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THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1804.

MEMOIR

OF

THE LATE REV. EDWARD DUDLEY JACKSON,

OF WARMINSTER.

INFINITE Wisdom has assured us, that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the ordinance of God. Clouds, indeed, are round about him; yet Righteousness and Judgment are the habitation of his throne. This is the Christian's consolation under the most mysterious and afflictive providences; such as that which calls forth the present Memoir.

Glancing at the family of this man of God, we are struck with the vicissitudes of human affairs. He was paternally descended from a very respectable family: his grandfather was a beneficed Clergyman, Chaplain to the late Prince of Wales, and Master of a Free Grammar School in the metropolis. He married a lady of large fortune, by whom he had only one child; Mr. Warburton Jackson, the father of the deceased, who, with Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson, his mother, are mournful survivors of this, the eighth of sixteen children, and the only one who reached the age of twenty months. He was called by his mother's family-name, Dudley, Mrs. Jackson being descended from an ancestor of the present Lord Dudley Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's union took place with more flattering prospects than they have lived to realize. They soon proved that riches take to themselves wings, and fly away: their property being reduced by entering into trade, which proved unsuccessful When the subject of this Memoir was only five years of age, his father becaine insolvent. From that period he sunk into poverty, from which, through extreme debility, the effect of a cold, he has never been able to emerge. This circumstance proved the source of frequent regret to his son, it having deprived him of that edu cation he might otherwise have enjoyed. When six years of age, through the interest of a nobleman, he had the promise of a presentation to the Blue-coat School. Providence, however,

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had determined otherwise, that his future advancement might appear to be of God; for disappointment took place, from his not having fully attained his seventh year when the vacancy occurred. The promise of admission the next Easter was indeed renewed; but never fulfilled.

He entered immediately upon the world, having just received education sufficient to enable him to read, and write a plain hand. His first employ was in a printing-office, where, as in several subsequent situations, he gave such satisfaction as procured his removal to a more advantageous place. At length he entered into the service of a corn-chandler, at Newington Butts; and discovered such worth, as obtained the promise of much encouragement if he would continue but, though young, his reasoning was just; and he determined to learn some mechani cal business, that, when a man, he might have a more certain dependence. He accordingly articled himself, at thirteen years of age, to a silk-dyer, in Green Street, Leicester Fields. His new master soon proved himself a very depraved character; and, at the expiration of six months, the charge of the whole concern devolved upon the apprentice. Such was his engaging manners, his attention and skilfulness, that he soon ingratiated himself into the esteem of the customers, and increased the trade.

It is now requisite to advert to the state of Mr. Jackson's mind. He appears from his infancy to have been of an inquisitive, reasoning, and solid turn. He was early impressed with veneration for the Deity, and attachment to worship. At an almost incredibly early age, he voluntarily and constantly attended Divine Service twice a day, at St. George's church in the Borough (very near to which he lived) taking a PrayerBook with him, and conducting himself as orderly as if attained to mature age and understanding. At four years old, he went one Sacrament-Sabbath by himself; but instead of leaving with the congregation, he remained with the communicants, to the no small alarm of his mother, who, making ineffectual enquiry for him, concluded he was stolen. From this fear, Mrs. Jackson was happily relieved by his return with the beadle, who stated that, at the earnest solicitation of the child, the minister was prevailed on to allow him to be present: that he went to the table with the communicants, and kneeling with them, partook of the bread; but was omitted in the handing of the wine; Because," said little Jackson to his mother," by being so small, I was overlooked by the clergyman." He was accustomed, at this period, to bring home and repeat the text and parts of the discourse; would be very frequent and fervent in private prayer; and, to use the apostle's expression, since adopted by himself," he was a Pharisee of the Pharisees." Before he was six years old, he gave a striking

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proof of his conviction of the omniscience of God:- Playing in a field, he lost one of his shoe-buckles, which, being silver, distressed him much; and he immediately retired to a corner of the field, and kneeling down, prayed to God with great earnestness that he might be directed to it; and rose with strong, though delusive, hope of his success. About the

same time he also had convictions of sin, and reasoned much upon the plan of salvation. One day he addressed his mother, "You tell me, God made you, and me, and every thing;now Mr. D. (the minister of the church before-mentioned) said a great deal to-day about the sufferings of the Son of God: how he was nailed on a cross, and his side pierced; and they gave him vinegar, mixed with gall, to drink. As you say God can do every thing, he could have forgiven men their sins without Christ's suffering, - could he not, mother? Tell me, for I have been thinking of it ever since I came from church."

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These enquiries and impressions, cherished by a pious parent, excited the fond hope of seeing another Timothy fearing God from his youth; but the apostolic remark was soon veri fied, "Evil communications corrupt good manners." He no sooner mingled with a herd of boys, than he became acquainted with an host of sins; and the plant, which in better soil and tillage had promised such an ample store of fine fruit, soon began to shed untimely leaves.

His time being now divided between a shop of profane workmen and a school of mischievous boys, he soon lost all serious impressions; but was preserved from plunging into yery gross immorality. The profanation of the Sabbath, and an attendance upon the amusements of the stage, appear to have been his ruling vices. A very great fondness for being on the water, though it had twice nearly cost him his life, proved a strong temptation to the former; while the nearness of his residence to the theatres, and his being employed in dyeing for the actors, gave him frequent opportunities of indulg ing his inclination for the latter. On one of these occasions, a slip of the foot precipitated him into the Thames, from a float of timber, on which he was entertaining himself, when he twice sunk in a very narrow opening between it and a barge; but providentially rising perpendicular a third time, he seized the boat, and was saved. At another time, while swimming in the Hyde-Park Canal, and completely beyond his depth, he was snatched from death by the humanity of a passing stranger, who plunged in to assist him. So thoughtless, howEver, was his youth, and so insensible was he either to the danger he had escaped, or the gratitude his rescue demanded, that he was no sooner out of the water, and found himself on the opposite bank to his clothes, than, to avoid a longer route, he plunged in again, and reached them in safety.

But let us suppose Mr. Jackson were writing this Memoir; that he was thus retracing his journey through life; would he not, when arrived at the important stage we are now to enter upon, stop a while, and, looking back, make some such reflections as these?" What a soil is the human heart! How prolific in poisonous weeds! But ah! what labour is requisite to the culture of better plants! If by a good caucation, and the influence of pious example, some pleasing buds appear, how soon are they destroyed by an unpropitious blast! Such, alas, was my youthful life! Never was the expectation of a tender Christian parent more flattered, and more disappointed. My heart never having been broken up by the plough of thy iw, oh God! nor enriched by thy saving grace; and having mingled with the multitude that do evil, no wonder I was led captive by my passions at their will, was regardless of thy sacred Sabbaths, insensible of my past impressions, and, not knowing the power of thy love, pursued the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season. But the hearts of all men, oh Lord! are in thy hands: thou canst turn them as rivers of water! Thy providence preserved me, though I knew thee not! Before Philip called me, while I was yet under the ngtree, thou sawest me! thine eve ever watched over me, → thine hand was always my support! Thou besettest me behind and before; and though insensible of thy mercies, thou didst not withhold them! Surely, thou lovest me with an everlasting love; and hast made all things to work together for my good. My most grievous disappointments have proved my richest gain; those events, which excited my loudest murmurs, have been among my greatest blessings; those steps which were prompted by my depraved passions to the violation of thy Sabbaths, were guided by thy wisdom and mercy toward that sacred temple, where I should hear the voice of the Son of Man and live. "The heart of man deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps."

Mr. Jackson, about the sixteenth year of his age, was one Lord's Day pursuing his pleasure, when seeing the people go into church, where the Rev. Mr. Foster was preaching, he turped in with them, and a part of the discourse made a deep impression on his mind. This, however, did not at first prevent his visits to the play-house; for having mistaken the sentiment of Dr. Watts, "That religion never was designca to make our pleasures less," he endeavoured to reconcile his attendance upon these opposite places, till what he heard in the one, produced a complete disgust with the productions of the other. He took his final leave of the theatres, on the perusal of a pamphlet, which he was at first reluctantly persuaded to look at by a serious friend who was printing it; and from whom he afterward, with avidity, obtained the remaining

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