Sketches of the Life and Character of the Rev. Lemuel Haynes, A. M.: For Many Years Pastor of a Church in Rutland, Vt., and Late in Granville, New-York

by Timothy Mather Cooley

At least, it is believed that the friends and admirers of Mr. Haynes, who often listened to the impassioned eloquence of the living preacher, will welcome this attempt to rescue his name from oblivion.

Timothy laboured to do this in order to bring to remembrance the life and example of Lemuel Haynes

The extracts from the writings of Mr. Haynes will appear in their original dress, with scarcely a verbal alteration.

Basically all the quotes from Haynes himself are uncut and raw

that nothing is too hard for an unyielding perseverance.

I would say that the formation of such a character as that of Mr. Haynes furnishes a striking illustration of the wise and wonderful workings of Divine providence.

If there was bitterness in his cup, it was qualified by softening ingredients. If there was thick darkness hanging over the commencement of his path, a faint light soon shone in the darkness, and that light grew brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.

And this is only a specimen of God's dealings with his people.

He leads them by a path which they know not; and in the admirable combination of prosperity and calamity, of hopes fulfilled and hopes blasted, which compose their lot, he gives 'them sooner or later to see that his own kind hand has been ...

Let the Christian ponder this gracious arrangement of Providence, and rejoice in his darkest hours! Let. the church ponder it, and look fearle...

But here is an individual coming up from the humblest walks of life, with his heart beating in vigorous and holy pulsations to be useful to his fellow-men; his character is formed after a model of superior excellence; he borrows no importance from the pride and circumstance of life, but moves about continually, as did the Master whom he serves, on errands of benevolence; and wherever the sound of his footsteps is heard, it is welcomed as the harbinger of heaven-born charity.

If the man who writes your epitaph can only say of you that you bore the image of your Master, and served your generation well, though your home on earth had been a hovel, he confers infinitely higher honour upon your memory than if he were simply to record that you had worn a crown and occupied a throne.

In various periods of time there have been Africans whose intellectual powers and attainments would be an ornament, to any age or country. Among warriors few have held a higher rank than Han no and Hannibal. The poetic works of Terence were admired in the Augustan age, and have survived the devastations of two thousand years. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, whose memory is dear to all Christendom, and Augustine, bishop of Hippo, the successful defender of the church from Pelagic and his heresies, were sons of Africa.

I like this brother's style

unfeigned piety and sanctified genius.

Mater! tu non time bas semen; a dole, antique ripsaw, a maxi mo pud ore,

Lemuel's words part 1

"When I was five months old I was carried to Granville, Massachusetts, and bound out as a servant to Deacon David Rose till I was twenty-one. He was a man of singular piety.* I was taught the principles of religion. His wife, my mistress, had peculiar attachment to me: she treated me as though I was her own child. I remember it was a saying among the neighbours, that she loved Lemuel more than her own children."

Lemuel's words part 2

"One evening, as I was left at home alone, a dark cloud came over, and the air was filled with streams of lightning, and with terrible peals of thunder, and the house shook. At first I had fearful apprehension that the last great day was come, and that the world would be burnt up. My mind was filled with solemn awe of God's great power and majesty. I was afraid of being struck dead and sent to hell. I had a solemn conviction that I was unprepared, and that it would be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Lemuel's words part 3

"We thank thee that thy lightning's awful blaze has not consumed our dwelling, nor been commissioned to burn the thread of life as in a moment."

Lemuel's words part 4

I immediately sunk to the bottom, and should without doubt have been drowned, had not a friend, who was not far off, plunged into the water and conveyed me to the shore."

Lemuel's words part 5

"Those who observe providences shall have providences to observe."

Memorable quote from Hayes

"Did I not believe in the particular providence of God, I should not dare to step my foot out of doors."

Amen

If prayer and religion are needful in sickness and in death, they must be important in health and in life."

That's almost a foreign reaction to today's society

he possessed the facility in the acquisition of knowledge which is "the birthright of genius."

That's a quote!

As I had the advantage of attending a common school equal with the other children, I was early taught to read, to which I was greatly attached, and could vie with almost any of my age."

Lemuel's words

Watts's Psalms and Hymns.

The use of hymns is prevalent in many of my favourite preachers, Conrad, Charles, Alistair Begg and now Haynes

"I Make It My Rule To KNOW SOMETHING MORE EVERY NIGHT THAN I KNEW In The Morning."

A saying to live by

I was constantly inquiring after books, especially in theology.

Kindred spirit!

principles of a poisonous infidelity.

Never have I heard scepticism in this light

Having invented a suitable reproof, and wrought it into two or three poetic couplets, he put it into the book and returned it to the owner. The doctor was exceedingly mortified at having subjected himself to so just a reproof from a poor servant-boy, and never again attempted to obtrude infidel principles upon him.

Lemuel Haynes wrote BARS that put a learned man in check!

Sermon. John iii., 3 :—" Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot sec the kingdom of God." This chapter contains a conference between our blessed Lord and Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This great man came to our Saviour by night, and addressed him in this manner: "Rabbi," says he, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles that thou doest except God be with him." Doubtless he had a rational conviction, from the many miracles that Christ did, that he was come from God. Our blessed Lord did not stand to show who he was, but, like a wise and kind teacher, takes occasion to inculcate the importance of the great doctrine of regeneration; and tells him, with a double asseveration, that, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. But, as great as this man was, we find that he was ignorant in a fundamental point in religion. It appeared a paradox unto him; for he, supposing our Lord must mean a natural birth, asks him, as in vet. 4, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Christ, in order further to explain his meaning, and to show that it was • * Stephen B. Mi inn, Esq., New-York. not a natural birth that he had reference to, adds, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." By which, perhaps, we may understand, that...

Great observation

Sermon. John iii., 3 :—" Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot sec the kingdom of God." This chapter contains a conference between our blessed Lord and Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This great man came to our Saviour by night, and addressed him in this manner: "Rabbi," says he, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles that thou doest except God be with him." Doubtless he had a rational conviction, from the many miracles that Christ did, that he was come from God. Our blessed Lord did not stand to show who he was, but, like a wise and kind teacher, takes occasion to inculcate the importance of the great doctrine of regeneration; and tells him, with a double asseveration, that, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. But, as great as this man was, we find that he was ignorant in a fundamental point in religion. It appeared a paradox unto him; for he, supposing our Lord must mean a natural birth, asks him, as in vet. 4, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Christ, in order further to explain his meaning, and to show that it was • * Stephen B. Mi inn, Esq., New-York. not a natural birth that he had reference to, adds, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." By which, perhaps, we may understand, that...

Lemuel's first sermon

Lemuel's first sermon

"Mr. Haynes, you have been talking, it seems by your style, to the inhabitants of the upper world; what if you should come down to folks on the earth, so that we can understand you?"

That's hilarious

We infer that ministers should not be proud of their preaching. If they preach the true gospel, they only in substance repeat Christ's sermons.

The holy ambition in preaching is to be faithful not original

If preachers were to determine the merit and worth of their own discourses, perhaps we should have but few bad sermons.

I can see no injury done to the cause of God in giving the devil his due, or in calling him a universal preacher, if he was one. Or how any person's "feelings" need be "wounded," unless they approve the doctrine, or can make it appear that he has repented and given up the sentiments.

Facts don't care about your feelings

"O, may God forgive you this folly, and lay not this sin to your charge?"

I hope never to court genteel treatment at the expense of Divine truth.

Amen

It is said that some time after the publication of his sermon on the text, "Thou shall not surely die," two reckless young men having agreed together to try his wit, one of them said—" Father Haynes, have you heard the good news ?"—" No," said Mr. Haynes, "what is it?"—''It is great news, indeed," said the other, "and, if true, your business is done."—" What is it?" again inquired Mr. Haynes. "Why," said the first, "the devil is dead." In a moment the old gentleman replied, lifting up both his hands and placing them on the heads of the young men, and in a tone of solemn concern, "Oh, poor fatherless children! what will become of you?"

This is funny!

addresses? Keeping death at too great a distance tends to make us cold and indifferent about the things of religion.

Facts

A little boy of twelve years old joined the church a few days ago; being asked what was the means of his being awakened, he said, that "he thought one night that he had been given up to God in baptism, and he thought it to be his duty to give himself up to God," He is a remarkable instance of piety. I wished that our Baptist brethren had heard the relation.

His sermon was rich in Scriptural thought, perfumed with holy unction, and abounded with striking illustrations.

the Christian ministry is in danger of losing something of its energy and sanctity by embarking on the stormy element of political debate."

In principle he was a disciple of Washington. The

A reason of Paul's being so useful to the church of God was on account of his being a vessel chosen and formed in the furnace of affliction.

Afflicitioons on the minister will aid him in the ministry as we are more than conqueror

'Tia often the case, that the darkest dispensations of Divine providence are presages of the rising morning. This should teach us always to trust in the Lord, and consider that although clouds and darkness are round about him, yet justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

This is helpfully

Several guns were discharged for joy;

As it should, this is hilarious

The character and work of the ever-blessed Redeemer are designated in terms calculated to meet the exigences of fallen creatures. Are men said to be blind? Jesus is exhibited as the light of the world; as one who has eye salve and can open the eyes. Are men said to be poor? Christ is compared to gold, who can make them rich. Are they naked? he has white raiment to clothe them, that the shame of their nakedness need not appear. Are men starving? Jesus is the bread of life. Are we in bondage or in prison 1 Christ is anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. Isa. I xi., 1: "He says to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves!"

Quoted in Jason Meyer's lecture

Sinners in spiritual bondage cannot deliver themselves, being bound with the cords of their sins,

Total inability

your deportment, that he may run that readeth—The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

It is worthy of special notice, that wherever Mr. Haynes laboured for a considerable time, the reviving and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, to a greater or less extent, seemed to accompany and bless his ministrations.

Note

While administering to hundreds and thousands under the bereaving strokes of the Almighty, his own family were mercifully spared till the youngest of ten children had reached the age of adult years. There was, however, a cup of affliction mingled, which he must ere long drink. His second daughter had been afflicted with severe and wasting disease, which neither care nor medicine could relieve. For months all hopes, of her recovery had been relinquished, and she was perceptibly drawing near the close of life. • But great mercy was mingled with the affliction. By her marked resignation and patience, she was giving evidence of being one of God's adopted children. One morning in particular, having called her father into her chamber, she spoke of wonderful joy and light which had broken in upon her mind, The Saviour appeared exceedingly precious and altogether lovely. It was a memorable season, and filled the heart of her revered father with great consolation. On the day preceding her death, Mr. Haynes went out to attend a funeral, and requested prayers in her behalf. She was now sinking rapidly. During his absence she became speechless, and seemed to be dying. On his return, as he approached her bed, she knew him, and revived. He then informed her that prayers had been offered for her at the meeting, at which she seemed well pleased. He discoursed long and faithfully with her, imparting consolation, praying her to put her whole trust in the merits of the Saviour, and receiving...

Lemuel's relationship with his daughter