diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:23 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:36:23 -0700 |
| commit | 079502af97a63ef9f16cad56198cb94687a73d9d (patch) | |
| tree | 9691b4911c15aca2f7d99c2bdf2714843759e991 | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11253-0.txt | 4495 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 11253-h/11253-h.htm | 4699 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253-8.txt | 4914 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 112179 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 114561 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253-h/11253-h.htm | 5149 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253.txt | 4914 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/11253.zip | bin | 0 -> 112160 bytes |
11 files changed, 24187 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/11253-0.txt b/11253-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f367365 --- /dev/null +++ b/11253-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4495 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11253 *** + +THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER, + + +WHO WAS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS, + + +SEPTEMBER 21, 1745. + + + +BY P. DODDRIDGE, D.D. + + + +'Justior alter Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis.'--VIRGIL + + + + +CHAPTER + + I PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + II BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + III MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + IV CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + V HIS CONVERSION. + + VI LETTERS. + + VII DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + +VIII CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + IX INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + X DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + XI EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + XII RETURN TO ENGLAND. + +XIII REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + XIV APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + XV BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + APPENDIX I + + APPENDIX II + + + + +[*Transcriber's Note: At the time of this book, England still followed +the Julian calendar (after Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.), and celebrated New +Year's Day on March 25th (Annunciation Day). Most Catholic countries +accepted the Gregorian calendar (after Pope Gregory XIII) from some time +after 1582 (the Catholic countries of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy +in 1582, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland within a year or two, +Hungary in 1587, and Scotland in 1600), and celebrated New Year's Day on +January 1st. England finally changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. +This is the reason for the double dates in the early months of the years +in this narrative. January 1687 in England would have been January 1688 +in Scotland. Only after March 25th was the year the same in the two +countries. The Julian calendar was known as 'Old Style', and the +Gregorian calendar as 'New Style' (N.S.). + +(Thus a letter written from France on e.g. August 4th, 1719 would be +dated August 4, N.S.)] + + + + +LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + +When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character +of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon +on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence +continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the +expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which +appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate +friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his +life--a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated +conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me, +beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious +experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable +letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which +contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character. +But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of +his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as +from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore +determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these +advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I, +on the whole, reason to regret that determination. + +I shall not trouble the reader with all the causes which concurred to +retard these expected assistances for almost a whole year. The chief of +them was the tedious languishing illness of his afflicted lady, through +whose hands it was proper the papers should pass; together with the +confusion into which the rebels had thrown them when they ransacked +his seat at Bankton, where most of them were deposited. But having now +received such of them as have escaped their rapacious hands, and could +conveniently be collected and transmitted, I set myself with the greatest +pleasure to perform what I esteem not merely a tribute of gratitude to +the memory of my invaluable friend, (though never was the memory of any +mortal man more precious and sacred to me,) but of duty to God, and to my +fellow-creatures; for I have a most cheerful hope that the narrative I am +now to write will, under the divine blessing, be a means of spreading, +what of all things in the world, every benevolent heart will most desire +to spread, a warm and lively sense of religion. + +My own heart has been so much edified and animated by what I have read in +the memoirs of persons who have been eminent for wisdom and piety, that I +cannot but wish the treasure may be more and more increased; and I would +hope the world may gather the like valuable fruits from the life I am +now attempting, not only as it will contain very singular circumstances, +which may excite general curiosity, but as it comes attended with some +other particular advantages. + +The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various +goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of +imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will +surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and +important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but +_military_ life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence +of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable +praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in +most other professions might be esteemed only _a mediocrity of virtue_. +It may surely, with the highest justice, be expected that the title +and bravery of Colonel Gardiner will invite many of our officers and +soldiers, to whom his name has been long honourable and dear, to peruse +this account of him with some peculiar attention; in consequence of which +it may be a means of increasing the number, and brightening the character +of those who are already adorning their office, their country, and their +religion; and of reclaiming those who will see what they ought to be, +rather than what they are. On the whole, to the gentlemen of the sword I +would particularly offer these memoirs, as theirs by so distinguished +a title; yet I am firmly persuaded there are _none_ whose office is so +sacred, or whose proficiency in the religious life is so advanced, but +they may find something to demand their thankfulness, and to awaken their +emulation. + + + +COLONEL JAMES GARDINER was the son of Capt. Patrick Gardiner of the +family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs.[*] Mary Hodge of the family of Gladsmuir. +The captain, who was master of a handsome estate, served many years in +the army of king William and queen Anne, and died abroad with the British +forces in Germany, soon after the battle of Hochstett, through the +fatigues he underwent in the duties of that celebrated campaign. He had +a company in the regiment of foot once commanded by Colonel Hodge, his +valiant brother-in-law, who was slain at the head of that regiment (my +memorial from Scotland says) at the battle of Steenkirk, which was fought +in the year 1692. + +[*Transcriber's Note: Mrs. (Mistress), in that age, was the normal style +of address for an unmarried daughter from a prominent family, as well as +for a married lady.] + +Mrs. Gardiner, our colonel's mother, was a lady of very respectable +character; but it pleased God to exercise her with very uncommon trials; +for she not only lost her husband and her brother in the service of their +country, as before related, but also her eldest son, Mr. Robert Gardiner, +on the day which completed the 16th year of his age, at the siege of +Namur, in 1695. But there is great reason to believe that God blessed +these various and heavy afflictions, as the means of forming her to that +eminent degree of piety which will render her memory honourable as long +as it continues. + +Her second son, the worthy person of whom I am now to give a more +particular account, was born at Carriden, in Linlithgowshire, on the 10th +of January, A.D. 1687-8,--the memorable year of that glorious revolution +which he justly esteemed among the happiest of all events; so that when +he was slain in defence of those liberties which God then, by so gracious +a providence, rescued from utter destruction, i.e. on the 21st of +September 1745, he was aged 57 years, 8 months, and 11 days. + +The annual return of his birth-day was observed by him in the latter +and better years of his life, in a manner very different from what is +commonly practised; for, instead of making it a day of festivity, I +am told he rather distinguished it as a season of more than ordinary +humiliation before God--both in commemoration of those mercies which he +received in the first opening of life, and under an affectionate sense, +as well of his long alienation from the great Author and support of his +being, as of the many imperfections which he lamented in the best of his +days and services. + +I have not met with many things remarkable concerning the early days of +his life, only that his mother took care to instruct him, with great +tenderness and affection, in the principles of true Christianity. He was +also trained up in humane literature, at the school at Linlithgow, where +he made a very considerable progress in the languages. I remember to have +heard him quote some passages of the Latin classics very pertinently; +though his employment in life, and the various turns which his mind +took under different impulses in succeeding years, prevented him from +cultivating such studies. + +The good effects of his mother's prudent and exemplary care were not so +conspicuous as she wished and hoped, in the earlier part of her son's +life; yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirely lost. +As they were probably the occasion of many convictions which in his +younger years were overborne, so I doubt not, that when religious +impressions took that strong hold of his heart which they afterwards did, +that stock of knowledge which had been so early laid up in his mind, +was found of considerable service. And I have heard them make the +observation, as an encouragement to parents, and other pious friends, to +do their duty, and to hope for those good consequences of it which may +not immediately appear. + +Could his mother, or a very religious aunt, (of whose good instructions +and exhortations I have often heard him speak with pleasure,) have +prevailed, he would not have thought of a military life, from which it +is no wonder these ladies endeavoured to dissuade him, considering the +mournful experience they had of the dangers attending it, and the dear +relatives they had lost already by it. But it suited his taste; and the +ardour of his spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend who greatly +urged it,[*] was not to be restrained. Nor will the reader wonder +that, thus excited and supported, it easily overbore their tender +remonstrances, when he knows that this lively youth fought three duels +before he attained to the stature of a man; in one of which, when he was +but eight years old, he received from a boy much older than himself, a +wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. +The false sense of honour which instigated him to it, might seem indeed +something excusable in those unripened years, and considering the +profession of his father, brother, and uncle; but I have often heard +him mention this rashness with that regret which the reflection would +naturally give to so wise and good a man in the maturity of life. And I +have been informed that, after his remarkable conversion, he declined +accepting a challenge, with this calm and truly great reply, which, in +a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful: "I fear +sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting." + +[*Note: I suppose this to have been Brigadier-General Rue, who had from +his childhood a peculiar affection for him.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + +He served first as a cadet, which must have been very early; and then, at +fourteen years old, he bore an ensign's commission in a Scotch regiment +in the Dutch service, in which he continued till the year 1702, when (if +my information be right) he received an ensign's commission from queen +Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramillies, being then in the +nineteenth year of his age. In this ever-memorable action he received a +wound in his mouth by a musket-ball, which has often been reported to be +the occasion of his conversion. That report was a mistaken one; but as +some very remarkable circumstances attended this affair, which I have +had the pleasure of hearing more than once from his own mouth, I hope my +readers will excuse me, if I give him so uncommon a story at large. + +Our young officer was of a party in the forlorn hope, and was commanded +on what seemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French of +the church-yard at Ramillies, where a considerable number of them were +posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded much better than was +expected; and it may well be supposed that Mr. Gardiner, who had before +been in several encounters, and had the view of making his fortune to +animate the natural intrepidity of his spirit, was glad of such an +opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly he had planted his +colours on an advanced ground; and while he was calling to his men, +(probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our +soldiery, and so absurdly common on such occasions of extreme danger,) he +received into his mouth a shot, which, without beating out of any of his +teeth, or touching the fore part of his tongue, went through his neck, +and came out about an inch and a half on the left side of the _vertebræ_. +Not feeling at first the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become +of the ball, and in the wildness of his surprise began to suspect he had +swallowed it; but falling soon after, he traced the passage of it by his +finger, when he could discover it in no other way; which I mention as +one circumstance, among many which occur, to make it probable that the +greater part of those who fall in battle by these instruments of death, +feel very little anguish from the most mortal wounds. + +This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of +May, 1706; and the army, pursuing its advantages against the French, +without ever regarding the wounded, (which was, it seems, the Duke of +Marlborough's constant method,) our young officer lay all night on +the field, agitated, as may well be supposed, with a great variety of +thoughts. He assured me, that when he reflected upon the circumstance of +his wound, that a ball should, as he then conceived it, go through his +head without killing him, he thought God had preserved him by a miracle; +and therefore assuredly concluded that he should live, abandoned and +desperate as his state seemed to be. Yet (which to me appeared very +astonishing) he had little thoughts of humbling himself before God, and +returning to him after the wanderings of a life so licentiously begun. +But, expecting to recover, his mind was taken up with contrivances to +secure his gold, of which he had a good deal about him; and he had +recourse to a very odd expedient, which proved successful. Expecting to +be stripped, he first took out a handful of that clotted gore of which he +was frequently obliged to clear his mouth, or he would have been choked; +and putting it into his left hand, he took out his money, which I think +was about 19 pistoles, and shutting his hand, and besmearing the back +part of it with blood, he kept in this position till the blood dried in +such a manner that his hand could not easily fall open, though any sudden +surprise should happen, in which he might lose the presence of mind which +that concealment otherwise would have required. + +In the morning the French, who were masters of that spot, though their +forces were defeated at some distance, came to plunder the slain; and +seeing him to appearance almost expiring, one of them was just applying +a sword to his breast, to destroy the little remainder of life, when, in +the critical moment, upon which all the extraordinary events of such a +life as his afterwards proved, were suspended, a Cordelier who attended +the plunderers interposed, (taking him by his dress for a Frenchman) and +said, "Do not kill that poor child." Our young soldier heard all that +passed, though he was not able to speak one word; and, opening his +eyes, made a sign for something to drink. They gave him a sup of some +spirituous liquor which happened to be at hand, by which he said he found +a more sensible refreshment than he could remember from anything he had +tasted either before or since. Then signifying to the friar to lean down +his ear to his mouth, he employed the first efforts of his feeble breath +in telling him (what, alas! was a contrived falsehood) that he was a +nephew to the governor of Huy, a neutral town in the neighbourhood; and +that if he could take any method of conveying him thither, he did not +doubt but his uncle would liberally reward him. He had indeed a friend at +Huy, who I think was governor, and, if I mistake not, had been acquainted +with the captain, his father, from whom he expected a kind reception; but +the relation was only pretended. On hearing this, they laid him on a sort +of hand-barrow, and sent him by a file of musqueteers towards the place; +but the men lost their way, and, towards the evening, got into a wood in +which they were obliged to continue all night. The poor patient's wound +being still undressed, it is not to be wondered at that by this time it +raged violently. The anguish of it engaged him earnestly to beg that they +would either kill him outright, or leave him there to die without the +torture of any further motion; and indeed they were obliged to rest for a +considerable time, on account of their own weariness. Thus he spent +the second night in the open air, without any thing more than a common +bandage to staunch the blood. He has often mentioned it as a most +astonishing providence that he did not bleed to death, which, under God, +he ascribed to the remarkable coldness of these two nights. + +Judging it quite unsafe to attempt carrying him to Huy, from whence they +were now several miles distant, his convoy took him early in the morning +to a convent in the neighbourhood, where he was hospitably received, and +treated with great kindness and tenderness. But the cure of his wound was +committed to an ignorant barber-surgeon who lived near the house, the +best shift that could then be made, at a time when it may easily be +supposed persons of ability in their profession had their hands full of +employment. The tent which this artist applied, was almost like a peg +driven into the wound; and gentlemen of skill and experience, when they +came to hear of the manner in which he was treated, wondered how he could +possibly survive such management. But by the blessing of God on these +applications, rough as they were, he recovered in a few months. The Lady +Abbess, who called him her son, treated him with the affection and care +of a mother; and he always declared that every thing which he saw within +these walls, was conducted with the strictest decency and decorum. He +received a great many devout admonitions from the ladies there, and +they would fain have persuaded him to acknowledge what they thought so +miraculous a deliverance, by embracing the _Catholic faith_, as they were +pleased to call it. But they could not succeed; for though no religion +lay near his heart, yet he had too much of the spirit of a gentleman +lightly to change that form of religion which he wore, as it were loose +about him; as well as too much good sense to swallow those monstrous +absurdities of Popery which immediately presented themselves to him, +unacquainted as he was with the niceties of the controversy. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + +When his liberty was regained by an exchange of prisoners, and his health +thoroughly established, he was far from rendering unto the Lord according +to that wonderful display of divine mercy which he had experienced. +I know very little of the particulars of those wild, thoughtless and +wretched years which lay between the 19th and 30th of his life; except +that he frequently experienced the divine goodness in renewed instances, +particularly in preserving him in several hot military actions, in all +which he never received so much as a wound after this, forward as he was +in tempting danger; and yet that all these years were spent in an entire +alienation from God, and in an eager pursuit of animal pleasure as his +supreme good. The series of criminal amours in which he was almost +incessantly engaged during this time, must probably have afforded some +remarkable adventures and occurrences; but the memory of them has +perished. Nor do I think it unworthy of notice here, that amidst all the +intimacy of our friendship, and the many hours of cheerful as well as +serious converse which we spent together, I never remember to have heard +him speak of any of these intrigues, otherwise than in the general with +deep and solemn abhorrence. This I the rather mention, as it seemed a +most genuine proof of his unfeigned repentance, which I think there is +great reason to suspect, when people seem to take a pleasure in relating +and describing scenes of vicious indulgence, which they yet profess to +have disapproved and forsaken. + +Amidst all these pernicious wanderings from the paths of religion, +virtue, and happiness, he approved himself so well in his military +character, that he was made a lieutenant in that year, viz. 1706; and I +am told he was very quickly after promoted to a cornet's commission in +Lord Stair's regiment of the Scots Greys, and, on the 31st of January, +1714-15, was made captain-lieutenant in Colonel Ker's regiment of +dragoons. He had the honour of being known to the Earl of Stair some time +before, and was made his aid-de-camp; and when, upon his Lordship's being +appointed ambassador from his late Majesty to the court of France, he +made so splendid an entrance into Paris, Captain Gardiner was his master +of the horse; and I have been told that a great deal of the care of that +admirably well-adjusted ceremony fell upon him; so that he gained great +credit by the manner in which he conducted it. Under the benign influence +of his Lordship's favour, which to the last day of his life he retained, +a captain's commission was procured for him, dated July 22, 1715, in +the regiment of dragoons commanded by Colonel Stanhope, now Earl of +Harrington; and in 1717 he was advanced to the majority of that regiment, +in which office he continued till it was reduced on November 10, 1718, +when he was put out of commission. But when his Majesty, king George I., +was thoroughly apprised of his faithful and important services, he gave +him his sign-manual, entitling him to the first majority that should +become vacant in any regiment of horse or dragoons, which happened, about +five years after, to be in Croft's regiment of dragoons, in which he +received a commission, dated 1st June, 1724; and on the 20th of July the +same year, he was made major of an older regiment, commanded by the Earl +of Stair. + +As I am now speaking of so many of his military preferments, I will +dispatch the account of them by observing, that, on the 24th January +1729-30, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same +regiment, long under the command of Lord Cadogan, with whose friendship +this brave and vigilant officer was also honoured for many years. And he +continued in this rank and regiment till the 19th of April, 1743, when +he received a colonel's commission over a regiment of dragoons lately +commanded by Brigadier Bland, at the head of which he valiantly fell, in +the defence of his sovereign and his country, about two years and a half +after he received it. + +We will now return to that period of his life which was passed at Paris, +the scene of such remarkable and important events. He continued (if I +remember right) several years under the roof of the brave and generous +Earl of Stair, to whom he endeavoured to approve himself by every +instance of diligent and faithful service. And his Lordship gave no +inconsiderable proof of the dependence which he had upon him, when, in +the beginning of 1715, he entrusted him with the important dispatches +relating to a discovery which, by a series of admirable policy, he had +made of a design which the French king was then forming for invading +Great Britain in favour of the Pretender; in which the French apprehended +they were so sure of success, that it seemed a point of friendship in one +of the chief counsellors of that court to dissuade a dependent of his +from accepting some employment under his Britannic majesty, when proposed +by his envoy there, because it was said that in less than six weeks there +would be a revolution in favour of what they called the family of the +Stuarts. The captain dispatched his journey with the utmost speed; a +variety of circumstances happily concurred to accelerate it; and they +who remember how soon the regiments which that emergency required, were +raised and armed, will, I doubt not, esteem it a memorable instance, both +of the most cordial zeal in the friends of the government, and of the +gracious care of Divine Providence over the house of Hanover and the +British liberties, so inseparably connected with its interest. + +While Captain Gardiner was at London, in one of the journeys he made upon +this occasion, he, with that frankness which was natural to him, and +which in those days was not always under the most prudent restraint, +ventured to predict, from what he knew of the bad state of the French +king's health, that he would not live six weeks. This was made known by +some spies who were at St. James's, and came to be reported at the court +of Versailles; for he received letters from some friends at Paris, +advising him not to return thither, unless he could reconcile himself to +a lodging in the Bastile. But he was soon free from that apprehension; +for, if I mistake not, before half that time was accomplished, Louis XIV. +died, (Sept. 1, 1715,) and it is generally thought his death was hastened +by a very accidental circumstance, which had some reference to the +captain's prophecy; for the last time he ever dined in public, which +was a very little while after the report of it had been made there, +he happened to discover our British envoy among the spectators. The +penetration of this illustrious person was too great, and his attachment +to the interest of his royal master too well known, not to render him +very disagreeable to that crafty and tyrannical prince, whom God had so +long suffered to be the disgrace of monarchy, and the scourge of Europe. +He at first appeared very languid, as indeed he was; but on casting his +eye upon the Earl of Stair, he affected to appear before him in a much +better state of health than he really was; and therefore, as if he had +been awakened on a sudden from some deep reverie, he immediately put +himself into an erect posture, called up a laboured vivacity into his +countenance, and ate much more heartily than was by any means advisable, +repeating two or three times to a nobleman, (I think the Duke of Bourbon) +then in waiting, "_Il me semble que je ne mange pas mal pour un homme qui +devoit mourir si tot._" "Methinks I eat very well for a man who is to die +so soon." But this inroad upon that regularity of living which he had for +some time observed, agreed so ill with him that he never recovered this +meal, but died in less than a fortnight. This gave occasion for some +humorous people to say, that old Louis, after all, was killed by a +Briton. But if this story be true, (which I think there can be no room to +doubt, as the colonel, from whom I have often heard it, though absent, +could scarce be misinformed,) it might more properly be said that he fell +by his own vanity; in which view I thought it so remarkable, as not to be +unworthy of a place in these memoirs. + +The captain quickly returned, and continued, with small interruptions, at +Paris, at least till 1720, and how much longer I do not certainly know. +The Earl's favour and generosity made him easy in his affairs, though he +was, (as has been observed before,) part of the time, out of commission, +by breaking the regiment to which he belonged, of which before he was +major. This was in all probability the gayest part of his life, and the +most criminal. Whatever wise and good examples he might find in the +family where he had the honour to reside, it is certain that the French +court, during the regency of the Duke of Orleans, was one of the most +dissolute under heaven. What, by a wretched abuse of language, have been +called intrigues of love and gallantry, were so entirely to the major's +then degenerate taste, that if not the whole business, at least the whole +happiness of his life, consisted in them; and he had now too much leisure +for one who was so prone to abuse it. His fine constitution, than which +perhaps there was hardly ever a better, gave him great opportunities of +indulging himself in these excesses; and his good spirits enabled him to +pursue his pleasures of every kind in so alert and sprightly a manner, +that multitudes envied him, and called him, by a dreadful kind of +compliment, "the happy rake." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + +Yet still the checks of conscience, and some remaining principles of so +good an education, would break in upon his most licentious hours; and +I particularly remember he told me, that when some of his dissolute +companions were once congratulating him on his distinguished felicity, a +dog happening at that time to come into the room, he could not forbear +groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, 'Oh that I were that dog!' Such +then was his happiness; and such perhaps is that of hundreds more who +bear themselves highest in the contempt of religion, and glory in +that infamous servitude which they affect to call liberty. But these +remonstrances of reason and conscience were in vain; and, in short, he +carried things so far in this wretched part of his life, that I am well +assured some sober English gentlemen, who made no great pretences to +religion, how agreeable soever he might have been to them on other +accounts, rather declined than sought his company, as fearing they might +have been ensnared and corrupted by it. + +Yet I cannot find that in these most abandoned days he was fond of +drinking. Indeed, he never had any natural relish for that kind of +intemperance, from which he used to think a manly pride might be +sufficient to preserve persons of sense and spirit; as by it they give up +every thing that distinguishes them from the meanest of their species, or +indeed from animals the most below it. So that if ever he fell into any +excesses of this kind, it was merely out of complaisance to his company, +and that he might not appear stiff and singular. His frank, obliging, and +generous temper procured him many friends; and these principles, which +rendered him amiable to others, not being under the direction of true +wisdom and piety, sometimes made him, in the ways of living he pursued, +more uneasy to himself than he might, perhaps, have been, if he could +have entirely overcome them; especially as he never was a sceptic in his +principles, but still retained a secret apprehension that natural and +revealed religion, though he did not much care to think of either, were +founded in truth. And, with this conviction, his notorious violations of +the most essential precepts of both could not but occasion some secret +misgivings of heart. His continual neglect of the great Author of his +being, of whose perfections he could not doubt, and to whom he knew +himself to be under daily and perpetual obligations, gave him, in some +moments of involuntary reflection, inexpressible remorse; and this at +times wrought upon him to such a degree, that he resolved he would +attempt to pay him some acknowledgments. Accordingly, for a few mornings +he did it, repeating in retirement some passages out of the Psalms, and +perhaps other scriptures which he still retained in his memory; and +owning, in a few strong words, the many mercies and deliverances he had +received, and the ill returns he had made for them. + +I find, among the other papers transmitted to me, the following verses, +which I have heard him repeat, as what had impressed him a good deal +in his unconverted state; and as I suppose they did something towards +setting him on this effort towards devotion, and might probably furnish +a part of these orisons, I hope I need make no apology to my reader for +inserting them, especially as I do not recollect that I have seen them +any where else. + + Attend, my soul! the early birds inspire + My grovelling thoughts with pure celestial fire; + They from their temperate sleep awake, and pay + Their thankful anthems for the new-born day. + See how the tuneful lark is mounted high, + And, poet-like, salutes the eastern sky! + He warbles through the fragrant air his lays, + And seems the beauties of the morn to praise. + But man, more void of gratitude awakes, + And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes; + Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame, + Without one thought of Him from whom it came. + The wretch unhallowed does the day begin, + Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin. + +But these strains were too devout to continue long in a heart as +yet quite unsanctified; for how readily soever he could repeat such +acknowledgments of the Divine power, presence, and goodness, and own his +own follies and faults, he was stopped short by the remonstrances of +conscience as to the flagrant absurdity of confessing sins he did not +desire to forsake, and of pretending to praise God for his mercies, when +he did not endeavour to live to his service, and to behave in such a +manner as gratitude, if sincere, would plainly dictate. A model of +devotion where such sentiments made no part, his good sense could not +digest; and the use of such language before a heart-searching God, merely +as an hypocritical form, while the sentiments of his soul were contrary +to it, justly appeared to him such daring profaneness, that, irregular as +the state of his mind was, the thought of it struck him with horror. +He therefore determined to make no more attempts of this sort, and was +perhaps one of the first who deliberately laid aside prayer from some +sense of God's omniscience, and some natural principle of honour and +conscience. + +These secret debates with himself and ineffectual efforts would sometimes +return; but they were overborne again and again by the force of +temptation, and it is no wonder that in consequence of them his heart +grew yet harder. Nor was it softened or awakened by some very memorable +deliverances which at this time he received. He was in extreme danger by +a fall from his horse, as he was riding post I think in the streets of +Calais. When going down a hill, the horse threw him over his head, and +pitched over him; so that when he rose, the beast lay beyond him, and +almost dead. Yet, though he received not the least harm, it made no +serious impression on his mind. On his return from England in the +packet-boat, if I remember right, but a few weeks after the former +accident, a violent storm, that drove them up to Harwich, tossed them +from thence for several hours in a dark night on the coast of Holland, +and brought them into such extremity, that the captain of the vessel +urged him to go to prayers immediately, if he ever intended to do it at +all; for he concluded they would in a few minutes be at the bottom of the +sea. In this circumstance he did pray, and that very fervently too; and +it was very remarkable, that while he was crying to God for deliverance, +the wind fell, and quickly after they arrived at Calais. But the major +was so little affected with what had befallen him, that when some of his +gay friends, on hearing the story, rallied him upon the efficacy of his +prayers, he excused himself from the scandal of being thought much in +earnest, by saying "that it was at midnight, an hour when his good mother +and aunt were asleep, or else he should have left that part of the +business to them;"--a speech which I should not have mentioned, but as +it shows in so lively a view the wretched situation of his mind at that +time, though his great deliverance from the power of darkness was then +nearly approaching. He recounted these things to me with the greatest +humility, as showing how utterly unworthy he was of that miracle of +divine grace by which he was quickly after brought to so true and so +permanent a sense of religion. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HIS CONVERSION. + + +And now I am come to that astonishing part of his story, the account of +his conversion, which I cannot enter upon without assuring the reader +that I have sometimes been tempted to suppress many circumstances of +it; not only as they may seem incredible to some, and enthusiastical to +others, but I am very sensible they are liable to great abuses; which was +the reason that he gave me for concealing the most extraordinary from +many persons to whom he mentioned some of the rest. And I believe it was +this, together with the desire of avoiding every thing that might look +like ostentation on this head, that prevented his leaving a written +account of it, though I have often entreated him to do it, as I +particularly remember I did in the very last letter I ever wrote him, and +pleaded the possibility of his falling amidst those dangers to which I +knew his valour might, in such circumstances, naturally expose him. I was +not so happy as to receive any answer to this letter, which reached him +but a few days before his death; nor can I certainly say whether he had +or had not complied with my request, as it is very possible a paper of +this kind, if it were written, might be lost amidst the ravages which the +rebels made when they plundered Bankton. + +The story, however, was so remarkable, that I had little reason to +apprehend I should ever forget it; and yet, to guard against all +contingencies of that kind, I wrote it down that very evening, as I heard +it from his own mouth; and I have now before me the memoirs of that +conversation, dated Aug. 14, 1739, which conclude with these words, +(which I added that if we should both have died that night, the world +might not have lost this edifying and affecting history, or have wanted +any attestation of it I was capable of giving): "N.B. I have written down +this account with all the exactness I am capable of, and could safely +take an oath of it as to the truth of every circumstance, to the best of +my remembrance, as the colonel related it to me a few hours ago." I do +not know that I had reviewed this paper since I wrote it, till I set +myself thus publicly to record this extraordinary fact; but I find it +punctually to agree with what I have often related from my memory, which +I charged carefully with so wonderful and important a fact. It is with +all solemnity that I now deliver it down to posterity as in the sight +and presence of God; and I choose deliberately to expose myself to those +severe censures which the haughty but empty scorn of infidelity, or +principles nearly approaching it, and effectually doing its pernicious +work, may very probably dictate upon the occasion, rather than to smother +a relation, which may, in the judgment of my conscience, be like to +conduce so much to the glory of God, the honour of the gospel, and the +good of mankind. One thing more I will only premise, that I hope none who +have heard the colonel himself speak something of this wonderful scene, +will be surprised if they find some new circumstances here; because he +assured me, at the time he first gave me the whole narration, (which was +in the very room in which I now write,) that he had never imparted it +so fully to any living before; yet, at the same time, he gave me full +liberty to communicate it to whomsoever I should in my conscience +judge it might be useful to do it, whether before or after his death. +Accordingly I did, while he was alive, recount almost every circumstance +I am now going to write, to several pious friends; referring them at the +same time to the colonel himself, whenever they might have an opportunity +of seeing or writing to him, for a further confirmation of what I told +them, if they judged it requisite. They _glorified God in him_; and I +humbly hope many of my readers will also do it. They will soon perceive +the reason of so much caution in my introduction to this story, for +which, therefore, I shall make no further apology.[*] + +[*Note: It is no small satisfaction to me, since I wrote this, to have +received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Spears, minister of the gospel at +Burntisland, dated Jan 14, 1746-7 in which he relates to me this whole +story, as he had it from the colonel's own mouth about four years after +he gave me the narration. There is not a single circumstance in which +either of our narrations disagrees, and every one of the particulars in +mine, which seems most astonishing, is attested by this, and sometimes in +stronger words, one only excepted, on which I shall add a short remark +when I come to it. As this letter was written near Lady Frances Gardiner +at her desire, and attended with a postscript from her own hand, this +is, in effect, a sufficient attestation how agreeable it was to those +accounts which she must often have heard the colonel give of this +matter.] + + +This memorable event happened towards the middle of July, 1719; but I +cannot be exact as to the day. The major had spent the evening (and if I +mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy +assignation with a married woman, of what rank or quality I did not +particularly inquire, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The +company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to +anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the +tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or in some other way. But +it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book which +his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his +portmanteau. It was called, if I remember the title exactly, _The +Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm_, and was written by Mr. +Thomas Watson. Guessing by the title of it that he should find some +phrases of his own profession spiritualized in a manner which he thought +might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took +no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book +was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind, (perhaps God only +knows how,) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy +consequences. + +There is indeed a possibility, that while he was sitting in this +solitude, and reading in this careless and profane manner, he might +suddenly fall asleep, and only dream of what he apprehended he saw. But +nothing can be more certain than that, when he gave me this relation, he +judged himself to have been as broad awake during the whole time as he +ever was in any part of his life; and he mentioned it to me several times +afterwards as what undoubtedly passed, not only in his imagination, but +before his eyes.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears, in the letter mentioned above, where he introduces +the colonel telling his own story, has these words "All of a sudden +there was presented in a very lively manner to my view, or to my mind, a +representation of my glorious Redeemer," &c. And this gentleman adds, in +a parenthesis, "It was so lively and striking, that he could not tell +whether it was to his bodily eyes, or to those of his mind." This makes +me think that what I had said to him on the phenomena of visions, +apparitions, &c., (as being, when most real, supernatural impressions on +the imagination, rather than attended with any external object,) had some +influence upon him. Yet still it is evident he looked upon this as a +vision, whether it was before the eyes or in the mind, and not as a +dream.] + + +He thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was +reading, which he at first imagined might happen by some accident in +the candle. But, lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme +amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, +a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, +surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed as if a voice, or +something equivalent to a voice, had come to him to this effect, (for he +was not confident as to the very words). "Oh, sinner! did I suffer this +for thee, and are these the returns?" But whether this were an audible +voice, or only a strong impression on his mind equally striking, he did +not seem very confident, though, to the best of my remembrance, he rather +judged it to be the former. Struck with so amazing a phenomenon as this, +there remained hardly any life in him, so that he sunk down in the arm +chair in which he sat, and continued, he knew not exactly how long, +insensible, (which was one circumstance that made me several times take +the liberty to suggest that he might possibly be all this while asleep,) +but however that were, he quickly after opened his eyes, and saw nothing +more than usual. + +It may easily be supposed he was in no condition to make any observations +upon the time in which he had remained in an insensible state, nor did +he, throughout all the remainder of the night, once recollect that +criminal and detestable assignation which had before engrossed all his +thoughts. He rose in a tumult of passions not to be conceived, and walked +to and fro in his chamber till he was ready to drop down in unutterable +astonishment and agony of heart, appearing to himself the vilest monster +in the creation of God, who had all his lifetime been crucifying +Christ afresh by his sins, and now saw, as he assuredly believed, by +a miraculous vision, the horror of what he had done. With this was +connected such a view of both the majesty and goodness of God, as caused +him to loathe and abhor himself, and to repent as in dust and ashes. He +immediately gave judgment against himself, that he was most justly worthy +of eternal damnation, he was astonished that he had not been immediately +struck dead in the midst of his wickedness, and (which I think deserves +particular remark) though he assuredly believed that he should ere long +be in hell, and settled it as a point with himself for several months +that the wisdom and justice of God did almost necessarily require +that such an enormous sinner should be made an example of everlasting +vengeance, and a spectacle as such both to angels and men, so that he +hardly durst presume to pray for pardon; yet what he then suffered was +not so much from the fear of hell, though he concluded it would soon be +his portion, as from a sense of that horrible ingratitude he had shown +to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who had been in so +affecting a manner set forth as crucified before him. + +To this he refers in a letter dated from Douglas, the 1st of April 1725, +communicated to me by his lady,[*] but I know not to whom it was addressed. +His words are these: "One thing relating to my conversion, and a +remarkable instance of the goodness of God to me, _the chief of sinners_, +I do not remember that I ever told to any other person. It was this, +that after the astonishing sight I had of my blessed Lord, the terrible +condition in which I was proceeded not so much from the terrors of the +law, as from a sense of having been so ungrateful a monster to him whom I +thought I saw pierced for my transgressions." I the rather insert these +words, as they evidently attest the circumstance which may seem most +amazing in this affair, and contain so express a declaration of his own +apprehension concerning it. + +[*Note: Where I make any extracts as from Colonel Gardiner's letters, +they are either from originals, which I have in my own hands, or from +copies which were transmitted to me from persons of undoubted credit, +chiefly by the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Gardiner, through the +hands of the Rev. Mr. Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh. This +I the rather mention, because some letters have been brought to me as +Colonel Gardiner's, concerning which I have not only been very dubious, +but morally certain that they could not have been written by him. I have +also heard of many who have been fond of assuring the world that they +were well acquainted with him, and were near him when he fell, whose +reports have been most inconsistent with each other, as well as contrary +to that testimony relating to the circumstances of his death, which, +on the whole, appeared to me beyond controversy the most natural and +authentic, from whence, therefore, I shall take my account of that +affecting scene.] + + +In this view it may naturally be supposed that he passed the remainder +of the night waking, and he could get but little rest in several that +followed. His mind was continually taken up in reflecting on the divine +purity and goodness; the grace which had been proposed to him in the +gospel, and which he had rejected; the singular advantages he had enjoyed +and abused; and the many favours of providence which he had received, +particularly in rescuing him from so many imminent dangers of death, +which he now saw must have been attended with such dreadful and hopeless +destruction. The privileges of his education, which he had so much +despised, now lay with an almost insupportable weight on his mind; and +the folly of that career of sinful pleasure which he had so many years +been running with desperate eagerness and unworthy delight, now filled +him with indignation against himself, and against the great deceiver, by +whom (to use his own phrase) he had been "so wretchedly and scandalously +befooled." This he used often to express in the strongest terms, which I +shall not repeat so particularly, as I cannot recollect some of them. +But on the whole it is certain that, by what passed before he left his +chamber the next day, the whole frame and disposition of his soul was +new-modelled and changed; so that he became, and continued to the last +day of his exemplary and truly Christian life, the very reverse of what +he had been before. A variety of particulars, which I am afterwards to +mention, will illustrate this in the most convincing manner. But I cannot +proceed to them without pausing to adore so illustrious an instance of +the power and freedom of divine grace, and entreating my reader seriously +to reflect upon it, that his own heart may be suitably affected. For +surely, if the truth of the fact be admitted in the lowest views in which +it can be placed, (that is, supposing the first impression to have passed +in a dream,) it must be allowed to have been little, if anything less +than miraculous. It cannot in the course of nature be imagined how such +a dream should arise in a mind full of the most impure ideas and +affections, and (as he himself often pleaded) more alienated from the +thoughts of a crucified Saviour, than from any other object that can be +conceived; nor can we surely suppose it should, without a mighty energy +of the divine power, be effectual to produce not only some transient +flow of passion, but so entire and permanent a change in character and +conduct. + +On the whole, therefore, I must beg leave to express my own sentiments of +the matter, by repeating on this occasion what I wrote several years ago, +in my eighth sermon on regeneration, in a passage dictated chiefly by the +circumstantial knowledge which I had of this amazing story, and methinks +sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone, which yet, I +must take the liberty to say, it does not; for I hope the world will be +particularly informed, that there is at least a second that very nearly +approaches it, whenever the established church of England shall lose one +of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members +which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the +mean time, may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous +ministry abundantly prospered! I beg my reader's pardon for this +digression. The passage I referred to above is remarkably, though not +equally, applicable to both the cases, under that head where I am showing +that God sometimes accomplishes the great work of which we speak, +by secret and immediate impressions on the mind. After preceding +illustrations, there are the following words, on which the colonel's +conversion will throw the justest light. "Yea, I have known those of +distinguished genius, polite manners, and great experience in human +affairs, who, after having out-grown all the impressions of a religious +education--after having been hardened, rather than subdued by the most +singular mercies, even various, repeated, and astonishing deliverances, +which have appeared to themselves as no less than miraculous--after +having lived for years without God in the world, notoriously corrupt +themselves, and labouring to the utmost to corrupt others, have been +stopped on a sudden in the full career of their sin, and have felt such +rays of the divine presence, and of redeeming love, darting in upon +their minds, almost like lightning from heaven, as have at once roused, +overpowered, and transformed them; so that they have come out of their +secret chambers with an irreconcilable enmity to those vices to which, +when they entered them, they were the tamest and most abandoned slaves; +and have appeared from that very hour the votaries, the patrons, the +champions of religion; and after a course of the most resolute +attachment to it, in spite of all the reasonings or the railleries, the +importunities or the reproaches of its enemies, they have continued to +this day some of its brightest ornaments; a change which I behold with +equal wonder and delight, and which, if a nation should join in deriding +it, I would adore as the finger of God." + +The mind of Major Gardiner continued from this remarkable time, till +towards the end of October, (that is rather more than three months, but +especially the first two of them,) in as extraordinary a situation as one +can well imagine. He knew nothing of the joys arising from a sense of +pardon; but, on the contrary, for the greater part of that time, and with +very short intervals of hope towards the end of it, took it for granted +that he must in all probability quickly perish. Nevertheless, he had such +a sense of the evil of sin, of the goodness of the Divine Being, and of +the admirable tendency of the Christian revelation, that he resolved to +spend the remainder of his life, while God continued him out of hell, in +as rational and as useful a manner as he could; and to continue casting +himself at the foot of divine mercy every day, and often in a day, if +peradventure there might be hope of pardon, of which all that he could +say was, that he did not absolutely despair. He had at that time such a +sense of the degeneracy of his own heart, that he hardly durst form any +determinate resolution against sin, or pretend to engage himself by any +vow in the presence of God; but he was continually crying to him, that he +would deliver him from the bondage of corruption. He perceived in himself +a most surprising alteration with regard to the dispositions of his +heart; so that, though he felt little of the delight of religious duties, +he extremely desired opportunities of being engaged in them; and +those licentious pleasures which had before been his heaven, were now +absolutely his aversion. And indeed, when I consider how habitual all +those criminal indulgences were grown to him, and that he was now in the +prime of life, and all this while in high health too, I cannot but +be astonished to reflect upon it, that he should be so wonderfully +sanctified in body, as well as in soul and spirit, as that, for all the +future years of his life, he from that hour should find so constant a +disinclination to, and abhorrence of, those criminal sensualities to +which he fancied he was before so invincibly impelled by his very +constitution, that he was used strangely to think, and to say; that +Omnipotence itself could not reform him, without destroying that body, +and giving him another.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears expresses this wonderful circumstance in these +remarkable words "I was (said the colonel to me) effectually cured of all +inclination to that sin I was so strongly addicted to, that I thought +nothing but shooting me through the head could have cured me of it, and +all desire and inclination to it was removed, as entirely as if I had +been a sucking child, nor did the temptation return to this day." Mr. +Webster's words on the same subject are these "One thing I have heard the +colonel frequently say, that he was much addicted to impurity before his +acquaintance with religion, but that, so soon as he was enlightened from +above, he _felt the power of the Holy Ghost_ changing his nature so +wonderfully, that his sanctification in this respect seemed more +remarkable than in any other." On which that worthy person makes this +very reasonable reflection "So thorough a change of such a polluted +nature, evidenced by the most unblemished walk and conversation for a +long course of years, demonstrates indeed the power of the Highest, and +leaves no room to doubt of its reality." Mr. Spears says, this happened +in three days' time, but from what I can recollect, all that the colonel +could mean by that expression, if he used it, (as I conclude he did,) was +that he began to make the observation in the space of three days whereas, +during that time, his thoughts were so taken up with the wonderful views +presented to his mind, that he did not immediately attend to it. If he +had, within the first three days, any temptation to seek some ease from +the anguish of his mind, in returning to former sensualities, it is a +circumstance he did not mention to me, and by what I can recollect of +the strain of his discourse, he intimated if he did not express the +contrary.] + +Nor was he only delivered from that bondage of corruption which had been +habitual to him for many years, but felt in his breast so contrary a +disposition, that he was grieved to see human nature, in those to whom he +was most entirely a stranger, prostituted to such low and contemptible +pursuits. He therefore exerted his natural courage in a very new kind of +combat, and became an open advocate for religion in all its principles, +so far as he was acquainted with them, and all its precepts, relating +to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Yet he was very desirous and +cautious that he might not run into extremes, and made it one of his +first petitions to God, the very day after these amazing impressions had +been wrought in his mind, that he might not be suffered to behave with +such an affected strictness and preciseness as would lead others about +him into mistaken notions of religion, and expose it to reproach or +suspicion, as if it were an unlovely or uncomfortable thing. For this +reason, he endeavoured to appear as cheerful in conversation as he +conscientiously could; though, in spite of all his precautions, some +traces of that deep inward sense which he had of his guilt and misery +would at times appear. He made no secret of it, however, that his views +were entirely changed, though he concealed the particular circumstances +attending that change. He told his most intimate companions freely that +he had reflected on the course of life in which he had so long joined +them, and found it to be folly and madness, unworthy a rational creature, +and much more unworthy persons calling themselves Christians. And he set +up his standard, upon all occasions, against principles of infidelity and +practices of vice, as determinately and as boldly as ever he displayed or +planted his colours, when he bore them with so much honour in the field. + +I cannot forbear mentioning one struggle of this kind which he described +to me, with a large detail of circumstances, the first day of our +acquaintance. There was at that time in Paris a certain lady (whose name, +then well known in the grand and gay world, I must beg leave to conceal) +who had imbibed the principles of deism, and valued herself much upon +being an avowed advocate for them. The major, with his usual frankness, +(though I doubt not with that politeness of manners which was so habitual +to him, and which he retained throughout his whole life,) answered her +like a man who perfectly saw through the fallacy of her arguments, +and was grieved to the heart for her delusions. On this she briskly +challenged him to debate the matter at large, and to fix upon a day for +that purpose, when he should dine with her, attended by any clergyman he +might choose, whether of the Protestant or Catholic communion. A sense +of duty would not allow him to decline this challenge; and yet he had no +sooner accepted it, but he was thrown into great perplexity and distress +lest, being, as I remember he expressed it when he told me the story, +only a Christian of six weeks old, he should prejudice so good a cause by +his unskilful manner of defending it. However, he sought his refuge in +earnest and repeated prayers to God, that he who can ordain strength, and +perfect praise, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, would graciously +enable him on this occasion to vindicate his truths in a manner which +might carry conviction along with it. He then endeavoured to marshal the +arguments in his own mind as well as he could; and apprehending that +he could not speak with so much freedom before a number of persons, +especially before such whose province he might seem in that case to +invade, if he had not devolved the principal part of the discourse upon +them, he easily admitted the apology of a clergyman or two, to whom +he mentioned the affair, and waited on the lady alone upon the day +appointed. But his heart was so set upon the business, that he came +earlier than he was expected, and time enough to have two hours' +discourse before dinner; nor did he at all decline having two persons, +nearly related to the lady, present during the conference. The major +opened it, with a view of such arguments for the Christian religion as +he had digested in his own mind, to prove that the apostles were not +mistaken themselves, and that they could not have intended to impose upon +us, in the accounts they give of the grand facts they attest; with the +truth of which facts, that of the Christian religion is most apparently +connected. And it was a great encouragement to him to find, that +unaccustomed as he was to discourses of this nature, he had an unusual +command both of thought and expression, so that he recollected and +uttered every thing as he could have wished. The lady heard with +attention; and though he paused between every branch of the argument, she +did not interrupt the course of it till he told her he had finished +his design, and waited for her reply. She then, produced some of her +objections, which he took up and canvassed in such a manner that at +length she burst into tears, allowed the force of his arguments and +replies, and appeared for some time after so deeply impressed with the +conversation, that it was observed by several of her friends; and there +is reason to believe that the impression continued, at least so far as to +prevent her from ever appearing under the character of an unbeliever or a +sceptic. + +This is only one specimen among many of the battles he was almost daily +called out to fight in the cause of religion and virtue; with relation to +which I find him expressing himself thus in a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, +his good mother, dated from Paris the 25th of January following, that +is 1719-20, in answer to one in which she had warned him to expect such +trials: "I have (says he) already met with them, and am obliged to fight, +and to dispute every inch of ground. But all thanks and praise to the +great Captain of my salvation. He fights for me, and then it is no wonder +that I come off more than conqueror:" by which last expression I suppose +he meant to insinuate that he was strengthened and established, rather +than overborne, by this opposition. Yet it was not immediately that he +gained such fortitude. He has often told me how much he felt in those +days of the emphasis of those well-chosen words of the apostle, in which +he ranks the trial of cruel mockings, with scourgings, and bonds, and +imprisonments. The continual railleries with which he was received, in +almost all companies where he had been most familiar before, did often +distress him beyond measure; so that he several times declared he would +much rather have marched up to a battery of the enemy's cannon, than have +been obliged, so continually as he was, to face such artillery as this. +But, like a brave soldier in the first action wherein he is engaged, he +continued resolute, though shuddering at the terror of the assault; and +quickly overcame those impressions which it is not perhaps in nature +wholly to avoid; and therefore I find him, in the letter above referred +to, which was written about half a year after his conversion, "quite +ashamed to think of the uneasiness which these things once gave him." In +a word, he went on, as every resolute Christian by divine grace may do, +till he turned ridicule and opposition into respect and veneration. + +But this sensible triumph over these difficulties was not till his +Christian experience had been abundantly advanced by the blessing of God +on the sermons he heard, (particularly in the Swiss chapel,) and on the +many hours which he spent in devout retirement, pouring out his whole +soul before God in prayer. He began, within about two months after his +first memorable change, to perceive some secret dawnings of more cheerful +hope, that vile as he saw himself to be, (and I believe no words can +express how vile that was,) he might nevertheless obtain mercy through +the Redeemer. At length (if I remember right, about the end of October, +1719) he found all the burthen of his mind taken off at once by the +powerful impression of that memorable scripture on his mind, Romans iii. +25, 26, "Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation through faith in his +blood, to declare his righteousness in the remission of sins,--that he +might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He had +used to imagine that the justice of God required the damnation of so +enormous a sinner as he saw himself to be; but now he was made deeply +sensible that the divine justice might be not only vindicated, but +glorified, in saving him by the blood of Jesus, even that blood which +cleanseth us from all sin. Then did he see and feel the riches of +redeeming love and grace in such a manner as not only engaged him with +the utmost pleasure and confidence to venture his soul upon it, but even +swallowed up, as it were, his whole heart in the returns of love, which +from that blessed time became this genuine and delightful principle of +his obedience, and animated him, with an enlarged heart, to run the way +of God's commandments. Thus God was pleased (as he himself used to speak) +in an hour to turn his captivity. All the terrors of his former state +were changed into unutterable joy, which kept him almost continually +waking for three nights together, and yet refreshed him as the noblest of +cordials. His expressions, though naturally very strong, always seemed +to be swallowed up when he would describe the series of thought through +which he now passed, under the rapturous experience of that joy +unspeakable and full of glory, which then seemed to overflow his very +soul, as indeed there was nothing he seemed to speak of with greater +relish. And though the first ecstasies of it afterwards subsided into a +more calm and composed delight, yet were the impressions so deep and so +permanent, that he assured me, on the word of a Christian and a friend, +wonderful as it might seem, that, for about seven years after this, he +enjoyed almost heaven upon earth. His soul was so continually filled with +a sense of the love of God in Christ, that it knew little interruption, +but when necessary converse, and the duties of his station, called off +his thoughts for a little time. And when they did so, as soon as he was +alone, the torrent returned into its natural channel again; so that, from +the minute of awakening in the morning, his heart was raised to God, and +triumphing in him; and these thoughts attended him through all the scenes +of life, till he lay down on his bed again, and a short parenthesis +of sleep (for it was but a very short one that he allowed himself) +invigorated his animal powers, for renewing them with greater intenseness +and sensibility. + +I shall have an opportunity of illustrating this in the most convincing +manner below, by extracts from several letters which he wrote to intimate +friends during this happy period of time--letters which breathe a spirit +of such sublime and fervent piety as I have seldom met with any where +else. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he was greatly +delighted with Dr. Watts's imitation of the 126th Psalm, since it may be +questioned whether there ever was a person to whom the following stanzas +of it were more suitable:-- + + When God revealed his gracious name, + And changed my mournful state, + My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, + Thy grace appeared so great. + + The world beheld the glorious change, + And did thine hand confess; + My tongue broke out in unknown strains, + And sung surprising grace. + + "Great is the work," my neighbours cried, + And owned the power divine: + "Great is the work," my heart replied, + "And be the glory thine." + + The Lord can change the darkest skies, + Can give us day for night, + Make drops of sacred sorrow rise, + To rivers of delight. + + Let those that sow in sadness, wait + Till the fair harvest come! + They shall confess their sheaves are great, + And shout the blessings home. + +I have been so happy as to get the sight of five original letters which +he wrote to his mother about this time, which do, in a lively manner, +illustrate the surprising change made in the whole current of his +thoughts and temper of his mind. Many of them were written in the +most hasty manner, just as the courier who brought them was perhaps +unexpectedly setting out, and they relate chiefly to affairs in which the +public is not at all concerned; yet there is not one of them in which he +has not inserted some warm and genuine sentiment of religion. Indeed it +is very remarkable, that though he was pleased to honour me with a great +many letters, and I have seen several more which he wrote to others, some +of them on journeys, where he could have but a few minutes at command, +yet I cannot recollect that I ever saw any one in which there was not +some trace of piety; and the Rev. Mr. Webster, who was employed to review +great numbers of them, that he might select such extracts as he should +think proper to communicate to me, has made the same observation.[*] + +[*Note: His words are these: "I have read over a vast number of the +colonel's letters, and have not found any one of them, however short, +and writ in the most passing manner, even when posting, but what is +expressive of the most passionate breathings towards his God and Saviour. +If the letter consists but of two sentences, religion is not forgot, +which doubtless deserves to be carefully remarked, as the most +uncontested evidence of a pious mind, ever under the warmest impressions +of divine things."] + +The major, with great justice, tells the good lady his mother, "that when +she saw him again she would find the person indeed the same, but every +thing else entirely changed." And she might easily have perceived it of +herself by the whole tenor of these letters, which every where breathe +the unaffected spirit of a true Christian. They are taken up sometimes +with giving advice and directions concerning some pious and charitable +contributions, one of which, I remember, amounted to ten guineas, though +as he was then out of commission, and had not formerly been very frugal, +it cannot be supposed he had much to spare; sometimes in speaking of +the pleasure with which he attended sermons, and expected sacramental +opportunities; and at other times in exhorting her, established as she +was in religion, to labour after a yet more exemplary character and +conduct, or in recommending her to the divine presence and blessing, as +well as himself to her prayers. What satisfaction such letters as these +must give to a lady of her distinguished piety, who had so long wept over +this dear and amiable son as quite lost to God, and on the verge of final +destruction, it is not for me to describe, nor indeed to conceive. But +hastily as these letters were written, only for private view, I will +give a few specimens from them in his own words, which will serve to +illustrate as well as confirm what I have hinted above. + +"I must take the liberty," says he, in a letter dated on the first day of +the new year, or, according to the old style, Dec. 21, 1719, "to entreat +you that you would receive no company on the Lord's day. I know you have +a great many good acquaintance, with whose discourses one might be very +well edified; but as you cannot keep out and let in whom you please, the +best way, in my humble opinion, will be to see none." In another, of +Jan. 25, "I am happier than any one can imagine, except I could put him +exactly in the same situation with myself; which is what the world +cannot give, and no man ever attained it, unless it were from above." +In another, dated March 30, which was just before a sacrament day, +"To-morrow, if it please God, I shall be happy, my soul being to be fed +with the bread of life which came down from heaven. I shall be mindful +of you all there." In another of Jan. 29, he thus expresses that +indifference for worldly possessions which he so remarkably carried +through the remainder of his life: "I know the rich are only stewards for +the poor, and must give an account of every penny; therefore, the less I +have, the more easy will it be to give an account of it." And to add no +more from these letters at present, in the conclusion of one of them he +has these comprehensive and solemn words: "Now that He, who is the ease +of the afflicted, the support of the weak, the wealth of the poor, the +teacher of the ignorant, the anchor of the fearful, and the infinite +reward of all faithful souls, may pour out upon you all his richest +blessings, shall always be the prayer of him who is entirely yours," &c. + +To this account of his correspondence with his excellent mother, I should +be glad to add a large view of another, to which she introduced him, +with that reverend and valuable person under whose pastoral care she was +placed--I mean the justly celebrated Doctor Edmund Calamy, to whom she +could not but early communicate the joyful news of her son's conversion. +I am not so happy as to be possessed of the letters which passed between +them, which I have reason to believe would make a curious and valuable +collection; but I have had the pleasure of receiving from my worthy +and amiable friend, the Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy, one of the letters the +doctor, his father, wrote to the major on this wonderful occasion. I +perceive by the contents of it that it was the first, and, indeed, it is +dated as early as the 3d of August, 1719, which must be but a few days +after his own account, dated August 4, N.S., could reach England. There +is so much true religion and good sense in this paper, and the counsel +it suggests may be so reasonable to other persons in circumstances which +bear any resemblance to his, that I make no apology to my reader for +inserting a large extract from it. + +"Dear Sir,--I conceive it will not much surprise you to understand that +your good mother communicated to me your letter to her, dated August 4, +N.S., which brought her the news you conceive would be so acceptable +to her. I, who have often been a witness to her concern for you on a +spiritual account, can attest with what joy this news was received by +her, and imparted to me as a special friend, who she knew would bear +a part with her on such an occasion. And, indeed, if (as our Saviour +intimates, Luke xv. 7, 10,) there is, is such cases, joy in heaven and +among the angels of God, it may be well supposed that of a pious mother +who has spent so many prayers and tears upon you, and has, as it were, +travailed in birth with you again till Christ was formed in you, could +not be small. You may believe me if I add, that I also, as a common +friend of hers and yours, and which is much more, of the Prince of Light, +whom you now declare you heartily fall in with in opposition to that of +the dark kingdom, could not but be tenderly affected with an account +of it under your own hand. My joy on this account was the greater, +considering the importance of your capacity, interests, and prospects, +which, in such an age as this, may promise most happy consequences, on +your heartily appearing on God's side, and embarking in the interest of +our Redeemer. If I have hitherto at all remembered you at the throne +of grace, at your good mother's desire, (which you are pleased to take +notice of with so much respect,) I can assure you I shall henceforth +be led to do it, with more concern and particularity both by duty and +inclination; and if I were capable of giving you any little assistance in +the noble design you are engaging in, by corresponding with you by letter +while you are at such a distance, I should do it most cheerfully. And +perhaps such a motion may not, be altogether unacceptable; for I am +inclinable to believe, that when some whom you are obliged to converse +with, observe your behaviour so different from what it formerly was, and +banter you upon it as mad and fanciful, it may be some little relief +to correspond with one who will take a pleasure in heartening and +encouraging you. And when a great many things frequently offer, in which +conscience may be concerned where duty may not always be plain, nor +suitable persons to advise with at hand, it may be some satisfaction to +you to correspond with one with whom you may use a friendly freedom +in all such matters, and on whose fidelity you may depend. You may, +therefore, command me in any of these respects, and I shall take a +pleasure in serving you. One piece of advice I shall venture to give you, +though your own good sense will make my enlarging upon it less needful--I +mean, that you would, from your first setting out, carefully distinguish +between the essentials of real religion, and those things which are +commonly reckoned by its professors to belong to it. The want of this +distinction has had very unhappy consequences from one age to another, +and perhaps in none more than the present. But your daily converse with +your Bible, which you mention, may herein give you great assistance. I +move also, that since infidelity so much abounds, you would not only, by +close and serious consideration, endeavour to settle yourself well in the +fundamental principles of religion; but also that, as opportunity offers, +you would converse with those books which treat most judiciously on the +divine original of Christianity, such as Grotins, Abbadie, Baxter, Bates, +Du Plessis, &c., which may establish you against the cavils that occur +in almost all conversations, and furnish you with arguments which, when +properly offered, may be of use to make some impression on others. But +being too much straitened to enlarge at present, I can only add, that if +your hearty falling in with serious religion should prove any hinderance +to your advancement in the world, (which I pray God it may not, unless +such advancement would be a real snare to you,) I hope you will trust +our Saviour's word, that it shall be no disadvantage to you in the final +issue: he has given you his word for it, Matt. xix. 29, upon which you +may safely depend; and I am satisfied none that ever did so at last +repented of it. May you go on and prosper, and the God of all grace and +peace be with you!" + +I think it very evident from the contents of this letter, that the major +had not imparted to his mother the most singular circumstances attending +his conversion; and indeed there was something so peculiar in them, +that I do not wonder he was always cautious in speaking of them, and +especially that he was at first much on the reserve. We may also +naturally reflect that there seems to have been something very +providential in this letter, considering the debate in which our +illustrious convert was so soon engaged; for it was written but about +three weeks before his conference with the lady above mentioned in the +defence of Christianity, or at least before the appointment of it. And as +some of the books recommended by Dr. Calamy, particularly Abbadie and Du +Plessis, were undoubtedly within his reach, (if our English advocates +were not,) this might, by the divine blessing, contribute considerably +towards arming him for that combat in which he came off with such happy +success. As in this instance, so in many others, they who will observe +the coincidence and concurrence of things, may be engaged to adore the +wise conduct of Providence in events which, when taken singly and by +themselves, have nothing very remarkable in them. + +I think it was about this time that this resolute and exemplary Christian +entered upon that methodical manner of living which he pursued through +so many succeeding years of life, and I believe generally, so far as the +broken state of his health would allow it in his latter days, to the very +end of it. He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to +spend his time till six in the secret exercises of devotion, reading, +meditation, and prayer, in which last he contracted such a fervency of +spirit as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended +very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent animating +sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and +which carried him through the trials and services of life with such +steadiness and with such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as +always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go +out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that +when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, he +would be at his devotions at furthest by two. He likewise secured time +for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at +command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as be better +able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten; +and, during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper +but a mouthful of bread, with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, +as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had +formed, he required less sleep than most persons I have known; and I +doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing +to these resolute habits of self-denial. + +A life anything like this could not, to be sure, be entered upon in the +midst of such company as he had been accustomed to keep, without great +opposition, especially as he did not entirely withdraw himself from all +the circle of cheerful conversation; but, on the contrary, gave several +hours every day to it, lest religion should be reproached as having made +him morose. He however, early began a practice, which to the last day of +his life he retained, of reproving vice and profaneness; and was never +afraid to debate the matter with any one, under the consciousness of +great superiority in the goodness of his cause. + +A remarkable instance of this happened, if I mistake not, about the +middle of 1720, though I cannot be very exact as to the date of the +story. It was, however, on his first return to make any considerable +abode in England after this remarkable change. He had heard, on the other +side of the water, that it was currently reported among his companions +at home that he was stark mad--a report at which no reader who knows the +wisdom of the world in these matters, will be much surprised, any more +than himself. He concluded, therefore, that he should have many battles +to fight, and was willing to dispatch the business as fast as he could. +And therefore, being to spend a few days at the country-house of a person +of distinguished rank, with whom he had been very intimate, (whose name +I do not remember that he told me, nor did I think it proper to inquire +after it,) he begged the favour of him that he would contrive matters +so, that, a day or two after he came down, several of their former gay +companions might meet at his lordship's table, that he might have an +opportunity of making his apology to them, and acquainting them with the +nature and reasons of his change. It was accordingly agreed to; and a +pretty large company met on the day appointed, with previous notice that +Major Gardiner would be there. A good deal of raillery passed at dinner, +to which the major made very little answer. But when the cloth was taken +away, and the servants retired, he begged their patience for a few +minutes, and then plainly and seriously told them what notions he +entertained of virtue and religion, and on what considerations he had +absolutely determined that by the grace of God he would make it the care +and business of life, whatever he might lose by it, and whatever censure +and contempt he might incur. He well knew how improper it was in such +company to relate the extraordinary manner in which he was awakened, +which they would probably have interpreted as a demonstration of lunacy, +against all the gravity and solidity of his discourse; but he contented +himself with such a rational defence of a righteous, sober, and godly +life, as he knew none of them could with any shadow of reason contest. He +then challenged them to propose any thing they could urge, to prove that +a life of irreligion and debauchery was preferable to the fear, love and +worship of the eternal God, and a conduct agreeable to the precepts +of his gospel. And he failed not to bear his testimony, from his own +experience, (to one part of which many of them had been witnesses) that +after having run the widest round of sensual pleasure, with all the +advantages the best constitution and spirits could give him, he had never +tasted any thing that deserved to be called happiness, till he had made +religion his refuge and his delight. He testified calmly and boldly the +habitual serenity and peace which he now felt in his own breast, (for the +most elevated delights he did not think fit to plead, lest they should be +esteemed enthusiasm,) and the composure and pleasure with which he looked +forward to objects which the gayest sinner must acknowledge to be equally +unavoidable and dreadful. + +I know not what might be attempted by some of the company in answer to +this; but I well remember that he told me that the master of the table, a +person of a very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate, and +said, "Come, let us call another cause. We thought this man mad, and +he is in good earnest proving that we are so." On the whole, this +well-judged circumstance saved him a great deal of future trouble. When +his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversible and +innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolutions, they +desisted from further importunity; and he has assured me, that instead of +losing any one valuable friend by the change in his character, he found +himself much more esteemed and regarded by many who could not persuade +themselves to imitate his example. + +I have not any memoirs of Colonel Gardiner's life, or of any other +remarkable event befalling him in it, from the time of his return to +England till his marriage in the year 1726, except the extracts which +have been sent me from some letters, which he wrote to his religious +friends during this interval, and which I cannot pass by without a more +particular notice. It may be recollected, that in consequence of +the reduction of that regiment of which he was major, he was out of +commission from Nov. 10, 1718, till June 1, 1724; and, after he returned +from Paris, I find all his letters during this period dated from London, +where he continued in communion with the Christian society under the +pastoral care of Dr. Calamy. As his good mother also belonged to the +same, it is easy to imagine it must have been an unspeakable pleasure to +her to have such frequent opportunities of conversing with such a son, of +observing in his daily conduct and discourses the blessed effects of that +change which divine grace had made in his heart, and of sitting down with +him monthly at that sacred feast where Christians so frequently enjoy +the divinest entertainments which they expect on this side heaven. I the +rather mention this ordinance, because, as this excellent lady had a very +high esteem for it, so she had an opportunity of attending it but the +very Lord's day immediately preceding her death, which happened on +Thursday, October 7, 1725, after her son had been removed from her almost +a year. He had maintained her handsomely out of that very moderate income +on which he subsisted since his regiment had been disbanded; and when she +expressed her gratitude to him for it, he assured her (in one of the last +letters she ever received from him) "that he esteemed it a great honour +that God put it into his power to make what he called a very small +acknowledgment of all her care for him, and especially of the many +prayers she had offered on his account, which had already been remarkably +answered, and the benefit of which he hoped ever to enjoy." + +I apprehend that the Earl of Stair's regiment, to the majority of +which he was promoted on the 20th of July, 1724, was then quartered in +Scotland; for all the letters in my hand, from that time to the 6th of +February, 1726, are dated from thence, and particularly from Douglas, +Stranraer, Hamilton, and Ayr. But I have the pleasure to find, from +comparing these with others of an earlier date from London and the +neighbouring parts, that neither the detriment which he must suffer by +being so long out of commission, nor the hurry of affairs while charged +with it, could prevent or interrupt that intercourse with Heaven, which +was his daily feast, and his daily strength. + +These were most eminently the happy years of his life; for he had +learned to estimate his happiness, not by the increase of honour, or the +possession of wealth, or by what was much dearer to his generous heart +than either, the converse of the dearest and worthiest human friends; but +by nearness to God, and by opportunities of humble converse with him, in +the lively exercise of contemplation, praise, and prayer. Now there was +no period of his life in which he was more eminently favoured with these, +nor do I find any of his letters so overflowing with transports of holy +joy, as those which were dated during this time. There are indeed in some +of them such very sublime passages, that I have been dubious whether I +should communicate them to the public or not, lest I should administer +matter of profane ridicule to some, who look upon all the elevations +of devotion as contemptible enthusiasm. And it has also given me some +apprehensions lest it should discourage some pious Christians, who, after +having spent several years in the service of God, and in humble obedience +to the precepts of his gospel, may not have attained to any such heights +as these. But, on the whole, I cannot satisfy myself to suppress them; +not only as I number some of them, considered in a devotional view, among +the most extraordinary pieces of the kind I have ever met with; but as +some of the most excellent and judicious persons I any where know, to +whom I have read them, have assured me that they felt their hearts in an +unusual manner impressed, quickened, and edified by them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +LETTERS. + + +I will therefore draw back the veil, and show my much honoured friend in +his most secret recesses, that the world may see what those springs were, +from whence issued that clear, permanent and living stream of wisdom, +piety, and virtue, which so evidently ran through all that part of his +life which was open to public observation. It is not to be imagined that +letters written in the intimacy of Christian friendship, some of them +with the most evident marks of haste, and amidst a variety of important +public cares, should be adorned with any studied elegance of expression, +about which the greatness of his soul would not allow him to be at any +time very solicitous, for he generally (as far as I could observe) wrote +as fast as his pen could move, which, happily both for him and his many +friends, was very freely. Yet here the grandeur of his subject has +sometimes clothed his ideas with a language more elevated than is +ordinarily to be expected in an epistolary correspondence. The proud +scorners who may deride sentiments and enjoyments like those which this +truly great man so experimentally and pathetically describes, I pity from +my heart, and grieve to think how unfit they must be for the hallelujahs +of heaven, who pour contempt upon the nearest approaches to them; nor +shall I think it any misfortune to share with so excellent a person their +profane derision. It will be infinitely more than an equivalent for all +that such ignorance and petulancy can think and say, if I may convince +some, who are as yet strangers to religion, how real and how noble its +delights are--if I may engage my pious readers to glorify God for so +illustrious an instance of his grace--and finally, if I may quicken them, +and, above all, may rouse my own too indolent spirit to follow with less +unequal steps an example, to the sublimity of which, I fear, few of us +shall, after all, be able fully to attain. And that we may not be too +much discouraged under the deficiency, let it be recollected that few +have the advantage of a temper naturally so warm; few have an equal +command of retirement; and perhaps hardly any one who thinks himself +most indebted to the riches and freedom of divine grace, can trace +interpositions of it in all respects equally astonishing. + +The first of these extraordinary letters which have fallen into my hand, +is dated near three years after his conversion, and addressed to a +lady of quality. I believe it is the first the major ever wrote, so +immediately on the subject of his religious consolations and converse +with God in devout retirement; for I well remember that he once told me +he was so much afraid that something of spiritual pride should mingle +itself with the relation of such kind of experiences, that he concealed +them a long time; but observing with how much freedom the sacred writers +open all the most secret recesses of their hearts, especially in the +Psalms; his conscience began to be burdened, under an apprehension that, +for the honour of God, and in order to engage the concurrent praises of +some of his people, he ought to disclose them. On this he set himself to +reflect who among all his numerous acquaintance seemed at once the most +experienced Christians, (to whom, therefore, such things as he had to +communicate might appear solid and credible,) and who the humblest. He +quickly thought of the Lady Marchioness of Douglas in this view; and the +reader may well imagine that it struck my mind very strongly, to think +that now, more than twenty-four years after it was written, Providence +should bring to my hands (as it has done within these few days) what I +assuredly believe to be a genuine copy of that very letter, which I had +not the least reason to expect I should ever have seen, when I learned +from his own mouth, amidst the freedom of an accidental conversation, the +occasion and circumstances of it. It is dated from London, July 21, 1722, +and the very first lines of it relate to a remarkable circumstance which, +from others of his letters, I find happened several times; I mean, that +when he had received from any of his Christian friends a few lines which +particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return +of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to +give vent to those religious emotions of mind which such a correspondence +raised. How invaluable was such a friend! and what great reason have +those of us who once possessed a large share in his heart, and in those +retired and sacred moments, to bless God for so singular a felicity; +and to comfort ourselves in a pleasing hope that we may yet reap future +blessings, as the harvest of those petitions which he can no more repeat. + +His words are these: + +"I was so happy as to receive yours just as I arrived, and had no sooner +read it but I shut my door, and sought Him whom my soul loveth. I sought +him, and found him; and would not let him go till he had blessed us all. +It is impossible to find words to express what I obtained; but I suppose +it was something like that which the disciples got, as they were going +to Emmaus, when they said, 'Did not our hearts burn within us,' &c.; or +rather like what Paul felt, when he could not tell whether he was in the +body, or out of it." + +He then mentions his dread of spiritual pride, from whence he earnestly +prays that God may deliver and preserve him. + +"This," says he, "would have hindered me from communicating these things, +if I had not such an example before me as the man after God's own heart, +saying, 'I will declare what God hath done for my soul;' and elsewhere, +'The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.' Now I am well satisfied +that your ladyship is of that number." + +He then adds: + +"I had no sooner finished this exercise," that is of prayer above +mentioned, "but I sat down to admire the goodness of my God, that he +would vouchsafe to influence by his free Spirit so undeserving a wretch +as I, and to make me thus to mount up with eagles' wings. And here I was +lost again, and got into an ocean, where I could find neither bound nor +bottom; but was obliged to cry out with the apostle, 'O the breadth, +the length, the depth, the height of the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge!' But if I gave way to this strain I shall never have done. +That the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, +that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, shall +always be the prayer of him who is, with the greatest sincerity and +respect, your Ladyship's," &c. + +Another passage to the same purpose I find in a memorandum, which he +seems to have written for his own use, dated Monday, March 11, which I +perceive, from many concurrent circumstances, must have been in the year +1722-3. + +"This day," says he, "having been to visit Mrs. G. at Hampstead, I came +home about two, and read a sermon on these words, Psalm cxxx. 4, 'But +there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' about the +latter end of which, there is a description of the miserable condition of +those that are slighters of pardoning grace. From a sense of the great +obligations I lie under to the Almighty God, who hath made me to differ +from such, from what I was, and from the rest of my companions, I knelt +down to praise his holy name; and I know not in my lifetime I ever lay +lower in the dust, never having had a fuller view of my own unworthiness. +I never pleaded more strongly the merits and intercession of Him who +I know is worthy--never vowed more sincerely to be the Lord's, and to +accept of Christ, as he is offered in the gospel, as my King, Priest, +and Prophet--never had so strong a desire to depart, that I might sin no +more; but 'my grace is sufficient,' curbed that desire. I never pleaded +with greater fervency for the Comforter, which our blessed Lord hath +promised shall abide with us for ever. For all which, I desire to ascribe +glory &c. to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb." + +There are several others of his papers, speaking much the same language, +which, had he kept a diary, would, I doubt not, have filled many sheets. +I believe my devout readers would not soon be weary of reading extracts +of this kind; but that I may not exceed in this part of my narrative, I +shall mention only two more, each of them dated some years after; that +is, one from Douglas, April 1, 1725; and the other from Stranraer, 25th +May following. + +The former of these relates to the frame of his spirit on a journey; on +the mention of which, I cannot but recollect how often I have heard him +say that some of the most delightful days of his life were days in which +he travelled alone, (that is, with only a servant at a distance,) when he +could, especially in roads not much frequented, indulge himself in the +pleasures of prayer and praise. In the exercise of this last, he was +greatly assisted by several psalms and hymns which he had treasured up in +his memory, and which he used not only to repeat aloud, but sometimes to +sing. In reference to this, I remember the following passage, in a letter +which he wrote to me many years after, when, on mentioning my ever dear +and honoured friend the Rev. Dr. Watts, he says, "How often, in singing +some of his psalms, hymns, or lyrics, on horseback and elsewhere, has the +evil spirit been made to flee: + + "'Whene'er my heart in tune was found, + 'Like David's harp of solemn sound!'" + +Such was the first of April above mentioned. In the evening of that day +he writes thus to an intimate friend:-- + +"What would I have given this day, upon the road, for paper, pen, and +ink, when the Spirit of the Most High rested upon me! Oh for the pen of a +ready writer, and the tongue of an angel, to declare what God hath done +this day for my soul! But, in short, it is in vain to attempt it. All +that I am able to say, is this, that my soul has been for some hours +joining with the blessed spirits above in giving glory, and honour, and +praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever +and ever. My praises began from a renewed view of Him whom I saw pierced +for my transgressions. I summoned the whole hierarchy of heaven to join +with me, and I am persuaded they all echoed back praise to the Most High. +Yon, one would have thought the very larks joined me with emulation. +Sure, then, I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that +are his saints, to join me in blessing and praising his holy name." He +concludes, "May the blessing of the God of Jacob rest upon you all! +Adieu. Written in great haste, late and weary." + +Scarcely can I here refrain from breaking out into more copious +reflections on the exquisite pleasures of true religion, when risen to +such eminent degrees, which can thus feast the soul in its solitude, and +refresh it on journeys, and bring down so much of heaven to earth as this +delightful letter expresses. But the remark is so obvious, that I will +not enlarge upon it; but proceed to the other letter above mentioned, +which was written the next month, on the Tuesday after a sacrament day. + +He mentions the pleasure with which he had attended a preparation sermon +the Saturday before; and then he adds: + +"I took a walk upon the mountains that are over against Ireland; and, I +persuade myself, that were I capable of giving you a description of what +passed there, you would agree that I had much better reason to remember +my God from the hills of Port Patrick than David from the land of Jordan, +and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar." I suppose he refers to +the clearer discoveries of the gospel with which we are favoured. "In +short," says he immediately afterwards, in that scripture phrase which +had become so familiar to him, "I wrestled some hours with the Angel of +the covenant, and made supplications to him with floods of tears, and +cries--until I had almost expired; but he strengthened me so, that, like +Jacob, I had power with God, and prevailed. This," adds he, "is but a +very faint description; you will be more able to judge of it by what you +have felt yourself upon the like occasions. After such preparatory work, +I need not tell you how blessed the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper +proved to me; I hope it was so to many. You may believe I should have +been exceeding glad, if my gracious Lord had ordered it so, that I might +have made you a visit, as I proposed; but I am now glad it was ordered +otherwise, since he hath caused so much of his goodness to pass before +me. Were I to give you an account of the many favours my God hath loaded +me with, since I parted from you, I must have taken up many days in +nothing but writing. I hope you will join with me in praises for all the +goodness he has shown to your unworthy brother in the Lord." + +Such were the ardours and elevation of his soul. But while I record these +memorials of them, I am very sensible that there are many who will be +inclined to censure them as the flights of enthusiasm; for which reason, +I must beg leave to add a remark or two on the occasion, which will be +illustrated by several other extracts, which I shall introduce into the +sequel of these memoirs. The one is, that he never pretends, in any of +the passages cited above, or elsewhere, to have received from God any +immediate revelations which should raise him above the ordinary methods +of instruction, or discover any thing to him, whether of doctrines or +facts. No man was further from pretending to predict future events, +except from the moral prognostications of causes naturally tending to +produce them, in tracing of which he had indeed an admirable sagacity, +as I have seen in some very remarkable instances. Neither was he at all +inclinable to govern himself by secret impulses upon his mind, leading +him to things for which he could assign no reason but the impulse itself. +Had he ventured, in a presumption on such secret agitations of mind, to +teach or to do any thing not warranted by the dictates of sound sense and +the word of God, I should readily have acknowledged him an enthusiast, +unless he could have produced some other evidence than his own persuasion +to have supported the authority of them. But these ardent expressions, +which some may call enthusiasm, seem only to evince a heart deeply +affected with a sense of the divine presence and perfections, and of that +love which passeth knowledge, especially as manifested in our redemption +by the Son of God, which did indeed inflame his whole soul. And he +thought he might reasonably ascribe these strong impressions, to which +men are generally such strangers, and of which he had long been entirely +destitute, to the agency or influences of the Spirit of God upon his +heart; and that, in proportion to the degree in which he felt them, he +might properly say, God was present with him, and he conversed with +God.[*] Now, when we consider the scriptural phrases of "walking with +God," of "having communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ," of +"Christ's coming to them that open the door of their hearts to him, and +supping with them," of "God's shedding abroad his love in the heart of +the Spirit," of "his coming with Jesus Christ, and making his abode with +any man that loves him," of "his meeting him that worketh righteousness," +of "his making us glad by the light of his countenance," and a variety +of other equivalent expressions,--I believe we shall see reason to judge +much more favourably of such expressions as those now in question, than +persons who, themselves strangers to elevated devotion, perhaps converse +but little with their Bible, are inclined to do; especially, if they +have, as many such persons have, a temper that inclines them to cavil and +find fault. And I must further observe, that amidst all those freedoms +with which this eminent Christian opens his devout heart to the most +intimate of his friends, he still speaks with profound awe and reverence +of his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and maintains (after the example +of the sacred writers themselves,) a kind of dignity in his expressions, +suitable to such a subject, without any of that fond familiarity of +language, and degrading meanness of phrase, by which it is, especially +of late, grown fashionable among some (who nevertheless I believe mean +well,) to express their love and their humility. + +[*Note: The ingenious and pious Mr. Grove (who, I think, was as little +suspected of running into enthusiastical extremes as most divines I could +name,) has a noble passage to this purpose in the sixth volume of his +Posthumous Works, p.10, 11, which, respect to the memory of both these +excellent persons, inclines me to insert here, + +"How often are the good thoughts suggested," (viz. to the pure in heart) +"heavenly affection kindled and inflamed! How often is the Christian +prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, +persuaded, in such a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God +to question his agency in the whole! Yes, on my soul! there is a Supreme +Being, who governs the world, and is present with it, who takes up his +more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon +him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, oh my soul! +like another soul, [Transcriber's note: illegible] thy faculties, +exalting thy views, purifying thy passions, exalting thy graces, and +begetting in thee an abhorrence of sin, and a love of holiness? Is not +all this an argument of His presence, as truly as if thou didst see."] + +On the whole, if habitual love to God, firm faith in the Lord Jesus +Christ, a steady dependence on the divine promises, a full persuasion of +the wisdom and goodness of all the dispensations of Providence, a high +esteem for the blessings of the heavenly world, and a sincere contempt +for the vanities of this, can properly be called enthusiasm, then was +Colonel Gardiner indeed one of the greatest enthusiasts which our age +has produced; and in proportion to the degree in which he was so, I must +esteem him one of the wisest and happiest of mankind. Nor do I fear to +tell the world that it is the design of my writing these memoirs, and of +every thing else that I undertake in life, to spread this glorious and +blessed enthusiasm, which I know to be the anticipation of heaven, as +well as the most certain way to it. + +But lest any should possibly imagine, that allowing the experiences which +have been described above to have been ever so solid and important, yet +there may be some appearances of boasting in so free a communication of +them, I must add to what I have hinted in reference to this above, that +I find in many of the papers before me very genuine expressions of the +deepest humility and self-abasement, which indeed such holy converse with +God in prayer and praise does, above all things in the world, tend to +inspire and promote. Thus, in one of his letters he says, "I am but as +a beast before him." In another he calls himself "a miserable +hell-deserving sinner." And in another he cries out, "Oh, how good +a master do I serve! but, alas, how ungrateful am I! What can be so +astonishing as the love of Christ to us, unless it be the coldness of our +sinful hearts towards such a Saviour?" There were many other clauses of +the like nature, which I shall not set myself more particularly to trace +through the variety of letters in which they occur. + +It is a further instance of this unfeigned humility, that when (as his +lady with her usual propriety of language expresses it in one of her +letters to me concerning him,) "these divine joys and consolations were +not his daily allowance," he, with equal freedom, in the confidence of +Christian fellowship, acknowledges and laments it. Thus, in the first +letter I had the honour of receiving from him, dated from Leicester, July +9, 1739, after mentioning the blessing with which it had pleased God to +attend my last address to him, and the influence it had upon his mind, +he adds, "Much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that +spiritual deadness which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite +otherwise with me, and that for many years: + + "'Firm was my health, my day was bright, + And I presumed 't would ne'er be night, + Fondly I said within my heart, + Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart, + But I forgot, thine arm was strong, + Which made my mountain stand so long; + Soon as thy face began to hide, + My health was gone, my comforts died.' + +And here," adds he, "lies my sin and my folly." + +I mention this, that the whole matter may be seen just as it was, and +that other Christians may not be discouraged if they feel some abatement +of that fervour, and of those holy joys which they may have experienced +during some of the first months or years of their spiritual life. But, +with relation to the colonel, I have great reason to believe that those +which he laments as his days of spiritual deadness were not unanimated; +and that quickly after the date of this letter, and especially nearer the +close of his life, he had further revivings, as the joyful anticipation +in reserve of those better things which were then nearly approaching. And +thus Mr. Spears, in the letter I mentioned above, tells us he related +the matter to him, (for he studies as much as possible to retain the +colonel's own words): "However," says he, "after that happy period +of sensible communion, though my joys and enlargements were not so +overflowing and sensible, yet I have had habitual real communion with +God from that day to this"--the latter end of the year 1743--"and I know +myself, and all that know me see, that through the grace of God, to which +I ascribe all, my conversation has been becoming the gospel; and let me +die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it shall be, I am sure +I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory," &c. This is perfectly +agreeable to the manner in which he used to speak to me on this head, +which we have talked over frequently and largely. + +In this connection I hope my reader will forgive my inserting a little +story which I received from a very worthy minister in Scotland, and which +I shall give in his own words: "In this period," meaning that which +followed the first seven years after his conversion, "when his complaint +of comparative deadness and languor in religion began, he had a dream, +which, though he had no turn at all for taking notice of dreams, yet made +a very strong impression upon his mind. He imagined he saw his blessed +Redeemer on earth, and that he was following him through a large field, +following him whom his soul loved, but much troubled, because he thought +his blessed Lord did not speak to him, till he came up to the gate of a +burying-place, when, turning about, he smiled upon him in such a manner +as filled his soul with the most ravishing joy, and on after reflection +animated his faith in believing that whatever storms and darkness he +might meet with in the way, at the hour of death his glorious Redeemer +would lift up upon him the light of his life-giving countenance." My +correspondent adds a circumstance for which he makes some apology, +as what may seem whimsical, and yet made some impression on the +colonel,--"that there was a remarkable resemblance in the field in which +this brave man met his death, and that he had represented to him in the +dream." I did not fully understand this at first; but a passage in that +letter from Mr. Spears, which I have mentioned more than once, has +cleared it: + +"Now observe, sir, this seems to be a literal description of the place +where this Christian hero ended his sorrows and conflicts, and from which +he entered triumphantly into the joy of his Lord; for, after he fell in +the battle, fighting gloriously for his king, and the cause of his God, +his wounded body, while life was yet remaining, was carried from the +field of battle by the east side of his own enclosure, till he came to +the church-yard of Tranent, and was brought to the minister's house, +where, about an hour after, he breathed out his soul into the hands of +his Lord, and was conducted to his presence, where there is fulness of +joy, without any cloud or interruption, for ever." + +I well know that in dreams there are diverse vanities, and readily +acknowledge that nothing certain could be inferred from this; yet it +seems at least to show which way the imagination was working even in +sleep; and I cannot think it unworthy of a wise and good man sometimes +to reflect with complacency on any images which, passing through his mind +even in that state, may tend either to express or to quicken his love +to the great Saviour. Those eminently pious divines of the Church of +England, Bishop Bull and Bishop Konn, do both intimate it as their +opinion that it may be a part of the service of ministering angels to +suggest devout dreams[1] and I know that the worthy person of whom I +speak was well acquainted with that evening hymn of the latter of those +excellent writers which has these lines: + + "Lord lest the tempter me surprise, + Watch over thine own sacrifice! + All loose, all idle thoughts cast out; + And make my very _dreams_ devout!" + +Nor would it be difficult to produce other passages much to the same +purpose,[2] if it would not be deemed too great a digression from our +subject, and too laboured a vindication of a little incident of very +small importance when compared with most of those which make up this +narrative.[3] + +[Footnote 1: Bishop Bull has these remarkable words: "Although I am no +doater on dreams, yet I verily believe that some dreams are monitory, +above the power of fancy, and impressed upon us by some superior +intelligence. For of such dreams we have plain and undeniable instances +in history, both sacred and profane, and in our own age and observation. +Nor shall I so value the laughter of sceptics, and the scoffs of +epicureans, as to be ashamed to profess that I myself have had some +convincing experiments of such impressions." _Bishop Bull's Sermons and +Discourses_, Vol. II, pp. 489, 490.] + +[Footnote 2: If I mistake not, the same Bishop Konn is the author of a +_midnight hymn_ coinciding with these words: + + "May my ethereal Guardian kindly spread + His wings, and from the tempter screen my head; + Grant of celestial light some passing beams, + To bless my sleep, and sanctify my dreams!" + +As he certainly was of these exactly parallel lines: + + "Oh may my Guardian, while I sleep, + Close to my bed his vigils keep; + His love angelical distil, + Stop all the avenues of ill! + May he celestial joys rehearse, + And thought to thought with me converse!"] + +[Footnote 3: See Appendix I.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + + +I meet not with any other remarkable event relating to Major Gardiner, +which can properly be introduced here, till 1726, when, on the 11th of +July, he was married to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to +the late Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five only of +which survived their father, two sons and three daughters, whom I cannot +mention without the most fervent prayers to God for them, that they may +always behave worthy the honour of being descended from such parents, +and that the God of their father and of their mother may make them +perpetually the care of his providence, and yet more eminently happy in +the constant and abundant influences of his grace. + +As her ladyship is still living,[*] (and for the sake of +her dear offspring, and numerous friends, may she long be spared,) I +shall not here indulge myself in saying any thing of her, except it be +that the colonel assured me, when he had been happy in this intimate +relation to her more than fourteen years, that the greatest imperfection +he knew in her character was, "that she valued and loved him much more +than he deserved." Little did he think, in the simplicity of heart with +which he spoke this, how high an encomium he was making upon her, and how +lasting an honour such a testimony must leave upon her name, long as the +memory of it shall continue. + +[*Note: In the year 1746] + +As I do not intend in these memoirs a laboured essay on the character of +Colonel Gardiner, digested under the various virtues and graces which +Christianity requires, (which would, I think, be a little too formal for +a work of this kind, and would give it such an air of panegyric as would +neither suit my design, nor be at all likely to render it more useful,) I +shall now mention what I have either observed in him, or heard concerning +him, with regard to those domestic relations which commenced about this +time, or very soon after. And here my reader will easily conclude that +the resolution of Joshua was from the first adopted and declared, "As for +me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It will naturally be supposed, +that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word +of God was read there, and prayers and praises were constantly offered. +These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it +a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof to take it +for granted they would look upon it as a very bad compliment to imagine +they would have been obliged by neglecting the duties of religion on +their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly +resident in his house, who discharged both the office of a tutor to his +children, and of a chaplain, and who was always treated with a becoming +kindness and respect. But, in his absence, the colonel himself led the +devotions of the family; and they were happy who had an opportunity of +knowing with how much solemnity, fervour, and propriety he did it. He was +constant in attendance upon public worship, in which an exemplary care +was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the +family. And how he would have resented the non-attendance of any member +of it may easily be conjectured from a free but lively passage in a +letter to one of his intimate friends, on an occasion which it is not +material to mention. "Oh, sir, had a child of yours under my roof but +once neglected the public worship of God when he was able to attend it, +I should have been ready to conclude he had been distracted, and should +have thought of shaving his head, and confining him in a dark room." + +He always treated his lady with a manly tenderness, giving her the most +natural evidences of a cordial, habitual esteem, and expressing a most +affectionate sympathy with her under the infirmities of a very delicate +constitution, much broken, at least towards the latter years of their +marriage. He had at all times a most faithful care of all her interests, +and especially those relating to the state of religion in her mind. His +conversation and his letters concurred to cherish those sublime ideas +which Christianity suggests, to promote our submission to the will of +God, to teach us to centre our happiness in the great Author of our +being, and to live by faith in the invisible world. These, no doubt, were +frequently the subjects of mutual discourse; and many letters, which her +ladyship has had the goodness to communicate to me, are most convincing +evidences of the degree in which this noble and most friendly care filled +his mind in the days of their separation--days which so entire a mutual +affection must have rendered exceedingly painful, had they not been +supported by such exalted sentiments of piety, and sweetened by daily +communion with an ever-present and ever-gracious God. + +The necessity of being so many months together distant from his family +hindered him from many of those condescending labours in cultivating the +minds of his children in early life, which, to a soul so benevolent, so +wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite +pleasure. The care of his worthy consort, who well knew that it is one +of the brightest parts of a mother's character, and one of the most +important views in which the sex can be considered, made him the easier +under such a circumstance; but when he was with them, he failed not to +instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he +spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he +always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were +excellent lessons of daily wisdom, which I hope they will recollect with +advantage in every future scene of life. And I have seen such hints in +his letters relating to them, as plainly show with how great a weight +they lay on his mind, and how highly he desired, above all things, that +they might be the faithful disciples of Christ, and acquainted betimes +with the unequalled pleasures and blessings of religion. He thought an +excess of delicacy and of indulgence one of the most dangerous faults +in education, by which he everywhere saw great numbers of young people +undone; yet he was solicitous to guard against a severity which might +terrify or discourage; and though he endeavoured to take all prudent +precautions to prevent the commission of faults, yet, when they had been +committed, and there seemed to be a sense of them, he was always ready +to make the most candid allowances for the thoughtlessness of unripened +years, and tenderly to cherish every purpose of a more proper conduct for +the time to come. + +It was to perceive that the openings of genius in the young branches of +his family gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to +see them excel in what they undertook. Yet he was greatly cautious over +his heart, lest it should be too fondly attached to them; and as he was +one of the most eminent proficients I ever knew in the blessed science +of resignation to the divine will, so there was no effect of that +resignation which appeared to me more admirable than what related to the +life of his children. An experience, which no length of time will ever +efface out of my memory, has so sensibly taught me how difficult it is +fully to support the Christian character here, that I hope my reader will +pardon me (I am sure, at least, the heart of wounded parents will,) if I +dwell a little longer upon so interesting a subject.[*] + +[*Note: See Appendix II.] + +When he was in Herefordshire in July, 1734, it pleased God to visit his +little family with the small pox. Five days before the date of the letter +I am just going to mention, he had received the agreeable news that +there was a prospect of the recovery of his son, then under that awful +visitation; and he had been expressing his thankfulness for it in a +letter which he had sent away but a few hours before he was informed of +his death, the surprise of which, in this connection, must naturally be +very great. But behold (says the reverend and worthy person from whom +I received the copy) his truly filial submission to the will of his +Heavenly Father, in the following lines addressed to the dear partner +of his affliction: "Your resignation to the will of God under this +dispensation gives me more joy than the death of the child has given me +sorrow. He, to be sure, is happy; and we shall go to him, though he shall +not return to us. Oh that we had our latter end always in view! We shall +soon follow; and oh, what reason have we to long for that glorious day +when we shall get quit of this body of sin and death under which we now +groan, and which renders this life so wretched! I desire to bless God +that ---- (another of his children) is in so good a way; but I have +resigned her. We must not choose for ourselves; and it is well we must +not, for we should often make a very bad choice, and therefore it is our +wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave all with a gracious God, who hath +promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love +him; and he is faithful that hath promised, who will infallibly perform +it, if our unbelief does not stand in the way." + +The greatest trial of this kind that he ever bore, was in the removal of +his second son, who was one of the most amiable and promising children +that has been known. The dear little creature was the darling of all that +knew him; and promised very fair, so far as a child could be known by its +doings, to have been a great ornament to the family, and blessing to the +public. The suddenness of the stroke must, no doubt, render it the more +painful; for this beloved child was snatched away by an illness which +seized him but about fifteen hours before it carried him off. He died +in the month of October 1733, at near six years old. Their friends were +ready to fear that his affectionate parents would be almost overwhelmed +at such a loss; but the happy father had so firm a persuasion that God +had received the dear little one to the felicities of the celestial +world, and at the same time had so strong a sense of the divine goodness +in taking one of his children, and that, too, one who lay so near his +heart, so early to himself, that the sorrows of nature were quite +swallowed up in the sublime joy which these considerations administered. +When he reflected what human life is--how many its snares and temptations +are--and how frequently children who once promised very well are +insensibly corrupted, and at length undone, with Solomon he blessed the +dead already dead, more than the living who were yet alive, and felt +unspeakable pleasure in looking after the lovely infant, as safely and +delightfully lodged in the house of its Heavenly Father. Yea, he assured +me that his heart was at this time so entirely taken up with these views, +that he was afraid they who did not thoroughly know him might suspect +that he was deficient in the natural affections of a parent, while thus +borne above the anguish of them by the views which faith administered to +him, and which divine grace supported in his soul. + +So much did he, on one of the most trying occasions of life, manifest of +the temper of a glorified saint, and to such happy purposes did he retain +those lessons of submission to God, and acquiescence in him, which I +remember he once inculcated in a letter he wrote to a lady of quality +under the apprehension of a breach in her family with which Providence +seemed to threaten her, which I am willing to insert here, though a +little out of what might seem its most proper place rather than entirely +to omit it. It is dated from London, June 16, 1722, when, speaking of the +dangerous illness of a dear relative, he has these words: "When my mind +runs hither," that is, to God, as its refuge and strong defence, (as the +connection plainly determines it,) "I think I can bear any thing, the +loss of all, the loss of health, of relations, on whom I depend, and whom +I love, all that is dear to me, without repining or murmuring. When I +think that God orders, disposes, and manages all things according to the +counsel of his own will; when I think of the extent of his providence, +that it reaches to the minutest things; then, though a useful friend or +dear relative be snatched away by death, I recall myself, and check my +thoughts with these considerations: Is he not God from everlasting, and +to everlasting? And has he not promised to be a God to me?--a God in all +his attributes, a God in all his persons, a God in all his creatures and +providences? And shall I dare to say, What shall I do? Was not he the +infinite cause of all I met with in the creatures? And were not they +the finite effects of his infinite love and kindness? I have daily +experienced that the instrument was, and is, what God makes it to be; and +I know that this 'God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the +earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' If this earth be good for +me, I shall have it; for my Father hath it all in possession. If favour +in the eyes of men be good for me, I shall have it; for the spring of +every motion in the heart of man is in God's hand. My dear ---- seems now +to be dying; but God is all-wise, and every thing is done by him for the +best. Shall I hold back any thing that is his own, when he requires +it? No, God forbid! When I consider the excellency of his glorious +attributes, I am satisfied with all his dealings." I perceive by the +introduction, and by what follows, that most, if not all of this, is +a quotation from something written by a lady; but whether from some +manuscript or printed book, whether exactly transcribed or quoted from +memory, I cannot determine; and therefore I thought proper to insert it, +as the major (for that was the office he bore then,) by thus interweaving +it with his letter, makes it his own, and as it seems to express in a +very lively manner the principles which bore him on to a conduct so truly +great and heroic, in circumstances that have overwhelmed many a heart +that could have faced danger and death with the greatest intrepidity. + +I return now to consider his character in the domestic relation of a +master, on which I shall not enlarge. It is, however, proper to remark, +that as his habitual meekness and command of his passions prevented +indecent sallies of ungoverned anger towards those in the lowest state +of subjection to him, by which some in high life do strangely debase +themselves, and lose much of their authority, so the natural greatness of +his mind made him solicitous to render their inferior stations as easy as +he could: and so much the rather, because he considered all the children +of Adam as standing upon a level before their great Creator, and had +also a deeper sense of the dignity and worth of every immortal soul, how +meanly soever it might chance to be lodged, than most persons I have +known. This engaged him to give his servants frequent religious +exhortations and instructions, as I have been assured by several who +were so happy as to live with him under that character. One of his first +letters, after he entered on his Christian course, expresses the same +disposition; in which, with great tenderness, he recommends a servant, +who was in a bad state of health, to his mother's care, as he was well +acquainted with her condescending temper; mentioning at the same time, +the endeavours he had used to promote his preparations for a better +world, under an apprehension that he would not continue long in this. +We shall have an affecting instance of the prevalence of the same +disposition in the closing scene of his life, and indeed in the last +words he ever spoke, which expressed his generous solicitude for the +safety of a faithful servant who was then near him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + +As it was a few years after his marriage that he was promoted to the rank +of lieutenant-colonel, in which he continued till he had a regiment of +his own, I shall, for the future, speak of him by that title; and I may +not, perhaps, find any more proper place in which to mention what it is +proper for me to say of his behaviour and conduct as an officer. I shall +not here enlarge upon his bravery in the field, though, as I have heard +from others, that was very remarkable--I say from others, for I never +heard any thing of the kind from himself, nor knew, till after his death, +that he was present at almost every battle that was fought in Flanders +while the illustrious Duke of Marlborough commanded the allied army +there. I have also been assured from several very credible persons, some +of whom were eye-witnesses, that at the skirmish with the rebels at +Preston in Lancashire, (thirty years before that engagement at the other +Preston which deprived us of this gallant guardian of his country,) he +signalized himself very particularly; for he headed a small body of men, +I think about twelve, and set fire to the barricado of the rebels, in the +face of their whole army, while they were pouring in their shot, by which +eight of the twelve that attended him fell. This was the last action of +the kind in which he was engaged before the long peace which ensued; and +who can express how happy it was for him, and indeed for his country, +of which he was ever so mindful, and in his latter years so important a +friend, that he did not then fall, when the profaneness which mingled +itself with this martial rage seemed to rend the heavens, and shocked +some other military gentlemen who were not very remarkable for their +caution in this respect. + +But I insist not on things of this nature, which the true greatness of +his soul would hardly ever permit him to mention, unless when it tended +to illustrate the divine care over him in these extremities of danger, +and the grace of God in calling him from so abandoned a state. It is well +known that the character of an officer is not to be approved in the +day of combat only. Colonel Gardiner was truly sensible that every day +brought its duties along with it, and he was constantly careful that no +pretence of amusement, friendship, or even devotion itself, might prevent +their being properly discharged. + +I doubt not that the noble persons in whose regiments he was +lieutenant-colonel, will always be ready to bear an honourable and +grateful testimony to his exemplary diligence and fidelity in all that +related to the care of the troops over which he was set, whether in +regard to the men or the horses. He knew that it is incumbent on +those who have the honour of presiding over others, whether in civil, +ecclesiastical, or military offices, not to content themselves with doing +only so much as may preserve them from the reproach of gross and visible +neglect; but seriously to consider how much they can possibly do without +going out of their proper sphere, to serve the public, by the due +inspection of those committed to their care. The duties of the closet and +of the sanctuary were so adjusted as not to interfere with those of the +parade, or any other place where the welfare of the regiment called +him. On the other hand, he was solicitous not to suffer these things to +interfere with religion, a due attendance on which he apprehended to +be the surest method of attaining all desirable success in every other +interest and concern in life. He therefore abhorred every thing that +looked like a contrivance to keep his soldiers employed with their horses +and their arms at the seasons of public worship--an indecency which I +wish there were no room to mention. Far from that, he used to have them +drawn up just before it began, and from the parade they went off to the +house of God. He understood the rights of conscience too well to impose +his own particular profession in religion on others, or to treat those +who differed from him in the choice of its modes, the less kindly or +respectfully on that account. But as most of his own company, and many of +the rest, chose (when in England) to attend him to the dissenting chapel, +he used to march them up thither in due time, so as to be there before +the worship began. And I must do them the justice to say, that so far as +I could ever discern, when I have seen them in large numbers before me, +they behaved with as much reverence, gravity, and decorum, during the +time of divine service, as any of the worshippers. + +That his remarkable care to maintain good discipline among them (of which +we shall afterwards speak) might be the more effectual, he made himself +on all proper occasions accessible to them, and expressed a great +concern for their interests, which, being genuine and sincere, naturally +discovered itself in a variety of instances. I remember I had once +occasion to visit one of his dragoons in his last illness at Harborough, +and I found the man upon the borders of eternity--a circumstance which, +as he apprehended himself, must add some peculiar weight and credibility +to his discourse. He then told me, in his colonel's absence, that he +questioned not that he should have everlasting reason to bless God on +Colonel Gardiner's account, for he had been a father to him in all his +interests, both temporal and spiritual. He added, that he had visited +him, almost every day during his illness, with religious advice and +instruction, and had also taken care that he should want for nothing that +might conduct to the recovery of his health. He did not speak of this +as the result of any particular attachment to him, but as the manner in +which he was accustomed to treat those under his command. It is no wonder +that this engaged their affection to a very great degree; and I doubt not +that if he had fought the fatal battle of Prestonpans at the head of that +gallant regiment of which he had the care for so many years, and which +is allowed by most unexceptionable judges to be one of the finest in the +British service, and consequently in the world, he had been supported in +a much different manner, and had found a much greater number who would +have rejoiced in an opportunity of making their own breasts a barrier in +the defence of his. + +It could not but greatly endear him to his soldiers, that so far as +preferments lay in his power, or were under his influence, they were +distributed according to merit. This he knew to be as much the dictate of +prudence as equity. I find from one of his letters before me, dated but +a few months after his conversion, that he was solicited to use his +interest with the Earl of Stair in favour of one whom he judged a very +worthy person; and that it had been suggested by another, who +recommended him, that if he so succeeded, he might expect some handsome +acknowledgment. But he answers with some degree of indignation, "Do you +imagine I am to be bribed to do justice?" For such it seems he esteemed +it, to confer the favour which was asked from him on one so deserving. +Nothing can more effectually tend to humble the enemies of a state, than +that such maxims should universally prevail in it; and if they do not +prevail, the worthiest men in an army or a fleet may sink under repeated +discouragements, and the basest exalted, to the infamy of the public, and +perhaps to its ruin. + +In the midst of all the gentleness which Colonel Gardiner exercised +towards his soldiers, he made it very apparent that he knew how to +reconcile the tenderness of a really faithful and condescending friend +with the authority of a commander. Perhaps hardly any thing conduced more +generally to the maintaining of this authority, than the strict decorum +and good manners with which he treated even the private gentlemen of his +regiment; which has always a great efficacy in keeping inferiors at +a proper distance, and forbids, in the least offensive manner, +familiarities which degrade the superior, and enervate his influence. The +calmness and steadiness of his behaviour on all occasions also greatly +tended to the same purpose. He knew how mean a man looks in the +transports of passion, and would not use so much freedom with many of +his men as to fall into such transports before them, well knowing that +persons in the lowest rank of life are aware how unfit _they_ are to +govern others, who cannot govern themselves. He was also sensible how +necessary it is in all who preside over others, and especially in +military officers, to check irregularities when they first begin to +appear; and, that he might be able to do so, he kept a strict inspection +over his soldiers; in which it was observed, that as he generally chose +to reside among them as much as he could, (though in circumstances which +sometimes occasioned him to deny himself in some interests which were +very dear to him,) so, when they were around him, he seldom staid long in +a place; but was frequently walking the streets, and looking into their +quarters and stables, as well as reviewing and exercising them himself. +It has often been observed that the regiment to which he was so many +years lieutenant-colonel, was one of the most regular and orderly +regiments in the public service, so that perhaps none of our dragoons +were more welcome to the towns where their character was known. Yet no +such bodies of men are so blameless in their conduct but something will +be found, especially among such considerable numbers, worthy of censure, +and sometimes of punishment. This Colonel Gardiner knew how to inflict +with a becoming resolution, and with all the severity which he judged +necessary--a severity the more awful and impressive, as it was already +attended with meekness; for he well knew that when things are done in a +passion, it seems only an accidental circumstance that they are acts +of justice, and that such indecencies greatly obstruct the ends of +punishment, both as to reforming offenders, and to deterring others from +an imitation of their faults. + +One instance of his conduct, which happened at Leicester, and which was +related by the person chiefly concerned to a worthy friend from whom +I had it, I cannot forbear inserting. While part of the regiment was +encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, the colonel went incognito +to the camp in the middle of the night; for he sometimes lodged at his +quarters in the town. One of the sentinels then on duty had abandoned +his post, and, on being seized, broke out into some oaths and profane +execrations against those that discovered him--a crime of which the +colonel had the greatest abhorrence, and on which he never failed to +animadvert. The man afterwards appeared much ashamed and concerned for +what he had done. But the colonel ordered him to be brought early the +next morning to his own quarters, where he had prepared a picket, on +which he appointed him a private sort of penance; and while he was put +upon it, he discoursed with him seriously and tenderly upon the evils and +aggravations of his fault, admonished him of the divine displeasure which +he had incurred, and urged him to argue, from the pain which he then +felt, how infinitely more dreadful it must be to "fall into the hands of +the living God," and, indeed, to meet the terrors of that damnation +which he had been accustomed impiously to call for on himself and his +companions. The result of this proceeding was, that the offender accepted +his punishment, not only with submission, but with thankfulness. He went +away with a more cordial affection for his colonel than he ever had +before, and spoke of the circumstance some years after to my friend, in +such a manner that there seemed reason to hope it had been instrumental +in producing a change not only in his life, but in his heart. + +There cannot, I think, be a more proper place for mentioning the great +reverence this excellent officer always expressed for the name of the +blessed God, and the zeal with which he endeavoured to suppress, and if +possible to extirpate, that detestable sin of swearing and cursing which +is every where so common, and especially among our military men. He often +declared, at the head of his regiment, his sentiments with respect to +this enormity, and urged his captains and their subalterns to take the +greatest care that they did not give the sanction of their example to +that which by their office they were obliged to punish in others. Indeed +his zeal on these occasions wrought in a very active, and sometimes in a +remarkably successful manner, not only among his equals, but sometimes +among his superiors too. An instance of this in Flanders I shall have an +opportunity hereafter to produce; at present I shall only mention his +conduct in Scotland a little before his death, as I have it from a +very valuable young minister of that country, on whose testimony I can +thoroughly depend; and I wish it may excite many to imitation. + +'The commanding officer of the king's forces then about Edinburgh, +with the other colonels, and several other gentlemen of rank in their +respective regiments, favoured him with their company at Bankton, and +took dinner with him. He too well foresaw what might happen amid such a +variety of tempers and characters; and fearing lest his conscience might +have been ensnared by a sinful silence, or that, on the other hand, he +might seem to pass the bounds of decency, and infringe upon the laws of +hospitality by animadverting on guests so justly entitled to his regard, +he happily determined on the following method of avoiding each of these +difficulties. As soon as they were come together, he addressed them with +a great deal of respect, and at the same time with a very frank and +determined air, telling them that he had the honour in that district to +be a justice of the peace, and consequently that he was sworn to put the +law in execution, and, among the rest, those against swearing; that he +could not execute them upon others with any confidence, or by any means +approve himself a man of impartiality and integrity to his own heart, +if he suffered them to be broken in his presence by persons of any rank +whatsoever; and that therefore he entreated all the gentlemen who then +honoured him with their company that they would please to be upon their +guard, and that if any oath or curse should escape them, he hoped they +would consider his legal animadversion upon it as a regard to the duties +of his office and the dictates of his conscience, and not as owing to any +want of deference to them. + +The commanding officer immediately supported him in this declaration, as +entirely becoming the station in which he was, assuring him that he would +be ready to pay the penalty, if he inadvertently transgressed; and when +Colonel Gardiner on any occasion stepped out of the room, he himself +undertook to be the guardian of the law in his absence; and as one of the +inferior officers offended during this time, he informed the colonel, so +that the fine was exacted and given to the poor,[*] with the universal +approbation of the company. The story spread in the neighbourhood, and +was perhaps applauded highly by many who wanted the courage to "go and do +likewise." But it may be said, with the utmost propriety, of the worthy +person of whom I write, that he feared the face of no man living where +the honour of God was concerned. In all such cases he might be justly +said, in Scripture phrase, "to set his face like a flint;" and I +assuredly believe, that had he been in the presence of a sovereign +prince who had been guilty of this fault, his looks at least would have +testified his grief and surprise, if he had apprehended it unfit to have +borne his testimony in any other way. + +[*Note: It is observable that the money which was forfeited on this +account by his own officers, whom he never spared, or by any others of +his soldiers who rather chose to pay than submit to corporal punishment, +was, by the colonel's order, laid by in a bank till some of the private +men fell sick, and then it was laid out in providing them with proper +help and accommodations in their distress.] + +Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons, during the time he was +lieutenant-colonel of it, was quartered in a variety of places, both +in England and Scotland, from many of which I have letters before +me; particularly from Hamilton, Ayr, Carlisle, Hereford, Maidenhead, +Leicester, Warwick, Coventry, Stamford, Harborough, Northampton, and +several other places, especially in our inland parts. The natural +consequence was, that the colonel, whose character was on many accounts +so very remarkable, had a very extensive acquaintance; and I believe I +may certainly say, that wherever he was known by persons of wisdom and +worth, he was proportionably respected, and left behind him traces of +unaffected devotion, humility, benevolence, and zeal for the support and +advancement of religion and virtue. + +The equable tenor of his mind in these respects is illustrated by his +letters from several of these places; and though I have but comparatively +a small number of them now in my hands, yet they will afford some +valuable extracts; which I shall therefore here lay before my reader, +that he may the better judge as to the colonel's real character in +particulars which I have already mentioned, or which may hereafter occur. + +In a letter to his lady, dated from Carlisle, November 19, 1738, when +he was on his journey to Herefordshire, he breathes out his grateful, +cheerful soul in these words: + +"I bless God I was never better in my lifetime, and I wish I could be so +happy as to hear the same of you: or rather, in other words, to hear that +you have obtained an entire trust in God. That would infallibly keep you +in perfect peace, for the God of truth has promised it. Oh, how ought we +to be longing 'to be with Christ,' which is infinitely better than any +thing we can propose here! to be there, where no mountains shall separate +between God and our souls. And I hope it will be some addition to our +happiness, that, you and I shall be separated no more; but that as we +have joined in singing the praises of our glorious Redeemer here, we +shall sing them in a much higher key through an endless eternity. Oh +eternity, eternity! What a wonderful thought, is eternity!" + +From Leicester, August 6, 1739, he writes thus to his lady: + +"Yesterday I was at the Lord's table, where you and the children were not +forgotten. But how wonderfully was I assisted when I came home, to plead +for you all with many tears." And then, speaking of some intimate friends +who were impatient, (as I suppose by the connection) for his return to +them, he takes occasion to observe the necessity of endeavouring to +compose our minds, and say with the Psalmist, "My soul, wait thou only +upon God." Afterwards, speaking of one of his children, who he heard had +made a commendable progress in learning, he expresses his satisfaction, +and adds; "But, how much greater joy would it give me to hear that he was +greatly advanced in the school of Christ! Oh that our children may but be +wise unto salvation, and may grow in grace as they do in stature!" + +These letters, which to so familiar a friend evidently lay open the +heart, and show the ideas and affections which were lodged deepest there, +are sometimes taken up with an account of sermons he had attended, and +the impression they had made upon his mind. I shall mention only one, +as a specimen of many more, which was dated from a place called Cohorn, +April 15: + +"We had here a minister from Wales, who gave us two excellent discourses +on the love of Christ to us, as an argument to engage our love to him. +And indeed, next to the greatness of his love to us, methinks there is +nothing so astonishing as the coldness of our love to him. Oh that he +would shed abroad his love upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit, that ours +might be kindled into a flame! May God enable you to trust in Him, and +then you will be kept in perfect peace!" + +We have met with many traces of that habitual gratitude to the blessed +God, as his Heavenly Father and constant friend, which made his life +probably one of the happiest that ever was spent on earth. I cannot omit +one more, which appears to me the more worthy of notice, as being a short +turn in as hasty a letter as any I remember to have seen of his, which he +wrote from Leicester in June, 1739. "I am now under the deepest sense of +the many favours the Almighty has bestowed upon me. Surely you will help +me to celebrate the praises of our gracious God and kind benefactor." +This exuberance of grateful affection, which, while it was almost every +hour pouring itself forth before God in the most genuine and emphatical +language, felt itself still as it were straitened for want of a +sufficient vent, and therefore called on others to help him with their +concurrent praises, appears to me the most glorious and happy state in +which a human soul can find itself on this side heaven. + +Such was the temper which this excellent man appears to have carried +along with him through such a variety of places and circumstances; and +the whole of his deportment was suitable to these impressions. Strangers +were agreeably struck with his first appearance, there being much of the +Christian, the well-bred man, and the universal friend in it; and as +they came more intimately to know him, they discovered more and more the +uniformity and consistency of his whole temper and behaviour; so that +whether he made only a visit for a few days to any place, or continued +there for many weeks or months, he was always beloved and esteemed, +and spoken of with that honourable testimony, from persons of the most +different denominations and parties, which nothing but true sterling +worth, (if I may be allowed the expression,) and that in an eminent +degree, can secure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + +Of the justice of this testimony, which I had so often heard from a +variety of persons, I myself began to be a witness about the time when +the last mentioned letter was dated. In this view, I believe I shall +never forget that happy day, June 18, 1739, when I first met him at +Leicester. I remember I happened that day to preach a lecture from Psalm +cxix, 158, "I beheld the transgressions, and was grieved because they +kept not thy law." I was large in describing that mixture of indignation +and grief (strongly expressed by the original words there) with which +a good man looks on the daring transgressors of the divine law; and in +tracing the causes of that grief, as arising from a regard to the divine +honour, and the interest of a Redeemer, and a compassionate concern for +the misery which such offenders bring on themselves, and for the mischief +they do to the world about them, I little thought, how exactly I was +drawing Colonel Gardiner's character under each of those heads; and I +have often reflected upon it as a happy providence which opened a much +speedier way than I could have expected to the breast of one of the most +amiable and useful friends whom I ever expect to find upon earth. We +afterwards sang a hymn which brought over again some of the leading +thoughts in the sermon and struck him so strongly, that on obtaining a +copy of it, he committed it to memory, and used to repeat it, with so +forcible an accent as showed how much every line expressed his very soul. +In this view the reader will pardon my inserting it, especially as I +know not when I may get time to publish a volume of these serious though +artless compositions, which I sent him in manuscript some years ago, and +to which I have since made very large additions: + + Arise, my tenderest thoughts arise, + To torrents melt my streaming eyes! + And thou, my heart, with anguish feel + Those evils which thou canst not heal! + + See human nature sunk in shame! + See scandal poured on Jesus' name! + The Father wounded through the Son! + The world abused--the soul undone! + + See the short course of vain delight + Closing in everlasting night! + In flames that no abatement know, + The briny tears for ever flow. + + My God, I feel the mournful scene; + My bowels yearn o'er dying men: + And fain my pity would reclaim, + And snatch the firebrands from the flame. + + But feeble my compassion proves, + And can but weep where most it loves; + Thine own all-saving arm employ, + And turn these drops of grief to joy! + +The colonel, immediately after the conclusion of the service, met me in +the vestry and embraced me in the most obliging and affectionate manner, +as if there had been a long friendship between us, assured me that he had +for some years been intimately acquainted with my writings, and desired +that we might concert measures for spending some hours together before I +left the town. I was so happy as to be able to secure an opportunity of +doing it; and I must leave upon record, that I cannot recollect I was +ever equally edified by any conversation I remember to have enjoyed. We +passed that evening and the next morning together, and it is impossible +for me to describe the impression which the interview left upon my heart. +I rode alone all the remainder of the day; and it was my unspeakable +happiness that I was alone, since I could no longer be with him; for +I can hardly conceive what other company would not then have been an +encumbrance. The views which he gave me even then, (for he began to +repose a most obliging confidence in me, though he concealed some of the +most extraordinary circumstances of the methods by which he had been +recovered to God and happiness,) with those cordial sentiments of +evangelical piety and extensive goodness which he poured out into my +bosom with so endearing a freedom, fired my very soul; and I hope I may +truly say (which I wish and pray that many of my readers may also +adopt for themselves) that I glorified God in him. Our epistolatory +correspondence immediately commenced upon my return; and though, +through the multiplicity of business on both sides, it suffered many +interruptions, it was in some degree the blessing of all the following +years of my life, till he fell by those unreasonable and wicked men who +had it in their hearts with him to have destroyed all our glory, defence, +and happiness. + +The first letter I received from him was so remarkable, that some persons +of eminent piety, to whom I communicated it, would not be content without +copying it out, or making some extracts from it. I persuade myself that +my devout reader will not be displeased that I insert the greater part +of it here, especially as it serves to illustrate the affectionate sense +which he had of the divine goodness in his conversion, though more than +twenty years had passed since that memorable event happened. Having +already mentioned my ever dear and honoured friend Dr. Isaac Watts, he +adds: + +"I have been in pain these several years lest that excellent person, that +sweet singer in our Israel, should have been called to heaven before +I had an opportunity of letting him know how much his works have been +blessed to me, and, of course, returning him my hearty thanks; for though +it is owing to the operation of the blessed Spirit, that any thing works +effectually upon our hearts, yet if we are not thankful to the instrument +which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be +thankful to the Almighty, whom we have not seen? I desire to bless God +for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that +although I cannot keep pace with him here in celebrating the high praises +of our glorious Redeemer, which is the greatest grief of my heart, yet I +am persuaded, that, when I join the glorious company above, where there +will be no drawbacks, none will outsing me there, because I shall not +find any that will be more indebted to the wonderful riches of divine +grace than I. + + "Give me a place at thy saints' feet, + On some fallen angel's vacant seat; + I'll strive to sing as loud as they + Who sit above in brighter day. + +"I know it is natural for every one who has felt the almighty power +which raised our glorious Redeemer from the grave, to believe his case +singular; but I have made every one in this respect submit as soon as he +has heard my story. And if you seemed so surprised at the account which I +gave you, what will you be when you hear it all? + + "Oh, if I had an angel's voice, + And could be heard from pole to pole; + I would to all the listening world + Proclaim thy goodness to my soul." + +He then concludes, after some expressions of endearment, (which, with +whatever pleasure I review them, I must not here insert)-- + +"If you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be +astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest +I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen +move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve +you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church +of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful +body, shall be the continual prayer of," &c. + +As our intimacy grew, our mutual affection increased; and "my dearest +friend" was the form of address with which most of his epistles of the +last years were begun and ended. Many of them are filled up with his +sentiments of those writings which I published during these years, which +he read with great attention, and of which he speaks in terms which it +becomes me to suppress, and to impute, in a considerable degree, to +the kind prejudices of so endeared a friendship. He gives me repeated +assurances "that he was daily mindful of me in his prayers", a +circumstance which I cannot recollect without the greatest thankfulness; +and the loss of which I should more deeply lament, did I not hope that +the happy effect of these prayers might still continue, and might run +into all my remaining days. + +It might be a pleasure to me to make several extracts from many others of +his letters; but it is a pleasure which I ought to suppress, and rather +to reflect, with unfeigned humility, how unworthy I was of such regards +from such a person, and of that divine goodness which gave me such a +friend in him. I shall, therefore, only add two general remarks, which +offer themselves from several of his letters. The one is, that there is +in some of them, as our freedom increased, an agreeable vein of humour +and pleasantry, which shows how easy religion sat upon him, and how far +he was from placing any part of it in a gloomy melancholy, or stiff +formality. The other is, that he frequently refers to domestic +circumstances, such as the illness or recovery of my children, &c., which +I am surprised how a man of his extensive and important business could so +distinctly bear upon his mind. But his memory was good, and his heart +was yet better; and his friendship was such, that nothing which sensibly +affected the heart of one whom he honoured with it, left his own but +slightly touched. I have all imaginable reason to believe that in many +instances his prayers were not only offered for us in general terms, but +varied as our particular situation required. Many quotations might verify +this; but I decline troubling the reader with an enumeration of passages +in which it was only the abundance of friendly sympathy that gave this +truly great as well as good man so cordial a concern. + +After this correspondence, carried on for the space of about three years, +and some interviews which we had enjoyed at different places, he came to +spend some time with us at Northampton, and brought with him his lady +and his two eldest children. I had here an opportunity of taking a much +nearer view of his character, and surveying it in a much greater variety +of lights than before; and my esteem for him increased in proportion to +these opportunities. What I have written with respect to his conduct in +relative life, was in a great measure drawn from what I now saw; and I +shall mention here some other points in his behaviour which particularly +struck my mind, and likewise shall touch on his sentiments on some topics +of importance which he freely communicated to me, and which I have +remarked on account of that wisdom and propriety which pervaded them. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + +There was nothing more observable in Colonel Gardiner than the exemplary +gravity, composure, and reverence with which he attended public worship. +Copious as he was in his secret devotions before he engaged in it, he +always began them early, so as not to be retarded by them when he should +resort to the house of God. He, and all his soldiers who chose to worship +with him, were generally there (as I have already hinted) before the +service began, that the entrance of so many of them at once might not +disturb the congregation already engaged in devotion, and that there +might be a better opportunity of bringing the mind to a becoming +attention, and preparing it for converse with the Divine Being. While +acts of worship were going on, whether of prayer or singing, he always +stood up; and whatever regard he might have for persons who passed by him +at that time, though it were to come into the same pew, he never paid +any compliment to them; and often has he expressed his wonder at +the indecorum of breaking off our addresses to God to bow to a +fellow-creature, which he thought a much greater indecency that it would +be, on a little occasion and circumstance, to interrupt an address to our +prince. During the time of preaching, his eye was commonly fixed upon the +minister, though sometimes turned round upon the auditory, against whom, +if he observed any to trifle, he was filled with just indignation. I have +known instances in which, upon making the remark, he has communicated +it to some friend of the persons who were guilty of it, that proper +application might be made to prevent it for the time to come. + +A more devout communicant at the table of the Lord has perhaps seldom +been any where known. Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly +countenance softened to all the marks of humiliation and contrition on +this occasion; and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal +them, streams of tears flowing down from his eyes, while he has been +directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love. Some who have +conversed intimately with him after he came from that ordinance, have +observed a visible abstraction from surrounding objects, by which +there seemed reason to imagine that his soul was wrapped up in holy +contemplation. I particularly remember, that when we had once spent a +great part of the following Monday in riding together, he made an apology +to me for being so absent as he seemed, by telling me "that his heart was +flown upwards, before he was aware, to Him 'whom, not having seen, he +loved;'[*] and that he was rejoicing in him with such unspeakable joy, that +he could not hold it down to creature converse." + +[*Note: This alluded to the subject of the sermon the day before, which +was 1 Pet, 1. 8.] + +In all the offices of friendship he was remarkably ready, and had a most +sweet and engaging manner of performing them, which greatly heightened +the obligations he conferred. He seemed not to set any high value upon +any benefit he bestowed, but did it without the least parade, as a thing +which in those circumstances came of course, where he had professed love +and respect; which he was not over forward to do, though he treated +strangers, and those who were most his inferiors, very courteously, and +always seemed, because he in truth always was, glad of any opportunity of +doing them good. + +He was particularly zealous in vindicating the reputation of his friends +in their absence; and though I cannot recollect that I had ever an +opportunity of immediately observing this, as I do not know that I ever +was present with him when any ill was spoken of others at all; yet, +by what I have heard him say with relation to attempts to injure the +character of worthy and useful men, I have reason to believe that no +man living was more sensible of the baseness and infamy, as well as the +cruelty, of such conduct. He knew and despised the low principles of +resentment for unreasonable expectations disappointed, of personal +attachment to men of some crossing interests, of envy, and of party +zeal, from whence such a conduct often proceeds; and he was particularly +offended when he found it (as he frequently did) in persons that set up +for the greatest patrons of liberty, virtue, and candour. He looked upon +the murderers of reputation and usefulness as some of the vilest pests of +society, and plainly showed on every proper occasion that he thought it +the part of a generous, benevolent and courageous man to exert himself in +tracing and hunting down the slander, that the authors or abettors of it +might be less capable of mischief for the future. + +The most plausible objection that I ever heard to Colonel Gardiner's +character is, that he was too much attached to some religious principles, +established indeed in the churches both of England and Scotland, but +which have of late years been much disputed, and from which, it is at +least generally supposed, not a few in both have thought proper to +depart--whatever expedients they may have found to quiet their +consciences, in subscribing those formularies in which they are plainly +taught. His zeal was especially apparent in opposition to those doctrines +which seemed to derogate from the divine honours of the Son and Spirit of +God, and from the freedom of divine grace, of the reality and necessity +of its operations in the conversion and salvation of sinners. + +With relation to these I must observe, that it was his most steadfast +persuasion that all those notions which represent our blessed Redeemer +and the Holy Spirit as mere creatures, or which set aside the atonement +of the former, or the influence of the latter, sap the very foundation of +Christianity by rejecting the most glorious doctrines peculiar to it. +He had attentively observed (what indeed is too obvious) the unhappy +influence which the denial of these principles often has on the character +of ministers, and on their success, and was persuaded that an attempt to +substitute that mutilated form of Christianity which remains, when these +essentials of it are taken away, has proved one of the most successful +methods which the great enemy of souls has ever taken, in these latter +days, to lead men by insensible degrees into deism, vice, and perdition. +He also sagaciously observed the artful manner in which obnoxious tenets +are often maintained or insinuated, with all that mixture of zeal and +address with which they are propagated in the world, even by those +who had most solemnly professed to believe, and engaged to teach the +contrary; and as he really apprehended that the glory of God and the +salvation of souls were concerned, his piety and charity made him eager +and strenuous in opposing what he judged to be errors of so pernicious a +nature. Yet I must declare, that, according to what I have known of him, +(and I believe he opened his heart on these topics to me with as much +freedom as to any man living,) he was not ready, upon light suspicions, +to charge tenets which he thought so pernicious on any, especially +where he saw the appearances of a good temper and life, which he always +reverenced and loved in persons of all sentiments and professions. He +severely condemned causeless jealousies and evil surmisings of every +kind, and extended that charity, in this respect, both to clergy and +laity, which good Bishop Burnet was so ready, according to his own +account, to limit to the latter, "of believing every man good till he +knew him to be bad, and his notions right till he knew them wrong." He +could not but be very sensible of the unhappy consequences which may +follow on attacking the characters of men, especially of those who are +ministers of the gospel; and if, through a mixture of human frailty, from +which the best of men, in the best of their meanings and intentions, are +not entirely free, he had ever, in the warmth of his heart, dropped a +word which might be injurious to any on that account, (which I believe +very seldom happened,) he would gladly retract it on better information; +and this was perfectly agreeable to that honest and generous frankness of +temper in which I never knew any man who excelled him. + +On the whole, it was indeed his deliberate judgment that the Arian, +Socinian, and Pelagian doctrines were highly dishonourable to God, and +dangerous to the souls of men; and that it was the duty of private +Christians to be greatly on their guard against those ministers by whom +they are entertained, lest their minds should be corrupted from the +simplicity that is in Christ. Yet he sincerely abhorred the thought of +persecution for conscience sake; of the absurdity and iniquity of which, +in all its kinds and degrees, he had as deep and rational a conviction as +any man. Indeed the generosity of his heroic heart could hardly bear to +think that those glorious truths which he so cordially loved, and which +he assuredly believed to be capable of such fair support both from reason +and the word of God, should be disgraced by methods of defence and +propagation common to the most impious and ridiculous falsehoods. Nor did +he by any means approve of passionate and furious ways of vindicating the +most vital and important doctrines of the gospel; for he knew that to +maintain the most benevolent religion in the world by such malevolent and +infernal methods was destroying the end to accomplish the means; and that +it was as impossible that true Christianity should be supported thus, as +it is that a man should long be nourished by eating his own flesh. To +display the genuine fruits of Christianity in a good life--to be ready to +plead with meekness for the doctrines it teaches, and to labour, by every +office of humanity and goodness, to gain upon those who oppose it, were +the weapons with which this good soldier of Jesus Christ faithfully +fought the battles of the Lord. These weapons will always be victorious +in his cause; and they who have recourse to others of a different temper, +how strong soever they may seem, and how sharp soever they may really be, +will find them break in their hands when they exert them most furiously, +and are much more likely to wound themselves than to conquer the enemies +whom they oppose. + +But while I am speaking of Colonel Gardiner's charity in this respect, I +must not omit that of another kind, which has indeed engrossed the +name of charity, excellent as it is, much more than it ought--I mean +alms-giving for which he was very remarkable. I have often wondered how +he was able to do so many generous things in this way. But his frugality +fed the spring. He made no pleasurable expense on himself, and was +contented with a very decent appearance in his family, without affecting +such an air of grandeur as could not have been supported without +sacrificing to it satisfactions far nobler, and, to a temper like his, +far more delightful. The lively and tender feelings of his heart in +favour of the distressed and afflicted made it a self-indulgence to +relieve them; and the deep conviction he had of the vain and transitory +nature of the enjoyments of this world, together with the sublime view he +had of another, engaged him to dispense his bounties with a very liberal +hand, and even to seek out proper objects of them. Above all, his sincere +and ardent love to the Lord Jesus Christ engaged him to feel, with a true +sympathy, the concerns of his poor members. In consequence of this, he +honoured several of his friends with commissions for the relief of the +poor; and particularly, with relation to some under my pastoral care, +he referred it to my discretion to supply them with what I should judge +expedient, and frequently pressed me, in his letters, "to be sure not +to let them want." And where persons standing in need of his charity +happened, as they often did, to be persons of remarkably religious +dispositions, it was easy to perceive that he not only loved but honoured +them, and really esteemed it an honour which Providence conferred upon +him, that he should be made, as it were, the almoner of God for their +relief. + +I cannot forbear relating a little story here, which, when the colonel +himself heard it, gave him such exquisite pleasure, that I hope it will +be acceptable to several of my readers. There was in a village about nine +miles from Northampton, and in a family which, of all others near me, +was afterwards most indebted to him, (though he had never then seen any +member of it,) an aged and poor, but eminently good woman, who had, with +great difficulty, in the exercise of much faith and patience, diligence +and humility, made shift to educate a large family of children after the +death of her husband, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as +it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. +At length, when worn out with age and infirmities, she lay upon her +death-bed, she, in a most lively and affecting manner, expressed her hope +and joy in the views of approaching glory. Yet, amidst all the triumphs +of such a prospect, there was one remaining care and distress which +lay heavy on her mind; this was, that as her journey and her stock of +provisions were both ended together, she feared that she must either +be buried at the parish expense, or leave to her most dutiful and +affectionate daughters the house stripped of some of the few movables +which remained in it, in order to perform the last office of duty to her, +which she had reason to believe they would do. While she was combatting +with this only remaining anxiety, I happened, though I knew not the +extremity of her illness, to come in, and to bring with me a guinea +which the generous colonel had sent by a special message, on hearing the +character of the family, for its relief. A present like this, (probably +the most considerable they had ever received in their lives,) coming in +this manner from an entire stranger at such a crisis of time, threw my +dying friend (for such, amidst all her poverty, I rejoiced to call her) +into a perfect transport of joy. She esteemed it a singular favour of +Providence sent to her in her last moments as a token for good, and +greeted it as a special mark of that loving kindness of God which should +attend her for ever. She insisted, therefore, to be raised up in her bed, +that she might bless God for it upon her knees, and with her last breath +pray for her kind and generous benefactor, and for him who had been the +instrument of directing his bounty into this channel. After this she soon +expired, and with such tranquillity and sweetness as could not but most +sensibly delight all who beheld her, and occasioned many who knew the +circumstance to glorify God on her behalf. + +The colonel's last residence at Northampton was in June and July 1742, +when Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons was quartered here. Here I +cannot but observe, that wherever that regiment came, it was remarkable +not only for the fine appearance it made, and for the exactness with +which it performed its various exercises, (of which it had about this +time the honour to receive the most illustrious testimonials,) but also +for the great sobriety and regularity of the soldiers. Many of the +officers copied after the excellent pattern which they had daily before +their eyes; and a considerable number of the private men seemed to be +persons not only of strict virtue, but of serious piety. I doubt not but +they found their abundant account in it, not only in the serenity and +happiness of their own minds, which is beyond comparison the most +important consideration; but also, in some degree, in the obliging and +respectful treatment which they generally met with in their quarters. +I mention this, because I am persuaded that if gentlemen of their +profession knew, and would reflect, how much more comfortable they make +their own quarters by a sober, orderly, and obliging conduct, they would +be regular out of mere self love, if they were not influenced, as I +heartily wish they may always be, by a nobler principle. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + +Towards the latter end of this year he embarked for Flanders, and +spent some considerable time with the regiment at Ghent, where he much +regretted the want of those religious ordinances and opportunities which +had made his other abodes delightful. But as he had made so eminent a +progress in that divine life which they are all intended to promote, he +could not be inactive in the cause of God. I have now before me a letter, +dated from thence October 16, 1742, in which he writes: + +"As for me, I am indeed in a dry and barren land, where no water is. +Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in +our Sodom but blaspheming the name of my God, and I not honoured as the +instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or +seven field-officers of swearing. I dine every day with them, and have +entered them into a voluntary contract to pay a shilling to the poor for +every oath, and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. +One of them told me this day at dinner that it had really such an +influence upon him, that being at cards last night when another officer +fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the +company. So you see, restraints at first arising from a low principle may +improve into something better." + +During his abode here, he had a great deal of business upon his hands, +and had also, in some marches, the care of more regiments than his +own; and it has been very delightful to me to observe what a degree of +converse with heaven, and the God of it, he maintained amidst these +scenes of hurry and fatigue, of which the reader may find a remarkable +specimen in the following letter, dated from Lichwick in the beginning of +April 1743, which was one of the last I received from him while abroad. +It begins with these words:-- + +"Yesterday being the Lord's day, at six in the morning I had the pleasure +of receiving yours at Nortonick; and it proved a Sabbath day's blessing +to me. Some time before it reached me," (from whence, by the way, it may +be observed that his former custom of rising so early in his devotions +was still retained,) "I had been wrestling with God with many tears; and +when I had read it, I returned to my knees again to give hearty thanks to +him for all his goodness to you and yours, and also to myself, in that he +hath been pleased to stir up so many who are dear to him, to be mindful +of me at the throne of grace." + +Then, after the mention of some other particulars, he adds:-- + +"Blessed and adored for ever be the holy name of my Heavenly Father, who +holds my soul in life, and my body in perfect health! Were I to recount +his mercy and goodness to me even in the midst of all these hurries, I +should never have done. I hope your Master will still encourage you in +his work, and make you a blessing to many. My dearest friend, I am much +more yours than I can express, and shall remain so while I am J.G." + +In this correspondence I had a further opportunity of discovering that +humble resignation to the will of God which made so amiable a part of his +character, and of which I had before seen so many instances. He speaks, +in the letter from which I have just been giving an extract, of the hope +he had expressed in a former of seeing us again that winter; and he +adds:-- + +"To be sure, it would have been a great pleasure to me; but we poor +mortals form projects, and the Almighty ruler of the universe disposes of +all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return +to England, when we received an order to march towards Frankfort, to the +great surprise of the whole army, neither can any of us comprehend what +we are to do there; for there is no enemy in that country, the French +army being marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. +But it is the will of the Lord, and his will be done! I desire to bless +and praise my Heavenly Father that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no +matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in +my life, or my death, I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends +were equally resigned." + +The mention of this article reminds me of another relating to the views +which he had of obtaining a regiment for himself. He endeavoured to +deserve it by the most faithful services; some of them, indeed beyond +what the strength of his constitution could well bear--for the weather in +some of these marches proved exceedingly bad, and yet he would be always +at the head of his people, that he might look, with the exactest care, +to every thing that concerned them. This obliged him to neglect the +beginnings of a feverish illness, the natural consequence of which was +that it grew very formidable, forced a long confinement upon him, and +gave animal nature a shock which it never recovered. + +In the mean time, as he had the promise of a regiment before he +quitted England, his friends were continually expecting an occasion of +congratulating him on having received the command of one. Still they were +disappointed, and on some of them the disappointment seemed to sit heavy. +As for the colonel himself, he seemed quite easy about it, and appeared +much greater in that easy situation of mind than the highest military +honours and preferments could have made him. With great pleasure do I at +this moment recollect the unaffected serenity, and even indifference, +with which he expresses himself upon this occasion, in a letter to me, +dated about the beginning of April, 1743. + +"The disappointment of a regiment is nothing to me, for I am satisfied +that, had it been for God's glory, I should have had it, and I should +have been sorry to have had it on any other terms. My Heavenly Father has +bestowed upon me infinitely more than if he had made me emperor of the +whole world." + +I find several parallel expressions in other letters, and those to his +lady about the same time were just in the same strain. In an extract from +one which was written from Aix-la-Chapelle, April 21, the same year, I +meet with these words: + +"People here imagine I must be sadly troubled that I have not got a +regiment, (for six out of seven vacant are now disposed of): but they are +strangely mistaken, for it has given me no sort of trouble. My Heavenly +Father knows what is best for me; and blessed and ever adored be his +name, he has given me an entire resignation to his will. Besides, I do +not know that I met with any disappointment, since I was a Christian, but +it pleased God to discover to me that it was plainly for my advantage, by +bestowing something better upon me afterwards, many instances of which I +am able to produce; and therefore I should be the greatest of monsters, +if I did not trust in him." + +I should be guilty of a great omission, if I were not to add how +remarkably the event corresponded with his faith on this occasion; for +whereas he had no intimation or expectation of any thing more than a +regiment of foot, his Majesty was pleased, out of his great goodness, +to give him a regiment of dragoons which was then quartered in his own +neighborhood. It is properly remarked by the reverend and worthy person +through whose hand this letter was transmitted to me, that when the +colonel thus expressed himself, he could have no prospect of what he +afterwards so soon obtained, as General Bland's regiment, to which he was +advanced, was only vacant on the 19th of April--that is, two days before +the date of this letter, when it was impossible he should have any notice +of that vacancy. It also deserves observation, that some few days after +the colonel was thus unexpectedly promoted to the command of these +dragoons, Lord Cornwallis's regiment of foot, then in Flanders, became +vacant. Now, had this happened before his promotion to General Bland's, +Colonel Gardiner, in all probability, would only have had that regiment +of foot, and so would have continued in Flanders. When the affair was +settled, he informs Lady Frances of it in a letter dated from a village +near Frankfort, 3d May, in which he refers to his former of the 21st of +April, observing how remarkably it was verified "in God's having given +him" (for so he expressed it, agreeably to the views which he continually +maintained of the universal agency of Divine Providence) "what he had +no expectation of, and what was so much better than that which he had +missed--a regiment of dragoons quartered at his own door." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RETURN TO ENGLAND. + + +It appeared to him that by this remarkable event Providence called him +home. Accordingly, though he had other preferments offered him in the +army, he chose to return, and I believe the more willingly, as he did not +expect there would have been an action. Just at this time it pleased God +to give him an awful instance of the uncertainty of human prospects and +enjoyments, by that violent fever which seized him at Ghent on his way to +England, and perhaps the more severely for the efforts he made to push on +his journey, though he had for some days been much indisposed. It was, I +think, one of the first fits of severe illness he had ever met with, and +he was ready to look upon it as a sudden call into eternity; but it gave +him no painful alarm in that view. He committed himself to the God of his +life, and in a few weeks he was so well recovered as to be capable of +pursuing his journey, though not without difficulty. I cannot but think +it might have conduced much to a more perfect recovery than he ever +attained, to have allowed himself a longer repose, in order to recruit +his exhausted strength and spirits. But there was an activity in his +temper not easy to be restrained, and it was now stimulated, not only +with a desire to see his friends, but of being with his regiment, that +he might omit nothing in his power to regulate their morals and their +discipline, and to form them for public service. Accordingly, about the +middle of June, 1743, he passed through London, where he had the honour +of waiting on their royal highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, +and of receiving from both the most obliging token of favour and esteem. +He arrived at Northampton on Monday the 21st of June, and spent part of +three days there. But the great pleasure which his return and preferment +gave us, was much abated by observing his countenance so sadly altered, +and the many marks of languor and remaining disorder which evidently +appeared, so that he really looked ten years older than he had done +ten months before. I had, however, a satisfaction sufficient to +counterbalance much of the concern which this alteration gave me, in a +renewed opportunity of observing, indeed more sensibly than ever, in +how remarkable a degree he was dead to the enjoyments and views of this +mortal life. When I congratulated him on the favourable appearances of +Providence for him in the late event, he briefly told me the remarkable +circumstances that attended it, with the most genuine expressions of +gratitude to God for them; but added, "that as his account was increased +with his income, power, influence, and his cares were proportionably +increased too, it was, as to his own personal concern, much the same to +him whether he had remained in his former station, or been elevated to +this; but that if God should by this means honour him as an instrument of +doing more good than he could otherwise have done, he should rejoice in +it." + +I perceived that the near views he had taken of eternity, in the illness +from which he was then so imperfectly recovered, had not in the least +alarmed him; but that he would have been entirely willing, had such been +the determination of God, to have been cut short in a foreign land, +without any earthly friend near him, and in the midst of a journey +undertaken with hopes and prospects so pleasing to nature, which appeared +to me no inconsiderable evidence of the strength of his faith. But we +shall wonder the less at this extraordinary resignation, if we consider +the joyful and assured prospect which he had of a happiness infinitely +superior beyond the grave; of which that worthy minister of the church of +Scotland, who had an opportunity of conversing with him quickly after his +return, and having the memorable story of his conversion from his own +mouth, (as I have hinted above,) writes thus in his letter to me, dated +Jan. 14, 1746-7: + +"When he came to review his regiment at Linlithgow, in summer 1743, after +having given me the wonderful story as above, he concluded in words to +this purpose: Let me die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it +shall be, I am sure I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory, and +enjoy my God and my Redeemer in heaven for ever." + +While he was with us at this time he appeared deeply affected with the +sad state of things as to religion and morals, and seemed to apprehend +that the rod of God was hanging over so sinful a nation. He observed a +great deal of disaffection which the enemies of the government had, by a +variety of artifices, been raising in Scotland for some years; and the +number of Jacobites there, together with the defenceless state in which +our island then was, with respect to the number of its forces at home, +(of which he spoke at once with great concern and astonishment,) led +him to expect an invasion from France, and an attempt in favour of the +Pretender, much sooner than it happened. I have heard him often say, many +years before it came so near being accomplished, "that a few thousands +might have a fair chance for marching from Edinburgh to London +uncontrolled, and throw the whole Kingdom into an astonishment." And I +have great reason to believe that this was one main consideration which +engaged him to make such haste to his regiment, then quartered in those +parts, as he imagined there was not a spot of ground where he might be +more likely to have a call to expose his life in the service of his +country, and perhaps, by appealing on a proper call early in its +defences, be instrumental in suppressing the beginnings of most +formidable mischief. How rightly he judged in these things, the event too +evidently showed. + +The evening before our last separation, as I knew I could not more +agreeably entertain the valuable friend who was then my guest, I preached +a sermon in my own house, with some peculiar reference to his case and +circumstances, from those ever-memorable words, than which I have never +felt any more powerful and more comfortable: Psalm xci. 14, 15, 16, +"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I +will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon +me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver +him, and honour him: with long life (or length of days) will I satisfy +him, and show him my salvation." This scripture could not but lend our +meditations to survey the character of the good man, as one who so knows +the name of the blessed God--has such a deep apprehension of the glories +and perfections of his nature--as determinately to set his love upon him, +to make him the supreme object of his most ardent and constant affection. +And it suggested the most sublime and animating hopes to persons of such +a character, that their prayers shall be always acceptable to God; that +though they may, and must, be called to their share in the troubles and +calamities of life, yet they may assure themselves of the divine presence +in all, which will issue in their deliverance, in their exaltation, +sometimes in distinguished honour and esteem among men, and, it may be, +in a long course of useful and happy years on earth; at least, which +shall undoubtedly end in seeing, to their perpetual delight, the complete +salvation of God, in a world where they shall enjoy length of days for +ever and ever, and employ them all in adoring the great Author of their +salvation and felicity. It is evident that these natural thoughts on such +a Scripture were matters of universal concern. Yet had I, as a minister +of the gospel, known that this was the last time I should address Colonel +Gardiner, and had I foreseen the scenes through which God was about to +lead him, I hardly know what considerations I could have suggested with +more peculiar propriety. The attention, elevation, and delight with which +he heard them, were very apparent, and the pleasure which the observation +of it gave me, continues to this moment. + +Let me be permitted to digress so far as to add, that this is indeed the +great support of a Christian minister under the many discouragements +and disappointments which he meets with in his attempts to fix upon the +profligate or the thoughtless part of mankind a deep sense of religious +truth; that there is another important part of his work in which he may +hope to be more generally successful; as, by plain, artless, but serious +discourses, the great principles of Christian duty and hope may be +nourished and invigorated in good men, their graces watered as at +the root, and their souls animated, both to persevere and improve in +holiness. When we are effectually performing such benevolent offices, so +well suiting our immortal natures, to persons whose hearts are cemented +with ours in the hands of the most endearing and sacred friendship, it is +too little to say that it overpays the fatigue of our Labours; it even +swallows up all sense of it in the most rational and sublime pleasure. + +An incident occurred that evening, which, at least for the oddness of +it, may deserve a place in these memoirs. I had then with me one Thomas +Porter, a poor but very honest and religious man, (now living at Hatfield +Broad-Oak in Essex,) who is quite unacquainted with letters, so as not to +be able to distinguish one from another, yet is master of the contents +of the Bible in so extraordinary a degree, that he has not only fixed an +immense number of texts in his memory, but, merely by hearing them quoted +in sermons, has registered there the chapter and verse in which these +passages are to be found. This is attended with a marvellous facility in +directing readers to turn to them, and a most unaccountable talent of +fixing on such as suit almost every imaginable variety of circumstances +in common life. There are in this case two considerations that make it +the more wonderful; the one, that he is a person of very low genius, +having, besides a stammering which makes his speech almost unintelligible +to strangers, so wild and awkward a manner of behaviour, that he is +frequently taken for an idiot, and seems in many things to be indeed +so;--the other, that he grew up to manhood in a very licentious course of +living, and an entire ignorance of divine things, so that all these exact +impressions on his memory have been made in his riper years. I thought +it would not be disagreeable to the colonel to introduce to him this +odd phenomenon, which many hundreds of people have had a curiosity to +examine; and, among all the strange things I have seen in him, I never +remember any that equalled what passed on this occasion. On hearing +the colonel's profession, and receiving some hints of his religious +character, he ran through a vast variety of scriptures, beginning at +the Pentateuch and going on to the Revelation, relating either to the +dependence to be fixed on God for the success of military preparations, +or to the instances and promises occurring there for his care of good men +in the most imminent dangers, or to the encouragement to despise perils +and death, while engaged in a good cause, and supported by the views of +a happy immortality. I believe he quoted more than twenty of these +passages, and I must freely own that I know not who could have chosen +them with greater propriety. If my memory deceive me not, the last of +this catalogue was that from which I afterwards preached, on the lamented +occasion of this great man's fall: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I +will give thee a crown of life." We were all astonished at so remarkable +a feat, and I question not but many of my readers will think the memory +of it worthy of being thus preserved. + +But to return to my main subject: The day after the sermon and +conversation of which I have been speaking, I took my best leave of my +inestimable friend, after attending him some part of his way northward. +The first stage of our journey was to the cottage of that poor but +religious family which I had before occasion to mention as relieved, and +indeed in a great measure subsisted by his charity. Nothing could be more +delightful than to observe the condescension with which he conversed with +these his humble pensioners. We there put up our last united prayers +together; and he afterwards expressed, in the strongest terms I have ever +heard him use on such an occasion, the singular pleasure with which he +had joined in them. Indeed it was no small satisfaction to me to have +an opportunity of recommending such a valuable friend to the divine +protection and blessing, with that particular freedom and enlargement on +what was peculiar in his circumstances, which hardly any other situation, +unless we had been quite alone, could so conveniently have admitted. +We went from thence to the table of a person of distinction in the +neighborhood, where he had an opportunity of showing in how decent and +graceful a manner he could unite the Christian and the gentleman, and +give conversation an improving and religious turn, without violating any +of the rules of polite behaviour, or saying or doing any thing, which +looked at all constrained or affected. Here we took our last embrace, +committing each other to the care of the God of heaven; and the colonel +pursued his journey to the north, where he spent the remainder of his +days. + +The more I reflect upon this appointment of Providence, the more I +discern the beauty and wisdom of it--not only as it led directly to that +glorious period of life with which God had determined to honour him, and +in which, I think, it becomes all his friends to rejoice, but also as the +retirement on which he entered could not but have a happy tendency to +favour his more immediate and complete preparation for so speedy a +remove. To this we may add, that it must probably have a very powerful +influence to promote the interests of religion (incomparably the greatest +of all interests) among the members of his own family, who must surely be +edified by such daily lessons as they received from his lips, when they +saw them illustrated and enforced by so admirable an example, and for +two complete years. It is the more remarkable, as I cannot find from the +memoirs of his life in my hands that he had ever been so long at home +since he had a family, or indeed, from his childhood, ever so long at a +time in any one place. + +With how clear a lustre his lamp shone, and with what holy vigour his +loins were girded up in the service of his God in these his latter days, +I learn in part from the letters of several excellent persons in the +ministry, or in secular life, with whom I have since conversed or +corresponded. In his many letters dated from Bankton during this period, +I have still further evidence how happy he was amidst those infirmities +of body, which his tenderness for me would seldom allow him to mention; +for it appears from them what a daily intercourse he kept up with Heaven, +and what delightful communion with God crowned his attendance on public +ordinances, and his sweet hours of devout retirement. He mentions his +sacramental opportunities with peculiar relish, crying out, as in a holy +rapture, in reference to one and another of them, "Oh how gracious +a Master do we serve! how pleasant is his service; how rich the +entertainments of his love! yet how poor and cold are our services!" But +I will not multiply quotations of this sort after those I have given +above, which may be a sufficient specimen of many more in the same +strain. This hint may suffice to show that the same ardour of soul held +out in a great measure to the last; and indeed it seems that towards the +close of life, like the flame of a lamp almost expiring, it sometimes +exerted an unusual blaze. + +He spent much of his time at Bankton in religious solitude; and one +most intimately conversant with him assures me that the traces of that +delightful converse with God which he enjoyed in it might easily be +discerned in the solemn yet cheerful countenance with which he often came +out of his closet. Yet his exercises there must sometimes have been very +mournful, considering the melancholy views which he had of the state of +our public affairs. + +"I should be glad," says he, (in a letter which he sent me about the +close of the year 1743,) "to hear what wise and good people among you +think of the present circumstances of things. For my own part, though I +thank God I fear nothing for myself, my apprehensions for the public are +very gloomy, considering the deplorable prevalency of almost all kinds +of wickedness amongst us--the natural consequence of the contempt of the +gospel. I am daily offering my prayers to God for this sinful land of +ours, over which his judgments seem to be gathering; and my strength is +sometimes so exhausted with those strong cries and tears, which I pour +out before God on this occasion, that I am hardly able to stand when I +arise from my knees." + +If we have many remaining to stand in the breach with equal fervency, I +hope, crying as our provocations are, that God will still be entreated +for us, and save us. + +Most of the other letters I had the pleasure of receiving from him after +our last separation, are either filled, like those of former years, with +tender expressions of affectionate solicitude for my domestic comfort +and public usefulness, or relate to the writings I published during this +time, or to the affairs of his eldest son, then under my care. But these +are things which are by no means of a nature to be communicated here. It +is enough to remark, in general, that the Christian was still mingled +with all the care of the friend and the parent. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + +But I think it incumbent upon me to observe, that during this time, and +for some preceding years, his attention, ever wakeful to such concerns, +was much engaged by some religious appearances which happened about this +time both in England and Scotland, and with regard to which some may be +curious to know the colonel's sentiments. He communicated them to me with +the most unreserved freedom; and I cannot apprehend myself under any +engagement to conceal them, as I am persuaded that it will be no +prejudice to his memory that they should be publicly known. + +It was from Colonel Gardiner's pen that I received the first notice of +that ever memorable scene which was opened at Kilsyth, under the +ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch in the month of February, 1741-2. He +communicated to me the copy of two letters from that eminently-favoured +servant of God, giving an account of that extraordinary success which had +within a few days accompanied his preaching, when, as I remember, in +a little more than a fortnight, one hundred and thirty souls, who had +before continued in long insensibility under the faithful preaching of +the gospel, were awakened on a sudden to attend to it, as if it had been +a new revelation brought down from heaven, and attested by as astonishing +miracles as ever were wrought by Peter or Paul, though they only heard it +from a person under whose ministry they had sat for several years. Struck +with a power and majesty in the word of God which they had never felt +before, they crowded his house night and day, making their applications +to him for spiritual direction and assistance, with an earnestness and +solicitude which floods of tears and cries, that swallowed up their own +words and his, could not sufficiently express. The colonel mentioned this +at first to me "as matter of eternal praise, which he knew would rejoice +my very soul;" and when he saw it spread in the neighbouring parts, and +observed the glorious reformation which it produced in the lives of great +multitudes, and the abiding fruits of it, for succeeding months and +years, it increased and confirmed his joy. But the facts relating to this +matter have been laid before the world in so authentic a manner, and the +agency of divine grace in them has been so rationally vindicated, and so +pathetically represented, in what the reverend and judicious Mr. Webster +has written upon that subject, that it is altogether superfluous for me +to add any thing further than my hearty prayers that the work may be as +extensive as it was glorious and divine.[*] + +[*Note: See "Revivals in Scotland," published by the Board of +Publication.] + +It was with great pleasure that he received any intelligence of a like +kind from England, whether the clergy of the Established Church or +dissenting ministers, whether our own countrymen or foreigners, were the +instruments of it. Whatever weaknesses or errors might mingle themselves +with valuable qualities in such as were active in such a work, he +appeared to love and honour them in proportion to the degree he saw +reason to believe that their hearts were devoted to the service of +Christ, and their attempts owned and succeeded by him. I remember, that +mentioning one of these gentlemen who had been remarkably successful in +his ministry, and who seemed to have met with some very unkind usage, he +says, "I had rather be that despised, persecuted man, to be an instrument +in the hand of the Spirit in converting so many souls, and building up so +many in their holy faith, than I would be emperor of the whole world." +Yet this steady and judicious Christian, (for such he most assuredly +was,) at the same time that he esteemed a man for his good intentions, +and his worthy qualities, did not suffer himself to be hurried away into +all the singularity of his sentiments, or to admire his imprudences or +excesses. On the contrary, he saw and lamented that artifice which the +great father of fraud has so long and so successfully been practising, +and who, like the enemies of Israel, when he cannot entirely prevent the +building of God's temple, does, as it were, offer his assistance to carry +on the work, that he may thereby get the most effectual opportunities of +obstructing it. The colonel often expressed his astonishment at the wide +extremes into which some whom on the whole he thought very worthy men, +were permitted to run in many doctrinal and speculative points, and +discerned how evidently it appeared from hence that we cannot argue the +truth of any doctrine from the success of the preacher, since this would +be a kind of demonstration which might equally prove both parts of a +contradiction. Yet when he observed that a high regard to the atonement +and righteousness of Christ, and to the free grace of God in him, exerted +by the operation of the Divine Spirit, was generally common to all who +had been peculiarly successful in the conversion and reformation of men, +(how widely soever their judgments might differ in other points, and how +warmly soever their judgments might oppose each other in consequence +of that diversity,) it tended greatly to confirm his faith in these +principles, as well as to open his heart in love to all, of every +denomination, who maintained an affectionate regard to them. Although +what he remarked as to the conduct and success of ministers of the most +opposite strains of preaching confirmed him in these sentiments, yet he +always esteemed and loved virtuous and benevolent men, even where he +thought them the most mistaken in the notions they formed of religion, or +in the methods by which they attempted to serve it. + +While I thus represent what all who knew him must soon have observed of +Colonel Gardiner's affectionate regard to these peculiar doctrines of our +holy religion, it is necessary that I should also inform my reader that +it was not his opinion that the attention of ministers or their hearers +should be wholly engrossed by these, excellent as they are; but that all +the parts of the scheme of truth and duty should be regarded in their due +connection and proportion. Far from that distempered taste which can bear +nothing but cordials, it was his deliberate judgment that the law as well +as the gospel should be preached; and hardly any thing gave him greater +offence than the irreverent manner in which some who have been ignorantly +extolled as the most zealous evangelical preachers, have sometimes +been tempted to speak of the former, much indeed to the scandal of all +consistent and judicious Christians. He delighted to be instructed in +his duty, and to hear much of the inward exercises of the spiritual and +divine life. He always wished, so far as I could observe, to have these +topics treated in a rational as well as spiritual manner, with solidity +and order of thought, with perspicuity and weight of expression, well +knowing that religion is a most reasonable service--that God has not +chosen idiots or lunatics as the instruments, or nonsense as the means of +building up his church--and that though the charge of enthusiasm is often +fixed on Christianity and its ministers in a wild, undeserved, and, +indeed, on the whole, enthusiastical manner, by some of the loudest or +most solemn pretenders to reason, yet there is really such a thing as +enthusiasm, against which it becomes the true friends of revelation to be +diligently on their guard, lest Christianity, instead of being exalted, +should be greatly corrupted and debased, and all manner of absurdity, +both in doctrine and practice, introduced by methods which, like +persecution, throw truth and falsehood on a level, and render the +grossest errors at once more plausible and more incurable. He had too +much candour and equity to fix general charges of this nature; but he was +really (and I think not vainly,) apprehensive that the emissaries and +agents of the most corrupt church that ever dishonoured the Christian +name, (by which, it will easily be understood, I mean that of Rome,) +might very possibly insinuate themselves into societies to which they +could not otherwise have access, and make their advantage of that total +resignation of the understanding, and contempt of reason and learning, +which nothing but ignorance, delirium, or knavery can dictate, to lead +men blindfolded whither it pleased, till it set them down at the foot of +an altar where transubstantiation itself was consecrated. + +I know not where I can more properly introduce another part of the +colonel's character, which, obvious as it was, I have not yet touched +upon; I mean his tenderness to those who were under any spiritual +distress, wherein he was indeed an example to ministers in a duty more +peculiarly theirs. I have seen many amiable instances of this myself, and +I have been informed of many others. One of these happened about the time +of that awakening in the western parts of Scotland, which I touched upon +above, when the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, of Glasgow, found occasion to witness +to the great propriety, judgment, and felicity of manner, with which he +addressed spiritual consolation to an afflicted soul who applied to the +professor at a time when he had not an opportunity immediately to give +audience to the case. Indeed so long ago as the year 1726, I find him +writing in this regard to a friend in a strain of tenderness which might +well have become the most affectionate and experienced pastor. He there +congratulates him on some religious enjoyments, lately received, (in +part, it seems, by his means) when, among others, he has this modest +expression: "If I have been made any way the means of doing you good, +give the whole glory to God; for he has been willing to show that the +power was entirely of himself, since he has been pleased to make use of +so very weak an instrument." In the same letter he admonishes his friend +that he should not be too much surprised, if after having been (as he +expressed it) upon the mount, he should be brought into this valley +again, reminding him that "we live by faith, and not by sensible +assurance," and representing that there are some such full communications +from God as seem almost to swallow up the actings of faith, from whence +they take their rise: "Whereas, when a Christian who walks in darkness, +and sees no light, will yet hang, as it were, on the report of an absent +Jesus, and" (as one expresses it in allusion to the story of Jacob and +Joseph) "can put himself as on the chariot of the promises, to be borne +on to Him whom he sees not; there may be sublimer and more acceptable +actings of a pure and strong faith than in moments which afford the soul +a much more rapturous delight." This is the substance of what he says in +this excellent letter. Some of the phrases made use of might not perhaps +be intelligible to several of my readers, for which reason I do not +exactly transcribe them all; but this is plainly and fully his meaning, +and most of the words are his own. The sentiment is surly very just and +important; and happy would it be for many excellent persons, who, +through wrong notions of the nature of faith, (which was never more +misrepresented than now among some,) are perplexing themselves with +the most groundless doubts and scruples, if it were more generally +understood, admitted, and considered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + +An endeared friend, who was most intimately conversant with the colonel +during the last two years of his life, has favoured me with an account +of some little circumstances relating to him, which I esteem as precious +fragments, by which the consistent tenor of his character may be further +illustrated. I shall therefore insert them here, without being very +solicitous as to the order in which they are introduced. + +He perceived himself evidently in a very declining state from his first +arrival in Britain, and seemed to entertain a fixed apprehension that he +should continue but a little while longer in life. "He expected death," +says my good correspondent, "and was delighted with the prospect," which +did not grow less amiable by the nearer approach. The word of God, with +which he had as intimate an acquaintance as most men I ever knew, and on +which (especially on the New Testament) I have heard him make many +very judicious and accurate remarks, was still his daily study; and +it furnished him with matter of frequent conversation, much to the +edification and comfort of those that were about him. It was recollected +that, among other passages, he had lately spoken of the following as +having made a deep impression on his mind: "My soul, wait thou only upon +God." He would repeat it again and again, _only, only, only_! So plainly +did he see, and so deeply did he feel, the vanity of creature confidence +and expectations. With the strongest attestation would he often mention +those words in Isaiah, as verified by long experience: "Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth +in thee." And with peculiar satisfaction would he utter those heroic +words in Habakkuk, which he found armour of proof against every fear and +every contingency: "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall +fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields +shall yield no meal; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there +shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will +joy in the God of my salvation." The 145th Psalm was also spoken of by +him with great delight, and Dr. Watts's version of it, as well as several +others of that excellent person's poetical compositions. My friend who +transmits to me this account, adds the following words, which I desire +to insert with the deepest sentiments of unfeigned humility and +self-abasement before God, as most unworthy the honour of contributing +in the least degree to the joys and graces of one so much my superior in +every part of the Christian character. "As the joy with which good men +see the happy fruits of their labours, makes a part of the present reward +of the servants of God and the friends of Jesus, it must not be omitted, +even in a letter to you, that your spiritual hymns were among his most +delightful and soul-improving repasts; particularly those on beholding +transgressors with grief, and Christ's Message." What is added concerning +my book of the Rise and Progress of Religion, and the terms in which he +expressed his esteem of it, I cannot suffer to pass my pen; only I desire +most sincerely to bless God, that, especially by the last chapters +of that treatise, I had an opportunity, at so great a distance, of +exhibiting some offices of Christian friendship to this excellent person +in the closing scenes of life, which it would have been my greatest joy +to have performed in person, had Providence permitted me then to have +been near him. + +The former of these hymns, which my correspondent mentions as having been +so agreeable to Colonel Gardiner, I have given the reader already. The +latter, which is called Christ's Message, took its rise from Luke iv. 18, +19, and is as follows: + + Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, + The Saviour promised long; + Let every heart prepare a throne, + And every voice a song. + + On him the Spirit largely poured, + Exerts its sacred fire; + Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, + His holy breast inspire. + + He comes the prisoners to release, + In Satan's bondage held; + The gates of brass before him burst, + The iron fetters yield. + + He comes, from thickest films of vice + To clear the mental ray, + And on the eye-balls of the blind + To pour celestial day.[*] + + He comes the broken heart to bind, + The bleeding soul to cure; + And with the treasures of his grace + To enrich the humble poor. + + His silver trumpets publish loud + The jubilee of the Lord; + Our debts are all remitted now, + Our heritage restored. + + Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace! + Thy welcome shall proclaim; + And heaven's eternal arches ring + With Thy beloved name. + +[*Note: This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.] + +There is one hymn more I shall beg leave to add, plain as it is, which +Colonel Gardiner has been heard to mention with particular regard, as +expressing the inmost sentiments of his soul, and they were undoubtedly +so in the last rational moments of his expiring life. It is called +'Christ precious to the Believer,' and was composed to be sung after a +sermon on 1 Pet. ii 7. + + Jesus! I love thy charming name, + 'Tis music to my ear: + Fain would I sound it out so loud, + That earth and heaven should hear. + + Yea! thou art precious to my soul, + My transport and my trust; + Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys, + And gold is sordid dust. + + All my capacious powers can wish, + In Thee most richly meet; + Nor to mine eyes is life so dear, + Nor friendship half so sweet. + + Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, + And sheds its fragrance there; + The noblest balm of all its wounds, + The cordial of its care. + + I'll speak the honours of thy name + With my last labouring breath; + Then speechless clasp thee in my arms, + The antidote of death. + +Those who were intimate with Colonel Gardiner, must have observed how +ready he was to give a devotional turn to any subject that occurred. In +particular, the spiritual and heavenly disposition of his soul discovered +itself in the reflections and improvements which he made when reading +history, in which he took a great deal of pleasure, as persons remarkable +for their knowledge of mankind, and observation of Providence, generally +do. I have an instance of this before me, which, though too natural to be +at all surprising, will, I dare say, be pleasing to the devout mind. He +had just been reading, in Rollin's extracts from Xenophon, the answer +which the lady of Tigranes made when all the company were extolling +Cyrus, and expressing the admiration with which his appearance and +behaviour struck them. The question being asked her, What she thought of +him? she answered, "I do not know; I did not observe him." On what, then, +said one of the company did you fix your attention? "On him," replied +she, (referring to the generous speech which her husband had just made,) +"who said he would give a thousand lives to ransom my liberty." "Oh," +cried the colonel, when reading it, "how ought we to fix our eyes and +hearts on Him who, not in offer, but in reality, gave his own precious +life to ransom us from the most dreadful slavery, and from eternal +destruction!" But this is only one instance among a thousand. His heart +was so habitually set upon divine things, and he had such a permanent +and overflowing sense of the love of Christ, that he could not forbear +connecting such reflections with a multitude of more distant occasions +occurring in daily life, on which less advanced Christians would not have +thought of them; and thus, like our great Master, he made every little +incident a source of devotion, and an instrument of holy zeal. + +Enfeebled as his constitution was, he was still intent on improving his +time to some valuable purpose; and when his friends expostulated with him +that he gave his body so little rest, he used to answer, "It will rest +long enough in the grave." + +The July before his death, he was persuaded to take a journey to +Scarborough for the recovery of his health, from which he was at least +encouraged to expect some little revival. After this he had thoughts +of going to London, and intended to have spent part of September at +Northampton. The expectation of this was mutually agreeable; but +Providence saw fit to disconcert the scheme. His love for his friends in +these parts occasioned him to express some regret on his being commanded +back; and I am pretty confident, from the manner in which he expressed +himself in one of his last letters to me, that he had some more important +reasons for wishing an opportunity of making a London journey just at +that crisis, which, the reader will remember, was before the rebellion +broke out. But, as Providence determined it otherwise, he acquiesced; +and I am well satisfied, that could he have distinctly foreseen the +approaching event, so far as it concerned his own person, he would have +esteemed it the happiest summons he ever received. While he was at +Scarborough, I find by a letter dated from thence, July 26, 1745, that +he had been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at +Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, +assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of +God which was then hanging over them; on which occasion he hath this +expression: "I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should +be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present +more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing +which I am very sure of, and that comforts me, viz., that it shall go well +with the righteous, come what will." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + +Quickly after his return home, the flame burst out, and his regiment +was ordered to Stirling. It was in that castle that his lady and eldest +daughter enjoyed the last happy hours of his company, and I think it was +about ten or twelve days before his death that he parted from them there. +A remarkable circumstance attended that parting, which has been touched +upon by surviving friends in more than one of their letters to me. His +lady was so affected when she took her last leave of him, that she could +not forbear bursting out into a flood of tears, with other marks of +unusual emotion; and when he asked her the reason, she urged as a +sufficient apology, the apprehension she had of losing such an invaluable +friend, amidst the dangers to which he was then called out. On this she +took particular notice, that whereas he had generally comforted her on +such occasions by pleading with her that remarkable hand of Providence +which had so frequently in former instances been exerted for his +preservation, and that in the greatest extremity, he said nothing of it +now; but only replied in his sententious manner, "We have an eternity to +spend together." + +That heroic contempt of death which had often discovered itself in the +midst of former dangers, was manifested now in his discourse with several +of his most intimate friends. I have reserved for this place one genuine +expression of it many years before, which I thought might be mentioned +with some advantage here. In July, 1725, he had been sent to some place +not far from Hamilton to quell a mutiny among some of our troops. I know +not the particular occasion; but I remember to have heard him mention it +as so fierce a one, that he scarcely ever apprehended himself in more +hazardous circumstances. Yet he quelled it by his presence alone, and the +expostulations he used--evidently putting his life into his hand to do +it. The particulars of the story struck me much; but I do not so exactly +remember them as to venture to relate them here. I only observe, that in +a letter dated July 16, that year, which I have now before me, and which +evidently refers to this event, he writes thus: "I have been very busy, +hurried about from place to place; but, blessed be God, all is over +without bloodshed. And pray let me ask what made you show so much concern +for me in your last? Were you afraid I should get to heaven before you? +or can any evil befall those who are followers of that which is good?"[*] + +[*Note: I doubt not but this will remind some of my readers of that noble +speech of Zwinglius, when (according to the usage of that country,) +attending his flock to a battle in which their religion and liberties +were all at stake, on his receiving a mortal wound by a bullet, of which +he was expired, while his friends were in all the first astonishment of +grief, he bravely said, as he was dying, "_Ecquid hoc infortunii_? Is +this to be reckoned a misfortune?" How many of our Deists would have +celebrated such a sentence, if it had come from the lips of an ancient +Roman! Strange that the name of Christ should be so odious, that the +brightest virtues of his followers should be despised for his sake! But +so it is, and so our Master told us it would be; and our faith is, in +this connection, confirmed by those who strive most to overthrow it.] + +As these were his sentiments in the vigour of his days, so neither did +declining years and the infirmities of a broken constitution on the one +hand, nor any desire of enjoying the honours and profits of so high +a station, or (what was much more to him,) the converse of the most +affectionate of wives and so many amiable children and friends on the +other, in the least enervate his spirits; but as he had in former years +often expressed it, to me and several others, as his desire, "that if it +were the will of God, he might have some honourable call to sacrifice his +life in defence of religion and the liberties of his country;" so, +when it appeared to him most probable that he might be called to it +immediately, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. This appears +in part from a letter which he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Falkirk, +just as he was marching from Stirling, which was only eight days before +his death:--"The rebels," says he, "are advancing to cross the Frith; +but I trust in the Almighty God, who doth whatsoever he please in the +armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." The same +gentleman tells me, that, a few days after the date of this, he marched +through Falkirk with his regiment; and though he was then in so +languishing a state, that he needed his assistance as secretary to write +for some reinforcements, which might put it in his power to make a stand, +(as he was very desirous to have done,) he expressed a most genuine and +noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in the defence of a +worth cause. + +These sentiments wrought in him to the last in the most effectual manner, +and he seemed for a while to have infused them into the regiment which he +commanded; for they expressed such a spirit in their march from Stirling, +that I am assured the colonel was obliged to exert all his authority to +prevent their making incursions on the rebel army, which then lay very +near him; and had it been thought proper to send him the reinforcements +he requested, none can say what the consequence might have been; but he +was ordered to march as fast as possible to meet Sir John Cope's forces +at Dunbar, which he did; and that hasty retreat, in concurrence with the +news which they soon after received of the surrender of Edinburgh to the +rebels, (either by the treachery or weakness of a few, in opposition to +the judgment of by far the greater and better part of the inhabitants,) +struck a panic into both the regiments of dragoons, which became visible +in some very apparent and remarkable circumstances in their behaviour, +which I forbear to relate. This affected Colonel Gardiner so much that, +on the Thursday before the fatal action of Prestonpans, he intimated to +an officer of considerable rank and note, from whom I had it by a very +sure channel of conveyance, that he expected the event would be as in +fact it was. In this view, there is all imaginable reason to believe that +he had formed his resolution as to his own personal conduct, which was, +"that he would not, in cases of the flight of those under his command, +retreat with them;" by which, as it seemed, he was reasonably +apprehensive that he might have stained the honour of his former +services, and have given some occasion for the enemy to have spoken +reproachfully. He much rather chose, if Providence gave him the call, to +leave in his death an example of fidelity and bravery which might very +probably be (as in fact it seems to have been) of much greater importance +to his country than any other service which, in the few days of remaining +life, he could expect to render it. I conclude these to have been his +views, not only from what I knew of his general character and temper, but +likewise from some intimations which he gave to a very worthy person from +Edinburgh, who visited him the day before the action, and to whom he +said, "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I +have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare +it,"--or words to that effect. + +I have heard such a multitude of inconsistent reports of the +circumstances of Colonel Gardiner's death, that I had almost despaired of +being able to give my reader any particular satisfaction concerning so +interesting a scene. But, by a happy accident, I have very lately had an +opportunity of being exactly informed of the whole by that brave man, Mr. +John Foster, his faithful servant, (and worthy of the honour of serving +such a master,) whom I had seen with him at my house some years before. +He attended him in his last hours, and gave me at large the narration, +which he would be ready, if requisite, to attest upon oath. From his +mouth I wrote it down with the utmost exactness, and could easily +believe, from the genuine and affectionate manner in which he related the +particulars, that according to his own striking expression, "his eye and +his heart were always upon his honoured master during the whole time."[*] + +[*Note: Just as I am putting the last hand to these memoirs, March 2, +1746-7, I have met with a corporal in Colonel Lascelles' regiment, who +was an eye-witness to what happened at Prestonpans on the day of the +battle, and the day before; and the account he has given me of some +memorable particulars is so exactly agreeable to that which I received +from Mr. Foster, that it would much corroborate his testimony, if there +were not so many other considerations to render it convincing.] + +On Friday, 20th September, (the day before the battle which transmitted +him to his immortal crown,) the colonel drew up his regiment in the +afternoon, and rode through all their ranks, addressing them at once +in the most respectful and animating manner, both as soldiers and as +Christians, to exert themselves courageously in the service of their +country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare +them for whatever might happen. They seemed much affected with the +address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy +immediately--a desire in which he and another very gallant officer of +distinguished rank, dignity, and character, both for bravery and conduct, +would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in their power. He +earnestly pressed it on the commanding officer, as the soldiers were then +in better spirits than it could be supposed they would be after having +passed the night under arms, and as the circumstance of making an attack +would be some encouragement to them, and probably some terror to the +enemy, who would have had the disadvantage of standing on the defence--a +disadvantage with which those wild barbarians, (for such most of them +were) perhaps would have been more struck than better disciplined +troops--especially, too, when they fought against the laws of their +country. He also apprehended that, by marching to meet them, some +advantage might have been secured with regard to the ground, with which, +it is natural to imagine, he must have been perfectly acquainted, as it +lay just at his own door, and he had rode over it many hundred times. +When I mention these things, I do not pretend to be capable of judging +how far this advice was right. A variety of circumstances to me unknown +might make it otherwise. It is certain, however, that it was brave. But +it was overruled in this respect, as it also was in the disposition of +the cannon, which he would have planted in the centre of our small army, +rather than just before his regiment, which was in the right wing, where +he was apprehensive that the horses, which had not been in any previous +engagement, might be thrown into some disorder by the discharge so very +near them. He urged this the more as he thought the attack of the rebels +might probably be made on the centre of the foot, where he knew there +were some brave men, on whose standing he thought, under God, the success +of the day depended. When he found that he could not carry either of +these points, nor some others which, out of regard to the common safety, +he insisted upon with unusual earnestness, he dropped some intimations +of the consequences he apprehended, and which did in fact follow; and +submitting to Providence, spent the remainder of the day in making as +good a disposition as circumstances would allow.[*] + +[*Note: Several of these circumstances have since been confirmed by the +concurrent testimony of another very credible person, Mr. Robert Douglas, +(now a surgeon in the navy,) who was a volunteer at Edinburgh just before +the rebels entered the place, and who saw Colonel Gardiner come from +Haddington to the field of battle the day before the action in a chaise, +being (as from that circumstances he supposed) in so weak a state that he +could not well endure the fatigue of sitting on horseback. He observed +Colonel Gardiner in discourse with several officers on the evening before +the engagement, at which time, it was afterwards reported, he gave his +advice to attack the rebels; and when it was overruled, he afterwards saw +the colonel walk by himself in a very pensive manner.] + + +He continued all night under arms, wrapt up in his cloak, and generally +sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About +three in the morning he called his domestic servants to him, of which +there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with most +affectionate Christian advice, and such solemn charges relating to the +performance of their duty and the care of their souls, as plainly seemed +to intimate that he at least apprehended it very probable he was taking +his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an hour, +in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him, +and to which so many circumstances then concurred to call him. + +The army was alarmed at break of day by the noise of the rebels' +approach, and the attack was made before sunrise; yet it was light enough +to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy came within gunshot, they +made a furious fire; and it is said that the dragoons, which constituted +the left wing, immediately fled. The colonel, at the beginning of the +onset, which lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a bullet in +his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon +which his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded him to +retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh, and fought on, +though soon after he received a shot in his right thigh. In the meantime +it was discovered that some of the enemies fell by him, particularly one +man, who had made him a treacherous visit but a few days before, with +great professions of zeal for the present establishment. + +Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can +be written, or than it can be read. The colonel was for a few moments +supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person, +Lieutenant-colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm, and who, a few +months after, fell nobly in the battle of Falkirk; by Lieutenant West, a +man of distinguished bravery; also by about fifteen dragoons, who stood +by him to the last. But, after a faint fire, the regiment was seized with +a panic; and though their colonel and some other gallant officers did +what they could to rally them once or twice, they took to precipitate +flight. Just at the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a +pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, +an accident happened, which must, I think, in the judgment of every +worthy and generous man, be deemed a sufficient apology for exposing his +life to so great a hazard, when his regiment had left him.[*] He saw that +a party of foot, who were then bravely fighting near him, and whom he +was ordered to support, had no officer to head them; upon which he said +eagerly, in the hearing of the person from whom I had this account, +"Those brave fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander,"--or +words to that effect. So saying, he rode up to them, and cried out aloud, +"Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But, just as the words were out of +his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him with a scythe, fastened on +a long pole, with which he gave him such a deep wound on his right arm, +that his sword dropped out of his hand; and at the same time several +others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that +cruel weapon, he was dragged off his horse. The moment he fell another +Highlander, who, if the crown witness at Carlisle may be credited, (as I +know not why he should not, though the unhappy creature died denying it,) +was one M'Naught, who was executed about a year after, gave him a stroke +either with a broadsword or a Lochaber axe, (for my informant could not +exactly distinguish,) on the hinder part of his head, which was the +mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time +was, that as his hat had fallen off, he took it in his left hand, and +waved it as a signal to him to retreat; and added, (the last words he +ever heard him speak,) "Take care of yourself;" upon which the servant +retired. + +[*Note: The colonel, who was well acquainted with military history, might +possibly remember that in the battle at Blenheim, the illustrious Prince +Eugene, when the horse of the wing which he commanded had run away +thrice, charged at the head of the foot, and thereby greatly contributed +to the glorious success of the day. At least such an example may conduce +to vindicate that noble ardour which, amidst all the applauses of his +country, some have been so cool and so critical as to blame. For my part, +I thank God that I am not called to apologize for his following his +troops in their flight, which I fear would have been a much harder task; +and which, dear as he was to me, would have grieved me much more than his +death, with these heroic circumstances attending it.] + +It was reported at Edinburgh, on the day of the battle, by what seemed a +considerable authority, that as the colonel lay in his wounds, he said to +a chief of the opposite side, "You are fighting for an earthly crown, I +am going to receive a heavenly one,"--or something to that purpose. When +I preached the sermon, long since printed, on occasion of his death, I +had great reason to believe this report was true, though, before the +publication of it, I began to be in doubt; and, on the whole, after the +most accurate inquiry I could possibly make at this distance, I cannot +get any convincing evidence of it. Yet I must here observe that it does +not appear impossible that something of this kind might indeed be uttered +by him, as his servant testifies that he spoke to him after receiving +that fatal blow, which would seem most likely to have taken away the +power of speech, and as it is certain he lived several hours after he +fell. If, therefore, any thing of this kind did happen, it must have been +just before this instant. But as to the story of his being taken prisoner +and carried to the pretended Prince, (who, by the way, afterwards +rode his horse, and entered into Derby upon it,) with several other +circumstances which were grafted upon that interview, there is the most +undoubted evidence of its falsehood; for his attendant above mentioned +assures me that he himself immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of +about two miles from the spot on which the colonel fell, where he changed +his dress, and, disguised like a miller's servant, returned with a cart +as soon as possible, which yet was not till nearly two hours after the +engagement. The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he +found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other +things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet +still breathing; and adds, that though he was not capable of speech, +yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes; which makes it something +questionable whether he was altogether insensible. In this condition, and +in this manner, he conveyed him to the church of Tranent, from whence he +was immediately taken into the minister's house, and laid in bed, where +he continued breathing and frequently groaning till about eleven in +the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and sorrow, and +undoubtedly rose to those distinguished glories which are reserved for +those who have been eminently and remarkably faithful unto death. + +From the moment he fell, it was no longer a battle, but a rout and +carnage. The cruelties which the rebels (as it is generally said under +the command of Lord Elcho,) inflicted on some of the king's troops after +they had asked quarter, are dreadfully legible on the countenances of +many who survived it. They entered Colonel Gardiner's house before he was +carried off from the field, and notwithstanding the strict orders which +the unhappy Duke of Perth (whose conduct is said to have been very humane +in many instances,) gave to the contrary, every thing of value was +plundered, to the very curtains of the beds, and hangings of the rooms. +His papers were all thrown into the wildest disorder, and his house made +an hospital for the reception of those who were wounded in the action. + +Such was the close of a life which had been zealously devoted to God, and +filled up with many honourable services. Such was the death of him who +had been so highly favoured by God in the method by which he was brought +back to him after so long and so great an estrangement, and in the +progress of so many years, during which (in the expressive phrase of the +most ancient of writers,) "he had walked with him;"--to fall, as God +threatened the people of his wrath that they should do, "with tumult, +with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." Amos ii. 2. Several +other very worthy, and some of them very eminent persons, shared the same +fate, either now at the battle of Prestonpans, or quickly after at that +of Falkirk;[*] Providence, no doubt, permitting it, to establish our +faith in the rewards of an invisible world, as well as to teach us to +cease from man, and fix our dependence on an Almighty arm. + +[*Note: Of these, none were more memorable than those illustrious +brothers, Mr. Robert Munro and Dr. Munro, whose tragical but glorious fate +was also shared quietly after by a third hero of the family, Captain +Munro, of Culcairn, brother to Sir Robert and the Doctor.] + + +The remains of this Christian hero (as I believe every reader is now +convinced he may justly be called,) were interred the Tuesday following, +September 24, in the parish church at Tranent, where he had usually +attended divine service, with great solemnity. His obsequies were +honoured with the presence of some persons of distinction, who were not +afraid of paying that mark of respect to his memory, though the country +was then in the hands of the enemy. But, indeed, there was no great +hazard in this; for his character was so well known, that even they +themselves spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join with his friends +in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man. + +The remotest posterity will remember for whom the honour of subduing this +unnatural and pernicious rebellion was reserved; and it will endear the +Duke of Cumberland to all but the open or secret abettors of it in the +present age, and consecrate his name to immortal honours among all the +friends of religion and liberty who shall arise after us. And, I dare +say, it will not be imagined that I at all derogate from his glory in +suggesting, that the memory of that valiant and excellent person whose +memoirs I am now concluding may in some measure have contributed to that +signal and complete victory with which God was pleased to crown the +arms of his Royal Highness; for the force of such an example is very +animating, and a painful consciousness of having deserted such a +commander in such extremity, must at least awaken, where there was any +spark of generosity, an earnest desire to avenge his death on those who +had sacrificed his blood, and that of so many other excellent persons, to +the views of their ambition, rapine or bigotry. + +The reflections which I have made in my funeral sermon on my honoured +friend, and in the dedication of it to his worthy and most afflicted +lady, supersede many things which might otherwise have properly been +added here. I conclude, therefore, with humbly acknowledging the wisdom +and goodness of that awful Providence which drew so thick a gloom around +him in the last hours of his life, that the lustre of his virtues might +dart through it with a more vivid and observable ray. It is abundant +matter of thankfulness that so signal a monument of grace, and ornament +of the Christian profession, was raised in our age and country, and +spared for so many honourable and useful years. Nor can all the +tenderness of the most affectionate friendship, while its sorrows bleed +afresh in the view of so tragical a scene, prevent my adoring the +gracious appointment of the great Lord of all events, that when the day +in which he must have expired without an enemy appeared so very near, the +last ebb of his generous blood should be poured out, as a kind of sacred +libation, to the liberties of his country, and the honour of his God! +that all the other virtues of his character, embalmed as it were by that +precious stream, might diffuse around a more extensive fragrance, and be +transmitted to the most remote posterity with that peculiar charm which +they cannot but derive from their connection with so gallant a fall--an +event (as that blessed apostle, of whose spirit he so deeply drank, has +expressed it) "according to his earnest expectation, and his hope that in +him Christ might be glorified in all things, whether by his life or by +his death." + + + + +THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + +In the midst of so many more important articles, I had really forgotten +to say any thing of the person of Colonel Gardiner, of which, +nevertheless, it may be proper here to add a word or two. He was, as I +was informed, in younger life remarkably graceful and amiable; and I +can easily believe it, from what I knew him to be when our acquaintance +began, though he was then turned of fifty, and had gone through so many +fatigues as well as dangers, which could not but leave some traces on his +countenance. He was tall, (I suppose something more than six feet,) well +proportioned, and strongly built; his eyes of a dark gray, and not very +large; his forehead pretty high; his nose of a length and height no way +remarkable, but very well suited to his other features; his cheeks not +very prominent; his mouth moderately large, and his chin rather a little +inclining (when I knew him) to be peaked. He had a strong voice and +lively accent, with an air very intrepid, yet attempered with much +gentleness. There was something in his manner of address most perfectly +easy and obliging, which was in great measure the result of the great +candour and benevolence of his natural temper, and which, no doubt, was +much improved by the deep humility which divine grace had wrought in his +heart, as well as his having been accustomed from his early youth to the +company of persons of distinguished rank and polite behaviour. + +The picture of him, which is given at the beginning of these memoirs, +was taken from an original done by Van Deest (a Dutchman brought into +Scotland by general Wade,) in the year 1727, which was the 40th of his +age, and is said to have been very like him then, though far from being +an exact resemblance of what he was when I had the happiness of being +acquainted with him.[*] Perhaps he would have appeared to the greatest +advantage of all, could he have been exactly drawn on horseback; as +many very good judges, and among the rest the celebrated Mons. Faubert +himself, have spoken of him as one of the completest horsemen that has +ever been known; and there was indeed something so singularly graceful in +his appearance in that attitude, that it was sufficient (as what is very +eminent in its kind generally is,) to strike an eye not formed on any +critical rules. + +[*Note: In presenting this likeness for the first time in an American +edition of this work, the artist has taken the liberty to change the +costume, by substituting the ordinary military dress for the court dress +of the original.--_Editor of the Pres. Board of Publication_.] + +[Transcriber's Note: The Portrait is not available.] + + + + +APPENDIX I. + + +(Referred to at the end of Chapter VI, LETTERS.) + +It may not be amiss, in illustration of Dr. Doddridge's remarks on the +subject of dreams, to present to the reader the following account of +a remarkable dream which occurred to the Doctor himself, and had a +beneficial influence on his own mind.--ED. PRES. BD. PUB. + + + +DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM. + +Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Samuel Clark, of St. Alban's, having been +conversing in the evening upon the nature of the separate state, and the +probability that the scenes on which the soul would enter, at its first +leaving the body, would have some resemblance to those things it had been +conversant with while on earth, that it might by degrees be prepared +for the more sublime happiness of the heavenly state, this and other +conversation of the same kind probably occasioned the following dream. + +The Doctor imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in +London, and after remaining in this state for some hours, he thought his +soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of a fine vehicle, +though very different from the gross body it had just quitted, but still +material. He pursued his course through the air, expecting some celestial +messenger to meet him, till he was at some distance from the city, +when turning back and viewing the town, he could not forbear saying to +himself, "How vain do those affairs in which the inhabitants of this +place are so eagerly employed, seem to me a separate spirit!" At length, +as he was continuing his progress, though without any certain directions, +yet easy and happy in the thoughts of the universal providence and +government of God, which extends alike to all states and worlds, he was +now met by one who told him he was sent to conduct him to this destined +state of abode, from which he concluded it was an angel, though he +appeared in the form of an elderly man. They accordingly advanced +together, till they came within sight of a large spacious building, +which had the air of a palace. Upon his inquiring what it was, his guide +replied, it was the place assigned for him at present; upon which the +Doctor wondered that he had read on earth, "that eye had not seen, nor +ear had heard, the glory laid up for them that love God," when he could +easily have formed an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, +though he acknowledged they were greatly inferior to this in elegance and +magnificence. The answer, his guide told him, was plainly suggested by +the conversation of the evening before, and that the scenes presented to +him were purposely contrived to bear a near resemblance to those he had +been accustomed to on earth, that his mind might be more easily and +gradually prepared for those glories which would open upon him hereafter, +and which would at first have quite dazzled and overpowered him. By this +time they came to the palace, and his guide led him through a kind of +saloon into an inner parlour. The first object that struck him was a +great golden cup which stood upon a table, on which was embossed the +figure of a vine and clusters of grapes. He asked his guide the meaning +of it; who told him that it was the cup in which his Saviour drank new +wine with his disciples in his kingdom; and that the figures carved on it +denoted the union between Christ and his Church, implying, that as the +grapes derived all their beauty and flavour from the vine, so the saints, +even in a state of glory, were indebted for their establishment in +holiness and happiness, to their union with their common Head, in whom +they are all complete. While they were conversing, he heard a tap at the +door, and was informed by the angel that it was a signal of his Lord's +approach, and was intended to prepare him for an interview. Accordingly, +in a short time our Saviour entered the room, and upon his casting +himself at his feet, he graciously raised him up, and with a smile of +inexpressible complacency, assured him of his favour, and kind acceptance +of his faithful services, and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the +intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the +cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into the Doctor's hand. +The Doctor would have declined it at first, as too great an honour; but +our Lord replied, as to Peter in washing his feet, "If thou drinkest not +with me, thou hast no part with me." This he observed filled him with +such a transport of gratitude, love and admiration, that he was ready to +sink under it. His master seemed sensible of this, and told him he must +leave him for the present, but would not be long before he repeated +his visit. As soon as our Lord was retired, and the Doctor's mind more +composed, he observed that the room was hung with pictures, and upon +examining them, he found to his great surprise, that they contained +all the history of his life; and most remarkable scenes he had passed +through, being there represented in a very lively manner--the many +temptations and trials he had been exposed to, and the signal instances +of the divine goodness in the different periods of his life. It may not +be easily imagined how this would strike and affect his mind. It excited +in him the strongest emotions of gratitude, especially when he reflected +that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the +purposes of divine love towards him were so amply accomplished. The +exstacy of joy and gratitude, into which these reflections threw him, was +so great that he awoke; but for some time after he awoke the impression +continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, and he said +that he never, on any occasion, remembered to have had sentiments of +devotion and love equal to it. + + + + +APPENDIX II. + + +(Referred to in Chapter VII, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.) + +The following extract from Dr. Doddridge's "Thoughts on Sacramental +Occasions," gives a beautiful and edifying picture of the exercises of +his affectionate and pious heart under a painful bereavement. + + + +THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT, OCTOBER 3, 1736. + +DEAR BETSEY DEAD.[1] + +I had preached in the bitterness of my heart from these words: "Is it +well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is +well." 2 Kings iv. 26. I endeavoured to show the reason there was to say +this; but surely there was never any dispensation of Providence in which +I found it so hard, for my very soul had been overwhelmed within me. +Indeed, some hard thoughts of the mercy of God were ready to arise; and +the apprehension of his heavy displeasure, and the fear of my child's +future state, added fuel to the fire. + +Upon the whole, my mind was in the most painful agitation; but it pleased +God, that, in composing the sermon, my soul became quieted, and I was +brought into a more silent and cordial submission to the Divine will. + +At the table I discoursed on these words, "Although my house be not so +with God." 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. I observed, that domestic calamities may +befall good men in their journey through life, and particularly in +relation to their children; but that they have a refuge in God's +covenant; it is everlasting; it is sure; it is well ordered--every +provision is made according to our necessities; and shall be our +salvation, as it is the object of our most affectionate regard. + +One further circumstance I must record; and that is, that I here solemnly +recollected that I had, in a former sacrament taken the cup with these +words, "Lord, I take this cup as a public and solemn token that I will +refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hand." I mentioned this +recollection, and charged it publicly on myself and my Christian friends. +God has taken me at my word, but I do not retract it; I repeat it again +with regard to every future cup. + +I am just come from the coffin of my dear child, who seemes to be sweetly +asleep there, with a serene, composed, delightful countenance, once how +animated with double life! There--lo! O my soul! lo there! is thine idol +laid still in death--the creature which stood next to God in thine heart; +to whom it was opened with a fond and flattering delight. Methinks I +would learn to be dead with her--dead to the world. Oh that I could be +dead with her, not any further than that her dear memory may promote my +living to God.[*] + +[*Note: The following note was written in the margin of the manuscript by +the late Rev. Thomas Stedman: "I think I have heard that the doctor wrote +his funeral sermon for his daughter, or a part of it, upon her coffin."] + +I had a great deal of very edifying, conversation last night and his +morning with my wife, whose wisdom does indeed make her face to shine +under this affliction. She is supported and armoured with a courage which +seems not at all natural to her; talks with the utmost freedom, and has +really said many of the most useful things that ever were said to me by +any person upon the earth, both as to consolation and admonition. Had +the best things I have read on the subject been collected together, they +could hardly have been better conceived or better expressed. This is +to me very surprising when I consider her usual reserve. I have all +imaginable reason to believe that God will make this affliction a great +blessing to her, and I hope it may prove so to me. There was a fond +delight and complacence which I took in Betsey beyond any thing living. +Although she had not a tenth part of that rational, manly love, which I +pay to her mourning and many surviving friends; yet it leaves a peculiar +pain upon my heart, and it is almost as if my very gall were poured +out upon the earth. Yet much sweetness mingles itself with this bitter +potion, chiefly in the view and hope of my speedy removal to the eternal +world. May it not be the bounty of this providence, that instead of her +living many years upon the earth, God may have taken away my child that I +might be fitted for and reconciled to my own dissolution, perhaps nearly +approaching? I verily believe that I shall meet her there, and enjoy much +more of her in heaven than I should have done had she survived me on +earth. Lord, thy will be done; may my life be used for the service while +continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest. + +[Footnote 1: The following extract from the Diary of Dr. Doddridge is +here subjoined, as affording an explanation of some particulars alluded +to in the text. + + + +REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR CHILD, AND THE MANY MOURNFUL +PROVIDENCES ATTENDING IT. + +I have a great deal of reason to condemn my own negligence and folly, +that for so many months I have suffered no memorandums of what has passed +between God and my soul, although some of the transactions were very +remarkable, as well as some things which I have heard concerning others; +but the subject of this article is the most melancholy of any. We lost my +dear and reverend brother and friend, Mr. Sanders, on the 31st of July +last; on the 1st of September, Lady Russell--that invaluable friend, died +at Reading on her road from Bath; and on Friday, the 1st of October, God +was pleased, by a most awful stroke, to take away my eldest, dearest +child, my lovely Betsey. She was formed to strike my affections in the +most powerful manner; such a person, genius, and temper, as I admired +even beyond their real importance, so that indeed I doted upon her, and +was for many months before her death in a great degree of bondage upon +her account. She was taken ill at Newport about the middle of June, and +from thence to the day of her death, she was my continual thought, and +almost uninterrupted care. God only knows with what earnestness and +importunity I prostrated myself before him to beg her life, which I would +have been willing almost to have purchased with my own. When reduced to +the lowest degree of languishment by a consumption, I could not forbear +looking upon her almost every hour. I saw her with the strongest mixture +of anguish and delight; no chemist ever watched his crucible with greater +care, when he expected the production of the philosopher's stone, than I +watched her in all the various turns of her distemper, which at last grew +utterly hopeless, and then no language can express the agony into which +it threw me. One remarkable circumstance I cannot but recollect: in +praying most affectionately, perhaps too earnestly, for her life, these +words came into my mind with great power, "Speak no more to me of this +matter." I was unwilling to take them, and went into the chamber to see +my dear lamb, when, instead of receiving me with her usual tenderness, +she looked upon me with a stern air, and said, with a very remarkable +determination of voice, "I have no more to say to you;" and I think that +from that time, although she lived at least ten days, she seldom looked +upon me with pleasure, or cared to suffer me to come near her. But that +I might feel all the bitterness of the affliction, Providence so ordered +it, that I came in when her sharpest agonies were upon her, and those +words, "O dear, O dear, what shall I do?" rung in my ears for succeeding +hours and days. But God delivered her,--and she, without any violent pang +in the article of her dissolution, quietly and sweetly fell asleep, as I +hope, in Jesus, about ten at night, I being then at Maidwell. When I came +home my mind was under a dark cloud relating to the eternal state; but +God was pleased graciously to remove it, and gave me comfortable hopes, +after having felt the most heart-rending sorrow. My dear wife bore the +affliction in the most glorious manner, and discovered more wisdom, and +piety, and steadiness of temper in a few days, than I had ever in six +years an opportunity of observing before. O my soul, God has blasted thy +gourd; thy greatest earthly delight is gone: seek it in heaven, where I +hope this dear babe is; where I am sure that my Saviour is; and where I +trust, through grace, notwithstanding all this irregularity of temper and +of heart, that I shall shortly be. + +Sunday, October 3, 1736 + + + +FURTHER REFLECTIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MY DEAR BETSEY. + +I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is +for ever hidden from them. My heart was too full to weep much. We had a +suitable sermon from these words: "Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah +iv. 9; because of the gourd. I hope God knows that I am not angry; but +sorrowful he surely allows me to be. I could have wished that more had +been said concerning the hope we may have of our child; and it was a +great disappointment to me that nothing of that kind should have been +said by one that loved her so well as my brother Hunt did. Yet, I bless +God, I have my hopes that she is lodged in the arms of Christ. And there +was an occurrence that I took much notice of; I was most earnestly +praying that God would be pleased to give me some further encouragement +on this head, by letting some new light, or by directing me to some +further thoughts upon the subject. Soon after, as I came into my wife's +chamber, she told me that our maid Betty, who had indeed the affection +of a parent for my dear girl, had just before assured her, that, on the +Sabbath day evening, Betsey would be repeating to herself some things of +what she had heard in my prayers and in my preachings, but did not +care to talk of it to others; and my wife assured me that she solemnly +recommended herself to God in the words that I had taught her a little +before she died. Blessed God, hast thou not received her? I trust that +thou hast, and pardoned the infirmities of her poor, short, childish, +afflicted life. I hope, in some measure out of love to me, as thy +servant, thou hast done it, for Christ's sake; and I would consider the +very hope, as an engagement to thy future service. Lord, I love those who +were kind to my child, and wept with me for her; shall I not much more +love thee, who, I hope, art at this moment taking care of her, and +opening her infant faculties for the duties and blessedness of heaven. + +Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first born is +gone;--my beloved child is laid in bed before me. I have often followed +her to her bed in a literal sense; and shortly I shall follow her to +that, where we shall lie down together, and our rest shall be together +in the dust. In a literal sense the grave is ready for me. My grave is +made--I have looked into it--a dear part of myself is already there; and +when I stood at the Lord's table I stood directly over it. It is some +pleasure to me to think that my dust will be lodged near that of my dear +lamb, how much more to hope that my soul will rest with hers, and rejoice +in her forever! But, O, let me not centre my thoughts even here; it is +at rest with, and in God, that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace +secure it to me! and in the mean time give me some holy acquiescence of +soul in thee; and although my gourd be withered, yet shelter me under the +shadow of thy wings. + +October 4, 1736.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11253 *** diff --git a/11253-h/11253-h.htm b/11253-h/11253-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..75b1784 --- /dev/null +++ b/11253-h/11253-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4699 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html><head><title>The Life of Colonel James Gardiner, who was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745</title> +<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + + + + + <style type="text/css">body + { + background: #eeeeee; + margin: 10%; + text-align: justify; + } + h1 { +color:#330066; +font-size: 30pt; + +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h2 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 25pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h3 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 20pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h4 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 18pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h5 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 15pt; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h6 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: left; +background: transparent; +} + + +p,td,blockquote { +font-size: 14pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: justify; +line-height: 120%; +} + +p.smallprint { +font-size: 12pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 300; +text-align: justify; +} + +p.pullquote1 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 12pt; +font-weight: 300; +margin-left: 3em; +margin-bottom: 2%; +} + +p.pullquote2 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 12pt; +font-weight: 300; +margin-left: 6em; +margin-bottom: 2%; + +} + +td.right +{ +font-size: 14pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: right; +} + +td.right2 +{ +font-size: 12pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 200; +text-align: right; +} + +i { +font-weight: 600; +} + +i.smallprint { +font-weight: 200; +} + + +/*links*/ + +a:link { +color: #330099; +background: transparent; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:visited { +color: #330066; +font-weight: bold; +background: transparent; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:hover { +color: #ffffff; +background: #9999cc; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:active { +color: #9999cc; +font-weight: bold; +background: transparent; +text-decoration: underline; +} + +</style> +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11253 ***</div> + +<br><br><br><br> +<h1>THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER,</h1><br><br><br> + +<h2>WHO WAS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS,</h2><br><br> + +<h2>SEPTEMBER 21, 1745.</h2><br><br><br><br> + + +<h3>BY P. DODDRIDGE, D.D.</h3><br> + +<table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + <td width="17%" height="50"> </td> + <td class="right" width="66%" height="50">Justior alter<br> + Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis.<br> + + - <i>VIRGIL</i></td> + <td width="17%" height="50"> </td> +</tr> +</table> +<br><br><br> +<hr> +<br><br> +<table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + <td width="20%"> </td> + <td valign="top" width="50%"> +<h6> + <a href="#I.">I PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#II.">II BATTLE OF RAMILLIES.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#III.">III MILITARY PREFERMENTS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#IV.">IV CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#V.">V HIS CONVERSION.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#VI.">VI LETTERS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#VII.">VII DOMESTIC RELATIONS.</a><br><br> + +<a href="#VIII.">VIII CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#IX.">IX INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#X.">X DEVOTION AND CHARITY.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XI.">XI EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XII.">XII RETURN TO ENGLAND.</a><br><br> + +<a href="#XIII">XIII REVIVAL OF RELIGION.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XIV">XIV APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XV.">XV BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#THE">THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#API">APPENDIX I</a><br><br> + + <a href="#APII">APPENDIX II</a></h6><br> +</td> + <td width="8%"> </td> +</tr></table> + + + +<hr> + +<br> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Transcriber's Note: At the time of this book, England still followed +the Julian calendar (after Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.), and celebrated New Year's Day +on March 25th (Annunciation Day). Most Catholic countries accepted the Gregorian calendar +(after Pope Gregory XIII) from some +time after 1582 (the Catholic countries of France, Spain, Portugal, +and Italy in 1582, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland within a +year or two, Hungary in 1587, and Scotland in 1600), and celebrated +New Year's Day on January 1st. England finally changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. +This is the reason for the double dates in the early months of the years +in this narrative. January 1687 in England would have been January 1688 +in Scotland. Only after March 25th was the year the same in the two +countries. The Julian calendar was known as 'Old Style', and the +Gregorian calendar as 'New Style' (N.S.). +(Thus a letter written from France on e.g. August 4th, 1719 would be dated August 4, N.S).] </p> +<br><br> +<hr> +<br><br><br> + +<h3>LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER.</h3><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="I.">I.</a><br><br> + +PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS.</h4><br> + + + + +<p> +When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character +of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon +on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence +continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the +expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which +appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate +friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his +life––a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated +conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me, +beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious +experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable +letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which +contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character. +But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of +his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as +from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore +determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these +advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I, +on the whole, reason to regret that determination.</p> +<p> +I shall not trouble the reader with all the causes which concurred to +retard these expected assistances for almost a whole year. The chief of +them was the tedious languishing illness of his afflicted lady, through +whose hands it was proper the papers should pass; together with the +confusion into which the rebels had thrown them when they ransacked +his seat at Bankton, where most of them were deposited. But having now +received such of them as have escaped their rapacious hands, and could +conveniently be collected and transmitted, I set myself with the greatest +pleasure to perform what I esteem not merely a tribute of gratitude to +the memory of my invaluable friend, (though never was the memory of any +mortal man more precious and sacred to me,) but of duty to God, and to my +fellow-creatures; for I have a most cheerful hope that the narrative I am +now to write will, under the divine blessing, be a means of spreading, +what of all things in the world, every benevolent heart will most desire +to spread, a warm and lively sense of religion.</p> +<p> +My own heart has been so much edified and animated by what I have read in +the memoirs of persons who have been eminent for wisdom and piety, that I +cannot but wish the treasure may be more and more increased; and I would +hope the world may gather the like valuable fruits from the life I am +now attempting, not only as it will contain very singular circumstances, +which may excite general curiosity, but as it comes attended with some +other particular advantages.</p> +<p> +The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various +goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of +imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will +surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and +important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but +<i>military</i> life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence +of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable +praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in +most other professions might be esteemed only <i>a mediocrity of virtue</i>. +It may surely, with the highest justice, be expected that the title +and bravery of Colonel Gardiner will invite many of our officers and +soldiers, to whom his name has been long honourable and dear, to peruse +this account of him with some peculiar attention; in consequence of which +it may be a means of increasing the number, and brightening the character +of those who are already adorning their office, their country, and their +religion; and of reclaiming those who will see what they ought to be, +rather than what they are. On the whole, to the gentlemen of the sword I +would particularly offer these memoirs, as theirs by so distinguished +a title; yet I am firmly persuaded there are <i>none</i> whose office is so +sacred, or whose proficiency in the religious life is so advanced, but +they may find something to demand their thankfulness, and to awaken their +emulation.</p> + + +<p> +<b>COLONEL JAMES GARDINER</b> was the son of Capt. Patrick Gardiner of the +family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs.[*] Mary Hodge of the family of Gladsmuir. +The captain, who was master of a handsome estate, served many years in +the army of king William and queen Anne, and died abroad with the British +forces in Germany, soon after the battle of Hochstett, through the +fatigues he underwent in the duties of that celebrated campaign. He had +a company in the regiment of foot once commanded by Colonel Hodge, his +valiant brother-in-law, who was slain at the head of that regiment (my +memorial from Scotland says) at the battle of Steenkirk, which was fought +in the year 1692.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Transcriber's Note: Mrs. (Mistress), in that age, was the normal style +of address for an unmarried daughter from a prominent family, as well as +for a married lady.] </p> +<p> +Mrs. Gardiner, our colonel's mother, was a lady of very respectable +character; but it pleased God to exercise her with very uncommon trials; +for she not only lost her husband and her brother in the service of their +country, as before related, but also her eldest son, Mr. Robert Gardiner, +on the day which completed the 16th year of his age, at the siege of +Namur, in 1695. But there is great reason to believe that God blessed +these various and heavy afflictions, as the means of forming her to that +eminent degree of piety which will render her memory honourable as long +as it continues.</p> +<p> +Her second son, the worthy person of whom I am now to give a more +particular account, was born at Carriden, in Linlithgowshire, on the 10th +of January, A.D. 1687-8,––the memorable year of that glorious revolution +which he justly esteemed among the happiest of all events; so that when +he was slain in defence of those liberties which God then, by so gracious +a providence, rescued from utter destruction, i.e. on the 21st of +September 1745, he was aged 57 years, 8 months, and 11 days.</p> +<p> +The annual return of his birth-day was observed by him in the latter +and better years of his life, in a manner very different from what is +commonly practised; for, instead of making it a day of festivity, I +am told he rather distinguished it as a season of more than ordinary +humiliation before God––both in commemoration of those mercies which he +received in the first opening of life, and under an affectionate sense, +as well of his long alienation from the great Author and support of his +being, as of the many imperfections which he lamented in the best of his +days and services.</p> +<p> +I have not met with many things remarkable concerning the early days of +his life, only that his mother took care to instruct him, with great +tenderness and affection, in the principles of true Christianity. He was +also trained up in humane literature, at the school at Linlithgow, where +he made a very considerable progress in the languages. I remember to have +heard him quote some passages of the Latin classics very pertinently; +though his employment in life, and the various turns which his mind +took under different impulses in succeeding years, prevented him from +cultivating such studies.</p> +<p> +The good effects of his mother's prudent and exemplary care were not so +conspicuous as she wished and hoped, in the earlier part of her son's +life; yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirely lost. +As they were probably the occasion of many convictions which in his +younger years were overborne, so I doubt not, that when religious +impressions took that strong hold of his heart which they afterwards did, +that stock of knowledge which had been so early laid up in his mind, +was found of considerable service. And I have heard them make the +observation, as an encouragement to parents, and other pious friends, to +do their duty, and to hope for those good consequences of it which may +not immediately appear.</p> +<p> +Could his mother, or a very religious aunt, (of whose good instructions +and exhortations I have often heard him speak with pleasure,) have +prevailed, he would not have thought of a military life, from which it +is no wonder these ladies endeavoured to dissuade him, considering the +mournful experience they had of the dangers attending it, and the dear +relatives they had lost already by it. But it suited his taste; and the +ardour of his spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend who greatly +urged it,[*] was not to be restrained. Nor will the reader wonder +that, thus excited and supported, it easily overbore their tender +remonstrances, when he knows that this lively youth fought three duels +before he attained to the stature of a man; in one of which, when he was +but eight years old, he received from a boy much older than himself, a +wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. +The false sense of honour which instigated him to it, might seem indeed +something excusable in those unripened years, and considering the +profession of his father, brother, and uncle; but I have often heard +him mention this rashness with that regret which the reflection would +naturally give to so wise and good a man in the maturity of life. And I +have been informed that, after his remarkable conversion, he declined +accepting a challenge, with this calm and truly great reply, which, in +a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful: "I fear +sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting."</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: I suppose this to have been Brigadier-General Rue, who had from +his childhood a peculiar affection for him.]</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="II.">II.</a><br><br> + +BATTLE OF RAMILLIES.</h4><br> + + +<p> +He served first as a cadet, which must have been very early; and then, at +fourteen years old, he bore an ensign's commission in a Scotch regiment +in the Dutch service, in which he continued till the year 1702, when (if +my information be right) he received an ensign's commission from queen +Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramillies, being then in the +nineteenth year of his age. In this ever-memorable action he received a +wound in his mouth by a musket-ball, which has often been reported to be +the occasion of his conversion. That report was a mistaken one; but as +some very remarkable circumstances attended this affair, which I have +had the pleasure of hearing more than once from his own mouth, I hope my +readers will excuse me, if I give him so uncommon a story at large.</p> +<p> +Our young officer was of a party in the forlorn hope, and was commanded +on what seemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French of +the church-yard at Ramillies, where a considerable number of them were +posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded much better than was +expected; and it may well be supposed that Mr. Gardiner, who had before +been in several encounters, and had the view of making his fortune to +animate the natural intrepidity of his spirit, was glad of such an +opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly he had planted his +colours on an advanced ground; and while he was calling to his men, +(probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our +soldiery, and so absurdly common on such occasions of extreme danger,) he +received into his mouth a shot, which, without beating out of any of his +teeth, or touching the fore part of his tongue, went through his neck, +and came out about an inch and a half on the left side of the <i>vertebræ</i>. +Not feeling at first the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become +of the ball, and in the wildness of his surprise began to suspect he had +swallowed it; but falling soon after, he traced the passage of it by his +finger, when he could discover it in no other way; which I mention as +one circumstance, among many which occur, to make it probable that the +greater part of those who fall in battle by these instruments of death, +feel very little anguish from the most mortal wounds.</p> +<p> +This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of +May, 1706; and the army, pursuing its advantages against the French, +without ever regarding the wounded, (which was, it seems, the Duke of +Marlborough's constant method,) our young officer lay all night on +the field, agitated, as may well be supposed, with a great variety of +thoughts. He assured me, that when he reflected upon the circumstance of +his wound, that a ball should, as he then conceived it, go through his +head without killing him, he thought God had preserved him by a miracle; +and therefore assuredly concluded that he should live, abandoned and +desperate as his state seemed to be. Yet (which to me appeared very +astonishing) he had little thoughts of humbling himself before God, and +returning to him after the wanderings of a life so licentiously begun. +But, expecting to recover, his mind was taken up with contrivances to +secure his gold, of which he had a good deal about him; and he had +recourse to a very odd expedient, which proved successful. Expecting to +be stripped, he first took out a handful of that clotted gore of which he +was frequently obliged to clear his mouth, or he would have been choked; +and putting it into his left hand, he took out his money, which I think +was about 19 pistoles, and shutting his hand, and besmearing the back +part of it with blood, he kept in this position till the blood dried in +such a manner that his hand could not easily fall open, though any sudden +surprise should happen, in which he might lose the presence of mind which +that concealment otherwise would have required.</p> +<p> +In the morning the French, who were masters of that spot, though their +forces were defeated at some distance, came to plunder the slain; and +seeing him to appearance almost expiring, one of them was just applying +a sword to his breast, to destroy the little remainder of life, when, in +the critical moment, upon which all the extraordinary events of such a +life as his afterwards proved, were suspended, a Cordelier who attended +the plunderers interposed, (taking him by his dress for a Frenchman) and +said, "Do not kill that poor child." Our young soldier heard all that +passed, though he was not able to speak one word; and, opening his +eyes, made a sign for something to drink. They gave him a sup of some +spirituous liquor which happened to be at hand, by which he said he found +a more sensible refreshment than he could remember from anything he had +tasted either before or since. Then signifying to the friar to lean down +his ear to his mouth, he employed the first efforts of his feeble breath +in telling him (what, alas! was a contrived falsehood) that he was a +nephew to the governor of Huy, a neutral town in the neighbourhood; and +that if he could take any method of conveying him thither, he did not +doubt but his uncle would liberally reward him. He had indeed a friend at +Huy, who I think was governor, and, if I mistake not, had been acquainted +with the captain, his father, from whom he expected a kind reception; but +the relation was only pretended. On hearing this, they laid him on a sort +of hand-barrow, and sent him by a file of musqueteers towards the place; +but the men lost their way, and, towards the evening, got into a wood in +which they were obliged to continue all night. The poor patient's wound +being still undressed, it is not to be wondered at that by this time it +raged violently. The anguish of it engaged him earnestly to beg that they +would either kill him outright, or leave him there to die without the +torture of any further motion; and indeed they were obliged to rest for a +considerable time, on account of their own weariness. Thus he spent +the second night in the open air, without any thing more than a common +bandage to staunch the blood. He has often mentioned it as a most +astonishing providence that he did not bleed to death, which, under God, +he ascribed to the remarkable coldness of these two nights.</p> +<p> +Judging it quite unsafe to attempt carrying him to Huy, from whence they +were now several miles distant, his convoy took him early in the morning +to a convent in the neighbourhood, where he was hospitably received, and +treated with great kindness and tenderness. But the cure of his wound was +committed to an ignorant barber-surgeon who lived near the house, the +best shift that could then be made, at a time when it may easily be +supposed persons of ability in their profession had their hands full of +employment. The tent which this artist applied, was almost like a peg +driven into the wound; and gentlemen of skill and experience, when they +came to hear of the manner in which he was treated, wondered how he could +possibly survive such management. But by the blessing of God on these +applications, rough as they were, he recovered in a few months. The Lady +Abbess, who called him her son, treated him with the affection and care +of a mother; and he always declared that every thing which he saw within +these walls, was conducted with the strictest decency and decorum. He +received a great many devout admonitions from the ladies there, and +they would fain have persuaded him to acknowledge what they thought so +miraculous a deliverance, by embracing the <i>Catholic faith</i>, as they were +pleased to call it. But they could not succeed; for though no religion +lay near his heart, yet he had too much of the spirit of a gentleman +lightly to change that form of religion which he wore, as it were loose +about him; as well as too much good sense to swallow those monstrous +absurdities of Popery which immediately presented themselves to him, +unacquainted as he was with the niceties of the controversy.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4> +CHAPTER <a name="III.">III.</a><br><br> + +MILITARY PREFERMENTS.</h4><br> + + +<p> +When his liberty was regained by an exchange of prisoners, and his health +thoroughly established, he was far from rendering unto the Lord according +to that wonderful display of divine mercy which he had experienced. +I know very little of the particulars of those wild, thoughtless and +wretched years which lay between the 19th and 30th of his life; except +that he frequently experienced the divine goodness in renewed instances, +particularly in preserving him in several hot military actions, in all +which he never received so much as a wound after this, forward as he was +in tempting danger; and yet that all these years were spent in an entire +alienation from God, and in an eager pursuit of animal pleasure as his +supreme good. The series of criminal amours in which he was almost +incessantly engaged during this time, must probably have afforded some +remarkable adventures and occurrences; but the memory of them has +perished. Nor do I think it unworthy of notice here, that amidst all the +intimacy of our friendship, and the many hours of cheerful as well as +serious converse which we spent together, I never remember to have heard +him speak of any of these intrigues, otherwise than in the general with +deep and solemn abhorrence. This I the rather mention, as it seemed a +most genuine proof of his unfeigned repentance, which I think there is +great reason to suspect, when people seem to take a pleasure in relating +and describing scenes of vicious indulgence, which they yet profess to +have disapproved and forsaken.</p> +<p> +Amidst all these pernicious wanderings from the paths of religion, +virtue, and happiness, he approved himself so well in his military +character, that he was made a lieutenant in that year, viz. 1706; and I +am told he was very quickly after promoted to a cornet's commission in +Lord Stair's regiment of the Scots Greys, and, on the 31st of January, +1714-15, was made captain-lieutenant in Colonel Ker's regiment of +dragoons. He had the honour of being known to the Earl of Stair some time +before, and was made his aid-de-camp; and when, upon his Lordship's being +appointed ambassador from his late Majesty to the court of France, he +made so splendid an entrance into Paris, Captain Gardiner was his master +of the horse; and I have been told that a great deal of the care of that +admirably well-adjusted ceremony fell upon him; so that he gained great +credit by the manner in which he conducted it. Under the benign influence +of his Lordship's favour, which to the last day of his life he retained, +a captain's commission was procured for him, dated July 22, 1715, in +the regiment of dragoons commanded by Colonel Stanhope, now Earl of +Harrington; and in 1717 he was advanced to the majority of that regiment, +in which office he continued till it was reduced on November 10, 1718, +when he was put out of commission. But when his Majesty, king George I., +was thoroughly apprised of his faithful and important services, he gave +him his sign-manual, entitling him to the first majority that should +become vacant in any regiment of horse or dragoons, which happened, about +five years after, to be in Croft's regiment of dragoons, in which he +received a commission, dated 1st June, 1724; and on the 20th of July the +same year, he was made major of an older regiment, commanded by the Earl +of Stair.</p> +<p> +As I am now speaking of so many of his military preferments, I will +dispatch the account of them by observing, that, on the 24th January +1729-30, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same +regiment, long under the command of Lord Cadogan, with whose friendship +this brave and vigilant officer was also honoured for many years. And he +continued in this rank and regiment till the 19th of April, 1743, when +he received a colonel's commission over a regiment of dragoons lately +commanded by Brigadier Bland, at the head of which he valiantly fell, in +the defence of his sovereign and his country, about two years and a half +after he received it.</p> +<p> +We will now return to that period of his life which was passed at Paris, +the scene of such remarkable and important events. He continued (if I +remember right) several years under the roof of the brave and generous +Earl of Stair, to whom he endeavoured to approve himself by every +instance of diligent and faithful service. And his Lordship gave no +inconsiderable proof of the dependence which he had upon him, when, in +the beginning of 1715, he entrusted him with the important dispatches +relating to a discovery which, by a series of admirable policy, he had +made of a design which the French king was then forming for invading +Great Britain in favour of the Pretender; in which the French apprehended +they were so sure of success, that it seemed a point of friendship in one +of the chief counsellors of that court to dissuade a dependent of his +from accepting some employment under his Britannic majesty, when proposed +by his envoy there, because it was said that in less than six weeks there +would be a revolution in favour of what they called the family of the +Stuarts. The captain dispatched his journey with the utmost speed; a +variety of circumstances happily concurred to accelerate it; and they +who remember how soon the regiments which that emergency required, were +raised and armed, will, I doubt not, esteem it a memorable instance, both +of the most cordial zeal in the friends of the government, and of the +gracious care of Divine Providence over the house of Hanover and the +British liberties, so inseparably connected with its interest.</p> +<p> +While Captain Gardiner was at London, in one of the journeys he made upon +this occasion, he, with that frankness which was natural to him, and +which in those days was not always under the most prudent restraint, +ventured to predict, from what he knew of the bad state of the French +king's health, that he would not live six weeks. This was made known by +some spies who were at St. James's, and came to be reported at the court +of Versailles; for he received letters from some friends at Paris, +advising him not to return thither, unless he could reconcile himself to +a lodging in the Bastile. But he was soon free from that apprehension; +for, if I mistake not, before half that time was accomplished, Louis XIV. +died, (Sept. 1, 1715,) and it is generally thought his death was hastened +by a very accidental circumstance, which had some reference to the +captain's prophecy; for the last time he ever dined in public, which +was a very little while after the report of it had been made there, +he happened to discover our British envoy among the spectators. The +penetration of this illustrious person was too great, and his attachment +to the interest of his royal master too well known, not to render him +very disagreeable to that crafty and tyrannical prince, whom God had so +long suffered to be the disgrace of monarchy, and the scourge of Europe. +He at first appeared very languid, as indeed he was; but on casting his +eye upon the Earl of Stair, he affected to appear before him in a much +better state of health than he really was; and therefore, as if he had +been awakened on a sudden from some deep reverie, he immediately put +himself into an erect posture, called up a laboured vivacity into his +countenance, and ate much more heartily than was by any means advisable, +repeating two or three times to a nobleman, (I think the Duke of Bourbon) +then in waiting, "<i>Il me semble que je ne mange pas mal pour un homme qui +devoit mourir si tot.</i>" "Methinks I eat very well for a man who is to die +so soon." But this inroad upon that regularity of living which he had for +some time observed, agreed so ill with him that he never recovered this +meal, but died in less than a fortnight. This gave occasion for some +humorous people to say, that old Louis, after all, was killed by a +Briton. But if this story be true, (which I think there can be no room to +doubt, as the colonel, from whom I have often heard it, though absent, +could scarce be misinformed,) it might more properly be said that he fell +by his own vanity; in which view I thought it so remarkable, as not to be +unworthy of a place in these memoirs.</p> +<p> +The captain quickly returned, and continued, with small interruptions, at +Paris, at least till 1720, and how much longer I do not certainly know. +The Earl's favour and generosity made him easy in his affairs, though he +was, (as has been observed before,) part of the time, out of commission, +by breaking the regiment to which he belonged, of which before he was +major. This was in all probability the gayest part of his life, and the +most criminal. Whatever wise and good examples he might find in the +family where he had the honour to reside, it is certain that the French +court, during the regency of the Duke of Orleans, was one of the most +dissolute under heaven. What, by a wretched abuse of language, have been +called intrigues of love and gallantry, were so entirely to the major's +then degenerate taste, that if not the whole business, at least the whole +happiness of his life, consisted in them; and he had now too much leisure +for one who was so prone to abuse it. His fine constitution, than which +perhaps there was hardly ever a better, gave him great opportunities of +indulging himself in these excesses; and his good spirits enabled him to +pursue his pleasures of every kind in so alert and sprightly a manner, +that multitudes envied him, and called him, by a dreadful kind of +compliment, "the happy rake."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="IV.">IV.</a><br><br> + +CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE.</h4><br> + +<p> +Yet still the checks of conscience, and some remaining principles of so +good an education, would break in upon his most licentious hours; and +I particularly remember he told me, that when some of his dissolute +companions were once congratulating him on his distinguished felicity, a +dog happening at that time to come into the room, he could not forbear +groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, 'Oh that I were that dog!' Such +then was his happiness; and such perhaps is that of hundreds more who +bear themselves highest in the contempt of religion, and glory in +that infamous servitude which they affect to call liberty. But these +remonstrances of reason and conscience were in vain; and, in short, he +carried things so far in this wretched part of his life, that I am well +assured some sober English gentlemen, who made no great pretences to +religion, how agreeable soever he might have been to them on other +accounts, rather declined than sought his company, as fearing they might +have been ensnared and corrupted by it.</p> +<p> +Yet I cannot find that in these most abandoned days he was fond of +drinking. Indeed, he never had any natural relish for that kind of +intemperance, from which he used to think a manly pride might be +sufficient to preserve persons of sense and spirit; as by it they give up +every thing that distinguishes them from the meanest of their species, or +indeed from animals the most below it. So that if ever he fell into any +excesses of this kind, it was merely out of complaisance to his company, +and that he might not appear stiff and singular. His frank, obliging, and +generous temper procured him many friends; and these principles, which +rendered him amiable to others, not being under the direction of true +wisdom and piety, sometimes made him, in the ways of living he pursued, +more uneasy to himself than he might, perhaps, have been, if he could +have entirely overcome them; especially as he never was a sceptic in his +principles, but still retained a secret apprehension that natural and +revealed religion, though he did not much care to think of either, were +founded in truth. And, with this conviction, his notorious violations of +the most essential precepts of both could not but occasion some secret +misgivings of heart. His continual neglect of the great Author of his +being, of whose perfections he could not doubt, and to whom he knew +himself to be under daily and perpetual obligations, gave him, in some +moments of involuntary reflection, inexpressible remorse; and this at +times wrought upon him to such a degree, that he resolved he would +attempt to pay him some acknowledgments. Accordingly, for a few mornings +he did it, repeating in retirement some passages out of the Psalms, and +perhaps other scriptures which he still retained in his memory; and +owning, in a few strong words, the many mercies and deliverances he had +received, and the ill returns he had made for them.</p> +<p> +I find, among the other papers transmitted to me, the following verses, +which I have heard him repeat, as what had impressed him a good deal +in his unconverted state; and as I suppose they did something towards +setting him on this effort towards devotion, and might probably furnish +a part of these orisons, I hope I need make no apology to my reader for +inserting them, especially as I do not recollect that I have seen them +any where else.</p> +<blockquote> +Attend, my soul! the early birds inspire <br> +My grovelling thoughts with pure celestial fire; <br> +They from their temperate sleep awake, and pay <br> +Their thankful anthems for the new-born day. <br> +See how the tuneful lark is mounted high, <br> +And, poet-like, salutes the eastern sky! <br> +He warbles through the fragrant air his lays, <br> +And seems the beauties of the morn to praise.<br> +But man, more void of gratitude awakes, <br> +And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes; <br> +Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame, <br> +Without one thought of Him from whom it came. <br> +The wretch unhallowed does the day begin, <br> +Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin.</blockquote> +<p> +But these strains were too devout to continue long in a heart as +yet quite unsanctified; for how readily soever he could repeat such +acknowledgments of the Divine power, presence, and goodness, and own his +own follies and faults, he was stopped short by the remonstrances of +conscience as to the flagrant absurdity of confessing sins he did not +desire to forsake, and of pretending to praise God for his mercies, when +he did not endeavour to live to his service, and to behave in such a +manner as gratitude, if sincere, would plainly dictate. A model of +devotion where such sentiments made no part, his good sense could not +digest; and the use of such language before a heart-searching God, merely +as an hypocritical form, while the sentiments of his soul were contrary +to it, justly appeared to him such daring profaneness, that, irregular as +the state of his mind was, the thought of it struck him with horror. +He therefore determined to make no more attempts of this sort, and was +perhaps one of the first who deliberately laid aside prayer from some +sense of God's omniscience, and some natural principle of honour and +conscience.</p> +<p> +These secret debates with himself and ineffectual efforts would sometimes +return; but they were overborne again and again by the force of +temptation, and it is no wonder that in consequence of them his heart +grew yet harder. Nor was it softened or awakened by some very memorable +deliverances which at this time he received. He was in extreme danger by +a fall from his horse, as he was riding post I think in the streets of +Calais. When going down a hill, the horse threw him over his head, and +pitched over him; so that when he rose, the beast lay beyond him, and +almost dead. Yet, though he received not the least harm, it made no +serious impression on his mind. On his return from England in the +packet-boat, if I remember right, but a few weeks after the former +accident, a violent storm, that drove them up to Harwich, tossed them +from thence for several hours in a dark night on the coast of Holland, +and brought them into such extremity, that the captain of the vessel +urged him to go to prayers immediately, if he ever intended to do it at +all; for he concluded they would in a few minutes be at the bottom of the +sea. In this circumstance he did pray, and that very fervently too; and +it was very remarkable, that while he was crying to God for deliverance, +the wind fell, and quickly after they arrived at Calais. But the major +was so little affected with what had befallen him, that when some of his +gay friends, on hearing the story, rallied him upon the efficacy of his +prayers, he excused himself from the scandal of being thought much in +earnest, by saying "that it was at midnight, an hour when his good mother +and aunt were asleep, or else he should have left that part of the +business to them;"––a speech which I should not have mentioned, but as +it shows in so lively a view the wretched situation of his mind at that +time, though his great deliverance from the power of darkness was then +nearly approaching. He recounted these things to me with the greatest +humility, as showing how utterly unworthy he was of that miracle of +divine grace by which he was quickly after brought to so true and so +permanent a sense of religion.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="V.">V.</a><br><br> +HIS CONVERSION.</h4><br> + + +<p> +And now I am come to that astonishing part of his story, the account of +his conversion, which I cannot enter upon without assuring the reader +that I have sometimes been tempted to suppress many circumstances of +it; not only as they may seem incredible to some, and enthusiastical to +others, but I am very sensible they are liable to great abuses; which was +the reason that he gave me for concealing the most extraordinary from +many persons to whom he mentioned some of the rest. And I believe it was +this, together with the desire of avoiding every thing that might look +like ostentation on this head, that prevented his leaving a written +account of it, though I have often entreated him to do it, as I +particularly remember I did in the very last letter I ever wrote him, and +pleaded the possibility of his falling amidst those dangers to which I +knew his valour might, in such circumstances, naturally expose him. I was +not so happy as to receive any answer to this letter, which reached him +but a few days before his death; nor can I certainly say whether he had +or had not complied with my request, as it is very possible a paper of +this kind, if it were written, might be lost amidst the ravages which the +rebels made when they plundered Bankton.</p> +<p> +The story, however, was so remarkable, that I had little reason to +apprehend I should ever forget it; and yet, to guard against all +contingencies of that kind, I wrote it down that very evening, as I heard +it from his own mouth; and I have now before me the memoirs of that +conversation, dated Aug. 14, 1739, which conclude with these words, +(which I added that if we should both have died that night, the world +might not have lost this edifying and affecting history, or have wanted +any attestation of it I was capable of giving): "N.B. I have written down +this account with all the exactness I am capable of, and could safely +take an oath of it as to the truth of every circumstance, to the best of +my remembrance, as the colonel related it to me a few hours ago." I do +not know that I had reviewed this paper since I wrote it, till I set +myself thus publicly to record this extraordinary fact; but I find it +punctually to agree with what I have often related from my memory, which +I charged carefully with so wonderful and important a fact. It is with +all solemnity that I now deliver it down to posterity as in the sight +and presence of God; and I choose deliberately to expose myself to those +severe censures which the haughty but empty scorn of infidelity, or +principles nearly approaching it, and effectually doing its pernicious +work, may very probably dictate upon the occasion, rather than to smother +a relation, which may, in the judgment of my conscience, be like to +conduce so much to the glory of God, the honour of the gospel, and the +good of mankind. One thing more I will only premise, that I hope none who +have heard the colonel himself speak something of this wonderful scene, +will be surprised if they find some new circumstances here; because he +assured me, at the time he first gave me the whole narration, (which was +in the very room in which I now write,) that he had never imparted it +so fully to any living before; yet, at the same time, he gave me full +liberty to communicate it to whomsoever I should in my conscience +judge it might be useful to do it, whether before or after his death. +Accordingly I did, while he was alive, recount almost every circumstance +I am now going to write, to several pious friends; referring them at the +same time to the colonel himself, whenever they might have an opportunity +of seeing or writing to him, for a further confirmation of what I told +them, if they judged it requisite. They <i>glorified God in him</i>; and I +humbly hope many of my readers will also do it. They will soon perceive +the reason of so much caution in my introduction to this story, for +which, therefore, I shall make no further apology.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: It is no small satisfaction to me, since I wrote this, to have +received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Spears, minister of the gospel at +Burntisland, dated Jan 14, 1746-7 in which he relates to me this whole +story, as he had it from the colonel's own mouth about four years after +he gave me the narration. There is not a single circumstance in which +either of our narrations disagrees, and every one of the particulars in +mine, which seems most astonishing, is attested by this, and sometimes in +stronger words, one only excepted, on which I shall add a short remark +when I come to it. As this letter was written near Lady Frances Gardiner +at her desire, and attended with a postscript from her own hand, this +is, in effect, a sufficient attestation how agreeable it was to those +accounts which she must often have heard the colonel give of this +matter.]</p> + +<p> +This memorable event happened towards the middle of July, 1719; but I +cannot be exact as to the day. The major had spent the evening (and if I +mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy +assignation with a married woman, of what rank or quality I did not +particularly inquire, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The +company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to +anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the +tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or in some other way. But +it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book which +his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his +portmanteau. It was called, if I remember the title exactly, <i>The +Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm</i>, and was written by Mr. +Thomas Watson. Guessing by the title of it that he should find some +phrases of his own profession spiritualized in a manner which he thought +might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took +no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book +was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind, (perhaps God only +knows how,) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy +consequences.</p> +<p> +There is indeed a possibility, that while he was sitting in this +solitude, and reading in this careless and profane manner, he might +suddenly fall asleep, and only dream of what he apprehended he saw. But +nothing can be more certain than that, when he gave me this relation, he +judged himself to have been as broad awake during the whole time as he +ever was in any part of his life; and he mentioned it to me several times +afterwards as what undoubtedly passed, not only in his imagination, but +before his eyes.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Mr. Spears, in the letter mentioned above, where he introduces +the colonel telling his own story, has these words "All of a sudden +there was presented in a very lively manner to my view, or to my mind, a +representation of my glorious Redeemer," &c. And this gentleman adds, in +a parenthesis, "It was so lively and striking, that he could not tell +whether it was to his bodily eyes, or to those of his mind." This makes +me think that what I had said to him on the phenomena of visions, +apparitions, &c, (as being, when most real, supernatural impressions on +the imagination, rather than attended with any external object,) had some +influence upon him. Yet still it is evident he looked upon this as a +vision, whether it was before the eyes or in the mind, and not as a +dream.],</p> + +<p> +He thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was +reading, which he at first imagined might happen by some accident in +the candle. But, lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme +amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, +a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, +surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed as if a voice, or +something equivalent to a voice, had come to him to this effect, (for he +was not confident as to the very words). "Oh, sinner! did I suffer this +for thee, and are these the returns?" But whether this were an audible +voice, or only a strong impression on his mind equally striking, he did +not seem very confident, though, to the best of my remembrance, he rather +judged it to be the former. Struck with so amazing a phenomenon as this, +there remained hardly any life in him, so that he sunk down in the arm +chair in which he sat, and continued, he knew not exactly how long, +insensible, (which was one circumstance that made me several times take +the liberty to suggest that he might possibly be all this while asleep,) +but however that were, he quickly after opened his eyes, and saw nothing +more than usual.</p> +<p> +It may easily be supposed he was in no condition to make any observations +upon the time in which he had remained in an insensible state, nor did +he, throughout all the remainder of the night, once recollect that +criminal and detestable assignation which had before engrossed all his +thoughts. He rose in a tumult of passions not to be conceived, and walked +to and fro in his chamber till he was ready to drop down in unutterable +astonishment and agony of heart, appearing to himself the vilest monster +in the creation of God, who had all his lifetime been crucifying +Christ afresh by his sins, and now saw, as he assuredly believed, by +a miraculous vision, the horror of what he had done. With this was +connected such a view of both the majesty and goodness of God, as caused +him to loathe and abhor himself, and to repent as in dust and ashes. He +immediately gave judgment against himself, that he was most justly worthy +of eternal damnation, he was astonished that he had not been immediately +struck dead in the midst of his wickedness, and (which I think deserves +particular remark) though he assuredly believed that he should ere long +be in hell, and settled it as a point with himself for several months +that the wisdom and justice of God did almost necessarily require +that such an enormous sinner should be made an example of everlasting +vengeance, and a spectacle as such both to angels and men, so that he +hardly durst presume to pray for pardon; yet what he then suffered was +not so much from the fear of hell, though he concluded it would soon be +his portion, as from a sense of that horrible ingratitude he had shown +to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who had been in so +affecting a manner set forth as crucified before him.</p> +<p> +To this he refers in a letter dated from Douglas, the 1st of April 1725, +communicated to me by his lady,[*] but I know not to whom it was addressed. +His words are these: "One thing relating to my conversion, and a +remarkable instance of the goodness of God to me, <i>the chief of sinners</i>, +I do not remember that I ever told to any other person. It was this, +that after the astonishing sight I had of my blessed Lord, the terrible +condition in which I was proceeded not so much from the terrors of the +law, as from a sense of having been so ungrateful a monster to him whom I +thought I saw pierced for my transgressions." I the rather insert these +words, as they evidently attest the circumstance which may seem most +amazing in this affair, and contain so express a declaration of his own +apprehension concerning it.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Where I make any extracts as from Colonel Gardiner's letters, +they are either from originals, which I have in my own hands, or from +copies which were transmitted to me from persons of undoubted credit, +chiefly by the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Gardiner, through the +hands of the Rev. Mr. Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh. This +I the rather mention, because some letters have been brought to me as +Colonel Gardiner's, concerning which I have not only been very dubious, +but morally certain that they could not have been written by him. I have +also heard of many who have been fond of assuring the world that they +were well acquainted with him, and were near him when he fell, whose +reports have been most inconsistent with each other, as well as contrary +to that testimony relating to the circumstances of his death, which, +on the whole, appeared to me beyond controversy the most natural and +authentic, from whence, therefore, I shall take my account of that +affecting scene.]</p> + +<p> +In this view it may naturally be supposed that he passed the remainder +of the night waking, and he could get but little rest in several that +followed. His mind was continually taken up in reflecting on the divine +purity and goodness; the grace which had been proposed to him in the +gospel, and which he had rejected; the singular advantages he had enjoyed +and abused; and the many favours of providence which he had received, +particularly in rescuing him from so many imminent dangers of death, +which he now saw must have been attended with such dreadful and hopeless +destruction. The privileges of his education, which he had so much +despised, now lay with an almost insupportable weight on his mind; and +the folly of that career of sinful pleasure which he had so many years +been running with desperate eagerness and unworthy delight, now filled +him with indignation against himself, and against the great deceiver, by +whom (to use his own phrase) he had been "so wretchedly and scandalously +befooled." This he used often to express in the strongest terms, which I +shall not repeat so particularly, as I cannot recollect some of them. +But on the whole it is certain that, by what passed before he left his +chamber the next day, the whole frame and disposition of his soul was +new-modelled and changed; so that he became, and continued to the last +day of his exemplary and truly Christian life, the very reverse of what +he had been before. A variety of particulars, which I am afterwards to +mention, will illustrate this in the most convincing manner. But I cannot +proceed to them without pausing to adore so illustrious an instance of +the power and freedom of divine grace, and entreating my reader seriously +to reflect upon it, that his own heart may be suitably affected. For +surely, if the truth of the fact be admitted in the lowest views in which +it can be placed, (that is, supposing the first impression to have passed +in a dream,) it must be allowed to have been little, if anything less +than miraculous. It cannot in the course of nature be imagined how such +a dream should arise in a mind full of the most impure ideas and +affections, and (as he himself often pleaded) more alienated from the +thoughts of a crucified Saviour, than from any other object that can be +conceived; nor can we surely suppose it should, without a mighty energy +of the divine power, be effectual to produce not only some transient +flow of passion, but so entire and permanent a change in character and +conduct.</p> +<p> +On the whole, therefore, I must beg leave to express my own sentiments of +the matter, by repeating on this occasion what I wrote several years ago, +in my eighth sermon on regeneration, in a passage dictated chiefly by the +circumstantial knowledge which I had of this amazing story, and methinks +sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone, which yet, I +must take the liberty to say, it does not; for I hope the world will be +particularly informed, that there is at least a second that very nearly +approaches it, whenever the established church of England shall lose one +of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members +which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the +mean time, may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous +ministry abundantly prospered! I beg my reader's pardon for this +digression. The passage I referred to above is remarkably, though not +equally, applicable to both the cases, under that head where I am showing +that God sometimes accomplishes the great work of which we speak, +by secret and immediate impressions on the mind. After preceding +illustrations, there are the following words, on which the colonel's +conversion will throw the justest light. "Yea, I have known those of +distinguished genius, polite manners, and great experience in human +affairs, who, after having out-grown all the impressions of a religious +education––after having been hardened, rather than subdued by the most +singular mercies, even various, repeated, and astonishing deliverances, +which have appeared to themselves as no less than miraculous––after +having lived for years without God in the world, notoriously corrupt +themselves, and labouring to the utmost to corrupt others, have been +stopped on a sudden in the full career of their sin, and have felt such +rays of the divine presence, and of redeeming love, darting in upon +their minds, almost like lightning from heaven, as have at once roused, +overpowered, and transformed them; so that they have come out of their +secret chambers with an irreconcilable enmity to those vices to which, +when they entered them, they were the tamest and most abandoned slaves; +and have appeared from that very hour the votaries, the patrons, the +champions of religion; and after a course of the most resolute +attachment to it, in spite of all the reasonings or the railleries, the +importunities or the reproaches of its enemies, they have continued to +this day some of its brightest ornaments; a change which I behold with +equal wonder and delight, and which, if a nation should join in deriding +it, I would adore as the finger of God."</p> +<p> +The mind of Major Gardiner continued from this remarkable time, till +towards the end of October, (that is rather more than three months, but +especially the first two of them,) in as extraordinary a situation as one +can well imagine. He knew nothing of the joys arising from a sense of +pardon; but, on the contrary, for the greater part of that time, and with +very short intervals of hope towards the end of it, took it for granted +that he must in all probability quickly perish. Nevertheless, he had such +a sense of the evil of sin, of the goodness of the Divine Being, and of +the admirable tendency of the Christian revelation, that he resolved to +spend the remainder of his life, while God continued him out of hell, in +as rational and as useful a manner as he could; and to continue casting +himself at the foot of divine mercy every day, and often in a day, if +peradventure there might be hope of pardon, of which all that he could +say was, that he did not absolutely despair. He had at that time such a +sense of the degeneracy of his own heart, that he hardly durst form any +determinate resolution against sin, or pretend to engage himself by any +vow in the presence of God; but he was continually crying to him, that he +would deliver him from the bondage of corruption. He perceived in himself +a most surprising alteration with regard to the dispositions of his +heart; so that, though he felt little of the delight of religious duties, +he extremely desired opportunities of being engaged in them; and +those licentious pleasures which had before been his heaven, were now +absolutely his aversion. And indeed, when I consider how habitual all +those criminal indulgences were grown to him, and that he was now in the +prime of life, and all this while in high health too, I cannot but +be astonished to reflect upon it, that he should be so wonderfully +sanctified in body, as well as in soul and spirit, as that, for all the +future years of his life, he from that hour should find so constant a +disinclination to, and abhorrence of, those criminal sensualities to +which he fancied he was before so invincibly impelled by his very +constitution, that he was used strangely to think, and to say; that +Omnipotence itself could not reform him, without destroying that body, +and giving him another.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Mr. Spears expresses this wonderful circumstance in these +remarkable words "I was (said the colonel to me) effectually cured of all +inclination to that sin I was so strongly addicted to, that I thought +nothing but shooting me through the head could have cured me of it, and +all desire and inclination to it was removed, as entirely as if I had +been a sucking child, nor did the temptation return to this day." Mr. +Webster's words on the same subject are these "One thing I have heard the +colonel frequently say, that he was much addicted to impurity before his +acquaintance with religion, but that, so soon as he was enlightened from +above, he <i class="smallprint">felt the power of the Holy Ghost</i> changing his nature so +wonderfully, that his sanctification in this respect seemed more +remarkable than in any other." On which that worthy person makes this +very reasonable reflection "So thorough a change of such a polluted +nature, evidenced by the most unblemished walk and conversation for a +long course of years, demonstrates indeed the power of the Highest, and +leaves no room to doubt of its reality." Mr. Spears says, this happened +in three days' time, but from what I can recollect, all that the colonel +could mean by that expression, if he used it, (as I conclude he did,) was +that he began to make the observation in the space of three days whereas, +during that time, his thoughts were so taken up with the wonderful views +presented to his mind, that he did not immediately attend to it. If he +had, within the first three days, any temptation to seek some ease from +the anguish of his mind, in returning to former sensualities, it is a +circumstance he did not mention to me, and by what I can recollect of +the strain of his discourse, he intimated if he did not express the +contrary.]</p> +<p> +Nor was he only delivered from that bondage of corruption which had been +habitual to him for many years, but felt in his breast so contrary a +disposition, that he was grieved to see human nature, in those to whom he +was most entirely a stranger, prostituted to such low and contemptible +pursuits. He therefore exerted his natural courage in a very new kind of +combat, and became an open advocate for religion in all its principles, +so far as he was acquainted with them, and all its precepts, relating +to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Yet he was very desirous and +cautious that he might not run into extremes, and made it one of his +first petitions to God, the very day after these amazing impressions had +been wrought in his mind, that he might not be suffered to behave with +such an affected strictness and preciseness as would lead others about +him into mistaken notions of religion, and expose it to reproach or +suspicion, as if it were an unlovely or uncomfortable thing. For this +reason, he endeavoured to appear as cheerful in conversation as he +conscientiously could; though, in spite of all his precautions, some +traces of that deep inward sense which he had of his guilt and misery +would at times appear. He made no secret of it, however, that his views +were entirely changed, though he concealed the particular circumstances +attending that change. He told his most intimate companions freely that +he had reflected on the course of life in which he had so long joined +them, and found it to be folly and madness, unworthy a rational creature, +and much more unworthy persons calling themselves Christians. And he set +up his standard, upon all occasions, against principles of infidelity and +practices of vice, as determinately and as boldly as ever he displayed or +planted his colours, when he bore them with so much honour in the field.</p> +<p> +I cannot forbear mentioning one struggle of this kind which he described +to me, with a large detail of circumstances, the first day of our +acquaintance. There was at that time in Paris a certain lady (whose name, +then well known in the grand and gay world, I must beg leave to conceal) +who had imbibed the principles of deism, and valued herself much upon +being an avowed advocate for them. The major, with his usual frankness, +(though I doubt not with that politeness of manners which was so habitual +to him, and which he retained throughout his whole life,) answered her +like a man who perfectly saw through the fallacy of her arguments, +and was grieved to the heart for her delusions. On this she briskly +challenged him to debate the matter at large, and to fix upon a day for +that purpose, when he should dine with her, attended by any clergyman he +might choose, whether of the Protestant or Catholic communion. A sense +of duty would not allow him to decline this challenge; and yet he had no +sooner accepted it, but he was thrown into great perplexity and distress +lest, being, as I remember he expressed it when he told me the story, +only a Christian of six weeks old, he should prejudice so good a cause by +his unskilful manner of defending it. However, he sought his refuge in +earnest and repeated prayers to God, that he who can ordain strength, and +perfect praise, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, would graciously +enable him on this occasion to vindicate his truths in a manner which +might carry conviction along with it. He then endeavoured to marshal the +arguments in his own mind as well as he could; and apprehending that +he could not speak with so much freedom before a number of persons, +especially before such whose province he might seem in that case to +invade, if he had not devolved the principal part of the discourse upon +them, he easily admitted the apology of a clergyman or two, to whom +he mentioned the affair, and waited on the lady alone upon the day +appointed. But his heart was so set upon the business, that he came +earlier than he was expected, and time enough to have two hours' +discourse before dinner; nor did he at all decline having two persons, +nearly related to the lady, present during the conference. The major +opened it, with a view of such arguments for the Christian religion as +he had digested in his own mind, to prove that the apostles were not +mistaken themselves, and that they could not have intended to impose upon +us, in the accounts they give of the grand facts they attest; with the +truth of which facts, that of the Christian religion is most apparently +connected. And it was a great encouragement to him to find, that +unaccustomed as he was to discourses of this nature, he had an unusual +command both of thought and expression, so that he recollected and +uttered every thing as he could have wished. The lady heard with +attention; and though he paused between every branch of the argument, she +did not interrupt the course of it till he told her he had finished +his design, and waited for her reply. She then, produced some of her +objections, which he took up and canvassed in such a manner that at +length she burst into tears, allowed the force of his arguments and +replies, and appeared for some time after so deeply impressed with the +conversation, that it was observed by several of her friends; and there +is reason to believe that the impression continued, at least so far as to +prevent her from ever appearing under the character of an unbeliever or a +sceptic.</p> +<p> +This is only one specimen among many of the battles he was almost daily +called out to fight in the cause of religion and virtue; with relation to +which I find him expressing himself thus in a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, +his good mother, dated from Paris the 25th of January following, that +is 1719-20, in answer to one in which she had warned him to expect such +trials: "I have (says he) already met with them, and am obliged to fight, +and to dispute every inch of ground. But all thanks and praise to the +great Captain of my salvation. He fights for me, and then it is no wonder +that I come off more than conqueror:" by which last expression I suppose +he meant to insinuate that he was strengthened and established, rather +than overborne, by this opposition. Yet it was not immediately that he +gained such fortitude. He has often told me how much he felt in those +days of the emphasis of those well-chosen words of the apostle, in which +he ranks the trial of cruel mockings, with scourgings, and bonds, and +imprisonments. The continual railleries with which he was received, in +almost all companies where he had been most familiar before, did often +distress him beyond measure; so that he several times declared he would +much rather have marched up to a battery of the enemy's cannon, than have +been obliged, so continually as he was, to face such artillery as this. +But, like a brave soldier in the first action wherein he is engaged, he +continued resolute, though shuddering at the terror of the assault; and +quickly overcame those impressions which it is not perhaps in nature +wholly to avoid; and therefore I find him, in the letter above referred +to, which was written about half a year after his conversion, "quite +ashamed to think of the uneasiness which these things once gave him." In +a word, he went on, as every resolute Christian by divine grace may do, +till he turned ridicule and opposition into respect and veneration.</p> +<p> +But this sensible triumph over these difficulties was not till his +Christian experience had been abundantly advanced by the blessing of God +on the sermons he heard, (particularly in the Swiss chapel,) and on the +many hours which he spent in devout retirement, pouring out his whole +soul before God in prayer. He began, within about two months after his +first memorable change, to perceive some secret dawnings of more cheerful +hope, that vile as he saw himself to be, (and I believe no words can +express how vile that was,) he might nevertheless obtain mercy through +the Redeemer. At length (if I remember right, about the end of October, +1719) he found all the burthen of his mind taken off at once by the +powerful impression of that memorable scripture on his mind, Romans iii. +25, 26, "Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation through faith in his +blood, to declare his righteousness in the remission of sins,––that he +might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He had +used to imagine that the justice of God required the damnation of so +enormous a sinner as he saw himself to be; but now he was made deeply +sensible that the divine justice might be not only vindicated, but +glorified, in saving him by the blood of Jesus, even that blood which +cleanseth us from all sin. Then did he see and feel the riches of +redeeming love and grace in such a manner as not only engaged him with +the utmost pleasure and confidence to venture his soul upon it, but even +swallowed up, as it were, his whole heart in the returns of love, which +from that blessed time became this genuine and delightful principle of +his obedience, and animated him, with an enlarged heart, to run the way +of God's commandments. Thus God was pleased (as he himself used to speak) +in an hour to turn his captivity. All the terrors of his former state +were changed into unutterable joy, which kept him almost continually +waking for three nights together, and yet refreshed him as the noblest of +cordials. His expressions, though naturally very strong, always seemed +to be swallowed up when he would describe the series of thought through +which he now passed, under the rapturous experience of that joy +unspeakable and full of glory, which then seemed to overflow his very +soul, as indeed there was nothing he seemed to speak of with greater +relish. And though the first ecstasies of it afterwards subsided into a +more calm and composed delight, yet were the impressions so deep and so +permanent, that he assured me, on the word of a Christian and a friend, +wonderful as it might seem, that, for about seven years after this, he +enjoyed almost heaven upon earth. His soul was so continually filled with +a sense of the love of God in Christ, that it knew little interruption, +but when necessary converse, and the duties of his station, called off +his thoughts for a little time. And when they did so, as soon as he was +alone, the torrent returned into its natural channel again; so that, from +the minute of awakening in the morning, his heart was raised to God, and +triumphing in him; and these thoughts attended him through all the scenes +of life, till he lay down on his bed again, and a short parenthesis +of sleep (for it was but a very short one that he allowed himself) +invigorated his animal powers, for renewing them with greater intenseness +and sensibility.</p> +<p> +I shall have an opportunity of illustrating this in the most convincing +manner below, by extracts from several letters which he wrote to intimate +friends during this happy period of time––letters which breathe a spirit +of such sublime and fervent piety as I have seldom met with any where +else. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he was greatly +delighted with Dr. Watts's imitation of the 126th Psalm, since it may be +questioned whether there ever was a person to whom the following stanzas +of it were more suitable:––</p> +<blockquote> +When God revealed his gracious name, <br> + And changed my mournful state, <br> +My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, <br> + Thy grace appeared so great.<br><br> + +The world beheld the glorious change, <br> + And did thine hand confess; <br> +My tongue broke out in unknown strains, <br> + And sung surprising grace,<br><br> + +"Great is the work," my neighbours cried, <br> + And owned the power divine:<br> +"Great is the work," my heart replied, <br> + "And be the glory thine."<br><br> + +The Lord can change the darkest skies, <br> + Can give us day for night, <br> +Make drops of sacred sorrow rise, <br> + To rivers of delight.<br><br> + +Let those that sow in sadness, wait <br> + Till the fair harvest come! <br> +They shall confess their sheaves are great, <br> + And shout the blessings home.</blockquote> +<p> +I have been so happy as to get the sight of five original letters which +he wrote to his mother about this time, which do, in a lively manner, +illustrate the surprising change made in the whole current of his +thoughts and temper of his mind. Many of them were written in the +most hasty manner, just as the courier who brought them was perhaps +unexpectedly setting out, and they relate chiefly to affairs in which the +public is not at all concerned; yet there is not one of them in which he +has not inserted some warm and genuine sentiment of religion. Indeed it +is very remarkable, that though he was pleased to honour me with a great +many letters, and I have seen several more which he wrote to others, some +of them on journeys, where he could have but a few minutes at command, +yet I cannot recollect that I ever saw any one in which there was not +some trace of piety; and the Rev. Mr. Webster, who was employed to review +great numbers of them, that he might select such extracts as he should +think proper to communicate to me, has made the same observation.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: His words are these: "I have read over a vast number of the +colonel's letters, and have not found any one of them, however short, +and writ in the most passing manner, even when posting, but what is +expressive of the most passionate breathings towards his God and Saviour. +If the letter consists but of two sentences, religion is not forgot, +which doubtless deserves to be carefully remarked, as the most +uncontested evidence of a pious mind, ever under the warmest impressions +of divine things."]</p> +<p> +The major, with great justice, tells the good lady his mother, "that when +she saw him again she would find the person indeed the same, but every +thing else entirely changed." And she might easily have perceived it of +herself by the whole tenor of these letters, which every where breathe +the unaffected spirit of a true Christian. They are taken up sometimes +with giving advice and directions concerning some pious and charitable +contributions, one of which, I remember, amounted to ten guineas, though +as he was then out of commission, and had not formerly been very frugal, +it cannot be supposed he had much to spare; sometimes in speaking of +the pleasure with which he attended sermons, and expected sacramental +opportunities; and at other times in exhorting her, established as she +was in religion, to labour after a yet more exemplary character and +conduct, or in recommending her to the divine presence and blessing, as +well as himself to her prayers. What satisfaction such letters as these +must give to a lady of her distinguished piety, who had so long wept over +this dear and amiable son as quite lost to God, and on the verge of final +destruction, it is not for me to describe, nor indeed to conceive. But +hastily as these letters were written, only for private view, I will +give a few specimens from them in his own words, which will serve to +illustrate as well as confirm what I have hinted above.</p> +<p> +"I must take the liberty," says he, in a letter dated on the first day of +the new year, or, according to the old style, Dec. 21, 1719, "to entreat +you that you would receive no company on the Lord's day. I know you have +a great many good acquaintance, with whose discourses one might be very +well edified; but as you cannot keep out and let in whom you please, the +best way, in my humble opinion, will be to see none." In another, of +Jan. 25, "I am happier than any one can imagine, except I could put him +exactly in the same situation with myself; which is what the world +cannot give, and no man ever attained it, unless it were from above." +In another, dated March 30, which was just before a sacrament day, +"To-morrow, if it please God, I shall be happy, my soul being to be fed +with the bread of life which came down from heaven. I shall be mindful +of you all there." In another of Jan. 29, he thus expresses that +indifference for worldly possessions which he so remarkably carried +through the remainder of his life: "I know the rich are only stewards for +the poor, and must give an account of every penny; therefore, the less I +have, the more easy will it be to give an account of it." And to add no +more from these letters at present, in the conclusion of one of them he +has these comprehensive and solemn words: "Now that He, who is the ease +of the afflicted, the support of the weak, the wealth of the poor, the +teacher of the ignorant, the anchor of the fearful, and the infinite +reward of all faithful souls, may pour out upon you all his richest +blessings, shall always be the prayer of him who is entirely yours," &c.</p> +<p> +To this account of his correspondence with his excellent mother, I should +be glad to add a large view of another, to which she introduced him, +with that reverend and valuable person under whose pastoral care she was +placed––I mean the justly celebrated Doctor Edmund Calamy, to whom she +could not but early communicate the joyful news of her son's conversion. +I am not so happy as to be possessed of the letters which passed between +them, which I have reason to believe would make a curious and valuable +collection; but I have had the pleasure of receiving from my worthy +and amiable friend, the Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy, one of the letters the +doctor, his father, wrote to the major on this wonderful occasion. I +perceive by the contents of it that it was the first, and, indeed, it is +dated as early as the 3d of August, 1719, which must be but a few days +after his own account, dated August 4, N.S., could reach England. There +is so much true religion and good sense in this paper, and the counsel +it suggests may be so reasonable to other persons in circumstances which +bear any resemblance to his, that I make no apology to my reader for +inserting a large extract from it.</p> + + +<p> +"Dear Sir, <br> +I conceive it will not much surprise you to understand that +your good mother communicated to me your letter to her, dated August 4, +N.S., which brought her the news you conceive would be so acceptable +to her. I, who have often been a witness to her concern for you on a +spiritual account, can attest with what joy this news was received by +her, and imparted to me as a special friend, who she knew would bear +a part with her on such an occasion. And, indeed, if (as our Saviour +intimates, Luke xv. 7, 10,) there is, is such cases, joy in heaven and +among the angels of God, it may be well supposed that of a pious mother +who has spent so many prayers and tears upon you, and has, as it were, +travailed in birth with you again till Christ was formed in you, could +not be small. You may believe me if I add, that I also, as a common +friend of hers and yours, and which is much more, of the Prince of Light, +whom you now declare you heartily fall in with in opposition to that of +the dark kingdom, could not but be tenderly affected with an account +of it under your own hand. My joy on this account was the greater, +considering the importance of your capacity, interests, and prospects, +which, in such an age as this, may promise most happy consequences, on +your heartily appearing on God's side, and embarking in the interest of +our Redeemer. If I have hitherto at all remembered you at the throne +of grace, at your good mother's desire, (which you are pleased to take +notice of with so much respect,) I can assure you I shall henceforth +be led to do it, with more concern and particularity both by duty and +inclination; and if I were capable of giving you any little assistance in +the noble design you are engaging in, by corresponding with you by letter +while you are at such a distance, I should do it most cheerfully. And +perhaps such a motion may not, be altogether unacceptable; for I am +inclinable to believe, that when some whom you are obliged to converse +with, observe your behaviour so different from what it formerly was, and +banter you upon it as mad and fanciful, it may be some little relief +to correspond with one who will take a pleasure in heartening and +encouraging you. And when a great many things frequently offer, in which +conscience may be concerned where duty may not always be plain, nor +suitable persons to advise with at hand, it may be some satisfaction to +you to correspond with one with whom you may use a friendly freedom +in all such matters, and on whose fidelity you may depend. You may, +therefore, command me in any of these respects, and I shall take a +pleasure in serving you. One piece of advice I shall venture to give you, +though your own good sense will make my enlarging upon it less needful––I +mean, that you would, from your first setting out, carefully distinguish +between the essentials of real religion, and those things which are +commonly reckoned by its professors to belong to it. The want of this +distinction has had very unhappy consequences from one age to another, +and perhaps in none more than the present. But your daily converse with +your Bible, which you mention, may herein give you great assistance. I +move also, that since infidelity so much abounds, you would not only, by +close and serious consideration, endeavour to settle yourself well in the +fundamental principles of religion; but also that, as opportunity offers, +you would converse with those books which treat most judiciously on the +divine original of Christianity, such as Grotins, Abbadie, Baxter, Bates, +Du Plessis, &c., which may establish you against the cavils that occur +in almost all conversations, and furnish you with arguments which, when +properly offered, may be of use to make some impression on others. But +being too much straitened to enlarge at present, I can only add, that if +your hearty falling in with serious religion should prove any hinderance +to your advancement in the world, (which I pray God it may not, unless +such advancement would be a real snare to you,) I hope you will trust +our Saviour's word, that it shall be no disadvantage to you in the final +issue: he has given you his word for it, Matt. xix. 29, upon which you +may safely depend; and I am satisfied none that ever did so at last +repented of it. May you go on and prosper, and the God of all grace and +peace be with you!"</p> +<p><br> +I think it very evident from the contents of this letter, that the major +had not imparted to his mother the most singular circumstances attending +his conversion; and indeed there was something so peculiar in them, +that I do not wonder he was always cautious in speaking of them, and +especially that he was at first much on the reserve. We may also +naturally reflect that there seems to have been something very +providential in this letter, considering the debate in which our +illustrious convert was so soon engaged; for it was written but about +three weeks before his conference with the lady above mentioned in the +defence of Christianity, or at least before the appointment of it. And as +some of the books recommended by Dr. Calamy, particularly Abbadie and Du +Plessis, were undoubtedly within his reach, (if our English advocates +were not,) this might, by the divine blessing, contribute considerably +towards arming him for that combat in which he came off with such happy +success. As in this instance, so in many others, they who will observe +the coincidence and concurrence of things, may be engaged to adore the +wise conduct of Providence in events which, when taken singly and by +themselves, have nothing very remarkable in them.</p> +<p> +I think it was about this time that this resolute and exemplary Christian +entered upon that methodical manner of living which he pursued through +so many succeeding years of life, and I believe generally, so far as the +broken state of his health would allow it in his latter days, to the very +end of it. He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to +spend his time till six in the secret exercises of devotion, reading, +meditation, and prayer, in which last he contracted such a fervency of +spirit as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended +very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent animating +sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and +which carried him through the trials and services of life with such +steadiness and with such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as +always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go +out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that +when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, he +would be at his devotions at furthest by two. He likewise secured time +for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at +command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as be better +able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten; +and, during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper +but a mouthful of bread, with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, +as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had +formed, he required less sleep than most persons I have known; and I +doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing +to these resolute habits of self-denial.</p> +<p> +A life anything like this could not, to be sure, be entered upon in the +midst of such company as he had been accustomed to keep, without great +opposition, especially as he did not entirely withdraw himself from all +the circle of cheerful conversation; but, on the contrary, gave several +hours every day to it, lest religion should be reproached as having made +him morose. He however, early began a practice, which to the last day of +his life he retained, of reproving vice and profaneness; and was never +afraid to debate the matter with any one, under the consciousness of +great superiority in the goodness of his cause.</p> +<p> +A remarkable instance of this happened, if I mistake not, about the +middle of 1720, though I cannot be very exact as to the date of the +story. It was, however, on his first return to make any considerable +abode in England after this remarkable change. He had heard, on the other +side of the water, that it was currently reported among his companions +at home that he was stark mad––a report at which no reader who knows the +wisdom of the world in these matters, will be much surprised, any more +than himself. He concluded, therefore, that he should have many battles +to fight, and was willing to dispatch the business as fast as he could. +And therefore, being to spend a few days at the country-house of a person +of distinguished rank, with whom he had been very intimate, (whose name +I do not remember that he told me, nor did I think it proper to inquire +after it,) he begged the favour of him that he would contrive matters +so, that, a day or two after he came down, several of their former gay +companions might meet at his lordship's table, that he might have an +opportunity of making his apology to them, and acquainting them with the +nature and reasons of his change. It was accordingly agreed to; and a +pretty large company met on the day appointed, with previous notice that +Major Gardiner would be there. A good deal of raillery passed at dinner, +to which the major made very little answer. But when the cloth was taken +away, and the servants retired, he begged their patience for a few +minutes, and then plainly and seriously told them what notions he +entertained of virtue and religion, and on what considerations he had +absolutely determined that by the grace of God he would make it the care +and business of life, whatever he might lose by it, and whatever censure +and contempt he might incur. He well knew how improper it was in such +company to relate the extraordinary manner in which he was awakened, +which they would probably have interpreted as a demonstration of lunacy, +against all the gravity and solidity of his discourse; but he contented +himself with such a rational defence of a righteous, sober, and godly +life, as he knew none of them could with any shadow of reason contest. He +then challenged them to propose any thing they could urge, to prove that +a life of irreligion and debauchery was preferable to the fear, love and +worship of the eternal God, and a conduct agreeable to the precepts +of his gospel. And he failed not to bear his testimony, from his own +experience, (to one part of which many of them had been witnesses) that +after having run the widest round of sensual pleasure, with all the +advantages the best constitution and spirits could give him, he had never +tasted any thing that deserved to be called happiness, till he had made +religion his refuge and his delight. He testified calmly and boldly the +habitual serenity and peace which he now felt in his own breast, (for the +most elevated delights he did not think fit to plead, lest they should be +esteemed enthusiasm,) and the composure and pleasure with which he looked +forward to objects which the gayest sinner must acknowledge to be equally +unavoidable and dreadful.</p> +<p> +I know not what might be attempted by some of the company in answer to +this; but I well remember that he told me that the master of the table, a +person of a very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate, and +said, "Come, let us call another cause. We thought this man mad, and +he is in good earnest proving that we are so." On the whole, this +well-judged circumstance saved him a great deal of future trouble. When +his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversible and +innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolutions, they +desisted from further importunity; and he has assured me, that instead of +losing any one valuable friend by the change in his character, he found +himself much more esteemed and regarded by many who could not persuade +themselves to imitate his example.</p> +<p> +I have not any memoirs of Colonel Gardiner's life, or of any other +remarkable event befalling him in it, from the time of his return to +England till his marriage in the year 1726, except the extracts which +have been sent me from some letters, which he wrote to his religious +friends during this interval, and which I cannot pass by without a more +particular notice. It may be recollected, that in consequence of +the reduction of that regiment of which he was major, he was out of +commission from Nov. 10, 1718, till June 1, 1724; and, after he returned +from Paris, I find all his letters during this period dated from London, +where he continued in communion with the Christian society under the +pastoral care of Dr. Calamy. As his good mother also belonged to the +same, it is easy to imagine it must have been an unspeakable pleasure to +her to have such frequent opportunities of conversing with such a son, of +observing in his daily conduct and discourses the blessed effects of that +change which divine grace had made in his heart, and of sitting down with +him monthly at that sacred feast where Christians so frequently enjoy +the divinest entertainments which they expect on this side heaven. I the +rather mention this ordinance, because, as this excellent lady had a very +high esteem for it, so she had an opportunity of attending it but the +very Lord's day immediately preceding her death, which happened on +Thursday, October 7, 1725, after her son had been removed from her almost +a year. He had maintained her handsomely out of that very moderate income +on which he subsisted since his regiment had been disbanded; and when she +expressed her gratitude to him for it, he assured her (in one of the last +letters she ever received from him) "that he esteemed it a great honour +that God put it into his power to make what he called a very small +acknowledgment of all her care for him, and especially of the many +prayers she had offered on his account, which had already been remarkably +answered, and the benefit of which he hoped ever to enjoy."</p> +<p> +I apprehend that the Earl of Stair's regiment, to the majority of +which he was promoted on the 20th of July, 1724, was then quartered in +Scotland; for all the letters in my hand, from that time to the 6th of +February, 1726, are dated from thence, and particularly from Douglas, +Stranraer, Hamilton, and Ayr. But I have the pleasure to find, from +comparing these with others of an earlier date from London and the +neighbouring parts, that neither the detriment which he must suffer by +being so long out of commission, nor the hurry of affairs while charged +with it, could prevent or interrupt that intercourse with Heaven, which +was his daily feast, and his daily strength.</p> +<p> +These were most eminently the happy years of his life; for he had +learned to estimate his happiness, not by the increase of honour, or the +possession of wealth, or by what was much dearer to his generous heart +than either, the converse of the dearest and worthiest human friends; but +by nearness to God, and by opportunities of humble converse with him, in +the lively exercise of contemplation, praise, and prayer. Now there was +no period of his life in which he was more eminently favoured with these, +nor do I find any of his letters so overflowing with transports of holy +joy, as those which were dated during this time. There are indeed in some +of them such very sublime passages, that I have been dubious whether I +should communicate them to the public or not, lest I should administer +matter of profane ridicule to some, who look upon all the elevations +of devotion as contemptible enthusiasm. And it has also given me some +apprehensions lest it should discourage some pious Christians, who, after +having spent several years in the service of God, and in humble obedience +to the precepts of his gospel, may not have attained to any such heights +as these. But, on the whole, I cannot satisfy myself to suppress them; +not only as I number some of them, considered in a devotional view, among +the most extraordinary pieces of the kind I have ever met with; but as +some of the most excellent and judicious persons I any where know, to +whom I have read them, have assured me that they felt their hearts in an +unusual manner impressed, quickened, and edified by them.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VI.">VI.</a><br><br> +LETTERS.</h4><br> + + +<p> +I will therefore draw back the veil, and show my much honoured friend in +his most secret recesses, that the world may see what those springs were, +from whence issued that clear, permanent and living stream of wisdom, +piety, and virtue, which so evidently ran through all that part of his +life which was open to public observation. It is not to be imagined that +letters written in the intimacy of Christian friendship, some of them +with the most evident marks of haste, and amidst a variety of important +public cares, should be adorned with any studied elegance of expression, +about which the greatness of his soul would not allow him to be at any +time very solicitous, for he generally (as far as I could observe) wrote +as fast as his pen could move, which, happily both for him and his many +friends, was very freely. Yet here the grandeur of his subject has +sometimes clothed his ideas with a language more elevated than is +ordinarily to be expected in an epistolary correspondence. The proud +scorners who may deride sentiments and enjoyments like those which this +truly great man so experimentally and pathetically describes, I pity from +my heart, and grieve to think how unfit they must be for the hallelujahs +of heaven, who pour contempt upon the nearest approaches to them; nor +shall I think it any misfortune to share with so excellent a person their +profane derision. It will be infinitely more than an equivalent for all +that such ignorance and petulancy can think and say, if I may convince +some, who are as yet strangers to religion, how real and how noble its +delights are––if I may engage my pious readers to glorify God for so +illustrious an instance of his grace––and finally, if I may quicken them, +and, above all, may rouse my own too indolent spirit to follow with less +unequal steps an example, to the sublimity of which, I fear, few of us +shall, after all, be able fully to attain. And that we may not be too +much discouraged under the deficiency, let it be recollected that few +have the advantage of a temper naturally so warm; few have an equal +command of retirement; and perhaps hardly any one who thinks himself +most indebted to the riches and freedom of divine grace, can trace +interpositions of it in all respects equally astonishing.</p> +<p> +The first of these extraordinary letters which have fallen into my hand, +is dated near three years after his conversion, and addressed to a +lady of quality. I believe it is the first the major ever wrote, so +immediately on the subject of his religious consolations and converse +with God in devout retirement; for I well remember that he once told me +he was so much afraid that something of spiritual pride should mingle +itself with the relation of such kind of experiences, that he concealed +them a long time; but observing with how much freedom the sacred writers +open all the most secret recesses of their hearts, especially in the +Psalms; his conscience began to be burdened, under an apprehension that, +for the honour of God, and in order to engage the concurrent praises of +some of his people, he ought to disclose them. On this he set himself to +reflect who among all his numerous acquaintance seemed at once the most +experienced Christians, (to whom, therefore, such things as he had to +communicate might appear solid and credible,) and who the humblest. He +quickly thought of the Lady Marchioness of Douglas in this view; and the +reader may well imagine that it struck my mind very strongly, to think +that now, more than twenty-four years after it was written, Providence +should bring to my hands (as it has done within these few days) what I +assuredly believe to be a genuine copy of that very letter, which I had +not the least reason to expect I should ever have seen, when I learned +from his own mouth, amidst the freedom of an accidental conversation, the +occasion and circumstances of it. It is dated from London, July 21, 1722, +and the very first lines of it relate to a remarkable circumstance which, +from others of his letters, I find happened several times; I mean, that +when he had received from any of his Christian friends a few lines which +particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return +of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to +give vent to those religious emotions of mind which such a correspondence +raised. How invaluable was such a friend! and what great reason have +those of us who once possessed a large share in his heart, and in those +retired and sacred moments, to bless God for so singular a felicity; +and to comfort ourselves in a pleasing hope that we may yet reap future +blessings, as the harvest of those petitions which he can no more repeat.</p> +<p> +His words are these:<br><br> + +"I was so happy as to receive yours just as I arrived, and had no sooner +read it but I shut my door, and sought Him whom my soul loveth. I sought +him, and found him; and would not let him go till he had blessed us all. +It is impossible to find words to express what I obtained; but I suppose +it was something like that which the disciples got, as they were going +to Emmaus, when they said, 'Did not our hearts burn within us,' &c.; or +rather like what Paul felt, when he could not tell whether he was in the +body, or out of it."</p> +<p> +He then mentions his dread of spiritual pride, from whence he earnestly +prays that God may deliver and preserve him.</p> +<p> +"This," says he, "would have hindered me from communicating these things, +if I had not such an example before me as the man after God's own heart, +saying, 'I will declare what God hath done for my soul;' and elsewhere, +'The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.' Now I am well satisfied +that your ladyship is of that number."</p> +<p> +He then adds:<br><br> + +"I had no sooner finished this exercise," that is of prayer above +mentioned, "but I sat down to admire the goodness of my God, that he +would vouchsafe to influence by his free Spirit so undeserving a wretch +as I, and to make me thus to mount up with eagles' wings. And here I was +lost again, and got into an ocean, where I could find neither bound nor +bottom; but was obliged to cry out with the apostle, 'O the breadth, +the length, the depth, the height of the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge!' But if I gave way to this strain I shall never have done. +That the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, +that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, shall +always be the prayer of him who is, with the greatest sincerity and +respect, your Ladyship's," &c.</p> +<p> +Another passage to the same purpose I find in a memorandum, which he +seems to have written for his own use, dated Monday, March 11, which I +perceive, from many concurrent circumstances, must have been in the year +1722-3.</p> +<p> +"This day," says he, "having been to visit Mrs. G. at Hampstead, I came +home about two, and read a sermon on these words, Psalm cxxx. 4, 'But +there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' about the +latter end of which, there is a description of the miserable condition of +those that are slighters of pardoning grace. From a sense of the great +obligations I lie under to the Almighty God, who hath made me to differ +from such, from what I was, and from the rest of my companions, I knelt +down to praise his holy name; and I know not in my lifetime I ever lay +lower in the dust, never having had a fuller view of my own unworthiness. +I never pleaded more strongly the merits and intercession of Him who +I know is worthy––never vowed more sincerely to be the Lord's, and to +accept of Christ, as he is offered in the gospel, as my King, Priest, +and Prophet––never had so strong a desire to depart, that I might sin no +more; but 'my grace is sufficient,' curbed that desire. I never pleaded +with greater fervency for the Comforter, which our blessed Lord hath +promised shall abide with us for ever. For all which, I desire to ascribe +glory &c. to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb."</p> +<p> +There are several others of his papers, speaking much the same language, +which, had he kept a diary, would, I doubt not, have filled many sheets. +I believe my devout readers would not soon be weary of reading extracts +of this kind; but that I may not exceed in this part of my narrative, I +shall mention only two more, each of them dated some years after; that +is, one from Douglas, April 1, 1725; and the other from Stranraer, 25th +May following.</p> +<p> +The former of these relates to the frame of his spirit on a journey; on +the mention of which, I cannot but recollect how often I have heard him +say that some of the most delightful days of his life were days in which +he travelled alone, (that is, with only a servant at a distance,) when he +could, especially in roads not much frequented, indulge himself in the +pleasures of prayer and praise. In the exercise of this last, he was +greatly assisted by several psalms and hymns which he had treasured up in +his memory, and which he used not only to repeat aloud, but sometimes to +sing. In reference to this, I remember the following passage, in a letter +which he wrote to me many years after, when, on mentioning my ever dear +and honoured friend the Rev. Dr. Watts, he says, "How often, in singing +some of his psalms, hymns, or lyrics, on horseback and elsewhere, has the +evil spirit been made to flee:</p> +<blockquote> +"'Whene'er my heart in tune was found, <br> + 'Like David's harp of solemn sound!'"</blockquote> +<p> +Such was the first of April above mentioned. In the evening of that day +he writes thus to an intimate friend:––<br><br> + +"What would I have given this day, upon the road, for paper, pen, and +ink, when the Spirit of the Most High rested upon me! Oh for the pen of a +ready writer, and the tongue of an angel, to declare what God hath done +this day for my soul! But, in short, it is in vain to attempt it. All +that I am able to say, is this, that my soul has been for some hours +joining with the blessed spirits above in giving glory, and honour, and +praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever +and ever. My praises began from a renewed view of Him whom I saw pierced +for my transgressions. I summoned the whole hierarchy of heaven to join +with me, and I am persuaded they all echoed back praise to the Most High. +Yon, one would have thought the very larks joined me with emulation. +Sure, then, I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that +are his saints, to join me in blessing and praising his holy name." He +concludes, "May the blessing of the God of Jacob rest upon you all! +Adieu. Written in great haste, late and weary."</p> +<p> +Scarcely can I here refrain from breaking out into more copious +reflections on the exquisite pleasures of true religion, when risen to +such eminent degrees, which can thus feast the soul in its solitude, and +refresh it on journeys, and bring down so much of heaven to earth as this +delightful letter expresses. But the remark is so obvious, that I will +not enlarge upon it; but proceed to the other letter above mentioned, +which was written the next month, on the Tuesday after a sacrament day.</p> +<p> +He mentions the pleasure with which he had attended a preparation sermon +the Saturday before; and then he adds:<br><br> + +"I took a walk upon the mountains that are over against Ireland; and, I +persuade myself, that were I capable of giving you a description of what +passed there, you would agree that I had much better reason to remember +my God from the hills of Port Patrick than David from the land of Jordan, +and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar." I suppose he refers to +the clearer discoveries of the gospel with which we are favoured. "In +short," says he immediately afterwards, in that scripture phrase which +had become so familiar to him, "I wrestled some hours with the Angel of +the covenant, and made supplications to him with floods of tears, and +cries––until I had almost expired; but he strengthened me so, that, like +Jacob, I had power with God, and prevailed. This," adds he, "is but a +very faint description; you will be more able to judge of it by what you +have felt yourself upon the like occasions. After such preparatory work, +I need not tell you how blessed the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper +proved to me; I hope it was so to many. You may believe I should have +been exceeding glad, if my gracious Lord had ordered it so, that I might +have made you a visit, as I proposed; but I am now glad it was ordered +otherwise, since he hath caused so much of his goodness to pass before +me. Were I to give you an account of the many favours my God hath loaded +me with, since I parted from you, I must have taken up many days in +nothing but writing. I hope you will join with me in praises for all the +goodness he has shown to your unworthy brother in the Lord."</p> +<p> +Such were the ardours and elevation of his soul. But while I record these +memorials of them, I am very sensible that there are many who will be +inclined to censure them as the flights of enthusiasm; for which reason, +I must beg leave to add a remark or two on the occasion, which will be +illustrated by several other extracts, which I shall introduce into the +sequel of these memoirs. The one is, that he never pretends, in any of +the passages cited above, or elsewhere, to have received from God any +immediate revelations which should raise him above the ordinary methods +of instruction, or discover any thing to him, whether of doctrines or +facts. No man was further from pretending to predict future events, +except from the moral prognostications of causes naturally tending to +produce them, in tracing of which he had indeed an admirable sagacity, +as I have seen in some very remarkable instances. Neither was he at all +inclinable to govern himself by secret impulses upon his mind, leading +him to things for which he could assign no reason but the impulse itself. +Had he ventured, in a presumption on such secret agitations of mind, to +teach or to do any thing not warranted by the dictates of sound sense and +the word of God, I should readily have acknowledged him an enthusiast, +unless he could have produced some other evidence than his own persuasion +to have supported the authority of them. But these ardent expressions, +which some may call enthusiasm, seem only to evince a heart deeply +affected with a sense of the divine presence and perfections, and of that +love which passeth knowledge, especially as manifested in our redemption +by the Son of God, which did indeed inflame his whole soul. And he +thought he might reasonably ascribe these strong impressions, to which +men are generally such strangers, and of which he had long been entirely +destitute, to the agency or influences of the Spirit of God upon his +heart; and that, in proportion to the degree in which he felt them, he +might properly say, God was present with him, and he conversed with +God.[*] Now, when we consider the scriptural phrases of "walking with +God," of "having communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ," of +"Christ's coming to them that open the door of their hearts to him, and +supping with them," of "God's shedding abroad his love in the heart of +the Spirit," of "his coming with Jesus Christ, and making his abode with +any man that loves him," of "his meeting him that worketh righteousness," +of "his making us glad by the light of his countenance," and a variety +of other equivalent expressions,––I believe we shall see reason to judge +much more favourably of such expressions as those now in question, than +persons who, themselves strangers to elevated devotion, perhaps converse +but little with their Bible, are inclined to do; especially, if they +have, as many such persons have, a temper that inclines them to cavil and +find fault. And I must further observe, that amidst all those freedoms +with which this eminent Christian opens his devout heart to the most +intimate of his friends, he still speaks with profound awe and reverence +of his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and maintains (after the example +of the sacred writers themselves,) a kind of dignity in his expressions, +suitable to such a subject, without any of that fond familiarity of +language, and degrading meanness of phrase, by which it is, especially +of late, grown fashionable among some (who nevertheless I believe mean +well,) to express their love and their humility.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The ingenious and pious Mr. Grove (who, I think, was as little +suspected of running into enthusiastical extremes as most divines I could +name,) has a noble passage to this purpose in the sixth volume of his +Posthumous Works, p.10, 11, which, respect to the memory of both these +excellent persons, inclines me to insert here,<br><br> + +"How often are the good thoughts suggested," (viz. to the pure in heart) +"heavenly affection kindled and inflamed! How often is the Christian +prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, +persuaded, in such a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God +to question his agency in the whole! Yes, on my soul! there is a Supreme +Being, who governs the world, and is present with it, who takes up his +more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon +him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, oh my soul! +like another soul, [Transcriber's note: illegible] thy faculties, exalting thy views, purifying +thy passions, exalting thy graces, and begetting in thee an abhorrence of +sin, and a love of holiness? Is not all this an argument of His presence, +as truly as if thou didst see."]</p> +<p> +On the whole, if habitual love to God, firm faith in the Lord Jesus +Christ, a steady dependence on the divine promises, a full persuasion of +the wisdom and goodness of all the dispensations of Providence, a high +esteem for the blessings of the heavenly world, and a sincere contempt +for the vanities of this, can properly be called enthusiasm, then was +Colonel Gardiner indeed one of the greatest enthusiasts which our age +has produced; and in proportion to the degree in which he was so, I must +esteem him one of the wisest and happiest of mankind. Nor do I fear to +tell the world that it is the design of my writing these memoirs, and of +every thing else that I undertake in life, to spread this glorious and +blessed enthusiasm, which I know to be the anticipation of heaven, as +well as the most certain way to it.</p> +<p> +But lest any should possibly imagine, that allowing the experiences which +have been described above to have been ever so solid and important, yet +there may be some appearances of boasting in so free a communication of +them, I must add to what I have hinted in reference to this above, that +I find in many of the papers before me very genuine expressions of the +deepest humility and self-abasement, which indeed such holy converse with +God in prayer and praise does, above all things in the world, tend to +inspire and promote. Thus, in one of his letters he says, "I am but as +a beast before him." In another he calls himself "a miserable +hell-deserving sinner." And in another he cries out, "Oh, how good +a master do I serve! but, alas, how ungrateful am I! What can be so +astonishing as the love of Christ to us, unless it be the coldness of our +sinful hearts towards such a Saviour?" There were many other clauses of +the like nature, which I shall not set myself more particularly to trace +through the variety of letters in which they occur.</p> +<p> +It is a further instance of this unfeigned humility, that when (as his +lady with her usual propriety of language expresses it in one of her +letters to me concerning him,) "these divine joys and consolations were +not his daily allowance," he, with equal freedom, in the confidence of +Christian fellowship, acknowledges and laments it. Thus, in the first +letter I had the honour of receiving from him, dated from Leicester, July +9, 1739, after mentioning the blessing with which it had pleased God to +attend my last address to him, and the influence it had upon his mind, +he adds, "Much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that +spiritual deadness which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite +otherwise with me, and that for many years:</p> + +<blockquote> +"'Firm was my health, my day was bright, <br> + And I presumed 't would ne'er be night, <br> + Fondly I said within my heart, <br> + Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart, <br> + But I forgot, thine arm was strong, <br> + Which made my mountain stand so long; <br> + Soon as thy face began to hide, <br> + My health was gone, my comforts died.'</blockquote> + +<p>And here," adds he, "lies my sin and my folly."</p> +<p> +I mention this, that the whole matter may be seen just as it was, and +that other Christians may not be discouraged if they feel some abatement +of that fervour, and of those holy joys which they may have experienced +during some of the first months or years of their spiritual life. But, +with relation to the colonel, I have great reason to believe that those +which he laments as his days of spiritual deadness were not unanimated; +and that quickly after the date of this letter, and especially nearer the +close of his life, he had further revivings, as the joyful anticipation +in reserve of those better things which were then nearly approaching. And +thus Mr. Spears, in the letter I mentioned above, tells us he related +the matter to him, (for he studies as much as possible to retain the +colonel's own words): "However," says he, "after that happy period +of sensible communion, though my joys and enlargements were not so +overflowing and sensible, yet I have had habitual real communion with +God from that day to this"––the latter end of the year 1743––"and I know +myself, and all that know me see, that through the grace of God, to which +I ascribe all, my conversation has been becoming the gospel; and let me +die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it shall be, I am sure +I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory," &c. This is perfectly +agreeable to the manner in which he used to speak to me on this head, +which we have talked over frequently and largely.</p> +<p> +In this connection I hope my reader will forgive my inserting a little +story which I received from a very worthy minister in Scotland, and which +I shall give in his own words: "In this period," meaning that which +followed the first seven years after his conversion, "when his complaint +of comparative deadness and languor in religion began, he had a dream, +which, though he had no turn at all for taking notice of dreams, yet made +a very strong impression upon his mind. He imagined he saw his blessed +Redeemer on earth, and that he was following him through a large field, +following him whom his soul loved, but much troubled, because he thought +his blessed Lord did not speak to him, till he came up to the gate of a +burying-place, when, turning about, he smiled upon him in such a manner +as filled his soul with the most ravishing joy, and on after reflection +animated his faith in believing that whatever storms and darkness he +might meet with in the way, at the hour of death his glorious Redeemer +would lift up upon him the light of his life-giving countenance." My +correspondent adds a circumstance for which he makes some apology, +as what may seem whimsical, and yet made some impression on the +colonel,––"that there was a remarkable resemblance in the field in which +this brave man met his death, and that he had represented to him in the +dream." I did not fully understand this at first; but a passage in that +letter from Mr. Spears, which I have mentioned more than once, has +cleared it:<br><br> + +"Now observe, sir, this seems to be a literal description of the place +where this Christian hero ended his sorrows and conflicts, and from which +he entered triumphantly into the joy of his Lord; for, after he fell in +the battle, fighting gloriously for his king, and the cause of his God, +his wounded body, while life was yet remaining, was carried from the +field of battle by the east side of his own enclosure, till he came to +the church-yard of Tranent, and was brought to the minister's house, +where, about an hour after, he breathed out his soul into the hands of +his Lord, and was conducted to his presence, where there is fulness of +joy, without any cloud or interruption, for ever."</p> +<p> +I well know that in dreams there are diverse vanities, and readily +acknowledge that nothing certain could be inferred from this; yet it +seems at least to show which way the imagination was working even in +sleep; and I cannot think it unworthy of a wise and good man sometimes +to reflect with complacency on any images which, passing through his mind +even in that state, may tend either to express or to quicken his love +to the great Saviour. Those eminently pious divines of the Church of +England, Bishop Bull and Bishop Konn, do both intimate it as their +opinion that it may be a part of the service of ministering angels to +suggest devout dreams[¹] and I know that the worthy person of whom I +speak was well acquainted with that evening hymn of the latter of those +excellent writers which has these lines:</p> +<blockquote> +"Lord lest the tempter me surprise, <br> + Watch over thine own sacrifice!<br> + All loose, all idle thoughts cast out; <br> + And make my very <i>dreams</i> devout!"</blockquote> +<p> +Nor would it be difficult to produce other passages much to the same +purpose,[²] if it would not be deemed too great a digression from our +subject, and too laboured a vindication of a little incident of very +small importance when compared with most of those which make up this +narrative.[³]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ¹: Bishop Bull has these remarkable words: "Although I am no +doater on dreams, yet I verily believe that some dreams are monitory, +above the power of fancy, and impressed upon us by some superior +intelligence. For of such dreams we have plain and undeniable instances +in history, both sacred and profane, and in our own age and observation. +Nor shall I so value the laughter of sceptics, and the scoffs of +epicureans, as to be ashamed to profess that I myself have had some +convincing experiments of such impressions." <i class="smallprint">Bishop Bull's Sermons and +Discourses</i>, Vol. II, pp. 489, 490.]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ²: If I mistake not, the same Bishop Konn is the author of a +<i class="smallprint">midnight hymn</i> coinciding with these words:</p><br><br> +<p class="pullquote1"> +"May my ethereal Guardian kindly spread <br> + His wings, and from the tempter screen my head; <br> + Grant of celestial light some passing beams, <br> + To bless my sleep, and sanctify my dreams!"</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +As he certainly was of these exactly parallel lines:</p><br><br> +<p class="pullquote2"> +"Oh may my Guardian, while I sleep, <br> +Close to my bed his vigils keep; <br> +His love angelical distil, <br> +Stop all the avenues of ill! <br> +May he celestial joys rehearse, <br> +And thought to thought with me converse!"]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ³: See Appendix I.]</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VII.">VII.</a><br><br> +DOMESTIC RELATIONS.</h4><br> + + + <p> +I meet not with any other remarkable event relating to Major Gardiner, +which can properly be introduced here, till 1726, when, on the 11th of +July, he was married to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to +the late Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five only of +which survived their father, two sons and three daughters, whom I cannot +mention without the most fervent prayers to God for them, that they may +always behave worthy the honour of being descended from such parents, +and that the God of their father and of their mother may make them +perpetually the care of his providence, and yet more eminently happy in +the constant and abundant influences of his grace.</p> +<p> +As her ladyship is still living, [*] (and for the sake of +her dear offspring, and numerous friends, may she long be spared,) I +shall not here indulge myself in saying any thing of her, except it be +that the colonel assured me, when he had been happy in this intimate +relation to her more than fourteen years, that the greatest imperfection +he knew in her character was, "that she valued and loved him much more +than he deserved." Little did he think, in the simplicity of heart with +which he spoke this, how high an encomium he was making upon her, and how +lasting an honour such a testimony must leave upon her name, long as the +memory of it shall continue.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: In the year 1746]</p> +<p> +As I do not intend in these memoirs a laboured essay on the character of +Colonel Gardiner, digested under the various virtues and graces which +Christianity requires, (which would, I think, be a little too formal for +a work of this kind, and would give it such an air of panegyric as would +neither suit my design, nor be at all likely to render it more useful,) I +shall now mention what I have either observed in him, or heard concerning +him, with regard to those domestic relations which commenced about this +time, or very soon after. And here my reader will easily conclude that +the resolution of Joshua was from the first adopted and declared, "As for +me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It will naturally be supposed, +that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word +of God was read there, and prayers and praises were constantly offered. +These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it +a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof to take it +for granted they would look upon it as a very bad compliment to imagine +they would have been obliged by neglecting the duties of religion on +their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly +resident in his house, who discharged both the office of a tutor to his +children, and of a chaplain, and who was always treated with a becoming +kindness and respect. But, in his absence, the colonel himself led the +devotions of the family; and they were happy who had an opportunity of +knowing with how much solemnity, fervour, and propriety he did it. He was +constant in attendance upon public worship, in which an exemplary care +was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the +family. And how he would have resented the non-attendance of any member +of it may easily be conjectured from a free but lively passage in a +letter to one of his intimate friends, on an occasion which it is not +material to mention. "Oh, sir, had a child of yours under my roof but +once neglected the public worship of God when he was able to attend it, +I should have been ready to conclude he had been distracted, and should +have thought of shaving his head, and confining him in a dark room."</p> +<p> +He always treated his lady with a manly tenderness, giving her the most +natural evidences of a cordial, habitual esteem, and expressing a most +affectionate sympathy with her under the infirmities of a very delicate +constitution, much broken, at least towards the latter years of their +marriage. He had at all times a most faithful care of all her interests, +and especially those relating to the state of religion in her mind. His +conversation and his letters concurred to cherish those sublime ideas +which Christianity suggests, to promote our submission to the will of +God, to teach us to centre our happiness in the great Author of our +being, and to live by faith in the invisible world. These, no doubt, were +frequently the subjects of mutual discourse; and many letters, which her +ladyship has had the goodness to communicate to me, are most convincing +evidences of the degree in which this noble and most friendly care filled +his mind in the days of their separation––days which so entire a mutual +affection must have rendered exceedingly painful, had they not been +supported by such exalted sentiments of piety, and sweetened by daily +communion with an ever-present and ever-gracious God.</p> +<p> +The necessity of being so many months together distant from his family +hindered him from many of those condescending labours in cultivating the +minds of his children in early life, which, to a soul so benevolent, so +wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite +pleasure. The care of his worthy consort, who well knew that it is one +of the brightest parts of a mother's character, and one of the most +important views in which the sex can be considered, made him the easier +under such a circumstance; but when he was with them, he failed not to +instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he +spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he +always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were +excellent lessons of daily wisdom, which I hope they will recollect with +advantage in every future scene of life. And I have seen such hints in +his letters relating to them, as plainly show with how great a weight +they lay on his mind, and how highly he desired, above all things, that +they might be the faithful disciples of Christ, and acquainted betimes +with the unequalled pleasures and blessings of religion. He thought an +excess of delicacy and of indulgence one of the most dangerous faults +in education, by which he everywhere saw great numbers of young people +undone; yet he was solicitous to guard against a severity which might +terrify or discourage; and though he endeavoured to take all prudent +precautions to prevent the commission of faults, yet, when they had been +committed, and there seemed to be a sense of them, he was always ready +to make the most candid allowances for the thoughtlessness of unripened +years, and tenderly to cherish every purpose of a more proper conduct for +the time to come.</p> +<p> +It was to perceive that the openings of genius in the young branches of +his family gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to +see them excel in what they undertook. Yet he was greatly cautious over +his heart, lest it should be too fondly attached to them; and as he was +one of the most eminent proficients I ever knew in the blessed science +of resignation to the divine will, so there was no effect of that +resignation which appeared to me more admirable than what related to the +life of his children. An experience, which no length of time will ever +efface out of my memory, has so sensibly taught me how difficult it is +fully to support the Christian character here, that I hope my reader will +pardon me (I am sure, at least, the heart of wounded parents will,) if I +dwell a little longer upon so interesting a subject.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: See Appendix II.]</p> +<p> +When he was in Herefordshire in July, 1734, it pleased God to visit his +little family with the small pox. Five days before the date of the letter +I am just going to mention, he had received the agreeable news that +there was a prospect of the recovery of his son, then under that awful +visitation; and he had been expressing his thankfulness for it in a +letter which he had sent away but a few hours before he was informed of +his death, the surprise of which, in this connection, must naturally be +very great. But behold (says the reverend and worthy person from whom +I received the copy) his truly filial submission to the will of his +Heavenly Father, in the following lines addressed to the dear partner +of his affliction: "Your resignation to the will of God under this +dispensation gives me more joy than the death of the child has given me +sorrow. He, to be sure, is happy; and we shall go to him, though he shall +not return to us. Oh that we had our latter end always in view! We shall +soon follow; and oh, what reason have we to long for that glorious day +when we shall get quit of this body of sin and death under which we now +groan, and which renders this life so wretched! I desire to bless God +that ———— (another of his children) is in so good a way; but I have +resigned her. We must not choose for ourselves; and it is well we must +not, for we should often make a very bad choice, and therefore it is our +wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave all with a gracious God, who hath +promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love +him; and he is faithful that hath promised, who will infallibly perform +it, if our unbelief does not stand in the way."</p> +<p> +The greatest trial of this kind that he ever bore, was in the removal of +his second son, who was one of the most amiable and promising children +that has been known. The dear little creature was the darling of all that +knew him; and promised very fair, so far as a child could be known by its +doings, to have been a great ornament to the family, and blessing to the +public. The suddenness of the stroke must, no doubt, render it the more +painful; for this beloved child was snatched away by an illness which +seized him but about fifteen hours before it carried him off. He died +in the month of October 1733, at near six years old. Their friends were +ready to fear that his affectionate parents would be almost overwhelmed +at such a loss; but the happy father had so firm a persuasion that God +had received the dear little one to the felicities of the celestial +world, and at the same time had so strong a sense of the divine goodness +in taking one of his children, and that, too, one who lay so near his +heart, so early to himself, that the sorrows of nature were quite +swallowed up in the sublime joy which these considerations administered. +When he reflected what human life is––how many its snares and temptations +are––and how frequently children who once promised very well are +insensibly corrupted, and at length undone, with Solomon he blessed the +dead already dead, more than the living who were yet alive, and felt +unspeakable pleasure in looking after the lovely infant, as safely and +delightfully lodged in the house of its Heavenly Father. Yea, he assured +me that his heart was at this time so entirely taken up with these views, +that he was afraid they who did not thoroughly know him might suspect +that he was deficient in the natural affections of a parent, while thus +borne above the anguish of them by the views which faith administered to +him, and which divine grace supported in his soul.</p> +<p> +So much did he, on one of the most trying occasions of life, manifest of +the temper of a glorified saint, and to such happy purposes did he retain +those lessons of submission to God, and acquiescence in him, which I +remember he once inculcated in a letter he wrote to a lady of quality +under the apprehension of a breach in her family with which Providence +seemed to threaten her, which I am willing to insert here, though a +little out of what might seem its most proper place rather than entirely +to omit it. It is dated from London, June 16, 1722, when, speaking of the +dangerous illness of a dear relative, he has these words: "When my mind +runs hither," that is, to God, as its refuge and strong defence, (as the +connection plainly determines it,) "I think I can bear any thing, the +loss of all, the loss of health, of relations, on whom I depend, and whom +I love, all that is dear to me, without repining or murmuring. When I +think that God orders, disposes, and manages all things according to the +counsel of his own will; when I think of the extent of his providence, +that it reaches to the minutest things; then, though a useful friend or +dear relative be snatched away by death, I recall myself, and check my +thoughts with these considerations: Is he not God from everlasting, and +to everlasting? And has he not promised to be a God to me?––a God in all +his attributes, a God in all his persons, a God in all his creatures and +providences? And shall I dare to say, What shall I do? Was not he the +infinite cause of all I met with in the creatures? And were not they +the finite effects of his infinite love and kindness? I have daily +experienced that the instrument was, and is, what God makes it to be; and +I know that this 'God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the +earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' If this earth be good for +me, I shall have it; for my Father hath it all in possession. If favour +in the eyes of men be good for me, I shall have it; for the spring of +every motion in the heart of man is in God's hand. My dear ———— seems now +to be dying; but God is all-wise, and every thing is done by him for the +best. Shall I hold back any thing that is his own, when he requires +it? No, God forbid! When I consider the excellency of his glorious +attributes, I am satisfied with all his dealings." I perceive by the +introduction, and by what follows, that most, if not all of this, is +a quotation from something written by a lady; but whether from some +manuscript or printed book, whether exactly transcribed or quoted from +memory, I cannot determine; and therefore I thought proper to insert it, +as the major (for that was the office he bore then,) by thus interweaving +it with his letter, makes it his own, and as it seems to express in a +very lively manner the principles which bore him on to a conduct so truly +great and heroic, in circumstances that have overwhelmed many a heart +that could have faced danger and death with the greatest intrepidity.</p> +<p> +I return now to consider his character in the domestic relation of a +master, on which I shall not enlarge. It is, however, proper to remark, +that as his habitual meekness and command of his passions prevented +indecent sallies of ungoverned anger towards those in the lowest state +of subjection to him, by which some in high life do strangely debase +themselves, and lose much of their authority, so the natural greatness of +his mind made him solicitous to render their inferior stations as easy as +he could: and so much the rather, because he considered all the children +of Adam as standing upon a level before their great Creator, and had +also a deeper sense of the dignity and worth of every immortal soul, how +meanly soever it might chance to be lodged, than most persons I have +known. This engaged him to give his servants frequent religious +exhortations and instructions, as I have been assured by several who +were so happy as to live with him under that character. One of his first +letters, after he entered on his Christian course, expresses the same +disposition; in which, with great tenderness, he recommends a servant, +who was in a bad state of health, to his mother's care, as he was well +acquainted with her condescending temper; mentioning at the same time, +the endeavours he had used to promote his preparations for a better +world, under an apprehension that he would not continue long in this. +We shall have an affecting instance of the prevalence of the same +disposition in the closing scene of his life, and indeed in the last +words he ever spoke, which expressed his generous solicitude for the +safety of a faithful servant who was then near him.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VIII.">VIII.</a><br><br> +CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER.</h4><br> + + +<p> +As it was a few years after his marriage that he was promoted to the rank +of lieutenant-colonel, in which he continued till he had a regiment of +his own, I shall, for the future, speak of him by that title; and I may +not, perhaps, find any more proper place in which to mention what it is +proper for me to say of his behaviour and conduct as an officer. I shall +not here enlarge upon his bravery in the field, though, as I have heard +from others, that was very remarkable––I say from others, for I never +heard any thing of the kind from himself, nor knew, till after his death, +that he was present at almost every battle that was fought in Flanders +while the illustrious Duke of Marlborough commanded the allied army +there. I have also been assured from several very credible persons, some +of whom were eye-witnesses, that at the skirmish with the rebels at +Preston in Lancashire, (thirty years before that engagement at the other +Preston which deprived us of this gallant guardian of his country,) he +signalized himself very particularly; for he headed a small body of men, +I think about twelve, and set fire to the barricado of the rebels, in the +face of their whole army, while they were pouring in their shot, by which +eight of the twelve that attended him fell. This was the last action of +the kind in which he was engaged before the long peace which ensued; and +who can express how happy it was for him, and indeed for his country, +of which he was ever so mindful, and in his latter years so important a +friend, that he did not then fall, when the profaneness which mingled +itself with this martial rage seemed to rend the heavens, and shocked +some other military gentlemen who were not very remarkable for their +caution in this respect.</p> +<p> +But I insist not on things of this nature, which the true greatness of +his soul would hardly ever permit him to mention, unless when it tended +to illustrate the divine care over him in these extremities of danger, +and the grace of God in calling him from so abandoned a state. It is well +known that the character of an officer is not to be approved in the +day of combat only. Colonel Gardiner was truly sensible that every day +brought its duties along with it, and he was constantly careful that no +pretence of amusement, friendship, or even devotion itself, might prevent +their being properly discharged.</p> +<p> +I doubt not that the noble persons in whose regiments he was +lieutenant-colonel, will always be ready to bear an honourable and +grateful testimony to his exemplary diligence and fidelity in all that +related to the care of the troops over which he was set, whether in +regard to the men or the horses. He knew that it is incumbent on +those who have the honour of presiding over others, whether in civil, +ecclesiastical, or military offices, not to content themselves with doing +only so much as may preserve them from the reproach of gross and visible +neglect; but seriously to consider how much they can possibly do without +going out of their proper sphere, to serve the public, by the due +inspection of those committed to their care. The duties of the closet and +of the sanctuary were so adjusted as not to interfere with those of the +parade, or any other place where the welfare of the regiment called +him. On the other hand, he was solicitous not to suffer these things to +interfere with religion, a due attendance on which he apprehended to +be the surest method of attaining all desirable success in every other +interest and concern in life. He therefore abhorred every thing that +looked like a contrivance to keep his soldiers employed with their horses +and their arms at the seasons of public worship––an indecency which I +wish there were no room to mention. Far from that, he used to have them +drawn up just before it began, and from the parade they went off to the +house of God. He understood the rights of conscience too well to impose +his own particular profession in religion on others, or to treat those +who differed from him in the choice of its modes, the less kindly or +respectfully on that account. But as most of his own company, and many of +the rest, chose (when in England) to attend him to the dissenting chapel, +he used to march them up thither in due time, so as to be there before +the worship began. And I must do them the justice to say, that so far as +I could ever discern, when I have seen them in large numbers before me, +they behaved with as much reverence, gravity, and decorum, during the +time of divine service, as any of the worshippers.</p> +<p> +That his remarkable care to maintain good discipline among them (of which +we shall afterwards speak) might be the more effectual, he made himself +on all proper occasions accessible to them, and expressed a great +concern for their interests, which, being genuine and sincere, naturally +discovered itself in a variety of instances. I remember I had once +occasion to visit one of his dragoons in his last illness at Harborough, +and I found the man upon the borders of eternity––a circumstance which, +as he apprehended himself, must add some peculiar weight and credibility +to his discourse. He then told me, in his colonel's absence, that he +questioned not that he should have everlasting reason to bless God on +Colonel Gardiner's account, for he had been a father to him in all his +interests, both temporal and spiritual. He added, that he had visited +him, almost every day during his illness, with religious advice and +instruction, and had also taken care that he should want for nothing that +might conduct to the recovery of his health. He did not speak of this +as the result of any particular attachment to him, but as the manner in +which he was accustomed to treat those under his command. It is no wonder +that this engaged their affection to a very great degree; and I doubt not +that if he had fought the fatal battle of Prestonpans at the head of that +gallant regiment of which he had the care for so many years, and which +is allowed by most unexceptionable judges to be one of the finest in the +British service, and consequently in the world, he had been supported in +a much different manner, and had found a much greater number who would +have rejoiced in an opportunity of making their own breasts a barrier in +the defence of his.</p> +<p> +It could not but greatly endear him to his soldiers, that so far as +preferments lay in his power, or were under his influence, they were +distributed according to merit. This he knew to be as much the dictate of +prudence as equity. I find from one of his letters before me, dated but +a few months after his conversion, that he was solicited to use his +interest with the Earl of Stair in favour of one whom he judged a very +worthy person; and that it had been suggested by another, who +recommended him, that if he so succeeded, he might expect some handsome +acknowledgment. But he answers with some degree of indignation, "Do you +imagine I am to be bribed to do justice?" For such it seems he esteemed +it, to confer the favour which was asked from him on one so deserving. +Nothing can more effectually tend to humble the enemies of a state, than +that such maxims should universally prevail in it; and if they do not +prevail, the worthiest men in an army or a fleet may sink under repeated +discouragements, and the basest exalted, to the infamy of the public, and +perhaps to its ruin.</p> +<p> +In the midst of all the gentleness which Colonel Gardiner exercised +towards his soldiers, he made it very apparent that he knew how to +reconcile the tenderness of a really faithful and condescending friend +with the authority of a commander. Perhaps hardly any thing conduced more +generally to the maintaining of this authority, than the strict decorum +and good manners with which he treated even the private gentlemen of his +regiment; which has always a great efficacy in keeping inferiors at +a proper distance, and forbids, in the least offensive manner, +familiarities which degrade the superior, and enervate his influence. The +calmness and steadiness of his behaviour on all occasions also greatly +tended to the same purpose. He knew how mean a man looks in the +transports of passion, and would not use so much freedom with many of +his men as to fall into such transports before them, well knowing that +persons in the lowest rank of life are aware how unfit <i>they</i> are to +govern others, who cannot govern themselves. He was also sensible how +necessary it is in all who preside over others, and especially in +military officers, to check irregularities when they first begin to +appear; and, that he might be able to do so, he kept a strict inspection +over his soldiers; in which it was observed, that as he generally chose +to reside among them as much as he could, (though in circumstances which +sometimes occasioned him to deny himself in some interests which were +very dear to him,) so, when they were around him, he seldom staid long in +a place; but was frequently walking the streets, and looking into their +quarters and stables, as well as reviewing and exercising them himself. +It has often been observed that the regiment to which he was so many +years lieutenant-colonel, was one of the most regular and orderly +regiments in the public service, so that perhaps none of our dragoons +were more welcome to the towns where their character was known. Yet no +such bodies of men are so blameless in their conduct but something will +be found, especially among such considerable numbers, worthy of censure, +and sometimes of punishment. This Colonel Gardiner knew how to inflict +with a becoming resolution, and with all the severity which he judged +necessary––a severity the more awful and impressive, as it was already +attended with meekness; for he well knew that when things are done in a +passion, it seems only an accidental circumstance that they are acts +of justice, and that such indecencies greatly obstruct the ends of +punishment, both as to reforming offenders, and to deterring others from +an imitation of their faults.</p> +<p> +One instance of his conduct, which happened at Leicester, and which was +related by the person chiefly concerned to a worthy friend from whom +I had it, I cannot forbear inserting. While part of the regiment was +encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, the colonel went incognito +to the camp in the middle of the night; for he sometimes lodged at his +quarters in the town. One of the sentinels then on duty had abandoned +his post, and, on being seized, broke out into some oaths and profane +execrations against those that discovered him––a crime of which the +colonel had the greatest abhorrence, and on which he never failed to +animadvert. The man afterwards appeared much ashamed and concerned for +what he had done. But the colonel ordered him to be brought early the +next morning to his own quarters, where he had prepared a picket, on +which he appointed him a private sort of penance; and while he was put +upon it, he discoursed with him seriously and tenderly upon the evils and +aggravations of his fault, admonished him of the divine displeasure which +he had incurred, and urged him to argue, from the pain which he then +felt, how infinitely more dreadful it must be to "fall into the hands of +the living God," and, indeed, to meet the terrors of that damnation +which he had been accustomed impiously to call for on himself and his +companions. The result of this proceeding was, that the offender accepted +his punishment, not only with submission, but with thankfulness. He went +away with a more cordial affection for his colonel than he ever had +before, and spoke of the circumstance some years after to my friend, in +such a manner that there seemed reason to hope it had been instrumental +in producing a change not only in his life, but in his heart.</p> +<p> +There cannot, I think, be a more proper place for mentioning the great +reverence this excellent officer always expressed for the name of the +blessed God, and the zeal with which he endeavoured to suppress, and if +possible to extirpate, that detestable sin of swearing and cursing which +is every where so common, and especially among our military men. He often +declared, at the head of his regiment, his sentiments with respect to +this enormity, and urged his captains and their subalterns to take the +greatest care that they did not give the sanction of their example to +that which by their office they were obliged to punish in others. Indeed +his zeal on these occasions wrought in a very active, and sometimes in a +remarkably successful manner, not only among his equals, but sometimes +among his superiors too. An instance of this in Flanders I shall have an +opportunity hereafter to produce; at present I shall only mention his +conduct in Scotland a little before his death, as I have it from a +very valuable young minister of that country, on whose testimony I can +thoroughly depend; and I wish it may excite many to imitation.</p> +<p> +'The commanding officer of the king's forces then about Edinburgh, +with the other colonels, and several other gentlemen of rank in their +respective regiments, favoured him with their company at Bankton, and +took dinner with him. He too well foresaw what might happen amid such a +variety of tempers and characters; and fearing lest his conscience might +have been ensnared by a sinful silence, or that, on the other hand, he +might seem to pass the bounds of decency, and infringe upon the laws of +hospitality by animadverting on guests so justly entitled to his regard, +he happily determined on the following method of avoiding each of these +difficulties. As soon as they were come together, he addressed them with +a great deal of respect, and at the same time with a very frank and +determined air, telling them that he had the honour in that district to +be a justice of the peace, and consequently that he was sworn to put the +law in execution, and, among the rest, those against swearing; that he +could not execute them upon others with any confidence, or by any means +approve himself a man of impartiality and integrity to his own heart, +if he suffered them to be broken in his presence by persons of any rank +whatsoever; and that therefore he entreated all the gentlemen who then +honoured him with their company that they would please to be upon their +guard, and that if any oath or curse should escape them, he hoped they +would consider his legal animadversion upon it as a regard to the duties +of his office and the dictates of his conscience, and not as owing to any +want of deference to them.</p> +<p> +The commanding officer immediately supported him in this declaration, as +entirely becoming the station in which he was, assuring him that he would +be ready to pay the penalty, if he inadvertently transgressed; and when +Colonel Gardiner on any occasion stepped out of the room, he himself +undertook to be the guardian of the law in his absence; and as one of the +inferior officers offended during this time, he informed the colonel, so +that the fine was exacted and given to the poor,[*] with the universal +approbation of the company. The story spread in the neighbourhood, and +was perhaps applauded highly by many who wanted the courage to "go and do +likewise." But it may be said, with the utmost propriety, of the worthy +person of whom I write, that he feared the face of no man living where +the honour of God was concerned. In all such cases he might be justly +said, in Scripture phrase, "to set his face like a flint;" and I +assuredly believe, that had he been in the presence of a sovereign +prince who had been guilty of this fault, his looks at least would have +testified his grief and surprise, if he had apprehended it unfit to have +borne his testimony in any other way.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: It is observable that the money which was forfeited on this +account by his own officers, whom he never spared, or by any others of +his soldiers who rather chose to pay than submit to corporal punishment, +was, by the colonel's order, laid by in a bank till some of the private +men fell sick, and then it was laid out in providing them with proper +help and accommodations in their distress.]</p> +<p> +Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons, during the time he was +lieutenant-colonel of it, was quartered in a variety of places, both +in England and Scotland, from many of which I have letters before +me; particularly from Hamilton, Ayr, Carlisle, Hereford, Maidenhead, +Leicester, Warwick, Coventry, Stamford, Harborough, Northampton, and +several other places, especially in our inland parts. The natural +consequence was, that the colonel, whose character was on many accounts +so very remarkable, had a very extensive acquaintance; and I believe I +may certainly say, that wherever he was known by persons of wisdom and +worth, he was proportionably respected, and left behind him traces of +unaffected devotion, humility, benevolence, and zeal for the support and +advancement of religion and virtue.</p> +<p> +The equable tenor of his mind in these respects is illustrated by his +letters from several of these places; and though I have but comparatively +a small number of them now in my hands, yet they will afford some +valuable extracts; which I shall therefore here lay before my reader, +that he may the better judge as to the colonel's real character in +particulars which I have already mentioned, or which may hereafter occur.</p> +<p> +In a letter to his lady, dated from Carlisle, November 19, 1738, when +he was on his journey to Herefordshire, he breathes out his grateful, +cheerful soul in these words:<br><br> + +"I bless God I was never better in my lifetime, and I wish I could be so +happy as to hear the same of you: or rather, in other words, to hear that +you have obtained an entire trust in God. That would infallibly keep you +in perfect peace, for the God of truth has promised it. Oh, how ought we +to be longing 'to be with Christ,' which is infinitely better than any +thing we can propose here! to be there, where no mountains shall separate +between God and our souls. And I hope it will be some addition to our +happiness, that, you and I shall be separated no more; but that as we +have joined in singing the praises of our glorious Redeemer here, we +shall sing them in a much higher key through an endless eternity. Oh +eternity, eternity! What a wonderful thought, is eternity!"</p> +<p> +From Leicester, August 6, 1739, he writes thus to his lady:<br><br> + +"Yesterday I was at the Lord's table, where you and the children were not +forgotten. But how wonderfully was I assisted when I came home, to plead +for you all with many tears." And then, speaking of some intimate friends +who were impatient, (as I suppose by the connection) for his return to +them, he takes occasion to observe the necessity of endeavouring to +compose our minds, and say with the Psalmist, "My soul, wait thou only +upon God." Afterwards, speaking of one of his children, who he heard had +made a commendable progress in learning, he expresses his satisfaction, +and adds; "But, how much greater joy would it give me to hear that he was +greatly advanced in the school of Christ! Oh that our children may but be +wise unto salvation, and may grow in grace as they do in stature!"</p> +<p> +These letters, which to so familiar a friend evidently lay open the +heart, and show the ideas and affections which were lodged deepest there, +are sometimes taken up with an account of sermons he had attended, and +the impression they had made upon his mind. I shall mention only one, +as a specimen of many more, which was dated from a place called Cohorn, +April 15:<br><br> + +"We had here a minister from Wales, who gave us two excellent discourses +on the love of Christ to us, as an argument to engage our love to him. +And indeed, next to the greatness of his love to us, methinks there is +nothing so astonishing as the coldness of our love to him. Oh that he +would shed abroad his love upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit, that ours +might be kindled into a flame! May God enable you to trust in Him, and +then you will be kept in perfect peace!"</p> +<p> +We have met with many traces of that habitual gratitude to the blessed +God, as his Heavenly Father and constant friend, which made his life +probably one of the happiest that ever was spent on earth. I cannot omit +one more, which appears to me the more worthy of notice, as being a short +turn in as hasty a letter as any I remember to have seen of his, which he +wrote from Leicester in June, 1739. "I am now under the deepest sense of +the many favours the Almighty has bestowed upon me. Surely you will help +me to celebrate the praises of our gracious God and kind benefactor." +This exuberance of grateful affection, which, while it was almost every +hour pouring itself forth before God in the most genuine and emphatical +language, felt itself still as it were straitened for want of a +sufficient vent, and therefore called on others to help him with their +concurrent praises, appears to me the most glorious and happy state in +which a human soul can find itself on this side heaven.</p> +<p> +Such was the temper which this excellent man appears to have carried +along with him through such a variety of places and circumstances; and +the whole of his deportment was suitable to these impressions. Strangers +were agreeably struck with his first appearance, there being much of the +Christian, the well-bred man, and the universal friend in it; and as +they came more intimately to know him, they discovered more and more the +uniformity and consistency of his whole temper and behaviour; so that +whether he made only a visit for a few days to any place, or continued +there for many weeks or months, he was always beloved and esteemed, +and spoken of with that honourable testimony, from persons of the most +different denominations and parties, which nothing but true sterling +worth, (if I may be allowed the expression,) and that in an eminent +degree, can secure.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="IX.">IX.</a><br><br> +INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR.</h4><br> + + +<p> +Of the justice of this testimony, which I had so often heard from a +variety of persons, I myself began to be a witness about the time when +the last mentioned letter was dated. In this view, I believe I shall +never forget that happy day, June 18, 1739, when I first met him at +Leicester. I remember I happened that day to preach a lecture from Psalm +cxix, 158, "I beheld the transgressions, and was grieved because they +kept not thy law." I was large in describing that mixture of indignation +and grief (strongly expressed by the original words there) with which +a good man looks on the daring transgressors of the divine law; and in +tracing the causes of that grief, as arising from a regard to the divine +honour, and the interest of a Redeemer, and a compassionate concern for +the misery which such offenders bring on themselves, and for the mischief +they do to the world about them, I little thought, how exactly I was +drawing Colonel Gardiner's character under each of those heads; and I +have often reflected upon it as a happy providence which opened a much +speedier way than I could have expected to the breast of one of the most +amiable and useful friends whom I ever expect to find upon earth. We +afterwards sang a hymn which brought over again some of the leading +thoughts in the sermon and struck him so strongly, that on obtaining a +copy of it, he committed it to memory, and used to repeat it, with so +forcible an accent as showed how much every line expressed his very soul. +In this view the reader will pardon my inserting it, especially as I +know not when I may get time to publish a volume of these serious though +artless compositions, which I sent him in manuscript some years ago, and +to which I have since made very large additions:</p> +<blockquote> +Arise, my tenderest thoughts arise, <br> +To torrents melt my streaming eyes!<br> +And thou, my heart, with anguish feel <br> +Those evils which thou canst not heal!<br><br> + +See human nature sunk in shame! <br> +See scandal poured on Jesus' name! <br> +The Father wounded through the Son! <br> +The world abused––the soul undone!<br><br> + +See the short course of vain delight <br> +Closing in everlasting night! <br> +In flames that no abatement know, <br> +The briny tears for ever flow.<br><br> + +My God, I feel the mournful scene; <br> +My bowels yearn o'er dying men: <br> +And fain my pity would reclaim, <br> +And snatch the firebrands from the flame.<br><br> + +But feeble my compassion proves, <br> +And can but weep where most it loves;<br> +Thine own all-saving arm employ, <br> +And turn these drops of grief to joy!</blockquote> +<p> +The colonel, immediately after the conclusion of the service, met me in +the vestry and embraced me in the most obliging and affectionate manner, +as if there had been a long friendship between us, assured me that he had +for some years been intimately acquainted with my writings, and desired +that we might concert measures for spending some hours together before I +left the town. I was so happy as to be able to secure an opportunity of +doing it; and I must leave upon record, that I cannot recollect I was +ever equally edified by any conversation I remember to have enjoyed. We +passed that evening and the next morning together, and it is impossible +for me to describe the impression which the interview left upon my heart. +I rode alone all the remainder of the day; and it was my unspeakable +happiness that I was alone, since I could no longer be with him; for +I can hardly conceive what other company would not then have been an +encumbrance. The views which he gave me even then, (for he began to +repose a most obliging confidence in me, though he concealed some of the +most extraordinary circumstances of the methods by which he had been +recovered to God and happiness,) with those cordial sentiments of +evangelical piety and extensive goodness which he poured out into my +bosom with so endearing a freedom, fired my very soul; and I hope I may +truly say (which I wish and pray that many of my readers may also +adopt for themselves) that I glorified God in him. Our epistolatory +correspondence immediately commenced upon my return; and though, +through the multiplicity of business on both sides, it suffered many +interruptions, it was in some degree the blessing of all the following +years of my life, till he fell by those unreasonable and wicked men who +had it in their hearts with him to have destroyed all our glory, defence, +and happiness.</p> +<p> +The first letter I received from him was so remarkable, that some persons +of eminent piety, to whom I communicated it, would not be content without +copying it out, or making some extracts from it. I persuade myself that +my devout reader will not be displeased that I insert the greater part +of it here, especially as it serves to illustrate the affectionate sense +which he had of the divine goodness in his conversion, though more than +twenty years had passed since that memorable event happened. Having +already mentioned my ever dear and honoured friend Dr. Isaac Watts, he +adds:<br><br> + +"I have been in pain these several years lest that excellent person, that +sweet singer in our Israel, should have been called to heaven before +I had an opportunity of letting him know how much his works have been +blessed to me, and, of course, returning him my hearty thanks; for though +it is owing to the operation of the blessed Spirit, that any thing works +effectually upon our hearts, yet if we are not thankful to the instrument +which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be +thankful to the Almighty, whom we have not seen? I desire to bless God +for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that +although I cannot keep pace with him here in celebrating the high praises +of our glorious Redeemer, which is the greatest grief of my heart, yet I +am persuaded, that, when I join the glorious company above, where there +will be no drawbacks, none will outsing me there, because I shall not +find any that will be more indebted to the wonderful riches of divine +grace than I.</p> +<blockquote> +"Give me a place at thy saints' feet, <br> + On some fallen angel's vacant seat;<br> + I'll strive to sing as loud as they <br> + Who sit above in brighter day.<br><br></blockquote> +<p> +"I know it is natural for every one who has felt the almighty power +which raised our glorious Redeemer from the grave, to believe his case +singular; but I have made every one in this respect submit as soon as he +has heard my story. And if you seemed so surprised at the account which I +gave you, what will you be when you hear it all?</p> +<blockquote> +"Oh, if I had an angel's voice, <br> + And could be heard from pole to pole; <br> + I would to all the listening world <br> + Proclaim thy goodness to my soul."</blockquote> +<p> +He then concludes, after some expressions of endearment, (which, with +whatever pleasure I review them, I must not here insert)––<br><br> + +"If you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be +astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest +I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen +move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve +you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church +of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful +body, shall be the continual prayer of," &c.</p> +<p> +As our intimacy grew, our mutual affection increased; and "my dearest +friend" was the form of address with which most of his epistles of the +last years were begun and ended. Many of them are filled up with his +sentiments of those writings which I published during these years, which +he read with great attention, and of which he speaks in terms which it +becomes me to suppress, and to impute, in a considerable degree, to +the kind prejudices of so endeared a friendship. He gives me repeated +assurances "that he was daily mindful of me in his prayers", a +circumstance which I cannot recollect without the greatest thankfulness; +and the loss of which I should more deeply lament, did I not hope that +the happy effect of these prayers might still continue, and might run +into all my remaining days.</p> +<p> +It might be a pleasure to me to make several extracts from many others of +his letters; but it is a pleasure which I ought to suppress, and rather +to reflect, with unfeigned humility, how unworthy I was of such regards +from such a person, and of that divine goodness which gave me such a +friend in him. I shall, therefore, only add two general remarks, which +offer themselves from several of his letters. The one is, that there is +in some of them, as our freedom increased, an agreeable vein of humour +and pleasantry, which shows how easy religion sat upon him, and how far +he was from placing any part of it in a gloomy melancholy, or stiff +formality. The other is, that he frequently refers to domestic +circumstances, such as the illness or recovery of my children, &c., which +I am surprised how a man of his extensive and important business could so +distinctly bear upon his mind. But his memory was good, and his heart +was yet better; and his friendship was such, that nothing which sensibly +affected the heart of one whom he honoured with it, left his own but +slightly touched. I have all imaginable reason to believe that in many +instances his prayers were not only offered for us in general terms, but +varied as our particular situation required. Many quotations might verify +this; but I decline troubling the reader with an enumeration of passages +in which it was only the abundance of friendly sympathy that gave this +truly great as well as good man so cordial a concern.</p> +<p> +After this correspondence, carried on for the space of about three years, +and some interviews which we had enjoyed at different places, he came to +spend some time with us at Northampton, and brought with him his lady +and his two eldest children. I had here an opportunity of taking a much +nearer view of his character, and surveying it in a much greater variety +of lights than before; and my esteem for him increased in proportion to +these opportunities. What I have written with respect to his conduct in +relative life, was in a great measure drawn from what I now saw; and I +shall mention here some other points in his behaviour which particularly +struck my mind, and likewise shall touch on his sentiments on some topics +of importance which he freely communicated to me, and which I have +remarked on account of that wisdom and propriety which pervaded them.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="X.">X.</a><br><br> +DEVOTION AND CHARITY.</h4><br> + + +<p> +There was nothing more observable in Colonel Gardiner than the exemplary +gravity, composure, and reverence with which he attended public worship. +Copious as he was in his secret devotions before he engaged in it, he +always began them early, so as not to be retarded by them when he should +resort to the house of God. He, and all his soldiers who chose to worship +with him, were generally there (as I have already hinted) before the +service began, that the entrance of so many of them at once might not +disturb the congregation already engaged in devotion, and that there +might be a better opportunity of bringing the mind to a becoming +attention, and preparing it for converse with the Divine Being. While +acts of worship were going on, whether of prayer or singing, he always +stood up; and whatever regard he might have for persons who passed by him +at that time, though it were to come into the same pew, he never paid +any compliment to them; and often has he expressed his wonder at +the indecorum of breaking off our addresses to God to bow to a +fellow-creature, which he thought a much greater indecency that it would +be, on a little occasion and circumstance, to interrupt an address to our +prince. During the time of preaching, his eye was commonly fixed upon the +minister, though sometimes turned round upon the auditory, against whom, +if he observed any to trifle, he was filled with just indignation. I have +known instances in which, upon making the remark, he has communicated +it to some friend of the persons who were guilty of it, that proper +application might be made to prevent it for the time to come.</p> +<p> +A more devout communicant at the table of the Lord has perhaps seldom +been any where known. Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly +countenance softened to all the marks of humiliation and contrition on +this occasion; and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal +them, streams of tears flowing down from his eyes, while he has been +directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love. Some who have +conversed intimately with him after he came from that ordinance, have +observed a visible abstraction from surrounding objects, by which +there seemed reason to imagine that his soul was wrapped up in holy +contemplation. I particularly remember, that when we had once spent a +great part of the following Monday in riding together, he made an apology +to me for being so absent as he seemed, by telling me "that his heart was +flown upwards, before he was aware, to Him 'whom, not having seen, he +loved;'[*] and that he was rejoicing in him with such unspeakable joy, that +he could not hold it down to creature converse."</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: This alluded to the subject of the sermon the day before, which +was 1 Pet, 1. 8.]</p> +<p> +In all the offices of friendship he was remarkably ready, and had a most +sweet and engaging manner of performing them, which greatly heightened +the obligations he conferred. He seemed not to set any high value upon +any benefit he bestowed, but did it without the least parade, as a thing +which in those circumstances came of course, where he had professed love +and respect; which he was not over forward to do, though he treated +strangers, and those who were most his inferiors, very courteously, and +always seemed, because he in truth always was, glad of any opportunity of +doing them good.</p> +<p> +He was particularly zealous in vindicating the reputation of his friends +in their absence; and though I cannot recollect that I had ever an +opportunity of immediately observing this, as I do not know that I ever +was present with him when any ill was spoken of others at all; yet, +by what I have heard him say with relation to attempts to injure the +character of worthy and useful men, I have reason to believe that no +man living was more sensible of the baseness and infamy, as well as the +cruelty, of such conduct. He knew and despised the low principles of +resentment for unreasonable expectations disappointed, of personal +attachment to men of some crossing interests, of envy, and of party +zeal, from whence such a conduct often proceeds; and he was particularly +offended when he found it (as he frequently did) in persons that set up +for the greatest patrons of liberty, virtue, and candour. He looked upon +the murderers of reputation and usefulness as some of the vilest pests of +society, and plainly showed on every proper occasion that he thought it +the part of a generous, benevolent and courageous man to exert himself in +tracing and hunting down the slander, that the authors or abettors of it +might be less capable of mischief for the future.</p> +<p> +The most plausible objection that I ever heard to Colonel Gardiner's +character is, that he was too much attached to some religious principles, +established indeed in the churches both of England and Scotland, but +which have of late years been much disputed, and from which, it is at +least generally supposed, not a few in both have thought proper to +depart–– whatever expedients they may have found to quiet their +consciences, in subscribing those formularies in which they are plainly +taught. His zeal was especially apparent in opposition to those doctrines +which seemed to derogate from the divine honours of the Son and Spirit of +God, and from the freedom of divine grace, of the reality and necessity +of its operations in the conversion and salvation of sinners.</p> +<p> +With relation to these I must observe, that it was his most steadfast +persuasion that all those notions which represent our blessed Redeemer +and the Holy Spirit as mere creatures, or which set aside the atonement +of the former, or the influence of the latter, sap the very foundation of +Christianity by rejecting the most glorious doctrines peculiar to it. +He had attentively observed (what indeed is too obvious) the unhappy +influence which the denial of these principles often has on the character +of ministers, and on their success, and was persuaded that an attempt to +substitute that mutilated form of Christianity which remains, when these +essentials of it are taken away, has proved one of the most successful +methods which the great enemy of souls has ever taken, in these latter +days, to lead men by insensible degrees into deism, vice, and perdition. +He also sagaciously observed the artful manner in which obnoxious tenets +are often maintained or insinuated, with all that mixture of zeal and +address with which they are propagated in the world, even by those +who had most solemnly professed to believe, and engaged to teach the +contrary; and as he really apprehended that the glory of God and the +salvation of souls were concerned, his piety and charity made him eager +and strenuous in opposing what he judged to be errors of so pernicious a +nature. Yet I must declare, that, according to what I have known of him, +(and I believe he opened his heart on these topics to me with as much +freedom as to any man living,) he was not ready, upon light suspicions, +to charge tenets which he thought so pernicious on any, especially +where he saw the appearances of a good temper and life, which he always +reverenced and loved in persons of all sentiments and professions. He +severely condemned causeless jealousies and evil surmisings of every +kind, and extended that charity, in this respect, both to clergy and +laity, which good Bishop Burnet was so ready, according to his own +account, to limit to the latter, "of believing every man good till he +knew him to be bad, and his notions right till he knew them wrong." He +could not but be very sensible of the unhappy consequences which may +follow on attacking the characters of men, especially of those who are +ministers of the gospel; and if, through a mixture of human frailty, from +which the best of men, in the best of their meanings and intentions, are +not entirely free, he had ever, in the warmth of his heart, dropped a +word which might be injurious to any on that account, (which I believe +very seldom happened,) he would gladly retract it on better information; +and this was perfectly agreeable to that honest and generous frankness of +temper in which I never knew any man who excelled him.</p> +<p> +On the whole, it was indeed his deliberate judgment that the Arian, +Socinian, and Pelagian doctrines were highly dishonourable to God, and +dangerous to the souls of men; and that it was the duty of private +Christians to be greatly on their guard against those ministers by whom +they are entertained, lest their minds should be corrupted from the +simplicity that is in Christ. Yet he sincerely abhorred the thought of +persecution for conscience sake; of the absurdity and iniquity of which, +in all its kinds and degrees, he had as deep and rational a conviction as +any man. Indeed the generosity of his heroic heart could hardly bear to +think that those glorious truths which he so cordially loved, and which +he assuredly believed to be capable of such fair support both from reason +and the word of God, should be disgraced by methods of defence and +propagation common to the most impious and ridiculous falsehoods. Nor did +he by any means approve of passionate and furious ways of vindicating the +most vital and important doctrines of the gospel; for he knew that to +maintain the most benevolent religion in the world by such malevolent and +infernal methods was destroying the end to accomplish the means; and that +it was as impossible that true Christianity should be supported thus, as +it is that a man should long be nourished by eating his own flesh. To +display the genuine fruits of Christianity in a good life––to be ready to +plead with meekness for the doctrines it teaches, and to labour, by every +office of humanity and goodness, to gain upon those who oppose it, were +the weapons with which this good soldier of Jesus Christ faithfully +fought the battles of the Lord. These weapons will always be victorious +in his cause; and they who have recourse to others of a different temper, +how strong soever they may seem, and how sharp soever they may really be, +will find them break in their hands when they exert them most furiously, +and are much more likely to wound themselves than to conquer the enemies +whom they oppose.</p> +<p> +But while I am speaking of Colonel Gardiner's charity in this respect, I +must not omit that of another kind, which has indeed engrossed the +name of charity, excellent as it is, much more than it ought––I mean +alms-giving for which he was very remarkable. I have often wondered how +he was able to do so many generous things in this way. But his frugality +fed the spring. He made no pleasurable expense on himself, and was +contented with a very decent appearance in his family, without affecting +such an air of grandeur as could not have been supported without +sacrificing to it satisfactions far nobler, and, to a temper like his, +far more delightful. The lively and tender feelings of his heart in +favour of the distressed and afflicted made it a self-indulgence to +relieve them; and the deep conviction he had of the vain and transitory +nature of the enjoyments of this world, together with the sublime view he +had of another, engaged him to dispense his bounties with a very liberal +hand, and even to seek out proper objects of them. Above all, his sincere +and ardent love to the Lord Jesus Christ engaged him to feel, with a true +sympathy, the concerns of his poor members. In consequence of this, he +honoured several of his friends with commissions for the relief of the +poor; and particularly, with relation to some under my pastoral care, +he referred it to my discretion to supply them with what I should judge +expedient, and frequently pressed me, in his letters, "to be sure not +to let them want." And where persons standing in need of his charity +happened, as they often did, to be persons of remarkably religious +dispositions, it was easy to perceive that he not only loved but honoured +them, and really esteemed it an honour which Providence conferred upon +him, that he should be made, as it were, the almoner of God for their +relief.</p> +<p> +I cannot forbear relating a little story here, which, when the colonel +himself heard it, gave him such exquisite pleasure, that I hope it will +be acceptable to several of my readers. There was in a village about nine +miles from Northampton, and in a family which, of all others near me, +was afterwards most indebted to him, (though he had never then seen any +member of it,) an aged and poor, but eminently good woman, who had, with +great difficulty, in the exercise of much faith and patience, diligence +and humility, made shift to educate a large family of children after the +death of her husband, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as +it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. +At length, when worn out with age and infirmities, she lay upon her +death-bed, she, in a most lively and affecting manner, expressed her hope +and joy in the views of approaching glory. Yet, amidst all the triumphs +of such a prospect, there was one remaining care and distress which +lay heavy on her mind; this was, that as her journey and her stock of +provisions were both ended together, she feared that she must either +be buried at the parish expense, or leave to her most dutiful and +affectionate daughters the house stripped of some of the few movables +which remained in it, in order to perform the last office of duty to her, +which she had reason to believe they would do. While she was combatting +with this only remaining anxiety, I happened, though I knew not the +extremity of her illness, to come in, and to bring with me a guinea +which the generous colonel had sent by a special message, on hearing the +character of the family, for its relief. A present like this, (probably +the most considerable they had ever received in their lives,) coming in +this manner from an entire stranger at such a crisis of time, threw my +dying friend (for such, amidst all her poverty, I rejoiced to call her) +into a perfect transport of joy. She esteemed it a singular favour of +Providence sent to her in her last moments as a token for good, and +greeted it as a special mark of that loving kindness of God which should +attend her for ever. She insisted, therefore, to be raised up in her bed, +that she might bless God for it upon her knees, and with her last breath +pray for her kind and generous benefactor, and for him who had been the +instrument of directing his bounty into this channel. After this she soon +expired, and with such tranquillity and sweetness as could not but most +sensibly delight all who beheld her, and occasioned many who knew the +circumstance to glorify God on her behalf.</p> +<p> +The colonel's last residence at Northampton was in June and July 1742, +when Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons was quartered here. Here I +cannot but observe, that wherever that regiment came, it was remarkable +not only for the fine appearance it made, and for the exactness with +which it performed its various exercises, (of which it had about this +time the honour to receive the most illustrious testimonials,) but also +for the great sobriety and regularity of the soldiers. Many of the +officers copied after the excellent pattern which they had daily before +their eyes; and a considerable number of the private men seemed to be +persons not only of strict virtue, but of serious piety. I doubt not but +they found their abundant account in it, not only in the serenity and +happiness of their own minds, which is beyond comparison the most +important consideration; but also, in some degree, in the obliging and +respectful treatment which they generally met with in their quarters. +I mention this, because I am persuaded that if gentlemen of their +profession knew, and would reflect, how much more comfortable they make +their own quarters by a sober, orderly, and obliging conduct, they would +be regular out of mere self love, if they were not influenced, as I +heartily wish they may always be, by a nobler principle.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XI.">XI.</a><br><br> + +EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS.</h4><br> + + + + <p> +Towards the latter end of this year he embarked for Flanders, and +spent some considerable time with the regiment at Ghent, where he much +regretted the want of those religious ordinances and opportunities which +had made his other abodes delightful. But as he had made so eminent a +progress in that divine life which they are all intended to promote, he +could not be inactive in the cause of God. I have now before me a letter, +dated from thence October 16, 1742, in which he writes:<br><br> + +"As for me, I am indeed in a dry and barren land, where no water is. +Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in +our Sodom but blaspheming the name of my God, and I not honoured as the +instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or +seven field-officers of swearing. I dine every day with them, and have +entered them into a voluntary contract to pay a shilling to the poor for +every oath, and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. +One of them told me this day at dinner that it had really such an +influence upon him, that being at cards last night when another officer +fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the +company. So you see, restraints at first arising from a low principle may +improve into something better."</p> +<p> +During his abode here, he had a great deal of business upon his hands, +and had also, in some marches, the care of more regiments than his +own; and it has been very delightful to me to observe what a degree of +converse with heaven, and the God of it, he maintained amidst these +scenes of hurry and fatigue, of which the reader may find a remarkable +specimen in the following letter, dated from Lichwick in the beginning of +April 1743, which was one of the last I received from him while abroad. +It begins with these words:––<br><br> + +"Yesterday being the Lord's day, at six in the morning I had the pleasure +of receiving yours at Nortonick; and it proved a Sabbath day's blessing +to me. Some time before it reached me," (from whence, by the way, it may +be observed that his former custom of rising so early in his devotions +was still retained,) "I had been wrestling with God with many tears; and +when I had read it, I returned to my knees again to give hearty thanks to +him for all his goodness to you and yours, and also to myself, in that he +hath been pleased to stir up so many who are dear to him, to be mindful +of me at the throne of grace."</p> +<p> +Then, after the mention of some other particulars, he adds:––<br><br> + +"Blessed and adored for ever be the holy name of my Heavenly Father, who +holds my soul in life, and my body in perfect health! Were I to recount +his mercy and goodness to me even in the midst of all these hurries, I +should never have done. I hope your Master will still encourage you in +his work, and make you a blessing to many. My dearest friend, I am much +more yours than I can express, and shall remain so while I am J.G."</p> +<p> +In this correspondence I had a further opportunity of discovering that +humble resignation to the will of God which made so amiable a part of his +character, and of which I had before seen so many instances. He speaks, +in the letter from which I have just been giving an extract, of the hope +he had expressed in a former of seeing us again that winter; and he +adds:––<br><br> + +"To be sure, it would have been a great pleasure to me; but we poor +mortals form projects, and the Almighty ruler of the universe disposes of +all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return +to England, when we received an order to march towards Frankfort, to the +great surprise of the whole army, neither can any of us comprehend what +we are to do there; for there is no enemy in that country, the French +army being marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. +But it is the will of the Lord, and his will be done! I desire to bless +and praise my Heavenly Father that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no +matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in +my life, or my death, I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends +were equally resigned."</p> +<p> +The mention of this article reminds me of another relating to the views +which he had of obtaining a regiment for himself. He endeavoured to +deserve it by the most faithful services; some of them, indeed beyond +what the strength of his constitution could well bear––for the weather in +some of these marches proved exceedingly bad, and yet he would be always +at the head of his people, that he might look, with the exactest care, +to every thing that concerned them. This obliged him to neglect the +beginnings of a feverish illness, the natural consequence of which was +that it grew very formidable, forced a long confinement upon him, and +gave animal nature a shock which it never recovered.</p> +<p> +In the mean time, as he had the promise of a regiment before he +quitted England, his friends were continually expecting an occasion of +congratulating him on having received the command of one. Still they were +disappointed, and on some of them the disappointment seemed to sit heavy. +As for the colonel himself, he seemed quite easy about it, and appeared +much greater in that easy situation of mind than the highest military +honours and preferments could have made him. With great pleasure do I at +this moment recollect the unaffected serenity, and even indifference, +with which he expresses himself upon this occasion, in a letter to me, +dated about the beginning of April, 1743.</p> +<p> +"The disappointment of a regiment is nothing to me, for I am satisfied +that, had it been for God's glory, I should have had it, and I should +have been sorry to have had it on any other terms. My Heavenly Father has +bestowed upon me infinitely more than if he had made me emperor of the +whole world."</p> +<p> +I find several parallel expressions in other letters, and those to his +lady about the same time were just in the same strain. In an extract from +one which was written from Aix-la-Chapelle, April 21, the same year, I +meet with these words:<br><br> + +"People here imagine I must be sadly troubled that I have not got a +regiment, (for six out of seven vacant are now disposed of): but they are +strangely mistaken, for it has given me no sort of trouble. My Heavenly +Father knows what is best for me; and blessed and ever adored be his +name, he has given me an entire resignation to his will. Besides, I do +not know that I met with any disappointment, since I was a Christian, but +it pleased God to discover to me that it was plainly for my advantage, by +bestowing something better upon me afterwards, many instances of which I +am able to produce; and therefore I should be the greatest of monsters, +if I did not trust in him."</p> +<p> +I should be guilty of a great omission, if I were not to add how +remarkably the event corresponded with his faith on this occasion; for +whereas he had no intimation or expectation of any thing more than a +regiment of foot, his Majesty was pleased, out of his great goodness, +to give him a regiment of dragoons which was then quartered in his own +neighborhood. It is properly remarked by the reverend and worthy person +through whose hand this letter was transmitted to me, that when the +colonel thus expressed himself, he could have no prospect of what he +afterwards so soon obtained, as General Bland's regiment, to which he was +advanced, was only vacant on the 19th of April––that is, two days before +the date of this letter, when it was impossible he should have any notice +of that vacancy. It also deserves observation, that some few days after +the colonel was thus unexpectedly promoted to the command of these +dragoons, Lord Cornwallis's regiment of foot, then in Flanders, became +vacant. Now, had this happened before his promotion to General Bland's, +Colonel Gardiner, in all probability, would only have had that regiment +of foot, and so would have continued in Flanders. When the affair was +settled, he informs Lady Frances of it in a letter dated from a village +near Frankfort, 3d May, in which he refers to his former of the 21st of +April, observing how remarkably it was verified "in God's having given +him" (for so he expressed it, agreeably to the views which he continually +maintained of the universal agency of Divine Providence) "what he had +no expectation of, and what was so much better than that which he had +missed––a regiment of dragoons quartered at his own door."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XII.">XII.</a><br><br> + +RETURN TO ENGLAND.</h4><br> + + +<p> +It appeared to him that by this remarkable event Providence called him +home. Accordingly, though he had other preferments offered him in the +army, he chose to return, and I believe the more willingly, as he did not +expect there would have been an action. Just at this time it pleased God +to give him an awful instance of the uncertainty of human prospects and +enjoyments, by that violent fever which seized him at Ghent on his way to +England, and perhaps the more severely for the efforts he made to push on +his journey, though he had for some days been much indisposed. It was, I +think, one of the first fits of severe illness he had ever met with, and +he was ready to look upon it as a sudden call into eternity; but it gave +him no painful alarm in that view. He committed himself to the God of his +life, and in a few weeks he was so well recovered as to be capable of +pursuing his journey, though not without difficulty. I cannot but think +it might have conduced much to a more perfect recovery than he ever +attained, to have allowed himself a longer repose, in order to recruit +his exhausted strength and spirits. But there was an activity in his +temper not easy to be restrained, and it was now stimulated, not only +with a desire to see his friends, but of being with his regiment, that +he might omit nothing in his power to regulate their morals and their +discipline, and to form them for public service. Accordingly, about the +middle of June, 1743, he passed through London, where he had the honour +of waiting on their royal highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, +and of receiving from both the most obliging token of favour and esteem. +He arrived at Northampton on Monday the 21st of June, and spent part of +three days there. But the great pleasure which his return and preferment +gave us, was much abated by observing his countenance so sadly altered, +and the many marks of languor and remaining disorder which evidently +appeared, so that he really looked ten years older than he had done +ten months before. I had, however, a satisfaction sufficient to +counterbalance much of the concern which this alteration gave me, in a +renewed opportunity of observing, indeed more sensibly than ever, in +how remarkable a degree he was dead to the enjoyments and views of this +mortal life. When I congratulated him on the favourable appearances of +Providence for him in the late event, he briefly told me the remarkable +circumstances that attended it, with the most genuine expressions of +gratitude to God for them; but added, "that as his account was increased +with his income, power, influence, and his cares were proportionably +increased too, it was, as to his own personal concern, much the same to +him whether he had remained in his former station, or been elevated to +this; but that if God should by this means honour him as an instrument of +doing more good than he could otherwise have done, he should rejoice in +it."</p> +<p> +I perceived that the near views he had taken of eternity, in the illness +from which he was then so imperfectly recovered, had not in the least +alarmed him; but that he would have been entirely willing, had such been +the determination of God, to have been cut short in a foreign land, +without any earthly friend near him, and in the midst of a journey +undertaken with hopes and prospects so pleasing to nature, which appeared +to me no inconsiderable evidence of the strength of his faith. But we +shall wonder the less at this extraordinary resignation, if we consider +the joyful and assured prospect which he had of a happiness infinitely +superior beyond the grave; of which that worthy minister of the church of +Scotland, who had an opportunity of conversing with him quickly after his +return, and having the memorable story of his conversion from his own +mouth, (as I have hinted above,) writes thus in his letter to me, dated +Jan. 14, 1746-7:<br><br> + +"When he came to review his regiment at Linlithgow, in summer 1743, after +having given me the wonderful story as above, he concluded in words to +this purpose: Let me die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it +shall be, I am sure I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory, and +enjoy my God and my Redeemer in heaven for ever."</p> +<p> +While he was with us at this time he appeared deeply affected with the +sad state of things as to religion and morals, and seemed to apprehend +that the rod of God was hanging over so sinful a nation. He observed a +great deal of disaffection which the enemies of the government had, by a +variety of artifices, been raising in Scotland for some years; and the +number of Jacobites there, together with the defenceless state in which +our island then was, with respect to the number of its forces at home, +(of which he spoke at once with great concern and astonishment,) led +him to expect an invasion from France, and an attempt in favour of the +Pretender, much sooner than it happened. I have heard him often say, many +years before it came so near being accomplished, "that a few thousands +might have a fair chance for marching from Edinburgh to London +uncontrolled, and throw the whole Kingdom into an astonishment." And I +have great reason to believe that this was one main consideration which +engaged him to make such haste to his regiment, then quartered in those +parts, as he imagined there was not a spot of ground where he might be +more likely to have a call to expose his life in the service of his +country, and perhaps, by appealing on a proper call early in its +defences, be instrumental in suppressing the beginnings of most +formidable mischief. How rightly he judged in these things, the event too +evidently showed.</p> +<p> +The evening before our last separation, as I knew I could not more +agreeably entertain the valuable friend who was then my guest, I preached +a sermon in my own house, with some peculiar reference to his case and +circumstances, from those ever-memorable words, than which I have never +felt any more powerful and more comfortable: Psalm xci. 14, 15, 16, +"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I +will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon +me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver +him, and honour him: with long life (or length of days) will I satisfy +him, and show him my salvation." This scripture could not but lend our +meditations to survey the character of the good man, as one who so knows +the name of the blessed God––has such a deep apprehension of the glories +and perfections of his nature––as determinately to set his love upon him, +to make him the supreme object of his most ardent and constant affection. +And it suggested the most sublime and animating hopes to persons of such +a character, that their prayers shall be always acceptable to God; that +though they may, and must, be called to their share in the troubles and +calamities of life, yet they may assure themselves of the divine presence +in all, which will issue in their deliverance, in their exaltation, +sometimes in distinguished honour and esteem among men, and, it may be, +in a long course of useful and happy years on earth; at least, which +shall undoubtedly end in seeing, to their perpetual delight, the complete +salvation of God, in a world where they shall enjoy length of days for +ever and ever, and employ them all in adoring the great Author of their +salvation and felicity. It is evident that these natural thoughts on such +a Scripture were matters of universal concern. Yet had I, as a minister +of the gospel, known that this was the last time I should address Colonel +Gardiner, and had I foreseen the scenes through which God was about to +lead him, I hardly know what considerations I could have suggested with +more peculiar propriety. The attention, elevation, and delight with which +he heard them, were very apparent, and the pleasure which the observation +of it gave me, continues to this moment.</p> +<p> +Let me be permitted to digress so far as to add, that this is indeed the +great support of a Christian minister under the many discouragements +and disappointments which he meets with in his attempts to fix upon the +profligate or the thoughtless part of mankind a deep sense of religious +truth; that there is another important part of his work in which he may +hope to be more generally successful; as, by plain, artless, but serious +discourses, the great principles of Christian duty and hope may be +nourished and invigorated in good men, their graces watered as at +the root, and their souls animated, both to persevere and improve in +holiness. When we are effectually performing such benevolent offices, so +well suiting our immortal natures, to persons whose hearts are cemented +with ours in the hands of the most endearing and sacred friendship, it is +too little to say that it overpays the fatigue of our Labours; it even +swallows up all sense of it in the most rational and sublime pleasure.</p> +<p> +An incident occurred that evening, which, at least for the oddness of +it, may deserve a place in these memoirs. I had then with me one Thomas +Porter, a poor but very honest and religious man, (now living at Hatfield +Broad-Oak in Essex,) who is quite unacquainted with letters, so as not to +be able to distinguish one from another, yet is master of the contents +of the Bible in so extraordinary a degree, that he has not only fixed an +immense number of texts in his memory, but, merely by hearing them quoted +in sermons, has registered there the chapter and verse in which these +passages are to be found. This is attended with a marvellous facility in +directing readers to turn to them, and a most unaccountable talent of +fixing on such as suit almost every imaginable variety of circumstances +in common life. There are in this case two considerations that make it +the more wonderful; the one, that he is a person of very low genius, +having, besides a stammering which makes his speech almost unintelligible +to strangers, so wild and awkward a manner of behaviour, that he is +frequently taken for an idiot, and seems in many things to be indeed +so;––the other, that he grew up to manhood in a very licentious course of +living, and an entire ignorance of divine things, so that all these exact +impressions on his memory have been made in his riper years. I thought +it would not be disagreeable to the colonel to introduce to him this +odd phenomenon, which many hundreds of people have had a curiosity to +examine; and, among all the strange things I have seen in him, I never +remember any that equalled what passed on this occasion. On hearing +the colonel's profession, and receiving some hints of his religious +character, he ran through a vast variety of scriptures, beginning at +the Pentateuch and going on to the Revelation, relating either to the +dependence to be fixed on God for the success of military preparations, +or to the instances and promises occurring there for his care of good men +in the most imminent dangers, or to the encouragement to despise perils +and death, while engaged in a good cause, and supported by the views of +a happy immortality. I believe he quoted more than twenty of these +passages, and I must freely own that I know not who could have chosen +them with greater propriety. If my memory deceive me not, the last of +this catalogue was that from which I afterwards preached, on the lamented +occasion of this great man's fall: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I +will give thee a crown of life." We were all astonished at so remarkable +a feat, and I question not but many of my readers will think the memory +of it worthy of being thus preserved.</p> +<p> +But to return to my main subject: The day after the sermon and +conversation of which I have been speaking, I took my best leave of my +inestimable friend, after attending him some part of his way northward. +The first stage of our journey was to the cottage of that poor but +religious family which I had before occasion to mention as relieved, and +indeed in a great measure subsisted by his charity. Nothing could be more +delightful than to observe the condescension with which he conversed with +these his humble pensioners. We there put up our last united prayers +together; and he afterwards expressed, in the strongest terms I have ever +heard him use on such an occasion, the singular pleasure with which he +had joined in them. Indeed it was no small satisfaction to me to have +an opportunity of recommending such a valuable friend to the divine +protection and blessing, with that particular freedom and enlargement on +what was peculiar in his circumstances, which hardly any other situation, +unless we had been quite alone, could so conveniently have admitted. +We went from thence to the table of a person of distinction in the +neighborhood, where he had an opportunity of showing in how decent and +graceful a manner he could unite the Christian and the gentleman, and +give conversation an improving and religious turn, without violating any +of the rules of polite behaviour, or saying or doing any thing, which +looked at all constrained or affected. Here we took our last embrace, +committing each other to the care of the God of heaven; and the colonel +pursued his journey to the north, where he spent the remainder of his +days.</p> +<p> +The more I reflect upon this appointment of Providence, the more I +discern the beauty and wisdom of it––not only as it led directly to that +glorious period of life with which God had determined to honour him, and +in which, I think, it becomes all his friends to rejoice, but also as the +retirement on which he entered could not but have a happy tendency to +favour his more immediate and complete preparation for so speedy a +remove. To this we may add, that it must probably have a very powerful +influence to promote the interests of religion (incomparably the greatest +of all interests) among the members of his own family, who must surely be +edified by such daily lessons as they received from his lips, when they +saw them illustrated and enforced by so admirable an example, and for +two complete years. It is the more remarkable, as I cannot find from the +memoirs of his life in my hands that he had ever been so long at home +since he had a family, or indeed, from his childhood, ever so long at a +time in any one place.</p> +<p> +With how clear a lustre his lamp shone, and with what holy vigour his +loins were girded up in the service of his God in these his latter days, +I learn in part from the letters of several excellent persons in the +ministry, or in secular life, with whom I have since conversed or +corresponded. In his many letters dated from Bankton during this period, +I have still further evidence how happy he was amidst those infirmities +of body, which his tenderness for me would seldom allow him to mention; +for it appears from them what a daily intercourse he kept up with Heaven, +and what delightful communion with God crowned his attendance on public +ordinances, and his sweet hours of devout retirement. He mentions his +sacramental opportunities with peculiar relish, crying out, as in a holy +rapture, in reference to one and another of them, "Oh how gracious +a Master do we serve! how pleasant is his service; how rich the +entertainments of his love! yet how poor and cold are our services!" But +I will not multiply quotations of this sort after those I have given +above, which may be a sufficient specimen of many more in the same +strain. This hint may suffice to show that the same ardour of soul held +out in a great measure to the last; and indeed it seems that towards the +close of life, like the flame of a lamp almost expiring, it sometimes +exerted an unusual blaze.</p> +<p> +He spent much of his time at Bankton in religious solitude; and one +most intimately conversant with him assures me that the traces of that +delightful converse with God which he enjoyed in it might easily be +discerned in the solemn yet cheerful countenance with which he often came +out of his closet. Yet his exercises there must sometimes have been very +mournful, considering the melancholy views which he had of the state of +our public affairs.</p> +<p> +"I should be glad," says he, (in a letter which he sent me about the +close of the year 1743,) "to hear what wise and good people among you +think of the present circumstances of things. For my own part, though I +thank God I fear nothing for myself, my apprehensions for the public are +very gloomy, considering the deplorable prevalency of almost all kinds +of wickedness amongst us––the natural consequence of the contempt of the +gospel. I am daily offering my prayers to God for this sinful land of +ours, over which his judgments seem to be gathering; and my strength is +sometimes so exhausted with those strong cries and tears, which I pour +out before God on this occasion, that I am hardly able to stand when I +arise from my knees."</p> +<p> +If we have many remaining to stand in the breach with equal fervency, I +hope, crying as our provocations are, that God will still be entreated +for us, and save us.</p> +<p> +Most of the other letters I had the pleasure of receiving from him after +our last separation, are either filled, like those of former years, with +tender expressions of affectionate solicitude for my domestic comfort +and public usefulness, or relate to the writings I published during this +time, or to the affairs of his eldest son, then under my care. But these +are things which are by no means of a nature to be communicated here. It +is enough to remark, in general, that the Christian was still mingled +with all the care of the friend and the parent.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XIII">XIII.</a><br><br> + +REVIVAL OF RELIGION.</h4><br> + + +<p> +But I think it incumbent upon me to observe, that during this time, and +for some preceding years, his attention, ever wakeful to such concerns, +was much engaged by some religious appearances which happened about this +time both in England and Scotland, and with regard to which some may be +curious to know the colonel's sentiments. He communicated them to me with +the most unreserved freedom; and I cannot apprehend myself under any +engagement to conceal them, as I am persuaded that it will be no +prejudice to his memory that they should be publicly known.</p> +<p> +It was from Colonel Gardiner's pen that I received the first notice of +that ever memorable scene which was opened at Kilsyth, under the +ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch in the month of February, 1741-2. He +communicated to me the copy of two letters from that eminently-favoured +servant of God, giving an account of that extraordinary success which had +within a few days accompanied his preaching, when, as I remember, in +a little more than a fortnight, one hundred and thirty souls, who had +before continued in long insensibility under the faithful preaching of +the gospel, were awakened on a sudden to attend to it, as if it had been +a new revelation brought down from heaven, and attested by as astonishing +miracles as ever were wrought by Peter or Paul, though they only heard it +from a person under whose ministry they had sat for several years. Struck +with a power and majesty in the word of God which they had never felt +before, they crowded his house night and day, making their applications +to him for spiritual direction and assistance, with an earnestness and +solicitude which floods of tears and cries, that swallowed up their own +words and his, could not sufficiently express. The colonel mentioned this +at first to me "as matter of eternal praise, which he knew would rejoice +my very soul;" and when he saw it spread in the neighbouring parts, and +observed the glorious reformation which it produced in the lives of great +multitudes, and the abiding fruits of it, for succeeding months and +years, it increased and confirmed his joy. But the facts relating to this +matter have been laid before the world in so authentic a manner, and the +agency of divine grace in them has been so rationally vindicated, and so +pathetically represented, in what the reverend and judicious Mr. Webster +has written upon that subject, that it is altogether superfluous for me +to add any thing further than my hearty prayers that the work may be as +extensive as it was glorious and divine.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: See "Revivals in Scotland," published by the (Presbyterian) Board of +Publication.]</p> +<p> +It was with great pleasure that he received any intelligence of a like +kind from England, whether the clergy of the Established Church or +dissenting ministers, whether our own countrymen or foreigners, were the +instruments of it. Whatever weaknesses or errors might mingle themselves +with valuable qualities in such as were active in such a work, he +appeared to love and honour them in proportion to the degree he saw +reason to believe that their hearts were devoted to the service of +Christ, and their attempts owned and succeeded by him. I remember, that +mentioning one of these gentlemen who had been remarkably successful in +his ministry, and who seemed to have met with some very unkind usage, he +says, "I had rather be that despised, persecuted man, to be an instrument +in the hand of the Spirit in converting so many souls, and building up so +many in their holy faith, than I would be emperor of the whole world." +Yet this steady and judicious Christian, (for such he most assuredly +was,) at the same time that he esteemed a man for his good intentions, +and his worthy qualities, did not suffer himself to be hurried away into +all the singularity of his sentiments, or to admire his imprudences or +excesses. On the contrary, he saw and lamented that artifice which the +great father of fraud has so long and so successfully been practising, +and who, like the enemies of Israel, when he cannot entirely prevent the +building of God's temple, does, as it were, offer his assistance to carry +on the work, that he may thereby get the most effectual opportunities of +obstructing it. The colonel often expressed his astonishment at the wide +extremes into which some whom on the whole he thought very worthy men, +were permitted to run in many doctrinal and speculative points, and +discerned how evidently it appeared from hence that we cannot argue the +truth of any doctrine from the success of the preacher, since this would +be a kind of demonstration which might equally prove both parts of a +contradiction. Yet when he observed that a high regard to the atonement +and righteousness of Christ, and to the free grace of God in him, exerted +by the operation of the Divine Spirit, was generally common to all who +had been peculiarly successful in the conversion and reformation of men, +(how widely soever their judgments might differ in other points, and how +warmly soever their judgments might oppose each other in consequence +of that diversity,) it tended greatly to confirm his faith in these +principles, as well as to open his heart in love to all, of every +denomination, who maintained an affectionate regard to them. Although +what he remarked as to the conduct and success of ministers of the most +opposite strains of preaching confirmed him in these sentiments, yet he +always esteemed and loved virtuous and benevolent men, even where he +thought them the most mistaken in the notions they formed of religion, or +in the methods by which they attempted to serve it.</p> +<p> +While I thus represent what all who knew him must soon have observed of +Colonel Gardiner's affectionate regard to these peculiar doctrines of our +holy religion, it is necessary that I should also inform my reader that +it was not his opinion that the attention of ministers or their hearers +should be wholly engrossed by these, excellent as they are; but that all +the parts of the scheme of truth and duty should be regarded in their due +connection and proportion. Far from that distempered taste which can bear +nothing but cordials, it was his deliberate judgment that the law as well +as the gospel should be preached; and hardly any thing gave him greater +offence than the irreverent manner in which some who have been ignorantly +extolled as the most zealous evangelical preachers, have sometimes +been tempted to speak of the former, much indeed to the scandal of all +consistent and judicious Christians. He delighted to be instructed in +his duty, and to hear much of the inward exercises of the spiritual and +divine life. He always wished, so far as I could observe, to have these +topics treated in a rational as well as spiritual manner, with solidity +and order of thought, with perspicuity and weight of expression, well +knowing that religion is a most reasonable service––that God has not +chosen idiots or lunatics as the instruments, or nonsense as the means of +building up his church––and that though the charge of enthusiasm is often +fixed on Christianity and its ministers in a wild, undeserved, and, +indeed, on the whole, enthusiastical manner, by some of the loudest or +most solemn pretenders to reason, yet there is really such a thing as +enthusiasm, against which it becomes the true friends of revelation to be +diligently on their guard, lest Christianity, instead of being exalted, +should be greatly corrupted and debased, and all manner of absurdity, +both in doctrine and practice, introduced by methods which, like +persecution, throw truth and falsehood on a level, and render the +grossest errors at once more plausible and more incurable. He had too +much candour and equity to fix general charges of this nature; but he was +really (and I think not vainly,) apprehensive that the emissaries and +agents of the most corrupt church that ever dishonoured the Christian +name, (by which, it will easily be understood, I mean that of Rome,) +might very possibly insinuate themselves into societies to which they +could not otherwise have access, and make their advantage of that total +resignation of the understanding, and contempt of reason and learning, +which nothing but ignorance, delirium, or knavery can dictate, to lead +men blindfolded whither it pleased, till it set them down at the foot of +an altar where transubstantiation itself was consecrated.</p> +<p> +I know not where I can more properly introduce another part of the +colonel's character, which, obvious as it was, I have not yet touched +upon; I mean his tenderness to those who were under any spiritual +distress, wherein he was indeed an example to ministers in a duty more +peculiarly theirs. I have seen many amiable instances of this myself, and +I have been informed of many others. One of these happened about the time +of that awakening in the western parts of Scotland, which I touched upon +above, when the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, of Glasgow, found occasion to witness +to the great propriety, judgment, and felicity of manner, with which he +addressed spiritual consolation to an afflicted soul who applied to the +professor at a time when he had not an opportunity immediately to give +audience to the case. Indeed so long ago as the year 1726, I find him +writing in this regard to a friend in a strain of tenderness which might +well have become the most affectionate and experienced pastor. He there +congratulates him on some religious enjoyments, lately received, (in +part, it seems, by his means) when, among others, he has this modest +expression: "If I have been made any way the means of doing you good, +give the whole glory to God; for he has been willing to show that the +power was entirely of himself, since he has been pleased to make use of +so very weak an instrument." In the same letter he admonishes his friend +that he should not be too much surprised, if after having been (as he +expressed it) upon the mount, he should be brought into this valley +again, reminding him that "we live by faith, and not by sensible +assurance," and representing that there are some such full communications +from God as seem almost to swallow up the actings of faith, from whence +they take their rise: "Whereas, when a Christian who walks in darkness, +and sees no light, will yet hang, as it were, on the report of an absent +Jesus, and" (as one expresses it in allusion to the story of Jacob and +Joseph) "can put himself as on the chariot of the promises, to be borne +on to Him whom he sees not; there may be sublimer and more acceptable +actings of a pure and strong faith than in moments which afford the soul +a much more rapturous delight." This is the substance of what he says in +this excellent letter. Some of the phrases made use of might not perhaps +be intelligible to several of my readers, for which reason I do not +exactly transcribe them all; but this is plainly and fully his meaning, +and most of the words are his own. The sentiment is surly very just and +important; and happy would it be for many excellent persons, who, +through wrong notions of the nature of faith, (which was never more +misrepresented than now among some,) are perplexing themselves with +the most groundless doubts and scruples, if it were more generally +understood, admitted, and considered.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XIV">XIV.</a><br><br> + +APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH.</h4><br> + + + <p> +An endeared friend, who was most intimately conversant with the colonel +during the last two years of his life, has favoured me with an account +of some little circumstances relating to him, which I esteem as precious +fragments, by which the consistent tenor of his character may be further +illustrated. I shall therefore insert them here, without being very +solicitous as to the order in which they are introduced.</p> +<p> +He perceived himself evidently in a very declining state from his first +arrival in Britain, and seemed to entertain a fixed apprehension that he +should continue but a little while longer in life. "He expected death," +says my good correspondent, "and was delighted with the prospect," which +did not grow less amiable by the nearer approach. The word of God, with +which he had as intimate an acquaintance as most men I ever knew, and on +which (especially on the New Testament) I have heard him make many +very judicious and accurate remarks, was still his daily study; and +it furnished him with matter of frequent conversation, much to the +edification and comfort of those that were about him. It was recollected +that, among other passages, he had lately spoken of the following as +having made a deep impression on his mind: "My soul, wait thou only upon +God." He would repeat it again and again, <i>only, only, only</i>! So plainly +did he see, and so deeply did he feel, the vanity of creature confidence +and expectations. With the strongest attestation would he often mention +those words in Isaiah, as verified by long experience: "Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth +in thee." And with peculiar satisfaction would he utter those heroic +words in Habakkuk, which he found armour of proof against every fear and +every contingency: "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall +fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields +shall yield no meal; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there +shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will +joy in the God of my salvation." The 145th Psalm was also spoken of by +him with great delight, and Dr. Watts's version of it, as well as several +others of that excellent person's poetical compositions. My friend who +transmits to me this account, adds the following words, which I desire +to insert with the deepest sentiments of unfeigned humility and +self-abasement before God, as most unworthy the honour of contributing +in the least degree to the joys and graces of one so much my superior in +every part of the Christian character. "As the joy with which good men +see the happy fruits of their labours, makes a part of the present reward +of the servants of God and the friends of Jesus, it must not be omitted, +even in a letter to you, that your spiritual hymns were among his most +delightful and soul-improving repasts; particularly those on beholding +transgressors with grief, and Christ's Message." What is added concerning +my book of the Rise and Progress of Religion, and the terms in which he +expressed his esteem of it, I cannot suffer to pass my pen; only I desire +most sincerely to bless God, that, especially by the last chapters +of that treatise, I had an opportunity, at so great a distance, of +exhibiting some offices of Christian friendship to this excellent person +in the closing scenes of life, which it would have been my greatest joy +to have performed in person, had Providence permitted me then to have +been near him.</p> +<p> +The former of these hymns, which my correspondent mentions as having been +so agreeable to Colonel Gardiner, I have given the reader already. The +latter, which is called Christ's Message, took its rise from Luke iv. 18, +19, and is as follows:</p> +<blockquote> +Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, <br> + The Saviour promised long; <br> +Let every heart prepare a throne, <br> + And every voice a song.<br><br> + +On him the Spirit largely poured, <br> + Exerts its sacred fire; <br> +Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, <br> + His holy breast inspire.<br><br> + +He comes the prisoners to release, <br> + In Satan's bondage held; <br> +The gates of brass before him burst, <br> + The iron fetters yield.<br><br> + +He comes, from thickest films of vice <br> + To clear the mental ray, <br> +And on the eye-balls of the blind <br> + To pour celestial day.[*]<br><br> + +He comes the broken heart to bind, <br> + The bleeding soul to cure; <br> +And with the treasures of his grace <br> + To enrich the humble poor.<br><br> + +His silver trumpets publish loud <br> + The jubilee of the Lord; <br> +Our debts are all remitted now, <br> + Our heritage restored.<br><br> + +Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace! <br> + Thy welcome shall proclaim; <br> +And heaven's eternal arches ring <br> + With Thy beloved name.</blockquote> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.]</p> +<p> +There is one hymn more I shall beg leave to add, plain as it is, which +Colonel Gardiner has been heard to mention with particular regard, as +expressing the inmost sentiments of his soul, and they were undoubtedly +so in the last rational moments of his expiring life. It is called +'Christ precious to the Believer,' and was composed to be sung after a +sermon on 1 Pet. ii 7.</p> +<blockquote> +Jesus! I love thy charming name, <br> + 'Tis music to my ear: <br> +Fain would I sound it out so loud, <br> + That earth and heaven should hear.<br><br> + +Yea! thou art precious to my soul, <br> + My transport and my trust; <br> +Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys,<br> + And gold is sordid dust.<br><br> + +All my capacious powers can wish, <br> + In Thee most richly meet; <br> +Nor to mine eyes is life so dear, <br> + Nor friendship half so sweet.<br><br> + +Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, <br> + And sheds its fragrance there; <br> +The noblest balm of all its wounds, <br> + The cordial of its care.<br><br> + +I'll speak the honours of thy name <br> + With my last labouring breath; <br> +Then speechless clasp thee in my arms, <br> + The antidote of death.</blockquote> +<p> +Those who were intimate with Colonel Gardiner, must have observed how +ready he was to give a devotional turn to any subject that occurred. In +particular, the spiritual and heavenly disposition of his soul discovered +itself in the reflections and improvements which he made when reading +history, in which he took a great deal of pleasure, as persons remarkable +for their knowledge of mankind, and observation of Providence, generally +do. I have an instance of this before me, which, though too natural to be +at all surprising, will, I dare say, be pleasing to the devout mind. He +had just been reading, in Rollin's extracts from Xenophon, the answer +which the lady of Tigranes made when all the company were extolling +Cyrus, and expressing the admiration with which his appearance and +behaviour struck them. The question being asked her, What she thought of +him? she answered, "I do not know; I did not observe him." On what, then, +said one of the company did you fix your attention? "On him," replied +she, (referring to the generous speech which her husband had just made,) +"who said he would give a thousand lives to ransom my liberty." "Oh," +cried the colonel, when reading it, "how ought we to fix our eyes and +hearts on Him who, not in offer, but in reality, gave his own precious +life to ransom us from the most dreadful slavery, and from eternal +destruction!" But this is only one instance among a thousand. His heart +was so habitually set upon divine things, and he had such a permanent +and overflowing sense of the love of Christ, that he could not forbear +connecting such reflections with a multitude of more distant occasions +occurring in daily life, on which less advanced Christians would not have +thought of them; and thus, like our great Master, he made every little +incident a source of devotion, and an instrument of holy zeal.</p> +<p> +Enfeebled as his constitution was, he was still intent on improving his +time to some valuable purpose; and when his friends expostulated with him +that he gave his body so little rest, he used to answer, "It will rest +long enough in the grave."</p> +<p> +The July before his death, he was persuaded to take a journey to +Scarborough for the recovery of his health, from which he was at least +encouraged to expect some little revival. After this he had thoughts +of going to London, and intended to have spent part of September at +Northampton. The expectation of this was mutually agreeable; but +Providence saw fit to disconcert the scheme. His love for his friends in +these parts occasioned him to express some regret on his being commanded +back; and I am pretty confident, from the manner in which he expressed +himself in one of his last letters to me, that he had some more important +reasons for wishing an opportunity of making a London journey just at +that crisis, which, the reader will remember, was before the rebellion +broke out. But, as Providence determined it otherwise, he acquiesced; +and I am well satisfied, that could he have distinctly foreseen the +approaching event, so far as it concerned his own person, he would have +esteemed it the happiest summons he ever received. While he was at +Scarborough, I find by a letter dated from thence, July 26, 1745, that +he had been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at +Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, +assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of +God which was then hanging over them; on which occasion he hath this +expression: "I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should +be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present +more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing +which I am very sure of, and that comforts me, viz., that it shall go well +with the righteous, come what will."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XV.">XV.</a><br><br> + +BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS.</h4><br> + + + <p> + Quickly after his return home, the flame burst out, and his regiment +was ordered to Stirling. It was in that castle that his lady and eldest +daughter enjoyed the last happy hours of his company, and I think it was +about ten or twelve days before his death that he parted from them there. +A remarkable circumstance attended that parting, which has been touched +upon by surviving friends in more than one of their letters to me. His +lady was so affected when she took her last leave of him, that she could +not forbear bursting out into a flood of tears, with other marks of +unusual emotion; and when he asked her the reason, she urged as a +sufficient apology, the apprehension she had of losing such an invaluable +friend, amidst the dangers to which he was then called out. On this she +took particular notice, that whereas he had generally comforted her on +such occasions by pleading with her that remarkable hand of Providence +which had so frequently in former instances been exerted for his +preservation, and that in the greatest extremity, he said nothing of it +now; but only replied in his sententious manner, "We have an eternity to +spend together."</p> +<p> +That heroic contempt of death which had often discovered itself in the +midst of former dangers, was manifested now in his discourse with several +of his most intimate friends. I have reserved for this place one genuine +expression of it many years before, which I thought might be mentioned +with some advantage here. In July, 1725, he had been sent to some place +not far from Hamilton to quell a mutiny among some of our troops. I know +not the particular occasion; but I remember to have heard him mention it +as so fierce a one, that he scarcely ever apprehended himself in more +hazardous circumstances. Yet he quelled it by his presence alone, and the +expostulations he used––evidently putting his life into his hand to do +it. The particulars of the story struck me much; but I do not so exactly +remember them as to venture to relate them here. I only observe, that in +a letter dated July 16, that year, which I have now before me, and which +evidently refers to this event, he writes thus: "I have been very busy, +hurried about from place to place; but, blessed be God, all is over +without bloodshed. And pray let me ask what made you show so much concern +for me in your last? Were you afraid I should get to heaven before you? +or can any evil befall those who are followers of that which is good?"[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: I doubt not but this will remind some of my readers of that noble +speech of Zwinglius, when (according to the usage of that country,) +attending his flock to a battle in which their religion and liberties +were all at stake, on his receiving a mortal wound by a bullet, of which +he was expired, while his friends were in all the first astonishment of +grief, he bravely said, as he was dying, "<i class="smallprint">Ecquid hoc infortunii</i>? Is +this to be reckoned a misfortune?" How many of our Deists would have +celebrated such a sentence, if it had come from the lips of an ancient +Roman! Strange that the name of Christ should be so odious, that the +brightest virtues of his followers should be despised for his sake! But +so it is, and so our Master told us it would be; and our faith is, in +this connection, confirmed by those who strive most to overthrow it.]</p> +<p> +As these were his sentiments in the vigour of his days, so neither did +declining years and the infirmities of a broken constitution on the one +hand, nor any desire of enjoying the honours and profits of so high +a station, or (what was much more to him,) the converse of the most +affectionate of wives and so many amiable children and friends on the +other, in the least enervate his spirits; but as he had in former years +often expressed it, to me and several others, as his desire, "that if it +were the will of God, he might have some honourable call to sacrifice his +life in defence of religion and the liberties of his country;" so, +when it appeared to him most probable that he might be called to it +immediately, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. This appears +in part from a letter which he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Falkirk, +just as he was marching from Stirling, which was only eight days before +his death:–– "The rebels," says he, "are advancing to cross the Frith; +but I trust in the Almighty God, who doth whatsoever he please in the +armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." The same +gentleman tells me, that, a few days after the date of this, he marched +through Falkirk with his regiment; and though he was then in so +languishing a state, that he needed his assistance as secretary to write +for some reinforcements, which might put it in his power to make a stand, +(as he was very desirous to have done,) he expressed a most genuine and +noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in the defence of a +worth cause.</p> +<p> +These sentiments wrought in him to the last in the most effectual manner, +and he seemed for a while to have infused them into the regiment which he +commanded; for they expressed such a spirit in their march from Stirling, +that I am assured the colonel was obliged to exert all his authority to +prevent their making incursions on the rebel army, which then lay very +near him; and had it been thought proper to send him the reinforcements +he requested, none can say what the consequence might have been; but he +was ordered to march as fast as possible to meet Sir John Cope's forces +at Dunbar, which he did; and that hasty retreat, in concurrence with the +news which they soon after received of the surrender of Edinburgh to the +rebels, (either by the treachery or weakness of a few, in opposition to +the judgment of by far the greater and better part of the inhabitants,) +struck a panic into both the regiments of dragoons, which became visible +in some very apparent and remarkable circumstances in their behaviour, +which I forbear to relate. This affected Colonel Gardiner so much that, +on the Thursday before the fatal action of Prestonpans, he intimated to +an officer of considerable rank and note, from whom I had it by a very +sure channel of conveyance, that he expected the event would be as in +fact it was. In this view, there is all imaginable reason to believe that +he had formed his resolution as to his own personal conduct, which was, +"that he would not, in cases of the flight of those under his command, +retreat with them;" by which, as it seemed, he was reasonably +apprehensive that he might have stained the honour of his former +services, and have given some occasion for the enemy to have spoken +reproachfully. He much rather chose, if Providence gave him the call, to +leave in his death an example of fidelity and bravery which might very +probably be (as in fact it seems to have been) of much greater importance +to his country than any other service which, in the few days of remaining +life, he could expect to render it. I conclude these to have been his +views, not only from what I knew of his general character and temper, but +likewise from some intimations which he gave to a very worthy person from +Edinburgh, who visited him the day before the action, and to whom he +said, "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I +have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare +it,"––or words to that effect.</p> +<p> +I have heard such a multitude of inconsistent reports of the +circumstances of Colonel Gardiner's death, that I had almost despaired of +being able to give my reader any particular satisfaction concerning so +interesting a scene. But, by a happy accident, I have very lately had an +opportunity of being exactly informed of the whole by that brave man, Mr. +John Foster, his faithful servant, (and worthy of the honour of serving +such a master,) whom I had seen with him at my house some years before. +He attended him in his last hours, and gave me at large the narration, +which he would be ready, if requisite, to attest upon oath. From his +mouth I wrote it down with the utmost exactness, and could easily +believe, from the genuine and affectionate manner in which he related the +particulars, that according to his own striking expression, "his eye and +his heart were always upon his honoured master during the whole time."[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Just as I am putting the last hand to these memoirs, March 2, +1746-7, I have met with a corporal in Colonel Lascelles' regiment, who +was an eye-witness to what happened at Prestonpans on the day of the +battle, and the day before; and the account he has given me of some +memorable particulars is so exactly agreeable to that which I received +from Mr. Foster, that it would much corroborate his testimony, if there +were not so many other considerations to render it convincing.]</p> +<p> +On Friday, 20th September, (the day before the battle which transmitted +him to his immortal crown,) the colonel drew up his regiment in the +afternoon, and rode through all their ranks, addressing them at once +in the most respectful and animating manner, both as soldiers and as +Christians, to exert themselves courageously in the service of their +country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare +them for whatever might happen. They seemed much affected with the +address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy +immediately––a desire in which he and another very gallant officer of +distinguished rank, dignity, and character, both for bravery and conduct, +would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in their power. He +earnestly pressed it on the commanding officer, as the soldiers were then +in better spirits than it could be supposed they would be after having +passed the night under arms, and as the circumstance of making an attack +would be some encouragement to them, and probably some terror to the +enemy, who would have had the disadvantage of standing on the defence––a +disadvantage with which those wild barbarians, (for such most of them +were) perhaps would have been more struck than better disciplined +troops––especially, too, when they fought against the laws of their +country. He also apprehended that, by marching to meet them, some +advantage might have been secured with regard to the ground, with which, +it is natural to imagine, he must have been perfectly acquainted, as it +lay just at his own door, and he had rode over it many hundred times. +When I mention these things, I do not pretend to be capable of judging +how far this advice was right. A variety of circumstances to me unknown +might make it otherwise. It is certain, however, that it was brave. But +it was overruled in this respect, as it also was in the disposition of +the cannon, which he would have planted in the centre of our small army, +rather than just before his regiment, which was in the right wing, where +he was apprehensive that the horses, which had not been in any previous +engagement, might be thrown into some disorder by the discharge so very +near them. He urged this the more as he thought the attack of the rebels +might probably be made on the centre of the foot, where he knew there +were some brave men, on whose standing he thought, under God, the success +of the day depended. When he found that he could not carry either of +these points, nor some others which, out of regard to the common safety, +he insisted upon with unusual earnestness, he dropped some intimations +of the consequences he apprehended, and which did in fact follow; and +submitting to Providence, spent the remainder of the day in making as +good a disposition as circumstances would allow.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Several of these circumstances have since been confirmed by the +concurrent testimony of another very credible person, Mr. Robert Douglas, +(now a surgeon in the navy,) who was a volunteer at Edinburgh just before +the rebels entered the place, and who saw Colonel Gardiner come from +Haddington to the field of battle the day before the action in a chaise, +being (as from that circumstances he supposed) in so weak a state that he +could not well endure the fatigue of sitting on horseback. He observed +Colonel Gardiner in discourse with several officers on the evening before +the engagement, at which time, it was afterwards reported, he gave his +advice to attack the rebels; and when it was overruled, he afterwards saw +the colonel walk by himself in a very pensive manner.]</p> + +<p> +He continued all night under arms, wrapt up in his cloak, and generally +sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About +three in the morning he called his domestic servants to him, of which +there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with most +affectionate Christian advice, and such solemn charges relating to the +performance of their duty and the care of their souls, as plainly seemed +to intimate that he at least apprehended it very probable he was taking +his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an hour, +in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him, +and to which so many circumstances then concurred to call him.</p> +<p> +The army was alarmed at break of day by the noise of the rebels' +approach, and the attack was made before sunrise; yet it was light enough +to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy came within gunshot, they +made a furious fire; and it is said that the dragoons, which constituted +the left wing, immediately fled. The colonel, at the beginning of the +onset, which lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a bullet in +his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon +which his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded him to +retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh, and fought on, +though soon after he received a shot in his right thigh. In the meantime +it was discovered that some of the enemies fell by him, particularly one +man, who had made him a treacherous visit but a few days before, with +great professions of zeal for the present establishment.</p> +<p> +Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can +be written, or than it can be read. The colonel was for a few moments +supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person, +Lieutenant-colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm, and who, a few +months after, fell nobly in the battle of Falkirk; by Lieutenant West, a +man of distinguished bravery; also by about fifteen dragoons, who stood +by him to the last. But, after a faint fire, the regiment was seized with +a panic; and though their colonel and some other gallant officers did +what they could to rally them once or twice, they took to precipitate +flight. Just at the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a +pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, +an accident happened, which must, I think, in the judgment of every +worthy and generous man, be deemed a sufficient apology for exposing his +life to so great a hazard, when his regiment had left him.[*] He saw that +a party of foot, who were then bravely fighting near him, and whom he +was ordered to support, had no officer to head them; upon which he said +eagerly, in the hearing of the person from whom I had this account, +"Those brave fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander,"––or +words to that effect. So saying, he rode up to them, and cried out aloud, +"Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But, just as the words were out of +his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him with a scythe, fastened on +a long pole, with which he gave him such a deep wound on his right arm, +that his sword dropped out of his hand; and at the same time several +others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that +cruel weapon, he was dragged off his horse. The moment he fell another +Highlander, who, if the crown witness at Carlisle may be credited, (as I +know not why he should not, though the unhappy creature died denying it,) +was one M'Naught, who was executed about a year after, gave him a stroke +either with a broadsword or a Lochaber axe, (for my informant could not +exactly distinguish,) on the hinder part of his head, which was the +mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time +was, that as his hat had fallen off, he took it in his left hand, and +waved it as a signal to him to retreat; and added, (the last words he +ever heard him speak,) "Take care of yourself;" upon which the servant +retired.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The colonel, who was well acquainted with military history, might +possibly remember that in the battle at Blenheim, the illustrious Prince +Eugene, when the horse of the wing which he commanded had run away +thrice, charged at the head of the foot, and thereby greatly contributed +to the glorious success of the day. At least such an example may conduce +to vindicate that noble ardour which, amidst all the applauses of his +country, some have been so cool and so critical as to blame. For my part, +I thank God that I am not called to apologize for his following his +troops in their flight, which I fear would have been a much harder task; +and which, dear as he was to me, would have grieved me much more than his +death, with these heroic circumstances attending it.]</p> +<p> +It was reported at Edinburgh, on the day of the battle, by what seemed a +considerable authority, that as the colonel lay in his wounds, he said to +a chief of the opposite side, "You are fighting for an earthly crown, I +am going to receive a heavenly one,"––or something to that purpose. When +I preached the sermon, long since printed, on occasion of his death, I +had great reason to believe this report was true, though, before the +publication of it, I began to be in doubt; and, on the whole, after the +most accurate inquiry I could possibly make at this distance, I cannot +get any convincing evidence of it. Yet I must here observe that it does +not appear impossible that something of this kind might indeed be uttered +by him, as his servant testifies that he spoke to him after receiving +that fatal blow, which would seem most likely to have taken away the +power of speech, and as it is certain he lived several hours after he +fell. If, therefore, any thing of this kind did happen, it must have been +just before this instant. But as to the story of his being taken prisoner +and carried to the pretended Prince, (who, by the way, afterwards +rode his horse, and entered into Derby upon it,) with several other +circumstances which were grafted upon that interview, there is the most +undoubted evidence of its falsehood; for his attendant above mentioned +assures me that he himself immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of +about two miles from the spot on which the colonel fell, where he changed +his dress, and, disguised like a miller's servant, returned with a cart +as soon as possible, which yet was not till nearly two hours after the +engagement. The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he +found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other +things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet +still breathing; and adds, that though he was not capable of speech, +yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes; which makes it something +questionable whether he was altogether insensible. In this condition, and +in this manner, he conveyed him to the church of Tranent, from whence he +was immediately taken into the minister's house, and laid in bed, where +he continued breathing and frequently groaning till about eleven in +the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and sorrow, and +undoubtedly rose to those distinguished glories which are reserved for +those who have been eminently and remarkably faithful unto death.</p> +<p> +From the moment he fell, it was no longer a battle, but a rout and +carnage. The cruelties which the rebels (as it is generally said under +the command of Lord Elcho,) inflicted on some of the king's troops after +they had asked quarter, are dreadfully legible on the countenances of +many who survived it. They entered Colonel Gardiner's house before he was +carried off from the field, and notwithstanding the strict orders which +the unhappy Duke of Perth (whose conduct is said to have been very humane +in many instances,) gave to the contrary, every thing of value was +plundered, to the very curtains of the beds, and hangings of the rooms. +His papers were all thrown into the wildest disorder, and his house made +an hospital for the reception of those who were wounded in the action.</p> +<p> +Such was the close of a life which had been zealously devoted to God, and +filled up with many honourable services. Such was the death of him who +had been so highly favoured by God in the method by which he was brought +back to him after so long and so great an estrangement, and in the +progress of so many years, during which (in the expressive phrase of the +most ancient of writers,) "he had walked with him;"–– to fall, as God +threatened the people of his wrath that they should do, "with tumult, +with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." Amos ii. 2. Several +other very worthy, and some of them very eminent persons, shared the same +fate, either now at the battle of Prestonpans, or quickly after at that +of Falkirk;[*] Providence, no doubt, permitting it, to establish our +faith in the rewards of an invisible world, as well as to teach us to +cease from man, and fix our dependence on an Almighty arm.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Of these, none were more memorable than those illustrious +brothers, Mr. Robert Munro and Dr. Munro, whose tragical but glorious fate +was also shared quietly after by a third hero of the family, Captain +Munro, of Culcairn, brother to Sir Robert and the Doctor.]</p> + +<p> +The remains of this Christian hero (as I believe every reader is now +convinced he may justly be called,) were interred the Tuesday following, +September 24, in the parish church at Tranent, where he had usually +attended divine service, with great solemnity. His obsequies were +honoured with the presence of some persons of distinction, who were not +afraid of paying that mark of respect to his memory, though the country +was then in the hands of the enemy. But, indeed, there was no great +hazard in this; for his character was so well known, that even they +themselves spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join with his friends +in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man.</p> +<p> +The remotest posterity will remember for whom the honour of subduing this +unnatural and pernicious rebellion was reserved; and it will endear the +Duke of Cumberland to all but the open or secret abettors of it in the +present age, and consecrate his name to immortal honours among all the +friends of religion and liberty who shall arise after us. And, I dare +say, it will not be imagined that I at all derogate from his glory in +suggesting, that the memory of that valiant and excellent person whose +memoirs I am now concluding may in some measure have contributed to that +signal and complete victory with which God was pleased to crown the +arms of his Royal Highness; for the force of such an example is very +animating, and a painful consciousness of having deserted such a +commander in such extremity, must at least awaken, where there was any +spark of generosity, an earnest desire to avenge his death on those who +had sacrificed his blood, and that of so many other excellent persons, to +the views of their ambition, rapine or bigotry.</p> +<p> +The reflections which I have made in my funeral sermon on my honoured +friend, and in the dedication of it to his worthy and most afflicted +lady, supersede many things which might otherwise have properly been +added here. I conclude, therefore, with humbly acknowledging the wisdom +and goodness of that awful Providence which drew so thick a gloom around +him in the last hours of his life, that the lustre of his virtues might +dart through it with a more vivid and observable ray. It is abundant +matter of thankfulness that so signal a monument of grace, and ornament +of the Christian profession, was raised in our age and country, and +spared for so many honourable and useful years. Nor can all the +tenderness of the most affectionate friendship, while its sorrows bleed +afresh in the view of so tragical a scene, prevent my adoring the +gracious appointment of the great Lord of all events, that when the day +in which he must have expired without an enemy appeared so very near, the +last ebb of his generous blood should be poured out, as a kind of sacred +libation, to the liberties of his country, and the honour of his God! +that all the other virtues of his character, embalmed as it were by that +precious stream, might diffuse around a more extensive fragrance, and be +transmitted to the most remote posterity with that peculiar charm which +they cannot but derive from their connection with so gallant a fall––an +event (as that blessed apostle, of whose spirit he so deeply drank, has +expressed it) "according to his earnest expectation, and his hope that in +him Christ might be glorified in all things, whether by his life or by +his death."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4><a name="THE">THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.</a></h4><br> + + + + <p> +In the midst of so many more important articles, I had really forgotten +to say any thing of the person of Colonel Gardiner, of which, +nevertheless, it may be proper here to add a word or two. He was, as I +was informed, in younger life remarkably graceful and amiable; and I +can easily believe it, from what I knew him to be when our acquaintance +began, though he was then turned of fifty, and had gone through so many +fatigues as well as dangers, which could not but leave some traces on his +countenance. He was tall, (I suppose something more than six feet,) well +proportioned, and strongly built; his eyes of a dark gray, and not very +large; his forehead pretty high; his nose of a length and height no way +remarkable, but very well suited to his other features; his cheeks not +very prominent; his mouth moderately large, and his chin rather a little +inclining (when I knew him) to be peaked. He had a strong voice and +lively accent, with an air very intrepid, yet attempered with much +gentleness. There was something in his manner of address most perfectly +easy and obliging, which was in great measure the result of the great +candour and benevolence of his natural temper, and which, no doubt, was +much improved by the deep humility which divine grace had wrought in his +heart, as well as his having been accustomed from his early youth to the +company of persons of distinguished rank and polite behaviour.</p> +<p> +The picture of him, which is given at the beginning of these memoirs, +was taken from an original done by Van Deest (a Dutchman brought into +Scotland by general Wade,) in the year 1727, which was the 40th of his +age, and is said to have been very like him then, though far from being +an exact resemblance of what he was when I had the happiness of being +acquainted with him.[*] Perhaps he would have appeared to the greatest +advantage of all, could he have been exactly drawn on horseback; as +many very good judges, and among the rest the celebrated Mons. Faubert +himself, have spoken of him as one of the completest horsemen that has +ever been known; and there was indeed something so singularly graceful in +his appearance in that attitude, that it was sufficient (as what is very +eminent in its kind generally is,) to strike an eye not formed on any +critical rules.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: In presenting this likeness for the first time in an American +edition of this work, the artist has taken the liberty to change the +costume, by substituting the ordinary military dress for the court dress +of the original.––<i class="smallprint">Editor of the Pres. Board of Publication</i>.] +<br><br> +[Transcriber's Note: The picture is not available.]</p> +<br><br> + + + + +<h4><a name="API">APPENDIX I.</a></h4><br> + + + <p> +(Referred to at the end of Chapter VI, LETTERS.)</p> +<p> +It may not be amiss, in illustration of Dr. Doddridge's remarks on the +subject of dreams, to present to the reader the following account of +a remarkable dream which occurred to the Doctor himself, and had a +beneficial influence on his own mind.––ED. PRES. BD. PUB.</p> +<br><br> + + + +<h4>DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM.</h4><br> + + +<p> +Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Samuel Clark, of St. Alban's, having been +conversing in the evening upon the nature of the separate state, and the +probability that the scenes on which the soul would enter, at its first +leaving the body, would have some resemblance to those things it had been +conversant with while on earth, that it might by degrees be prepared +for the more sublime happiness of the heavenly state, this and other +conversation of the same kind probably occasioned the following dream.</p> +<p> +The Doctor imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in +London, and after remaining in this state for some hours, he thought his +soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of a fine vehicle, +though very different from the gross body it had just quitted, but still +material. He pursued his course through the air, expecting some celestial +messenger to meet him, till he was at some distance from the city, +when turning back and viewing the town, he could not forbear saying to +himself, "How vain do those affairs in which the inhabitants of this +place are so eagerly employed, seem to me a separate spirit!" At length, +as he was continuing his progress, though without any certain directions, +yet easy and happy in the thoughts of the universal providence and +government of God, which extends alike to all states and worlds, he was +now met by one who told him he was sent to conduct him to this destined +state of abode, from which he concluded it was an angel, though he +appeared in the form of an elderly man. They accordingly advanced +together, till they came within sight of a large spacious building, +which had the air of a palace. Upon his inquiring what it was, his guide +replied, it was the place assigned for him at present; upon which the +Doctor wondered that he had read on earth, "that eye had not seen, nor +ear had heard, the glory laid up for them that love God," when he could +easily have formed an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, +though he acknowledged they were greatly inferior to this in elegance and +magnificence. The answer, his guide told him, was plainly suggested by +the conversation of the evening before, and that the scenes presented to +him were purposely contrived to bear a near resemblance to those he had +been accustomed to on earth, that his mind might be more easily and +gradually prepared for those glories which would open upon him hereafter, +and which would at first have quite dazzled and overpowered him. By this +time they came to the palace, and his guide led him through a kind of +saloon into an inner parlour. The first object that struck him was a +great golden cup which stood upon a table, on which was embossed the +figure of a vine and clusters of grapes. He asked his guide the meaning +of it; who told him that it was the cup in which his Saviour drank new +wine with his disciples in his kingdom; and that the figures carved on it +denoted the union between Christ and his Church, implying, that as the +grapes derived all their beauty and flavour from the vine, so the saints, +even in a state of glory, were indebted for their establishment in +holiness and happiness, to their union with their common Head, in whom +they are all complete. While they were conversing, he heard a tap at the +door, and was informed by the angel that it was a signal of his Lord's +approach, and was intended to prepare him for an interview. Accordingly, +in a short time our Saviour entered the room, and upon his casting +himself at his feet, he graciously raised him up, and with a smile of +inexpressible complacency, assured him of his favour, and kind acceptance +of his faithful services, and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the +intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the +cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into the Doctor's hand. +The Doctor would have declined it at first, as too great an honour; but +our Lord replied, as to Peter in washing his feet, "If thou drinkest not +with me, thou hast no part with me." This he observed filled him with +such a transport of gratitude, love and admiration, that he was ready to +sink under it. His master seemed sensible of this, and told him he must +leave him for the present, but would not be long before he repeated +his visit. As soon as our Lord was retired, and the Doctor's mind more +composed, he observed that the room was hung with pictures, and upon +examining them, he found to his great surprise, that they contained +all the history of his life; and most remarkable scenes he had passed +through, being there represented in a very lively manner––the many +temptations and trials he had been exposed to, and the signal instances +of the divine goodness in the different periods of his life. It may not +be easily imagined how this would strike and affect his mind. It excited +in him the strongest emotions of gratitude, especially when he reflected +that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the +purposes of divine love towards him were so amply accomplished. The +exstacy of joy and gratitude, into which these reflections threw him, was +so great that he awoke; but for some time after he awoke the impression +continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, and he said +that he never, on any occasion, remembered to have had sentiments of +devotion and love equal to it.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4><a name="APII">APPENDIX II.</a></h4><br> + + + <p> + (Referred to in Chapter VII, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.)</p> +<p> +The following extract from Dr. Doddridge's "Thoughts on Sacramental +Occasions," gives a beautiful and edifying picture of the exercises of +his affectionate and pious heart under a painful bereavement.</p> +<br><br> + +<h4>THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT, OCTOBER 3, 1736.<br><br> + +DEAR BETSEY DEAD.¹(see Footnote¹) +</h4><br> + + + <p> + I had preached in the bitterness of my heart from these words: "Is it +well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is +well." 2 Kings iv. 26. I endeavoured to show the reason there was to say +this; but surely there was never any dispensation of Providence in which +I found it so hard, for my very soul had been overwhelmed within me. +Indeed, some hard thoughts of the mercy of God were ready to arise; and +the apprehension of his heavy displeasure, and the fear of my child's +future state, added fuel to the fire.</p> +<p> +Upon the whole, my mind was in the most painful agitation; but it pleased +God, that, in composing the sermon, my soul became quieted, and I was +brought into a more silent and cordial submission to the Divine will.</p> +<p> +At the table I discoursed on these words, "Although my house be not so +with God." 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. I observed, that domestic calamities may +befall good men in their journey through life, and particularly in +relation to their children; but that they have a refuge in God's +covenant; it is everlasting; it is sure; it is well ordered––every +provision is made according to our necessities; and shall be our +salvation, as it is the object of our most affectionate regard.</p> +<p> +One further circumstance I must record; and that is, that I here solemnly +recollected that I had, in a former sacrament taken the cup with these +words, "Lord, I take this cup as a public and solemn token that I will +refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hand." I mentioned this +recollection, and charged it publicly on myself and my Christian friends. +God has taken me at my word, but I do not retract it; I repeat it again +with regard to every future cup.</p> +<p> +I am just come from the coffin of my dear child, who seemes to be sweetly +asleep there, with a serene, composed, delightful countenance, once how +animated with double life! There––lo! O my soul! lo there! is thine idol +laid still in death––the creature which stood next to God in thine heart; +to whom it was opened with a fond and flattering delight. Methinks I +would learn to be dead with her––dead to the world. Oh that I could be +dead with her, not any further than that her dear memory may promote my +living to God.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The following note was written in the margin of the manuscript by +the late Rev. Thomas Stedman: "I think I have heard that the doctor wrote +his funeral sermon for his daughter, or a part of it, upon her coffin."]</p> +<p> +I had a great deal of very edifying, conversation last night and this +morning with my wife, whose wisdom does indeed make her face to shine +under this affliction. She is supported and armoured with a courage which +seems not at all natural to her; talks with the utmost freedom, and has +really said many of the most useful things that ever were said to me by +any person upon the earth, both as to consolation and admonition. Had +the best things I have read on the subject been collected together, they +could hardly have been better conceived or better expressed. This is +to me very surprising when I consider her usual reserve. I have all +imaginable reason to believe that God will make this affliction a great +blessing to her, and I hope it may prove so to me. There was a fond +delight and complacence which I took in Betsey beyond any thing living. +Although she had not a tenth part of that rational, manly love, which I +pay to her mourning and many surviving friends; yet it leaves a peculiar +pain upon my heart, and it is almost as if my very gall were poured +out upon the earth. Yet much sweetness mingles itself with this bitter +potion, chiefly in the view and hope of my speedy removal to the eternal +world. May it not be the bounty of this providence, that instead of her +living many years upon the earth, God may have taken away my child that I +might be fitted for and reconciled to my own dissolution, perhaps nearly +approaching? I verily believe that I shall meet her there, and enjoy much +more of her in heaven than I should have done had she survived me on +earth. Lord, thy will be done; may my life be used for the service while +continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ¹: The following extract from the Diary of Dr. Doddridge is +here subjoined, as affording an explanation of some particulars alluded +to in the text.</p> +<br> + + + + + <h5> REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR CHILD, <br> + AND THE MANY MOURNFUL PROVIDENCES ATTENDING IT.</h5><br> + + + <p class="smallprint"> + I have a great deal of reason to condemn my own negligence and folly, +that for so many months I have suffered no memorandums of what has passed +between God and my soul, although some of the transactions were very +remarkable, as well as some things which I have heard concerning others; +but the subject of this article is the most melancholy of any. We lost my +dear and reverend brother and friend, Mr. Sanders, on the 31st of July +last; on the 1st of September, Lady Russell––that invaluable friend, died +at Reading on her road from Bath; and on Friday, the 1st of October, God +was pleased, by a most awful stroke, to take away my eldest, dearest +child, my lovely Betsey. She was formed to strike my affections in the +most powerful manner; such a person, genius, and temper, as I admired +even beyond their real importance, so that indeed I doted upon her, and +was for many months before her death in a great degree of bondage upon +her account. She was taken ill at Newport about the middle of June, and +from thence to the day of her death, she was my continual thought, and +almost uninterrupted care. God only knows with what earnestness and +importunity I prostrated myself before him to beg her life, which I would +have been willing almost to have purchased with my own. When reduced to +the lowest degree of languishment by a consumption, I could not forbear +looking upon her almost every hour. I saw her with the strongest mixture +of anguish and delight; no chemist ever watched his crucible with greater +care, when he expected the production of the philosopher's stone, than I +watched her in all the various turns of her distemper, which at last grew +utterly hopeless, and then no language can express the agony into which +it threw me. One remarkable circumstance I cannot but recollect: in +praying most affectionately, perhaps too earnestly, for her life, these +words came into my mind with great power, "Speak no more to me of this +matter." I was unwilling to take them, and went into the chamber to see +my dear lamb, when, instead of receiving me with her usual tenderness, +she looked upon me with a stern air, and said, with a very remarkable +determination of voice, "I have no more to say to you;" and I think that +from that time, although she lived at least ten days, she seldom looked +upon me with pleasure, or cared to suffer me to come near her. But that +I might feel all the bitterness of the affliction, Providence so ordered +it, that I came in when her sharpest agonies were upon her, and those +words, "O dear, O dear, what shall I do?" rung in my ears for succeeding +hours and days. But God delivered her,––and she, without any violent pang +in the article of her dissolution, quietly and sweetly fell asleep, as I +hope, in Jesus, about ten at night, I being then at Maidwell. When I came +home my mind was under a dark cloud relating to the eternal state; but +God was pleased graciously to remove it, and gave me comfortable hopes, +after having felt the most heart-rending sorrow. My dear wife bore the +affliction in the most glorious manner, and discovered more wisdom, and +piety, and steadiness of temper in a few days, than I had ever in six +years an opportunity of observing before. O my soul, God has blasted thy +gourd; thy greatest earthly delight is gone: seek it in heaven, where I +hope this dear babe is; where I am sure that my Saviour is; and where I +trust, through grace, notwithstanding all this irregularity of temper and +of heart, that I shall shortly be.</p> + + + <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + + <td class="right2" valign="top" width="100%"> + Sunday, October 3, 1736. + </td> + + </tr></table> <br><br><br><br> + + <h5>FURTHER REFLECTIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MY DEAR BETSEY.</h5> + + + <p class="smallprint"> + I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is +for ever hidden from them. My heart was too full to weep much. We had a +suitable sermon from these words: "Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah +iv. 9; because of the gourd. I hope God knows that I am not angry; but +sorrowful he surely allows me to be. I could have wished that more had +been said concerning the hope we may have of our child; and it was a +great disappointment to me that nothing of that kind should have been +said by one that loved her so well as my brother Hunt did. Yet, I bless +God, I have my hopes that she is lodged in the arms of Christ. And there +was an occurrence that I took much notice of; I was most earnestly +praying that God would be pleased to give me some further encouragement +on this head, by letting some new light, or by directing me to some +further thoughts upon the subject. Soon after, as I came into my wife's +chamber, she told me that our maid Betty, who had indeed the affection +of a parent for my dear girl, had just before assured her, that, on the +Sabbath day evening, Betsey would be repeating to herself some things of +what she had heard in my prayers and in my preachings, but did not +care to talk of it to others; and my wife assured me that she solemnly +recommended herself to God in the words that I had taught her a little +before she died. Blessed God, hast thou not received her? I trust that +thou hast, and pardoned the infirmities of her poor, short, childish, +afflicted life. I hope, in some measure out of love to me, as thy +servant, thou hast done it, for Christ's sake; and I would consider the +very hope, as an engagement to thy future service. Lord, I love those who +were kind to my child, and wept with me for her; shall I not much more +love thee, who, I hope, art at this moment taking care of her, and +opening her infant faculties for the duties and blessedness of heaven.<br><br> + +Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first born is +gone;––my beloved child is laid in bed before me. I have often followed +her to her bed in a literal sense; and shortly I shall follow her to +that, where we shall lie down together, and our rest shall be together +in the dust. In a literal sense the grave is ready for me. My grave is +made––I have looked into it––a dear part of myself is already there; and +when I stood at the Lord's table I stood directly over it. It is some +pleasure to me to think that my dust will be lodged near that of my dear +lamb, how much more to hope that my soul will rest with hers, and rejoice +in her forever! But, O, let me not centre my thoughts even here; it is +at rest with, and in God, that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace +secure it to me! and in the mean time give me some holy acquiescence of +soul in thee; and although my gourd be withered, yet shelter me under the +shadow of thy wings.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11253 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8808431 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #11253 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11253) diff --git a/old/11253-8.txt b/old/11253-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5bfafb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4914 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of Col. James Gardiner + Who Was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745 + +Author: P. Doddridge + +Release Date: February 24, 2004 [EBook #11253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER, + + +WHO WAS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS, + + +SEPTEMBER 21, 1745. + + + +BY P. DODDRIDGE, D.D. + + + +'Justior alter Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis.'--VIRGIL + + + + +CHAPTER + + I PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + II BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + III MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + IV CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + V HIS CONVERSION. + + VI LETTERS. + + VII DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + +VIII CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + IX INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + X DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + XI EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + XII RETURN TO ENGLAND. + +XIII REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + XIV APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + XV BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + APPENDIX I + + APPENDIX II + + + + +[*Transcriber's Note: At the time of this book, England still followed +the Julian calendar (after Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.), and celebrated New +Year's Day on March 25th (Annunciation Day). Most Catholic countries +accepted the Gregorian calendar (after Pope Gregory XIII) from some time +after 1582 (the Catholic countries of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy +in 1582, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland within a year or two, +Hungary in 1587, and Scotland in 1600), and celebrated New Year's Day on +January 1st. England finally changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. +This is the reason for the double dates in the early months of the years +in this narrative. January 1687 in England would have been January 1688 +in Scotland. Only after March 25th was the year the same in the two +countries. The Julian calendar was known as 'Old Style', and the +Gregorian calendar as 'New Style' (N.S.). + +(Thus a letter written from France on e.g. August 4th, 1719 would be +dated August 4, N.S.)] + + + + +LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + +When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character +of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon +on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence +continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the +expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which +appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate +friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his +life--a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated +conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me, +beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious +experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable +letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which +contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character. +But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of +his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as +from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore +determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these +advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I, +on the whole, reason to regret that determination. + +I shall not trouble the reader with all the causes which concurred to +retard these expected assistances for almost a whole year. The chief of +them was the tedious languishing illness of his afflicted lady, through +whose hands it was proper the papers should pass; together with the +confusion into which the rebels had thrown them when they ransacked +his seat at Bankton, where most of them were deposited. But having now +received such of them as have escaped their rapacious hands, and could +conveniently be collected and transmitted, I set myself with the greatest +pleasure to perform what I esteem not merely a tribute of gratitude to +the memory of my invaluable friend, (though never was the memory of any +mortal man more precious and sacred to me,) but of duty to God, and to my +fellow-creatures; for I have a most cheerful hope that the narrative I am +now to write will, under the divine blessing, be a means of spreading, +what of all things in the world, every benevolent heart will most desire +to spread, a warm and lively sense of religion. + +My own heart has been so much edified and animated by what I have read in +the memoirs of persons who have been eminent for wisdom and piety, that I +cannot but wish the treasure may be more and more increased; and I would +hope the world may gather the like valuable fruits from the life I am +now attempting, not only as it will contain very singular circumstances, +which may excite general curiosity, but as it comes attended with some +other particular advantages. + +The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various +goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of +imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will +surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and +important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but +_military_ life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence +of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable +praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in +most other professions might be esteemed only _a mediocrity of virtue_. +It may surely, with the highest justice, be expected that the title +and bravery of Colonel Gardiner will invite many of our officers and +soldiers, to whom his name has been long honourable and dear, to peruse +this account of him with some peculiar attention; in consequence of which +it may be a means of increasing the number, and brightening the character +of those who are already adorning their office, their country, and their +religion; and of reclaiming those who will see what they ought to be, +rather than what they are. On the whole, to the gentlemen of the sword I +would particularly offer these memoirs, as theirs by so distinguished +a title; yet I am firmly persuaded there are _none_ whose office is so +sacred, or whose proficiency in the religious life is so advanced, but +they may find something to demand their thankfulness, and to awaken their +emulation. + + + +COLONEL JAMES GARDINER was the son of Capt. Patrick Gardiner of the +family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs.[*] Mary Hodge of the family of Gladsmuir. +The captain, who was master of a handsome estate, served many years in +the army of king William and queen Anne, and died abroad with the British +forces in Germany, soon after the battle of Hochstett, through the +fatigues he underwent in the duties of that celebrated campaign. He had +a company in the regiment of foot once commanded by Colonel Hodge, his +valiant brother-in-law, who was slain at the head of that regiment (my +memorial from Scotland says) at the battle of Steenkirk, which was fought +in the year 1692. + +[*Transcriber's Note: Mrs. (Mistress), in that age, was the normal style +of address for an unmarried daughter from a prominent family, as well as +for a married lady.] + +Mrs. Gardiner, our colonel's mother, was a lady of very respectable +character; but it pleased God to exercise her with very uncommon trials; +for she not only lost her husband and her brother in the service of their +country, as before related, but also her eldest son, Mr. Robert Gardiner, +on the day which completed the 16th year of his age, at the siege of +Namur, in 1695. But there is great reason to believe that God blessed +these various and heavy afflictions, as the means of forming her to that +eminent degree of piety which will render her memory honourable as long +as it continues. + +Her second son, the worthy person of whom I am now to give a more +particular account, was born at Carriden, in Linlithgowshire, on the 10th +of January, A.D. 1687-8,--the memorable year of that glorious revolution +which he justly esteemed among the happiest of all events; so that when +he was slain in defence of those liberties which God then, by so gracious +a providence, rescued from utter destruction, i.e. on the 21st of +September 1745, he was aged 57 years, 8 months, and 11 days. + +The annual return of his birth-day was observed by him in the latter +and better years of his life, in a manner very different from what is +commonly practised; for, instead of making it a day of festivity, I +am told he rather distinguished it as a season of more than ordinary +humiliation before God--both in commemoration of those mercies which he +received in the first opening of life, and under an affectionate sense, +as well of his long alienation from the great Author and support of his +being, as of the many imperfections which he lamented in the best of his +days and services. + +I have not met with many things remarkable concerning the early days of +his life, only that his mother took care to instruct him, with great +tenderness and affection, in the principles of true Christianity. He was +also trained up in humane literature, at the school at Linlithgow, where +he made a very considerable progress in the languages. I remember to have +heard him quote some passages of the Latin classics very pertinently; +though his employment in life, and the various turns which his mind +took under different impulses in succeeding years, prevented him from +cultivating such studies. + +The good effects of his mother's prudent and exemplary care were not so +conspicuous as she wished and hoped, in the earlier part of her son's +life; yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirely lost. +As they were probably the occasion of many convictions which in his +younger years were overborne, so I doubt not, that when religious +impressions took that strong hold of his heart which they afterwards did, +that stock of knowledge which had been so early laid up in his mind, +was found of considerable service. And I have heard them make the +observation, as an encouragement to parents, and other pious friends, to +do their duty, and to hope for those good consequences of it which may +not immediately appear. + +Could his mother, or a very religious aunt, (of whose good instructions +and exhortations I have often heard him speak with pleasure,) have +prevailed, he would not have thought of a military life, from which it +is no wonder these ladies endeavoured to dissuade him, considering the +mournful experience they had of the dangers attending it, and the dear +relatives they had lost already by it. But it suited his taste; and the +ardour of his spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend who greatly +urged it,[*] was not to be restrained. Nor will the reader wonder +that, thus excited and supported, it easily overbore their tender +remonstrances, when he knows that this lively youth fought three duels +before he attained to the stature of a man; in one of which, when he was +but eight years old, he received from a boy much older than himself, a +wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. +The false sense of honour which instigated him to it, might seem indeed +something excusable in those unripened years, and considering the +profession of his father, brother, and uncle; but I have often heard +him mention this rashness with that regret which the reflection would +naturally give to so wise and good a man in the maturity of life. And I +have been informed that, after his remarkable conversion, he declined +accepting a challenge, with this calm and truly great reply, which, in +a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful: "I fear +sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting." + +[*Note: I suppose this to have been Brigadier-General Rue, who had from +his childhood a peculiar affection for him.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + +He served first as a cadet, which must have been very early; and then, at +fourteen years old, he bore an ensign's commission in a Scotch regiment +in the Dutch service, in which he continued till the year 1702, when (if +my information be right) he received an ensign's commission from queen +Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramillies, being then in the +nineteenth year of his age. In this ever-memorable action he received a +wound in his mouth by a musket-ball, which has often been reported to be +the occasion of his conversion. That report was a mistaken one; but as +some very remarkable circumstances attended this affair, which I have +had the pleasure of hearing more than once from his own mouth, I hope my +readers will excuse me, if I give him so uncommon a story at large. + +Our young officer was of a party in the forlorn hope, and was commanded +on what seemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French of +the church-yard at Ramillies, where a considerable number of them were +posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded much better than was +expected; and it may well be supposed that Mr. Gardiner, who had before +been in several encounters, and had the view of making his fortune to +animate the natural intrepidity of his spirit, was glad of such an +opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly he had planted his +colours on an advanced ground; and while he was calling to his men, +(probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our +soldiery, and so absurdly common on such occasions of extreme danger,) he +received into his mouth a shot, which, without beating out of any of his +teeth, or touching the fore part of his tongue, went through his neck, +and came out about an inch and a half on the left side of the _vertebræ_. +Not feeling at first the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become +of the ball, and in the wildness of his surprise began to suspect he had +swallowed it; but falling soon after, he traced the passage of it by his +finger, when he could discover it in no other way; which I mention as +one circumstance, among many which occur, to make it probable that the +greater part of those who fall in battle by these instruments of death, +feel very little anguish from the most mortal wounds. + +This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of +May, 1706; and the army, pursuing its advantages against the French, +without ever regarding the wounded, (which was, it seems, the Duke of +Marlborough's constant method,) our young officer lay all night on +the field, agitated, as may well be supposed, with a great variety of +thoughts. He assured me, that when he reflected upon the circumstance of +his wound, that a ball should, as he then conceived it, go through his +head without killing him, he thought God had preserved him by a miracle; +and therefore assuredly concluded that he should live, abandoned and +desperate as his state seemed to be. Yet (which to me appeared very +astonishing) he had little thoughts of humbling himself before God, and +returning to him after the wanderings of a life so licentiously begun. +But, expecting to recover, his mind was taken up with contrivances to +secure his gold, of which he had a good deal about him; and he had +recourse to a very odd expedient, which proved successful. Expecting to +be stripped, he first took out a handful of that clotted gore of which he +was frequently obliged to clear his mouth, or he would have been choked; +and putting it into his left hand, he took out his money, which I think +was about 19 pistoles, and shutting his hand, and besmearing the back +part of it with blood, he kept in this position till the blood dried in +such a manner that his hand could not easily fall open, though any sudden +surprise should happen, in which he might lose the presence of mind which +that concealment otherwise would have required. + +In the morning the French, who were masters of that spot, though their +forces were defeated at some distance, came to plunder the slain; and +seeing him to appearance almost expiring, one of them was just applying +a sword to his breast, to destroy the little remainder of life, when, in +the critical moment, upon which all the extraordinary events of such a +life as his afterwards proved, were suspended, a Cordelier who attended +the plunderers interposed, (taking him by his dress for a Frenchman) and +said, "Do not kill that poor child." Our young soldier heard all that +passed, though he was not able to speak one word; and, opening his +eyes, made a sign for something to drink. They gave him a sup of some +spirituous liquor which happened to be at hand, by which he said he found +a more sensible refreshment than he could remember from anything he had +tasted either before or since. Then signifying to the friar to lean down +his ear to his mouth, he employed the first efforts of his feeble breath +in telling him (what, alas! was a contrived falsehood) that he was a +nephew to the governor of Huy, a neutral town in the neighbourhood; and +that if he could take any method of conveying him thither, he did not +doubt but his uncle would liberally reward him. He had indeed a friend at +Huy, who I think was governor, and, if I mistake not, had been acquainted +with the captain, his father, from whom he expected a kind reception; but +the relation was only pretended. On hearing this, they laid him on a sort +of hand-barrow, and sent him by a file of musqueteers towards the place; +but the men lost their way, and, towards the evening, got into a wood in +which they were obliged to continue all night. The poor patient's wound +being still undressed, it is not to be wondered at that by this time it +raged violently. The anguish of it engaged him earnestly to beg that they +would either kill him outright, or leave him there to die without the +torture of any further motion; and indeed they were obliged to rest for a +considerable time, on account of their own weariness. Thus he spent +the second night in the open air, without any thing more than a common +bandage to staunch the blood. He has often mentioned it as a most +astonishing providence that he did not bleed to death, which, under God, +he ascribed to the remarkable coldness of these two nights. + +Judging it quite unsafe to attempt carrying him to Huy, from whence they +were now several miles distant, his convoy took him early in the morning +to a convent in the neighbourhood, where he was hospitably received, and +treated with great kindness and tenderness. But the cure of his wound was +committed to an ignorant barber-surgeon who lived near the house, the +best shift that could then be made, at a time when it may easily be +supposed persons of ability in their profession had their hands full of +employment. The tent which this artist applied, was almost like a peg +driven into the wound; and gentlemen of skill and experience, when they +came to hear of the manner in which he was treated, wondered how he could +possibly survive such management. But by the blessing of God on these +applications, rough as they were, he recovered in a few months. The Lady +Abbess, who called him her son, treated him with the affection and care +of a mother; and he always declared that every thing which he saw within +these walls, was conducted with the strictest decency and decorum. He +received a great many devout admonitions from the ladies there, and +they would fain have persuaded him to acknowledge what they thought so +miraculous a deliverance, by embracing the _Catholic faith_, as they were +pleased to call it. But they could not succeed; for though no religion +lay near his heart, yet he had too much of the spirit of a gentleman +lightly to change that form of religion which he wore, as it were loose +about him; as well as too much good sense to swallow those monstrous +absurdities of Popery which immediately presented themselves to him, +unacquainted as he was with the niceties of the controversy. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + +When his liberty was regained by an exchange of prisoners, and his health +thoroughly established, he was far from rendering unto the Lord according +to that wonderful display of divine mercy which he had experienced. +I know very little of the particulars of those wild, thoughtless and +wretched years which lay between the 19th and 30th of his life; except +that he frequently experienced the divine goodness in renewed instances, +particularly in preserving him in several hot military actions, in all +which he never received so much as a wound after this, forward as he was +in tempting danger; and yet that all these years were spent in an entire +alienation from God, and in an eager pursuit of animal pleasure as his +supreme good. The series of criminal amours in which he was almost +incessantly engaged during this time, must probably have afforded some +remarkable adventures and occurrences; but the memory of them has +perished. Nor do I think it unworthy of notice here, that amidst all the +intimacy of our friendship, and the many hours of cheerful as well as +serious converse which we spent together, I never remember to have heard +him speak of any of these intrigues, otherwise than in the general with +deep and solemn abhorrence. This I the rather mention, as it seemed a +most genuine proof of his unfeigned repentance, which I think there is +great reason to suspect, when people seem to take a pleasure in relating +and describing scenes of vicious indulgence, which they yet profess to +have disapproved and forsaken. + +Amidst all these pernicious wanderings from the paths of religion, +virtue, and happiness, he approved himself so well in his military +character, that he was made a lieutenant in that year, viz. 1706; and I +am told he was very quickly after promoted to a cornet's commission in +Lord Stair's regiment of the Scots Greys, and, on the 31st of January, +1714-15, was made captain-lieutenant in Colonel Ker's regiment of +dragoons. He had the honour of being known to the Earl of Stair some time +before, and was made his aid-de-camp; and when, upon his Lordship's being +appointed ambassador from his late Majesty to the court of France, he +made so splendid an entrance into Paris, Captain Gardiner was his master +of the horse; and I have been told that a great deal of the care of that +admirably well-adjusted ceremony fell upon him; so that he gained great +credit by the manner in which he conducted it. Under the benign influence +of his Lordship's favour, which to the last day of his life he retained, +a captain's commission was procured for him, dated July 22, 1715, in +the regiment of dragoons commanded by Colonel Stanhope, now Earl of +Harrington; and in 1717 he was advanced to the majority of that regiment, +in which office he continued till it was reduced on November 10, 1718, +when he was put out of commission. But when his Majesty, king George I., +was thoroughly apprised of his faithful and important services, he gave +him his sign-manual, entitling him to the first majority that should +become vacant in any regiment of horse or dragoons, which happened, about +five years after, to be in Croft's regiment of dragoons, in which he +received a commission, dated 1st June, 1724; and on the 20th of July the +same year, he was made major of an older regiment, commanded by the Earl +of Stair. + +As I am now speaking of so many of his military preferments, I will +dispatch the account of them by observing, that, on the 24th January +1729-30, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same +regiment, long under the command of Lord Cadogan, with whose friendship +this brave and vigilant officer was also honoured for many years. And he +continued in this rank and regiment till the 19th of April, 1743, when +he received a colonel's commission over a regiment of dragoons lately +commanded by Brigadier Bland, at the head of which he valiantly fell, in +the defence of his sovereign and his country, about two years and a half +after he received it. + +We will now return to that period of his life which was passed at Paris, +the scene of such remarkable and important events. He continued (if I +remember right) several years under the roof of the brave and generous +Earl of Stair, to whom he endeavoured to approve himself by every +instance of diligent and faithful service. And his Lordship gave no +inconsiderable proof of the dependence which he had upon him, when, in +the beginning of 1715, he entrusted him with the important dispatches +relating to a discovery which, by a series of admirable policy, he had +made of a design which the French king was then forming for invading +Great Britain in favour of the Pretender; in which the French apprehended +they were so sure of success, that it seemed a point of friendship in one +of the chief counsellors of that court to dissuade a dependent of his +from accepting some employment under his Britannic majesty, when proposed +by his envoy there, because it was said that in less than six weeks there +would be a revolution in favour of what they called the family of the +Stuarts. The captain dispatched his journey with the utmost speed; a +variety of circumstances happily concurred to accelerate it; and they +who remember how soon the regiments which that emergency required, were +raised and armed, will, I doubt not, esteem it a memorable instance, both +of the most cordial zeal in the friends of the government, and of the +gracious care of Divine Providence over the house of Hanover and the +British liberties, so inseparably connected with its interest. + +While Captain Gardiner was at London, in one of the journeys he made upon +this occasion, he, with that frankness which was natural to him, and +which in those days was not always under the most prudent restraint, +ventured to predict, from what he knew of the bad state of the French +king's health, that he would not live six weeks. This was made known by +some spies who were at St. James's, and came to be reported at the court +of Versailles; for he received letters from some friends at Paris, +advising him not to return thither, unless he could reconcile himself to +a lodging in the Bastile. But he was soon free from that apprehension; +for, if I mistake not, before half that time was accomplished, Louis XIV. +died, (Sept. 1, 1715,) and it is generally thought his death was hastened +by a very accidental circumstance, which had some reference to the +captain's prophecy; for the last time he ever dined in public, which +was a very little while after the report of it had been made there, +he happened to discover our British envoy among the spectators. The +penetration of this illustrious person was too great, and his attachment +to the interest of his royal master too well known, not to render him +very disagreeable to that crafty and tyrannical prince, whom God had so +long suffered to be the disgrace of monarchy, and the scourge of Europe. +He at first appeared very languid, as indeed he was; but on casting his +eye upon the Earl of Stair, he affected to appear before him in a much +better state of health than he really was; and therefore, as if he had +been awakened on a sudden from some deep reverie, he immediately put +himself into an erect posture, called up a laboured vivacity into his +countenance, and ate much more heartily than was by any means advisable, +repeating two or three times to a nobleman, (I think the Duke of Bourbon) +then in waiting, "_Il me semble que je ne mange pas mal pour un homme qui +devoit mourir si tot._" "Methinks I eat very well for a man who is to die +so soon." But this inroad upon that regularity of living which he had for +some time observed, agreed so ill with him that he never recovered this +meal, but died in less than a fortnight. This gave occasion for some +humorous people to say, that old Louis, after all, was killed by a +Briton. But if this story be true, (which I think there can be no room to +doubt, as the colonel, from whom I have often heard it, though absent, +could scarce be misinformed,) it might more properly be said that he fell +by his own vanity; in which view I thought it so remarkable, as not to be +unworthy of a place in these memoirs. + +The captain quickly returned, and continued, with small interruptions, at +Paris, at least till 1720, and how much longer I do not certainly know. +The Earl's favour and generosity made him easy in his affairs, though he +was, (as has been observed before,) part of the time, out of commission, +by breaking the regiment to which he belonged, of which before he was +major. This was in all probability the gayest part of his life, and the +most criminal. Whatever wise and good examples he might find in the +family where he had the honour to reside, it is certain that the French +court, during the regency of the Duke of Orleans, was one of the most +dissolute under heaven. What, by a wretched abuse of language, have been +called intrigues of love and gallantry, were so entirely to the major's +then degenerate taste, that if not the whole business, at least the whole +happiness of his life, consisted in them; and he had now too much leisure +for one who was so prone to abuse it. His fine constitution, than which +perhaps there was hardly ever a better, gave him great opportunities of +indulging himself in these excesses; and his good spirits enabled him to +pursue his pleasures of every kind in so alert and sprightly a manner, +that multitudes envied him, and called him, by a dreadful kind of +compliment, "the happy rake." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + +Yet still the checks of conscience, and some remaining principles of so +good an education, would break in upon his most licentious hours; and +I particularly remember he told me, that when some of his dissolute +companions were once congratulating him on his distinguished felicity, a +dog happening at that time to come into the room, he could not forbear +groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, 'Oh that I were that dog!' Such +then was his happiness; and such perhaps is that of hundreds more who +bear themselves highest in the contempt of religion, and glory in +that infamous servitude which they affect to call liberty. But these +remonstrances of reason and conscience were in vain; and, in short, he +carried things so far in this wretched part of his life, that I am well +assured some sober English gentlemen, who made no great pretences to +religion, how agreeable soever he might have been to them on other +accounts, rather declined than sought his company, as fearing they might +have been ensnared and corrupted by it. + +Yet I cannot find that in these most abandoned days he was fond of +drinking. Indeed, he never had any natural relish for that kind of +intemperance, from which he used to think a manly pride might be +sufficient to preserve persons of sense and spirit; as by it they give up +every thing that distinguishes them from the meanest of their species, or +indeed from animals the most below it. So that if ever he fell into any +excesses of this kind, it was merely out of complaisance to his company, +and that he might not appear stiff and singular. His frank, obliging, and +generous temper procured him many friends; and these principles, which +rendered him amiable to others, not being under the direction of true +wisdom and piety, sometimes made him, in the ways of living he pursued, +more uneasy to himself than he might, perhaps, have been, if he could +have entirely overcome them; especially as he never was a sceptic in his +principles, but still retained a secret apprehension that natural and +revealed religion, though he did not much care to think of either, were +founded in truth. And, with this conviction, his notorious violations of +the most essential precepts of both could not but occasion some secret +misgivings of heart. His continual neglect of the great Author of his +being, of whose perfections he could not doubt, and to whom he knew +himself to be under daily and perpetual obligations, gave him, in some +moments of involuntary reflection, inexpressible remorse; and this at +times wrought upon him to such a degree, that he resolved he would +attempt to pay him some acknowledgments. Accordingly, for a few mornings +he did it, repeating in retirement some passages out of the Psalms, and +perhaps other scriptures which he still retained in his memory; and +owning, in a few strong words, the many mercies and deliverances he had +received, and the ill returns he had made for them. + +I find, among the other papers transmitted to me, the following verses, +which I have heard him repeat, as what had impressed him a good deal +in his unconverted state; and as I suppose they did something towards +setting him on this effort towards devotion, and might probably furnish +a part of these orisons, I hope I need make no apology to my reader for +inserting them, especially as I do not recollect that I have seen them +any where else. + + Attend, my soul! the early birds inspire + My grovelling thoughts with pure celestial fire; + They from their temperate sleep awake, and pay + Their thankful anthems for the new-born day. + See how the tuneful lark is mounted high, + And, poet-like, salutes the eastern sky! + He warbles through the fragrant air his lays, + And seems the beauties of the morn to praise. + But man, more void of gratitude awakes, + And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes; + Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame, + Without one thought of Him from whom it came. + The wretch unhallowed does the day begin, + Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin. + +But these strains were too devout to continue long in a heart as +yet quite unsanctified; for how readily soever he could repeat such +acknowledgments of the Divine power, presence, and goodness, and own his +own follies and faults, he was stopped short by the remonstrances of +conscience as to the flagrant absurdity of confessing sins he did not +desire to forsake, and of pretending to praise God for his mercies, when +he did not endeavour to live to his service, and to behave in such a +manner as gratitude, if sincere, would plainly dictate. A model of +devotion where such sentiments made no part, his good sense could not +digest; and the use of such language before a heart-searching God, merely +as an hypocritical form, while the sentiments of his soul were contrary +to it, justly appeared to him such daring profaneness, that, irregular as +the state of his mind was, the thought of it struck him with horror. +He therefore determined to make no more attempts of this sort, and was +perhaps one of the first who deliberately laid aside prayer from some +sense of God's omniscience, and some natural principle of honour and +conscience. + +These secret debates with himself and ineffectual efforts would sometimes +return; but they were overborne again and again by the force of +temptation, and it is no wonder that in consequence of them his heart +grew yet harder. Nor was it softened or awakened by some very memorable +deliverances which at this time he received. He was in extreme danger by +a fall from his horse, as he was riding post I think in the streets of +Calais. When going down a hill, the horse threw him over his head, and +pitched over him; so that when he rose, the beast lay beyond him, and +almost dead. Yet, though he received not the least harm, it made no +serious impression on his mind. On his return from England in the +packet-boat, if I remember right, but a few weeks after the former +accident, a violent storm, that drove them up to Harwich, tossed them +from thence for several hours in a dark night on the coast of Holland, +and brought them into such extremity, that the captain of the vessel +urged him to go to prayers immediately, if he ever intended to do it at +all; for he concluded they would in a few minutes be at the bottom of the +sea. In this circumstance he did pray, and that very fervently too; and +it was very remarkable, that while he was crying to God for deliverance, +the wind fell, and quickly after they arrived at Calais. But the major +was so little affected with what had befallen him, that when some of his +gay friends, on hearing the story, rallied him upon the efficacy of his +prayers, he excused himself from the scandal of being thought much in +earnest, by saying "that it was at midnight, an hour when his good mother +and aunt were asleep, or else he should have left that part of the +business to them;"--a speech which I should not have mentioned, but as +it shows in so lively a view the wretched situation of his mind at that +time, though his great deliverance from the power of darkness was then +nearly approaching. He recounted these things to me with the greatest +humility, as showing how utterly unworthy he was of that miracle of +divine grace by which he was quickly after brought to so true and so +permanent a sense of religion. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HIS CONVERSION. + + +And now I am come to that astonishing part of his story, the account of +his conversion, which I cannot enter upon without assuring the reader +that I have sometimes been tempted to suppress many circumstances of +it; not only as they may seem incredible to some, and enthusiastical to +others, but I am very sensible they are liable to great abuses; which was +the reason that he gave me for concealing the most extraordinary from +many persons to whom he mentioned some of the rest. And I believe it was +this, together with the desire of avoiding every thing that might look +like ostentation on this head, that prevented his leaving a written +account of it, though I have often entreated him to do it, as I +particularly remember I did in the very last letter I ever wrote him, and +pleaded the possibility of his falling amidst those dangers to which I +knew his valour might, in such circumstances, naturally expose him. I was +not so happy as to receive any answer to this letter, which reached him +but a few days before his death; nor can I certainly say whether he had +or had not complied with my request, as it is very possible a paper of +this kind, if it were written, might be lost amidst the ravages which the +rebels made when they plundered Bankton. + +The story, however, was so remarkable, that I had little reason to +apprehend I should ever forget it; and yet, to guard against all +contingencies of that kind, I wrote it down that very evening, as I heard +it from his own mouth; and I have now before me the memoirs of that +conversation, dated Aug. 14, 1739, which conclude with these words, +(which I added that if we should both have died that night, the world +might not have lost this edifying and affecting history, or have wanted +any attestation of it I was capable of giving): "N.B. I have written down +this account with all the exactness I am capable of, and could safely +take an oath of it as to the truth of every circumstance, to the best of +my remembrance, as the colonel related it to me a few hours ago." I do +not know that I had reviewed this paper since I wrote it, till I set +myself thus publicly to record this extraordinary fact; but I find it +punctually to agree with what I have often related from my memory, which +I charged carefully with so wonderful and important a fact. It is with +all solemnity that I now deliver it down to posterity as in the sight +and presence of God; and I choose deliberately to expose myself to those +severe censures which the haughty but empty scorn of infidelity, or +principles nearly approaching it, and effectually doing its pernicious +work, may very probably dictate upon the occasion, rather than to smother +a relation, which may, in the judgment of my conscience, be like to +conduce so much to the glory of God, the honour of the gospel, and the +good of mankind. One thing more I will only premise, that I hope none who +have heard the colonel himself speak something of this wonderful scene, +will be surprised if they find some new circumstances here; because he +assured me, at the time he first gave me the whole narration, (which was +in the very room in which I now write,) that he had never imparted it +so fully to any living before; yet, at the same time, he gave me full +liberty to communicate it to whomsoever I should in my conscience +judge it might be useful to do it, whether before or after his death. +Accordingly I did, while he was alive, recount almost every circumstance +I am now going to write, to several pious friends; referring them at the +same time to the colonel himself, whenever they might have an opportunity +of seeing or writing to him, for a further confirmation of what I told +them, if they judged it requisite. They _glorified God in him_; and I +humbly hope many of my readers will also do it. They will soon perceive +the reason of so much caution in my introduction to this story, for +which, therefore, I shall make no further apology.[*] + +[*Note: It is no small satisfaction to me, since I wrote this, to have +received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Spears, minister of the gospel at +Burntisland, dated Jan 14, 1746-7 in which he relates to me this whole +story, as he had it from the colonel's own mouth about four years after +he gave me the narration. There is not a single circumstance in which +either of our narrations disagrees, and every one of the particulars in +mine, which seems most astonishing, is attested by this, and sometimes in +stronger words, one only excepted, on which I shall add a short remark +when I come to it. As this letter was written near Lady Frances Gardiner +at her desire, and attended with a postscript from her own hand, this +is, in effect, a sufficient attestation how agreeable it was to those +accounts which she must often have heard the colonel give of this +matter.] + + +This memorable event happened towards the middle of July, 1719; but I +cannot be exact as to the day. The major had spent the evening (and if I +mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy +assignation with a married woman, of what rank or quality I did not +particularly inquire, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The +company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to +anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the +tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or in some other way. But +it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book which +his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his +portmanteau. It was called, if I remember the title exactly, _The +Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm_, and was written by Mr. +Thomas Watson. Guessing by the title of it that he should find some +phrases of his own profession spiritualized in a manner which he thought +might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took +no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book +was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind, (perhaps God only +knows how,) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy +consequences. + +There is indeed a possibility, that while he was sitting in this +solitude, and reading in this careless and profane manner, he might +suddenly fall asleep, and only dream of what he apprehended he saw. But +nothing can be more certain than that, when he gave me this relation, he +judged himself to have been as broad awake during the whole time as he +ever was in any part of his life; and he mentioned it to me several times +afterwards as what undoubtedly passed, not only in his imagination, but +before his eyes.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears, in the letter mentioned above, where he introduces +the colonel telling his own story, has these words "All of a sudden +there was presented in a very lively manner to my view, or to my mind, a +representation of my glorious Redeemer," &c. And this gentleman adds, in +a parenthesis, "It was so lively and striking, that he could not tell +whether it was to his bodily eyes, or to those of his mind." This makes +me think that what I had said to him on the phenomena of visions, +apparitions, &c., (as being, when most real, supernatural impressions on +the imagination, rather than attended with any external object,) had some +influence upon him. Yet still it is evident he looked upon this as a +vision, whether it was before the eyes or in the mind, and not as a +dream.] + + +He thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was +reading, which he at first imagined might happen by some accident in +the candle. But, lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme +amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, +a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, +surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed as if a voice, or +something equivalent to a voice, had come to him to this effect, (for he +was not confident as to the very words). "Oh, sinner! did I suffer this +for thee, and are these the returns?" But whether this were an audible +voice, or only a strong impression on his mind equally striking, he did +not seem very confident, though, to the best of my remembrance, he rather +judged it to be the former. Struck with so amazing a phenomenon as this, +there remained hardly any life in him, so that he sunk down in the arm +chair in which he sat, and continued, he knew not exactly how long, +insensible, (which was one circumstance that made me several times take +the liberty to suggest that he might possibly be all this while asleep,) +but however that were, he quickly after opened his eyes, and saw nothing +more than usual. + +It may easily be supposed he was in no condition to make any observations +upon the time in which he had remained in an insensible state, nor did +he, throughout all the remainder of the night, once recollect that +criminal and detestable assignation which had before engrossed all his +thoughts. He rose in a tumult of passions not to be conceived, and walked +to and fro in his chamber till he was ready to drop down in unutterable +astonishment and agony of heart, appearing to himself the vilest monster +in the creation of God, who had all his lifetime been crucifying +Christ afresh by his sins, and now saw, as he assuredly believed, by +a miraculous vision, the horror of what he had done. With this was +connected such a view of both the majesty and goodness of God, as caused +him to loathe and abhor himself, and to repent as in dust and ashes. He +immediately gave judgment against himself, that he was most justly worthy +of eternal damnation, he was astonished that he had not been immediately +struck dead in the midst of his wickedness, and (which I think deserves +particular remark) though he assuredly believed that he should ere long +be in hell, and settled it as a point with himself for several months +that the wisdom and justice of God did almost necessarily require +that such an enormous sinner should be made an example of everlasting +vengeance, and a spectacle as such both to angels and men, so that he +hardly durst presume to pray for pardon; yet what he then suffered was +not so much from the fear of hell, though he concluded it would soon be +his portion, as from a sense of that horrible ingratitude he had shown +to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who had been in so +affecting a manner set forth as crucified before him. + +To this he refers in a letter dated from Douglas, the 1st of April 1725, +communicated to me by his lady,[*] but I know not to whom it was addressed. +His words are these: "One thing relating to my conversion, and a +remarkable instance of the goodness of God to me, _the chief of sinners_, +I do not remember that I ever told to any other person. It was this, +that after the astonishing sight I had of my blessed Lord, the terrible +condition in which I was proceeded not so much from the terrors of the +law, as from a sense of having been so ungrateful a monster to him whom I +thought I saw pierced for my transgressions." I the rather insert these +words, as they evidently attest the circumstance which may seem most +amazing in this affair, and contain so express a declaration of his own +apprehension concerning it. + +[*Note: Where I make any extracts as from Colonel Gardiner's letters, +they are either from originals, which I have in my own hands, or from +copies which were transmitted to me from persons of undoubted credit, +chiefly by the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Gardiner, through the +hands of the Rev. Mr. Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh. This +I the rather mention, because some letters have been brought to me as +Colonel Gardiner's, concerning which I have not only been very dubious, +but morally certain that they could not have been written by him. I have +also heard of many who have been fond of assuring the world that they +were well acquainted with him, and were near him when he fell, whose +reports have been most inconsistent with each other, as well as contrary +to that testimony relating to the circumstances of his death, which, +on the whole, appeared to me beyond controversy the most natural and +authentic, from whence, therefore, I shall take my account of that +affecting scene.] + + +In this view it may naturally be supposed that he passed the remainder +of the night waking, and he could get but little rest in several that +followed. His mind was continually taken up in reflecting on the divine +purity and goodness; the grace which had been proposed to him in the +gospel, and which he had rejected; the singular advantages he had enjoyed +and abused; and the many favours of providence which he had received, +particularly in rescuing him from so many imminent dangers of death, +which he now saw must have been attended with such dreadful and hopeless +destruction. The privileges of his education, which he had so much +despised, now lay with an almost insupportable weight on his mind; and +the folly of that career of sinful pleasure which he had so many years +been running with desperate eagerness and unworthy delight, now filled +him with indignation against himself, and against the great deceiver, by +whom (to use his own phrase) he had been "so wretchedly and scandalously +befooled." This he used often to express in the strongest terms, which I +shall not repeat so particularly, as I cannot recollect some of them. +But on the whole it is certain that, by what passed before he left his +chamber the next day, the whole frame and disposition of his soul was +new-modelled and changed; so that he became, and continued to the last +day of his exemplary and truly Christian life, the very reverse of what +he had been before. A variety of particulars, which I am afterwards to +mention, will illustrate this in the most convincing manner. But I cannot +proceed to them without pausing to adore so illustrious an instance of +the power and freedom of divine grace, and entreating my reader seriously +to reflect upon it, that his own heart may be suitably affected. For +surely, if the truth of the fact be admitted in the lowest views in which +it can be placed, (that is, supposing the first impression to have passed +in a dream,) it must be allowed to have been little, if anything less +than miraculous. It cannot in the course of nature be imagined how such +a dream should arise in a mind full of the most impure ideas and +affections, and (as he himself often pleaded) more alienated from the +thoughts of a crucified Saviour, than from any other object that can be +conceived; nor can we surely suppose it should, without a mighty energy +of the divine power, be effectual to produce not only some transient +flow of passion, but so entire and permanent a change in character and +conduct. + +On the whole, therefore, I must beg leave to express my own sentiments of +the matter, by repeating on this occasion what I wrote several years ago, +in my eighth sermon on regeneration, in a passage dictated chiefly by the +circumstantial knowledge which I had of this amazing story, and methinks +sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone, which yet, I +must take the liberty to say, it does not; for I hope the world will be +particularly informed, that there is at least a second that very nearly +approaches it, whenever the established church of England shall lose one +of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members +which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the +mean time, may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous +ministry abundantly prospered! I beg my reader's pardon for this +digression. The passage I referred to above is remarkably, though not +equally, applicable to both the cases, under that head where I am showing +that God sometimes accomplishes the great work of which we speak, +by secret and immediate impressions on the mind. After preceding +illustrations, there are the following words, on which the colonel's +conversion will throw the justest light. "Yea, I have known those of +distinguished genius, polite manners, and great experience in human +affairs, who, after having out-grown all the impressions of a religious +education--after having been hardened, rather than subdued by the most +singular mercies, even various, repeated, and astonishing deliverances, +which have appeared to themselves as no less than miraculous--after +having lived for years without God in the world, notoriously corrupt +themselves, and labouring to the utmost to corrupt others, have been +stopped on a sudden in the full career of their sin, and have felt such +rays of the divine presence, and of redeeming love, darting in upon +their minds, almost like lightning from heaven, as have at once roused, +overpowered, and transformed them; so that they have come out of their +secret chambers with an irreconcilable enmity to those vices to which, +when they entered them, they were the tamest and most abandoned slaves; +and have appeared from that very hour the votaries, the patrons, the +champions of religion; and after a course of the most resolute +attachment to it, in spite of all the reasonings or the railleries, the +importunities or the reproaches of its enemies, they have continued to +this day some of its brightest ornaments; a change which I behold with +equal wonder and delight, and which, if a nation should join in deriding +it, I would adore as the finger of God." + +The mind of Major Gardiner continued from this remarkable time, till +towards the end of October, (that is rather more than three months, but +especially the first two of them,) in as extraordinary a situation as one +can well imagine. He knew nothing of the joys arising from a sense of +pardon; but, on the contrary, for the greater part of that time, and with +very short intervals of hope towards the end of it, took it for granted +that he must in all probability quickly perish. Nevertheless, he had such +a sense of the evil of sin, of the goodness of the Divine Being, and of +the admirable tendency of the Christian revelation, that he resolved to +spend the remainder of his life, while God continued him out of hell, in +as rational and as useful a manner as he could; and to continue casting +himself at the foot of divine mercy every day, and often in a day, if +peradventure there might be hope of pardon, of which all that he could +say was, that he did not absolutely despair. He had at that time such a +sense of the degeneracy of his own heart, that he hardly durst form any +determinate resolution against sin, or pretend to engage himself by any +vow in the presence of God; but he was continually crying to him, that he +would deliver him from the bondage of corruption. He perceived in himself +a most surprising alteration with regard to the dispositions of his +heart; so that, though he felt little of the delight of religious duties, +he extremely desired opportunities of being engaged in them; and +those licentious pleasures which had before been his heaven, were now +absolutely his aversion. And indeed, when I consider how habitual all +those criminal indulgences were grown to him, and that he was now in the +prime of life, and all this while in high health too, I cannot but +be astonished to reflect upon it, that he should be so wonderfully +sanctified in body, as well as in soul and spirit, as that, for all the +future years of his life, he from that hour should find so constant a +disinclination to, and abhorrence of, those criminal sensualities to +which he fancied he was before so invincibly impelled by his very +constitution, that he was used strangely to think, and to say; that +Omnipotence itself could not reform him, without destroying that body, +and giving him another.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears expresses this wonderful circumstance in these +remarkable words "I was (said the colonel to me) effectually cured of all +inclination to that sin I was so strongly addicted to, that I thought +nothing but shooting me through the head could have cured me of it, and +all desire and inclination to it was removed, as entirely as if I had +been a sucking child, nor did the temptation return to this day." Mr. +Webster's words on the same subject are these "One thing I have heard the +colonel frequently say, that he was much addicted to impurity before his +acquaintance with religion, but that, so soon as he was enlightened from +above, he _felt the power of the Holy Ghost_ changing his nature so +wonderfully, that his sanctification in this respect seemed more +remarkable than in any other." On which that worthy person makes this +very reasonable reflection "So thorough a change of such a polluted +nature, evidenced by the most unblemished walk and conversation for a +long course of years, demonstrates indeed the power of the Highest, and +leaves no room to doubt of its reality." Mr. Spears says, this happened +in three days' time, but from what I can recollect, all that the colonel +could mean by that expression, if he used it, (as I conclude he did,) was +that he began to make the observation in the space of three days whereas, +during that time, his thoughts were so taken up with the wonderful views +presented to his mind, that he did not immediately attend to it. If he +had, within the first three days, any temptation to seek some ease from +the anguish of his mind, in returning to former sensualities, it is a +circumstance he did not mention to me, and by what I can recollect of +the strain of his discourse, he intimated if he did not express the +contrary.] + +Nor was he only delivered from that bondage of corruption which had been +habitual to him for many years, but felt in his breast so contrary a +disposition, that he was grieved to see human nature, in those to whom he +was most entirely a stranger, prostituted to such low and contemptible +pursuits. He therefore exerted his natural courage in a very new kind of +combat, and became an open advocate for religion in all its principles, +so far as he was acquainted with them, and all its precepts, relating +to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Yet he was very desirous and +cautious that he might not run into extremes, and made it one of his +first petitions to God, the very day after these amazing impressions had +been wrought in his mind, that he might not be suffered to behave with +such an affected strictness and preciseness as would lead others about +him into mistaken notions of religion, and expose it to reproach or +suspicion, as if it were an unlovely or uncomfortable thing. For this +reason, he endeavoured to appear as cheerful in conversation as he +conscientiously could; though, in spite of all his precautions, some +traces of that deep inward sense which he had of his guilt and misery +would at times appear. He made no secret of it, however, that his views +were entirely changed, though he concealed the particular circumstances +attending that change. He told his most intimate companions freely that +he had reflected on the course of life in which he had so long joined +them, and found it to be folly and madness, unworthy a rational creature, +and much more unworthy persons calling themselves Christians. And he set +up his standard, upon all occasions, against principles of infidelity and +practices of vice, as determinately and as boldly as ever he displayed or +planted his colours, when he bore them with so much honour in the field. + +I cannot forbear mentioning one struggle of this kind which he described +to me, with a large detail of circumstances, the first day of our +acquaintance. There was at that time in Paris a certain lady (whose name, +then well known in the grand and gay world, I must beg leave to conceal) +who had imbibed the principles of deism, and valued herself much upon +being an avowed advocate for them. The major, with his usual frankness, +(though I doubt not with that politeness of manners which was so habitual +to him, and which he retained throughout his whole life,) answered her +like a man who perfectly saw through the fallacy of her arguments, +and was grieved to the heart for her delusions. On this she briskly +challenged him to debate the matter at large, and to fix upon a day for +that purpose, when he should dine with her, attended by any clergyman he +might choose, whether of the Protestant or Catholic communion. A sense +of duty would not allow him to decline this challenge; and yet he had no +sooner accepted it, but he was thrown into great perplexity and distress +lest, being, as I remember he expressed it when he told me the story, +only a Christian of six weeks old, he should prejudice so good a cause by +his unskilful manner of defending it. However, he sought his refuge in +earnest and repeated prayers to God, that he who can ordain strength, and +perfect praise, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, would graciously +enable him on this occasion to vindicate his truths in a manner which +might carry conviction along with it. He then endeavoured to marshal the +arguments in his own mind as well as he could; and apprehending that +he could not speak with so much freedom before a number of persons, +especially before such whose province he might seem in that case to +invade, if he had not devolved the principal part of the discourse upon +them, he easily admitted the apology of a clergyman or two, to whom +he mentioned the affair, and waited on the lady alone upon the day +appointed. But his heart was so set upon the business, that he came +earlier than he was expected, and time enough to have two hours' +discourse before dinner; nor did he at all decline having two persons, +nearly related to the lady, present during the conference. The major +opened it, with a view of such arguments for the Christian religion as +he had digested in his own mind, to prove that the apostles were not +mistaken themselves, and that they could not have intended to impose upon +us, in the accounts they give of the grand facts they attest; with the +truth of which facts, that of the Christian religion is most apparently +connected. And it was a great encouragement to him to find, that +unaccustomed as he was to discourses of this nature, he had an unusual +command both of thought and expression, so that he recollected and +uttered every thing as he could have wished. The lady heard with +attention; and though he paused between every branch of the argument, she +did not interrupt the course of it till he told her he had finished +his design, and waited for her reply. She then, produced some of her +objections, which he took up and canvassed in such a manner that at +length she burst into tears, allowed the force of his arguments and +replies, and appeared for some time after so deeply impressed with the +conversation, that it was observed by several of her friends; and there +is reason to believe that the impression continued, at least so far as to +prevent her from ever appearing under the character of an unbeliever or a +sceptic. + +This is only one specimen among many of the battles he was almost daily +called out to fight in the cause of religion and virtue; with relation to +which I find him expressing himself thus in a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, +his good mother, dated from Paris the 25th of January following, that +is 1719-20, in answer to one in which she had warned him to expect such +trials: "I have (says he) already met with them, and am obliged to fight, +and to dispute every inch of ground. But all thanks and praise to the +great Captain of my salvation. He fights for me, and then it is no wonder +that I come off more than conqueror:" by which last expression I suppose +he meant to insinuate that he was strengthened and established, rather +than overborne, by this opposition. Yet it was not immediately that he +gained such fortitude. He has often told me how much he felt in those +days of the emphasis of those well-chosen words of the apostle, in which +he ranks the trial of cruel mockings, with scourgings, and bonds, and +imprisonments. The continual railleries with which he was received, in +almost all companies where he had been most familiar before, did often +distress him beyond measure; so that he several times declared he would +much rather have marched up to a battery of the enemy's cannon, than have +been obliged, so continually as he was, to face such artillery as this. +But, like a brave soldier in the first action wherein he is engaged, he +continued resolute, though shuddering at the terror of the assault; and +quickly overcame those impressions which it is not perhaps in nature +wholly to avoid; and therefore I find him, in the letter above referred +to, which was written about half a year after his conversion, "quite +ashamed to think of the uneasiness which these things once gave him." In +a word, he went on, as every resolute Christian by divine grace may do, +till he turned ridicule and opposition into respect and veneration. + +But this sensible triumph over these difficulties was not till his +Christian experience had been abundantly advanced by the blessing of God +on the sermons he heard, (particularly in the Swiss chapel,) and on the +many hours which he spent in devout retirement, pouring out his whole +soul before God in prayer. He began, within about two months after his +first memorable change, to perceive some secret dawnings of more cheerful +hope, that vile as he saw himself to be, (and I believe no words can +express how vile that was,) he might nevertheless obtain mercy through +the Redeemer. At length (if I remember right, about the end of October, +1719) he found all the burthen of his mind taken off at once by the +powerful impression of that memorable scripture on his mind, Romans iii. +25, 26, "Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation through faith in his +blood, to declare his righteousness in the remission of sins,--that he +might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He had +used to imagine that the justice of God required the damnation of so +enormous a sinner as he saw himself to be; but now he was made deeply +sensible that the divine justice might be not only vindicated, but +glorified, in saving him by the blood of Jesus, even that blood which +cleanseth us from all sin. Then did he see and feel the riches of +redeeming love and grace in such a manner as not only engaged him with +the utmost pleasure and confidence to venture his soul upon it, but even +swallowed up, as it were, his whole heart in the returns of love, which +from that blessed time became this genuine and delightful principle of +his obedience, and animated him, with an enlarged heart, to run the way +of God's commandments. Thus God was pleased (as he himself used to speak) +in an hour to turn his captivity. All the terrors of his former state +were changed into unutterable joy, which kept him almost continually +waking for three nights together, and yet refreshed him as the noblest of +cordials. His expressions, though naturally very strong, always seemed +to be swallowed up when he would describe the series of thought through +which he now passed, under the rapturous experience of that joy +unspeakable and full of glory, which then seemed to overflow his very +soul, as indeed there was nothing he seemed to speak of with greater +relish. And though the first ecstasies of it afterwards subsided into a +more calm and composed delight, yet were the impressions so deep and so +permanent, that he assured me, on the word of a Christian and a friend, +wonderful as it might seem, that, for about seven years after this, he +enjoyed almost heaven upon earth. His soul was so continually filled with +a sense of the love of God in Christ, that it knew little interruption, +but when necessary converse, and the duties of his station, called off +his thoughts for a little time. And when they did so, as soon as he was +alone, the torrent returned into its natural channel again; so that, from +the minute of awakening in the morning, his heart was raised to God, and +triumphing in him; and these thoughts attended him through all the scenes +of life, till he lay down on his bed again, and a short parenthesis +of sleep (for it was but a very short one that he allowed himself) +invigorated his animal powers, for renewing them with greater intenseness +and sensibility. + +I shall have an opportunity of illustrating this in the most convincing +manner below, by extracts from several letters which he wrote to intimate +friends during this happy period of time--letters which breathe a spirit +of such sublime and fervent piety as I have seldom met with any where +else. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he was greatly +delighted with Dr. Watts's imitation of the 126th Psalm, since it may be +questioned whether there ever was a person to whom the following stanzas +of it were more suitable:-- + + When God revealed his gracious name, + And changed my mournful state, + My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, + Thy grace appeared so great. + + The world beheld the glorious change, + And did thine hand confess; + My tongue broke out in unknown strains, + And sung surprising grace. + + "Great is the work," my neighbours cried, + And owned the power divine: + "Great is the work," my heart replied, + "And be the glory thine." + + The Lord can change the darkest skies, + Can give us day for night, + Make drops of sacred sorrow rise, + To rivers of delight. + + Let those that sow in sadness, wait + Till the fair harvest come! + They shall confess their sheaves are great, + And shout the blessings home. + +I have been so happy as to get the sight of five original letters which +he wrote to his mother about this time, which do, in a lively manner, +illustrate the surprising change made in the whole current of his +thoughts and temper of his mind. Many of them were written in the +most hasty manner, just as the courier who brought them was perhaps +unexpectedly setting out, and they relate chiefly to affairs in which the +public is not at all concerned; yet there is not one of them in which he +has not inserted some warm and genuine sentiment of religion. Indeed it +is very remarkable, that though he was pleased to honour me with a great +many letters, and I have seen several more which he wrote to others, some +of them on journeys, where he could have but a few minutes at command, +yet I cannot recollect that I ever saw any one in which there was not +some trace of piety; and the Rev. Mr. Webster, who was employed to review +great numbers of them, that he might select such extracts as he should +think proper to communicate to me, has made the same observation.[*] + +[*Note: His words are these: "I have read over a vast number of the +colonel's letters, and have not found any one of them, however short, +and writ in the most passing manner, even when posting, but what is +expressive of the most passionate breathings towards his God and Saviour. +If the letter consists but of two sentences, religion is not forgot, +which doubtless deserves to be carefully remarked, as the most +uncontested evidence of a pious mind, ever under the warmest impressions +of divine things."] + +The major, with great justice, tells the good lady his mother, "that when +she saw him again she would find the person indeed the same, but every +thing else entirely changed." And she might easily have perceived it of +herself by the whole tenor of these letters, which every where breathe +the unaffected spirit of a true Christian. They are taken up sometimes +with giving advice and directions concerning some pious and charitable +contributions, one of which, I remember, amounted to ten guineas, though +as he was then out of commission, and had not formerly been very frugal, +it cannot be supposed he had much to spare; sometimes in speaking of +the pleasure with which he attended sermons, and expected sacramental +opportunities; and at other times in exhorting her, established as she +was in religion, to labour after a yet more exemplary character and +conduct, or in recommending her to the divine presence and blessing, as +well as himself to her prayers. What satisfaction such letters as these +must give to a lady of her distinguished piety, who had so long wept over +this dear and amiable son as quite lost to God, and on the verge of final +destruction, it is not for me to describe, nor indeed to conceive. But +hastily as these letters were written, only for private view, I will +give a few specimens from them in his own words, which will serve to +illustrate as well as confirm what I have hinted above. + +"I must take the liberty," says he, in a letter dated on the first day of +the new year, or, according to the old style, Dec. 21, 1719, "to entreat +you that you would receive no company on the Lord's day. I know you have +a great many good acquaintance, with whose discourses one might be very +well edified; but as you cannot keep out and let in whom you please, the +best way, in my humble opinion, will be to see none." In another, of +Jan. 25, "I am happier than any one can imagine, except I could put him +exactly in the same situation with myself; which is what the world +cannot give, and no man ever attained it, unless it were from above." +In another, dated March 30, which was just before a sacrament day, +"To-morrow, if it please God, I shall be happy, my soul being to be fed +with the bread of life which came down from heaven. I shall be mindful +of you all there." In another of Jan. 29, he thus expresses that +indifference for worldly possessions which he so remarkably carried +through the remainder of his life: "I know the rich are only stewards for +the poor, and must give an account of every penny; therefore, the less I +have, the more easy will it be to give an account of it." And to add no +more from these letters at present, in the conclusion of one of them he +has these comprehensive and solemn words: "Now that He, who is the ease +of the afflicted, the support of the weak, the wealth of the poor, the +teacher of the ignorant, the anchor of the fearful, and the infinite +reward of all faithful souls, may pour out upon you all his richest +blessings, shall always be the prayer of him who is entirely yours," &c. + +To this account of his correspondence with his excellent mother, I should +be glad to add a large view of another, to which she introduced him, +with that reverend and valuable person under whose pastoral care she was +placed--I mean the justly celebrated Doctor Edmund Calamy, to whom she +could not but early communicate the joyful news of her son's conversion. +I am not so happy as to be possessed of the letters which passed between +them, which I have reason to believe would make a curious and valuable +collection; but I have had the pleasure of receiving from my worthy +and amiable friend, the Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy, one of the letters the +doctor, his father, wrote to the major on this wonderful occasion. I +perceive by the contents of it that it was the first, and, indeed, it is +dated as early as the 3d of August, 1719, which must be but a few days +after his own account, dated August 4, N.S., could reach England. There +is so much true religion and good sense in this paper, and the counsel +it suggests may be so reasonable to other persons in circumstances which +bear any resemblance to his, that I make no apology to my reader for +inserting a large extract from it. + +"Dear Sir,--I conceive it will not much surprise you to understand that +your good mother communicated to me your letter to her, dated August 4, +N.S., which brought her the news you conceive would be so acceptable +to her. I, who have often been a witness to her concern for you on a +spiritual account, can attest with what joy this news was received by +her, and imparted to me as a special friend, who she knew would bear +a part with her on such an occasion. And, indeed, if (as our Saviour +intimates, Luke xv. 7, 10,) there is, is such cases, joy in heaven and +among the angels of God, it may be well supposed that of a pious mother +who has spent so many prayers and tears upon you, and has, as it were, +travailed in birth with you again till Christ was formed in you, could +not be small. You may believe me if I add, that I also, as a common +friend of hers and yours, and which is much more, of the Prince of Light, +whom you now declare you heartily fall in with in opposition to that of +the dark kingdom, could not but be tenderly affected with an account +of it under your own hand. My joy on this account was the greater, +considering the importance of your capacity, interests, and prospects, +which, in such an age as this, may promise most happy consequences, on +your heartily appearing on God's side, and embarking in the interest of +our Redeemer. If I have hitherto at all remembered you at the throne +of grace, at your good mother's desire, (which you are pleased to take +notice of with so much respect,) I can assure you I shall henceforth +be led to do it, with more concern and particularity both by duty and +inclination; and if I were capable of giving you any little assistance in +the noble design you are engaging in, by corresponding with you by letter +while you are at such a distance, I should do it most cheerfully. And +perhaps such a motion may not, be altogether unacceptable; for I am +inclinable to believe, that when some whom you are obliged to converse +with, observe your behaviour so different from what it formerly was, and +banter you upon it as mad and fanciful, it may be some little relief +to correspond with one who will take a pleasure in heartening and +encouraging you. And when a great many things frequently offer, in which +conscience may be concerned where duty may not always be plain, nor +suitable persons to advise with at hand, it may be some satisfaction to +you to correspond with one with whom you may use a friendly freedom +in all such matters, and on whose fidelity you may depend. You may, +therefore, command me in any of these respects, and I shall take a +pleasure in serving you. One piece of advice I shall venture to give you, +though your own good sense will make my enlarging upon it less needful--I +mean, that you would, from your first setting out, carefully distinguish +between the essentials of real religion, and those things which are +commonly reckoned by its professors to belong to it. The want of this +distinction has had very unhappy consequences from one age to another, +and perhaps in none more than the present. But your daily converse with +your Bible, which you mention, may herein give you great assistance. I +move also, that since infidelity so much abounds, you would not only, by +close and serious consideration, endeavour to settle yourself well in the +fundamental principles of religion; but also that, as opportunity offers, +you would converse with those books which treat most judiciously on the +divine original of Christianity, such as Grotins, Abbadie, Baxter, Bates, +Du Plessis, &c., which may establish you against the cavils that occur +in almost all conversations, and furnish you with arguments which, when +properly offered, may be of use to make some impression on others. But +being too much straitened to enlarge at present, I can only add, that if +your hearty falling in with serious religion should prove any hinderance +to your advancement in the world, (which I pray God it may not, unless +such advancement would be a real snare to you,) I hope you will trust +our Saviour's word, that it shall be no disadvantage to you in the final +issue: he has given you his word for it, Matt. xix. 29, upon which you +may safely depend; and I am satisfied none that ever did so at last +repented of it. May you go on and prosper, and the God of all grace and +peace be with you!" + +I think it very evident from the contents of this letter, that the major +had not imparted to his mother the most singular circumstances attending +his conversion; and indeed there was something so peculiar in them, +that I do not wonder he was always cautious in speaking of them, and +especially that he was at first much on the reserve. We may also +naturally reflect that there seems to have been something very +providential in this letter, considering the debate in which our +illustrious convert was so soon engaged; for it was written but about +three weeks before his conference with the lady above mentioned in the +defence of Christianity, or at least before the appointment of it. And as +some of the books recommended by Dr. Calamy, particularly Abbadie and Du +Plessis, were undoubtedly within his reach, (if our English advocates +were not,) this might, by the divine blessing, contribute considerably +towards arming him for that combat in which he came off with such happy +success. As in this instance, so in many others, they who will observe +the coincidence and concurrence of things, may be engaged to adore the +wise conduct of Providence in events which, when taken singly and by +themselves, have nothing very remarkable in them. + +I think it was about this time that this resolute and exemplary Christian +entered upon that methodical manner of living which he pursued through +so many succeeding years of life, and I believe generally, so far as the +broken state of his health would allow it in his latter days, to the very +end of it. He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to +spend his time till six in the secret exercises of devotion, reading, +meditation, and prayer, in which last he contracted such a fervency of +spirit as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended +very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent animating +sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and +which carried him through the trials and services of life with such +steadiness and with such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as +always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go +out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that +when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, he +would be at his devotions at furthest by two. He likewise secured time +for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at +command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as be better +able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten; +and, during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper +but a mouthful of bread, with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, +as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had +formed, he required less sleep than most persons I have known; and I +doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing +to these resolute habits of self-denial. + +A life anything like this could not, to be sure, be entered upon in the +midst of such company as he had been accustomed to keep, without great +opposition, especially as he did not entirely withdraw himself from all +the circle of cheerful conversation; but, on the contrary, gave several +hours every day to it, lest religion should be reproached as having made +him morose. He however, early began a practice, which to the last day of +his life he retained, of reproving vice and profaneness; and was never +afraid to debate the matter with any one, under the consciousness of +great superiority in the goodness of his cause. + +A remarkable instance of this happened, if I mistake not, about the +middle of 1720, though I cannot be very exact as to the date of the +story. It was, however, on his first return to make any considerable +abode in England after this remarkable change. He had heard, on the other +side of the water, that it was currently reported among his companions +at home that he was stark mad--a report at which no reader who knows the +wisdom of the world in these matters, will be much surprised, any more +than himself. He concluded, therefore, that he should have many battles +to fight, and was willing to dispatch the business as fast as he could. +And therefore, being to spend a few days at the country-house of a person +of distinguished rank, with whom he had been very intimate, (whose name +I do not remember that he told me, nor did I think it proper to inquire +after it,) he begged the favour of him that he would contrive matters +so, that, a day or two after he came down, several of their former gay +companions might meet at his lordship's table, that he might have an +opportunity of making his apology to them, and acquainting them with the +nature and reasons of his change. It was accordingly agreed to; and a +pretty large company met on the day appointed, with previous notice that +Major Gardiner would be there. A good deal of raillery passed at dinner, +to which the major made very little answer. But when the cloth was taken +away, and the servants retired, he begged their patience for a few +minutes, and then plainly and seriously told them what notions he +entertained of virtue and religion, and on what considerations he had +absolutely determined that by the grace of God he would make it the care +and business of life, whatever he might lose by it, and whatever censure +and contempt he might incur. He well knew how improper it was in such +company to relate the extraordinary manner in which he was awakened, +which they would probably have interpreted as a demonstration of lunacy, +against all the gravity and solidity of his discourse; but he contented +himself with such a rational defence of a righteous, sober, and godly +life, as he knew none of them could with any shadow of reason contest. He +then challenged them to propose any thing they could urge, to prove that +a life of irreligion and debauchery was preferable to the fear, love and +worship of the eternal God, and a conduct agreeable to the precepts +of his gospel. And he failed not to bear his testimony, from his own +experience, (to one part of which many of them had been witnesses) that +after having run the widest round of sensual pleasure, with all the +advantages the best constitution and spirits could give him, he had never +tasted any thing that deserved to be called happiness, till he had made +religion his refuge and his delight. He testified calmly and boldly the +habitual serenity and peace which he now felt in his own breast, (for the +most elevated delights he did not think fit to plead, lest they should be +esteemed enthusiasm,) and the composure and pleasure with which he looked +forward to objects which the gayest sinner must acknowledge to be equally +unavoidable and dreadful. + +I know not what might be attempted by some of the company in answer to +this; but I well remember that he told me that the master of the table, a +person of a very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate, and +said, "Come, let us call another cause. We thought this man mad, and +he is in good earnest proving that we are so." On the whole, this +well-judged circumstance saved him a great deal of future trouble. When +his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversible and +innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolutions, they +desisted from further importunity; and he has assured me, that instead of +losing any one valuable friend by the change in his character, he found +himself much more esteemed and regarded by many who could not persuade +themselves to imitate his example. + +I have not any memoirs of Colonel Gardiner's life, or of any other +remarkable event befalling him in it, from the time of his return to +England till his marriage in the year 1726, except the extracts which +have been sent me from some letters, which he wrote to his religious +friends during this interval, and which I cannot pass by without a more +particular notice. It may be recollected, that in consequence of +the reduction of that regiment of which he was major, he was out of +commission from Nov. 10, 1718, till June 1, 1724; and, after he returned +from Paris, I find all his letters during this period dated from London, +where he continued in communion with the Christian society under the +pastoral care of Dr. Calamy. As his good mother also belonged to the +same, it is easy to imagine it must have been an unspeakable pleasure to +her to have such frequent opportunities of conversing with such a son, of +observing in his daily conduct and discourses the blessed effects of that +change which divine grace had made in his heart, and of sitting down with +him monthly at that sacred feast where Christians so frequently enjoy +the divinest entertainments which they expect on this side heaven. I the +rather mention this ordinance, because, as this excellent lady had a very +high esteem for it, so she had an opportunity of attending it but the +very Lord's day immediately preceding her death, which happened on +Thursday, October 7, 1725, after her son had been removed from her almost +a year. He had maintained her handsomely out of that very moderate income +on which he subsisted since his regiment had been disbanded; and when she +expressed her gratitude to him for it, he assured her (in one of the last +letters she ever received from him) "that he esteemed it a great honour +that God put it into his power to make what he called a very small +acknowledgment of all her care for him, and especially of the many +prayers she had offered on his account, which had already been remarkably +answered, and the benefit of which he hoped ever to enjoy." + +I apprehend that the Earl of Stair's regiment, to the majority of +which he was promoted on the 20th of July, 1724, was then quartered in +Scotland; for all the letters in my hand, from that time to the 6th of +February, 1726, are dated from thence, and particularly from Douglas, +Stranraer, Hamilton, and Ayr. But I have the pleasure to find, from +comparing these with others of an earlier date from London and the +neighbouring parts, that neither the detriment which he must suffer by +being so long out of commission, nor the hurry of affairs while charged +with it, could prevent or interrupt that intercourse with Heaven, which +was his daily feast, and his daily strength. + +These were most eminently the happy years of his life; for he had +learned to estimate his happiness, not by the increase of honour, or the +possession of wealth, or by what was much dearer to his generous heart +than either, the converse of the dearest and worthiest human friends; but +by nearness to God, and by opportunities of humble converse with him, in +the lively exercise of contemplation, praise, and prayer. Now there was +no period of his life in which he was more eminently favoured with these, +nor do I find any of his letters so overflowing with transports of holy +joy, as those which were dated during this time. There are indeed in some +of them such very sublime passages, that I have been dubious whether I +should communicate them to the public or not, lest I should administer +matter of profane ridicule to some, who look upon all the elevations +of devotion as contemptible enthusiasm. And it has also given me some +apprehensions lest it should discourage some pious Christians, who, after +having spent several years in the service of God, and in humble obedience +to the precepts of his gospel, may not have attained to any such heights +as these. But, on the whole, I cannot satisfy myself to suppress them; +not only as I number some of them, considered in a devotional view, among +the most extraordinary pieces of the kind I have ever met with; but as +some of the most excellent and judicious persons I any where know, to +whom I have read them, have assured me that they felt their hearts in an +unusual manner impressed, quickened, and edified by them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +LETTERS. + + +I will therefore draw back the veil, and show my much honoured friend in +his most secret recesses, that the world may see what those springs were, +from whence issued that clear, permanent and living stream of wisdom, +piety, and virtue, which so evidently ran through all that part of his +life which was open to public observation. It is not to be imagined that +letters written in the intimacy of Christian friendship, some of them +with the most evident marks of haste, and amidst a variety of important +public cares, should be adorned with any studied elegance of expression, +about which the greatness of his soul would not allow him to be at any +time very solicitous, for he generally (as far as I could observe) wrote +as fast as his pen could move, which, happily both for him and his many +friends, was very freely. Yet here the grandeur of his subject has +sometimes clothed his ideas with a language more elevated than is +ordinarily to be expected in an epistolary correspondence. The proud +scorners who may deride sentiments and enjoyments like those which this +truly great man so experimentally and pathetically describes, I pity from +my heart, and grieve to think how unfit they must be for the hallelujahs +of heaven, who pour contempt upon the nearest approaches to them; nor +shall I think it any misfortune to share with so excellent a person their +profane derision. It will be infinitely more than an equivalent for all +that such ignorance and petulancy can think and say, if I may convince +some, who are as yet strangers to religion, how real and how noble its +delights are--if I may engage my pious readers to glorify God for so +illustrious an instance of his grace--and finally, if I may quicken them, +and, above all, may rouse my own too indolent spirit to follow with less +unequal steps an example, to the sublimity of which, I fear, few of us +shall, after all, be able fully to attain. And that we may not be too +much discouraged under the deficiency, let it be recollected that few +have the advantage of a temper naturally so warm; few have an equal +command of retirement; and perhaps hardly any one who thinks himself +most indebted to the riches and freedom of divine grace, can trace +interpositions of it in all respects equally astonishing. + +The first of these extraordinary letters which have fallen into my hand, +is dated near three years after his conversion, and addressed to a +lady of quality. I believe it is the first the major ever wrote, so +immediately on the subject of his religious consolations and converse +with God in devout retirement; for I well remember that he once told me +he was so much afraid that something of spiritual pride should mingle +itself with the relation of such kind of experiences, that he concealed +them a long time; but observing with how much freedom the sacred writers +open all the most secret recesses of their hearts, especially in the +Psalms; his conscience began to be burdened, under an apprehension that, +for the honour of God, and in order to engage the concurrent praises of +some of his people, he ought to disclose them. On this he set himself to +reflect who among all his numerous acquaintance seemed at once the most +experienced Christians, (to whom, therefore, such things as he had to +communicate might appear solid and credible,) and who the humblest. He +quickly thought of the Lady Marchioness of Douglas in this view; and the +reader may well imagine that it struck my mind very strongly, to think +that now, more than twenty-four years after it was written, Providence +should bring to my hands (as it has done within these few days) what I +assuredly believe to be a genuine copy of that very letter, which I had +not the least reason to expect I should ever have seen, when I learned +from his own mouth, amidst the freedom of an accidental conversation, the +occasion and circumstances of it. It is dated from London, July 21, 1722, +and the very first lines of it relate to a remarkable circumstance which, +from others of his letters, I find happened several times; I mean, that +when he had received from any of his Christian friends a few lines which +particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return +of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to +give vent to those religious emotions of mind which such a correspondence +raised. How invaluable was such a friend! and what great reason have +those of us who once possessed a large share in his heart, and in those +retired and sacred moments, to bless God for so singular a felicity; +and to comfort ourselves in a pleasing hope that we may yet reap future +blessings, as the harvest of those petitions which he can no more repeat. + +His words are these: + +"I was so happy as to receive yours just as I arrived, and had no sooner +read it but I shut my door, and sought Him whom my soul loveth. I sought +him, and found him; and would not let him go till he had blessed us all. +It is impossible to find words to express what I obtained; but I suppose +it was something like that which the disciples got, as they were going +to Emmaus, when they said, 'Did not our hearts burn within us,' &c.; or +rather like what Paul felt, when he could not tell whether he was in the +body, or out of it." + +He then mentions his dread of spiritual pride, from whence he earnestly +prays that God may deliver and preserve him. + +"This," says he, "would have hindered me from communicating these things, +if I had not such an example before me as the man after God's own heart, +saying, 'I will declare what God hath done for my soul;' and elsewhere, +'The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.' Now I am well satisfied +that your ladyship is of that number." + +He then adds: + +"I had no sooner finished this exercise," that is of prayer above +mentioned, "but I sat down to admire the goodness of my God, that he +would vouchsafe to influence by his free Spirit so undeserving a wretch +as I, and to make me thus to mount up with eagles' wings. And here I was +lost again, and got into an ocean, where I could find neither bound nor +bottom; but was obliged to cry out with the apostle, 'O the breadth, +the length, the depth, the height of the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge!' But if I gave way to this strain I shall never have done. +That the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, +that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, shall +always be the prayer of him who is, with the greatest sincerity and +respect, your Ladyship's," &c. + +Another passage to the same purpose I find in a memorandum, which he +seems to have written for his own use, dated Monday, March 11, which I +perceive, from many concurrent circumstances, must have been in the year +1722-3. + +"This day," says he, "having been to visit Mrs. G. at Hampstead, I came +home about two, and read a sermon on these words, Psalm cxxx. 4, 'But +there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' about the +latter end of which, there is a description of the miserable condition of +those that are slighters of pardoning grace. From a sense of the great +obligations I lie under to the Almighty God, who hath made me to differ +from such, from what I was, and from the rest of my companions, I knelt +down to praise his holy name; and I know not in my lifetime I ever lay +lower in the dust, never having had a fuller view of my own unworthiness. +I never pleaded more strongly the merits and intercession of Him who +I know is worthy--never vowed more sincerely to be the Lord's, and to +accept of Christ, as he is offered in the gospel, as my King, Priest, +and Prophet--never had so strong a desire to depart, that I might sin no +more; but 'my grace is sufficient,' curbed that desire. I never pleaded +with greater fervency for the Comforter, which our blessed Lord hath +promised shall abide with us for ever. For all which, I desire to ascribe +glory &c. to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb." + +There are several others of his papers, speaking much the same language, +which, had he kept a diary, would, I doubt not, have filled many sheets. +I believe my devout readers would not soon be weary of reading extracts +of this kind; but that I may not exceed in this part of my narrative, I +shall mention only two more, each of them dated some years after; that +is, one from Douglas, April 1, 1725; and the other from Stranraer, 25th +May following. + +The former of these relates to the frame of his spirit on a journey; on +the mention of which, I cannot but recollect how often I have heard him +say that some of the most delightful days of his life were days in which +he travelled alone, (that is, with only a servant at a distance,) when he +could, especially in roads not much frequented, indulge himself in the +pleasures of prayer and praise. In the exercise of this last, he was +greatly assisted by several psalms and hymns which he had treasured up in +his memory, and which he used not only to repeat aloud, but sometimes to +sing. In reference to this, I remember the following passage, in a letter +which he wrote to me many years after, when, on mentioning my ever dear +and honoured friend the Rev. Dr. Watts, he says, "How often, in singing +some of his psalms, hymns, or lyrics, on horseback and elsewhere, has the +evil spirit been made to flee: + + "'Whene'er my heart in tune was found, + 'Like David's harp of solemn sound!'" + +Such was the first of April above mentioned. In the evening of that day +he writes thus to an intimate friend:-- + +"What would I have given this day, upon the road, for paper, pen, and +ink, when the Spirit of the Most High rested upon me! Oh for the pen of a +ready writer, and the tongue of an angel, to declare what God hath done +this day for my soul! But, in short, it is in vain to attempt it. All +that I am able to say, is this, that my soul has been for some hours +joining with the blessed spirits above in giving glory, and honour, and +praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever +and ever. My praises began from a renewed view of Him whom I saw pierced +for my transgressions. I summoned the whole hierarchy of heaven to join +with me, and I am persuaded they all echoed back praise to the Most High. +Yon, one would have thought the very larks joined me with emulation. +Sure, then, I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that +are his saints, to join me in blessing and praising his holy name." He +concludes, "May the blessing of the God of Jacob rest upon you all! +Adieu. Written in great haste, late and weary." + +Scarcely can I here refrain from breaking out into more copious +reflections on the exquisite pleasures of true religion, when risen to +such eminent degrees, which can thus feast the soul in its solitude, and +refresh it on journeys, and bring down so much of heaven to earth as this +delightful letter expresses. But the remark is so obvious, that I will +not enlarge upon it; but proceed to the other letter above mentioned, +which was written the next month, on the Tuesday after a sacrament day. + +He mentions the pleasure with which he had attended a preparation sermon +the Saturday before; and then he adds: + +"I took a walk upon the mountains that are over against Ireland; and, I +persuade myself, that were I capable of giving you a description of what +passed there, you would agree that I had much better reason to remember +my God from the hills of Port Patrick than David from the land of Jordan, +and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar." I suppose he refers to +the clearer discoveries of the gospel with which we are favoured. "In +short," says he immediately afterwards, in that scripture phrase which +had become so familiar to him, "I wrestled some hours with the Angel of +the covenant, and made supplications to him with floods of tears, and +cries--until I had almost expired; but he strengthened me so, that, like +Jacob, I had power with God, and prevailed. This," adds he, "is but a +very faint description; you will be more able to judge of it by what you +have felt yourself upon the like occasions. After such preparatory work, +I need not tell you how blessed the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper +proved to me; I hope it was so to many. You may believe I should have +been exceeding glad, if my gracious Lord had ordered it so, that I might +have made you a visit, as I proposed; but I am now glad it was ordered +otherwise, since he hath caused so much of his goodness to pass before +me. Were I to give you an account of the many favours my God hath loaded +me with, since I parted from you, I must have taken up many days in +nothing but writing. I hope you will join with me in praises for all the +goodness he has shown to your unworthy brother in the Lord." + +Such were the ardours and elevation of his soul. But while I record these +memorials of them, I am very sensible that there are many who will be +inclined to censure them as the flights of enthusiasm; for which reason, +I must beg leave to add a remark or two on the occasion, which will be +illustrated by several other extracts, which I shall introduce into the +sequel of these memoirs. The one is, that he never pretends, in any of +the passages cited above, or elsewhere, to have received from God any +immediate revelations which should raise him above the ordinary methods +of instruction, or discover any thing to him, whether of doctrines or +facts. No man was further from pretending to predict future events, +except from the moral prognostications of causes naturally tending to +produce them, in tracing of which he had indeed an admirable sagacity, +as I have seen in some very remarkable instances. Neither was he at all +inclinable to govern himself by secret impulses upon his mind, leading +him to things for which he could assign no reason but the impulse itself. +Had he ventured, in a presumption on such secret agitations of mind, to +teach or to do any thing not warranted by the dictates of sound sense and +the word of God, I should readily have acknowledged him an enthusiast, +unless he could have produced some other evidence than his own persuasion +to have supported the authority of them. But these ardent expressions, +which some may call enthusiasm, seem only to evince a heart deeply +affected with a sense of the divine presence and perfections, and of that +love which passeth knowledge, especially as manifested in our redemption +by the Son of God, which did indeed inflame his whole soul. And he +thought he might reasonably ascribe these strong impressions, to which +men are generally such strangers, and of which he had long been entirely +destitute, to the agency or influences of the Spirit of God upon his +heart; and that, in proportion to the degree in which he felt them, he +might properly say, God was present with him, and he conversed with +God.[*] Now, when we consider the scriptural phrases of "walking with +God," of "having communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ," of +"Christ's coming to them that open the door of their hearts to him, and +supping with them," of "God's shedding abroad his love in the heart of +the Spirit," of "his coming with Jesus Christ, and making his abode with +any man that loves him," of "his meeting him that worketh righteousness," +of "his making us glad by the light of his countenance," and a variety +of other equivalent expressions,--I believe we shall see reason to judge +much more favourably of such expressions as those now in question, than +persons who, themselves strangers to elevated devotion, perhaps converse +but little with their Bible, are inclined to do; especially, if they +have, as many such persons have, a temper that inclines them to cavil and +find fault. And I must further observe, that amidst all those freedoms +with which this eminent Christian opens his devout heart to the most +intimate of his friends, he still speaks with profound awe and reverence +of his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and maintains (after the example +of the sacred writers themselves,) a kind of dignity in his expressions, +suitable to such a subject, without any of that fond familiarity of +language, and degrading meanness of phrase, by which it is, especially +of late, grown fashionable among some (who nevertheless I believe mean +well,) to express their love and their humility. + +[*Note: The ingenious and pious Mr. Grove (who, I think, was as little +suspected of running into enthusiastical extremes as most divines I could +name,) has a noble passage to this purpose in the sixth volume of his +Posthumous Works, p.10, 11, which, respect to the memory of both these +excellent persons, inclines me to insert here, + +"How often are the good thoughts suggested," (viz. to the pure in heart) +"heavenly affection kindled and inflamed! How often is the Christian +prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, +persuaded, in such a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God +to question his agency in the whole! Yes, on my soul! there is a Supreme +Being, who governs the world, and is present with it, who takes up his +more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon +him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, oh my soul! +like another soul, [Transcriber's note: illegible] thy faculties, +exalting thy views, purifying thy passions, exalting thy graces, and +begetting in thee an abhorrence of sin, and a love of holiness? Is not +all this an argument of His presence, as truly as if thou didst see."] + +On the whole, if habitual love to God, firm faith in the Lord Jesus +Christ, a steady dependence on the divine promises, a full persuasion of +the wisdom and goodness of all the dispensations of Providence, a high +esteem for the blessings of the heavenly world, and a sincere contempt +for the vanities of this, can properly be called enthusiasm, then was +Colonel Gardiner indeed one of the greatest enthusiasts which our age +has produced; and in proportion to the degree in which he was so, I must +esteem him one of the wisest and happiest of mankind. Nor do I fear to +tell the world that it is the design of my writing these memoirs, and of +every thing else that I undertake in life, to spread this glorious and +blessed enthusiasm, which I know to be the anticipation of heaven, as +well as the most certain way to it. + +But lest any should possibly imagine, that allowing the experiences which +have been described above to have been ever so solid and important, yet +there may be some appearances of boasting in so free a communication of +them, I must add to what I have hinted in reference to this above, that +I find in many of the papers before me very genuine expressions of the +deepest humility and self-abasement, which indeed such holy converse with +God in prayer and praise does, above all things in the world, tend to +inspire and promote. Thus, in one of his letters he says, "I am but as +a beast before him." In another he calls himself "a miserable +hell-deserving sinner." And in another he cries out, "Oh, how good +a master do I serve! but, alas, how ungrateful am I! What can be so +astonishing as the love of Christ to us, unless it be the coldness of our +sinful hearts towards such a Saviour?" There were many other clauses of +the like nature, which I shall not set myself more particularly to trace +through the variety of letters in which they occur. + +It is a further instance of this unfeigned humility, that when (as his +lady with her usual propriety of language expresses it in one of her +letters to me concerning him,) "these divine joys and consolations were +not his daily allowance," he, with equal freedom, in the confidence of +Christian fellowship, acknowledges and laments it. Thus, in the first +letter I had the honour of receiving from him, dated from Leicester, July +9, 1739, after mentioning the blessing with which it had pleased God to +attend my last address to him, and the influence it had upon his mind, +he adds, "Much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that +spiritual deadness which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite +otherwise with me, and that for many years: + + "'Firm was my health, my day was bright, + And I presumed 't would ne'er be night, + Fondly I said within my heart, + Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart, + But I forgot, thine arm was strong, + Which made my mountain stand so long; + Soon as thy face began to hide, + My health was gone, my comforts died.' + +And here," adds he, "lies my sin and my folly." + +I mention this, that the whole matter may be seen just as it was, and +that other Christians may not be discouraged if they feel some abatement +of that fervour, and of those holy joys which they may have experienced +during some of the first months or years of their spiritual life. But, +with relation to the colonel, I have great reason to believe that those +which he laments as his days of spiritual deadness were not unanimated; +and that quickly after the date of this letter, and especially nearer the +close of his life, he had further revivings, as the joyful anticipation +in reserve of those better things which were then nearly approaching. And +thus Mr. Spears, in the letter I mentioned above, tells us he related +the matter to him, (for he studies as much as possible to retain the +colonel's own words): "However," says he, "after that happy period +of sensible communion, though my joys and enlargements were not so +overflowing and sensible, yet I have had habitual real communion with +God from that day to this"--the latter end of the year 1743--"and I know +myself, and all that know me see, that through the grace of God, to which +I ascribe all, my conversation has been becoming the gospel; and let me +die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it shall be, I am sure +I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory," &c. This is perfectly +agreeable to the manner in which he used to speak to me on this head, +which we have talked over frequently and largely. + +In this connection I hope my reader will forgive my inserting a little +story which I received from a very worthy minister in Scotland, and which +I shall give in his own words: "In this period," meaning that which +followed the first seven years after his conversion, "when his complaint +of comparative deadness and languor in religion began, he had a dream, +which, though he had no turn at all for taking notice of dreams, yet made +a very strong impression upon his mind. He imagined he saw his blessed +Redeemer on earth, and that he was following him through a large field, +following him whom his soul loved, but much troubled, because he thought +his blessed Lord did not speak to him, till he came up to the gate of a +burying-place, when, turning about, he smiled upon him in such a manner +as filled his soul with the most ravishing joy, and on after reflection +animated his faith in believing that whatever storms and darkness he +might meet with in the way, at the hour of death his glorious Redeemer +would lift up upon him the light of his life-giving countenance." My +correspondent adds a circumstance for which he makes some apology, +as what may seem whimsical, and yet made some impression on the +colonel,--"that there was a remarkable resemblance in the field in which +this brave man met his death, and that he had represented to him in the +dream." I did not fully understand this at first; but a passage in that +letter from Mr. Spears, which I have mentioned more than once, has +cleared it: + +"Now observe, sir, this seems to be a literal description of the place +where this Christian hero ended his sorrows and conflicts, and from which +he entered triumphantly into the joy of his Lord; for, after he fell in +the battle, fighting gloriously for his king, and the cause of his God, +his wounded body, while life was yet remaining, was carried from the +field of battle by the east side of his own enclosure, till he came to +the church-yard of Tranent, and was brought to the minister's house, +where, about an hour after, he breathed out his soul into the hands of +his Lord, and was conducted to his presence, where there is fulness of +joy, without any cloud or interruption, for ever." + +I well know that in dreams there are diverse vanities, and readily +acknowledge that nothing certain could be inferred from this; yet it +seems at least to show which way the imagination was working even in +sleep; and I cannot think it unworthy of a wise and good man sometimes +to reflect with complacency on any images which, passing through his mind +even in that state, may tend either to express or to quicken his love +to the great Saviour. Those eminently pious divines of the Church of +England, Bishop Bull and Bishop Konn, do both intimate it as their +opinion that it may be a part of the service of ministering angels to +suggest devout dreams[1] and I know that the worthy person of whom I +speak was well acquainted with that evening hymn of the latter of those +excellent writers which has these lines: + + "Lord lest the tempter me surprise, + Watch over thine own sacrifice! + All loose, all idle thoughts cast out; + And make my very _dreams_ devout!" + +Nor would it be difficult to produce other passages much to the same +purpose,[2] if it would not be deemed too great a digression from our +subject, and too laboured a vindication of a little incident of very +small importance when compared with most of those which make up this +narrative.[3] + +[Footnote 1: Bishop Bull has these remarkable words: "Although I am no +doater on dreams, yet I verily believe that some dreams are monitory, +above the power of fancy, and impressed upon us by some superior +intelligence. For of such dreams we have plain and undeniable instances +in history, both sacred and profane, and in our own age and observation. +Nor shall I so value the laughter of sceptics, and the scoffs of +epicureans, as to be ashamed to profess that I myself have had some +convincing experiments of such impressions." _Bishop Bull's Sermons and +Discourses_, Vol. II, pp. 489, 490.] + +[Footnote 2: If I mistake not, the same Bishop Konn is the author of a +_midnight hymn_ coinciding with these words: + + "May my ethereal Guardian kindly spread + His wings, and from the tempter screen my head; + Grant of celestial light some passing beams, + To bless my sleep, and sanctify my dreams!" + +As he certainly was of these exactly parallel lines: + + "Oh may my Guardian, while I sleep, + Close to my bed his vigils keep; + His love angelical distil, + Stop all the avenues of ill! + May he celestial joys rehearse, + And thought to thought with me converse!"] + +[Footnote 3: See Appendix I.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + + +I meet not with any other remarkable event relating to Major Gardiner, +which can properly be introduced here, till 1726, when, on the 11th of +July, he was married to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to +the late Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five only of +which survived their father, two sons and three daughters, whom I cannot +mention without the most fervent prayers to God for them, that they may +always behave worthy the honour of being descended from such parents, +and that the God of their father and of their mother may make them +perpetually the care of his providence, and yet more eminently happy in +the constant and abundant influences of his grace. + +As her ladyship is still living,[*] (and for the sake of +her dear offspring, and numerous friends, may she long be spared,) I +shall not here indulge myself in saying any thing of her, except it be +that the colonel assured me, when he had been happy in this intimate +relation to her more than fourteen years, that the greatest imperfection +he knew in her character was, "that she valued and loved him much more +than he deserved." Little did he think, in the simplicity of heart with +which he spoke this, how high an encomium he was making upon her, and how +lasting an honour such a testimony must leave upon her name, long as the +memory of it shall continue. + +[*Note: In the year 1746] + +As I do not intend in these memoirs a laboured essay on the character of +Colonel Gardiner, digested under the various virtues and graces which +Christianity requires, (which would, I think, be a little too formal for +a work of this kind, and would give it such an air of panegyric as would +neither suit my design, nor be at all likely to render it more useful,) I +shall now mention what I have either observed in him, or heard concerning +him, with regard to those domestic relations which commenced about this +time, or very soon after. And here my reader will easily conclude that +the resolution of Joshua was from the first adopted and declared, "As for +me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It will naturally be supposed, +that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word +of God was read there, and prayers and praises were constantly offered. +These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it +a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof to take it +for granted they would look upon it as a very bad compliment to imagine +they would have been obliged by neglecting the duties of religion on +their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly +resident in his house, who discharged both the office of a tutor to his +children, and of a chaplain, and who was always treated with a becoming +kindness and respect. But, in his absence, the colonel himself led the +devotions of the family; and they were happy who had an opportunity of +knowing with how much solemnity, fervour, and propriety he did it. He was +constant in attendance upon public worship, in which an exemplary care +was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the +family. And how he would have resented the non-attendance of any member +of it may easily be conjectured from a free but lively passage in a +letter to one of his intimate friends, on an occasion which it is not +material to mention. "Oh, sir, had a child of yours under my roof but +once neglected the public worship of God when he was able to attend it, +I should have been ready to conclude he had been distracted, and should +have thought of shaving his head, and confining him in a dark room." + +He always treated his lady with a manly tenderness, giving her the most +natural evidences of a cordial, habitual esteem, and expressing a most +affectionate sympathy with her under the infirmities of a very delicate +constitution, much broken, at least towards the latter years of their +marriage. He had at all times a most faithful care of all her interests, +and especially those relating to the state of religion in her mind. His +conversation and his letters concurred to cherish those sublime ideas +which Christianity suggests, to promote our submission to the will of +God, to teach us to centre our happiness in the great Author of our +being, and to live by faith in the invisible world. These, no doubt, were +frequently the subjects of mutual discourse; and many letters, which her +ladyship has had the goodness to communicate to me, are most convincing +evidences of the degree in which this noble and most friendly care filled +his mind in the days of their separation--days which so entire a mutual +affection must have rendered exceedingly painful, had they not been +supported by such exalted sentiments of piety, and sweetened by daily +communion with an ever-present and ever-gracious God. + +The necessity of being so many months together distant from his family +hindered him from many of those condescending labours in cultivating the +minds of his children in early life, which, to a soul so benevolent, so +wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite +pleasure. The care of his worthy consort, who well knew that it is one +of the brightest parts of a mother's character, and one of the most +important views in which the sex can be considered, made him the easier +under such a circumstance; but when he was with them, he failed not to +instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he +spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he +always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were +excellent lessons of daily wisdom, which I hope they will recollect with +advantage in every future scene of life. And I have seen such hints in +his letters relating to them, as plainly show with how great a weight +they lay on his mind, and how highly he desired, above all things, that +they might be the faithful disciples of Christ, and acquainted betimes +with the unequalled pleasures and blessings of religion. He thought an +excess of delicacy and of indulgence one of the most dangerous faults +in education, by which he everywhere saw great numbers of young people +undone; yet he was solicitous to guard against a severity which might +terrify or discourage; and though he endeavoured to take all prudent +precautions to prevent the commission of faults, yet, when they had been +committed, and there seemed to be a sense of them, he was always ready +to make the most candid allowances for the thoughtlessness of unripened +years, and tenderly to cherish every purpose of a more proper conduct for +the time to come. + +It was to perceive that the openings of genius in the young branches of +his family gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to +see them excel in what they undertook. Yet he was greatly cautious over +his heart, lest it should be too fondly attached to them; and as he was +one of the most eminent proficients I ever knew in the blessed science +of resignation to the divine will, so there was no effect of that +resignation which appeared to me more admirable than what related to the +life of his children. An experience, which no length of time will ever +efface out of my memory, has so sensibly taught me how difficult it is +fully to support the Christian character here, that I hope my reader will +pardon me (I am sure, at least, the heart of wounded parents will,) if I +dwell a little longer upon so interesting a subject.[*] + +[*Note: See Appendix II.] + +When he was in Herefordshire in July, 1734, it pleased God to visit his +little family with the small pox. Five days before the date of the letter +I am just going to mention, he had received the agreeable news that +there was a prospect of the recovery of his son, then under that awful +visitation; and he had been expressing his thankfulness for it in a +letter which he had sent away but a few hours before he was informed of +his death, the surprise of which, in this connection, must naturally be +very great. But behold (says the reverend and worthy person from whom +I received the copy) his truly filial submission to the will of his +Heavenly Father, in the following lines addressed to the dear partner +of his affliction: "Your resignation to the will of God under this +dispensation gives me more joy than the death of the child has given me +sorrow. He, to be sure, is happy; and we shall go to him, though he shall +not return to us. Oh that we had our latter end always in view! We shall +soon follow; and oh, what reason have we to long for that glorious day +when we shall get quit of this body of sin and death under which we now +groan, and which renders this life so wretched! I desire to bless God +that ---- (another of his children) is in so good a way; but I have +resigned her. We must not choose for ourselves; and it is well we must +not, for we should often make a very bad choice, and therefore it is our +wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave all with a gracious God, who hath +promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love +him; and he is faithful that hath promised, who will infallibly perform +it, if our unbelief does not stand in the way." + +The greatest trial of this kind that he ever bore, was in the removal of +his second son, who was one of the most amiable and promising children +that has been known. The dear little creature was the darling of all that +knew him; and promised very fair, so far as a child could be known by its +doings, to have been a great ornament to the family, and blessing to the +public. The suddenness of the stroke must, no doubt, render it the more +painful; for this beloved child was snatched away by an illness which +seized him but about fifteen hours before it carried him off. He died +in the month of October 1733, at near six years old. Their friends were +ready to fear that his affectionate parents would be almost overwhelmed +at such a loss; but the happy father had so firm a persuasion that God +had received the dear little one to the felicities of the celestial +world, and at the same time had so strong a sense of the divine goodness +in taking one of his children, and that, too, one who lay so near his +heart, so early to himself, that the sorrows of nature were quite +swallowed up in the sublime joy which these considerations administered. +When he reflected what human life is--how many its snares and temptations +are--and how frequently children who once promised very well are +insensibly corrupted, and at length undone, with Solomon he blessed the +dead already dead, more than the living who were yet alive, and felt +unspeakable pleasure in looking after the lovely infant, as safely and +delightfully lodged in the house of its Heavenly Father. Yea, he assured +me that his heart was at this time so entirely taken up with these views, +that he was afraid they who did not thoroughly know him might suspect +that he was deficient in the natural affections of a parent, while thus +borne above the anguish of them by the views which faith administered to +him, and which divine grace supported in his soul. + +So much did he, on one of the most trying occasions of life, manifest of +the temper of a glorified saint, and to such happy purposes did he retain +those lessons of submission to God, and acquiescence in him, which I +remember he once inculcated in a letter he wrote to a lady of quality +under the apprehension of a breach in her family with which Providence +seemed to threaten her, which I am willing to insert here, though a +little out of what might seem its most proper place rather than entirely +to omit it. It is dated from London, June 16, 1722, when, speaking of the +dangerous illness of a dear relative, he has these words: "When my mind +runs hither," that is, to God, as its refuge and strong defence, (as the +connection plainly determines it,) "I think I can bear any thing, the +loss of all, the loss of health, of relations, on whom I depend, and whom +I love, all that is dear to me, without repining or murmuring. When I +think that God orders, disposes, and manages all things according to the +counsel of his own will; when I think of the extent of his providence, +that it reaches to the minutest things; then, though a useful friend or +dear relative be snatched away by death, I recall myself, and check my +thoughts with these considerations: Is he not God from everlasting, and +to everlasting? And has he not promised to be a God to me?--a God in all +his attributes, a God in all his persons, a God in all his creatures and +providences? And shall I dare to say, What shall I do? Was not he the +infinite cause of all I met with in the creatures? And were not they +the finite effects of his infinite love and kindness? I have daily +experienced that the instrument was, and is, what God makes it to be; and +I know that this 'God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the +earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' If this earth be good for +me, I shall have it; for my Father hath it all in possession. If favour +in the eyes of men be good for me, I shall have it; for the spring of +every motion in the heart of man is in God's hand. My dear ---- seems now +to be dying; but God is all-wise, and every thing is done by him for the +best. Shall I hold back any thing that is his own, when he requires +it? No, God forbid! When I consider the excellency of his glorious +attributes, I am satisfied with all his dealings." I perceive by the +introduction, and by what follows, that most, if not all of this, is +a quotation from something written by a lady; but whether from some +manuscript or printed book, whether exactly transcribed or quoted from +memory, I cannot determine; and therefore I thought proper to insert it, +as the major (for that was the office he bore then,) by thus interweaving +it with his letter, makes it his own, and as it seems to express in a +very lively manner the principles which bore him on to a conduct so truly +great and heroic, in circumstances that have overwhelmed many a heart +that could have faced danger and death with the greatest intrepidity. + +I return now to consider his character in the domestic relation of a +master, on which I shall not enlarge. It is, however, proper to remark, +that as his habitual meekness and command of his passions prevented +indecent sallies of ungoverned anger towards those in the lowest state +of subjection to him, by which some in high life do strangely debase +themselves, and lose much of their authority, so the natural greatness of +his mind made him solicitous to render their inferior stations as easy as +he could: and so much the rather, because he considered all the children +of Adam as standing upon a level before their great Creator, and had +also a deeper sense of the dignity and worth of every immortal soul, how +meanly soever it might chance to be lodged, than most persons I have +known. This engaged him to give his servants frequent religious +exhortations and instructions, as I have been assured by several who +were so happy as to live with him under that character. One of his first +letters, after he entered on his Christian course, expresses the same +disposition; in which, with great tenderness, he recommends a servant, +who was in a bad state of health, to his mother's care, as he was well +acquainted with her condescending temper; mentioning at the same time, +the endeavours he had used to promote his preparations for a better +world, under an apprehension that he would not continue long in this. +We shall have an affecting instance of the prevalence of the same +disposition in the closing scene of his life, and indeed in the last +words he ever spoke, which expressed his generous solicitude for the +safety of a faithful servant who was then near him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + +As it was a few years after his marriage that he was promoted to the rank +of lieutenant-colonel, in which he continued till he had a regiment of +his own, I shall, for the future, speak of him by that title; and I may +not, perhaps, find any more proper place in which to mention what it is +proper for me to say of his behaviour and conduct as an officer. I shall +not here enlarge upon his bravery in the field, though, as I have heard +from others, that was very remarkable--I say from others, for I never +heard any thing of the kind from himself, nor knew, till after his death, +that he was present at almost every battle that was fought in Flanders +while the illustrious Duke of Marlborough commanded the allied army +there. I have also been assured from several very credible persons, some +of whom were eye-witnesses, that at the skirmish with the rebels at +Preston in Lancashire, (thirty years before that engagement at the other +Preston which deprived us of this gallant guardian of his country,) he +signalized himself very particularly; for he headed a small body of men, +I think about twelve, and set fire to the barricado of the rebels, in the +face of their whole army, while they were pouring in their shot, by which +eight of the twelve that attended him fell. This was the last action of +the kind in which he was engaged before the long peace which ensued; and +who can express how happy it was for him, and indeed for his country, +of which he was ever so mindful, and in his latter years so important a +friend, that he did not then fall, when the profaneness which mingled +itself with this martial rage seemed to rend the heavens, and shocked +some other military gentlemen who were not very remarkable for their +caution in this respect. + +But I insist not on things of this nature, which the true greatness of +his soul would hardly ever permit him to mention, unless when it tended +to illustrate the divine care over him in these extremities of danger, +and the grace of God in calling him from so abandoned a state. It is well +known that the character of an officer is not to be approved in the +day of combat only. Colonel Gardiner was truly sensible that every day +brought its duties along with it, and he was constantly careful that no +pretence of amusement, friendship, or even devotion itself, might prevent +their being properly discharged. + +I doubt not that the noble persons in whose regiments he was +lieutenant-colonel, will always be ready to bear an honourable and +grateful testimony to his exemplary diligence and fidelity in all that +related to the care of the troops over which he was set, whether in +regard to the men or the horses. He knew that it is incumbent on +those who have the honour of presiding over others, whether in civil, +ecclesiastical, or military offices, not to content themselves with doing +only so much as may preserve them from the reproach of gross and visible +neglect; but seriously to consider how much they can possibly do without +going out of their proper sphere, to serve the public, by the due +inspection of those committed to their care. The duties of the closet and +of the sanctuary were so adjusted as not to interfere with those of the +parade, or any other place where the welfare of the regiment called +him. On the other hand, he was solicitous not to suffer these things to +interfere with religion, a due attendance on which he apprehended to +be the surest method of attaining all desirable success in every other +interest and concern in life. He therefore abhorred every thing that +looked like a contrivance to keep his soldiers employed with their horses +and their arms at the seasons of public worship--an indecency which I +wish there were no room to mention. Far from that, he used to have them +drawn up just before it began, and from the parade they went off to the +house of God. He understood the rights of conscience too well to impose +his own particular profession in religion on others, or to treat those +who differed from him in the choice of its modes, the less kindly or +respectfully on that account. But as most of his own company, and many of +the rest, chose (when in England) to attend him to the dissenting chapel, +he used to march them up thither in due time, so as to be there before +the worship began. And I must do them the justice to say, that so far as +I could ever discern, when I have seen them in large numbers before me, +they behaved with as much reverence, gravity, and decorum, during the +time of divine service, as any of the worshippers. + +That his remarkable care to maintain good discipline among them (of which +we shall afterwards speak) might be the more effectual, he made himself +on all proper occasions accessible to them, and expressed a great +concern for their interests, which, being genuine and sincere, naturally +discovered itself in a variety of instances. I remember I had once +occasion to visit one of his dragoons in his last illness at Harborough, +and I found the man upon the borders of eternity--a circumstance which, +as he apprehended himself, must add some peculiar weight and credibility +to his discourse. He then told me, in his colonel's absence, that he +questioned not that he should have everlasting reason to bless God on +Colonel Gardiner's account, for he had been a father to him in all his +interests, both temporal and spiritual. He added, that he had visited +him, almost every day during his illness, with religious advice and +instruction, and had also taken care that he should want for nothing that +might conduct to the recovery of his health. He did not speak of this +as the result of any particular attachment to him, but as the manner in +which he was accustomed to treat those under his command. It is no wonder +that this engaged their affection to a very great degree; and I doubt not +that if he had fought the fatal battle of Prestonpans at the head of that +gallant regiment of which he had the care for so many years, and which +is allowed by most unexceptionable judges to be one of the finest in the +British service, and consequently in the world, he had been supported in +a much different manner, and had found a much greater number who would +have rejoiced in an opportunity of making their own breasts a barrier in +the defence of his. + +It could not but greatly endear him to his soldiers, that so far as +preferments lay in his power, or were under his influence, they were +distributed according to merit. This he knew to be as much the dictate of +prudence as equity. I find from one of his letters before me, dated but +a few months after his conversion, that he was solicited to use his +interest with the Earl of Stair in favour of one whom he judged a very +worthy person; and that it had been suggested by another, who +recommended him, that if he so succeeded, he might expect some handsome +acknowledgment. But he answers with some degree of indignation, "Do you +imagine I am to be bribed to do justice?" For such it seems he esteemed +it, to confer the favour which was asked from him on one so deserving. +Nothing can more effectually tend to humble the enemies of a state, than +that such maxims should universally prevail in it; and if they do not +prevail, the worthiest men in an army or a fleet may sink under repeated +discouragements, and the basest exalted, to the infamy of the public, and +perhaps to its ruin. + +In the midst of all the gentleness which Colonel Gardiner exercised +towards his soldiers, he made it very apparent that he knew how to +reconcile the tenderness of a really faithful and condescending friend +with the authority of a commander. Perhaps hardly any thing conduced more +generally to the maintaining of this authority, than the strict decorum +and good manners with which he treated even the private gentlemen of his +regiment; which has always a great efficacy in keeping inferiors at +a proper distance, and forbids, in the least offensive manner, +familiarities which degrade the superior, and enervate his influence. The +calmness and steadiness of his behaviour on all occasions also greatly +tended to the same purpose. He knew how mean a man looks in the +transports of passion, and would not use so much freedom with many of +his men as to fall into such transports before them, well knowing that +persons in the lowest rank of life are aware how unfit _they_ are to +govern others, who cannot govern themselves. He was also sensible how +necessary it is in all who preside over others, and especially in +military officers, to check irregularities when they first begin to +appear; and, that he might be able to do so, he kept a strict inspection +over his soldiers; in which it was observed, that as he generally chose +to reside among them as much as he could, (though in circumstances which +sometimes occasioned him to deny himself in some interests which were +very dear to him,) so, when they were around him, he seldom staid long in +a place; but was frequently walking the streets, and looking into their +quarters and stables, as well as reviewing and exercising them himself. +It has often been observed that the regiment to which he was so many +years lieutenant-colonel, was one of the most regular and orderly +regiments in the public service, so that perhaps none of our dragoons +were more welcome to the towns where their character was known. Yet no +such bodies of men are so blameless in their conduct but something will +be found, especially among such considerable numbers, worthy of censure, +and sometimes of punishment. This Colonel Gardiner knew how to inflict +with a becoming resolution, and with all the severity which he judged +necessary--a severity the more awful and impressive, as it was already +attended with meekness; for he well knew that when things are done in a +passion, it seems only an accidental circumstance that they are acts +of justice, and that such indecencies greatly obstruct the ends of +punishment, both as to reforming offenders, and to deterring others from +an imitation of their faults. + +One instance of his conduct, which happened at Leicester, and which was +related by the person chiefly concerned to a worthy friend from whom +I had it, I cannot forbear inserting. While part of the regiment was +encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, the colonel went incognito +to the camp in the middle of the night; for he sometimes lodged at his +quarters in the town. One of the sentinels then on duty had abandoned +his post, and, on being seized, broke out into some oaths and profane +execrations against those that discovered him--a crime of which the +colonel had the greatest abhorrence, and on which he never failed to +animadvert. The man afterwards appeared much ashamed and concerned for +what he had done. But the colonel ordered him to be brought early the +next morning to his own quarters, where he had prepared a picket, on +which he appointed him a private sort of penance; and while he was put +upon it, he discoursed with him seriously and tenderly upon the evils and +aggravations of his fault, admonished him of the divine displeasure which +he had incurred, and urged him to argue, from the pain which he then +felt, how infinitely more dreadful it must be to "fall into the hands of +the living God," and, indeed, to meet the terrors of that damnation +which he had been accustomed impiously to call for on himself and his +companions. The result of this proceeding was, that the offender accepted +his punishment, not only with submission, but with thankfulness. He went +away with a more cordial affection for his colonel than he ever had +before, and spoke of the circumstance some years after to my friend, in +such a manner that there seemed reason to hope it had been instrumental +in producing a change not only in his life, but in his heart. + +There cannot, I think, be a more proper place for mentioning the great +reverence this excellent officer always expressed for the name of the +blessed God, and the zeal with which he endeavoured to suppress, and if +possible to extirpate, that detestable sin of swearing and cursing which +is every where so common, and especially among our military men. He often +declared, at the head of his regiment, his sentiments with respect to +this enormity, and urged his captains and their subalterns to take the +greatest care that they did not give the sanction of their example to +that which by their office they were obliged to punish in others. Indeed +his zeal on these occasions wrought in a very active, and sometimes in a +remarkably successful manner, not only among his equals, but sometimes +among his superiors too. An instance of this in Flanders I shall have an +opportunity hereafter to produce; at present I shall only mention his +conduct in Scotland a little before his death, as I have it from a +very valuable young minister of that country, on whose testimony I can +thoroughly depend; and I wish it may excite many to imitation. + +'The commanding officer of the king's forces then about Edinburgh, +with the other colonels, and several other gentlemen of rank in their +respective regiments, favoured him with their company at Bankton, and +took dinner with him. He too well foresaw what might happen amid such a +variety of tempers and characters; and fearing lest his conscience might +have been ensnared by a sinful silence, or that, on the other hand, he +might seem to pass the bounds of decency, and infringe upon the laws of +hospitality by animadverting on guests so justly entitled to his regard, +he happily determined on the following method of avoiding each of these +difficulties. As soon as they were come together, he addressed them with +a great deal of respect, and at the same time with a very frank and +determined air, telling them that he had the honour in that district to +be a justice of the peace, and consequently that he was sworn to put the +law in execution, and, among the rest, those against swearing; that he +could not execute them upon others with any confidence, or by any means +approve himself a man of impartiality and integrity to his own heart, +if he suffered them to be broken in his presence by persons of any rank +whatsoever; and that therefore he entreated all the gentlemen who then +honoured him with their company that they would please to be upon their +guard, and that if any oath or curse should escape them, he hoped they +would consider his legal animadversion upon it as a regard to the duties +of his office and the dictates of his conscience, and not as owing to any +want of deference to them. + +The commanding officer immediately supported him in this declaration, as +entirely becoming the station in which he was, assuring him that he would +be ready to pay the penalty, if he inadvertently transgressed; and when +Colonel Gardiner on any occasion stepped out of the room, he himself +undertook to be the guardian of the law in his absence; and as one of the +inferior officers offended during this time, he informed the colonel, so +that the fine was exacted and given to the poor,[*] with the universal +approbation of the company. The story spread in the neighbourhood, and +was perhaps applauded highly by many who wanted the courage to "go and do +likewise." But it may be said, with the utmost propriety, of the worthy +person of whom I write, that he feared the face of no man living where +the honour of God was concerned. In all such cases he might be justly +said, in Scripture phrase, "to set his face like a flint;" and I +assuredly believe, that had he been in the presence of a sovereign +prince who had been guilty of this fault, his looks at least would have +testified his grief and surprise, if he had apprehended it unfit to have +borne his testimony in any other way. + +[*Note: It is observable that the money which was forfeited on this +account by his own officers, whom he never spared, or by any others of +his soldiers who rather chose to pay than submit to corporal punishment, +was, by the colonel's order, laid by in a bank till some of the private +men fell sick, and then it was laid out in providing them with proper +help and accommodations in their distress.] + +Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons, during the time he was +lieutenant-colonel of it, was quartered in a variety of places, both +in England and Scotland, from many of which I have letters before +me; particularly from Hamilton, Ayr, Carlisle, Hereford, Maidenhead, +Leicester, Warwick, Coventry, Stamford, Harborough, Northampton, and +several other places, especially in our inland parts. The natural +consequence was, that the colonel, whose character was on many accounts +so very remarkable, had a very extensive acquaintance; and I believe I +may certainly say, that wherever he was known by persons of wisdom and +worth, he was proportionably respected, and left behind him traces of +unaffected devotion, humility, benevolence, and zeal for the support and +advancement of religion and virtue. + +The equable tenor of his mind in these respects is illustrated by his +letters from several of these places; and though I have but comparatively +a small number of them now in my hands, yet they will afford some +valuable extracts; which I shall therefore here lay before my reader, +that he may the better judge as to the colonel's real character in +particulars which I have already mentioned, or which may hereafter occur. + +In a letter to his lady, dated from Carlisle, November 19, 1738, when +he was on his journey to Herefordshire, he breathes out his grateful, +cheerful soul in these words: + +"I bless God I was never better in my lifetime, and I wish I could be so +happy as to hear the same of you: or rather, in other words, to hear that +you have obtained an entire trust in God. That would infallibly keep you +in perfect peace, for the God of truth has promised it. Oh, how ought we +to be longing 'to be with Christ,' which is infinitely better than any +thing we can propose here! to be there, where no mountains shall separate +between God and our souls. And I hope it will be some addition to our +happiness, that, you and I shall be separated no more; but that as we +have joined in singing the praises of our glorious Redeemer here, we +shall sing them in a much higher key through an endless eternity. Oh +eternity, eternity! What a wonderful thought, is eternity!" + +From Leicester, August 6, 1739, he writes thus to his lady: + +"Yesterday I was at the Lord's table, where you and the children were not +forgotten. But how wonderfully was I assisted when I came home, to plead +for you all with many tears." And then, speaking of some intimate friends +who were impatient, (as I suppose by the connection) for his return to +them, he takes occasion to observe the necessity of endeavouring to +compose our minds, and say with the Psalmist, "My soul, wait thou only +upon God." Afterwards, speaking of one of his children, who he heard had +made a commendable progress in learning, he expresses his satisfaction, +and adds; "But, how much greater joy would it give me to hear that he was +greatly advanced in the school of Christ! Oh that our children may but be +wise unto salvation, and may grow in grace as they do in stature!" + +These letters, which to so familiar a friend evidently lay open the +heart, and show the ideas and affections which were lodged deepest there, +are sometimes taken up with an account of sermons he had attended, and +the impression they had made upon his mind. I shall mention only one, +as a specimen of many more, which was dated from a place called Cohorn, +April 15: + +"We had here a minister from Wales, who gave us two excellent discourses +on the love of Christ to us, as an argument to engage our love to him. +And indeed, next to the greatness of his love to us, methinks there is +nothing so astonishing as the coldness of our love to him. Oh that he +would shed abroad his love upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit, that ours +might be kindled into a flame! May God enable you to trust in Him, and +then you will be kept in perfect peace!" + +We have met with many traces of that habitual gratitude to the blessed +God, as his Heavenly Father and constant friend, which made his life +probably one of the happiest that ever was spent on earth. I cannot omit +one more, which appears to me the more worthy of notice, as being a short +turn in as hasty a letter as any I remember to have seen of his, which he +wrote from Leicester in June, 1739. "I am now under the deepest sense of +the many favours the Almighty has bestowed upon me. Surely you will help +me to celebrate the praises of our gracious God and kind benefactor." +This exuberance of grateful affection, which, while it was almost every +hour pouring itself forth before God in the most genuine and emphatical +language, felt itself still as it were straitened for want of a +sufficient vent, and therefore called on others to help him with their +concurrent praises, appears to me the most glorious and happy state in +which a human soul can find itself on this side heaven. + +Such was the temper which this excellent man appears to have carried +along with him through such a variety of places and circumstances; and +the whole of his deportment was suitable to these impressions. Strangers +were agreeably struck with his first appearance, there being much of the +Christian, the well-bred man, and the universal friend in it; and as +they came more intimately to know him, they discovered more and more the +uniformity and consistency of his whole temper and behaviour; so that +whether he made only a visit for a few days to any place, or continued +there for many weeks or months, he was always beloved and esteemed, +and spoken of with that honourable testimony, from persons of the most +different denominations and parties, which nothing but true sterling +worth, (if I may be allowed the expression,) and that in an eminent +degree, can secure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + +Of the justice of this testimony, which I had so often heard from a +variety of persons, I myself began to be a witness about the time when +the last mentioned letter was dated. In this view, I believe I shall +never forget that happy day, June 18, 1739, when I first met him at +Leicester. I remember I happened that day to preach a lecture from Psalm +cxix, 158, "I beheld the transgressions, and was grieved because they +kept not thy law." I was large in describing that mixture of indignation +and grief (strongly expressed by the original words there) with which +a good man looks on the daring transgressors of the divine law; and in +tracing the causes of that grief, as arising from a regard to the divine +honour, and the interest of a Redeemer, and a compassionate concern for +the misery which such offenders bring on themselves, and for the mischief +they do to the world about them, I little thought, how exactly I was +drawing Colonel Gardiner's character under each of those heads; and I +have often reflected upon it as a happy providence which opened a much +speedier way than I could have expected to the breast of one of the most +amiable and useful friends whom I ever expect to find upon earth. We +afterwards sang a hymn which brought over again some of the leading +thoughts in the sermon and struck him so strongly, that on obtaining a +copy of it, he committed it to memory, and used to repeat it, with so +forcible an accent as showed how much every line expressed his very soul. +In this view the reader will pardon my inserting it, especially as I +know not when I may get time to publish a volume of these serious though +artless compositions, which I sent him in manuscript some years ago, and +to which I have since made very large additions: + + Arise, my tenderest thoughts arise, + To torrents melt my streaming eyes! + And thou, my heart, with anguish feel + Those evils which thou canst not heal! + + See human nature sunk in shame! + See scandal poured on Jesus' name! + The Father wounded through the Son! + The world abused--the soul undone! + + See the short course of vain delight + Closing in everlasting night! + In flames that no abatement know, + The briny tears for ever flow. + + My God, I feel the mournful scene; + My bowels yearn o'er dying men: + And fain my pity would reclaim, + And snatch the firebrands from the flame. + + But feeble my compassion proves, + And can but weep where most it loves; + Thine own all-saving arm employ, + And turn these drops of grief to joy! + +The colonel, immediately after the conclusion of the service, met me in +the vestry and embraced me in the most obliging and affectionate manner, +as if there had been a long friendship between us, assured me that he had +for some years been intimately acquainted with my writings, and desired +that we might concert measures for spending some hours together before I +left the town. I was so happy as to be able to secure an opportunity of +doing it; and I must leave upon record, that I cannot recollect I was +ever equally edified by any conversation I remember to have enjoyed. We +passed that evening and the next morning together, and it is impossible +for me to describe the impression which the interview left upon my heart. +I rode alone all the remainder of the day; and it was my unspeakable +happiness that I was alone, since I could no longer be with him; for +I can hardly conceive what other company would not then have been an +encumbrance. The views which he gave me even then, (for he began to +repose a most obliging confidence in me, though he concealed some of the +most extraordinary circumstances of the methods by which he had been +recovered to God and happiness,) with those cordial sentiments of +evangelical piety and extensive goodness which he poured out into my +bosom with so endearing a freedom, fired my very soul; and I hope I may +truly say (which I wish and pray that many of my readers may also +adopt for themselves) that I glorified God in him. Our epistolatory +correspondence immediately commenced upon my return; and though, +through the multiplicity of business on both sides, it suffered many +interruptions, it was in some degree the blessing of all the following +years of my life, till he fell by those unreasonable and wicked men who +had it in their hearts with him to have destroyed all our glory, defence, +and happiness. + +The first letter I received from him was so remarkable, that some persons +of eminent piety, to whom I communicated it, would not be content without +copying it out, or making some extracts from it. I persuade myself that +my devout reader will not be displeased that I insert the greater part +of it here, especially as it serves to illustrate the affectionate sense +which he had of the divine goodness in his conversion, though more than +twenty years had passed since that memorable event happened. Having +already mentioned my ever dear and honoured friend Dr. Isaac Watts, he +adds: + +"I have been in pain these several years lest that excellent person, that +sweet singer in our Israel, should have been called to heaven before +I had an opportunity of letting him know how much his works have been +blessed to me, and, of course, returning him my hearty thanks; for though +it is owing to the operation of the blessed Spirit, that any thing works +effectually upon our hearts, yet if we are not thankful to the instrument +which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be +thankful to the Almighty, whom we have not seen? I desire to bless God +for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that +although I cannot keep pace with him here in celebrating the high praises +of our glorious Redeemer, which is the greatest grief of my heart, yet I +am persuaded, that, when I join the glorious company above, where there +will be no drawbacks, none will outsing me there, because I shall not +find any that will be more indebted to the wonderful riches of divine +grace than I. + + "Give me a place at thy saints' feet, + On some fallen angel's vacant seat; + I'll strive to sing as loud as they + Who sit above in brighter day. + +"I know it is natural for every one who has felt the almighty power +which raised our glorious Redeemer from the grave, to believe his case +singular; but I have made every one in this respect submit as soon as he +has heard my story. And if you seemed so surprised at the account which I +gave you, what will you be when you hear it all? + + "Oh, if I had an angel's voice, + And could be heard from pole to pole; + I would to all the listening world + Proclaim thy goodness to my soul." + +He then concludes, after some expressions of endearment, (which, with +whatever pleasure I review them, I must not here insert)-- + +"If you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be +astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest +I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen +move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve +you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church +of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful +body, shall be the continual prayer of," &c. + +As our intimacy grew, our mutual affection increased; and "my dearest +friend" was the form of address with which most of his epistles of the +last years were begun and ended. Many of them are filled up with his +sentiments of those writings which I published during these years, which +he read with great attention, and of which he speaks in terms which it +becomes me to suppress, and to impute, in a considerable degree, to +the kind prejudices of so endeared a friendship. He gives me repeated +assurances "that he was daily mindful of me in his prayers", a +circumstance which I cannot recollect without the greatest thankfulness; +and the loss of which I should more deeply lament, did I not hope that +the happy effect of these prayers might still continue, and might run +into all my remaining days. + +It might be a pleasure to me to make several extracts from many others of +his letters; but it is a pleasure which I ought to suppress, and rather +to reflect, with unfeigned humility, how unworthy I was of such regards +from such a person, and of that divine goodness which gave me such a +friend in him. I shall, therefore, only add two general remarks, which +offer themselves from several of his letters. The one is, that there is +in some of them, as our freedom increased, an agreeable vein of humour +and pleasantry, which shows how easy religion sat upon him, and how far +he was from placing any part of it in a gloomy melancholy, or stiff +formality. The other is, that he frequently refers to domestic +circumstances, such as the illness or recovery of my children, &c., which +I am surprised how a man of his extensive and important business could so +distinctly bear upon his mind. But his memory was good, and his heart +was yet better; and his friendship was such, that nothing which sensibly +affected the heart of one whom he honoured with it, left his own but +slightly touched. I have all imaginable reason to believe that in many +instances his prayers were not only offered for us in general terms, but +varied as our particular situation required. Many quotations might verify +this; but I decline troubling the reader with an enumeration of passages +in which it was only the abundance of friendly sympathy that gave this +truly great as well as good man so cordial a concern. + +After this correspondence, carried on for the space of about three years, +and some interviews which we had enjoyed at different places, he came to +spend some time with us at Northampton, and brought with him his lady +and his two eldest children. I had here an opportunity of taking a much +nearer view of his character, and surveying it in a much greater variety +of lights than before; and my esteem for him increased in proportion to +these opportunities. What I have written with respect to his conduct in +relative life, was in a great measure drawn from what I now saw; and I +shall mention here some other points in his behaviour which particularly +struck my mind, and likewise shall touch on his sentiments on some topics +of importance which he freely communicated to me, and which I have +remarked on account of that wisdom and propriety which pervaded them. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + +There was nothing more observable in Colonel Gardiner than the exemplary +gravity, composure, and reverence with which he attended public worship. +Copious as he was in his secret devotions before he engaged in it, he +always began them early, so as not to be retarded by them when he should +resort to the house of God. He, and all his soldiers who chose to worship +with him, were generally there (as I have already hinted) before the +service began, that the entrance of so many of them at once might not +disturb the congregation already engaged in devotion, and that there +might be a better opportunity of bringing the mind to a becoming +attention, and preparing it for converse with the Divine Being. While +acts of worship were going on, whether of prayer or singing, he always +stood up; and whatever regard he might have for persons who passed by him +at that time, though it were to come into the same pew, he never paid +any compliment to them; and often has he expressed his wonder at +the indecorum of breaking off our addresses to God to bow to a +fellow-creature, which he thought a much greater indecency that it would +be, on a little occasion and circumstance, to interrupt an address to our +prince. During the time of preaching, his eye was commonly fixed upon the +minister, though sometimes turned round upon the auditory, against whom, +if he observed any to trifle, he was filled with just indignation. I have +known instances in which, upon making the remark, he has communicated +it to some friend of the persons who were guilty of it, that proper +application might be made to prevent it for the time to come. + +A more devout communicant at the table of the Lord has perhaps seldom +been any where known. Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly +countenance softened to all the marks of humiliation and contrition on +this occasion; and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal +them, streams of tears flowing down from his eyes, while he has been +directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love. Some who have +conversed intimately with him after he came from that ordinance, have +observed a visible abstraction from surrounding objects, by which +there seemed reason to imagine that his soul was wrapped up in holy +contemplation. I particularly remember, that when we had once spent a +great part of the following Monday in riding together, he made an apology +to me for being so absent as he seemed, by telling me "that his heart was +flown upwards, before he was aware, to Him 'whom, not having seen, he +loved;'[*] and that he was rejoicing in him with such unspeakable joy, that +he could not hold it down to creature converse." + +[*Note: This alluded to the subject of the sermon the day before, which +was 1 Pet, 1. 8.] + +In all the offices of friendship he was remarkably ready, and had a most +sweet and engaging manner of performing them, which greatly heightened +the obligations he conferred. He seemed not to set any high value upon +any benefit he bestowed, but did it without the least parade, as a thing +which in those circumstances came of course, where he had professed love +and respect; which he was not over forward to do, though he treated +strangers, and those who were most his inferiors, very courteously, and +always seemed, because he in truth always was, glad of any opportunity of +doing them good. + +He was particularly zealous in vindicating the reputation of his friends +in their absence; and though I cannot recollect that I had ever an +opportunity of immediately observing this, as I do not know that I ever +was present with him when any ill was spoken of others at all; yet, +by what I have heard him say with relation to attempts to injure the +character of worthy and useful men, I have reason to believe that no +man living was more sensible of the baseness and infamy, as well as the +cruelty, of such conduct. He knew and despised the low principles of +resentment for unreasonable expectations disappointed, of personal +attachment to men of some crossing interests, of envy, and of party +zeal, from whence such a conduct often proceeds; and he was particularly +offended when he found it (as he frequently did) in persons that set up +for the greatest patrons of liberty, virtue, and candour. He looked upon +the murderers of reputation and usefulness as some of the vilest pests of +society, and plainly showed on every proper occasion that he thought it +the part of a generous, benevolent and courageous man to exert himself in +tracing and hunting down the slander, that the authors or abettors of it +might be less capable of mischief for the future. + +The most plausible objection that I ever heard to Colonel Gardiner's +character is, that he was too much attached to some religious principles, +established indeed in the churches both of England and Scotland, but +which have of late years been much disputed, and from which, it is at +least generally supposed, not a few in both have thought proper to +depart--whatever expedients they may have found to quiet their +consciences, in subscribing those formularies in which they are plainly +taught. His zeal was especially apparent in opposition to those doctrines +which seemed to derogate from the divine honours of the Son and Spirit of +God, and from the freedom of divine grace, of the reality and necessity +of its operations in the conversion and salvation of sinners. + +With relation to these I must observe, that it was his most steadfast +persuasion that all those notions which represent our blessed Redeemer +and the Holy Spirit as mere creatures, or which set aside the atonement +of the former, or the influence of the latter, sap the very foundation of +Christianity by rejecting the most glorious doctrines peculiar to it. +He had attentively observed (what indeed is too obvious) the unhappy +influence which the denial of these principles often has on the character +of ministers, and on their success, and was persuaded that an attempt to +substitute that mutilated form of Christianity which remains, when these +essentials of it are taken away, has proved one of the most successful +methods which the great enemy of souls has ever taken, in these latter +days, to lead men by insensible degrees into deism, vice, and perdition. +He also sagaciously observed the artful manner in which obnoxious tenets +are often maintained or insinuated, with all that mixture of zeal and +address with which they are propagated in the world, even by those +who had most solemnly professed to believe, and engaged to teach the +contrary; and as he really apprehended that the glory of God and the +salvation of souls were concerned, his piety and charity made him eager +and strenuous in opposing what he judged to be errors of so pernicious a +nature. Yet I must declare, that, according to what I have known of him, +(and I believe he opened his heart on these topics to me with as much +freedom as to any man living,) he was not ready, upon light suspicions, +to charge tenets which he thought so pernicious on any, especially +where he saw the appearances of a good temper and life, which he always +reverenced and loved in persons of all sentiments and professions. He +severely condemned causeless jealousies and evil surmisings of every +kind, and extended that charity, in this respect, both to clergy and +laity, which good Bishop Burnet was so ready, according to his own +account, to limit to the latter, "of believing every man good till he +knew him to be bad, and his notions right till he knew them wrong." He +could not but be very sensible of the unhappy consequences which may +follow on attacking the characters of men, especially of those who are +ministers of the gospel; and if, through a mixture of human frailty, from +which the best of men, in the best of their meanings and intentions, are +not entirely free, he had ever, in the warmth of his heart, dropped a +word which might be injurious to any on that account, (which I believe +very seldom happened,) he would gladly retract it on better information; +and this was perfectly agreeable to that honest and generous frankness of +temper in which I never knew any man who excelled him. + +On the whole, it was indeed his deliberate judgment that the Arian, +Socinian, and Pelagian doctrines were highly dishonourable to God, and +dangerous to the souls of men; and that it was the duty of private +Christians to be greatly on their guard against those ministers by whom +they are entertained, lest their minds should be corrupted from the +simplicity that is in Christ. Yet he sincerely abhorred the thought of +persecution for conscience sake; of the absurdity and iniquity of which, +in all its kinds and degrees, he had as deep and rational a conviction as +any man. Indeed the generosity of his heroic heart could hardly bear to +think that those glorious truths which he so cordially loved, and which +he assuredly believed to be capable of such fair support both from reason +and the word of God, should be disgraced by methods of defence and +propagation common to the most impious and ridiculous falsehoods. Nor did +he by any means approve of passionate and furious ways of vindicating the +most vital and important doctrines of the gospel; for he knew that to +maintain the most benevolent religion in the world by such malevolent and +infernal methods was destroying the end to accomplish the means; and that +it was as impossible that true Christianity should be supported thus, as +it is that a man should long be nourished by eating his own flesh. To +display the genuine fruits of Christianity in a good life--to be ready to +plead with meekness for the doctrines it teaches, and to labour, by every +office of humanity and goodness, to gain upon those who oppose it, were +the weapons with which this good soldier of Jesus Christ faithfully +fought the battles of the Lord. These weapons will always be victorious +in his cause; and they who have recourse to others of a different temper, +how strong soever they may seem, and how sharp soever they may really be, +will find them break in their hands when they exert them most furiously, +and are much more likely to wound themselves than to conquer the enemies +whom they oppose. + +But while I am speaking of Colonel Gardiner's charity in this respect, I +must not omit that of another kind, which has indeed engrossed the +name of charity, excellent as it is, much more than it ought--I mean +alms-giving for which he was very remarkable. I have often wondered how +he was able to do so many generous things in this way. But his frugality +fed the spring. He made no pleasurable expense on himself, and was +contented with a very decent appearance in his family, without affecting +such an air of grandeur as could not have been supported without +sacrificing to it satisfactions far nobler, and, to a temper like his, +far more delightful. The lively and tender feelings of his heart in +favour of the distressed and afflicted made it a self-indulgence to +relieve them; and the deep conviction he had of the vain and transitory +nature of the enjoyments of this world, together with the sublime view he +had of another, engaged him to dispense his bounties with a very liberal +hand, and even to seek out proper objects of them. Above all, his sincere +and ardent love to the Lord Jesus Christ engaged him to feel, with a true +sympathy, the concerns of his poor members. In consequence of this, he +honoured several of his friends with commissions for the relief of the +poor; and particularly, with relation to some under my pastoral care, +he referred it to my discretion to supply them with what I should judge +expedient, and frequently pressed me, in his letters, "to be sure not +to let them want." And where persons standing in need of his charity +happened, as they often did, to be persons of remarkably religious +dispositions, it was easy to perceive that he not only loved but honoured +them, and really esteemed it an honour which Providence conferred upon +him, that he should be made, as it were, the almoner of God for their +relief. + +I cannot forbear relating a little story here, which, when the colonel +himself heard it, gave him such exquisite pleasure, that I hope it will +be acceptable to several of my readers. There was in a village about nine +miles from Northampton, and in a family which, of all others near me, +was afterwards most indebted to him, (though he had never then seen any +member of it,) an aged and poor, but eminently good woman, who had, with +great difficulty, in the exercise of much faith and patience, diligence +and humility, made shift to educate a large family of children after the +death of her husband, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as +it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. +At length, when worn out with age and infirmities, she lay upon her +death-bed, she, in a most lively and affecting manner, expressed her hope +and joy in the views of approaching glory. Yet, amidst all the triumphs +of such a prospect, there was one remaining care and distress which +lay heavy on her mind; this was, that as her journey and her stock of +provisions were both ended together, she feared that she must either +be buried at the parish expense, or leave to her most dutiful and +affectionate daughters the house stripped of some of the few movables +which remained in it, in order to perform the last office of duty to her, +which she had reason to believe they would do. While she was combatting +with this only remaining anxiety, I happened, though I knew not the +extremity of her illness, to come in, and to bring with me a guinea +which the generous colonel had sent by a special message, on hearing the +character of the family, for its relief. A present like this, (probably +the most considerable they had ever received in their lives,) coming in +this manner from an entire stranger at such a crisis of time, threw my +dying friend (for such, amidst all her poverty, I rejoiced to call her) +into a perfect transport of joy. She esteemed it a singular favour of +Providence sent to her in her last moments as a token for good, and +greeted it as a special mark of that loving kindness of God which should +attend her for ever. She insisted, therefore, to be raised up in her bed, +that she might bless God for it upon her knees, and with her last breath +pray for her kind and generous benefactor, and for him who had been the +instrument of directing his bounty into this channel. After this she soon +expired, and with such tranquillity and sweetness as could not but most +sensibly delight all who beheld her, and occasioned many who knew the +circumstance to glorify God on her behalf. + +The colonel's last residence at Northampton was in June and July 1742, +when Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons was quartered here. Here I +cannot but observe, that wherever that regiment came, it was remarkable +not only for the fine appearance it made, and for the exactness with +which it performed its various exercises, (of which it had about this +time the honour to receive the most illustrious testimonials,) but also +for the great sobriety and regularity of the soldiers. Many of the +officers copied after the excellent pattern which they had daily before +their eyes; and a considerable number of the private men seemed to be +persons not only of strict virtue, but of serious piety. I doubt not but +they found their abundant account in it, not only in the serenity and +happiness of their own minds, which is beyond comparison the most +important consideration; but also, in some degree, in the obliging and +respectful treatment which they generally met with in their quarters. +I mention this, because I am persuaded that if gentlemen of their +profession knew, and would reflect, how much more comfortable they make +their own quarters by a sober, orderly, and obliging conduct, they would +be regular out of mere self love, if they were not influenced, as I +heartily wish they may always be, by a nobler principle. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + +Towards the latter end of this year he embarked for Flanders, and +spent some considerable time with the regiment at Ghent, where he much +regretted the want of those religious ordinances and opportunities which +had made his other abodes delightful. But as he had made so eminent a +progress in that divine life which they are all intended to promote, he +could not be inactive in the cause of God. I have now before me a letter, +dated from thence October 16, 1742, in which he writes: + +"As for me, I am indeed in a dry and barren land, where no water is. +Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in +our Sodom but blaspheming the name of my God, and I not honoured as the +instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or +seven field-officers of swearing. I dine every day with them, and have +entered them into a voluntary contract to pay a shilling to the poor for +every oath, and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. +One of them told me this day at dinner that it had really such an +influence upon him, that being at cards last night when another officer +fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the +company. So you see, restraints at first arising from a low principle may +improve into something better." + +During his abode here, he had a great deal of business upon his hands, +and had also, in some marches, the care of more regiments than his +own; and it has been very delightful to me to observe what a degree of +converse with heaven, and the God of it, he maintained amidst these +scenes of hurry and fatigue, of which the reader may find a remarkable +specimen in the following letter, dated from Lichwick in the beginning of +April 1743, which was one of the last I received from him while abroad. +It begins with these words:-- + +"Yesterday being the Lord's day, at six in the morning I had the pleasure +of receiving yours at Nortonick; and it proved a Sabbath day's blessing +to me. Some time before it reached me," (from whence, by the way, it may +be observed that his former custom of rising so early in his devotions +was still retained,) "I had been wrestling with God with many tears; and +when I had read it, I returned to my knees again to give hearty thanks to +him for all his goodness to you and yours, and also to myself, in that he +hath been pleased to stir up so many who are dear to him, to be mindful +of me at the throne of grace." + +Then, after the mention of some other particulars, he adds:-- + +"Blessed and adored for ever be the holy name of my Heavenly Father, who +holds my soul in life, and my body in perfect health! Were I to recount +his mercy and goodness to me even in the midst of all these hurries, I +should never have done. I hope your Master will still encourage you in +his work, and make you a blessing to many. My dearest friend, I am much +more yours than I can express, and shall remain so while I am J.G." + +In this correspondence I had a further opportunity of discovering that +humble resignation to the will of God which made so amiable a part of his +character, and of which I had before seen so many instances. He speaks, +in the letter from which I have just been giving an extract, of the hope +he had expressed in a former of seeing us again that winter; and he +adds:-- + +"To be sure, it would have been a great pleasure to me; but we poor +mortals form projects, and the Almighty ruler of the universe disposes of +all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return +to England, when we received an order to march towards Frankfort, to the +great surprise of the whole army, neither can any of us comprehend what +we are to do there; for there is no enemy in that country, the French +army being marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. +But it is the will of the Lord, and his will be done! I desire to bless +and praise my Heavenly Father that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no +matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in +my life, or my death, I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends +were equally resigned." + +The mention of this article reminds me of another relating to the views +which he had of obtaining a regiment for himself. He endeavoured to +deserve it by the most faithful services; some of them, indeed beyond +what the strength of his constitution could well bear--for the weather in +some of these marches proved exceedingly bad, and yet he would be always +at the head of his people, that he might look, with the exactest care, +to every thing that concerned them. This obliged him to neglect the +beginnings of a feverish illness, the natural consequence of which was +that it grew very formidable, forced a long confinement upon him, and +gave animal nature a shock which it never recovered. + +In the mean time, as he had the promise of a regiment before he +quitted England, his friends were continually expecting an occasion of +congratulating him on having received the command of one. Still they were +disappointed, and on some of them the disappointment seemed to sit heavy. +As for the colonel himself, he seemed quite easy about it, and appeared +much greater in that easy situation of mind than the highest military +honours and preferments could have made him. With great pleasure do I at +this moment recollect the unaffected serenity, and even indifference, +with which he expresses himself upon this occasion, in a letter to me, +dated about the beginning of April, 1743. + +"The disappointment of a regiment is nothing to me, for I am satisfied +that, had it been for God's glory, I should have had it, and I should +have been sorry to have had it on any other terms. My Heavenly Father has +bestowed upon me infinitely more than if he had made me emperor of the +whole world." + +I find several parallel expressions in other letters, and those to his +lady about the same time were just in the same strain. In an extract from +one which was written from Aix-la-Chapelle, April 21, the same year, I +meet with these words: + +"People here imagine I must be sadly troubled that I have not got a +regiment, (for six out of seven vacant are now disposed of): but they are +strangely mistaken, for it has given me no sort of trouble. My Heavenly +Father knows what is best for me; and blessed and ever adored be his +name, he has given me an entire resignation to his will. Besides, I do +not know that I met with any disappointment, since I was a Christian, but +it pleased God to discover to me that it was plainly for my advantage, by +bestowing something better upon me afterwards, many instances of which I +am able to produce; and therefore I should be the greatest of monsters, +if I did not trust in him." + +I should be guilty of a great omission, if I were not to add how +remarkably the event corresponded with his faith on this occasion; for +whereas he had no intimation or expectation of any thing more than a +regiment of foot, his Majesty was pleased, out of his great goodness, +to give him a regiment of dragoons which was then quartered in his own +neighborhood. It is properly remarked by the reverend and worthy person +through whose hand this letter was transmitted to me, that when the +colonel thus expressed himself, he could have no prospect of what he +afterwards so soon obtained, as General Bland's regiment, to which he was +advanced, was only vacant on the 19th of April--that is, two days before +the date of this letter, when it was impossible he should have any notice +of that vacancy. It also deserves observation, that some few days after +the colonel was thus unexpectedly promoted to the command of these +dragoons, Lord Cornwallis's regiment of foot, then in Flanders, became +vacant. Now, had this happened before his promotion to General Bland's, +Colonel Gardiner, in all probability, would only have had that regiment +of foot, and so would have continued in Flanders. When the affair was +settled, he informs Lady Frances of it in a letter dated from a village +near Frankfort, 3d May, in which he refers to his former of the 21st of +April, observing how remarkably it was verified "in God's having given +him" (for so he expressed it, agreeably to the views which he continually +maintained of the universal agency of Divine Providence) "what he had +no expectation of, and what was so much better than that which he had +missed--a regiment of dragoons quartered at his own door." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RETURN TO ENGLAND. + + +It appeared to him that by this remarkable event Providence called him +home. Accordingly, though he had other preferments offered him in the +army, he chose to return, and I believe the more willingly, as he did not +expect there would have been an action. Just at this time it pleased God +to give him an awful instance of the uncertainty of human prospects and +enjoyments, by that violent fever which seized him at Ghent on his way to +England, and perhaps the more severely for the efforts he made to push on +his journey, though he had for some days been much indisposed. It was, I +think, one of the first fits of severe illness he had ever met with, and +he was ready to look upon it as a sudden call into eternity; but it gave +him no painful alarm in that view. He committed himself to the God of his +life, and in a few weeks he was so well recovered as to be capable of +pursuing his journey, though not without difficulty. I cannot but think +it might have conduced much to a more perfect recovery than he ever +attained, to have allowed himself a longer repose, in order to recruit +his exhausted strength and spirits. But there was an activity in his +temper not easy to be restrained, and it was now stimulated, not only +with a desire to see his friends, but of being with his regiment, that +he might omit nothing in his power to regulate their morals and their +discipline, and to form them for public service. Accordingly, about the +middle of June, 1743, he passed through London, where he had the honour +of waiting on their royal highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, +and of receiving from both the most obliging token of favour and esteem. +He arrived at Northampton on Monday the 21st of June, and spent part of +three days there. But the great pleasure which his return and preferment +gave us, was much abated by observing his countenance so sadly altered, +and the many marks of languor and remaining disorder which evidently +appeared, so that he really looked ten years older than he had done +ten months before. I had, however, a satisfaction sufficient to +counterbalance much of the concern which this alteration gave me, in a +renewed opportunity of observing, indeed more sensibly than ever, in +how remarkable a degree he was dead to the enjoyments and views of this +mortal life. When I congratulated him on the favourable appearances of +Providence for him in the late event, he briefly told me the remarkable +circumstances that attended it, with the most genuine expressions of +gratitude to God for them; but added, "that as his account was increased +with his income, power, influence, and his cares were proportionably +increased too, it was, as to his own personal concern, much the same to +him whether he had remained in his former station, or been elevated to +this; but that if God should by this means honour him as an instrument of +doing more good than he could otherwise have done, he should rejoice in +it." + +I perceived that the near views he had taken of eternity, in the illness +from which he was then so imperfectly recovered, had not in the least +alarmed him; but that he would have been entirely willing, had such been +the determination of God, to have been cut short in a foreign land, +without any earthly friend near him, and in the midst of a journey +undertaken with hopes and prospects so pleasing to nature, which appeared +to me no inconsiderable evidence of the strength of his faith. But we +shall wonder the less at this extraordinary resignation, if we consider +the joyful and assured prospect which he had of a happiness infinitely +superior beyond the grave; of which that worthy minister of the church of +Scotland, who had an opportunity of conversing with him quickly after his +return, and having the memorable story of his conversion from his own +mouth, (as I have hinted above,) writes thus in his letter to me, dated +Jan. 14, 1746-7: + +"When he came to review his regiment at Linlithgow, in summer 1743, after +having given me the wonderful story as above, he concluded in words to +this purpose: Let me die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it +shall be, I am sure I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory, and +enjoy my God and my Redeemer in heaven for ever." + +While he was with us at this time he appeared deeply affected with the +sad state of things as to religion and morals, and seemed to apprehend +that the rod of God was hanging over so sinful a nation. He observed a +great deal of disaffection which the enemies of the government had, by a +variety of artifices, been raising in Scotland for some years; and the +number of Jacobites there, together with the defenceless state in which +our island then was, with respect to the number of its forces at home, +(of which he spoke at once with great concern and astonishment,) led +him to expect an invasion from France, and an attempt in favour of the +Pretender, much sooner than it happened. I have heard him often say, many +years before it came so near being accomplished, "that a few thousands +might have a fair chance for marching from Edinburgh to London +uncontrolled, and throw the whole Kingdom into an astonishment." And I +have great reason to believe that this was one main consideration which +engaged him to make such haste to his regiment, then quartered in those +parts, as he imagined there was not a spot of ground where he might be +more likely to have a call to expose his life in the service of his +country, and perhaps, by appealing on a proper call early in its +defences, be instrumental in suppressing the beginnings of most +formidable mischief. How rightly he judged in these things, the event too +evidently showed. + +The evening before our last separation, as I knew I could not more +agreeably entertain the valuable friend who was then my guest, I preached +a sermon in my own house, with some peculiar reference to his case and +circumstances, from those ever-memorable words, than which I have never +felt any more powerful and more comfortable: Psalm xci. 14, 15, 16, +"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I +will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon +me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver +him, and honour him: with long life (or length of days) will I satisfy +him, and show him my salvation." This scripture could not but lend our +meditations to survey the character of the good man, as one who so knows +the name of the blessed God--has such a deep apprehension of the glories +and perfections of his nature--as determinately to set his love upon him, +to make him the supreme object of his most ardent and constant affection. +And it suggested the most sublime and animating hopes to persons of such +a character, that their prayers shall be always acceptable to God; that +though they may, and must, be called to their share in the troubles and +calamities of life, yet they may assure themselves of the divine presence +in all, which will issue in their deliverance, in their exaltation, +sometimes in distinguished honour and esteem among men, and, it may be, +in a long course of useful and happy years on earth; at least, which +shall undoubtedly end in seeing, to their perpetual delight, the complete +salvation of God, in a world where they shall enjoy length of days for +ever and ever, and employ them all in adoring the great Author of their +salvation and felicity. It is evident that these natural thoughts on such +a Scripture were matters of universal concern. Yet had I, as a minister +of the gospel, known that this was the last time I should address Colonel +Gardiner, and had I foreseen the scenes through which God was about to +lead him, I hardly know what considerations I could have suggested with +more peculiar propriety. The attention, elevation, and delight with which +he heard them, were very apparent, and the pleasure which the observation +of it gave me, continues to this moment. + +Let me be permitted to digress so far as to add, that this is indeed the +great support of a Christian minister under the many discouragements +and disappointments which he meets with in his attempts to fix upon the +profligate or the thoughtless part of mankind a deep sense of religious +truth; that there is another important part of his work in which he may +hope to be more generally successful; as, by plain, artless, but serious +discourses, the great principles of Christian duty and hope may be +nourished and invigorated in good men, their graces watered as at +the root, and their souls animated, both to persevere and improve in +holiness. When we are effectually performing such benevolent offices, so +well suiting our immortal natures, to persons whose hearts are cemented +with ours in the hands of the most endearing and sacred friendship, it is +too little to say that it overpays the fatigue of our Labours; it even +swallows up all sense of it in the most rational and sublime pleasure. + +An incident occurred that evening, which, at least for the oddness of +it, may deserve a place in these memoirs. I had then with me one Thomas +Porter, a poor but very honest and religious man, (now living at Hatfield +Broad-Oak in Essex,) who is quite unacquainted with letters, so as not to +be able to distinguish one from another, yet is master of the contents +of the Bible in so extraordinary a degree, that he has not only fixed an +immense number of texts in his memory, but, merely by hearing them quoted +in sermons, has registered there the chapter and verse in which these +passages are to be found. This is attended with a marvellous facility in +directing readers to turn to them, and a most unaccountable talent of +fixing on such as suit almost every imaginable variety of circumstances +in common life. There are in this case two considerations that make it +the more wonderful; the one, that he is a person of very low genius, +having, besides a stammering which makes his speech almost unintelligible +to strangers, so wild and awkward a manner of behaviour, that he is +frequently taken for an idiot, and seems in many things to be indeed +so;--the other, that he grew up to manhood in a very licentious course of +living, and an entire ignorance of divine things, so that all these exact +impressions on his memory have been made in his riper years. I thought +it would not be disagreeable to the colonel to introduce to him this +odd phenomenon, which many hundreds of people have had a curiosity to +examine; and, among all the strange things I have seen in him, I never +remember any that equalled what passed on this occasion. On hearing +the colonel's profession, and receiving some hints of his religious +character, he ran through a vast variety of scriptures, beginning at +the Pentateuch and going on to the Revelation, relating either to the +dependence to be fixed on God for the success of military preparations, +or to the instances and promises occurring there for his care of good men +in the most imminent dangers, or to the encouragement to despise perils +and death, while engaged in a good cause, and supported by the views of +a happy immortality. I believe he quoted more than twenty of these +passages, and I must freely own that I know not who could have chosen +them with greater propriety. If my memory deceive me not, the last of +this catalogue was that from which I afterwards preached, on the lamented +occasion of this great man's fall: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I +will give thee a crown of life." We were all astonished at so remarkable +a feat, and I question not but many of my readers will think the memory +of it worthy of being thus preserved. + +But to return to my main subject: The day after the sermon and +conversation of which I have been speaking, I took my best leave of my +inestimable friend, after attending him some part of his way northward. +The first stage of our journey was to the cottage of that poor but +religious family which I had before occasion to mention as relieved, and +indeed in a great measure subsisted by his charity. Nothing could be more +delightful than to observe the condescension with which he conversed with +these his humble pensioners. We there put up our last united prayers +together; and he afterwards expressed, in the strongest terms I have ever +heard him use on such an occasion, the singular pleasure with which he +had joined in them. Indeed it was no small satisfaction to me to have +an opportunity of recommending such a valuable friend to the divine +protection and blessing, with that particular freedom and enlargement on +what was peculiar in his circumstances, which hardly any other situation, +unless we had been quite alone, could so conveniently have admitted. +We went from thence to the table of a person of distinction in the +neighborhood, where he had an opportunity of showing in how decent and +graceful a manner he could unite the Christian and the gentleman, and +give conversation an improving and religious turn, without violating any +of the rules of polite behaviour, or saying or doing any thing, which +looked at all constrained or affected. Here we took our last embrace, +committing each other to the care of the God of heaven; and the colonel +pursued his journey to the north, where he spent the remainder of his +days. + +The more I reflect upon this appointment of Providence, the more I +discern the beauty and wisdom of it--not only as it led directly to that +glorious period of life with which God had determined to honour him, and +in which, I think, it becomes all his friends to rejoice, but also as the +retirement on which he entered could not but have a happy tendency to +favour his more immediate and complete preparation for so speedy a +remove. To this we may add, that it must probably have a very powerful +influence to promote the interests of religion (incomparably the greatest +of all interests) among the members of his own family, who must surely be +edified by such daily lessons as they received from his lips, when they +saw them illustrated and enforced by so admirable an example, and for +two complete years. It is the more remarkable, as I cannot find from the +memoirs of his life in my hands that he had ever been so long at home +since he had a family, or indeed, from his childhood, ever so long at a +time in any one place. + +With how clear a lustre his lamp shone, and with what holy vigour his +loins were girded up in the service of his God in these his latter days, +I learn in part from the letters of several excellent persons in the +ministry, or in secular life, with whom I have since conversed or +corresponded. In his many letters dated from Bankton during this period, +I have still further evidence how happy he was amidst those infirmities +of body, which his tenderness for me would seldom allow him to mention; +for it appears from them what a daily intercourse he kept up with Heaven, +and what delightful communion with God crowned his attendance on public +ordinances, and his sweet hours of devout retirement. He mentions his +sacramental opportunities with peculiar relish, crying out, as in a holy +rapture, in reference to one and another of them, "Oh how gracious +a Master do we serve! how pleasant is his service; how rich the +entertainments of his love! yet how poor and cold are our services!" But +I will not multiply quotations of this sort after those I have given +above, which may be a sufficient specimen of many more in the same +strain. This hint may suffice to show that the same ardour of soul held +out in a great measure to the last; and indeed it seems that towards the +close of life, like the flame of a lamp almost expiring, it sometimes +exerted an unusual blaze. + +He spent much of his time at Bankton in religious solitude; and one +most intimately conversant with him assures me that the traces of that +delightful converse with God which he enjoyed in it might easily be +discerned in the solemn yet cheerful countenance with which he often came +out of his closet. Yet his exercises there must sometimes have been very +mournful, considering the melancholy views which he had of the state of +our public affairs. + +"I should be glad," says he, (in a letter which he sent me about the +close of the year 1743,) "to hear what wise and good people among you +think of the present circumstances of things. For my own part, though I +thank God I fear nothing for myself, my apprehensions for the public are +very gloomy, considering the deplorable prevalency of almost all kinds +of wickedness amongst us--the natural consequence of the contempt of the +gospel. I am daily offering my prayers to God for this sinful land of +ours, over which his judgments seem to be gathering; and my strength is +sometimes so exhausted with those strong cries and tears, which I pour +out before God on this occasion, that I am hardly able to stand when I +arise from my knees." + +If we have many remaining to stand in the breach with equal fervency, I +hope, crying as our provocations are, that God will still be entreated +for us, and save us. + +Most of the other letters I had the pleasure of receiving from him after +our last separation, are either filled, like those of former years, with +tender expressions of affectionate solicitude for my domestic comfort +and public usefulness, or relate to the writings I published during this +time, or to the affairs of his eldest son, then under my care. But these +are things which are by no means of a nature to be communicated here. It +is enough to remark, in general, that the Christian was still mingled +with all the care of the friend and the parent. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + +But I think it incumbent upon me to observe, that during this time, and +for some preceding years, his attention, ever wakeful to such concerns, +was much engaged by some religious appearances which happened about this +time both in England and Scotland, and with regard to which some may be +curious to know the colonel's sentiments. He communicated them to me with +the most unreserved freedom; and I cannot apprehend myself under any +engagement to conceal them, as I am persuaded that it will be no +prejudice to his memory that they should be publicly known. + +It was from Colonel Gardiner's pen that I received the first notice of +that ever memorable scene which was opened at Kilsyth, under the +ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch in the month of February, 1741-2. He +communicated to me the copy of two letters from that eminently-favoured +servant of God, giving an account of that extraordinary success which had +within a few days accompanied his preaching, when, as I remember, in +a little more than a fortnight, one hundred and thirty souls, who had +before continued in long insensibility under the faithful preaching of +the gospel, were awakened on a sudden to attend to it, as if it had been +a new revelation brought down from heaven, and attested by as astonishing +miracles as ever were wrought by Peter or Paul, though they only heard it +from a person under whose ministry they had sat for several years. Struck +with a power and majesty in the word of God which they had never felt +before, they crowded his house night and day, making their applications +to him for spiritual direction and assistance, with an earnestness and +solicitude which floods of tears and cries, that swallowed up their own +words and his, could not sufficiently express. The colonel mentioned this +at first to me "as matter of eternal praise, which he knew would rejoice +my very soul;" and when he saw it spread in the neighbouring parts, and +observed the glorious reformation which it produced in the lives of great +multitudes, and the abiding fruits of it, for succeeding months and +years, it increased and confirmed his joy. But the facts relating to this +matter have been laid before the world in so authentic a manner, and the +agency of divine grace in them has been so rationally vindicated, and so +pathetically represented, in what the reverend and judicious Mr. Webster +has written upon that subject, that it is altogether superfluous for me +to add any thing further than my hearty prayers that the work may be as +extensive as it was glorious and divine.[*] + +[*Note: See "Revivals in Scotland," published by the Board of +Publication.] + +It was with great pleasure that he received any intelligence of a like +kind from England, whether the clergy of the Established Church or +dissenting ministers, whether our own countrymen or foreigners, were the +instruments of it. Whatever weaknesses or errors might mingle themselves +with valuable qualities in such as were active in such a work, he +appeared to love and honour them in proportion to the degree he saw +reason to believe that their hearts were devoted to the service of +Christ, and their attempts owned and succeeded by him. I remember, that +mentioning one of these gentlemen who had been remarkably successful in +his ministry, and who seemed to have met with some very unkind usage, he +says, "I had rather be that despised, persecuted man, to be an instrument +in the hand of the Spirit in converting so many souls, and building up so +many in their holy faith, than I would be emperor of the whole world." +Yet this steady and judicious Christian, (for such he most assuredly +was,) at the same time that he esteemed a man for his good intentions, +and his worthy qualities, did not suffer himself to be hurried away into +all the singularity of his sentiments, or to admire his imprudences or +excesses. On the contrary, he saw and lamented that artifice which the +great father of fraud has so long and so successfully been practising, +and who, like the enemies of Israel, when he cannot entirely prevent the +building of God's temple, does, as it were, offer his assistance to carry +on the work, that he may thereby get the most effectual opportunities of +obstructing it. The colonel often expressed his astonishment at the wide +extremes into which some whom on the whole he thought very worthy men, +were permitted to run in many doctrinal and speculative points, and +discerned how evidently it appeared from hence that we cannot argue the +truth of any doctrine from the success of the preacher, since this would +be a kind of demonstration which might equally prove both parts of a +contradiction. Yet when he observed that a high regard to the atonement +and righteousness of Christ, and to the free grace of God in him, exerted +by the operation of the Divine Spirit, was generally common to all who +had been peculiarly successful in the conversion and reformation of men, +(how widely soever their judgments might differ in other points, and how +warmly soever their judgments might oppose each other in consequence +of that diversity,) it tended greatly to confirm his faith in these +principles, as well as to open his heart in love to all, of every +denomination, who maintained an affectionate regard to them. Although +what he remarked as to the conduct and success of ministers of the most +opposite strains of preaching confirmed him in these sentiments, yet he +always esteemed and loved virtuous and benevolent men, even where he +thought them the most mistaken in the notions they formed of religion, or +in the methods by which they attempted to serve it. + +While I thus represent what all who knew him must soon have observed of +Colonel Gardiner's affectionate regard to these peculiar doctrines of our +holy religion, it is necessary that I should also inform my reader that +it was not his opinion that the attention of ministers or their hearers +should be wholly engrossed by these, excellent as they are; but that all +the parts of the scheme of truth and duty should be regarded in their due +connection and proportion. Far from that distempered taste which can bear +nothing but cordials, it was his deliberate judgment that the law as well +as the gospel should be preached; and hardly any thing gave him greater +offence than the irreverent manner in which some who have been ignorantly +extolled as the most zealous evangelical preachers, have sometimes +been tempted to speak of the former, much indeed to the scandal of all +consistent and judicious Christians. He delighted to be instructed in +his duty, and to hear much of the inward exercises of the spiritual and +divine life. He always wished, so far as I could observe, to have these +topics treated in a rational as well as spiritual manner, with solidity +and order of thought, with perspicuity and weight of expression, well +knowing that religion is a most reasonable service--that God has not +chosen idiots or lunatics as the instruments, or nonsense as the means of +building up his church--and that though the charge of enthusiasm is often +fixed on Christianity and its ministers in a wild, undeserved, and, +indeed, on the whole, enthusiastical manner, by some of the loudest or +most solemn pretenders to reason, yet there is really such a thing as +enthusiasm, against which it becomes the true friends of revelation to be +diligently on their guard, lest Christianity, instead of being exalted, +should be greatly corrupted and debased, and all manner of absurdity, +both in doctrine and practice, introduced by methods which, like +persecution, throw truth and falsehood on a level, and render the +grossest errors at once more plausible and more incurable. He had too +much candour and equity to fix general charges of this nature; but he was +really (and I think not vainly,) apprehensive that the emissaries and +agents of the most corrupt church that ever dishonoured the Christian +name, (by which, it will easily be understood, I mean that of Rome,) +might very possibly insinuate themselves into societies to which they +could not otherwise have access, and make their advantage of that total +resignation of the understanding, and contempt of reason and learning, +which nothing but ignorance, delirium, or knavery can dictate, to lead +men blindfolded whither it pleased, till it set them down at the foot of +an altar where transubstantiation itself was consecrated. + +I know not where I can more properly introduce another part of the +colonel's character, which, obvious as it was, I have not yet touched +upon; I mean his tenderness to those who were under any spiritual +distress, wherein he was indeed an example to ministers in a duty more +peculiarly theirs. I have seen many amiable instances of this myself, and +I have been informed of many others. One of these happened about the time +of that awakening in the western parts of Scotland, which I touched upon +above, when the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, of Glasgow, found occasion to witness +to the great propriety, judgment, and felicity of manner, with which he +addressed spiritual consolation to an afflicted soul who applied to the +professor at a time when he had not an opportunity immediately to give +audience to the case. Indeed so long ago as the year 1726, I find him +writing in this regard to a friend in a strain of tenderness which might +well have become the most affectionate and experienced pastor. He there +congratulates him on some religious enjoyments, lately received, (in +part, it seems, by his means) when, among others, he has this modest +expression: "If I have been made any way the means of doing you good, +give the whole glory to God; for he has been willing to show that the +power was entirely of himself, since he has been pleased to make use of +so very weak an instrument." In the same letter he admonishes his friend +that he should not be too much surprised, if after having been (as he +expressed it) upon the mount, he should be brought into this valley +again, reminding him that "we live by faith, and not by sensible +assurance," and representing that there are some such full communications +from God as seem almost to swallow up the actings of faith, from whence +they take their rise: "Whereas, when a Christian who walks in darkness, +and sees no light, will yet hang, as it were, on the report of an absent +Jesus, and" (as one expresses it in allusion to the story of Jacob and +Joseph) "can put himself as on the chariot of the promises, to be borne +on to Him whom he sees not; there may be sublimer and more acceptable +actings of a pure and strong faith than in moments which afford the soul +a much more rapturous delight." This is the substance of what he says in +this excellent letter. Some of the phrases made use of might not perhaps +be intelligible to several of my readers, for which reason I do not +exactly transcribe them all; but this is plainly and fully his meaning, +and most of the words are his own. The sentiment is surly very just and +important; and happy would it be for many excellent persons, who, +through wrong notions of the nature of faith, (which was never more +misrepresented than now among some,) are perplexing themselves with +the most groundless doubts and scruples, if it were more generally +understood, admitted, and considered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + +An endeared friend, who was most intimately conversant with the colonel +during the last two years of his life, has favoured me with an account +of some little circumstances relating to him, which I esteem as precious +fragments, by which the consistent tenor of his character may be further +illustrated. I shall therefore insert them here, without being very +solicitous as to the order in which they are introduced. + +He perceived himself evidently in a very declining state from his first +arrival in Britain, and seemed to entertain a fixed apprehension that he +should continue but a little while longer in life. "He expected death," +says my good correspondent, "and was delighted with the prospect," which +did not grow less amiable by the nearer approach. The word of God, with +which he had as intimate an acquaintance as most men I ever knew, and on +which (especially on the New Testament) I have heard him make many +very judicious and accurate remarks, was still his daily study; and +it furnished him with matter of frequent conversation, much to the +edification and comfort of those that were about him. It was recollected +that, among other passages, he had lately spoken of the following as +having made a deep impression on his mind: "My soul, wait thou only upon +God." He would repeat it again and again, _only, only, only_! So plainly +did he see, and so deeply did he feel, the vanity of creature confidence +and expectations. With the strongest attestation would he often mention +those words in Isaiah, as verified by long experience: "Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth +in thee." And with peculiar satisfaction would he utter those heroic +words in Habakkuk, which he found armour of proof against every fear and +every contingency: "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall +fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields +shall yield no meal; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there +shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will +joy in the God of my salvation." The 145th Psalm was also spoken of by +him with great delight, and Dr. Watts's version of it, as well as several +others of that excellent person's poetical compositions. My friend who +transmits to me this account, adds the following words, which I desire +to insert with the deepest sentiments of unfeigned humility and +self-abasement before God, as most unworthy the honour of contributing +in the least degree to the joys and graces of one so much my superior in +every part of the Christian character. "As the joy with which good men +see the happy fruits of their labours, makes a part of the present reward +of the servants of God and the friends of Jesus, it must not be omitted, +even in a letter to you, that your spiritual hymns were among his most +delightful and soul-improving repasts; particularly those on beholding +transgressors with grief, and Christ's Message." What is added concerning +my book of the Rise and Progress of Religion, and the terms in which he +expressed his esteem of it, I cannot suffer to pass my pen; only I desire +most sincerely to bless God, that, especially by the last chapters +of that treatise, I had an opportunity, at so great a distance, of +exhibiting some offices of Christian friendship to this excellent person +in the closing scenes of life, which it would have been my greatest joy +to have performed in person, had Providence permitted me then to have +been near him. + +The former of these hymns, which my correspondent mentions as having been +so agreeable to Colonel Gardiner, I have given the reader already. The +latter, which is called Christ's Message, took its rise from Luke iv. 18, +19, and is as follows: + + Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, + The Saviour promised long; + Let every heart prepare a throne, + And every voice a song. + + On him the Spirit largely poured, + Exerts its sacred fire; + Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, + His holy breast inspire. + + He comes the prisoners to release, + In Satan's bondage held; + The gates of brass before him burst, + The iron fetters yield. + + He comes, from thickest films of vice + To clear the mental ray, + And on the eye-balls of the blind + To pour celestial day.[*] + + He comes the broken heart to bind, + The bleeding soul to cure; + And with the treasures of his grace + To enrich the humble poor. + + His silver trumpets publish loud + The jubilee of the Lord; + Our debts are all remitted now, + Our heritage restored. + + Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace! + Thy welcome shall proclaim; + And heaven's eternal arches ring + With Thy beloved name. + +[*Note: This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.] + +There is one hymn more I shall beg leave to add, plain as it is, which +Colonel Gardiner has been heard to mention with particular regard, as +expressing the inmost sentiments of his soul, and they were undoubtedly +so in the last rational moments of his expiring life. It is called +'Christ precious to the Believer,' and was composed to be sung after a +sermon on 1 Pet. ii 7. + + Jesus! I love thy charming name, + 'Tis music to my ear: + Fain would I sound it out so loud, + That earth and heaven should hear. + + Yea! thou art precious to my soul, + My transport and my trust; + Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys, + And gold is sordid dust. + + All my capacious powers can wish, + In Thee most richly meet; + Nor to mine eyes is life so dear, + Nor friendship half so sweet. + + Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, + And sheds its fragrance there; + The noblest balm of all its wounds, + The cordial of its care. + + I'll speak the honours of thy name + With my last labouring breath; + Then speechless clasp thee in my arms, + The antidote of death. + +Those who were intimate with Colonel Gardiner, must have observed how +ready he was to give a devotional turn to any subject that occurred. In +particular, the spiritual and heavenly disposition of his soul discovered +itself in the reflections and improvements which he made when reading +history, in which he took a great deal of pleasure, as persons remarkable +for their knowledge of mankind, and observation of Providence, generally +do. I have an instance of this before me, which, though too natural to be +at all surprising, will, I dare say, be pleasing to the devout mind. He +had just been reading, in Rollin's extracts from Xenophon, the answer +which the lady of Tigranes made when all the company were extolling +Cyrus, and expressing the admiration with which his appearance and +behaviour struck them. The question being asked her, What she thought of +him? she answered, "I do not know; I did not observe him." On what, then, +said one of the company did you fix your attention? "On him," replied +she, (referring to the generous speech which her husband had just made,) +"who said he would give a thousand lives to ransom my liberty." "Oh," +cried the colonel, when reading it, "how ought we to fix our eyes and +hearts on Him who, not in offer, but in reality, gave his own precious +life to ransom us from the most dreadful slavery, and from eternal +destruction!" But this is only one instance among a thousand. His heart +was so habitually set upon divine things, and he had such a permanent +and overflowing sense of the love of Christ, that he could not forbear +connecting such reflections with a multitude of more distant occasions +occurring in daily life, on which less advanced Christians would not have +thought of them; and thus, like our great Master, he made every little +incident a source of devotion, and an instrument of holy zeal. + +Enfeebled as his constitution was, he was still intent on improving his +time to some valuable purpose; and when his friends expostulated with him +that he gave his body so little rest, he used to answer, "It will rest +long enough in the grave." + +The July before his death, he was persuaded to take a journey to +Scarborough for the recovery of his health, from which he was at least +encouraged to expect some little revival. After this he had thoughts +of going to London, and intended to have spent part of September at +Northampton. The expectation of this was mutually agreeable; but +Providence saw fit to disconcert the scheme. His love for his friends in +these parts occasioned him to express some regret on his being commanded +back; and I am pretty confident, from the manner in which he expressed +himself in one of his last letters to me, that he had some more important +reasons for wishing an opportunity of making a London journey just at +that crisis, which, the reader will remember, was before the rebellion +broke out. But, as Providence determined it otherwise, he acquiesced; +and I am well satisfied, that could he have distinctly foreseen the +approaching event, so far as it concerned his own person, he would have +esteemed it the happiest summons he ever received. While he was at +Scarborough, I find by a letter dated from thence, July 26, 1745, that +he had been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at +Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, +assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of +God which was then hanging over them; on which occasion he hath this +expression: "I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should +be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present +more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing +which I am very sure of, and that comforts me, viz., that it shall go well +with the righteous, come what will." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + +Quickly after his return home, the flame burst out, and his regiment +was ordered to Stirling. It was in that castle that his lady and eldest +daughter enjoyed the last happy hours of his company, and I think it was +about ten or twelve days before his death that he parted from them there. +A remarkable circumstance attended that parting, which has been touched +upon by surviving friends in more than one of their letters to me. His +lady was so affected when she took her last leave of him, that she could +not forbear bursting out into a flood of tears, with other marks of +unusual emotion; and when he asked her the reason, she urged as a +sufficient apology, the apprehension she had of losing such an invaluable +friend, amidst the dangers to which he was then called out. On this she +took particular notice, that whereas he had generally comforted her on +such occasions by pleading with her that remarkable hand of Providence +which had so frequently in former instances been exerted for his +preservation, and that in the greatest extremity, he said nothing of it +now; but only replied in his sententious manner, "We have an eternity to +spend together." + +That heroic contempt of death which had often discovered itself in the +midst of former dangers, was manifested now in his discourse with several +of his most intimate friends. I have reserved for this place one genuine +expression of it many years before, which I thought might be mentioned +with some advantage here. In July, 1725, he had been sent to some place +not far from Hamilton to quell a mutiny among some of our troops. I know +not the particular occasion; but I remember to have heard him mention it +as so fierce a one, that he scarcely ever apprehended himself in more +hazardous circumstances. Yet he quelled it by his presence alone, and the +expostulations he used--evidently putting his life into his hand to do +it. The particulars of the story struck me much; but I do not so exactly +remember them as to venture to relate them here. I only observe, that in +a letter dated July 16, that year, which I have now before me, and which +evidently refers to this event, he writes thus: "I have been very busy, +hurried about from place to place; but, blessed be God, all is over +without bloodshed. And pray let me ask what made you show so much concern +for me in your last? Were you afraid I should get to heaven before you? +or can any evil befall those who are followers of that which is good?"[*] + +[*Note: I doubt not but this will remind some of my readers of that noble +speech of Zwinglius, when (according to the usage of that country,) +attending his flock to a battle in which their religion and liberties +were all at stake, on his receiving a mortal wound by a bullet, of which +he was expired, while his friends were in all the first astonishment of +grief, he bravely said, as he was dying, "_Ecquid hoc infortunii_? Is +this to be reckoned a misfortune?" How many of our Deists would have +celebrated such a sentence, if it had come from the lips of an ancient +Roman! Strange that the name of Christ should be so odious, that the +brightest virtues of his followers should be despised for his sake! But +so it is, and so our Master told us it would be; and our faith is, in +this connection, confirmed by those who strive most to overthrow it.] + +As these were his sentiments in the vigour of his days, so neither did +declining years and the infirmities of a broken constitution on the one +hand, nor any desire of enjoying the honours and profits of so high +a station, or (what was much more to him,) the converse of the most +affectionate of wives and so many amiable children and friends on the +other, in the least enervate his spirits; but as he had in former years +often expressed it, to me and several others, as his desire, "that if it +were the will of God, he might have some honourable call to sacrifice his +life in defence of religion and the liberties of his country;" so, +when it appeared to him most probable that he might be called to it +immediately, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. This appears +in part from a letter which he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Falkirk, +just as he was marching from Stirling, which was only eight days before +his death:--"The rebels," says he, "are advancing to cross the Frith; +but I trust in the Almighty God, who doth whatsoever he please in the +armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." The same +gentleman tells me, that, a few days after the date of this, he marched +through Falkirk with his regiment; and though he was then in so +languishing a state, that he needed his assistance as secretary to write +for some reinforcements, which might put it in his power to make a stand, +(as he was very desirous to have done,) he expressed a most genuine and +noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in the defence of a +worth cause. + +These sentiments wrought in him to the last in the most effectual manner, +and he seemed for a while to have infused them into the regiment which he +commanded; for they expressed such a spirit in their march from Stirling, +that I am assured the colonel was obliged to exert all his authority to +prevent their making incursions on the rebel army, which then lay very +near him; and had it been thought proper to send him the reinforcements +he requested, none can say what the consequence might have been; but he +was ordered to march as fast as possible to meet Sir John Cope's forces +at Dunbar, which he did; and that hasty retreat, in concurrence with the +news which they soon after received of the surrender of Edinburgh to the +rebels, (either by the treachery or weakness of a few, in opposition to +the judgment of by far the greater and better part of the inhabitants,) +struck a panic into both the regiments of dragoons, which became visible +in some very apparent and remarkable circumstances in their behaviour, +which I forbear to relate. This affected Colonel Gardiner so much that, +on the Thursday before the fatal action of Prestonpans, he intimated to +an officer of considerable rank and note, from whom I had it by a very +sure channel of conveyance, that he expected the event would be as in +fact it was. In this view, there is all imaginable reason to believe that +he had formed his resolution as to his own personal conduct, which was, +"that he would not, in cases of the flight of those under his command, +retreat with them;" by which, as it seemed, he was reasonably +apprehensive that he might have stained the honour of his former +services, and have given some occasion for the enemy to have spoken +reproachfully. He much rather chose, if Providence gave him the call, to +leave in his death an example of fidelity and bravery which might very +probably be (as in fact it seems to have been) of much greater importance +to his country than any other service which, in the few days of remaining +life, he could expect to render it. I conclude these to have been his +views, not only from what I knew of his general character and temper, but +likewise from some intimations which he gave to a very worthy person from +Edinburgh, who visited him the day before the action, and to whom he +said, "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I +have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare +it,"--or words to that effect. + +I have heard such a multitude of inconsistent reports of the +circumstances of Colonel Gardiner's death, that I had almost despaired of +being able to give my reader any particular satisfaction concerning so +interesting a scene. But, by a happy accident, I have very lately had an +opportunity of being exactly informed of the whole by that brave man, Mr. +John Foster, his faithful servant, (and worthy of the honour of serving +such a master,) whom I had seen with him at my house some years before. +He attended him in his last hours, and gave me at large the narration, +which he would be ready, if requisite, to attest upon oath. From his +mouth I wrote it down with the utmost exactness, and could easily +believe, from the genuine and affectionate manner in which he related the +particulars, that according to his own striking expression, "his eye and +his heart were always upon his honoured master during the whole time."[*] + +[*Note: Just as I am putting the last hand to these memoirs, March 2, +1746-7, I have met with a corporal in Colonel Lascelles' regiment, who +was an eye-witness to what happened at Prestonpans on the day of the +battle, and the day before; and the account he has given me of some +memorable particulars is so exactly agreeable to that which I received +from Mr. Foster, that it would much corroborate his testimony, if there +were not so many other considerations to render it convincing.] + +On Friday, 20th September, (the day before the battle which transmitted +him to his immortal crown,) the colonel drew up his regiment in the +afternoon, and rode through all their ranks, addressing them at once +in the most respectful and animating manner, both as soldiers and as +Christians, to exert themselves courageously in the service of their +country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare +them for whatever might happen. They seemed much affected with the +address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy +immediately--a desire in which he and another very gallant officer of +distinguished rank, dignity, and character, both for bravery and conduct, +would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in their power. He +earnestly pressed it on the commanding officer, as the soldiers were then +in better spirits than it could be supposed they would be after having +passed the night under arms, and as the circumstance of making an attack +would be some encouragement to them, and probably some terror to the +enemy, who would have had the disadvantage of standing on the defence--a +disadvantage with which those wild barbarians, (for such most of them +were) perhaps would have been more struck than better disciplined +troops--especially, too, when they fought against the laws of their +country. He also apprehended that, by marching to meet them, some +advantage might have been secured with regard to the ground, with which, +it is natural to imagine, he must have been perfectly acquainted, as it +lay just at his own door, and he had rode over it many hundred times. +When I mention these things, I do not pretend to be capable of judging +how far this advice was right. A variety of circumstances to me unknown +might make it otherwise. It is certain, however, that it was brave. But +it was overruled in this respect, as it also was in the disposition of +the cannon, which he would have planted in the centre of our small army, +rather than just before his regiment, which was in the right wing, where +he was apprehensive that the horses, which had not been in any previous +engagement, might be thrown into some disorder by the discharge so very +near them. He urged this the more as he thought the attack of the rebels +might probably be made on the centre of the foot, where he knew there +were some brave men, on whose standing he thought, under God, the success +of the day depended. When he found that he could not carry either of +these points, nor some others which, out of regard to the common safety, +he insisted upon with unusual earnestness, he dropped some intimations +of the consequences he apprehended, and which did in fact follow; and +submitting to Providence, spent the remainder of the day in making as +good a disposition as circumstances would allow.[*] + +[*Note: Several of these circumstances have since been confirmed by the +concurrent testimony of another very credible person, Mr. Robert Douglas, +(now a surgeon in the navy,) who was a volunteer at Edinburgh just before +the rebels entered the place, and who saw Colonel Gardiner come from +Haddington to the field of battle the day before the action in a chaise, +being (as from that circumstances he supposed) in so weak a state that he +could not well endure the fatigue of sitting on horseback. He observed +Colonel Gardiner in discourse with several officers on the evening before +the engagement, at which time, it was afterwards reported, he gave his +advice to attack the rebels; and when it was overruled, he afterwards saw +the colonel walk by himself in a very pensive manner.] + + +He continued all night under arms, wrapt up in his cloak, and generally +sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About +three in the morning he called his domestic servants to him, of which +there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with most +affectionate Christian advice, and such solemn charges relating to the +performance of their duty and the care of their souls, as plainly seemed +to intimate that he at least apprehended it very probable he was taking +his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an hour, +in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him, +and to which so many circumstances then concurred to call him. + +The army was alarmed at break of day by the noise of the rebels' +approach, and the attack was made before sunrise; yet it was light enough +to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy came within gunshot, they +made a furious fire; and it is said that the dragoons, which constituted +the left wing, immediately fled. The colonel, at the beginning of the +onset, which lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a bullet in +his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon +which his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded him to +retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh, and fought on, +though soon after he received a shot in his right thigh. In the meantime +it was discovered that some of the enemies fell by him, particularly one +man, who had made him a treacherous visit but a few days before, with +great professions of zeal for the present establishment. + +Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can +be written, or than it can be read. The colonel was for a few moments +supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person, +Lieutenant-colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm, and who, a few +months after, fell nobly in the battle of Falkirk; by Lieutenant West, a +man of distinguished bravery; also by about fifteen dragoons, who stood +by him to the last. But, after a faint fire, the regiment was seized with +a panic; and though their colonel and some other gallant officers did +what they could to rally them once or twice, they took to precipitate +flight. Just at the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a +pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, +an accident happened, which must, I think, in the judgment of every +worthy and generous man, be deemed a sufficient apology for exposing his +life to so great a hazard, when his regiment had left him.[*] He saw that +a party of foot, who were then bravely fighting near him, and whom he +was ordered to support, had no officer to head them; upon which he said +eagerly, in the hearing of the person from whom I had this account, +"Those brave fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander,"--or +words to that effect. So saying, he rode up to them, and cried out aloud, +"Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But, just as the words were out of +his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him with a scythe, fastened on +a long pole, with which he gave him such a deep wound on his right arm, +that his sword dropped out of his hand; and at the same time several +others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that +cruel weapon, he was dragged off his horse. The moment he fell another +Highlander, who, if the crown witness at Carlisle may be credited, (as I +know not why he should not, though the unhappy creature died denying it,) +was one M'Naught, who was executed about a year after, gave him a stroke +either with a broadsword or a Lochaber axe, (for my informant could not +exactly distinguish,) on the hinder part of his head, which was the +mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time +was, that as his hat had fallen off, he took it in his left hand, and +waved it as a signal to him to retreat; and added, (the last words he +ever heard him speak,) "Take care of yourself;" upon which the servant +retired. + +[*Note: The colonel, who was well acquainted with military history, might +possibly remember that in the battle at Blenheim, the illustrious Prince +Eugene, when the horse of the wing which he commanded had run away +thrice, charged at the head of the foot, and thereby greatly contributed +to the glorious success of the day. At least such an example may conduce +to vindicate that noble ardour which, amidst all the applauses of his +country, some have been so cool and so critical as to blame. For my part, +I thank God that I am not called to apologize for his following his +troops in their flight, which I fear would have been a much harder task; +and which, dear as he was to me, would have grieved me much more than his +death, with these heroic circumstances attending it.] + +It was reported at Edinburgh, on the day of the battle, by what seemed a +considerable authority, that as the colonel lay in his wounds, he said to +a chief of the opposite side, "You are fighting for an earthly crown, I +am going to receive a heavenly one,"--or something to that purpose. When +I preached the sermon, long since printed, on occasion of his death, I +had great reason to believe this report was true, though, before the +publication of it, I began to be in doubt; and, on the whole, after the +most accurate inquiry I could possibly make at this distance, I cannot +get any convincing evidence of it. Yet I must here observe that it does +not appear impossible that something of this kind might indeed be uttered +by him, as his servant testifies that he spoke to him after receiving +that fatal blow, which would seem most likely to have taken away the +power of speech, and as it is certain he lived several hours after he +fell. If, therefore, any thing of this kind did happen, it must have been +just before this instant. But as to the story of his being taken prisoner +and carried to the pretended Prince, (who, by the way, afterwards +rode his horse, and entered into Derby upon it,) with several other +circumstances which were grafted upon that interview, there is the most +undoubted evidence of its falsehood; for his attendant above mentioned +assures me that he himself immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of +about two miles from the spot on which the colonel fell, where he changed +his dress, and, disguised like a miller's servant, returned with a cart +as soon as possible, which yet was not till nearly two hours after the +engagement. The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he +found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other +things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet +still breathing; and adds, that though he was not capable of speech, +yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes; which makes it something +questionable whether he was altogether insensible. In this condition, and +in this manner, he conveyed him to the church of Tranent, from whence he +was immediately taken into the minister's house, and laid in bed, where +he continued breathing and frequently groaning till about eleven in +the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and sorrow, and +undoubtedly rose to those distinguished glories which are reserved for +those who have been eminently and remarkably faithful unto death. + +From the moment he fell, it was no longer a battle, but a rout and +carnage. The cruelties which the rebels (as it is generally said under +the command of Lord Elcho,) inflicted on some of the king's troops after +they had asked quarter, are dreadfully legible on the countenances of +many who survived it. They entered Colonel Gardiner's house before he was +carried off from the field, and notwithstanding the strict orders which +the unhappy Duke of Perth (whose conduct is said to have been very humane +in many instances,) gave to the contrary, every thing of value was +plundered, to the very curtains of the beds, and hangings of the rooms. +His papers were all thrown into the wildest disorder, and his house made +an hospital for the reception of those who were wounded in the action. + +Such was the close of a life which had been zealously devoted to God, and +filled up with many honourable services. Such was the death of him who +had been so highly favoured by God in the method by which he was brought +back to him after so long and so great an estrangement, and in the +progress of so many years, during which (in the expressive phrase of the +most ancient of writers,) "he had walked with him;"--to fall, as God +threatened the people of his wrath that they should do, "with tumult, +with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." Amos ii. 2. Several +other very worthy, and some of them very eminent persons, shared the same +fate, either now at the battle of Prestonpans, or quickly after at that +of Falkirk;[*] Providence, no doubt, permitting it, to establish our +faith in the rewards of an invisible world, as well as to teach us to +cease from man, and fix our dependence on an Almighty arm. + +[*Note: Of these, none were more memorable than those illustrious +brothers, Mr. Robert Munro and Dr. Munro, whose tragical but glorious fate +was also shared quietly after by a third hero of the family, Captain +Munro, of Culcairn, brother to Sir Robert and the Doctor.] + + +The remains of this Christian hero (as I believe every reader is now +convinced he may justly be called,) were interred the Tuesday following, +September 24, in the parish church at Tranent, where he had usually +attended divine service, with great solemnity. His obsequies were +honoured with the presence of some persons of distinction, who were not +afraid of paying that mark of respect to his memory, though the country +was then in the hands of the enemy. But, indeed, there was no great +hazard in this; for his character was so well known, that even they +themselves spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join with his friends +in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man. + +The remotest posterity will remember for whom the honour of subduing this +unnatural and pernicious rebellion was reserved; and it will endear the +Duke of Cumberland to all but the open or secret abettors of it in the +present age, and consecrate his name to immortal honours among all the +friends of religion and liberty who shall arise after us. And, I dare +say, it will not be imagined that I at all derogate from his glory in +suggesting, that the memory of that valiant and excellent person whose +memoirs I am now concluding may in some measure have contributed to that +signal and complete victory with which God was pleased to crown the +arms of his Royal Highness; for the force of such an example is very +animating, and a painful consciousness of having deserted such a +commander in such extremity, must at least awaken, where there was any +spark of generosity, an earnest desire to avenge his death on those who +had sacrificed his blood, and that of so many other excellent persons, to +the views of their ambition, rapine or bigotry. + +The reflections which I have made in my funeral sermon on my honoured +friend, and in the dedication of it to his worthy and most afflicted +lady, supersede many things which might otherwise have properly been +added here. I conclude, therefore, with humbly acknowledging the wisdom +and goodness of that awful Providence which drew so thick a gloom around +him in the last hours of his life, that the lustre of his virtues might +dart through it with a more vivid and observable ray. It is abundant +matter of thankfulness that so signal a monument of grace, and ornament +of the Christian profession, was raised in our age and country, and +spared for so many honourable and useful years. Nor can all the +tenderness of the most affectionate friendship, while its sorrows bleed +afresh in the view of so tragical a scene, prevent my adoring the +gracious appointment of the great Lord of all events, that when the day +in which he must have expired without an enemy appeared so very near, the +last ebb of his generous blood should be poured out, as a kind of sacred +libation, to the liberties of his country, and the honour of his God! +that all the other virtues of his character, embalmed as it were by that +precious stream, might diffuse around a more extensive fragrance, and be +transmitted to the most remote posterity with that peculiar charm which +they cannot but derive from their connection with so gallant a fall--an +event (as that blessed apostle, of whose spirit he so deeply drank, has +expressed it) "according to his earnest expectation, and his hope that in +him Christ might be glorified in all things, whether by his life or by +his death." + + + + +THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + +In the midst of so many more important articles, I had really forgotten +to say any thing of the person of Colonel Gardiner, of which, +nevertheless, it may be proper here to add a word or two. He was, as I +was informed, in younger life remarkably graceful and amiable; and I +can easily believe it, from what I knew him to be when our acquaintance +began, though he was then turned of fifty, and had gone through so many +fatigues as well as dangers, which could not but leave some traces on his +countenance. He was tall, (I suppose something more than six feet,) well +proportioned, and strongly built; his eyes of a dark gray, and not very +large; his forehead pretty high; his nose of a length and height no way +remarkable, but very well suited to his other features; his cheeks not +very prominent; his mouth moderately large, and his chin rather a little +inclining (when I knew him) to be peaked. He had a strong voice and +lively accent, with an air very intrepid, yet attempered with much +gentleness. There was something in his manner of address most perfectly +easy and obliging, which was in great measure the result of the great +candour and benevolence of his natural temper, and which, no doubt, was +much improved by the deep humility which divine grace had wrought in his +heart, as well as his having been accustomed from his early youth to the +company of persons of distinguished rank and polite behaviour. + +The picture of him, which is given at the beginning of these memoirs, +was taken from an original done by Van Deest (a Dutchman brought into +Scotland by general Wade,) in the year 1727, which was the 40th of his +age, and is said to have been very like him then, though far from being +an exact resemblance of what he was when I had the happiness of being +acquainted with him.[*] Perhaps he would have appeared to the greatest +advantage of all, could he have been exactly drawn on horseback; as +many very good judges, and among the rest the celebrated Mons. Faubert +himself, have spoken of him as one of the completest horsemen that has +ever been known; and there was indeed something so singularly graceful in +his appearance in that attitude, that it was sufficient (as what is very +eminent in its kind generally is,) to strike an eye not formed on any +critical rules. + +[*Note: In presenting this likeness for the first time in an American +edition of this work, the artist has taken the liberty to change the +costume, by substituting the ordinary military dress for the court dress +of the original.--_Editor of the Pres. Board of Publication_.] + +[Transcriber's Note: The Portrait is not available.] + + + + +APPENDIX I. + + +(Referred to at the end of Chapter VI, LETTERS.) + +It may not be amiss, in illustration of Dr. Doddridge's remarks on the +subject of dreams, to present to the reader the following account of +a remarkable dream which occurred to the Doctor himself, and had a +beneficial influence on his own mind.--ED. PRES. BD. PUB. + + + +DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM. + +Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Samuel Clark, of St. Alban's, having been +conversing in the evening upon the nature of the separate state, and the +probability that the scenes on which the soul would enter, at its first +leaving the body, would have some resemblance to those things it had been +conversant with while on earth, that it might by degrees be prepared +for the more sublime happiness of the heavenly state, this and other +conversation of the same kind probably occasioned the following dream. + +The Doctor imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in +London, and after remaining in this state for some hours, he thought his +soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of a fine vehicle, +though very different from the gross body it had just quitted, but still +material. He pursued his course through the air, expecting some celestial +messenger to meet him, till he was at some distance from the city, +when turning back and viewing the town, he could not forbear saying to +himself, "How vain do those affairs in which the inhabitants of this +place are so eagerly employed, seem to me a separate spirit!" At length, +as he was continuing his progress, though without any certain directions, +yet easy and happy in the thoughts of the universal providence and +government of God, which extends alike to all states and worlds, he was +now met by one who told him he was sent to conduct him to this destined +state of abode, from which he concluded it was an angel, though he +appeared in the form of an elderly man. They accordingly advanced +together, till they came within sight of a large spacious building, +which had the air of a palace. Upon his inquiring what it was, his guide +replied, it was the place assigned for him at present; upon which the +Doctor wondered that he had read on earth, "that eye had not seen, nor +ear had heard, the glory laid up for them that love God," when he could +easily have formed an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, +though he acknowledged they were greatly inferior to this in elegance and +magnificence. The answer, his guide told him, was plainly suggested by +the conversation of the evening before, and that the scenes presented to +him were purposely contrived to bear a near resemblance to those he had +been accustomed to on earth, that his mind might be more easily and +gradually prepared for those glories which would open upon him hereafter, +and which would at first have quite dazzled and overpowered him. By this +time they came to the palace, and his guide led him through a kind of +saloon into an inner parlour. The first object that struck him was a +great golden cup which stood upon a table, on which was embossed the +figure of a vine and clusters of grapes. He asked his guide the meaning +of it; who told him that it was the cup in which his Saviour drank new +wine with his disciples in his kingdom; and that the figures carved on it +denoted the union between Christ and his Church, implying, that as the +grapes derived all their beauty and flavour from the vine, so the saints, +even in a state of glory, were indebted for their establishment in +holiness and happiness, to their union with their common Head, in whom +they are all complete. While they were conversing, he heard a tap at the +door, and was informed by the angel that it was a signal of his Lord's +approach, and was intended to prepare him for an interview. Accordingly, +in a short time our Saviour entered the room, and upon his casting +himself at his feet, he graciously raised him up, and with a smile of +inexpressible complacency, assured him of his favour, and kind acceptance +of his faithful services, and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the +intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the +cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into the Doctor's hand. +The Doctor would have declined it at first, as too great an honour; but +our Lord replied, as to Peter in washing his feet, "If thou drinkest not +with me, thou hast no part with me." This he observed filled him with +such a transport of gratitude, love and admiration, that he was ready to +sink under it. His master seemed sensible of this, and told him he must +leave him for the present, but would not be long before he repeated +his visit. As soon as our Lord was retired, and the Doctor's mind more +composed, he observed that the room was hung with pictures, and upon +examining them, he found to his great surprise, that they contained +all the history of his life; and most remarkable scenes he had passed +through, being there represented in a very lively manner--the many +temptations and trials he had been exposed to, and the signal instances +of the divine goodness in the different periods of his life. It may not +be easily imagined how this would strike and affect his mind. It excited +in him the strongest emotions of gratitude, especially when he reflected +that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the +purposes of divine love towards him were so amply accomplished. The +exstacy of joy and gratitude, into which these reflections threw him, was +so great that he awoke; but for some time after he awoke the impression +continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, and he said +that he never, on any occasion, remembered to have had sentiments of +devotion and love equal to it. + + + + +APPENDIX II. + + +(Referred to in Chapter VII, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.) + +The following extract from Dr. Doddridge's "Thoughts on Sacramental +Occasions," gives a beautiful and edifying picture of the exercises of +his affectionate and pious heart under a painful bereavement. + + + +THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT, OCTOBER 3, 1736. + +DEAR BETSEY DEAD.[1] + +I had preached in the bitterness of my heart from these words: "Is it +well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is +well." 2 Kings iv. 26. I endeavoured to show the reason there was to say +this; but surely there was never any dispensation of Providence in which +I found it so hard, for my very soul had been overwhelmed within me. +Indeed, some hard thoughts of the mercy of God were ready to arise; and +the apprehension of his heavy displeasure, and the fear of my child's +future state, added fuel to the fire. + +Upon the whole, my mind was in the most painful agitation; but it pleased +God, that, in composing the sermon, my soul became quieted, and I was +brought into a more silent and cordial submission to the Divine will. + +At the table I discoursed on these words, "Although my house be not so +with God." 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. I observed, that domestic calamities may +befall good men in their journey through life, and particularly in +relation to their children; but that they have a refuge in God's +covenant; it is everlasting; it is sure; it is well ordered--every +provision is made according to our necessities; and shall be our +salvation, as it is the object of our most affectionate regard. + +One further circumstance I must record; and that is, that I here solemnly +recollected that I had, in a former sacrament taken the cup with these +words, "Lord, I take this cup as a public and solemn token that I will +refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hand." I mentioned this +recollection, and charged it publicly on myself and my Christian friends. +God has taken me at my word, but I do not retract it; I repeat it again +with regard to every future cup. + +I am just come from the coffin of my dear child, who seemes to be sweetly +asleep there, with a serene, composed, delightful countenance, once how +animated with double life! There--lo! O my soul! lo there! is thine idol +laid still in death--the creature which stood next to God in thine heart; +to whom it was opened with a fond and flattering delight. Methinks I +would learn to be dead with her--dead to the world. Oh that I could be +dead with her, not any further than that her dear memory may promote my +living to God.[*] + +[*Note: The following note was written in the margin of the manuscript by +the late Rev. Thomas Stedman: "I think I have heard that the doctor wrote +his funeral sermon for his daughter, or a part of it, upon her coffin."] + +I had a great deal of very edifying, conversation last night and his +morning with my wife, whose wisdom does indeed make her face to shine +under this affliction. She is supported and armoured with a courage which +seems not at all natural to her; talks with the utmost freedom, and has +really said many of the most useful things that ever were said to me by +any person upon the earth, both as to consolation and admonition. Had +the best things I have read on the subject been collected together, they +could hardly have been better conceived or better expressed. This is +to me very surprising when I consider her usual reserve. I have all +imaginable reason to believe that God will make this affliction a great +blessing to her, and I hope it may prove so to me. There was a fond +delight and complacence which I took in Betsey beyond any thing living. +Although she had not a tenth part of that rational, manly love, which I +pay to her mourning and many surviving friends; yet it leaves a peculiar +pain upon my heart, and it is almost as if my very gall were poured +out upon the earth. Yet much sweetness mingles itself with this bitter +potion, chiefly in the view and hope of my speedy removal to the eternal +world. May it not be the bounty of this providence, that instead of her +living many years upon the earth, God may have taken away my child that I +might be fitted for and reconciled to my own dissolution, perhaps nearly +approaching? I verily believe that I shall meet her there, and enjoy much +more of her in heaven than I should have done had she survived me on +earth. Lord, thy will be done; may my life be used for the service while +continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest. + +[Footnote 1: The following extract from the Diary of Dr. Doddridge is +here subjoined, as affording an explanation of some particulars alluded +to in the text. + + + +REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR CHILD, AND THE MANY MOURNFUL +PROVIDENCES ATTENDING IT. + +I have a great deal of reason to condemn my own negligence and folly, +that for so many months I have suffered no memorandums of what has passed +between God and my soul, although some of the transactions were very +remarkable, as well as some things which I have heard concerning others; +but the subject of this article is the most melancholy of any. We lost my +dear and reverend brother and friend, Mr. Sanders, on the 31st of July +last; on the 1st of September, Lady Russell--that invaluable friend, died +at Reading on her road from Bath; and on Friday, the 1st of October, God +was pleased, by a most awful stroke, to take away my eldest, dearest +child, my lovely Betsey. She was formed to strike my affections in the +most powerful manner; such a person, genius, and temper, as I admired +even beyond their real importance, so that indeed I doted upon her, and +was for many months before her death in a great degree of bondage upon +her account. She was taken ill at Newport about the middle of June, and +from thence to the day of her death, she was my continual thought, and +almost uninterrupted care. God only knows with what earnestness and +importunity I prostrated myself before him to beg her life, which I would +have been willing almost to have purchased with my own. When reduced to +the lowest degree of languishment by a consumption, I could not forbear +looking upon her almost every hour. I saw her with the strongest mixture +of anguish and delight; no chemist ever watched his crucible with greater +care, when he expected the production of the philosopher's stone, than I +watched her in all the various turns of her distemper, which at last grew +utterly hopeless, and then no language can express the agony into which +it threw me. One remarkable circumstance I cannot but recollect: in +praying most affectionately, perhaps too earnestly, for her life, these +words came into my mind with great power, "Speak no more to me of this +matter." I was unwilling to take them, and went into the chamber to see +my dear lamb, when, instead of receiving me with her usual tenderness, +she looked upon me with a stern air, and said, with a very remarkable +determination of voice, "I have no more to say to you;" and I think that +from that time, although she lived at least ten days, she seldom looked +upon me with pleasure, or cared to suffer me to come near her. But that +I might feel all the bitterness of the affliction, Providence so ordered +it, that I came in when her sharpest agonies were upon her, and those +words, "O dear, O dear, what shall I do?" rung in my ears for succeeding +hours and days. But God delivered her,--and she, without any violent pang +in the article of her dissolution, quietly and sweetly fell asleep, as I +hope, in Jesus, about ten at night, I being then at Maidwell. When I came +home my mind was under a dark cloud relating to the eternal state; but +God was pleased graciously to remove it, and gave me comfortable hopes, +after having felt the most heart-rending sorrow. My dear wife bore the +affliction in the most glorious manner, and discovered more wisdom, and +piety, and steadiness of temper in a few days, than I had ever in six +years an opportunity of observing before. O my soul, God has blasted thy +gourd; thy greatest earthly delight is gone: seek it in heaven, where I +hope this dear babe is; where I am sure that my Saviour is; and where I +trust, through grace, notwithstanding all this irregularity of temper and +of heart, that I shall shortly be. + +Sunday, October 3, 1736 + + + +FURTHER REFLECTIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MY DEAR BETSEY. + +I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is +for ever hidden from them. My heart was too full to weep much. We had a +suitable sermon from these words: "Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah +iv. 9; because of the gourd. I hope God knows that I am not angry; but +sorrowful he surely allows me to be. I could have wished that more had +been said concerning the hope we may have of our child; and it was a +great disappointment to me that nothing of that kind should have been +said by one that loved her so well as my brother Hunt did. Yet, I bless +God, I have my hopes that she is lodged in the arms of Christ. And there +was an occurrence that I took much notice of; I was most earnestly +praying that God would be pleased to give me some further encouragement +on this head, by letting some new light, or by directing me to some +further thoughts upon the subject. Soon after, as I came into my wife's +chamber, she told me that our maid Betty, who had indeed the affection +of a parent for my dear girl, had just before assured her, that, on the +Sabbath day evening, Betsey would be repeating to herself some things of +what she had heard in my prayers and in my preachings, but did not +care to talk of it to others; and my wife assured me that she solemnly +recommended herself to God in the words that I had taught her a little +before she died. Blessed God, hast thou not received her? I trust that +thou hast, and pardoned the infirmities of her poor, short, childish, +afflicted life. I hope, in some measure out of love to me, as thy +servant, thou hast done it, for Christ's sake; and I would consider the +very hope, as an engagement to thy future service. Lord, I love those who +were kind to my child, and wept with me for her; shall I not much more +love thee, who, I hope, art at this moment taking care of her, and +opening her infant faculties for the duties and blessedness of heaven. + +Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first born is +gone;--my beloved child is laid in bed before me. I have often followed +her to her bed in a literal sense; and shortly I shall follow her to +that, where we shall lie down together, and our rest shall be together +in the dust. In a literal sense the grave is ready for me. My grave is +made--I have looked into it--a dear part of myself is already there; and +when I stood at the Lord's table I stood directly over it. It is some +pleasure to me to think that my dust will be lodged near that of my dear +lamb, how much more to hope that my soul will rest with hers, and rejoice +in her forever! But, O, let me not centre my thoughts even here; it is +at rest with, and in God, that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace +secure it to me! and in the mean time give me some holy acquiescence of +soul in thee; and although my gourd be withered, yet shelter me under the +shadow of thy wings. + +October 4, 1736.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + +***** This file should be named 11253-8.txt or 11253-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/5/11253/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/11253-8.zip b/old/11253-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42880b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253-8.zip diff --git a/old/11253-h.zip b/old/11253-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8cfa28 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253-h.zip diff --git a/old/11253-h/11253-h.htm b/old/11253-h/11253-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e637ede --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253-h/11253-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5149 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> +<html><head><title>The Life of Colonel James Gardiner, who was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745</title> +<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + + + + + <style type="text/css">body + { + background: #eeeeee; + margin: 10%; + text-align: justify; + } + h1 { +color:#330066; +font-size: 30pt; + +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h2 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 25pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h3 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 20pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h4 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 18pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h5 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 15pt; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: center; +background: transparent; +} + +h6 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-align: left; +background: transparent; +} + + +p,td,blockquote { +font-size: 14pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: justify; +line-height: 120%; +} + +p.smallprint { +font-size: 12pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 300; +text-align: justify; +} + +p.pullquote1 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 12pt; +font-weight: 300; +margin-left: 3em; +margin-bottom: 2%; +} + +p.pullquote2 { +color: #330066; +font-size: 12pt; +font-weight: 300; +margin-left: 6em; +margin-bottom: 2%; + +} + +td.right +{ +font-size: 14pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 100; +text-align: right; +} + +td.right2 +{ +font-size: 12pt; +color: #330066; +font-weight: 200; +text-align: right; +} + +i { +font-weight: 600; +} + +i.smallprint { +font-weight: 200; +} + + +/*links*/ + +a:link { +color: #330099; +background: transparent; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:visited { +color: #330066; +font-weight: bold; +background: transparent; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:hover { +color: #ffffff; +background: #9999cc; +font-size: 14pt; +font-weight: bold; +text-decoration: none; +} + +a:active { +color: #9999cc; +font-weight: bold; +background: transparent; +text-decoration: underline; +} + +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of Col. James Gardiner + Who Was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745 + +Author: P. Doddridge + +Release Date: February 24, 2004 [EBook #11253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<h1>THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER,</h1><br><br><br> + +<h2>WHO WAS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS,</h2><br><br> + +<h2>SEPTEMBER 21, 1745.</h2><br><br><br><br> + + +<h3>BY P. DODDRIDGE, D.D.</h3><br> + +<table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + <td width="17%" height="50"> </td> + <td class="right" width="66%" height="50">Justior alter<br> + Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis.<br> + + - <i>VIRGIL</i></td> + <td width="17%" height="50"> </td> +</tr> +</table> +<br><br><br> +<hr> +<br><br> +<table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + <td width="20%"> </td> + <td valign="top" width="50%"> +<h6> + <a href="#I.">I PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#II.">II BATTLE OF RAMILLIES.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#III.">III MILITARY PREFERMENTS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#IV.">IV CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#V.">V HIS CONVERSION.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#VI.">VI LETTERS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#VII.">VII DOMESTIC RELATIONS.</a><br><br> + +<a href="#VIII.">VIII CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#IX.">IX INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#X.">X DEVOTION AND CHARITY.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XI.">XI EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XII.">XII RETURN TO ENGLAND.</a><br><br> + +<a href="#XIII">XIII REVIVAL OF RELIGION.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XIV">XIV APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#XV.">XV BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#THE">THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.</a><br><br> + + <a href="#API">APPENDIX I</a><br><br> + + <a href="#APII">APPENDIX II</a></h6><br> +</td> + <td width="8%"> </td> +</tr></table> + + + +<hr> + +<br> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Transcriber's Note: At the time of this book, England still followed +the Julian calendar (after Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.), and celebrated New Year's Day +on March 25th (Annunciation Day). Most Catholic countries accepted the Gregorian calendar +(after Pope Gregory XIII) from some +time after 1582 (the Catholic countries of France, Spain, Portugal, +and Italy in 1582, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland within a +year or two, Hungary in 1587, and Scotland in 1600), and celebrated +New Year's Day on January 1st. England finally changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. +This is the reason for the double dates in the early months of the years +in this narrative. January 1687 in England would have been January 1688 +in Scotland. Only after March 25th was the year the same in the two +countries. The Julian calendar was known as 'Old Style', and the +Gregorian calendar as 'New Style' (N.S.). +(Thus a letter written from France on e.g. August 4th, 1719 would be dated August 4, N.S).] </p> +<br><br> +<hr> +<br><br><br> + +<h3>LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER.</h3><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="I.">I.</a><br><br> + +PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS.</h4><br> + + + + +<p> +When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character +of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon +on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence +continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the +expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which +appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate +friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his +life––a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated +conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me, +beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious +experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable +letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which +contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character. +But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of +his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as +from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore +determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these +advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I, +on the whole, reason to regret that determination.</p> +<p> +I shall not trouble the reader with all the causes which concurred to +retard these expected assistances for almost a whole year. The chief of +them was the tedious languishing illness of his afflicted lady, through +whose hands it was proper the papers should pass; together with the +confusion into which the rebels had thrown them when they ransacked +his seat at Bankton, where most of them were deposited. But having now +received such of them as have escaped their rapacious hands, and could +conveniently be collected and transmitted, I set myself with the greatest +pleasure to perform what I esteem not merely a tribute of gratitude to +the memory of my invaluable friend, (though never was the memory of any +mortal man more precious and sacred to me,) but of duty to God, and to my +fellow-creatures; for I have a most cheerful hope that the narrative I am +now to write will, under the divine blessing, be a means of spreading, +what of all things in the world, every benevolent heart will most desire +to spread, a warm and lively sense of religion.</p> +<p> +My own heart has been so much edified and animated by what I have read in +the memoirs of persons who have been eminent for wisdom and piety, that I +cannot but wish the treasure may be more and more increased; and I would +hope the world may gather the like valuable fruits from the life I am +now attempting, not only as it will contain very singular circumstances, +which may excite general curiosity, but as it comes attended with some +other particular advantages.</p> +<p> +The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various +goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of +imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will +surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and +important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but +<i>military</i> life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence +of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable +praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in +most other professions might be esteemed only <i>a mediocrity of virtue</i>. +It may surely, with the highest justice, be expected that the title +and bravery of Colonel Gardiner will invite many of our officers and +soldiers, to whom his name has been long honourable and dear, to peruse +this account of him with some peculiar attention; in consequence of which +it may be a means of increasing the number, and brightening the character +of those who are already adorning their office, their country, and their +religion; and of reclaiming those who will see what they ought to be, +rather than what they are. On the whole, to the gentlemen of the sword I +would particularly offer these memoirs, as theirs by so distinguished +a title; yet I am firmly persuaded there are <i>none</i> whose office is so +sacred, or whose proficiency in the religious life is so advanced, but +they may find something to demand their thankfulness, and to awaken their +emulation.</p> + + +<p> +<b>COLONEL JAMES GARDINER</b> was the son of Capt. Patrick Gardiner of the +family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs.[*] Mary Hodge of the family of Gladsmuir. +The captain, who was master of a handsome estate, served many years in +the army of king William and queen Anne, and died abroad with the British +forces in Germany, soon after the battle of Hochstett, through the +fatigues he underwent in the duties of that celebrated campaign. He had +a company in the regiment of foot once commanded by Colonel Hodge, his +valiant brother-in-law, who was slain at the head of that regiment (my +memorial from Scotland says) at the battle of Steenkirk, which was fought +in the year 1692.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Transcriber's Note: Mrs. (Mistress), in that age, was the normal style +of address for an unmarried daughter from a prominent family, as well as +for a married lady.] </p> +<p> +Mrs. Gardiner, our colonel's mother, was a lady of very respectable +character; but it pleased God to exercise her with very uncommon trials; +for she not only lost her husband and her brother in the service of their +country, as before related, but also her eldest son, Mr. Robert Gardiner, +on the day which completed the 16th year of his age, at the siege of +Namur, in 1695. But there is great reason to believe that God blessed +these various and heavy afflictions, as the means of forming her to that +eminent degree of piety which will render her memory honourable as long +as it continues.</p> +<p> +Her second son, the worthy person of whom I am now to give a more +particular account, was born at Carriden, in Linlithgowshire, on the 10th +of January, A.D. 1687-8,––the memorable year of that glorious revolution +which he justly esteemed among the happiest of all events; so that when +he was slain in defence of those liberties which God then, by so gracious +a providence, rescued from utter destruction, i.e. on the 21st of +September 1745, he was aged 57 years, 8 months, and 11 days.</p> +<p> +The annual return of his birth-day was observed by him in the latter +and better years of his life, in a manner very different from what is +commonly practised; for, instead of making it a day of festivity, I +am told he rather distinguished it as a season of more than ordinary +humiliation before God––both in commemoration of those mercies which he +received in the first opening of life, and under an affectionate sense, +as well of his long alienation from the great Author and support of his +being, as of the many imperfections which he lamented in the best of his +days and services.</p> +<p> +I have not met with many things remarkable concerning the early days of +his life, only that his mother took care to instruct him, with great +tenderness and affection, in the principles of true Christianity. He was +also trained up in humane literature, at the school at Linlithgow, where +he made a very considerable progress in the languages. I remember to have +heard him quote some passages of the Latin classics very pertinently; +though his employment in life, and the various turns which his mind +took under different impulses in succeeding years, prevented him from +cultivating such studies.</p> +<p> +The good effects of his mother's prudent and exemplary care were not so +conspicuous as she wished and hoped, in the earlier part of her son's +life; yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirely lost. +As they were probably the occasion of many convictions which in his +younger years were overborne, so I doubt not, that when religious +impressions took that strong hold of his heart which they afterwards did, +that stock of knowledge which had been so early laid up in his mind, +was found of considerable service. And I have heard them make the +observation, as an encouragement to parents, and other pious friends, to +do their duty, and to hope for those good consequences of it which may +not immediately appear.</p> +<p> +Could his mother, or a very religious aunt, (of whose good instructions +and exhortations I have often heard him speak with pleasure,) have +prevailed, he would not have thought of a military life, from which it +is no wonder these ladies endeavoured to dissuade him, considering the +mournful experience they had of the dangers attending it, and the dear +relatives they had lost already by it. But it suited his taste; and the +ardour of his spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend who greatly +urged it,[*] was not to be restrained. Nor will the reader wonder +that, thus excited and supported, it easily overbore their tender +remonstrances, when he knows that this lively youth fought three duels +before he attained to the stature of a man; in one of which, when he was +but eight years old, he received from a boy much older than himself, a +wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. +The false sense of honour which instigated him to it, might seem indeed +something excusable in those unripened years, and considering the +profession of his father, brother, and uncle; but I have often heard +him mention this rashness with that regret which the reflection would +naturally give to so wise and good a man in the maturity of life. And I +have been informed that, after his remarkable conversion, he declined +accepting a challenge, with this calm and truly great reply, which, in +a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful: "I fear +sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting."</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: I suppose this to have been Brigadier-General Rue, who had from +his childhood a peculiar affection for him.]</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="II.">II.</a><br><br> + +BATTLE OF RAMILLIES.</h4><br> + + +<p> +He served first as a cadet, which must have been very early; and then, at +fourteen years old, he bore an ensign's commission in a Scotch regiment +in the Dutch service, in which he continued till the year 1702, when (if +my information be right) he received an ensign's commission from queen +Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramillies, being then in the +nineteenth year of his age. In this ever-memorable action he received a +wound in his mouth by a musket-ball, which has often been reported to be +the occasion of his conversion. That report was a mistaken one; but as +some very remarkable circumstances attended this affair, which I have +had the pleasure of hearing more than once from his own mouth, I hope my +readers will excuse me, if I give him so uncommon a story at large.</p> +<p> +Our young officer was of a party in the forlorn hope, and was commanded +on what seemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French of +the church-yard at Ramillies, where a considerable number of them were +posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded much better than was +expected; and it may well be supposed that Mr. Gardiner, who had before +been in several encounters, and had the view of making his fortune to +animate the natural intrepidity of his spirit, was glad of such an +opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly he had planted his +colours on an advanced ground; and while he was calling to his men, +(probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our +soldiery, and so absurdly common on such occasions of extreme danger,) he +received into his mouth a shot, which, without beating out of any of his +teeth, or touching the fore part of his tongue, went through his neck, +and came out about an inch and a half on the left side of the <i>vertebræ</i>. +Not feeling at first the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become +of the ball, and in the wildness of his surprise began to suspect he had +swallowed it; but falling soon after, he traced the passage of it by his +finger, when he could discover it in no other way; which I mention as +one circumstance, among many which occur, to make it probable that the +greater part of those who fall in battle by these instruments of death, +feel very little anguish from the most mortal wounds.</p> +<p> +This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of +May, 1706; and the army, pursuing its advantages against the French, +without ever regarding the wounded, (which was, it seems, the Duke of +Marlborough's constant method,) our young officer lay all night on +the field, agitated, as may well be supposed, with a great variety of +thoughts. He assured me, that when he reflected upon the circumstance of +his wound, that a ball should, as he then conceived it, go through his +head without killing him, he thought God had preserved him by a miracle; +and therefore assuredly concluded that he should live, abandoned and +desperate as his state seemed to be. Yet (which to me appeared very +astonishing) he had little thoughts of humbling himself before God, and +returning to him after the wanderings of a life so licentiously begun. +But, expecting to recover, his mind was taken up with contrivances to +secure his gold, of which he had a good deal about him; and he had +recourse to a very odd expedient, which proved successful. Expecting to +be stripped, he first took out a handful of that clotted gore of which he +was frequently obliged to clear his mouth, or he would have been choked; +and putting it into his left hand, he took out his money, which I think +was about 19 pistoles, and shutting his hand, and besmearing the back +part of it with blood, he kept in this position till the blood dried in +such a manner that his hand could not easily fall open, though any sudden +surprise should happen, in which he might lose the presence of mind which +that concealment otherwise would have required.</p> +<p> +In the morning the French, who were masters of that spot, though their +forces were defeated at some distance, came to plunder the slain; and +seeing him to appearance almost expiring, one of them was just applying +a sword to his breast, to destroy the little remainder of life, when, in +the critical moment, upon which all the extraordinary events of such a +life as his afterwards proved, were suspended, a Cordelier who attended +the plunderers interposed, (taking him by his dress for a Frenchman) and +said, "Do not kill that poor child." Our young soldier heard all that +passed, though he was not able to speak one word; and, opening his +eyes, made a sign for something to drink. They gave him a sup of some +spirituous liquor which happened to be at hand, by which he said he found +a more sensible refreshment than he could remember from anything he had +tasted either before or since. Then signifying to the friar to lean down +his ear to his mouth, he employed the first efforts of his feeble breath +in telling him (what, alas! was a contrived falsehood) that he was a +nephew to the governor of Huy, a neutral town in the neighbourhood; and +that if he could take any method of conveying him thither, he did not +doubt but his uncle would liberally reward him. He had indeed a friend at +Huy, who I think was governor, and, if I mistake not, had been acquainted +with the captain, his father, from whom he expected a kind reception; but +the relation was only pretended. On hearing this, they laid him on a sort +of hand-barrow, and sent him by a file of musqueteers towards the place; +but the men lost their way, and, towards the evening, got into a wood in +which they were obliged to continue all night. The poor patient's wound +being still undressed, it is not to be wondered at that by this time it +raged violently. The anguish of it engaged him earnestly to beg that they +would either kill him outright, or leave him there to die without the +torture of any further motion; and indeed they were obliged to rest for a +considerable time, on account of their own weariness. Thus he spent +the second night in the open air, without any thing more than a common +bandage to staunch the blood. He has often mentioned it as a most +astonishing providence that he did not bleed to death, which, under God, +he ascribed to the remarkable coldness of these two nights.</p> +<p> +Judging it quite unsafe to attempt carrying him to Huy, from whence they +were now several miles distant, his convoy took him early in the morning +to a convent in the neighbourhood, where he was hospitably received, and +treated with great kindness and tenderness. But the cure of his wound was +committed to an ignorant barber-surgeon who lived near the house, the +best shift that could then be made, at a time when it may easily be +supposed persons of ability in their profession had their hands full of +employment. The tent which this artist applied, was almost like a peg +driven into the wound; and gentlemen of skill and experience, when they +came to hear of the manner in which he was treated, wondered how he could +possibly survive such management. But by the blessing of God on these +applications, rough as they were, he recovered in a few months. The Lady +Abbess, who called him her son, treated him with the affection and care +of a mother; and he always declared that every thing which he saw within +these walls, was conducted with the strictest decency and decorum. He +received a great many devout admonitions from the ladies there, and +they would fain have persuaded him to acknowledge what they thought so +miraculous a deliverance, by embracing the <i>Catholic faith</i>, as they were +pleased to call it. But they could not succeed; for though no religion +lay near his heart, yet he had too much of the spirit of a gentleman +lightly to change that form of religion which he wore, as it were loose +about him; as well as too much good sense to swallow those monstrous +absurdities of Popery which immediately presented themselves to him, +unacquainted as he was with the niceties of the controversy.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4> +CHAPTER <a name="III.">III.</a><br><br> + +MILITARY PREFERMENTS.</h4><br> + + +<p> +When his liberty was regained by an exchange of prisoners, and his health +thoroughly established, he was far from rendering unto the Lord according +to that wonderful display of divine mercy which he had experienced. +I know very little of the particulars of those wild, thoughtless and +wretched years which lay between the 19th and 30th of his life; except +that he frequently experienced the divine goodness in renewed instances, +particularly in preserving him in several hot military actions, in all +which he never received so much as a wound after this, forward as he was +in tempting danger; and yet that all these years were spent in an entire +alienation from God, and in an eager pursuit of animal pleasure as his +supreme good. The series of criminal amours in which he was almost +incessantly engaged during this time, must probably have afforded some +remarkable adventures and occurrences; but the memory of them has +perished. Nor do I think it unworthy of notice here, that amidst all the +intimacy of our friendship, and the many hours of cheerful as well as +serious converse which we spent together, I never remember to have heard +him speak of any of these intrigues, otherwise than in the general with +deep and solemn abhorrence. This I the rather mention, as it seemed a +most genuine proof of his unfeigned repentance, which I think there is +great reason to suspect, when people seem to take a pleasure in relating +and describing scenes of vicious indulgence, which they yet profess to +have disapproved and forsaken.</p> +<p> +Amidst all these pernicious wanderings from the paths of religion, +virtue, and happiness, he approved himself so well in his military +character, that he was made a lieutenant in that year, viz. 1706; and I +am told he was very quickly after promoted to a cornet's commission in +Lord Stair's regiment of the Scots Greys, and, on the 31st of January, +1714-15, was made captain-lieutenant in Colonel Ker's regiment of +dragoons. He had the honour of being known to the Earl of Stair some time +before, and was made his aid-de-camp; and when, upon his Lordship's being +appointed ambassador from his late Majesty to the court of France, he +made so splendid an entrance into Paris, Captain Gardiner was his master +of the horse; and I have been told that a great deal of the care of that +admirably well-adjusted ceremony fell upon him; so that he gained great +credit by the manner in which he conducted it. Under the benign influence +of his Lordship's favour, which to the last day of his life he retained, +a captain's commission was procured for him, dated July 22, 1715, in +the regiment of dragoons commanded by Colonel Stanhope, now Earl of +Harrington; and in 1717 he was advanced to the majority of that regiment, +in which office he continued till it was reduced on November 10, 1718, +when he was put out of commission. But when his Majesty, king George I., +was thoroughly apprised of his faithful and important services, he gave +him his sign-manual, entitling him to the first majority that should +become vacant in any regiment of horse or dragoons, which happened, about +five years after, to be in Croft's regiment of dragoons, in which he +received a commission, dated 1st June, 1724; and on the 20th of July the +same year, he was made major of an older regiment, commanded by the Earl +of Stair.</p> +<p> +As I am now speaking of so many of his military preferments, I will +dispatch the account of them by observing, that, on the 24th January +1729-30, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same +regiment, long under the command of Lord Cadogan, with whose friendship +this brave and vigilant officer was also honoured for many years. And he +continued in this rank and regiment till the 19th of April, 1743, when +he received a colonel's commission over a regiment of dragoons lately +commanded by Brigadier Bland, at the head of which he valiantly fell, in +the defence of his sovereign and his country, about two years and a half +after he received it.</p> +<p> +We will now return to that period of his life which was passed at Paris, +the scene of such remarkable and important events. He continued (if I +remember right) several years under the roof of the brave and generous +Earl of Stair, to whom he endeavoured to approve himself by every +instance of diligent and faithful service. And his Lordship gave no +inconsiderable proof of the dependence which he had upon him, when, in +the beginning of 1715, he entrusted him with the important dispatches +relating to a discovery which, by a series of admirable policy, he had +made of a design which the French king was then forming for invading +Great Britain in favour of the Pretender; in which the French apprehended +they were so sure of success, that it seemed a point of friendship in one +of the chief counsellors of that court to dissuade a dependent of his +from accepting some employment under his Britannic majesty, when proposed +by his envoy there, because it was said that in less than six weeks there +would be a revolution in favour of what they called the family of the +Stuarts. The captain dispatched his journey with the utmost speed; a +variety of circumstances happily concurred to accelerate it; and they +who remember how soon the regiments which that emergency required, were +raised and armed, will, I doubt not, esteem it a memorable instance, both +of the most cordial zeal in the friends of the government, and of the +gracious care of Divine Providence over the house of Hanover and the +British liberties, so inseparably connected with its interest.</p> +<p> +While Captain Gardiner was at London, in one of the journeys he made upon +this occasion, he, with that frankness which was natural to him, and +which in those days was not always under the most prudent restraint, +ventured to predict, from what he knew of the bad state of the French +king's health, that he would not live six weeks. This was made known by +some spies who were at St. James's, and came to be reported at the court +of Versailles; for he received letters from some friends at Paris, +advising him not to return thither, unless he could reconcile himself to +a lodging in the Bastile. But he was soon free from that apprehension; +for, if I mistake not, before half that time was accomplished, Louis XIV. +died, (Sept. 1, 1715,) and it is generally thought his death was hastened +by a very accidental circumstance, which had some reference to the +captain's prophecy; for the last time he ever dined in public, which +was a very little while after the report of it had been made there, +he happened to discover our British envoy among the spectators. The +penetration of this illustrious person was too great, and his attachment +to the interest of his royal master too well known, not to render him +very disagreeable to that crafty and tyrannical prince, whom God had so +long suffered to be the disgrace of monarchy, and the scourge of Europe. +He at first appeared very languid, as indeed he was; but on casting his +eye upon the Earl of Stair, he affected to appear before him in a much +better state of health than he really was; and therefore, as if he had +been awakened on a sudden from some deep reverie, he immediately put +himself into an erect posture, called up a laboured vivacity into his +countenance, and ate much more heartily than was by any means advisable, +repeating two or three times to a nobleman, (I think the Duke of Bourbon) +then in waiting, "<i>Il me semble que je ne mange pas mal pour un homme qui +devoit mourir si tot.</i>" "Methinks I eat very well for a man who is to die +so soon." But this inroad upon that regularity of living which he had for +some time observed, agreed so ill with him that he never recovered this +meal, but died in less than a fortnight. This gave occasion for some +humorous people to say, that old Louis, after all, was killed by a +Briton. But if this story be true, (which I think there can be no room to +doubt, as the colonel, from whom I have often heard it, though absent, +could scarce be misinformed,) it might more properly be said that he fell +by his own vanity; in which view I thought it so remarkable, as not to be +unworthy of a place in these memoirs.</p> +<p> +The captain quickly returned, and continued, with small interruptions, at +Paris, at least till 1720, and how much longer I do not certainly know. +The Earl's favour and generosity made him easy in his affairs, though he +was, (as has been observed before,) part of the time, out of commission, +by breaking the regiment to which he belonged, of which before he was +major. This was in all probability the gayest part of his life, and the +most criminal. Whatever wise and good examples he might find in the +family where he had the honour to reside, it is certain that the French +court, during the regency of the Duke of Orleans, was one of the most +dissolute under heaven. What, by a wretched abuse of language, have been +called intrigues of love and gallantry, were so entirely to the major's +then degenerate taste, that if not the whole business, at least the whole +happiness of his life, consisted in them; and he had now too much leisure +for one who was so prone to abuse it. His fine constitution, than which +perhaps there was hardly ever a better, gave him great opportunities of +indulging himself in these excesses; and his good spirits enabled him to +pursue his pleasures of every kind in so alert and sprightly a manner, +that multitudes envied him, and called him, by a dreadful kind of +compliment, "the happy rake."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="IV.">IV.</a><br><br> + +CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE.</h4><br> + +<p> +Yet still the checks of conscience, and some remaining principles of so +good an education, would break in upon his most licentious hours; and +I particularly remember he told me, that when some of his dissolute +companions were once congratulating him on his distinguished felicity, a +dog happening at that time to come into the room, he could not forbear +groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, 'Oh that I were that dog!' Such +then was his happiness; and such perhaps is that of hundreds more who +bear themselves highest in the contempt of religion, and glory in +that infamous servitude which they affect to call liberty. But these +remonstrances of reason and conscience were in vain; and, in short, he +carried things so far in this wretched part of his life, that I am well +assured some sober English gentlemen, who made no great pretences to +religion, how agreeable soever he might have been to them on other +accounts, rather declined than sought his company, as fearing they might +have been ensnared and corrupted by it.</p> +<p> +Yet I cannot find that in these most abandoned days he was fond of +drinking. Indeed, he never had any natural relish for that kind of +intemperance, from which he used to think a manly pride might be +sufficient to preserve persons of sense and spirit; as by it they give up +every thing that distinguishes them from the meanest of their species, or +indeed from animals the most below it. So that if ever he fell into any +excesses of this kind, it was merely out of complaisance to his company, +and that he might not appear stiff and singular. His frank, obliging, and +generous temper procured him many friends; and these principles, which +rendered him amiable to others, not being under the direction of true +wisdom and piety, sometimes made him, in the ways of living he pursued, +more uneasy to himself than he might, perhaps, have been, if he could +have entirely overcome them; especially as he never was a sceptic in his +principles, but still retained a secret apprehension that natural and +revealed religion, though he did not much care to think of either, were +founded in truth. And, with this conviction, his notorious violations of +the most essential precepts of both could not but occasion some secret +misgivings of heart. His continual neglect of the great Author of his +being, of whose perfections he could not doubt, and to whom he knew +himself to be under daily and perpetual obligations, gave him, in some +moments of involuntary reflection, inexpressible remorse; and this at +times wrought upon him to such a degree, that he resolved he would +attempt to pay him some acknowledgments. Accordingly, for a few mornings +he did it, repeating in retirement some passages out of the Psalms, and +perhaps other scriptures which he still retained in his memory; and +owning, in a few strong words, the many mercies and deliverances he had +received, and the ill returns he had made for them.</p> +<p> +I find, among the other papers transmitted to me, the following verses, +which I have heard him repeat, as what had impressed him a good deal +in his unconverted state; and as I suppose they did something towards +setting him on this effort towards devotion, and might probably furnish +a part of these orisons, I hope I need make no apology to my reader for +inserting them, especially as I do not recollect that I have seen them +any where else.</p> +<blockquote> +Attend, my soul! the early birds inspire <br> +My grovelling thoughts with pure celestial fire; <br> +They from their temperate sleep awake, and pay <br> +Their thankful anthems for the new-born day. <br> +See how the tuneful lark is mounted high, <br> +And, poet-like, salutes the eastern sky! <br> +He warbles through the fragrant air his lays, <br> +And seems the beauties of the morn to praise.<br> +But man, more void of gratitude awakes, <br> +And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes; <br> +Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame, <br> +Without one thought of Him from whom it came. <br> +The wretch unhallowed does the day begin, <br> +Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin.</blockquote> +<p> +But these strains were too devout to continue long in a heart as +yet quite unsanctified; for how readily soever he could repeat such +acknowledgments of the Divine power, presence, and goodness, and own his +own follies and faults, he was stopped short by the remonstrances of +conscience as to the flagrant absurdity of confessing sins he did not +desire to forsake, and of pretending to praise God for his mercies, when +he did not endeavour to live to his service, and to behave in such a +manner as gratitude, if sincere, would plainly dictate. A model of +devotion where such sentiments made no part, his good sense could not +digest; and the use of such language before a heart-searching God, merely +as an hypocritical form, while the sentiments of his soul were contrary +to it, justly appeared to him such daring profaneness, that, irregular as +the state of his mind was, the thought of it struck him with horror. +He therefore determined to make no more attempts of this sort, and was +perhaps one of the first who deliberately laid aside prayer from some +sense of God's omniscience, and some natural principle of honour and +conscience.</p> +<p> +These secret debates with himself and ineffectual efforts would sometimes +return; but they were overborne again and again by the force of +temptation, and it is no wonder that in consequence of them his heart +grew yet harder. Nor was it softened or awakened by some very memorable +deliverances which at this time he received. He was in extreme danger by +a fall from his horse, as he was riding post I think in the streets of +Calais. When going down a hill, the horse threw him over his head, and +pitched over him; so that when he rose, the beast lay beyond him, and +almost dead. Yet, though he received not the least harm, it made no +serious impression on his mind. On his return from England in the +packet-boat, if I remember right, but a few weeks after the former +accident, a violent storm, that drove them up to Harwich, tossed them +from thence for several hours in a dark night on the coast of Holland, +and brought them into such extremity, that the captain of the vessel +urged him to go to prayers immediately, if he ever intended to do it at +all; for he concluded they would in a few minutes be at the bottom of the +sea. In this circumstance he did pray, and that very fervently too; and +it was very remarkable, that while he was crying to God for deliverance, +the wind fell, and quickly after they arrived at Calais. But the major +was so little affected with what had befallen him, that when some of his +gay friends, on hearing the story, rallied him upon the efficacy of his +prayers, he excused himself from the scandal of being thought much in +earnest, by saying "that it was at midnight, an hour when his good mother +and aunt were asleep, or else he should have left that part of the +business to them;"––a speech which I should not have mentioned, but as +it shows in so lively a view the wretched situation of his mind at that +time, though his great deliverance from the power of darkness was then +nearly approaching. He recounted these things to me with the greatest +humility, as showing how utterly unworthy he was of that miracle of +divine grace by which he was quickly after brought to so true and so +permanent a sense of religion.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="V.">V.</a><br><br> +HIS CONVERSION.</h4><br> + + +<p> +And now I am come to that astonishing part of his story, the account of +his conversion, which I cannot enter upon without assuring the reader +that I have sometimes been tempted to suppress many circumstances of +it; not only as they may seem incredible to some, and enthusiastical to +others, but I am very sensible they are liable to great abuses; which was +the reason that he gave me for concealing the most extraordinary from +many persons to whom he mentioned some of the rest. And I believe it was +this, together with the desire of avoiding every thing that might look +like ostentation on this head, that prevented his leaving a written +account of it, though I have often entreated him to do it, as I +particularly remember I did in the very last letter I ever wrote him, and +pleaded the possibility of his falling amidst those dangers to which I +knew his valour might, in such circumstances, naturally expose him. I was +not so happy as to receive any answer to this letter, which reached him +but a few days before his death; nor can I certainly say whether he had +or had not complied with my request, as it is very possible a paper of +this kind, if it were written, might be lost amidst the ravages which the +rebels made when they plundered Bankton.</p> +<p> +The story, however, was so remarkable, that I had little reason to +apprehend I should ever forget it; and yet, to guard against all +contingencies of that kind, I wrote it down that very evening, as I heard +it from his own mouth; and I have now before me the memoirs of that +conversation, dated Aug. 14, 1739, which conclude with these words, +(which I added that if we should both have died that night, the world +might not have lost this edifying and affecting history, or have wanted +any attestation of it I was capable of giving): "N.B. I have written down +this account with all the exactness I am capable of, and could safely +take an oath of it as to the truth of every circumstance, to the best of +my remembrance, as the colonel related it to me a few hours ago." I do +not know that I had reviewed this paper since I wrote it, till I set +myself thus publicly to record this extraordinary fact; but I find it +punctually to agree with what I have often related from my memory, which +I charged carefully with so wonderful and important a fact. It is with +all solemnity that I now deliver it down to posterity as in the sight +and presence of God; and I choose deliberately to expose myself to those +severe censures which the haughty but empty scorn of infidelity, or +principles nearly approaching it, and effectually doing its pernicious +work, may very probably dictate upon the occasion, rather than to smother +a relation, which may, in the judgment of my conscience, be like to +conduce so much to the glory of God, the honour of the gospel, and the +good of mankind. One thing more I will only premise, that I hope none who +have heard the colonel himself speak something of this wonderful scene, +will be surprised if they find some new circumstances here; because he +assured me, at the time he first gave me the whole narration, (which was +in the very room in which I now write,) that he had never imparted it +so fully to any living before; yet, at the same time, he gave me full +liberty to communicate it to whomsoever I should in my conscience +judge it might be useful to do it, whether before or after his death. +Accordingly I did, while he was alive, recount almost every circumstance +I am now going to write, to several pious friends; referring them at the +same time to the colonel himself, whenever they might have an opportunity +of seeing or writing to him, for a further confirmation of what I told +them, if they judged it requisite. They <i>glorified God in him</i>; and I +humbly hope many of my readers will also do it. They will soon perceive +the reason of so much caution in my introduction to this story, for +which, therefore, I shall make no further apology.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: It is no small satisfaction to me, since I wrote this, to have +received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Spears, minister of the gospel at +Burntisland, dated Jan 14, 1746-7 in which he relates to me this whole +story, as he had it from the colonel's own mouth about four years after +he gave me the narration. There is not a single circumstance in which +either of our narrations disagrees, and every one of the particulars in +mine, which seems most astonishing, is attested by this, and sometimes in +stronger words, one only excepted, on which I shall add a short remark +when I come to it. As this letter was written near Lady Frances Gardiner +at her desire, and attended with a postscript from her own hand, this +is, in effect, a sufficient attestation how agreeable it was to those +accounts which she must often have heard the colonel give of this +matter.]</p> + +<p> +This memorable event happened towards the middle of July, 1719; but I +cannot be exact as to the day. The major had spent the evening (and if I +mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy +assignation with a married woman, of what rank or quality I did not +particularly inquire, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The +company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to +anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the +tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or in some other way. But +it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book which +his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his +portmanteau. It was called, if I remember the title exactly, <i>The +Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm</i>, and was written by Mr. +Thomas Watson. Guessing by the title of it that he should find some +phrases of his own profession spiritualized in a manner which he thought +might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took +no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book +was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind, (perhaps God only +knows how,) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy +consequences.</p> +<p> +There is indeed a possibility, that while he was sitting in this +solitude, and reading in this careless and profane manner, he might +suddenly fall asleep, and only dream of what he apprehended he saw. But +nothing can be more certain than that, when he gave me this relation, he +judged himself to have been as broad awake during the whole time as he +ever was in any part of his life; and he mentioned it to me several times +afterwards as what undoubtedly passed, not only in his imagination, but +before his eyes.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Mr. Spears, in the letter mentioned above, where he introduces +the colonel telling his own story, has these words "All of a sudden +there was presented in a very lively manner to my view, or to my mind, a +representation of my glorious Redeemer," &c. And this gentleman adds, in +a parenthesis, "It was so lively and striking, that he could not tell +whether it was to his bodily eyes, or to those of his mind." This makes +me think that what I had said to him on the phenomena of visions, +apparitions, &c, (as being, when most real, supernatural impressions on +the imagination, rather than attended with any external object,) had some +influence upon him. Yet still it is evident he looked upon this as a +vision, whether it was before the eyes or in the mind, and not as a +dream.],</p> + +<p> +He thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was +reading, which he at first imagined might happen by some accident in +the candle. But, lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme +amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, +a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, +surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed as if a voice, or +something equivalent to a voice, had come to him to this effect, (for he +was not confident as to the very words). "Oh, sinner! did I suffer this +for thee, and are these the returns?" But whether this were an audible +voice, or only a strong impression on his mind equally striking, he did +not seem very confident, though, to the best of my remembrance, he rather +judged it to be the former. Struck with so amazing a phenomenon as this, +there remained hardly any life in him, so that he sunk down in the arm +chair in which he sat, and continued, he knew not exactly how long, +insensible, (which was one circumstance that made me several times take +the liberty to suggest that he might possibly be all this while asleep,) +but however that were, he quickly after opened his eyes, and saw nothing +more than usual.</p> +<p> +It may easily be supposed he was in no condition to make any observations +upon the time in which he had remained in an insensible state, nor did +he, throughout all the remainder of the night, once recollect that +criminal and detestable assignation which had before engrossed all his +thoughts. He rose in a tumult of passions not to be conceived, and walked +to and fro in his chamber till he was ready to drop down in unutterable +astonishment and agony of heart, appearing to himself the vilest monster +in the creation of God, who had all his lifetime been crucifying +Christ afresh by his sins, and now saw, as he assuredly believed, by +a miraculous vision, the horror of what he had done. With this was +connected such a view of both the majesty and goodness of God, as caused +him to loathe and abhor himself, and to repent as in dust and ashes. He +immediately gave judgment against himself, that he was most justly worthy +of eternal damnation, he was astonished that he had not been immediately +struck dead in the midst of his wickedness, and (which I think deserves +particular remark) though he assuredly believed that he should ere long +be in hell, and settled it as a point with himself for several months +that the wisdom and justice of God did almost necessarily require +that such an enormous sinner should be made an example of everlasting +vengeance, and a spectacle as such both to angels and men, so that he +hardly durst presume to pray for pardon; yet what he then suffered was +not so much from the fear of hell, though he concluded it would soon be +his portion, as from a sense of that horrible ingratitude he had shown +to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who had been in so +affecting a manner set forth as crucified before him.</p> +<p> +To this he refers in a letter dated from Douglas, the 1st of April 1725, +communicated to me by his lady,[*] but I know not to whom it was addressed. +His words are these: "One thing relating to my conversion, and a +remarkable instance of the goodness of God to me, <i>the chief of sinners</i>, +I do not remember that I ever told to any other person. It was this, +that after the astonishing sight I had of my blessed Lord, the terrible +condition in which I was proceeded not so much from the terrors of the +law, as from a sense of having been so ungrateful a monster to him whom I +thought I saw pierced for my transgressions." I the rather insert these +words, as they evidently attest the circumstance which may seem most +amazing in this affair, and contain so express a declaration of his own +apprehension concerning it.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Where I make any extracts as from Colonel Gardiner's letters, +they are either from originals, which I have in my own hands, or from +copies which were transmitted to me from persons of undoubted credit, +chiefly by the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Gardiner, through the +hands of the Rev. Mr. Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh. This +I the rather mention, because some letters have been brought to me as +Colonel Gardiner's, concerning which I have not only been very dubious, +but morally certain that they could not have been written by him. I have +also heard of many who have been fond of assuring the world that they +were well acquainted with him, and were near him when he fell, whose +reports have been most inconsistent with each other, as well as contrary +to that testimony relating to the circumstances of his death, which, +on the whole, appeared to me beyond controversy the most natural and +authentic, from whence, therefore, I shall take my account of that +affecting scene.]</p> + +<p> +In this view it may naturally be supposed that he passed the remainder +of the night waking, and he could get but little rest in several that +followed. His mind was continually taken up in reflecting on the divine +purity and goodness; the grace which had been proposed to him in the +gospel, and which he had rejected; the singular advantages he had enjoyed +and abused; and the many favours of providence which he had received, +particularly in rescuing him from so many imminent dangers of death, +which he now saw must have been attended with such dreadful and hopeless +destruction. The privileges of his education, which he had so much +despised, now lay with an almost insupportable weight on his mind; and +the folly of that career of sinful pleasure which he had so many years +been running with desperate eagerness and unworthy delight, now filled +him with indignation against himself, and against the great deceiver, by +whom (to use his own phrase) he had been "so wretchedly and scandalously +befooled." This he used often to express in the strongest terms, which I +shall not repeat so particularly, as I cannot recollect some of them. +But on the whole it is certain that, by what passed before he left his +chamber the next day, the whole frame and disposition of his soul was +new-modelled and changed; so that he became, and continued to the last +day of his exemplary and truly Christian life, the very reverse of what +he had been before. A variety of particulars, which I am afterwards to +mention, will illustrate this in the most convincing manner. But I cannot +proceed to them without pausing to adore so illustrious an instance of +the power and freedom of divine grace, and entreating my reader seriously +to reflect upon it, that his own heart may be suitably affected. For +surely, if the truth of the fact be admitted in the lowest views in which +it can be placed, (that is, supposing the first impression to have passed +in a dream,) it must be allowed to have been little, if anything less +than miraculous. It cannot in the course of nature be imagined how such +a dream should arise in a mind full of the most impure ideas and +affections, and (as he himself often pleaded) more alienated from the +thoughts of a crucified Saviour, than from any other object that can be +conceived; nor can we surely suppose it should, without a mighty energy +of the divine power, be effectual to produce not only some transient +flow of passion, but so entire and permanent a change in character and +conduct.</p> +<p> +On the whole, therefore, I must beg leave to express my own sentiments of +the matter, by repeating on this occasion what I wrote several years ago, +in my eighth sermon on regeneration, in a passage dictated chiefly by the +circumstantial knowledge which I had of this amazing story, and methinks +sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone, which yet, I +must take the liberty to say, it does not; for I hope the world will be +particularly informed, that there is at least a second that very nearly +approaches it, whenever the established church of England shall lose one +of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members +which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the +mean time, may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous +ministry abundantly prospered! I beg my reader's pardon for this +digression. The passage I referred to above is remarkably, though not +equally, applicable to both the cases, under that head where I am showing +that God sometimes accomplishes the great work of which we speak, +by secret and immediate impressions on the mind. After preceding +illustrations, there are the following words, on which the colonel's +conversion will throw the justest light. "Yea, I have known those of +distinguished genius, polite manners, and great experience in human +affairs, who, after having out-grown all the impressions of a religious +education––after having been hardened, rather than subdued by the most +singular mercies, even various, repeated, and astonishing deliverances, +which have appeared to themselves as no less than miraculous––after +having lived for years without God in the world, notoriously corrupt +themselves, and labouring to the utmost to corrupt others, have been +stopped on a sudden in the full career of their sin, and have felt such +rays of the divine presence, and of redeeming love, darting in upon +their minds, almost like lightning from heaven, as have at once roused, +overpowered, and transformed them; so that they have come out of their +secret chambers with an irreconcilable enmity to those vices to which, +when they entered them, they were the tamest and most abandoned slaves; +and have appeared from that very hour the votaries, the patrons, the +champions of religion; and after a course of the most resolute +attachment to it, in spite of all the reasonings or the railleries, the +importunities or the reproaches of its enemies, they have continued to +this day some of its brightest ornaments; a change which I behold with +equal wonder and delight, and which, if a nation should join in deriding +it, I would adore as the finger of God."</p> +<p> +The mind of Major Gardiner continued from this remarkable time, till +towards the end of October, (that is rather more than three months, but +especially the first two of them,) in as extraordinary a situation as one +can well imagine. He knew nothing of the joys arising from a sense of +pardon; but, on the contrary, for the greater part of that time, and with +very short intervals of hope towards the end of it, took it for granted +that he must in all probability quickly perish. Nevertheless, he had such +a sense of the evil of sin, of the goodness of the Divine Being, and of +the admirable tendency of the Christian revelation, that he resolved to +spend the remainder of his life, while God continued him out of hell, in +as rational and as useful a manner as he could; and to continue casting +himself at the foot of divine mercy every day, and often in a day, if +peradventure there might be hope of pardon, of which all that he could +say was, that he did not absolutely despair. He had at that time such a +sense of the degeneracy of his own heart, that he hardly durst form any +determinate resolution against sin, or pretend to engage himself by any +vow in the presence of God; but he was continually crying to him, that he +would deliver him from the bondage of corruption. He perceived in himself +a most surprising alteration with regard to the dispositions of his +heart; so that, though he felt little of the delight of religious duties, +he extremely desired opportunities of being engaged in them; and +those licentious pleasures which had before been his heaven, were now +absolutely his aversion. And indeed, when I consider how habitual all +those criminal indulgences were grown to him, and that he was now in the +prime of life, and all this while in high health too, I cannot but +be astonished to reflect upon it, that he should be so wonderfully +sanctified in body, as well as in soul and spirit, as that, for all the +future years of his life, he from that hour should find so constant a +disinclination to, and abhorrence of, those criminal sensualities to +which he fancied he was before so invincibly impelled by his very +constitution, that he was used strangely to think, and to say; that +Omnipotence itself could not reform him, without destroying that body, +and giving him another.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Mr. Spears expresses this wonderful circumstance in these +remarkable words "I was (said the colonel to me) effectually cured of all +inclination to that sin I was so strongly addicted to, that I thought +nothing but shooting me through the head could have cured me of it, and +all desire and inclination to it was removed, as entirely as if I had +been a sucking child, nor did the temptation return to this day." Mr. +Webster's words on the same subject are these "One thing I have heard the +colonel frequently say, that he was much addicted to impurity before his +acquaintance with religion, but that, so soon as he was enlightened from +above, he <i class="smallprint">felt the power of the Holy Ghost</i> changing his nature so +wonderfully, that his sanctification in this respect seemed more +remarkable than in any other." On which that worthy person makes this +very reasonable reflection "So thorough a change of such a polluted +nature, evidenced by the most unblemished walk and conversation for a +long course of years, demonstrates indeed the power of the Highest, and +leaves no room to doubt of its reality." Mr. Spears says, this happened +in three days' time, but from what I can recollect, all that the colonel +could mean by that expression, if he used it, (as I conclude he did,) was +that he began to make the observation in the space of three days whereas, +during that time, his thoughts were so taken up with the wonderful views +presented to his mind, that he did not immediately attend to it. If he +had, within the first three days, any temptation to seek some ease from +the anguish of his mind, in returning to former sensualities, it is a +circumstance he did not mention to me, and by what I can recollect of +the strain of his discourse, he intimated if he did not express the +contrary.]</p> +<p> +Nor was he only delivered from that bondage of corruption which had been +habitual to him for many years, but felt in his breast so contrary a +disposition, that he was grieved to see human nature, in those to whom he +was most entirely a stranger, prostituted to such low and contemptible +pursuits. He therefore exerted his natural courage in a very new kind of +combat, and became an open advocate for religion in all its principles, +so far as he was acquainted with them, and all its precepts, relating +to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Yet he was very desirous and +cautious that he might not run into extremes, and made it one of his +first petitions to God, the very day after these amazing impressions had +been wrought in his mind, that he might not be suffered to behave with +such an affected strictness and preciseness as would lead others about +him into mistaken notions of religion, and expose it to reproach or +suspicion, as if it were an unlovely or uncomfortable thing. For this +reason, he endeavoured to appear as cheerful in conversation as he +conscientiously could; though, in spite of all his precautions, some +traces of that deep inward sense which he had of his guilt and misery +would at times appear. He made no secret of it, however, that his views +were entirely changed, though he concealed the particular circumstances +attending that change. He told his most intimate companions freely that +he had reflected on the course of life in which he had so long joined +them, and found it to be folly and madness, unworthy a rational creature, +and much more unworthy persons calling themselves Christians. And he set +up his standard, upon all occasions, against principles of infidelity and +practices of vice, as determinately and as boldly as ever he displayed or +planted his colours, when he bore them with so much honour in the field.</p> +<p> +I cannot forbear mentioning one struggle of this kind which he described +to me, with a large detail of circumstances, the first day of our +acquaintance. There was at that time in Paris a certain lady (whose name, +then well known in the grand and gay world, I must beg leave to conceal) +who had imbibed the principles of deism, and valued herself much upon +being an avowed advocate for them. The major, with his usual frankness, +(though I doubt not with that politeness of manners which was so habitual +to him, and which he retained throughout his whole life,) answered her +like a man who perfectly saw through the fallacy of her arguments, +and was grieved to the heart for her delusions. On this she briskly +challenged him to debate the matter at large, and to fix upon a day for +that purpose, when he should dine with her, attended by any clergyman he +might choose, whether of the Protestant or Catholic communion. A sense +of duty would not allow him to decline this challenge; and yet he had no +sooner accepted it, but he was thrown into great perplexity and distress +lest, being, as I remember he expressed it when he told me the story, +only a Christian of six weeks old, he should prejudice so good a cause by +his unskilful manner of defending it. However, he sought his refuge in +earnest and repeated prayers to God, that he who can ordain strength, and +perfect praise, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, would graciously +enable him on this occasion to vindicate his truths in a manner which +might carry conviction along with it. He then endeavoured to marshal the +arguments in his own mind as well as he could; and apprehending that +he could not speak with so much freedom before a number of persons, +especially before such whose province he might seem in that case to +invade, if he had not devolved the principal part of the discourse upon +them, he easily admitted the apology of a clergyman or two, to whom +he mentioned the affair, and waited on the lady alone upon the day +appointed. But his heart was so set upon the business, that he came +earlier than he was expected, and time enough to have two hours' +discourse before dinner; nor did he at all decline having two persons, +nearly related to the lady, present during the conference. The major +opened it, with a view of such arguments for the Christian religion as +he had digested in his own mind, to prove that the apostles were not +mistaken themselves, and that they could not have intended to impose upon +us, in the accounts they give of the grand facts they attest; with the +truth of which facts, that of the Christian religion is most apparently +connected. And it was a great encouragement to him to find, that +unaccustomed as he was to discourses of this nature, he had an unusual +command both of thought and expression, so that he recollected and +uttered every thing as he could have wished. The lady heard with +attention; and though he paused between every branch of the argument, she +did not interrupt the course of it till he told her he had finished +his design, and waited for her reply. She then, produced some of her +objections, which he took up and canvassed in such a manner that at +length she burst into tears, allowed the force of his arguments and +replies, and appeared for some time after so deeply impressed with the +conversation, that it was observed by several of her friends; and there +is reason to believe that the impression continued, at least so far as to +prevent her from ever appearing under the character of an unbeliever or a +sceptic.</p> +<p> +This is only one specimen among many of the battles he was almost daily +called out to fight in the cause of religion and virtue; with relation to +which I find him expressing himself thus in a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, +his good mother, dated from Paris the 25th of January following, that +is 1719-20, in answer to one in which she had warned him to expect such +trials: "I have (says he) already met with them, and am obliged to fight, +and to dispute every inch of ground. But all thanks and praise to the +great Captain of my salvation. He fights for me, and then it is no wonder +that I come off more than conqueror:" by which last expression I suppose +he meant to insinuate that he was strengthened and established, rather +than overborne, by this opposition. Yet it was not immediately that he +gained such fortitude. He has often told me how much he felt in those +days of the emphasis of those well-chosen words of the apostle, in which +he ranks the trial of cruel mockings, with scourgings, and bonds, and +imprisonments. The continual railleries with which he was received, in +almost all companies where he had been most familiar before, did often +distress him beyond measure; so that he several times declared he would +much rather have marched up to a battery of the enemy's cannon, than have +been obliged, so continually as he was, to face such artillery as this. +But, like a brave soldier in the first action wherein he is engaged, he +continued resolute, though shuddering at the terror of the assault; and +quickly overcame those impressions which it is not perhaps in nature +wholly to avoid; and therefore I find him, in the letter above referred +to, which was written about half a year after his conversion, "quite +ashamed to think of the uneasiness which these things once gave him." In +a word, he went on, as every resolute Christian by divine grace may do, +till he turned ridicule and opposition into respect and veneration.</p> +<p> +But this sensible triumph over these difficulties was not till his +Christian experience had been abundantly advanced by the blessing of God +on the sermons he heard, (particularly in the Swiss chapel,) and on the +many hours which he spent in devout retirement, pouring out his whole +soul before God in prayer. He began, within about two months after his +first memorable change, to perceive some secret dawnings of more cheerful +hope, that vile as he saw himself to be, (and I believe no words can +express how vile that was,) he might nevertheless obtain mercy through +the Redeemer. At length (if I remember right, about the end of October, +1719) he found all the burthen of his mind taken off at once by the +powerful impression of that memorable scripture on his mind, Romans iii. +25, 26, "Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation through faith in his +blood, to declare his righteousness in the remission of sins,––that he +might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He had +used to imagine that the justice of God required the damnation of so +enormous a sinner as he saw himself to be; but now he was made deeply +sensible that the divine justice might be not only vindicated, but +glorified, in saving him by the blood of Jesus, even that blood which +cleanseth us from all sin. Then did he see and feel the riches of +redeeming love and grace in such a manner as not only engaged him with +the utmost pleasure and confidence to venture his soul upon it, but even +swallowed up, as it were, his whole heart in the returns of love, which +from that blessed time became this genuine and delightful principle of +his obedience, and animated him, with an enlarged heart, to run the way +of God's commandments. Thus God was pleased (as he himself used to speak) +in an hour to turn his captivity. All the terrors of his former state +were changed into unutterable joy, which kept him almost continually +waking for three nights together, and yet refreshed him as the noblest of +cordials. His expressions, though naturally very strong, always seemed +to be swallowed up when he would describe the series of thought through +which he now passed, under the rapturous experience of that joy +unspeakable and full of glory, which then seemed to overflow his very +soul, as indeed there was nothing he seemed to speak of with greater +relish. And though the first ecstasies of it afterwards subsided into a +more calm and composed delight, yet were the impressions so deep and so +permanent, that he assured me, on the word of a Christian and a friend, +wonderful as it might seem, that, for about seven years after this, he +enjoyed almost heaven upon earth. His soul was so continually filled with +a sense of the love of God in Christ, that it knew little interruption, +but when necessary converse, and the duties of his station, called off +his thoughts for a little time. And when they did so, as soon as he was +alone, the torrent returned into its natural channel again; so that, from +the minute of awakening in the morning, his heart was raised to God, and +triumphing in him; and these thoughts attended him through all the scenes +of life, till he lay down on his bed again, and a short parenthesis +of sleep (for it was but a very short one that he allowed himself) +invigorated his animal powers, for renewing them with greater intenseness +and sensibility.</p> +<p> +I shall have an opportunity of illustrating this in the most convincing +manner below, by extracts from several letters which he wrote to intimate +friends during this happy period of time––letters which breathe a spirit +of such sublime and fervent piety as I have seldom met with any where +else. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he was greatly +delighted with Dr. Watts's imitation of the 126th Psalm, since it may be +questioned whether there ever was a person to whom the following stanzas +of it were more suitable:––</p> +<blockquote> +When God revealed his gracious name, <br> + And changed my mournful state, <br> +My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, <br> + Thy grace appeared so great.<br><br> + +The world beheld the glorious change, <br> + And did thine hand confess; <br> +My tongue broke out in unknown strains, <br> + And sung surprising grace,<br><br> + +"Great is the work," my neighbours cried, <br> + And owned the power divine:<br> +"Great is the work," my heart replied, <br> + "And be the glory thine."<br><br> + +The Lord can change the darkest skies, <br> + Can give us day for night, <br> +Make drops of sacred sorrow rise, <br> + To rivers of delight.<br><br> + +Let those that sow in sadness, wait <br> + Till the fair harvest come! <br> +They shall confess their sheaves are great, <br> + And shout the blessings home.</blockquote> +<p> +I have been so happy as to get the sight of five original letters which +he wrote to his mother about this time, which do, in a lively manner, +illustrate the surprising change made in the whole current of his +thoughts and temper of his mind. Many of them were written in the +most hasty manner, just as the courier who brought them was perhaps +unexpectedly setting out, and they relate chiefly to affairs in which the +public is not at all concerned; yet there is not one of them in which he +has not inserted some warm and genuine sentiment of religion. Indeed it +is very remarkable, that though he was pleased to honour me with a great +many letters, and I have seen several more which he wrote to others, some +of them on journeys, where he could have but a few minutes at command, +yet I cannot recollect that I ever saw any one in which there was not +some trace of piety; and the Rev. Mr. Webster, who was employed to review +great numbers of them, that he might select such extracts as he should +think proper to communicate to me, has made the same observation.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: His words are these: "I have read over a vast number of the +colonel's letters, and have not found any one of them, however short, +and writ in the most passing manner, even when posting, but what is +expressive of the most passionate breathings towards his God and Saviour. +If the letter consists but of two sentences, religion is not forgot, +which doubtless deserves to be carefully remarked, as the most +uncontested evidence of a pious mind, ever under the warmest impressions +of divine things."]</p> +<p> +The major, with great justice, tells the good lady his mother, "that when +she saw him again she would find the person indeed the same, but every +thing else entirely changed." And she might easily have perceived it of +herself by the whole tenor of these letters, which every where breathe +the unaffected spirit of a true Christian. They are taken up sometimes +with giving advice and directions concerning some pious and charitable +contributions, one of which, I remember, amounted to ten guineas, though +as he was then out of commission, and had not formerly been very frugal, +it cannot be supposed he had much to spare; sometimes in speaking of +the pleasure with which he attended sermons, and expected sacramental +opportunities; and at other times in exhorting her, established as she +was in religion, to labour after a yet more exemplary character and +conduct, or in recommending her to the divine presence and blessing, as +well as himself to her prayers. What satisfaction such letters as these +must give to a lady of her distinguished piety, who had so long wept over +this dear and amiable son as quite lost to God, and on the verge of final +destruction, it is not for me to describe, nor indeed to conceive. But +hastily as these letters were written, only for private view, I will +give a few specimens from them in his own words, which will serve to +illustrate as well as confirm what I have hinted above.</p> +<p> +"I must take the liberty," says he, in a letter dated on the first day of +the new year, or, according to the old style, Dec. 21, 1719, "to entreat +you that you would receive no company on the Lord's day. I know you have +a great many good acquaintance, with whose discourses one might be very +well edified; but as you cannot keep out and let in whom you please, the +best way, in my humble opinion, will be to see none." In another, of +Jan. 25, "I am happier than any one can imagine, except I could put him +exactly in the same situation with myself; which is what the world +cannot give, and no man ever attained it, unless it were from above." +In another, dated March 30, which was just before a sacrament day, +"To-morrow, if it please God, I shall be happy, my soul being to be fed +with the bread of life which came down from heaven. I shall be mindful +of you all there." In another of Jan. 29, he thus expresses that +indifference for worldly possessions which he so remarkably carried +through the remainder of his life: "I know the rich are only stewards for +the poor, and must give an account of every penny; therefore, the less I +have, the more easy will it be to give an account of it." And to add no +more from these letters at present, in the conclusion of one of them he +has these comprehensive and solemn words: "Now that He, who is the ease +of the afflicted, the support of the weak, the wealth of the poor, the +teacher of the ignorant, the anchor of the fearful, and the infinite +reward of all faithful souls, may pour out upon you all his richest +blessings, shall always be the prayer of him who is entirely yours," &c.</p> +<p> +To this account of his correspondence with his excellent mother, I should +be glad to add a large view of another, to which she introduced him, +with that reverend and valuable person under whose pastoral care she was +placed––I mean the justly celebrated Doctor Edmund Calamy, to whom she +could not but early communicate the joyful news of her son's conversion. +I am not so happy as to be possessed of the letters which passed between +them, which I have reason to believe would make a curious and valuable +collection; but I have had the pleasure of receiving from my worthy +and amiable friend, the Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy, one of the letters the +doctor, his father, wrote to the major on this wonderful occasion. I +perceive by the contents of it that it was the first, and, indeed, it is +dated as early as the 3d of August, 1719, which must be but a few days +after his own account, dated August 4, N.S., could reach England. There +is so much true religion and good sense in this paper, and the counsel +it suggests may be so reasonable to other persons in circumstances which +bear any resemblance to his, that I make no apology to my reader for +inserting a large extract from it.</p> + + +<p> +"Dear Sir, <br> +I conceive it will not much surprise you to understand that +your good mother communicated to me your letter to her, dated August 4, +N.S., which brought her the news you conceive would be so acceptable +to her. I, who have often been a witness to her concern for you on a +spiritual account, can attest with what joy this news was received by +her, and imparted to me as a special friend, who she knew would bear +a part with her on such an occasion. And, indeed, if (as our Saviour +intimates, Luke xv. 7, 10,) there is, is such cases, joy in heaven and +among the angels of God, it may be well supposed that of a pious mother +who has spent so many prayers and tears upon you, and has, as it were, +travailed in birth with you again till Christ was formed in you, could +not be small. You may believe me if I add, that I also, as a common +friend of hers and yours, and which is much more, of the Prince of Light, +whom you now declare you heartily fall in with in opposition to that of +the dark kingdom, could not but be tenderly affected with an account +of it under your own hand. My joy on this account was the greater, +considering the importance of your capacity, interests, and prospects, +which, in such an age as this, may promise most happy consequences, on +your heartily appearing on God's side, and embarking in the interest of +our Redeemer. If I have hitherto at all remembered you at the throne +of grace, at your good mother's desire, (which you are pleased to take +notice of with so much respect,) I can assure you I shall henceforth +be led to do it, with more concern and particularity both by duty and +inclination; and if I were capable of giving you any little assistance in +the noble design you are engaging in, by corresponding with you by letter +while you are at such a distance, I should do it most cheerfully. And +perhaps such a motion may not, be altogether unacceptable; for I am +inclinable to believe, that when some whom you are obliged to converse +with, observe your behaviour so different from what it formerly was, and +banter you upon it as mad and fanciful, it may be some little relief +to correspond with one who will take a pleasure in heartening and +encouraging you. And when a great many things frequently offer, in which +conscience may be concerned where duty may not always be plain, nor +suitable persons to advise with at hand, it may be some satisfaction to +you to correspond with one with whom you may use a friendly freedom +in all such matters, and on whose fidelity you may depend. You may, +therefore, command me in any of these respects, and I shall take a +pleasure in serving you. One piece of advice I shall venture to give you, +though your own good sense will make my enlarging upon it less needful––I +mean, that you would, from your first setting out, carefully distinguish +between the essentials of real religion, and those things which are +commonly reckoned by its professors to belong to it. The want of this +distinction has had very unhappy consequences from one age to another, +and perhaps in none more than the present. But your daily converse with +your Bible, which you mention, may herein give you great assistance. I +move also, that since infidelity so much abounds, you would not only, by +close and serious consideration, endeavour to settle yourself well in the +fundamental principles of religion; but also that, as opportunity offers, +you would converse with those books which treat most judiciously on the +divine original of Christianity, such as Grotins, Abbadie, Baxter, Bates, +Du Plessis, &c., which may establish you against the cavils that occur +in almost all conversations, and furnish you with arguments which, when +properly offered, may be of use to make some impression on others. But +being too much straitened to enlarge at present, I can only add, that if +your hearty falling in with serious religion should prove any hinderance +to your advancement in the world, (which I pray God it may not, unless +such advancement would be a real snare to you,) I hope you will trust +our Saviour's word, that it shall be no disadvantage to you in the final +issue: he has given you his word for it, Matt. xix. 29, upon which you +may safely depend; and I am satisfied none that ever did so at last +repented of it. May you go on and prosper, and the God of all grace and +peace be with you!"</p> +<p><br> +I think it very evident from the contents of this letter, that the major +had not imparted to his mother the most singular circumstances attending +his conversion; and indeed there was something so peculiar in them, +that I do not wonder he was always cautious in speaking of them, and +especially that he was at first much on the reserve. We may also +naturally reflect that there seems to have been something very +providential in this letter, considering the debate in which our +illustrious convert was so soon engaged; for it was written but about +three weeks before his conference with the lady above mentioned in the +defence of Christianity, or at least before the appointment of it. And as +some of the books recommended by Dr. Calamy, particularly Abbadie and Du +Plessis, were undoubtedly within his reach, (if our English advocates +were not,) this might, by the divine blessing, contribute considerably +towards arming him for that combat in which he came off with such happy +success. As in this instance, so in many others, they who will observe +the coincidence and concurrence of things, may be engaged to adore the +wise conduct of Providence in events which, when taken singly and by +themselves, have nothing very remarkable in them.</p> +<p> +I think it was about this time that this resolute and exemplary Christian +entered upon that methodical manner of living which he pursued through +so many succeeding years of life, and I believe generally, so far as the +broken state of his health would allow it in his latter days, to the very +end of it. He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to +spend his time till six in the secret exercises of devotion, reading, +meditation, and prayer, in which last he contracted such a fervency of +spirit as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended +very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent animating +sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and +which carried him through the trials and services of life with such +steadiness and with such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as +always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go +out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that +when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, he +would be at his devotions at furthest by two. He likewise secured time +for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at +command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as be better +able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten; +and, during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper +but a mouthful of bread, with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, +as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had +formed, he required less sleep than most persons I have known; and I +doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing +to these resolute habits of self-denial.</p> +<p> +A life anything like this could not, to be sure, be entered upon in the +midst of such company as he had been accustomed to keep, without great +opposition, especially as he did not entirely withdraw himself from all +the circle of cheerful conversation; but, on the contrary, gave several +hours every day to it, lest religion should be reproached as having made +him morose. He however, early began a practice, which to the last day of +his life he retained, of reproving vice and profaneness; and was never +afraid to debate the matter with any one, under the consciousness of +great superiority in the goodness of his cause.</p> +<p> +A remarkable instance of this happened, if I mistake not, about the +middle of 1720, though I cannot be very exact as to the date of the +story. It was, however, on his first return to make any considerable +abode in England after this remarkable change. He had heard, on the other +side of the water, that it was currently reported among his companions +at home that he was stark mad––a report at which no reader who knows the +wisdom of the world in these matters, will be much surprised, any more +than himself. He concluded, therefore, that he should have many battles +to fight, and was willing to dispatch the business as fast as he could. +And therefore, being to spend a few days at the country-house of a person +of distinguished rank, with whom he had been very intimate, (whose name +I do not remember that he told me, nor did I think it proper to inquire +after it,) he begged the favour of him that he would contrive matters +so, that, a day or two after he came down, several of their former gay +companions might meet at his lordship's table, that he might have an +opportunity of making his apology to them, and acquainting them with the +nature and reasons of his change. It was accordingly agreed to; and a +pretty large company met on the day appointed, with previous notice that +Major Gardiner would be there. A good deal of raillery passed at dinner, +to which the major made very little answer. But when the cloth was taken +away, and the servants retired, he begged their patience for a few +minutes, and then plainly and seriously told them what notions he +entertained of virtue and religion, and on what considerations he had +absolutely determined that by the grace of God he would make it the care +and business of life, whatever he might lose by it, and whatever censure +and contempt he might incur. He well knew how improper it was in such +company to relate the extraordinary manner in which he was awakened, +which they would probably have interpreted as a demonstration of lunacy, +against all the gravity and solidity of his discourse; but he contented +himself with such a rational defence of a righteous, sober, and godly +life, as he knew none of them could with any shadow of reason contest. He +then challenged them to propose any thing they could urge, to prove that +a life of irreligion and debauchery was preferable to the fear, love and +worship of the eternal God, and a conduct agreeable to the precepts +of his gospel. And he failed not to bear his testimony, from his own +experience, (to one part of which many of them had been witnesses) that +after having run the widest round of sensual pleasure, with all the +advantages the best constitution and spirits could give him, he had never +tasted any thing that deserved to be called happiness, till he had made +religion his refuge and his delight. He testified calmly and boldly the +habitual serenity and peace which he now felt in his own breast, (for the +most elevated delights he did not think fit to plead, lest they should be +esteemed enthusiasm,) and the composure and pleasure with which he looked +forward to objects which the gayest sinner must acknowledge to be equally +unavoidable and dreadful.</p> +<p> +I know not what might be attempted by some of the company in answer to +this; but I well remember that he told me that the master of the table, a +person of a very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate, and +said, "Come, let us call another cause. We thought this man mad, and +he is in good earnest proving that we are so." On the whole, this +well-judged circumstance saved him a great deal of future trouble. When +his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversible and +innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolutions, they +desisted from further importunity; and he has assured me, that instead of +losing any one valuable friend by the change in his character, he found +himself much more esteemed and regarded by many who could not persuade +themselves to imitate his example.</p> +<p> +I have not any memoirs of Colonel Gardiner's life, or of any other +remarkable event befalling him in it, from the time of his return to +England till his marriage in the year 1726, except the extracts which +have been sent me from some letters, which he wrote to his religious +friends during this interval, and which I cannot pass by without a more +particular notice. It may be recollected, that in consequence of +the reduction of that regiment of which he was major, he was out of +commission from Nov. 10, 1718, till June 1, 1724; and, after he returned +from Paris, I find all his letters during this period dated from London, +where he continued in communion with the Christian society under the +pastoral care of Dr. Calamy. As his good mother also belonged to the +same, it is easy to imagine it must have been an unspeakable pleasure to +her to have such frequent opportunities of conversing with such a son, of +observing in his daily conduct and discourses the blessed effects of that +change which divine grace had made in his heart, and of sitting down with +him monthly at that sacred feast where Christians so frequently enjoy +the divinest entertainments which they expect on this side heaven. I the +rather mention this ordinance, because, as this excellent lady had a very +high esteem for it, so she had an opportunity of attending it but the +very Lord's day immediately preceding her death, which happened on +Thursday, October 7, 1725, after her son had been removed from her almost +a year. He had maintained her handsomely out of that very moderate income +on which he subsisted since his regiment had been disbanded; and when she +expressed her gratitude to him for it, he assured her (in one of the last +letters she ever received from him) "that he esteemed it a great honour +that God put it into his power to make what he called a very small +acknowledgment of all her care for him, and especially of the many +prayers she had offered on his account, which had already been remarkably +answered, and the benefit of which he hoped ever to enjoy."</p> +<p> +I apprehend that the Earl of Stair's regiment, to the majority of +which he was promoted on the 20th of July, 1724, was then quartered in +Scotland; for all the letters in my hand, from that time to the 6th of +February, 1726, are dated from thence, and particularly from Douglas, +Stranraer, Hamilton, and Ayr. But I have the pleasure to find, from +comparing these with others of an earlier date from London and the +neighbouring parts, that neither the detriment which he must suffer by +being so long out of commission, nor the hurry of affairs while charged +with it, could prevent or interrupt that intercourse with Heaven, which +was his daily feast, and his daily strength.</p> +<p> +These were most eminently the happy years of his life; for he had +learned to estimate his happiness, not by the increase of honour, or the +possession of wealth, or by what was much dearer to his generous heart +than either, the converse of the dearest and worthiest human friends; but +by nearness to God, and by opportunities of humble converse with him, in +the lively exercise of contemplation, praise, and prayer. Now there was +no period of his life in which he was more eminently favoured with these, +nor do I find any of his letters so overflowing with transports of holy +joy, as those which were dated during this time. There are indeed in some +of them such very sublime passages, that I have been dubious whether I +should communicate them to the public or not, lest I should administer +matter of profane ridicule to some, who look upon all the elevations +of devotion as contemptible enthusiasm. And it has also given me some +apprehensions lest it should discourage some pious Christians, who, after +having spent several years in the service of God, and in humble obedience +to the precepts of his gospel, may not have attained to any such heights +as these. But, on the whole, I cannot satisfy myself to suppress them; +not only as I number some of them, considered in a devotional view, among +the most extraordinary pieces of the kind I have ever met with; but as +some of the most excellent and judicious persons I any where know, to +whom I have read them, have assured me that they felt their hearts in an +unusual manner impressed, quickened, and edified by them.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VI.">VI.</a><br><br> +LETTERS.</h4><br> + + +<p> +I will therefore draw back the veil, and show my much honoured friend in +his most secret recesses, that the world may see what those springs were, +from whence issued that clear, permanent and living stream of wisdom, +piety, and virtue, which so evidently ran through all that part of his +life which was open to public observation. It is not to be imagined that +letters written in the intimacy of Christian friendship, some of them +with the most evident marks of haste, and amidst a variety of important +public cares, should be adorned with any studied elegance of expression, +about which the greatness of his soul would not allow him to be at any +time very solicitous, for he generally (as far as I could observe) wrote +as fast as his pen could move, which, happily both for him and his many +friends, was very freely. Yet here the grandeur of his subject has +sometimes clothed his ideas with a language more elevated than is +ordinarily to be expected in an epistolary correspondence. The proud +scorners who may deride sentiments and enjoyments like those which this +truly great man so experimentally and pathetically describes, I pity from +my heart, and grieve to think how unfit they must be for the hallelujahs +of heaven, who pour contempt upon the nearest approaches to them; nor +shall I think it any misfortune to share with so excellent a person their +profane derision. It will be infinitely more than an equivalent for all +that such ignorance and petulancy can think and say, if I may convince +some, who are as yet strangers to religion, how real and how noble its +delights are––if I may engage my pious readers to glorify God for so +illustrious an instance of his grace––and finally, if I may quicken them, +and, above all, may rouse my own too indolent spirit to follow with less +unequal steps an example, to the sublimity of which, I fear, few of us +shall, after all, be able fully to attain. And that we may not be too +much discouraged under the deficiency, let it be recollected that few +have the advantage of a temper naturally so warm; few have an equal +command of retirement; and perhaps hardly any one who thinks himself +most indebted to the riches and freedom of divine grace, can trace +interpositions of it in all respects equally astonishing.</p> +<p> +The first of these extraordinary letters which have fallen into my hand, +is dated near three years after his conversion, and addressed to a +lady of quality. I believe it is the first the major ever wrote, so +immediately on the subject of his religious consolations and converse +with God in devout retirement; for I well remember that he once told me +he was so much afraid that something of spiritual pride should mingle +itself with the relation of such kind of experiences, that he concealed +them a long time; but observing with how much freedom the sacred writers +open all the most secret recesses of their hearts, especially in the +Psalms; his conscience began to be burdened, under an apprehension that, +for the honour of God, and in order to engage the concurrent praises of +some of his people, he ought to disclose them. On this he set himself to +reflect who among all his numerous acquaintance seemed at once the most +experienced Christians, (to whom, therefore, such things as he had to +communicate might appear solid and credible,) and who the humblest. He +quickly thought of the Lady Marchioness of Douglas in this view; and the +reader may well imagine that it struck my mind very strongly, to think +that now, more than twenty-four years after it was written, Providence +should bring to my hands (as it has done within these few days) what I +assuredly believe to be a genuine copy of that very letter, which I had +not the least reason to expect I should ever have seen, when I learned +from his own mouth, amidst the freedom of an accidental conversation, the +occasion and circumstances of it. It is dated from London, July 21, 1722, +and the very first lines of it relate to a remarkable circumstance which, +from others of his letters, I find happened several times; I mean, that +when he had received from any of his Christian friends a few lines which +particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return +of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to +give vent to those religious emotions of mind which such a correspondence +raised. How invaluable was such a friend! and what great reason have +those of us who once possessed a large share in his heart, and in those +retired and sacred moments, to bless God for so singular a felicity; +and to comfort ourselves in a pleasing hope that we may yet reap future +blessings, as the harvest of those petitions which he can no more repeat.</p> +<p> +His words are these:<br><br> + +"I was so happy as to receive yours just as I arrived, and had no sooner +read it but I shut my door, and sought Him whom my soul loveth. I sought +him, and found him; and would not let him go till he had blessed us all. +It is impossible to find words to express what I obtained; but I suppose +it was something like that which the disciples got, as they were going +to Emmaus, when they said, 'Did not our hearts burn within us,' &c.; or +rather like what Paul felt, when he could not tell whether he was in the +body, or out of it."</p> +<p> +He then mentions his dread of spiritual pride, from whence he earnestly +prays that God may deliver and preserve him.</p> +<p> +"This," says he, "would have hindered me from communicating these things, +if I had not such an example before me as the man after God's own heart, +saying, 'I will declare what God hath done for my soul;' and elsewhere, +'The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.' Now I am well satisfied +that your ladyship is of that number."</p> +<p> +He then adds:<br><br> + +"I had no sooner finished this exercise," that is of prayer above +mentioned, "but I sat down to admire the goodness of my God, that he +would vouchsafe to influence by his free Spirit so undeserving a wretch +as I, and to make me thus to mount up with eagles' wings. And here I was +lost again, and got into an ocean, where I could find neither bound nor +bottom; but was obliged to cry out with the apostle, 'O the breadth, +the length, the depth, the height of the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge!' But if I gave way to this strain I shall never have done. +That the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, +that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, shall +always be the prayer of him who is, with the greatest sincerity and +respect, your Ladyship's," &c.</p> +<p> +Another passage to the same purpose I find in a memorandum, which he +seems to have written for his own use, dated Monday, March 11, which I +perceive, from many concurrent circumstances, must have been in the year +1722-3.</p> +<p> +"This day," says he, "having been to visit Mrs. G. at Hampstead, I came +home about two, and read a sermon on these words, Psalm cxxx. 4, 'But +there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' about the +latter end of which, there is a description of the miserable condition of +those that are slighters of pardoning grace. From a sense of the great +obligations I lie under to the Almighty God, who hath made me to differ +from such, from what I was, and from the rest of my companions, I knelt +down to praise his holy name; and I know not in my lifetime I ever lay +lower in the dust, never having had a fuller view of my own unworthiness. +I never pleaded more strongly the merits and intercession of Him who +I know is worthy––never vowed more sincerely to be the Lord's, and to +accept of Christ, as he is offered in the gospel, as my King, Priest, +and Prophet––never had so strong a desire to depart, that I might sin no +more; but 'my grace is sufficient,' curbed that desire. I never pleaded +with greater fervency for the Comforter, which our blessed Lord hath +promised shall abide with us for ever. For all which, I desire to ascribe +glory &c. to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb."</p> +<p> +There are several others of his papers, speaking much the same language, +which, had he kept a diary, would, I doubt not, have filled many sheets. +I believe my devout readers would not soon be weary of reading extracts +of this kind; but that I may not exceed in this part of my narrative, I +shall mention only two more, each of them dated some years after; that +is, one from Douglas, April 1, 1725; and the other from Stranraer, 25th +May following.</p> +<p> +The former of these relates to the frame of his spirit on a journey; on +the mention of which, I cannot but recollect how often I have heard him +say that some of the most delightful days of his life were days in which +he travelled alone, (that is, with only a servant at a distance,) when he +could, especially in roads not much frequented, indulge himself in the +pleasures of prayer and praise. In the exercise of this last, he was +greatly assisted by several psalms and hymns which he had treasured up in +his memory, and which he used not only to repeat aloud, but sometimes to +sing. In reference to this, I remember the following passage, in a letter +which he wrote to me many years after, when, on mentioning my ever dear +and honoured friend the Rev. Dr. Watts, he says, "How often, in singing +some of his psalms, hymns, or lyrics, on horseback and elsewhere, has the +evil spirit been made to flee:</p> +<blockquote> +"'Whene'er my heart in tune was found, <br> + 'Like David's harp of solemn sound!'"</blockquote> +<p> +Such was the first of April above mentioned. In the evening of that day +he writes thus to an intimate friend:––<br><br> + +"What would I have given this day, upon the road, for paper, pen, and +ink, when the Spirit of the Most High rested upon me! Oh for the pen of a +ready writer, and the tongue of an angel, to declare what God hath done +this day for my soul! But, in short, it is in vain to attempt it. All +that I am able to say, is this, that my soul has been for some hours +joining with the blessed spirits above in giving glory, and honour, and +praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever +and ever. My praises began from a renewed view of Him whom I saw pierced +for my transgressions. I summoned the whole hierarchy of heaven to join +with me, and I am persuaded they all echoed back praise to the Most High. +Yon, one would have thought the very larks joined me with emulation. +Sure, then, I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that +are his saints, to join me in blessing and praising his holy name." He +concludes, "May the blessing of the God of Jacob rest upon you all! +Adieu. Written in great haste, late and weary."</p> +<p> +Scarcely can I here refrain from breaking out into more copious +reflections on the exquisite pleasures of true religion, when risen to +such eminent degrees, which can thus feast the soul in its solitude, and +refresh it on journeys, and bring down so much of heaven to earth as this +delightful letter expresses. But the remark is so obvious, that I will +not enlarge upon it; but proceed to the other letter above mentioned, +which was written the next month, on the Tuesday after a sacrament day.</p> +<p> +He mentions the pleasure with which he had attended a preparation sermon +the Saturday before; and then he adds:<br><br> + +"I took a walk upon the mountains that are over against Ireland; and, I +persuade myself, that were I capable of giving you a description of what +passed there, you would agree that I had much better reason to remember +my God from the hills of Port Patrick than David from the land of Jordan, +and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar." I suppose he refers to +the clearer discoveries of the gospel with which we are favoured. "In +short," says he immediately afterwards, in that scripture phrase which +had become so familiar to him, "I wrestled some hours with the Angel of +the covenant, and made supplications to him with floods of tears, and +cries––until I had almost expired; but he strengthened me so, that, like +Jacob, I had power with God, and prevailed. This," adds he, "is but a +very faint description; you will be more able to judge of it by what you +have felt yourself upon the like occasions. After such preparatory work, +I need not tell you how blessed the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper +proved to me; I hope it was so to many. You may believe I should have +been exceeding glad, if my gracious Lord had ordered it so, that I might +have made you a visit, as I proposed; but I am now glad it was ordered +otherwise, since he hath caused so much of his goodness to pass before +me. Were I to give you an account of the many favours my God hath loaded +me with, since I parted from you, I must have taken up many days in +nothing but writing. I hope you will join with me in praises for all the +goodness he has shown to your unworthy brother in the Lord."</p> +<p> +Such were the ardours and elevation of his soul. But while I record these +memorials of them, I am very sensible that there are many who will be +inclined to censure them as the flights of enthusiasm; for which reason, +I must beg leave to add a remark or two on the occasion, which will be +illustrated by several other extracts, which I shall introduce into the +sequel of these memoirs. The one is, that he never pretends, in any of +the passages cited above, or elsewhere, to have received from God any +immediate revelations which should raise him above the ordinary methods +of instruction, or discover any thing to him, whether of doctrines or +facts. No man was further from pretending to predict future events, +except from the moral prognostications of causes naturally tending to +produce them, in tracing of which he had indeed an admirable sagacity, +as I have seen in some very remarkable instances. Neither was he at all +inclinable to govern himself by secret impulses upon his mind, leading +him to things for which he could assign no reason but the impulse itself. +Had he ventured, in a presumption on such secret agitations of mind, to +teach or to do any thing not warranted by the dictates of sound sense and +the word of God, I should readily have acknowledged him an enthusiast, +unless he could have produced some other evidence than his own persuasion +to have supported the authority of them. But these ardent expressions, +which some may call enthusiasm, seem only to evince a heart deeply +affected with a sense of the divine presence and perfections, and of that +love which passeth knowledge, especially as manifested in our redemption +by the Son of God, which did indeed inflame his whole soul. And he +thought he might reasonably ascribe these strong impressions, to which +men are generally such strangers, and of which he had long been entirely +destitute, to the agency or influences of the Spirit of God upon his +heart; and that, in proportion to the degree in which he felt them, he +might properly say, God was present with him, and he conversed with +God.[*] Now, when we consider the scriptural phrases of "walking with +God," of "having communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ," of +"Christ's coming to them that open the door of their hearts to him, and +supping with them," of "God's shedding abroad his love in the heart of +the Spirit," of "his coming with Jesus Christ, and making his abode with +any man that loves him," of "his meeting him that worketh righteousness," +of "his making us glad by the light of his countenance," and a variety +of other equivalent expressions,––I believe we shall see reason to judge +much more favourably of such expressions as those now in question, than +persons who, themselves strangers to elevated devotion, perhaps converse +but little with their Bible, are inclined to do; especially, if they +have, as many such persons have, a temper that inclines them to cavil and +find fault. And I must further observe, that amidst all those freedoms +with which this eminent Christian opens his devout heart to the most +intimate of his friends, he still speaks with profound awe and reverence +of his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and maintains (after the example +of the sacred writers themselves,) a kind of dignity in his expressions, +suitable to such a subject, without any of that fond familiarity of +language, and degrading meanness of phrase, by which it is, especially +of late, grown fashionable among some (who nevertheless I believe mean +well,) to express their love and their humility.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The ingenious and pious Mr. Grove (who, I think, was as little +suspected of running into enthusiastical extremes as most divines I could +name,) has a noble passage to this purpose in the sixth volume of his +Posthumous Works, p.10, 11, which, respect to the memory of both these +excellent persons, inclines me to insert here,<br><br> + +"How often are the good thoughts suggested," (viz. to the pure in heart) +"heavenly affection kindled and inflamed! How often is the Christian +prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, +persuaded, in such a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God +to question his agency in the whole! Yes, on my soul! there is a Supreme +Being, who governs the world, and is present with it, who takes up his +more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon +him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, oh my soul! +like another soul, [Transcriber's note: illegible] thy faculties, exalting thy views, purifying +thy passions, exalting thy graces, and begetting in thee an abhorrence of +sin, and a love of holiness? Is not all this an argument of His presence, +as truly as if thou didst see."]</p> +<p> +On the whole, if habitual love to God, firm faith in the Lord Jesus +Christ, a steady dependence on the divine promises, a full persuasion of +the wisdom and goodness of all the dispensations of Providence, a high +esteem for the blessings of the heavenly world, and a sincere contempt +for the vanities of this, can properly be called enthusiasm, then was +Colonel Gardiner indeed one of the greatest enthusiasts which our age +has produced; and in proportion to the degree in which he was so, I must +esteem him one of the wisest and happiest of mankind. Nor do I fear to +tell the world that it is the design of my writing these memoirs, and of +every thing else that I undertake in life, to spread this glorious and +blessed enthusiasm, which I know to be the anticipation of heaven, as +well as the most certain way to it.</p> +<p> +But lest any should possibly imagine, that allowing the experiences which +have been described above to have been ever so solid and important, yet +there may be some appearances of boasting in so free a communication of +them, I must add to what I have hinted in reference to this above, that +I find in many of the papers before me very genuine expressions of the +deepest humility and self-abasement, which indeed such holy converse with +God in prayer and praise does, above all things in the world, tend to +inspire and promote. Thus, in one of his letters he says, "I am but as +a beast before him." In another he calls himself "a miserable +hell-deserving sinner." And in another he cries out, "Oh, how good +a master do I serve! but, alas, how ungrateful am I! What can be so +astonishing as the love of Christ to us, unless it be the coldness of our +sinful hearts towards such a Saviour?" There were many other clauses of +the like nature, which I shall not set myself more particularly to trace +through the variety of letters in which they occur.</p> +<p> +It is a further instance of this unfeigned humility, that when (as his +lady with her usual propriety of language expresses it in one of her +letters to me concerning him,) "these divine joys and consolations were +not his daily allowance," he, with equal freedom, in the confidence of +Christian fellowship, acknowledges and laments it. Thus, in the first +letter I had the honour of receiving from him, dated from Leicester, July +9, 1739, after mentioning the blessing with which it had pleased God to +attend my last address to him, and the influence it had upon his mind, +he adds, "Much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that +spiritual deadness which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite +otherwise with me, and that for many years:</p> + +<blockquote> +"'Firm was my health, my day was bright, <br> + And I presumed 't would ne'er be night, <br> + Fondly I said within my heart, <br> + Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart, <br> + But I forgot, thine arm was strong, <br> + Which made my mountain stand so long; <br> + Soon as thy face began to hide, <br> + My health was gone, my comforts died.'</blockquote> + +<p>And here," adds he, "lies my sin and my folly."</p> +<p> +I mention this, that the whole matter may be seen just as it was, and +that other Christians may not be discouraged if they feel some abatement +of that fervour, and of those holy joys which they may have experienced +during some of the first months or years of their spiritual life. But, +with relation to the colonel, I have great reason to believe that those +which he laments as his days of spiritual deadness were not unanimated; +and that quickly after the date of this letter, and especially nearer the +close of his life, he had further revivings, as the joyful anticipation +in reserve of those better things which were then nearly approaching. And +thus Mr. Spears, in the letter I mentioned above, tells us he related +the matter to him, (for he studies as much as possible to retain the +colonel's own words): "However," says he, "after that happy period +of sensible communion, though my joys and enlargements were not so +overflowing and sensible, yet I have had habitual real communion with +God from that day to this"––the latter end of the year 1743––"and I know +myself, and all that know me see, that through the grace of God, to which +I ascribe all, my conversation has been becoming the gospel; and let me +die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it shall be, I am sure +I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory," &c. This is perfectly +agreeable to the manner in which he used to speak to me on this head, +which we have talked over frequently and largely.</p> +<p> +In this connection I hope my reader will forgive my inserting a little +story which I received from a very worthy minister in Scotland, and which +I shall give in his own words: "In this period," meaning that which +followed the first seven years after his conversion, "when his complaint +of comparative deadness and languor in religion began, he had a dream, +which, though he had no turn at all for taking notice of dreams, yet made +a very strong impression upon his mind. He imagined he saw his blessed +Redeemer on earth, and that he was following him through a large field, +following him whom his soul loved, but much troubled, because he thought +his blessed Lord did not speak to him, till he came up to the gate of a +burying-place, when, turning about, he smiled upon him in such a manner +as filled his soul with the most ravishing joy, and on after reflection +animated his faith in believing that whatever storms and darkness he +might meet with in the way, at the hour of death his glorious Redeemer +would lift up upon him the light of his life-giving countenance." My +correspondent adds a circumstance for which he makes some apology, +as what may seem whimsical, and yet made some impression on the +colonel,––"that there was a remarkable resemblance in the field in which +this brave man met his death, and that he had represented to him in the +dream." I did not fully understand this at first; but a passage in that +letter from Mr. Spears, which I have mentioned more than once, has +cleared it:<br><br> + +"Now observe, sir, this seems to be a literal description of the place +where this Christian hero ended his sorrows and conflicts, and from which +he entered triumphantly into the joy of his Lord; for, after he fell in +the battle, fighting gloriously for his king, and the cause of his God, +his wounded body, while life was yet remaining, was carried from the +field of battle by the east side of his own enclosure, till he came to +the church-yard of Tranent, and was brought to the minister's house, +where, about an hour after, he breathed out his soul into the hands of +his Lord, and was conducted to his presence, where there is fulness of +joy, without any cloud or interruption, for ever."</p> +<p> +I well know that in dreams there are diverse vanities, and readily +acknowledge that nothing certain could be inferred from this; yet it +seems at least to show which way the imagination was working even in +sleep; and I cannot think it unworthy of a wise and good man sometimes +to reflect with complacency on any images which, passing through his mind +even in that state, may tend either to express or to quicken his love +to the great Saviour. Those eminently pious divines of the Church of +England, Bishop Bull and Bishop Konn, do both intimate it as their +opinion that it may be a part of the service of ministering angels to +suggest devout dreams[¹] and I know that the worthy person of whom I +speak was well acquainted with that evening hymn of the latter of those +excellent writers which has these lines:</p> +<blockquote> +"Lord lest the tempter me surprise, <br> + Watch over thine own sacrifice!<br> + All loose, all idle thoughts cast out; <br> + And make my very <i>dreams</i> devout!"</blockquote> +<p> +Nor would it be difficult to produce other passages much to the same +purpose,[²] if it would not be deemed too great a digression from our +subject, and too laboured a vindication of a little incident of very +small importance when compared with most of those which make up this +narrative.[³]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ¹: Bishop Bull has these remarkable words: "Although I am no +doater on dreams, yet I verily believe that some dreams are monitory, +above the power of fancy, and impressed upon us by some superior +intelligence. For of such dreams we have plain and undeniable instances +in history, both sacred and profane, and in our own age and observation. +Nor shall I so value the laughter of sceptics, and the scoffs of +epicureans, as to be ashamed to profess that I myself have had some +convincing experiments of such impressions." <i class="smallprint">Bishop Bull's Sermons and +Discourses</i>, Vol. II, pp. 489, 490.]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ²: If I mistake not, the same Bishop Konn is the author of a +<i class="smallprint">midnight hymn</i> coinciding with these words:</p><br><br> +<p class="pullquote1"> +"May my ethereal Guardian kindly spread <br> + His wings, and from the tempter screen my head; <br> + Grant of celestial light some passing beams, <br> + To bless my sleep, and sanctify my dreams!"</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +As he certainly was of these exactly parallel lines:</p><br><br> +<p class="pullquote2"> +"Oh may my Guardian, while I sleep, <br> +Close to my bed his vigils keep; <br> +His love angelical distil, <br> +Stop all the avenues of ill! <br> +May he celestial joys rehearse, <br> +And thought to thought with me converse!"]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ³: See Appendix I.]</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VII.">VII.</a><br><br> +DOMESTIC RELATIONS.</h4><br> + + + <p> +I meet not with any other remarkable event relating to Major Gardiner, +which can properly be introduced here, till 1726, when, on the 11th of +July, he was married to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to +the late Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five only of +which survived their father, two sons and three daughters, whom I cannot +mention without the most fervent prayers to God for them, that they may +always behave worthy the honour of being descended from such parents, +and that the God of their father and of their mother may make them +perpetually the care of his providence, and yet more eminently happy in +the constant and abundant influences of his grace.</p> +<p> +As her ladyship is still living, [*] (and for the sake of +her dear offspring, and numerous friends, may she long be spared,) I +shall not here indulge myself in saying any thing of her, except it be +that the colonel assured me, when he had been happy in this intimate +relation to her more than fourteen years, that the greatest imperfection +he knew in her character was, "that she valued and loved him much more +than he deserved." Little did he think, in the simplicity of heart with +which he spoke this, how high an encomium he was making upon her, and how +lasting an honour such a testimony must leave upon her name, long as the +memory of it shall continue.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: In the year 1746]</p> +<p> +As I do not intend in these memoirs a laboured essay on the character of +Colonel Gardiner, digested under the various virtues and graces which +Christianity requires, (which would, I think, be a little too formal for +a work of this kind, and would give it such an air of panegyric as would +neither suit my design, nor be at all likely to render it more useful,) I +shall now mention what I have either observed in him, or heard concerning +him, with regard to those domestic relations which commenced about this +time, or very soon after. And here my reader will easily conclude that +the resolution of Joshua was from the first adopted and declared, "As for +me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It will naturally be supposed, +that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word +of God was read there, and prayers and praises were constantly offered. +These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it +a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof to take it +for granted they would look upon it as a very bad compliment to imagine +they would have been obliged by neglecting the duties of religion on +their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly +resident in his house, who discharged both the office of a tutor to his +children, and of a chaplain, and who was always treated with a becoming +kindness and respect. But, in his absence, the colonel himself led the +devotions of the family; and they were happy who had an opportunity of +knowing with how much solemnity, fervour, and propriety he did it. He was +constant in attendance upon public worship, in which an exemplary care +was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the +family. And how he would have resented the non-attendance of any member +of it may easily be conjectured from a free but lively passage in a +letter to one of his intimate friends, on an occasion which it is not +material to mention. "Oh, sir, had a child of yours under my roof but +once neglected the public worship of God when he was able to attend it, +I should have been ready to conclude he had been distracted, and should +have thought of shaving his head, and confining him in a dark room."</p> +<p> +He always treated his lady with a manly tenderness, giving her the most +natural evidences of a cordial, habitual esteem, and expressing a most +affectionate sympathy with her under the infirmities of a very delicate +constitution, much broken, at least towards the latter years of their +marriage. He had at all times a most faithful care of all her interests, +and especially those relating to the state of religion in her mind. His +conversation and his letters concurred to cherish those sublime ideas +which Christianity suggests, to promote our submission to the will of +God, to teach us to centre our happiness in the great Author of our +being, and to live by faith in the invisible world. These, no doubt, were +frequently the subjects of mutual discourse; and many letters, which her +ladyship has had the goodness to communicate to me, are most convincing +evidences of the degree in which this noble and most friendly care filled +his mind in the days of their separation––days which so entire a mutual +affection must have rendered exceedingly painful, had they not been +supported by such exalted sentiments of piety, and sweetened by daily +communion with an ever-present and ever-gracious God.</p> +<p> +The necessity of being so many months together distant from his family +hindered him from many of those condescending labours in cultivating the +minds of his children in early life, which, to a soul so benevolent, so +wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite +pleasure. The care of his worthy consort, who well knew that it is one +of the brightest parts of a mother's character, and one of the most +important views in which the sex can be considered, made him the easier +under such a circumstance; but when he was with them, he failed not to +instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he +spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he +always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were +excellent lessons of daily wisdom, which I hope they will recollect with +advantage in every future scene of life. And I have seen such hints in +his letters relating to them, as plainly show with how great a weight +they lay on his mind, and how highly he desired, above all things, that +they might be the faithful disciples of Christ, and acquainted betimes +with the unequalled pleasures and blessings of religion. He thought an +excess of delicacy and of indulgence one of the most dangerous faults +in education, by which he everywhere saw great numbers of young people +undone; yet he was solicitous to guard against a severity which might +terrify or discourage; and though he endeavoured to take all prudent +precautions to prevent the commission of faults, yet, when they had been +committed, and there seemed to be a sense of them, he was always ready +to make the most candid allowances for the thoughtlessness of unripened +years, and tenderly to cherish every purpose of a more proper conduct for +the time to come.</p> +<p> +It was to perceive that the openings of genius in the young branches of +his family gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to +see them excel in what they undertook. Yet he was greatly cautious over +his heart, lest it should be too fondly attached to them; and as he was +one of the most eminent proficients I ever knew in the blessed science +of resignation to the divine will, so there was no effect of that +resignation which appeared to me more admirable than what related to the +life of his children. An experience, which no length of time will ever +efface out of my memory, has so sensibly taught me how difficult it is +fully to support the Christian character here, that I hope my reader will +pardon me (I am sure, at least, the heart of wounded parents will,) if I +dwell a little longer upon so interesting a subject.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: See Appendix II.]</p> +<p> +When he was in Herefordshire in July, 1734, it pleased God to visit his +little family with the small pox. Five days before the date of the letter +I am just going to mention, he had received the agreeable news that +there was a prospect of the recovery of his son, then under that awful +visitation; and he had been expressing his thankfulness for it in a +letter which he had sent away but a few hours before he was informed of +his death, the surprise of which, in this connection, must naturally be +very great. But behold (says the reverend and worthy person from whom +I received the copy) his truly filial submission to the will of his +Heavenly Father, in the following lines addressed to the dear partner +of his affliction: "Your resignation to the will of God under this +dispensation gives me more joy than the death of the child has given me +sorrow. He, to be sure, is happy; and we shall go to him, though he shall +not return to us. Oh that we had our latter end always in view! We shall +soon follow; and oh, what reason have we to long for that glorious day +when we shall get quit of this body of sin and death under which we now +groan, and which renders this life so wretched! I desire to bless God +that ———— (another of his children) is in so good a way; but I have +resigned her. We must not choose for ourselves; and it is well we must +not, for we should often make a very bad choice, and therefore it is our +wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave all with a gracious God, who hath +promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love +him; and he is faithful that hath promised, who will infallibly perform +it, if our unbelief does not stand in the way."</p> +<p> +The greatest trial of this kind that he ever bore, was in the removal of +his second son, who was one of the most amiable and promising children +that has been known. The dear little creature was the darling of all that +knew him; and promised very fair, so far as a child could be known by its +doings, to have been a great ornament to the family, and blessing to the +public. The suddenness of the stroke must, no doubt, render it the more +painful; for this beloved child was snatched away by an illness which +seized him but about fifteen hours before it carried him off. He died +in the month of October 1733, at near six years old. Their friends were +ready to fear that his affectionate parents would be almost overwhelmed +at such a loss; but the happy father had so firm a persuasion that God +had received the dear little one to the felicities of the celestial +world, and at the same time had so strong a sense of the divine goodness +in taking one of his children, and that, too, one who lay so near his +heart, so early to himself, that the sorrows of nature were quite +swallowed up in the sublime joy which these considerations administered. +When he reflected what human life is––how many its snares and temptations +are––and how frequently children who once promised very well are +insensibly corrupted, and at length undone, with Solomon he blessed the +dead already dead, more than the living who were yet alive, and felt +unspeakable pleasure in looking after the lovely infant, as safely and +delightfully lodged in the house of its Heavenly Father. Yea, he assured +me that his heart was at this time so entirely taken up with these views, +that he was afraid they who did not thoroughly know him might suspect +that he was deficient in the natural affections of a parent, while thus +borne above the anguish of them by the views which faith administered to +him, and which divine grace supported in his soul.</p> +<p> +So much did he, on one of the most trying occasions of life, manifest of +the temper of a glorified saint, and to such happy purposes did he retain +those lessons of submission to God, and acquiescence in him, which I +remember he once inculcated in a letter he wrote to a lady of quality +under the apprehension of a breach in her family with which Providence +seemed to threaten her, which I am willing to insert here, though a +little out of what might seem its most proper place rather than entirely +to omit it. It is dated from London, June 16, 1722, when, speaking of the +dangerous illness of a dear relative, he has these words: "When my mind +runs hither," that is, to God, as its refuge and strong defence, (as the +connection plainly determines it,) "I think I can bear any thing, the +loss of all, the loss of health, of relations, on whom I depend, and whom +I love, all that is dear to me, without repining or murmuring. When I +think that God orders, disposes, and manages all things according to the +counsel of his own will; when I think of the extent of his providence, +that it reaches to the minutest things; then, though a useful friend or +dear relative be snatched away by death, I recall myself, and check my +thoughts with these considerations: Is he not God from everlasting, and +to everlasting? And has he not promised to be a God to me?––a God in all +his attributes, a God in all his persons, a God in all his creatures and +providences? And shall I dare to say, What shall I do? Was not he the +infinite cause of all I met with in the creatures? And were not they +the finite effects of his infinite love and kindness? I have daily +experienced that the instrument was, and is, what God makes it to be; and +I know that this 'God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the +earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' If this earth be good for +me, I shall have it; for my Father hath it all in possession. If favour +in the eyes of men be good for me, I shall have it; for the spring of +every motion in the heart of man is in God's hand. My dear ———— seems now +to be dying; but God is all-wise, and every thing is done by him for the +best. Shall I hold back any thing that is his own, when he requires +it? No, God forbid! When I consider the excellency of his glorious +attributes, I am satisfied with all his dealings." I perceive by the +introduction, and by what follows, that most, if not all of this, is +a quotation from something written by a lady; but whether from some +manuscript or printed book, whether exactly transcribed or quoted from +memory, I cannot determine; and therefore I thought proper to insert it, +as the major (for that was the office he bore then,) by thus interweaving +it with his letter, makes it his own, and as it seems to express in a +very lively manner the principles which bore him on to a conduct so truly +great and heroic, in circumstances that have overwhelmed many a heart +that could have faced danger and death with the greatest intrepidity.</p> +<p> +I return now to consider his character in the domestic relation of a +master, on which I shall not enlarge. It is, however, proper to remark, +that as his habitual meekness and command of his passions prevented +indecent sallies of ungoverned anger towards those in the lowest state +of subjection to him, by which some in high life do strangely debase +themselves, and lose much of their authority, so the natural greatness of +his mind made him solicitous to render their inferior stations as easy as +he could: and so much the rather, because he considered all the children +of Adam as standing upon a level before their great Creator, and had +also a deeper sense of the dignity and worth of every immortal soul, how +meanly soever it might chance to be lodged, than most persons I have +known. This engaged him to give his servants frequent religious +exhortations and instructions, as I have been assured by several who +were so happy as to live with him under that character. One of his first +letters, after he entered on his Christian course, expresses the same +disposition; in which, with great tenderness, he recommends a servant, +who was in a bad state of health, to his mother's care, as he was well +acquainted with her condescending temper; mentioning at the same time, +the endeavours he had used to promote his preparations for a better +world, under an apprehension that he would not continue long in this. +We shall have an affecting instance of the prevalence of the same +disposition in the closing scene of his life, and indeed in the last +words he ever spoke, which expressed his generous solicitude for the +safety of a faithful servant who was then near him.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="VIII.">VIII.</a><br><br> +CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER.</h4><br> + + +<p> +As it was a few years after his marriage that he was promoted to the rank +of lieutenant-colonel, in which he continued till he had a regiment of +his own, I shall, for the future, speak of him by that title; and I may +not, perhaps, find any more proper place in which to mention what it is +proper for me to say of his behaviour and conduct as an officer. I shall +not here enlarge upon his bravery in the field, though, as I have heard +from others, that was very remarkable––I say from others, for I never +heard any thing of the kind from himself, nor knew, till after his death, +that he was present at almost every battle that was fought in Flanders +while the illustrious Duke of Marlborough commanded the allied army +there. I have also been assured from several very credible persons, some +of whom were eye-witnesses, that at the skirmish with the rebels at +Preston in Lancashire, (thirty years before that engagement at the other +Preston which deprived us of this gallant guardian of his country,) he +signalized himself very particularly; for he headed a small body of men, +I think about twelve, and set fire to the barricado of the rebels, in the +face of their whole army, while they were pouring in their shot, by which +eight of the twelve that attended him fell. This was the last action of +the kind in which he was engaged before the long peace which ensued; and +who can express how happy it was for him, and indeed for his country, +of which he was ever so mindful, and in his latter years so important a +friend, that he did not then fall, when the profaneness which mingled +itself with this martial rage seemed to rend the heavens, and shocked +some other military gentlemen who were not very remarkable for their +caution in this respect.</p> +<p> +But I insist not on things of this nature, which the true greatness of +his soul would hardly ever permit him to mention, unless when it tended +to illustrate the divine care over him in these extremities of danger, +and the grace of God in calling him from so abandoned a state. It is well +known that the character of an officer is not to be approved in the +day of combat only. Colonel Gardiner was truly sensible that every day +brought its duties along with it, and he was constantly careful that no +pretence of amusement, friendship, or even devotion itself, might prevent +their being properly discharged.</p> +<p> +I doubt not that the noble persons in whose regiments he was +lieutenant-colonel, will always be ready to bear an honourable and +grateful testimony to his exemplary diligence and fidelity in all that +related to the care of the troops over which he was set, whether in +regard to the men or the horses. He knew that it is incumbent on +those who have the honour of presiding over others, whether in civil, +ecclesiastical, or military offices, not to content themselves with doing +only so much as may preserve them from the reproach of gross and visible +neglect; but seriously to consider how much they can possibly do without +going out of their proper sphere, to serve the public, by the due +inspection of those committed to their care. The duties of the closet and +of the sanctuary were so adjusted as not to interfere with those of the +parade, or any other place where the welfare of the regiment called +him. On the other hand, he was solicitous not to suffer these things to +interfere with religion, a due attendance on which he apprehended to +be the surest method of attaining all desirable success in every other +interest and concern in life. He therefore abhorred every thing that +looked like a contrivance to keep his soldiers employed with their horses +and their arms at the seasons of public worship––an indecency which I +wish there were no room to mention. Far from that, he used to have them +drawn up just before it began, and from the parade they went off to the +house of God. He understood the rights of conscience too well to impose +his own particular profession in religion on others, or to treat those +who differed from him in the choice of its modes, the less kindly or +respectfully on that account. But as most of his own company, and many of +the rest, chose (when in England) to attend him to the dissenting chapel, +he used to march them up thither in due time, so as to be there before +the worship began. And I must do them the justice to say, that so far as +I could ever discern, when I have seen them in large numbers before me, +they behaved with as much reverence, gravity, and decorum, during the +time of divine service, as any of the worshippers.</p> +<p> +That his remarkable care to maintain good discipline among them (of which +we shall afterwards speak) might be the more effectual, he made himself +on all proper occasions accessible to them, and expressed a great +concern for their interests, which, being genuine and sincere, naturally +discovered itself in a variety of instances. I remember I had once +occasion to visit one of his dragoons in his last illness at Harborough, +and I found the man upon the borders of eternity––a circumstance which, +as he apprehended himself, must add some peculiar weight and credibility +to his discourse. He then told me, in his colonel's absence, that he +questioned not that he should have everlasting reason to bless God on +Colonel Gardiner's account, for he had been a father to him in all his +interests, both temporal and spiritual. He added, that he had visited +him, almost every day during his illness, with religious advice and +instruction, and had also taken care that he should want for nothing that +might conduct to the recovery of his health. He did not speak of this +as the result of any particular attachment to him, but as the manner in +which he was accustomed to treat those under his command. It is no wonder +that this engaged their affection to a very great degree; and I doubt not +that if he had fought the fatal battle of Prestonpans at the head of that +gallant regiment of which he had the care for so many years, and which +is allowed by most unexceptionable judges to be one of the finest in the +British service, and consequently in the world, he had been supported in +a much different manner, and had found a much greater number who would +have rejoiced in an opportunity of making their own breasts a barrier in +the defence of his.</p> +<p> +It could not but greatly endear him to his soldiers, that so far as +preferments lay in his power, or were under his influence, they were +distributed according to merit. This he knew to be as much the dictate of +prudence as equity. I find from one of his letters before me, dated but +a few months after his conversion, that he was solicited to use his +interest with the Earl of Stair in favour of one whom he judged a very +worthy person; and that it had been suggested by another, who +recommended him, that if he so succeeded, he might expect some handsome +acknowledgment. But he answers with some degree of indignation, "Do you +imagine I am to be bribed to do justice?" For such it seems he esteemed +it, to confer the favour which was asked from him on one so deserving. +Nothing can more effectually tend to humble the enemies of a state, than +that such maxims should universally prevail in it; and if they do not +prevail, the worthiest men in an army or a fleet may sink under repeated +discouragements, and the basest exalted, to the infamy of the public, and +perhaps to its ruin.</p> +<p> +In the midst of all the gentleness which Colonel Gardiner exercised +towards his soldiers, he made it very apparent that he knew how to +reconcile the tenderness of a really faithful and condescending friend +with the authority of a commander. Perhaps hardly any thing conduced more +generally to the maintaining of this authority, than the strict decorum +and good manners with which he treated even the private gentlemen of his +regiment; which has always a great efficacy in keeping inferiors at +a proper distance, and forbids, in the least offensive manner, +familiarities which degrade the superior, and enervate his influence. The +calmness and steadiness of his behaviour on all occasions also greatly +tended to the same purpose. He knew how mean a man looks in the +transports of passion, and would not use so much freedom with many of +his men as to fall into such transports before them, well knowing that +persons in the lowest rank of life are aware how unfit <i>they</i> are to +govern others, who cannot govern themselves. He was also sensible how +necessary it is in all who preside over others, and especially in +military officers, to check irregularities when they first begin to +appear; and, that he might be able to do so, he kept a strict inspection +over his soldiers; in which it was observed, that as he generally chose +to reside among them as much as he could, (though in circumstances which +sometimes occasioned him to deny himself in some interests which were +very dear to him,) so, when they were around him, he seldom staid long in +a place; but was frequently walking the streets, and looking into their +quarters and stables, as well as reviewing and exercising them himself. +It has often been observed that the regiment to which he was so many +years lieutenant-colonel, was one of the most regular and orderly +regiments in the public service, so that perhaps none of our dragoons +were more welcome to the towns where their character was known. Yet no +such bodies of men are so blameless in their conduct but something will +be found, especially among such considerable numbers, worthy of censure, +and sometimes of punishment. This Colonel Gardiner knew how to inflict +with a becoming resolution, and with all the severity which he judged +necessary––a severity the more awful and impressive, as it was already +attended with meekness; for he well knew that when things are done in a +passion, it seems only an accidental circumstance that they are acts +of justice, and that such indecencies greatly obstruct the ends of +punishment, both as to reforming offenders, and to deterring others from +an imitation of their faults.</p> +<p> +One instance of his conduct, which happened at Leicester, and which was +related by the person chiefly concerned to a worthy friend from whom +I had it, I cannot forbear inserting. While part of the regiment was +encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, the colonel went incognito +to the camp in the middle of the night; for he sometimes lodged at his +quarters in the town. One of the sentinels then on duty had abandoned +his post, and, on being seized, broke out into some oaths and profane +execrations against those that discovered him––a crime of which the +colonel had the greatest abhorrence, and on which he never failed to +animadvert. The man afterwards appeared much ashamed and concerned for +what he had done. But the colonel ordered him to be brought early the +next morning to his own quarters, where he had prepared a picket, on +which he appointed him a private sort of penance; and while he was put +upon it, he discoursed with him seriously and tenderly upon the evils and +aggravations of his fault, admonished him of the divine displeasure which +he had incurred, and urged him to argue, from the pain which he then +felt, how infinitely more dreadful it must be to "fall into the hands of +the living God," and, indeed, to meet the terrors of that damnation +which he had been accustomed impiously to call for on himself and his +companions. The result of this proceeding was, that the offender accepted +his punishment, not only with submission, but with thankfulness. He went +away with a more cordial affection for his colonel than he ever had +before, and spoke of the circumstance some years after to my friend, in +such a manner that there seemed reason to hope it had been instrumental +in producing a change not only in his life, but in his heart.</p> +<p> +There cannot, I think, be a more proper place for mentioning the great +reverence this excellent officer always expressed for the name of the +blessed God, and the zeal with which he endeavoured to suppress, and if +possible to extirpate, that detestable sin of swearing and cursing which +is every where so common, and especially among our military men. He often +declared, at the head of his regiment, his sentiments with respect to +this enormity, and urged his captains and their subalterns to take the +greatest care that they did not give the sanction of their example to +that which by their office they were obliged to punish in others. Indeed +his zeal on these occasions wrought in a very active, and sometimes in a +remarkably successful manner, not only among his equals, but sometimes +among his superiors too. An instance of this in Flanders I shall have an +opportunity hereafter to produce; at present I shall only mention his +conduct in Scotland a little before his death, as I have it from a +very valuable young minister of that country, on whose testimony I can +thoroughly depend; and I wish it may excite many to imitation.</p> +<p> +'The commanding officer of the king's forces then about Edinburgh, +with the other colonels, and several other gentlemen of rank in their +respective regiments, favoured him with their company at Bankton, and +took dinner with him. He too well foresaw what might happen amid such a +variety of tempers and characters; and fearing lest his conscience might +have been ensnared by a sinful silence, or that, on the other hand, he +might seem to pass the bounds of decency, and infringe upon the laws of +hospitality by animadverting on guests so justly entitled to his regard, +he happily determined on the following method of avoiding each of these +difficulties. As soon as they were come together, he addressed them with +a great deal of respect, and at the same time with a very frank and +determined air, telling them that he had the honour in that district to +be a justice of the peace, and consequently that he was sworn to put the +law in execution, and, among the rest, those against swearing; that he +could not execute them upon others with any confidence, or by any means +approve himself a man of impartiality and integrity to his own heart, +if he suffered them to be broken in his presence by persons of any rank +whatsoever; and that therefore he entreated all the gentlemen who then +honoured him with their company that they would please to be upon their +guard, and that if any oath or curse should escape them, he hoped they +would consider his legal animadversion upon it as a regard to the duties +of his office and the dictates of his conscience, and not as owing to any +want of deference to them.</p> +<p> +The commanding officer immediately supported him in this declaration, as +entirely becoming the station in which he was, assuring him that he would +be ready to pay the penalty, if he inadvertently transgressed; and when +Colonel Gardiner on any occasion stepped out of the room, he himself +undertook to be the guardian of the law in his absence; and as one of the +inferior officers offended during this time, he informed the colonel, so +that the fine was exacted and given to the poor,[*] with the universal +approbation of the company. The story spread in the neighbourhood, and +was perhaps applauded highly by many who wanted the courage to "go and do +likewise." But it may be said, with the utmost propriety, of the worthy +person of whom I write, that he feared the face of no man living where +the honour of God was concerned. In all such cases he might be justly +said, in Scripture phrase, "to set his face like a flint;" and I +assuredly believe, that had he been in the presence of a sovereign +prince who had been guilty of this fault, his looks at least would have +testified his grief and surprise, if he had apprehended it unfit to have +borne his testimony in any other way.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: It is observable that the money which was forfeited on this +account by his own officers, whom he never spared, or by any others of +his soldiers who rather chose to pay than submit to corporal punishment, +was, by the colonel's order, laid by in a bank till some of the private +men fell sick, and then it was laid out in providing them with proper +help and accommodations in their distress.]</p> +<p> +Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons, during the time he was +lieutenant-colonel of it, was quartered in a variety of places, both +in England and Scotland, from many of which I have letters before +me; particularly from Hamilton, Ayr, Carlisle, Hereford, Maidenhead, +Leicester, Warwick, Coventry, Stamford, Harborough, Northampton, and +several other places, especially in our inland parts. The natural +consequence was, that the colonel, whose character was on many accounts +so very remarkable, had a very extensive acquaintance; and I believe I +may certainly say, that wherever he was known by persons of wisdom and +worth, he was proportionably respected, and left behind him traces of +unaffected devotion, humility, benevolence, and zeal for the support and +advancement of religion and virtue.</p> +<p> +The equable tenor of his mind in these respects is illustrated by his +letters from several of these places; and though I have but comparatively +a small number of them now in my hands, yet they will afford some +valuable extracts; which I shall therefore here lay before my reader, +that he may the better judge as to the colonel's real character in +particulars which I have already mentioned, or which may hereafter occur.</p> +<p> +In a letter to his lady, dated from Carlisle, November 19, 1738, when +he was on his journey to Herefordshire, he breathes out his grateful, +cheerful soul in these words:<br><br> + +"I bless God I was never better in my lifetime, and I wish I could be so +happy as to hear the same of you: or rather, in other words, to hear that +you have obtained an entire trust in God. That would infallibly keep you +in perfect peace, for the God of truth has promised it. Oh, how ought we +to be longing 'to be with Christ,' which is infinitely better than any +thing we can propose here! to be there, where no mountains shall separate +between God and our souls. And I hope it will be some addition to our +happiness, that, you and I shall be separated no more; but that as we +have joined in singing the praises of our glorious Redeemer here, we +shall sing them in a much higher key through an endless eternity. Oh +eternity, eternity! What a wonderful thought, is eternity!"</p> +<p> +From Leicester, August 6, 1739, he writes thus to his lady:<br><br> + +"Yesterday I was at the Lord's table, where you and the children were not +forgotten. But how wonderfully was I assisted when I came home, to plead +for you all with many tears." And then, speaking of some intimate friends +who were impatient, (as I suppose by the connection) for his return to +them, he takes occasion to observe the necessity of endeavouring to +compose our minds, and say with the Psalmist, "My soul, wait thou only +upon God." Afterwards, speaking of one of his children, who he heard had +made a commendable progress in learning, he expresses his satisfaction, +and adds; "But, how much greater joy would it give me to hear that he was +greatly advanced in the school of Christ! Oh that our children may but be +wise unto salvation, and may grow in grace as they do in stature!"</p> +<p> +These letters, which to so familiar a friend evidently lay open the +heart, and show the ideas and affections which were lodged deepest there, +are sometimes taken up with an account of sermons he had attended, and +the impression they had made upon his mind. I shall mention only one, +as a specimen of many more, which was dated from a place called Cohorn, +April 15:<br><br> + +"We had here a minister from Wales, who gave us two excellent discourses +on the love of Christ to us, as an argument to engage our love to him. +And indeed, next to the greatness of his love to us, methinks there is +nothing so astonishing as the coldness of our love to him. Oh that he +would shed abroad his love upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit, that ours +might be kindled into a flame! May God enable you to trust in Him, and +then you will be kept in perfect peace!"</p> +<p> +We have met with many traces of that habitual gratitude to the blessed +God, as his Heavenly Father and constant friend, which made his life +probably one of the happiest that ever was spent on earth. I cannot omit +one more, which appears to me the more worthy of notice, as being a short +turn in as hasty a letter as any I remember to have seen of his, which he +wrote from Leicester in June, 1739. "I am now under the deepest sense of +the many favours the Almighty has bestowed upon me. Surely you will help +me to celebrate the praises of our gracious God and kind benefactor." +This exuberance of grateful affection, which, while it was almost every +hour pouring itself forth before God in the most genuine and emphatical +language, felt itself still as it were straitened for want of a +sufficient vent, and therefore called on others to help him with their +concurrent praises, appears to me the most glorious and happy state in +which a human soul can find itself on this side heaven.</p> +<p> +Such was the temper which this excellent man appears to have carried +along with him through such a variety of places and circumstances; and +the whole of his deportment was suitable to these impressions. Strangers +were agreeably struck with his first appearance, there being much of the +Christian, the well-bred man, and the universal friend in it; and as +they came more intimately to know him, they discovered more and more the +uniformity and consistency of his whole temper and behaviour; so that +whether he made only a visit for a few days to any place, or continued +there for many weeks or months, he was always beloved and esteemed, +and spoken of with that honourable testimony, from persons of the most +different denominations and parties, which nothing but true sterling +worth, (if I may be allowed the expression,) and that in an eminent +degree, can secure.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="IX.">IX.</a><br><br> +INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR.</h4><br> + + +<p> +Of the justice of this testimony, which I had so often heard from a +variety of persons, I myself began to be a witness about the time when +the last mentioned letter was dated. In this view, I believe I shall +never forget that happy day, June 18, 1739, when I first met him at +Leicester. I remember I happened that day to preach a lecture from Psalm +cxix, 158, "I beheld the transgressions, and was grieved because they +kept not thy law." I was large in describing that mixture of indignation +and grief (strongly expressed by the original words there) with which +a good man looks on the daring transgressors of the divine law; and in +tracing the causes of that grief, as arising from a regard to the divine +honour, and the interest of a Redeemer, and a compassionate concern for +the misery which such offenders bring on themselves, and for the mischief +they do to the world about them, I little thought, how exactly I was +drawing Colonel Gardiner's character under each of those heads; and I +have often reflected upon it as a happy providence which opened a much +speedier way than I could have expected to the breast of one of the most +amiable and useful friends whom I ever expect to find upon earth. We +afterwards sang a hymn which brought over again some of the leading +thoughts in the sermon and struck him so strongly, that on obtaining a +copy of it, he committed it to memory, and used to repeat it, with so +forcible an accent as showed how much every line expressed his very soul. +In this view the reader will pardon my inserting it, especially as I +know not when I may get time to publish a volume of these serious though +artless compositions, which I sent him in manuscript some years ago, and +to which I have since made very large additions:</p> +<blockquote> +Arise, my tenderest thoughts arise, <br> +To torrents melt my streaming eyes!<br> +And thou, my heart, with anguish feel <br> +Those evils which thou canst not heal!<br><br> + +See human nature sunk in shame! <br> +See scandal poured on Jesus' name! <br> +The Father wounded through the Son! <br> +The world abused––the soul undone!<br><br> + +See the short course of vain delight <br> +Closing in everlasting night! <br> +In flames that no abatement know, <br> +The briny tears for ever flow.<br><br> + +My God, I feel the mournful scene; <br> +My bowels yearn o'er dying men: <br> +And fain my pity would reclaim, <br> +And snatch the firebrands from the flame.<br><br> + +But feeble my compassion proves, <br> +And can but weep where most it loves;<br> +Thine own all-saving arm employ, <br> +And turn these drops of grief to joy!</blockquote> +<p> +The colonel, immediately after the conclusion of the service, met me in +the vestry and embraced me in the most obliging and affectionate manner, +as if there had been a long friendship between us, assured me that he had +for some years been intimately acquainted with my writings, and desired +that we might concert measures for spending some hours together before I +left the town. I was so happy as to be able to secure an opportunity of +doing it; and I must leave upon record, that I cannot recollect I was +ever equally edified by any conversation I remember to have enjoyed. We +passed that evening and the next morning together, and it is impossible +for me to describe the impression which the interview left upon my heart. +I rode alone all the remainder of the day; and it was my unspeakable +happiness that I was alone, since I could no longer be with him; for +I can hardly conceive what other company would not then have been an +encumbrance. The views which he gave me even then, (for he began to +repose a most obliging confidence in me, though he concealed some of the +most extraordinary circumstances of the methods by which he had been +recovered to God and happiness,) with those cordial sentiments of +evangelical piety and extensive goodness which he poured out into my +bosom with so endearing a freedom, fired my very soul; and I hope I may +truly say (which I wish and pray that many of my readers may also +adopt for themselves) that I glorified God in him. Our epistolatory +correspondence immediately commenced upon my return; and though, +through the multiplicity of business on both sides, it suffered many +interruptions, it was in some degree the blessing of all the following +years of my life, till he fell by those unreasonable and wicked men who +had it in their hearts with him to have destroyed all our glory, defence, +and happiness.</p> +<p> +The first letter I received from him was so remarkable, that some persons +of eminent piety, to whom I communicated it, would not be content without +copying it out, or making some extracts from it. I persuade myself that +my devout reader will not be displeased that I insert the greater part +of it here, especially as it serves to illustrate the affectionate sense +which he had of the divine goodness in his conversion, though more than +twenty years had passed since that memorable event happened. Having +already mentioned my ever dear and honoured friend Dr. Isaac Watts, he +adds:<br><br> + +"I have been in pain these several years lest that excellent person, that +sweet singer in our Israel, should have been called to heaven before +I had an opportunity of letting him know how much his works have been +blessed to me, and, of course, returning him my hearty thanks; for though +it is owing to the operation of the blessed Spirit, that any thing works +effectually upon our hearts, yet if we are not thankful to the instrument +which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be +thankful to the Almighty, whom we have not seen? I desire to bless God +for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that +although I cannot keep pace with him here in celebrating the high praises +of our glorious Redeemer, which is the greatest grief of my heart, yet I +am persuaded, that, when I join the glorious company above, where there +will be no drawbacks, none will outsing me there, because I shall not +find any that will be more indebted to the wonderful riches of divine +grace than I.</p> +<blockquote> +"Give me a place at thy saints' feet, <br> + On some fallen angel's vacant seat;<br> + I'll strive to sing as loud as they <br> + Who sit above in brighter day.<br><br></blockquote> +<p> +"I know it is natural for every one who has felt the almighty power +which raised our glorious Redeemer from the grave, to believe his case +singular; but I have made every one in this respect submit as soon as he +has heard my story. And if you seemed so surprised at the account which I +gave you, what will you be when you hear it all?</p> +<blockquote> +"Oh, if I had an angel's voice, <br> + And could be heard from pole to pole; <br> + I would to all the listening world <br> + Proclaim thy goodness to my soul."</blockquote> +<p> +He then concludes, after some expressions of endearment, (which, with +whatever pleasure I review them, I must not here insert)––<br><br> + +"If you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be +astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest +I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen +move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve +you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church +of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful +body, shall be the continual prayer of," &c.</p> +<p> +As our intimacy grew, our mutual affection increased; and "my dearest +friend" was the form of address with which most of his epistles of the +last years were begun and ended. Many of them are filled up with his +sentiments of those writings which I published during these years, which +he read with great attention, and of which he speaks in terms which it +becomes me to suppress, and to impute, in a considerable degree, to +the kind prejudices of so endeared a friendship. He gives me repeated +assurances "that he was daily mindful of me in his prayers", a +circumstance which I cannot recollect without the greatest thankfulness; +and the loss of which I should more deeply lament, did I not hope that +the happy effect of these prayers might still continue, and might run +into all my remaining days.</p> +<p> +It might be a pleasure to me to make several extracts from many others of +his letters; but it is a pleasure which I ought to suppress, and rather +to reflect, with unfeigned humility, how unworthy I was of such regards +from such a person, and of that divine goodness which gave me such a +friend in him. I shall, therefore, only add two general remarks, which +offer themselves from several of his letters. The one is, that there is +in some of them, as our freedom increased, an agreeable vein of humour +and pleasantry, which shows how easy religion sat upon him, and how far +he was from placing any part of it in a gloomy melancholy, or stiff +formality. The other is, that he frequently refers to domestic +circumstances, such as the illness or recovery of my children, &c., which +I am surprised how a man of his extensive and important business could so +distinctly bear upon his mind. But his memory was good, and his heart +was yet better; and his friendship was such, that nothing which sensibly +affected the heart of one whom he honoured with it, left his own but +slightly touched. I have all imaginable reason to believe that in many +instances his prayers were not only offered for us in general terms, but +varied as our particular situation required. Many quotations might verify +this; but I decline troubling the reader with an enumeration of passages +in which it was only the abundance of friendly sympathy that gave this +truly great as well as good man so cordial a concern.</p> +<p> +After this correspondence, carried on for the space of about three years, +and some interviews which we had enjoyed at different places, he came to +spend some time with us at Northampton, and brought with him his lady +and his two eldest children. I had here an opportunity of taking a much +nearer view of his character, and surveying it in a much greater variety +of lights than before; and my esteem for him increased in proportion to +these opportunities. What I have written with respect to his conduct in +relative life, was in a great measure drawn from what I now saw; and I +shall mention here some other points in his behaviour which particularly +struck my mind, and likewise shall touch on his sentiments on some topics +of importance which he freely communicated to me, and which I have +remarked on account of that wisdom and propriety which pervaded them.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="X.">X.</a><br><br> +DEVOTION AND CHARITY.</h4><br> + + +<p> +There was nothing more observable in Colonel Gardiner than the exemplary +gravity, composure, and reverence with which he attended public worship. +Copious as he was in his secret devotions before he engaged in it, he +always began them early, so as not to be retarded by them when he should +resort to the house of God. He, and all his soldiers who chose to worship +with him, were generally there (as I have already hinted) before the +service began, that the entrance of so many of them at once might not +disturb the congregation already engaged in devotion, and that there +might be a better opportunity of bringing the mind to a becoming +attention, and preparing it for converse with the Divine Being. While +acts of worship were going on, whether of prayer or singing, he always +stood up; and whatever regard he might have for persons who passed by him +at that time, though it were to come into the same pew, he never paid +any compliment to them; and often has he expressed his wonder at +the indecorum of breaking off our addresses to God to bow to a +fellow-creature, which he thought a much greater indecency that it would +be, on a little occasion and circumstance, to interrupt an address to our +prince. During the time of preaching, his eye was commonly fixed upon the +minister, though sometimes turned round upon the auditory, against whom, +if he observed any to trifle, he was filled with just indignation. I have +known instances in which, upon making the remark, he has communicated +it to some friend of the persons who were guilty of it, that proper +application might be made to prevent it for the time to come.</p> +<p> +A more devout communicant at the table of the Lord has perhaps seldom +been any where known. Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly +countenance softened to all the marks of humiliation and contrition on +this occasion; and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal +them, streams of tears flowing down from his eyes, while he has been +directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love. Some who have +conversed intimately with him after he came from that ordinance, have +observed a visible abstraction from surrounding objects, by which +there seemed reason to imagine that his soul was wrapped up in holy +contemplation. I particularly remember, that when we had once spent a +great part of the following Monday in riding together, he made an apology +to me for being so absent as he seemed, by telling me "that his heart was +flown upwards, before he was aware, to Him 'whom, not having seen, he +loved;'[*] and that he was rejoicing in him with such unspeakable joy, that +he could not hold it down to creature converse."</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: This alluded to the subject of the sermon the day before, which +was 1 Pet, 1. 8.]</p> +<p> +In all the offices of friendship he was remarkably ready, and had a most +sweet and engaging manner of performing them, which greatly heightened +the obligations he conferred. He seemed not to set any high value upon +any benefit he bestowed, but did it without the least parade, as a thing +which in those circumstances came of course, where he had professed love +and respect; which he was not over forward to do, though he treated +strangers, and those who were most his inferiors, very courteously, and +always seemed, because he in truth always was, glad of any opportunity of +doing them good.</p> +<p> +He was particularly zealous in vindicating the reputation of his friends +in their absence; and though I cannot recollect that I had ever an +opportunity of immediately observing this, as I do not know that I ever +was present with him when any ill was spoken of others at all; yet, +by what I have heard him say with relation to attempts to injure the +character of worthy and useful men, I have reason to believe that no +man living was more sensible of the baseness and infamy, as well as the +cruelty, of such conduct. He knew and despised the low principles of +resentment for unreasonable expectations disappointed, of personal +attachment to men of some crossing interests, of envy, and of party +zeal, from whence such a conduct often proceeds; and he was particularly +offended when he found it (as he frequently did) in persons that set up +for the greatest patrons of liberty, virtue, and candour. He looked upon +the murderers of reputation and usefulness as some of the vilest pests of +society, and plainly showed on every proper occasion that he thought it +the part of a generous, benevolent and courageous man to exert himself in +tracing and hunting down the slander, that the authors or abettors of it +might be less capable of mischief for the future.</p> +<p> +The most plausible objection that I ever heard to Colonel Gardiner's +character is, that he was too much attached to some religious principles, +established indeed in the churches both of England and Scotland, but +which have of late years been much disputed, and from which, it is at +least generally supposed, not a few in both have thought proper to +depart–– whatever expedients they may have found to quiet their +consciences, in subscribing those formularies in which they are plainly +taught. His zeal was especially apparent in opposition to those doctrines +which seemed to derogate from the divine honours of the Son and Spirit of +God, and from the freedom of divine grace, of the reality and necessity +of its operations in the conversion and salvation of sinners.</p> +<p> +With relation to these I must observe, that it was his most steadfast +persuasion that all those notions which represent our blessed Redeemer +and the Holy Spirit as mere creatures, or which set aside the atonement +of the former, or the influence of the latter, sap the very foundation of +Christianity by rejecting the most glorious doctrines peculiar to it. +He had attentively observed (what indeed is too obvious) the unhappy +influence which the denial of these principles often has on the character +of ministers, and on their success, and was persuaded that an attempt to +substitute that mutilated form of Christianity which remains, when these +essentials of it are taken away, has proved one of the most successful +methods which the great enemy of souls has ever taken, in these latter +days, to lead men by insensible degrees into deism, vice, and perdition. +He also sagaciously observed the artful manner in which obnoxious tenets +are often maintained or insinuated, with all that mixture of zeal and +address with which they are propagated in the world, even by those +who had most solemnly professed to believe, and engaged to teach the +contrary; and as he really apprehended that the glory of God and the +salvation of souls were concerned, his piety and charity made him eager +and strenuous in opposing what he judged to be errors of so pernicious a +nature. Yet I must declare, that, according to what I have known of him, +(and I believe he opened his heart on these topics to me with as much +freedom as to any man living,) he was not ready, upon light suspicions, +to charge tenets which he thought so pernicious on any, especially +where he saw the appearances of a good temper and life, which he always +reverenced and loved in persons of all sentiments and professions. He +severely condemned causeless jealousies and evil surmisings of every +kind, and extended that charity, in this respect, both to clergy and +laity, which good Bishop Burnet was so ready, according to his own +account, to limit to the latter, "of believing every man good till he +knew him to be bad, and his notions right till he knew them wrong." He +could not but be very sensible of the unhappy consequences which may +follow on attacking the characters of men, especially of those who are +ministers of the gospel; and if, through a mixture of human frailty, from +which the best of men, in the best of their meanings and intentions, are +not entirely free, he had ever, in the warmth of his heart, dropped a +word which might be injurious to any on that account, (which I believe +very seldom happened,) he would gladly retract it on better information; +and this was perfectly agreeable to that honest and generous frankness of +temper in which I never knew any man who excelled him.</p> +<p> +On the whole, it was indeed his deliberate judgment that the Arian, +Socinian, and Pelagian doctrines were highly dishonourable to God, and +dangerous to the souls of men; and that it was the duty of private +Christians to be greatly on their guard against those ministers by whom +they are entertained, lest their minds should be corrupted from the +simplicity that is in Christ. Yet he sincerely abhorred the thought of +persecution for conscience sake; of the absurdity and iniquity of which, +in all its kinds and degrees, he had as deep and rational a conviction as +any man. Indeed the generosity of his heroic heart could hardly bear to +think that those glorious truths which he so cordially loved, and which +he assuredly believed to be capable of such fair support both from reason +and the word of God, should be disgraced by methods of defence and +propagation common to the most impious and ridiculous falsehoods. Nor did +he by any means approve of passionate and furious ways of vindicating the +most vital and important doctrines of the gospel; for he knew that to +maintain the most benevolent religion in the world by such malevolent and +infernal methods was destroying the end to accomplish the means; and that +it was as impossible that true Christianity should be supported thus, as +it is that a man should long be nourished by eating his own flesh. To +display the genuine fruits of Christianity in a good life––to be ready to +plead with meekness for the doctrines it teaches, and to labour, by every +office of humanity and goodness, to gain upon those who oppose it, were +the weapons with which this good soldier of Jesus Christ faithfully +fought the battles of the Lord. These weapons will always be victorious +in his cause; and they who have recourse to others of a different temper, +how strong soever they may seem, and how sharp soever they may really be, +will find them break in their hands when they exert them most furiously, +and are much more likely to wound themselves than to conquer the enemies +whom they oppose.</p> +<p> +But while I am speaking of Colonel Gardiner's charity in this respect, I +must not omit that of another kind, which has indeed engrossed the +name of charity, excellent as it is, much more than it ought––I mean +alms-giving for which he was very remarkable. I have often wondered how +he was able to do so many generous things in this way. But his frugality +fed the spring. He made no pleasurable expense on himself, and was +contented with a very decent appearance in his family, without affecting +such an air of grandeur as could not have been supported without +sacrificing to it satisfactions far nobler, and, to a temper like his, +far more delightful. The lively and tender feelings of his heart in +favour of the distressed and afflicted made it a self-indulgence to +relieve them; and the deep conviction he had of the vain and transitory +nature of the enjoyments of this world, together with the sublime view he +had of another, engaged him to dispense his bounties with a very liberal +hand, and even to seek out proper objects of them. Above all, his sincere +and ardent love to the Lord Jesus Christ engaged him to feel, with a true +sympathy, the concerns of his poor members. In consequence of this, he +honoured several of his friends with commissions for the relief of the +poor; and particularly, with relation to some under my pastoral care, +he referred it to my discretion to supply them with what I should judge +expedient, and frequently pressed me, in his letters, "to be sure not +to let them want." And where persons standing in need of his charity +happened, as they often did, to be persons of remarkably religious +dispositions, it was easy to perceive that he not only loved but honoured +them, and really esteemed it an honour which Providence conferred upon +him, that he should be made, as it were, the almoner of God for their +relief.</p> +<p> +I cannot forbear relating a little story here, which, when the colonel +himself heard it, gave him such exquisite pleasure, that I hope it will +be acceptable to several of my readers. There was in a village about nine +miles from Northampton, and in a family which, of all others near me, +was afterwards most indebted to him, (though he had never then seen any +member of it,) an aged and poor, but eminently good woman, who had, with +great difficulty, in the exercise of much faith and patience, diligence +and humility, made shift to educate a large family of children after the +death of her husband, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as +it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. +At length, when worn out with age and infirmities, she lay upon her +death-bed, she, in a most lively and affecting manner, expressed her hope +and joy in the views of approaching glory. Yet, amidst all the triumphs +of such a prospect, there was one remaining care and distress which +lay heavy on her mind; this was, that as her journey and her stock of +provisions were both ended together, she feared that she must either +be buried at the parish expense, or leave to her most dutiful and +affectionate daughters the house stripped of some of the few movables +which remained in it, in order to perform the last office of duty to her, +which she had reason to believe they would do. While she was combatting +with this only remaining anxiety, I happened, though I knew not the +extremity of her illness, to come in, and to bring with me a guinea +which the generous colonel had sent by a special message, on hearing the +character of the family, for its relief. A present like this, (probably +the most considerable they had ever received in their lives,) coming in +this manner from an entire stranger at such a crisis of time, threw my +dying friend (for such, amidst all her poverty, I rejoiced to call her) +into a perfect transport of joy. She esteemed it a singular favour of +Providence sent to her in her last moments as a token for good, and +greeted it as a special mark of that loving kindness of God which should +attend her for ever. She insisted, therefore, to be raised up in her bed, +that she might bless God for it upon her knees, and with her last breath +pray for her kind and generous benefactor, and for him who had been the +instrument of directing his bounty into this channel. After this she soon +expired, and with such tranquillity and sweetness as could not but most +sensibly delight all who beheld her, and occasioned many who knew the +circumstance to glorify God on her behalf.</p> +<p> +The colonel's last residence at Northampton was in June and July 1742, +when Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons was quartered here. Here I +cannot but observe, that wherever that regiment came, it was remarkable +not only for the fine appearance it made, and for the exactness with +which it performed its various exercises, (of which it had about this +time the honour to receive the most illustrious testimonials,) but also +for the great sobriety and regularity of the soldiers. Many of the +officers copied after the excellent pattern which they had daily before +their eyes; and a considerable number of the private men seemed to be +persons not only of strict virtue, but of serious piety. I doubt not but +they found their abundant account in it, not only in the serenity and +happiness of their own minds, which is beyond comparison the most +important consideration; but also, in some degree, in the obliging and +respectful treatment which they generally met with in their quarters. +I mention this, because I am persuaded that if gentlemen of their +profession knew, and would reflect, how much more comfortable they make +their own quarters by a sober, orderly, and obliging conduct, they would +be regular out of mere self love, if they were not influenced, as I +heartily wish they may always be, by a nobler principle.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XI.">XI.</a><br><br> + +EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS.</h4><br> + + + + <p> +Towards the latter end of this year he embarked for Flanders, and +spent some considerable time with the regiment at Ghent, where he much +regretted the want of those religious ordinances and opportunities which +had made his other abodes delightful. But as he had made so eminent a +progress in that divine life which they are all intended to promote, he +could not be inactive in the cause of God. I have now before me a letter, +dated from thence October 16, 1742, in which he writes:<br><br> + +"As for me, I am indeed in a dry and barren land, where no water is. +Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in +our Sodom but blaspheming the name of my God, and I not honoured as the +instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or +seven field-officers of swearing. I dine every day with them, and have +entered them into a voluntary contract to pay a shilling to the poor for +every oath, and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. +One of them told me this day at dinner that it had really such an +influence upon him, that being at cards last night when another officer +fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the +company. So you see, restraints at first arising from a low principle may +improve into something better."</p> +<p> +During his abode here, he had a great deal of business upon his hands, +and had also, in some marches, the care of more regiments than his +own; and it has been very delightful to me to observe what a degree of +converse with heaven, and the God of it, he maintained amidst these +scenes of hurry and fatigue, of which the reader may find a remarkable +specimen in the following letter, dated from Lichwick in the beginning of +April 1743, which was one of the last I received from him while abroad. +It begins with these words:––<br><br> + +"Yesterday being the Lord's day, at six in the morning I had the pleasure +of receiving yours at Nortonick; and it proved a Sabbath day's blessing +to me. Some time before it reached me," (from whence, by the way, it may +be observed that his former custom of rising so early in his devotions +was still retained,) "I had been wrestling with God with many tears; and +when I had read it, I returned to my knees again to give hearty thanks to +him for all his goodness to you and yours, and also to myself, in that he +hath been pleased to stir up so many who are dear to him, to be mindful +of me at the throne of grace."</p> +<p> +Then, after the mention of some other particulars, he adds:––<br><br> + +"Blessed and adored for ever be the holy name of my Heavenly Father, who +holds my soul in life, and my body in perfect health! Were I to recount +his mercy and goodness to me even in the midst of all these hurries, I +should never have done. I hope your Master will still encourage you in +his work, and make you a blessing to many. My dearest friend, I am much +more yours than I can express, and shall remain so while I am J.G."</p> +<p> +In this correspondence I had a further opportunity of discovering that +humble resignation to the will of God which made so amiable a part of his +character, and of which I had before seen so many instances. He speaks, +in the letter from which I have just been giving an extract, of the hope +he had expressed in a former of seeing us again that winter; and he +adds:––<br><br> + +"To be sure, it would have been a great pleasure to me; but we poor +mortals form projects, and the Almighty ruler of the universe disposes of +all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return +to England, when we received an order to march towards Frankfort, to the +great surprise of the whole army, neither can any of us comprehend what +we are to do there; for there is no enemy in that country, the French +army being marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. +But it is the will of the Lord, and his will be done! I desire to bless +and praise my Heavenly Father that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no +matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in +my life, or my death, I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends +were equally resigned."</p> +<p> +The mention of this article reminds me of another relating to the views +which he had of obtaining a regiment for himself. He endeavoured to +deserve it by the most faithful services; some of them, indeed beyond +what the strength of his constitution could well bear––for the weather in +some of these marches proved exceedingly bad, and yet he would be always +at the head of his people, that he might look, with the exactest care, +to every thing that concerned them. This obliged him to neglect the +beginnings of a feverish illness, the natural consequence of which was +that it grew very formidable, forced a long confinement upon him, and +gave animal nature a shock which it never recovered.</p> +<p> +In the mean time, as he had the promise of a regiment before he +quitted England, his friends were continually expecting an occasion of +congratulating him on having received the command of one. Still they were +disappointed, and on some of them the disappointment seemed to sit heavy. +As for the colonel himself, he seemed quite easy about it, and appeared +much greater in that easy situation of mind than the highest military +honours and preferments could have made him. With great pleasure do I at +this moment recollect the unaffected serenity, and even indifference, +with which he expresses himself upon this occasion, in a letter to me, +dated about the beginning of April, 1743.</p> +<p> +"The disappointment of a regiment is nothing to me, for I am satisfied +that, had it been for God's glory, I should have had it, and I should +have been sorry to have had it on any other terms. My Heavenly Father has +bestowed upon me infinitely more than if he had made me emperor of the +whole world."</p> +<p> +I find several parallel expressions in other letters, and those to his +lady about the same time were just in the same strain. In an extract from +one which was written from Aix-la-Chapelle, April 21, the same year, I +meet with these words:<br><br> + +"People here imagine I must be sadly troubled that I have not got a +regiment, (for six out of seven vacant are now disposed of): but they are +strangely mistaken, for it has given me no sort of trouble. My Heavenly +Father knows what is best for me; and blessed and ever adored be his +name, he has given me an entire resignation to his will. Besides, I do +not know that I met with any disappointment, since I was a Christian, but +it pleased God to discover to me that it was plainly for my advantage, by +bestowing something better upon me afterwards, many instances of which I +am able to produce; and therefore I should be the greatest of monsters, +if I did not trust in him."</p> +<p> +I should be guilty of a great omission, if I were not to add how +remarkably the event corresponded with his faith on this occasion; for +whereas he had no intimation or expectation of any thing more than a +regiment of foot, his Majesty was pleased, out of his great goodness, +to give him a regiment of dragoons which was then quartered in his own +neighborhood. It is properly remarked by the reverend and worthy person +through whose hand this letter was transmitted to me, that when the +colonel thus expressed himself, he could have no prospect of what he +afterwards so soon obtained, as General Bland's regiment, to which he was +advanced, was only vacant on the 19th of April––that is, two days before +the date of this letter, when it was impossible he should have any notice +of that vacancy. It also deserves observation, that some few days after +the colonel was thus unexpectedly promoted to the command of these +dragoons, Lord Cornwallis's regiment of foot, then in Flanders, became +vacant. Now, had this happened before his promotion to General Bland's, +Colonel Gardiner, in all probability, would only have had that regiment +of foot, and so would have continued in Flanders. When the affair was +settled, he informs Lady Frances of it in a letter dated from a village +near Frankfort, 3d May, in which he refers to his former of the 21st of +April, observing how remarkably it was verified "in God's having given +him" (for so he expressed it, agreeably to the views which he continually +maintained of the universal agency of Divine Providence) "what he had +no expectation of, and what was so much better than that which he had +missed––a regiment of dragoons quartered at his own door."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XII.">XII.</a><br><br> + +RETURN TO ENGLAND.</h4><br> + + +<p> +It appeared to him that by this remarkable event Providence called him +home. Accordingly, though he had other preferments offered him in the +army, he chose to return, and I believe the more willingly, as he did not +expect there would have been an action. Just at this time it pleased God +to give him an awful instance of the uncertainty of human prospects and +enjoyments, by that violent fever which seized him at Ghent on his way to +England, and perhaps the more severely for the efforts he made to push on +his journey, though he had for some days been much indisposed. It was, I +think, one of the first fits of severe illness he had ever met with, and +he was ready to look upon it as a sudden call into eternity; but it gave +him no painful alarm in that view. He committed himself to the God of his +life, and in a few weeks he was so well recovered as to be capable of +pursuing his journey, though not without difficulty. I cannot but think +it might have conduced much to a more perfect recovery than he ever +attained, to have allowed himself a longer repose, in order to recruit +his exhausted strength and spirits. But there was an activity in his +temper not easy to be restrained, and it was now stimulated, not only +with a desire to see his friends, but of being with his regiment, that +he might omit nothing in his power to regulate their morals and their +discipline, and to form them for public service. Accordingly, about the +middle of June, 1743, he passed through London, where he had the honour +of waiting on their royal highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, +and of receiving from both the most obliging token of favour and esteem. +He arrived at Northampton on Monday the 21st of June, and spent part of +three days there. But the great pleasure which his return and preferment +gave us, was much abated by observing his countenance so sadly altered, +and the many marks of languor and remaining disorder which evidently +appeared, so that he really looked ten years older than he had done +ten months before. I had, however, a satisfaction sufficient to +counterbalance much of the concern which this alteration gave me, in a +renewed opportunity of observing, indeed more sensibly than ever, in +how remarkable a degree he was dead to the enjoyments and views of this +mortal life. When I congratulated him on the favourable appearances of +Providence for him in the late event, he briefly told me the remarkable +circumstances that attended it, with the most genuine expressions of +gratitude to God for them; but added, "that as his account was increased +with his income, power, influence, and his cares were proportionably +increased too, it was, as to his own personal concern, much the same to +him whether he had remained in his former station, or been elevated to +this; but that if God should by this means honour him as an instrument of +doing more good than he could otherwise have done, he should rejoice in +it."</p> +<p> +I perceived that the near views he had taken of eternity, in the illness +from which he was then so imperfectly recovered, had not in the least +alarmed him; but that he would have been entirely willing, had such been +the determination of God, to have been cut short in a foreign land, +without any earthly friend near him, and in the midst of a journey +undertaken with hopes and prospects so pleasing to nature, which appeared +to me no inconsiderable evidence of the strength of his faith. But we +shall wonder the less at this extraordinary resignation, if we consider +the joyful and assured prospect which he had of a happiness infinitely +superior beyond the grave; of which that worthy minister of the church of +Scotland, who had an opportunity of conversing with him quickly after his +return, and having the memorable story of his conversion from his own +mouth, (as I have hinted above,) writes thus in his letter to me, dated +Jan. 14, 1746-7:<br><br> + +"When he came to review his regiment at Linlithgow, in summer 1743, after +having given me the wonderful story as above, he concluded in words to +this purpose: Let me die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it +shall be, I am sure I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory, and +enjoy my God and my Redeemer in heaven for ever."</p> +<p> +While he was with us at this time he appeared deeply affected with the +sad state of things as to religion and morals, and seemed to apprehend +that the rod of God was hanging over so sinful a nation. He observed a +great deal of disaffection which the enemies of the government had, by a +variety of artifices, been raising in Scotland for some years; and the +number of Jacobites there, together with the defenceless state in which +our island then was, with respect to the number of its forces at home, +(of which he spoke at once with great concern and astonishment,) led +him to expect an invasion from France, and an attempt in favour of the +Pretender, much sooner than it happened. I have heard him often say, many +years before it came so near being accomplished, "that a few thousands +might have a fair chance for marching from Edinburgh to London +uncontrolled, and throw the whole Kingdom into an astonishment." And I +have great reason to believe that this was one main consideration which +engaged him to make such haste to his regiment, then quartered in those +parts, as he imagined there was not a spot of ground where he might be +more likely to have a call to expose his life in the service of his +country, and perhaps, by appealing on a proper call early in its +defences, be instrumental in suppressing the beginnings of most +formidable mischief. How rightly he judged in these things, the event too +evidently showed.</p> +<p> +The evening before our last separation, as I knew I could not more +agreeably entertain the valuable friend who was then my guest, I preached +a sermon in my own house, with some peculiar reference to his case and +circumstances, from those ever-memorable words, than which I have never +felt any more powerful and more comfortable: Psalm xci. 14, 15, 16, +"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I +will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon +me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver +him, and honour him: with long life (or length of days) will I satisfy +him, and show him my salvation." This scripture could not but lend our +meditations to survey the character of the good man, as one who so knows +the name of the blessed God––has such a deep apprehension of the glories +and perfections of his nature––as determinately to set his love upon him, +to make him the supreme object of his most ardent and constant affection. +And it suggested the most sublime and animating hopes to persons of such +a character, that their prayers shall be always acceptable to God; that +though they may, and must, be called to their share in the troubles and +calamities of life, yet they may assure themselves of the divine presence +in all, which will issue in their deliverance, in their exaltation, +sometimes in distinguished honour and esteem among men, and, it may be, +in a long course of useful and happy years on earth; at least, which +shall undoubtedly end in seeing, to their perpetual delight, the complete +salvation of God, in a world where they shall enjoy length of days for +ever and ever, and employ them all in adoring the great Author of their +salvation and felicity. It is evident that these natural thoughts on such +a Scripture were matters of universal concern. Yet had I, as a minister +of the gospel, known that this was the last time I should address Colonel +Gardiner, and had I foreseen the scenes through which God was about to +lead him, I hardly know what considerations I could have suggested with +more peculiar propriety. The attention, elevation, and delight with which +he heard them, were very apparent, and the pleasure which the observation +of it gave me, continues to this moment.</p> +<p> +Let me be permitted to digress so far as to add, that this is indeed the +great support of a Christian minister under the many discouragements +and disappointments which he meets with in his attempts to fix upon the +profligate or the thoughtless part of mankind a deep sense of religious +truth; that there is another important part of his work in which he may +hope to be more generally successful; as, by plain, artless, but serious +discourses, the great principles of Christian duty and hope may be +nourished and invigorated in good men, their graces watered as at +the root, and their souls animated, both to persevere and improve in +holiness. When we are effectually performing such benevolent offices, so +well suiting our immortal natures, to persons whose hearts are cemented +with ours in the hands of the most endearing and sacred friendship, it is +too little to say that it overpays the fatigue of our Labours; it even +swallows up all sense of it in the most rational and sublime pleasure.</p> +<p> +An incident occurred that evening, which, at least for the oddness of +it, may deserve a place in these memoirs. I had then with me one Thomas +Porter, a poor but very honest and religious man, (now living at Hatfield +Broad-Oak in Essex,) who is quite unacquainted with letters, so as not to +be able to distinguish one from another, yet is master of the contents +of the Bible in so extraordinary a degree, that he has not only fixed an +immense number of texts in his memory, but, merely by hearing them quoted +in sermons, has registered there the chapter and verse in which these +passages are to be found. This is attended with a marvellous facility in +directing readers to turn to them, and a most unaccountable talent of +fixing on such as suit almost every imaginable variety of circumstances +in common life. There are in this case two considerations that make it +the more wonderful; the one, that he is a person of very low genius, +having, besides a stammering which makes his speech almost unintelligible +to strangers, so wild and awkward a manner of behaviour, that he is +frequently taken for an idiot, and seems in many things to be indeed +so;––the other, that he grew up to manhood in a very licentious course of +living, and an entire ignorance of divine things, so that all these exact +impressions on his memory have been made in his riper years. I thought +it would not be disagreeable to the colonel to introduce to him this +odd phenomenon, which many hundreds of people have had a curiosity to +examine; and, among all the strange things I have seen in him, I never +remember any that equalled what passed on this occasion. On hearing +the colonel's profession, and receiving some hints of his religious +character, he ran through a vast variety of scriptures, beginning at +the Pentateuch and going on to the Revelation, relating either to the +dependence to be fixed on God for the success of military preparations, +or to the instances and promises occurring there for his care of good men +in the most imminent dangers, or to the encouragement to despise perils +and death, while engaged in a good cause, and supported by the views of +a happy immortality. I believe he quoted more than twenty of these +passages, and I must freely own that I know not who could have chosen +them with greater propriety. If my memory deceive me not, the last of +this catalogue was that from which I afterwards preached, on the lamented +occasion of this great man's fall: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I +will give thee a crown of life." We were all astonished at so remarkable +a feat, and I question not but many of my readers will think the memory +of it worthy of being thus preserved.</p> +<p> +But to return to my main subject: The day after the sermon and +conversation of which I have been speaking, I took my best leave of my +inestimable friend, after attending him some part of his way northward. +The first stage of our journey was to the cottage of that poor but +religious family which I had before occasion to mention as relieved, and +indeed in a great measure subsisted by his charity. Nothing could be more +delightful than to observe the condescension with which he conversed with +these his humble pensioners. We there put up our last united prayers +together; and he afterwards expressed, in the strongest terms I have ever +heard him use on such an occasion, the singular pleasure with which he +had joined in them. Indeed it was no small satisfaction to me to have +an opportunity of recommending such a valuable friend to the divine +protection and blessing, with that particular freedom and enlargement on +what was peculiar in his circumstances, which hardly any other situation, +unless we had been quite alone, could so conveniently have admitted. +We went from thence to the table of a person of distinction in the +neighborhood, where he had an opportunity of showing in how decent and +graceful a manner he could unite the Christian and the gentleman, and +give conversation an improving and religious turn, without violating any +of the rules of polite behaviour, or saying or doing any thing, which +looked at all constrained or affected. Here we took our last embrace, +committing each other to the care of the God of heaven; and the colonel +pursued his journey to the north, where he spent the remainder of his +days.</p> +<p> +The more I reflect upon this appointment of Providence, the more I +discern the beauty and wisdom of it––not only as it led directly to that +glorious period of life with which God had determined to honour him, and +in which, I think, it becomes all his friends to rejoice, but also as the +retirement on which he entered could not but have a happy tendency to +favour his more immediate and complete preparation for so speedy a +remove. To this we may add, that it must probably have a very powerful +influence to promote the interests of religion (incomparably the greatest +of all interests) among the members of his own family, who must surely be +edified by such daily lessons as they received from his lips, when they +saw them illustrated and enforced by so admirable an example, and for +two complete years. It is the more remarkable, as I cannot find from the +memoirs of his life in my hands that he had ever been so long at home +since he had a family, or indeed, from his childhood, ever so long at a +time in any one place.</p> +<p> +With how clear a lustre his lamp shone, and with what holy vigour his +loins were girded up in the service of his God in these his latter days, +I learn in part from the letters of several excellent persons in the +ministry, or in secular life, with whom I have since conversed or +corresponded. In his many letters dated from Bankton during this period, +I have still further evidence how happy he was amidst those infirmities +of body, which his tenderness for me would seldom allow him to mention; +for it appears from them what a daily intercourse he kept up with Heaven, +and what delightful communion with God crowned his attendance on public +ordinances, and his sweet hours of devout retirement. He mentions his +sacramental opportunities with peculiar relish, crying out, as in a holy +rapture, in reference to one and another of them, "Oh how gracious +a Master do we serve! how pleasant is his service; how rich the +entertainments of his love! yet how poor and cold are our services!" But +I will not multiply quotations of this sort after those I have given +above, which may be a sufficient specimen of many more in the same +strain. This hint may suffice to show that the same ardour of soul held +out in a great measure to the last; and indeed it seems that towards the +close of life, like the flame of a lamp almost expiring, it sometimes +exerted an unusual blaze.</p> +<p> +He spent much of his time at Bankton in religious solitude; and one +most intimately conversant with him assures me that the traces of that +delightful converse with God which he enjoyed in it might easily be +discerned in the solemn yet cheerful countenance with which he often came +out of his closet. Yet his exercises there must sometimes have been very +mournful, considering the melancholy views which he had of the state of +our public affairs.</p> +<p> +"I should be glad," says he, (in a letter which he sent me about the +close of the year 1743,) "to hear what wise and good people among you +think of the present circumstances of things. For my own part, though I +thank God I fear nothing for myself, my apprehensions for the public are +very gloomy, considering the deplorable prevalency of almost all kinds +of wickedness amongst us––the natural consequence of the contempt of the +gospel. I am daily offering my prayers to God for this sinful land of +ours, over which his judgments seem to be gathering; and my strength is +sometimes so exhausted with those strong cries and tears, which I pour +out before God on this occasion, that I am hardly able to stand when I +arise from my knees."</p> +<p> +If we have many remaining to stand in the breach with equal fervency, I +hope, crying as our provocations are, that God will still be entreated +for us, and save us.</p> +<p> +Most of the other letters I had the pleasure of receiving from him after +our last separation, are either filled, like those of former years, with +tender expressions of affectionate solicitude for my domestic comfort +and public usefulness, or relate to the writings I published during this +time, or to the affairs of his eldest son, then under my care. But these +are things which are by no means of a nature to be communicated here. It +is enough to remark, in general, that the Christian was still mingled +with all the care of the friend and the parent.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XIII">XIII.</a><br><br> + +REVIVAL OF RELIGION.</h4><br> + + +<p> +But I think it incumbent upon me to observe, that during this time, and +for some preceding years, his attention, ever wakeful to such concerns, +was much engaged by some religious appearances which happened about this +time both in England and Scotland, and with regard to which some may be +curious to know the colonel's sentiments. He communicated them to me with +the most unreserved freedom; and I cannot apprehend myself under any +engagement to conceal them, as I am persuaded that it will be no +prejudice to his memory that they should be publicly known.</p> +<p> +It was from Colonel Gardiner's pen that I received the first notice of +that ever memorable scene which was opened at Kilsyth, under the +ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch in the month of February, 1741-2. He +communicated to me the copy of two letters from that eminently-favoured +servant of God, giving an account of that extraordinary success which had +within a few days accompanied his preaching, when, as I remember, in +a little more than a fortnight, one hundred and thirty souls, who had +before continued in long insensibility under the faithful preaching of +the gospel, were awakened on a sudden to attend to it, as if it had been +a new revelation brought down from heaven, and attested by as astonishing +miracles as ever were wrought by Peter or Paul, though they only heard it +from a person under whose ministry they had sat for several years. Struck +with a power and majesty in the word of God which they had never felt +before, they crowded his house night and day, making their applications +to him for spiritual direction and assistance, with an earnestness and +solicitude which floods of tears and cries, that swallowed up their own +words and his, could not sufficiently express. The colonel mentioned this +at first to me "as matter of eternal praise, which he knew would rejoice +my very soul;" and when he saw it spread in the neighbouring parts, and +observed the glorious reformation which it produced in the lives of great +multitudes, and the abiding fruits of it, for succeeding months and +years, it increased and confirmed his joy. But the facts relating to this +matter have been laid before the world in so authentic a manner, and the +agency of divine grace in them has been so rationally vindicated, and so +pathetically represented, in what the reverend and judicious Mr. Webster +has written upon that subject, that it is altogether superfluous for me +to add any thing further than my hearty prayers that the work may be as +extensive as it was glorious and divine.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: See "Revivals in Scotland," published by the (Presbyterian) Board of +Publication.]</p> +<p> +It was with great pleasure that he received any intelligence of a like +kind from England, whether the clergy of the Established Church or +dissenting ministers, whether our own countrymen or foreigners, were the +instruments of it. Whatever weaknesses or errors might mingle themselves +with valuable qualities in such as were active in such a work, he +appeared to love and honour them in proportion to the degree he saw +reason to believe that their hearts were devoted to the service of +Christ, and their attempts owned and succeeded by him. I remember, that +mentioning one of these gentlemen who had been remarkably successful in +his ministry, and who seemed to have met with some very unkind usage, he +says, "I had rather be that despised, persecuted man, to be an instrument +in the hand of the Spirit in converting so many souls, and building up so +many in their holy faith, than I would be emperor of the whole world." +Yet this steady and judicious Christian, (for such he most assuredly +was,) at the same time that he esteemed a man for his good intentions, +and his worthy qualities, did not suffer himself to be hurried away into +all the singularity of his sentiments, or to admire his imprudences or +excesses. On the contrary, he saw and lamented that artifice which the +great father of fraud has so long and so successfully been practising, +and who, like the enemies of Israel, when he cannot entirely prevent the +building of God's temple, does, as it were, offer his assistance to carry +on the work, that he may thereby get the most effectual opportunities of +obstructing it. The colonel often expressed his astonishment at the wide +extremes into which some whom on the whole he thought very worthy men, +were permitted to run in many doctrinal and speculative points, and +discerned how evidently it appeared from hence that we cannot argue the +truth of any doctrine from the success of the preacher, since this would +be a kind of demonstration which might equally prove both parts of a +contradiction. Yet when he observed that a high regard to the atonement +and righteousness of Christ, and to the free grace of God in him, exerted +by the operation of the Divine Spirit, was generally common to all who +had been peculiarly successful in the conversion and reformation of men, +(how widely soever their judgments might differ in other points, and how +warmly soever their judgments might oppose each other in consequence +of that diversity,) it tended greatly to confirm his faith in these +principles, as well as to open his heart in love to all, of every +denomination, who maintained an affectionate regard to them. Although +what he remarked as to the conduct and success of ministers of the most +opposite strains of preaching confirmed him in these sentiments, yet he +always esteemed and loved virtuous and benevolent men, even where he +thought them the most mistaken in the notions they formed of religion, or +in the methods by which they attempted to serve it.</p> +<p> +While I thus represent what all who knew him must soon have observed of +Colonel Gardiner's affectionate regard to these peculiar doctrines of our +holy religion, it is necessary that I should also inform my reader that +it was not his opinion that the attention of ministers or their hearers +should be wholly engrossed by these, excellent as they are; but that all +the parts of the scheme of truth and duty should be regarded in their due +connection and proportion. Far from that distempered taste which can bear +nothing but cordials, it was his deliberate judgment that the law as well +as the gospel should be preached; and hardly any thing gave him greater +offence than the irreverent manner in which some who have been ignorantly +extolled as the most zealous evangelical preachers, have sometimes +been tempted to speak of the former, much indeed to the scandal of all +consistent and judicious Christians. He delighted to be instructed in +his duty, and to hear much of the inward exercises of the spiritual and +divine life. He always wished, so far as I could observe, to have these +topics treated in a rational as well as spiritual manner, with solidity +and order of thought, with perspicuity and weight of expression, well +knowing that religion is a most reasonable service––that God has not +chosen idiots or lunatics as the instruments, or nonsense as the means of +building up his church––and that though the charge of enthusiasm is often +fixed on Christianity and its ministers in a wild, undeserved, and, +indeed, on the whole, enthusiastical manner, by some of the loudest or +most solemn pretenders to reason, yet there is really such a thing as +enthusiasm, against which it becomes the true friends of revelation to be +diligently on their guard, lest Christianity, instead of being exalted, +should be greatly corrupted and debased, and all manner of absurdity, +both in doctrine and practice, introduced by methods which, like +persecution, throw truth and falsehood on a level, and render the +grossest errors at once more plausible and more incurable. He had too +much candour and equity to fix general charges of this nature; but he was +really (and I think not vainly,) apprehensive that the emissaries and +agents of the most corrupt church that ever dishonoured the Christian +name, (by which, it will easily be understood, I mean that of Rome,) +might very possibly insinuate themselves into societies to which they +could not otherwise have access, and make their advantage of that total +resignation of the understanding, and contempt of reason and learning, +which nothing but ignorance, delirium, or knavery can dictate, to lead +men blindfolded whither it pleased, till it set them down at the foot of +an altar where transubstantiation itself was consecrated.</p> +<p> +I know not where I can more properly introduce another part of the +colonel's character, which, obvious as it was, I have not yet touched +upon; I mean his tenderness to those who were under any spiritual +distress, wherein he was indeed an example to ministers in a duty more +peculiarly theirs. I have seen many amiable instances of this myself, and +I have been informed of many others. One of these happened about the time +of that awakening in the western parts of Scotland, which I touched upon +above, when the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, of Glasgow, found occasion to witness +to the great propriety, judgment, and felicity of manner, with which he +addressed spiritual consolation to an afflicted soul who applied to the +professor at a time when he had not an opportunity immediately to give +audience to the case. Indeed so long ago as the year 1726, I find him +writing in this regard to a friend in a strain of tenderness which might +well have become the most affectionate and experienced pastor. He there +congratulates him on some religious enjoyments, lately received, (in +part, it seems, by his means) when, among others, he has this modest +expression: "If I have been made any way the means of doing you good, +give the whole glory to God; for he has been willing to show that the +power was entirely of himself, since he has been pleased to make use of +so very weak an instrument." In the same letter he admonishes his friend +that he should not be too much surprised, if after having been (as he +expressed it) upon the mount, he should be brought into this valley +again, reminding him that "we live by faith, and not by sensible +assurance," and representing that there are some such full communications +from God as seem almost to swallow up the actings of faith, from whence +they take their rise: "Whereas, when a Christian who walks in darkness, +and sees no light, will yet hang, as it were, on the report of an absent +Jesus, and" (as one expresses it in allusion to the story of Jacob and +Joseph) "can put himself as on the chariot of the promises, to be borne +on to Him whom he sees not; there may be sublimer and more acceptable +actings of a pure and strong faith than in moments which afford the soul +a much more rapturous delight." This is the substance of what he says in +this excellent letter. Some of the phrases made use of might not perhaps +be intelligible to several of my readers, for which reason I do not +exactly transcribe them all; but this is plainly and fully his meaning, +and most of the words are his own. The sentiment is surly very just and +important; and happy would it be for many excellent persons, who, +through wrong notions of the nature of faith, (which was never more +misrepresented than now among some,) are perplexing themselves with +the most groundless doubts and scruples, if it were more generally +understood, admitted, and considered.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XIV">XIV.</a><br><br> + +APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH.</h4><br> + + + <p> +An endeared friend, who was most intimately conversant with the colonel +during the last two years of his life, has favoured me with an account +of some little circumstances relating to him, which I esteem as precious +fragments, by which the consistent tenor of his character may be further +illustrated. I shall therefore insert them here, without being very +solicitous as to the order in which they are introduced.</p> +<p> +He perceived himself evidently in a very declining state from his first +arrival in Britain, and seemed to entertain a fixed apprehension that he +should continue but a little while longer in life. "He expected death," +says my good correspondent, "and was delighted with the prospect," which +did not grow less amiable by the nearer approach. The word of God, with +which he had as intimate an acquaintance as most men I ever knew, and on +which (especially on the New Testament) I have heard him make many +very judicious and accurate remarks, was still his daily study; and +it furnished him with matter of frequent conversation, much to the +edification and comfort of those that were about him. It was recollected +that, among other passages, he had lately spoken of the following as +having made a deep impression on his mind: "My soul, wait thou only upon +God." He would repeat it again and again, <i>only, only, only</i>! So plainly +did he see, and so deeply did he feel, the vanity of creature confidence +and expectations. With the strongest attestation would he often mention +those words in Isaiah, as verified by long experience: "Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth +in thee." And with peculiar satisfaction would he utter those heroic +words in Habakkuk, which he found armour of proof against every fear and +every contingency: "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall +fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields +shall yield no meal; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there +shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will +joy in the God of my salvation." The 145th Psalm was also spoken of by +him with great delight, and Dr. Watts's version of it, as well as several +others of that excellent person's poetical compositions. My friend who +transmits to me this account, adds the following words, which I desire +to insert with the deepest sentiments of unfeigned humility and +self-abasement before God, as most unworthy the honour of contributing +in the least degree to the joys and graces of one so much my superior in +every part of the Christian character. "As the joy with which good men +see the happy fruits of their labours, makes a part of the present reward +of the servants of God and the friends of Jesus, it must not be omitted, +even in a letter to you, that your spiritual hymns were among his most +delightful and soul-improving repasts; particularly those on beholding +transgressors with grief, and Christ's Message." What is added concerning +my book of the Rise and Progress of Religion, and the terms in which he +expressed his esteem of it, I cannot suffer to pass my pen; only I desire +most sincerely to bless God, that, especially by the last chapters +of that treatise, I had an opportunity, at so great a distance, of +exhibiting some offices of Christian friendship to this excellent person +in the closing scenes of life, which it would have been my greatest joy +to have performed in person, had Providence permitted me then to have +been near him.</p> +<p> +The former of these hymns, which my correspondent mentions as having been +so agreeable to Colonel Gardiner, I have given the reader already. The +latter, which is called Christ's Message, took its rise from Luke iv. 18, +19, and is as follows:</p> +<blockquote> +Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, <br> + The Saviour promised long; <br> +Let every heart prepare a throne, <br> + And every voice a song.<br><br> + +On him the Spirit largely poured, <br> + Exerts its sacred fire; <br> +Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, <br> + His holy breast inspire.<br><br> + +He comes the prisoners to release, <br> + In Satan's bondage held; <br> +The gates of brass before him burst, <br> + The iron fetters yield.<br><br> + +He comes, from thickest films of vice <br> + To clear the mental ray, <br> +And on the eye-balls of the blind <br> + To pour celestial day.[*]<br><br> + +He comes the broken heart to bind, <br> + The bleeding soul to cure; <br> +And with the treasures of his grace <br> + To enrich the humble poor.<br><br> + +His silver trumpets publish loud <br> + The jubilee of the Lord; <br> +Our debts are all remitted now, <br> + Our heritage restored.<br><br> + +Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace! <br> + Thy welcome shall proclaim; <br> +And heaven's eternal arches ring <br> + With Thy beloved name.</blockquote> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.]</p> +<p> +There is one hymn more I shall beg leave to add, plain as it is, which +Colonel Gardiner has been heard to mention with particular regard, as +expressing the inmost sentiments of his soul, and they were undoubtedly +so in the last rational moments of his expiring life. It is called +'Christ precious to the Believer,' and was composed to be sung after a +sermon on 1 Pet. ii 7.</p> +<blockquote> +Jesus! I love thy charming name, <br> + 'Tis music to my ear: <br> +Fain would I sound it out so loud, <br> + That earth and heaven should hear.<br><br> + +Yea! thou art precious to my soul, <br> + My transport and my trust; <br> +Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys,<br> + And gold is sordid dust.<br><br> + +All my capacious powers can wish, <br> + In Thee most richly meet; <br> +Nor to mine eyes is life so dear, <br> + Nor friendship half so sweet.<br><br> + +Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, <br> + And sheds its fragrance there; <br> +The noblest balm of all its wounds, <br> + The cordial of its care.<br><br> + +I'll speak the honours of thy name <br> + With my last labouring breath; <br> +Then speechless clasp thee in my arms, <br> + The antidote of death.</blockquote> +<p> +Those who were intimate with Colonel Gardiner, must have observed how +ready he was to give a devotional turn to any subject that occurred. In +particular, the spiritual and heavenly disposition of his soul discovered +itself in the reflections and improvements which he made when reading +history, in which he took a great deal of pleasure, as persons remarkable +for their knowledge of mankind, and observation of Providence, generally +do. I have an instance of this before me, which, though too natural to be +at all surprising, will, I dare say, be pleasing to the devout mind. He +had just been reading, in Rollin's extracts from Xenophon, the answer +which the lady of Tigranes made when all the company were extolling +Cyrus, and expressing the admiration with which his appearance and +behaviour struck them. The question being asked her, What she thought of +him? she answered, "I do not know; I did not observe him." On what, then, +said one of the company did you fix your attention? "On him," replied +she, (referring to the generous speech which her husband had just made,) +"who said he would give a thousand lives to ransom my liberty." "Oh," +cried the colonel, when reading it, "how ought we to fix our eyes and +hearts on Him who, not in offer, but in reality, gave his own precious +life to ransom us from the most dreadful slavery, and from eternal +destruction!" But this is only one instance among a thousand. His heart +was so habitually set upon divine things, and he had such a permanent +and overflowing sense of the love of Christ, that he could not forbear +connecting such reflections with a multitude of more distant occasions +occurring in daily life, on which less advanced Christians would not have +thought of them; and thus, like our great Master, he made every little +incident a source of devotion, and an instrument of holy zeal.</p> +<p> +Enfeebled as his constitution was, he was still intent on improving his +time to some valuable purpose; and when his friends expostulated with him +that he gave his body so little rest, he used to answer, "It will rest +long enough in the grave."</p> +<p> +The July before his death, he was persuaded to take a journey to +Scarborough for the recovery of his health, from which he was at least +encouraged to expect some little revival. After this he had thoughts +of going to London, and intended to have spent part of September at +Northampton. The expectation of this was mutually agreeable; but +Providence saw fit to disconcert the scheme. His love for his friends in +these parts occasioned him to express some regret on his being commanded +back; and I am pretty confident, from the manner in which he expressed +himself in one of his last letters to me, that he had some more important +reasons for wishing an opportunity of making a London journey just at +that crisis, which, the reader will remember, was before the rebellion +broke out. But, as Providence determined it otherwise, he acquiesced; +and I am well satisfied, that could he have distinctly foreseen the +approaching event, so far as it concerned his own person, he would have +esteemed it the happiest summons he ever received. While he was at +Scarborough, I find by a letter dated from thence, July 26, 1745, that +he had been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at +Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, +assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of +God which was then hanging over them; on which occasion he hath this +expression: "I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should +be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present +more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing +which I am very sure of, and that comforts me, viz., that it shall go well +with the righteous, come what will."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<h4>CHAPTER <a name="XV.">XV.</a><br><br> + +BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS.</h4><br> + + + <p> + Quickly after his return home, the flame burst out, and his regiment +was ordered to Stirling. It was in that castle that his lady and eldest +daughter enjoyed the last happy hours of his company, and I think it was +about ten or twelve days before his death that he parted from them there. +A remarkable circumstance attended that parting, which has been touched +upon by surviving friends in more than one of their letters to me. His +lady was so affected when she took her last leave of him, that she could +not forbear bursting out into a flood of tears, with other marks of +unusual emotion; and when he asked her the reason, she urged as a +sufficient apology, the apprehension she had of losing such an invaluable +friend, amidst the dangers to which he was then called out. On this she +took particular notice, that whereas he had generally comforted her on +such occasions by pleading with her that remarkable hand of Providence +which had so frequently in former instances been exerted for his +preservation, and that in the greatest extremity, he said nothing of it +now; but only replied in his sententious manner, "We have an eternity to +spend together."</p> +<p> +That heroic contempt of death which had often discovered itself in the +midst of former dangers, was manifested now in his discourse with several +of his most intimate friends. I have reserved for this place one genuine +expression of it many years before, which I thought might be mentioned +with some advantage here. In July, 1725, he had been sent to some place +not far from Hamilton to quell a mutiny among some of our troops. I know +not the particular occasion; but I remember to have heard him mention it +as so fierce a one, that he scarcely ever apprehended himself in more +hazardous circumstances. Yet he quelled it by his presence alone, and the +expostulations he used––evidently putting his life into his hand to do +it. The particulars of the story struck me much; but I do not so exactly +remember them as to venture to relate them here. I only observe, that in +a letter dated July 16, that year, which I have now before me, and which +evidently refers to this event, he writes thus: "I have been very busy, +hurried about from place to place; but, blessed be God, all is over +without bloodshed. And pray let me ask what made you show so much concern +for me in your last? Were you afraid I should get to heaven before you? +or can any evil befall those who are followers of that which is good?"[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: I doubt not but this will remind some of my readers of that noble +speech of Zwinglius, when (according to the usage of that country,) +attending his flock to a battle in which their religion and liberties +were all at stake, on his receiving a mortal wound by a bullet, of which +he was expired, while his friends were in all the first astonishment of +grief, he bravely said, as he was dying, "<i class="smallprint">Ecquid hoc infortunii</i>? Is +this to be reckoned a misfortune?" How many of our Deists would have +celebrated such a sentence, if it had come from the lips of an ancient +Roman! Strange that the name of Christ should be so odious, that the +brightest virtues of his followers should be despised for his sake! But +so it is, and so our Master told us it would be; and our faith is, in +this connection, confirmed by those who strive most to overthrow it.]</p> +<p> +As these were his sentiments in the vigour of his days, so neither did +declining years and the infirmities of a broken constitution on the one +hand, nor any desire of enjoying the honours and profits of so high +a station, or (what was much more to him,) the converse of the most +affectionate of wives and so many amiable children and friends on the +other, in the least enervate his spirits; but as he had in former years +often expressed it, to me and several others, as his desire, "that if it +were the will of God, he might have some honourable call to sacrifice his +life in defence of religion and the liberties of his country;" so, +when it appeared to him most probable that he might be called to it +immediately, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. This appears +in part from a letter which he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Falkirk, +just as he was marching from Stirling, which was only eight days before +his death:–– "The rebels," says he, "are advancing to cross the Frith; +but I trust in the Almighty God, who doth whatsoever he please in the +armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." The same +gentleman tells me, that, a few days after the date of this, he marched +through Falkirk with his regiment; and though he was then in so +languishing a state, that he needed his assistance as secretary to write +for some reinforcements, which might put it in his power to make a stand, +(as he was very desirous to have done,) he expressed a most genuine and +noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in the defence of a +worth cause.</p> +<p> +These sentiments wrought in him to the last in the most effectual manner, +and he seemed for a while to have infused them into the regiment which he +commanded; for they expressed such a spirit in their march from Stirling, +that I am assured the colonel was obliged to exert all his authority to +prevent their making incursions on the rebel army, which then lay very +near him; and had it been thought proper to send him the reinforcements +he requested, none can say what the consequence might have been; but he +was ordered to march as fast as possible to meet Sir John Cope's forces +at Dunbar, which he did; and that hasty retreat, in concurrence with the +news which they soon after received of the surrender of Edinburgh to the +rebels, (either by the treachery or weakness of a few, in opposition to +the judgment of by far the greater and better part of the inhabitants,) +struck a panic into both the regiments of dragoons, which became visible +in some very apparent and remarkable circumstances in their behaviour, +which I forbear to relate. This affected Colonel Gardiner so much that, +on the Thursday before the fatal action of Prestonpans, he intimated to +an officer of considerable rank and note, from whom I had it by a very +sure channel of conveyance, that he expected the event would be as in +fact it was. In this view, there is all imaginable reason to believe that +he had formed his resolution as to his own personal conduct, which was, +"that he would not, in cases of the flight of those under his command, +retreat with them;" by which, as it seemed, he was reasonably +apprehensive that he might have stained the honour of his former +services, and have given some occasion for the enemy to have spoken +reproachfully. He much rather chose, if Providence gave him the call, to +leave in his death an example of fidelity and bravery which might very +probably be (as in fact it seems to have been) of much greater importance +to his country than any other service which, in the few days of remaining +life, he could expect to render it. I conclude these to have been his +views, not only from what I knew of his general character and temper, but +likewise from some intimations which he gave to a very worthy person from +Edinburgh, who visited him the day before the action, and to whom he +said, "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I +have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare +it,"––or words to that effect.</p> +<p> +I have heard such a multitude of inconsistent reports of the +circumstances of Colonel Gardiner's death, that I had almost despaired of +being able to give my reader any particular satisfaction concerning so +interesting a scene. But, by a happy accident, I have very lately had an +opportunity of being exactly informed of the whole by that brave man, Mr. +John Foster, his faithful servant, (and worthy of the honour of serving +such a master,) whom I had seen with him at my house some years before. +He attended him in his last hours, and gave me at large the narration, +which he would be ready, if requisite, to attest upon oath. From his +mouth I wrote it down with the utmost exactness, and could easily +believe, from the genuine and affectionate manner in which he related the +particulars, that according to his own striking expression, "his eye and +his heart were always upon his honoured master during the whole time."[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Just as I am putting the last hand to these memoirs, March 2, +1746-7, I have met with a corporal in Colonel Lascelles' regiment, who +was an eye-witness to what happened at Prestonpans on the day of the +battle, and the day before; and the account he has given me of some +memorable particulars is so exactly agreeable to that which I received +from Mr. Foster, that it would much corroborate his testimony, if there +were not so many other considerations to render it convincing.]</p> +<p> +On Friday, 20th September, (the day before the battle which transmitted +him to his immortal crown,) the colonel drew up his regiment in the +afternoon, and rode through all their ranks, addressing them at once +in the most respectful and animating manner, both as soldiers and as +Christians, to exert themselves courageously in the service of their +country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare +them for whatever might happen. They seemed much affected with the +address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy +immediately––a desire in which he and another very gallant officer of +distinguished rank, dignity, and character, both for bravery and conduct, +would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in their power. He +earnestly pressed it on the commanding officer, as the soldiers were then +in better spirits than it could be supposed they would be after having +passed the night under arms, and as the circumstance of making an attack +would be some encouragement to them, and probably some terror to the +enemy, who would have had the disadvantage of standing on the defence––a +disadvantage with which those wild barbarians, (for such most of them +were) perhaps would have been more struck than better disciplined +troops––especially, too, when they fought against the laws of their +country. He also apprehended that, by marching to meet them, some +advantage might have been secured with regard to the ground, with which, +it is natural to imagine, he must have been perfectly acquainted, as it +lay just at his own door, and he had rode over it many hundred times. +When I mention these things, I do not pretend to be capable of judging +how far this advice was right. A variety of circumstances to me unknown +might make it otherwise. It is certain, however, that it was brave. But +it was overruled in this respect, as it also was in the disposition of +the cannon, which he would have planted in the centre of our small army, +rather than just before his regiment, which was in the right wing, where +he was apprehensive that the horses, which had not been in any previous +engagement, might be thrown into some disorder by the discharge so very +near them. He urged this the more as he thought the attack of the rebels +might probably be made on the centre of the foot, where he knew there +were some brave men, on whose standing he thought, under God, the success +of the day depended. When he found that he could not carry either of +these points, nor some others which, out of regard to the common safety, +he insisted upon with unusual earnestness, he dropped some intimations +of the consequences he apprehended, and which did in fact follow; and +submitting to Providence, spent the remainder of the day in making as +good a disposition as circumstances would allow.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Several of these circumstances have since been confirmed by the +concurrent testimony of another very credible person, Mr. Robert Douglas, +(now a surgeon in the navy,) who was a volunteer at Edinburgh just before +the rebels entered the place, and who saw Colonel Gardiner come from +Haddington to the field of battle the day before the action in a chaise, +being (as from that circumstances he supposed) in so weak a state that he +could not well endure the fatigue of sitting on horseback. He observed +Colonel Gardiner in discourse with several officers on the evening before +the engagement, at which time, it was afterwards reported, he gave his +advice to attack the rebels; and when it was overruled, he afterwards saw +the colonel walk by himself in a very pensive manner.]</p> + +<p> +He continued all night under arms, wrapt up in his cloak, and generally +sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About +three in the morning he called his domestic servants to him, of which +there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with most +affectionate Christian advice, and such solemn charges relating to the +performance of their duty and the care of their souls, as plainly seemed +to intimate that he at least apprehended it very probable he was taking +his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an hour, +in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him, +and to which so many circumstances then concurred to call him.</p> +<p> +The army was alarmed at break of day by the noise of the rebels' +approach, and the attack was made before sunrise; yet it was light enough +to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy came within gunshot, they +made a furious fire; and it is said that the dragoons, which constituted +the left wing, immediately fled. The colonel, at the beginning of the +onset, which lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a bullet in +his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon +which his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded him to +retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh, and fought on, +though soon after he received a shot in his right thigh. In the meantime +it was discovered that some of the enemies fell by him, particularly one +man, who had made him a treacherous visit but a few days before, with +great professions of zeal for the present establishment.</p> +<p> +Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can +be written, or than it can be read. The colonel was for a few moments +supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person, +Lieutenant-colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm, and who, a few +months after, fell nobly in the battle of Falkirk; by Lieutenant West, a +man of distinguished bravery; also by about fifteen dragoons, who stood +by him to the last. But, after a faint fire, the regiment was seized with +a panic; and though their colonel and some other gallant officers did +what they could to rally them once or twice, they took to precipitate +flight. Just at the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a +pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, +an accident happened, which must, I think, in the judgment of every +worthy and generous man, be deemed a sufficient apology for exposing his +life to so great a hazard, when his regiment had left him.[*] He saw that +a party of foot, who were then bravely fighting near him, and whom he +was ordered to support, had no officer to head them; upon which he said +eagerly, in the hearing of the person from whom I had this account, +"Those brave fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander,"––or +words to that effect. So saying, he rode up to them, and cried out aloud, +"Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But, just as the words were out of +his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him with a scythe, fastened on +a long pole, with which he gave him such a deep wound on his right arm, +that his sword dropped out of his hand; and at the same time several +others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that +cruel weapon, he was dragged off his horse. The moment he fell another +Highlander, who, if the crown witness at Carlisle may be credited, (as I +know not why he should not, though the unhappy creature died denying it,) +was one M'Naught, who was executed about a year after, gave him a stroke +either with a broadsword or a Lochaber axe, (for my informant could not +exactly distinguish,) on the hinder part of his head, which was the +mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time +was, that as his hat had fallen off, he took it in his left hand, and +waved it as a signal to him to retreat; and added, (the last words he +ever heard him speak,) "Take care of yourself;" upon which the servant +retired.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The colonel, who was well acquainted with military history, might +possibly remember that in the battle at Blenheim, the illustrious Prince +Eugene, when the horse of the wing which he commanded had run away +thrice, charged at the head of the foot, and thereby greatly contributed +to the glorious success of the day. At least such an example may conduce +to vindicate that noble ardour which, amidst all the applauses of his +country, some have been so cool and so critical as to blame. For my part, +I thank God that I am not called to apologize for his following his +troops in their flight, which I fear would have been a much harder task; +and which, dear as he was to me, would have grieved me much more than his +death, with these heroic circumstances attending it.]</p> +<p> +It was reported at Edinburgh, on the day of the battle, by what seemed a +considerable authority, that as the colonel lay in his wounds, he said to +a chief of the opposite side, "You are fighting for an earthly crown, I +am going to receive a heavenly one,"––or something to that purpose. When +I preached the sermon, long since printed, on occasion of his death, I +had great reason to believe this report was true, though, before the +publication of it, I began to be in doubt; and, on the whole, after the +most accurate inquiry I could possibly make at this distance, I cannot +get any convincing evidence of it. Yet I must here observe that it does +not appear impossible that something of this kind might indeed be uttered +by him, as his servant testifies that he spoke to him after receiving +that fatal blow, which would seem most likely to have taken away the +power of speech, and as it is certain he lived several hours after he +fell. If, therefore, any thing of this kind did happen, it must have been +just before this instant. But as to the story of his being taken prisoner +and carried to the pretended Prince, (who, by the way, afterwards +rode his horse, and entered into Derby upon it,) with several other +circumstances which were grafted upon that interview, there is the most +undoubted evidence of its falsehood; for his attendant above mentioned +assures me that he himself immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of +about two miles from the spot on which the colonel fell, where he changed +his dress, and, disguised like a miller's servant, returned with a cart +as soon as possible, which yet was not till nearly two hours after the +engagement. The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he +found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other +things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet +still breathing; and adds, that though he was not capable of speech, +yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes; which makes it something +questionable whether he was altogether insensible. In this condition, and +in this manner, he conveyed him to the church of Tranent, from whence he +was immediately taken into the minister's house, and laid in bed, where +he continued breathing and frequently groaning till about eleven in +the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and sorrow, and +undoubtedly rose to those distinguished glories which are reserved for +those who have been eminently and remarkably faithful unto death.</p> +<p> +From the moment he fell, it was no longer a battle, but a rout and +carnage. The cruelties which the rebels (as it is generally said under +the command of Lord Elcho,) inflicted on some of the king's troops after +they had asked quarter, are dreadfully legible on the countenances of +many who survived it. They entered Colonel Gardiner's house before he was +carried off from the field, and notwithstanding the strict orders which +the unhappy Duke of Perth (whose conduct is said to have been very humane +in many instances,) gave to the contrary, every thing of value was +plundered, to the very curtains of the beds, and hangings of the rooms. +His papers were all thrown into the wildest disorder, and his house made +an hospital for the reception of those who were wounded in the action.</p> +<p> +Such was the close of a life which had been zealously devoted to God, and +filled up with many honourable services. Such was the death of him who +had been so highly favoured by God in the method by which he was brought +back to him after so long and so great an estrangement, and in the +progress of so many years, during which (in the expressive phrase of the +most ancient of writers,) "he had walked with him;"–– to fall, as God +threatened the people of his wrath that they should do, "with tumult, +with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." Amos ii. 2. Several +other very worthy, and some of them very eminent persons, shared the same +fate, either now at the battle of Prestonpans, or quickly after at that +of Falkirk;[*] Providence, no doubt, permitting it, to establish our +faith in the rewards of an invisible world, as well as to teach us to +cease from man, and fix our dependence on an Almighty arm.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: Of these, none were more memorable than those illustrious +brothers, Mr. Robert Munro and Dr. Munro, whose tragical but glorious fate +was also shared quietly after by a third hero of the family, Captain +Munro, of Culcairn, brother to Sir Robert and the Doctor.]</p> + +<p> +The remains of this Christian hero (as I believe every reader is now +convinced he may justly be called,) were interred the Tuesday following, +September 24, in the parish church at Tranent, where he had usually +attended divine service, with great solemnity. His obsequies were +honoured with the presence of some persons of distinction, who were not +afraid of paying that mark of respect to his memory, though the country +was then in the hands of the enemy. But, indeed, there was no great +hazard in this; for his character was so well known, that even they +themselves spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join with his friends +in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man.</p> +<p> +The remotest posterity will remember for whom the honour of subduing this +unnatural and pernicious rebellion was reserved; and it will endear the +Duke of Cumberland to all but the open or secret abettors of it in the +present age, and consecrate his name to immortal honours among all the +friends of religion and liberty who shall arise after us. And, I dare +say, it will not be imagined that I at all derogate from his glory in +suggesting, that the memory of that valiant and excellent person whose +memoirs I am now concluding may in some measure have contributed to that +signal and complete victory with which God was pleased to crown the +arms of his Royal Highness; for the force of such an example is very +animating, and a painful consciousness of having deserted such a +commander in such extremity, must at least awaken, where there was any +spark of generosity, an earnest desire to avenge his death on those who +had sacrificed his blood, and that of so many other excellent persons, to +the views of their ambition, rapine or bigotry.</p> +<p> +The reflections which I have made in my funeral sermon on my honoured +friend, and in the dedication of it to his worthy and most afflicted +lady, supersede many things which might otherwise have properly been +added here. I conclude, therefore, with humbly acknowledging the wisdom +and goodness of that awful Providence which drew so thick a gloom around +him in the last hours of his life, that the lustre of his virtues might +dart through it with a more vivid and observable ray. It is abundant +matter of thankfulness that so signal a monument of grace, and ornament +of the Christian profession, was raised in our age and country, and +spared for so many honourable and useful years. Nor can all the +tenderness of the most affectionate friendship, while its sorrows bleed +afresh in the view of so tragical a scene, prevent my adoring the +gracious appointment of the great Lord of all events, that when the day +in which he must have expired without an enemy appeared so very near, the +last ebb of his generous blood should be poured out, as a kind of sacred +libation, to the liberties of his country, and the honour of his God! +that all the other virtues of his character, embalmed as it were by that +precious stream, might diffuse around a more extensive fragrance, and be +transmitted to the most remote posterity with that peculiar charm which +they cannot but derive from their connection with so gallant a fall––an +event (as that blessed apostle, of whose spirit he so deeply drank, has +expressed it) "according to his earnest expectation, and his hope that in +him Christ might be glorified in all things, whether by his life or by +his death."</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<h4><a name="THE">THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE.</a></h4><br> + + + + <p> +In the midst of so many more important articles, I had really forgotten +to say any thing of the person of Colonel Gardiner, of which, +nevertheless, it may be proper here to add a word or two. He was, as I +was informed, in younger life remarkably graceful and amiable; and I +can easily believe it, from what I knew him to be when our acquaintance +began, though he was then turned of fifty, and had gone through so many +fatigues as well as dangers, which could not but leave some traces on his +countenance. He was tall, (I suppose something more than six feet,) well +proportioned, and strongly built; his eyes of a dark gray, and not very +large; his forehead pretty high; his nose of a length and height no way +remarkable, but very well suited to his other features; his cheeks not +very prominent; his mouth moderately large, and his chin rather a little +inclining (when I knew him) to be peaked. He had a strong voice and +lively accent, with an air very intrepid, yet attempered with much +gentleness. There was something in his manner of address most perfectly +easy and obliging, which was in great measure the result of the great +candour and benevolence of his natural temper, and which, no doubt, was +much improved by the deep humility which divine grace had wrought in his +heart, as well as his having been accustomed from his early youth to the +company of persons of distinguished rank and polite behaviour.</p> +<p> +The picture of him, which is given at the beginning of these memoirs, +was taken from an original done by Van Deest (a Dutchman brought into +Scotland by general Wade,) in the year 1727, which was the 40th of his +age, and is said to have been very like him then, though far from being +an exact resemblance of what he was when I had the happiness of being +acquainted with him.[*] Perhaps he would have appeared to the greatest +advantage of all, could he have been exactly drawn on horseback; as +many very good judges, and among the rest the celebrated Mons. Faubert +himself, have spoken of him as one of the completest horsemen that has +ever been known; and there was indeed something so singularly graceful in +his appearance in that attitude, that it was sufficient (as what is very +eminent in its kind generally is,) to strike an eye not formed on any +critical rules.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: In presenting this likeness for the first time in an American +edition of this work, the artist has taken the liberty to change the +costume, by substituting the ordinary military dress for the court dress +of the original.––<i class="smallprint">Editor of the Pres. Board of Publication</i>.] +<br><br> +[Transcriber's Note: The picture is not available.]</p> +<br><br> + + + + +<h4><a name="API">APPENDIX I.</a></h4><br> + + + <p> +(Referred to at the end of Chapter VI, LETTERS.)</p> +<p> +It may not be amiss, in illustration of Dr. Doddridge's remarks on the +subject of dreams, to present to the reader the following account of +a remarkable dream which occurred to the Doctor himself, and had a +beneficial influence on his own mind.––ED. PRES. BD. PUB.</p> +<br><br> + + + +<h4>DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM.</h4><br> + + +<p> +Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Samuel Clark, of St. Alban's, having been +conversing in the evening upon the nature of the separate state, and the +probability that the scenes on which the soul would enter, at its first +leaving the body, would have some resemblance to those things it had been +conversant with while on earth, that it might by degrees be prepared +for the more sublime happiness of the heavenly state, this and other +conversation of the same kind probably occasioned the following dream.</p> +<p> +The Doctor imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in +London, and after remaining in this state for some hours, he thought his +soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of a fine vehicle, +though very different from the gross body it had just quitted, but still +material. He pursued his course through the air, expecting some celestial +messenger to meet him, till he was at some distance from the city, +when turning back and viewing the town, he could not forbear saying to +himself, "How vain do those affairs in which the inhabitants of this +place are so eagerly employed, seem to me a separate spirit!" At length, +as he was continuing his progress, though without any certain directions, +yet easy and happy in the thoughts of the universal providence and +government of God, which extends alike to all states and worlds, he was +now met by one who told him he was sent to conduct him to this destined +state of abode, from which he concluded it was an angel, though he +appeared in the form of an elderly man. They accordingly advanced +together, till they came within sight of a large spacious building, +which had the air of a palace. Upon his inquiring what it was, his guide +replied, it was the place assigned for him at present; upon which the +Doctor wondered that he had read on earth, "that eye had not seen, nor +ear had heard, the glory laid up for them that love God," when he could +easily have formed an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, +though he acknowledged they were greatly inferior to this in elegance and +magnificence. The answer, his guide told him, was plainly suggested by +the conversation of the evening before, and that the scenes presented to +him were purposely contrived to bear a near resemblance to those he had +been accustomed to on earth, that his mind might be more easily and +gradually prepared for those glories which would open upon him hereafter, +and which would at first have quite dazzled and overpowered him. By this +time they came to the palace, and his guide led him through a kind of +saloon into an inner parlour. The first object that struck him was a +great golden cup which stood upon a table, on which was embossed the +figure of a vine and clusters of grapes. He asked his guide the meaning +of it; who told him that it was the cup in which his Saviour drank new +wine with his disciples in his kingdom; and that the figures carved on it +denoted the union between Christ and his Church, implying, that as the +grapes derived all their beauty and flavour from the vine, so the saints, +even in a state of glory, were indebted for their establishment in +holiness and happiness, to their union with their common Head, in whom +they are all complete. While they were conversing, he heard a tap at the +door, and was informed by the angel that it was a signal of his Lord's +approach, and was intended to prepare him for an interview. Accordingly, +in a short time our Saviour entered the room, and upon his casting +himself at his feet, he graciously raised him up, and with a smile of +inexpressible complacency, assured him of his favour, and kind acceptance +of his faithful services, and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the +intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the +cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into the Doctor's hand. +The Doctor would have declined it at first, as too great an honour; but +our Lord replied, as to Peter in washing his feet, "If thou drinkest not +with me, thou hast no part with me." This he observed filled him with +such a transport of gratitude, love and admiration, that he was ready to +sink under it. His master seemed sensible of this, and told him he must +leave him for the present, but would not be long before he repeated +his visit. As soon as our Lord was retired, and the Doctor's mind more +composed, he observed that the room was hung with pictures, and upon +examining them, he found to his great surprise, that they contained +all the history of his life; and most remarkable scenes he had passed +through, being there represented in a very lively manner––the many +temptations and trials he had been exposed to, and the signal instances +of the divine goodness in the different periods of his life. It may not +be easily imagined how this would strike and affect his mind. It excited +in him the strongest emotions of gratitude, especially when he reflected +that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the +purposes of divine love towards him were so amply accomplished. The +exstacy of joy and gratitude, into which these reflections threw him, was +so great that he awoke; but for some time after he awoke the impression +continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, and he said +that he never, on any occasion, remembered to have had sentiments of +devotion and love equal to it.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<h4><a name="APII">APPENDIX II.</a></h4><br> + + + <p> + (Referred to in Chapter VII, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.)</p> +<p> +The following extract from Dr. Doddridge's "Thoughts on Sacramental +Occasions," gives a beautiful and edifying picture of the exercises of +his affectionate and pious heart under a painful bereavement.</p> +<br><br> + +<h4>THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT, OCTOBER 3, 1736.<br><br> + +DEAR BETSEY DEAD.¹(see Footnote¹) +</h4><br> + + + <p> + I had preached in the bitterness of my heart from these words: "Is it +well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is +well." 2 Kings iv. 26. I endeavoured to show the reason there was to say +this; but surely there was never any dispensation of Providence in which +I found it so hard, for my very soul had been overwhelmed within me. +Indeed, some hard thoughts of the mercy of God were ready to arise; and +the apprehension of his heavy displeasure, and the fear of my child's +future state, added fuel to the fire.</p> +<p> +Upon the whole, my mind was in the most painful agitation; but it pleased +God, that, in composing the sermon, my soul became quieted, and I was +brought into a more silent and cordial submission to the Divine will.</p> +<p> +At the table I discoursed on these words, "Although my house be not so +with God." 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. I observed, that domestic calamities may +befall good men in their journey through life, and particularly in +relation to their children; but that they have a refuge in God's +covenant; it is everlasting; it is sure; it is well ordered––every +provision is made according to our necessities; and shall be our +salvation, as it is the object of our most affectionate regard.</p> +<p> +One further circumstance I must record; and that is, that I here solemnly +recollected that I had, in a former sacrament taken the cup with these +words, "Lord, I take this cup as a public and solemn token that I will +refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hand." I mentioned this +recollection, and charged it publicly on myself and my Christian friends. +God has taken me at my word, but I do not retract it; I repeat it again +with regard to every future cup.</p> +<p> +I am just come from the coffin of my dear child, who seemes to be sweetly +asleep there, with a serene, composed, delightful countenance, once how +animated with double life! There––lo! O my soul! lo there! is thine idol +laid still in death––the creature which stood next to God in thine heart; +to whom it was opened with a fond and flattering delight. Methinks I +would learn to be dead with her––dead to the world. Oh that I could be +dead with her, not any further than that her dear memory may promote my +living to God.[*]</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[*Note: The following note was written in the margin of the manuscript by +the late Rev. Thomas Stedman: "I think I have heard that the doctor wrote +his funeral sermon for his daughter, or a part of it, upon her coffin."]</p> +<p> +I had a great deal of very edifying, conversation last night and this +morning with my wife, whose wisdom does indeed make her face to shine +under this affliction. She is supported and armoured with a courage which +seems not at all natural to her; talks with the utmost freedom, and has +really said many of the most useful things that ever were said to me by +any person upon the earth, both as to consolation and admonition. Had +the best things I have read on the subject been collected together, they +could hardly have been better conceived or better expressed. This is +to me very surprising when I consider her usual reserve. I have all +imaginable reason to believe that God will make this affliction a great +blessing to her, and I hope it may prove so to me. There was a fond +delight and complacence which I took in Betsey beyond any thing living. +Although she had not a tenth part of that rational, manly love, which I +pay to her mourning and many surviving friends; yet it leaves a peculiar +pain upon my heart, and it is almost as if my very gall were poured +out upon the earth. Yet much sweetness mingles itself with this bitter +potion, chiefly in the view and hope of my speedy removal to the eternal +world. May it not be the bounty of this providence, that instead of her +living many years upon the earth, God may have taken away my child that I +might be fitted for and reconciled to my own dissolution, perhaps nearly +approaching? I verily believe that I shall meet her there, and enjoy much +more of her in heaven than I should have done had she survived me on +earth. Lord, thy will be done; may my life be used for the service while +continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest.</p> +<p class="smallprint"> +[Footnote ¹: The following extract from the Diary of Dr. Doddridge is +here subjoined, as affording an explanation of some particulars alluded +to in the text.</p> +<br> + + + + + <h5> REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR CHILD, <br> + AND THE MANY MOURNFUL PROVIDENCES ATTENDING IT.</h5><br> + + + <p class="smallprint"> + I have a great deal of reason to condemn my own negligence and folly, +that for so many months I have suffered no memorandums of what has passed +between God and my soul, although some of the transactions were very +remarkable, as well as some things which I have heard concerning others; +but the subject of this article is the most melancholy of any. We lost my +dear and reverend brother and friend, Mr. Sanders, on the 31st of July +last; on the 1st of September, Lady Russell––that invaluable friend, died +at Reading on her road from Bath; and on Friday, the 1st of October, God +was pleased, by a most awful stroke, to take away my eldest, dearest +child, my lovely Betsey. She was formed to strike my affections in the +most powerful manner; such a person, genius, and temper, as I admired +even beyond their real importance, so that indeed I doted upon her, and +was for many months before her death in a great degree of bondage upon +her account. She was taken ill at Newport about the middle of June, and +from thence to the day of her death, she was my continual thought, and +almost uninterrupted care. God only knows with what earnestness and +importunity I prostrated myself before him to beg her life, which I would +have been willing almost to have purchased with my own. When reduced to +the lowest degree of languishment by a consumption, I could not forbear +looking upon her almost every hour. I saw her with the strongest mixture +of anguish and delight; no chemist ever watched his crucible with greater +care, when he expected the production of the philosopher's stone, than I +watched her in all the various turns of her distemper, which at last grew +utterly hopeless, and then no language can express the agony into which +it threw me. One remarkable circumstance I cannot but recollect: in +praying most affectionately, perhaps too earnestly, for her life, these +words came into my mind with great power, "Speak no more to me of this +matter." I was unwilling to take them, and went into the chamber to see +my dear lamb, when, instead of receiving me with her usual tenderness, +she looked upon me with a stern air, and said, with a very remarkable +determination of voice, "I have no more to say to you;" and I think that +from that time, although she lived at least ten days, she seldom looked +upon me with pleasure, or cared to suffer me to come near her. But that +I might feel all the bitterness of the affliction, Providence so ordered +it, that I came in when her sharpest agonies were upon her, and those +words, "O dear, O dear, what shall I do?" rung in my ears for succeeding +hours and days. But God delivered her,––and she, without any violent pang +in the article of her dissolution, quietly and sweetly fell asleep, as I +hope, in Jesus, about ten at night, I being then at Maidwell. When I came +home my mind was under a dark cloud relating to the eternal state; but +God was pleased graciously to remove it, and gave me comfortable hopes, +after having felt the most heart-rending sorrow. My dear wife bore the +affliction in the most glorious manner, and discovered more wisdom, and +piety, and steadiness of temper in a few days, than I had ever in six +years an opportunity of observing before. O my soul, God has blasted thy +gourd; thy greatest earthly delight is gone: seek it in heaven, where I +hope this dear babe is; where I am sure that my Saviour is; and where I +trust, through grace, notwithstanding all this irregularity of temper and +of heart, that I shall shortly be.</p> + + + <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="4" width="100%" align=center border="0"> +<tr> + + <td class="right2" valign="top" width="100%"> + Sunday, October 3, 1736. + </td> + + </tr></table> <br><br><br><br> + + <h5>FURTHER REFLECTIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MY DEAR BETSEY.</h5> + + + <p class="smallprint"> + I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is +for ever hidden from them. My heart was too full to weep much. We had a +suitable sermon from these words: "Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah +iv. 9; because of the gourd. I hope God knows that I am not angry; but +sorrowful he surely allows me to be. I could have wished that more had +been said concerning the hope we may have of our child; and it was a +great disappointment to me that nothing of that kind should have been +said by one that loved her so well as my brother Hunt did. Yet, I bless +God, I have my hopes that she is lodged in the arms of Christ. And there +was an occurrence that I took much notice of; I was most earnestly +praying that God would be pleased to give me some further encouragement +on this head, by letting some new light, or by directing me to some +further thoughts upon the subject. Soon after, as I came into my wife's +chamber, she told me that our maid Betty, who had indeed the affection +of a parent for my dear girl, had just before assured her, that, on the +Sabbath day evening, Betsey would be repeating to herself some things of +what she had heard in my prayers and in my preachings, but did not +care to talk of it to others; and my wife assured me that she solemnly +recommended herself to God in the words that I had taught her a little +before she died. Blessed God, hast thou not received her? I trust that +thou hast, and pardoned the infirmities of her poor, short, childish, +afflicted life. I hope, in some measure out of love to me, as thy +servant, thou hast done it, for Christ's sake; and I would consider the +very hope, as an engagement to thy future service. Lord, I love those who +were kind to my child, and wept with me for her; shall I not much more +love thee, who, I hope, art at this moment taking care of her, and +opening her infant faculties for the duties and blessedness of heaven.<br><br> + +Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first born is +gone;––my beloved child is laid in bed before me. I have often followed +her to her bed in a literal sense; and shortly I shall follow her to +that, where we shall lie down together, and our rest shall be together +in the dust. In a literal sense the grave is ready for me. My grave is +made––I have looked into it––a dear part of myself is already there; and +when I stood at the Lord's table I stood directly over it. It is some +pleasure to me to think that my dust will be lodged near that of my dear +lamb, how much more to hope that my soul will rest with hers, and rejoice +in her forever! But, O, let me not centre my thoughts even here; it is +at rest with, and in God, that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace +secure it to me! and in the mean time give me some holy acquiescence of +soul in thee; and although my gourd be withered, yet shelter me under the +shadow of thy wings.</p> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + +***** This file should be named 11253-h.htm or 11253-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/5/11253/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/11253.txt b/old/11253.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dce2f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4914 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Life of Col. James Gardiner + Who Was Slain at the Battle of Prestonpans, September 21, 1745 + +Author: P. Doddridge + +Release Date: February 24, 2004 [EBook #11253] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + + + + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER, + + +WHO WAS SLAIN AT THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS, + + +SEPTEMBER 21, 1745. + + + +BY P. DODDRIDGE, D.D. + + + +'Justior alter Nec pietate fuit, nec bello major et armis.'--VIRGIL + + + + +CHAPTER + + I PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + II BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + III MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + IV CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + V HIS CONVERSION. + + VI LETTERS. + + VII DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + +VIII CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + IX INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + X DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + XI EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + XII RETURN TO ENGLAND. + +XIII REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + XIV APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + XV BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + APPENDIX I + + APPENDIX II + + + + +[*Transcriber's Note: At the time of this book, England still followed +the Julian calendar (after Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.), and celebrated New +Year's Day on March 25th (Annunciation Day). Most Catholic countries +accepted the Gregorian calendar (after Pope Gregory XIII) from some time +after 1582 (the Catholic countries of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy +in 1582, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland within a year or two, +Hungary in 1587, and Scotland in 1600), and celebrated New Year's Day on +January 1st. England finally changed to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. +This is the reason for the double dates in the early months of the years +in this narrative. January 1687 in England would have been January 1688 +in Scotland. Only after March 25th was the year the same in the two +countries. The Julian calendar was known as 'Old Style', and the +Gregorian calendar as 'New Style' (N.S.). + +(Thus a letter written from France on e.g. August 4th, 1719 would be +dated August 4, N.S.)] + + + + +LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +PARENTAGE AND EARLY DAYS. + + +When I promised the public some larger account of the life and character +of this illustrious person, than I could conveniently insert in my sermon +on the sad occasion of his death, I was secure, that if Providence +continued my capacity of writing, I should not wholly disappoint the +expectation; for I was furnished with a variety of particulars which +appeared to me worthy of general notice, in consequence of that intimate +friendship with which he had honoured me during the last six years of his +life--a friendship which led him to open his heart to me, in repeated +conversations, with an unbounded confidence, (as he then assured me, +beyond what he had used with any other man living,) so far as religious +experiences were concerned; and I had also received several very valuable +letters from him during the time of our absence from each other, which +contained most genuine and edifying traces of his Christian character. +But I hoped further to learn many valuable particulars from the papers of +his own closet, and from his letters to other friends, as well as +from what they more circumstantially knew concerning him. I therefore +determined to delay the execution of my promise till I could enjoy these +advantages for performing it in the most satisfactory manner; nor have I, +on the whole, reason to regret that determination. + +I shall not trouble the reader with all the causes which concurred to +retard these expected assistances for almost a whole year. The chief of +them was the tedious languishing illness of his afflicted lady, through +whose hands it was proper the papers should pass; together with the +confusion into which the rebels had thrown them when they ransacked +his seat at Bankton, where most of them were deposited. But having now +received such of them as have escaped their rapacious hands, and could +conveniently be collected and transmitted, I set myself with the greatest +pleasure to perform what I esteem not merely a tribute of gratitude to +the memory of my invaluable friend, (though never was the memory of any +mortal man more precious and sacred to me,) but of duty to God, and to my +fellow-creatures; for I have a most cheerful hope that the narrative I am +now to write will, under the divine blessing, be a means of spreading, +what of all things in the world, every benevolent heart will most desire +to spread, a warm and lively sense of religion. + +My own heart has been so much edified and animated by what I have read in +the memoirs of persons who have been eminent for wisdom and piety, that I +cannot but wish the treasure may be more and more increased; and I would +hope the world may gather the like valuable fruits from the life I am +now attempting, not only as it will contain very singular circumstances, +which may excite general curiosity, but as it comes attended with some +other particular advantages. + +The reader is here to survey a character of such eminent and various +goodness as might demand veneration, and inspire him with a desire of +imitating it too, had it appeared in the obscurest rank; but it will +surely command some peculiar regard, when viewed in so elevated and +important a station, especially as it shone, not in ecclesiastical, but +_military_ life, where the temptations are so many, and the prevalence +of the contrary character so great, that it may seem no inconsiderable +praise and felicity to be free from dissolute vice, and to retain what in +most other professions might be esteemed only _a mediocrity of virtue_. +It may surely, with the highest justice, be expected that the title +and bravery of Colonel Gardiner will invite many of our officers and +soldiers, to whom his name has been long honourable and dear, to peruse +this account of him with some peculiar attention; in consequence of which +it may be a means of increasing the number, and brightening the character +of those who are already adorning their office, their country, and their +religion; and of reclaiming those who will see what they ought to be, +rather than what they are. On the whole, to the gentlemen of the sword I +would particularly offer these memoirs, as theirs by so distinguished +a title; yet I am firmly persuaded there are _none_ whose office is so +sacred, or whose proficiency in the religious life is so advanced, but +they may find something to demand their thankfulness, and to awaken their +emulation. + + + +COLONEL JAMES GARDINER was the son of Capt. Patrick Gardiner of the +family of Torwoodhead, by Mrs.[*] Mary Hodge of the family of Gladsmuir. +The captain, who was master of a handsome estate, served many years in +the army of king William and queen Anne, and died abroad with the British +forces in Germany, soon after the battle of Hochstett, through the +fatigues he underwent in the duties of that celebrated campaign. He had +a company in the regiment of foot once commanded by Colonel Hodge, his +valiant brother-in-law, who was slain at the head of that regiment (my +memorial from Scotland says) at the battle of Steenkirk, which was fought +in the year 1692. + +[*Transcriber's Note: Mrs. (Mistress), in that age, was the normal style +of address for an unmarried daughter from a prominent family, as well as +for a married lady.] + +Mrs. Gardiner, our colonel's mother, was a lady of very respectable +character; but it pleased God to exercise her with very uncommon trials; +for she not only lost her husband and her brother in the service of their +country, as before related, but also her eldest son, Mr. Robert Gardiner, +on the day which completed the 16th year of his age, at the siege of +Namur, in 1695. But there is great reason to believe that God blessed +these various and heavy afflictions, as the means of forming her to that +eminent degree of piety which will render her memory honourable as long +as it continues. + +Her second son, the worthy person of whom I am now to give a more +particular account, was born at Carriden, in Linlithgowshire, on the 10th +of January, A.D. 1687-8,--the memorable year of that glorious revolution +which he justly esteemed among the happiest of all events; so that when +he was slain in defence of those liberties which God then, by so gracious +a providence, rescued from utter destruction, i.e. on the 21st of +September 1745, he was aged 57 years, 8 months, and 11 days. + +The annual return of his birth-day was observed by him in the latter +and better years of his life, in a manner very different from what is +commonly practised; for, instead of making it a day of festivity, I +am told he rather distinguished it as a season of more than ordinary +humiliation before God--both in commemoration of those mercies which he +received in the first opening of life, and under an affectionate sense, +as well of his long alienation from the great Author and support of his +being, as of the many imperfections which he lamented in the best of his +days and services. + +I have not met with many things remarkable concerning the early days of +his life, only that his mother took care to instruct him, with great +tenderness and affection, in the principles of true Christianity. He was +also trained up in humane literature, at the school at Linlithgow, where +he made a very considerable progress in the languages. I remember to have +heard him quote some passages of the Latin classics very pertinently; +though his employment in life, and the various turns which his mind +took under different impulses in succeeding years, prevented him from +cultivating such studies. + +The good effects of his mother's prudent and exemplary care were not so +conspicuous as she wished and hoped, in the earlier part of her son's +life; yet there is great reason to believe they were not entirely lost. +As they were probably the occasion of many convictions which in his +younger years were overborne, so I doubt not, that when religious +impressions took that strong hold of his heart which they afterwards did, +that stock of knowledge which had been so early laid up in his mind, +was found of considerable service. And I have heard them make the +observation, as an encouragement to parents, and other pious friends, to +do their duty, and to hope for those good consequences of it which may +not immediately appear. + +Could his mother, or a very religious aunt, (of whose good instructions +and exhortations I have often heard him speak with pleasure,) have +prevailed, he would not have thought of a military life, from which it +is no wonder these ladies endeavoured to dissuade him, considering the +mournful experience they had of the dangers attending it, and the dear +relatives they had lost already by it. But it suited his taste; and the +ardour of his spirit, animated by the persuasions of a friend who greatly +urged it,[*] was not to be restrained. Nor will the reader wonder +that, thus excited and supported, it easily overbore their tender +remonstrances, when he knows that this lively youth fought three duels +before he attained to the stature of a man; in one of which, when he was +but eight years old, he received from a boy much older than himself, a +wound in his right cheek, the scar of which was always very apparent. +The false sense of honour which instigated him to it, might seem indeed +something excusable in those unripened years, and considering the +profession of his father, brother, and uncle; but I have often heard +him mention this rashness with that regret which the reflection would +naturally give to so wise and good a man in the maturity of life. And I +have been informed that, after his remarkable conversion, he declined +accepting a challenge, with this calm and truly great reply, which, in +a man of his experienced bravery, was exceedingly graceful: "I fear +sinning, though you know I do not fear fighting." + +[*Note: I suppose this to have been Brigadier-General Rue, who had from +his childhood a peculiar affection for him.] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +BATTLE OF RAMILLIES. + + +He served first as a cadet, which must have been very early; and then, at +fourteen years old, he bore an ensign's commission in a Scotch regiment +in the Dutch service, in which he continued till the year 1702, when (if +my information be right) he received an ensign's commission from queen +Anne, which he bore in the battle of Ramillies, being then in the +nineteenth year of his age. In this ever-memorable action he received a +wound in his mouth by a musket-ball, which has often been reported to be +the occasion of his conversion. That report was a mistaken one; but as +some very remarkable circumstances attended this affair, which I have +had the pleasure of hearing more than once from his own mouth, I hope my +readers will excuse me, if I give him so uncommon a story at large. + +Our young officer was of a party in the forlorn hope, and was commanded +on what seemed almost a desperate service, to dispossess the French of +the church-yard at Ramillies, where a considerable number of them were +posted to remarkable advantage. They succeeded much better than was +expected; and it may well be supposed that Mr. Gardiner, who had before +been in several encounters, and had the view of making his fortune to +animate the natural intrepidity of his spirit, was glad of such an +opportunity of signalizing himself. Accordingly he had planted his +colours on an advanced ground; and while he was calling to his men, +(probably in that horrid language which is so peculiar a disgrace to our +soldiery, and so absurdly common on such occasions of extreme danger,) he +received into his mouth a shot, which, without beating out of any of his +teeth, or touching the fore part of his tongue, went through his neck, +and came out about an inch and a half on the left side of the _vertebrae_. +Not feeling at first the pain of the stroke, he wondered what was become +of the ball, and in the wildness of his surprise began to suspect he had +swallowed it; but falling soon after, he traced the passage of it by his +finger, when he could discover it in no other way; which I mention as +one circumstance, among many which occur, to make it probable that the +greater part of those who fall in battle by these instruments of death, +feel very little anguish from the most mortal wounds. + +This accident happened about five or six in the evening, on the 23d of +May, 1706; and the army, pursuing its advantages against the French, +without ever regarding the wounded, (which was, it seems, the Duke of +Marlborough's constant method,) our young officer lay all night on +the field, agitated, as may well be supposed, with a great variety of +thoughts. He assured me, that when he reflected upon the circumstance of +his wound, that a ball should, as he then conceived it, go through his +head without killing him, he thought God had preserved him by a miracle; +and therefore assuredly concluded that he should live, abandoned and +desperate as his state seemed to be. Yet (which to me appeared very +astonishing) he had little thoughts of humbling himself before God, and +returning to him after the wanderings of a life so licentiously begun. +But, expecting to recover, his mind was taken up with contrivances to +secure his gold, of which he had a good deal about him; and he had +recourse to a very odd expedient, which proved successful. Expecting to +be stripped, he first took out a handful of that clotted gore of which he +was frequently obliged to clear his mouth, or he would have been choked; +and putting it into his left hand, he took out his money, which I think +was about 19 pistoles, and shutting his hand, and besmearing the back +part of it with blood, he kept in this position till the blood dried in +such a manner that his hand could not easily fall open, though any sudden +surprise should happen, in which he might lose the presence of mind which +that concealment otherwise would have required. + +In the morning the French, who were masters of that spot, though their +forces were defeated at some distance, came to plunder the slain; and +seeing him to appearance almost expiring, one of them was just applying +a sword to his breast, to destroy the little remainder of life, when, in +the critical moment, upon which all the extraordinary events of such a +life as his afterwards proved, were suspended, a Cordelier who attended +the plunderers interposed, (taking him by his dress for a Frenchman) and +said, "Do not kill that poor child." Our young soldier heard all that +passed, though he was not able to speak one word; and, opening his +eyes, made a sign for something to drink. They gave him a sup of some +spirituous liquor which happened to be at hand, by which he said he found +a more sensible refreshment than he could remember from anything he had +tasted either before or since. Then signifying to the friar to lean down +his ear to his mouth, he employed the first efforts of his feeble breath +in telling him (what, alas! was a contrived falsehood) that he was a +nephew to the governor of Huy, a neutral town in the neighbourhood; and +that if he could take any method of conveying him thither, he did not +doubt but his uncle would liberally reward him. He had indeed a friend at +Huy, who I think was governor, and, if I mistake not, had been acquainted +with the captain, his father, from whom he expected a kind reception; but +the relation was only pretended. On hearing this, they laid him on a sort +of hand-barrow, and sent him by a file of musqueteers towards the place; +but the men lost their way, and, towards the evening, got into a wood in +which they were obliged to continue all night. The poor patient's wound +being still undressed, it is not to be wondered at that by this time it +raged violently. The anguish of it engaged him earnestly to beg that they +would either kill him outright, or leave him there to die without the +torture of any further motion; and indeed they were obliged to rest for a +considerable time, on account of their own weariness. Thus he spent +the second night in the open air, without any thing more than a common +bandage to staunch the blood. He has often mentioned it as a most +astonishing providence that he did not bleed to death, which, under God, +he ascribed to the remarkable coldness of these two nights. + +Judging it quite unsafe to attempt carrying him to Huy, from whence they +were now several miles distant, his convoy took him early in the morning +to a convent in the neighbourhood, where he was hospitably received, and +treated with great kindness and tenderness. But the cure of his wound was +committed to an ignorant barber-surgeon who lived near the house, the +best shift that could then be made, at a time when it may easily be +supposed persons of ability in their profession had their hands full of +employment. The tent which this artist applied, was almost like a peg +driven into the wound; and gentlemen of skill and experience, when they +came to hear of the manner in which he was treated, wondered how he could +possibly survive such management. But by the blessing of God on these +applications, rough as they were, he recovered in a few months. The Lady +Abbess, who called him her son, treated him with the affection and care +of a mother; and he always declared that every thing which he saw within +these walls, was conducted with the strictest decency and decorum. He +received a great many devout admonitions from the ladies there, and +they would fain have persuaded him to acknowledge what they thought so +miraculous a deliverance, by embracing the _Catholic faith_, as they were +pleased to call it. But they could not succeed; for though no religion +lay near his heart, yet he had too much of the spirit of a gentleman +lightly to change that form of religion which he wore, as it were loose +about him; as well as too much good sense to swallow those monstrous +absurdities of Popery which immediately presented themselves to him, +unacquainted as he was with the niceties of the controversy. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MILITARY PREFERMENTS. + + +When his liberty was regained by an exchange of prisoners, and his health +thoroughly established, he was far from rendering unto the Lord according +to that wonderful display of divine mercy which he had experienced. +I know very little of the particulars of those wild, thoughtless and +wretched years which lay between the 19th and 30th of his life; except +that he frequently experienced the divine goodness in renewed instances, +particularly in preserving him in several hot military actions, in all +which he never received so much as a wound after this, forward as he was +in tempting danger; and yet that all these years were spent in an entire +alienation from God, and in an eager pursuit of animal pleasure as his +supreme good. The series of criminal amours in which he was almost +incessantly engaged during this time, must probably have afforded some +remarkable adventures and occurrences; but the memory of them has +perished. Nor do I think it unworthy of notice here, that amidst all the +intimacy of our friendship, and the many hours of cheerful as well as +serious converse which we spent together, I never remember to have heard +him speak of any of these intrigues, otherwise than in the general with +deep and solemn abhorrence. This I the rather mention, as it seemed a +most genuine proof of his unfeigned repentance, which I think there is +great reason to suspect, when people seem to take a pleasure in relating +and describing scenes of vicious indulgence, which they yet profess to +have disapproved and forsaken. + +Amidst all these pernicious wanderings from the paths of religion, +virtue, and happiness, he approved himself so well in his military +character, that he was made a lieutenant in that year, viz. 1706; and I +am told he was very quickly after promoted to a cornet's commission in +Lord Stair's regiment of the Scots Greys, and, on the 31st of January, +1714-15, was made captain-lieutenant in Colonel Ker's regiment of +dragoons. He had the honour of being known to the Earl of Stair some time +before, and was made his aid-de-camp; and when, upon his Lordship's being +appointed ambassador from his late Majesty to the court of France, he +made so splendid an entrance into Paris, Captain Gardiner was his master +of the horse; and I have been told that a great deal of the care of that +admirably well-adjusted ceremony fell upon him; so that he gained great +credit by the manner in which he conducted it. Under the benign influence +of his Lordship's favour, which to the last day of his life he retained, +a captain's commission was procured for him, dated July 22, 1715, in +the regiment of dragoons commanded by Colonel Stanhope, now Earl of +Harrington; and in 1717 he was advanced to the majority of that regiment, +in which office he continued till it was reduced on November 10, 1718, +when he was put out of commission. But when his Majesty, king George I., +was thoroughly apprised of his faithful and important services, he gave +him his sign-manual, entitling him to the first majority that should +become vacant in any regiment of horse or dragoons, which happened, about +five years after, to be in Croft's regiment of dragoons, in which he +received a commission, dated 1st June, 1724; and on the 20th of July the +same year, he was made major of an older regiment, commanded by the Earl +of Stair. + +As I am now speaking of so many of his military preferments, I will +dispatch the account of them by observing, that, on the 24th January +1729-30, he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the same +regiment, long under the command of Lord Cadogan, with whose friendship +this brave and vigilant officer was also honoured for many years. And he +continued in this rank and regiment till the 19th of April, 1743, when +he received a colonel's commission over a regiment of dragoons lately +commanded by Brigadier Bland, at the head of which he valiantly fell, in +the defence of his sovereign and his country, about two years and a half +after he received it. + +We will now return to that period of his life which was passed at Paris, +the scene of such remarkable and important events. He continued (if I +remember right) several years under the roof of the brave and generous +Earl of Stair, to whom he endeavoured to approve himself by every +instance of diligent and faithful service. And his Lordship gave no +inconsiderable proof of the dependence which he had upon him, when, in +the beginning of 1715, he entrusted him with the important dispatches +relating to a discovery which, by a series of admirable policy, he had +made of a design which the French king was then forming for invading +Great Britain in favour of the Pretender; in which the French apprehended +they were so sure of success, that it seemed a point of friendship in one +of the chief counsellors of that court to dissuade a dependent of his +from accepting some employment under his Britannic majesty, when proposed +by his envoy there, because it was said that in less than six weeks there +would be a revolution in favour of what they called the family of the +Stuarts. The captain dispatched his journey with the utmost speed; a +variety of circumstances happily concurred to accelerate it; and they +who remember how soon the regiments which that emergency required, were +raised and armed, will, I doubt not, esteem it a memorable instance, both +of the most cordial zeal in the friends of the government, and of the +gracious care of Divine Providence over the house of Hanover and the +British liberties, so inseparably connected with its interest. + +While Captain Gardiner was at London, in one of the journeys he made upon +this occasion, he, with that frankness which was natural to him, and +which in those days was not always under the most prudent restraint, +ventured to predict, from what he knew of the bad state of the French +king's health, that he would not live six weeks. This was made known by +some spies who were at St. James's, and came to be reported at the court +of Versailles; for he received letters from some friends at Paris, +advising him not to return thither, unless he could reconcile himself to +a lodging in the Bastile. But he was soon free from that apprehension; +for, if I mistake not, before half that time was accomplished, Louis XIV. +died, (Sept. 1, 1715,) and it is generally thought his death was hastened +by a very accidental circumstance, which had some reference to the +captain's prophecy; for the last time he ever dined in public, which +was a very little while after the report of it had been made there, +he happened to discover our British envoy among the spectators. The +penetration of this illustrious person was too great, and his attachment +to the interest of his royal master too well known, not to render him +very disagreeable to that crafty and tyrannical prince, whom God had so +long suffered to be the disgrace of monarchy, and the scourge of Europe. +He at first appeared very languid, as indeed he was; but on casting his +eye upon the Earl of Stair, he affected to appear before him in a much +better state of health than he really was; and therefore, as if he had +been awakened on a sudden from some deep reverie, he immediately put +himself into an erect posture, called up a laboured vivacity into his +countenance, and ate much more heartily than was by any means advisable, +repeating two or three times to a nobleman, (I think the Duke of Bourbon) +then in waiting, "_Il me semble que je ne mange pas mal pour un homme qui +devoit mourir si tot._" "Methinks I eat very well for a man who is to die +so soon." But this inroad upon that regularity of living which he had for +some time observed, agreed so ill with him that he never recovered this +meal, but died in less than a fortnight. This gave occasion for some +humorous people to say, that old Louis, after all, was killed by a +Briton. But if this story be true, (which I think there can be no room to +doubt, as the colonel, from whom I have often heard it, though absent, +could scarce be misinformed,) it might more properly be said that he fell +by his own vanity; in which view I thought it so remarkable, as not to be +unworthy of a place in these memoirs. + +The captain quickly returned, and continued, with small interruptions, at +Paris, at least till 1720, and how much longer I do not certainly know. +The Earl's favour and generosity made him easy in his affairs, though he +was, (as has been observed before,) part of the time, out of commission, +by breaking the regiment to which he belonged, of which before he was +major. This was in all probability the gayest part of his life, and the +most criminal. Whatever wise and good examples he might find in the +family where he had the honour to reside, it is certain that the French +court, during the regency of the Duke of Orleans, was one of the most +dissolute under heaven. What, by a wretched abuse of language, have been +called intrigues of love and gallantry, were so entirely to the major's +then degenerate taste, that if not the whole business, at least the whole +happiness of his life, consisted in them; and he had now too much leisure +for one who was so prone to abuse it. His fine constitution, than which +perhaps there was hardly ever a better, gave him great opportunities of +indulging himself in these excesses; and his good spirits enabled him to +pursue his pleasures of every kind in so alert and sprightly a manner, +that multitudes envied him, and called him, by a dreadful kind of +compliment, "the happy rake." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CHECKS OF CONSCIENCE. + + +Yet still the checks of conscience, and some remaining principles of so +good an education, would break in upon his most licentious hours; and +I particularly remember he told me, that when some of his dissolute +companions were once congratulating him on his distinguished felicity, a +dog happening at that time to come into the room, he could not forbear +groaning inwardly, and saying to himself, 'Oh that I were that dog!' Such +then was his happiness; and such perhaps is that of hundreds more who +bear themselves highest in the contempt of religion, and glory in +that infamous servitude which they affect to call liberty. But these +remonstrances of reason and conscience were in vain; and, in short, he +carried things so far in this wretched part of his life, that I am well +assured some sober English gentlemen, who made no great pretences to +religion, how agreeable soever he might have been to them on other +accounts, rather declined than sought his company, as fearing they might +have been ensnared and corrupted by it. + +Yet I cannot find that in these most abandoned days he was fond of +drinking. Indeed, he never had any natural relish for that kind of +intemperance, from which he used to think a manly pride might be +sufficient to preserve persons of sense and spirit; as by it they give up +every thing that distinguishes them from the meanest of their species, or +indeed from animals the most below it. So that if ever he fell into any +excesses of this kind, it was merely out of complaisance to his company, +and that he might not appear stiff and singular. His frank, obliging, and +generous temper procured him many friends; and these principles, which +rendered him amiable to others, not being under the direction of true +wisdom and piety, sometimes made him, in the ways of living he pursued, +more uneasy to himself than he might, perhaps, have been, if he could +have entirely overcome them; especially as he never was a sceptic in his +principles, but still retained a secret apprehension that natural and +revealed religion, though he did not much care to think of either, were +founded in truth. And, with this conviction, his notorious violations of +the most essential precepts of both could not but occasion some secret +misgivings of heart. His continual neglect of the great Author of his +being, of whose perfections he could not doubt, and to whom he knew +himself to be under daily and perpetual obligations, gave him, in some +moments of involuntary reflection, inexpressible remorse; and this at +times wrought upon him to such a degree, that he resolved he would +attempt to pay him some acknowledgments. Accordingly, for a few mornings +he did it, repeating in retirement some passages out of the Psalms, and +perhaps other scriptures which he still retained in his memory; and +owning, in a few strong words, the many mercies and deliverances he had +received, and the ill returns he had made for them. + +I find, among the other papers transmitted to me, the following verses, +which I have heard him repeat, as what had impressed him a good deal +in his unconverted state; and as I suppose they did something towards +setting him on this effort towards devotion, and might probably furnish +a part of these orisons, I hope I need make no apology to my reader for +inserting them, especially as I do not recollect that I have seen them +any where else. + + Attend, my soul! the early birds inspire + My grovelling thoughts with pure celestial fire; + They from their temperate sleep awake, and pay + Their thankful anthems for the new-born day. + See how the tuneful lark is mounted high, + And, poet-like, salutes the eastern sky! + He warbles through the fragrant air his lays, + And seems the beauties of the morn to praise. + But man, more void of gratitude awakes, + And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes; + Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame, + Without one thought of Him from whom it came. + The wretch unhallowed does the day begin, + Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin. + +But these strains were too devout to continue long in a heart as +yet quite unsanctified; for how readily soever he could repeat such +acknowledgments of the Divine power, presence, and goodness, and own his +own follies and faults, he was stopped short by the remonstrances of +conscience as to the flagrant absurdity of confessing sins he did not +desire to forsake, and of pretending to praise God for his mercies, when +he did not endeavour to live to his service, and to behave in such a +manner as gratitude, if sincere, would plainly dictate. A model of +devotion where such sentiments made no part, his good sense could not +digest; and the use of such language before a heart-searching God, merely +as an hypocritical form, while the sentiments of his soul were contrary +to it, justly appeared to him such daring profaneness, that, irregular as +the state of his mind was, the thought of it struck him with horror. +He therefore determined to make no more attempts of this sort, and was +perhaps one of the first who deliberately laid aside prayer from some +sense of God's omniscience, and some natural principle of honour and +conscience. + +These secret debates with himself and ineffectual efforts would sometimes +return; but they were overborne again and again by the force of +temptation, and it is no wonder that in consequence of them his heart +grew yet harder. Nor was it softened or awakened by some very memorable +deliverances which at this time he received. He was in extreme danger by +a fall from his horse, as he was riding post I think in the streets of +Calais. When going down a hill, the horse threw him over his head, and +pitched over him; so that when he rose, the beast lay beyond him, and +almost dead. Yet, though he received not the least harm, it made no +serious impression on his mind. On his return from England in the +packet-boat, if I remember right, but a few weeks after the former +accident, a violent storm, that drove them up to Harwich, tossed them +from thence for several hours in a dark night on the coast of Holland, +and brought them into such extremity, that the captain of the vessel +urged him to go to prayers immediately, if he ever intended to do it at +all; for he concluded they would in a few minutes be at the bottom of the +sea. In this circumstance he did pray, and that very fervently too; and +it was very remarkable, that while he was crying to God for deliverance, +the wind fell, and quickly after they arrived at Calais. But the major +was so little affected with what had befallen him, that when some of his +gay friends, on hearing the story, rallied him upon the efficacy of his +prayers, he excused himself from the scandal of being thought much in +earnest, by saying "that it was at midnight, an hour when his good mother +and aunt were asleep, or else he should have left that part of the +business to them;"--a speech which I should not have mentioned, but as +it shows in so lively a view the wretched situation of his mind at that +time, though his great deliverance from the power of darkness was then +nearly approaching. He recounted these things to me with the greatest +humility, as showing how utterly unworthy he was of that miracle of +divine grace by which he was quickly after brought to so true and so +permanent a sense of religion. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HIS CONVERSION. + + +And now I am come to that astonishing part of his story, the account of +his conversion, which I cannot enter upon without assuring the reader +that I have sometimes been tempted to suppress many circumstances of +it; not only as they may seem incredible to some, and enthusiastical to +others, but I am very sensible they are liable to great abuses; which was +the reason that he gave me for concealing the most extraordinary from +many persons to whom he mentioned some of the rest. And I believe it was +this, together with the desire of avoiding every thing that might look +like ostentation on this head, that prevented his leaving a written +account of it, though I have often entreated him to do it, as I +particularly remember I did in the very last letter I ever wrote him, and +pleaded the possibility of his falling amidst those dangers to which I +knew his valour might, in such circumstances, naturally expose him. I was +not so happy as to receive any answer to this letter, which reached him +but a few days before his death; nor can I certainly say whether he had +or had not complied with my request, as it is very possible a paper of +this kind, if it were written, might be lost amidst the ravages which the +rebels made when they plundered Bankton. + +The story, however, was so remarkable, that I had little reason to +apprehend I should ever forget it; and yet, to guard against all +contingencies of that kind, I wrote it down that very evening, as I heard +it from his own mouth; and I have now before me the memoirs of that +conversation, dated Aug. 14, 1739, which conclude with these words, +(which I added that if we should both have died that night, the world +might not have lost this edifying and affecting history, or have wanted +any attestation of it I was capable of giving): "N.B. I have written down +this account with all the exactness I am capable of, and could safely +take an oath of it as to the truth of every circumstance, to the best of +my remembrance, as the colonel related it to me a few hours ago." I do +not know that I had reviewed this paper since I wrote it, till I set +myself thus publicly to record this extraordinary fact; but I find it +punctually to agree with what I have often related from my memory, which +I charged carefully with so wonderful and important a fact. It is with +all solemnity that I now deliver it down to posterity as in the sight +and presence of God; and I choose deliberately to expose myself to those +severe censures which the haughty but empty scorn of infidelity, or +principles nearly approaching it, and effectually doing its pernicious +work, may very probably dictate upon the occasion, rather than to smother +a relation, which may, in the judgment of my conscience, be like to +conduce so much to the glory of God, the honour of the gospel, and the +good of mankind. One thing more I will only premise, that I hope none who +have heard the colonel himself speak something of this wonderful scene, +will be surprised if they find some new circumstances here; because he +assured me, at the time he first gave me the whole narration, (which was +in the very room in which I now write,) that he had never imparted it +so fully to any living before; yet, at the same time, he gave me full +liberty to communicate it to whomsoever I should in my conscience +judge it might be useful to do it, whether before or after his death. +Accordingly I did, while he was alive, recount almost every circumstance +I am now going to write, to several pious friends; referring them at the +same time to the colonel himself, whenever they might have an opportunity +of seeing or writing to him, for a further confirmation of what I told +them, if they judged it requisite. They _glorified God in him_; and I +humbly hope many of my readers will also do it. They will soon perceive +the reason of so much caution in my introduction to this story, for +which, therefore, I shall make no further apology.[*] + +[*Note: It is no small satisfaction to me, since I wrote this, to have +received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Spears, minister of the gospel at +Burntisland, dated Jan 14, 1746-7 in which he relates to me this whole +story, as he had it from the colonel's own mouth about four years after +he gave me the narration. There is not a single circumstance in which +either of our narrations disagrees, and every one of the particulars in +mine, which seems most astonishing, is attested by this, and sometimes in +stronger words, one only excepted, on which I shall add a short remark +when I come to it. As this letter was written near Lady Frances Gardiner +at her desire, and attended with a postscript from her own hand, this +is, in effect, a sufficient attestation how agreeable it was to those +accounts which she must often have heard the colonel give of this +matter.] + + +This memorable event happened towards the middle of July, 1719; but I +cannot be exact as to the day. The major had spent the evening (and if I +mistake not, it was the Sabbath) in some gay company, and had an unhappy +assignation with a married woman, of what rank or quality I did not +particularly inquire, whom he was to attend exactly at twelve. The +company broke up about eleven; and not judging it convenient to +anticipate the time appointed, he went into his chamber to kill the +tedious hour, perhaps with some amusing book, or in some other way. But +it very accidentally happened that he took up a religious book which +his good mother or aunt had, without his knowledge, slipped into his +portmanteau. It was called, if I remember the title exactly, _The +Christian Soldier, or Heaven taken by Storm_, and was written by Mr. +Thomas Watson. Guessing by the title of it that he should find some +phrases of his own profession spiritualized in a manner which he thought +might afford him some diversion, he resolved to dip into it; but he took +no serious notice of any thing he read in it; and yet, while this book +was in his hand, an impression was made upon his mind, (perhaps God only +knows how,) which drew after it a train of the most important and happy +consequences. + +There is indeed a possibility, that while he was sitting in this +solitude, and reading in this careless and profane manner, he might +suddenly fall asleep, and only dream of what he apprehended he saw. But +nothing can be more certain than that, when he gave me this relation, he +judged himself to have been as broad awake during the whole time as he +ever was in any part of his life; and he mentioned it to me several times +afterwards as what undoubtedly passed, not only in his imagination, but +before his eyes.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears, in the letter mentioned above, where he introduces +the colonel telling his own story, has these words "All of a sudden +there was presented in a very lively manner to my view, or to my mind, a +representation of my glorious Redeemer," &c. And this gentleman adds, in +a parenthesis, "It was so lively and striking, that he could not tell +whether it was to his bodily eyes, or to those of his mind." This makes +me think that what I had said to him on the phenomena of visions, +apparitions, &c., (as being, when most real, supernatural impressions on +the imagination, rather than attended with any external object,) had some +influence upon him. Yet still it is evident he looked upon this as a +vision, whether it was before the eyes or in the mind, and not as a +dream.] + + +He thought he saw an unusual blaze of light fall on the book while he was +reading, which he at first imagined might happen by some accident in +the candle. But, lifting up his eyes, he apprehended, to his extreme +amazement, that there was before him, as it were suspended in the air, +a visible representation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross, +surrounded on all sides with a glory; and was impressed as if a voice, or +something equivalent to a voice, had come to him to this effect, (for he +was not confident as to the very words). "Oh, sinner! did I suffer this +for thee, and are these the returns?" But whether this were an audible +voice, or only a strong impression on his mind equally striking, he did +not seem very confident, though, to the best of my remembrance, he rather +judged it to be the former. Struck with so amazing a phenomenon as this, +there remained hardly any life in him, so that he sunk down in the arm +chair in which he sat, and continued, he knew not exactly how long, +insensible, (which was one circumstance that made me several times take +the liberty to suggest that he might possibly be all this while asleep,) +but however that were, he quickly after opened his eyes, and saw nothing +more than usual. + +It may easily be supposed he was in no condition to make any observations +upon the time in which he had remained in an insensible state, nor did +he, throughout all the remainder of the night, once recollect that +criminal and detestable assignation which had before engrossed all his +thoughts. He rose in a tumult of passions not to be conceived, and walked +to and fro in his chamber till he was ready to drop down in unutterable +astonishment and agony of heart, appearing to himself the vilest monster +in the creation of God, who had all his lifetime been crucifying +Christ afresh by his sins, and now saw, as he assuredly believed, by +a miraculous vision, the horror of what he had done. With this was +connected such a view of both the majesty and goodness of God, as caused +him to loathe and abhor himself, and to repent as in dust and ashes. He +immediately gave judgment against himself, that he was most justly worthy +of eternal damnation, he was astonished that he had not been immediately +struck dead in the midst of his wickedness, and (which I think deserves +particular remark) though he assuredly believed that he should ere long +be in hell, and settled it as a point with himself for several months +that the wisdom and justice of God did almost necessarily require +that such an enormous sinner should be made an example of everlasting +vengeance, and a spectacle as such both to angels and men, so that he +hardly durst presume to pray for pardon; yet what he then suffered was +not so much from the fear of hell, though he concluded it would soon be +his portion, as from a sense of that horrible ingratitude he had shown +to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who had been in so +affecting a manner set forth as crucified before him. + +To this he refers in a letter dated from Douglas, the 1st of April 1725, +communicated to me by his lady,[*] but I know not to whom it was addressed. +His words are these: "One thing relating to my conversion, and a +remarkable instance of the goodness of God to me, _the chief of sinners_, +I do not remember that I ever told to any other person. It was this, +that after the astonishing sight I had of my blessed Lord, the terrible +condition in which I was proceeded not so much from the terrors of the +law, as from a sense of having been so ungrateful a monster to him whom I +thought I saw pierced for my transgressions." I the rather insert these +words, as they evidently attest the circumstance which may seem most +amazing in this affair, and contain so express a declaration of his own +apprehension concerning it. + +[*Note: Where I make any extracts as from Colonel Gardiner's letters, +they are either from originals, which I have in my own hands, or from +copies which were transmitted to me from persons of undoubted credit, +chiefly by the Right Honourable the Lady Frances Gardiner, through the +hands of the Rev. Mr. Webster, one of the ministers of Edinburgh. This +I the rather mention, because some letters have been brought to me as +Colonel Gardiner's, concerning which I have not only been very dubious, +but morally certain that they could not have been written by him. I have +also heard of many who have been fond of assuring the world that they +were well acquainted with him, and were near him when he fell, whose +reports have been most inconsistent with each other, as well as contrary +to that testimony relating to the circumstances of his death, which, +on the whole, appeared to me beyond controversy the most natural and +authentic, from whence, therefore, I shall take my account of that +affecting scene.] + + +In this view it may naturally be supposed that he passed the remainder +of the night waking, and he could get but little rest in several that +followed. His mind was continually taken up in reflecting on the divine +purity and goodness; the grace which had been proposed to him in the +gospel, and which he had rejected; the singular advantages he had enjoyed +and abused; and the many favours of providence which he had received, +particularly in rescuing him from so many imminent dangers of death, +which he now saw must have been attended with such dreadful and hopeless +destruction. The privileges of his education, which he had so much +despised, now lay with an almost insupportable weight on his mind; and +the folly of that career of sinful pleasure which he had so many years +been running with desperate eagerness and unworthy delight, now filled +him with indignation against himself, and against the great deceiver, by +whom (to use his own phrase) he had been "so wretchedly and scandalously +befooled." This he used often to express in the strongest terms, which I +shall not repeat so particularly, as I cannot recollect some of them. +But on the whole it is certain that, by what passed before he left his +chamber the next day, the whole frame and disposition of his soul was +new-modelled and changed; so that he became, and continued to the last +day of his exemplary and truly Christian life, the very reverse of what +he had been before. A variety of particulars, which I am afterwards to +mention, will illustrate this in the most convincing manner. But I cannot +proceed to them without pausing to adore so illustrious an instance of +the power and freedom of divine grace, and entreating my reader seriously +to reflect upon it, that his own heart may be suitably affected. For +surely, if the truth of the fact be admitted in the lowest views in which +it can be placed, (that is, supposing the first impression to have passed +in a dream,) it must be allowed to have been little, if anything less +than miraculous. It cannot in the course of nature be imagined how such +a dream should arise in a mind full of the most impure ideas and +affections, and (as he himself often pleaded) more alienated from the +thoughts of a crucified Saviour, than from any other object that can be +conceived; nor can we surely suppose it should, without a mighty energy +of the divine power, be effectual to produce not only some transient +flow of passion, but so entire and permanent a change in character and +conduct. + +On the whole, therefore, I must beg leave to express my own sentiments of +the matter, by repeating on this occasion what I wrote several years ago, +in my eighth sermon on regeneration, in a passage dictated chiefly by the +circumstantial knowledge which I had of this amazing story, and methinks +sufficiently vindicated by it, if it stood entirely alone, which yet, I +must take the liberty to say, it does not; for I hope the world will be +particularly informed, that there is at least a second that very nearly +approaches it, whenever the established church of England shall lose one +of its brightest living ornaments, and one of the most useful members +which that, or perhaps any other Christian communion, can boast. In the +mean time, may his exemplary life be long continued, and his zealous +ministry abundantly prospered! I beg my reader's pardon for this +digression. The passage I referred to above is remarkably, though not +equally, applicable to both the cases, under that head where I am showing +that God sometimes accomplishes the great work of which we speak, +by secret and immediate impressions on the mind. After preceding +illustrations, there are the following words, on which the colonel's +conversion will throw the justest light. "Yea, I have known those of +distinguished genius, polite manners, and great experience in human +affairs, who, after having out-grown all the impressions of a religious +education--after having been hardened, rather than subdued by the most +singular mercies, even various, repeated, and astonishing deliverances, +which have appeared to themselves as no less than miraculous--after +having lived for years without God in the world, notoriously corrupt +themselves, and labouring to the utmost to corrupt others, have been +stopped on a sudden in the full career of their sin, and have felt such +rays of the divine presence, and of redeeming love, darting in upon +their minds, almost like lightning from heaven, as have at once roused, +overpowered, and transformed them; so that they have come out of their +secret chambers with an irreconcilable enmity to those vices to which, +when they entered them, they were the tamest and most abandoned slaves; +and have appeared from that very hour the votaries, the patrons, the +champions of religion; and after a course of the most resolute +attachment to it, in spite of all the reasonings or the railleries, the +importunities or the reproaches of its enemies, they have continued to +this day some of its brightest ornaments; a change which I behold with +equal wonder and delight, and which, if a nation should join in deriding +it, I would adore as the finger of God." + +The mind of Major Gardiner continued from this remarkable time, till +towards the end of October, (that is rather more than three months, but +especially the first two of them,) in as extraordinary a situation as one +can well imagine. He knew nothing of the joys arising from a sense of +pardon; but, on the contrary, for the greater part of that time, and with +very short intervals of hope towards the end of it, took it for granted +that he must in all probability quickly perish. Nevertheless, he had such +a sense of the evil of sin, of the goodness of the Divine Being, and of +the admirable tendency of the Christian revelation, that he resolved to +spend the remainder of his life, while God continued him out of hell, in +as rational and as useful a manner as he could; and to continue casting +himself at the foot of divine mercy every day, and often in a day, if +peradventure there might be hope of pardon, of which all that he could +say was, that he did not absolutely despair. He had at that time such a +sense of the degeneracy of his own heart, that he hardly durst form any +determinate resolution against sin, or pretend to engage himself by any +vow in the presence of God; but he was continually crying to him, that he +would deliver him from the bondage of corruption. He perceived in himself +a most surprising alteration with regard to the dispositions of his +heart; so that, though he felt little of the delight of religious duties, +he extremely desired opportunities of being engaged in them; and +those licentious pleasures which had before been his heaven, were now +absolutely his aversion. And indeed, when I consider how habitual all +those criminal indulgences were grown to him, and that he was now in the +prime of life, and all this while in high health too, I cannot but +be astonished to reflect upon it, that he should be so wonderfully +sanctified in body, as well as in soul and spirit, as that, for all the +future years of his life, he from that hour should find so constant a +disinclination to, and abhorrence of, those criminal sensualities to +which he fancied he was before so invincibly impelled by his very +constitution, that he was used strangely to think, and to say; that +Omnipotence itself could not reform him, without destroying that body, +and giving him another.[*] + +[*Note: Mr. Spears expresses this wonderful circumstance in these +remarkable words "I was (said the colonel to me) effectually cured of all +inclination to that sin I was so strongly addicted to, that I thought +nothing but shooting me through the head could have cured me of it, and +all desire and inclination to it was removed, as entirely as if I had +been a sucking child, nor did the temptation return to this day." Mr. +Webster's words on the same subject are these "One thing I have heard the +colonel frequently say, that he was much addicted to impurity before his +acquaintance with religion, but that, so soon as he was enlightened from +above, he _felt the power of the Holy Ghost_ changing his nature so +wonderfully, that his sanctification in this respect seemed more +remarkable than in any other." On which that worthy person makes this +very reasonable reflection "So thorough a change of such a polluted +nature, evidenced by the most unblemished walk and conversation for a +long course of years, demonstrates indeed the power of the Highest, and +leaves no room to doubt of its reality." Mr. Spears says, this happened +in three days' time, but from what I can recollect, all that the colonel +could mean by that expression, if he used it, (as I conclude he did,) was +that he began to make the observation in the space of three days whereas, +during that time, his thoughts were so taken up with the wonderful views +presented to his mind, that he did not immediately attend to it. If he +had, within the first three days, any temptation to seek some ease from +the anguish of his mind, in returning to former sensualities, it is a +circumstance he did not mention to me, and by what I can recollect of +the strain of his discourse, he intimated if he did not express the +contrary.] + +Nor was he only delivered from that bondage of corruption which had been +habitual to him for many years, but felt in his breast so contrary a +disposition, that he was grieved to see human nature, in those to whom he +was most entirely a stranger, prostituted to such low and contemptible +pursuits. He therefore exerted his natural courage in a very new kind of +combat, and became an open advocate for religion in all its principles, +so far as he was acquainted with them, and all its precepts, relating +to sobriety, righteousness, and godliness. Yet he was very desirous and +cautious that he might not run into extremes, and made it one of his +first petitions to God, the very day after these amazing impressions had +been wrought in his mind, that he might not be suffered to behave with +such an affected strictness and preciseness as would lead others about +him into mistaken notions of religion, and expose it to reproach or +suspicion, as if it were an unlovely or uncomfortable thing. For this +reason, he endeavoured to appear as cheerful in conversation as he +conscientiously could; though, in spite of all his precautions, some +traces of that deep inward sense which he had of his guilt and misery +would at times appear. He made no secret of it, however, that his views +were entirely changed, though he concealed the particular circumstances +attending that change. He told his most intimate companions freely that +he had reflected on the course of life in which he had so long joined +them, and found it to be folly and madness, unworthy a rational creature, +and much more unworthy persons calling themselves Christians. And he set +up his standard, upon all occasions, against principles of infidelity and +practices of vice, as determinately and as boldly as ever he displayed or +planted his colours, when he bore them with so much honour in the field. + +I cannot forbear mentioning one struggle of this kind which he described +to me, with a large detail of circumstances, the first day of our +acquaintance. There was at that time in Paris a certain lady (whose name, +then well known in the grand and gay world, I must beg leave to conceal) +who had imbibed the principles of deism, and valued herself much upon +being an avowed advocate for them. The major, with his usual frankness, +(though I doubt not with that politeness of manners which was so habitual +to him, and which he retained throughout his whole life,) answered her +like a man who perfectly saw through the fallacy of her arguments, +and was grieved to the heart for her delusions. On this she briskly +challenged him to debate the matter at large, and to fix upon a day for +that purpose, when he should dine with her, attended by any clergyman he +might choose, whether of the Protestant or Catholic communion. A sense +of duty would not allow him to decline this challenge; and yet he had no +sooner accepted it, but he was thrown into great perplexity and distress +lest, being, as I remember he expressed it when he told me the story, +only a Christian of six weeks old, he should prejudice so good a cause by +his unskilful manner of defending it. However, he sought his refuge in +earnest and repeated prayers to God, that he who can ordain strength, and +perfect praise, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, would graciously +enable him on this occasion to vindicate his truths in a manner which +might carry conviction along with it. He then endeavoured to marshal the +arguments in his own mind as well as he could; and apprehending that +he could not speak with so much freedom before a number of persons, +especially before such whose province he might seem in that case to +invade, if he had not devolved the principal part of the discourse upon +them, he easily admitted the apology of a clergyman or two, to whom +he mentioned the affair, and waited on the lady alone upon the day +appointed. But his heart was so set upon the business, that he came +earlier than he was expected, and time enough to have two hours' +discourse before dinner; nor did he at all decline having two persons, +nearly related to the lady, present during the conference. The major +opened it, with a view of such arguments for the Christian religion as +he had digested in his own mind, to prove that the apostles were not +mistaken themselves, and that they could not have intended to impose upon +us, in the accounts they give of the grand facts they attest; with the +truth of which facts, that of the Christian religion is most apparently +connected. And it was a great encouragement to him to find, that +unaccustomed as he was to discourses of this nature, he had an unusual +command both of thought and expression, so that he recollected and +uttered every thing as he could have wished. The lady heard with +attention; and though he paused between every branch of the argument, she +did not interrupt the course of it till he told her he had finished +his design, and waited for her reply. She then, produced some of her +objections, which he took up and canvassed in such a manner that at +length she burst into tears, allowed the force of his arguments and +replies, and appeared for some time after so deeply impressed with the +conversation, that it was observed by several of her friends; and there +is reason to believe that the impression continued, at least so far as to +prevent her from ever appearing under the character of an unbeliever or a +sceptic. + +This is only one specimen among many of the battles he was almost daily +called out to fight in the cause of religion and virtue; with relation to +which I find him expressing himself thus in a letter to Mrs. Gardiner, +his good mother, dated from Paris the 25th of January following, that +is 1719-20, in answer to one in which she had warned him to expect such +trials: "I have (says he) already met with them, and am obliged to fight, +and to dispute every inch of ground. But all thanks and praise to the +great Captain of my salvation. He fights for me, and then it is no wonder +that I come off more than conqueror:" by which last expression I suppose +he meant to insinuate that he was strengthened and established, rather +than overborne, by this opposition. Yet it was not immediately that he +gained such fortitude. He has often told me how much he felt in those +days of the emphasis of those well-chosen words of the apostle, in which +he ranks the trial of cruel mockings, with scourgings, and bonds, and +imprisonments. The continual railleries with which he was received, in +almost all companies where he had been most familiar before, did often +distress him beyond measure; so that he several times declared he would +much rather have marched up to a battery of the enemy's cannon, than have +been obliged, so continually as he was, to face such artillery as this. +But, like a brave soldier in the first action wherein he is engaged, he +continued resolute, though shuddering at the terror of the assault; and +quickly overcame those impressions which it is not perhaps in nature +wholly to avoid; and therefore I find him, in the letter above referred +to, which was written about half a year after his conversion, "quite +ashamed to think of the uneasiness which these things once gave him." In +a word, he went on, as every resolute Christian by divine grace may do, +till he turned ridicule and opposition into respect and veneration. + +But this sensible triumph over these difficulties was not till his +Christian experience had been abundantly advanced by the blessing of God +on the sermons he heard, (particularly in the Swiss chapel,) and on the +many hours which he spent in devout retirement, pouring out his whole +soul before God in prayer. He began, within about two months after his +first memorable change, to perceive some secret dawnings of more cheerful +hope, that vile as he saw himself to be, (and I believe no words can +express how vile that was,) he might nevertheless obtain mercy through +the Redeemer. At length (if I remember right, about the end of October, +1719) he found all the burthen of his mind taken off at once by the +powerful impression of that memorable scripture on his mind, Romans iii. +25, 26, "Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation through faith in his +blood, to declare his righteousness in the remission of sins,--that he +might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." He had +used to imagine that the justice of God required the damnation of so +enormous a sinner as he saw himself to be; but now he was made deeply +sensible that the divine justice might be not only vindicated, but +glorified, in saving him by the blood of Jesus, even that blood which +cleanseth us from all sin. Then did he see and feel the riches of +redeeming love and grace in such a manner as not only engaged him with +the utmost pleasure and confidence to venture his soul upon it, but even +swallowed up, as it were, his whole heart in the returns of love, which +from that blessed time became this genuine and delightful principle of +his obedience, and animated him, with an enlarged heart, to run the way +of God's commandments. Thus God was pleased (as he himself used to speak) +in an hour to turn his captivity. All the terrors of his former state +were changed into unutterable joy, which kept him almost continually +waking for three nights together, and yet refreshed him as the noblest of +cordials. His expressions, though naturally very strong, always seemed +to be swallowed up when he would describe the series of thought through +which he now passed, under the rapturous experience of that joy +unspeakable and full of glory, which then seemed to overflow his very +soul, as indeed there was nothing he seemed to speak of with greater +relish. And though the first ecstasies of it afterwards subsided into a +more calm and composed delight, yet were the impressions so deep and so +permanent, that he assured me, on the word of a Christian and a friend, +wonderful as it might seem, that, for about seven years after this, he +enjoyed almost heaven upon earth. His soul was so continually filled with +a sense of the love of God in Christ, that it knew little interruption, +but when necessary converse, and the duties of his station, called off +his thoughts for a little time. And when they did so, as soon as he was +alone, the torrent returned into its natural channel again; so that, from +the minute of awakening in the morning, his heart was raised to God, and +triumphing in him; and these thoughts attended him through all the scenes +of life, till he lay down on his bed again, and a short parenthesis +of sleep (for it was but a very short one that he allowed himself) +invigorated his animal powers, for renewing them with greater intenseness +and sensibility. + +I shall have an opportunity of illustrating this in the most convincing +manner below, by extracts from several letters which he wrote to intimate +friends during this happy period of time--letters which breathe a spirit +of such sublime and fervent piety as I have seldom met with any where +else. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that he was greatly +delighted with Dr. Watts's imitation of the 126th Psalm, since it may be +questioned whether there ever was a person to whom the following stanzas +of it were more suitable:-- + + When God revealed his gracious name, + And changed my mournful state, + My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, + Thy grace appeared so great. + + The world beheld the glorious change, + And did thine hand confess; + My tongue broke out in unknown strains, + And sung surprising grace. + + "Great is the work," my neighbours cried, + And owned the power divine: + "Great is the work," my heart replied, + "And be the glory thine." + + The Lord can change the darkest skies, + Can give us day for night, + Make drops of sacred sorrow rise, + To rivers of delight. + + Let those that sow in sadness, wait + Till the fair harvest come! + They shall confess their sheaves are great, + And shout the blessings home. + +I have been so happy as to get the sight of five original letters which +he wrote to his mother about this time, which do, in a lively manner, +illustrate the surprising change made in the whole current of his +thoughts and temper of his mind. Many of them were written in the +most hasty manner, just as the courier who brought them was perhaps +unexpectedly setting out, and they relate chiefly to affairs in which the +public is not at all concerned; yet there is not one of them in which he +has not inserted some warm and genuine sentiment of religion. Indeed it +is very remarkable, that though he was pleased to honour me with a great +many letters, and I have seen several more which he wrote to others, some +of them on journeys, where he could have but a few minutes at command, +yet I cannot recollect that I ever saw any one in which there was not +some trace of piety; and the Rev. Mr. Webster, who was employed to review +great numbers of them, that he might select such extracts as he should +think proper to communicate to me, has made the same observation.[*] + +[*Note: His words are these: "I have read over a vast number of the +colonel's letters, and have not found any one of them, however short, +and writ in the most passing manner, even when posting, but what is +expressive of the most passionate breathings towards his God and Saviour. +If the letter consists but of two sentences, religion is not forgot, +which doubtless deserves to be carefully remarked, as the most +uncontested evidence of a pious mind, ever under the warmest impressions +of divine things."] + +The major, with great justice, tells the good lady his mother, "that when +she saw him again she would find the person indeed the same, but every +thing else entirely changed." And she might easily have perceived it of +herself by the whole tenor of these letters, which every where breathe +the unaffected spirit of a true Christian. They are taken up sometimes +with giving advice and directions concerning some pious and charitable +contributions, one of which, I remember, amounted to ten guineas, though +as he was then out of commission, and had not formerly been very frugal, +it cannot be supposed he had much to spare; sometimes in speaking of +the pleasure with which he attended sermons, and expected sacramental +opportunities; and at other times in exhorting her, established as she +was in religion, to labour after a yet more exemplary character and +conduct, or in recommending her to the divine presence and blessing, as +well as himself to her prayers. What satisfaction such letters as these +must give to a lady of her distinguished piety, who had so long wept over +this dear and amiable son as quite lost to God, and on the verge of final +destruction, it is not for me to describe, nor indeed to conceive. But +hastily as these letters were written, only for private view, I will +give a few specimens from them in his own words, which will serve to +illustrate as well as confirm what I have hinted above. + +"I must take the liberty," says he, in a letter dated on the first day of +the new year, or, according to the old style, Dec. 21, 1719, "to entreat +you that you would receive no company on the Lord's day. I know you have +a great many good acquaintance, with whose discourses one might be very +well edified; but as you cannot keep out and let in whom you please, the +best way, in my humble opinion, will be to see none." In another, of +Jan. 25, "I am happier than any one can imagine, except I could put him +exactly in the same situation with myself; which is what the world +cannot give, and no man ever attained it, unless it were from above." +In another, dated March 30, which was just before a sacrament day, +"To-morrow, if it please God, I shall be happy, my soul being to be fed +with the bread of life which came down from heaven. I shall be mindful +of you all there." In another of Jan. 29, he thus expresses that +indifference for worldly possessions which he so remarkably carried +through the remainder of his life: "I know the rich are only stewards for +the poor, and must give an account of every penny; therefore, the less I +have, the more easy will it be to give an account of it." And to add no +more from these letters at present, in the conclusion of one of them he +has these comprehensive and solemn words: "Now that He, who is the ease +of the afflicted, the support of the weak, the wealth of the poor, the +teacher of the ignorant, the anchor of the fearful, and the infinite +reward of all faithful souls, may pour out upon you all his richest +blessings, shall always be the prayer of him who is entirely yours," &c. + +To this account of his correspondence with his excellent mother, I should +be glad to add a large view of another, to which she introduced him, +with that reverend and valuable person under whose pastoral care she was +placed--I mean the justly celebrated Doctor Edmund Calamy, to whom she +could not but early communicate the joyful news of her son's conversion. +I am not so happy as to be possessed of the letters which passed between +them, which I have reason to believe would make a curious and valuable +collection; but I have had the pleasure of receiving from my worthy +and amiable friend, the Rev. Mr. Edmund Calamy, one of the letters the +doctor, his father, wrote to the major on this wonderful occasion. I +perceive by the contents of it that it was the first, and, indeed, it is +dated as early as the 3d of August, 1719, which must be but a few days +after his own account, dated August 4, N.S., could reach England. There +is so much true religion and good sense in this paper, and the counsel +it suggests may be so reasonable to other persons in circumstances which +bear any resemblance to his, that I make no apology to my reader for +inserting a large extract from it. + +"Dear Sir,--I conceive it will not much surprise you to understand that +your good mother communicated to me your letter to her, dated August 4, +N.S., which brought her the news you conceive would be so acceptable +to her. I, who have often been a witness to her concern for you on a +spiritual account, can attest with what joy this news was received by +her, and imparted to me as a special friend, who she knew would bear +a part with her on such an occasion. And, indeed, if (as our Saviour +intimates, Luke xv. 7, 10,) there is, is such cases, joy in heaven and +among the angels of God, it may be well supposed that of a pious mother +who has spent so many prayers and tears upon you, and has, as it were, +travailed in birth with you again till Christ was formed in you, could +not be small. You may believe me if I add, that I also, as a common +friend of hers and yours, and which is much more, of the Prince of Light, +whom you now declare you heartily fall in with in opposition to that of +the dark kingdom, could not but be tenderly affected with an account +of it under your own hand. My joy on this account was the greater, +considering the importance of your capacity, interests, and prospects, +which, in such an age as this, may promise most happy consequences, on +your heartily appearing on God's side, and embarking in the interest of +our Redeemer. If I have hitherto at all remembered you at the throne +of grace, at your good mother's desire, (which you are pleased to take +notice of with so much respect,) I can assure you I shall henceforth +be led to do it, with more concern and particularity both by duty and +inclination; and if I were capable of giving you any little assistance in +the noble design you are engaging in, by corresponding with you by letter +while you are at such a distance, I should do it most cheerfully. And +perhaps such a motion may not, be altogether unacceptable; for I am +inclinable to believe, that when some whom you are obliged to converse +with, observe your behaviour so different from what it formerly was, and +banter you upon it as mad and fanciful, it may be some little relief +to correspond with one who will take a pleasure in heartening and +encouraging you. And when a great many things frequently offer, in which +conscience may be concerned where duty may not always be plain, nor +suitable persons to advise with at hand, it may be some satisfaction to +you to correspond with one with whom you may use a friendly freedom +in all such matters, and on whose fidelity you may depend. You may, +therefore, command me in any of these respects, and I shall take a +pleasure in serving you. One piece of advice I shall venture to give you, +though your own good sense will make my enlarging upon it less needful--I +mean, that you would, from your first setting out, carefully distinguish +between the essentials of real religion, and those things which are +commonly reckoned by its professors to belong to it. The want of this +distinction has had very unhappy consequences from one age to another, +and perhaps in none more than the present. But your daily converse with +your Bible, which you mention, may herein give you great assistance. I +move also, that since infidelity so much abounds, you would not only, by +close and serious consideration, endeavour to settle yourself well in the +fundamental principles of religion; but also that, as opportunity offers, +you would converse with those books which treat most judiciously on the +divine original of Christianity, such as Grotins, Abbadie, Baxter, Bates, +Du Plessis, &c., which may establish you against the cavils that occur +in almost all conversations, and furnish you with arguments which, when +properly offered, may be of use to make some impression on others. But +being too much straitened to enlarge at present, I can only add, that if +your hearty falling in with serious religion should prove any hinderance +to your advancement in the world, (which I pray God it may not, unless +such advancement would be a real snare to you,) I hope you will trust +our Saviour's word, that it shall be no disadvantage to you in the final +issue: he has given you his word for it, Matt. xix. 29, upon which you +may safely depend; and I am satisfied none that ever did so at last +repented of it. May you go on and prosper, and the God of all grace and +peace be with you!" + +I think it very evident from the contents of this letter, that the major +had not imparted to his mother the most singular circumstances attending +his conversion; and indeed there was something so peculiar in them, +that I do not wonder he was always cautious in speaking of them, and +especially that he was at first much on the reserve. We may also +naturally reflect that there seems to have been something very +providential in this letter, considering the debate in which our +illustrious convert was so soon engaged; for it was written but about +three weeks before his conference with the lady above mentioned in the +defence of Christianity, or at least before the appointment of it. And as +some of the books recommended by Dr. Calamy, particularly Abbadie and Du +Plessis, were undoubtedly within his reach, (if our English advocates +were not,) this might, by the divine blessing, contribute considerably +towards arming him for that combat in which he came off with such happy +success. As in this instance, so in many others, they who will observe +the coincidence and concurrence of things, may be engaged to adore the +wise conduct of Providence in events which, when taken singly and by +themselves, have nothing very remarkable in them. + +I think it was about this time that this resolute and exemplary Christian +entered upon that methodical manner of living which he pursued through +so many succeeding years of life, and I believe generally, so far as the +broken state of his health would allow it in his latter days, to the very +end of it. He used constantly to rise at four in the morning, and to +spend his time till six in the secret exercises of devotion, reading, +meditation, and prayer, in which last he contracted such a fervency of +spirit as I believe few men living ever obtained. This certainly tended +very much to strengthen that firm faith in God, and reverent animating +sense of his presence, for which he was so eminently remarkable, and +which carried him through the trials and services of life with such +steadiness and with such activity; for he indeed endured and acted as +always seeing Him who is invisible. If at any time he was obliged to go +out before six in the morning, he rose proportionably sooner; so that +when a journey or a march has required him to be on horseback by four, he +would be at his devotions at furthest by two. He likewise secured time +for retirement in an evening; and that he might have it the more at +command, and be the more fit to use it properly, as well as be better +able to rise early the next morning, he generally went to bed about ten; +and, during the time I was acquainted with him, he seldom ate any supper +but a mouthful of bread, with one glass of wine. In consequence of this, +as well as of his admirably good constitution, and the long habit he had +formed, he required less sleep than most persons I have known; and I +doubt not but his uncommon progress in piety was in a great measure owing +to these resolute habits of self-denial. + +A life anything like this could not, to be sure, be entered upon in the +midst of such company as he had been accustomed to keep, without great +opposition, especially as he did not entirely withdraw himself from all +the circle of cheerful conversation; but, on the contrary, gave several +hours every day to it, lest religion should be reproached as having made +him morose. He however, early began a practice, which to the last day of +his life he retained, of reproving vice and profaneness; and was never +afraid to debate the matter with any one, under the consciousness of +great superiority in the goodness of his cause. + +A remarkable instance of this happened, if I mistake not, about the +middle of 1720, though I cannot be very exact as to the date of the +story. It was, however, on his first return to make any considerable +abode in England after this remarkable change. He had heard, on the other +side of the water, that it was currently reported among his companions +at home that he was stark mad--a report at which no reader who knows the +wisdom of the world in these matters, will be much surprised, any more +than himself. He concluded, therefore, that he should have many battles +to fight, and was willing to dispatch the business as fast as he could. +And therefore, being to spend a few days at the country-house of a person +of distinguished rank, with whom he had been very intimate, (whose name +I do not remember that he told me, nor did I think it proper to inquire +after it,) he begged the favour of him that he would contrive matters +so, that, a day or two after he came down, several of their former gay +companions might meet at his lordship's table, that he might have an +opportunity of making his apology to them, and acquainting them with the +nature and reasons of his change. It was accordingly agreed to; and a +pretty large company met on the day appointed, with previous notice that +Major Gardiner would be there. A good deal of raillery passed at dinner, +to which the major made very little answer. But when the cloth was taken +away, and the servants retired, he begged their patience for a few +minutes, and then plainly and seriously told them what notions he +entertained of virtue and religion, and on what considerations he had +absolutely determined that by the grace of God he would make it the care +and business of life, whatever he might lose by it, and whatever censure +and contempt he might incur. He well knew how improper it was in such +company to relate the extraordinary manner in which he was awakened, +which they would probably have interpreted as a demonstration of lunacy, +against all the gravity and solidity of his discourse; but he contented +himself with such a rational defence of a righteous, sober, and godly +life, as he knew none of them could with any shadow of reason contest. He +then challenged them to propose any thing they could urge, to prove that +a life of irreligion and debauchery was preferable to the fear, love and +worship of the eternal God, and a conduct agreeable to the precepts +of his gospel. And he failed not to bear his testimony, from his own +experience, (to one part of which many of them had been witnesses) that +after having run the widest round of sensual pleasure, with all the +advantages the best constitution and spirits could give him, he had never +tasted any thing that deserved to be called happiness, till he had made +religion his refuge and his delight. He testified calmly and boldly the +habitual serenity and peace which he now felt in his own breast, (for the +most elevated delights he did not think fit to plead, lest they should be +esteemed enthusiasm,) and the composure and pleasure with which he looked +forward to objects which the gayest sinner must acknowledge to be equally +unavoidable and dreadful. + +I know not what might be attempted by some of the company in answer to +this; but I well remember that he told me that the master of the table, a +person of a very frank and candid disposition, cut short the debate, and +said, "Come, let us call another cause. We thought this man mad, and +he is in good earnest proving that we are so." On the whole, this +well-judged circumstance saved him a great deal of future trouble. When +his former acquaintances observed that he was still conversible and +innocently cheerful, and that he was immovable in his resolutions, they +desisted from further importunity; and he has assured me, that instead of +losing any one valuable friend by the change in his character, he found +himself much more esteemed and regarded by many who could not persuade +themselves to imitate his example. + +I have not any memoirs of Colonel Gardiner's life, or of any other +remarkable event befalling him in it, from the time of his return to +England till his marriage in the year 1726, except the extracts which +have been sent me from some letters, which he wrote to his religious +friends during this interval, and which I cannot pass by without a more +particular notice. It may be recollected, that in consequence of +the reduction of that regiment of which he was major, he was out of +commission from Nov. 10, 1718, till June 1, 1724; and, after he returned +from Paris, I find all his letters during this period dated from London, +where he continued in communion with the Christian society under the +pastoral care of Dr. Calamy. As his good mother also belonged to the +same, it is easy to imagine it must have been an unspeakable pleasure to +her to have such frequent opportunities of conversing with such a son, of +observing in his daily conduct and discourses the blessed effects of that +change which divine grace had made in his heart, and of sitting down with +him monthly at that sacred feast where Christians so frequently enjoy +the divinest entertainments which they expect on this side heaven. I the +rather mention this ordinance, because, as this excellent lady had a very +high esteem for it, so she had an opportunity of attending it but the +very Lord's day immediately preceding her death, which happened on +Thursday, October 7, 1725, after her son had been removed from her almost +a year. He had maintained her handsomely out of that very moderate income +on which he subsisted since his regiment had been disbanded; and when she +expressed her gratitude to him for it, he assured her (in one of the last +letters she ever received from him) "that he esteemed it a great honour +that God put it into his power to make what he called a very small +acknowledgment of all her care for him, and especially of the many +prayers she had offered on his account, which had already been remarkably +answered, and the benefit of which he hoped ever to enjoy." + +I apprehend that the Earl of Stair's regiment, to the majority of +which he was promoted on the 20th of July, 1724, was then quartered in +Scotland; for all the letters in my hand, from that time to the 6th of +February, 1726, are dated from thence, and particularly from Douglas, +Stranraer, Hamilton, and Ayr. But I have the pleasure to find, from +comparing these with others of an earlier date from London and the +neighbouring parts, that neither the detriment which he must suffer by +being so long out of commission, nor the hurry of affairs while charged +with it, could prevent or interrupt that intercourse with Heaven, which +was his daily feast, and his daily strength. + +These were most eminently the happy years of his life; for he had +learned to estimate his happiness, not by the increase of honour, or the +possession of wealth, or by what was much dearer to his generous heart +than either, the converse of the dearest and worthiest human friends; but +by nearness to God, and by opportunities of humble converse with him, in +the lively exercise of contemplation, praise, and prayer. Now there was +no period of his life in which he was more eminently favoured with these, +nor do I find any of his letters so overflowing with transports of holy +joy, as those which were dated during this time. There are indeed in some +of them such very sublime passages, that I have been dubious whether I +should communicate them to the public or not, lest I should administer +matter of profane ridicule to some, who look upon all the elevations +of devotion as contemptible enthusiasm. And it has also given me some +apprehensions lest it should discourage some pious Christians, who, after +having spent several years in the service of God, and in humble obedience +to the precepts of his gospel, may not have attained to any such heights +as these. But, on the whole, I cannot satisfy myself to suppress them; +not only as I number some of them, considered in a devotional view, among +the most extraordinary pieces of the kind I have ever met with; but as +some of the most excellent and judicious persons I any where know, to +whom I have read them, have assured me that they felt their hearts in an +unusual manner impressed, quickened, and edified by them. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +LETTERS. + + +I will therefore draw back the veil, and show my much honoured friend in +his most secret recesses, that the world may see what those springs were, +from whence issued that clear, permanent and living stream of wisdom, +piety, and virtue, which so evidently ran through all that part of his +life which was open to public observation. It is not to be imagined that +letters written in the intimacy of Christian friendship, some of them +with the most evident marks of haste, and amidst a variety of important +public cares, should be adorned with any studied elegance of expression, +about which the greatness of his soul would not allow him to be at any +time very solicitous, for he generally (as far as I could observe) wrote +as fast as his pen could move, which, happily both for him and his many +friends, was very freely. Yet here the grandeur of his subject has +sometimes clothed his ideas with a language more elevated than is +ordinarily to be expected in an epistolary correspondence. The proud +scorners who may deride sentiments and enjoyments like those which this +truly great man so experimentally and pathetically describes, I pity from +my heart, and grieve to think how unfit they must be for the hallelujahs +of heaven, who pour contempt upon the nearest approaches to them; nor +shall I think it any misfortune to share with so excellent a person their +profane derision. It will be infinitely more than an equivalent for all +that such ignorance and petulancy can think and say, if I may convince +some, who are as yet strangers to religion, how real and how noble its +delights are--if I may engage my pious readers to glorify God for so +illustrious an instance of his grace--and finally, if I may quicken them, +and, above all, may rouse my own too indolent spirit to follow with less +unequal steps an example, to the sublimity of which, I fear, few of us +shall, after all, be able fully to attain. And that we may not be too +much discouraged under the deficiency, let it be recollected that few +have the advantage of a temper naturally so warm; few have an equal +command of retirement; and perhaps hardly any one who thinks himself +most indebted to the riches and freedom of divine grace, can trace +interpositions of it in all respects equally astonishing. + +The first of these extraordinary letters which have fallen into my hand, +is dated near three years after his conversion, and addressed to a +lady of quality. I believe it is the first the major ever wrote, so +immediately on the subject of his religious consolations and converse +with God in devout retirement; for I well remember that he once told me +he was so much afraid that something of spiritual pride should mingle +itself with the relation of such kind of experiences, that he concealed +them a long time; but observing with how much freedom the sacred writers +open all the most secret recesses of their hearts, especially in the +Psalms; his conscience began to be burdened, under an apprehension that, +for the honour of God, and in order to engage the concurrent praises of +some of his people, he ought to disclose them. On this he set himself to +reflect who among all his numerous acquaintance seemed at once the most +experienced Christians, (to whom, therefore, such things as he had to +communicate might appear solid and credible,) and who the humblest. He +quickly thought of the Lady Marchioness of Douglas in this view; and the +reader may well imagine that it struck my mind very strongly, to think +that now, more than twenty-four years after it was written, Providence +should bring to my hands (as it has done within these few days) what I +assuredly believe to be a genuine copy of that very letter, which I had +not the least reason to expect I should ever have seen, when I learned +from his own mouth, amidst the freedom of an accidental conversation, the +occasion and circumstances of it. It is dated from London, July 21, 1722, +and the very first lines of it relate to a remarkable circumstance which, +from others of his letters, I find happened several times; I mean, that +when he had received from any of his Christian friends a few lines which +particularly affected his heart, he could not stay till the stated return +of his devotional hour, but immediately retired to pray for them, and to +give vent to those religious emotions of mind which such a correspondence +raised. How invaluable was such a friend! and what great reason have +those of us who once possessed a large share in his heart, and in those +retired and sacred moments, to bless God for so singular a felicity; +and to comfort ourselves in a pleasing hope that we may yet reap future +blessings, as the harvest of those petitions which he can no more repeat. + +His words are these: + +"I was so happy as to receive yours just as I arrived, and had no sooner +read it but I shut my door, and sought Him whom my soul loveth. I sought +him, and found him; and would not let him go till he had blessed us all. +It is impossible to find words to express what I obtained; but I suppose +it was something like that which the disciples got, as they were going +to Emmaus, when they said, 'Did not our hearts burn within us,' &c.; or +rather like what Paul felt, when he could not tell whether he was in the +body, or out of it." + +He then mentions his dread of spiritual pride, from whence he earnestly +prays that God may deliver and preserve him. + +"This," says he, "would have hindered me from communicating these things, +if I had not such an example before me as the man after God's own heart, +saying, 'I will declare what God hath done for my soul;' and elsewhere, +'The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.' Now I am well satisfied +that your ladyship is of that number." + +He then adds: + +"I had no sooner finished this exercise," that is of prayer above +mentioned, "but I sat down to admire the goodness of my God, that he +would vouchsafe to influence by his free Spirit so undeserving a wretch +as I, and to make me thus to mount up with eagles' wings. And here I was +lost again, and got into an ocean, where I could find neither bound nor +bottom; but was obliged to cry out with the apostle, 'O the breadth, +the length, the depth, the height of the love of Christ, which passeth +knowledge!' But if I gave way to this strain I shall never have done. +That the God of hope may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, +that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, shall +always be the prayer of him who is, with the greatest sincerity and +respect, your Ladyship's," &c. + +Another passage to the same purpose I find in a memorandum, which he +seems to have written for his own use, dated Monday, March 11, which I +perceive, from many concurrent circumstances, must have been in the year +1722-3. + +"This day," says he, "having been to visit Mrs. G. at Hampstead, I came +home about two, and read a sermon on these words, Psalm cxxx. 4, 'But +there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared;' about the +latter end of which, there is a description of the miserable condition of +those that are slighters of pardoning grace. From a sense of the great +obligations I lie under to the Almighty God, who hath made me to differ +from such, from what I was, and from the rest of my companions, I knelt +down to praise his holy name; and I know not in my lifetime I ever lay +lower in the dust, never having had a fuller view of my own unworthiness. +I never pleaded more strongly the merits and intercession of Him who +I know is worthy--never vowed more sincerely to be the Lord's, and to +accept of Christ, as he is offered in the gospel, as my King, Priest, +and Prophet--never had so strong a desire to depart, that I might sin no +more; but 'my grace is sufficient,' curbed that desire. I never pleaded +with greater fervency for the Comforter, which our blessed Lord hath +promised shall abide with us for ever. For all which, I desire to ascribe +glory &c. to Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb." + +There are several others of his papers, speaking much the same language, +which, had he kept a diary, would, I doubt not, have filled many sheets. +I believe my devout readers would not soon be weary of reading extracts +of this kind; but that I may not exceed in this part of my narrative, I +shall mention only two more, each of them dated some years after; that +is, one from Douglas, April 1, 1725; and the other from Stranraer, 25th +May following. + +The former of these relates to the frame of his spirit on a journey; on +the mention of which, I cannot but recollect how often I have heard him +say that some of the most delightful days of his life were days in which +he travelled alone, (that is, with only a servant at a distance,) when he +could, especially in roads not much frequented, indulge himself in the +pleasures of prayer and praise. In the exercise of this last, he was +greatly assisted by several psalms and hymns which he had treasured up in +his memory, and which he used not only to repeat aloud, but sometimes to +sing. In reference to this, I remember the following passage, in a letter +which he wrote to me many years after, when, on mentioning my ever dear +and honoured friend the Rev. Dr. Watts, he says, "How often, in singing +some of his psalms, hymns, or lyrics, on horseback and elsewhere, has the +evil spirit been made to flee: + + "'Whene'er my heart in tune was found, + 'Like David's harp of solemn sound!'" + +Such was the first of April above mentioned. In the evening of that day +he writes thus to an intimate friend:-- + +"What would I have given this day, upon the road, for paper, pen, and +ink, when the Spirit of the Most High rested upon me! Oh for the pen of a +ready writer, and the tongue of an angel, to declare what God hath done +this day for my soul! But, in short, it is in vain to attempt it. All +that I am able to say, is this, that my soul has been for some hours +joining with the blessed spirits above in giving glory, and honour, and +praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever +and ever. My praises began from a renewed view of Him whom I saw pierced +for my transgressions. I summoned the whole hierarchy of heaven to join +with me, and I am persuaded they all echoed back praise to the Most High. +Yon, one would have thought the very larks joined me with emulation. +Sure, then, I need not make use of many words to persuade you, that +are his saints, to join me in blessing and praising his holy name." He +concludes, "May the blessing of the God of Jacob rest upon you all! +Adieu. Written in great haste, late and weary." + +Scarcely can I here refrain from breaking out into more copious +reflections on the exquisite pleasures of true religion, when risen to +such eminent degrees, which can thus feast the soul in its solitude, and +refresh it on journeys, and bring down so much of heaven to earth as this +delightful letter expresses. But the remark is so obvious, that I will +not enlarge upon it; but proceed to the other letter above mentioned, +which was written the next month, on the Tuesday after a sacrament day. + +He mentions the pleasure with which he had attended a preparation sermon +the Saturday before; and then he adds: + +"I took a walk upon the mountains that are over against Ireland; and, I +persuade myself, that were I capable of giving you a description of what +passed there, you would agree that I had much better reason to remember +my God from the hills of Port Patrick than David from the land of Jordan, +and of the Hermonites, from the hill of Mizar." I suppose he refers to +the clearer discoveries of the gospel with which we are favoured. "In +short," says he immediately afterwards, in that scripture phrase which +had become so familiar to him, "I wrestled some hours with the Angel of +the covenant, and made supplications to him with floods of tears, and +cries--until I had almost expired; but he strengthened me so, that, like +Jacob, I had power with God, and prevailed. This," adds he, "is but a +very faint description; you will be more able to judge of it by what you +have felt yourself upon the like occasions. After such preparatory work, +I need not tell you how blessed the solemn ordinance of the Lord's supper +proved to me; I hope it was so to many. You may believe I should have +been exceeding glad, if my gracious Lord had ordered it so, that I might +have made you a visit, as I proposed; but I am now glad it was ordered +otherwise, since he hath caused so much of his goodness to pass before +me. Were I to give you an account of the many favours my God hath loaded +me with, since I parted from you, I must have taken up many days in +nothing but writing. I hope you will join with me in praises for all the +goodness he has shown to your unworthy brother in the Lord." + +Such were the ardours and elevation of his soul. But while I record these +memorials of them, I am very sensible that there are many who will be +inclined to censure them as the flights of enthusiasm; for which reason, +I must beg leave to add a remark or two on the occasion, which will be +illustrated by several other extracts, which I shall introduce into the +sequel of these memoirs. The one is, that he never pretends, in any of +the passages cited above, or elsewhere, to have received from God any +immediate revelations which should raise him above the ordinary methods +of instruction, or discover any thing to him, whether of doctrines or +facts. No man was further from pretending to predict future events, +except from the moral prognostications of causes naturally tending to +produce them, in tracing of which he had indeed an admirable sagacity, +as I have seen in some very remarkable instances. Neither was he at all +inclinable to govern himself by secret impulses upon his mind, leading +him to things for which he could assign no reason but the impulse itself. +Had he ventured, in a presumption on such secret agitations of mind, to +teach or to do any thing not warranted by the dictates of sound sense and +the word of God, I should readily have acknowledged him an enthusiast, +unless he could have produced some other evidence than his own persuasion +to have supported the authority of them. But these ardent expressions, +which some may call enthusiasm, seem only to evince a heart deeply +affected with a sense of the divine presence and perfections, and of that +love which passeth knowledge, especially as manifested in our redemption +by the Son of God, which did indeed inflame his whole soul. And he +thought he might reasonably ascribe these strong impressions, to which +men are generally such strangers, and of which he had long been entirely +destitute, to the agency or influences of the Spirit of God upon his +heart; and that, in proportion to the degree in which he felt them, he +might properly say, God was present with him, and he conversed with +God.[*] Now, when we consider the scriptural phrases of "walking with +God," of "having communion with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ," of +"Christ's coming to them that open the door of their hearts to him, and +supping with them," of "God's shedding abroad his love in the heart of +the Spirit," of "his coming with Jesus Christ, and making his abode with +any man that loves him," of "his meeting him that worketh righteousness," +of "his making us glad by the light of his countenance," and a variety +of other equivalent expressions,--I believe we shall see reason to judge +much more favourably of such expressions as those now in question, than +persons who, themselves strangers to elevated devotion, perhaps converse +but little with their Bible, are inclined to do; especially, if they +have, as many such persons have, a temper that inclines them to cavil and +find fault. And I must further observe, that amidst all those freedoms +with which this eminent Christian opens his devout heart to the most +intimate of his friends, he still speaks with profound awe and reverence +of his Heavenly Father and his Saviour, and maintains (after the example +of the sacred writers themselves,) a kind of dignity in his expressions, +suitable to such a subject, without any of that fond familiarity of +language, and degrading meanness of phrase, by which it is, especially +of late, grown fashionable among some (who nevertheless I believe mean +well,) to express their love and their humility. + +[*Note: The ingenious and pious Mr. Grove (who, I think, was as little +suspected of running into enthusiastical extremes as most divines I could +name,) has a noble passage to this purpose in the sixth volume of his +Posthumous Works, p.10, 11, which, respect to the memory of both these +excellent persons, inclines me to insert here, + +"How often are the good thoughts suggested," (viz. to the pure in heart) +"heavenly affection kindled and inflamed! How often is the Christian +prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, +persuaded, in such a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God +to question his agency in the whole! Yes, on my soul! there is a Supreme +Being, who governs the world, and is present with it, who takes up his +more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon +him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, oh my soul! +like another soul, [Transcriber's note: illegible] thy faculties, +exalting thy views, purifying thy passions, exalting thy graces, and +begetting in thee an abhorrence of sin, and a love of holiness? Is not +all this an argument of His presence, as truly as if thou didst see."] + +On the whole, if habitual love to God, firm faith in the Lord Jesus +Christ, a steady dependence on the divine promises, a full persuasion of +the wisdom and goodness of all the dispensations of Providence, a high +esteem for the blessings of the heavenly world, and a sincere contempt +for the vanities of this, can properly be called enthusiasm, then was +Colonel Gardiner indeed one of the greatest enthusiasts which our age +has produced; and in proportion to the degree in which he was so, I must +esteem him one of the wisest and happiest of mankind. Nor do I fear to +tell the world that it is the design of my writing these memoirs, and of +every thing else that I undertake in life, to spread this glorious and +blessed enthusiasm, which I know to be the anticipation of heaven, as +well as the most certain way to it. + +But lest any should possibly imagine, that allowing the experiences which +have been described above to have been ever so solid and important, yet +there may be some appearances of boasting in so free a communication of +them, I must add to what I have hinted in reference to this above, that +I find in many of the papers before me very genuine expressions of the +deepest humility and self-abasement, which indeed such holy converse with +God in prayer and praise does, above all things in the world, tend to +inspire and promote. Thus, in one of his letters he says, "I am but as +a beast before him." In another he calls himself "a miserable +hell-deserving sinner." And in another he cries out, "Oh, how good +a master do I serve! but, alas, how ungrateful am I! What can be so +astonishing as the love of Christ to us, unless it be the coldness of our +sinful hearts towards such a Saviour?" There were many other clauses of +the like nature, which I shall not set myself more particularly to trace +through the variety of letters in which they occur. + +It is a further instance of this unfeigned humility, that when (as his +lady with her usual propriety of language expresses it in one of her +letters to me concerning him,) "these divine joys and consolations were +not his daily allowance," he, with equal freedom, in the confidence of +Christian fellowship, acknowledges and laments it. Thus, in the first +letter I had the honour of receiving from him, dated from Leicester, July +9, 1739, after mentioning the blessing with which it had pleased God to +attend my last address to him, and the influence it had upon his mind, +he adds, "Much do I stand in need of every help to awaken me out of that +spiritual deadness which seizes me so often. Once, indeed, it was quite +otherwise with me, and that for many years: + + "'Firm was my health, my day was bright, + And I presumed 't would ne'er be night, + Fondly I said within my heart, + Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart, + But I forgot, thine arm was strong, + Which made my mountain stand so long; + Soon as thy face began to hide, + My health was gone, my comforts died.' + +And here," adds he, "lies my sin and my folly." + +I mention this, that the whole matter may be seen just as it was, and +that other Christians may not be discouraged if they feel some abatement +of that fervour, and of those holy joys which they may have experienced +during some of the first months or years of their spiritual life. But, +with relation to the colonel, I have great reason to believe that those +which he laments as his days of spiritual deadness were not unanimated; +and that quickly after the date of this letter, and especially nearer the +close of his life, he had further revivings, as the joyful anticipation +in reserve of those better things which were then nearly approaching. And +thus Mr. Spears, in the letter I mentioned above, tells us he related +the matter to him, (for he studies as much as possible to retain the +colonel's own words): "However," says he, "after that happy period +of sensible communion, though my joys and enlargements were not so +overflowing and sensible, yet I have had habitual real communion with +God from that day to this"--the latter end of the year 1743--"and I know +myself, and all that know me see, that through the grace of God, to which +I ascribe all, my conversation has been becoming the gospel; and let me +die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it shall be, I am sure +I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory," &c. This is perfectly +agreeable to the manner in which he used to speak to me on this head, +which we have talked over frequently and largely. + +In this connection I hope my reader will forgive my inserting a little +story which I received from a very worthy minister in Scotland, and which +I shall give in his own words: "In this period," meaning that which +followed the first seven years after his conversion, "when his complaint +of comparative deadness and languor in religion began, he had a dream, +which, though he had no turn at all for taking notice of dreams, yet made +a very strong impression upon his mind. He imagined he saw his blessed +Redeemer on earth, and that he was following him through a large field, +following him whom his soul loved, but much troubled, because he thought +his blessed Lord did not speak to him, till he came up to the gate of a +burying-place, when, turning about, he smiled upon him in such a manner +as filled his soul with the most ravishing joy, and on after reflection +animated his faith in believing that whatever storms and darkness he +might meet with in the way, at the hour of death his glorious Redeemer +would lift up upon him the light of his life-giving countenance." My +correspondent adds a circumstance for which he makes some apology, +as what may seem whimsical, and yet made some impression on the +colonel,--"that there was a remarkable resemblance in the field in which +this brave man met his death, and that he had represented to him in the +dream." I did not fully understand this at first; but a passage in that +letter from Mr. Spears, which I have mentioned more than once, has +cleared it: + +"Now observe, sir, this seems to be a literal description of the place +where this Christian hero ended his sorrows and conflicts, and from which +he entered triumphantly into the joy of his Lord; for, after he fell in +the battle, fighting gloriously for his king, and the cause of his God, +his wounded body, while life was yet remaining, was carried from the +field of battle by the east side of his own enclosure, till he came to +the church-yard of Tranent, and was brought to the minister's house, +where, about an hour after, he breathed out his soul into the hands of +his Lord, and was conducted to his presence, where there is fulness of +joy, without any cloud or interruption, for ever." + +I well know that in dreams there are diverse vanities, and readily +acknowledge that nothing certain could be inferred from this; yet it +seems at least to show which way the imagination was working even in +sleep; and I cannot think it unworthy of a wise and good man sometimes +to reflect with complacency on any images which, passing through his mind +even in that state, may tend either to express or to quicken his love +to the great Saviour. Those eminently pious divines of the Church of +England, Bishop Bull and Bishop Konn, do both intimate it as their +opinion that it may be a part of the service of ministering angels to +suggest devout dreams[1] and I know that the worthy person of whom I +speak was well acquainted with that evening hymn of the latter of those +excellent writers which has these lines: + + "Lord lest the tempter me surprise, + Watch over thine own sacrifice! + All loose, all idle thoughts cast out; + And make my very _dreams_ devout!" + +Nor would it be difficult to produce other passages much to the same +purpose,[2] if it would not be deemed too great a digression from our +subject, and too laboured a vindication of a little incident of very +small importance when compared with most of those which make up this +narrative.[3] + +[Footnote 1: Bishop Bull has these remarkable words: "Although I am no +doater on dreams, yet I verily believe that some dreams are monitory, +above the power of fancy, and impressed upon us by some superior +intelligence. For of such dreams we have plain and undeniable instances +in history, both sacred and profane, and in our own age and observation. +Nor shall I so value the laughter of sceptics, and the scoffs of +epicureans, as to be ashamed to profess that I myself have had some +convincing experiments of such impressions." _Bishop Bull's Sermons and +Discourses_, Vol. II, pp. 489, 490.] + +[Footnote 2: If I mistake not, the same Bishop Konn is the author of a +_midnight hymn_ coinciding with these words: + + "May my ethereal Guardian kindly spread + His wings, and from the tempter screen my head; + Grant of celestial light some passing beams, + To bless my sleep, and sanctify my dreams!" + +As he certainly was of these exactly parallel lines: + + "Oh may my Guardian, while I sleep, + Close to my bed his vigils keep; + His love angelical distil, + Stop all the avenues of ill! + May he celestial joys rehearse, + And thought to thought with me converse!"] + +[Footnote 3: See Appendix I.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +DOMESTIC RELATIONS. + + +I meet not with any other remarkable event relating to Major Gardiner, +which can properly be introduced here, till 1726, when, on the 11th of +July, he was married to the Right Hon. Lady Frances Erskine, daughter to +the late Earl of Buchan, by whom he had thirteen children, five only of +which survived their father, two sons and three daughters, whom I cannot +mention without the most fervent prayers to God for them, that they may +always behave worthy the honour of being descended from such parents, +and that the God of their father and of their mother may make them +perpetually the care of his providence, and yet more eminently happy in +the constant and abundant influences of his grace. + +As her ladyship is still living,[*] (and for the sake of +her dear offspring, and numerous friends, may she long be spared,) I +shall not here indulge myself in saying any thing of her, except it be +that the colonel assured me, when he had been happy in this intimate +relation to her more than fourteen years, that the greatest imperfection +he knew in her character was, "that she valued and loved him much more +than he deserved." Little did he think, in the simplicity of heart with +which he spoke this, how high an encomium he was making upon her, and how +lasting an honour such a testimony must leave upon her name, long as the +memory of it shall continue. + +[*Note: In the year 1746] + +As I do not intend in these memoirs a laboured essay on the character of +Colonel Gardiner, digested under the various virtues and graces which +Christianity requires, (which would, I think, be a little too formal for +a work of this kind, and would give it such an air of panegyric as would +neither suit my design, nor be at all likely to render it more useful,) I +shall now mention what I have either observed in him, or heard concerning +him, with regard to those domestic relations which commenced about this +time, or very soon after. And here my reader will easily conclude that +the resolution of Joshua was from the first adopted and declared, "As for +me and my house, we will serve the Lord." It will naturally be supposed, +that as soon as he had a house, he erected an altar in it; that the word +of God was read there, and prayers and praises were constantly offered. +These were not to be omitted on account of any guest; for he esteemed it +a part of due respect to those that remained under his roof to take it +for granted they would look upon it as a very bad compliment to imagine +they would have been obliged by neglecting the duties of religion on +their account. As his family increased, he had a minister statedly +resident in his house, who discharged both the office of a tutor to his +children, and of a chaplain, and who was always treated with a becoming +kindness and respect. But, in his absence, the colonel himself led the +devotions of the family; and they were happy who had an opportunity of +knowing with how much solemnity, fervour, and propriety he did it. He was +constant in attendance upon public worship, in which an exemplary care +was taken that the children and servants might accompany the heads of the +family. And how he would have resented the non-attendance of any member +of it may easily be conjectured from a free but lively passage in a +letter to one of his intimate friends, on an occasion which it is not +material to mention. "Oh, sir, had a child of yours under my roof but +once neglected the public worship of God when he was able to attend it, +I should have been ready to conclude he had been distracted, and should +have thought of shaving his head, and confining him in a dark room." + +He always treated his lady with a manly tenderness, giving her the most +natural evidences of a cordial, habitual esteem, and expressing a most +affectionate sympathy with her under the infirmities of a very delicate +constitution, much broken, at least towards the latter years of their +marriage. He had at all times a most faithful care of all her interests, +and especially those relating to the state of religion in her mind. His +conversation and his letters concurred to cherish those sublime ideas +which Christianity suggests, to promote our submission to the will of +God, to teach us to centre our happiness in the great Author of our +being, and to live by faith in the invisible world. These, no doubt, were +frequently the subjects of mutual discourse; and many letters, which her +ladyship has had the goodness to communicate to me, are most convincing +evidences of the degree in which this noble and most friendly care filled +his mind in the days of their separation--days which so entire a mutual +affection must have rendered exceedingly painful, had they not been +supported by such exalted sentiments of piety, and sweetened by daily +communion with an ever-present and ever-gracious God. + +The necessity of being so many months together distant from his family +hindered him from many of those condescending labours in cultivating the +minds of his children in early life, which, to a soul so benevolent, so +wise, and so zealous, would undoubtedly have afforded a very exquisite +pleasure. The care of his worthy consort, who well knew that it is one +of the brightest parts of a mother's character, and one of the most +important views in which the sex can be considered, made him the easier +under such a circumstance; but when he was with them, he failed not to +instruct and admonish them; and the constant deep sense with which he +spoke of divine things, and the real unaffected indifference which he +always showed for what this vain world is most ready to admire, were +excellent lessons of daily wisdom, which I hope they will recollect with +advantage in every future scene of life. And I have seen such hints in +his letters relating to them, as plainly show with how great a weight +they lay on his mind, and how highly he desired, above all things, that +they might be the faithful disciples of Christ, and acquainted betimes +with the unequalled pleasures and blessings of religion. He thought an +excess of delicacy and of indulgence one of the most dangerous faults +in education, by which he everywhere saw great numbers of young people +undone; yet he was solicitous to guard against a severity which might +terrify or discourage; and though he endeavoured to take all prudent +precautions to prevent the commission of faults, yet, when they had been +committed, and there seemed to be a sense of them, he was always ready +to make the most candid allowances for the thoughtlessness of unripened +years, and tenderly to cherish every purpose of a more proper conduct for +the time to come. + +It was to perceive that the openings of genius in the young branches of +his family gave him great delight, and that he had a secret ambition to +see them excel in what they undertook. Yet he was greatly cautious over +his heart, lest it should be too fondly attached to them; and as he was +one of the most eminent proficients I ever knew in the blessed science +of resignation to the divine will, so there was no effect of that +resignation which appeared to me more admirable than what related to the +life of his children. An experience, which no length of time will ever +efface out of my memory, has so sensibly taught me how difficult it is +fully to support the Christian character here, that I hope my reader will +pardon me (I am sure, at least, the heart of wounded parents will,) if I +dwell a little longer upon so interesting a subject.[*] + +[*Note: See Appendix II.] + +When he was in Herefordshire in July, 1734, it pleased God to visit his +little family with the small pox. Five days before the date of the letter +I am just going to mention, he had received the agreeable news that +there was a prospect of the recovery of his son, then under that awful +visitation; and he had been expressing his thankfulness for it in a +letter which he had sent away but a few hours before he was informed of +his death, the surprise of which, in this connection, must naturally be +very great. But behold (says the reverend and worthy person from whom +I received the copy) his truly filial submission to the will of his +Heavenly Father, in the following lines addressed to the dear partner +of his affliction: "Your resignation to the will of God under this +dispensation gives me more joy than the death of the child has given me +sorrow. He, to be sure, is happy; and we shall go to him, though he shall +not return to us. Oh that we had our latter end always in view! We shall +soon follow; and oh, what reason have we to long for that glorious day +when we shall get quit of this body of sin and death under which we now +groan, and which renders this life so wretched! I desire to bless God +that ---- (another of his children) is in so good a way; but I have +resigned her. We must not choose for ourselves; and it is well we must +not, for we should often make a very bad choice, and therefore it is our +wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave all with a gracious God, who hath +promised that all things shall work together for good to them that love +him; and he is faithful that hath promised, who will infallibly perform +it, if our unbelief does not stand in the way." + +The greatest trial of this kind that he ever bore, was in the removal of +his second son, who was one of the most amiable and promising children +that has been known. The dear little creature was the darling of all that +knew him; and promised very fair, so far as a child could be known by its +doings, to have been a great ornament to the family, and blessing to the +public. The suddenness of the stroke must, no doubt, render it the more +painful; for this beloved child was snatched away by an illness which +seized him but about fifteen hours before it carried him off. He died +in the month of October 1733, at near six years old. Their friends were +ready to fear that his affectionate parents would be almost overwhelmed +at such a loss; but the happy father had so firm a persuasion that God +had received the dear little one to the felicities of the celestial +world, and at the same time had so strong a sense of the divine goodness +in taking one of his children, and that, too, one who lay so near his +heart, so early to himself, that the sorrows of nature were quite +swallowed up in the sublime joy which these considerations administered. +When he reflected what human life is--how many its snares and temptations +are--and how frequently children who once promised very well are +insensibly corrupted, and at length undone, with Solomon he blessed the +dead already dead, more than the living who were yet alive, and felt +unspeakable pleasure in looking after the lovely infant, as safely and +delightfully lodged in the house of its Heavenly Father. Yea, he assured +me that his heart was at this time so entirely taken up with these views, +that he was afraid they who did not thoroughly know him might suspect +that he was deficient in the natural affections of a parent, while thus +borne above the anguish of them by the views which faith administered to +him, and which divine grace supported in his soul. + +So much did he, on one of the most trying occasions of life, manifest of +the temper of a glorified saint, and to such happy purposes did he retain +those lessons of submission to God, and acquiescence in him, which I +remember he once inculcated in a letter he wrote to a lady of quality +under the apprehension of a breach in her family with which Providence +seemed to threaten her, which I am willing to insert here, though a +little out of what might seem its most proper place rather than entirely +to omit it. It is dated from London, June 16, 1722, when, speaking of the +dangerous illness of a dear relative, he has these words: "When my mind +runs hither," that is, to God, as its refuge and strong defence, (as the +connection plainly determines it,) "I think I can bear any thing, the +loss of all, the loss of health, of relations, on whom I depend, and whom +I love, all that is dear to me, without repining or murmuring. When I +think that God orders, disposes, and manages all things according to the +counsel of his own will; when I think of the extent of his providence, +that it reaches to the minutest things; then, though a useful friend or +dear relative be snatched away by death, I recall myself, and check my +thoughts with these considerations: Is he not God from everlasting, and +to everlasting? And has he not promised to be a God to me?--a God in all +his attributes, a God in all his persons, a God in all his creatures and +providences? And shall I dare to say, What shall I do? Was not he the +infinite cause of all I met with in the creatures? And were not they +the finite effects of his infinite love and kindness? I have daily +experienced that the instrument was, and is, what God makes it to be; and +I know that this 'God hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and the +earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' If this earth be good for +me, I shall have it; for my Father hath it all in possession. If favour +in the eyes of men be good for me, I shall have it; for the spring of +every motion in the heart of man is in God's hand. My dear ---- seems now +to be dying; but God is all-wise, and every thing is done by him for the +best. Shall I hold back any thing that is his own, when he requires +it? No, God forbid! When I consider the excellency of his glorious +attributes, I am satisfied with all his dealings." I perceive by the +introduction, and by what follows, that most, if not all of this, is +a quotation from something written by a lady; but whether from some +manuscript or printed book, whether exactly transcribed or quoted from +memory, I cannot determine; and therefore I thought proper to insert it, +as the major (for that was the office he bore then,) by thus interweaving +it with his letter, makes it his own, and as it seems to express in a +very lively manner the principles which bore him on to a conduct so truly +great and heroic, in circumstances that have overwhelmed many a heart +that could have faced danger and death with the greatest intrepidity. + +I return now to consider his character in the domestic relation of a +master, on which I shall not enlarge. It is, however, proper to remark, +that as his habitual meekness and command of his passions prevented +indecent sallies of ungoverned anger towards those in the lowest state +of subjection to him, by which some in high life do strangely debase +themselves, and lose much of their authority, so the natural greatness of +his mind made him solicitous to render their inferior stations as easy as +he could: and so much the rather, because he considered all the children +of Adam as standing upon a level before their great Creator, and had +also a deeper sense of the dignity and worth of every immortal soul, how +meanly soever it might chance to be lodged, than most persons I have +known. This engaged him to give his servants frequent religious +exhortations and instructions, as I have been assured by several who +were so happy as to live with him under that character. One of his first +letters, after he entered on his Christian course, expresses the same +disposition; in which, with great tenderness, he recommends a servant, +who was in a bad state of health, to his mother's care, as he was well +acquainted with her condescending temper; mentioning at the same time, +the endeavours he had used to promote his preparations for a better +world, under an apprehension that he would not continue long in this. +We shall have an affecting instance of the prevalence of the same +disposition in the closing scene of his life, and indeed in the last +words he ever spoke, which expressed his generous solicitude for the +safety of a faithful servant who was then near him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +CONDUCT AS AN OFFICER. + + +As it was a few years after his marriage that he was promoted to the rank +of lieutenant-colonel, in which he continued till he had a regiment of +his own, I shall, for the future, speak of him by that title; and I may +not, perhaps, find any more proper place in which to mention what it is +proper for me to say of his behaviour and conduct as an officer. I shall +not here enlarge upon his bravery in the field, though, as I have heard +from others, that was very remarkable--I say from others, for I never +heard any thing of the kind from himself, nor knew, till after his death, +that he was present at almost every battle that was fought in Flanders +while the illustrious Duke of Marlborough commanded the allied army +there. I have also been assured from several very credible persons, some +of whom were eye-witnesses, that at the skirmish with the rebels at +Preston in Lancashire, (thirty years before that engagement at the other +Preston which deprived us of this gallant guardian of his country,) he +signalized himself very particularly; for he headed a small body of men, +I think about twelve, and set fire to the barricado of the rebels, in the +face of their whole army, while they were pouring in their shot, by which +eight of the twelve that attended him fell. This was the last action of +the kind in which he was engaged before the long peace which ensued; and +who can express how happy it was for him, and indeed for his country, +of which he was ever so mindful, and in his latter years so important a +friend, that he did not then fall, when the profaneness which mingled +itself with this martial rage seemed to rend the heavens, and shocked +some other military gentlemen who were not very remarkable for their +caution in this respect. + +But I insist not on things of this nature, which the true greatness of +his soul would hardly ever permit him to mention, unless when it tended +to illustrate the divine care over him in these extremities of danger, +and the grace of God in calling him from so abandoned a state. It is well +known that the character of an officer is not to be approved in the +day of combat only. Colonel Gardiner was truly sensible that every day +brought its duties along with it, and he was constantly careful that no +pretence of amusement, friendship, or even devotion itself, might prevent +their being properly discharged. + +I doubt not that the noble persons in whose regiments he was +lieutenant-colonel, will always be ready to bear an honourable and +grateful testimony to his exemplary diligence and fidelity in all that +related to the care of the troops over which he was set, whether in +regard to the men or the horses. He knew that it is incumbent on +those who have the honour of presiding over others, whether in civil, +ecclesiastical, or military offices, not to content themselves with doing +only so much as may preserve them from the reproach of gross and visible +neglect; but seriously to consider how much they can possibly do without +going out of their proper sphere, to serve the public, by the due +inspection of those committed to their care. The duties of the closet and +of the sanctuary were so adjusted as not to interfere with those of the +parade, or any other place where the welfare of the regiment called +him. On the other hand, he was solicitous not to suffer these things to +interfere with religion, a due attendance on which he apprehended to +be the surest method of attaining all desirable success in every other +interest and concern in life. He therefore abhorred every thing that +looked like a contrivance to keep his soldiers employed with their horses +and their arms at the seasons of public worship--an indecency which I +wish there were no room to mention. Far from that, he used to have them +drawn up just before it began, and from the parade they went off to the +house of God. He understood the rights of conscience too well to impose +his own particular profession in religion on others, or to treat those +who differed from him in the choice of its modes, the less kindly or +respectfully on that account. But as most of his own company, and many of +the rest, chose (when in England) to attend him to the dissenting chapel, +he used to march them up thither in due time, so as to be there before +the worship began. And I must do them the justice to say, that so far as +I could ever discern, when I have seen them in large numbers before me, +they behaved with as much reverence, gravity, and decorum, during the +time of divine service, as any of the worshippers. + +That his remarkable care to maintain good discipline among them (of which +we shall afterwards speak) might be the more effectual, he made himself +on all proper occasions accessible to them, and expressed a great +concern for their interests, which, being genuine and sincere, naturally +discovered itself in a variety of instances. I remember I had once +occasion to visit one of his dragoons in his last illness at Harborough, +and I found the man upon the borders of eternity--a circumstance which, +as he apprehended himself, must add some peculiar weight and credibility +to his discourse. He then told me, in his colonel's absence, that he +questioned not that he should have everlasting reason to bless God on +Colonel Gardiner's account, for he had been a father to him in all his +interests, both temporal and spiritual. He added, that he had visited +him, almost every day during his illness, with religious advice and +instruction, and had also taken care that he should want for nothing that +might conduct to the recovery of his health. He did not speak of this +as the result of any particular attachment to him, but as the manner in +which he was accustomed to treat those under his command. It is no wonder +that this engaged their affection to a very great degree; and I doubt not +that if he had fought the fatal battle of Prestonpans at the head of that +gallant regiment of which he had the care for so many years, and which +is allowed by most unexceptionable judges to be one of the finest in the +British service, and consequently in the world, he had been supported in +a much different manner, and had found a much greater number who would +have rejoiced in an opportunity of making their own breasts a barrier in +the defence of his. + +It could not but greatly endear him to his soldiers, that so far as +preferments lay in his power, or were under his influence, they were +distributed according to merit. This he knew to be as much the dictate of +prudence as equity. I find from one of his letters before me, dated but +a few months after his conversion, that he was solicited to use his +interest with the Earl of Stair in favour of one whom he judged a very +worthy person; and that it had been suggested by another, who +recommended him, that if he so succeeded, he might expect some handsome +acknowledgment. But he answers with some degree of indignation, "Do you +imagine I am to be bribed to do justice?" For such it seems he esteemed +it, to confer the favour which was asked from him on one so deserving. +Nothing can more effectually tend to humble the enemies of a state, than +that such maxims should universally prevail in it; and if they do not +prevail, the worthiest men in an army or a fleet may sink under repeated +discouragements, and the basest exalted, to the infamy of the public, and +perhaps to its ruin. + +In the midst of all the gentleness which Colonel Gardiner exercised +towards his soldiers, he made it very apparent that he knew how to +reconcile the tenderness of a really faithful and condescending friend +with the authority of a commander. Perhaps hardly any thing conduced more +generally to the maintaining of this authority, than the strict decorum +and good manners with which he treated even the private gentlemen of his +regiment; which has always a great efficacy in keeping inferiors at +a proper distance, and forbids, in the least offensive manner, +familiarities which degrade the superior, and enervate his influence. The +calmness and steadiness of his behaviour on all occasions also greatly +tended to the same purpose. He knew how mean a man looks in the +transports of passion, and would not use so much freedom with many of +his men as to fall into such transports before them, well knowing that +persons in the lowest rank of life are aware how unfit _they_ are to +govern others, who cannot govern themselves. He was also sensible how +necessary it is in all who preside over others, and especially in +military officers, to check irregularities when they first begin to +appear; and, that he might be able to do so, he kept a strict inspection +over his soldiers; in which it was observed, that as he generally chose +to reside among them as much as he could, (though in circumstances which +sometimes occasioned him to deny himself in some interests which were +very dear to him,) so, when they were around him, he seldom staid long in +a place; but was frequently walking the streets, and looking into their +quarters and stables, as well as reviewing and exercising them himself. +It has often been observed that the regiment to which he was so many +years lieutenant-colonel, was one of the most regular and orderly +regiments in the public service, so that perhaps none of our dragoons +were more welcome to the towns where their character was known. Yet no +such bodies of men are so blameless in their conduct but something will +be found, especially among such considerable numbers, worthy of censure, +and sometimes of punishment. This Colonel Gardiner knew how to inflict +with a becoming resolution, and with all the severity which he judged +necessary--a severity the more awful and impressive, as it was already +attended with meekness; for he well knew that when things are done in a +passion, it seems only an accidental circumstance that they are acts +of justice, and that such indecencies greatly obstruct the ends of +punishment, both as to reforming offenders, and to deterring others from +an imitation of their faults. + +One instance of his conduct, which happened at Leicester, and which was +related by the person chiefly concerned to a worthy friend from whom +I had it, I cannot forbear inserting. While part of the regiment was +encamped in the neighbourhood of that place, the colonel went incognito +to the camp in the middle of the night; for he sometimes lodged at his +quarters in the town. One of the sentinels then on duty had abandoned +his post, and, on being seized, broke out into some oaths and profane +execrations against those that discovered him--a crime of which the +colonel had the greatest abhorrence, and on which he never failed to +animadvert. The man afterwards appeared much ashamed and concerned for +what he had done. But the colonel ordered him to be brought early the +next morning to his own quarters, where he had prepared a picket, on +which he appointed him a private sort of penance; and while he was put +upon it, he discoursed with him seriously and tenderly upon the evils and +aggravations of his fault, admonished him of the divine displeasure which +he had incurred, and urged him to argue, from the pain which he then +felt, how infinitely more dreadful it must be to "fall into the hands of +the living God," and, indeed, to meet the terrors of that damnation +which he had been accustomed impiously to call for on himself and his +companions. The result of this proceeding was, that the offender accepted +his punishment, not only with submission, but with thankfulness. He went +away with a more cordial affection for his colonel than he ever had +before, and spoke of the circumstance some years after to my friend, in +such a manner that there seemed reason to hope it had been instrumental +in producing a change not only in his life, but in his heart. + +There cannot, I think, be a more proper place for mentioning the great +reverence this excellent officer always expressed for the name of the +blessed God, and the zeal with which he endeavoured to suppress, and if +possible to extirpate, that detestable sin of swearing and cursing which +is every where so common, and especially among our military men. He often +declared, at the head of his regiment, his sentiments with respect to +this enormity, and urged his captains and their subalterns to take the +greatest care that they did not give the sanction of their example to +that which by their office they were obliged to punish in others. Indeed +his zeal on these occasions wrought in a very active, and sometimes in a +remarkably successful manner, not only among his equals, but sometimes +among his superiors too. An instance of this in Flanders I shall have an +opportunity hereafter to produce; at present I shall only mention his +conduct in Scotland a little before his death, as I have it from a +very valuable young minister of that country, on whose testimony I can +thoroughly depend; and I wish it may excite many to imitation. + +'The commanding officer of the king's forces then about Edinburgh, +with the other colonels, and several other gentlemen of rank in their +respective regiments, favoured him with their company at Bankton, and +took dinner with him. He too well foresaw what might happen amid such a +variety of tempers and characters; and fearing lest his conscience might +have been ensnared by a sinful silence, or that, on the other hand, he +might seem to pass the bounds of decency, and infringe upon the laws of +hospitality by animadverting on guests so justly entitled to his regard, +he happily determined on the following method of avoiding each of these +difficulties. As soon as they were come together, he addressed them with +a great deal of respect, and at the same time with a very frank and +determined air, telling them that he had the honour in that district to +be a justice of the peace, and consequently that he was sworn to put the +law in execution, and, among the rest, those against swearing; that he +could not execute them upon others with any confidence, or by any means +approve himself a man of impartiality and integrity to his own heart, +if he suffered them to be broken in his presence by persons of any rank +whatsoever; and that therefore he entreated all the gentlemen who then +honoured him with their company that they would please to be upon their +guard, and that if any oath or curse should escape them, he hoped they +would consider his legal animadversion upon it as a regard to the duties +of his office and the dictates of his conscience, and not as owing to any +want of deference to them. + +The commanding officer immediately supported him in this declaration, as +entirely becoming the station in which he was, assuring him that he would +be ready to pay the penalty, if he inadvertently transgressed; and when +Colonel Gardiner on any occasion stepped out of the room, he himself +undertook to be the guardian of the law in his absence; and as one of the +inferior officers offended during this time, he informed the colonel, so +that the fine was exacted and given to the poor,[*] with the universal +approbation of the company. The story spread in the neighbourhood, and +was perhaps applauded highly by many who wanted the courage to "go and do +likewise." But it may be said, with the utmost propriety, of the worthy +person of whom I write, that he feared the face of no man living where +the honour of God was concerned. In all such cases he might be justly +said, in Scripture phrase, "to set his face like a flint;" and I +assuredly believe, that had he been in the presence of a sovereign +prince who had been guilty of this fault, his looks at least would have +testified his grief and surprise, if he had apprehended it unfit to have +borne his testimony in any other way. + +[*Note: It is observable that the money which was forfeited on this +account by his own officers, whom he never spared, or by any others of +his soldiers who rather chose to pay than submit to corporal punishment, +was, by the colonel's order, laid by in a bank till some of the private +men fell sick, and then it was laid out in providing them with proper +help and accommodations in their distress.] + +Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons, during the time he was +lieutenant-colonel of it, was quartered in a variety of places, both +in England and Scotland, from many of which I have letters before +me; particularly from Hamilton, Ayr, Carlisle, Hereford, Maidenhead, +Leicester, Warwick, Coventry, Stamford, Harborough, Northampton, and +several other places, especially in our inland parts. The natural +consequence was, that the colonel, whose character was on many accounts +so very remarkable, had a very extensive acquaintance; and I believe I +may certainly say, that wherever he was known by persons of wisdom and +worth, he was proportionably respected, and left behind him traces of +unaffected devotion, humility, benevolence, and zeal for the support and +advancement of religion and virtue. + +The equable tenor of his mind in these respects is illustrated by his +letters from several of these places; and though I have but comparatively +a small number of them now in my hands, yet they will afford some +valuable extracts; which I shall therefore here lay before my reader, +that he may the better judge as to the colonel's real character in +particulars which I have already mentioned, or which may hereafter occur. + +In a letter to his lady, dated from Carlisle, November 19, 1738, when +he was on his journey to Herefordshire, he breathes out his grateful, +cheerful soul in these words: + +"I bless God I was never better in my lifetime, and I wish I could be so +happy as to hear the same of you: or rather, in other words, to hear that +you have obtained an entire trust in God. That would infallibly keep you +in perfect peace, for the God of truth has promised it. Oh, how ought we +to be longing 'to be with Christ,' which is infinitely better than any +thing we can propose here! to be there, where no mountains shall separate +between God and our souls. And I hope it will be some addition to our +happiness, that, you and I shall be separated no more; but that as we +have joined in singing the praises of our glorious Redeemer here, we +shall sing them in a much higher key through an endless eternity. Oh +eternity, eternity! What a wonderful thought, is eternity!" + +From Leicester, August 6, 1739, he writes thus to his lady: + +"Yesterday I was at the Lord's table, where you and the children were not +forgotten. But how wonderfully was I assisted when I came home, to plead +for you all with many tears." And then, speaking of some intimate friends +who were impatient, (as I suppose by the connection) for his return to +them, he takes occasion to observe the necessity of endeavouring to +compose our minds, and say with the Psalmist, "My soul, wait thou only +upon God." Afterwards, speaking of one of his children, who he heard had +made a commendable progress in learning, he expresses his satisfaction, +and adds; "But, how much greater joy would it give me to hear that he was +greatly advanced in the school of Christ! Oh that our children may but be +wise unto salvation, and may grow in grace as they do in stature!" + +These letters, which to so familiar a friend evidently lay open the +heart, and show the ideas and affections which were lodged deepest there, +are sometimes taken up with an account of sermons he had attended, and +the impression they had made upon his mind. I shall mention only one, +as a specimen of many more, which was dated from a place called Cohorn, +April 15: + +"We had here a minister from Wales, who gave us two excellent discourses +on the love of Christ to us, as an argument to engage our love to him. +And indeed, next to the greatness of his love to us, methinks there is +nothing so astonishing as the coldness of our love to him. Oh that he +would shed abroad his love upon our hearts by his Holy Spirit, that ours +might be kindled into a flame! May God enable you to trust in Him, and +then you will be kept in perfect peace!" + +We have met with many traces of that habitual gratitude to the blessed +God, as his Heavenly Father and constant friend, which made his life +probably one of the happiest that ever was spent on earth. I cannot omit +one more, which appears to me the more worthy of notice, as being a short +turn in as hasty a letter as any I remember to have seen of his, which he +wrote from Leicester in June, 1739. "I am now under the deepest sense of +the many favours the Almighty has bestowed upon me. Surely you will help +me to celebrate the praises of our gracious God and kind benefactor." +This exuberance of grateful affection, which, while it was almost every +hour pouring itself forth before God in the most genuine and emphatical +language, felt itself still as it were straitened for want of a +sufficient vent, and therefore called on others to help him with their +concurrent praises, appears to me the most glorious and happy state in +which a human soul can find itself on this side heaven. + +Such was the temper which this excellent man appears to have carried +along with him through such a variety of places and circumstances; and +the whole of his deportment was suitable to these impressions. Strangers +were agreeably struck with his first appearance, there being much of the +Christian, the well-bred man, and the universal friend in it; and as +they came more intimately to know him, they discovered more and more the +uniformity and consistency of his whole temper and behaviour; so that +whether he made only a visit for a few days to any place, or continued +there for many weeks or months, he was always beloved and esteemed, +and spoken of with that honourable testimony, from persons of the most +different denominations and parties, which nothing but true sterling +worth, (if I may be allowed the expression,) and that in an eminent +degree, can secure. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +INTIMACY WITH THE AUTHOR. + + +Of the justice of this testimony, which I had so often heard from a +variety of persons, I myself began to be a witness about the time when +the last mentioned letter was dated. In this view, I believe I shall +never forget that happy day, June 18, 1739, when I first met him at +Leicester. I remember I happened that day to preach a lecture from Psalm +cxix, 158, "I beheld the transgressions, and was grieved because they +kept not thy law." I was large in describing that mixture of indignation +and grief (strongly expressed by the original words there) with which +a good man looks on the daring transgressors of the divine law; and in +tracing the causes of that grief, as arising from a regard to the divine +honour, and the interest of a Redeemer, and a compassionate concern for +the misery which such offenders bring on themselves, and for the mischief +they do to the world about them, I little thought, how exactly I was +drawing Colonel Gardiner's character under each of those heads; and I +have often reflected upon it as a happy providence which opened a much +speedier way than I could have expected to the breast of one of the most +amiable and useful friends whom I ever expect to find upon earth. We +afterwards sang a hymn which brought over again some of the leading +thoughts in the sermon and struck him so strongly, that on obtaining a +copy of it, he committed it to memory, and used to repeat it, with so +forcible an accent as showed how much every line expressed his very soul. +In this view the reader will pardon my inserting it, especially as I +know not when I may get time to publish a volume of these serious though +artless compositions, which I sent him in manuscript some years ago, and +to which I have since made very large additions: + + Arise, my tenderest thoughts arise, + To torrents melt my streaming eyes! + And thou, my heart, with anguish feel + Those evils which thou canst not heal! + + See human nature sunk in shame! + See scandal poured on Jesus' name! + The Father wounded through the Son! + The world abused--the soul undone! + + See the short course of vain delight + Closing in everlasting night! + In flames that no abatement know, + The briny tears for ever flow. + + My God, I feel the mournful scene; + My bowels yearn o'er dying men: + And fain my pity would reclaim, + And snatch the firebrands from the flame. + + But feeble my compassion proves, + And can but weep where most it loves; + Thine own all-saving arm employ, + And turn these drops of grief to joy! + +The colonel, immediately after the conclusion of the service, met me in +the vestry and embraced me in the most obliging and affectionate manner, +as if there had been a long friendship between us, assured me that he had +for some years been intimately acquainted with my writings, and desired +that we might concert measures for spending some hours together before I +left the town. I was so happy as to be able to secure an opportunity of +doing it; and I must leave upon record, that I cannot recollect I was +ever equally edified by any conversation I remember to have enjoyed. We +passed that evening and the next morning together, and it is impossible +for me to describe the impression which the interview left upon my heart. +I rode alone all the remainder of the day; and it was my unspeakable +happiness that I was alone, since I could no longer be with him; for +I can hardly conceive what other company would not then have been an +encumbrance. The views which he gave me even then, (for he began to +repose a most obliging confidence in me, though he concealed some of the +most extraordinary circumstances of the methods by which he had been +recovered to God and happiness,) with those cordial sentiments of +evangelical piety and extensive goodness which he poured out into my +bosom with so endearing a freedom, fired my very soul; and I hope I may +truly say (which I wish and pray that many of my readers may also +adopt for themselves) that I glorified God in him. Our epistolatory +correspondence immediately commenced upon my return; and though, +through the multiplicity of business on both sides, it suffered many +interruptions, it was in some degree the blessing of all the following +years of my life, till he fell by those unreasonable and wicked men who +had it in their hearts with him to have destroyed all our glory, defence, +and happiness. + +The first letter I received from him was so remarkable, that some persons +of eminent piety, to whom I communicated it, would not be content without +copying it out, or making some extracts from it. I persuade myself that +my devout reader will not be displeased that I insert the greater part +of it here, especially as it serves to illustrate the affectionate sense +which he had of the divine goodness in his conversion, though more than +twenty years had passed since that memorable event happened. Having +already mentioned my ever dear and honoured friend Dr. Isaac Watts, he +adds: + +"I have been in pain these several years lest that excellent person, that +sweet singer in our Israel, should have been called to heaven before +I had an opportunity of letting him know how much his works have been +blessed to me, and, of course, returning him my hearty thanks; for though +it is owing to the operation of the blessed Spirit, that any thing works +effectually upon our hearts, yet if we are not thankful to the instrument +which God is pleased to make use of, whom we do see, how shall we be +thankful to the Almighty, whom we have not seen? I desire to bless God +for the good news of his recovery, and entreat you to tell him, that +although I cannot keep pace with him here in celebrating the high praises +of our glorious Redeemer, which is the greatest grief of my heart, yet I +am persuaded, that, when I join the glorious company above, where there +will be no drawbacks, none will outsing me there, because I shall not +find any that will be more indebted to the wonderful riches of divine +grace than I. + + "Give me a place at thy saints' feet, + On some fallen angel's vacant seat; + I'll strive to sing as loud as they + Who sit above in brighter day. + +"I know it is natural for every one who has felt the almighty power +which raised our glorious Redeemer from the grave, to believe his case +singular; but I have made every one in this respect submit as soon as he +has heard my story. And if you seemed so surprised at the account which I +gave you, what will you be when you hear it all? + + "Oh, if I had an angel's voice, + And could be heard from pole to pole; + I would to all the listening world + Proclaim thy goodness to my soul." + +He then concludes, after some expressions of endearment, (which, with +whatever pleasure I review them, I must not here insert)-- + +"If you knew what a natural aversion I have to writing, you would be +astonished at the length of this letter, which is, I believe, the longest +I ever wrote. But my heart warms when I write to you, which makes my pen +move the easier. I hope it will please our gracious God long to preserve +you, a blessed instrument in his hand, of doing great good in the church +of Christ; and that you may always enjoy a thriving soul in a healthful +body, shall be the continual prayer of," &c. + +As our intimacy grew, our mutual affection increased; and "my dearest +friend" was the form of address with which most of his epistles of the +last years were begun and ended. Many of them are filled up with his +sentiments of those writings which I published during these years, which +he read with great attention, and of which he speaks in terms which it +becomes me to suppress, and to impute, in a considerable degree, to +the kind prejudices of so endeared a friendship. He gives me repeated +assurances "that he was daily mindful of me in his prayers", a +circumstance which I cannot recollect without the greatest thankfulness; +and the loss of which I should more deeply lament, did I not hope that +the happy effect of these prayers might still continue, and might run +into all my remaining days. + +It might be a pleasure to me to make several extracts from many others of +his letters; but it is a pleasure which I ought to suppress, and rather +to reflect, with unfeigned humility, how unworthy I was of such regards +from such a person, and of that divine goodness which gave me such a +friend in him. I shall, therefore, only add two general remarks, which +offer themselves from several of his letters. The one is, that there is +in some of them, as our freedom increased, an agreeable vein of humour +and pleasantry, which shows how easy religion sat upon him, and how far +he was from placing any part of it in a gloomy melancholy, or stiff +formality. The other is, that he frequently refers to domestic +circumstances, such as the illness or recovery of my children, &c., which +I am surprised how a man of his extensive and important business could so +distinctly bear upon his mind. But his memory was good, and his heart +was yet better; and his friendship was such, that nothing which sensibly +affected the heart of one whom he honoured with it, left his own but +slightly touched. I have all imaginable reason to believe that in many +instances his prayers were not only offered for us in general terms, but +varied as our particular situation required. Many quotations might verify +this; but I decline troubling the reader with an enumeration of passages +in which it was only the abundance of friendly sympathy that gave this +truly great as well as good man so cordial a concern. + +After this correspondence, carried on for the space of about three years, +and some interviews which we had enjoyed at different places, he came to +spend some time with us at Northampton, and brought with him his lady +and his two eldest children. I had here an opportunity of taking a much +nearer view of his character, and surveying it in a much greater variety +of lights than before; and my esteem for him increased in proportion to +these opportunities. What I have written with respect to his conduct in +relative life, was in a great measure drawn from what I now saw; and I +shall mention here some other points in his behaviour which particularly +struck my mind, and likewise shall touch on his sentiments on some topics +of importance which he freely communicated to me, and which I have +remarked on account of that wisdom and propriety which pervaded them. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +DEVOTION AND CHARITY. + + +There was nothing more observable in Colonel Gardiner than the exemplary +gravity, composure, and reverence with which he attended public worship. +Copious as he was in his secret devotions before he engaged in it, he +always began them early, so as not to be retarded by them when he should +resort to the house of God. He, and all his soldiers who chose to worship +with him, were generally there (as I have already hinted) before the +service began, that the entrance of so many of them at once might not +disturb the congregation already engaged in devotion, and that there +might be a better opportunity of bringing the mind to a becoming +attention, and preparing it for converse with the Divine Being. While +acts of worship were going on, whether of prayer or singing, he always +stood up; and whatever regard he might have for persons who passed by him +at that time, though it were to come into the same pew, he never paid +any compliment to them; and often has he expressed his wonder at +the indecorum of breaking off our addresses to God to bow to a +fellow-creature, which he thought a much greater indecency that it would +be, on a little occasion and circumstance, to interrupt an address to our +prince. During the time of preaching, his eye was commonly fixed upon the +minister, though sometimes turned round upon the auditory, against whom, +if he observed any to trifle, he was filled with just indignation. I have +known instances in which, upon making the remark, he has communicated +it to some friend of the persons who were guilty of it, that proper +application might be made to prevent it for the time to come. + +A more devout communicant at the table of the Lord has perhaps seldom +been any where known. Often have I had the pleasure to see that manly +countenance softened to all the marks of humiliation and contrition on +this occasion; and to discern, in spite of all his efforts to conceal +them, streams of tears flowing down from his eyes, while he has been +directing them to those memorials of his Redeemer's love. Some who have +conversed intimately with him after he came from that ordinance, have +observed a visible abstraction from surrounding objects, by which +there seemed reason to imagine that his soul was wrapped up in holy +contemplation. I particularly remember, that when we had once spent a +great part of the following Monday in riding together, he made an apology +to me for being so absent as he seemed, by telling me "that his heart was +flown upwards, before he was aware, to Him 'whom, not having seen, he +loved;'[*] and that he was rejoicing in him with such unspeakable joy, that +he could not hold it down to creature converse." + +[*Note: This alluded to the subject of the sermon the day before, which +was 1 Pet, 1. 8.] + +In all the offices of friendship he was remarkably ready, and had a most +sweet and engaging manner of performing them, which greatly heightened +the obligations he conferred. He seemed not to set any high value upon +any benefit he bestowed, but did it without the least parade, as a thing +which in those circumstances came of course, where he had professed love +and respect; which he was not over forward to do, though he treated +strangers, and those who were most his inferiors, very courteously, and +always seemed, because he in truth always was, glad of any opportunity of +doing them good. + +He was particularly zealous in vindicating the reputation of his friends +in their absence; and though I cannot recollect that I had ever an +opportunity of immediately observing this, as I do not know that I ever +was present with him when any ill was spoken of others at all; yet, +by what I have heard him say with relation to attempts to injure the +character of worthy and useful men, I have reason to believe that no +man living was more sensible of the baseness and infamy, as well as the +cruelty, of such conduct. He knew and despised the low principles of +resentment for unreasonable expectations disappointed, of personal +attachment to men of some crossing interests, of envy, and of party +zeal, from whence such a conduct often proceeds; and he was particularly +offended when he found it (as he frequently did) in persons that set up +for the greatest patrons of liberty, virtue, and candour. He looked upon +the murderers of reputation and usefulness as some of the vilest pests of +society, and plainly showed on every proper occasion that he thought it +the part of a generous, benevolent and courageous man to exert himself in +tracing and hunting down the slander, that the authors or abettors of it +might be less capable of mischief for the future. + +The most plausible objection that I ever heard to Colonel Gardiner's +character is, that he was too much attached to some religious principles, +established indeed in the churches both of England and Scotland, but +which have of late years been much disputed, and from which, it is at +least generally supposed, not a few in both have thought proper to +depart--whatever expedients they may have found to quiet their +consciences, in subscribing those formularies in which they are plainly +taught. His zeal was especially apparent in opposition to those doctrines +which seemed to derogate from the divine honours of the Son and Spirit of +God, and from the freedom of divine grace, of the reality and necessity +of its operations in the conversion and salvation of sinners. + +With relation to these I must observe, that it was his most steadfast +persuasion that all those notions which represent our blessed Redeemer +and the Holy Spirit as mere creatures, or which set aside the atonement +of the former, or the influence of the latter, sap the very foundation of +Christianity by rejecting the most glorious doctrines peculiar to it. +He had attentively observed (what indeed is too obvious) the unhappy +influence which the denial of these principles often has on the character +of ministers, and on their success, and was persuaded that an attempt to +substitute that mutilated form of Christianity which remains, when these +essentials of it are taken away, has proved one of the most successful +methods which the great enemy of souls has ever taken, in these latter +days, to lead men by insensible degrees into deism, vice, and perdition. +He also sagaciously observed the artful manner in which obnoxious tenets +are often maintained or insinuated, with all that mixture of zeal and +address with which they are propagated in the world, even by those +who had most solemnly professed to believe, and engaged to teach the +contrary; and as he really apprehended that the glory of God and the +salvation of souls were concerned, his piety and charity made him eager +and strenuous in opposing what he judged to be errors of so pernicious a +nature. Yet I must declare, that, according to what I have known of him, +(and I believe he opened his heart on these topics to me with as much +freedom as to any man living,) he was not ready, upon light suspicions, +to charge tenets which he thought so pernicious on any, especially +where he saw the appearances of a good temper and life, which he always +reverenced and loved in persons of all sentiments and professions. He +severely condemned causeless jealousies and evil surmisings of every +kind, and extended that charity, in this respect, both to clergy and +laity, which good Bishop Burnet was so ready, according to his own +account, to limit to the latter, "of believing every man good till he +knew him to be bad, and his notions right till he knew them wrong." He +could not but be very sensible of the unhappy consequences which may +follow on attacking the characters of men, especially of those who are +ministers of the gospel; and if, through a mixture of human frailty, from +which the best of men, in the best of their meanings and intentions, are +not entirely free, he had ever, in the warmth of his heart, dropped a +word which might be injurious to any on that account, (which I believe +very seldom happened,) he would gladly retract it on better information; +and this was perfectly agreeable to that honest and generous frankness of +temper in which I never knew any man who excelled him. + +On the whole, it was indeed his deliberate judgment that the Arian, +Socinian, and Pelagian doctrines were highly dishonourable to God, and +dangerous to the souls of men; and that it was the duty of private +Christians to be greatly on their guard against those ministers by whom +they are entertained, lest their minds should be corrupted from the +simplicity that is in Christ. Yet he sincerely abhorred the thought of +persecution for conscience sake; of the absurdity and iniquity of which, +in all its kinds and degrees, he had as deep and rational a conviction as +any man. Indeed the generosity of his heroic heart could hardly bear to +think that those glorious truths which he so cordially loved, and which +he assuredly believed to be capable of such fair support both from reason +and the word of God, should be disgraced by methods of defence and +propagation common to the most impious and ridiculous falsehoods. Nor did +he by any means approve of passionate and furious ways of vindicating the +most vital and important doctrines of the gospel; for he knew that to +maintain the most benevolent religion in the world by such malevolent and +infernal methods was destroying the end to accomplish the means; and that +it was as impossible that true Christianity should be supported thus, as +it is that a man should long be nourished by eating his own flesh. To +display the genuine fruits of Christianity in a good life--to be ready to +plead with meekness for the doctrines it teaches, and to labour, by every +office of humanity and goodness, to gain upon those who oppose it, were +the weapons with which this good soldier of Jesus Christ faithfully +fought the battles of the Lord. These weapons will always be victorious +in his cause; and they who have recourse to others of a different temper, +how strong soever they may seem, and how sharp soever they may really be, +will find them break in their hands when they exert them most furiously, +and are much more likely to wound themselves than to conquer the enemies +whom they oppose. + +But while I am speaking of Colonel Gardiner's charity in this respect, I +must not omit that of another kind, which has indeed engrossed the +name of charity, excellent as it is, much more than it ought--I mean +alms-giving for which he was very remarkable. I have often wondered how +he was able to do so many generous things in this way. But his frugality +fed the spring. He made no pleasurable expense on himself, and was +contented with a very decent appearance in his family, without affecting +such an air of grandeur as could not have been supported without +sacrificing to it satisfactions far nobler, and, to a temper like his, +far more delightful. The lively and tender feelings of his heart in +favour of the distressed and afflicted made it a self-indulgence to +relieve them; and the deep conviction he had of the vain and transitory +nature of the enjoyments of this world, together with the sublime view he +had of another, engaged him to dispense his bounties with a very liberal +hand, and even to seek out proper objects of them. Above all, his sincere +and ardent love to the Lord Jesus Christ engaged him to feel, with a true +sympathy, the concerns of his poor members. In consequence of this, he +honoured several of his friends with commissions for the relief of the +poor; and particularly, with relation to some under my pastoral care, +he referred it to my discretion to supply them with what I should judge +expedient, and frequently pressed me, in his letters, "to be sure not +to let them want." And where persons standing in need of his charity +happened, as they often did, to be persons of remarkably religious +dispositions, it was easy to perceive that he not only loved but honoured +them, and really esteemed it an honour which Providence conferred upon +him, that he should be made, as it were, the almoner of God for their +relief. + +I cannot forbear relating a little story here, which, when the colonel +himself heard it, gave him such exquisite pleasure, that I hope it will +be acceptable to several of my readers. There was in a village about nine +miles from Northampton, and in a family which, of all others near me, +was afterwards most indebted to him, (though he had never then seen any +member of it,) an aged and poor, but eminently good woman, who had, with +great difficulty, in the exercise of much faith and patience, diligence +and humility, made shift to educate a large family of children after the +death of her husband, without being chargeable to the parish; which, as +it was quite beyond her hope, she often spoke of with great delight. +At length, when worn out with age and infirmities, she lay upon her +death-bed, she, in a most lively and affecting manner, expressed her hope +and joy in the views of approaching glory. Yet, amidst all the triumphs +of such a prospect, there was one remaining care and distress which +lay heavy on her mind; this was, that as her journey and her stock of +provisions were both ended together, she feared that she must either +be buried at the parish expense, or leave to her most dutiful and +affectionate daughters the house stripped of some of the few movables +which remained in it, in order to perform the last office of duty to her, +which she had reason to believe they would do. While she was combatting +with this only remaining anxiety, I happened, though I knew not the +extremity of her illness, to come in, and to bring with me a guinea +which the generous colonel had sent by a special message, on hearing the +character of the family, for its relief. A present like this, (probably +the most considerable they had ever received in their lives,) coming in +this manner from an entire stranger at such a crisis of time, threw my +dying friend (for such, amidst all her poverty, I rejoiced to call her) +into a perfect transport of joy. She esteemed it a singular favour of +Providence sent to her in her last moments as a token for good, and +greeted it as a special mark of that loving kindness of God which should +attend her for ever. She insisted, therefore, to be raised up in her bed, +that she might bless God for it upon her knees, and with her last breath +pray for her kind and generous benefactor, and for him who had been the +instrument of directing his bounty into this channel. After this she soon +expired, and with such tranquillity and sweetness as could not but most +sensibly delight all who beheld her, and occasioned many who knew the +circumstance to glorify God on her behalf. + +The colonel's last residence at Northampton was in June and July 1742, +when Lord Cadogan's regiment of dragoons was quartered here. Here I +cannot but observe, that wherever that regiment came, it was remarkable +not only for the fine appearance it made, and for the exactness with +which it performed its various exercises, (of which it had about this +time the honour to receive the most illustrious testimonials,) but also +for the great sobriety and regularity of the soldiers. Many of the +officers copied after the excellent pattern which they had daily before +their eyes; and a considerable number of the private men seemed to be +persons not only of strict virtue, but of serious piety. I doubt not but +they found their abundant account in it, not only in the serenity and +happiness of their own minds, which is beyond comparison the most +important consideration; but also, in some degree, in the obliging and +respectful treatment which they generally met with in their quarters. +I mention this, because I am persuaded that if gentlemen of their +profession knew, and would reflect, how much more comfortable they make +their own quarters by a sober, orderly, and obliging conduct, they would +be regular out of mere self love, if they were not influenced, as I +heartily wish they may always be, by a nobler principle. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +EMBARKS FOR FLANDERS. + + +Towards the latter end of this year he embarked for Flanders, and +spent some considerable time with the regiment at Ghent, where he much +regretted the want of those religious ordinances and opportunities which +had made his other abodes delightful. But as he had made so eminent a +progress in that divine life which they are all intended to promote, he +could not be inactive in the cause of God. I have now before me a letter, +dated from thence October 16, 1742, in which he writes: + +"As for me, I am indeed in a dry and barren land, where no water is. +Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because nothing is to be heard in +our Sodom but blaspheming the name of my God, and I not honoured as the +instrument of doing any great service. It is true, I have reformed six or +seven field-officers of swearing. I dine every day with them, and have +entered them into a voluntary contract to pay a shilling to the poor for +every oath, and it is wonderful to observe the effect it has had already. +One of them told me this day at dinner that it had really such an +influence upon him, that being at cards last night when another officer +fell a swearing, he was not able to bear it, but rose up and left the +company. So you see, restraints at first arising from a low principle may +improve into something better." + +During his abode here, he had a great deal of business upon his hands, +and had also, in some marches, the care of more regiments than his +own; and it has been very delightful to me to observe what a degree of +converse with heaven, and the God of it, he maintained amidst these +scenes of hurry and fatigue, of which the reader may find a remarkable +specimen in the following letter, dated from Lichwick in the beginning of +April 1743, which was one of the last I received from him while abroad. +It begins with these words:-- + +"Yesterday being the Lord's day, at six in the morning I had the pleasure +of receiving yours at Nortonick; and it proved a Sabbath day's blessing +to me. Some time before it reached me," (from whence, by the way, it may +be observed that his former custom of rising so early in his devotions +was still retained,) "I had been wrestling with God with many tears; and +when I had read it, I returned to my knees again to give hearty thanks to +him for all his goodness to you and yours, and also to myself, in that he +hath been pleased to stir up so many who are dear to him, to be mindful +of me at the throne of grace." + +Then, after the mention of some other particulars, he adds:-- + +"Blessed and adored for ever be the holy name of my Heavenly Father, who +holds my soul in life, and my body in perfect health! Were I to recount +his mercy and goodness to me even in the midst of all these hurries, I +should never have done. I hope your Master will still encourage you in +his work, and make you a blessing to many. My dearest friend, I am much +more yours than I can express, and shall remain so while I am J.G." + +In this correspondence I had a further opportunity of discovering that +humble resignation to the will of God which made so amiable a part of his +character, and of which I had before seen so many instances. He speaks, +in the letter from which I have just been giving an extract, of the hope +he had expressed in a former of seeing us again that winter; and he +adds:-- + +"To be sure, it would have been a great pleasure to me; but we poor +mortals form projects, and the Almighty ruler of the universe disposes of +all as he pleases. A great many of us were getting ready for our return +to England, when we received an order to march towards Frankfort, to the +great surprise of the whole army, neither can any of us comprehend what +we are to do there; for there is no enemy in that country, the French +army being marched into Bavaria, where I am sure we cannot follow them. +But it is the will of the Lord, and his will be done! I desire to bless +and praise my Heavenly Father that I am entirely resigned to it. It is no +matter where I go, or what becomes of me, so that God may be glorified in +my life, or my death, I should rejoice much to hear that all my friends +were equally resigned." + +The mention of this article reminds me of another relating to the views +which he had of obtaining a regiment for himself. He endeavoured to +deserve it by the most faithful services; some of them, indeed beyond +what the strength of his constitution could well bear--for the weather in +some of these marches proved exceedingly bad, and yet he would be always +at the head of his people, that he might look, with the exactest care, +to every thing that concerned them. This obliged him to neglect the +beginnings of a feverish illness, the natural consequence of which was +that it grew very formidable, forced a long confinement upon him, and +gave animal nature a shock which it never recovered. + +In the mean time, as he had the promise of a regiment before he +quitted England, his friends were continually expecting an occasion of +congratulating him on having received the command of one. Still they were +disappointed, and on some of them the disappointment seemed to sit heavy. +As for the colonel himself, he seemed quite easy about it, and appeared +much greater in that easy situation of mind than the highest military +honours and preferments could have made him. With great pleasure do I at +this moment recollect the unaffected serenity, and even indifference, +with which he expresses himself upon this occasion, in a letter to me, +dated about the beginning of April, 1743. + +"The disappointment of a regiment is nothing to me, for I am satisfied +that, had it been for God's glory, I should have had it, and I should +have been sorry to have had it on any other terms. My Heavenly Father has +bestowed upon me infinitely more than if he had made me emperor of the +whole world." + +I find several parallel expressions in other letters, and those to his +lady about the same time were just in the same strain. In an extract from +one which was written from Aix-la-Chapelle, April 21, the same year, I +meet with these words: + +"People here imagine I must be sadly troubled that I have not got a +regiment, (for six out of seven vacant are now disposed of): but they are +strangely mistaken, for it has given me no sort of trouble. My Heavenly +Father knows what is best for me; and blessed and ever adored be his +name, he has given me an entire resignation to his will. Besides, I do +not know that I met with any disappointment, since I was a Christian, but +it pleased God to discover to me that it was plainly for my advantage, by +bestowing something better upon me afterwards, many instances of which I +am able to produce; and therefore I should be the greatest of monsters, +if I did not trust in him." + +I should be guilty of a great omission, if I were not to add how +remarkably the event corresponded with his faith on this occasion; for +whereas he had no intimation or expectation of any thing more than a +regiment of foot, his Majesty was pleased, out of his great goodness, +to give him a regiment of dragoons which was then quartered in his own +neighborhood. It is properly remarked by the reverend and worthy person +through whose hand this letter was transmitted to me, that when the +colonel thus expressed himself, he could have no prospect of what he +afterwards so soon obtained, as General Bland's regiment, to which he was +advanced, was only vacant on the 19th of April--that is, two days before +the date of this letter, when it was impossible he should have any notice +of that vacancy. It also deserves observation, that some few days after +the colonel was thus unexpectedly promoted to the command of these +dragoons, Lord Cornwallis's regiment of foot, then in Flanders, became +vacant. Now, had this happened before his promotion to General Bland's, +Colonel Gardiner, in all probability, would only have had that regiment +of foot, and so would have continued in Flanders. When the affair was +settled, he informs Lady Frances of it in a letter dated from a village +near Frankfort, 3d May, in which he refers to his former of the 21st of +April, observing how remarkably it was verified "in God's having given +him" (for so he expressed it, agreeably to the views which he continually +maintained of the universal agency of Divine Providence) "what he had +no expectation of, and what was so much better than that which he had +missed--a regiment of dragoons quartered at his own door." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +RETURN TO ENGLAND. + + +It appeared to him that by this remarkable event Providence called him +home. Accordingly, though he had other preferments offered him in the +army, he chose to return, and I believe the more willingly, as he did not +expect there would have been an action. Just at this time it pleased God +to give him an awful instance of the uncertainty of human prospects and +enjoyments, by that violent fever which seized him at Ghent on his way to +England, and perhaps the more severely for the efforts he made to push on +his journey, though he had for some days been much indisposed. It was, I +think, one of the first fits of severe illness he had ever met with, and +he was ready to look upon it as a sudden call into eternity; but it gave +him no painful alarm in that view. He committed himself to the God of his +life, and in a few weeks he was so well recovered as to be capable of +pursuing his journey, though not without difficulty. I cannot but think +it might have conduced much to a more perfect recovery than he ever +attained, to have allowed himself a longer repose, in order to recruit +his exhausted strength and spirits. But there was an activity in his +temper not easy to be restrained, and it was now stimulated, not only +with a desire to see his friends, but of being with his regiment, that +he might omit nothing in his power to regulate their morals and their +discipline, and to form them for public service. Accordingly, about the +middle of June, 1743, he passed through London, where he had the honour +of waiting on their royal highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales, +and of receiving from both the most obliging token of favour and esteem. +He arrived at Northampton on Monday the 21st of June, and spent part of +three days there. But the great pleasure which his return and preferment +gave us, was much abated by observing his countenance so sadly altered, +and the many marks of languor and remaining disorder which evidently +appeared, so that he really looked ten years older than he had done +ten months before. I had, however, a satisfaction sufficient to +counterbalance much of the concern which this alteration gave me, in a +renewed opportunity of observing, indeed more sensibly than ever, in +how remarkable a degree he was dead to the enjoyments and views of this +mortal life. When I congratulated him on the favourable appearances of +Providence for him in the late event, he briefly told me the remarkable +circumstances that attended it, with the most genuine expressions of +gratitude to God for them; but added, "that as his account was increased +with his income, power, influence, and his cares were proportionably +increased too, it was, as to his own personal concern, much the same to +him whether he had remained in his former station, or been elevated to +this; but that if God should by this means honour him as an instrument of +doing more good than he could otherwise have done, he should rejoice in +it." + +I perceived that the near views he had taken of eternity, in the illness +from which he was then so imperfectly recovered, had not in the least +alarmed him; but that he would have been entirely willing, had such been +the determination of God, to have been cut short in a foreign land, +without any earthly friend near him, and in the midst of a journey +undertaken with hopes and prospects so pleasing to nature, which appeared +to me no inconsiderable evidence of the strength of his faith. But we +shall wonder the less at this extraordinary resignation, if we consider +the joyful and assured prospect which he had of a happiness infinitely +superior beyond the grave; of which that worthy minister of the church of +Scotland, who had an opportunity of conversing with him quickly after his +return, and having the memorable story of his conversion from his own +mouth, (as I have hinted above,) writes thus in his letter to me, dated +Jan. 14, 1746-7: + +"When he came to review his regiment at Linlithgow, in summer 1743, after +having given me the wonderful story as above, he concluded in words to +this purpose: Let me die whenever it shall please God, or wherever it +shall be, I am sure I shall go to the mansions of eternal glory, and +enjoy my God and my Redeemer in heaven for ever." + +While he was with us at this time he appeared deeply affected with the +sad state of things as to religion and morals, and seemed to apprehend +that the rod of God was hanging over so sinful a nation. He observed a +great deal of disaffection which the enemies of the government had, by a +variety of artifices, been raising in Scotland for some years; and the +number of Jacobites there, together with the defenceless state in which +our island then was, with respect to the number of its forces at home, +(of which he spoke at once with great concern and astonishment,) led +him to expect an invasion from France, and an attempt in favour of the +Pretender, much sooner than it happened. I have heard him often say, many +years before it came so near being accomplished, "that a few thousands +might have a fair chance for marching from Edinburgh to London +uncontrolled, and throw the whole Kingdom into an astonishment." And I +have great reason to believe that this was one main consideration which +engaged him to make such haste to his regiment, then quartered in those +parts, as he imagined there was not a spot of ground where he might be +more likely to have a call to expose his life in the service of his +country, and perhaps, by appealing on a proper call early in its +defences, be instrumental in suppressing the beginnings of most +formidable mischief. How rightly he judged in these things, the event too +evidently showed. + +The evening before our last separation, as I knew I could not more +agreeably entertain the valuable friend who was then my guest, I preached +a sermon in my own house, with some peculiar reference to his case and +circumstances, from those ever-memorable words, than which I have never +felt any more powerful and more comfortable: Psalm xci. 14, 15, 16, +"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I +will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon +me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver +him, and honour him: with long life (or length of days) will I satisfy +him, and show him my salvation." This scripture could not but lend our +meditations to survey the character of the good man, as one who so knows +the name of the blessed God--has such a deep apprehension of the glories +and perfections of his nature--as determinately to set his love upon him, +to make him the supreme object of his most ardent and constant affection. +And it suggested the most sublime and animating hopes to persons of such +a character, that their prayers shall be always acceptable to God; that +though they may, and must, be called to their share in the troubles and +calamities of life, yet they may assure themselves of the divine presence +in all, which will issue in their deliverance, in their exaltation, +sometimes in distinguished honour and esteem among men, and, it may be, +in a long course of useful and happy years on earth; at least, which +shall undoubtedly end in seeing, to their perpetual delight, the complete +salvation of God, in a world where they shall enjoy length of days for +ever and ever, and employ them all in adoring the great Author of their +salvation and felicity. It is evident that these natural thoughts on such +a Scripture were matters of universal concern. Yet had I, as a minister +of the gospel, known that this was the last time I should address Colonel +Gardiner, and had I foreseen the scenes through which God was about to +lead him, I hardly know what considerations I could have suggested with +more peculiar propriety. The attention, elevation, and delight with which +he heard them, were very apparent, and the pleasure which the observation +of it gave me, continues to this moment. + +Let me be permitted to digress so far as to add, that this is indeed the +great support of a Christian minister under the many discouragements +and disappointments which he meets with in his attempts to fix upon the +profligate or the thoughtless part of mankind a deep sense of religious +truth; that there is another important part of his work in which he may +hope to be more generally successful; as, by plain, artless, but serious +discourses, the great principles of Christian duty and hope may be +nourished and invigorated in good men, their graces watered as at +the root, and their souls animated, both to persevere and improve in +holiness. When we are effectually performing such benevolent offices, so +well suiting our immortal natures, to persons whose hearts are cemented +with ours in the hands of the most endearing and sacred friendship, it is +too little to say that it overpays the fatigue of our Labours; it even +swallows up all sense of it in the most rational and sublime pleasure. + +An incident occurred that evening, which, at least for the oddness of +it, may deserve a place in these memoirs. I had then with me one Thomas +Porter, a poor but very honest and religious man, (now living at Hatfield +Broad-Oak in Essex,) who is quite unacquainted with letters, so as not to +be able to distinguish one from another, yet is master of the contents +of the Bible in so extraordinary a degree, that he has not only fixed an +immense number of texts in his memory, but, merely by hearing them quoted +in sermons, has registered there the chapter and verse in which these +passages are to be found. This is attended with a marvellous facility in +directing readers to turn to them, and a most unaccountable talent of +fixing on such as suit almost every imaginable variety of circumstances +in common life. There are in this case two considerations that make it +the more wonderful; the one, that he is a person of very low genius, +having, besides a stammering which makes his speech almost unintelligible +to strangers, so wild and awkward a manner of behaviour, that he is +frequently taken for an idiot, and seems in many things to be indeed +so;--the other, that he grew up to manhood in a very licentious course of +living, and an entire ignorance of divine things, so that all these exact +impressions on his memory have been made in his riper years. I thought +it would not be disagreeable to the colonel to introduce to him this +odd phenomenon, which many hundreds of people have had a curiosity to +examine; and, among all the strange things I have seen in him, I never +remember any that equalled what passed on this occasion. On hearing +the colonel's profession, and receiving some hints of his religious +character, he ran through a vast variety of scriptures, beginning at +the Pentateuch and going on to the Revelation, relating either to the +dependence to be fixed on God for the success of military preparations, +or to the instances and promises occurring there for his care of good men +in the most imminent dangers, or to the encouragement to despise perils +and death, while engaged in a good cause, and supported by the views of +a happy immortality. I believe he quoted more than twenty of these +passages, and I must freely own that I know not who could have chosen +them with greater propriety. If my memory deceive me not, the last of +this catalogue was that from which I afterwards preached, on the lamented +occasion of this great man's fall: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I +will give thee a crown of life." We were all astonished at so remarkable +a feat, and I question not but many of my readers will think the memory +of it worthy of being thus preserved. + +But to return to my main subject: The day after the sermon and +conversation of which I have been speaking, I took my best leave of my +inestimable friend, after attending him some part of his way northward. +The first stage of our journey was to the cottage of that poor but +religious family which I had before occasion to mention as relieved, and +indeed in a great measure subsisted by his charity. Nothing could be more +delightful than to observe the condescension with which he conversed with +these his humble pensioners. We there put up our last united prayers +together; and he afterwards expressed, in the strongest terms I have ever +heard him use on such an occasion, the singular pleasure with which he +had joined in them. Indeed it was no small satisfaction to me to have +an opportunity of recommending such a valuable friend to the divine +protection and blessing, with that particular freedom and enlargement on +what was peculiar in his circumstances, which hardly any other situation, +unless we had been quite alone, could so conveniently have admitted. +We went from thence to the table of a person of distinction in the +neighborhood, where he had an opportunity of showing in how decent and +graceful a manner he could unite the Christian and the gentleman, and +give conversation an improving and religious turn, without violating any +of the rules of polite behaviour, or saying or doing any thing, which +looked at all constrained or affected. Here we took our last embrace, +committing each other to the care of the God of heaven; and the colonel +pursued his journey to the north, where he spent the remainder of his +days. + +The more I reflect upon this appointment of Providence, the more I +discern the beauty and wisdom of it--not only as it led directly to that +glorious period of life with which God had determined to honour him, and +in which, I think, it becomes all his friends to rejoice, but also as the +retirement on which he entered could not but have a happy tendency to +favour his more immediate and complete preparation for so speedy a +remove. To this we may add, that it must probably have a very powerful +influence to promote the interests of religion (incomparably the greatest +of all interests) among the members of his own family, who must surely be +edified by such daily lessons as they received from his lips, when they +saw them illustrated and enforced by so admirable an example, and for +two complete years. It is the more remarkable, as I cannot find from the +memoirs of his life in my hands that he had ever been so long at home +since he had a family, or indeed, from his childhood, ever so long at a +time in any one place. + +With how clear a lustre his lamp shone, and with what holy vigour his +loins were girded up in the service of his God in these his latter days, +I learn in part from the letters of several excellent persons in the +ministry, or in secular life, with whom I have since conversed or +corresponded. In his many letters dated from Bankton during this period, +I have still further evidence how happy he was amidst those infirmities +of body, which his tenderness for me would seldom allow him to mention; +for it appears from them what a daily intercourse he kept up with Heaven, +and what delightful communion with God crowned his attendance on public +ordinances, and his sweet hours of devout retirement. He mentions his +sacramental opportunities with peculiar relish, crying out, as in a holy +rapture, in reference to one and another of them, "Oh how gracious +a Master do we serve! how pleasant is his service; how rich the +entertainments of his love! yet how poor and cold are our services!" But +I will not multiply quotations of this sort after those I have given +above, which may be a sufficient specimen of many more in the same +strain. This hint may suffice to show that the same ardour of soul held +out in a great measure to the last; and indeed it seems that towards the +close of life, like the flame of a lamp almost expiring, it sometimes +exerted an unusual blaze. + +He spent much of his time at Bankton in religious solitude; and one +most intimately conversant with him assures me that the traces of that +delightful converse with God which he enjoyed in it might easily be +discerned in the solemn yet cheerful countenance with which he often came +out of his closet. Yet his exercises there must sometimes have been very +mournful, considering the melancholy views which he had of the state of +our public affairs. + +"I should be glad," says he, (in a letter which he sent me about the +close of the year 1743,) "to hear what wise and good people among you +think of the present circumstances of things. For my own part, though I +thank God I fear nothing for myself, my apprehensions for the public are +very gloomy, considering the deplorable prevalency of almost all kinds +of wickedness amongst us--the natural consequence of the contempt of the +gospel. I am daily offering my prayers to God for this sinful land of +ours, over which his judgments seem to be gathering; and my strength is +sometimes so exhausted with those strong cries and tears, which I pour +out before God on this occasion, that I am hardly able to stand when I +arise from my knees." + +If we have many remaining to stand in the breach with equal fervency, I +hope, crying as our provocations are, that God will still be entreated +for us, and save us. + +Most of the other letters I had the pleasure of receiving from him after +our last separation, are either filled, like those of former years, with +tender expressions of affectionate solicitude for my domestic comfort +and public usefulness, or relate to the writings I published during this +time, or to the affairs of his eldest son, then under my care. But these +are things which are by no means of a nature to be communicated here. It +is enough to remark, in general, that the Christian was still mingled +with all the care of the friend and the parent. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +REVIVAL OF RELIGION. + + +But I think it incumbent upon me to observe, that during this time, and +for some preceding years, his attention, ever wakeful to such concerns, +was much engaged by some religious appearances which happened about this +time both in England and Scotland, and with regard to which some may be +curious to know the colonel's sentiments. He communicated them to me with +the most unreserved freedom; and I cannot apprehend myself under any +engagement to conceal them, as I am persuaded that it will be no +prejudice to his memory that they should be publicly known. + +It was from Colonel Gardiner's pen that I received the first notice of +that ever memorable scene which was opened at Kilsyth, under the +ministry of the Rev. Mr. M'Culloch in the month of February, 1741-2. He +communicated to me the copy of two letters from that eminently-favoured +servant of God, giving an account of that extraordinary success which had +within a few days accompanied his preaching, when, as I remember, in +a little more than a fortnight, one hundred and thirty souls, who had +before continued in long insensibility under the faithful preaching of +the gospel, were awakened on a sudden to attend to it, as if it had been +a new revelation brought down from heaven, and attested by as astonishing +miracles as ever were wrought by Peter or Paul, though they only heard it +from a person under whose ministry they had sat for several years. Struck +with a power and majesty in the word of God which they had never felt +before, they crowded his house night and day, making their applications +to him for spiritual direction and assistance, with an earnestness and +solicitude which floods of tears and cries, that swallowed up their own +words and his, could not sufficiently express. The colonel mentioned this +at first to me "as matter of eternal praise, which he knew would rejoice +my very soul;" and when he saw it spread in the neighbouring parts, and +observed the glorious reformation which it produced in the lives of great +multitudes, and the abiding fruits of it, for succeeding months and +years, it increased and confirmed his joy. But the facts relating to this +matter have been laid before the world in so authentic a manner, and the +agency of divine grace in them has been so rationally vindicated, and so +pathetically represented, in what the reverend and judicious Mr. Webster +has written upon that subject, that it is altogether superfluous for me +to add any thing further than my hearty prayers that the work may be as +extensive as it was glorious and divine.[*] + +[*Note: See "Revivals in Scotland," published by the Board of +Publication.] + +It was with great pleasure that he received any intelligence of a like +kind from England, whether the clergy of the Established Church or +dissenting ministers, whether our own countrymen or foreigners, were the +instruments of it. Whatever weaknesses or errors might mingle themselves +with valuable qualities in such as were active in such a work, he +appeared to love and honour them in proportion to the degree he saw +reason to believe that their hearts were devoted to the service of +Christ, and their attempts owned and succeeded by him. I remember, that +mentioning one of these gentlemen who had been remarkably successful in +his ministry, and who seemed to have met with some very unkind usage, he +says, "I had rather be that despised, persecuted man, to be an instrument +in the hand of the Spirit in converting so many souls, and building up so +many in their holy faith, than I would be emperor of the whole world." +Yet this steady and judicious Christian, (for such he most assuredly +was,) at the same time that he esteemed a man for his good intentions, +and his worthy qualities, did not suffer himself to be hurried away into +all the singularity of his sentiments, or to admire his imprudences or +excesses. On the contrary, he saw and lamented that artifice which the +great father of fraud has so long and so successfully been practising, +and who, like the enemies of Israel, when he cannot entirely prevent the +building of God's temple, does, as it were, offer his assistance to carry +on the work, that he may thereby get the most effectual opportunities of +obstructing it. The colonel often expressed his astonishment at the wide +extremes into which some whom on the whole he thought very worthy men, +were permitted to run in many doctrinal and speculative points, and +discerned how evidently it appeared from hence that we cannot argue the +truth of any doctrine from the success of the preacher, since this would +be a kind of demonstration which might equally prove both parts of a +contradiction. Yet when he observed that a high regard to the atonement +and righteousness of Christ, and to the free grace of God in him, exerted +by the operation of the Divine Spirit, was generally common to all who +had been peculiarly successful in the conversion and reformation of men, +(how widely soever their judgments might differ in other points, and how +warmly soever their judgments might oppose each other in consequence +of that diversity,) it tended greatly to confirm his faith in these +principles, as well as to open his heart in love to all, of every +denomination, who maintained an affectionate regard to them. Although +what he remarked as to the conduct and success of ministers of the most +opposite strains of preaching confirmed him in these sentiments, yet he +always esteemed and loved virtuous and benevolent men, even where he +thought them the most mistaken in the notions they formed of religion, or +in the methods by which they attempted to serve it. + +While I thus represent what all who knew him must soon have observed of +Colonel Gardiner's affectionate regard to these peculiar doctrines of our +holy religion, it is necessary that I should also inform my reader that +it was not his opinion that the attention of ministers or their hearers +should be wholly engrossed by these, excellent as they are; but that all +the parts of the scheme of truth and duty should be regarded in their due +connection and proportion. Far from that distempered taste which can bear +nothing but cordials, it was his deliberate judgment that the law as well +as the gospel should be preached; and hardly any thing gave him greater +offence than the irreverent manner in which some who have been ignorantly +extolled as the most zealous evangelical preachers, have sometimes +been tempted to speak of the former, much indeed to the scandal of all +consistent and judicious Christians. He delighted to be instructed in +his duty, and to hear much of the inward exercises of the spiritual and +divine life. He always wished, so far as I could observe, to have these +topics treated in a rational as well as spiritual manner, with solidity +and order of thought, with perspicuity and weight of expression, well +knowing that religion is a most reasonable service--that God has not +chosen idiots or lunatics as the instruments, or nonsense as the means of +building up his church--and that though the charge of enthusiasm is often +fixed on Christianity and its ministers in a wild, undeserved, and, +indeed, on the whole, enthusiastical manner, by some of the loudest or +most solemn pretenders to reason, yet there is really such a thing as +enthusiasm, against which it becomes the true friends of revelation to be +diligently on their guard, lest Christianity, instead of being exalted, +should be greatly corrupted and debased, and all manner of absurdity, +both in doctrine and practice, introduced by methods which, like +persecution, throw truth and falsehood on a level, and render the +grossest errors at once more plausible and more incurable. He had too +much candour and equity to fix general charges of this nature; but he was +really (and I think not vainly,) apprehensive that the emissaries and +agents of the most corrupt church that ever dishonoured the Christian +name, (by which, it will easily be understood, I mean that of Rome,) +might very possibly insinuate themselves into societies to which they +could not otherwise have access, and make their advantage of that total +resignation of the understanding, and contempt of reason and learning, +which nothing but ignorance, delirium, or knavery can dictate, to lead +men blindfolded whither it pleased, till it set them down at the foot of +an altar where transubstantiation itself was consecrated. + +I know not where I can more properly introduce another part of the +colonel's character, which, obvious as it was, I have not yet touched +upon; I mean his tenderness to those who were under any spiritual +distress, wherein he was indeed an example to ministers in a duty more +peculiarly theirs. I have seen many amiable instances of this myself, and +I have been informed of many others. One of these happened about the time +of that awakening in the western parts of Scotland, which I touched upon +above, when the Rev. Mr. M'Laurin, of Glasgow, found occasion to witness +to the great propriety, judgment, and felicity of manner, with which he +addressed spiritual consolation to an afflicted soul who applied to the +professor at a time when he had not an opportunity immediately to give +audience to the case. Indeed so long ago as the year 1726, I find him +writing in this regard to a friend in a strain of tenderness which might +well have become the most affectionate and experienced pastor. He there +congratulates him on some religious enjoyments, lately received, (in +part, it seems, by his means) when, among others, he has this modest +expression: "If I have been made any way the means of doing you good, +give the whole glory to God; for he has been willing to show that the +power was entirely of himself, since he has been pleased to make use of +so very weak an instrument." In the same letter he admonishes his friend +that he should not be too much surprised, if after having been (as he +expressed it) upon the mount, he should be brought into this valley +again, reminding him that "we live by faith, and not by sensible +assurance," and representing that there are some such full communications +from God as seem almost to swallow up the actings of faith, from whence +they take their rise: "Whereas, when a Christian who walks in darkness, +and sees no light, will yet hang, as it were, on the report of an absent +Jesus, and" (as one expresses it in allusion to the story of Jacob and +Joseph) "can put himself as on the chariot of the promises, to be borne +on to Him whom he sees not; there may be sublimer and more acceptable +actings of a pure and strong faith than in moments which afford the soul +a much more rapturous delight." This is the substance of what he says in +this excellent letter. Some of the phrases made use of might not perhaps +be intelligible to several of my readers, for which reason I do not +exactly transcribe them all; but this is plainly and fully his meaning, +and most of the words are his own. The sentiment is surly very just and +important; and happy would it be for many excellent persons, who, +through wrong notions of the nature of faith, (which was never more +misrepresented than now among some,) are perplexing themselves with +the most groundless doubts and scruples, if it were more generally +understood, admitted, and considered. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPREHENSIONS OF DEATH. + + +An endeared friend, who was most intimately conversant with the colonel +during the last two years of his life, has favoured me with an account +of some little circumstances relating to him, which I esteem as precious +fragments, by which the consistent tenor of his character may be further +illustrated. I shall therefore insert them here, without being very +solicitous as to the order in which they are introduced. + +He perceived himself evidently in a very declining state from his first +arrival in Britain, and seemed to entertain a fixed apprehension that he +should continue but a little while longer in life. "He expected death," +says my good correspondent, "and was delighted with the prospect," which +did not grow less amiable by the nearer approach. The word of God, with +which he had as intimate an acquaintance as most men I ever knew, and on +which (especially on the New Testament) I have heard him make many +very judicious and accurate remarks, was still his daily study; and +it furnished him with matter of frequent conversation, much to the +edification and comfort of those that were about him. It was recollected +that, among other passages, he had lately spoken of the following as +having made a deep impression on his mind: "My soul, wait thou only upon +God." He would repeat it again and again, _only, only, only_! So plainly +did he see, and so deeply did he feel, the vanity of creature confidence +and expectations. With the strongest attestation would he often mention +those words in Isaiah, as verified by long experience: "Thou wilt keep +him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth +in thee." And with peculiar satisfaction would he utter those heroic +words in Habakkuk, which he found armour of proof against every fear and +every contingency: "Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall +fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields +shall yield no meal; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there +shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will +joy in the God of my salvation." The 145th Psalm was also spoken of by +him with great delight, and Dr. Watts's version of it, as well as several +others of that excellent person's poetical compositions. My friend who +transmits to me this account, adds the following words, which I desire +to insert with the deepest sentiments of unfeigned humility and +self-abasement before God, as most unworthy the honour of contributing +in the least degree to the joys and graces of one so much my superior in +every part of the Christian character. "As the joy with which good men +see the happy fruits of their labours, makes a part of the present reward +of the servants of God and the friends of Jesus, it must not be omitted, +even in a letter to you, that your spiritual hymns were among his most +delightful and soul-improving repasts; particularly those on beholding +transgressors with grief, and Christ's Message." What is added concerning +my book of the Rise and Progress of Religion, and the terms in which he +expressed his esteem of it, I cannot suffer to pass my pen; only I desire +most sincerely to bless God, that, especially by the last chapters +of that treatise, I had an opportunity, at so great a distance, of +exhibiting some offices of Christian friendship to this excellent person +in the closing scenes of life, which it would have been my greatest joy +to have performed in person, had Providence permitted me then to have +been near him. + +The former of these hymns, which my correspondent mentions as having been +so agreeable to Colonel Gardiner, I have given the reader already. The +latter, which is called Christ's Message, took its rise from Luke iv. 18, +19, and is as follows: + + Hark! the glad sound! the Saviour comes, + The Saviour promised long; + Let every heart prepare a throne, + And every voice a song. + + On him the Spirit largely poured, + Exerts its sacred fire; + Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, + His holy breast inspire. + + He comes the prisoners to release, + In Satan's bondage held; + The gates of brass before him burst, + The iron fetters yield. + + He comes, from thickest films of vice + To clear the mental ray, + And on the eye-balls of the blind + To pour celestial day.[*] + + He comes the broken heart to bind, + The bleeding soul to cure; + And with the treasures of his grace + To enrich the humble poor. + + His silver trumpets publish loud + The jubilee of the Lord; + Our debts are all remitted now, + Our heritage restored. + + Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace! + Thy welcome shall proclaim; + And heaven's eternal arches ring + With Thy beloved name. + +[*Note: This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.] + +There is one hymn more I shall beg leave to add, plain as it is, which +Colonel Gardiner has been heard to mention with particular regard, as +expressing the inmost sentiments of his soul, and they were undoubtedly +so in the last rational moments of his expiring life. It is called +'Christ precious to the Believer,' and was composed to be sung after a +sermon on 1 Pet. ii 7. + + Jesus! I love thy charming name, + 'Tis music to my ear: + Fain would I sound it out so loud, + That earth and heaven should hear. + + Yea! thou art precious to my soul, + My transport and my trust; + Jewels to Thee are gaudy toys, + And gold is sordid dust. + + All my capacious powers can wish, + In Thee most richly meet; + Nor to mine eyes is life so dear, + Nor friendship half so sweet. + + Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, + And sheds its fragrance there; + The noblest balm of all its wounds, + The cordial of its care. + + I'll speak the honours of thy name + With my last labouring breath; + Then speechless clasp thee in my arms, + The antidote of death. + +Those who were intimate with Colonel Gardiner, must have observed how +ready he was to give a devotional turn to any subject that occurred. In +particular, the spiritual and heavenly disposition of his soul discovered +itself in the reflections and improvements which he made when reading +history, in which he took a great deal of pleasure, as persons remarkable +for their knowledge of mankind, and observation of Providence, generally +do. I have an instance of this before me, which, though too natural to be +at all surprising, will, I dare say, be pleasing to the devout mind. He +had just been reading, in Rollin's extracts from Xenophon, the answer +which the lady of Tigranes made when all the company were extolling +Cyrus, and expressing the admiration with which his appearance and +behaviour struck them. The question being asked her, What she thought of +him? she answered, "I do not know; I did not observe him." On what, then, +said one of the company did you fix your attention? "On him," replied +she, (referring to the generous speech which her husband had just made,) +"who said he would give a thousand lives to ransom my liberty." "Oh," +cried the colonel, when reading it, "how ought we to fix our eyes and +hearts on Him who, not in offer, but in reality, gave his own precious +life to ransom us from the most dreadful slavery, and from eternal +destruction!" But this is only one instance among a thousand. His heart +was so habitually set upon divine things, and he had such a permanent +and overflowing sense of the love of Christ, that he could not forbear +connecting such reflections with a multitude of more distant occasions +occurring in daily life, on which less advanced Christians would not have +thought of them; and thus, like our great Master, he made every little +incident a source of devotion, and an instrument of holy zeal. + +Enfeebled as his constitution was, he was still intent on improving his +time to some valuable purpose; and when his friends expostulated with him +that he gave his body so little rest, he used to answer, "It will rest +long enough in the grave." + +The July before his death, he was persuaded to take a journey to +Scarborough for the recovery of his health, from which he was at least +encouraged to expect some little revival. After this he had thoughts +of going to London, and intended to have spent part of September at +Northampton. The expectation of this was mutually agreeable; but +Providence saw fit to disconcert the scheme. His love for his friends in +these parts occasioned him to express some regret on his being commanded +back; and I am pretty confident, from the manner in which he expressed +himself in one of his last letters to me, that he had some more important +reasons for wishing an opportunity of making a London journey just at +that crisis, which, the reader will remember, was before the rebellion +broke out. But, as Providence determined it otherwise, he acquiesced; +and I am well satisfied, that could he have distinctly foreseen the +approaching event, so far as it concerned his own person, he would have +esteemed it the happiest summons he ever received. While he was at +Scarborough, I find by a letter dated from thence, July 26, 1745, that +he had been informed of the gaiety which so unseasonably prevailed at +Edinburgh, where great multitudes were then spending their time in balls, +assemblies, and other gay amusements, little mindful of the rod of +God which was then hanging over them; on which occasion he hath this +expression: "I am greatly surprised that the people of Edinburgh should +be employed in such foolish diversions, when our situation is at present +more melancholy than ever I saw it in my life. But there is one thing +which I am very sure of, and that comforts me, viz., that it shall go well +with the righteous, come what will." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS. + + +Quickly after his return home, the flame burst out, and his regiment +was ordered to Stirling. It was in that castle that his lady and eldest +daughter enjoyed the last happy hours of his company, and I think it was +about ten or twelve days before his death that he parted from them there. +A remarkable circumstance attended that parting, which has been touched +upon by surviving friends in more than one of their letters to me. His +lady was so affected when she took her last leave of him, that she could +not forbear bursting out into a flood of tears, with other marks of +unusual emotion; and when he asked her the reason, she urged as a +sufficient apology, the apprehension she had of losing such an invaluable +friend, amidst the dangers to which he was then called out. On this she +took particular notice, that whereas he had generally comforted her on +such occasions by pleading with her that remarkable hand of Providence +which had so frequently in former instances been exerted for his +preservation, and that in the greatest extremity, he said nothing of it +now; but only replied in his sententious manner, "We have an eternity to +spend together." + +That heroic contempt of death which had often discovered itself in the +midst of former dangers, was manifested now in his discourse with several +of his most intimate friends. I have reserved for this place one genuine +expression of it many years before, which I thought might be mentioned +with some advantage here. In July, 1725, he had been sent to some place +not far from Hamilton to quell a mutiny among some of our troops. I know +not the particular occasion; but I remember to have heard him mention it +as so fierce a one, that he scarcely ever apprehended himself in more +hazardous circumstances. Yet he quelled it by his presence alone, and the +expostulations he used--evidently putting his life into his hand to do +it. The particulars of the story struck me much; but I do not so exactly +remember them as to venture to relate them here. I only observe, that in +a letter dated July 16, that year, which I have now before me, and which +evidently refers to this event, he writes thus: "I have been very busy, +hurried about from place to place; but, blessed be God, all is over +without bloodshed. And pray let me ask what made you show so much concern +for me in your last? Were you afraid I should get to heaven before you? +or can any evil befall those who are followers of that which is good?"[*] + +[*Note: I doubt not but this will remind some of my readers of that noble +speech of Zwinglius, when (according to the usage of that country,) +attending his flock to a battle in which their religion and liberties +were all at stake, on his receiving a mortal wound by a bullet, of which +he was expired, while his friends were in all the first astonishment of +grief, he bravely said, as he was dying, "_Ecquid hoc infortunii_? Is +this to be reckoned a misfortune?" How many of our Deists would have +celebrated such a sentence, if it had come from the lips of an ancient +Roman! Strange that the name of Christ should be so odious, that the +brightest virtues of his followers should be despised for his sake! But +so it is, and so our Master told us it would be; and our faith is, in +this connection, confirmed by those who strive most to overthrow it.] + +As these were his sentiments in the vigour of his days, so neither did +declining years and the infirmities of a broken constitution on the one +hand, nor any desire of enjoying the honours and profits of so high +a station, or (what was much more to him,) the converse of the most +affectionate of wives and so many amiable children and friends on the +other, in the least enervate his spirits; but as he had in former years +often expressed it, to me and several others, as his desire, "that if it +were the will of God, he might have some honourable call to sacrifice his +life in defence of religion and the liberties of his country;" so, +when it appeared to him most probable that he might be called to it +immediately, he met the summons with the greatest readiness. This appears +in part from a letter which he wrote to the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Falkirk, +just as he was marching from Stirling, which was only eight days before +his death:--"The rebels," says he, "are advancing to cross the Frith; +but I trust in the Almighty God, who doth whatsoever he please in the +armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." The same +gentleman tells me, that, a few days after the date of this, he marched +through Falkirk with his regiment; and though he was then in so +languishing a state, that he needed his assistance as secretary to write +for some reinforcements, which might put it in his power to make a stand, +(as he was very desirous to have done,) he expressed a most genuine and +noble contempt of life, when about to be exposed in the defence of a +worth cause. + +These sentiments wrought in him to the last in the most effectual manner, +and he seemed for a while to have infused them into the regiment which he +commanded; for they expressed such a spirit in their march from Stirling, +that I am assured the colonel was obliged to exert all his authority to +prevent their making incursions on the rebel army, which then lay very +near him; and had it been thought proper to send him the reinforcements +he requested, none can say what the consequence might have been; but he +was ordered to march as fast as possible to meet Sir John Cope's forces +at Dunbar, which he did; and that hasty retreat, in concurrence with the +news which they soon after received of the surrender of Edinburgh to the +rebels, (either by the treachery or weakness of a few, in opposition to +the judgment of by far the greater and better part of the inhabitants,) +struck a panic into both the regiments of dragoons, which became visible +in some very apparent and remarkable circumstances in their behaviour, +which I forbear to relate. This affected Colonel Gardiner so much that, +on the Thursday before the fatal action of Prestonpans, he intimated to +an officer of considerable rank and note, from whom I had it by a very +sure channel of conveyance, that he expected the event would be as in +fact it was. In this view, there is all imaginable reason to believe that +he had formed his resolution as to his own personal conduct, which was, +"that he would not, in cases of the flight of those under his command, +retreat with them;" by which, as it seemed, he was reasonably +apprehensive that he might have stained the honour of his former +services, and have given some occasion for the enemy to have spoken +reproachfully. He much rather chose, if Providence gave him the call, to +leave in his death an example of fidelity and bravery which might very +probably be (as in fact it seems to have been) of much greater importance +to his country than any other service which, in the few days of remaining +life, he could expect to render it. I conclude these to have been his +views, not only from what I knew of his general character and temper, but +likewise from some intimations which he gave to a very worthy person from +Edinburgh, who visited him the day before the action, and to whom he +said, "I cannot influence the conduct of others as I could wish, but I +have one life to sacrifice to my country's safety, and I shall not spare +it,"--or words to that effect. + +I have heard such a multitude of inconsistent reports of the +circumstances of Colonel Gardiner's death, that I had almost despaired of +being able to give my reader any particular satisfaction concerning so +interesting a scene. But, by a happy accident, I have very lately had an +opportunity of being exactly informed of the whole by that brave man, Mr. +John Foster, his faithful servant, (and worthy of the honour of serving +such a master,) whom I had seen with him at my house some years before. +He attended him in his last hours, and gave me at large the narration, +which he would be ready, if requisite, to attest upon oath. From his +mouth I wrote it down with the utmost exactness, and could easily +believe, from the genuine and affectionate manner in which he related the +particulars, that according to his own striking expression, "his eye and +his heart were always upon his honoured master during the whole time."[*] + +[*Note: Just as I am putting the last hand to these memoirs, March 2, +1746-7, I have met with a corporal in Colonel Lascelles' regiment, who +was an eye-witness to what happened at Prestonpans on the day of the +battle, and the day before; and the account he has given me of some +memorable particulars is so exactly agreeable to that which I received +from Mr. Foster, that it would much corroborate his testimony, if there +were not so many other considerations to render it convincing.] + +On Friday, 20th September, (the day before the battle which transmitted +him to his immortal crown,) the colonel drew up his regiment in the +afternoon, and rode through all their ranks, addressing them at once +in the most respectful and animating manner, both as soldiers and as +Christians, to exert themselves courageously in the service of their +country, and to neglect nothing that might have a tendency to prepare +them for whatever might happen. They seemed much affected with the +address, and expressed a very ardent desire of attacking the enemy +immediately--a desire in which he and another very gallant officer of +distinguished rank, dignity, and character, both for bravery and conduct, +would gladly have gratified them, if it had been in their power. He +earnestly pressed it on the commanding officer, as the soldiers were then +in better spirits than it could be supposed they would be after having +passed the night under arms, and as the circumstance of making an attack +would be some encouragement to them, and probably some terror to the +enemy, who would have had the disadvantage of standing on the defence--a +disadvantage with which those wild barbarians, (for such most of them +were) perhaps would have been more struck than better disciplined +troops--especially, too, when they fought against the laws of their +country. He also apprehended that, by marching to meet them, some +advantage might have been secured with regard to the ground, with which, +it is natural to imagine, he must have been perfectly acquainted, as it +lay just at his own door, and he had rode over it many hundred times. +When I mention these things, I do not pretend to be capable of judging +how far this advice was right. A variety of circumstances to me unknown +might make it otherwise. It is certain, however, that it was brave. But +it was overruled in this respect, as it also was in the disposition of +the cannon, which he would have planted in the centre of our small army, +rather than just before his regiment, which was in the right wing, where +he was apprehensive that the horses, which had not been in any previous +engagement, might be thrown into some disorder by the discharge so very +near them. He urged this the more as he thought the attack of the rebels +might probably be made on the centre of the foot, where he knew there +were some brave men, on whose standing he thought, under God, the success +of the day depended. When he found that he could not carry either of +these points, nor some others which, out of regard to the common safety, +he insisted upon with unusual earnestness, he dropped some intimations +of the consequences he apprehended, and which did in fact follow; and +submitting to Providence, spent the remainder of the day in making as +good a disposition as circumstances would allow.[*] + +[*Note: Several of these circumstances have since been confirmed by the +concurrent testimony of another very credible person, Mr. Robert Douglas, +(now a surgeon in the navy,) who was a volunteer at Edinburgh just before +the rebels entered the place, and who saw Colonel Gardiner come from +Haddington to the field of battle the day before the action in a chaise, +being (as from that circumstances he supposed) in so weak a state that he +could not well endure the fatigue of sitting on horseback. He observed +Colonel Gardiner in discourse with several officers on the evening before +the engagement, at which time, it was afterwards reported, he gave his +advice to attack the rebels; and when it was overruled, he afterwards saw +the colonel walk by himself in a very pensive manner.] + + +He continued all night under arms, wrapt up in his cloak, and generally +sheltered under a rick of barley which happened to be in the field. About +three in the morning he called his domestic servants to him, of which +there were four in waiting. He dismissed three of them with most +affectionate Christian advice, and such solemn charges relating to the +performance of their duty and the care of their souls, as plainly seemed +to intimate that he at least apprehended it very probable he was taking +his last farewell of them. There is great reason to believe that he spent +the little remainder of the time, which could not be much above an hour, +in those devout exercises of soul which had so long been habitual to him, +and to which so many circumstances then concurred to call him. + +The army was alarmed at break of day by the noise of the rebels' +approach, and the attack was made before sunrise; yet it was light enough +to discern what passed. As soon as the enemy came within gunshot, they +made a furious fire; and it is said that the dragoons, which constituted +the left wing, immediately fled. The colonel, at the beginning of the +onset, which lasted but a few minutes, received a wound by a bullet in +his left breast, which made him give a sudden spring in his saddle; upon +which his servant, who had led the horse, would have persuaded him to +retreat; but he said it was only a wound in the flesh, and fought on, +though soon after he received a shot in his right thigh. In the meantime +it was discovered that some of the enemies fell by him, particularly one +man, who had made him a treacherous visit but a few days before, with +great professions of zeal for the present establishment. + +Events of this kind pass in less time than the description of them can +be written, or than it can be read. The colonel was for a few moments +supported by his men, and particularly by that worthy person, +Lieutenant-colonel Whitney, who was shot through the arm, and who, a few +months after, fell nobly in the battle of Falkirk; by Lieutenant West, a +man of distinguished bravery; also by about fifteen dragoons, who stood +by him to the last. But, after a faint fire, the regiment was seized with +a panic; and though their colonel and some other gallant officers did +what they could to rally them once or twice, they took to precipitate +flight. Just at the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a +pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such a circumstance, +an accident happened, which must, I think, in the judgment of every +worthy and generous man, be deemed a sufficient apology for exposing his +life to so great a hazard, when his regiment had left him.[*] He saw that +a party of foot, who were then bravely fighting near him, and whom he +was ordered to support, had no officer to head them; upon which he said +eagerly, in the hearing of the person from whom I had this account, +"Those brave fellows will be cut to pieces for want of a commander,"--or +words to that effect. So saying, he rode up to them, and cried out aloud, +"Fire on, my lads, and fear nothing." But, just as the words were out of +his mouth, a Highlander advanced towards him with a scythe, fastened on +a long pole, with which he gave him such a deep wound on his right arm, +that his sword dropped out of his hand; and at the same time several +others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that +cruel weapon, he was dragged off his horse. The moment he fell another +Highlander, who, if the crown witness at Carlisle may be credited, (as I +know not why he should not, though the unhappy creature died denying it,) +was one M'Naught, who was executed about a year after, gave him a stroke +either with a broadsword or a Lochaber axe, (for my informant could not +exactly distinguish,) on the hinder part of his head, which was the +mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time +was, that as his hat had fallen off, he took it in his left hand, and +waved it as a signal to him to retreat; and added, (the last words he +ever heard him speak,) "Take care of yourself;" upon which the servant +retired. + +[*Note: The colonel, who was well acquainted with military history, might +possibly remember that in the battle at Blenheim, the illustrious Prince +Eugene, when the horse of the wing which he commanded had run away +thrice, charged at the head of the foot, and thereby greatly contributed +to the glorious success of the day. At least such an example may conduce +to vindicate that noble ardour which, amidst all the applauses of his +country, some have been so cool and so critical as to blame. For my part, +I thank God that I am not called to apologize for his following his +troops in their flight, which I fear would have been a much harder task; +and which, dear as he was to me, would have grieved me much more than his +death, with these heroic circumstances attending it.] + +It was reported at Edinburgh, on the day of the battle, by what seemed a +considerable authority, that as the colonel lay in his wounds, he said to +a chief of the opposite side, "You are fighting for an earthly crown, I +am going to receive a heavenly one,"--or something to that purpose. When +I preached the sermon, long since printed, on occasion of his death, I +had great reason to believe this report was true, though, before the +publication of it, I began to be in doubt; and, on the whole, after the +most accurate inquiry I could possibly make at this distance, I cannot +get any convincing evidence of it. Yet I must here observe that it does +not appear impossible that something of this kind might indeed be uttered +by him, as his servant testifies that he spoke to him after receiving +that fatal blow, which would seem most likely to have taken away the +power of speech, and as it is certain he lived several hours after he +fell. If, therefore, any thing of this kind did happen, it must have been +just before this instant. But as to the story of his being taken prisoner +and carried to the pretended Prince, (who, by the way, afterwards +rode his horse, and entered into Derby upon it,) with several other +circumstances which were grafted upon that interview, there is the most +undoubted evidence of its falsehood; for his attendant above mentioned +assures me that he himself immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of +about two miles from the spot on which the colonel fell, where he changed +his dress, and, disguised like a miller's servant, returned with a cart +as soon as possible, which yet was not till nearly two hours after the +engagement. The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he +found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other +things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet +still breathing; and adds, that though he was not capable of speech, +yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes; which makes it something +questionable whether he was altogether insensible. In this condition, and +in this manner, he conveyed him to the church of Tranent, from whence he +was immediately taken into the minister's house, and laid in bed, where +he continued breathing and frequently groaning till about eleven in +the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and sorrow, and +undoubtedly rose to those distinguished glories which are reserved for +those who have been eminently and remarkably faithful unto death. + +From the moment he fell, it was no longer a battle, but a rout and +carnage. The cruelties which the rebels (as it is generally said under +the command of Lord Elcho,) inflicted on some of the king's troops after +they had asked quarter, are dreadfully legible on the countenances of +many who survived it. They entered Colonel Gardiner's house before he was +carried off from the field, and notwithstanding the strict orders which +the unhappy Duke of Perth (whose conduct is said to have been very humane +in many instances,) gave to the contrary, every thing of value was +plundered, to the very curtains of the beds, and hangings of the rooms. +His papers were all thrown into the wildest disorder, and his house made +an hospital for the reception of those who were wounded in the action. + +Such was the close of a life which had been zealously devoted to God, and +filled up with many honourable services. Such was the death of him who +had been so highly favoured by God in the method by which he was brought +back to him after so long and so great an estrangement, and in the +progress of so many years, during which (in the expressive phrase of the +most ancient of writers,) "he had walked with him;"--to fall, as God +threatened the people of his wrath that they should do, "with tumult, +with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." Amos ii. 2. Several +other very worthy, and some of them very eminent persons, shared the same +fate, either now at the battle of Prestonpans, or quickly after at that +of Falkirk;[*] Providence, no doubt, permitting it, to establish our +faith in the rewards of an invisible world, as well as to teach us to +cease from man, and fix our dependence on an Almighty arm. + +[*Note: Of these, none were more memorable than those illustrious +brothers, Mr. Robert Munro and Dr. Munro, whose tragical but glorious fate +was also shared quietly after by a third hero of the family, Captain +Munro, of Culcairn, brother to Sir Robert and the Doctor.] + + +The remains of this Christian hero (as I believe every reader is now +convinced he may justly be called,) were interred the Tuesday following, +September 24, in the parish church at Tranent, where he had usually +attended divine service, with great solemnity. His obsequies were +honoured with the presence of some persons of distinction, who were not +afraid of paying that mark of respect to his memory, though the country +was then in the hands of the enemy. But, indeed, there was no great +hazard in this; for his character was so well known, that even they +themselves spoke honourably of him, and seemed to join with his friends +in lamenting the fall of so brave and so worthy a man. + +The remotest posterity will remember for whom the honour of subduing this +unnatural and pernicious rebellion was reserved; and it will endear the +Duke of Cumberland to all but the open or secret abettors of it in the +present age, and consecrate his name to immortal honours among all the +friends of religion and liberty who shall arise after us. And, I dare +say, it will not be imagined that I at all derogate from his glory in +suggesting, that the memory of that valiant and excellent person whose +memoirs I am now concluding may in some measure have contributed to that +signal and complete victory with which God was pleased to crown the +arms of his Royal Highness; for the force of such an example is very +animating, and a painful consciousness of having deserted such a +commander in such extremity, must at least awaken, where there was any +spark of generosity, an earnest desire to avenge his death on those who +had sacrificed his blood, and that of so many other excellent persons, to +the views of their ambition, rapine or bigotry. + +The reflections which I have made in my funeral sermon on my honoured +friend, and in the dedication of it to his worthy and most afflicted +lady, supersede many things which might otherwise have properly been +added here. I conclude, therefore, with humbly acknowledging the wisdom +and goodness of that awful Providence which drew so thick a gloom around +him in the last hours of his life, that the lustre of his virtues might +dart through it with a more vivid and observable ray. It is abundant +matter of thankfulness that so signal a monument of grace, and ornament +of the Christian profession, was raised in our age and country, and +spared for so many honourable and useful years. Nor can all the +tenderness of the most affectionate friendship, while its sorrows bleed +afresh in the view of so tragical a scene, prevent my adoring the +gracious appointment of the great Lord of all events, that when the day +in which he must have expired without an enemy appeared so very near, the +last ebb of his generous blood should be poured out, as a kind of sacred +libation, to the liberties of his country, and the honour of his God! +that all the other virtues of his character, embalmed as it were by that +precious stream, might diffuse around a more extensive fragrance, and be +transmitted to the most remote posterity with that peculiar charm which +they cannot but derive from their connection with so gallant a fall--an +event (as that blessed apostle, of whose spirit he so deeply drank, has +expressed it) "according to his earnest expectation, and his hope that in +him Christ might be glorified in all things, whether by his life or by +his death." + + + + +THE COLONEL'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + +In the midst of so many more important articles, I had really forgotten +to say any thing of the person of Colonel Gardiner, of which, +nevertheless, it may be proper here to add a word or two. He was, as I +was informed, in younger life remarkably graceful and amiable; and I +can easily believe it, from what I knew him to be when our acquaintance +began, though he was then turned of fifty, and had gone through so many +fatigues as well as dangers, which could not but leave some traces on his +countenance. He was tall, (I suppose something more than six feet,) well +proportioned, and strongly built; his eyes of a dark gray, and not very +large; his forehead pretty high; his nose of a length and height no way +remarkable, but very well suited to his other features; his cheeks not +very prominent; his mouth moderately large, and his chin rather a little +inclining (when I knew him) to be peaked. He had a strong voice and +lively accent, with an air very intrepid, yet attempered with much +gentleness. There was something in his manner of address most perfectly +easy and obliging, which was in great measure the result of the great +candour and benevolence of his natural temper, and which, no doubt, was +much improved by the deep humility which divine grace had wrought in his +heart, as well as his having been accustomed from his early youth to the +company of persons of distinguished rank and polite behaviour. + +The picture of him, which is given at the beginning of these memoirs, +was taken from an original done by Van Deest (a Dutchman brought into +Scotland by general Wade,) in the year 1727, which was the 40th of his +age, and is said to have been very like him then, though far from being +an exact resemblance of what he was when I had the happiness of being +acquainted with him.[*] Perhaps he would have appeared to the greatest +advantage of all, could he have been exactly drawn on horseback; as +many very good judges, and among the rest the celebrated Mons. Faubert +himself, have spoken of him as one of the completest horsemen that has +ever been known; and there was indeed something so singularly graceful in +his appearance in that attitude, that it was sufficient (as what is very +eminent in its kind generally is,) to strike an eye not formed on any +critical rules. + +[*Note: In presenting this likeness for the first time in an American +edition of this work, the artist has taken the liberty to change the +costume, by substituting the ordinary military dress for the court dress +of the original.--_Editor of the Pres. Board of Publication_.] + +[Transcriber's Note: The Portrait is not available.] + + + + +APPENDIX I. + + +(Referred to at the end of Chapter VI, LETTERS.) + +It may not be amiss, in illustration of Dr. Doddridge's remarks on the +subject of dreams, to present to the reader the following account of +a remarkable dream which occurred to the Doctor himself, and had a +beneficial influence on his own mind.--ED. PRES. BD. PUB. + + + +DR. DODDRIDGE'S DREAM. + +Dr. Doddridge and Dr. Samuel Clark, of St. Alban's, having been +conversing in the evening upon the nature of the separate state, and the +probability that the scenes on which the soul would enter, at its first +leaving the body, would have some resemblance to those things it had been +conversant with while on earth, that it might by degrees be prepared +for the more sublime happiness of the heavenly state, this and other +conversation of the same kind probably occasioned the following dream. + +The Doctor imagined himself dangerously ill at a friend's house in +London, and after remaining in this state for some hours, he thought his +soul left his body, and took its flight in some kind of a fine vehicle, +though very different from the gross body it had just quitted, but still +material. He pursued his course through the air, expecting some celestial +messenger to meet him, till he was at some distance from the city, +when turning back and viewing the town, he could not forbear saying to +himself, "How vain do those affairs in which the inhabitants of this +place are so eagerly employed, seem to me a separate spirit!" At length, +as he was continuing his progress, though without any certain directions, +yet easy and happy in the thoughts of the universal providence and +government of God, which extends alike to all states and worlds, he was +now met by one who told him he was sent to conduct him to this destined +state of abode, from which he concluded it was an angel, though he +appeared in the form of an elderly man. They accordingly advanced +together, till they came within sight of a large spacious building, +which had the air of a palace. Upon his inquiring what it was, his guide +replied, it was the place assigned for him at present; upon which the +Doctor wondered that he had read on earth, "that eye had not seen, nor +ear had heard, the glory laid up for them that love God," when he could +easily have formed an idea of such a building, from others he had seen, +though he acknowledged they were greatly inferior to this in elegance and +magnificence. The answer, his guide told him, was plainly suggested by +the conversation of the evening before, and that the scenes presented to +him were purposely contrived to bear a near resemblance to those he had +been accustomed to on earth, that his mind might be more easily and +gradually prepared for those glories which would open upon him hereafter, +and which would at first have quite dazzled and overpowered him. By this +time they came to the palace, and his guide led him through a kind of +saloon into an inner parlour. The first object that struck him was a +great golden cup which stood upon a table, on which was embossed the +figure of a vine and clusters of grapes. He asked his guide the meaning +of it; who told him that it was the cup in which his Saviour drank new +wine with his disciples in his kingdom; and that the figures carved on it +denoted the union between Christ and his Church, implying, that as the +grapes derived all their beauty and flavour from the vine, so the saints, +even in a state of glory, were indebted for their establishment in +holiness and happiness, to their union with their common Head, in whom +they are all complete. While they were conversing, he heard a tap at the +door, and was informed by the angel that it was a signal of his Lord's +approach, and was intended to prepare him for an interview. Accordingly, +in a short time our Saviour entered the room, and upon his casting +himself at his feet, he graciously raised him up, and with a smile of +inexpressible complacency, assured him of his favour, and kind acceptance +of his faithful services, and as a token of his peculiar regard, and the +intimate friendship with which he intended to honour him, he took the +cup, and after drinking of it himself, gave it into the Doctor's hand. +The Doctor would have declined it at first, as too great an honour; but +our Lord replied, as to Peter in washing his feet, "If thou drinkest not +with me, thou hast no part with me." This he observed filled him with +such a transport of gratitude, love and admiration, that he was ready to +sink under it. His master seemed sensible of this, and told him he must +leave him for the present, but would not be long before he repeated +his visit. As soon as our Lord was retired, and the Doctor's mind more +composed, he observed that the room was hung with pictures, and upon +examining them, he found to his great surprise, that they contained +all the history of his life; and most remarkable scenes he had passed +through, being there represented in a very lively manner--the many +temptations and trials he had been exposed to, and the signal instances +of the divine goodness in the different periods of his life. It may not +be easily imagined how this would strike and affect his mind. It excited +in him the strongest emotions of gratitude, especially when he reflected +that he was now out of the reach of any future danger, and that all the +purposes of divine love towards him were so amply accomplished. The +exstacy of joy and gratitude, into which these reflections threw him, was +so great that he awoke; but for some time after he awoke the impression +continued so lively that tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, and he said +that he never, on any occasion, remembered to have had sentiments of +devotion and love equal to it. + + + + +APPENDIX II. + + +(Referred to in Chapter VII, DOMESTIC RELATIONS.) + +The following extract from Dr. Doddridge's "Thoughts on Sacramental +Occasions," gives a beautiful and edifying picture of the exercises of +his affectionate and pious heart under a painful bereavement. + + + +THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH SACRAMENT, OCTOBER 3, 1736. + +DEAR BETSEY DEAD.[1] + +I had preached in the bitterness of my heart from these words: "Is it +well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is +well." 2 Kings iv. 26. I endeavoured to show the reason there was to say +this; but surely there was never any dispensation of Providence in which +I found it so hard, for my very soul had been overwhelmed within me. +Indeed, some hard thoughts of the mercy of God were ready to arise; and +the apprehension of his heavy displeasure, and the fear of my child's +future state, added fuel to the fire. + +Upon the whole, my mind was in the most painful agitation; but it pleased +God, that, in composing the sermon, my soul became quieted, and I was +brought into a more silent and cordial submission to the Divine will. + +At the table I discoursed on these words, "Although my house be not so +with God." 2 Samuel xxiii. 5. I observed, that domestic calamities may +befall good men in their journey through life, and particularly in +relation to their children; but that they have a refuge in God's +covenant; it is everlasting; it is sure; it is well ordered--every +provision is made according to our necessities; and shall be our +salvation, as it is the object of our most affectionate regard. + +One further circumstance I must record; and that is, that I here solemnly +recollected that I had, in a former sacrament taken the cup with these +words, "Lord, I take this cup as a public and solemn token that I will +refuse no other cup which thou shalt put into my hand." I mentioned this +recollection, and charged it publicly on myself and my Christian friends. +God has taken me at my word, but I do not retract it; I repeat it again +with regard to every future cup. + +I am just come from the coffin of my dear child, who seemes to be sweetly +asleep there, with a serene, composed, delightful countenance, once how +animated with double life! There--lo! O my soul! lo there! is thine idol +laid still in death--the creature which stood next to God in thine heart; +to whom it was opened with a fond and flattering delight. Methinks I +would learn to be dead with her--dead to the world. Oh that I could be +dead with her, not any further than that her dear memory may promote my +living to God.[*] + +[*Note: The following note was written in the margin of the manuscript by +the late Rev. Thomas Stedman: "I think I have heard that the doctor wrote +his funeral sermon for his daughter, or a part of it, upon her coffin."] + +I had a great deal of very edifying, conversation last night and his +morning with my wife, whose wisdom does indeed make her face to shine +under this affliction. She is supported and armoured with a courage which +seems not at all natural to her; talks with the utmost freedom, and has +really said many of the most useful things that ever were said to me by +any person upon the earth, both as to consolation and admonition. Had +the best things I have read on the subject been collected together, they +could hardly have been better conceived or better expressed. This is +to me very surprising when I consider her usual reserve. I have all +imaginable reason to believe that God will make this affliction a great +blessing to her, and I hope it may prove so to me. There was a fond +delight and complacence which I took in Betsey beyond any thing living. +Although she had not a tenth part of that rational, manly love, which I +pay to her mourning and many surviving friends; yet it leaves a peculiar +pain upon my heart, and it is almost as if my very gall were poured +out upon the earth. Yet much sweetness mingles itself with this bitter +potion, chiefly in the view and hope of my speedy removal to the eternal +world. May it not be the bounty of this providence, that instead of her +living many years upon the earth, God may have taken away my child that I +might be fitted for and reconciled to my own dissolution, perhaps nearly +approaching? I verily believe that I shall meet her there, and enjoy much +more of her in heaven than I should have done had she survived me on +earth. Lord, thy will be done; may my life be used for the service while +continued, and then put thou a period to it whenever thou pleasest. + +[Footnote 1: The following extract from the Diary of Dr. Doddridge is +here subjoined, as affording an explanation of some particulars alluded +to in the text. + + + +REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF MY DEAR CHILD, AND THE MANY MOURNFUL +PROVIDENCES ATTENDING IT. + +I have a great deal of reason to condemn my own negligence and folly, +that for so many months I have suffered no memorandums of what has passed +between God and my soul, although some of the transactions were very +remarkable, as well as some things which I have heard concerning others; +but the subject of this article is the most melancholy of any. We lost my +dear and reverend brother and friend, Mr. Sanders, on the 31st of July +last; on the 1st of September, Lady Russell--that invaluable friend, died +at Reading on her road from Bath; and on Friday, the 1st of October, God +was pleased, by a most awful stroke, to take away my eldest, dearest +child, my lovely Betsey. She was formed to strike my affections in the +most powerful manner; such a person, genius, and temper, as I admired +even beyond their real importance, so that indeed I doted upon her, and +was for many months before her death in a great degree of bondage upon +her account. She was taken ill at Newport about the middle of June, and +from thence to the day of her death, she was my continual thought, and +almost uninterrupted care. God only knows with what earnestness and +importunity I prostrated myself before him to beg her life, which I would +have been willing almost to have purchased with my own. When reduced to +the lowest degree of languishment by a consumption, I could not forbear +looking upon her almost every hour. I saw her with the strongest mixture +of anguish and delight; no chemist ever watched his crucible with greater +care, when he expected the production of the philosopher's stone, than I +watched her in all the various turns of her distemper, which at last grew +utterly hopeless, and then no language can express the agony into which +it threw me. One remarkable circumstance I cannot but recollect: in +praying most affectionately, perhaps too earnestly, for her life, these +words came into my mind with great power, "Speak no more to me of this +matter." I was unwilling to take them, and went into the chamber to see +my dear lamb, when, instead of receiving me with her usual tenderness, +she looked upon me with a stern air, and said, with a very remarkable +determination of voice, "I have no more to say to you;" and I think that +from that time, although she lived at least ten days, she seldom looked +upon me with pleasure, or cared to suffer me to come near her. But that +I might feel all the bitterness of the affliction, Providence so ordered +it, that I came in when her sharpest agonies were upon her, and those +words, "O dear, O dear, what shall I do?" rung in my ears for succeeding +hours and days. But God delivered her,--and she, without any violent pang +in the article of her dissolution, quietly and sweetly fell asleep, as I +hope, in Jesus, about ten at night, I being then at Maidwell. When I came +home my mind was under a dark cloud relating to the eternal state; but +God was pleased graciously to remove it, and gave me comfortable hopes, +after having felt the most heart-rending sorrow. My dear wife bore the +affliction in the most glorious manner, and discovered more wisdom, and +piety, and steadiness of temper in a few days, than I had ever in six +years an opportunity of observing before. O my soul, God has blasted thy +gourd; thy greatest earthly delight is gone: seek it in heaven, where I +hope this dear babe is; where I am sure that my Saviour is; and where I +trust, through grace, notwithstanding all this irregularity of temper and +of heart, that I shall shortly be. + +Sunday, October 3, 1736 + + + +FURTHER REFLECTIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL OF MY DEAR BETSEY. + +I have now been laying the delight of my eyes in the dust, and it is +for ever hidden from them. My heart was too full to weep much. We had a +suitable sermon from these words: "Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah +iv. 9; because of the gourd. I hope God knows that I am not angry; but +sorrowful he surely allows me to be. I could have wished that more had +been said concerning the hope we may have of our child; and it was a +great disappointment to me that nothing of that kind should have been +said by one that loved her so well as my brother Hunt did. Yet, I bless +God, I have my hopes that she is lodged in the arms of Christ. And there +was an occurrence that I took much notice of; I was most earnestly +praying that God would be pleased to give me some further encouragement +on this head, by letting some new light, or by directing me to some +further thoughts upon the subject. Soon after, as I came into my wife's +chamber, she told me that our maid Betty, who had indeed the affection +of a parent for my dear girl, had just before assured her, that, on the +Sabbath day evening, Betsey would be repeating to herself some things of +what she had heard in my prayers and in my preachings, but did not +care to talk of it to others; and my wife assured me that she solemnly +recommended herself to God in the words that I had taught her a little +before she died. Blessed God, hast thou not received her? I trust that +thou hast, and pardoned the infirmities of her poor, short, childish, +afflicted life. I hope, in some measure out of love to me, as thy +servant, thou hast done it, for Christ's sake; and I would consider the +very hope, as an engagement to thy future service. Lord, I love those who +were kind to my child, and wept with me for her; shall I not much more +love thee, who, I hope, art at this moment taking care of her, and +opening her infant faculties for the duties and blessedness of heaven. + +Lord, I would consider myself as a dying creature. My first born is +gone;--my beloved child is laid in bed before me. I have often followed +her to her bed in a literal sense; and shortly I shall follow her to +that, where we shall lie down together, and our rest shall be together +in the dust. In a literal sense the grave is ready for me. My grave is +made--I have looked into it--a dear part of myself is already there; and +when I stood at the Lord's table I stood directly over it. It is some +pleasure to me to think that my dust will be lodged near that of my dear +lamb, how much more to hope that my soul will rest with hers, and rejoice +in her forever! But, O, let me not centre my thoughts even here; it is +at rest with, and in God, that is my ultimate hope. Lord, may thy grace +secure it to me! and in the mean time give me some holy acquiescence of +soul in thee; and although my gourd be withered, yet shelter me under the +shadow of thy wings. + +October 4, 1736.] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Col. James Gardiner, by P. Doddridge + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF COL. JAMES GARDINER *** + +***** This file should be named 11253.txt or 11253.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/5/11253/ + +Produced by Ted Garvin, Lesley Halamek and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/11253.zip b/old/11253.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0dfb5c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11253.zip |