Letters, 1821
LettofB — To ReV. T. Thomafion — Varions Efforts on behalf of the Jews — Formation of a JeW Society at Cambridge — To Miaa Gnmey on the Death of her Slater — To Rer. J. W. Gunnineham respecting Dr. Chalmers — On Clergymen attending to Secular Concerns — To Rev. B. B. Elliott on receivine two Vases — To his Godson at Haileybmy on the College Reports — Tq Rev. T. Thomason on the Enjoyment of Mercies-Sending hhn an Aasistant — Return of his Son to India — Memorandum on receiving Injurious Treatment.
1821.
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.
To the Rev. T. Thomason.
*<K.C. Jaii.31, 1851.
My beloved Brother, —
Your Report has come to hand, and cheap as dirt: the former was charged £10. 5^., and this only £7. Your friends are not so considerate as might be wished; but I consider for them, and keep my money in my pocket, till the post office come down to my terms. I was filled with wonder by the last; and doubt not but that this, when it comes to hand, will warm my heart with gratitude and praise.
Through the tender mercy of our God the Jewish cause is prospering. I will just mention, in few words, what the last fortnight has produced. We have established a college, or seminary, for our missionaries. We have an excellent (a pious and learned) man for the president: and we have four students, very hopeful ones, already there. The Bishop of Gloucester, Mr. Way, &c., and myself, drew up for them a course of study, and there is to be a kind of public examination at midsummer.’ Thus they will have an appropriate education; and I hope that in a year three of them will go forth. We could have a great number of others, but must wait for funds to enable us to proceed on a larger scale.
*’ I am going soon, anonymously, to give prizes for the best tracts on Jewish Questions. I have fixed two questions for this year; but I mtist first draw the public mind to the subject by some papers in the Expositor. I hope by this to interest the public in the general question, and to get the best tracts composed for the Jews. You know the ^reat results of Dr. Buchanan’s prizes, and I hope there will be the blessing of Grod on these also.
On the 18ih and 25th of February I am to preach (d. v.) before the UniversifVf on the Jewish Question. My sermons will
982 DEATH OF BELIEVERS. [cHAP. ZXHI.
be printed; and I propose to send you some. If I live till May, I shall have a public meeting at Cambridge; and if my sermons shall have prepared the way, I hope that many will join themselves to your unworthy but most affectionate brother, C. S.”
To the same: — ....** We have just established a Jews’ Society in the University, and had a public meeting. Indeed such is the state of the University now, that multitudes are ready to come forward in every good work. It is no little mercy to have lived to see such a day as this. When I was an undergraduate myself, I could not find one who feared God; now we can find many, who through the mercy of God are burning and shining lights.”
To Miss GuKNET.
Maroh 30, 1821.
“My dear Madam, —
‘* I often think that my mind is very peculiarly constructed in this respect, that the death of those who are dear to me is in many cases a real source of joy, from the realizing view which I have of their happiness. But a few days ago, a relation of Mr. Scott was regretting that he was drawing near his cldsing scene: and so far was I from sympathizing with him in his regret, that I could not refrain from congratulating the departing saint on his prospects. I say the same in reference to dear Priscilla. Had she been restored to health and usefulness in the Church, I should have regarded that as a ground of unspeakable joy. But to have her kept here in a’ state of extreme languor, without any prospect of ever rendering any further services to the Church, would have been in my mind rather a matter of submission than of desire. Of her preparation for glory no one can entertain a shadow of a doubt; why then keep her from it? Why not rejoice in her full possession of it? Why not consider her as just gone a stage before us, and redouble our own speed to enjoy her society again as soon as we may be permitted to arrive at those blest abodes? Yet whilst I say this, I mean not that the feelings of nature should be suppressed; but sanctified, and elevated to a heavenly refinement. And I feel assured that such will be the one sentiment that will pervade you all, when assembled on the mournful occasion of committing her mortal remains to the tomb. I even now taste the spirit of you all: I seem to be one with you all: I think I understand you all; and you also understand me. I looe the ‘gathering into stillness,’ the sweet sorrow, and the adoring ioy.
“But 1 must restrain my pen; lest I should appear to forget that Jesus wept.’ Yet methinks, if I know a little what it is to” rejoice with trembling,’ I know also what it is to be melted vnth tove, and to rejoice with weeping.
tnAP. ZZIU.] DB. OBALMBKfl. 333
“Preaeat my tender regards to your whole circle, and especially to my ever dear friends Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Gumey, and believe me, my dear madam, most affectionately yours, C. Simson,”
To the Rev. J. W. Cunningham.
“^ K. C, Got 22, 1821.
My very dear and honored Friend, —
Your person, work, and circumstances, find a deep interest in my heart; and I have much joy in the conviction that they ara all indelibly engraven on the breastplate of our Great High Priest, who is toucned with the feeling of all our wants and all our infirmities. I trust that your supports and consolations abound eAove all your afflictions; for our God giveth good measure, pressed down, and running over.
“I nave seen with much satisfaction the review of Dr. Chal* mer’s Works. I have received a letter from himself this very day, and not having time to answer it, have conveyed to him an oral reply, carrying my whole heart along with it. Truly I consider him as raised up by God for a great and jpeculiar work. His depth of thought, originality in illustrating, and strength in stating, are unrivalled in the present day: and I think he is somewhat less turgid, and intricate, and careless in his language than he was at first
In another respect he is too sanguine. He does not sufficiently see, that a Chalmers is necessary to carry into efl!ect the plans of Chalmers. But he has a noble aim; and I think will do great good. If we cannot all follow him closely, we may yet tread in his steps; and I trust that many will make the attempt.
^’ I think also he carries too far the complaint about Government making use of ministers in secular matters. Dr. C. and half a score of others may find it a serious inconvenience. The great mass of ministers, I fear, throughout the united kingdom would not engage one atom more in spiritual exercises, or in ministerial labors, if they were to be exempted from all temporal matters to-morrow. Still, if some things are overstrained, (and who ever rode a favorite hobby without going now and then a little too fast?) many things are nobly stated, and come with great power to the mind; and I rejoice exceedingly that you are calling the attention of the public to them. Such * a measure was wanted. Religious people are apt to overlook secular matters, instead of giving them a due measure of attention, forgetting that motto, * Nihil humani a me alienum pute*
My province is just to attend to the little things that are before me. Were I to attempt to execute Dr. C.’s plans, my folly would soon appear unto all men. I have often thought that, as sapientia prima est stultitid caruisse; so, secunda est to know, quid valeani
1EOOLLECTION0 OF THE REV. H* VENN. [oHAP. XXOI*
kumerif quidferre recusent; and however defective in the first, I have studied carefuUv, and to pretty good purpose, the second. I make known my little pittance of knowledge, but carefully conceal my ignorance; which is, I conceive, laudably concealed, when you afiect not talents or acquirements you do not possess. I intended only to drop you a few lines in answer to your kind note; and, behold here is quite a letter; and after all it does not express a tenth part of what I tacitly convprehend, when I sign myself your truly sympathizing and most affectionate friend,
“C. Simeon.’’
To the Rev. Edw. B. Elliott, on the receipt of two beautiful
“K. C^ Not. 6, 1S21. Indeed, my dear friend, I know not what I shall say to you. You put me to shame, and oppress me, for I have not onl never done, but never had it in my power to do, anything to ment such kindness at your hands. That I love every member of your family is certain: and that I should leap for joy if an opportunity offered to testify mv love is certain. But 1 have always studiously (whether properly or not is another matter) traced the peculiar strength of my attachment to another,*’ whom I have viewed, and delighted to view, in all connected with him. I have defied him to get out of my reach, as Ions as there were any on earth that have his blood in their veins. I have exulted in this, and do exult in it, and will exult in it He can do nothing for me now: but I can (at least in desire and purpose) for him: and though in the efforts of a thousand years I never can repay my obligations to him for all his labors of love, I am prepared to pay my peppercorn towards it: and I feel every personal regard to surviving individuals so refined, so heightened, so sweetened, by the consideration of him, that I never for a moment suffer the one to operate without the other.
“How far this may be connected with a principle, which for more than forty years I have labored diligently to cultivate, I know not. It has been a favorite object with me, as far as human weakness would admit of it, to love all for my Saviour’s sake; and in proportion as I have seen, or thought I saw, His image in them. And it may possibly be, that the fixedness of this principle in my mind, as it respects my Saviour, has led me into an error in respect to him,’ wnom I have ever loved next to my Saviour. Be it so; and, if it be a fault, forgive it: but it will take some time, after all, to convince me, that the feelings of love and gratitude to a departed saint can be too ardent, or that a thought of exultation, when I find my arm long enough to reach him, is bad. One thing at least I can say, I love not any individual in your family less
Tbe Rer. H. Venn, grandfather of Rer. E. B. fiUiotL
than I should have done, if your honored grandfather had never been known to me: and if there be a superabundance of feeling towards them, as arising from my knowledge of him, no injury is done to them. It was for my spiritual benefit that he watched over me and labored; and if I miht, in the remotest possible de-S-ee, contribute to the spiritual benefit of any connected with m, it would indeed be a matter of unbounded joy.
“In passing within view of the Yelling grounds, (for spire, alas! no longer exists,) it is still my delightful employment to bring you all, not en masse but in* single file before our common Lord: and who can tell? though lean render no assistance to any of you. He can, and perhajps may send down a few drops of rain, in answer to the request of the most unworthy of his servants.
“The vases have only one fault; they are too elegant; but they are just placed securely in the front of my large glass, (a securer place than my mantelpiece,) and will call forth the admiration of a bride and bridegroom, who are to dine with me this very day. Believe me, I shall value them most highly for the donor’s sake; and that I am, with lively gratitude and affection, your brother in the Lord, C. Simeon.”
To his Godson at Haileybury College.
“Nov. 6, 1821.
My beloved James; —
I have this moment received a letter which greatly ai&icts me: it is the monthly Report, in which the word * quite’ is omitted; and even the word very’ is omitted, and nothing is said but ’ regular and correct.’ In the last three this has been the gradation:
“L Quite regular and correct.
“2. Very (not quite) regular (but not at all correct)
“3. Regular and correct (but not quite, or very.)
Is my beloved James degenerating 7 And as the time approaches for my losing sight of him for ever, am I to have less joy in him and less delight? Have you not, my ever dear boy, been my joy, my boast, my glory; and shall a diminution of your excellencies put me to shame 7
I am the more grieved, because I fear that my late method of testifying my love was injudicious, and has led you into the course which has lowered you in the estimation of your professors. If this have been the case, I pray you to forgive me. It is diflicult to feel ardent love, and not show it injudiciously. But for my sake, for your own sake, for your dear parent’s sake, I pray you correct instantly whatever is amiss; and let no young companion tempt you to persevere in anything, which is contrary to the rules of the college, or contrary to the dictates of sound judgment.
Beloved James, you have trod a distinguished path: get back
826 TBWDBK AlfXIETT FOE HI8 OODaON. [oHAP. ZZUL
to it without delay. Measure not out your good behavior by drams and scruples, but let the measure be full, pressed down, and running over. My unvaried feeling respecting you has hitherto been that of joy and delight: let it not, I beseech you, become that of anxiety and fear. It is but a little time, my dear boy, that your trials here and my anxieties are to last: let me have the supreme delight of sending you off to your father confirmed in all that is good, and laden with the love and applause of all who have the oversight of you.
As my last contained a draft, you should have acknowledged the receipt of it without delay. I construed your silence thus: ‘The public Report shall answer him: Quite, auiTE, auiTE, shall stand in telegraphic characters to rejoice his heart.’
Tell me, my beloved James, by an early post, that you are determined, with God’s help, that if I open the next Report with fear J I shall read it with joy. This will be a great comfort to the mind of
Your loving father in man’s stead, and
“Your anxious father in Grod’s stead, C. Simeon.’’
To the same: —
“Nov. 8, 1821.
“My beloved James, —
I thank you for your openness, and hope you will redouble your caution in future. When you know how my happiness is wrapt up in you, I can have no doubt but that you will further it to the very utmost of your power. I take it as a good omen respecting you, that the dean made rather light of the words * quite’ and *very.’ But you have misconstrued his meaninfi; I have no doubt.* Seeing you wounded and grieved at the dishonor incurred, he kindly and tenderly as I myself should probably have done, endeavored to heal your wound by that species of balm which was nearest at hand, upon the principle of not break — ing a bruised reed. But to one who loves you as 1 do, there is an immense difference between ’ quite’ and ’ very;’ and the omission of them is a dagger to my heart Being assured of this, I know you will cut off your hand rather than let me have anything but ‘Quite Quite Quite* in future.
“Yours ever, PHiLoauiTE.”
To the Rev. T. Thomason.
“Not. 87, 1821.
” My beloved Broflier, —
“Sweet tidings your letters bring. The abundance of your own personal labors, and of those engaged in the school-book society, amazes me; and the success your labors meet with, in
* It was really a matter of no moment whatever which gare rise to the change in the terme of the Report — Ed,
gaining the sanction and aid of Government, fills me with gratitude. In truth, I do not think lightly of those things; I well know the force of prejudice: I well know that God alone is able to subdue it; and that till He opens men’s eyes, they cannot see even the sun at noon-day. Indeed, I feel it an unspeakable mercy that I have been made acquainted with these secrets of the Lord; by means of this knowledge I derive ’ meat out of the eater, and * honey from the strong. Yet though I rejoice and glory when I am accounted worthy to sufier she for Christ, I reioice no less when I see * the earth helping the woman, and God overruling even ’ the wrath of man to praise him.’ It does seem that God is at work all the world over; and that the time is hastening on apace for all, both Jews and Gentiles, to glorify his name. That you too, my beloved brother, should be kept in so hot a furnace as your last summer, and not have ’ the smell of fire pass’ upon you; and this too, when the young and stout were attacked: my dear sister too, that she also has been preserved! I tell you of a truth that I believe these things to be of God; and that ‘He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.’
Former letters will have shown you* that I am labonn for you, to provide the assistance which you so greatly need. I nave a most lovely man to send you: all that is wanting is a vote of the court As for a person coming to you as a curate, it is thought that the directors would not suffer such an anomaly to be introduced into their system; and I fear that there is another director who would not suffer it, even if an assistant were this moment landed on your shore. I wish that he were forced to bear your burthen for one summer: he would soon feel the need of more consideration both for preachers, and hearers. I love general rules; and I can excuse him for making and acting up to them. But if God Himself dispenses with His laws in behalf of mercy, who is that man that shall thmk to serve God by establishing and maintaining rules at the expense of mercy? I wish he knew what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.’..
•*I am truly glad that you have expressed so decided a desire that James should go out as early as possible afler his term. It had been my own purpose: but 1 was already blamed not a little
by, who does not sufficiently consider what is best for the
youth. But I have learned not to speak, or say what I will do: I find it better to judge and act in silence; and not in relation to this only, but in everything. However, you have spread a broad shield over me, and I shall be as firm as King’s Chapel. Before the expiration of his term I shall have everything in readiness for him; and shall fix on the best ship, the best commander, the best company, as for my own son: and shall in all probability sail part of the way to India with him, as I did with you.
“Yours, &c. C. S.”
828 INJUKIOU8 TREATMENT. [cHAP. XZHI.
A Memorandum, on meeting with injurious treatment.
“K-C^Deo. 19, 1821.
A circumstance has just occurred; and I record it merely to illustrate an idea long familiar to my mind, and brought home to my experience, if not every day, certainly every upeek of my life; viz., that the servant of God does not live under the same laws as others; and that if he were to act towards others as they do towards him, the world, who are regardless of the treatment he meets with, would be full of indignation against him. [The incident is then narrated.]
Perhaps I ought to take some notice of it; but my rule is — never to hear, or see, or know, what if heard, or seen, or known, would call for animadversion from me. Hence it is that I dwell in peace in the midst of lions. My blessed Lord, ’ when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered. He threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.’ That seems the right thing for me to do: though some perhaps would think it better for me to stand up for my rights. But to all the accusations that were brought against Him, our Lord made no reply; insomuch tJuU the Governor marvelled greatly.* I delight in that record: and God helping me, it is the labor of my life so t6 act, that on my account also the governor, or spectator, may marvel
g««>
ly experience all this day has been, and I hope will yet continue to be, a confirmation of that word, ‘Thou wilt hide me in the secret of thy presence from the strife of tongues.’ Insult an angel before the throne, and what would he care about it? Just such will be my feeling, whilst I am hid in the secret of my Redeemer’s presence.”