32 Original Poetry. THE WIDOWER'S LAMENT. Who can describe the silent grief And toils that seek in vain for rest- Surely of all the names that cheer As the endearing name of wife; But, oh! the agonizing smart, Yet, 'tis my heavenly Father's will, And 'tis my duty to be still, Submissive and obey; In patience to possess my soul, A few more weeks, or months, or years, And I shall quit this vale of tears For realms of endless day; And 'midst the shining ranks above, Enjoy a more celestial love, Nor fear the least decay. SONNET. "Return unto thy rest, O my Soul." E. D. Like Noah's doye, the spirit seeks in vain, Is delug'd with a thousand gilded woes;- She mourns the Ark she left-to heav'n she flies, Where pleasure ne'er betrays, nor ever dies, And on the tomb of faded earthly Joys, Where hope's fair scene in scatter'd ruins lies, She writes and oh! 'tis truth her pen employs"Too low they build, who build beneath the skies." B. C. ON THE ENTRANCE OF THE NEW YEAR. With deep contrition at thy throne, Of the least blessing giv'n; But, hadst thou strictly mark'd my sin, In darkness and despair, Thanks to thy name for temporal good- On thy supreme command. To thee I consecrate my time, To thy paternal Jove. May each revolving season show, LINES G. B. Written in a Boat, upon the River, between New To God that made the world I owe my breath, S. D. EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, AND Theological Review. FEBRUARY, 1822. BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM KING, D. D. THIS learned and respectable divine [ both in that important situation, and was, nearly thirty years, pastor of the also in the discharge of his pastoral Independent church, assembling in duties, were signally useful. During Hare-court, Aldersgate-street, London. the fifteen years that Mr. King conHe was a native of Wiltshire, and born tinned at Chesham, he had the honour June 9th, 1701. His parents were and happiness of educating many pious people, and trained up their son respectable persons, whose gratitude in the nurture and admonition of the through life he could not fail to enLord. Having determined, in early sure. His reputation was spread abroad, life, to devote himself to the work of and offers of preferment in the Esta the ministry, he was placed under the blished Church were repeatedly made; tuition of able instructors, and received which, however, he wisely declined. the advantages of a liberal education. He was a Protestant Dissenter upon At a suitable age he was sent to perfect principle, and had too much integrity his studies at the University of Utrecht, to sell his birth-right for a mess of in Holland, where his proficiency was pottage. In his views of the constigreat; and, here he passed his trials tution and discipline of a Christian for the ministerial office, being ex-church, he trode in the steps of Dr. amined and approved by the Classis, and recommended to the churches in that city. His first public sermon was preached in Utrecht, for Dr. De la Faye, from Psa. 1. 14, 15. "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High; and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Returning to his native country, Mr. King was chosen by the church of Protestant Dissenters at Chesham, in the county of Bucks, and ordained to the pastoral office among them, April 22, 1725. Here he opened a school for the instruction of youth; an employment for which he was eminently qualified; and his labours, VOL. VIII. John Owen, the father of English independency; but, he was candid in his judgment of men, and liberal in his opinions, cultivating an intimacy with all who appeared to bear the image of his divine Master. Having mentioned Mr. King as engaged in the humble station of schoolmaster, the reader will, it is hoped, pardon us for digressing a few mo ments, to offer a word of apology in behalf of that most important occupation. It has somehow, of late, become the fashion to look down upon this class of our fellow subjects with disdain. The great Milton, however, stooped to this occupation, and has been reproached for converting his E learning and talents into the means of pecuniary profit. But, let us hear his own defence;-"Do they think" says he, "that all these meaner and superfluous things come from God, and the divine gift of learning from the den of Plutus, or the cave of Mammon? Certainly, never any clear spirit, nursed up in brighter influences, with a soul enlarged to the dimensions of spacious art, and high knowledge, ever entered there but with scorn, and thought it ever foul disdain to make pelf or ambition the reward of his studies; it being the greatest honour, the greatest fruit and proficiency of learned studies, to despise these things." In the year 1740, Mr. King removed to London, at the invitation of the church in Hare-court, which had now heen two years destitute of a pastor, baving been deprived of the labours of a most promising and acceptable young minister, Mr. Samuel Bruce, | who was cut off, Dec. 5, 1737, at the early age of twenty-seven. On the 14th of February, 1740, Mr. King was settled in the pastoral charge of that church; and, about the same time, received from one of the Scotch Universities, a diploma, creating him Doctor in Divinity. In the year 1748, Dr. King was chosen into the Merchant's Lecture, Pinner's Hall, in the room of Mr. Peter Goodwin; and, in that station he continued to lecture till within a few weeks of his death. He was also engaged during many years in conducting what is now called, the Monkwell-street lecture, though it commenced at Silver-street; and likewise in the Lime-street lecture, afterwards removed to Little St. Helens. In the latter part of his life, Dr. King suffered greatly from that painful disorder, the stone in the bladder. This affliction he sustained with exemplary patience and resignation to the divine will, frequently expressing his thankfulness that it was not worse. The first attack of this disorder, of which he was sensible, was in the month of January, 1765, and it continued to harrass him at intervals, till the period of his death. On the 26th of February, 1769, he preached his last sermon at Hare-court, from the words, Jude, ver. 25. "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion aud power, both now and ever, Amen." On the following Saturday, March 4th, he finished his course, in the 68th year of his age. After his decease, his body was opened, and a stone extracted, which measured seven inches in the circumference one way, and five the other! It weighed three ounces and a quarter; in addition to which, there were found two smaller Near this stone Are deposited the Remains Of that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Not more eminent for his extensive learning Diligent and constant unto death In the duties of his ministerial character Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh Shall find so doing. He was born in the county of Wilts, June 9th, 1701, And died in London, March 4th, 1769, In the 68th year of his age. |