Samuel Pearce & Excerpts from his Memoir

One of my assignments was to write an article of 300 words about Samuel Pearce for a dictionary of Christian Spirituality. Here was my article:

Pearce, Samuel

Samuel Pearce (1766-1799), converted in 1782, was trained at Bristol Baptist Academy between 1786 and 1789, afterward becoming pastor of Cannon Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, of the Calvinistic Baptist denomination, from 1789 until his death. Pearce’s life and ministry was characterized by what he described as “heart religion”: the more he recognized the effects of sin, the more he clung to the Cross. His preaching centered on the crucified Christ. Manifested in his preaching, family life, and relationships were remarkable humility, sincerity, and self-sacrifice. Author of his memoir and friend, Andrew Fuller, identified Pearce’s governing principle as “holy love.” His congregation thrived under his ministry, his preaching known to elicit tears from hearers.

Pearce was passionate about bringing the gospel of God’s grace to unbelievers—in his church and globally. In 1792, he helped form the Baptist Missionary Society, which sent William Carey and John Thomas to India. In 1794, Pearce himself felt called to join them, although the committee declined his request, their reason being that his existing role was so instrumental that he would serve the cause better by staying in England. Initially disappointed, Pearce’s peaceful acceptance of the committee’s decision proved his trust in the sovereign will of God. Neither did his zeal for missions dissipate, for he shifted his energies to the home front. As Pearce saw it, his whole life’s purpose was to glorify God and build his Church.

In 1798, severe illness forced Pearce to withdraw from public duty, which providentially enabled him to produce writing that would edify generations to come. His letters and diary reveal the true piety of his Christian character. Pearce died a year later, leaving behind his wife Sarah and five children. Upon death, he spoke boldly of his faith: “It is a religion for a dying sinner.”

From Andrew Fuller’s A Heart for Missions: The Classic Memoir of Samuel Pearce

ON SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIPS AND JOURNALLING

“Get two or three of the students, whose piety you most approve, to meet for one hour in a week for experimental conversation and mutual prayer. I found this highly beneficial, though, strange to tell, by some we were persecuted for our practice!

Keep a diary. Once a week at farthest call yourself to an account as to what advances you have made in your different studies; in divinity, history, language, natural philosophy, style, arrangement, and, amidst all, do not forget to inquire, Am I more fit to serve and to enjoy God than I was last week?” (109,emphasis mine)

THE PITFALL OF LETHARGY AND SELF-COMPLACENCY

“I love the man who tenderly feels for the souls of the poor heathen. What a reflection is it on the philanthropy of every Christian country that no more pains have been taken to carry the light of eternal life to those nations that sit in darkness in the shadow of death! What a lapse of time since the Reformation! But how have its wasting years been improved to this important end? We and our fathers have thought, and spoken, and written, and heard, and read about Christian benevolence; we have investigated its nature, admired its beauty, contended for its importance to the Christian character, whilst, like the unapproved servant, though we knew our Master’s will, we did it not. Almost the whole Christian world have partaken of the common lethargy… They have satisfied themselves without any positive exertions, and lain down dozing, dozing at their ease… But I hope the time is come when we shall, every man, look no longer at his own things only, but the things of others.” (43)

ON DYING

“I find myself getting weaker and weaker, and so my Lord instructs me in his pleasure to remove me soon You say well, my dear brother, that at such a prospect I ‘cannot complain.’ No, blessed be His dear name who shed his blood for me, he helps me to rejoice at times with joy unspeakable. Now I see the value of the religion of the cross. It is a religion for a dying sinner. It is all the most guilty, the most wretched can desire. Yes, I taste its sweetness, and enjoy its fullness, with all the gloom of a dying bed before me. And far rather would I be the poor emaciated and emaciating creature that I am, than be an emperor, with every earthly good about him—but without a God!”. (133)

UPON FACING DEATH, PEARCE’S LETTER TO HIS GRIEVING WIFE:

“Forgive me, my dearest Sarah, if I have in the smallest degree been ‘severe.’ I saw that your tender heart was overwhelmed. I could not see it without anguish. I realized your prospects, and did not wonder that you felt as a creature; but I feared you did not make use of your privilege as a Christian.

I long to lead your mind for comfort to an immortal source; to a God who is both able and willing to do far more abundantly for you than you can ask or think. You can think of being supported under the trial which is now before you, but God can do more; he can make you happy under it, and thankful for it. The second year of our marriage it seemed as though you were to be taken from me. O how my heart was torn at the prospect! And yet, in the midst of it, the Lord was so pleased to calm my mind and to reconcile me to his blessed will that I had not a wish for your life, if he saw fit to take it! He can, and he will, I trust, do the same by you. Only cast your burden upon him, and he hath said, ‘I will sustain thee.’” (138)

FULLER ON PEARCE IN THE CONCLUSION OF HIS MEMOIR

“Finally, in [Pearce] we see that the way to true excellence is not to affect eccentricity, nor to aspire after the performance of a few splendid actions; but to fill up our lives with a sober, modest, sincere, affectionate, assiduous, and uniform conduct. –Real greatness attaches to character; and character arises from a course of action.” (173)