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
Last night, I received a letter from that very excellent and very pious
man, Mr. Francis Hall, who resided some months in my parish, as the
companion of the New Zealanders, and who went with them to New Zealand.
His whole conduct, while among us, left an indelible impression of the
genuine piety which so humbly but gracefully dwelt within him. Every
recollection of the dear good man is refreshing to my spirit. But I
wander from my point. I received from him, yesterday, a letter which
ought to make us all truly thankful that we have been providentially kept
here, instead of being suffered to go, as we had once intended, along
with himself or others to this inhospitable shore. He begins with
congratulating us on this point, and illustrates his congratulation with
such a narration of discouragement, connected with the state of the
mission, as would convince every unprejudiced mind that a family such as
mine has no business there. A time possibly may come when the signs may
become more favourable; but certainly they are most discouraging now.
I hope I am thankful to God, as the only source of our good, for the
state of things in my own parish. To say there was an outpouring of the
Spirit upon us, would be using language by far too strong, and yet some
gracious drops have descended—the dew has been resting upon us. Our
classes increase—the public means are better attended; our Sunday schools
are more than doubled, and a spirit of hearing generally prevails. And I
feel the more grateful for all this, as I have all along expected that a
seven years’ residence among them would produce a listlessness and
indifference bordering on satiety; but, though this term is now attained
within a few days, yet there seems no want of attention and no diminution
in interest. The hearts of the dear people are still given to me, and,
as such, they still bear with and love me. And if old things are said in
their hearing, they appear to come home to them with a new power, and
that power I would gratefully acknowledge is from above: to the grace,
therefore, of my Redeemer, I would ascribe the praise. And I do still
cherish a hope that, so long as he shall be pleased to continue me here,
he will graciously command that the barrel of meal shall not waste, nor
the cruse of oil fail; that neither matter nor unction shall be wanting
in my humble ministrations. Humble they, indeed, are and always will be:
the little treasure which I bear, is in an earthen, a cracked earthen
vessel. But I hope I am still content, so long as the excellency of the
power may be seen of God and not of man. Here, my dear friend, is the
grand point—we nothing; Christ all. Oh, blessed feeling! Never are we
so truly happy as when we most fully realize it.
We all unite in kind love to yourself and Mrs. A., and I remain,
My dear Friend,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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