THE

Evangelical Magazine,

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1802.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. THOMAS BLISS, A.B. VICAR OF ASHFORD AND YARNSCOMBE, DEVON.

WHILE the Alexanders and Cæsars of the age receive

their honours from shedding the blood of their fellow-creatures, the humble minister of Jesus, who dispenses spiritual and eternal blessings, often moves in a sphere exceedingly contracted; and, beyond that limited circle, his name is scarcely known.

These observations peculiarly apply to the subject of our present memoir. The parish of Ashford, to which Mr. Bliss devoted the greater part of his ministerial labours, is one of the smallest in the kingdom; and when laid aside by disease from his public work, and residing with his daughter in Biddeford, during the latter part of his life, pain and debility frequently confined him within the limits

of a chamber.

We lament that our materials, particularly relating to the former part of the life of this truly good man, are so scanty. Our readers, however, will please to accept the information which it is in our power to give.

The Rev. T. Bliss was born in the city of Oxford, in the year 1738, and descended from a respectable family of the same place. His father, we understand, held the conspicuous post of astronomical professor in its celebrated university*.

It may not be amiss to mention a circumstance, which proves, in addition to thousands of others, that the pivot on which the most important events in the lives of thousands turn, is frequently inAuenced by apparently accidental causes. Dr. Bliss, in one of his visits to Blenheim House, was asked by the Duke of Marlborough, if he knew a young man whom he could recommend as tutor to his son? The Professor paused for a moment, and, casting his eyes out of the window, noticed a young Oxonian, who was strolling in the park: "There (said he, pointing to him) is a young man I can recommend to your Grace." He was accordingly introduced into the family, and, by his conduct, so highly pleased the Duke, that he exerted all his influence in raising him from one situation to another, VOL. X.

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The son, of whom we are now to speak, experienced the benefit of an early conversion. In the same year of his age that the good king Josias sought after the God of David his father, was young Bliss enabled, by the power of divine grace, to seek after the "Pearl of great price." Previously to this, his life was distinguished by nothing but a rooted and pointed aversion to evangelical doctrines. "When I was about sixteen years of age (said he, in a late conversation with him) I heard Mr. Romaine preach a sermon in the city of Oxford, in which he advanced, with great earnestness, most of the principal gospel-doctrines. I was so extremely exasperated at this mode of preaching, that I could have found in my heart to have torn him to pieces. About ten days after (continued he) under a sermon delivered by Dr. Haweis, my views of divine things, my sensations, the objects of my love and hatred, were all totally changed; and I cordially embraced and relished those very doctrines which I before detested and abhorred."

He has also frequently spoken of the great benefit he derived at this time of his life, from reading the discourses of the excellent Mr. Walker, of Truro.

After leaving the university, we find him for some time in Yorkshire, assisting the apostolic Grimshaw. While he was labouring in these parts, the following very remarkable circumstance occurred, which we have often heard from his own lips, and shall relate without making any

comment:

A woman in his parish had, some years before, dreamed that she was one day walking in the fields with her son, and that they both fell into a very deep ditch, from which they found, after the most vigourous efforts, they were utterly unable to rise. In this distress they call for help; but called in vain, After remaining in this state for some time, a gentleman, dressed like a clergyman, came towards them, and lifted them out of the ditch.

On informing her friends of her dream, she assured them that his features were so stongly impressed on her mind, that, if she should ever see him, though the period was ever so distant, she should immediately recollect him. Some years after, Mr. Bliss preached in the parish in which this woman lived. The instant she entered the church, she recognized, in the stranger, the person of the kind de

till at last he had the satisfaction of seeing him occupy the palace of Lambeth, where he still fills the important post of Archbishop of Canterbury.

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