work so truly 
 honourable to those who promote it, so fraught with 
 blessings to generations yet unborn, and so full of 
 glory to God. 
 
 TO MISS E. FORD. 
 
 Thornhill, near York, Upper Canada, 
 Oct. 17, 1833. 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 
 You express your surprise at the reluctant support 
 afforded to ministers. This is partly to be ascribed 
 
 p 
 
210 
 
 LIFE AND LETTEIIS OF THE 
 
 to that selfishness which is so sncUy prevalent in our 
 fallen nature; they can build (commodious and even 
 sumptnous) honses for their own j)rosperous families; 
 they can call, out of their perpetually ." increasing 
 means, comforts of every description ; bui> to their 
 minister, they can calmly and gravely say, "Oh, you 
 must wait patiently, and in time all will be right; we 
 have had to wait before you; it is quite impossible to 
 force matters in Canada," and so on. And then, in 
 the spirit of that affected benevolence which prompted 
 that hypocritical wish, ** be ye warmed and be ye 
 clothed," they point us to e\intual comforts, and 
 care not to make the least sacrifice which mav con- 
 duce to the attainment of the end. In regard to 
 house, to salary, and to everything pecuniary, I have 
 experienced scarcely anything but disappointments, 
 and at times I feel a little piqued at the contrast be- 
 tween their warm expressions of regard, and their 
 unwillingness to contribute to the comforts of my 
 family ; for, as to myself I care but little ; but still I 
 would not wish to be hard upon them, for though 
 they have property, very few have money, and as soon 
 as they procure this, they sink it in the further cul- 
 tivation or stocking of their farms. And then, 
 again, they have that admirable loop-hole for escape — 
 the clergy reserves, which seemed to promise every- 
 thing, but have done scarcely anything; a broken 
 reed, which is perpetually piercing those who lean on 
 it with sorrow; but which affords our people so ready 
 an excuse for refusing to come forward to our aid; 
 so that of all classes of emigrants, ministers, in a 
 pecuniary point of view, are by far the worst off : 
 they cannot, with propriety, go into the woods, for 
 they must fix in the more populous and more culti- 
 vated districts, where land of course is high, and thus 
 one of the chief sources of prosperity is cut off ; and, 
 as to trade, from tiiis of course they are excluded, 
 but still they are the class of settlers most needed. 
 
IIEV. GKOnOB MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 211 
 
 it in our 
 md even 
 families; 
 icrensing 
 
 to their 
 Oh, you 
 ight; we 
 ssible to 
 then, in 
 rompted 
 d be ye 
 rts, and 
 nav con- 
 ?gard to 
 , I have 
 itments, 
 ;rast he- 
 ld their 
 5 of mv 
 It still I 
 
 though 
 i as soon 
 ;her cul- 
 d then, 
 scape — 
 e every- 
 
 broken 
 
 lean on 
 JO ready 
 lur aid; 
 rs, in a 
 rst off: 
 ads, for 
 re culti- 
 nd thus 
 f; and, 
 [eluded, 
 needed. 
 
 And, in the midst of occasional pique and disap- 
 pointment, 1 cannot but feel thankful to God who 
 directed my steps to this country, and who, by the 
 property which he has previously given to me, gives 
 me the prospect of enjoying, in this land of cheapness, 
 a great increase both of comfort and temporal pros- 
 perity. At present, indeed, we are anything but 
 outwardly comfortable : the house we formerly men- 
 tioned was found too inconvenient, and therefore 
 given up, and we are still in the lodging I occupied 
 previous to the arrival of my family. 
 
 TO THE REV. THOMAS MORTIMER. 
 
 Thornhill, Toronto, Upper Canada, 
 July 14, 1835. 
 
 My much-endeared Brother, 
 We were in some measure prepared for the communi- 
 cation conveyed to us by your letter of the 20th of 
 April, and which reached us yesterday evening ; for 
 our Shropshire friend had heard the report of our 
 beloved mother's departure, and had made allusion 
 to it in communications received some weeks since. 
 Well, her happy, holy spirit, is at length released. 
 Fulness of days has been granted to her, and, though 
 they have not been unattended with labour and sor- 
 row, yet has her kind Saviour been with her, and as 
 much of outward alleviation and inward serenity 
 and peace have been experienced by her as her cir- 
 cumstances and state of body would admit of. And 
 now has she entered into the fulness of her gracious 
 reward, and her sainted name must ever be inhaled as 
 the precious perfumed ointment, by all who know 
 how to estimate her deep, consistent, and exalted 
 piety. And where shall we now look for her fellow? 
 For the race of the distinguished and peculiar few 
 seems now to have become extinct. In vain shall we 
 
 p2 
 
•> 
 
 12 
 
 LIFB AND LETTERS OF TUB 
 
 look for a Cooper, a Rogers, a Fletcher, a Lcfevre, or 
 one like our equally distinguished mother. A pro- 
 
 Ehet indeed is no where so little esteemed as among 
 is own kindred. And yet I am persuaded that 
 there is that in the heart of my endeared brother, 
 which will fully respond to the encomiums wliich 
 have thus unintentionally escaped me. * * * 
 
 Your letter bears the goodly inscription of "Thorn- 
 hill Parsonage ;" but, alas ! it is a sound without 
 locality. It exists in my kind brother's imagination, 
 but nowhere else. A house indeed has long been 
 talked of, and was at length erected, but a mere 
 laical abode. But I am happy to say that matters 
 are now likely to be on a proper footing. I have 
 purchased four acres of land (at £50 an acre ! !) near 
 the church, for which the Lieutenant-Governor in 
 Council has consented to allow me an equivalent in 
 wild land, as well as for a sum not exceeding ^500 
 for the erection of a parsonage. And operations 
 have commenced, but when they shall be terminated 
 I know not. The lumber must be sawn and seasoned, 
 and continue seasoning till next spring, and we are 
 told that a finished habitation will be ready for us 
 in the fall of the next year, October the 1st, 1836. 
 But what a distant period ! my hand misgives me 
 while I write it; for my whitened locks and weakly 
 frame point to a far different abode. May my affec- 
 tion combine with my judgment, and may my short 
 residue of days be so numbered by me, that wis- 
 dom's lessons may both diligently and effectually 
 be leanit! 
 
 When I sat down I was purposing a tolerably close 
 imitation of your own very lengthy (eleven-lined !) 
 epistle, and was about to find some convincing, or at 
 least plausible, reason for my shabbiness. Happily, 
 however, my pen has kept sliding on ; and finding 
 myself so near the conclusion of the third side of 
 my closely written sheet, I may assure you wUh a 
 
REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 213 
 
 toleral)ly fair niul unblusliing front, of our unnbuteil 
 and most aft'cctionate regards to yourself and all your 
 endeared family, and not least, those of your sincerely 
 devoted brother, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 P.S. Our kindest love also to all our endeared 
 relatives. 
 
 TO MRS. D. WHITMORE. 
 
 Thornhill, August 21, 1835. 
 
 Your account of dear 
 -'s increasing infirmities, and their necessary 
 
 Mr. - 
 
 effect on yourself and Mr. G. W., has given rise to 
 many a pensive, perhaps I ought to say, melancholy, 
 feeling. Indeed, I hardly dare think of the breaking 
 up of connexions, comforts, health, and so on. My 
 foolish heart too frequently deceives itself with 
 delusive hopes. I say, too generally, " I shall die 
 in my nest" — the soft downy nest of easy pleasant 
 dissolution. But when anything reminds me of the 
 thorn, the sharp-pointed, piercing thorn, which is 
 mostly found there, then I start, and my spirit 
 almost sinks within me ; and I have little either of 
 manly fortitude, or of Christian magnanimity ; at 
 least, the subject is so unwelcome, that I rather 
 turn from it, than submissively await it. At times, 
 indeed, I feel willing that the taking down, the 
 unpinning of the tabernacle, and the loosening of all 
 its cords, should take place under any circumstances 
 which my gracious God shall appoint, and I feel a 
 persuasion that his faithful love will so adjust every- 
 thing, that he will in nowise " suffer me to be tempted 
 above what I shall be able" to bear ; and it is to this 
 point that I have of late so frequently directed my 
 
 id\ 
 
214 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 prayers, that all the preparatory circimstances of 
 death, the undoing of that which has been inex- 
 pediently or criminally pursued, the pulhng down 
 of vain and worldly hopes, the detaching of the soul 
 from even the last of its too-much-clinged-to objects, 
 the patient endurance of the bodily evils which, as 
 the precursors of death, in some shape or other 
 await me ; that all these may be so met, and so 
 peacefully and cheerfully borne, that, instead of 
 grieving the Spirit of my God by any unhallowed 
 feelings, 1 may surrender everything with cheerful- 
 ness, and endure all in his blessed order. For the 
 melancholy fact must not be withheld from you, 
 that, after all I have known, and felt, and preached, 
 I shrink from very many of the circumstances at- 
 tendant on dissolution : and what, perhaps, will sur- 
 prise you more, and what I am still more ashamed to 
 be obliged to at^knowledge, is, that I am frequently 
 conscious of a kind of latent infidelity, as to the 
 reality of the coming world. I do not absolutely 
 disbelieve ; for revelation assures, and all my reason- 
 ing confirms, and yet it is one of those points on 
 which I am constrained to say, — " Lord, I believe, 
 help thou my unbelief." But how I have ventured 
 to touch upon these topics I hardly know ; for I 
 carefully keep them from my own self, hardly daring 
 to acknowledge their existence ; and I am so ashamed 
 of them, that I keep them still more carefully from 
 others. And yet it has produced a strange relief to 
 me, thus explicitly to advert to them ; it has given 
 to them more precision of shape and locality ; I see 
 with more distinctness what my enemies really are, 
 and I seem encouraged to hope that, by the grace of 
 God, even these may be overcome : and I trust also, 
 that, by thus unfolding these weaknesses of my 
 nature, I shall awaken in my kind friend that 
 degree of sympathy, which shall call forth from 
 her an occasional prayer on my behalf. I never 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 215 
 
 nces of 
 inex- 
 ? down 
 he soul 
 objects, 
 ich, as 
 other 
 and so 
 ead of 
 illowed 
 eerful- 
 ^r the 
 
 more needed prayer, nor never so much estimated 
 its value, as I have done of late ; it is truly won- 
 drous in all the branches and bearings of its beneficial 
 influence. 
 
 But I must turn to other matters. I often think 
 of your self-imposed silence when we were leaving 
 England, evidently not approving of our step, and 
 yet not wishing to enter into any enlarged reasoning 
 or discussion ; and I as often think, was my endeared 
 friend right in her non-approval? I am ready to 
 acknowledge, that we were never so out in our calcu- 
 lation as in many of the results of our Canadian mi- 
 gration ; and in the estimation of observant friends 
 we must appear, I should think, to have strangely 
 missed our path. And yet so marked are all the 
 leading circumstances which have transpired, that we 
 cannot, for a moment, question either the permissive 
 or the appointing mercy of our God. It has been of 
 essential benefit to myself; it has been of especial 
 good to also ; her views and feelings have under- 
 gone a most material change, so that I quite marvel at 
 the wise and gracious process; and in various ways has 
 the removal been beneficial to our children. But all 
 this is hidden from outward observation ; no one 
 perceives either the needs-be, or the result, but the 
 outward appearance it is which puzzles them — all 
 is completely in contrast with our former selves, and 
 so little in accordance with our property and with 
 what we have a kind of right to expect in the shape 
 of accommodation from our parishioners. We would, 
 indeed, without much difficulty, sliould we see it to 
 be our duty, bring ourselves into altered circum- 
 stances ; we could retrace at once our migratory steps 
 and reach our native land richer by, at least, a thou- 
 sand pounds than when we left it. We could also 
 leave our present unaccommodating people, purchase 
 or build on some advantageously situated spot, re- 
 tire from the peculiar awkwardnesses of Canadian 
 
 J^ 
 
216 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 ministrations, and more privately exercise, without cost 
 to any, the exposition of God's word, and the visiting 
 of the sick and needy. We might also build, at once, 
 in this place, at our own cost, and, without pecu- 
 niary regret, let slip a few hundreds of pounds on the 
 impolitic speculation of procuring somewhat more of 
 suitable and becoming accommodation. We might 
 dash also through some others of our temporary un- 
 seemlinesses, and be able to write in an altered and 
 more gratifying strain to our now wondering friends 
 — might encourage our sons, for example, to launch 
 out into avocations, or attempt other branches, which, 
 while they have more aj)pearance of gentility, would 
 only sap the foundation of their future respectability 
 and comfort. We might do all this and much more, 
 and pride would suggest its partial or total perform- 
 ance ; but we should be either forcing our way, or 
 premature in our movements. Grace and duty bid 
 us calmly and patiently to await God's time ; and we 
 are not without hope, that he will at length bring 
 us into his wealthy place. All is well : with our 
 hearts, we can say so, and with this conviction, we 
 may and ought to be content. And I say this, not 
 to justify our procedures (for this really has become 
 to us a very small matter), but to bring an endeared 
 friend into a more correct estimate of what is actually 
 passing among us — to show her that, while discom- 
 fort appears to be in some respects outwardly sur- 
 rounding our little edifice, much of God's blessing, 
 with peaceful acquiescence and comfort, is still found 
 within. 
 
 I need make no mention of the termination of our 
 endeared mother's earthly career, on whose account 
 we are at present in mourning ; we have heard no 
 particulars of her last moments, nor, indeed, are these 
 necessary in order to assure us that her end was 
 blessed. You and ourselves have known her in her 
 married life, and in her widowed state. But even in 
 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 217 
 
 lout cost 
 visiting 
 at once. 
 It pecu- 
 s on the 
 imore of 
 might 
 arj un' 
 ed and 
 friends 
 launch 
 which, 
 would 
 Jtability 
 h more, 
 erform- 
 ^av, or 
 Jty bid 
 and we 
 I bring 
 ith our 
 on, we 
 lis, not 
 become 
 ideared 
 ctually 
 liscom- 
 [y sur- 
 essing, 
 found 
 
 3f our 
 
 JCOUilt 
 
 rd no 
 these 
 i was 
 in her 
 i^en in 
 
 this her limited sphere, we have seen her as a most 
 distinguished and honoured servant of the Lord ; but, 
 from all I have heard and read, almost all the brilliancy 
 conspicuous in her unmarried life was then suifering 
 an eclipse ; and so those of the brightest and most 
 dazzling rays of the Miss Richie of former times, 
 were nearly forgotten in the conjugal and domesti- 
 cated Mrs. Mortimer. Her life, you know perhaps, 
 is in the course of publication, and I shall look for 
 it with much interest. I fear, however, that it will 
 be wanting in incident, though her diary, which she 
 has kept for many years, may supply much of un- 
 expected material. Her published letters I read many 
 years since with peculiar pleasure. * * * 
 
 * 
 
 Yours, 
 My dear Madam, ever gratefully obliged, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO MISS e. ford. 
 
 Thornhill, July 28, 1836. 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 I AM becoming so sadly neglectful of my duties, as a 
 correspondent, that I not only richly deserve from 
 my friends their censure, but a total discontinuance 
 of their kind communications. To yourself and 
 respected sister, however, my neglect assumes the 
 aspect of ingratitude ; you have so diversified and 
 heaped on me your kind and delicate attentions. I 
 can say so little that is apologetic, that I will not 
 make the attempt; but, as in my approach to a 
 Higher Power, I would at once acknowledge the 
 fulness of my delinquency, and solicit from your 
 united kindly feelings that indulgence which I am in 
 nowise entitled to expect. I trust, however, that 
 
 i 
 
218 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 your forbearance will not be exercised in vain, and 
 that it will be long before I again trespass to a 
 similar extent. 
 
 But though I have no apology to offer for my 
 long silence, it may in some measure be accounted 
 for in the present uncertain state of our aifairs ; for I 
 have long been hoping that something definite would 
 arise, and I was unwilling to write to you before. 
 But week passed on after week, and we are still in 
 
 statu quo. The B s have probably informed 
 
 you of our intention to remove to some other situa- 
 tion, for the sphere is exceedingly limited, and the 
 church-people unusually few ; so that, after a four 
 years' trial, I should hardly feel justified in spending 
 my little residuum of strength in a spot where the 
 deficiency of proportionate result is so great. Our 
 accommodation, too, in our confined lodgings, are 
 far from suitable, and all our personal attempts, as 
 well as expectations from others to amend them, 
 have hitherto failed. This minor matter, indeed, 
 would not, of itself, have been sufficiently strong, 
 to induce us to remove, but, taken in conjunction 
 with all the other matters, I have, at length, felt it 
 my duty either to fix in some other mission, as our 
 cures are here denominated, or else to retire alto- 
 gether from public to more private engagement. I 
 have written to our good bishop on the subject, 
 expressing a preference for the vicinity of our chil- 
 dren, or some more southerly and more genial part 
 of the province near the lake shores. He has 
 kindly promised to do all in his power to meet my 
 wishes, but he has not hitherto been able to succeed, 
 and we are waiting the result of his further en- 
 deavours. You have heard enough, I doubt not, of 
 our poUtical affairs to need any enlargement on this 
 point. Very nearly, indeed, were we on the point of 
 provincial ruin. But through God's mercy the deci- 
 sion and g< od sense of the Lieutenant-Governor 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 219 
 
 'am, and 
 »S8 to a 
 
 for my 
 ccounted 
 rs; fori 
 te would 
 
 before. 
 e still in 
 nformed 
 T situa- 
 aiid the 
 r a four 
 pending 
 lere the 
 t. Our 
 igs, are 
 ipts, as 
 
 them, 
 indeed, 
 strong, 
 unction 
 , felt it 
 as our 
 •e alto- 
 mt, I 
 ubject, 
 r ehil- 
 al part 
 [e has 
 ?et my 
 icceed, 
 ^r en- 
 lot, of 
 n this 
 )int of 
 I deci- 
 i^ernor 
 
 have saved us from anything immediate, and, I 
 hope, also, from ultimate evil ; for there is a strong 
 conservative feeling brought into exercise, which is 
 not very likely soon to subside. In our last Par- 
 liament, which the Lieutenant-Governor dissolved, 
 there was a large Radical majority ; but from the 
 recent return for the ensuing Parliament, out of 
 sixty-two members forty-four are Conservative, and 
 only eighteen Radical ; so that we have good reason 
 to expect an amended state of things. It will be 
 months and years, however, before we attain to a 
 sound, healthy, and flourishing state ; for emigration 
 is very nearly at a stand ; capitalists, of course, have 
 no courage to venture among such a set of revolu- 
 tionary ruffians. The less monied, who are com- 
 pelled to go somewhere, proceed to the States to the 
 far west by hundreds and thousands. Labourers 
 and mechanics not only turn aside from us, but leave 
 us after settling among us from want of employment, 
 or, rather, from want of money to pay them for 
 their labour. Toronto, for months past, has had 
 quite an appearance of gloom ; so many shops shut 
 up, and so little trade done ; and other towns com- 
 plain in like manner. Farming, too, where farming 
 labour is paid for, is so losing a concern, that, if it 
 were not absolutely necessary for the supply of 
 their family in country places, there is scarcely a 
 gentleman but would give it up. I have annually 
 lost by mine — little indeed, but still, lost ; and the 
 general cry among my neighbours is. Nothing is to 
 be got by farming. Indeed, were it not for the 
 comparative poverty of ,the settlers, the tide of emi- 
 gration would soon set homewards : but, to realize 
 the means of return would, on a general scale, be 
 impossible; nere they to attempt to sell, no suffi- 
 cient number of purchasers could be obtained, and 
 the sum realized would go but a little way towards 
 living in the same style in England ; so tarry they 
 
220 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 must. Still, the hearts of many are turning towards 
 their beloved country, and they would soon rejoin 
 their friends if they could. 
 
 TO MRS. WHITMORE. 
 
 Thornhill, near Toronto, Upper Canada, 
 November, 12, 1836. 
 
 * * * * During most of the time 
 since I last wrote to you, we have been in great un- 
 certainty concerning our movements. At one time 
 I felt so sinking under my ministerial duties, com- 
 bined with the peculiarities of the climate, that iny 
 wife and Cecil were strongly urgent on me to retire 
 from all public and obligatory duty, and to do no more 
 than what my strength or spirits would enable me 
 occasionally and privately to attend to. With this 
 intention, after inspecting numerous places, we made 
 a purchase in the salubrious and delightful district 
 of Niagara, and were just on the point of removing 
 thither ; but, on inspection, the title did not appear 
 satisfactory, and, at the suggestion of the solicitor, 
 I did not complete the purchase. "While, however, 
 this matter was pending, my people, at a public 
 meeting, strongly expressed their hope, that I would 
 not adhere to my intentions of removal, and so unani- 
 mously and affectionately pressed my continuance 
 among them, that I at length consented ; and have 
 since made arrangements for building a house at my 
 own expense, on some land I had previously pur- 
 chased near the church, and am intending now to 
 go on with as much prudence as I can ; but still to 
 go on, and to die, if it please God, in the harness. 
 Of late, however, the Lord has been pleased so to 
 enable me to use appropriate exercise in the open air, 
 and so to husband my little strength, that all the 
 
 unfa 
 somi 
 and I 
 witl 
 proc 
 
 we, 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 221 
 
 unfavourable symptoms under which I was labouring 
 some few months ago, have altogether disappeared ; 
 and with present adequacy of physical powers and 
 with more than usual encouragement in spirit, I am 
 proceeding with my work, and trust all will be well. 
 
 After speaking of his family, he adds, 
 ****** Much have 
 we, indeed, of God's temporal smile, nor is the 
 light of his gracious countenance withheld. All, all 
 is love, and we would not only submissively, but 
 gratefully adore. Permit me to assure you of our best 
 wishes for the months or years, which may yet be in 
 reserve, may they prove pre-eminently the best ! "For 
 such power belongeth unto God ;" and believe me. 
 Yours, my dear Madam, very sincerely, 
 
 G. Mortimer 
 
 Mr. Mortimer left England in part to avoid the 
 storms and tempests which overhung that country, 
 little thinking that in attempting to avoid a possible 
 danger, he ran into an actual one ; so very dim is our 
 foresip^ht and so weak our power of resistance. A 
 destructive rebellion took place in Canada in 1837, 
 which, from his residence being on one of the main 
 roads to Toronto, whither the rioters were proceed- 
 ing, put even the personal safety of his family in 
 great jeopardy. He refers especially to this event in 
 the following letter : — 
 
 I !i 
 
 TO MRS. HOLLAND. 
 
 Thornhill, April 3, 1838. 
 
 You kindly allude to the circumstance of apparent 
 danger in which we have been placed during our 
 recent revolt, but God has been very merciful to us, 
 
222 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 and, not merely screened us under the sheltering 
 wing of his good providence, but graciously kept our 
 minds in sweet serenity and peace. You may judge 
 of the apparent peril to which we were exposed, when 
 I tell you, that on the afternoon of the evening on 
 which they (the rebels) proceeded to Toronto, two 
 parties passed our door, the one consisting of 200, 
 and the other of 300 persons ; and were, under God's 
 providence, kept from the execution of their murderous 
 and destructive designs against the persons and 
 houses of the more loyal and opulent, merely in con- 
 sequence of their being obliged to hurry past us to 
 Toronto two or three days sooner than they had anti- 
 cipated. As a clergyman too, and more especially 
 as a beneficed one, noted and lalified as possessing 
 one of the obnoxious rectories, concerning which they 
 have so loudly clamoured ; on this account I was a 
 doubly marked man ; my name was inserted in their 
 list of intended arsons, and my family as well as my- 
 self were to be shot, as we were attempting to escape 
 the flames ; at least, such were the pleasing tidings 
 which were widely circulated among us, and the 
 fearful and timid found it no easy matter to restrain 
 their feelings, or to exhibit calmness of spirit, 
 or manliness of conduct. Many passed sleepless 
 nights, and all around us gave indication that there 
 were solid and extensive grounds for alarm. Colonel 
 
 M , the person who was shot on the first night 
 
 of the revolt, was an attendant on our church and a 
 resident in our neighbourhood, and, in the very midst 
 of the excitement, was brought to our churchyard for 
 interment. A hostile attack was expected by many, 
 and the mob, who assembled to pay the last sad ofiices 
 to their veteran friend and neighbour, came accoutred 
 in their swords, daggers, pistols and fowling pieces. 
 A novel and a painful scene, but which was alto- 
 gether uncalled for; no attempt having been con- 
 templated. My eye glanced on one of the assembly ; 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 'J23 
 
 a loyal, but strange anil penurious tnan, whose habits 
 had never suifered him to become possessed of any- 
 thing in the shape of arms, and he was leaning on 
 his trusty lengthened pitch fork, a weapon, of which 
 I heard, he was afterwards vaunting that there was 
 nothing Hke that. His presence, however, to my 
 mind at least, was far from pleasing ; it ill-accorded 
 with the scene before us, and seemed so ridiculous, 
 that I could hardly refrain from a momentary smile. 
 Of the general and more public details you are doubt- 
 less most fully a|)prized; for I perceive that our 
 Canadian affairs are exciting a f)eculiar interest in 
 our fatherland, and are commented on with an accu- 
 racy, which shows that they must have been perused 
 with every means of the fullest information lying 
 before them. All is now, through God's providence, 
 in a state of quietness ; while, therefore, we feel in- 
 debted to our friends for their kind sympathy, and 
 their affectionate expressions of hope, that our pro- 
 vincial troubles may cause us either quickly, or even- 
 tually to retrace our steps towards our beloved native 
 land, we must still assure them that nothing is 
 further from our thoughts ; our path has been de- 
 liberately chosen, our objects have been extensively 
 gained, much of God's temporal smile is resting upon 
 us, we are now established in our ample, commodious, 
 and, I might say, beautiful house, the society around 
 us is superior to what is found in most country 
 places in England ; our income is ample and enough 
 for all exigencies. Life is gliding gently along with 
 as little disquietude and as much comfort as we can 
 ever expect to find in the present world ; peace and 
 tranquillity reign in our domestic circle, God's spiri- 
 tual blessings are experienced by the majority of our 
 family, uad some hopeful indications given by all, 
 and, therefore, why should we wis! for a change? 
 Of myself and my own immediate duties, I would 
 say, but little good is being done. Ministers are 
 
224 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 much wanted, and, were I in England, it would be 
 only to extrude and thrust out some of the partially 
 engaged or wholly unoccupied with which you are 
 overburdened already. No, my endeared sister, 
 much as we love our native land, much as we value 
 our still more beloved friends, we ought not to close 
 our eyes on our present mercies, or so mix up the 
 cueiishing of regret with causes for thanksgiving, as 
 to destroy their etfi^acy, or to dimhiish their heart- 
 stirring effect. 
 
 While Mr. Mortimer's friends did not approve of 
 his expatriating himself and family, so some of them, 
 who visited him in Canada, were by no means con- 
 vinced of his having improved on his lot and position 
 in life by his change of country. The Bev. B. 
 Luckock was one of these, who v»'a3 so struck with 
 the inferiority of everything which he 3aw, that he 
 afterwards wrote to him in no very measured terms 
 of his dislike and almost detestation of what he 
 called his wretched situation. These condoling and 
 sympathizing notes produced no echo in the mind of 
 Mr. Mortimer, and he wrote to his friend in the fol- 
 lowing playful terms, united to strains of piety and 
 seriousness, very expressive of his own satisfaction 
 with the change which he had made : — 
 
 "Both your letters found me at Thornhill, and from 
 the same miserable and deserted place, I date, as you 
 will perceive, my present letter. It is difficult to 
 determine what class of feelings we should indulge 
 in at the accumulated epithets of loathing and ab- 
 horrence with which you speak of our delightfully 
 happy sojourn ; our disposition, however, to merri- 
 ment prevailed, and we all laughed most heartily at 
 your intemperate and ill-timed abusings, so com- 
 pletely and so pleasantly had the whole class of our 
 own feelings and circumstances been changed since 
 your visit to that anything but " happy valley." I 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 225 
 
 need not detail to you the various incidents which, 
 through the kind providence of our God, have tended 
 both to fix our steps and to settle our minds ; the 
 hundreds of miles which were previously travelled — 
 the ineligibility of every spot and every abode in 
 some important particular — the striking Providence 
 which put some unexpected and final stop to our 
 ne^'otiations in each of the matters on which we were 
 disposed to venture — the altered feeling and conduct 
 discovered by my people, when they perceived me 
 fully resolved to leave — their solicitations, accompa- 
 nied with proffered, though not accepted, pecuniary 
 liberality to remain among them — the erection of a 
 large, commodious, and tasty, not to say beautiful, 
 house, on the few acres of my own, near the church, 
 which I had some time before purchased — the set- 
 tling of a most esteemed, and delightful, intelligent, 
 well-educated, Christian family, within a few stones' 
 throw of our residence— and, finally, the induction 
 and installing of the long unbeneficed curate into that 
 most lucrative and honourable piece of preferment, 
 " the Rectory of Thomhill." Happy consummation 
 of the most ambitious wishes, or only to be credited 
 by the envied and enviable dignitaries of our Church, 
 of which " I am proud to think" that my valued 
 and respected friend is one ! But I wander ; there, 
 then, we are at Thomhill ; but, through God's 
 mercy, under circumstances of great comfort, much, 
 very much, indeed, which calls forth our gratitude 
 and praise ; so that what I partly smilingly, partly 
 ironically, and partly believingly, predicted, has been 
 strongly fulfilled ; the course adopted by the Abys- 
 sinian Prince has been closely followed by ourselves, 
 and not an atom of wish do we now feel to exchange 
 the place of our abode for any other in the province, 
 and we may say even in the world. Of the younger 
 branches of the family, I am not of course speaking ; 
 they may possibly be far from the rest and quiet, 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
226 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 and satisfaction of i,he older folk. As to ourselves, 
 however, we wish for no change ; to live and to die 
 where God's good providence has now at length fixed 
 us is the ultimatum of all our wishes. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 ii I 
 
 Thorahill, Upper Canada, 
 Feb. 11, 1840. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 I FEEL much indebted to you for having complied 
 with Mr, Ditcher's suggestion, as well as to Mr. D. 
 himself, for so kindly and judiciously making it.* 
 And I hope that now we shall be able to enjoy a 
 little occasional intercourse, not perhaps to the same 
 extent, or with the same buoyant energetic feelings 
 of our more youthful bygone days, but with the 
 spirit of those who are drawing nearer and nearer to 
 life's peaceful termination, and who, while grateful 
 for the attached intercourse which has characterised 
 a few of their past years, must still feel that in this 
 world of severings and perturbations we form our 
 several friendships, not so much to enjoy them on 
 earth, as to renew and perfect them in heaven. 
 
 What you mention concerning your dear family 
 has greatly interested me. God has been very very 
 gracious to you and them, and I do sincerely praise 
 him on your and their behalf. 
 
 I have thought a good deal on the hints you 
 throw out respecting my namesake and endeared 
 
 * Mr. Ditcher, now vicar of South Brent, Somers, had 
 succeeded Mr. Mortimer in the curacy of Hutton, where Mr. 
 Armstrong was paying him a visit ; he suggested that, being 
 in the house lately occupied by their mutual friend, Mr. A. 
 should write to him from the same, which he did accordingly. 
 It is from this circumstance that the allusion to Mr. Ditcher 
 is made. 
 
REV. QEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 22r 
 
 arselves, 
 d to die 
 ^th fixed 
 
 Canada, 
 0. 
 
 complied 
 
 Mr. D. 
 king it.* 
 > enjoy a 
 the same 
 : feelings 
 with the 
 nearer to 
 
 grateful 
 acterised 
 t in this 
 brm our 
 
 them on 
 
 n. 
 
 ir family 
 ^ery very 
 ly praise 
 
 ints you 
 endeared 
 
 mers, had 
 ^rhere Mr. 
 ;hat, being 
 i, Mr. A. 
 cordingly. 
 r. Ditcher 
 
 godson, and hope the best wishes of your heart will 
 be realised with regard to him. Canada, however, 
 does not strike me as being the place for him, at 
 least in a pecuniary point of view. £]aO sterling, 
 with a house, and three or four acres of land, is the 
 utmost he should calculate on. Though a rector, I 
 have no more than ^'135 sterling, and have no par- 
 sonage house, but am dwelling in one erected by 
 myself, at my own cost. The general allowance 
 made by the bishop at present is ^'100 sterling ; 
 and this is paid out of the sum contributed by the 
 different societies in England, principally the Propa- 
 gation, or by the fund arising from the sale of clergy 
 reserves. In addition, however, to this £100, the 
 bishop expects that the congregation should provide 
 four acres of land, build a parsonage, and pledge 
 themselves to give a salary of £50. But this pledge 
 is too frequently merely nominal, the money being 
 very seldom fully, or at all nearly, paid, and little more 
 is obtained beyond the bishop's allowance, excepting 
 what may arise from surplice fees and the rental of 
 church pews. Something in addition, however, may 
 be expected when the vexatious matter of the clergy 
 reserves shall be settled ; but as these will be un- 
 cleared land, no immediate advantage to any extent 
 would of course accrue. Upper Canada, inde» \, I 
 consider as one of the most necessitous of all our 
 provinces, and none offer so little in the shape of 
 just and equitable remuneration. Much, therefore, 
 as I should rejoice on many accounts at Mr. George's 
 coming here, I am afraid he would find it very diffi- 
 cult to procure the means of adequate support. 
 Orders, indeed, if only tolerably qualified, he might 
 with ease and without expense obtain. Important 
 spheres, also, of ministerial engagement are nume- 
 rously presented. And to one who has no thought 
 of entering on a married life, or is prepared to rough 
 it, or contentedly to sink below the customary grade 
 
 q2 
 
228 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 of his profession — to one so prepared, the missionary 
 field of Canada is the very place. But to those who 
 are otherwise minded, we ought, in Christian charity, 
 and even in common fairness, to present the salutary 
 cave. Sir George Arthur, no doubt, would do all in 
 his power to assist him, should we be permitted to 
 retain him among us ; but in Canada his means of 
 this description are exceedingly limited, and I should 
 almost think that he could exert a more beneficial 
 influence on his behalf by endeavouring to obtain, 
 through his . English friends, some appointment as 
 chaplain to one of the colonies, or, should this be 
 questionable, some benefice in Australia, or else- 
 where, under circumstances of more encouragement 
 than we are authorized to hold out in our poor, ne- 
 glected, harassed province. 
 
 You speak of the possibiUty of giving us a visit ; 
 I need scarcely assure you how greatly it would 
 delight us aU ; I fear, however, that Sir George will 
 have left us, unless you are somewhat agile in your 
 movements. I have been apprised by him (though 
 quite confidentially) of his kind intentions towards 
 yourself. How astonished should I have been at 
 their realization, and how unspeakably rejoiced. But 
 still all is well ; and if time discover not this, faith 
 can tell us of an important day that will. 
 
 You lay on me, my endeared friend, a next to 
 impossible injunction ; what a string of kind aifec- 
 tionate inquiries relative to my own procedures, 
 personally, parochially, domestically. 
 
 My labours, I trust, are not altogether in vain in 
 the Lord ; our congregation has been increasing ever 
 since I came here, and this year the church was 
 enlarged to nearly double its former size, and the 
 additional pews were all let in three or four days 
 after they were offered for rental. Some few of my 
 people seem to have been under gracious influence, 
 and have given me much of encouragement and 
 
iissionary 
 hose who 
 1 charity, 
 ! salutary 
 do all in 
 nitted to 
 means of 
 I should 
 beneficial 
 
 obtain, 
 tment as 
 
 this be 
 
 or else- 
 
 ragement 
 
 poor, ne- 
 
 s a visit ; 
 
 it would 
 
 eorge will 
 
 e in your 
 
 1 (though 
 } towards 
 J been at 
 iced. But 
 this, faith 
 
 L next to 
 ind affec- 
 •ocedures, 
 
 n vain in 
 ising ever 
 lurch was 
 and the 
 four days 
 ew of rny 
 influence, 
 nent and 
 
 
 REV. QEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 229 
 
 hope. And my people at large show me much 
 kindness, and appear attached to my ministrations. 
 
 Socially and domestically we have much of comfort. 
 Good house and premises, good servants, one of 
 whom has been with us twenty-three years — and 
 good neighbourhood — pleasant distance (twelve or 
 thirteen miles) from Toronto — almost every English 
 comfort within our reach, not to say every luxury. 
 The only cause of regret, perhaps, is that in these 
 matters we are going too much a-head. 
 
 "We are far too gay, as a neighbourhood, for my sim- 
 ple liking. A few evenings since, one gentleman had 
 a party of sixty persons present, many more invited, 
 with a part of the band of the 93rd regiment, from 
 Toronto. And very shortly after, another of my 
 congregation had a still gayer and more extensive 
 assemblage. But you will now begin to sigh over 
 my interminable and undecipherable scrawl; and 
 therefore, in simple pity to your straining eyes, I 
 shall only add, that with most affectionate and 
 Christian regards, in which my whole family unite, 
 to yourself and dear Mrs. A., 
 
 I remain. 
 Your ever attached, though unworthy friend, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 I insert the following address, not only because it 
 may be generally useful, but because it may be as 
 applicable now to those for whose use it was origi- 
 nally written, as at the time of its publication : and 
 if a stranger may be allowed to urge their attention 
 afresh to the warm and affectionate remonstrance of 
 their late pastor, he would just remind them, that 
 Divine worship, on the Lord's day, being a para- 
 mount duty, an attendance upon both services is 
 obligatory on all sincere Christians, except duties of 
 mercy or necessity preclude such attendance. All 
 
230 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 other excuses or reasons admit of no justification, 
 and in the great day will be viewed only in the light 
 of positive neglect of God's service, arising either 
 from sinful disobedience, or culpable indifference. 
 The partially formal observance of the Lord's Day, 
 by an attendance on the morning service, spending 
 the rest of the day in pursuits entirely alien from 
 sacred duties, is the Sabbath of the mere nominal 
 Christian, not of the sincere disciple of Christ. 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF THORNHILL. 
 
 Thornhill, Oct. 1, 1840. 
 
 My much-endeared Parishioners, 
 I PERSUADE myself you will receive with your wonted 
 kindness a few words which I am desirous of pressing 
 on your serious attention. 
 
 Our church, I am happy to think, has, through 
 your own liberality and the kind assistance of our 
 English friends, been so far enlarged as to admit of 
 considerable increase in the attendance; and it affords 
 me matter of much satisfaction, that even before its 
 completion, the whole of the extra-sittings were 
 secured. And though occasionally pained at the 
 irregular attendance of some, still I cannot but feel 
 gratified in meeting, on the Sabbath mornings, so 
 encouraging a congregation as that which usually 
 attends. 
 
 But here I am sorry to say that much of my 
 satisfaction, as connected with our church attendance, 
 terminates. For when the morning service is con- 
 cluded, as though the Sabbath itself were also ended, 
 we see no more of the mass of our congregation till 
 we meet them on the following Sunday. A painful 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 231 
 
 tification, 
 the light 
 ig either 
 ifference. 
 d's Day, 
 spending 
 ien from 
 nominal 
 ist. 
 
 3RNHILL. 
 i, 1840. 
 
 r wonted 
 pressing 
 
 through 
 e of our 
 admit of 
 t affords 
 efore its 
 gs were 
 
 at the 
 but feel 
 ings, so 
 
 usually 
 
 of my 
 ndance, 
 is con- 
 ended, 
 tion till 
 painful 
 
 inquiry, then, as you will easily conceive, is often 
 presented to our minds, as to the probable manner 
 in which the remaining hours of your Sabbath are 
 employed. Some few of you, I know, are kindly 
 endeavouring to instruct the young in our Sunday- 
 schools ; some few also (oh that there were more !) 
 make a point of instructing their own families at 
 Some ; and some few more attend the evening service 
 ;he church. But what, I would affectionately 
 Ujuire, becomes of our congregation at large, after 
 the morning service? As consistent churchmen, I 
 take for granted that you conscientiously confine 
 youselves to the ministrations of the church : for, 
 convinced that the principles of dissenters are in 
 direct opposition to — are altogether subversive of — 
 the interests, if not the very existence of the church, 
 you cannot but abstain from everything which may 
 seem in any degree to support them ; and as your 
 attendance on their place of worship must be so 
 considered, I may naturally conclude that you refrain 
 from frequenting them. But as you go to no dis- 
 senting place of worship, and as only a very small 
 number attend the evening service in the church, in 
 what way must I suppose that the rest of the 
 Sabbath is, for the most part, employed? Oh, 
 think not that I am uncharitable, if I cannot help 
 suspecting that it is too frequently frittered away in 
 idleness, or in unprofitable pursuits ; in unhallowed 
 reading ; in domestic amusements ; in visiting or 
 receiving visits ; in Sabbath rambles ; or possibly in 
 some other still more decided profanations of this 
 sacred day. 
 
 Under this impression, then, you will permit me 
 to urge upon you the bounden duty of increased 
 conscientiousness in regard to Sabbath-employments? 
 Let the golden moments be duly appreciated and 
 diligently improved. Religious reading, family in- 
 struction, and personal devotions, should, of course, 
 

 232 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 employ a portion of your time, especially your 
 Sunday afternoons; but as to your Sabbath evenings, 
 I should hope that you will be convinced of the 
 paramount obligation, to devote these to an attend- 
 ance on the second service, which is now regularly 
 afforded to you in the church: and that you will 
 strive also so to arrange your other matters, as to 
 admit of your being accompanied by as many as 
 possible of your respective households. 
 
 I ought not, perhaps, to withhold from you, that 
 much surprise has frequently been expressed by my 
 clerical and other friends, that I should not as yet 
 have succeeded in obtaining a more regular attend- 
 ance on the second service, which, at so many 
 different times, I had been attempting to establish : 
 and our excellent bishop was much at a loss to 
 account for the painful circumstance. I am hoping, 
 however, that this reproach will ere long, by the 
 Divine blessing, be removed from among us. Public 
 opinion is now so universally in favour of having a 
 second service in our churches, whenever the clergy 
 have it in their power to give one, that I have no 
 need to enter upon this point. But surely if it be 
 admitted that it is the duty of the clergy to provide 
 such a service, is it not equally a duty on the part 
 of the people to attend it when it shall be provided 
 for them ? 
 
 Suffer me, then, to request your kind and willing 
 co-operation in this matter, calculated, as it so evi- 
 dently is, to promote the spiritual good of yourselves 
 and of the neighbourhood at large. And will you 
 permit me to tell you how repeatedly my heart has 
 sunk within me, when I have adverted to the little 
 I have hitherto been able to effect in this matter? 
 How grieved have I been to look around our church 
 on the Sabbath evening, and to see so many seats 
 vacated, which in the morning had been so cheeringly 
 filled. Oh how difficult do I then find it to believe 
 
ly your 
 svenings, 
 I of the 
 i attend- 
 egularly 
 you will 
 rs, as to 
 nany as 
 
 ou, that 
 1 by my 
 »t as yet 
 
 attend- 
 ) many 
 tablish : 
 loss to 
 hoping, 
 by the 
 
 Public 
 [aving a 
 e clergy 
 bave no 
 if it be 
 provide 
 ^e part 
 rovided 
 
 willing 
 so evi- 
 irselves 
 ill you 
 Eirt has 
 e little 
 latter ? 
 jhurch 
 y seats 
 sringly 
 )elieve 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 233 
 
 that such absentees can feel much of affection either 
 towards myself or my assistant — their church or 
 their Saviour. But I try to check these feel- 
 ings, and would hope for better things. I well 
 know the kindness of your hearts, for many a proof 
 have I received of your affectionate regards. And 
 I trust you will not only bear with me in this expos- 
 tulation and appeal, but so co-operate with me, that 
 in my next report to our respected bishop, I may be 
 able to convey the gratifying intelligence, that the 
 attendance on the evening service is little short of 
 that, which, with such pleasure, we so generally 
 meet with on the Sabbath morning. 
 Believe me. 
 My much endeared friends and parishioners. 
 
 Your truly affectionate Rector, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 TO HIS sister, MRS. HOLLAND. 
 
 Thornhill, Oct. 21, 1840. 
 
 We congratulate you on dear Henry's account. Oh, 
 how glad should we have been had Canada been 
 commiserated by him : had I twenty sons and should 
 you ask, how I should wish to dispose of them, I 
 would say. Oh, let them be clergymen — pious, faith- 
 ful, useful ministers of our beloved Church, and let 
 them all be fixed in Canada. I hope my dear 
 nephew will be on his guard : caution him against a 
 religion of forms and ceremonies, and high priestly 
 assumption, none of which can be maintained with- 
 out sapping the grand fundamental article of our 
 Protestant religion. Justification by Faith. Once 
 admit that there is anything inherently gracious in 
 anything but what is simple ftiith, and Protestantism 
 
234 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 is virtually at an end : let anything be expected 
 otherwise than from Christ by faith through the 
 power and agency of the divine Spirit, and carry out 
 this admission to its full length, and you are inevit- 
 ably landed safely in Romanism. I fear much for 
 the younger clergy. 
 
 In another letter, in reference to the above subject, 
 he writes : — 
 
 Oh, my dear sister, I quite tremble when I think 
 of the probable results of the present wide spread of 
 tractarian notions. High churchmen, if it be suf- 
 fered to proceed, and does not meet with a speedy 
 and most effectual check from the rulers of our 
 Church, will hurry hundreds and thousands into Ro- 
 manism, or force the decidedly Evangelical into seces- 
 sion. Awful times seem to be awaiting us, and I 
 hardly dare think of them : indeed, I keep putting 
 away every consideration almost as fast as it comes ; 
 or, rather, I endeavour to keep rolling the weighty 
 care upon One who is both able and pledged, in 
 answer to believing prayer, to sustain it. These 
 principles are exerting no small degree of influence 
 in our province. Oh, forget us not in your prayers ! 
 we greatly need them. As to myself I need say 
 but little. My health and spirits are restored to a 
 degree which I little anticipated, and I am enabled 
 to go through such duties as I engage in with com- 
 parative ease and comfort. A calm, tranquil, peace- 
 ful old age has been mercifully vouchsafed me, and 
 all I want is more grace to enjoy and improve my 
 many mercies. I am always backward to speak 
 of spiritual things, lest while recounting God's mer- 
 cies, " self-applause should step in ; " but I still owe 
 it to the goodness of my condescending God and Sa- 
 viour to testify that I do hope his work is not retro- 
 grading in my soul. Infirmities, I have many — 
 mental and spiritual, as well as bodily ; but still some 
 
xpected 
 gh the 
 arry out 
 ^ inevit- 
 uch for 
 
 RBV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 235 
 
 precious deepenings are I hope not fallaciously dis- 
 cernible. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN COOPER. 
 
 subject, 
 
 think 
 iread of 
 be suf- 
 speedy 
 of our 
 nto Ro- 
 ;o seces- 
 , and I 
 putting 
 comes ; 
 weighty 
 ged, in 
 These 
 tifluence 
 3rayers ! 
 eed say 
 red to a 
 enabled 
 th com- 
 , peace- 
 me, and 
 rove my 
 > speak 
 I's mer- 
 till owe 
 and Sa- 
 )t retro- 
 many — 
 ill some 
 
 Thornhill, near Toronto, Upper Canada, 
 Jan. 4, 1841. 
 
 My much endeared Friend, 
 How can I convey to you the heartfelt satisfaction, 
 which I received in perusing your most truly wel- 
 come letter? My many infirmities vill hardly 
 admit of my complying with your request of an early 
 reply ; for I have only written one letter, I believe, 
 for many months past, and that with extreme diffi- 
 culty ; and I have no expectation of being able to 
 finish this without sundry rests and postponements. 
 But I am desirous of making the attempt, and in- 
 deed should feel myself altogether unworthy of so 
 endeared and estimable a friend were I to place his 
 letter among my unanswered accumulations, or avail 
 myself of the filial aid of one of the amanuenses to 
 whom, on especial occasions, I am constrained to 
 have recours3. 
 
 But while I allude to the circumstance of difficulty 
 connected with writing, I ought not, I suppose, to 
 pass on to other matters, without a few words of ex- 
 planation. About a year and half ago, I suffered 
 sundry strains and contusions from a fall, from 
 which I have never yet quite recovered ; and though 
 I feel no positive pain, when I am perfectly at rest, 
 yet when I use my shoulder or the muscles connected 
 with it, in any continuous operation, I am sure to 
 suffer ; and, whenever I imprudently and pertina^ 
 ciously persist, I feel the effects for days, weeks, and 
 even months. A habit of caution therefore, has crept 
 upon me; and having at no time possessed any 
 
236 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 ! 
 
 
 strong predilections for the labours of the pen, and 
 especially for the duties of the correspondent, I have, 
 at length, almost persuaded myself, that I am fully 
 released from the obligation. 
 
 I am reluctant to fill my sheet with reference to 
 myself, and yet I ought not to withhold from you 
 the yet further allusion to infirmities. Long have I 
 been failing in my health, and long have my minis- 
 terial duties proved too great a call on my general 
 strength, and especially my nervous system ; but I 
 still feel reluctant to retire from them. My wife and 
 children were indeed repeatedly striving to bring 
 me to the point, and represented to me the desirable- 
 ness of withdrawing before such an attack should be 
 experienced, as would render the residue of life 
 burdensome to myself, distressing to my friends, and 
 useless to all. Still, I shrunk, — it seemed almost an 
 awful thing to retire from duties so solemnly under- 
 taken ; and from which none but God could release 
 me. In this state of uncertainty I was seized with 
 so violent a nervous affection, while engaged in some 
 public but unimportant matter, that I lost, in the 
 course of few minutes, all power to read, and could 
 not for some days make out the very commonest 
 words without spelling them just like a child ; and 
 though, as my nerves acquired a little more tone, I 
 was enabled to recover somewhat of my suspended 
 powers, it was not till several weeks after my seizure, 
 that I was enabled to appear again in public duties ; 
 and then I could merely preachy not read. But this 
 resumption of my duties gradually brought on such 
 oppresive, not to say alarming, symptoms, that I, at 
 length, felt fully convinced that my poor weakly 
 frame was no longer able to bear such onerous duties; 
 and having, through God's mercy, obtained an assis- 
 tant, who exactly suits both myself and people, I 
 have turned over to him my yearly stipend with 
 every public and oppressive duty, and am now rector 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 \ 
 
 X 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
RRV. OEORGF. MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 237 
 
 indeed in name, but little further : I visit, indeed, 
 parochially, and am endeavouring in various little 
 ways, to counsel, regulate, and forward the move- 
 ments of others, and to be a bond of union to the 
 somewhat heterogeneous mass around us ; and the 
 silent intercessor for their diversified good, when it 
 is not in my power in any other way to aid them. 
 And I trust, that God is still among us as a people. 
 As to other things, the kind interest which you have 
 ever taken in my welfare, makes me wish that you 
 would just introduce yourself, if only for a few mi- 
 nutes, into our midst. I could not have believed 
 that so much comfort awaited me in my latter days. 
 Pecuniary means quite adequate, not only for neces- 
 saries, but for extensive comforts ; a commodious, 
 elegant, and tasty abode, close and open carriage for 
 summer, a cutter and sleigh for winter &c. ; estim- 
 able society, and superior by far to most neighbour- 
 hoods in the province, within two hours' easy drive 
 of the capital (Toronto), and this well and even 
 luxuriously supplied. No lack of literature. I see 
 the best books, and have access to, or take in myself, 
 the most approved periodicals and newspapers, 
 almost to overpowering. And all this, when I derive 
 no income from my ministry (excepting the pittance 
 from letting the glebe of my rectory), and having no 
 aid, as in England, from pupilizing ; so great are the 
 advantages of residing in this fine province. In Eng- 
 land all was struggling and difficulty, and no possi- 
 bility of settling my family ; while here, I am enabled 
 to call every reasonable comfort around me, and to 
 live in a style, not indeed of ostentation and dis- 
 play, which has never been my aim, but of compara- 
 tive ease and comfort, such as calls for many an ex- 
 pression of grateful praise. The earlier part of my 
 residence and ministrations in this place were not 
 indeed over abundant in encouragement, and I had 
 frequent thoughts of relinquishing my apparently 
 
,» l ^ ^ w» 
 
 I w^ipi iw >w n « ■ ii .m 
 
 238 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 hopeless charge, and escaping from my comfortless 
 location. But my way never appeared to me so sa- 
 tisfactorily opened as to authorize the final step, and 
 truly thankful am I that I continued. For three or 
 four years past all has heen encouraging, and I can- 
 not but regard the spot in which I hope now to end 
 my days, as one of the most eligible and pleasant, 
 which this fine country can present. The visit paid 
 
 to us by Mr. B. L , and to which you allude in 
 
 your letter, was in the very midst of our discourage- 
 ments, and most affectionately did he sympathize 
 with us. A few months after his return he expressed 
 similar sympathy in the letter he wrote to me, which 
 quite made me smile, as descriptive of scenes and 
 feelings which seemed to have reference to " the lang 
 syne; so completely had our circumstances amended. 
 But when, in a subsequent letter of a few months 
 later date, his mind seemed only able to dwell on the 
 same mournful scenes, and we had got fully esta- 
 blished in our comfortable abode, with all our nume- 
 rous satisfactions around us, and at the same time 
 enjoying abundant proofs of our being deeply and 
 firmly seated in the affections of our attached people. 
 Thus circumstanced 
 
 March 25, 1841. 
 
 Thus far, my endeared friend, had I written nearly 
 three months ago, and then abruptly terminated my 
 operose endeavour, effected at four different sittings, 
 and at length laid by, almost in despair. But 
 through God's mercy. I am beginning again to use 
 my pen with far less of annoyance ; and, after 
 having despatched three short letters, on the three 
 last days, and being tolerably sound after the 
 operation, I have looked out my suspended com- 
 munication, and have no small pleasure in resuming. 
 
REV. OBORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 239 
 
 The non-completed sentence will, I suppose, speak 
 for itself, the intention being simply to assure you 
 that, though possibly you may have heard through 
 
 Mr. B. L , of our being surrounded by nothing 
 
 but desagrdmenSf we arc, in fact, some of the most 
 delightfully located persons in the province — perfect 
 joy and satisfaction — a pan Jisaical blessedness — a 
 very elysium of delight. Unfortunately, however, 
 for my description, it was written in January instead 
 of Alarch, — the provinces since united — seat of 
 government removed — radical elections— a fearful 
 preponderance of rebel abettors — destructives and 
 liberals — our beloved Church threatened — the Papacy 
 fearlessly exhibited, and giving but too much reason 
 ibr anticipating its eventual triumph, and Protestant 
 Episcopal subversion. All around us gloomy, and 
 full of dismal forebodings ; and our only hope (if 
 the Divine Disposer be overlooked) in the detrusion 
 from office of those Whigs, who so vexatiously retain 
 their places at home, and not content with liberalism, 
 and bringing into jeopardy England's every good, 
 are carrying with a yet higner hand their destructive 
 and church-subversive measures in its colonies. 
 Such, alas ! is the present aspect of our horizon ! 
 But as to myself, I am happy to say that it does not 
 much trouble me. It is indeed not a little cloud 
 which hangs over us, but dark and far-spreading ; and 
 yet I cherish hope that it will soon blow over. We 
 have had our direful threatenings before, but God 
 has dealt very mercifully with us ; and I trust that 
 similar mercies are now also in reserve. 
 
 But I am hardly leaving myself room to say a few 
 words on other matters. Greatly did it rejoice me, 
 my endeared friend, to follow you in your most 
 pleasing recital of the numerous exhibitions of God's 
 mercy and faithfulness to yourself and family, and I 
 have no question but that in many respects you will 
 see yet greater things than these ; — ^yes ! all is well — 
 
 ) 
 
,tm «F ■« 
 
 210 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 much of spiritual good has been reaped by my 
 beloved friend. He lias gone forth bearing precious 
 seed, and even here has come again with joy, bringing 
 his sheaves with him. 
 
 April 21, 1841. 
 
 Much to my mortification, I was unable, as I had 
 wished, to finish my letter, when I added the few 
 lines about a month ago ; but that slight effort 
 brought on a return of my disability, and obliged 
 me to be again quiet ; and, were I to consult the 
 suggestions of prudence, I should not, I believe, 
 now venture on a few lines which I am desirous of 
 appending by way of conclusion. But I am so 
 thoroughly ashamed of both my apparent neglect, 
 and the fussiness attendant on my endeavours to 
 write to you the letter I have done, that I can keep 
 my sheet by me no longer, and, though I seem to 
 have many things to say to you, I must content 
 myself with the assurance, that with unabated 
 affection, and with every good wish for yourself, 
 
 Mrs. C , and family, in which Mrs. M 
 
 most sincerely unites, I have the pleasure to sub- 
 scribe myself, 
 
 Your long attached Friend 
 
 And brother in the gospel, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 After an interval of eighteen years, I saw my late 
 beloved friend only for the second time after our 
 leaving Cambridge and settling in life. I saw him 
 for a few short hours in the year 1824, and, from 
 that time, I had not that pleasure again until July, 
 1842, when I had the long-desired happiness of 
 paying him a visit at Thornhill, and passing a week 
 with him, in the society of his kind family, to whom 
 
RRV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A, 
 
 241 
 
 sub- 
 
 I had never before been personally introriiiced. We 
 used, when at college, to promise ourselves thr 
 pleasure of alternate annual visits, little thinkiiig 
 that, for so long a period, the bounds of our habita- 
 tion were to be no nearer togi.'ther than the eastern 
 and western hemisphere. At Thornhill, I saw v.;v 
 endeared friend in different circumstances and rela 
 tions to what I had ever personally known him 
 before — as the pastor, the husband, and the father ; 
 and I was not disappointed in contemplating him iu 
 these characters. He was as venerable in appear- 
 ance as grey — I might rather say white — hairs could 
 make him, and which crowned a countenance of the 
 most benignant aspect — serene, intelligent, animated, 
 and beaming with tenderness and affection. There 
 was also in his manners, in the tones of his voice, 
 and, when speaking, in the peculiar expressiveness of 
 his countenance, something remarkcb'; .weet, mild, 
 and engaging. The general contour of the upper 
 part of his body, especially his long white hair 
 behind, reminded me of the l&ii likenesses of the 
 justly celebrated John We"?l y. His body was of 
 low stature and deformed, which, at first sight, might 
 have given to a stranger but a lowly opinion of him ; 
 but every disadvantage from appearance soon wore 
 off, and the mind shone brightly through the mean 
 and weak and uncommanding body, which contained 
 it. A pleasing instance of this effect occurred when 
 I was in Canada. He was kind enough to spend 
 three or four days with me at my son's — a visit to 
 which the following letter has some reference, and 
 which, as being the last I ever received from him, 
 though it contain nothing of any importance, I insert 
 with a deep recollection of the intercourse which I 
 had with my friend on the occasion. We were spend- 
 ing an evening together at the house of a friend : 
 a lady of piety and intelligence was present as a 
 visitor like ourselves, and who had never before seen 
 
 R 
 
 H 
 
242 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 Mr. Mortimer. Before the evening passed, she ob- 
 served to me, " That gentleman is no common man," 
 so struck was she, and, perhaps, contrary to her ex- 
 pectations, with the superior cast of his conversation, 
 which I had myself also observed in the course of 
 the evening. 
 
 TO THE REV. JOHN ARMSTRONG. 
 
 ThomhiU, Aug. 7, 1842. 
 
 My dear Armstrong, 
 It struck me that the last thing you said to me in 
 parting was, that you would inform me of your 
 movements, and for such information I have hitherto 
 been waiting ; but as I possibly may have misunder- 
 stood you, and you are expecting to hear from me, I 
 had better write at once. 
 
 Circumstances, I find, will not admit of my going 
 to New York just at present, nor do I apprehend 
 that I shall find it necessary for the accomplishment 
 of my literary purpose to go beyond Buffalo, or 
 Rochester at the farthest, though this I cannot quite 
 settle till I see you. 
 
 I shall hope, if all be well, to sleep in Toronto on 
 Monday next, and proceed the next morning for 
 Niagara or Queenston ; or, in fact, whatever place I 
 shall find, on inquiry on board the steamer Transity 
 shall be the nearest point to your son's abode ; and 
 from that point shall make my way to him as I can. 
 I am no nice traveller on such occasions, and there- 
 fore very readily get accommodated. 
 
 There are two or three matters I am wishing to 
 talk over with you, and which strike me as of no small 
 importance in reference to our Canadian ecclesiastical 
 matters. I suppose you have not been able to 
 arrive at any decision in our favour ; and, while we 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 243 
 
 I, she ob- 
 on man," 
 to her ex- 
 versation, 
 course of 
 
 7, 1842. 
 
 to me m 
 e of your 
 re hitnerto 
 misunder- 
 Tom me, I 
 
 my going 
 apprehend 
 ipUshment 
 Juffalo, or 
 nnot quite 
 
 'oronto on 
 jming for 
 irer place I 
 !r Transit, 
 )ode ; and 
 1 as I can. 
 and there- 
 wishing to 
 of no small 
 clesiastical 
 1 able to 
 while we 
 
 are beating our rough and perilous way, you will be 
 felicitating yourseltj when in some tranquil cozy 
 retreat, that you have escaped the threatening danger 
 of our more unquiet seas. But whether such out- 
 ward tranquillity is awaiting my endeared friend or 
 not, I trust he will ever experience much of that 
 peace which his peace-imparting Saviour can alone 
 bestow ; and may the peace and rest which awaits 
 him in heaven be realized by him in all its delightful 
 fulness. And oh, may his unworthy friend be pri- 
 vileged to meet him there ! Our kindest regards to 
 yourself and our endeared young friend. 
 Yours ever, my dear Armstrong, 
 Most affectionately and sincerely, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 The last letter addressed to his fondly attached 
 sister, Mrs. Holland, was written in a broken 
 manner, and was probably among the last, except on 
 mere matters of business, which he ever wrote. 
 I have myself seen but one other written after the 
 date which this bears, and which will be noticed 
 presently. 
 
 TO HIS sister. 
 
 Thornhill, April 6, 1844. 
 
 Am not dead, dear Mary, but increasingly abhorrent 
 of the epistolary — it's no use scolding — quite inve- 
 terate. [After entering more minutely than usual 
 into family details, he adds,] Self aUve again — 
 marvel greatly — though an old man, still two full 
 services on the Sunday — no assistant — do all the 
 parochial — ^visit not a little from house to house, 
 more regularly and systematically than has been my 
 wont — never felt my duties less onerously — peaceful 
 dependent, and more hopeful — more power to cast 
 
 R 2 
 
I 
 
 m 
 
 244 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ray burden on another, and find my Redeemer 
 mighty — oh never fails — so faithful, condescending, 
 kind. Sorry, oh sorry, that deafness has appeared j 
 but could Brother G. heal as well as sympathise, he 
 would soon show, by its immediate removal, that 
 blundering aifection, instead of the wisdom of love, 
 which marks mortals' wishes and decisions ; but, 
 dear Mary, it's more than compensated. May that 
 blessed Christian grace of patience have its perfect 
 work ! Am a middle man still — hate Dissent, but 
 never preach against Dissenters — love the men, but 
 greatly deplore the evils of the whole system — there- 
 fore budge not from my long wont — a real Church- 
 man I hope still, but neither ultra high, nor ultra 
 low. And now, dear Mary, adieu — your letter has 
 shamed, has lovingly shamed me, and therefore have 
 written something. Kindest love from all to all. 
 
 Yours as ever, 
 
 G. M. 
 
 The day before his death, Mr. Mortimer addressed 
 a long letter to his brother, the Rev. Thomas Mor- 
 timer, full of interest and full of kindness, and 
 which, no doubt, will be treasured ^up by him with 
 great care and affection ; but it is of so personal and 
 domestic a tenor, that it is only a single short extract 
 that I can with propriety insert in this memoir, 
 though nothing could be more appropriate, as a con- 
 clusion to his correspondence. 
 
 June 14, 1844. 
 
 * * * * Of myself a word or two 
 will suffice. Thcmgh old and grey-headed, my God 
 forsakes me not ; but graciously imparts a gleam of 
 sunshine in my latter days, which almost makes me 
 marvel. I have just completed my sixtieth year, 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 245 
 
 ledeemer 
 icending, 
 ppeared ; 
 thise, he 
 val, that 
 
 of love, 
 (IS ; but. 
 May that 
 ts perfect 
 sent, but 
 men, but 
 a — there- 
 
 Church- 
 [lor ultra 
 letter has 
 fore have 
 to all. 
 
 G. M. 
 
 addressed 
 nas Mor- 
 ness, and 
 him with 
 sonal and 
 irt extract 
 memoir, 
 as a con- 
 
 and, though encompassed, as ever, with infirmities, 
 have for the last twelvemonth done full dutv twice on 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 The flame yet flickers, and till it shall sink into 
 total darkness, may it send forth some shining ray to 
 enlighten the minds and change the hearts of my 
 beloved Canadian people. 
 
 Adieu, my beloved Brother, 
 
 Ever affectionately yours, 
 
 George Mortimer. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer's death, which took place on Satur- 
 day, June 15, 1844, has been so suitably and 
 feelingly described by others that I have nothing to 
 do but to avail myself of their services. These 
 consist of notices of the event, taken by the public 
 papers of Toronto ; a resolution of the Central Board 
 of the Church Society of the Dioeese of Toronto, 
 presented to Mrs. Mortimer by the Rev. W. W. 
 Ripley, secretary ; a brief memoir drawn up by the 
 Rev. Thomas Grinfield, and inserted in the Bristol 
 Journal; and letters written by his amiable and 
 excellent daughter. Miss Phebe Mortimer, giving 
 some account of the last years of her father's life, as 
 well as of the circumstances and particulars of his 
 death. 
 
 1 
 
 L4, 1844. 
 
 d or two 
 my God 
 I gleam of 
 makes me 
 eth year, 
 
 {From the " Church'* newspaper of June 21 , 1844.^ 
 
 It is with feelings of no ordinary pain and grief 
 that we announce the sudden and afllictive death of 
 a venerable friend and fellow-labourer in this diocese, 
 the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A., Rector of Thomhill. 
 
 As this deeply-lamented gentl-^man was proceeding 
 
246 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 on Saturday afternoon last from his residence to 
 Toronto, his horse» when ahout half way through the 
 village, took fright, and the reins breaking, the 
 carriage was upset, and Mr. Mortimer was thrown 
 violently against the stump of a tree. He received 
 immediate c distance, and was carried into the house 
 of a neighbour, Mr. Griffiths. Dr. Paget, his 
 medical attendant, speedily arrived, and drove him 
 home. On the way he spoke with cheerfulness, and 
 hopes were entertained that the injury would not 
 prove very serious ; but soon after his arrival at his 
 own house, he expressed his conviction that he had 
 not long to survive — an apprehension which was con- 
 firmed by his kind and afflicted medical friend. 
 Having called his family round him, he addressed 
 them in his own pecuUarly affectionate and earnest 
 manner, upon the solemn change he was soon to 
 undergo, blessed them, and presently after sunk to 
 his rest, so calmly and quietly that they knew not of 
 his departure until the mournful event was commu- 
 nicated by Dr. Paget. About two hours only had 
 elapsed between the occurrence of the accident and 
 his death. 
 
 The servant who had driven him, was thrown also 
 with great violence against a heap of stones, and 
 severely hurt ; but he is now, we are happy to say, 
 recovering. 
 
 The well-known excellencies of Mr. Mortimer in 
 every Christian sphere and relation, render any 
 extended remarks of our own unnecessary. He was all 
 that the mind can conceive, in this imperfect state, 
 of a gentle, consistent, and established Christian. 
 With talents and acquirements of the highest order, 
 a polished mind and a benevoler. heart, he was fitted 
 to adorn any society; while the zealous and con- 
 scientious discharge of every pastoral duty to which 
 his strength was equal, added to a large and syste- 
 matic charity, endeared him, in a peculiar degree, to 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 24/ 
 
 idence to 
 ough the 
 
 "ng. 
 
 the 
 
 IS thrown 
 3 received 
 the house 
 iget, his 
 Irove him 
 iness, and 
 rould not 
 val at his 
 at he had 
 was con- 
 1 friend, 
 iddressed 
 
 earnest 
 soon to 
 
 sunk to 
 
 ew not of 
 
 commu- 
 
 only had 
 
 dent and 
 
 rown also 
 nes, and 
 •y to say, 
 
 irtimer in 
 ider any 
 [e was all 
 ;et state, 
 Christian. 
 ;st order, 
 vas fitted 
 and con- 
 to which 
 ad syste- 
 iegree, to 
 
 the flock who were so fortunate as to enjoy his minis- 
 trations. 
 
 In the diocese at large, as a well-informed, pious, 
 and influential clergyman, his loss will be severely 
 felt ; a loss the more afllictive to many, from the 
 very recent opportunity occurring at the late visita- 
 tion, where he attended apparently in unusual health, 
 of enjoying the benefits and gratification of his 
 society. 
 
 He has gone to his rest in a mature, though not 
 old age ; and, in the words of a contemporary, " the 
 chief consolation to the family and friends of this 
 truly good man will be, that he died in the full 
 assurance of entering into the perfect realization of 
 the true believer's promised happiness." 
 
 {From the Toronto Patriot, of Tuesday, 
 June 18, 1844.) 
 
 Melancholy Accident. — It has seldom been our 
 task to announce a more truly melancholy accident 
 than that which, on Saturday evening, deprived the 
 diocese of Toronto of one of its most zealous, useful, 
 and truly respected clergymen, the Rev. George 
 Mortimer, of Thomhill. * * * * 
 
 * * * Few men could have moved in 
 a sphere of more active Christian usefulness than 
 this most excellent minister of religion. To the 
 poor, and the neighbourhood generally, of Thomhill, 
 his death will be a severe loss. His charities were 
 large, and extended to the bounds of his clerical 
 remuneration and a large private income. The chief 
 consolation to the family and friends of this truly 
 Christian man will be, that he died in the full assur- 
 ance of entering into the perfect realization of the 
 true believer's promised happiness. 
 
 I 1 
 
 ! 
 
248 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 \\\ 
 
 (From the ** British Colonist," a Presbyterian 
 paper, of Tuesday, June 18, 1844.^ 
 
 With much regret we announce the death of the 
 Rev. Mr. Mortimer, of Thornhill. * * * 
 
 Mr. Mortimer was the incumbent of the Episcopal 
 Church, at Thornhill ; he was beloved by his con- 
 gregation, and held in high respect by all around 
 him, and distinguished for his benevolence and 
 charity. 
 
 At a meeting of the Central Board of the Church 
 Society, of the diocese of Toronto, held at the 
 Society's House, on the 3rd July, 1844, the Lord 
 Bishop in the chair : on the motion of the Rev. 
 H. J. Grasett, M.A., domestic chaplain to the Lord 
 Bishop, seconded by the Hon. W. Allan, it was 
 
 Resolved — That the Central Board of the Church 
 Society of Toronto, with feelings of the deepest 
 emotion, embrace the first opportunity of their meet- 
 ing together since the sudden and lamented death of 
 the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A., Rector of Thorn- 
 hill, to express their sorrow in the removal of a 
 member of their body, who, for warm yet humble 
 piety, enlarged and Christian charity, a self-denying 
 course of life, and a holy rlevotedness to his Heavenly 
 Master's cause, was surpassed by none of those who 
 have been commissioned to feed the flock of Christ 
 in this diocese. 
 
 And while the Board view in this melancholy 
 bereavement, the chastening hand of a merciful and 
 gracious Father, who scourgeth every son whom he 
 receiveth, they most sincerely beg to offer their 
 condolence to the widow and family of their deceased 
 
 \ 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 249 
 
 fterian 
 ) 
 
 th of the 
 
 * * 
 
 * 
 
 Bpiscopal 
 
 his con- 
 
 11 around 
 
 ince and 
 
 ! Church 
 [ at the 
 the Lord 
 he Rev. 
 he Lord 
 ms 
 
 Church 
 
 deepest 
 iir meet- 
 death of 
 
 Thorn- 
 'al of a 
 humble 
 denjdng 
 [eavenly 
 ose who 
 
 Christ 
 
 ancholy 
 ful and 
 lom he 
 !r their 
 eceased 
 
 brother, who, his warfare being accomplished, has 
 been thus suddenly called from the Church militant 
 to join the society of those who have departed hence 
 in the faith and fear of the Lord. 
 
 (Signed) John Toronto. 
 
 {From the Bristol Journal.) 
 
 THE REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 With deep regret and affectionate esteem, we record 
 the death of one, whose memory (^we are persuaded) 
 is embalmed in the hearts of many among our 
 fellow-citizens — the Rev. George Mortimer. In 
 the midst of his ministerial usefulness in Upper 
 Canada, whither he emigrated from this city about 
 ten years ago, his valuable life was suddenly ter- 
 minated by one of those mysterious dispensations of 
 Infinite Wisdom, which, while they make us feel 
 our deep ignorance, exercise at once reverential 
 submission and Christian confidence. Thrown from 
 an open carriage against the stump of a tree, he 
 received a fatal injury on his chest ; and having been 
 carried to his home, and placed on his bed, he expired 
 within two hours. It is remarkable that, as a fall, 
 suffered in his infancy, had injured his growth, and 
 distorted his person, a fall should have proved the 
 occasion of his death. For several years (between 
 1826 and 1834) he resided in this neighbourhood; 
 first at Horfield, when he officiated as evening 
 preacher at St. Mary-le-Port, in this city ; after- 
 wards, as curate of the Rev. Alfred Harford, at 
 Hutton, in Somerset. He was a man equally distin- 
 guished by his intellectual and Christian excellence. 
 The strength and symmetry of his mental constitu- 
 tion presented a striking contrast and relief to the 
 
 i 
 
250 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 imperfection of his stature and his form — imperfec- 
 tion redeemed by a countenance eloquently expressive 
 of benignity blended with intelligence. Those who 
 enjoyed his personal intimacy will remember him 
 long among the most instructive and interesting of 
 companions — among the most kind and faithful of 
 friends. As a preacher, he was eminently popular, 
 powerful, and profitable ; peculiarly excelling in 
 accurate details of practical and social duty, and 
 also in discriminative representations of the character 
 and the heart. A mind acute, perspicuous, me- 
 thodical, enriched with knowledge at once varied and 
 exact; a natural unwritten eloquence, aided by a 
 voice of peculiar and pathetic tone — imparted an 
 extraordinary charm to those evening discourses, 
 which, delivered to crowded auditories in St. Mary- 
 le-Port Church, have left, we doubt not, vivid and 
 valued impressions on the memory and the heart of 
 many a surviving hearer. At this moment we well 
 recollect particular passages of his preaching ; and 
 especially his farewell address, heard with mournful 
 eagerness by an overflowing throng on the evening of 
 the day preceding his departure for America : the 
 text, " Choose ye this day whom ye will serve !" — 
 the sermon, a masterpiece of comprehensive and 
 momentous exhortation. On the next morning 
 (Monday) in company with many of his attached 
 fiiends and hearers, "we accompanied him to the 
 ship, sorrowing most of all for this, that we should 
 see his face no more.** (Acts, xx. 38.) Our Canadian 
 colony, then the scene of large emigration, and 
 greatly in need of able clergymen, rejoiced to receive 
 the treasure which Bristol once enjoyed. By his 
 natural and acquired endowments, Mr. Mortimer was 
 singularly qualified for usefulness in the new field of 
 his ministry. In his extensive parish of Thomhill, 
 the parish church was considerably enlarged during 
 the year preceding his last, towards which he con- 
 
-imperfec- 
 expressive 
 i'hose who 
 mber him 
 cresting of 
 faithful of 
 y popular, 
 celling in 
 duty, and 
 
 character 
 lous, me- 
 mried and 
 ded by a 
 larted an 
 iscourses, 
 St. Mary- 
 vivid and 
 3 heart of 
 it we well 
 ling; and 
 moumfiil 
 evening of 
 ?rica: the 
 serve !" — 
 isive and 
 morning 
 attached 
 n to the 
 ?e should 
 Canadian 
 ion, and 
 to receive 
 
 By his 
 imer was 
 V field of 
 homhill, 
 1 during 
 
 he con- 
 
 REV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 251 
 
 tributed greatly ; and also effected the establishment 
 of two other churches, with clergymen attached to 
 them, in the same extensive district. During a long 
 
 course of yesrs, Mr. M had made it his rule to 
 
 expend a tenth part of his income annually, on the 
 various objects of Christian benevolence : his libe- 
 rality must have proved doubly valuable, where, 
 while numerous necessities demanded rehef, the 
 people are generally slow to give. In what high 
 esteem he was held by his Canadian brethren, is 
 sufficiently attested by the extraordinary honours of 
 hi funeral : the Bishop of Toronto, accompanied by 
 moie than forty clergymen, many from distant 
 places, attended his remains to their sepulchral rest, 
 with tears of mingled love and grief. He has left 
 an excellent widow and six children to lament his 
 loss, and cherish his memory. Of his sons, two are 
 enga.s;ed in the ministry ; one as a missionary among 
 the Chippeway Indians, and the youngest is studying 
 in the College of Toronto for the same sacred 
 destination. May the spirit of their father be per- 
 petuated in his children's children. 
 
 T. G. 
 
 August 7, 1844. 
 
 TO MISS ELIZA FORD. 
 
 Thomhill, September 25, 1844. 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 In compliance with the wishes expressed in your 
 letter to Mamma, and at her request, I proceed to 
 retrace the latest years of my dear father's life. 
 Though it is in some respects a painful task, and one 
 for which I feel myself incompetent, I shall be quite 
 repaid if I afford any pleasure to the respected and 
 valued friends of my late beloved father. 
 
f 
 
 252 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 li 
 
 I think you must have heard of the distressing 
 nervous attack which my dear lather had about four 
 years since, and which, for a time, entirely incapa- 
 citated him for the discharge of his ministerial 
 duties, and obliged him to engage the services of a 
 curate. "When he had partially recovered, but, at 
 the sani' time, felt unequal to the resumption of his 
 ministrations at Thornhill, he undertook a service in 
 a retired place, nearly four miles distant, where no 
 church service had been before held. He felt very 
 much interested in this self-imposed charge, which 
 he termed, in speaking of it to me, the nursling of 
 his old age. Many of the members of this congre- 
 gation, which consisted entirely of farmers, me- 
 chanics, and labourers, have frequently spoken in 
 strong terms of gratitude for his attention to them, 
 and I hope that his labours there were in some 
 measure appreciated. When he afterwards f ave Mr. 
 Townley some assistance in Thornhill Church,* he 
 still continued his exposition, as he was accustomed 
 to call it, at the German Mills, but then went only 
 once a fortnight, and my youngest brother, with the 
 consent of the bishop, officiated as lay-reader, on the 
 alternate Sundays. At the end of June, in last 
 year, my dear father having felt very anxious to 
 resume his charge at Thornhill, at length came to 
 the determination of dismissing his curate, notwith- 
 standing the fears of his family that he would be 
 unequal to bear the sole burden of the then greatly 
 increased parochial duties. Connected with this 
 determination, was a resolution to devote himself 
 entirely to his ministerial work, and he re-entered 
 upon it with renewed zeal and ardour. At the same 
 
 * On the 10th of October, 1841, Mr. Mortimer preached 
 at Thornhill, in the evening, for the first time after his nervous 
 attack. His text was very striking — " I shall not die but live, 
 and declare the works of the Lord." After that he preached occa^ 
 sionally in the evening, until he altogether resumed his duties, 
 about the middle of the year 1843. 
 
[listrcssing 
 ibout four 
 'ly ineapa- 
 tiiinisterial 
 k'ices of a 
 1, but, at 
 ion of his 
 service in 
 where no 
 felt very 
 5e, which 
 urshng of 
 is congre- 
 lers, me- 
 poken in 
 to them, 
 in some 
 ('ave Mr. 
 rch,* Ije 
 customed 
 vent only 
 with the 
 T, on the 
 > in last 
 ixious to 
 came to 
 notwith- 
 N^ould be 
 I greatly 
 ith this 
 himself 
 !-entered 
 he same 
 
 _ preached 
 is nervous 
 5 but live, 
 'bed occa- 
 Is duties, 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 253 
 
 time he entirely gave up nil his literary pursiiits, 
 and, as if to confirm his purpose, removed from his 
 study all t\\c geological and other scientific works, 
 which had previously engaged and captivated his 
 attention. This was an evident and great sacrifice, 
 but it was made with cheerfulness for the sake of his 
 Divine Redeemer ; and the comfort and great peace 
 of mind which he enjoyed in doing his Master's 
 work, fully recompensed him for this act of self- 
 devotion. Our fears respecting his health proved to 
 have been grotindless, for he frequently said that he 
 never felt his ministerial duties less oppressive than 
 he then did. The good health which he enjoyed 
 was greatly promoted by the practice which he had 
 adopted of driving out regularly every day, and 
 which he then continued both for the benefit of the 
 exercise, and also for the purpose of visiting his 
 parishioners, very many of whom lived at a distance 
 of many miles. His visits have been frequently 
 alluded to, and they appear to have been prized by 
 many, as marks of kindness and condescension, when 
 they could not appreciate their spiritual advantage. 
 During this last year of my dear father's life, owing 
 perhaps to the exclusively religious nature of hia 
 studies, his conversation much more frequently than 
 before took a serious turn. I was frequently much 
 struck with the beauty of his observations, and at 
 times the thought occurred that his remarks were 
 those of one ripening for glory. At the end of last 
 May, Arthur and his bride came to visit us, and we 
 then eflfected a family meeting, every member being 
 present excepting Maria. During the next week, 
 my dear father was present at the bishop's triennial 
 visitation, and at the anrual meeting of our Diocesan 
 Church Society ; and his apparent good health was 
 generally remarked by his clerical and other friends. 
 The ceremony of opening a church in our neigh- 
 bourhood, occurring in the following week, he 
 
 i 1 
 
254 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 
 
 thought it his duty to attend ; but these exertions, 
 combined with the excitement of an enlarged family 
 circle, affected his health, and on that account, 
 during the three last days he spent the whole of his 
 time in parochial visiting. The man-servant spoke 
 with much feeling of his conversation during their 
 drives, and mentioned his having said, each day, 
 when they reached home, "Once more, Stephen, 
 God has brought us home in safety." Some of the 
 persons that he visited on those days remarked to a 
 young friend, that their minister spoke to them par- 
 ticularly of preparation for death. On Saturday, 
 the 15th of Jmie, having heard that his bookseller 
 in Toronto had received a supply of new books, he 
 determined upon going there to select some theolo- 
 gical works. While he was waiting for the carriage, 
 he returned to the dming-room, and talked in a very 
 lively manner till it was ready. He had only pro- 
 ceeded about a mile on his journey, when the fatal 
 accident occurred. The newspapers gave a correct 
 account of the accident, which perhaps you have 
 heard — that the horse ran away; that one rein 
 broke suddenly, though nearly new, which caused 
 the horse to make so sudden and violent a turn, that 
 the carriage was overturned, and that the man, 
 though thrown out as well as his master, was only 
 slightly injured, while the latter received his death- 
 blow on the chest, by being thrown with violence 
 against the stump of a tree. It had long been the 
 practice of my endeared father, and one which he 
 recommended from the pulpit, to make death a daily 
 subject of prayer, and a part of that, I believe, daily 
 petition, was that he might, if consistent with the 
 will of God, have an easy death. The testimony of 
 his kind and skilful medical attendant, is a decisive 
 evidence to the striking fulfilment of this prayer ; 
 for he told us that no other death was so easy, 
 excepting when occasioned by lightning, as that 
 
 1 ' 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 255 
 
 exertions, 
 ged family 
 t account, 
 lole of his 
 rant spoke 
 •ring their 
 each day, 
 , Stephen, 
 )me of the 
 arked to a 
 them par- 
 Saturday, 
 bookseller 
 books, he 
 me theolo- 
 e carriage, 
 1 in a very 
 
 onlypro- 
 
 the fatal 
 I a correct 
 you have 
 
 one rein 
 ch caused 
 turn, that 
 the man, 
 
 was only 
 his death- 
 1 violence 
 
 been the 
 which he 
 th a daily 
 leve, daily 
 ; with the 
 itimony of 
 a decisive 
 s prayer ; 
 
 so easy, 
 as that 
 
 which terminated the existence of my dear fntht»r, 
 who, he assured us, suffered no pain. He also men- 
 tioned that he considered it a ver^ rcnuirkable 
 circumstance, that he should have survived so long a 
 time as four hours : for that two hours was deemed 
 the utmost length of time that life could be pro- 
 longed, under such circumstances, and that instant 
 death was the frequent result of such a blow. That 
 such was not the case in this instance, we felt very 
 thankful, and he himself expressed his satisfaction at 
 being brought home to his own bed, and his thank- 
 fulness that none of his bones were broken ; not 
 knowing then the fatal nature of his accident. He 
 expressed a desire that some of his family should 
 leave the room, that he might be quiet, and we all 
 therefore quitted his room, excepting Dr. Paget and 
 Arthur. He was perfectly composed, and resigned, 
 to the will of God, whatever that might be, but 
 expressed a wish that he might fall asleep in Jesus. 
 When he became aware, or rather suspected, that his 
 end was approaching, he sent for all the members of 
 his family who were then at home, mentioning us by 
 name, and we received in succession his last blessing. 
 He was then perfectly calm, and in a peaceful state 
 of mind. Almost his last words were expressive of 
 his admiration of, and thankfulness for, the won- 
 derful plan of redemption : his words I do not 
 remember accurately enough to quote, but his last 
 petition was for his beloved flock ! Dr. Paget, 
 though his aifectionate heart felt deep sorrow, said, 
 that it was a privilege to witness such a death. The 
 testimony which has been borne by all ranks to the 
 esteem in which he was held, is very gratifying. 
 The bishop came from Toronto, though with great 
 inconvenience, to pay the last mark of respect to the 
 dear remains of one whom, to the credit of both 
 parties, he greatly respected, though differing f»-om 
 him in many points. The church was greatly 
 
 I 
 
 1 1 
 
V 
 
 250 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 crowded on the mournful occasion, and a deep 
 feeling appeared to pervade the assembly. The 
 pulpit, &c. wsre hung with black cloth, and all the 
 genteel residents in the neighbourhood put on 
 mourning. These are the consolations which the 
 world has in its power to offer to mourning rela- 
 tives, and very many have we received, nor were they 
 by any means undervalued by us, but, added to 
 them, we had far higher sources of comfort, in the 
 perfect assurance that he whom we mourned had 
 entered into his rest, and in the full assurance that 
 the event, deeply afflicting as it was to us, was 
 ordered by an allwise and gracious God. 
 
 Mamma desires her Christian respects to yourself 
 and your dear sister, of whose very afflictive state of 
 deprivation of almost every outward comfort; she 
 was truly grieved to hear. 
 
 My dear father was much affected when he heard, 
 
 through Miss B , the sad intelligence, and he 
 
 more than once alluded to your dear sister's blind- 
 ness with tears of sympathy. 
 Believe me, dear Madam, 
 
 Very sincerely and respectfully yours, 
 
 Phebe Mortimer. 
 
 The following letter, written by the same hand, 
 repeats so much of what was said in the foregoing, 
 that at first the writer of these memoirs determined, 
 on the omission of one of them : but, upon con- 
 sideration that, though there was repetition, there 
 was also so much variety of expression, as well as of 
 additional matter, he judged it best to insert both — 
 a judgment which he doubts not will be approved by 
 his readers. 
 
 * * *♦' 
 
 _ 
 
I a deep 
 )ly. The 
 d all the 
 put on 
 irhich the 
 iiing rela- 
 were they 
 added to 
 rt, in the 
 irned had 
 ranee that 
 } us, was 
 
 yourself 
 i^e state of 
 ifoi ts she 
 
 he heard, 
 ;e, and he 
 jr's hlind- 
 
 irs, 
 
 loRTIMER. 
 
 ame hand, 
 foregoing, 
 jtermined, 
 ipon con- 
 ion, there 
 well as of 
 ;rt both — 
 proved by 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 TO MRS. HOLLAND. 
 
 257 
 
 ThornhiU, Feb. 8, 1845. 
 
 My dear Aunt, 
 
 * 
 
 "The memory of the just is" indeed "blessed"; 
 and I wish that the last remembrances of my beloved 
 father could have been traced for you by a more 
 able hand than mine. His memory is, I am sure, 
 treasured in the hearts of very many here who knew 
 him. I wish it may incite them to follow him as he 
 follovred Christ. 
 
 The last year of my beloved father's life was 
 marked by an entire devotion to his ministerial 
 work ; for when he came to the determination of 
 resuming the entire charge of his parish, it was 
 accompanied by a resolution to abandon every other 
 pursuit, and to devote all his time and powers to 
 the one object of winning souls to Christ. As if 
 to confirm this purpose, he put away from his study 
 library all the geological and other scientific and 
 literary books with which it was furnished, and 
 replenished it with theological works. It was to 
 him an act of great self-denial thus entirely to give 
 up the studies and pursuits which had previously 
 so engaged and captivated his attention; but they 
 were relinquished with cheerfulness, because for his 
 Redeemer's sake ; for he observed at the time that 
 he made this sacrifice, ** Oh ! it is a very little thing 
 to do for my Saviour." He was fully recompensed 
 for this devotion to his Heavenly Father's cause, as 
 appears from his having expressed to mamma the 
 great comfort and peace of mind which he after- 
 wards enjoyed in his clerical avocations. From that 
 time a change was apparent in his conversation ; for 
 although he was always accustomed to introduce 
 
 ' 
 
258 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 religious subjects in conversation with his family, espe- 
 cially in the evening, when he would sit with us for a 
 short time after family prayers, stUl, during the last 
 year, his conversation, partaking of the exclusive na- 
 ture of his studies, was more uniformly serious than it 
 had been previously. I was frequently much struck 
 with the beauty and spirituality of his observations, 
 and, once or twice, while listening to his conversation, 
 the idea presented itself, that the sentiments and 
 feelings he expressed were those of one who was 
 ripening for the garner. This, however, was merely 
 a passing thought, and never at all realized or dwelt 
 upon ; for my dear father was, at that time, particu- 
 larly well, and he frequently told us that he never 
 felt his ministerial duties less burdensome. One of 
 his remarks, which made an impression on my mind 
 at the time, has since struck me the more from the 
 coincidence of the following text being written in 
 one of the blank leaves of the Bible that he was 
 accustomed to use, until within the last two or three 
 years of his life : ''When I am old and grey-headed, 
 O God, forsake me not." Psalm Ixxi. 18. The 
 remark which he made in conversation was this : 
 " He has been my God from my youth up, but I 
 oever ielt that he was so near to me as now in 
 jfiy old age." These are not, I think, quite the 
 expressions he made use of, for I quote from 
 memory, and although I nttempted to write them 
 down the same day, I could not even then recall 
 the words that he used. Often similar attempts 
 that I made failed also, and I t!ien relinquished the 
 idea that I had entertained, of preserving in writing 
 sorr e of my endeared father's religious obscrvationr 
 During one of our drives to the station at the 
 German Mills, speaking of the ministering of angels, 
 a subject of which he was very fond, he remarked, 
 that the dispensation of faith under which we are 
 placed made it necessary that an unseen agency 
 
amily, espe- 
 ith us for a 
 ing the last 
 jcclusive na- 
 •ious than it 
 luch struck 
 bservations, 
 juversation, 
 iments and 
 e who was 
 was merely 
 led or dwelt 
 me, particu- 
 at he never 
 le. One of 
 )n my mind 
 )re from the 
 written in 
 hat he was 
 two or three 
 rey-headed, 
 18. The 
 . was this : 
 } up, hut I 
 as now in 
 , quite the 
 [juote from 
 write them 
 then recall 
 ar attempts 
 quished the 
 5 in writing 
 bservationr 
 tion at the 
 g of angels, 
 e remarked, 
 lich we are 
 een agency 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 259 
 
 should be employed for our protection and deliver- 
 ance, as otherwise faith would be lost in sight ; and 
 also that, had these ministering spirits been made 
 visible to us, we should have been very prone to 
 place our reliance upon them, instead of putting our 
 trust simply in God. He pursued the conversation 
 as we ascended a very steep hill, and said, " I think 
 we are little aware how constantly angels are em- 
 ployed on our behalf; perhaps now, an angel is 
 leading that horse by the bridle, and encouraging 
 it onwards." One of the horses, a fine animal, was 
 then exerting itself to the utmost; for the roads 
 were very bad at the time, and the hill was therefore 
 very difficult of ascent. I think the following anec- 
 dote will be interesting to you, as it is one which 
 made a strong impression on my dear father's mind, 
 and, as it is short, I am tempted to copy it for you : 
 "As one said to Philip J. Jenks just before he 
 expired, * How hard it is to die,' he replied, * Oh, no, 
 easy dying, blessed dying, glorious dying.' Look- 
 ing up at the clock, he said, * I have experienced 
 more happiness in dying this day, than in my whole 
 life. It is worth living for, it is worth a whole life, 
 to have such an end as this. I have long desired 
 that I might glorify God in my death ; but oh ! I 
 never thought that such a poor worm as I could 
 have come to such a glorious death.' " I beUeve 
 this account of "happiness experienced in death," 
 contributed very much to weaken his apprehension 
 of the pains of death, which he afterwards entirely 
 lost. It had, however, long been his own practice, 
 and one which he recommended to others from the 
 pulpit, to make death a daily subject of prayer, 
 particularlj'- as regarded its time and manner; and 
 I believe one of these daily petitions was, that he 
 might have an easy death, if consistent with the 
 will of God. This petition was answered by his 
 Heavenly Father in a striking manner, for our kind 
 
 s 2 
 
 1 
 
260 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 friend and physician assured us, that he suffered no 
 pain, not even so much as a person experiences in 
 fainting. It is also remarkable, as Dr. Paget men- 
 tioned to us, that in no other way could his existence 
 have been terminated with this absence of pain, 
 except by a stroke of lightning. The doctor also 
 considered it remarkable that he survived so long 
 after the fatal accident, as instant death frequently 
 occurs under such circumstances. That such was 
 not his case was an unspeakable comfort to us ; and 
 he himself expressed his satisfaction at being brought 
 home to his own comfortable bed. He also stated 
 his thankfulness for the circumstance of no bone 
 beina: broken, or even dislocated, and quoted that 
 passage of Scripture, **He keepeth all his bones, 
 not one of them is broken." This was before he 
 was aware of the fatal nature of the accident. He 
 expressed a wish to be left alone that he might be 
 quiet, and we all left the room in consequence, 
 except Arthur and Dr. Paget. We had no idea 
 that any danger was to be apprehended, till a 
 few moments before he expired, when he sent for 
 us, asking for each by name, and for the servants 
 also. He said he thought he was dying, and 
 added, "Do not be surprised if I should struggle 
 at the last." Immediately after he said, " What a 
 salvation is that which Christ has purchased for us j 
 what a blessing that I have nothinp- to do now! 
 My dear flock, may the Lord bless them all, and 
 provide for them ! " Then seeing us all around him, 
 he said to each, " May the Lord bless you." These 
 were his last words, except the expression of his 
 wish to lie dovvn. I supported his head on my arm, 
 and thought that he was falling asleep — but no, it 
 was the sleep of death. 
 
 Mr. Osier preached a most excellent funeral sermon 
 from this appropriate text, " Blessed are those ser- 
 vants, whom their Lord, when he cometh, shall find 
 
B suffered no 
 cperieuees in 
 
 Paget men- 
 liis existence 
 ce of pain, 
 
 doctor also 
 vedi so long 
 h frequently 
 it such was 
 
 to us ; and 
 ing brought 
 ; also stated 
 of no bone 
 juoted that 
 
 his bones, 
 J before he 
 lident. He 
 lie might be 
 onsequence, 
 id no idea 
 ded, till a 
 be sent for 
 he servants 
 dying, and 
 Id struggle 
 , "What a 
 Lsed for us j 
 do now! 
 rn all, and 
 round him, 
 1." These 
 iion of his 
 )n my arm, 
 -but no, it 
 
 sral sermon 
 
 those ser- 
 
 shall find 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 261 
 
 watching." My dear father was employed to the 
 very last in doing his Lord's work : his three last 
 days were spent entirely in parochial visiting, con- 
 trary to his usual practice of spending the greater 
 portion of each day in his study, and two or three 
 hours in his drives and in visiting his people. Some 
 of those whom he visited on these days, afterwards 
 told a young friend, that he talked to them prin- 
 cipally about preparation for death. The man-ser- 
 vant also has spoken with much feeling of his con- 
 versation during those drives, and he mentioned also, 
 that each day, when they reached home, he said, 
 " Once more, Stephen, God has brought us home in 
 safety." My beloved father's consistency of conduct 
 won for him the respect and esteem of all who knew 
 him, even of those who differed from him, sometimes 
 widely, in religious opinions. Such was the case 
 with the bishop, who however not only respected 
 hiiit, but entertained very kind feelings towards him, 
 which he evinced by coming from Toronto, though 
 with great inconvenience, and unsolicited, to pay the 
 last mark cf respect to his remains. The public 
 testimony which was borne to the excellence of my 
 dear father's character, in a resolution of the Central 
 Board of the Church Society, of wlr* 'j body he was 
 a member, was so gratifying, that I cannot refrain 
 from copying a part of it. He is spoken of in the 
 resolution as one " who for warm yet humble piety, 
 enlarged and Christian charity, a self-denying course 
 of life, and a holy devotedness to his Heavenly 
 Master's cause, was surpassed by none of those who 
 have been commissioned to feed the flock of Christ 
 in this diocese." 
 
 One of the features of character alluded to in this 
 resolution had been especially observed by a young 
 clerical friend, who, when speaking with much 
 warmth of the high estimation he entertained of my 
 dear father's character, particularly mentioned his 
 
 m 
 
262 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 great humility. As an instance of this, he told us, 
 that, when he had gone with my father into the 
 vestry after preaching what Mr. D. considered a 
 most excellent sermon, he had spoken of it as fur- 
 nishing cause for fresh humiliation, and a stimulus to 
 greater exertions and more earnest prayers for the 
 future. Mr. D., on the same occasion, alluded to the 
 peculiar facility with which he constantly introduced 
 religious remarks in conversation, which, he said, he 
 had particularly noticed on the few occasions on 
 which he had met him in company. In answer to an 
 observation, that my dear father had often deplored 
 the want of this very gift, Mr. D. remarked, that this 
 circumstance aflForded a fresh proof of his humility. 
 
 * 
 
 Believe me, my dear Aunt, 
 
 Your ever-affectionate Niece, 
 
 Phebe Mortimer. 
 
 PREACHING. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer, says one of his friends* (well fitted 
 to ^orm a correct estimate of him), was "a rarely 
 gifted person." As a 'preacher^ he possessed very 
 considerable excellence. His extemporaneous dis- 
 courses were of a very finished kind, lucid in order, 
 striking in illustration, and powerful in application. 
 These discourses were not the mere effusions of 
 thoughts unprepared and of matter undigested, but 
 the result of diligent reading, close study, and fervent 
 prayer, which alone can enable even the competent 
 extempore speaker to address a Christian congrega- 
 tion with any good effect. He was eminently a 
 
 * The Rev. Thomas Grinf, 11 -who greatly admired an J 
 love* Mr. Mortimer, and for wnom, from his first acquJnt- 
 •nce wUh him, he entertained sentiments of mingled affectioii, 
 esteem^ and admiration. 
 
 i '.' 
 
HEV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 263 
 
 he told us, 
 er into the 
 jnsidered a 
 ■ it as fur- 
 stimulus to 
 ers for the 
 luded to the 
 introduced 
 he said, he 
 ccasions on 
 tnswer to an 
 en deplored 
 3d, that this 
 humility. 
 
 Niece, 
 Mortimer. 
 
 (well fitted 
 "a rarely 
 sessed very 
 nieous dis- 
 id in order, 
 application, 
 ffusions of 
 jested, but 
 and fervent 
 competent 
 I congrega- 
 niinently a 
 
 admired and 
 rst acquumt- 
 ied affection, 
 
 practical preacher, and signally excelled in pourtraying 
 the unfair arts so often practised by men of business 
 with a view to their worldly gain,: and, as his hearers 
 were mostly tradesmen, his graphic delineations were 
 sometimes keenly felt in the consciences of indivi- 
 duals, who were ready to say, " Art thou come to call 
 our sins to our remembrance ? " More than one of 
 his mercantile hearers has asked him, in private 
 intercourse, by what means he had acquired so exact 
 and extraordinary an acquaintance with the varieties 
 of fraud, which, however familiar in the busy walks 
 of trade, might be supposed little known to a minis- 
 ter of the gospel. To such a question he has replied, 
 that he had derived his knowledge, partly from the 
 habitual study of his own heart, partly from his 
 personal experience of a busy life in his earlier years ; 
 as he had been apprenticed to an eminent London 
 bookseller, previously to his collegiate preparation for 
 the ministry. 
 
 So searchingly did he probe the consciences of his 
 hearers, that it was not unfrequent with some among 
 them to visit him for the purpose of private confer- 
 ence, counsel, and consolation. He well knew how 
 to " speak a word in season to the weary," with a 
 peculiar sympathy and kindness. Yet quite as well 
 he knew how to apply ** the terror of the Lord : " 
 and I remember his telling me, that one of the most 
 effective sermons (as he had reason to believe) which 
 he had ever preached, was of terrific character, and 
 founded on those words of overwhelming horror ; 
 " In Hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments." 
 That sermon (he had reason to hope) had been used 
 by the Lord as an instrument for rescuing " a brand 
 from the burning," which the preacher aimed to re- 
 present. Another of his most striking sermons, di- 
 vided between tlie morning and evening of the same 
 Sabbath, was formed on a theme contrasted with the 
 precediugj the conduct and the reward of the faithful 
 
■ i 
 
 I I, 
 
 4 
 
 264 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 Christian, as exemplified in St. Paul : " I have 
 fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I 
 have kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for 
 me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the 
 righteous Judge, shall give me at that day."* 
 
 But, whatever excellencies he possessed as a 
 
 Ereacher, Mr. Mortimer was unconscious of them 
 imself : for he frequently deplored what he con- 
 sidered the inefficiency of his ministrations, and was 
 accustomed to speak in the most humhle terms of 
 his sermons. On one such occasion, he said, "When 
 I come out of the pulpit, and turn over in my mind 
 what I have said, I think, What does it all amount 
 to ? How much more to the purpose it might have 
 heen, and how much more useful I" 
 
 On the Sunday evenings, after committing his past 
 endeavours into the hands of his God by prayer, he 
 would turn his thoughts from the review of what he 
 considered his past failures to the hope of future 
 usefulness, by at once renewing his exertions. With 
 this view, he was accustomed, before he retired to 
 rest on the Sunday evening, to look out a text for 
 the following Sunday, and to form the outline of 
 the sermon. But although he was thus peculiarly 
 anxious about the preparation of his sermons, he sel- 
 dom spoke on the subject without remarking upon 
 the necessity of the accompanying influences of the 
 Holy Spirit, to render efficacious even the most 
 highly wrought, powerful, and most convincing ser- 
 mon. Indeed, he has expressed the opinion, that 
 the most common-place sermons were often made the 
 most useful ; because, in such cases, the preacher, 
 being aware of their defects, and being thus divested 
 of all feelings of self-congratulation, was led, in more 
 
 * From a comnuinication made to me by the Rev. J. Grin- 
 field, to whom I am indebted for several papers and letters 
 with which he has kindly furnished me, anu of which I have 
 niaclc ample use in this memoir. 
 
 hui 
 
 wo 
 
"I have 
 
 course, I 
 
 lid up for 
 
 Lord, the 
 
 ised as a 
 I of them 
 t he con- 
 , and was 
 
 terms of 
 1, "When 
 
 my mind 
 U amount 
 light have 
 
 g his past 
 Tayer, he 
 f what he 
 of future 
 s. With 
 retired to 
 
 text for 
 mthne of 
 jecuUarly 
 IS, he sel- 
 ing upon 
 ;s of the 
 he most 
 cing ser- 
 ion, that 
 made the 
 ireacher, 
 
 divested 
 , in more 
 
 J. Grin- 
 nd letters 
 ;h I have 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 265 
 
 humble dependence upon God, to entreat that He 
 would give the increase. 
 
 In connexion with this subject, he once mentioned 
 having preached for a friend on a rainy day to an 
 exceedingly small congregation. The comparatively 
 large number of empty pews presented a very dis- 
 couraging aspect, and tended very much to depress 
 his spirits ; — altogether such was the effect produced 
 on his mind, that least of all on that day would he 
 have expected any favourable result from his sermon. 
 Some time afterwards, when he was spending an 
 evening at the house of a person who resided at 
 some distance both from the place where he preached 
 and from his own home, a lady, who was of the party, 
 took an opportunity of stating how much she felt 
 indebted to him for the spiritual sight that she had 
 received through his instrumentality. He was at a 
 loss to know what she alluded to, for he had no 
 recollection of having seen her before : but she 
 brought to his recollection the thinly scattered con- 
 gregation in his friend's church, for whom he had 
 preached on a very rainy day : and then stated that 
 she was one of those few hearers, and that the ser- 
 mon had made so deep an impression on her mind 
 as to have been productive of lasting benefit. 
 
 PASTORAL VISITING. 
 
 In his pastoral visits, Mr. Mortimer appears to have 
 been remarkably successful. He seems always to 
 have paid attention to this very important and often 
 very useful part of the Christian pastor's office, but 
 more especially during a few of the latter years of his 
 life, making his daily drives for the benefit of his 
 health subservient to that purpose. He made a 
 point of visiting at first six, and afterwards ten 
 families during each week, by which arrangement he 
 
 « M**iim^„i^ 
 
w 
 
 2G6 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 I: ) 
 
 considered that he could visit each family four Mmes 
 during the year, besides paying more frcqueui visits 
 in case of illness, or any particular afttiction. He 
 not only visited the different members ol liis con- 
 gregation and others belonging to the church, but he 
 went to every house in the immediate neighbourhood, 
 and, for several miles around, he knew the occu])ants 
 of almost every house. When he visited Roman 
 Catholics, or Dissenters, he never sought to enter 
 into controversy with them; for he considered it, in 
 general, unprofitable, and seldom productive of the 
 desired effect of bringing them into the fold of the 
 Church. He was far, however, from shrinking from 
 f-ntering upon the subject, when it appeared desirai>le 
 for him to do so ; and w. .. the subject was brought 
 forward in conversation, he stated the grounds of his 
 firm adhesion to his own communion, and conscien- 
 tiously, but with a mild and affectionate manner, 
 warned them of the sin of schism. On such occa- 
 sions, uniti/ was generally the theme of his discourse, 
 and he would dwell much on its importance and 
 obligations, and urge upon them the consideration of 
 that beautiful prayer, " That they. Father, may be 
 cae, as we are." He was never satisfied unless he 
 could give a decided religious turn to the conversa- 
 tions he had with his people, but, even if he failed 
 in doing this, he always contrived to introduce some 
 serious remark before he left their houses. A Pres- 
 byterian, who was warmly attached to her own 
 Church, when speaking of Mr. Mortimer, said, " Ah, 
 he was a real good man. I have often said, that he 
 and Mr. J. [the minister of her own communion] 
 were the two best ministers in Canada. I wouldna 
 miss going to hear Mr. Mortimer preach in the 
 evening [she went to her own place of worship in 
 the morning], but I havena the heart to go now. I 
 weel remember how he sat here, for near an hour, 
 talking to my husband the last time he was here. 
 
REV. OEOROK MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 267 
 
 tour ♦irni-s 
 lU'ut vifiit.v 
 •tion. He 
 i his con- 
 ch, but ho 
 bourhood, 
 occupants 
 'd Roman 
 t to enter 
 ered it, in 
 ive of the 
 old of the 
 iking from 
 d desiralde 
 IS brought 
 mds of his 
 1 conscieu- 
 e manner, 
 such occa- 
 I discourse, 
 rtance and 
 deration of 
 r, may be 
 unless he 
 ! conversa- 
 he failed 
 duce some 
 A Fres- 
 her own 
 aid, "Ah, 
 3, that he 
 mmunion] 
 I wouldna 
 ch in the 
 mrship in 
 now. I 
 an hour, 
 was here. 
 
 My husband served at M'aterlo i»nd tijey were 
 talkhig about the battlf, and such thiiij:;s ; and then 
 he stopped all of a sudden, and smiled, and said, 
 *but I didna come hereti/ tall about |)oliti('s.' " 
 
 He was particularly de irons of impressing upon 
 the minds of those whom he visited the importance 
 of individual and experiiiKiitul religion, and would 
 coiistai.tly remind them thaf their great aim should 
 be to j)repare for heaven. 
 
 He took also occasion to warn them of open sins 
 which they were in the habit of committing, such as 
 drunkenness, or the neglect of public worship. An 
 old man, who frequently gave way to a habit of 
 intoxication, and, perhaps from this cause, has now 
 become prematurely infirm and almost childish, 
 alluded to the last visit of his pastor in the following 
 manner: — "On the Thursday — the Thursday, you 
 mind, before he died — old Mr. Mortimer came to see 
 me in his little carriage, and his man drove him : 
 
 and he gave me a caution. He said, * Mr. , I 
 
 saw you on Yonge street a short time since, and you 
 were drunk ;' and on the next Saturday he was a 
 corpse, and I lost my brother :" and the old man 
 turned aside to hide his tears. 
 
 The husband, or rather the widower, of a Pres- 
 byterian, mentioned that his wife had frequently 
 remarked to him, that there could not be a better 
 minister by a sick bed than Mr. Mortimer : for that 
 he never excited persons, but that at the same time 
 he did not delude them about their eternal prospects, 
 but spoke candidly to them, according to their 
 different states of mind. She said that there was no 
 minister that she should so much like to see, if she 
 were ill, as Mr. Mortimer. Her wish, however, was 
 not gratified, for she survived him about half-a-year. 
 
 Another person, a member of a Presbyterian 
 family in the neighbourhood, after stating that Mr. 
 Mortimer was very much missed, said, " And no one 
 
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 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 misses him more than mv mother ; for he used to 
 come and sit with her, and talked so nicely to her, 
 that it did her so much good — it did her good till he 
 came again. There will never be another minister 
 like Mr. Mortimer: if there were to come five 
 thousand, there would not be another Uke him." * 
 
 He took an interest in the concerns of those whom 
 he visited, and, following the example of St. Paul, 
 strove to " please all men in all things, not seeking 
 his own profit, but the profit of many, that they 
 might be saved." " He was not naturally fond of 
 children, and I was much struck, on that account, 
 with the remark of a woman when talking about the 
 visits of my dear father ; * Ah, miss, your father 
 was mighty fond of this little one, and he took so 
 much notice of him the very last time he was here !* 
 Another woman said, ' Ah ! he was a real gentleman, 
 and he would sit down with us, and talk so free and 
 pleasant-like/ ** f 
 
 '*' Such an influence over the minds of those who widely 
 differed from him, and perhaps viewed the Church to which he 
 belonged with much prejudice, was not attained but by a 
 course of great kindness and consideration towards all, and 
 the thing gained was worth all the cost of it. Mr. Mortimer 
 was not an indifferent Churchman ; but he felt that, like his 
 Divine Master, he should not only be of a meek and lowly 
 spirit towards his own, but that he should exercise tenderness 
 and conciliation to the Samaritan as well as to the Jew ; to the 
 Dissenter as well as to the Churchman ; considering all as 
 entitled to the benefits of his flock, though they were not dis- 
 posed to partake of them. It will be said, perhaps, that many 
 Dissenters are not only bitter in their spirit, but violent in 
 their language, and provoking in their conduct and actions. If 
 it be so, let us set them a better example ; let us show them a 
 more excellent way ; let us make them the objects of our 
 kindness and prayers, and not of our scorn, hatred, and oppo- 
 sition. " Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with 
 good." 
 
 t From Miss Mortimer's communications. 
 
he used to 
 
 Icely to her, 
 
 good till he 
 
 ler minister 
 
 come five 
 e him." * 
 those whom 
 )f St. Paul, 
 not seeking 
 , that they 
 ally fond of 
 iat account, 
 g about the 
 frour father 
 he took so 
 was here !* 
 gentleman, 
 so free and 
 
 e who widely 
 :h to which he 
 led but by a 
 irards all, and 
 Ir. Mortimer 
 hat, like his 
 ek and lowly 
 ise tenderness 
 ! Jew ; to the 
 idering all as 
 were not dis- 
 ps, that many 
 ut violent in 
 1 actions. If 
 show them a 
 tjects of our 
 d, and oppo- 
 me evil with 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 269 
 
 CONFIRMATION. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer devoted a good deal of time and 
 attention to preparing the candidates for the con- 
 firmation that was held at Thornhill, in July, 1843. 
 Mr. Townley was then assisting him ; for he began 
 the instruction of the candidates several months 
 previous to the solemnizing of the rite, and he was 
 thus left more at liberty than he had ever before 
 been for this important branch of duty. His plan, 
 on that occasion, was to divide the candidates into 
 three distinct classes ; viz., one comprising the 
 juniors, and another, the adults of the less educated 
 among his congregation, and the third embracing 
 the remainder. The first of these classes was required 
 to learn by heart portions of an explanation of the 
 Church Catechism, which they repeated to their 
 minister when they met together on a specified 
 afternoon in each week. Their attention was par- 
 ticularly directed to the Scripture proofs of the 
 Catechism, which was also commented upon in a 
 familiar manner, and particularly in connexion with 
 confirmation. In order to encourage them to learn 
 the Catechism well, a prize was promised to each of 
 the three who should be able to repeat the whole of 
 it most accurately. The adult classes met also once 
 .A week in the evening, and were prepared with 
 answers, which they read from the Bible, to questions 
 on scriptural subjects, with which they were furnished 
 the previous week. They also repeated a part of 
 Dean Nowell's Catechism, which, together with the 
 scriptural questions, formed the subject for addresses 
 and interrogations. The third class met one morn- 
 ing in the week at their pastor's house, and they 
 were expected to give verbal answers to questions on 
 the Book of Common Prayer, with which they were 
 
V 
 
 I ; 
 
 
 
 (' I 
 
 270 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 previously supplied. For the use of this class also, 
 Mr. Mortimer prepared a set of questions and an- 
 swers explanatory of the sacrament, which will 
 appear in another place ; and he made use of a 
 Catechism on Confirmation to explain that ordinance 
 to the candidates, besides distributing several tracts 
 on the subject. 
 
 SOCIAL MEETINGS. 
 
 In the years 1842 and 1843, Mr. Mortimer esta- 
 blished several different week-day meetirgs for 
 promoting the spiritual benefit of his flock. One 
 of these was held on Tuesday evenings, and was 
 conducted alternately by himself and Mr. Townley, 
 both, however, being present. The meeting was 
 opened by singing a hymn, and by offering up a 
 short extempore prayer, either by himself or Mr. 
 Townley. One of them then spoke on some subject 
 connected with experimental religion ; after which, 
 some of the members were expected to make ob- 
 servations connected with the spiritual life of the 
 Christian, or their own particular experience, or to 
 ask any question on practical or doctrinal subjects ; 
 and, when a pause ensued, one of the clergymen 
 would carry on the remarks, or introduce another 
 subject. Singing the doxology, and the use of one 
 or two collects, or, occasionally, extempore prayer, 
 and the blessing, concluded the meeting. This 
 meeting was not continued long ; for it was not 
 found to answer, owing to the difficulty that persons 
 experienced in speaking on these subjects. 
 
 After this was given up, another was established 
 for the Sunday-school teachers. There were twelve 
 members, all young, in the same rank of society, 
 and on terms of intimacy with each other and with 
 their respected pastor, at whose house they met ; 
 
s class also, 
 3ns and an- 
 which will 
 de use of a 
 at ordinance 
 leveral tracts 
 
 •rtimer esta- 
 leetirgs for 
 flock. One 
 ^s, and was 
 [r. Townley, 
 neeting was 
 Fering up a 
 iself or Mr. 
 ome subject 
 ifter which, 
 o make ob- 
 
 life of the 
 rience, or to 
 al subjects ; 
 ! clergymen 
 uce another 
 3 use of one 
 tore prayer, 
 iting. This 
 
 it was not 
 ;hat persons 
 
 established 
 were twelve 
 
 of society, 
 er and with 
 
 they met ; 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 271 
 
 and these circumstances, together with the cheerful 
 easy manner in which it was conducted, combined to 
 render it pleasant, as well as profitable. Each 
 member learnt by heart a short portion of a cate- 
 chetical work on the " Elements of Christian Know- 
 ledge," which they repeated by turns, and afterwards 
 gave verbal answers to questions, previously written 
 out, on miscellaneous subjects connected with religion, 
 such as the evidences of Christianity, the history 
 of the Old Testament, or doctrinal subjects. Ques- 
 tions were prepared by Mr. Mortimer for this purpose, 
 and other questions were copied by the different 
 members from a book of " Questions on the Old and 
 New Testament, and the Book of Common Prayer, 
 by the Rev Edward Thompson." The different 
 subjects thus brought forward, always drew forth 
 many interesting and profitable remarks in connexion 
 with the duties of Sunday-school teachers. At other 
 times, they were addressed as professors of Christian- 
 ity. These meetings were very much liked, and 
 are still looked back upon with feelings of pleasure 
 and grateful recollection by, at least, some of its 
 members. They only lasted one winter, as the 
 summer evenings were not found so convenient for 
 them, and the following winter Mr. Mortimer was 
 unable to resume them, as his whole time was 
 devoted to other ministerial duties. 
 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 At the beginning of the year 1837, Mr. Mortimer 
 opened a " Library for Sunday Reading," It con- 
 tained, at first, about 150 volumes, and, as the 
 books were very much read by all classes of persons, 
 about 100 more were afterwards added to the number, 
 all of which were furnished at his own cost. They 
 were lent gratuitously, and were changed weekly in 
 
 li' 
 
 (: 
 
 m 
 
272 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ' 
 
 the vestry. The different readers were furnished 
 with a printed catalogue of the books, that they 
 might have the opportunity of selecting those that 
 they preferred, as being most suitable to their taste 
 or circumstances. These books were in circulation 
 up to the time of his death. 
 
 About the same time an attempt was made to 
 establish a "Library of Useful Knowledge," at 
 Thomhill, the object of which was to promote 
 useful information to " Farmers, Mechanics, and 
 Artizans," at a cost so trifling as to bring it easily 
 within their reach ; the terms of subscription being 
 five shillings annually, or a penny-a-week for each 
 volume. This endeavour, which was made with the 
 hope of improving the habits and character of a 
 large portion of the population, by furnishing pro- 
 fitable employment for leisure hours usually spent 
 in idleness or frivolous amusements, was mainly 
 seconded by Mr. Mortimer, who made a handsome 
 donation towards it in money, besides about eighteen 
 volumes, most of which, though scientific or literary 
 works, were distinguished for their reUgious tendency. 
 Most of the gentlemen in the neighbourhood also 
 contributed towards this library. It was found, how- 
 ever, for the most part, that there was no taste for 
 this style of reading among the class for whom the 
 libraiy was intended ; only ten or a dozen persons 
 availed themselves of the use of the books, and in 
 rather more than a year appUcations for them ceased 
 to be made. 
 
 EXTRA-PAROCHIAL SERVICES. 
 
 It was while visiting the people in the neighbour- 
 hood of the German Mills, in August, 1841, that 
 their state of spiritual destitution was impressed 
 upon Mr. Mortimer's mind, and he i-nmediately 
 
 '!( 
 
RET. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 273 
 
 e furnished 
 
 that they 
 
 : those that 
 
 3 their taste 
 
 circulation 
 
 Eis made to 
 vledge," at 
 to promote 
 lanics, and 
 ng it easily 
 ption being 
 ek for each 
 de with the 
 racter of a 
 ishing pro- 
 3ually spent 
 nras mainly 
 i. handsome 
 lut eighteen 
 3 or literary 
 IS tendency, 
 irhood also 
 X)und, how- 
 o taste for 
 • whom the 
 en persons 
 •ks, and in 
 tiem ceased 
 
 neighbour- 
 1841, that 
 impressed 
 
 nmediately 
 
 determined upon trying to do something for them. 
 As he had then no Sunday duty to perform, and, at 
 the same time, was partially recovered from his 
 nervous attack, he made up his mind to attempt a 
 Sunday service there himself, and immediately began 
 to inquire if any room could be found for the pur- 
 pose. A farmer, whose house was very conveniently 
 situated, on being applied to, wilUngly consented to 
 secure the use of a room in his own house, without 
 any charge, for the remaining term of his lease, five- 
 and-a-half years ; nor would he at any time accept 
 any remuneration for the expense and trouble which 
 he incurred by the service being held in his house ; 
 and both himself and his wife were ever ready to do 
 all in their power to promote the comfort of their 
 minister, and of those who were engaged in the 
 Sunday school, which was also held in the room 
 used for Divine service. Their generous conduct 
 much pleased Mr. Mortimer, who often said,' that 
 they would never suffer for " sheltering the ark of 
 God,'* but that, on the contrary, he felt sure that as 
 the " Lord blessed the house of Obededom," so He 
 would bless them and their family. The room 
 being then in an unfinished state, Mr. Mortimer 
 agreed to have it prepared for Divine worship at his 
 own expense, the fitting up consisting simply of a 
 desk and benches. On the 5th of the following 
 month, September, the service was performed in this 
 room for the first time. Mr. Mortimer was much 
 surprised, and greatly encouraged by the largeness 
 of the congregation, many being unable to find seats, 
 and standing in the entrance. Before the following 
 Sunday the room was furnished with additional 
 benches, which, altogether, was considered sufficient 
 to seat a hundred persons. On that day also, there 
 was a large congregation, as appears from a memo- 
 randum in Mr. Mortimer's handwriting; ''The 
 room quite filled, and overflowing*" As he himself 
 
 T 
 
274 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 jij 
 
 ;.! 
 
 expected, however, after a time, the novelty wore off, 
 and the congregation decreased, leaving an average 
 of about seventy attendants ; but even this number 
 he thought a large congregation, considering the 
 scattered state of the population. He always felt a 
 peculiar inteicst in this station, which he styled, 
 ** the nursling of his old age." The congregation 
 always appeared grateful for the establishment of 
 the service there, which they evinced by the willing- 
 ness with which they subscribed to the "Church 
 Society,'* when called upon to do so. Though this 
 place is not more than three-and-a-half miles from 
 Thornhill Church, it is believed, that not more than 
 one person during their residence there ever attended 
 the church service, until it was held at the German 
 Mills. The settlement derives its name from the 
 circumstance of the surrounding country having been 
 settled chiefly by Germans many years since ; at 
 which time there were mills close to the house in 
 which the service is now held. These mills have 
 been long since in ruins, having never been repaired, 
 owing, it is said, to some superstition connected with 
 the histoiy of them. There are now scarcely more 
 than two dozen houses within a circuit of halj^a-mile 
 from the ruins of the mills. The other dwellings 
 are scattered on the different surrounding farms. 
 
 On the 10th October, in the same year, a Sunday 
 School was begun in connexion with the Church, 
 which was well attended, having from forty to sixty 
 attendants. At the time the Church service was 
 established at the German Mills, there was no 
 Sunday service there of any description. The Me- 
 thodists had previously attempted to establish 
 prayer and other meetings, but had then no service 
 of any kind : as soon, however, as the Church ser- 
 vice was commenced, Mr. Mortimer was informed 
 that they had again opened a meeting at a house 
 close by, apparently for the sake of opposition, but 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 275 
 
 !lty wore off, 
 ; an average 
 this number 
 sidering the 
 always felt a 
 h he styled, 
 congregation 
 )lishment of 
 ' the willine- 
 le "Church 
 rhough this 
 f miles from 
 ot more than 
 ;ver attended 
 the German 
 ne from the 
 having been 
 rs since ; at 
 :he house in 
 
 mills have 
 een repaired, 
 nnected with 
 carcely more 
 
 hal^a-mile 
 er dwellings 
 g farms, 
 ar, a Sunday 
 the Church, 
 orty to sixty 
 
 service was 
 re was no 
 U The Me- 
 to establish 
 en no service 
 Church ser- 
 r&s informed 
 
 at a house 
 position, but 
 
 of which he took not the slightest notice : it was 
 shortly afterwards given up, though in a little time 
 re-commenced. 
 
 In the same manner, when he was informed that 
 the editor of the Christian Guardian, a Methodist 
 
 {laper, had written against him, he would not even 
 ook at the paper, observing, that " it matters but 
 little what people said of him." He considered it 
 the wisest plan to let opposition die away. By some 
 he was called a Puseyite, by others a low Churchman ; 
 but his own aim was to be " a consistent Church- 
 man." What he considered one breach of consistency 
 is mentioned in his pastoral letter to his parishioners 
 at Thornhill ; viz., attending other places of worship : 
 another was contributing towards the support or 
 encouragement of Dissent, which he invariably de- 
 clined doin r from conscientious motives. 
 
 CHARITY. 
 
 The following memorandum is made in his pocket- 
 book for 1832 :— 
 
 " After I leave England, I purpose giving one- 
 seventh to poor-purse, as my object in devoting one 
 fifth was that I might more extensively employ the 
 poor about my premises, &c. &c. But as there is 
 no want of labour there, so large a proportion will 
 not be needed : at least, it so strikes me at present. 
 Possibly, however, more will be needed for the cause 
 of God." One way in which employment was given 
 to the poor at Mutton was, making a side walk 
 through the village, covered with white spar, which 
 was procured from the neighbouring hills, and was 
 broken very small. His rector, the Rev. Alfred 
 Harford, shared in many of the plans which were 
 adopted for the benefit of the poor in Hutton. 
 
 Mr. Mortimer made a point of never being his 
 own instrument in affording pecuniary assistance to 
 
 T 2 
 
 
 ? 
 
 i 
 
 ■p. 
 
/ 
 
 276 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 
 i 
 
 any of the persons he visited. If he noticed that 
 any persons were in distressed circumstances, or if 
 any told him of their difficulties, he would mention 
 them to Mrs. Mortimer, and she would do what was 
 necessary to relieve them. Indeed, she was in every 
 case his almoner ; for he never himself gave any 
 money in charity. His reason for this was, that the 
 people might have no selfish aim in desiring his 
 visits, which he wished to be purely spiritual. 
 
 As a HUSBAND and a father, Mr. Mortimer was a 
 pattern of conjugal tenderness and of parental kind- 
 ness : there was a remarkable suavity in his manners, 
 which greatly endeared him to his family, and indeed 
 to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. If 
 ever he said or wrote an unkind word, he -w&s the 
 first to discover and acknowledge it, and to make the 
 most ample apology. His humility was so great 
 that it might have been suspected of disingenuous- 
 ness, if those who knew him the most intimately 
 were not well assured of his Christian simplicity and 
 sincerity. His youngest daughter, writing to me, 
 says, in reference to this subject : — " He kindly 
 made me the companion of his drives before he 
 began to visit his people regularly, and he frequently 
 talked to me more as if I were his friend than his 
 daughter ; for he would speak of his religious feel- 
 ings, and even of his faults. He once said that he 
 had no wish to conceal his sins and failings here ; for 
 that they would all be revealed before the assembled 
 multitudes of men and angels at the day of judg- 
 ment. I frequently felt deeply humbled by the 
 thought that I was so unworthy of the feelings my 
 beloved father entertained towards me : but I was 
 fully aware that it was his own disposition to cause 
 him to feel as he did towards me." My amiable 
 young friend and god-daughter also writes, in re- 
 ference to his kindness to servants : — 
 
loticcd that 
 inces, or if 
 lid mention 
 lo ivliat was 
 ras in every 
 f gave any 
 as, that the 
 iesiring his 
 bual. 
 
 timer was a 
 rental kind- 
 lis manners, 
 , and indeed 
 ntance. If 
 he was the 
 bo make the 
 as so great 
 singenuous- 
 
 intimately 
 
 nplicity and 
 
 ing to me. 
 
 He kindly 
 
 before he 
 B frequently 
 id than his 
 ligious feel- 
 »aid that he 
 js here ; for 
 e assembled 
 ay of judg- 
 iled by the 
 feelings my 
 but I was 
 on to cause 
 My amiable 
 ites, in re- 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 277 
 
 *' My dear father was the kindest and most con- 
 siderate of MASTERS. He was always anxious to 
 promote the comfort and happiness of his servants, 
 and very careful not to wound their feelings, or to 
 give them unnecessary trouble or annoyance. He 
 often expressed his pleasure at seeing them seated by 
 the fire at their needlework, or enjoying the society 
 of their relatives and friends, and would tell them 
 that he wished them to be as comfortable as he was 
 himself. Nor was he less mindful of their spiritual 
 welfare, and took pains to instruct them in the great 
 duties of religion." 
 
 For the foregoing particulars, illustrative of mv 
 friend's character as a Christian pastor, and in his 
 domestic relations, with the exception of a part of 
 the article on the character of his preaching, attri- 
 buted in a note, to another friend, I am entirely 
 indebted to his youngest daughter, Miss Phebe 
 Mortimer : nothing is due to myself except for the 
 arrangement of the materials with which I have 
 been so kindly and so well furnished. 
 
 From the foregoing sketch, as well as from the 
 general contents of the volume, Mr. Mortimer's cha- 
 racter is clearly seen, and cannot fail to excite 
 admiration : — let every reader here add a prayer to 
 be enabled to imitate as well as to admire. That my 
 friend was possessed of no peculiarities, or of no 
 defects, I do not affirm ; but they were blended with 
 so much purity of motive, integnty of principle, and 
 correctness of conduct, that his general excellences 
 were visible to all, his peculiarities were known but 
 to few. His extreme carefulness in expenditure, and 
 his — seemingly, at least — over anxioitsness to pre- 
 serve unimpaired, if not to increase, his fortune, led 
 him to the adoption of some measures, which by 
 many of his friends were thought questionable. It 
 is, however, exceedingly difficult to judge another in 
 
 i 
 
( 
 
 278 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 this matter, or, indeed, to set up any precise and 
 universal standard by which to form a judgment in 
 the case. So many among the clergy, it is to be 
 feared, err in the opposite extreme, and so much 
 reproach has been brought upon the Church and the 
 clerical character, by the want of a sufficient pru- 
 dence and economy in secular affairs, to prevent 
 pecuniary embarrassment, that the error of too much 
 care is much to be preferred to that of a want of it, 
 where it is attenaed by such counteracting pro- 
 perties as marked Mr. Mortimer's management of 
 his income. His systematic charity, his cheerful 
 and bountiful liberiuity, and his strict integrity, 
 more than balance any defective peculiarity in his 
 secular matters. 
 
 If I might venture to sum up Mr. Mortimer's 
 character in a few words, I should say that his whole 
 life, from the time of his becoming a decided 
 Christian, was characterized by firm faith, deep 
 humility, great decision, steady consistency, self- 
 denial, holy zeal, and patient perseverance ; and his 
 manners were characterized by urbanity, kindness, 
 and sweetness of address peculiar to himself. As a 
 pastor, as a private Christian, as a relative, and as a 
 friend, he has left an example worthy of imitation. 
 " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord : even 
 so saith the Spirit ; for they rest from their labours, 
 and their works do follow them." 
 
 Mr. Mortimer, just before his death, gave direc- 
 tions to destroy all his papers and writings, and it 
 does not appear that he kept any record of the events 
 of his life, or of his Christian experience : no spe- 
 cimen, therefore, of his regular composition has 
 come into the hands of the writer. The following 
 fragments or remains have been collected from 
 different sources, and show his opinions on the 
 several subjects of them. 
 
precise and 
 udgment in 
 it is to be 
 d so much 
 rch and the 
 ficient pru- 
 to prevent 
 )f too much 
 want of it» 
 acting pro- 
 agement of 
 tiis cheerful 
 integrity, 
 arity in ms 
 
 Mortimer's 
 at his whole 
 a decided 
 faith, deep 
 tency, self- 
 ce ; and his 
 jt kindness, 
 iself. As a 
 ve, and as a 
 »f imitation. 
 Lord : even 
 leir labours, 
 
 gave direc- 
 ngs, and it 
 )f the events 
 » : no spe- 
 Dsition has 
 le following 
 lected from 
 Dns on the 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 ARMINIANISM. 
 
 279 
 
 Tour very Christian remarks and feelings connected 
 with my much honoured and much beloved Wel- 
 lington friend deserve mv sincere thanks. You are 
 quite right : the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
 peace is of infinitely more importance than nice and 
 subtle distinctions upon points of which, after all, we 
 know so exceedingly little. I do not think those 
 two sermons should have been attached to the 
 volumes, whose other contents are generally prac- 
 tical : and I objected at the time, but the opinions 
 of others prevailed. I think with you that the text 
 is unhappily chosen. As to the contents, we shall 
 of course differ : but I can say so much as this, that 
 I attach so little importance to the peculiarities of 
 the system which I adopt, that, for many months 
 past, I have declined in toto entering upon the sub- 
 ject with every one who would dispute with me : 
 and am so moderate in my own statements, that 
 most of my Arminian friends have their fears of my 
 eventually leaving them: — not that any alteration 
 has taken place in my doctrinal views, but simply in 
 the ideas of importance which I used at one time to 
 attach to them. 
 
 ATHANASIAN CREED. 
 
 The Athanasian Creed is not the milk which the 
 Church gives to her babes, but the test to which she 
 brings her heretics. 
 
 CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. 
 
 As to Catholic Emancipation I profess to know and 
 to fear but little. Were I better acquainted with the 
 
 .^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 I. 
 
280 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 effects of the present system, I fancy I should think 
 with such men as Mr. Wilberforce : but not knowing 
 these, having only a very limited survey, I feel quite 
 satisfied to let them think for me. A meeting was 
 lately called at Bridgenorth to petition against the 
 claims. I refused both to attend and to authorize 
 the use of my signature. I am equally satisfied, 
 however, that the bill should be lost : and I should 
 imagine that the strength in the Upper House will 
 always throw it out. 
 
 DR. A. CLARKE S COMMENTARY. 
 
 You ask me my opinion of Dr. Adam Clarke*s Com- 
 mentary. I think that upon the whole it is a great 
 work : and few persons could have produced such a 
 one. But after all, the Dr. is not to be depended on, 
 he is far too venturesome and far too positive — he 
 drives through thick and thin — certain opinions must 
 be maintained, certain characters must be vindicated, 
 and this is done in a manner and spirit which is not 
 quite suited to my taste. I continue, however, to 
 take in the work for the present : but have told one 
 of the Methodist preachers stationed here, that, if he 
 can part with it for me on reasonable terms, I will 
 take from him Benson's Commentary in its stead. 
 
 CLASSES. 
 
 As to classes, I still think that something like church 
 fellowship is the grand desideratum of our Church. 
 The Communion, which was originally intended for 
 lliis, now completely fails. It is almost anything but 
 Ihe communion of saints. Private meetings, too, of a 
 familiar, conversational, or expository kind, do not 
 quite come up to the supposed point. There must 
 
lould think 
 lot knowing 
 I feel quite 
 leeting was 
 against the 
 authorize 
 y satisfied, 
 1 I should 
 House will 
 
 rke*s Com- 
 It is a great 
 ced such a 
 upended on, 
 ositive — he 
 mions must 
 vindicated, 
 hich is not 
 lowever, to 
 'e told one 
 that, if he 
 ms, I will 
 s stead. 
 
 ike church 
 I Church, 
 tended for 
 jrthing hut 
 s, too, of a 
 id, do not 
 tiere must 
 
 REV. GEOROB MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 281 
 
 be some enclosure — some hedge of separation, some- 
 thing which shall admit the apparently sincere in- 
 quirer and exclude the worldly — something, in fact, 
 which shall "gather believers together out of the 
 mass of the ungodly world." 
 
 DISSENT. 
 
 In reference to Dissent, I am, I believe, what Dis- 
 senters consider a high, bigoted, stiff Churchman, 
 but the simple true Churchman is all I wish to be 
 known by. I love my Church right thoroughly, and 
 I love Church unity in the same degree, and have 
 never, for many years past, done anything by counte- 
 nancing, encouraging, aiding, or abetting Dissent, and 
 I hope I never shall ; but I cannot, dare not, un- 
 church Disse? iters, and deny that they are sections of 
 Christ's outward and visible Church, and, of course, 
 I cannot but respect the private characters and con- 
 duct of many individuals among them. 
 
 EPISCOPACY. 
 
 As to Episcopacy, I think with Bishop Hall, that it 
 is necessary for the well or better being of a Church, 
 but not essentially necessary to its very being itself; 
 and as to High Church pnnciples, or Puseyism, or 
 Tractarian notions, I go not a single step. I regard 
 them as quite subversive of the doctrine of Christ ; 
 there is not one single point, by which they are dis- 
 tinguished but, if honestly carried out, must lead to 
 Romanism. Admit, for example, that in ordination 
 there is conveyed through the bishop, of necessity, 
 and independent of the state of mind of the candi- 
 date, any grace or virtue or qualification for the spi- 
 ritually and graciously discharging the duties of the 
 
 1i 
 
 .^ 
 
 t 
 
 ! 
 
 II 
 
 
 I I 
 
282 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 ministerial office, which is not conveyed by Presby- 
 terian or Methodistical ordination, and you arrogate 
 for our Church what neither Scripture on the one 
 hand, nor daily observation on the other, will sub- 
 stantiate. They may authorize and commission those 
 who appear to them already quaUfied, but it is the 
 Divine Spirit alone, which can fit and qualify with all 
 the gifts and graces necessary for a due discharge of 
 their important function. 
 
 FAITH AND WORKS. 
 
 When a man is justified by faith, he is by faith 
 accounted just and righteous before God. 
 
 When a man is justified by works, he is by his 
 works proclaimed or declared to man to be just and 
 righteous. 
 
 To be justified is generally to be considered or re* 
 garded just or righteous. 
 
 FIRST STEP. 
 
 The first step in vital religion is a sense of the pre- 
 sence of God. 
 
 FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 It generally happens when there are little unpleasant- 
 nesses among friends and relations, that they arise 
 from mutual faults, and therefore I cannot but con- 
 clude, that there must have been something either in 
 my observations or manner, which it would have 
 been better to avoid. I am surprised, however, 
 that you should so long have sufiered from such inci- 
 dents: friends, and especially relatives, should be 
 
by Presby- 
 ^ou arrogate 
 
 on the one 
 jr, will sub- 
 nission those 
 )ut it is the 
 lalify with all 
 discharge of 
 
 is by faith 
 
 e is by his 
 be just and 
 
 idered or re- 
 
 of the pre- 
 
 unpleasant- 
 they arise 
 ot but con- 
 ng either in 
 would have 
 i, however, 
 n such inci- 
 > should be 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 283 
 
 like two bowls suffering temporary collision; they 
 should rub and go on, for in this imperfect state we 
 must expect many such *a rub ; we cannot move at 
 equal rates, we cannot keep at equal distances, there 
 will be an infringing every now and then, but still 
 let us go on, go on in love, agree to differ, and expect 
 occasionally to feel ; but why should this feeling be 
 either strong or lasting ? I am glad, however, that 
 you have relieved your mind, and though it has been 
 a little at my expense, yet as the effort has been 
 beneficial to you, I will not attempt in any way to 
 destroy the effect, but will, for the sake of good will 
 and kind feeling, admit anything you have said. 
 And here may such matters rest "never to rise 
 again." 
 
 MILLENNIUM. 
 
 On the Millennial question, I am always backward to 
 speak; for I expect no personal reign: look for 
 nothing very immediate, and then merely suppose a 
 general or universal profession of Christianity through- 
 out the world, and deeper work in the hearts of be- 
 lievers. As to the time of previous trial, I dare 
 hazard but little — ^in sober truth, I do not suffer 
 myself to be puzzled, or even much occupied with 
 Mw/M^/Zec? prophecy ; with this we have graciously 
 little to do ; it is purposely so revealed that it cauf 
 not be previously known, that it may not seem, when 
 accomplished, to have been through its prediction 
 fulfilled. 
 
 SIR ISAAC NEWTON. 
 
 (From the Rev. T. Grinfield.) 
 
 Mr. Mortimer had a fine mind for mathematical 
 Studies, and took a high degree in the Senate House 
 
 'H 
 
 i 
 
 i: 
 
 fl 
 
 P 
 
 \h 
 
284 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OP THE 
 
 Examination of 1811. I have often questioned him 
 on topics connected with those studies ; — and well 
 remember asking him, on one occasion, what he sup- 
 posed might be the reason why Newton, with so vast 
 a mind for mathematical science, and after such un- 
 precedented success, should have deserted all further 
 investigations of that kind during the latter thirty 
 years of his studious life. "With his characteristic 
 sagacity, he promptly assigned a reason which has 
 not (that I know) been remarked by Sir D. Brewster, 
 or the other biographers of Newton, and which, 
 while it exempts him from the unjust imputation of an 
 enfeebled mind, does just honour to his piety, and 
 may probably be the real, deep, and admonitory 
 reason : "Ah, sir, we must remember that, great as he 
 was in intellect, after all Newton was but a man, who 
 had the same wants and cravings of the heart with 
 ourselves. Having achieved his great discoveries, he 
 began to feel within himself, this also is vanity : 
 he could not find, in his mathematical demonstra- 
 tions, rest for his soul — satisfaction for his heart, 
 he therefore turned his attention from science to the 
 Scriptures." I thought the explanation at once origi- 
 nal and just, and, as it refers to '* Magnum ilium, 
 Newtonum, qui genus humanum ingenio superavit," * 
 singularly interesting and impressive : — a fragment, 
 among many reminiscences, that I would fJEiin preserve 
 from being lost. 
 
 Dii 
 
 th8 
 
 BISHOP OP PETERBOROUGH S EIGHTY-SEVEN QUESTIONS. 
 
 The Bishop of Peterborough, in my opinion, richly 
 deserves all he has met with ; and I do hope that 
 since many, perhaps a majority of our bishops, read 
 
 * From the incription by Dr. Bentley, on the pedestal of the 
 sublime statue by Roubiliac, in the Chapel of Trin. College, 
 Cambridge. 
 
"HE 
 
 questioned him 
 lies;— and well 
 »f what he sup- 
 3N, with so vast 
 after such un- 
 ted all further 
 »e latter thirty 
 ' characteristic 
 son which has 
 ir D. Brewster, 
 N, and which, 
 iputation of an 
 lis piety, and 
 d admonitory 
 at, great as he 
 it a man, who 
 e heart with 
 iscoveries, he 
 fo is vanity: 
 } demonstra- 
 or his heart, 
 icience to the 
 at once origi- 
 
 ?num ilium, 
 superavit,*' * 
 -a fragment, 
 ■am preserve 
 
 QUESTIONS. 
 
 ion, richly 
 hope that 
 ^ops, read 
 
 destalofthe 
 in. College, 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 285 
 
 the Christian Observer the rough handling he has 
 experienced will operate beneficially on the bench 
 at large. From my heart I hate and detest all inqui- 
 sitorial measures. Perhaps, however, the Evangelical 
 body need some fan or other to purge the floor ; and 
 though a great stir has lately been made about op- 
 pression &c., I am not without hope that it will do 
 us considerable good. 
 
 SUBJECTS FOR PRAYER, 
 
 I. That we may habitually realize a sense of the 
 Divine presence. 
 
 II. That we may live in the will of God, and feel 
 that it is precious to us. 
 
 III. That we may ht grateful Christians — trace 
 our mercies — and thankfully adore the good Lord for 
 sending them. 
 
 IV. That we may be helped against the soul- 
 ruining, and God-dishonouring sin of unbelief, 
 " Lord, increase our faith." 
 
 V. That our confidence may be strengthened as 
 connected with prayer in general, and especially in 
 these private addresses. 
 
 VI. That we may discover in all our enjoyments, 
 social intercourse, &c. &c. true sobriety of mind, 
 and guard against every approach to a light and 
 frivolous spirit, 
 
 VII. That we may manifest a spirit of faithful 
 admonition and reproof, combined with tenderness. 
 
 VIII. For earnestness in the cause of God. 
 
 IX. For those gifts and graces implied in the 
 outpouring of God's Spirit. 
 
 X. For a discovery of the love of Jesus, and a 
 greater knowledge of him in all his saving benefits 
 — wisdom, righteousness, and strength. 
 
 XI. For growth in grace in general, and in its 
 
 k 
 
 \\ 
 
 ■•t 
 
285 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 evidences. 1st. Increased love to the Saviour. 
 2nd. Increased hatred to sin ; and 3d. Increasingly 
 lowly views of ourselves. 
 
 SACRAMENTAL GRACE. 
 
 of 
 
 i;l 
 
 With regard to sacramental grace, I do not conceive 
 that an episcopally ordained minister has any in- 
 herent grace deposited in him, which imparts a 
 greater efficacy, when a sacrament is administered 
 by him, above what may be received by graciously 
 prepared recipients, who may have it administered 
 by others not episcopally ordained. The good im- 
 parted is immediately and directly from the Divine 
 Spirit, just as the power of seeing came immediately 
 and directly from Christ, and not through the clay 
 with which the eyes of the blind man were anointed : 
 no inherent or even transferred power with which 
 the clay had become endowed, but a simple transac- 
 tion between Christ and the believing applicant. 
 The outward and visible signs are of great import- 
 ance, but most lamentable is it when they are 
 invested with that power which belongs to God 
 alone. The connexion between these views and 
 Romanism is easily apparent. Salvation is no longer 
 of faith, but of works: — use forms, ceremonies, 
 penances, sacraments, prayers, recitations, liturgical 
 services, and all is done : grace is conveyed, and 
 that, too, in proportion to the number and frequency 
 of the performances ; and the state of the heart &il 
 the while disregarded — the vast surplusage of merit 
 will be obtained, or extreme unction adjust all. 
 
he Saviour. 
 Increasingly 
 
 not conceive 
 has any in- 
 L imparts a 
 idministered 
 J graciously 
 idministered 
 le good im- 
 the Divine 
 immediately 
 igh the clay 
 'e anointed : 
 nrith which 
 pie transac- 
 
 applicant. 
 ^at import- 
 
 they are 
 
 I to God 
 views and 
 s no longer 
 jeremonies, 
 
 liturgical 
 ^e^ed, and 
 
 frequency 
 le heart aU 
 ;e of merit 
 :all. 
 
 REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 THE SACRAMENTS.^ 
 
 28: 
 
 1. What are the Sacraments ?f 
 
 " They are outward and visible signs and pledges 
 of inward and spiritual grace." — Ch, Cat. 
 
 2. How many are the Christian Sacraments ? 
 "There are (only) two Sacraments ordained by 
 
 Christ our Lord in the Gospel: that is to say, 
 Baptism and the Supper of the Lord." — 25M Art. 
 Ch, of England.X 
 
 3. What are the design and use of Sacraments? 
 The principal design is to convey "spiritual 
 
 grace" to the soul : and their chief use consists in 
 their being suitable " means" for the purpose. 
 
 4. What is the nature of the Christian Sacra- 
 ments ? 
 
 "Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only 
 badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but 
 rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual 
 signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by 
 the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not 
 only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our 
 faith in Him." — 25th Art. Ch. of England. 
 
 5. What do you understand by " spiritual grace," 
 which you say it is the design of the Sacraments to 
 convey to the soul ? 
 
 The term grace has many significations in Scrip- 
 
 * Drawn up for the use of the candidates for confirmation. 
 
 t The word Sacrament is not found in Sacred Scripture ; 
 but it signifies an oath: and the Christian ordinances of 
 Baptism and the Lord's Supper were very early designated by 
 this term, by some of the fatiiers ; because the dedication of 
 ourselves to God in these ordinances is as binding and 
 obligatory as a solemn oath. In the Roman style, it signifies 
 a most solemn and inviolable engagement. 
 
 % Baptism under the Christian dispensation corresponds 
 with, and was instituted in place of, Circumcision, under the 
 Jewish dispensation : and the Lord's Supper corresponds 
 with the Passover. 
 
 !\ 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 a 
 
288 
 
 LIFB AND LKTTBRS OF THE 
 
 HI i 
 
 ture : but most commonly it either means good-will, 
 or favour (Romans xi. 6 ; 2 Tim. i. 9 ; Rom. v. 20) ; 
 or it signifies the internal operation of the Holy 
 Spirit upon the soul, regenerating, purifying, iaud 
 sanctifying our nature : and the Sacraments, when 
 duly regarded, are signs and pledges of the one, and 
 effectual means of conveying the other. 
 
 6. How, then, are the Sacraments to be regarded } 
 Simply as means of grace, and not as necessarily 
 
 conveying any internal benefit to the soul : for no 
 such benefit is, or can be, derived from them, unless 
 the mind be previously prepared to partake of them 
 as God has willed and commanded. 
 
 7. What proofs can you adduce that the internal 
 benefits of Sacraments are not absolute, and inde- 
 pendent of the previous state of the mind ? 
 
 First, because we have no warrant either in Scrip- 
 ture, or in the reason of things, to think so ; and, 
 secondly, because, if they were so, no one could eat 
 and drink in the Lord's Supper to their own con- 
 demnation, which St. Paul affirms is the case with 
 those who eat and drink unworthily. (1. Cor. xi. 
 29. Acts viii. 13, 20—23.) 
 
 8. But though this is the case in the Lord's Sup- 
 per, are not the benefits of Baptism absolute and 
 unconditional ? 
 
 No : repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ 
 are indispensably necessary in all cases previously to 
 any saving benefits being derived from the use of 
 this sacrament. Repentance and faith, however, 
 though previously necessary, are in nowise the me- 
 ritorious and procuring cause of these benefits ; they 
 form only a preparatory and necessary meetness for 
 a due reception of them. 
 
 9. But are not infants, although incapable of 
 either repentance or faith, invariably regenerated, 
 renewed, and sanctified in and by this sacrament ? 
 
 All that are baptized are said to be regenerated. 
 
REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 289 
 
 ns good-will, 
 -om. V. 20) ; 
 )/" the Holy 
 rifying, Rnd 
 lents, when 
 the one, and 
 
 )e regarded ? 
 J necessarily 
 oul : for no 
 hem, unless 
 ake of them 
 
 the internal 
 ), and inde- 
 d? 
 
 ler in Scrip- 
 nk so ; and, 
 ne could eat 
 ir own con- 
 e case with 
 (1. Cor. xi. 
 
 Lord's Sup- 
 bsolute and 
 
 Fesus Christ 
 reviously to 
 the use of 
 , however, 
 ise the me- 
 lefits; they 
 leetness for 
 
 capable of 
 ^generated, 
 rament ? 
 ?generated. 
 
 because the outward ordinance is a sign or emblem 
 of "spiritual regeneration." And nothing is more 
 common, both in Scripture and in ancient writings, 
 than the use of a term which only denotes the sign 
 for the thing signified. And in the judgment of 
 Christian charity, in all cases when this sacrament 
 is rightly received, and the after conduct corresponds 
 with the professions therein made, we may conclude 
 that they partake, as of the sign, so also of the thing 
 signified. 
 
 10. What do you understand by the sacrament 
 being " rightly received '* ? 
 
 The sacrament is rightly received in infant baptism, 
 when the parents and sponsors have just scriptural 
 views of its nature and design, and present children 
 to be baptized in obedience to the authority of God ; 
 simply, humbly, and sincerely depending upon his 
 unmerited grace and favour in Christ Jesus; and 
 are truly desirous that the child so presented by 
 them, may become " the faithful soldier and servant 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ ;" and when the sponsors 
 themselves exercise repentance, whereby "they forsake 
 sin, and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the 
 promises of God made to them in that sacrament." 
 In all such cases we have "a presumptive certainty" 
 that spiritual regeneration commences in the ordi- 
 nance ; for then it is " rightly received.** 
 
 1 1 . What is the best after proof of this ? 
 
 The best after proof which children can give of 
 this is, the fulfilment of those promises and engage- 
 ments made for them by their sponsors in their 
 baptism. 
 
 12. And what were the promises and engage- 
 ments ? 
 
 "That they should renounce the devil and all 
 his works, the pomps and vanity of this wicked 
 world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh ; that 
 they should believe all the articles of the Christian 
 
 u 
 
 ^;!i 
 
ill 
 
 290 
 
 LIFE AND LETTERS OF THE 
 
 faith ; and that they should keep God's holy will 
 and commandments., and walk in the same all the 
 days of their life." — Ch. Cat. 
 
 13. But how do you show that children in after 
 life are bound to fulfil those engagements made for 
 them by others, at this unconscious period of their 
 infancy ? 
 
 They are bound to do so by the obligation which 
 they themselves owe to God, inasmuch as their 
 parents or spiritual guardians entered into such 
 engagements only, on their behalf, as each individual 
 is bound to fulfil, whether such engagements had or 
 had not been entered into by others. 
 
 TEMPERANCE. 
 
 PuPLic opinion is, through God's mercy, effecting 
 much among us. Much bitterness, indeed, still 
 exists in some, as well as most determined opposi- 
 tion. But the work is of God, and I feel a blessed 
 assurance that much good will eventually be done. 
 I am beginning to perceive with much thankfulness 
 that the Temperance Society is an important engine 
 in aid of all my ministerial plans — a kind of stepping 
 stone to the church and to piety ; and I am careful 
 to watch all its movements, and to follow up every 
 indication for good. 
 
 The following letter, addressed to the Rev. John 
 Cooper, it is presumed may not unsuitably close the 
 preceding Memoir. The writer, who so affectionately 
 expresses his deep obUgations to the late Mr. Mor- 
 timer, has been for many years the faithful minister 
 
UEV. OEOROE MORTIMER, M.A. 
 
 2!)1 
 
 s holv will 
 me all the 
 
 en in after 
 ts made for 
 od of their 
 
 ition which 
 h as their 
 into such 
 1 individual 
 ents had or 
 
 y, effecting 
 adeed, still 
 led opposi- 
 el a blessed 
 [y be done, 
 lankfulness 
 'tant engine 
 of stepping 
 am careful 
 w up every 
 
 Rev. John 
 ly close the 
 fectionately 
 Mr. Mor- 
 'ul minister 
 
 of a large parish in Shropshire, very near tho scene 
 of Mr. M.'s former labours in that countv. 
 
 W Vicarage, June 18, IH4 J. 
 
 My dear Friend, 
 I FEEL sincerely and deeply obliged to you for tlu' 
 kindness you have shown in sending me the interesting 
 extracts you have made from Miss Mortimer's letter, 
 relative to her beloved father. There are few, if any, 
 to whom I am so deeply indebted as I am to that 
 dear and valued friend. At an early period of my 
 life he noticed me with a kindness and humility 
 which I can never forget. These were, indeed, traits 
 constantly exhibited in his Christian character, but 
 they were the more affecting and attractive as appear- 
 ing in a man of such abiUty and accompUshments. 
 Whatever I know of Christian truth and experience 
 I owe in a high degree to the daily conversations 
 which I was permitted to enjoy for many months in 
 three or four successive years, with him, and to the 
 sermons and expositions which I heard from him at 
 that time, every Sabbath and every week. 
 
 After I left Madeley I saw less of him, though 
 our intercourse was renewed, in some measure, when 
 he came to Bristol, and, in the end, he succeeded me 
 in my old curacy at Hutton, on my presentation to 
 the living which I now hold. * * * Not many 
 letters ever passed between us ; but / have never 
 ceased to remember him with admiration, ffratitude, 
 and love. Indeed, take him altogether, and 1 have 
 never seen his equal. 
 
 With my very kind regards to yourself and family, 
 I remain, my dear Sir, 
 
 Very sincerely vours, 
 
 * ' G. L. Y. 
 
 >it 
 
 u 2 
 
THE WATCHFUL SERVANT 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 PREACHED AT THORNIIILL CHURCH, JUNE 19, I8it, 
 
 OCCA.SIOKKD BY THE UEATH OF 
 
 THE REV. GEORGE MORTIMER, M.\., 
 
 Rector of that Township. 
 
 BY THE REV. F. L. OSLER. 
 
 '! 
 
Bl 
 
 On 
 
 oco 
 
 req 
 
 to 
 
 coi 
 
 era 
 
 br( 
 
 del 
 
 an 
 
 to 
 
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 va 
 
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 ei 
 
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 f{ 
 
 fi 
 o 
 
A SERMON. 
 
 LUKE XII. 37. 
 
 BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS WHOM THE LORD, WHEN 
 HE COMETH, SHALL FIND WATCHING." 
 
 On receiving an invitation to officiate on the mournful 
 occasion which calls us together, accompanied with a 
 request that I would also preach a sermon suitable 
 to the afflicting circumstance, the oft-repeated en- 
 couragement of my dear departed friend, eagerly to 
 embrace every opportunity of setting forth Christ, wai» 
 brought home to my mind, and a voice from the 
 dead seemed to say. Stand in my accustomed place, 
 and for me tell to my bereaved family and friends, 
 to the people of my charge and of my many prayers, 
 that the Gospel which they have so often heard 
 proclaimed by the lips now cold in death, is not a 
 vague uncertainty, but the power of God unto salva- 
 tion ; and while they weep for one whose most earnest 
 endeavours were to promote their welfare, that they 
 should not sorrow as those without hope, but seek 
 earnestly to become imitators of those who through 
 faith and patience inherit the promises. 
 
 So suddenly was he whose loss we mourn taken 
 from the midst of us, that the necessity and duty 
 of watchfulness naturally presents itself to the mind ; 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 mmdi 
 
296 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 such is the injunction impHed in the words of my 
 text — to that and the blessing promised let us first 
 direct our attention. 
 
 Under the figure of a householder, or master, and 
 his servants, Christ represents Himself, and those 
 who profess to be His disciples ; for it is evident that 
 the words are addressed to such, and not to the 
 godless and profane. And as Christ's watching 
 servants are also to be working servants, fidelity, 
 diligence, and perseverance the Lord requires to 
 find in them, when he comes to call them to their 
 account. 
 
 " It is required in stewards that a man be found 
 faithful," saith St. Paul. No other qualification can 
 compensate for the want of this, and the higher the 
 trust reposed, the greater is the fidelity required. 
 How solemn, then, and awful, is the position of the 
 minister of Christ ! he has not only to watch for his 
 own soul, and take care lest his very duties, by their 
 frequent performance, become the means of imper- 
 ceptibly leading him to trust in them, and think 
 that because he is made useful to others> it must, 
 therefore, be well with himself, but also to watch 
 for the souls of others. As Christ's ambassador, 
 there is committed unto him the ministry of re- 
 conciliation, to entreat sinners in Christ's stead to 
 be reconciled to God ; and should any perish through 
 his wilful neglect, either to warn or to give instruc- 
 tion, against the unfaithful minister is denounced 
 the fearful sentence, " his blood will T require at thy 
 hand." 
 
 Deeply did our beloved friend feel this ; his daily 
 prayer and study was to make full proof of his 
 ministry, and seek by every means to win souls to 
 Christ. His manner of life from the time of his 
 first coming among you, up to the hour of his death, 
 is known to most present. In his family the kind 
 husband, parent, and master, anxious for the comfort 
 
SERMON. 
 
 297 
 
 ords of my 
 let us first 
 
 master, and 
 and those 
 vident that 
 not to the 
 3 watching 
 s, fidelity, 
 'equires to 
 m to their 
 
 I be fi)und 
 ieation can 
 higher the 
 ' required. 
 ;ion of the 
 tch for his 
 s, by their 
 
 of imper- 
 and think 
 , it must, 
 
 to watch 
 fibassador, 
 ;ry of re- 
 » stead to 
 ti through 
 '^e instruc- 
 lenounced 
 lire at thy 
 
 his daily 
 )f of his 
 
 souls to 
 le of his 
 his death, 
 the kind 
 e comfort 
 
 and welfare of all, yet most anxious that each who 
 dwelt beneath his roof, might love that Saviour who 
 was so precious to his own soul. Owing to the 
 delicate state of his health, and what he suffered from 
 even a little unusual excitement, he was, perhaps, 
 seen less in his family than most clergymen ; but 
 those friends with whom he felt that he could act 
 freely, and leave when he found himself no longer 
 equal to conversation, will doubtless bear me witness, 
 that as the head of a family few excelled him, and 
 that it was a happy privilege to join with him at the 
 family altar^in prayer and praise. 
 
 In the temporal property which God had given 
 him, we find the same earnest care that God might 
 be glorified thereby. His liberality is well known, 
 and the principle on which he acted, he believed to 
 be in accordance to God's revealed word. At first, 
 a tenth of his property was set apart, and after a 
 little while, not feeling satisfied with that portion, 
 one seventh of his income, as he received it, was 
 regularly set apart, and most carefully used, as might 
 best promote the glory of God, and the good of his 
 fellow-creatures. All he possessed he considered as 
 a talent given by God with the injunction, " Occupy 
 till I come," and as a good steward he laboured 
 faithfully to improve the talent committed to his 
 trust. 
 
 But the fulfilment of his ministerial duties was 
 that which engaged his most earnest attention. 
 
 He would not offer to the Lord that which cost 
 him nothing, and whether his sermons were what 
 is commonly termed extempore, or written, they 
 were composed with much care, and after much 
 prayer. His anxiety was to win souls to Christ, and 
 to give to each his portion of meat in due season ; 
 he was careful, almost to a fault, that the subject on 
 which he was treating should be rightly divided. 
 
 ,f- 
 
 : 
 
298 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 But his greatest delight* appeared to be in visiting 
 his people from house to house, warning the wicked 
 of the danger of his ways, encouraging the weak, 
 comforting the feeble minded, but more especially 
 delighting to dwell upon that theme so dear to his 
 own soul, the love of Christ. As a father with his 
 children, they were all upon his heart, and few days 
 were suffered to elapse in which he did not visit some 
 famiUes, and his visits were literally ministerial ones, 
 as many present can testify, and who will do well to 
 treasure carefully the instructions they have received, 
 and pray earnestly that they may be profitable to 
 their souls. Judging by the test which Christ him- 
 self hath given us, " By their fruits ye shall know 
 them," will it not be the testimony of all who knew 
 our dear departed brother, that he was in the highest 
 sense of the term a faithful minister of God ? and 
 doubtless he has heard from that Master whom he 
 loved and served, " Well done, good and faithful 
 servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 And he was not only faithful but diligent. It is 
 well known that the strength of our friend was small, 
 and that he was afflicted with a nervous affection, the 
 natural tendency of which is to prostrate the energies 
 both of mind and body. He felt this and struggled 
 against it, and frequently would return to his house 
 completely exhausted. With him there was no 
 ** spare thyself;" whatsoever his hand found to do, 
 he did it with all his might, and as a good servant, 
 his aim and endeavour were to make the most of 
 that strength which was given him. 
 
 Patience and perseverance also are necessary 
 
 * After stating that it was Mr. Mortimer's deligh to visit 
 his people, Mrs. M. informed me that his nervousness was so 
 great, that pastoral visiting was a duty he rather dreaded 
 than delighted in. How faithfully then must that duty have 
 been performed when thus imagined to be his delight! — 
 Note by the Author. 
 
SERMON. 
 
 299 
 
 in visiting 
 
 he wicked 
 the weak, 
 
 especially 
 ear to his 
 r with his 
 I few days 
 visit some 
 erial ones, 
 lo well to 
 
 received. 
 Datable to 
 hrist him- 
 hall know 
 who knew 
 he highest 
 jrod? and 
 
 whom he 
 d faithful 
 i." 
 
 ;nt. It is 
 was small, 
 Jction, the 
 le energies 
 struggled 
 his house 
 
 was no 
 nd to do, 
 3 servant, 
 e most of 
 
 necessary 
 
 gh to visit 
 less was so 
 er dreaded 
 t duty have 
 delight !— 
 
 qualifications for the Christian minister. " Ye have 
 tience. 
 
 pati 
 
 saith the Apostle St. Paul, " that 
 
 after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive 
 the promise." " Add therefore," saith St. Peter, " to 
 your faith, virtue ; and to virtue, knowledge ; and to 
 knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, j»a^«>nce." 
 "In your patience," saith Christ, "possess j^e your 
 souls." And because his difficulties are great, and 
 the enemies with which he has to contend, numerous 
 and powerful, he must put on the whole armour of 
 God, in order to withstand the evil day, and having 
 done all to stand. He must not only pray, but pray 
 with all prayer and supplication in the spirit ; he 
 must not only watch, but watch with all perseverance. 
 May it not, alas ! be said of some, that they began 
 well, but lacked patience to run the race that was 
 set before them; as St. Paul complains of the 
 Galatians (chap. v. "), Ye did run well, and yet 
 afterwards they made shipwreck of faith. The 
 young Christian, when he feels himself as a brand 
 plucked out of the burning, and experiences the love 
 of Christ in his soul, constraining him to devote all 
 his powers to the service of that God who called him 
 out of darkness into marvellous light, like Peter, is 
 ready to combat a host of men in his Master's defence, 
 wonders at his former blindness, and almost thinks 
 it strange, that any should neglect the service of so 
 good a Master. And in like manner the young 
 minister, when first appointed to his charge, and 
 opening his commission as one of God's ambassadors, 
 like the untried soldier, thinks of great things to be 
 achieved, and the difficulties seem light ; but by 
 degrees both find that the course cannot be run with- 
 out many a struggle, nor the victory won without 
 many a battle. And the minister of Christ more 
 than any other, will be assaulted by the great adver- 
 sary of souls with temptations exactly suited to his 
 circumstances and disposition, and all tending to one 
 
I> ' 
 
 300 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 point, the making Christ, and Christ crucified, if I 
 may so state it, a secondary object in his ministra- 
 tions, first in name, second m reality, giving to other 
 duties and doctrines, valuable in themselves and in 
 their proper place, that pre-eminence which belongs 
 to Christ alone. Alas ! my brethren, do we not see 
 too much of this in the present day ? Bread is asked 
 for, and a stone is given by some who once preached 
 " Christ in everything, and everything in Christ.'* 
 But we can thankfully bear testimony to the per- 
 severance of our dear departed brother in the right 
 way ; from the day of his admission into the sacred 
 office of the ministry up to the hour of his removal 
 from us, he looked unto Jesus, as the author and 
 finisher of his faith, set Him always before him, and 
 with deep humility sought to follow in his steps. 
 
 He was ordained in the year 1811, and for many 
 years officiated in the parish of Madeley, England, 
 and the testimony of those who knew him there is, 
 that he was systematic in all his plans, which were 
 laid after much consideration and prayer, and then 
 as earnestly carried out. For eleven years and a half 
 he was your minister, part of which time he was 
 unable to perform any active duties from weakness, 
 and a violent nervous affection which seized him 
 when *he Bishop of Toronto visited this place, to 
 conLcornte the church and confirm the young. It 
 was to him a severe trial to be laid aside, as he used 
 to express himself, as of no more use, and yet with 
 cheerful humility he would often observe, "The 
 Lord's work can go on without me," or words to 
 that effect. But contrary to his own expectation 
 and that of his friends, he was again restored to com- 
 parative health and strength, and oh, how eagerly 
 did he resume his duties directly he felt himself 
 equal to them, and his gratitude to God was great 
 for enabling him again to set forth Christ ! 
 
 Joined to fidelity, diligence, and perseverance, was 
 
SERMON. 
 
 301 
 
 Jified, if I 
 i ministra- 
 g to other 
 es and in 
 b belongs 
 ve not see 
 id is asked 
 preached 
 Christ." 
 the per- 
 the right 
 he sacred 
 s removal 
 [ithor and 
 him, and 
 iteps. 
 for many 
 England, 
 I there is, 
 hich were 
 and then 
 ind a half 
 e he was 
 weakness, 
 ized him 
 place, to 
 )ung. It 
 ) he used 
 I yet with 
 B, "The 
 words to 
 pectation 
 d to com- 
 V eagerly 
 himself 
 v&s great 
 
 mce, was 
 
 continual watchfulness. He waited for the Lord's 
 coming, he watched unto prayer, as one who was to 
 give an account. The exhortation of the prophet 
 Ezekiel (iii. 17), "Son of man, I have made thee a 
 watchman unto the house of Israel," was deeply im- 
 pressed upon his mind, and every means in his 
 power he used to win souls to Christ. He watched 
 over the young of his flock with a father's love and 
 a father's anxiety, and many present can testify to 
 the affectionate kindness with which he received them 
 in little parties to explain and enforce the precepts 
 of the Gospel. In visiting his people he was watch- 
 ful to speak a word in season, making it, I believe, 
 a rule never, or very rarely, to leave a house or family 
 without speaking of the one thing needful. Ever 
 remembering that the vows of God were upon him, 
 he was studiously careful that even in manner he 
 might act as became a minister of God, whilst at the 
 same time few were more cheerful than himself. His 
 pulpit preparations were also subjects of much 
 anxious watchfulness and prayer : he studied what he 
 conceived to be his people's wants, and in love endea- 
 voured to declare to them the whole counsel of God. 
 
 And whilst watchful over those committed to his 
 charge he was not unmindful of that solemn hour 
 which has come upon him. For some time previous 
 to his death, he seemed to have the subject con- 
 tinually present to his mind, and would frequently 
 observe to the servant who drove him, on returning 
 from his accustomed rides, " Once more the Lord 
 has brought us home in safety ;" and particularly 
 during the last week his conversation at every house 
 he visited, was on death, and the necessity of a con- 
 stant state of preparation for it, warning the careless, 
 and entreating the almost Christian to come out from 
 an ungodly world, and so to live as to be accounted 
 worthy to stand before the Son of Man, when he 
 shall come to judge the world in righteousness. 
 
302 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 A few days since he observed to his servant, " I 
 shall not be long here," and mentioned with satisfac- 
 tion that the house was his private property, and 
 that Mrs. Mortimer would not have to leave it, as 
 she must have done had it been a parsonage. These 
 remarks were made when his bodily health appeared 
 to be improving, and, humanly speaking, there was 
 every probability of his being spared many years ; 
 and it is satisfactory to dwell on these minute par- 
 ticulars now, as they give us the most certain evi- 
 dence that the sudden call to render up the account 
 of his stewardship found him ready and watchful for 
 the summons. 
 
 Our beloved friend was found watching, and the 
 blessing promised is his portion ; he received the 
 earnest of it in this world, he doubtless enjoys it 
 more fully now. 
 
 He was blessed in the enjoyment, in no small 
 degree, of the confidence and affection of his people ; 
 he was looked up to as a father and a friend, and the 
 outward demonstrations of respect and sorrow which 
 appear on every side this day prove that the loss is 
 felt to be no common one, and many are ready to 
 exclaim, "My father! my father! the chariot of 
 Israel and the horsemen thereof." 
 
 He was blessed in being permitted to see that his 
 labours were not in vain in the Lord. Whilst we 
 would by no means lay down ministerial success as 
 the certain token of God's favour, or the want of it 
 a mark of his displeasure — for sometimes the most 
 faithful devoted ministers are only permitted to sow 
 the seed, while others reap the harvest, in order 
 practically to prove to us that it is not by human 
 might or power, but by the Spirit of God alone, that 
 souls can be converted to Him ; that a Paul may 
 plant, and Apollos water, but it is God alone who 
 giveth the increase — yet it is a blessing, and a great 
 and precious one, to be permitted to see the work of 
 
SERMON. 
 
 303 
 
 rvaut, "I 
 h sntisfac- 
 )erty, and 
 eave it, as 
 ;e. These 
 I appeared 
 there was 
 ny years ; 
 inute par- 
 'rtaiii evi- 
 le account 
 itchful for 
 
 and the 
 leived the 
 enjoys it 
 
 no small 
 is people ; 
 d, and the 
 •ow which 
 the loss is 
 I ready to 
 ;hariot of 
 
 3 that his 
 >Vhilst we 
 uccess as 
 vant of it 
 the most 
 id to sow 
 in order 
 ►y human 
 lone, that 
 'aul may 
 done who 
 d a great 
 B work of 
 
 the Lord prospering in our hands. Little, perhaps, 
 do some present think of the anxious hopes and 
 fears which fill the minister's heart while preparing 
 for his public ministrations, or striving to bring 
 before his people the whole counsel of God. How 
 often in the bitterness of disappointed hope he is 
 ready to exclaim, " Who hath believed our report ?" 
 But when he marks the earnest attention paid to his 
 ministrations, the vanities of the world forsaken by 
 some, who boldly, and yet with humility declare. 
 Whatever be the conduct of others, " as for me and 
 my house we will serve the Lord ;" great is his en- 
 couragement, and he goeth on his way rejoicing. 
 This blessing was vouchsafed to our dear departed 
 friend, and he was also permitted to see that his 
 ministrations were so highly valued that the church 
 in which we are now assembled required twice to 
 be enlarged to accommodate the increasing congre- 
 gation. 
 
 . There is something painful in the thought that 
 so good a man should be thus suddenly, and in 
 such a manner, taken from the midst of us. We 
 should have chosen for him a long and peaceful old 
 age, and when, at length, he must depart this life, 
 like corn fully ripe, the Master whom he loved and 
 served would come and gently receive him to himself. 
 But his death and the manner of it was appointed 
 by One wiser than man, and who loved him better 
 than his dearest earthly friends. Even in his sudden 
 death, there was a blessing and an answer to many 
 prayers. From the state of his bodily health, and 
 what he had previously suffered, he used to dread 
 the pains of dying, and earnestly prayed that he 
 might either be spared these pains, or be strength- 
 ened under them. And God gave him more than 
 he asked ; for nearly two years past this di oad was 
 taken away, and the bodily pain he suffered after 
 the accident, was, I have been informed, not equal 
 
 ') .j 
 
 i ! 
 
 ) ,: 
 
 iH 
 
304 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 to the uneasy sensations experienced at fainting. At 
 first, he did not consider that he had received a 
 fatal injury, and on heing taken up, exclaimed, " He 
 keepetjj aft my bones, not one of them is broken." 
 
 His kind friend and physician Dr. Paget, hastened 
 to his assistance, and brought him gently home. 
 The family, naturally much alarmed, eagerly met 
 him as he was being carried into the house, anxious 
 to ascertain the extent of the injury ; he strove to 
 calm their fears by telling them, what he then really 
 thought, that he was not seriously hurt. But when 
 laid upon his bed, and he found, as he expressed it, 
 that it would be instant death for him to lie in any 
 but the one position, then he felt that he should 
 never rise again, and was thankful for being brought 
 home to his own comfortable bed. He then spoke 
 with much feeling of the kindness and gentleness 
 of the persons who took him up immediately after 
 the accident, repeating, "Kind— kind," and expressed 
 himself as quite resigned to the will of God, not 
 anxious to live, and ready to die. He alluded briefly 
 to his temporal affairs, and when he felt his end 
 approaching, desired that those who were not present 
 might be called, when he addressed a few words sepa- 
 rately to each, ending with " God bless you.'* It was 
 evidently an effort for him to speak much, and his 
 memory appeared to be in some degree affected, as 
 he mentioned none of the family who were absent, 
 and only addressed those present as they stood 
 directly before him. Having spoken to his family, 
 he then prayed for his people ; they had always been 
 Tery dear to him, and often had his prayers ascended 
 before the throne of grace on their behalf, and now, 
 ere the spirit took its flight, whilst yet he might 
 plead for a blessing to descend upon them, he lifted 
 up his heart vrith the words, " God bless my poor 
 dear people ;" and having uttered this prayer, he lay 
 for a time quite still, and then so gently fell asleep 
 
SERMON. 
 
 305 
 
 ting. At 
 
 received a 
 
 ncd, " He 
 
 roken." 
 
 , hastened 
 
 tly home. 
 
 gerly met 
 
 e, anxious 
 
 J strove to 
 
 hen really 
 
 But when 
 
 pressed it, 
 
 lie in any 
 
 he should 
 
 ig brought 
 
 fien spoke 
 
 gentleness 
 
 ately after 
 
 . expressed 
 
 God, not 
 
 led briefly 
 
 It his end 
 
 ot present 
 
 ords sepa- 
 
 It was 
 
 and his 
 
 ffected, as 
 
 re absent, 
 
 ley stood 
 
 lis family, 
 
 evays been 
 
 ascended 
 
 and now, 
 
 he might 
 
 he lifted 
 
 J my poor 
 
 er, he lay 
 
 'ell asleep 
 
 in Jesus, that an old and valued servant of the family 
 observed, "How sweetly master is sleeping!" and knew 
 not that it was death until told by the physician, 
 " It is the sleep of death." 
 
 He was permitted to retain his senses to the last, 
 having lived about four hours after the accident. 
 
 Beloved friends, may the dying prayers of your 
 late valued minister be heard and answered abun- 
 dantly on your behalf! " Blessed are the dead which 
 die in the Lord, even so, saith the Spirit, for they 
 rest from their labours." Our departed friend has 
 fought the good tight, has finished his course, and 
 entered into his rest. He now beholds Him whom 
 having not seen he loved. Oh that those who are 
 ready to exclaim " Let me die the death of the righ- 
 teous, and let my last end be like his," may treasure 
 up the instruction they have received from him they 
 will see no more, till all meet at the judgment-seat 
 of Christ, and seek to follow in the steps of their 
 departed minister as he followed Christ. 
 
 We observe from what has been stated, that even 
 in death he was greatly blessed, but what is that 
 compared with the blessing he is now inheriting ! 
 We weep around his lifeless corpse, but his freed 
 spirit rejoices in the presence of its God. Eye hath 
 not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into 
 the heart of man to conceive the things which God 
 hath prepared for them that love him : and in a 
 little time, that which was a weak and fragile body 
 whilst animated by the spirit, and now about to turn 
 to corruption, shall rise a glorious body ; it is sown 
 in corruption, it is raised in incorruption ; it is sown 
 dishonour and shall be raised in glory. Our 
 
 in 
 
 departed friend looked forward to this when more 
 than once he exclaimed, a little before he closed his 
 eyes in death, " I am going to my rest," not yet to 
 the fulness of bliss. It doth not yet appear what we 
 shall be, man cannot describe it; raise the imagination 
 
30C 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 to the highest ])itch, and still it will fall far short of 
 the reality ; for ** when He shall appear, we shall be 
 like Him, for we shall see Him ns He is." 
 
 From this subject let us seek to derive some prac- 
 tical improvement. 
 
 1st. A solemn warning. The words of my text 
 are addressed by Christ through his servant to each 
 present, and the scene before us proves that in such 
 an hour as we think not, the Son of man comcth. 
 Who would have thought a few days since, that wc 
 should have been assembled here on this occasion, or 
 that your minister, whose renewed strength seemed to 
 promise many years of usefulness, would have been 
 thus cut off suddenly as in a moment ? Oh, my 
 brethren, you well know that he taught you long and 
 faithfully, ever willing to spend and be spent in your 
 service. You must meet him at the judgment-seat 
 of Christ, and how will you answer it if you then be 
 found unprofitable servants, and he who loved and 
 served you here, and was honoured and loved by you 
 in return, be obliged to testify against you, that he 
 entreated you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to 
 God, and you refused ? May the awful words which 
 are written in the forty-seventh verse of the chapter 
 from whence my text is taken, awaken each of you 
 to greater diligence, since the servant which knew his 
 Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did 
 according to that will, shall be beaten with many 
 stripes. 
 
 2nd. Submission to God's will. Be still and know 
 that I am God, and this not of necessity, because we 
 must submit, but pray and labour that though sor- 
 rowful we may yet be rejoicing, since we sorrow not 
 as those without hope, that this affliction may 
 produce a lasting blessing. Thus Eli submitted when 
 the message from the Lord declared such heavy 
 tidings against him and against his family, saying, "It 
 is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." 
 
SEKMON. 
 
 307 
 
 sliort of 
 s shall be 
 
 me prac- 
 
 my text 
 it to each 
 it in such 
 
 Cometh. 
 
 that we 
 
 casion, or 
 
 leemed to 
 
 lave been 
 
 Oh, my 
 long and 
 t in your 
 nent-seat 
 I then be 
 oved and 
 (d by you 
 I, that he 
 )nciled to 
 'ds which 
 e chapter 
 h of you 
 knew his 
 ?ither did 
 th many 
 
 and know 
 ;cause we 
 Dugh sor- 
 )rrow not 
 ion may 
 ;ted when 
 ;h heavy 
 ying, "It 
 1 good." 
 
 And thus holy Job, when his property was lost, all 
 his children taken, and his body afflicted with sore 
 boils, from the sole of his foot to the crown of his 
 head, and his very wife urging him to curse God and 
 die — "Shall we receive good at the hand of the 
 Lord, and shall we not nveive evil ? The Lord gave 
 and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name 
 of the Lord." 
 
 3rd. Encouragement. We remember the gifts 
 and graces of our departed friend ; but from whence 
 were they derived ? What made him what he was ? 
 The Lord. And who supported him all his journey 
 through life ? It was the same God. He found the 
 grace of God sufficient for him, and the feeling of his 
 heart at all times was, " not unto us, O Lord, not unto 
 us, but unto Thy name be the glory." The God who 
 called, guided, supported, and blessed our departed 
 friend, is still the same. His arm is not shortened, 
 nor his ear heavy, and His direction to us is, ask and 
 ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. We may 
 therefore derive also 
 
 4th. Comfort. Doubtless our friend hath entered 
 into the presence of the Lord, and the meanest re- 
 deemed sinner will sing a louder song of triumph 
 than the highest archangel. Angels have never 
 tasted of pardoning grace and redeeming love. Did 
 you love your minister ? Then thank God that he is 
 released from all sorrow and trial. Thank God for 
 what he has promised, that, having preserved your 
 minister to the end, He will, if you seek Him, also 
 preserve you. 
 
 My reverend brethren, in this bereavement, there is 
 a message from God sent to us, as watchmen of the 
 House of Israel. One is taken from our midst, and 
 we are left exposed to peculiar trials and temptations. 
 Our brother was the same, and he continued faithful 
 to the end. And what was his strength and comfort / 
 It was Chiist. Oh let us beware of preaching 
 
 _j 
 
'M)S 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 anything but Christ crucified, as " the way, the truth, 
 ana the life" for perishing sinners. The more we seek 
 and exalt Him, the more shall we feel in our happy 
 experience, *• Christ all and in all." 
 
 In conclusion, let me remind this congregation 
 that your late minister's instructions are yet sounding 
 in your ears. Oh take heed to them. Pray that 
 the Holy Spirit may be to you a spirit of remem- 
 brance, bringing again to your minds what has been 
 said to you ; and as you pass the mound of earth 
 which covers his mortal remains, strive to call to 
 mind what he said while yet with you, and seek the 
 grace of God to enable you so to live that you may 
 become followers of those who, through faith and 
 patience, inherit the promises. Amen. 
 
 J. Uowla, Printer, ai, Bui kiursbiii>, L<Mi>iun 
 
he truth, 
 e we seek 
 ir happy 
 
 ^regation 
 sounding 
 'ray that 
 i" remem- 
 has been 
 of earth 
 3 call to 
 seek the 
 you may 
 faith and 
 
 September, 1847. 
 
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