Dedication to Paul Orchard
A S your honoured father was pleased to make
choice of me to answer in your name at the font, and to exercise a sort of guardianship over your spiritual interests; permit me, by putting these little treatises into your hand, to fulfil some part of that solemn obligation.
Gratitude for many signal favors, and a conscientious regard to my sacred engagement, have long ago inspired my breast with the warmest wishes, both for your true dignity and real happiness. Nor can I think of a more endearing or a more effectual way of advancing either the one or the other, than to set before you a sketch of your excellent father’s character. Illustrious examples are the most winning incitements to virtue; and none can come attended with such particular recommendations to you, Sir, as the pattern of that worthy person, from whom you derive your very being.
A most cordial and reverential esteem for the divine Word, was one of his remarkable qualities.
ccviii DEDICATION.
Those oracles of Heaven were his principal delight and his inseparable companions. Your gardens, your solitary walks, and the hedges of your fields can witness with what an unwearied assiduity he exercised himself in the law of the Lord *. From hence he fetched his maxims of wisdom, and formed his judgment of things. The sacred precepts were the model of his temper and the guide of his life, while the precious promises were the joy of his heart and his portion for ever.
Improving company was another of his most relishing pleasures. Few gentlemen were better furnished either with richness of fancy, or copiousness of expression, to bear a shining part in conversation. With these talents he always endeavoured to give some useful, generally some religious turn to the discourse. Nor did he ever reflect with greater complacency on his social hours, than when they tended to glorify the Eternal Majesty, and to awaken in himself and others a more lively spirit of devotion.
To project for the good of others was his frequent study, and to carry those benevolent contrivances into execution his favourite employ. When visited by the young persons of the neighbourhood, far from taking an ungraceful pride to initiate them in a debauchery, or confirm them in a riotous habit, it was his incessant aim, by finely-adapted persuasives, to encourage them in industry, and establish them in a course of sobriety; to guard them against the allurements of vice, and animate them with the principles of piety; a noble kind of hospitality this, which will probably transmit its beneficial influence to their earthly possessions, to their future families, and even to their everlasting state.
* Josh. xxiv. 27,
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A conviction of human indigence, and a thorough persuasion of the divine all-sufficiency, induced him to be frequent in prayer. To prostrate himself in profound adoration, before that infinitely exalted Being who dwells in light inaccessible, was his glory; to implore the continuance of the Almighty favour, and the increase of all Christian graces, was his gain. In those moments, no doubt, he remembered you, Sir, with a particular earnestness, and lodged many an ardent petition in the court of heaven for his infant son. Cease not to second them with your own devout supplications, that they may descend upon your head ’ in the fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace.’
To give their genuine lustre to all his other endowments, he was careful to maintain an humble mind. Though his friends might admire his superior abilities, or his acquaintance applaud his exemplary behaviour, he saw how far he fell short of the mark of his high calling; saw, and lamented his defects; saw, and renounced himself; relying, for final acceptance and endless felicity, on a better righteousness than his own, even on the transcendently perfect righteousness and inconceivably precious death of Jesus the Redeemer. This was the rock of his hope, and the very crown of his rejoicing.
These, Sir, are some of the distinguishing characteristics of your deceased parent. As you had the misfortune to lose so valuable a relative before you was capable of forming any acquaintance with his person, 1 flatter myself you will the more attentively observe his picture; this his moral picture, designed, not to be set in gold, or sparkle in enamel, but to breathe in your spirit, and to live in all your conduct; which, though it be entirely your own, calculated purely for yourself, may possibly, (like family pieces in your parlour, ccx DEDICATION.
that glance an eye upon as many as enter the room; make some pleasing and useful impression on every beholder. May every one, charmed with the beautiful image, catch its resemblance; and each in his respective sphere, go and do likewise.’
But you, Sir, are peculiarly concerned to copy the amiable original. As the order of an indulgent Providence has made you heir of the affluent circumstances, let not a gay and thoughtless inadvertence cut you off from the richer inheritance of these noble qualifications. These will be your security amidst all the glittering dangers, which are inseparable from blooming years, and an elevated situation in life: these are your path, your sure and only path to true greatness and solid happiness. Tread in these steps, and you cannot fail to be the darling of your friends, and the favorite of Heaven: tread in these steps, and you will give inexpressible joy to one of the best of mothers; you will become an extensive blessing to your fellow-creatures; and which, after such most engaging motives, is scarce worthy to be mentioned, you will be the delight, the honour, and the boast of
Dear Sir,
Your very affectionate godfather,
And most faithful humble servant,
JAMES HERV£Y.
Weston- Favel, near
Northampton,
July 14, 1747.