Her Zeal and Public Spirit
Pharisees arc notorious for spending their zeal about lesser matters, while the greater are neglected. Not so Mrs. Savage. With a truly apostolic fervour she aimed to overthrow the dominion of Satan, to obtain a large increase of grace, and, by her prayers, her example, and her correspondence, to promote the worship of God, and the interests of the Messiah’s kingdom.
She diligently cherished a zealous spirit, and rejoiced in all attempts to do good. On one occasion she writes, “Sabbath, July 10. Dear brother’s subject was Galatians iv. 18. It is good to be zealously aflected always in a good thing.’ The things of God and religion are good things, the best things. It is a good thing to draw near to God; to keep far off from sin; to give thanks unto the Lord; to bear the yoke; to do good in our places to others; to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. These things I should be zealous for. My affections and actions should be zealous, and vigorous against sin, in desires after God. I should be forward to good works, fervent in sy)irit, serving the Lord; diligent in doing, daring and bold in suffering.”
Some time afterwards, on perusing the sermon just mentioned, she thus expresses herself: “I remember my fauUs, particularly lukewarmness, in opposition to this holy zeal. I am afraid lest, sometimes, that which, at first, looks like meekness, prove a fault. By being too mild for a fault the glory of God suffers. We ought, indeed, to be as lambs in our own cause, but as lions in the cause of God. It is a scripture comparison, ’ the righteous are bold as a lion.’ I see great need every day of the wisdom which is from above.”
At another time she writes —” Wednesday. Dear brother preached the lecture (at Broad Oak) from Heb. iv. 12, The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. The word is a weapon in the hands of Christians, and in the hand of Christ. Lord, direct, and teach me how to use this weapon. Let the word which I heard last Sabbath be as a sword to
76 MEMOIRS OF MRS. SAVAGE. yfL.
pierce, and kill my lukewarmness and want (if zeal. And prosper, O Lord, the sword in the mouth of Christ — the everlasting gospel in the mouths of thy dear ministers — that the kingdom of Satan may fall before it like lightning from heaven. I cannot but rejoice in the endeavours which arc on foot in many places in this nation, for suppressing profaneness, the Societies for Reformation of Manners. We see there is great need of some to stem the tide. God in mercy own them, and hear the prayer of the royal Psalmist, O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end. Amen. So be it.”
It was a source of peculiar gratification that her husband, soon after his marriage, united with her in attempting the spiritual benefit of their neighbours. A lecture was instituted at their house, and many excellent ministers alternately travelled thither to publish the everlasting gospel. The commencement of this work of love is thus noticed: «’ 1087. Thursday, September 8. We had the first meeting in our house at Wrenbury Wood. Blessed be God, that has trusted us with a house to emjiloy for him, which I therefore think the better of. Dear brother preached from Revelations iii. 17. Pretty manv hearers. I begged of God that it maybe said of our poor house, that this or that man or woman was born again there.”
“It often pities me,” she writes on another occasion, “to think of the state of some of my neighbours. They are well inchned, have good principles of moral honesty and sobriety, yet, I have great reason to fear, they are strangers to a saving change, and dying so, will be for ever miserable. Oh that it would please God to call them effectually to himself. I know the Father of spirits is infinite in compassion, and knows what is best; but how would it rejoice my heart to see converting work go forward among us.”
The lively feelings of her spirit, and the pious ardour of her desires for the prosperity of Zion, are manifest from the following memorandum, dated 1G96. “A meeting of nonconformist ministers appointed August 11, to be at Chester. The eternal God himself meet and bless, direct and succeed them in all their ways! They used to meet at Knutsford, but appointed it now at Chester, to be nearer my dear father, who was designed to be there, and to preach, it being so ordered by them at the last meeting. But God has seen good to break their measures, and hath taken him to the” general assembly and church of the first-born,” to be with the “spirits of just men made perfect.” Should I not rejoice in hope that I am on my way to this happy end; like poor Gideon — faint yet pursuing — faint yet pursuing!”
“This day, viz., Tuesday, August 11th, my husband went early to Chester. He was present in that sweet assembly. There were twenty-six ministers. A lovely sight to see so many together, who are messengers of churches, and the glory of Christ, let men say what they will. But for our late disappointment it would have been too much like heaven. Alas! we must not set up our staff here. This is not our rest. In the evening he returned — much affected with the sight of so many worthy men together. The sermon was preached by Mr. Owen, the same that preached my dear father’s funeral discourse. An excellent sermon from 2 Cor. vi. 1. — “We then as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Concerning the dignity and duty of gospel ministers: one says, they were affected at the meeting much as they were at the building of the second temple — weeping and rejoicing. 0 Lord, hear prayer, and pour out of the Spirit. Where is the Lord God of Elijah 1 — It is comfortable that Jesus Christ is the same, the same to his ministers now that he was formerly, if they cleave faithfully to him, even to old age — to the old age of the church. •I am in-:.’ I am he that I used to be — he that my people have found me. Faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it; viz., all that we can ask or think, and more, if for our good.”
In all public events she felt a lively interest. She was a loyal subject, and, in the spirit of true Christianity, was ever anxious for the welfare of her country. She rejoiced in its defence and prosperity.
The year 1690 is memorable for King William’s (of glorious memory) expedition against Ireland, and the battle he gained at the Boyne. His progress through Shropshire and Cheshire, on his way thither, is thus preserved by Mrs. Savage. “Friday, June Gth, King William came to Whitchurch in his way to Ireland. He lay that night at Combermere; thence, next day, to Peel, to Colonel Whitley’s; thence, on Sabbath day, to Chester; thence, to Hoylake to take ship. I have earnestly begged of God that his blessing may go along with him.”
“Monday, July 7th. It pleased God to send good tidings. Tlic king iiimsclf in great danger; he escaped with a slight wound. Our general killed, and many more; yet it pleased God to give victory to the Protestant forces, so that on Thursday, July 3d, the king entered Dublin, which King James hath quit, not being able to make any resistance. An instance to me of the truth of that sweet Scripture — Psalm lxvi. 12, ’ he cuts (Hebrew, slips) ofl’ the spirit of princes,’ as easily as we do a flower. News from the navy at sea not so good, the admiral proving treacherous.* I trust God will shew himself there as he has done by land. Is he ’ the God of the hills only, and not of the valleys also 1 ’
The death of the great monarch first named is thus noticed.” 1702, March 8th, a little before eight in the morning, our good King William submitted to the stroke of death, after a fortnight’s illness, occasioned, at first, by a fall from his horse. He is taken away in the midst of usefulness; about fifty years old; much lamented, and deservedly, God having made him a useful instrument of much
The Earl of Torrington. He was aftcn-ards tried by a Court Martial, and acquitted. — Burnet’s Own Time, vol. jv. 75, &c.
good to US for thirteen years. I wish we could learn not to trust in an arm of flesh, but to take Christ for our King, who ever Uves to subdue his and our enemies.”
In the same year “a bill was brought into Parliament by the Tories, against occasional conformity, which produced great and long debates. By this bill, all those who took the Sacrament and Test, and did afterwards go to the meetings of the Dissenters, or any meeting for religious worship that was not according to the Liturgy of the Church of England, where five persons were present more than the family, were disabled from holding their employments, and were to be fined in a hundred pounds, and in five pounds a day for every day in which they continued to act in their employments, after their having been at any such meeting: they were also made incapable to hold any other employment, till after one whole year’s conformity to the church, which was to be proved at the Quarter Session; upon a relapse, the penalty and the time of incapacity were doubled: no limitation of time was put in the bill, nor of the way in which the oflence was to be proved; but whereas the act of the Test only included the magistrates in corporations, all the inferior officers or freemen in corporations who were found to have some interest in the elections, were now comprehended within this bill. The preamble of the bill asserted the toleration, and condemned all persecution for conscience sake, in a high strain.” *
The attempt, however, failed, to the great satisfaction of Dissenters, whose fears as to the event had, while the bill was pending, risen high. On its rejection by the House of Lords, Mrs. Savage observed —” Our comfort is, the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Methinks I see great reason to fear lest God hath a controversy with the professors of our time for our conformity to the world. How unlike the plain old Puritans! Lord help me to begin at home in humbling of my own
Burnet’s History of his Own Time, vol. v. p. 119. The bill itself, with the Debates in both Houses, may be seen in the Parliamentary History of England, vol. vi. pp. 59, 15^!, and 359.
Bishop Burnet, who argued at length against the bill, believing it would necr.ssarily strike at the Toleration Act, observed of the preamble — that it put him in mind “of a clause in the sentence of the inquisitors; when an heretic is condemned, and delivered to the secular arm, they conjure the magistrate by the mercies of God, and the bowels of Jesua Christ, that no harm be done to the obstinate heretic, neither in life, nor limb; but all this, said he, is but a farce, for he is to be burnt immediately.” Parliamentary history, voL vi. p. 16L soul: and oh! — that God would be entreated, and leave a blessing behind.”
At a time of anxious expectation as to the issue of a threatened invasion by the French, she writes, “What will be the end we know not. The truth is, we are a sinful nation. The profaneness of some, the coldness and lukewarmness of others, may justly provoke God to give us up to the will of our enemies. Yet we hope there are thousands among us running into the breach, and crying mightily on behalf of these nations. I have been of late sometimes afraid lest wise and good men among us have too much pleased themselves with our being called Great Britain; and, it may be, God will make us see that our strength is not in ourselves, but in him only.”
She diligently and conscientiously observed fasts, both congregational and appointed by authority. The following extracts manifest a delight in spiritual worship, and a fervency in ministerial labours, not often surpassed.
“June 18th. My dear, and self, and my little girl, went to Broad Oak; it being the third Wednesday, was the fast, which my dear father was enabled, by divine assistance, to carry on from nine till four in praying, singing, preaching, and expounding. A sweet
84 MEMOIRS OF MliS. SAVAGE.
opportunity it was, wherein my soul certainly had communion with God, who was pleased so to answer my prayers as to keep me from drowsiness all the time, which I reckon a great mercy.”
“1692. June 8th. — Wednesday the public fast. I W’cnt to Broad Oak. Took my two little girls with me. Dear father preached from Gen. xlii. 21 — ‘guilty concerning our brother.’ He insisted on three points:
1. The office of conscience. I bless God for any tenderness of this kind — that I have that within me which will smite when I do amiss. I bless God for such a deputy with all my heart.
2. The benefit of affliction. Till Joseph’s brethren were in trouble they thought not of their sin. Sanctified affiictions are spiritual promotions. But
3. That chiefly insisted on, was the guilt we all lie under concerning our brother. Both omissions and commissions laid open in many particulars. Here I must lay a guilty hand on a more guilty heart, and cry, I am verily guilty concerning my brother. What relation have I filled up as I ought! Father, forgive.
“It pleased God to abate the pleasure I should have had now in being here, by laying his hand on my iathcr, afflicting him with lameness, and much pain on his bed. Wearisome nights appointed him; full of the graces of God’s Spirit, humility, patience, resignation; especially, full of the sermons he had lately preached concerning Christ: what he is to believers in forty particulars.* He said he never had so much comfort in the reflection upon any subject as this. Notwithstanding his illness he went on Sabbath, June 12, limping to the pulpit, where, indeed, his delight is, and preached, expounded, and catechized as usual, being strengthened with strength from above. Still he goes on to preach Christ from Phil. iii. 7 — 10. “But what things were gain to me,” &c. Christ. Christ. In comparison with him all is nothing. Lord, teach me this good lesson. Still my father is much
* These sermons are in the best style of their admired author, The subjects, with an appropriate text to each, are as follows: our Lord Jesus Christ is considered, in relation to his people, as their Foundation — Food — Root — Raiment — Head — Hope — Refuge — Righteousness — Light — Life — Peace — Passover — Portion — Propitiation — Freedom — Fountain — Wisdom — Way — Ensign — Example — Door — Dew — Sun — Shield — Strength — Song — Horn — Honour — Sanctification — Supply — Resurrection — Redemption — Lesson — Ladder — Truth-Treasure-Temple — Ark — All. [Republished by the Presbyterian Board of Publication.] afflicted with pain. The use I would make is to be myself preparing for the like. If this be done in the green tree, if he be so afflicted who has done so much and been so long a faithful labourer in the Lord’s vineyard, what must I expect, who have been cumbering the ground?”
The annual return of Nov. 5th, served to excite fresh emotions of thankfulness for the signal deliverance of England from ungodly machinations. Nor was her observance of the day a mere formal recollection of the treason. Her very soul was lifted up to the great Deliverer. Iler devout father, and other excellent ministers, commemorated the event, annually, by a sermon adapted to the occasion. The returns of these opportunities were highly prized. In 1724, she writes:” Nov. 5. The return of the year should excite our thankfulness for national mercies. Yet a protestant people. Blessed be God. Ps. cxxiv. When this old mercy is in danger to be forgotten, God still sends us fresh ones; as at this time King William, of blessed memory, landed in England, Nov. 4th, 1C88, whom God made a saviour to deliver us from popery, and slavery. At the same time of year again, another great deliverance, in 1714, from the Rebellion at Preston. Our soul escaped as a bird. I often fear lest I offend God for want of a public spirit. A sign I am but a babe in
the family.”