Copy 1, Volume 1

Journal of the life, labours, and travels of Thomas Shillitoe, in the service of the gospel of Jesus Christ / [Thomas Shillitoe].

  • Shillitoe, Thomas, 1754-1836.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Journal of the life, labours, and travels of Thomas Shillitoe, in the service of the gospel of Jesus Christ / [Thomas Shillitoe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in practice or in opinion; and if in an honest zeal to be found not flinching in the discharge of his duty, he at times tried them, his love and affection were such as to prove the sincerity of his heart and the kindness of his intentions. He was often brought very low, partly arising from nervous feelings, and partly from the religious exercises of mind which he passed through: he wras also not unfrequently very cheerful. This was strikingly the case after the performance of any act of duty, to which he had believed himself called. In these acts of dedication, he was faithful and persevering, however humiliating the nature of the engagement. The greater the cross to his natural inclina¬ tion, the greater was his fear, lest self-love, or the desire of ease to the flesh, should cause him to shrink from what he believed to be the will of his God. An instructive illustration of this feature in his character is presented in some very trying service which he performed in Ireland. In the populous cities of Dublin and Cork, as well as in some other places in that nation, where vice and immorality abound, he went, in the years 1810 and 1811, accompanied by some of his friends, from house to house, without distinction, where ardent spirits were offered for sale, to warn those who kept such shops, and the persons assem¬ bled there, of the evil of their doings. The message which he conveyed was short and plain and simple; but being delivered in Christian love, it was received by many with attention and respect He was remarkable, through a long course of years, for his kindness to the poor and distressed, sympathizing with them m their troubles, pleading for a just remuneration for their labours, and liberal to them according to his means; prompt and un¬ wearied in soliciting the affluent for relief for such, especially exerting himself on behalf of those who had seen brighter days. In these labours of love, his disinterested applications seldom failed to be successful. He bore a faithful testimony against the love of the world, whether it showed itself in vanity in dress or in other extra¬ vagance, or in the eager pursuit of wealth ; calling his friends to the necessity of daily bearing the cross in all things, warning them against speculations in trade, and urging them to take heed, lest, by coveting riches, they should make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. With a view of being near his children, he left Tottenham in the year 1812, and Jived some years in Yorkshire, and a longer time in Hertfordshire. We have received the following com¬ munication from Hitchin monthly meeting, within the com¬ pass of which meeting he resided, when at home, upwards ol eleven years, [viz. from 1820.]