Memoir, 1811–1813
The Autobiography concluded — Persecution from hk Parubioners — His kind Thoogfata towards them — Their Complaints to the Bishop — Mr. Simeon’s Reply — Election of Church-wardens — The bishop’s Letter to the Vice-chancellor — Meeting of the Heads — Dr. Milner’s Interposition — Danger averted — Prondcntial Circumstances connected with this — Propoeea change in the Prayer-meeting — Opposition to the Plan — BIr. Simeon’s patient EfTorta — Opposition continued — His long Forbearance — Dedded Measures — Final Arrangement — Mr. Simeon’s Review of the whole Subject
1811 — 1813.
MEMOIR CONCLUDED.
I MUST here state at large a persecution which arose against me in my parish, which by some circumstances connected with it, led to the crisis which I have referred to (page 83). Bishop D — had DOW succeeded to the see of Ely; and in his first charge he had spoken in no very favorable terms of those who maintain what 1 believe to be the Gospel of Christ. Aware, from the moment he was appointed, what were his dispositions towards persons of my sentiments, and towards myself in particular, I had used the most prudent means in my power to conciliate him. But the state of his mind being pretty clearly understood, as well from his Charge as from general report, my enemies in the parish thought it a favorable time for them to stir, and to see if they could not raise a persecution against me.
“The precise hour in which my parishioners met together, to carry into effect their malicious designs, is worthy of particular observation. I had been lamenting in my mind that so little good was done in my parish, and contriving how I might benefit tnem after my death. I thought that a sermon which I had very recently printed, on the subject of * Christ Crucified,^* would servo as a brief summary of all that I had preached to them for thirty years; and I wrote a codicil to my will, appointing that an edition of that sermon should be printed immediately after my decease, and aP copy be presented to every family in my parish as a voice to them from the dead: and it is remarkable, that at the very moment that I was engaged in this office of love, they were, unknown to me, caballing against me in full council, to destroy, if possible, my peace and usefulness through my whole life.
‘* It may seem strange, that, at the end of thirty years, and of
* Preached, March 17, 1811, before the Umvernty, firom 1 Cor. il S.
OHAP. Xm.] 0OMFLAINT8 MADB TO THB BISHOP. 187
twenty years’ peace, I should have any enemies left; but most of the old mhabitants had been removed by death, and some of a peculiarly malignant spirit had recently, come into the parish; and these, joining with a few of the old inhabitants, who are given over, I fear, to a reprobate mind, drew up a number of articles against me, and sent them to the bishop, (May 181 L) The bishop sent me a copy of them, and required me to send him my answer to them. As they were sied by at least forty persons, he conceived that the complaints deserved his fullest consideration; though if he had known the character of the leaders and instigators of the commotion, he would easily have seen, I think, what attention such complaints deserved, when urged by such persons against a minister, whose principles and character were well known, and who had spent his whole ministerial life in the service of that parish. It was impossible for me to answer those complaints without bringing forward many facts, which common modesty would have forbidden me ever to mention, just as the accusations of the false teachers compelled the Apostle Paul to declare many things ibr the vindication of his own character, which nothing but necessity could ever have induced him to disclose. The bishop, thinking that there were some things in my reply which would invalidate its force, sent to me tp explain them; and these explanations rendered my answer so much the more triumphant; so triat it was evident that the complainants had not a leg to stand upon. This reply of mine he forwarded (which was right enough) to the parish, for them to communicate their observations upon it; and immediately they exerted themselves to the uttermost to find some flaw it it; but, not being able to do so, they never sent any answer to the bishop, nor even returned him my reply, which be had intrusted to them; but pretended that they had lost the document, though it contained half a quire of paper.
It is a curious fact, that the persons who labored so earnestly to get themselves appointed church- wardens, and whose failure occasioned their petition to the bishop, renewed their attempt the following year; and as it was a matter of indifference to me who was appointed to that oflice, I not only desired that nothing mistii be done to prevent their appointment, but went myself to vote for them. When I came to the vestry, I saw two different lists, as is usual, and took up that paper which was full of names (concluding of course, that it contained the votes in favor of my enemies,) and was proceeding to add my name to the list, but behold, it was the listof those who voluntarily and unsolicited supported my friends, whilst the other list contained only five names for one of my enemies, and two for the other; these being all the votes they could Sdn, notwithstanding their canvass; so entirely had they disgusted e whole parish by their treatment of me. If ever Grod manifested (out of the Scriptures) the benefit of trusting in Him, and committing our ways to Him, I think He did it in this instance;
188 MEETING OF THE HEADS. [cHAP. XIIU
for had my enemies succeeded, I should have been in hot water all my life by means of their wicked opposition; whereas, ^throuffh their extraordinary defeat, I have a prospect of carrying on the Lord’s work through the remainder of my days in peace. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His holy name!
*’’ The bishop found in this complaint no just occasion against me; but still he wanted to proceed against me, and to put down my evening lectures, which, in my reply, I had vindicated beyond all reasonable exception. He therefore wrote privately to the Vice-Chancellor of the University, and.desired him to convene the heads of houses, and to inquire, whether they approved of the young men coming to my evening lectures, (there being no doubt what answer would be given to an inquiry so made,) that so he might put down the lectures, and cast the’odium on them. And now, my soul, say whether there be not a God that ruleth in the earth? — say whether there be not One who * doeth according to His will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, whose counsel shall stand, and who will do all His will V Yes; I see it on this occasion as clearly, as if I had seen the sun stand still on Gibeon, or the shadow go back on the sun-dial of Ahaz.
“The heads were convened, ostensibly to consult respecting
the restoration of Mr. D., of College, to his degree, of which
he had in conformity with a grace of the senate been deprived, though there was no blame but that of a mistake to be imputed to him. They were all met; and, without one syllable of the ostensible business being mentioned, the bishop’s letter was produced, and a written answer of disapprobation was produced with it, and they all rose up to sign it. It happened that one head of a house, a friend of mine, who scarcely ever attends such meetings, was there — was there, I had almost said, by miracle — and it being the first that he had heard of any such business, as that which was now brought forward, he observed, * That he really had never heard of any evils arising from my lectures, nor saw any harm in the young men attending them; that he had always heard of the extreme care which I had invariably taken to prevent evil; and that, though he did not wish to keep others from signing the paper, he could not sign it himself. He thought that the bishop nad written to make inquiries of them, and that it was proper for them to make inquiries, before they returned their answer; at least he felt it incumbent on him to do so.’ The propriety of these observations struck the whole company; and they agreed to meet again the week following to give the result of their inquiries, and they parted without adverting for a moment to the professed occasion for which the meeting had been called. The nexjt week they met again; and the same friend being there, not one word of my business was brought forward: the original business alone of Mr.
<»AF.’Xm.] PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE PRAYER-MEETING. 189
D/s was agitated; and thus the cloud which had threatened my ministry (two-thirds of which would have been curtailed) was dispersed, even without my knowing that any such business was in agitation. This whole matter was soon mentioned to me by my friend in confidence; and I therefore felt the necessity of increased circumspection: in resorting to which the crisis before mentioned was produced.*
Mr. M, one of the malcontents in my parish, knowing
that the prayer-meetine among my people was still kept up, had declared publicly that he would inform against it. Now, though I did not attend it, the obloquy would all fall on me: it would be in vain for me to say, that I had repeatedly testified my disapprobation of it, on account of the evil effects that I had seen arising from it, or that I had labored very earnestly to prevail on my people to lay it aside: it would have been sufficient for my enemies to say, that I had once countenanced it; nor would they have believed that my influence among my people was insufliicient to put it down: the matter would have been brought before the public: all manner of odium would have been cast on me and my ministry; and the bishop would assuredly have put an end to my evening lectures, if not have removed me also from the church, which I hold only during his pleasure. I therefore felt that there was now no alternative lefl me, but to put aside the room; that is, to change it for smaller parties; nor was there a moment to be lost.
This state of things I communicated in general terms to my people. I told them that there were some circumstances existing, which rendered it absolutely and indispensably necessary for them to meet in three or four smaller parties at each other’s houses, instead of meeting in so ^reat a number at that one room. I told them, that, notwithstanding I had long seen, and lamented, the state of mind to which many of them had been brought by means of that room, (for instead of merely reading the Scripture and praying, ihey had become expounders of Scripture, and preachers; and, instead of confining the assembly to those who had been
* “My friend had long been engaged to be 300 mileB off, and would actually have been there, but for the following astonishing combination of circumstances. The Duke of Gfmfton, our chancellor, died. The Duke of Gloucester was a candidate to succeed Inm. The Duke of Gloucester succeeded; and his instaliaon was to be at the Commencement The Duke of Gloucester wishing to haYe as great an attendance of respectable friends there as possible, personally requested Mr. WiTbcrforce to come down. Mr. W. not having any other peraon in Cambridge, at whose house he could so properly or so comfortably be, as at my friend’s, wrote to request him to delay his departure till after the installation. This detained my friend in Cambridge, and prevented his goin for about three weeks; towards the chse of which time the convocation before mfntioncd was calletl; so that the Duke of Grafton’s death — the Duke of Gloucester’s success — his personal application to Mr. Wilberforce, and Mr. W.’s request to my friend, were all so many links in the chain of Providf nee to protect me from the impending storm ■, and after all, my preservation had not been accomplished, if my friend had not protracted bis stay nearly three weeks beyond the time that had been required, and aeeUuntaify, as we say, attended a meeting which he was not accustomed to attend. The want of any one of these links had ruined me beyond recovery. If I do not bless and magnify my Qod, the very stonai will cry out against me.”
190 OPPOSITION TO THE PLAN. [cHAP. XIII.
united to my societies they had extended it to others, and made the place really and truly a conventicle, in the eye of the law; and instead of retaining their orimial simplicity, many of them were filled with a high conceit of meir own attainments, and with a contempt for their authorized instructors;) I could appeal to them, that I had been utterly averse to exercise authority in relation to it: but now circumstances had arisen, that would render their meeting altogether destructive to my ministry.
“Instead of acquiescing in my wishes, as I fondly hoped they would, they declared, that they would not consent to change their place and mode of meeting: they even said, that I was giving way to the fear of man, and dissembling with God; and that, as God had commanded his people not to forsake the assembling themselves together, they would do it in spite of me. In vain I told them, that I did not desire to abolish their prayer-meeting; that, on the contrary, I wished them ever to unite with each other in social exercises; but that I wished them to unite in small parties of ten or twelve, instead of in one large assembly; and to confine their companies to those who belonged to my societies, instead of extending them in a way that I had never authorized or approved. This, I told them, would at once cut off all occasion from those who sought occasion against us, and be equally acceptable to God, and equally beneficial to them. In some respects it would be better for them, because it would remove those temptations to pride and vanity, which they had too much encouraged, and would enable them to discern more clearly by what spirit they were actuated in their social meetings. The promise of God ‘was made, to assemblies where even two or three were met together,’ and therefore they might expect His blessing on the plan proposed, and prosecute it without endangering the safety of my ministry. Times without number did I tell them, that no human being would ever believe that the sole ground of all this controversy was, whether they should have one large prayer-meeting of about fifty
Eersons, which endangered my usefulness both in the town and Tniversity, or have four smaller prayer-meetings of about a dozen each: they themselves, a year hence, would scarcely believe that they could have been so perverse, as to oppose in so small a matter, and with such pertinacity, the wishes of their minister, who for thirty years had lived but for them, who never in any instance had thwarted their wishes, and who had sacrificed for them all that the world in general holds dear.
“But all this was in vain. They would not believe that any sufficient cause for the alteration existed. I told them that it was nqt possible for me to state to them all the circumstances which operated on my mind; but that I thought, after I had refused for their sakes the best living that my college could give me, and had spent my whole life in their service, and had never on any occasion shown the smallest disposition either to fear for myself, or to
lord it over them, in the course of thirty years, they might well give me credit for having just grounds of action, when I solemnly appealed to God for the existence of them. Still, however, they would not be satisfied, unless they themselves were informed of all the particulars: but, as such a communication would make known to the whole world the state of the bishop’s mind, and even bring upon me the very evils from which I hoped to escape, I could not possibly comply with such a requisition as that; nevertheless, I told them I w6uld communicate the circumstances to one of the most prudent and temperate of them, that they might have among themselves one witness for the truth and importance of all that I had asserted. Accordingly I did confide everything to one person, who saw and felt that the measures which I had suggested were imperiously called for. But the chief of the people were still dissatisfied, and quarrelled now with that person, as much as with me, and claimed a right to hear all and judge for themselves.
*’ Finding that they were immovable, I told them that they must either adopt my plan, or separate from me. If they felt it so important to meet together as they had done, they were at liberty to do so; nor had I the least wish to abridge them of that liberty; the only thing to which I objected was, the connecting their conduct with me. Whilst they continued to unite themselves with me as my people, I should of necessity be considered as answerable for their conduct: the world would not inquire whether I approved of their conduct or not; they would simply say. These people are connected in societies with Mr. S., and they do so and so. The conclusion, that I approved of those things, would follow of course. But was it right, that I should lay myself open to such imputations, when the cause of religion in Cambridge depended so essentially on my conducting myself with wisdom and prudence? Assuredly not: and therefore, I told the chief of the people, that if they determined to follow their own ways, I wished them to separate entirely from me and from my ministry, that I might not be involved in their irregularities. If they chose to let off fire- works, they were at liberty to do so; only I desired they would not put them undet my thatch, to bum down my house.
All this, and much more, availed little; they did not choose to leave my church, and yet determined to go on in their own ways. I told them therefore, that if that was their determination, I could not keep them from my church, but I must keep them from attending at the Communion there. They then denied my right to do so, and declared that they would come to the Sacrament in spite of me; saying, that it was not my table, but the Lord*s, and that it was open to all; and they would come. They said that the Lord’s table was the property of the Church, and not of the minister; and that I should not hinder them. I replied that, whatever might be the case among dissenters, who had an actual prop-
192 DECIDED MEASURES. [oHAP. XUI.
ertr in their respective churches, it was not so with the Church of England: that they had, it was true, a right in their own parish churches, but not in a parish to which they did not belong; and that the doubt rather was, whether I had a right to admit them; bdt certainly there was no doubts whether they might be kept away; since the Canons were very express upon that subject. Ail this was to no purpose: they determined to come, at all events, to see whether I would dare to refuse them. I told them, that, much as I should lament the necessity, they would iind me firm. I did not consider it as a dispute between them and me about a matter oi indifference: the point on which we were at issue was no less than this, whether they should, by connecting themselves with me, involve me, and the whole interests of religion in the University of Cambridge in the most imminent danger, or not? And on this point it became me to act with firmness; and therefore, if any of them, except those who belonged to my parish, would come in spite of me, and disturb the worship of the other communicants, I would proceed against them, just as I would against any worldly person who should come thither to disturb us. They well knew that I had punished ungodly persons for making a noise in the church, notwithstanding they had done it undesignedly, in a state of intoxication: and they might be sure, I would not suffer persons professing godliness to come and disturb us, intentionally, at the table of the Lord. Who would believe, that, such was their wickedness, as to determine to force me to these measures? Yet this they did determine; and this they called religion.
‘• That I might show all long-suffering towards them, I told them that I would not refuse it to any one the first time, but would administer it, and afterwards warn the individual not to come again; that so they might have time to consider their ways, and to repent of the horrid impiety of coming to the Lord’s table in such a way. During all this time I labored night and day, boh in public and private, and frequently with tears, to show them the evil of the spirit they indulged, Tforin truth they knew not what spirit they were of:) I separated those who were of a better mind; and then, instead of casting the others* out of my societies, I asked them, individually, how long a time they would wish for to make up their minds. Some wished for time, and others did not: but that I might in no instance deal hastily, I gave them all six months.
“During the whole of that time they proceeded in their own way: and at the end of that time I found the most of them as obstinate as ever: and therefore I ptill prolonged the time for consideration from month to month, till a whole year had elapsed. I then appealed to them, Whether I had not waited long enough? and whether there was anyrthing which a human being could do, which I had not done, to bring them to a better mind? Having constrained every one of them to make these acknowledgments.
and to confess that it was time for me to proceed, I did desire several to withdraw from my societies. But I began with those who were not the leaders, for this reason: I thought that if I first expelled the leaders, they would carry the others along with them; {>ut if I began with the others, the leaders, seeing my firmness, would relent; and by yielding, enable me to bring the others to a better mind.
And this was the very effect produced: foe when the leaders saw, that the very next time their society nlet, the disaffected among them would be expelled from it, they made proposals, or terms of peace. These on their part were highly unreasonable; for they stipulated, that if they consented to have several smaller prayer-meetings instead of one large one, they and their friends, that is, the whole body of the disaffected, should form one society by themselves. I told them that this would infallibly keep up a spirit of disaffection among them, and not only divide the church, but make a party in it against their minister, and that on these accounts I did not think it wise: nevertheless, to show how much I longed for reconciliation with them, I would consent, and never utter one word against it.
Thus after more than a year of such aiHiction as I never before endured, I saw them gradually coming round; and was restored to some little measure of comfort in my own mind. Many trials have I met with from relations, from my parish, and from the * world; but in all of them I was enabled to rejoice, yea, frequently to ‘rejoice and leap for joy;’ but this greatly oppressed my spirit, not only because 1 was wounded in the house of my friends, but because the state of my peoples souls, of some at least, was as bad, as would not consist with any hope of their final salvation.
On one occasion, when I found that the person, who had at first given me reason to think that all would be easily settled had actudly instigated the whole church to rebellion, 1 said to him with warmth, though not with asperity, that it were far better for the whole of them to leave me, than that all my usefulness in the Church of God should be subverted by them. On that occasion I spoke too warmly, (though it is a declaration which my coolest judgment most fully approves:) but except on that occasion, I bless 6«1 that not one single word escaped me. or temper was indulged by me, which I have the smallest reason to regret. For this I do, and ever will, bless and adore my God.
‘’ After all this experience, what is my judgment in relation to private societies? My judgment most decidedly is, that without them, where they can be had, a people will never be kept together; nor will they ever feel related to their minister, as cnildren to a parent; nor will the minister himself take that lively interest in their welfare, which it is both his duty and his happiness to feel. A minister is to be ’ instant in season and out of season;’ and if hia public labors are comprehended under the former period these
194 EEM AKKS ON PRATBR-MEETING8. [CHAP. XUI.
private exercises seem especially intended by the latter; and one who would approve himself to God, as St. Paul did, should be able to say, ‘^ I have taught you publicly, and from house to house, and have warned you night and day with tears.’ But then great care should be taken about the manner of conducting them. The people should never, if it can be avoided, be left to themselves: the moment they are, there is danger of unhallowed kind of emu-^ lation rising up among them; and those, who by reason of their naturaj forwardness are most unfit to lead, will always obtrude themselves as leaders among them; whilst the modest and timid will be discouraged, because they cannot exercise those gifts which they behold in others. On such occasions, too, the vain and conceited will be peculiarly gratified; and mistaking the gratifications of vanity for truly spiritual emotions, they will “.ttach a pre-eminent importance to those opportunities which ;. ad to display their talents; and they will begin to entertain low thoughts of their own minister, whose labors do not afford them the same pleasure. This spirit, too, they will encourage among the people at large, and this will spread among them a disposition to criticise and sit in judgment on the labors of their ministers. It is probable, that this will not fall on their stated minister, to whose exertions they owe, under God, the salvation of their souls: they, in general, will idolize him and make him a standard whereby to judge of others: but other ministers, who shall occasionally address them, will be applauded or censured by them with as much confidence, as if their taste were perfect and their judgment infallible. This, therefore, a minister must guard against with all his might: and if he make it a rule to conduct the service in the private societies himself, he will, for the most part, keep down these evils. It was not till I was laid aside by my lonff indisposition, that these evils showed themselves in any considerable degree; and after all, if we will not establish such societies for fear of such consequences, we must remember that there is a Charybdis, as well as a Scylla, and that in all human institutions we have only, as it were, a choice of evils; there being nothing perfect under the sun.
“I have not written the foregoing Memoir as a Life of myself; but only as a record of some facts connected with my public ministrj’, the notoriety of which renders them likely to be mentioned after my death; whilst yet there is no man but myself who could place them in their true light, for want of that full knowledge of the circumstances which I alone possess. Had I designed to write a Life of myself, I should have entered into the interior working of mv heart in relation to my religious experience, and into a multitude of things known only to God and my own soul; but I have no wish to obtrude upon the public anything relating to myself. If I were to tell them all, or a thousandth part of the evil of my heart, they could not bear to hear it, or be profited by
CBAF. Xin.] CON0LU8IOK. 195
the recital of it; and if there has been anything good in me, it is sufficient for me that Grod knows, it My “lyhole experience is comprehended in this plain tale; that my innumerable corruptions have supplied me with most abundant matter for humiliation and contrition every day of my life; but the Gospel of Christ has afforded me still more abundant ground* for hope in fleeing to the Saviour, and plunging beneath that fountain which was ’ opened for sin and for uncTeanness:’ and to this I have had recourse from day to day, precisely as I did the first moment that I gained a * sight of Christ; not coming to Christ, as one who was warranted to do so by any holiness he had attained, but as one whose iniquities could not in any other way be pardoned, and who hoped that God would glorify himself in saving the very chief of sinners.’’
The Memoir written by Mr. Simeon in 1813 here terminates.
After this period no attempt will be made to present a continuous narrative of Mr. Simeon’s life; as it would be impossible to reduce it, together with his letters, within the prescribed limits of a single volume. It is hoped, however, that the following selections from his writings and correspondence will furnish a sufficient history of his * thoughts and actions.’
PART II.
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