THE Baptist Magazine, SEPTEMBER, 1816. MEMOIR OF MR. JOSEPH BELCHER, PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT THE righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart," is a melancholy fact that every day's observation confirms: hence, in turning over the history of the church of Christ, when the name of a pious and often eminently useful man is introduced, the remark often follows, "We know nothing of him." Surely, these things ought not so to be, when biography is acknowledged on all hands to be one of the most useful species of writing; for, while it instructs the reader by unfolding the most powerful motive to action-example, it conveys instruction in so pleasing a form, that it gives the reader a sort of imperceptible, yet irresistible impulse, to imitate their good actions, and to avoid their bad ones. Who can read the lives of a Brainerd, a Whitfield, or a Pearce, without feeling a desire at least to go and do likewise? or, who can study the memoirs of a Voltaire, a Hume, or a Paine, but would wish to avoid their impious principles, and to escape their awful deaths? VOL. VIII. The memoir now presented to the reader, does not profess to speak of a prodigy in talents, or a phenomenon in attainments; but merely to sketch the life of one who was not blessed with any extraordinary share of the former, nor had he to boast of much of the latter. But he was endowed with no small share of zeal for the glory of God, and love for the immortal souls of men, 1970 Mr. Joseph Belcher was born at Birmingham about the year 1767. His father was a member of the Baptist church meeting in Cannon-street, in that town. Dying while his son was but young, Joseph was placed, at a suitable age, apprentice to the japanning business; which situation he filled with great credit to himself, and with complete satisfaction to his master. About this time, he became acquainted with Mr. Charles Meloney, who died at Wallingford, and whose memoir has already appeared in the Baptist Magazine, with whom he lived on terms of the closest S D intimacy till his death. At The church at Rushden, in what exact period Mr. Belcher Northamptonshire, was at this became acquainted with the plague of his own heart, and the importance of an interest in the Saviour, or what were the means by which such a change was effected, cannot now be exactly ascertained.. Favoured with a religious education, and always possessed of a serious turn of mind, it is very probable, that the 'still small voice' of the gospel, rather than the thunders of the law, was employed by the great Head of the church to bring this elect sinner into his fold. He was baptized, and received into Christian fellowship with the above church, by the Rev. Henry Taylor, their then pastor, on Lord's-day, December 16, 1787, being then about twenty years of age. In this union, Mr. Belcher was very happy, till about the latter end of the year 1791; when some unpleasant circumstances arose relative to giving him a call to the ministry, which at length ended in a separation from that society; which event took place on January 22, 1792.* He soon after joined the church meetin in Bond-street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. E. Edmonds; and, by this church, after a proper trial of his abilities, he was regularly encouraged to the important work of the ministry. time destitute, in consequence of the death of their valuable and highly esteemed pastor, Mr. Knowles; they, therefore, addressed a letter to Mr. Edmonds, requesting to know if he knew any young man, possessed of piety and of talents, who he thought would suit them. Mr. Belcher was recommended; and, accordingly, went and preached his first sermon among them, May 29, 1794, from 1 Cor. ii. 2, "For I determined to know, nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." By this church he was well approved, and from them he received an invitation to the pastoral office, which he at length accepted, and was ordained on August 4, 1795. The Rev. Mr. Edmonds of Birmingham, gave the charge on that occasion, founded on Matthew, xxviii. 19, 20. " Go ye, therefore," &c. and the Rev. Mr. Nicholls, of Kimbolton, preached to the people from Psalm cxxii. (A part of the service was obliged to be performed in the meeting yard, as the place was found by far too small to contain the assembly.) Such was the suc cess which attended the labours of Mr. Belcher, that the congregation increased beyond the extent of the meeting-house; which, by the advice, and with It may be proper here to state, that no charge was ever made against either Mr. Belcher's moral conduct or religious principles; but, on the sub ject of his qualification for the ministry, the church were not agreed. This communication was made to the writer by Mr. Cornfield, the respected senior deacon of the above church. the sanction of the neighbouring | walk to the meeting, he would -ministers, was taken down, and be carried there in a sedan -very considerably enlarged; the chair; and, when his friends. congregation, in the mean time, thought it imprudent for him to worshipping in a barn,fitted up preach, he could not rest satis for the purpose. fied till he ascended the pulpit. The new meeting-house, a One of the last times he did plain and substantial stone buil- this, he found his strength so ding, was opened October 4, far fail him, that he was unable 1796. Mr. Pain, then of to proceed; and after exclaimGamlingay, in Cambridgeshire, ing, "I take you to record this preached from 1 Cor. xv. 58. day that I am clear from the "Therefore, my beloved bre- blood of all men," he sunk down thren, be ye steadfast," &c. Mr. in the pulpit unable to proHall of Irthlingborough, from ceed. As he drew nearer the Psalm xxvii. 4. "One thing verge of life, he felt more and have I desired of the Lord," more of the importance of the &c. and Mr. Vorley, the pre-ministerial work, and often exsent pastor of the church, at Carlton in Bedfordshire, in the evening, from Exodus, xx. 24. This place of worship being soon overfilled, was again enlarged in 1812, by the addition of two side galleries. pressed a wish to preach once more; but this, by an all-wise providence, was denied him. His views of heaven, during the few last months of his mortal career, were greatly exalted. In one of his last sermons, which was at the funeral of one of the members of the church, from 1 Cor. ii. 9. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him;" it is said, that he delivered such an animated description of the glories of heaven, as clearly evinced to his hearers, that he was not far 1 Little, perhaps, did either Mr. Belcher, or his friends, think, that ere one year revolved, they should be called to part! a lively church of more than ninety members, seventeen of whom joined during Mr. Belcher's 's ministry, looking forward to brighter and more glorious days just placed in their new meeting-house-their pastor, a young man, in the prime of life, labouring with consider-distant from it. After his conable success-little did they imagine,that ere he reached his 30th birth-day, he would be called to give an account of his stewardship! It does not appear, that Mr. Belcher was long laid aside from his beloved work: indeed, such was the ardour of his soul, that when he was unable to finement to his room, his resignation to the will of God was exemplary: he wished to live only to be useful in his master's cause he wished only to die " to be with Christ, which is far better." On the 26th of September, 1797, he said to a friend, "What is this death? why it is but like walking out |