CHAPTER II. MR. RICHARD HILL THE BROTHER ROWLAND. INSTRUMENT OF THE CONVERSION OF HIS HIS AND ROBERT AT ETON, AND TO ROWLAND AT CAMBRIDGE. CONVERSION OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. THE account given in the last chapter of the conversion and early religious experience of Mr. Richard Hill, will have naturally raised an expectation of some record of the fruits of that genuine piety, which had taken such deep root in his mind. Happily, these were numerous, and evidenced the noblest Christian zeal. His family and all within reach of his influence, became the objects of his solicitude; and the success which attended the counsel he gave his brother Rowland when spending a Christmas at Hawkstone, during the time he was an Eton school-boy, has long been known and appreciated. It was this which laid the foundation of the extraordinary and effective course pursued by that eminent minister without intermission, till his death in the eighty-ninth year of his age. There was a strong similarity between the brothers in personal appearance; and their leading mental characteristics, except that the elder had naturally the more studious turn, were in many respects of the same kind. In ready wit and humour, and presence of mind, they were nearly equal; but in the power 36 THE BROTHERS HILL AT ETON. of imagination and quickness of perception, Rowland not only surpassed his brother, but nearly every other man of his day. What he lost for want of application, seemed to be made up to him by intuition; and the vigor of his understanding never failed under the feebleness of very old age. It was indeed most providential that the divine blessing attended the exertions of Mr. Richard Hill, to lead him in early youth, to seek happiness in religion; for had not his undaunted resolution and humorous fancy been controlled by piety, what he would have become it is impossible even to imagine. Godliness could never be accused, as it often has been most falsely, of generating gloom in either of these excellent individuals; and such was their gentlemanlike bearing towards all their acquaintance, that they who most despised their sentiments, were obliged to do justice to the winning courtesy of their deportment. While young Rowland was at Eton, he had the privilege of having his brother Robert for a schoolfellow; and Mr. Richard Hill was in the constant habit of writing to both of them in a strain of the most affectionate advice. Mr. Rowland Hill preserved those letters with the greatest care, and some years ago sent a copy of one of them to a well known periodical, to shew the extent and wisdom of that fraternal vigilance which was made such a blessing to his boyhood. The originals are all in my possession, and with the exception of one letter' previously edited by me, will form the chief materials of the present chapter. The first is addressed to Rowland only; but Mr. Richard Hill sometimes wrote to both his brothers at the same time. 1 In the life of Mr. Rowland Hill. LETTER TO YOUNG ROWLAND AT ETON. 37 To Mr. Rowland Hill, at Eton. MY VERY DEAR BROTHER, Though I have been in town upwards of three weeks, yet I have hitherto deferred writing that I might let you know when the works of Archbishop Leighton, which you desired Archer' to buy for you, were to be at Eton, where you may expect to have them by the next machine, ordered for you at Eton, carriage paid. The reason they could not be got sooner, was owing to their being almost out of print. May you by the grace of God, be enabled to relish, digest, and practise the divine truths contained in the writings of this excellent prelate, than whom the Church of England 2 never had a brighter ornament; but what I particularly admire in this Archbishop, is that spirit of patience and resignation to the divine will under every dispensation, which breathes throughout all his compositions, and plainly discovers itself to have been the habitual temper of his renewed heart-a temper which is the very life and soul of Christianity, and which can alone bring true peace and comfort to the mind of the believer. But then how is this disposition to be obtained, since false presumption is often mistaken for peace of conscience, and a stupid apathy and insensibility may make a person think he has attained a true gospel resignation, when in reality he knows not what it means? If we may believe the Scriptures, it is faith which brings peace and resignation to the soulbeing justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and again, thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid on thee. The conscience The pious valet of Mr. Richard Hill. ? He was Archbishop of Glasgow in the reign of Charles II. 38 LETTER TO YOUNG ROWLAND AT ETON. being first awakened by the Holy Spirit to see its own defilement, and afterwards pacified by an application of the blood of sprinkling, attains a sweet composure and resting upon the faithfulness of the Redeemer and the all-sufficiency of his undertaking, and is assured that all things shall work together for good to those who love God and are the called after his purpose. This consideration makes it the desire of the Christian's heart, that the will of God may be done in him and by him; and therefore under the most distressing circumstances or sharpest sufferings, he can say, "Lord, thou knowest what is good for me better than I do for myself, therefore not my will but thine be done." Moreover, the soul thus brought out of darkness into the marvellous light of the gospel, sees an amiableness and excellency in Christ Jesus which before he knew nothing of. Once he could look upon the blessed Redeemer as having no form nor comeliness in him that he should desire him, but now he sees him to be altogether lovely, the chief among ten thousand, full of grace and truth. Having now obtained the precious faith of God's elect, Jesus is become precious to his soul; for to them that believe, he is precious, says St. Peter. Time was when this poor perishing world and its riches, honours, and pleasures ran away with his affections, but the bent of his heart being now changed, he pants only after the unsearchable riches of Christ, the honour which cometh from God, and those pleasures that are at his right hand for evermore. Time was when his own will was his rule, and the commandments, ordinances, and people of God were all irksome to him; but now, being born from above, and passed from death unto life, it is the desire of his heart to be guided by the word and Spirit of God. He counts his commandments no longer grievous, but a light and easy yoke; he says of the ordi LETTER TO YOUNG ROWLAND AT ETON. 39 nances, It is good for me to be here, and his delight is in the saints of the earth and all that excel in virtue. These things, my dear brother, I am well assured you know by happy experience; and most certain it is, that flesh and blood hath not revealed them unto you, for the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned ; and human nature can rise no higher than its own source, which is earthly, sensual, devilish; but the anointing which you have received of God abideth in you, and shall lead you into all truth. "Nature," says good Bishop Cowper, "is stark blind to the things of grace, since these only can be apprehended by divine illumination, nor can be taught by any other teacher than by the Spirit of God." But, though it has pleased the Lord to show you in some measure the mysteries of his kingdom, yet remember that you are but a babe in Christ, and know but in part ; therefore be frequent and earnest in prayer for fresh supplies of knowledge, faith, grace, and strength; and you have all possible encouragement to be so, since in Christ all fulness dwells, and out of that fulness we receive grace for grace. Learn, then, to guard against self-dependency, and to live more upon Christ; see that he be made unto you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Resign yourself to him in all his offices, as a prophet, priest, and king-a prophet to teach you, a priest to make atonement for you, a king to reign over you and in you. View him in his pastoral office, in the character of the good shepherd, the shepherd that gave his life for the sheep. Consider his watchfulness and tender care for his dear chosen flock, that little flock to whom it is his good pleasure to give the kingdom, having redeemed them by his blood out of every tongue, and kindred, and people, having promised them eternal life, and betrothed |