promise of Christ, that they who learned of him who was meek and lowly in heart should find rest unto their souls, was more extensively fulfilled in Mr. Sutcliff than in most Christians. He was swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Thus it was that he exemplified the exhortation of the Apostle, Giving no offence, that the ministry be not blamed. There was a gentleness in his reproofs, that distinguished them. He would rather put the question for consideration, than make a direct attack upon a principle or practice. I have heard him repeat Mr. Henry's note, on Prov. xxv. 15. with approbation : "We say, Hard words break no bones; but it seems that soft ones do." A flint may be broken on a cushion, when no impression could be made on it upon an unyielding substance. A young man, who came to be under his care, discovering a considerable portion of self-sufficiency, he gave him a book to read on Self-knowledge. He is said never to have hastily formed his friendships and acquaintances, and, therefore, rarely had reason to repent of his connexions, while every year's continued intimacy drew them nearer to him; so that he seldom lost his friends: but his friends have lost him! He had a great thirst for reading, which not only led him to accumulate one of the best libraries in this part of the country,* but to endeavour to draw his people into a habit of reading. Allowing for a partiality common to men, his judgment of characters was generally correct. Nor was it less candid than correct he appreciated the good, and if required to speak of the evil, it was with reluctance. His eye was a faithful index to his mind penetrating, but benignant. His character had much of the decisive, without any thing conceited or over-bearing. : In his person he was above the ordinary stature, being nearly six feet high. In the earlier stages of life he was thin; but during the last twenty years he gathered flesh, though never so much as to feel it any inconvenience to him. His countenance was grave, but cheerful; and his company always interesting. * This library is left, by his will, to the Bradford Baptist Academy, only on condition of the trustees paying one hundred pounds to his relations; a sum far short of its value. |