THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR FEBRUARY, 1807: BIOGRAPHY. An Account of Mr. THOMAS SYMONS. [Concluded from page 9.] R. SYMONS's laft illness, which was occafioned by a cold MR he caught, on the 3d of December, 1805, was not attended by any alarming fymptoms, for more than a fortnight after his feizure; nor were his friends at all apprehenfive that the weary wheels of life were foon to ftand ftill. He was now feriously ill for almoft the first time in his life; and this illness, as might be expected, confidering his very advanced age, foon terminated in his death. The following particulars, relative to the state of his mind, during a few of his last days, are fuch as I either witnessed myself, or had from his pious nieces, and other friends who attended him. Of his nieces, I may be allowed to fay, their affectionate attention to him was unceafing, and highly exemplary. Concerning these, he said to me, a few days before his death, "As I loft my own children, I took these to bring them up. I took care of them, when they could not take care of themselves, and fee how God recompenfes me. They take care of me now, that I am unable to care for myself." Thus, he that lendeth to the Lord, it fhall be paid unto him again; and, Bleffed is the man who provides for the poor and needy, for God will deliver him in the time of trouble. In confequence of the cold which Mr. S. caught, as before mentioned, he continued increasingly indifpofed, though generally able to attend lefs or more to his business, till the 30th of January, when his cough became very troublesome, and prevented his getting any regular fleep. Friday, January 31, finding himself much worse, and being apprehenfive that the time of his departure was not very diftant, he went into the Dye-Houfe; and, calling all the men together, began to exhort them, in a very affectionate and impreffive manner, to avoid fin, and to give themselves VOL. XXX. February, 1807. G to to God through Chrift, and live for eternity. In the evening of this day, I called on him, and found him fitting in his chair, though much debilitated. We spoke together, for fome time, on the things of God, and he was greatly revived. His mind was calm, and his confidence in the mercy of his Maker steady; but he expreffed great earneftnefs to be fully renewed in the image of God, obferving, "Nothing less than the whole image of God, ftampt upon my heart, can fatisfy me." Saturday, February 1, he was confiderably worse; so much so, that his family thought him dying. Having recovered a little ftrength, he began to exhort all around him to cleave to the Lord; and to his relatives, he said, with great fervour, "Take the advice of a dying man, and never leave the fold of Chrift." Sunday, Feb. 2, I vifited him again. He appeared to be confiderably harraffed with temptations, refpecting his experience in divine things. He faid, "Though I have not doubted of the goodness of God to me for 50 years, yet I have not had that Arong affurance, and rapturous joy, which many others have been favoured with." We then joined in prayer to God, that he would fatisfy his mind in this refpect, and afterwards he appeared contented and easy. Tuesday, Feb. 4, he took wholly to his bed, and was exercised with ftrong pain. I have already remarked, that Mr. S. had enjoyed uninterrupted health for more than 90 years: confequently, not knowing what ficknefs and pain are, he was wholly inexperienced in that state of fuffering to which the Providence of God had now called him. Indeed, the ftate feemed fo new to him, that he appeared in the fituation of a man fuddenly and unexpectedly befet with enemies, from whom he found it impoffible to flee, and against whom he faw it vain to contend. Hence he used many expreffions, which I could easily difcern were the refult of inexperience in the fchool of affliction; but, which to others, who knew not his ftate, might have indicated a degree of reprehenfible impatience, and a want of due refignation to the Divine will. But this really was not the cafe. His mountain ftood strong; but, not having been inured to pain, he had now that whole leffon of suffering to learn, in a few days, which moft others acquire gradually, through the whole courfe of their lives. Many pray for an exemption from fuffering. Such perfons know not what they afk. It is better to carry a heavy burthen, by feparate parcels, while our ftrength is comparatively unbroken, than to be obliged to floop under the whole load at once, when the keepers of the houfe tremble, and the natural force is abated. However, what God does is well done. Mr. S. in this untried itate, was upheld by the power of that God, in whom he had trufted. trufted. His strength was proportioned to the burthen he was As this was a day of great conflict, fo it was a called to bear. day of confiderable confolation. The wounding and the healing power were alternately evident. Every pang his body felt, and he felt many, appeared to be accompanied either by fome very confolatory promife, or fome act of refignation to the Divine will. A few of his expreffions, in illuftration of the above observation, Being in a great agony, he it may not be improper to record. cried, "O! that my time were come, and my thread of life cut; but thy will be done. Lord Jefus, cut the thread of life, and take me to thy arms, or give me patience to bear my afflictions. Lord, Guide." my this is more than flesh and blood can bear. God of Mercy, I know not what to do: direct me, for thou shalt be Addreffing himself to his nieces, he faid: "Pray to the Lord to take me, for I long to be gone: but heavenly language is heavenly love. I am afraid I offend my God, by withing to be gone." At another time he exclaimed, five times fucceffively, "Now, my Lord, I am ready." Being afked, if he would take any refreshment, he faid, "I want no food but heavenly food; but I wish to go to heaven to fee my wife and dear little children." There was fo much of the affectionate parent and tender husband, in thefe expreffions, that I wish them to be particularly noticed.To those who have never been bleft with these relations; and who, confequently, can know little of the charities of human life, they may appear misplaced; but whoever has been a husband and a parent, in the order of the Divine Providence, and has been called to carry the body of the wife of his youth to the grave, and bury the hopes of his family with the children, in whofe ftead he would have gladly given up his own life, will do honour to the principle by which Mr. S. was actuated; and rejoice in the confideration, that these endearing ties, which, under God, are the balm of life, though partially diffolved for a time here, fhall, in that state of endless life and perfection, be found reconnected, in a bond of indiffoluble duration. He appeared now to be exceedingly weak, and scarcely able He faid, "I have to breathe; yet he continued in prayer; and, as his strength would permit, exhorted all that were about him. many, many promises, but have not ftrength to relate them;" and then, addreffing himself to his nieces, whom he always confidered as his own children, he faid, "The Lord blefs you, my dear children, and let not the foot of pride come against you, and may he keep you all in the narrow way, for Jefus Chrift's fake." Tho', with the violence of the pain he endured, the fweat dropped off his face, and his whole frame was agitated; yet his refignation to the Divine will was unfhaken, and the expreffions of it un"I would be fatisfied," faid he, comm only strong. G 2 were I to fuffer |