The Life And Ministry Of William Collins

Joseph Ivimey, “The History Of The English Baptists” Vol II:

He was ordained joint elder of this church with Dr. Nehemiah Coxe, July 21, 1673. Their names appear to an excellent letter, addressed to the Rev. Andrew Gifford of Bristol, proving it to be the duty of unconverted men to pray, in 1675. Also a letter inviting the churches in England and Wales to send their ministers to. London for the purpose of consulting on some important subjects connected with the prosperity and respectability of the denomination. This, was in the same year. He bore a very conspicuous part in the meetings of the general Assembly, and was requested to draw up a catechism for the use of children and servants. It is probable therefore that the Baptist Catechism was compiled by Mr. Collins, though it has by some means or other been called Keach’s Catechism. He continued his useful ministry in this church till his death, the 30th of October. 1702, and his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. John Piggott the 15th of November following from Job 14:14. It was afterwards printed and dedicated “to the Church of Christ lately under the pastoral care of the deceased Mr. William Collins.” The character of this excellent minister of Christ is so well drawn by Mr. Piggott that we give it in his own language.

“I must confess I am no friend to the flatteries that are too commonly used in funeral discourses: nor am I an enemy to the just commendations of such as die in the Lord; whose extraordinary worth may give occasion for it, and be very instructive to those that survive. So that in charity to the living, and in justice to the dead, I shall now attempt to say something of that learned and judicious minister of Christ, Mr. William Collins, whom God has suddenly removed from the midst of us.

“I design not a history of his life, nor am I capable to delineate the several branches of his character; yet something I would say, that may give you an idea, though it be not so perfect a one as I could wish, of this great man.

“‘Twas early that he discovered an inclination to study and books, and his progress in learning was swift and sure. When he had passed through learning, and had had the approbation of one of the most severe critics of this age, he began to travel and, if I mistake not, before that time, God had made him sensible of sin, and drawn him to his Son. When he came abroad, not going so far as he at first designed, he remained a considerable time in France and Italy; where he finished the course of his other studies preparatory to that of Theology, to which he closely applied himself upon his return to England. I shall not mention the encouraging offers he had to join with the National Church, which he judiciously refused; for it was conscience, not humour, that made him a Dissenter.

“I need not say how well he was prepared for the study of divinity by nature, learning, and grace, for his proficiency therein soon appeared; and after he had passed a little time preaching in the country, he had a very remarkable call by this church: for the very day he received the letter that invited him to London, he had solemnly kept by himself in fasting and prayer, for direction about disposing of himself for the constant exercise of his ministry; and receiving this in the close of that very day, he looked oh it as an answer of prayer, and therefore consented to make you a visit: which having done, and this church having had sufficient proof of his real piety, as well as of his gifts and abilities, you gave him a unanimous call to the pastoral office. And how well he rose up to the qualifications of an evangelical Bishop or Elder, as recited by the apostle Paul, you of this Church know; and I believe will own, That he was blameless as the Steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre: but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate: holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught, being able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convince gainsayers. He was apt to teach, and able, upon a sudden, to bring forth something proper for the use of edifying, out of that excellent stock of divine knowledge that he had treasured up; having more than once, when disappointed of that help he expected, gone into the pulpit, and preached an excellent sermon, in the opinion of competent judges. Yet though he was thus qualified, he did not serve God nor you with that which cost him nought, but applied himself to close study for every sermon, when his health would admit.

“The subjects he ordinarily insisted on in the course of his ministry, were the great and important truths of the gospel, which he handled with great judgment and clearness. How would he open the miseries of the fall! And in how moving a manner would he discourse of the excellency of Christ, and the virtues of his blood, and his willingness to save poor awakened burdened sinners!

“How well did he distinguish betwixt justification and sanctification, exalting the imputed righteousness of Christ, without undervaluing the work of the Spirit! So that his sermons were useful under the influence of divine grace) to convert and edify, to enlighten and establish, being drawn from the fountain of truth, the sacred Scriptures, with which be constantly conversed in their original languages, having read the best critics, ancient and modern; so that men of the greatest penetration might learn from his pulpit-discourses, as well as those of the meanest capacity.

“He did not affect a flaunting swelling stile, but always spoke what was strong and manly, becoming the weight of those truths he delivered. He did not study to amuse, but instruct his hearers; not so much regarding what would please as profit them always having on his mind a sense of the worth of souls and therefore he constantly advised his brethren of the ministry to take the greatest care they could to help forward the salvation of sinners, to exalt Christ, and not preach themselves.

“He had a rich stock of experience as well as of useful knowledge; he felt what he preached, and lived on that food he imparted to others. I do not mention his skill in physick, which he had well studied, as being no branch of his character as a divine. Yet under all these excellent attainments, he was one of the most modest humble men that ever I conversed with. How did this grace make him shine! which is one of the brightest ornaments of the christian life.

“How low would he stoop for peace! And how would he bear with the infirmities of his weak brethren! That such as would not be wrought upon by the strength of reason, might be melted by his condescension and good nature. He was prudent as well as peaceable, charitable as well as courteous; one that could forgive and forget injuries, one that was above resenting the affronts that some men love to offer to persons of his character: He was not addicted to utter hard censures of such as differed from him in lesser matters, but had a love for all saints, and constantly exercised himself in this, To keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man. He was a person of unaffected steady piety, free from the wild raptures of enthusiasm, and the dull formalities of superstition. When he was not discoursing of profitable things, He generally employed himself in meditation; for ordinarily when he left his studies and came abroad, in the after part of the day, he usually fixed on some text of scripture for the subject of his meditation as he passed the streets; so that he had a constant savour of divine things on his spirit; and like the wise man spoken of in the book of Proverbs His lips did disperse knowledge. He was very communicative, and ready to inform those he conversed with. And I must ever own, to the honour of his memory, that he acted towards me, not only like a friend but a father, both in directing and encouraging me in my studies. He has often cleared up that to my understanding, which before was perplext and obscure. He has prayed with me, and comforted me; but he is absent: O! how do I miss my guide and my friend? And do not you, my brethren? I am sure you do. What is the Lord a doing! What removes has he made! How can we forbear to cry out, O the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!

“As for you that were under his care, you lay near his heart; and how greatly he longed for you all in the bowels of Christ, I am his witness: I, did I say? The God in whose presence I stand, and at whose bar j must shortly appear, is his witness. I speak this with so great solemnity, because he mentioned it to me with such affection and tears, and told me how glad he would have been to have seen you settled with a judicious learned minister before he died; but God saw meet to remove him before this desirable thing was accomplished.

“Indeed he was not apprehensive of his death in the time of his last illness, but had some kind of hope that he should have recovered. Yet I cannot but look on it as a remarkable providence, that he should be directed in the course of his ministry to fix on those words, Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest: and that the last sermon he ever preached should be from them; I pray God it may have a due effect upon all that heard it, for you will hear him no more. But from the last time of his appearance in the pulpit, I am presently brought to his sick-bed.

“As he was constantly calm in his mind in the time of his health, so he was during his last sickness. Upon the first visit that I made him, I enquired how things were betwixt God and his soul. He told me, That he blessed God all was well. And all along he was very easy with respect to life or death; he had for a great while sat so loose to this world, that he had no such desires of life as should imbitter his death, or such fears of death as should render his life uncomfortable. For when a minister, with whom he was very intimate, took notice of his weakness, and apprehending him in danger, said to him, Sir, I hope you are not afraid to die: he answered, with great presence of mind, and a cheerful countenance, I bless God I have not been afraid to die this forty years. My brethren, some men may talk high, and look big when they are in health; but for a man to speak thus in the view of eternity, seems to argue not only great strength of faith, but a bright and unclouded assurance of the divine love.

“He was, during his illness, much inclined to sleep; so that he seldom spoke unless he was pressed to it. We were sometimes ready to flatter ourselves with the expectation of his recovery, but a few days put an end to our hopes, and his valuable life. He was a servant to the prince of peace: he preached a gospel of peace, and he had a peaceful death, Mark the perfect, behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. I know to mention his death, is like striking a dagger to some of your hearts, and I confess it has almost put a period to my discourse. I will not say what I feel myself, and with w hat a struggle I speak to you; it would be an ease could I stop here, and mingle my sighs and tears with yours. But, my brethren, let us abate our sorrows, because the soul of our deceased friend is happy in heaven, and his memory shall be blessed upon earth, Whose praise is in all the churches of Christ.