Rev. Thomas Haweis, M.D.
Dr. HaweiSj in various respects, was a character well known in the religious world. He was for a time cotemporaiy with the founders of Methodism, though he was not a student at Oxford till Wesley and Whitfield had left that University. I have heard him mention that, during his residence at the College, he sometimes went over on the Sabbath to Weston-Favel to hear the celebrated James Hervey; and observing (what I had heard also especially from Mr. Newton and others, viz.) the dull aspect of his congregation, and the difference there was between the liveliness of his writings, and the unimpressiveness of his preaching. This rather strange fact may excite wonder; but it furnishes matter for a twofold remark.
First: — How divided and individual endowments and excellencies are! and.
Secondly: — How the sovereignty of God appears, not only in his choice of instruments, but the way and work in which he employs them! and herein the Lord does not often conform to the judgment, or gratify the wishes of his servants themselves. They prefer a particular place or line of operation; but they find themselves unexpectedly in other situations and engagements; and though the providence may be trying at first, after a while grace produces acquiescence, and enables the man to be thankful if, in any mode or degree, he is honoured to be useful.
I enter not into the case of Dr. Haweis’s obtaining the Living of Aid winkle; concerning which there was a great difference of opinion, and several pamphlets published. The late Dr. Bridges and my father-in-law, the Kev. Edward Davies, also a beneficed clergyman, always defended him; and this was probably the case with others. I understood from Mr. Winter that Mr. Whitfield indeed much wished him to resign the living; and Lady Huntingdon advanced a very considerable sum to satisfy or silence the complainant. I have more than once heard the Doctor say, that he ofiered to do anything for the complainant, if he would accept it as a distressed man, and not as an injured man; but as he demanded remuneration as a right, he could do nothing without condemning himself.
The Doctor himself always avowed that the living was put into his hands after he had clearly and fully and repeatedly stated the only way in which he ought and only could consent to receive it, without an act of simony. But it made an impression generally against him; especially among those who judge not according to the rectitude of the case, but the usages of church-jobbing. Some, not wanting in impartiality, asked, — Was it the avoiding the (perhaps) appearance of evil? and — Was it lovely and of good report?
The Doctor may, perhaps, be considered the first man in the South Sea Mission. Some years before the London Missionary Society was established, from the accounts published by Captain Bligh and some other navigators, he was induced to choose, and bear the expense of preparing, two young men to go as missionaries to Otaheite, but who, as soon as they were educated, ignobly and deceitfully preferred staying at home. This exceedingly disappointed and distressed him; but he now drew off his attention and desire from the project and the place. When, therefore, this great and successful institution was formed, he rejoiced, and early attached himself to it. He preached the first sermon, at the first meeting in Spa Fields Chapel,, on its behalf; and as the Directors and Managers were at a loss where to begin, he naturally and promptly directed their view to scenes of labour, which had become familiar to his mind, by much thinking and some efibrt and expense. And these were Otaheite and Tongataboo, the most central and advantageous stations for communication and extension.
As an Author, he published a volume of sermons and several single discourses, with some essays and tracts. But his principal works were, an Exposition of the whole Bible, in three volumes folio; and a Church History, in three volumes octavo. The former of these has often been supposed to be an abridgment of Henrys but it was not so designed, and is in reality a Commentary of his own, possessing no little value. The latter has been considered as a very hasty and superficial performance; but it has the recommendation of always nobly and simply looking after real and vital Christianity; and of frequently finding it and showing it where partial or prejudiced ecclesiastics have overlooked it, or anathematized it. It always breathes a most liberal spirit towards his brethren among the Dissenters and Methodists. He animadverts freely and judiciously with regard to Constantine, and the consequences of his conversion to the Christian Church, while his arguments against Milner, with regard to penal enactments in an Establishment, are unanswerable.
He had a peculiar confidence in himself, and a readiness of address which never failed him. But this rather injured him as a preacher, (and where has not this envied talent injured the owner?) so that leaning on his facility, he neglected retirement and study; and commonly had company on the evenings of his preaching, from which he seldom withdrew, till the clerk arriving with the robes and three-bushel wig reminded him that the time was up. Hence, though able to do so much better, his sermons not only wanted method and consecutiveness, but were cxMnmonplace and unctionless.
It is a bad case when a man has acquired the knack of preaching, and can talk on for an hour in the pulpit without effort and without effect. In proportion as the truths and doctrines we preach are well known and familiar, so much the more necessary is it to retire and meditate them much, that our own minds may be affected by them, and that we may render them impressive and interesting to those. that hear us.
It is well for a young minister to feel difl&culties; and if these induce him to retirement, study, and prayer, he will in time surpass, at least in efficiency and usefulness, many who proudly j;owered above him at the beginning. This is one of the cases in which the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. To whom was the admonition addressed, —” Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all?^’ Yet young men, who are not Timothys, talk of the time when they finished their studies!
As before the Gospel was preached in the churches in Bath, Lady Huntingdon’s Chapel was a place of fashionable resort, and as many careless creatures attended, especially on the Lord’s Day evenings, the Doctor’s style of address was too invariably terrific; and derived from such texts as these, — “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,’’ —” Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?” — “Depart, ye cursed,” &c. But was this the more excellent way? Is there not danger that such tremendous expressions will lose their force by constant repetition? Is such horrifying declamation preaching the Gospel, and bringing good tidings of great joy? It would be well to endeavour to ascertain what is the legitimate employment of terror in an evangelical ministry. The use of it should not be a preacher’s pleasure, but pain; and as an old writer says,” He should always utter a Divine threatening, as a judge would
pronounce sentence of death upon his son/^ Our subject is “the faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners,” and the value of terror only is as an auxiliary or motive to enforce the reception of our message of pardon and peace. So the apostles employed it: “Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” to accept the mercy and grace we hold forth. He hath “committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you m Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
The Doctor’s manner also was high, and not sufficiently courteous to the common people. Hence, after preaching long in Bath,, the dissatisfied congregation induced him to decline his ministry among them, and also his attendance at the chapel. From this time he constantly worshipped with us, till his death. I attended him in his last illness, if it deserved the name, for, as he had no fears, so he had no pains, — so entirely was his end peace.
One thing he desired, and it was in character with his love of the missionary enterprise. On the very day of his death, one of the first set of missionaries sent to Otaheite was expected in Bath. It is hardly possible to express the earnestness with which he wished to see him before he breathed his last. He sent again and again to my house, begging that if he called upon me first I would instantly bring him to his dying bed. The missionary came — he called upon me; and, without asking him to sit down, I hurried and introduced him. We found Dr. Haweis like the expiring Simeon, saying, with tears, “Now, Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.”
He left a large diary, which would have thrown much light on the earlier periods and events of the revival of religion in our own country; but his son, a clergyman, of very opposite views to
Ms father s, prevented the use which I wished to have made of it.
By the way how was it when Evangelism was so persecuted in the nation, and our bishops were so averse to its doctrines, that so many of the obnoxious clergy were suffered to act so irregularly as to preach for weeks and months together in places unconsecrated and unlicensed, yet retaining their livings; which was the case with Berridge, Venn, Penticross, Glascot, Haweis, &c.?
Dr. Haweis, speaking one day of Whitfields wonderful voice, and of its force as well as sweetness and variety of tone, said, he believed on a serene evening it might be distinctly heard for very nearly a mile. Was this possible?