THE Evangelical Magazine, FOR FEBRUARY, 1802. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE REV. J. REECE, OF SHEFField. THE HE visitations of death are among the most frequent and affecting methods, whereby our attention is called from the fleeting engagements of this lower state to the contemplation of the eternal world, and its momentous concerns. The deaths of individuals claim regard, in proportion to the publicity and usefulness of those stations which they have been called to occupy; and having watched, with interest and pleasure, the progress of life, we wish to see all our favourable conclusions confirmed by the evidence of the closing scene. The truth of this remark is especially evident, in relation to those ministers of the Gospel, whose public ministry has attracted more than usual attention and approbation. Having conducted others to the gates of the celestial city, we rejoice, 'when called from their labours, that they themselves are favoured with an abundant entrance into the joy of their Lord. The Holy and Almighty Ruler of the earth has lately visited several of his churches with dispensations of a very affecting kind, by the removal of ministers in the midst of their days, labours, and apparent usefulness.-The death of the Rev. J. Reece, the subject of the present memoir, is an affecting evidence of this mysterious fact. He was born at Waverton, a village about four miles from the city of Chester, on the 22d of June, 1761. His parents were industrious and reputable farmers; and he spent the early period of life in the same occupation. Ever after, he retained his original plainness of manners; and his modes of thinking and preaching, were under the manifest influence of rural scenes and engagements. Most lives exhibit some striking interpositions of Providence in moments of extreme danger. In a written memorandum, he records two instances of this kind, with relation to himself:-When he was about two years old, his mother, two of his sisters, a brother, and himself, were attacked with a malignant disorder. The sisters both died, and he was pronounced to be dead by the attendVOL, X. G ants; ants; but, contrary to all expectation, he revived, and Providence brought him through the danger. At another time, playing on the verge of a pit, he fell headlong in ; his feet hanging on a board placed by the side for the convenience of lading water. A servant, through a window of the house, providentially saw him fall, and arrived just in time to rescue him from death. Thus was he preserved in the care of Jesus, that he might afterward be called, and proclaim to others the name of the adorable Deliverer from death temporal and eternal. In early life he sometimes attended the preaching and meetings of Mr. Westley's societies; but it was not till about the age of twenty-one that he was truly awakened to a clear and painful conviction of his perishing condition as a sinner, exposed to the sentence and curse of the violated law of God. Under a sermon preached by Mr. B, then of H-, Staffordshire, in the Independent chapel at Chester, the Spirit of God brought home the commandment, and set his crimes in order before him. The discovery of sin's demerit, and his own danger, was so alarming, that (as he informed a friend) he feared lest the chandelier, under which he sat, should fall upon his obnoxious head, and crush him to death and hell. He was, however, soon enabled to discern the provisions of sovereign grace, made known to perishing sinners, through the atonement of the Son of God. Here he found relief from the burden of guilt, and rejoiced in a reconciled God, as the God of his salvation. Having now given himself to the Lord Jesus, he afterwards joined in fellowship with the church, under the pastoral care of the late Mr. Armitage of Chester, that he might walk in all the ordinances of the Gospel, according to the will of God. He had not long enjoyed the blessings of the great salvation himself, before he felt the fire of compassionate. zeal for others, kindling warm within him. He saw, with emotion, the spiritual darkness and unconcern of his neighbours, who were perishing for lack of knowledge. On a public occasion (if the writer be not mistaken, after a funeral) he addressed a word of exhortation to them; which was attentively listened to, and well received. They desired him to speak the same words to them again; which request he readily complied with. He soon after procured a barn in the village, where he now resided (Christleton, in Cheshire) and ceased not to declare what God had done |