MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. JOHN JAMES WEITBRECHT

1·24.6 MB·English

by  N.A

Memose She Jue. Rev Tout
Ther weibbrent

Wsterpara Joykashay Muplie Library
Govt. Gf Vet Bengal

MEMOIR

ov THR LATE

REY. JOHN JAMES WEFTBRECHT.

Tux word of eternal truth declares that “ the
righteous shall be had in everlasting zemem-
brance,” and it is one of the Christian’s delight-
fal employments to mark the operations of Di-
vine grace ss manifested in the dispositions and
lives of God’s deat servants. A aweet and prof-
table solemnity pervalles the mind, whilst retrac-
ing the history of those who have oscaped to bliss
before us, and who we now believe to be enjoy-
ing the uninterrupted happiness of the heavenly
state, ‘The contemplation of these things animates
the soul, aud fills it with hopeful anticipation in
referanee to that dey, when the glory of the Lord
shall be revealed in the assembling of all Hie
childzeu together, never more to be dispersed
again.

‘We need to indulge a little in meditations of
this character, to soothe and snstuin our mourn-

great part of this Memoir was prepared for, ax
ie Caleatta Chriction Indeltigencer, 1 la boveene
1, and in slightly eliered in ita arrangement, io the
present volume.
2

sang epirite, when God in His all-gise Providence

makes s sudden and unexpected breach, among
the little band of His earnest and devoted ia-
bourers in thie heathen land, for itisa severe trial
of our faith to behold « zealous fellow-worker, in
whove society we enjoyed delightful intercourse,
for whose activity and love we saw reason to be
thankful, and in whose wisdom and well-directed
influcnce, we felt the utmost confidence, cut down
at a stroke, and removed from his place amongst
us—that place which according to our short-sight-
ed vision no oue else ix so well calculated to
fill, It is true the Great Master knows it better
than we do, ani He ix only fulfilling some wise
though hidden purposes of His grace towards
fallen maukind, when Ife raises up an instru-
ment, tunes it to play very skilfully, and just
when it seems most pleasant in its sound, and best
fitted to delight wx, and to do Him glorious ser-
vice, removes it, saying ‘ Father, I will that be
also whom thon hast given me be with me where
1am, that he may behold may glory.”

Such an instrument was the beloved brather
and devoted Missionary, whose sudden removal
from his work below to hia reward above, has
touched so many hearts with sorrow. John James
Weithrecht was a nntive of Schoendorf, a small
provincial town in the little kingdom of Wiir-
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toinborg, in the south uf Gernunny ; where he way
born, April 29th, 1802, He was one of seven bru-
thers who grew up to manhood, five of whom
are still tiviug, He wax not educated for the
Church, but received a thoroughly sound and
clussienl education, and what is of still more im-
portance, he was trained up in the fear of God,
who was pleased to touch his heart effectually
by the power of His grace, when he was about
seventeen years old. .

In obedience to the wishes of his father he en-
tered on secular business after his education was
completed, and remuined so engaged for several
years, which eventaally proved a most mitable
preparation for that practical usefulness, for
which he became 90 remarkable in hia future
course.

The particular civeumstances which led him
to desire to become a Missionary are not exactly
known, but he frequently said that his family and
friends dissuaded him strongly from his purpose,
deeming him possessed of too fair .prospects, at
home, and too much respectability of family and
comnexions, to think of devoting himself to the
work of a Missionary, which was then considered
as an employment ouly suited to the humbler
classes of pious persons. He, however, was enabled
to be stedfast in his determination; and as his

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