Second Marriage
Three years after the death of his first wife, Mr James married again. In his narrative of his second marriage, after a few introductory observations, he says, —
By God’s good providence I was directed to one in every way AutoWoworthy to be the successor of my first wife, and this is saying much, The widow of Mr Benjamin Neale, of St Paul’s Churchyard, had been sought by many, but she was reserved for me. Her first husband was a man of distinguished worth; intelligent, yet modest and rather reserved; public spirited, yet meek and gentle. He was just emerging into public notice, and was likely to prove one of those to whom the present and future ages, and all the nations of the earth, will be indebted for those invaluable institutions which are doing so much for the conversion of the world to God. By one of the mysteries of Divine Providence, he was cut off by consumption at the age of thirty. His widow was left without family, and in the possession of property to the amount of about £20,000. This was placed at her own disposal, with an understanding that so much of it as was mentioned by him, amounting to £5000 or £6000, should at her death be devoted to religious institutions. Half of this sum she immediately paid over to various societies, reserving the other half to come after her decease. Instead of continuing housekeeping, Mrs Neale, at the death of her husband’s mother, with whom she for a while resided, went into lodgings, that she might have a
LIFE OF JOHN ANGELL JAJMES.
Autobio- larger sum to dispense in works of general and religious charity.
oiapiiical. short memoir of this eminent Christian is in print, together with a funeral sermon preached by Dr Eedford of Worcester, and entitled “Faith Triumphant,” I shall not enlarge here upon her early history nor her closing scenes. We were married by Rowland Hill, her particular friend, at Christ Church, Blackfriars, in London, February 19, 1822. She proved in every respect a helpmeet. Possessed of a masculine understanding, great public spirit, equal liberality, and eminently prudent, she was well fitted for the station into which Providence had now brought her. She had her failings; but they were very light and small compared with her many and eminent virtues.
I account both my marriages among the signal mercies of my life. Under God’s blessing, I owe not only much of the happiness of my life to them, but no small share of my usefulness. The counsel of my wives guided me, their prudence controlled me, and their sympathies comforted me. It has long been my opinion that the comparative failure of many of our ministers in their pubHc career is owing to unsuitable marriages. They are in haste to be married, and frequently make most unwise selections. Unhappily some of them had formed juvenile engagements before they entered upon their studies, which they could not very honourably dissolve, though very much below them; while others have most incautiously allowed themselves to be entangled while at college. It is but rarely that a student makes a wise choice. The result is, a frivolous, weak, moneyless, thriftless woman becomes his wife — a young family comes on — difficulties increase — a small stipend, hardly sufficient to obtain necessaries, is all they have to depend upon — the spirit of the husband and the pastor is broken, and he wears out life in moving from church to church, without being useful anywhere. He has had little leisure, and less disposition, surrounded as he has been with pecuniary embarrassments and domestic perplexities, to improve his mind and add to his stock of knowledge. What is the preventive of all this? Celibacy? By no means; but great care, deliberation, caution, and patience in the selection of a wife, united with much and earnest prayer to be guided aright.