bore the marks of a decided 1769, with a paralytic disorder Christian, and was in communion which entirely deprived her of the with the Congregational Church use of her right side; and within at Bury. Her son, while me- the compass of a twelvemonth after, mory lasted, was accustomed was obliged to be confined wholly thankfully to advert, both to to her bed, on account of the frethe instructions and example; quency of violent convulsions, and a manuscript discourse in which have continued four hours, his hand-writing, which he in- or more, at a time; and the last tended "to have delivered at fit, which was the immediate mesBury" on the occasion of her senger of death, upwards of twenty death, yet remains as a valuable hours; yet, notwithstanding this testimony to her piety, and to his long series of sharp trials, she apown dutiful affection. peared calm and resigned to her Father's will." He selected as a text Phil. i. 21. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." "Death," he observes, "has been inconceivable gain to our dear departed relative, for I think I may venture to say, Christ was her life. I lament it, and I acknowledge my negligence before this assembly, that I conversed no more with my dear mother concerning the state of her soul. But the little conversation I had with her last summer, and when I was here about three months ago, sufficiently convinced me that Christ was her life. I remember I asked her upon what her hopes for heaven and eternal glory were founded; and she answered-None but Christ; none but Christ; and added, with tears in her eyes, (for she could hardly speak of any thing without weeping,) yea, he hath loved me with an everlasting love: he hath made with me an everlasting covenant: and asked me where to find those words. I told her in 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. and that they were the last words of David: but, I said to this effect, Can you take the words and apply them to yourself, and say, he hath made with me an everlasting covenant? She said, Yes and expressed great satis faction in her hopes of salvation by Jesus Christ, the particulars of which I do not now recollect. She was seized on the 11th of February, Mrs. Lucas died March 26, 1771, aged 62. But to return to her son. What his advantages were for mental training; where, or how long, he was at school; or what progress he made in learning, cannot now be stated. The most that can be correctly ascertained is, that, intended by his father for trade, he was apprenticed to a respectable grocer in Bury, whose esteem he completely won. It was during his apprenticeship that impressions of heavenly truth were made upon his mind with abiding power; that he saw eternal things in their actual importance; and, as a necessary consequence, a complete and visible revolution was effected in his apprehensions, purposes, and course. First, he gave himself to the Lord; then to his people, according to his will. No member having for some years been added, as it is said, to the church at Bury, the occurrence produced very considerable interest. Young, energetic, and full of zeal, Mr. Lucas's thoughts were soon turned to the ministry. But the church at Bury, as a church, was unable either to sympathize with, or to direct him. Some of the members could not conceal their amazement at his earnestness: and when he went forth into the villages to preach (which, ere long, he did) not a few of them became exceedingly alarmed. The apostolic Whitfield, however, visiting Bury about this time, viewed the matter otherwise; noticed the young disciple with special favor, and even proposed a voyage with himself to America. At Ipswich resided the Rev. David Edwards, the excellent author of Sermons to the Condemned, &c. With him Mr. Lucas happily became acquainted. How the friendship commenced is unknown. But it continued through life, and appears to have had upon Mr. Lucas's mind and character the happiest influence. The first remaining relic of their correspondence, a letter from Mr. Edwards, is dated January 12, 1768, and was addressed to Mr. Lucas, at Bury. Under Mr. Edwards's auspices Mr. Lucas turned his attention steadfastly to the ministry; and application was accordingly made to Dr. Conder, then tutor at Mile End, for his admission into that Seminary. What precise course of events conducted to this important step does not appear, nor is it now material. We are certain there was no imprudent haste, and subsequent events demonstrated the correctness of the movement. Between the young theologian and the venerable Doctor an interview now took place: an event in the estimation of Mr. Lucas of no small importance; and in the bringing about of which, his friend, Mr. Edwards found encouragement indispensible. "You have no need to be any way afraid. You may speak freely to him. You will find him affable, affectionate, and kind. You will find in him the experienced Christian, the judicious divine, the scholar and the gentleman united." Mr. Lucas, it is conjectured, entered upon his academical course in September following. His correspondence with Mr. Edwards was continued, and many testimonials exist, evincing, to the credit of the Ipswich divine, not only warm affection, but the most anxious vigilance. In a letter, dated December 29, 1768, Mr. E. says, "I rejoice to hear the account our worthy friend Dr. Conder gives of you, and some others. You are often upon my heart." He adds too, in the same epistle" I am glad to hear that you attend upon seraphic George's preaching. Sometimes I wish you had told me how he managed the text, 2 Cor. v. 5. and some of his sayings. I think an uncommon unction attends his preaching and praying. And did S Bspeak W SO openly about Mr. d? I have long ago passed by, and I hope now to forget, his severe treatment of me, in connexion with some other Dons, for attending Mr. Whitfield on Hampton-common on a Sabbathiday evening. But it is a long story, and I would not choose to set it down, for I believe Mr. B to be a good minister of Jesus Christ. Besides, it is past a long while since, and grievances ought to be forgotten. However, that affair, under the divine blessing, proved to be one of the most profitable lessons I ever learnt. It taught me the sin and vanity of trusting in an arm of flesh,' It taught me the end of all human perfection. It is well to love and regard good men, but we should take care not to make little gods of them." When the Academy left Mile End for Homerton, Mr. Lucas removed with it, and assiduously prosecuted his studies. Although nothing of his own remains to discover his mental progress, enough is preserved from the pens of others, in the shape of correspondence, sufficiently indicating habits of thoughtful observation, and increase also in knowledge and holiness. During some part of his collegelife he had the privilege, at an early hour in the morning, of instruction in the Hebrew tongue, from the Rev. and Venerable William Romaine. ton," and dated 15th February, 1770, Mr. Davidson says, "Have you seen the Treatise entitled, The Reign of Grace from its Rise to its Consummation, by Abraham Booth, successor to Mr. Burford? I would not advise your rambling from preacher to preacher, but rather to spend Sabbath evenings, &c. in the closet: yet I think it not amiss, if you have no very material objection against it, that you take the first opportunity of hearing him; and, if you find clearness in your own mind, you may consult him in relation to your studies, and the greater concerns of your salvation : for I am greatly mistaken if there be not something uncommon in that man." It has been often remarked, that the quiet and uniform course of a Christian minister among Protestant Dissenters, whether viewed as a student or a teacher, is seldom varied by biographical incidents. And Mr. Lucas's history forms no exception to this regularity. His time at Homerton, like George Herbert's, at Cambridge, was devoted to "virtue and a serious study of learning;" and although no degrees attest his progress, as might have been the case could be have entered either of our universities, sufficient evidence remains to prove respectable proficiency; and what is of more importance, such an elevation among his fellows as can result only from superior moral It might possibly strike some readers, conversant with dissenting history, as singular, that hitherto no mention has been made of Mr. Davidson, who so long, both in Mr. Lucas's youth and manhood, ministered at Bury St. Edmonds, to a nonconformist congregation, and who must have presided over that society at the time Mr. Lucas was admitted to its membership. While Mr. Lucas continued an apprentice at Bury, the lack of letters is satisfactorily accounted for by the fact of neighbourhood and it is pleasant to add, that those which passed between them subsequently to his removal, show, notwithstanding the prior absence of any known circumstances for narration, the sub-worth. sistence of an endeared intimacy. As Mr. Lucas made advances in the acquisition of literature, Mr. Davidson not only encouraged him, but took opportunities of affording him much good counsel; and continually directed him to those subjects and books which he thought best adapted to keep alive devout affections. Thus, in a letter subscribed "Mr. Samuel Lucas, at Dr. Conder's, Homer In Mr. Lucas's academical days, the preaching of a student was by some regarded as an evil, not less fit for toleration than was independency itself, in the eyes of Presbyterians, during the interregnum. Had this "carefulness" proceeded from vigilance over learning, or an anxiety that the candidate for the office of a bishop might be the more thoroughly furnished, the matter would be less no unintelligible. But this could not have been the case, because the dread of such a crime attached itself, as well to the annual recess, as to the months of study; and that not for a season only, but during the whole period of preparation. The opposition to sermons from the unordained, arose, doubt, from the unscriptural veil of mysticism which its favourers threw over the ministerial office; a veil as impenetrable, and not unlike that with which Roman Catholics have so long invested the Lord's Supper. Some, it is feared, yet labour under a similar influence. In a measure, indeed, it has been happily removed, and the anticipation is unutterably pleasing, that as light and knowledge, those vital principles of reformation spread, all such relics of ignorance, and of popery, will be exterminated. How strangely do sentences like the following sound to an ear well accustomed to the strains of the New Testament. "When Dr. Conder was here," (the passage occurs in a letter from Mr. Edwards, dated Ipswich, August 26, 1772,)" some of the Laneham friends came to procure his consent for you [Mr. Lucas,] to preach there. I urged the necessity of it, &c. The Doctor said, that for his own part, he was much in my way of thinking; but several of the lay gentlemen, as well as some of the clergy, would prove it an irregularity, and might plunge friend Lucas into vast troubles. Your preaching at Bury, comes in upon a consideration of your church membership, &c. I proposed to have you preach for me one part of the day. Some friends expected it, but as the above conversation was before several of them, they are afraid. When I see you at Ipswich we will talk things over." But all the clergy" were not, it seems, sunk so low. The fire which glowed in Mr. Whitfield's heart, had mercifully communicated a flame to Mr. Edwards, and to some others among the more aged divines, whose zeal could not be confined within the narrow boundaries of a policy so deplorably chilling and absurd. It is animating to consider how, as it burst forth, it must have impelled, and excited, and cheered all such as were like-minded. In the latter end of the year 1772, Mr. Lucas spent a part, if not the whole, of his vacation, at Walsall, in Staffordshire, preaching to the people the words of eternal life; and the service proved preparatory to his settlement there. That event shortly followed, notwithstanding the ordinary period for his studies had not expired; a circumstance which the following very honourable testimonial will explain.. "This is to certify all whom it may concern, that Samuel Lucas, after having been employed the usual time for acquiring the learned languages, entered upon a course of academical studies, under the care of the Rev. John Conder, Doctors in Divinity; to which, also, he Thomas Gibbons, and Daniel Fisher, hath applied himself with a commendable industry for the greatest part of three years past. Lately having been earnestly desired by the Congregational Church at Walsall, Staffordshire, to come and supply their pressing wants of a Gospel minister, with the consent of his constituents, he complied with their request for several Sabbaths. And having returned with their unanimous call to stated work among them, in consequence of the extraordinary necessities and im portunities of that congregation, it has been judged expedient, the said Samuel Lucas should be permitted immediately to finish his studies. Accordingly, Feb.17, 1773, at the Academy, Homerton, in the presence of several ministers, and others of his constituents aforesaid, he delivered an Exegesis in Latin, and a sermon in English, upon given subjects, to the good satisfaction of all present. We, therefore, whose names are subscribed, do heartily recommend him as a person, sound in the faith, of good character, of promising gifts and acquirements, and a serious spirit, to the service of Christ in the work of the ministry, in which the James Webb. Hitherto Mr. Lucas had continued in fellowship with the church at Bury St. Edmonds. But his dismission thence became now expedient. As such memorials have seldom been published; as the inspection may gratify those who are curious in congregational customs; and as it may satisfy others not so versed, the communication made on that occasion shall be here added; and the rather, because it cannot do otherwise than commend Mr. Lucas still more to the reader's favour. "The Church of Christ at Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, to the Church of Christ at Walsall, in the County of Stafford, sendeth greeting. "Whereas our dear brother, the Rev. Mr. Samuel Lucas, hath signified to us that the church of Christ at Walsall hath requested him to desire his dismission from the church of Christ at Bury, that so he might join himself to them, in order to their calling him to the pastoral office amongst them, which desire our said brother hath expressed to us, and which we have taken into consideration, and hoping that the service of our Lord Jesus, to which he may be called, may be thereby promoted, do, in the name, and with the consent of the church, for the ends before-mentioned, dismiss our dear brother from that relation wherein he hath some years stood unto us, as a fellow member, that he may join himself to that church of Christ at Walsall. And we do also recommend our said brother unto them in the Lord, as one, whose spirit and walking with us hath been, in all respects, such as becometh the Gospel of Christ, to the glory of God, and our great comfort; wishing a blessing upon him and his labours, in the Gospel amongst you. Signed the 20th day of May, 1773, by us, in the name of the church, "Thomas Waldegrave,* Pastor. John Cumberland, Deacons." J. Robinson, See a Memoir and Portrait of Mr. Waldegrave, in the Evangelical Magazine, Vol. xxii. p. 261. Settled at Walsall, Mr. Lucas next directed his attention to the choice of a wife, which, to his great happiness, he obtained in Mary, the eldest daughter of Mr. Aaron Vardy, a linen-draper at Bury St. Edmonds. They were married, it is belived, in 1773, but the precise date, like the particulars of Mr. Lucas's early history, and that of his wife's pa rents, is unknown. Mr. Lucas's ordination took place in the following year. It was a solemn service, and he received from the parties engaged in it, a testimony valuable in itself, and now valuable, also, as the only authentic record of the event; "We, whose names are hereunder written, do testify, (for the satisfaction of all whom it may concern,) that the and the imposition of hands, to be miRev. Mr. Lucas was set apart by prayer, nister and pastor of the Nonconformist and Congregational Church at Walsall, this 11th day of August, in the year 1774. "Benjamin Fawcett, Kidderminster, At Walsall, Mr. Lucas's character fully underwent the process of development. He rose in pub. lic estimation. His congregation increased, and his brethren loved him. The celebrated Job Orton was then a resident at Kidderminster, having withdrawn from his charge at Shrewsbury on account of ill health. On his leaving the latter place, a separation had ensued, and to the separatists, Mr. Gentleman ministered for several years. When he was about to remove, Mr. Orton, who had become acquainted with Mr. Lucas, rew |