Good Old Renalder Bows, and his Gospel Cottage.

A NARRATIVE BY MR. GEORGE KELLAWAY, MINISTER OF THE
GOSPEL, YEOVIL.

"Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Rev. xiv. 13.

"Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." John vi. 12.

[We have carefully read the following memoir, and hope it may be read by many thousands, with solemnity of mind and gratitude to God.-ED.]

DEAR BROTHER BANKS,-After a long silence I take my pen to address you. My chief object in writing is to give you some account of the life and death of Renalder Bows, of East Coker, near Yeovil. This aged saint died Sunday, March 22nd, in the eightieth year of his age, having lived in the fear of God fifty years. His end was peace. I will give you, first, a short account of his life; secondly, of his death; thirdly, some general and particular features of his character. I have attempted to write to you on this account several times before, but when I have approached the subject of his death, my heart was filled with such strong emotions, that my eyes were filled with tears, and I was obliged to desist. Being now pushed forward by those portions of the Word which you see cited at the head of this narrative, I hope that something I may have to say respecting this somewhat singular and happy Christian may prove useful to some of the wide-spread family of the living God. My departed friend in early life was, what we would call, a gay, merry-hearted fellow, not addicted to crime or violence; nevertheless, he was the subject of natural convictions. The law of God disturbed his conscience, and, as he told me, induced him to have recourse to religious reformation, in order to meet the requirements of the law, and to make himself a fit subject to receive the grace of God. In a word, he strove hard to do something for himself. At this time, both his wife and himself were choral singers in the Parish Church at East Coker, where they continued unti labout the twenty-ninth year of his age, when God, in the riches of his grace, directed his steps to the old tabernacle at Yeovil. At that time, a Mr. Davis was preaching there with much acceptance and usefulness; and once addressing his audience in a quaint style, said he had brought something there that day for the hucksters. So my worthy friend found himself one of these hucksters that had been doing business for himself; he saw he was deep in debt, and had nothing wherewith to meet it, and was in danger of perpetual imprisonment; here the law put in a demand with "Pay me what thou owest." He did not know how to agree with his adversary quickly whilst he was in the way. It was here God sent his word into his soul with light and power, and thundered with the voice of his excellency; it was here the Lord bored his ear and his heart, and prepared him for hearing and receiving the glorious gospel of the blessed

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God. This work of conviction left him without hope, and dashed his feelings to pieces, like a potter's vessel; but it was soon followed by a joyful conversion; that beautiful portion, the 89th Psalm (15 and 16th verses), "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted." Thus did the Lord deliver a lawful captive, and made him glad with his salvation; filled his soul with light, life, love, and liberty. He was much indulged with the honey, milk, and Gospel wine, in the days of his espousals. About this time his wife was called, and they both became members of the church at the Tabernacle, Yeovil, where they have continued consistent members. When they were thus brought to walk together in the new life, they opened a prayer meeting in their house, and it has been kept up for forty years. Thirty years ago Mr. Bidder got the house licensed for preaching; here he preached week nights for about five years, when he left Yeovil, and wished me to succeed him; and I have gone to that place more or less twenty-five years. I call it my village station. Various ministers have preached the gospel in that memorable old cottage, such as John Lareby, John Webster, George Godding, Isaac Comfort, W. Jay, and others. My dear old friend read out the hymns, pitched tunes, read and expounded the word, or read a sermon, and sometimes a choice piece from THE EARTHEN VESSEL, written by our much-esteemed brother Wells. Our departed aged brother was rich in faith, and a father in Israel. We lived in the closest union and fellowship together for twenty-five years; the unity of the Spirit was kept in the bond of peace; it was not cut off or burnt out; nor chilled into a consumption. He was one of the best wearing men I ever met with. Some years after he was called, he was led to see the ordinance of believer's baptism, and was, with his father, baptised by Mr. Comfort. This dear old saint was enabled to hold the truth in a pure conscience. It may be truly said of him, he has run a good race; has fought a good fight; kept the faith, and, doubtless, ere now, has received a crown of righteousness that fadeth not away. He and his wife lived together over fifty years, without having had any children. Many of the Lord's poor children have been welcomed to their table to partake of their humble fare for more than forty years. He seemed to enjoy a measure of Gospel light and liberty above many. His feet stood in an even place in the covenant, love, work, blood, and righteousness of Christ. His faith stood firm, and rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. Our departed brother looked like one of those that came in at the south gate, and felt assured that he would go out at the north gate. That a great change would take place toward the close of his mortal life, I had told him; and so it came to pass. He continued his daily labour until seventy-five years of age. His wife was a weaver; they both outlived their strength, were obliged to give up, and live upon the old age parish pay, which, together with the help of friends, they have never wanted for the common necessaries of life. Mrs. L. (a godly lady) supplied them with clothing and money, and cordials for years, and since his decease she has been very kind to the widow, and has ordered a headstone to be set up by his grave; she says not to exalt the man, but out of respect for that which he carried with him. Another godly lady, Mrs, S- has made me a special messenger to carry them both money

and cordials in the hour of need; and B- Esq.-though a Churchman and a magistrate-did not disdain to visit this singular old pilgrim in his humble cottage in the time of affliction. I may add, that from his youth he was troubled with a constitutional cough, which finally pulled down his tabernacle. He had other afflictions at different periods of his life, all of which he bore with remarkable patience and Christian fortitude until about two years ago, when a great change took place in his body and experience; the cough became, more violent, which so shook the old tabernacle that it tottered and tumbled with its infirmities. God hid his face; darkness of soul came on; Satan set in upon him with great fury, and his fiery darts fell thick and fast upon him ; his soul was shaken to the very centre; the fountains of iniquity in the fallen nature were opened up; his evidences of Divine life were beclouded; the fears of death compassed him, and the distant approach of death often made him shake. He looked amazed, and complained to me of his state, and of what he saw and felt of the body of sin and death, such as he had never felt before. I have seen him hang down his head on the table and bury his face in his hands, with the darkness and dreariness of a wintry night. He was filled with doubts and fears of his state; this great change made him very irritable and passionate at times, and he appeared to have great conflicts with Satan. When obliged to keep his bed, sometimes he did beat his hand on the bed as though he was contending sharply with an enemy. This trying experience continued with him until within a few weeks of his departure. I visited him and prayed with him, and for him, which he seemed to enjoy, and expressed great satisfaction. When the great darkness and fear had passed away from his soul, he felt a sweet calm; his spirit resigned to the will of God, waiting to be called up higher; and when friends called to see him his heart and mouth was full of Christ the Saviour's great love, and great person, and great work, and great salvation; his perfect righteousness, and glorious redemption; these were the choice themes of his heart. I saw him a few days before he died, and perceived that the Sun of Righteousness had arisen upon him, and that his end was near. While the Gospel glory beamed through his languid eyes I knelt down and prayed earnestly for him, which he seemed to feel and enjoy. He said the truths he had heard me preach for years past had been gathered up and laid upon his mind with such power and unction as he had never felt before. Sunday morning, March 22nd, about three o'clock, he felt the dissolution pressing him sore, and said, "This is my last Sabbath here. My dear heavenly Father, take me home to thy eternal Sabbath." After this he lay very quiet till about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, when he gently fell asleep, with a little band of the Lord's people standing round his bed. I attended the funeral, and spoke over the remains, and, in accordance with his own arrangement, took his conversion text for his funeral sermon. Now, with regard to the features of his character, I will notice first, simplicity in his manner of living. He always preferred the plainest food, and modest apparel; the glittering fashions of the world had no charms for him. In his godly experience we find a simple and entire reliance upon the love, grace, and mercy of God in Christ; an habitual dependence upon the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ for life and eternal salvation. Secondly, I will notice godly fear; this well-spring of life was never dried up in

him; it was a governing principle in his soul, and he feared the Lord above many. He would kneel down on the hearth and pray earnestly to be kept from presumptuous sins, and was grieved at heart to hear of the saints falling into sin. Thirdly, constancy. He was a stedfast believer in every truth of the Gospel, and adhered closely to the electing love of God the Father; the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ; and the regenerating grace and power of God the Holy Ghost. Fourth, prayer. He was often engaged in this solemn and godly exercise, especially in his latter days. Fifthly, honesty. It may truly be said of him that he owed no man anything. Sixthly, liberality. He would divide his last crust or give away a sixpence when we would think he wanted for himself. He always expressed a tender regard for the temporal and eternal welfare of the minister of truth, and for the peace and prosperity of the whole Church of God.

"At Ebening Time it shall be Light.”

Zec. xiv. 7.

MY DEAR BROTHER,―Thinking that your readers would like to see an account of the departure of my dear wife from this vale of tears to that "rest which remaineth for the people of God," I take this opportunity of sending you a short outline of Lord's gracious dealings with her. She has been (as you know), a great sufferer for many years in body and mind.

About twenty years ago it pleased the dear Lord to call her by his grace, to convince her of her state as a sinner, caused her to cry for mercy, and in his own good time brought her to love salvation by grace. At first the work was gentle; she often said, "I fear I am not right."

""Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no,

Am I His, or am I not ?"

The sermons you preached at Darling Place Cambridge-road, were made a great blessing to her soul. The work was deepened, she became established in the truth, and was a constant attendant onthe means of grace.

Eighteen years ago last Easter Sunday, she was baptised, and joined a strict Baptist Church under the pastoral care of Mr. W. Chamberlain. At Grosvenor-street, Commercial-road, a sermon preached by him from Isaiah xl. 11, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm," was made a blessing to her; she often spoke of it, also another from Zech. xiii. 12, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness." But yet not able to realise her interest in Christ, she had a dread of death, always nervous and very delicate, not knowing what it was to be free from pain twenty-four hours at a time for the last twelve years. Having a large family, I often regarded her as an over-anxious mother, still believed "At evening