Obituary John Harris 1821

This obituary appeared in the Baptist Magazine in June 1821.
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.
Abergavenny, April 11,1821.