This obituary appeared in the Baptist Magazine in June 1821.
Harris was Thomas's second father-in-law
Harris was Thomas's second father-in-law
Mr. John Harris, of endeared memory, and descended
from pious ancestors, was born in the parish of Mynyddyslwyn, in the
county of Monmouth, on the 12th of March, 1745. His grandfather, of
the same name with himself, and his father, whose name was Morgan
Harris, were successively ministers of the Baptist church at Blaune
Gwent, in the above county; and after faithfully serving their God
and generation, fell asleep in Jesus; the former, December 1737, and
the latter, February 1746, aged forty-two years.
The subject of this brief Memoir was the eldest son
of Mr. M. Harris. He had a brother of the name of Morgan, a
posthumous son, who joined the Baptist church at Lanwenarth near
Abergavenny, and afterwards became an assistant minister of that
church. This excellent man died on the 6th of April, 1790, in the
forty-third year of his age, and was buried at Lanwenarth.
Mr. J. Harris having first availed himself of a good
education, went to the metropolis, where he resided, and attended to
business for a considerable time. At length returning to his native
country, in the year 1771, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Harris, a
daughter of the Rev. Caleb Harris, the then sole pastor of the church
at Lanwenarth. This venerable and valuable minister of the gospel
finished his course with joy, May 27, 1792, aged seventy-seven years.
Thus on all sides our worthy and lamented friend,
Mr. John Harris, was surrounded with the excellent of the earth. And
we may safely add, that few men, if any, were more felicitous in
their choice and lot as to a companion for life, than he was. By Mrs.
Harris he had a large family, all of whom, excepting the eldest son,
survive him, to deplore the loss of a most tender, kind, and
affectionate father. Mr. Harris had the happiness to see five of his
daughters become members of different Baptist churches; and his joy
on the occasion was great. May they emulate the excellencies of their
pious progenitors, and be the constant imitators of them in their
devotedness to God!
Our friend having commenced business in the town of
Abergavenny, his house became the mansion of kindness and hospitality
to the ministers and followers of Christ; and as few equalled him in
his munificence, none exceeded him in the justice, honour, and
liberality which marked and distinguished his dealings and
transactions. He was a man of the most genuine integrity and
rectitude; and not less assiduous, accurate, and steady was he in his
attendance on the worship of God, than equitable and conscientious as
a member of civil society. Nevertheless, singular as it may appear,
this good man did not make a public profession of religion till after
the Baptist Academy, in 1807, was established in Abergavenny, and, in
consequence, a Baptist church was raised and organized there. Though
he might be mistaken, and out of the way of his duty, in this
omission, yet we doubt not he had reasons which appeared to him
sufficiently Important to justify his conduct. On the 12th of July,
the above year, in the sixty-third of his age, adorned with that
crown of glory which a hoary head found in the way of righteousness
furnishes, and in the presence of all bis family, and of a numerous
assembly of delighted spectators, he cheerfully descended into the
watery grave, and was buried with Christ in baptism. The same day he
was received into the little infant church at Abergavenny, consisting
then of only ten members; and in a short time after he was elected a
deacon of the church.
Nature had endued the deceased with superior
capacities, which being matured and expanded by education,
reflection, and the knowledge of the world, prepared and qualified
him for much usefulness. Hence, contemplating Mr. Harris in his
neighbourhood, and as a man that was anxious to do good to all
around, we behold him moving in an important sphere, and acting a
valuable part. We find him abounding in every labour and office of
kindness towards those that needed his sympathy, assistance, and
advice. His great condescension to his inferiors in rank, his charity
to the indigent, his tenderness lo the afflicted, and his ability and
readiness to give profitable counsel in difficult cases, raised him
in point of real worth far above his equals, yea, superiors, in
worldly affluence. Truly, the breach which the death of such a
diameter has occasioned, will not be easily repaired.
Viewing him in his family and amongst his domestics,
the affectionate husband, the tender father, and the kind master,
present themselves to our attention, in all their endearing and
amiable characteristics. And as a friend, his benevolence,
affability, and faithfulness, stamped the most pleasing and indelible
impressions. All that came into contact with him, were instantly and
forcibly struck with the excellence of the man, and could neither
conceal their feelings, nor withhold the sentiments of admiration.
But Mr. Harris was the truly pious character, whose
heart and life were most unfeignedly and unreservedly consecrated to
the service of God; whose delight was in his ways and worship; and
whose conduct and conversation redounded to his glory. His solemn
regard for the doctrines of divine truth, profound humility before
God, deep veneration for his legislative authority, exact obedience
to his commands and ordinances, ancient zeal for his cause and
honour, and condescending, loving, and engaging deportment in his
church, were exemplary and pre-eminent. He was as accessible to the
poorest member, as he was to those of superior circumstances and
station; and his marked respect and esteem for his pastor, bis
friendly visits, inquiries, and attentions when affliction prevailed,
together with his unwavering and unshaken fidelity in the day of
trial and defection, are still sweet recollections, and cannot be
obliterated from the mind of the writer whilst memory and breath
remain!" A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity." Truly such a character was the deceased.
Besides, he was remarkable for
his tenderness to those that Inquired the way to Zion, fellow feeling
with the tried and distressed, and forbearance towards such as might
be overtaken in a fault. Still his benignity and long-suffering never
degenerated into sinful connivance, and a disregard for proper and
necessary discipline. Whenever he beheld his Saviour wounded in the
house of his friends, with him there were great searchings of heart,
and he evinced the strongest anxiety for purging out the old leaven
of sin. Thus the exalted properties and perfections of mercy and
justice, were combined and harmonized in his spirit and conduct. Yet
it is not intended nor attempted to hold him forth as a spotless,
perfect individual. Our worthy friend had his infirmities, as none in
the present state are exempt from imperfections. But so few and
venial were they, that they were as soon forgotten as discovered, by
those that surrounded him.
Mr. Harris in his
person was above the ordinary size, and possessed a noble
constitution. His countenance was sweetly placid, and his mien
uncommonly dignified and majestic. Though he had arrived to his
seventy-fifth year when the summons to call him hence was executed,
yet time, the consumer of all things, had comparatively made but a
slight impression upon his fine aspect. The hope could not be deemed
extravagant, when his family and friends indulged the pleasing
expectation that his valuable life might be protracted to a remoter
period. But the bourne is fixed, and beyond it mortals cannot pass.
And it appears that in his fine fabric the subtle enemy had for some
time lain in ambush, and was secretly accomplishing bis undermining
operations. His repose at night was greatly impaired, and he
frequently complained of inward debility and dejection; but being
rather nervous in his feelings, we all flattered ourselves with the
fond hope that he supposed his health much worse than it really was.
Our calculations, however, were mistaken, whilst his were correct and
true. The writer having occasion to pass by his lovely and) friendly
habitation the last time he had the pleasure of seeing him, and but
six days before his departure, met him in the way near his house.
Inquiring how he was he complained of being poorly, but appeared much
the same as usual. Affectionately parting with each other, little was
it thought by either that this was to be the final farewell on earth:
but so it proved, and the remembrance of it still creates a very
sensible degree of sorrowful emotion. O my brother, exceedingly
pleasant wast thou to me!
The next day, taking an unusual, and something like
an ominous leave of his affectionate family, he set off to see two of
his daughters, one living at the distance of twelve, and the other of
thirty miles from his abode. This was on the Wednesday afternoon,
25th of August, 1819. That evening he seemed tolerably well, and the
next day was remarkably cheerful and lively. Proceeding on his
journey, he arrived at the close of it comfortably, not expecting
that he had reached the scene of conflict with the last enemy. After
a short season, finding himself growing unwell, medical aid was
resorted to. But, alas! on the following Monday evening, about nine
o'clock, the endearing tie subsisting between him and his family and
'friends, was burst asunder, in the rupture of that which united the
body and the soul. His happy and immortal spirit escaped from a world
of sin and affliction, to the glorious mansions of interminable and
indefectible bliss.—And as he had been pious and devoted to God in
his life, he was tranquil, composed, and fearless, in death. When
asked how he felt, his repeated answers were, "Quite happy!
Quite happy !"—" Mark the perfect man, and behold the
upright, for the end of that man is peace."
Thus on the 30th of August, 1819, expired Mr. John
Harris, a great and a really good man; but the loss and chasm which
his death has produced, both in the church and the vicinity, have not
hitherto been repaired, nor, it is to be feared, soon will be.
However, our loss was his eternal gain. Let us be followers of him,
as he was of Christ.
Micah Thomas.
