Henry Burrage on Fawcett

Henry Burrage in “Baptist Hymn Writers And Their Hymns”

The date of Dr. Fawcett’s birth, as given above, is old style, but according to our present reckoning, he was born January 17, 1740. Rev. W. R. Stevenson, of Nottingliam, who lias given much attention to Baptist hymnology, writes: “This I learn from a valuable book sent me by Dr. Fawcett’s grandson, - a life of Fawcett by his son who assisted him in his school. I found it necessary to allow for the change of style, in order to understand statements made in the book concerning Dr. Fawcett’s age at certain periods. In the book itself, the date is given thus 1739—1740 (0. S.)’ The elate usually given, in sketches of Dr. Fawcett’s life, is January 6, 1739.”

Dr. Fawcett’s birth-place was Lidget Green, near Bradford, Yorkshire. His father died when he was eleven years of age, leaving a widow and several children in humble circumstances. When John was thirteen years old, he was apprenticed to a trader in Bradford, with whom he remained six years. During his apprenticeship, when sixteen years old, he was converted under the preaching of a sermon by George Whitefield, from the text, John 3:14: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Referring to this sermon afterward, he wrote, “As long as life remains I shall remember both the text and the sermon.” For awhile after his conversion, he attended the services of the church of England, but early in 1758, he united with the Baptist church in Bradford, which had just been organized.

He at once made himself useful in church work, and soon the question came before him concerning his duty to preach the gospel. No unworthy motives should influence his decision. He wrote in his diary: “O Lord, I know not what to do, but my eyes are upon thee. If in thy wise counsel thou hast fixed upon me to bear thy name to Gentile sinners, I earnestly implore that thou wouldst give me a right spirit, and bestow upon me every needful qualification for that most difficult and important work. If thou dost not call me to do it, Father, not my will, but thine be done.” The decision was at length made, and in 1763, at the request of his pastor, he began to preach. In the following year, February, 1764, he became pas- tor of the small Baptist church at Wainsgate, near Halifax, West Riding, of Yorkshire, where he was ordained July 31, 1765.

During his residence at Bradford, Dr. Fawcett had written quite a number of short poems. These he published in 1767, under the title “Poetic Essays.” In 1772, he went to London to preach for Dr. Gill, the eminent expositor, then drawing near to the end of his life; and useful life. After Dr. Gill’s decease he was invited to become the expositor’s successor. It seemed to him his duty to accept. Says Dr. Belcher “He preached his farewell sermon to his church in Yorkshire, and loaded six or seven wagons with his furniture, books, etc., to be carried to his new residence. All this time the members of his poor church were almost broken-hearted; fervently did they pray that even now he might not leave them; and, as the time for his departure arrived, men, women, and children, clung around him and his family in perfect agony of soul. The last wagon was being loaded, when the good man and his wife sat down on the packing cases to weep. Looking into his tearful face, while tears like rain fell down her own cheeks, his devoted wife said, “Oh John, John, I cannot bear this! I know not how to go!” “Nor I, either,” said the good man: “Nor will we go; unload the wagons, and put everything in the place where it was before.” The people cried for joy. A letter was sent to London to tell them that his coming to them was impossible; and the good man buckled on his armor for renewed labors, on a salary of less than two hundred dollars a year.”

It was to commemorate this incident in his life that Fawcett wrote his well known hymn:

“Blest be the tie that binds,

Our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds,

Is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne,

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

Our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows,

The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain,

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives,

Our courage by the way,

While each in expectation lives,

And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,

And sin, we shall be free,

And perfect love and friendship reign,

Through all eternity.”

These lines have become dear to Christian hearts wherever the English language is spoken.

In 1772, Fawcett published “The Christian’s Humble Plea for his God and Savior; in answer to several Pamphlets lately published by the Rev. Dr. Priestly.” In 1774 appeared “The Sick Man’s Employ.” In 1777 a new chapel, which would seat six hundred people, was built for him at Hebden Bridge, near Wainsgate. His residence was at Brearley Hall, in the village of Midgley, in the same neighborhood, where he opened a boarding-school, subsequently removed to Ewood Hall, which he continued through life as an aid in the support of his growing family. In 1778 he published his “Advice to Youth, on the Advantages of Early Piety,” which passed through several editions. His hymn book appeared in 1782. It was entitled “Hymns adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion.” It contained one hundred and sixty-six hymns. Many of them were written to be sung after the sermon to which they had reference, and were composed in the midnight hours preceding the Sabbath. An”Essay on Anger” appeared in 1788. “The Cause of Christ; the Christian’s Glory,” and “Considerations in favor of the newly organized Missionary Society,” followed in 1793, the “Life of the Rev. Oliver Heywood” in 1796, and “Christ Precious to those that Believe” in 1799.

Dr. Fawcett was also the author of “The History of John Wise,” a book for children. It is an evidence of Dr. Fawcett’s high reputation as a scholar and an educator that in 1793, after the death of Dr. Caleb Evans, he was invited to succeed the latter as President of the Baptist Academy at Bristol, an honor which he declined. In 1811, he published, as the fruit of his ripe biblical knowledge, his “Devotional Family Bible.” His life was one of suffering as well as of toil, and his sufferings grew heavier rather than lighter in the closing years of his life. A paralytic stroke, in February, 1816, was the occasion of his relinquishment of pastoral work, and he died July 25, 1817, having as the end drew near devoutly ex- claimed, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!”

Dr. Belcher gives the following account of Dr. Fawcett’s last public service: “Let us take our last look at this excellent minister of Jesus Christ. He has ascended the pulpit at an association in Yorkshire. A thousand eyes are fixed on him in love and admiration, and all present express their conviction by words and smiles, that a spiritual feast has been provided for them. As a good soldier of Christ, he has endured hardness for more than half a century. His praise has been in all the churches, his ministry has been greatly prized through the whole of that populous district, and his usefulness has been honored at home and abroad, in the college and in the place itself. He has now come to bear his dying testimony to the doc- trine of the cross, and to bid farewell to the ministers and friends with whom he has been so long associated. Many of them have a strong presentiment that they shall see his face no more, and are prepared to receive his message as from the lips of a man who has finished his course, and now stands at the entrance of heaven. As he rises in the pulpit, a deathlike silence overspreads the crowded congregation, and all ears are opened to catch the words of inspiration. With a tremulous voice, and with deep emotions, he reads the text; ‘This day I am going the way of all the earth,’ Josh 23:14, and long before he finished his discourse the place became a Bochim—the house of God—the gate of heaven. The sermon, which was committed to the press by the agency of its hearers, yet exists as a monument to his love of truth, his holy affection, and his zeal for the extension of the doctrines of sovereign mercy.”

The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon Mr. Fawcett by Brown University, in 1811.