THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE AND MISSIONARY CHRONICLE. FEBRUARY, 1865. Recollections of the Rev. Thomas Palmer Bull, BY THE REV. CHARLES GILBERT. THE religious public are much indebted to the Rev. Josiah Bull, A.M., the present pastor of the Congregational church in this town, for the valuable Memorials he has recently published of his grandfather, the Rev. W. Bull. This eminent man, whose memory had almost faded from the minds of the present generation, is vividly recalled by this beautiful narrative of the facts of his life, especially in his close friendship with those three remarkable men-the poet Cowper, the philanthropist Thornton, and the celebrated John Newton. Few biographers have had so interesting a theme, and none could have discharged their duty with greater faithfulness or delicacy. At the death of the Rev. William Bull in 1814, the Rev. Thomas Palmer Bull became the sole pastor of the church, and the sole tutor of the College; in both which capacities he had for some years previously been associated with his father. The writer became a student in the Newport Institution, January 1818. In this capacity it was his pri vilege to reside in the family of this excellent man for upwards of four years, and during this time to be favoured with his instructions and example. Though so long a period has now elapsed since the day when he commenced his College course, he still retains a most distinct remenbrance of all its circumstances,-his journey from London, by the old Northampton coach, as the only passenger; the severity of the weather, snow covering the whole country; and his first introduction to the College family, when assembled at dinner. Though the whole of that domestic circle have long been removed by death, it is a pleasing thought that one only of the students dishonoured his profession, which he did by adopting Socinian views. The writer had not been long in VOL. XLIII. F the Institution before he fully participated in the respect and affection which all the students cherished for the person and character of their tutor. Indeed, he still feels an influence emanating from his holy example and spirit. Mr. Bull was in person of middle stature; his manuers and bearing were those of a gentleman. In his general intercourse he was unobtrusive and somewhat reserved. When surrounded by his friends, he always took a deep interest and sometimes a prominent part in conversation, contributing much information from his stores of knowledge. He le was, in some respects, very unlike his excellent father; for he was not subject to depression of spirits. There was not the most remote approach to eccentricity of manners; nor did he smoke. As a Christian, he held the essential truths of the Gospel. These were at once the basis of his hope and the subject of his ministry. I do not recollect to have heard him refer to his personal religious experience; but his religious principles shone out remarkably in his life and character. In all his relationships,-whether of husband, father, or master,— he was eminently guided by the law of Christ. His disposition was singularly amiable, and his temper was remarkable for its placidity. I am not aware that, during the whole of my four years' daily intercourse with him, I ever saw him ruffled by irritability. There was not the slightest approach to gloom in his religion. He fully enjoyed the blessings of life by which he was surrounded, and appeared always in possession of a calm and quiet cheerfulness. He was a sincere lover of good men. Members of all denominations were welcomed to his home. Clergymen were sometimes amongst his guests. I still retain a distinct recollection of the celebrated Legh Richmond, and his exposition and prayers in the College family, during his friendly visits to my tutor. Mr. Bull took a lively interest in everything calculated to promote the welfare of society. Works of public utility, and the election of suitable representatives in Parliament, were objects of deep interest to him. But especially was his zeal apparent in promoting the prosperity of institutions for the advancement of the triumphs of the Gospel. He was a man of devout spirit, one indication of which was, that he kept up the practice of his excellent father, by spending a short time in prayer when he commenced his morning ride, or set out on a journey. As a pastor of the church at Newport Pagnell, it was our privilege, as students, to witness in him a constant illustration of the nature and importance of the ministerial work. I have reason to believe that he systematically attended to pastoral visitation, and I am assured that on such occasions he never destroyed the effects of his pulpit labours by his pastoral visits. Not that there was the slightest approach to priestly importance in such visits; but he appeared the same good man in his parlour conversation as he did in his pulpit addresses. The church at Newport Pagnell was remarkable for its uninterrupted peace, and also for its harmonious and active labours in all useful works, This, however, awakens no surprise in those who are acquainted with the wisdom, piety, and prudence of its pastor. As a preacher he was much engaged. His ordinary weekly services at Newport were three sermons on the Sabbath, with a lecture and prayer meeting during the week; besides which he took his turn with the students in preaching in the five surrounding villages. In addition to these engagements, he was not unfrequently called to take part in the ordination of his students, and in other public services. He formed the outline of his discourses with great facility, and they were remarkable for the manner in which they embodied the truths contained in the various texts on which he treated; and as he was a purely textual preacher, his ministry was distinguished by considerable variety. These outlines, with a few ideas or passages of Scripture under each head, lay in his Bible. The enlargement depended upon previous private thought, or the suggestions of the moment. Had he devoted more time to his pulpit preparations, there is no doubt but he would have taken a much higher place as a preacher than he did, from his remarkably sound judgment and large mental resources. Such varied engagements as we have now described, united with his collegiate duties, left, however, but little time for the preparation of his sermons. But though his discourses were not distinguished either by rhetorical gifts or a finished style, yet, when surrounded by his numerous congregations on the Sabbath-day, his brief expositions of the chapters read were valuable aids to biblical studies, and his pulpit addresses were often very effective. His morning discourses were often full of important thought. His afternoon sermons were more simple, and suited to the large congregations chiefly gathered from the surrounding villages. His evening addresses were usually founded on historical portions of the Old Testament. Occasionally his discourses rose to an impressiveness which rendered them very powerful, especially when, as was sometimes the case, they were delivered with great earnestness and accompanied with tears, as when he specially exhorted his hearers to be reconciled to God, or was engaged in unfolding the terrors or glories of a future world. There is one service of this description which has left a very vivid impression. While the writer was a student at Newport Pagnell, the Rev. Thomas Toller, of Kettering, died suddenly, on the Monday after preaching to his numerous congregation on the Sabbath-day. His son, Mr. Thomas Toller, was chosen as his successor, and my tutor was selected to deliver the charge on the occasion of his ordination. This service was remarkable for its solemnity. The spacious and venerable meeting-house was filled with a large congregation. The pulpit was covered with black. Mr. Bull selected as the subject of his charge, Mark xiii. 33: "Take ye heed, watch and pray." These various pastoral duties were explained, and affectionately urged upon the attention of the young minister, by the sudden removal of his distinguished parent from this world to his account. The discourse was so appropriate to these affecting circumstances, and delivered with so much solemnity and feeling, as to render it very impressive. He closed his observations on prayer as a ministerial duty, by quoting the words of Cowper with great power : "When one that holds communion with the skies, Has filled his urn where those pure waters rise, That tells us whence his treasures are supplied." The tears of the preacher, combined with the apostolic simplicity and earnestness of his address, united with the solemn excitement of the large assembly, presented a very unusual scene. After what I have said of Mr. Bull's labours as a pastor, it is a matter of surprise that he should be able to append to them the elaborate duties of a tutor, especially as he was the sole instructor in this school of the prophets, which usually numbered about eight students. It will, however, afford some idea of the laborious life of my beloved friend in this department alone, when I state that his instructions to the students extended to the Greek and Latin classics, the Hebrew Scriptures, and mathematics; that he delivered lectures on pastoral duties, Church history, theology, and natural philosophy, illustrated by experiments. In addition to these topics, he taught us shorthand, directed our reading, and corrected the plans of our sermons, &c. &c. Such an outline of his duties is easily recorded; but no one able to form a judgment can question the varied learning and great labour required to superintend the studies of a number of theological students on such a variety of important topics. Order and system, however, were the great secret of his successful prosecution of these labours. In all these efforts for our benefit, we felt that our tutor was influenced by the kindness of a sincere friend, who felt the deepest concern for our welfare. At this period Mr. Hackett, one of the students, was very suddenly removed by death. He assembled with the students for tea on the Saturday afternoon, previously to their departure to preach to various congregations on the following Sabbath. On arriving at Buckingham, where he was appointed to preach, Mr. Hackett retired to rest, and in the course of the night was attacked by internal inflammation, and died after a very short illness. His remains were brought back to Newport on the following Tuesday for interment. After they were committed to the burial-ground of the meeting-house, Mr. Bull improved the circumstance by a most appropriate discourse, founded on 1 Kings viii. 18, 19: |