Mr. John Poynder
My acquaintance with this good and distinguished character, was continued for considerably more than fifty years. It commenced from a letter I received desiring me to inform him from what author I had given an extract, in my sermon preached upon the formation of the London Missionary Society. This inquiry was prefatory to something else, — and he soon expressed his gratitude to God that he ever heard that discourse, as” it had had such an effect upon him as he hoped would never wear away.’’ And this was the case; for from that period he was found a decided, avowed, consistent, undeviating, and zealous follower of the Lamb.
After this letter, upon my going to London to fulfil my annual appointment at Surrey Chapel, I had my first personal interview vrith him. The meeting was affecting; and we exchanged some pleasing thoughts and feelings. After this we seized every opportunity to meet and converse; and though, as he was a Tory, and a firm Churchman, and I a Whig and moderate Dissenter, and we, therefore, differed in some of our political and ecclesiastical views, this, instead of gendering alienation, rather endeared us the more to each other. Harmony is better than unison — “Yes,” says Lord Bacon, “and it is so, not only in sounds but in affections.’
Hence during my annual weeks of labour in London, Mr. Poynder frequently heard me, and has given most ample proof of his kind approbation of my services, by his multiplied quotations from my preaching and publications, in his three volumes of” Literary Extracts/^ In these three volumes, he shows much reading, judgment, and taste; yet they would have borne abridgment or reduction. It is natural for persons when they read to remark and transcribe. But what strikes them peculiarly at the time, owing to its novelty, or something in their own circumstances or feelings, may appear very differently afterwards; and the wonder is that, in the cool review, more freedom was not here used in selection, and articles weighed rather than numbered.
Though these volumes are large, they are not all his issues from the press. His publications were numerous, in all of which usefulness was the obvious design and tendency. As he was a Christian, many of them turned on religious subjects: The evangelization of our Eastern dominions. — The Paganism of Popery. — The sanctification of the Lord’s Day, &c.
As an East India Proprietor he spoke much in favour of the abolition of Sutteeism, or burning of widows. In this work and labour of love, many of his speeches were very able and eloquent, and several of them were published. Several years before his death he had the satisfaction of seeing his exertions crowned with success. — He was equally earnest and persevering in opposing the accursed tax arising from the idolatrous worship of Juggernaut. But he died without seeing this foul staia wiped off from our government; and hope deferred made the heart sick.’’ But he had roused the public indignation, and awakened a cry that he knew must be heard in due time.
Never was there a warmer advocate of evangelical truth, and the doctrines of the Reformation.
Never was there a more determined enemy to Popery, and its half-sister, Puseyism.
Never did man more strive to serve his generation by the wUl of God.
And, as to his private and relative character, who ever excelled him — as an attached husband, a devoted father, a faithful friend, or a helper of the needy?
Behold what may be done by a single individual when disposition, ability, and opportunity concur.
“The memory of the just is blessed.”
N.B. — I wrote this brief sketch the very day I was informed of his death, lest, at my time of life, I should be prevented from bearing even a very inadequate testimony to a man of so much varied worth.