Letters, 1824–1826
Letters — To Rev. T. Thomaaon on Lord Powerscourt’s Benefaction — Mr. Qoode’s iep moval to India — Progress of Religion in Cambridge — Gteneral Improvement of the University — Sermons on the GUMpel — Mr. Goode’s Appointment — The Vice-ehanoellor at the Jews’ Meetine — To J. J. Gumey, Esq. on the Motto to his Essays.’ — To a Friend on Fidelity to-( — To the Same on suffering Persecation — To a Missionary on the Golden Mean — On Human Infirmities — To Rev. S. Carr on the circulation A the Apocrypha — on a bequest for Religious Objects — On the numbers at his Evening Parties — On receiving marks of Attention.
1824 — 1826.
COBREBPONDENCE, ETC.
To the Rev. T. Thomason.
“JBL 0^ Camb., June 8, 1834.
“My beloved Brother, —
*” I now come to that which is more particularly my own province.
1st. To ask you whether you ever received my letter, desiring to know how I may, to the greatest profit, apply a sum of money left to me with two other trustees, by Lord Viscount Powerscourt for the use of India. I wish you to learn, and to give me a choice of plans — not plans already carrying on by the Church Missionary Society; but others, to which their funds are not applied. I must not be limited to one, but must have different to choose out of. You will of course give me your opinion: but I shall submit all to my co-trustees, and act with them: they are Mr. Justice Lefroy, and the Hon. Mr. Wingfield, Lord Powerscourt’s brother.
. 2nd. Let me give you my opinion about your appointment to the Presidency Church. I wish I could send you my advice by a carrier-pigeon. On an abstract view of the question I might agree with Mr. Corrie and Mr. Sherer; but I have entered lully into matters, and I think I have already informed you that I am to appoint your successor, and have for the place, I hope, another Martyn, almost in talent and altogether in piety — my own assistant, Mr. Goode, a son of him who ‘was minister of St. Anne’s, Blackfriars.
“All your exertions in India perfectly surprise me: your Bible committees, book societies, &C.9 &c.; I quite blush when I see what you are all doing. But we must all be content with doiog what we can, and feel neither envy nor discouragement at being
348 IMPROVEMENTS IN THE UNIVBB8ITT. [OHAP. XXYI.
exceeded by others. In truth, the whoIe world seems to have received somewhat of a new impulse; and glorious times are fast approaching. The sun and the moon are scarcely more different from each other than Cambridge is from what it was when I was first minister of Trinity Church; and the same change has taken place through almost the whole land.
“Dear Professor Parish has become an itinerant advocate for the Church Missionary Society. A few years ago I should have as soon expected that he would be historical painter to his majesty, or envoy extraordinary to the court of China. His soul is surprisingly quickened, and his powers are increased. He looks very little older than when you were here.
“I believe I told you of the immense alterations that are taking place in the colleges here. Corpus (Bene’t) has built an entire new college, which will be finished before Christmas. Trinity has added a court that enables them to admit into college double the number they used. King’s is building a most magnificent college at £100.000 expense. St John’s think of emulating Trinity. A wonderfully fine observatory is built on the road to Madingley.... What think you of taking away Caius College, and of rebuilding it by the hospital? It is probable that may be done. By .the way, Addenbrooke’s Hospital also is doubled in size. — Where Caius College now is, if it be removed, we shall have a grand museum. Yet wonderful as all this improvement is, it does not exceed the improvement in the studies of the University. All is going forward together, and I hope when you come, you will find us all improved.”
To the Rev. T. Thomabon.
Deo. I, 1824.
My beloved Brother, —
“I can fully enter into the difference you experience in your ministrations at the cathedral; and I fear that your valuable time is sadly broken in upon by mere official calls. I have myself but three days ago finished my course before the University, I have some idea that I told you in my last what the subject was; if I did, forgive me for mentioning it now. It was ’ the glorious Gospel of the* blessed God,’ (1 Tim. i. 11:) its nature and office — its riches and fulness — its suitableness and sufficiency — its excellency and glory
Glorious news have I to tell you. This very day does my friend and assistant, Mr. Goode, receive his final appointment to succeed to your church. You will now have a coadjutor second only to dear Martyn. In his ministry he will be far superior to Martyn: it is only in research and powers of mind that he will be second. I thank God most unfeignedly for enabling me to make this sacrifice. Mr. Goode, I expect, will sail in January with Mjr. Sherer: a blessed pair to send to you at once! •. I should
CBAF. XZVI.] STEADFASTNESS UNDEE TEIAL8. 849
tell you that the next vacancy for Bengal will be filled with one pf my recommending: so that I stand m the same relation to India that I did before Mr. Grant’s death. How justly is the memory of that blessed man honored!
I ought to tell you that the Master of Corpus, Mr. Lamb, took the chair at our Jews* meeting, notwithstanding he was vice-chancellor; and Dr. Godfrey, the President of Queens’, was also there. In truth, things are wonderfully altered even since your time. What reason for thankfulness have we on account of these changes! As for me, I am precisely the same that ever I was: so that the change is in others, and not in me. But it is the Lord’s work, and marvellous in our eyes.”
To J. J. GuRNEY, Esq., Earlham Hall.
“Jan. 4, 1825.
My beloved Friend and Brother, —
‘* I have received your most kind and acceptable present, and had hoped before this time to have read your Essays on Christianity, that when I acknowledged the receipt of them I might be able to speak of them from a knowledge of their contents. It was a real delight to me to see your motto, EN toytoIS iJSBF^ I Tim. iv. 15, in the title-page. O that it were written on the hearts of all who make a profession of religion; and so vmtten that their profiting might appear unto all men I This is to be men of God.’ Nothing short of this will suffice. Ask those who have profited most in every profession, in every art, and every science, what has led them to their attainments?- They will all tell you that they owe their proficiency to this motto. Gro on, my beloved brother, and may God make you more and more earnest in His blessed work, and give you to see the desire of your heart in the edification and salvation of many, many
souls r
To the Rev. Mr. on fidelity to God,
“K.C., July 26, 1825.
“My dear Friend, —
‘* Agreeably to your wish, I commit to paper the substance of what I mentioned to you in conversation.
“From the time that I set myself to seek the Lord, and more especially from the time that I began to minister in holy things, 1 found trials in my own family. My father especially was prejudiced against Methodism, as it is called; and required me to renounce the friendship of the Honorable Mr. Cadogan, who preached at Reading, where my father lived. I told my father, that if he could allege anything against the moral character of my firiend, I would renounce him instantly; but that if I was called
850 STEADFASTNfiSS UNDBE TEIAIA [cHAP. XZVI.
to renounce him on account of his fidelity to my Lord and Saviour, I should consider it as a denial of my Liord himself; and I darecL not to do it (2 Tim. i. 16.) When he complained of my disobedience, (I did obey him so far as not to preach for Mr. Cadofan, because I had no particular call to that,) I desired him to nd out some test whereby to try the obedience of all his sons; and if he found me second to any, I would we him leave to lay the blame on religion; but if he put his authority in competition with that of God himself, he rendered it impossible for me to obey him; nay, he himself would be the first to condemn me as a hypocrite, when he found me loving and serving an earthly parent more than my Lord and Saviour.
I sent him a sermon written by old Mr. Venn, upon Matt x. 34 — 39. Whether he ever read it or not I cannot tell. I myself have written on that passage; but it is since my * Horai’ were published, and it will appear in my next four volumes; but if you should wish for a copy of it, it shall be at your service. I do not know one syllable that I have written; but I should have no hesitation in saying, that it is a clear exposition of my views, and of that passage so far as I understand it The circumstance of my not knowing what I have written there is an advantage in this respect, that it cannot have been written for this particular occasion. Indeed, instead of speaking more on this subject now, when I may be supposed to write under a bias, I should rather refer to that, as containing my deliberate and unbiassed sentiments.
“Unhappily my poor father retained his prejudices to the last; but I have never entertained a doubt, but that I did right in obeying God rather than man. Great care must be taken that we act in a right spirit, and that we ’ let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.* But if the Cross cannot be removed by mild and gentle means, we must consider it as lying fairly in our way, and must take it up and bear it after our blessed Lord. And if, in this mode of proceeding, we lose father or mother, or house or lands, for Christ’s sake, we have His assurance that we shall receive an hundred-fold more in this life, (and in kind too,) with persecutions, and in the world to come life everlasting, (Mark x. 28 — 30.)
Hoping that God will be graciously pleased to afibrd both to you and to your friends all needful direction and support,
I remain, my dear friend, very affectionately yours,
“C. Simeon.”
To the same, on suffering persecution.
My very dear Friend, —
God is now calling you to serve Him and to honor Him in a more especial manner; and I trust you will approve yourself a good soldier of Jesus Christ As for receding from
OHAP. ZXVI.] ON BUFriRIirO PBS8B0UTI0N. 8S1
the field of battle, I hope you will not entertain the thought for a /Single momeat The eyes of all the University will be fixed on you; and by your conduct many will either be intimidated, oi emboldened, to maintain their holy profession with more firmness than ever. (Phil. i. 14.) God is putting sreat honor upon you, in that He is ’ making you a partaker of Christ’s sufferings.” The Spirit of glory ana of Grod is now made more visibly to rest upon you.’ It is as a Christian, and for the name of Christ, that you are reproached; and therefore, instead of being ashamed, you have reason to glorify God on this behalf. (1 Pet. iv. 12 — 16. You will now know what this passage means.) Your less enlightened friends will pity you, but those who are better instructed out of the Holy Scriptures will congratulate you. Moses possessed a higher situation than you did, and voluntarily renounced it all that he might * suffer aiQiction with the people of God.’ He balanced against each other the best of this worlds all the riches of the greatest kingdom upon earth, and the worst of religion reproach and the Cross; and he found that the Christian’s portion was as a talent of gold against a feather. Seek from God the same faith as he possessed, and you will soon both approve his choice, and follow his example. And who can tell what God has for you to do for the advancement of His kingdom? Matthew was called fi*om his employment, Peter and John from theirs, and Paul from his, that they might be more at liberty to serve Him*; and for this honor they counted all things but as dung and dross. But I would earnestly wish you not to be precipitate as to any measures which you shall adopt; God, who has called you to this trial, will make your way plain before your face, if only you wait upon Him in faith and patience
“I did intend to have written you a long letter, but my pressing engagements have prevented me from executing my purpose. I only add, what would Paul have said to you in existing circumstances? Would he have used the language of consolation? Would he not of congratulation rather? Y es, assuredly of congratulation; and I have no doubt but that ’ after you have suffered dwhile! God will ’ stablish, strengthen, settle you,’ and turn all your troubles into occasions of praise and thanksgiving. Believe me, my dear friend,
‘^ Your truly sympathizing and most afiectionate friend,
“C. Simeon.”
To the Rev. Mr. T — , on * the golden mean.’
“K. C, Camb., July 0, 1825.
My beloved Brother, —
‘’ Perhaps you little thought that in what you have said about extremes, and against the golden mean you would carry me along with you. But I not only go along with you, I even go
$52 TBI OOU>BN MBAir. [oHAP. XKWU
far beyond you: for to you I can say in words, what for thoie thirty years I have proclaimed in deeds, (you will not misunderstand me,) that the truth is not in the middle, and not in one eartreme; but in both extremes. I see you filled with amazement, and doubting whether I am sober, (t. e.) in my sober senses. Here were two extremes; observing days, eating meats, dec
* Paul, how do you move? In the mean way V * No, — * To one extreme T * No, — * How then V * To both extremes in their turn, as occasion requires/
Here are two other extremes, Calvinism and Arminianism, (for you need not be told how long Calvin and Arminiua lived before St Paul.) *How do you move in reference to these, Paul? In a golden mean V No.’ — * To one extreme V * No.’ —
How then? * To both extremes: to-dav I am a strong Calvinist; to-morrow a strong Arminian.’ — * Well, well, Paul, I see thou art beside thyself: go to Aristotle, and learn the golden mean.’
But, my brother, I am unfortunate: I ‘formerly read Aristotle, and liked him much: I have since read Paul, and caught somewhat of his strange notions oscillatine (not vacillating) from pole to pole. Sometimes I am a high Caivinist, at other times a low Arminian, so that if extremes will please you, I am your man; only remember, it is not one extreme that we are to go to, but both extremes.
“Now, my beloved brother, if I find you in the zenith on the one side, I shall hope to find you in the nadir on the other; and then we shall be ready (in the estimation of the world, and of moderate Christians, who love the golden mean) to go to Bedlam together.
Now to your letter — * exalting missionaries above societies, If you are wrong, I am ten times more wrong than you in this
also: for in my address to the Society, delivered eight or
ten years ago at Freemason’s Hall, and published by them, I labored this point with all my might. Tou know that I, when delivering my sentiments before the Lord, do not know much of the golden mean; so that I am still with you, my brother, and with my whole heart. Societies are like the cabinet of ministers, who send out armies, and sit at home, and get some credit: but it is the armies that strike the blow, and that are God’s instruments to us for good. Yet the cabinets are of use in their place, though they may sometimes be wrong in their judgment.
In truth, my brother, I am ready to go with you much farther also in what you say of committees. This is the case at this moment in the (committee of. And I think, in the instance you
refer to, our own committee did not judge well. And if all committees were more earnest in prayer to God for direction, they would do better. Still, however, there must be committees, aa well as cabinets; and where there are fnen, there will be mistakes
CHAF. XXTI.] LETTER TO RB^. S. CARE. 85S
and errors, and infirmities; and if we expect only from tnen what savors strongly of human infirmity, we shall be less stumbled by their errors, i ou will remember that every missionary has not your powers of thought; and that if all were left to themselves, there is no knowing what they would do. To say the least, there would be no unity in their plans; and the errors of the many would in the issue be found quite equal in numbers to the errors of the committee.
“And now let me ask, did you expect to find such an agreement between us? Did you not expect that there would be a considerable diversity in our opinions? Well, let there be the same unity in our spirit. Let us not expect too much from man; but look simply to the Lord, to act by them, or without them, or against them, as He pleases. We will be thankful for all the good that He does, either by individuals or societies: for whether Paul plant, or Apollos water, it is * God alone who gives the increase.’ And whilst in our desires we will be enlarged to the uttermost, we will be moderate in our expectations; (the golden mean may here be used;) and let neither our joys so prevail as to dispel our sorrows, nor our sorrows so prevail as to overwhelm our joys.
* Rejoice with trembling,’ and tremble with rejoicing, has always been my motto. I never pass a day without seeing occasion for both, in all around me; but most of all in
“Your most affectionate brother, C. Simeon.”
To the Rev. S. Care, on aiding the Bible Society.
<’M»7 1^,1826.
“My dear Friend, —
I went last week to town, though very unfit to be out of my room on account of gout, from which I am not yet quite recovered, very much for the purpose of showing my face at the Bible Society. Persons unacquainted with my state of health would have put a wrong construction on my absence, and have imputed it to pique. I lelt it due therefore to my Divine Master to show that He did not suffer me to be under the influence of any such feeling as that.*
“I consider the Bible Society as forced into the measures they have adopted; though I think there is among them a lamentable want of what / consider as right feeling in relation to the whole matter. However, I presume not to judge them. Those who ate, and those who abstained from eating, meats offered to idols,
During the preriouB yenr Sftr. Simeon had nobliibed a letter to Lord Teignmoath, in vindication of the proceedings of the Bible Society relatiTe to the circulation of the Apocrypha. After much warm controvervy, the society at length resoWed, that “the fundamental law, which limits their operations to the circulation of the Holy Sciiptuies, be fully and distinctly recognized as excluding the circulation of the Apociypha.”
IM oir A BiairiflT w<fit sujoioira objbctb. [ohaf. zxfi.
were eqnaOy accepted of their 6od» and were only warned not to judge or to despise one another. I do not think wat any either lodge or despise me; and sorry should I be to manifest less candor than my adversaries.
The Bible Society will yet do good, and still needs support. But I do think that the field which Iney abandon should be occupied, and most thankful shall I be to see it occupied, and to take my post there. To do this with effect, we must show that we are not influenced by any bad spirit I think we should still aid the old Society; but I do not see that we are necessitated to leave all Apocrypbists in darkness, because they have done so. I will see some friends, and endeavor to set on foot something. But I am a poor insignificant creature to lead, I would infinitely rather IbUow.
I wish Mr. B. may not run too fast. But it is diflicult to embark in a good cause, and to proceed with all the moderation that is requisite for its ultimate success. I would run as fast as he: but 1 want to win the race; and therefore proceed at this part of the course somewhat slower than he. A warm advocate will call this lukewarmness; to me it appears, in existing circum-’ stances wisdom and prudence.’*
MEMORANDA ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS.
On a Bequest for religious Objects.
“Feb. 23, 1820.
About four years ago, when I was in my blessed work of purchasing livings, to secure in perpetuity pious and laborious ministers m them, by the advice of a genUeman I wrote to Dr. Kilvington, whom I had never seen, to ask some assistance towards it, thinking he might possibly give me £500; and behold he ave me nearly £8000 I And now that I am again engaged to the amount of above £10,000, a gentleman, whom I never saw but once, and then only for half-an-nour, has died and left me, as my informant says, £9000. My poor dear honored and lamented father thought that I should ruin myself by giving my money to the poor; and therefore left my little fortune in the hands of trustees, to keep me from this apprehended mischief.. Behold, this is the way in which God leaves me to be ruined! Oh, what a master He is!. wonder who ever lost by serving Him! It is suflicient for me to know, that * what we give for His glory, we lend to Him; and He will repay us again.’ But He will not even take the loan: for on both these occasions He has just interposed (as indeed he has on several other occasions) to forestall ana prevent the payment out of my own pocket; so that I am still as
Strong as ever to prosecute the same good work. Who needs prove to me the providence of God ?*?
On receiving Marks of Attention.
May 26, 1836.
“I have thought that I would not make any memorandum of two events, lest it should appear to savor of vanity; but they do in a very striking wav evince the gpodness of God to me, and may serve to show how He rewards a simple and faithful adherence to Him. I remember the time that I was quite surprised that a fellow of my own college ventured to walk with me for a quarter of an hour on the grass-plot before Clare Hall: and for many years after I began my ministry, I was a man wondered at, by reason of the paucity of those who showed any regard for true religion. But now on my open days, (Fridays,) when I receive visitors at tea, frequently more than forty (all without invitation) come. What an honor is this! How impossible would it have been for me ever to have obtained it, if I had sought it I But God gives it me unsought”
Again. — In the month of April I was proposed as a member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ;* and as it was apprehended that I might be black-balledy (for some have been who were far less notorious than myself,) there went a host of bishops and other dignitaries of the Church, with their friends (about 90 or 100 in all,) to beat down opposition, and to vote me in* with a high hand. I understand there were but three opponents; and that Mr. was peculiarly zealous in my support.
Is not this of the Lord?
*’ Again. — Last week three bishops did me the honor of visiting me; Dr. Burgess, Bishop of Salisbury — Dr. Law, Bishop of Bath and Wells — Dr. Jebb, Bishop of Limerick: and I accompanied them to King’s Chapel, and to Trinity Library, and spent above an hour with them. This shows how much Christian liberality has increased, and is increasing. I am not conscious that I am.
In hit ‘Answer’ to Dr. llanh in 1813, Mr. 3iiiieoii obterrei in a note: —” As it is possible that a circomatance relating to myself may give you oocasioD to represent me as no friend to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, I will here mention it ... I once had the honor of being a member of that society mtself; hut afterwards, for reasons which appeared to me satasfiictory at the time, I withdrew mj Altering however my opiiuon sometime after, abope twenty yean ago I wished to
renew my subscription; and the late Dean of Ely, Dr. Cooke, then Prorost of King’s College, had undertaken to propose me. But on mentionuig it to the Rev. Secietaiy of that sode, he found a doubt suggested whether my name would be re-admitted. Of course, I did not choose to be proposed, if there was the smallest chance of a repulse; and have been deterred from offering myself by that ronakieration ever since. But though I have not offered myself, I nearly two years ago recommended mj brother t<f become a a member; and if you, sir, will do me the honor to propose me, (npr with ymer recommendation I can be in no danger of a repulse,) I shall be happy in being again united to that society, and in co-operating in all their benevolent designs.”
856 UMPSOT nov bishopb. [chap, xxtl
die atom len faithful to my God than in former days, or more defliroofl of human favor; yet God is pleased thus graciously to honor me. In former years I should as soon have expected a visit from three crownea heads, as from three persons wearing a mitre; not because there was any want of condescension in them, but because my religious character affixed a stigma to my name. I thank God that I receive this honor as from Him, and am pleased with it no further than as it indicates an increasing regard for religion amongst my superiors in the Church, and may tend to lessen prejudice amongst those to whom the report of it may ccwne.**