SKETCH OF THE LIFE

OF

THE REV. JOSEPH GILBERT.

HE REV. JOSEPH GILBERT was born (the youngest of five children) on the 20th of March, 1779, at Wrangle, a village in Lincolnshire. At three years old he was deprived of his mother. His father, a man of few words, owed his spiritual good to the labours of Mr. Wesley, whom he entertained at his house whenever his apostolic wanderings took him into that neighbourhood. Though not leaving the Establishment, he built at his own expense, and preached in, a small chapel at Wrangle. His motherless children were religiously cared for by him. When twelve years old, Joseph was greatly impressed by the death of a brother. Surrounding the coffin, the father solemnly addressed the children. The word was with power to the youngest child. Another event that was God's voice to him was a dream of the day of judgment, the scenes of which were so awfully vivid that they never wholly faded from his memory and feelings. While a child, he was preserved from dangerous accidents. A loaded waggon on one occasion caught him so close to a wall as to take him from his feet, and roll him round and round as it passed, till it dropped him.

unharmed at the end. waggon, which passed over, not on him; and well he remembered the fingering of the horses feet about him as if studious to avoid touching the imperilled child. He received his education at the Free School of his native village. He early showed a taste for the sea—a taste which he never lost. But, discouraged in this direction by his father, the lad was apprenticed at Burgh, a few miles from his home, to a general country business, where he obtained an insight into many kinds of trade. Here, while diligent in business, he found time to enter upon those abstruse studies which were to be the delight of his life. He secured and mastered the then principal works of controversial divinity, and those on both sides of the infidel argument. He was preserved from the sins which so easily beset the young. The mother of the household of which he was a member was, happily for him, a Christian woman. Her sister, Miss Sarah Chapman, the daughter of a surgeon in the neighbourhood, with whom Joseph Gilbert now grew acquainted, afterwards became his wife. She was a lady of great intelligence, wit, and piety. They were married in May, 1800, shortly after he had purchased a business at East Retford, in Nottinghamshire. Here he avowed himself a Christian, and joined a small society of Congregational Dissenters. Being without a minister, students were obtained from Rotherham College. This was chiefly at Mr. Gilbert's expense; and they were his guests. From them he learnt of their tutor, Dr. Edward Williams, a man of very eminent ability, and favourably known by his theological and metaphysical writings. Through his students the Doctor heard of Mr. Gilbert, his well-stored

Another time he fell beneath a

E

mind and active zeal. Hence came the suggestion that he should devote himself to the ministry. Prosperous in business, and therefore having something to give up, yet his own desire so responded to the appeal from without that he determined to do so. When his business was disposed of, with happy heart he removed from Retford to Rotherham, where he took a house a short distance from the college, and entered with zeal and ability upon his preparatory studies. The college bell rang for the classes at six in the morning, and never rang for him in vain; once, deceived by the moonlight, and ready for work, he was at the gates as early as three." The library fire was kept burning through the night to give welcome greeting to those early risers.

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Great was Mr. Gilbert's progress under Dr. Williams. The following fact is a striking proof. A Rev. Wm. Bennet had published a book entitled "Remarks on a recent 'Hypothesis' respecting the origin of moral evil, in a series of letters to the Rev. Dr. Williams, the author of that 'Hypothesis.'" Dr. Williams' duties were so various and onerous, and his health never strong, that he was unable himself to reply. But he requested the young student, in his second year's course, to do so for him. What a recognition from the tutor of the clear intellect and sound judgment of the student!. In accordance with the request, Mr. Gilbert wrote and published in 1808, in eight letters, a defensive reply to the attack on Dr. Williams' view.

When his student-course was over, Mr. Gilbert settled as minister over a small congregation at Southend, in Essex, where, from the Church Book, it appears that "he preached with much acceptance and success," and that "during his

ministry a church was formed." Here he laboured for eighteen months, when the Rev. Maurice Philips, Classical Professor at Rotherham, having resigned, he accepted the unexpected invitation to succeed him. As a tutor he was highly valued and warmly beloved. Not long had he

enjoyed the work for which he was eminently qualified than a dark cloud overshadowed him in the very sudden death of his valuable wife. When recovered in some measure from the shock of his loss, he accepted the call to become (in addition to his tutorial work) pastor of the Nether Chapel, Sheffield, and was ordained on December 8th, 1813. His residence was about six miles from his people. Monday and Saturday were his own-free from college duties; on those days he prepared for the Sabbath and visited the members of his church.

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During the winter of 1812, he made the acquaintance of the accomplished lady who was to be his second wife. 'It had been by the perusal of several much-talked of articles in the recently-established 'Eclectic Review,' of which Ann Taylor was reported to be the author, that Mr. Gilbert was induced to seek an introduction to her."* In December 1813, they were married. In March 1816, Mr. Gilbert delivered the address at the interment of the Rev. George Lambert, of Hull, and preached on the following Sabbath to the congregation bereaved of his valued labours. These services led to his visiting Hull again in November and December. And the result was that he was invited to the vacant pastorate. The church at Sheffield, by offering to

* The Family Pen. Memorials of the Taylor Family of Ongar, vol. i. p 282.

increase his salary, and his senior students by offering to aid him in his junior classes, showed their warmth of attachment and their desire to retain him. But, after much anxious thought, his way became clear to Hull, whither he removed in July 1817. Here he laboured till November 1825.

On his coming to Hull he was in his thirty-ninth year, but he appeared much older,-for the white crown, the usual ornament of age, was upon him before he was thirty years old. He was lightly made,-lithe and agile in his movements. He bore none of the assumption of a proud cleric about him, but was frequently mistaken for some old military officer. His appearance was one to arrest the attention and interest of all -his bearing erect, his features prominent, his hair white and waving, his forehead striking in its expanse, his expression commanding yet genial. "He loved the country, the crocuses, the violets, his especial humble favourites. Played at cricket with his boys or pupils, gave a kind look to every living thing, and conversed in the meadows with dogs, cows, and horses, as if they were friends who understood English, and valued his sympathy." He was sagacious and cautious, and but for the lack of the sanguine element in his character might have done greater things than he did as preacher and author. Seldom is one met with so affectionate, so gentle of spirit, so transparent of character, and with such powers of thought. It is with no partial pen that his brother-in-law, Isaac Taylor, wrote of him as a man of the warmest benevolence, of extraordinary intelligence, extensive acquirements, excellent judgment in common affairs, and withal of deep and elevated piety."

His early predilection for the sea gave him a peculiar relish for the maritime life that moved about him in Hull,