REV? WILLIAM BUTTON, Late Pastor of the Baptist Church. Engraved for the Baptist Magazine. THE Baptist Magazine. JANUARY, 1822. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV.WILLIAM BUTTON. THE REV. WILLIAM BUTTON was born at Peasmarsh, near Rye, Sussex, March 5, 1754. His grandfather, the Rev. John Button, was a Presbyterian, minister at Rye, and also a farmer; but towards the close of his life we believe he became a Baptist. His father was a respectable farmer and grazier. His mother was the daughter of Mr. Viney, a gentleman of considerable fortune at Tenterden in Kent. She was an accomplished and truly pious woman. Her funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Gill from Psalm xlii. 11, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, &c. It was afterwards printed under the title of "THE DEJECTED BELIEVER'S SOLILOQUY." Soon after the birth of the subject of this memoir, his father removed to Portsmouth; and subsequently, in the year 1761, he came to London, and engaged in partnership with a Mr. Kemp, an upholsterer in Cornhill. When about five years of age Mr. Button was seized with the small pox, and such was the malignancy of the disease that his life was despaired of; but, contrary to the expectations of his parents and the physician, he VOL. XIV, In 1762 he was placed under the tuition of the Rev. John Ryland at Northampton. There he received his first serious impressions under a funeral sermon preached by a Mr. Greg, an Independent minister, upon the occasion of the death of one of his. schoolfellows. The text was Matt. xix. 14, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. It was remarkable, that one of his fellow-pupils was awakened under the same sermon. A close intimacy between this youth and Mr. Button was the natural consequence; and daily after their school instructions were concluded, they retired together to their chamber to read, converse, and pray. On Sept. 11, 1767, master (now Dr.) John Ryland, and Mr. Button, related their experience before the church under the pastoral care of master Ryland's father. On the following Lord'sday they were baptized together in a river about a quarter of a mile from the school, and on the B same day partook of the Lord's supper In allusion to these events Mr. Button thus writes,t-" And with pleasure, yea, with exceeding gladness of heart, I continued with my brethren in fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers, and went on my way rejoicing in the Lord. But at length two heavy trials came upon me, which turned my joy into mourning. of Unicorn-yard, Southwark, he requested to join that church, and was cordially received into it Sept. 24, 1772. His union with it greatly revived and animated him, and with joy he pursued his christian course. At their conference meetings Mr. Button was frequently called upon to deliver his thoughts upon passages of scripture, and his exercises upon these occasions were so acceptable, that after a little time Mr. Clarke intimated to the church that he considered him as possessing ministerial gifts. In this opinion the church unanimously concurring, he was invited to address them in the vestry on Monday evening, Jan. 18, 1773. In his diary, under this date, he thus expresses himself. "First, tidings were brought of the death of my dear, invaluable, and affectionate mother, whose life and death were to the glory of God. It is impossible to relate what I felt under this loss. "The second trial was this. I received intelligence of an awful and destructive fire that had consumed my father's house and property, by which he lost many hundreds of pounds, being unhappily under-insured. These two events brought me into a state of melancholy, which con--had a thousand fears, but tinued a considerable time." In 1769 he was apprenticed to his father, who being engaged in a very extensive trade to the East and West Indies, Mr. Button was frequently under the necessity of working all night to expedite the orders. On many of these occasions he was seized with profuse bleedings at the nose from the effect of the quicksilver used in silvering looking-glasses. These fatiguing exertions both greatly impaired his health, and depressed his spirits. So great, indeed, was the dejection of mind under which he laboured at this period, that for four years he abstained from church fellowship and the Lord's-supper. At length, after sitting some time under, and deriving profit from, the ministry of Mr. Clarke * Mr. Button was then but thirteen years and a half old. + In a memoir of himself. "This evening was fixed for my first speaking on a Monday evening - went forth trembling trust I was enabled to throw myself on the Lord, and he helpeď me far beyond my expectation. The passage I spake from was 2 Sam. vii. 18, 19, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, &c." After some months, during which he diligently pursued his preparatory studies under Mr. Clarke, he was sent forth by the church to the public ministry, and preached his first sermon at Unicorn-yard, July 25,1773, being then about nineteen years of age. The following extract from his diary gives an account of this, to him, interesting day. "This morning rose a little after four prayed to the Lord for his assistance in meditation, and received hope and comfort in prayer. Went at six to the spake from Psalm Ixviii. 10: he society, where brother Vspake excellently well, but it was my mind, that it was very excusable." After mentioning his having in the evening called upon a member of the church, when two of the family told him that they did not know how to thank God enough for the delightful season which they had enjoyed, he adds, not much to me, my mind being so much taken up in thought. Returned home, and prayed again, I trust earnestly, for assistance. Went to meeting, and O how did I tremble in going up the pulpit stairs! my heart indeed failed me. When I rose to pray I was at first confused, but at length enjoyed some liberty," This surely is encouragement some consolation, in my own soul. for me to go on. O how amazWhen they had sung I got up, ing it is that such a poor unworand after some little introduction thy creature as I am should be named my text, which was Ps. made useful to any one! But I cxxi. 1; I will lift up mine eyes perceive there is nothing too hard unto the hills, from whence cometh for the Lord. O that I may almy help. At first the sight of ways go forth depending on him, such a number of people struck and relying upon his strength:! a great damp into my spirits; yet This day I have received some afterwards I should not have cared hope that I am called to the if there had been ten thousand | work. O that I may be ever more. I was indeed alive: I kept humble under a sense of his trust the Lord was with me of a goodness to me, and be contitruth, and enabled me to speak nually at his footstool!" boldly without the fear of man. Concluded in prayer; but no sooner had seated myself, than I recollected that I had forgotten to pray for Mr. Clarke. This greatly distressed me. It then occurred to me how grieved I was last night that Mr. D- and Mr. B had not remembered me in their prayers. This was a reproof to me; for as I knew it was not from want of love that I forgat Mr. Clarke, I concluded that it was not from want of love that they forgat me. However, it still distressed me, as I thought every body would take notice of it, as indeed some did. When I came down Mrs. C spake to me, and said she had had a joyful opportunity; if ever she knew what it was to have the word come with power, it was this day. On my telling her I was confused in prayer, she said she did not perceive it in any thing but my forgetting Mr. Clarke; but added, which greatly relieved Thus early, and unexpectedly, called to the ministry, he found his heart greatly encouraged by the notice taken of him by the London ministers, particularly Dr. Stennett, Mr. Wallin, Mr. Macgowan, and his worthy friend and pastor Mr. Clarke. These all invited him into their pulpits, took him kindly by the hand, and bad him God speed. Through the recommendation of Mr. Wallin he received au invitation to supply for one Sabbath the church at Tile-housestreet,* Hitchin, Hertfordshire, * The precise time of the formation of this church cannot now be accu rately ascertained. That it existed as early as 1669 appears from a letter in their church-book from the renowned Dr. John Owen and Mr. George Griffiths, dated the 18th of the third month, 1669, addressed to the church as then existing. To the high honour of this truly that during the long period of 144 years, christian community be it recorded, they have had but four pastors,—all of whom have died with them. did. Three days previous to his setting off for Hitchin to fulfil his three months engagement there, he received the following letter. deprived by death of their late | and Mr. Wallin, they advised valuable and much-esteemed pas-him by all means to accept the tor, Mr. Samuel James. This invitation, which he accordingly invitation he accepted, and went down thither Oct. 2, 1778. On the following Lord's-day he preached there three times, to the great satisfaction of the church and congregation. On the Monday he visited one of the deacons; which is thus noticed in his diary. "Went to see Mr. Foster, one of the deacons, and a comfortable opportunity and afternoon I had. He is an excellent christian: he cannot talk about experience without tears in his eyes. He heartily thanked me for my discoursés. O what encouragement to have old grey-having had opportunity of hearheaded fathers in the church ex-ing you in public, and judging press satisfaction with my ministry! Who am I that I should be thus honoured?" The next day he was waited upon by a deputation from the church, to invite him for three months. He told them that he would consult his London friends, and send them an early decision. Upon his return to London, and consulting with Mr. Clarke Mr. John Wilson, their first pastor, was sent from the church of the celebrated Mr. John Bunyan, as appears from a letter of dismission signed by that extraordinary man, in the churchbook at Tile-house-street: it is dated, 1st month (the day not mentioned) 1677 and on the 28th day of the fourth month of the same year Mr. Wilson was ordained pastor, and continued so upwards of 40 years. He was suc.ceeded by Mr. John Needham, who we find, from the printed funeral sermon for him by Mr. Samuel Wilson, (grandson of the above John Wilson, and author of the "Scripture Manual,") was their pastor 37 years. Mr. Needham was succeeded by his son-in-law Mr. Samuel James, who presided over them 30 years. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Wallin, and printed. Their present respectable minister, Mr. John Geard, who still lives in their affections, has been with them more than 46 years. To the Rev. William Button.. Oct. 20, 1773. "Whereas it seems the pleasure of the Lord in the course of his all-wise providence, that so great an affliction as a separation should take place in the church of Christ, late under the pastoral care of the late Dr. John Gill, we, members of the said church, from what we have heard that your ministerial gifts will be acceptable, and we hope profitable to us, do request that you will serve us as a separate interest in the work of the ministry on Lord's days, as the circumstance of place may direct, for twelve months; and we beg that you will so regard this application, as not to engage yourself with other people, and look upon Thomas Ribright, Deacons. Thomas Hill. This letter threw him into a His desire was togreat strait. |