THE

WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1847.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. RICHARD DAVIES,

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY, JAMAICA:

BY THE REV. JAMES ATKINS.

RICHARD DAVIES was born in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, October 24th, 1812. His parents were members of an Independent church, and had long walked in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost. They were, therefore, piously concerned for their son, and watched over him with vigilant and tender assiduity. His earliest serious impressions were occasioned by a sermon in which the evil of sin, and the danger to which he was exposed, were brought vividly before him; and, fearing lest death should overtake him and bring him to perdition, he began earnestly to seek forgiveness. But being accustomed to mix with other children, these feelings gradually passed away. The fear of God, however, was still before his eyes; and this both checked his natural levity, and preserved him from many outward evils.

At the age of seventeen he attended a Wesleyan Missionary Meeting, during which he experienced again the powerful strivings of the Holy Spirit, and resolved that he would now earnestly seek after his soul's salvation. And he was encouraged to do this by the many observations which were made at the Meeting respecting the mercy of God in Christ, and the suitableness of the plan of salvation for fallen man in all ages and countries. Shortly after this, a watch-night was held in the same chapel, which he attended, and which strengthened both his convictions and resolutions. He soon felt the need of Christian fellowship; and being invited to join the Wesleyan society, he accepted the invitation, and began to meet in class. This was in 1831. He now, also, saw more correctly the way of salvation for a sinner; and, being directed, exhorted, and encouraged by those who had themselves experienced similar exercises, he sought, and at length found, a knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was made exceedingly happy by the Spirit's witness of the pardoning love of God; and felt that he, too, believing in Christ, and receiving the end of his faith, even the salvation of his soul, could rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

It was not long, however, before he found that he was called to a 4 c

VOL. III.-FOURTH SERIES.

state of warfare and trial. Sometimes he had to struggle with inward temptations; and through these, not being at first acquainted with their character and source, he was occasionally brought into heaviness. His situation, too, till he had learned how he might derive advantage from it, appeared to increase his difficulties. He had to mix with many who had not the fear of God before their eyes, and who ridiculed his religious feelings and professions. At one time his Bible was taken from him to prevent his reading it, and he was seriously advised to give up his Methodism; whilst at another the chief arguments against him were made up of sneers and laughter. But he looked to God, and found that His grace was sufficient for his preservation. Being thus faithful in resistance to evil, his trials assisted to establish him in good. During his stay in this situation, he became more decided in his religious principles and purposes. He was equally careful to watch over his own heart, as over outward circumstances; and, feeling the necessity of continual help from above, he "continued instant in prayer." Besides his morning and evening devotions, he had, every day, three stated times for secret prayer; and from these he derived great pleasure and profit.

In the Sabbath-school he first began to exercise his talent for public speaking, urging upon the children's attention the importance and necessity of early piety. Some of the Teachers were Local Preachers; who, believing that he possessed both gifts and graces for labours on a more extended scale, invited him to accompany them into the country villages where they were appointed to preach, and occasionally requested him to address the congregations. His first attempt to preach was made at Tenby, one Sabbath evening, when the appointed Preacher was unable, through sickness, to fulfil his engagement; and when, had not Mr. Davies supplied his place, there must have been a painful and injurious disappointment. He chose a suitable text, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock," &c. (Rev. iii. 20.) He had made no previous preparation, but felt greatly assisted and comforted. His mind afterwards, however, was much perplexed; but he fled to God in prayer, desiring that his way might be made plain before him.

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In January, 1832, he removed to Thornbury, where he had the happiness of residing with a pious family; but his stay was short; for falling sick in a few weeks, a change of place was deemed requisite by his medical adviser. He removed to Luton, in Bedfordshire, afterwards to Hastings, and finally settled at Tewkesbury. All this while he was employed as a Local Preacher, and was acceptable and useful in his labours. Having given to the Ministers stationed in the Circuit, and also to the congregations to which he occasionally preached, sufficient evidence that he possessed both gifts and graces for the work of the ministry, he was brought forward by the Superintendent at the March Quarterly Meeting of the Gloucester Circuit; and the proposition being approved of by its members, he was ultimately recommended to the Conference of 1837, by which he was accepted; and, after the usual examinations, was admitted a student at the Theological Insti

tution.

After pursuing his studies for twelve months, he was called to the active labours of the Mission field; and on the 24th of October, 1838, he was publicly set apart by the imposition of hands, in Great Queen

street chapel, London, to the office of a Christian Missionary. On the 30th he embarked at Gravesend, on board the "Houghton-le-Spring,' in company with the Revs. Messrs. Burrows, Whitehead, and Redfern; and, after a tedious voyage, during which he suffered much from sea-sickness, arrived safely in Jamaica, December 22d. After his arrival he spent a few weeks at Morant-Bay, where his services were both acceptable and profitable to the people. By the District-Meeting he was subsequently removed to Lime-Savannah, Clarendon; and from thence, in 1841, to Bath. On the 9th of September, 1842, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Newson, one of the daughters of the late Rev. Isaac Bradnack; in whom he secured a pious and wellqualified helper during the brief period of his labours. By the District-Meeting of 1843, he was appointed to the Port-Antonio Circuit, where a wide and barren field presented itself to him; and he entered upon the cultivation of it with his characteristic zeal. His congrega

tions were in general small and discouraging; yet he was in the habit of preaching with all the energy which he possessed, evidently rising above the influence of external circumstances, and looking only at the value of immortal souls. Deeply convinced of this, and only actuated by a due sense of it, he did not need the stimulus which may be supposed to be given by a crowded assembly.

On the 4th of July, 1844, Mrs. Davies was seized with a bilious fever; and on the 18th "passed through death triumphant home," leaving an infant only six weeks old. During her short illness she was perfectly resigned to the will of God, and often spoke of heaven with a rapture which showed how much her imprisoned spirit longed to take its flight. On one occasion she said, "I shall soon see my muchloved father, sister, and brother; but, above all, I shall see Jesus." She knew in whom she had believed, and left behind her a glorious testimony that she is now for ever with the Lord. Her infant was soon permitted to follow her; for on the 31st of August, after an illness of only two days, he also was called hence.

On Friday, September 26th, Mr. Davies went to visit his brother Missionary, the Rev. William Hodgson, at Morant-Bay, and to supply the pulpit for him on the Sabbath-day; but he became so indisposed, as to be able only to take the morning services. On returning to the Mission-house afterwards, he was attacked with fever and ague. On Monday morning the best medical aid was called in, and his case treated with the utmost promptitude and skill; but all was in vain. The disorder rapidly ran its course, and death soon ensued. During this short but severe affliction, he was patient and serene: his mind was evidently under the influence of the solemn prospect which now was opening before him. There was no rapturous emotion, his weakened frame could not have sustained it; but there was a calm and steady waiting for his Lord. He had expressed a wish that his sisterin-law, Mrs. Atkins, should remain by his bedside; and his replies to the questions proposed by her were most satisfactory. Once he said, “I should like to live a little longer, if such be the will of God; but I am perfectly resigned. Father, not my will, but thine be done!" And in reply to the question, if his mind were stayed on God, he said, "Yes: O how I love my Saviour! my precious Saviour! for he first loved me." Shortly afterwards he repeated, with much feeling,