Memoir and Select Remains of the Late Rev. John R. M'Dowall

Sketches of Rev. John R. M'Dowall, by Wm. G oodell,

A celebrated Universalist clergyman was once asked how he could embrace such a dangerous doctrine? His answer was, "I am no more a Universalist than all the world; every body's friends go to heaven: if so, all mankind must be saved."

How many biographies have been written which do not savor strongly of this principle? It is well if even the criminal who is executed for piracy upon the high seas, does not leave behind some kind-hearted philanthropist, who, in telling his wondrous story, makes him not only the noble hero, but the good christian pirate.

Then, to be an acquaintance, a friend of M'Dowall, and his impartial biographer, requires, if not the inspiration of a St. Luke, at least an eye single to the glory of God. To delineate the most prominent features in his character, some of his persecutions must be told: this must rebuke his persecutors; and to be just without acrimony, merciful without partiality, and show the world M'Dowall himself, "who is sufficient for these things?" To say M'Dowall was a good man, in the common acceptation of the word, is not enough; to say he was an infallible man, would not be right; but to say he was the man above all others, who suffered daily martyrdom to elevate the standard of moral purity to its present height, is saying what truth and justice require should be said.

There have been difficulties in compiling this work which seldom occur in any other. The reader must be conscious that the name of M'Dowall has long been odious to the ears of modern refinement, and to such deserves no better eulogy than a misguided philanthropist, who,

"Meteor like, flew loveless through the sky,"

making his way to pre-eminence only by the novelty of his

route.

Another class gravely tell you that they believe he was an intrigueing, dishonest man, goaded on by the love of money and fame; but being defeated in both, poured a tirade of abuse upon his more discerning antagonists, and then broke the hearts of weak-minded men and silly women by a pitiful whining of persecution, wholly unparalleled in modern times. This latter class say, give us the man-his apostolic zeal-his persecutions and martyrdom, sparing neither root nor branch. Now it must be evident that these antipodes see through different glasses, and if the vision of one be clear, the other must be jaundiced; and who can compile a work to suit the optics of both?

Another formidable difficulty has been, to make the best

selection from such a mass of papers promiscuously thrown together, as were his, the last four years of his life. His regular journal, till then, was kept with accuracy, and shows he was not deficient in system; but when his "fiery trials" commenced, he wrote as he could in the hurry of the moment; and though he was careful to preserve every item, yet many of these items were in detached parts, incoherently written, and the dates quite imperfect. Should the reader find errors in dates, let this be the apology.

As to the facts themselves, they have been gathered from his own private writings, from his printed Journal, from the testimony of Mrs. M'Dowall, and many from personal acquaintance of the compiler with M'Dowall himself.

This volume contains but a preface to his writings and labors. The beginning of his christian career may have something of the sameness of others in like circumstances; but when he entered fully into the field, you see M'Dowall himself, till lost in the ocean of eternity.

Should the eye of any young disciple light on these pages, whose enthusiastic heart is panting to put on the armour M'Dowall has put off, he will do well to remember there are lions in the way, he will do well to ask, if single-handed and alone, without "purse or scrip," he dare meet the formidable foes that lurk in every path. Let him then sit down first and count the cost, lest he begin to build and be not able to finish.

Let the doting mother, as she reads these pages, while her laughing ones are sporting about her in all the innocence of uncontaminated purity, bless God that M'Dowall lived, and while he lived placed way-marks at every dangerous step, that she may guard and guide them till, wisely trained in the way they should go, and when older, they will never depart from it.

Let the self-secure, when she boasts of her own conscious strength, look among the spoils of her lost sex, and there she may find many a tarnished gem, who once, like her, asked no M'Dowall to warn against the syren song of flattery, or the unseen whirlpool where many an innocent victim has been swallowed and lost for ever.

It is not, it cannot be supposed that the expectations of all will be realized who read these pages. To some the picture will be too vividly, to others too faintly drawn. To all the compiler would say, the object of the writer was not solely to get up a book" that should please, but, if possible, to do good to such as are seeking for truth, and know how to appreciate it when obtained.

That such may be blessed and profited, is the sincere wish of THE COMPILER.

New York, January 5th, 1838.

M B M O I B.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE OF REV. J. R. M'DOWALL, BY HIS FATHER.

The following is furnished by the venerable father of the deceased, who has been a minister of the Gospel, in Canada, for about forty years.

JOHN R. M'DowALL was born in Fredericksburgh, county of Lenox, Midland District, Upper Canada, the 20th of September, 1801. He came into the world a child of sorrow. His deep moaning during the first twenty-four hours of his life was considered an indication of his speedy dissolution;* but He who destined him to the great work of promoting moral purity, raised him up from his low state, and favored him, with the exception of occasional attacks of severe headache, with good health. His mind was lively and often deeply impressed with the awful realities of eternity. The worship of God was with him a delightful employment. I will state one example of this. He went of his own accord in the month of April, 1816, then in the 15th year of his age, with his father and a gentleman, a near neighbor, six miles on foot to meeting. When he

* This might seem too trivial to notice, as it is what often occurs with children, but it made such an impression on the minds of all who saw him at that time, that it has often been mentioned before and since his peculiar sufferings in the last years of his life.

returned home, the road being bad, he was much fatigued and pale. His mother inquired what ailed him; he replied that his thigh was sore by means of leaping over a small stream of water or going over a fence; "but father preached such a good sermon to-day, that I am well paid for my trouble."

That pain was just above his right knee, ulcered, affected the thigh-bone, of which a considerable part exfoliated, brought him near the grave, and greatly impaired his physical powers during his life. This affliction, through the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, brought him to deeper consideration and nearness to God. In his distress he covenanted with God, that if he spared his life he would live more devoted to his service. Soon after his recovery he commenced his academical studies, and afterwards spent about a year and a half with an uncle, by his mother's side, at York, (now Toronto,) in the study of law. Thence he wrote his father he was not volatile, but he could not conscientiously pursue the profession of law, and that he had consecrated himself to God wholly, and could not perform his vow, unless he brought his whole powers to bear on the enlargement of Christ's kingdom. He was asked in reply if he did not think, from the prospects before him, that he might exert such influence on others as to induce them to do as much or more, to forward the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, than he could by his own personal ministry. He answered that he had not covenanted to serve God by proxy, but to serve him in his own person.

After he had quit his studies and returned home, a gentleman bred to the law, and holding different offices under government, asked him if he did not think he had done wrong in giving up his intention to study law, as few young men in the Province had such favorable opportunities of rising to eminence as he had. He answered him by presenting him a book, and saying,

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Memoir and Select Remains of the Late Rev. John R. M'Dowall: The Martyr of ...