The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada WestArmstrong, John
Religion
The Life and Letters of the Rev. George Mortimer, M.A.: Rector of Thornhill, in the Diocese of Toronto, Canada West
Armstrong, John
Mortimer, George, 1784-1844
For the foregoing particulars, illustrative of my friend’s character as a
Christian pastor, and in his domestic relations, with the exception of a
part of the article on the character of his preaching, attributed in a
note, to another friend, I am entirely indebted to his youngest daughter,
Miss Phebe Mortimer: nothing is due to myself except for the arrangement
of the materials with which I have been so kindly and so well furnished.
From the foregoing sketch, as well as from the general contents of the
volume, Mr. Mortimer’s character is clearly seen, and cannot fail to
excite admiration:—let every reader here add a prayer to be enabled to
imitate as well as to admire. That my friend was possessed of no
peculiarities, or of no defects, I do not affirm; but they were blended
with so much purity of motive, integrity of principle, and correctness of
conduct, that his general excellences were visible to all, his
peculiarities were known but to few. His _extreme carefulness_ in
expenditure, and his—seemingly, at least—_over anxiousness_ to preserve
unimpaired, if not to increase, his fortune, led him to the adoption of
some measures, which by many of his friends were thought questionable.
It is, however, exceedingly difficult to judge another in this matter,
or, indeed, to set up any precise and universal standard by which to form
a judgment in the case. So many among the clergy, it is to be feared,
err in the opposite extreme, and so much reproach has been brought upon
the Church and the clerical character, by the want of a sufficient
prudence and economy in secular affairs, to prevent pecuniary
embarrassment, that the error of too much care is much to be preferred to
that of a want of it, where it is attended by such counteracting
properties as marked Mr. Mortimer’s management of his income. His
systematic charity, his cheerful and bountiful liberality, and his strict
integrity, more than balance any defective peculiarity in his secular
matters.
If I might venture to sum up Mr. Mortimer’s character in a few words, I
should say that his whole life, from the time of his becoming a decided
Christian, was characterized by firm faith, deep humility, great
decision, steady consistency, self-denial, holy zeal, and patient
perseverance; and his manners were characterized by urbanity, kindness,
and sweetness of address peculiar to himself. As a pastor, as a private
Christian, as a relative, and as a friend, he has left an example worthy
of imitation. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith
the Spirit; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow
them.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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