THE Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine: FOR MARCH, 1822. BIOGRAPHY. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE CHARACTER OF BY JABEZ BUNTING. (Concluded from page 79.) I HAVE thus endeavoured to direct your attention to various excellencies which adorned the PERSONAL and PUBLIC CHARACTER of MR. BENSON. If any ask, "What were his defects, his infirmities, his faults," I answer, that, whatever they were, they will not be particularized by me in this place. I know them not, with that distinctness or certainty, which would be necessary to render a public detail of them instructive to others, or even innocent to myself; for I reverence him as a Father, and hope to be eternally grateful for his ministry, under which, in early life, I sat with much profit, and for his friendship, conversation, and example, in subsequent years. Nor do I recognize any rule of duty which binds me to take notice of them at all, in a mere Sketch like this, except for the purpose of declaring my conscientious belief, that they were few and trivial, in comparison of his many and distinguished virtues. Whatever of this nature I at any time observed, during my acquaintance with him, grew very much, I think, out of the circumstances of comparative seclusion from general society, in which he was, of late years, placed. He was so perfectly busy in doing his own work, that he knew not, in many cases, how much was doing by others; and might thus be led to under-rate the good which is actually in progress, in the Church of CHRIST, and in the world, and to indulge views of men and things more gloomy than just or accurate. But even such mistaken views generally made him weep over, rather than satirize, or cynically and malevolently proclaim, the evils of which he thought there was some reason to be apprehensive. He "sighed and cried" for what VOL. I. Third Series. MARCH, 1822. T he judged to be amiss or defective; and for such holy exercises, it must be allowed, there is always, in this mixed and imperfect state, sufficient occasion, even on the most favourable view that can be soberly indulged. "Them that honour me, I will honour."-This gracious rule of the divine government is eminently illustrated in the case of MR. BENSON. 1. He was signally honoured in the remarkable success of his Ministry. Few men, in modern times, have been so useful in awakening the careless and worldly from the slumbers of sin, and in "winning souls" to God. The persons converted by his instrumentality, in various parts of this kingdom, have been very numerous; of whom 66 some are fallen asleep" in JESUS, and others "remain unto this present," evincing by their holy and consistent lives the genuineness of their religious experience. In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Manchester, Halifax, Leeds, Hull, and the populous vicinities which surround those places, and which formed a part of the Circuits attached to them in the earlier periods of MR. BENSON's labours, this success was particularly striking; and the fruit of his "preaching and living" has been permanent. Some very extraordinary instances of "the overwhelming power of saving grace," which attended his ministry, are related on unquestionable authority; and prove that "GOD was with him of a truth." 2. He was honoured in the high esteem and reverence which his piety, talents, and usefulness, obtained for him, from his Brethren in the Ministry, and from our Societies at large. How many thousands of excellent persons are now pouring their grateful blessings on his memory, and following his flight to glory with the exclamation, "My Father! my Father! The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" Your cordial concurrence in these affectionate sentiments towards the venerable deceased, has been sufficiently evinced by the circumstances which lately characterized his public funeral, and by those which mark the present solemnity. Of the feelings of his friends in the country some idea may be conveyed by the following extracts from Letters, just received; which I gladly read, because they furnish convincing proofs of what I have stated concerning MR. BENSON's great usefulness, as well as of the high place which he deservedly occupied in public esteem. A Letter from Bradford, Yorkshire, eontains these observations : "MR. BENSON was always in the habit of improving time when he attended our Annual Conferences, by preaching very frequently. He therefore made excursions, and preached in neighbouring Circuits. At the last Leeds Conference, though so far advanced in years, he preached, on the same day, twice at Bradford and once at Halifax, to immense crowds. "At one Leeds Conference, (I believe in 1781,) he went over to Birstal, and preached on the LORD's-day. The congregation was large. He discoursed on Heb. xi. 7, in his best style. It is said that fifty persons were awakened under that sermon, amongst whom were MR. JOHN NELSON, and a pious, steady Leader at Clayton, who gave me this account. "MR. BENSON's labours in this Circuit (which then included Halifax, &c.,) were abundantly blessed to the conversion and edification of many. He was first stationed here in 1777, and again in 1782, and 1783. GOD was with him; and the "aged disciples" speak of him with high affection and reverence. A great number also of comparatively young members of Society do the same. I account for this, on two grounds: (1.) The conversation of those who were benefited under his ministry: I can recollect, nearly thirty years ago, when I laboured in Halifax Circuit, to have heard such details of MR. BENSON's Sermons, Prayers, and manner of life, as could not fail to make indelible impressions on all minds possessed of any degree of religious feeling: (2.) His occasional visits, in which he preached the Gospel to vast multitudes with the HOLY GHOST sent down from heaven. "Perhaps, I might add, that his Editorship of our Magazine, his Commentary, &c., tended to keep alive in the minds of the people, in these parts, an affectionate regard for him. You can hardly conceive how much the friends here seem to feel on the occasion of his departure.” Another Letter, from Hull, says, "MR. BENSON may with truth be said to have been the Apostle of this part of the country. He was appointed for Hull in 1786. The Methodist Society was then few in number, and the Chapel in which they worshipped was very small. The LORD owned his labours, and before the following Christmas, the Chapel was crowded with hearers; and as the service began at six o'clock in the evening, it was necessary to be there soon after five o'clock to secure a seat. The congregation continued to increase, and a larger place of worship became necessary. MR. BENSON, after surmounting many difficulties, with much labour and exertion, succeeded in raising the 'beautiful and commodious Chapel,' (as he termed it,) situated in George-Yard. There is not a place in this Circuit, in which the name of BENSON is not as ointment poured forth. At sundry times, during the period of his station here, the HOLY SPIRIT was in a most wonderful manner poured out, while he was dispensing the word of life; and many persons now living speak of those times with a high degree of pleasure. He was indeed a Minister of GOD for good to this people, and they are sure that Hull is deeply indebted to him, under GOD, for the respectable situation it now holds in the Methodist world." 3. He was divinely honoured in the tranquillity of his end. If, in the very last weeks of decay and extreme debility, he had no ecstatic raptures, still he had no fears, no hesitations, no gloomy uncertainties. The Narrative which you have heard of the circumstances of his sickness and death must have reminded you of that text, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." 4. He is now, doubtless, receiving the honours of heavenly glory. To him we may apply with full confidence, and with a propriety more than common, the words of our blessed SAVIOUR, recorded by ST. LUKE, "Who then is that FAITHFUL AND WISE steward, whom |
