The Baptist Magazine, Vol. 27, January, 1835

Produced by Bryan Ness, Anne Storer, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)

THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE FOR 1835.

THE PROFITS ARISING FROM THE SALE OF THIS WORK ARE GIVEN TO THE WIDOWS OF BAPTIST MINISTERS, AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CONTRIBUTORS.

VOL. XXVII. (VOL. X. THIRD SERIES.)

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE.--Eph. iv. 15.

LONDON: PUBLISHED BY GEORGE WIGHTMAN, 24, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1835.

LONDON: J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.

PREFACE.

Conducted by Divine Providence to the close of another annual period of their anxious labours, the Editors of the BAPTIST MAGAZINE would devoutly embrace the favourable opportunity thus afforded, for the purpose of brief retrospect, and the exercise of sincere thankfulness.

During the months of the past year, they have been earnestly desirous that the pages of each succeeding number of their work should supply such a portion of religious instruction and denominational information as, from its design and extent, their most considerate readers would be led to expect; and, though fully sensible that they have not attained the standard of their own wishes, yet they deem it incumbent to acknowledge, that they have been strengthened in their progress by perceiving that their efforts have been candidly appreciated, and in many instances kindly commended.

In prefacing the TWENTY-SEVENTH VOLUME of this publication, it is gratifying to be able to announce that, notwithstanding the frequent introduction of new and attractive periodicals, the Baptist Magazine continues to obtain an encouraging share of public patronage; and were it to derive from literary contributions, and an extended circulation, such support as the denomination to whose service it is principally devoted might easily afford, the satisfaction of this announcement would be greatly augmented.

If, in addition to the many excellent communications now received, others were occasionally forwarded by writers to whom preparing such an article might prove an agreeable relaxation from the pursuit of severer studies, both the value of the work, and the interest of the writer in its prosperity, would be considerably increased.

Before concluding these remarks, the Editors have much pleasure in distinctly and gratefully adverting to the assistance with which they have been favoured in bringing this volume through the press; in connexion with which the usual exercise of benevolence to the Widows of many of our departed brethren has been continued; and to perpetuate, and, if possible, increase which, the conductors of the Baptist Magazine have been invariably, and still remain, solicitous.

THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1835.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. PEGGY WAUGH.

Recollections of departed excellence are always pleasant, often deeply interesting, and sometimes productive of the happiest effects. The delight we feel in tracing the successive stages of that pilgrimage by which the saints of the Most High have "passed into the skies," is neither a faint nor fruitless emotion, but a healthful exercise of the moral sympathies. It purifies, while it elicits; the affections of the heart. As we trace the formation of their character, we are insensibly forming our own; and the observation by which we mark the development of their Christian virtues, is among the most efficient means by which we are provoked to their imitation.

Hence the inspired volume is not more a book of doctrines than a record of the piety of ancient believers. That Holy Spirit, under whose inspiration it was written, knew how to touch the springs of human conduct, and therefore incites us to the highest attainments of character by the influence of example. The names of the righteous are enrolled in its imperishable leaves, and their memory, after the lapse of ages, is still fragrant as the breath of the morning.

After the example of the sacred writers, every age of the church has preserved memorials of the wisdom and holiness of its own times. In some instances a service has thus been performed of inestimable value. Patterns of faith, of patience, of zeal, have been rescued from oblivion to be a stimulus to Christians in all succeeding periods of time. And in other instances benefits, though not equally extensive, yet substantial, have resulted from recording, in a brief memoir, the characters and actions of those who, not called to occupy prominent stations, have shed a sweet influence of piety upon the more retired walks of ordinary life.

The following pages are intended to preserve some short account of a Christian lady, who from youth to old age "walked in the truth;" and having become at length alike venerable in years and in piety, departed this present life with the glorious hope of a better.

Mrs. Peggy Waugh was born at Wallingford, A. D. 1747. At an early period of life her mind was brought under a divine influence; not, however, by the ordinary means of grace, nor by any solemn providence, but in a manner illustrating the force of scripture, and the sovereignty of that gracious Spirit by whom it was originally inspired, and is still savingly applied. Being present at a party where the evening was spent in festivity and worldly mirth, she was invited to join in the dance. This she had often done, for she was of a lively disposition, and her parents were gratified by her mixing in the gaieties of life; but in the present instance she felt herself unable to maintain the hilarity of her spirits. The cause of her dejection none imagined, and she was perhaps ashamed to acknowledge. While all was merriment around her, she became suddenly pensive. A passage of the word of God, pointedly in contrast with the spirit of the scene, had come with irresistible power to her recollection. It fastened upon her conscience:--it reached her heart. The music and dancing lost their charms; she sat in solitariness, though surrounded with company; the world's fascinations appeared in a light in which she had never before seen them, and the salutary impressions of that evening remained unerased from her mind through all her subsequent life.

While she was yet young, her parents removed to Reading. Shortly after they had fixed their residence in that town, she was taken by a friend to the Baptist Meeting, where she heard the Rev. Mr. Davis. She was much interested in his discourse, and sought for opportunities to attend frequently on his ministry. Under the able instructions of that excellent man, her religious views became clearer and more definite, her principles more firm and decided, and it was evident that the spiritual change which had already commenced in her soul, was rapidly advancing to its completion.

It was now that her trials began. The determinate and consistent form which her renewed character had assumed, was far from exciting any complacent feelings in the minds of her parents; and it became the more obnoxious to them from the preference she manifested for the preaching of Mr. Davis. They had brought up their family to the established church, and it distressed them exceedingly to see their daughter becoming a dissenter. But she had counted the cost, and was prepared to make any sacrifice, and to endure any hardship, rather than forego the privileges she now enjoyed in the house of God. Hardships she had indeed to endure: such was the severity with which she was treated, that it was no uncommon thing, when she returned from the sanctuary, to find her father's door locked against her; and often has she walked in the fields without food during the intervals of public worship, rather than incur the displeasure that awaited her at home. This was a season of trial, and she came forth from it like refined gold. Her filial attentions were not less respectful or affectionate than formerly; on the contrary, she watched both her temper and her conduct with more than wonted carefulness, and endeavoured to show them that she could bear with meekness the wrongs she suffered in so good a cause. Nor did she wholly withdraw herself from the established church. Reading was at that time favoured with the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Talbot, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Cadogan, and the Rev. Mr. Eyre, his curate at St. Giles's. The preaching of these faithful servants of the Lord was distinguished by its truly evangelical character, and she found much benefit in occasionally hearing them. At their Thursday evening lecture she was a constant attendant, both at this period and after she had joined the Baptist church. Her new principles had not contracted, but on the contrary enlarged, her mind. Her views with regard to the ordinance of baptism, and on some other subjects connected with those parts of divine truth on which a difference of sentiment prevails, were conscientiously embraced; but they were held in the spirit of Christian charity. As much as she could, without a sacrifice of conscience, she endeavoured to conciliate the prejudices of her parents; and at length her efforts were blessed beyond her most sanguine hope.

It will a little anticipate the order of the narrative, but it may properly be added here, that she had the satisfaction, at a subsequent period, to know that her pious conversation and deportment had, under God, been the principal means of producing a saving change in her father, in her mother, and in two of her brothers. Her parents, at an advanced age, departed in the faith, leaving no doubt on the minds of surviving friends that they had fallen asleep in Jesus.

It was the happiness of Mrs. Waugh to be united in marriage with a person of decided piety, whose sentiments on religious subjects were similar to her own. Shortly after their marriage, they were both baptized, and thus commenced together that public and good profession which they ever afterwards maintained by the integrity, and adorned with the graces, of the Christian life. On the morning of her baptism, a passage from the prophecies of Isaiah, evidently suggested by the difficulties which had environed her early religious course, forcibly impressed her mind, and afforded her much encouragement: "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron." "These words," she writes, "came sweetly to me, and my soul was on the wing for heaven and heavenly things."

The duties of domestic life began now to demand her attention. In the relations of a wife, a mother, and a mistress, the excellence of those principles on which her character was formed, was habitually exemplified. For her children, she was supremely anxious to bring them in early life under the influence of divine truth, and to lead them into the love of God. It is in their recollection still, with what maternal affection she would take them into her chamber, and converse with them on those subjects, and then present them, in the exercise of faith and devotion, to the care of that tender Shepherd who "gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom." Indeed her deep interest in all young persons obliged her to press upon such as came within her reach a care for their everlasting happiness; with several, the result was most satisfactory, and they retain an affectionate remembrance of her solicitude on their behalf. With her servants also she would seize opportunities to speak of the value of their souls, and the improvement of their religious advantages; and sometimes she used to pray in secret with them. The afflictions which are inseparable from the lot of humanity, and those which parents only know, she endured with a meek and confiding resignation. Her cup had its bitter infusions, and some of her trials were more than commonly severe; but under every mysterious and painful dispensation, she stayed herself upon her God, and in patience possessed her soul.