TESTIMONY | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 17, 1856

TESTIMONY.

FROM THE MEMOIR OF JAMES BRAINERD TAYLOR, BY JOHN HOLT RICE D. D., AND BENJAMIN HOLT RICE D. D.

This interesting young man was much accustomed to observe particular seasons and periods of time. On the first day of the year, 1823, he wrote a letter to his family, which no doubt will long be preserved by them as a precious memorial of his piety and affection. He first takes a view of the dispensation of Providence and grace towards the family during the year. And it appears that during that period the father of the family and three of the children had experienced that change of heart, without which, according to the testimony of Christ, none can enter the kingdom of heaven. In producing these important changes, the instrumentality of the son was greatly blessed. His filial reverence and delicacy, combined with christian fidelity, have already been noticed. The same spirit is manifested in this letter, but on this occasion it is mingled with much holy joy. He speaks of 1822 as a year of jubilee to the whole family, and describes in rapture the domestic happiness enjoyed, when so many had become true christians, and were mingling with the charities of natural relationship, the hopes and joys of religion.

"Having addressed you all individually, I now come to testify to the goodness and loving-kindness of the Lord which have followed me. "Surely of all others, I have most reason to speak well of his name, which is above every name; for in the midst of deserved wrath he hath remembered undeserved mercy. "The year 1822, has, of a truth, been a year of jubilee to my soul. During that period God has done more for me than I ever expected in this world. On the 23d of April he accomplished a work which I had longed for during six years. I feel the blessed effects of that visitation until this day. And until my dying day I shall have reason to recall that hour with thankful remembrance. No year before the one just past has afforded such solid peace in believing. I have had near access to the throne of grace. Jesus has been precious. My endeavors to promote the cause of Christ, however short I may have come, were put forth with increased pleasure. Preaching has come to my heart with greater power. Communion seasons have been delightful—a little heaven on earth—foretastes of the joys to come. Since that 23d of April I have enjoyed a sweet and lasting evidence of my acceptance with God, so that I have looked on the grave with composure, and on heaven as my eternal home. I have had delightful seasons in praying for the family collectively and individually, for friends and especially for one who does not profess to love the Lord, and for enemies. Think me not boastful when I say that I do love my enemies and earnestly pray for their salvation. The Lord has commanded us to do this; and he has helped me to obey the command. To him be all the praise! 'O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. "O God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give thanks." "The retrospect of the year shows that we have been most highly favored. The windows of heaven have been opened and have dropped, nay, rather have poured down blessings upon me. We have drunk of the wells of salvation, and have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Surely his eyes have been over us for good from the beginning to the close of the year. He has conducted us safely through dangers seen and unseen; he has been on our right hand and our left, so that we have not been moved." Bless the Lord, O our souls and all that is within us bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O our souls, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all our iniquities, who healeth all our diseases, who redeemeth our lives from destruction, and crowneth us with loving-kindness and tender mercies. May he at length give us the crown of glory, the heavenly diadem, purchased with the labors, the tears, the blood, the death of the Son of God. "For all our short-comings during the past year, may we be suitably humbled; and learn wisdom from the consequences of our remissness. For all the good obtained for ourselves, or done to others, may we ascribe glory to the Lord. For all the evil, may we take shame to ourselves. "Finally, what shall we render to the Lord for all his benefits? A new year has begun its course. It moves with as much rapidity as marked the flight of the old. It will soon be gone! but we may not live to see its close. How actively, then, should we be engaged—each one in his place fulfilling his duty! May every revolving day forcibly remind us that our last day is coming! and may we double our diligence in preparing to meet our Judge, that we may render our accounts with joy and not with grief. "Having been enabled to raise our 'Ebenezer,' saying, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us' let us inscribe upon our hearts. 'Jehovah-jireh,' the Lord will provide. Abundant is the provision in heaven's storehouse for all the needy. Let us seek and expect great blessings from on high. "May we this year be more than ever for our own growth in grace and for the welfare of Zion; and as we travel on our way heaven-ward, may we bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ; interceding each for all, that we may walk as pilgrims and strangers who expect soon to become fellow-citizens of the saints in glory."

The piety, the zeal, the humility, the heavenly-mindedness, the ardent desire to be useful in the vineyard of the Lord, which characterized the late James B. Taylor, have been already exhibited with such a force of evidence, that every reader must see what every acquaintance felt, that he had become as he proposed to himself, and often pressed upon others to become, an 'uncommon christian.'

His faith seemed never to waver—his christian affections never to grow languid—his communion with God, through the mediation of the Son, and by the aid of the Holy Ghost, was seldom interrupted; and when a cloud intervened, and the divine communications were suspended, he rested not till the cause was ascertained, and the light of his heavenly Father's countenance again let down upon his soul. Nor did he ever lose sight of the great object after which his heart panted, and in preparation for which he was diligently engaged. Never, perhaps did any one more intensely desire to preach the gospel than did James B. Taylor.

Of the truth of these statements ample proof will be found in the following extracts from his correspondence during this year, and in the fragments of a diary found among his papers, commencing with the first of May, 1823.

In a letter Mr. Taylor wrote to the young members of the family as follows:

"The year that has just closed has been a memorable one to you; upon it you can inscribe 'jubilee,' for thus it has proved to your souls. What mercy has the Lord shown you! Thanks to his rich, free, sovereign, almighty grace, that he has rescued you from going down to the pit. How has it been with you since you found the Saviour precious to your souls? Has he been increasingly precious? Have you found your closet devotions growing more delightful? the Bible more sweet? and the duties of religion more pleasant? What fellowship have you then enjoyed with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ! What a blessed religion! Whilst it enjoins constancy in its duties, which to the pious is a privilege, it affords peace, peace with God; peace with the world; peace of conscience. The love of God, kindled up in the soul by the Holy Ghost, is the principle from which emanates love to christians; love to sinners; love to all God's creatures. But having been born of God, we must remember that we are not to remain babes in Christ. A necessity is laid upon us to leave the first principles and go on to perfection. Therefore may we press forward and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. To this end we must never be afraid to know the worst of ourselves. Let us ever pray, 'Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' May you be uncommon christians: that is, eminently pious and holy, and, like Mary, ever at the feet and around the cross of Jesus, the precious Lamb of God. There is much to be done, and why may there not be great and lasting good done through your instrumentality? Then go on. The world may frown, Satan may rage, but go on; live for God. Greater is he that is for you, than all that can be against you and the christian cause. May I die in the field of battle. May the Lord make me a true son of Levi, holy; and like David and Samson, fearless in his service."

J. B. T.