Memoirs of Mr. John Chamberlain, Late Missionary in India

As in describing the course of a river, it is usual to trace it to its source; so in delineating the character of an individual, it is customary to give an account of his origin. In the natural world we often find, that the largest and most fertilizing rivers take their rise from an insignificant spring; and in the moral and religious world, it not unfrequently happens, that the most eminent and useful of our species owe their birth to parents in the lower circles of society. This teaches us the folly of glorying exclusively in race or descent, and leads us to acknowledge the power and grace of that God, who, from small beginnings produces the greatest results.

JOHN CHAMBERLAIN, the subject of this memoir, was born at Welton, in Northamptonshire, on the 24th of July, 1777. He was the eldest son of John and Ann Chamberlain, who were poor but industrious people, and who gave to three children the best education their circumstances would admit.

We are emphatically told by an inspired writer, that "Childhood and youth are vanity;" to narrate, therefore, in the life of any one, all that takes place in these seasons, would be both tedious and unprofitable; yet it may not be improper to notice such incidents as have an effect upon the man in after days,

or such as may be considered the first blossoms of that fruit which is afterwards ripened to perfection: for it has been justly remarked, that a trifling incident, a saying, or a childish custom, often shews more of the real character than the most splendid actions.*

Mr. Chamberlain in his infancy was very weak and delicate, and when about three years old, he had a fever, by which he lost his hearing in one ear, which he never afterwards recovered.

He was sent to a village school when he was very young— so young that he could not remember first learning to read: all he could recollect, was, that he used to sit on a little stool, by the side of his mistress, with a large Testament in his hand, and that he was the first of a considerable number of children much older than himself. The latter circumstance is of little importance, except it was the first indication of that principle which led him, in all he undertook, to labour to excel-and it is recorded on that account. We should probably never have heard of Alexander's complaining, when a boy, to his companions, of the activity of his father, and expressing his fear that nothing would be left for him to do when a man, had it not been that this marked the disposition which so strongly characterized his future conduct.

The serious impressions which he received at this very early period, were, under the Divine blessing, one link in that chain of events which brought him to an experimental acquaintance with religion, and which to his latest days never failed to inspire in him thankfulness to the Author of all good. He has left a note expressive of his feelings on this subject, in which he says, "Nor did I dare even then to do any thing I thought was sinful. At that early period I used to attempt to pray. When I went to meeting I was delighted with the singing, and united with all my might to give vent to my rapture. Sometimes then some glimmerings of Divine truth illumined my mind, which at least prepared me for after days. I thank my God for parents who, though poor, taught me to read the Bible, and took me to hear the word of God preached. Ah!

* Ούτε ταις επιφανεσταταις πράξεσι παντως ενεστι δηλωσις αρετης η κακιας, αλλά πραγμα βραχυ πολλακις και ῥημα και παίδια τις εμφασιν ηθες εποιησεν. Plut.

How much I owe to the care of my dear mother!" This furnishes another proof of the validity of that old maxim, to which there are comparatively few exceptions; "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it:" and holds out another encouragement for parents "to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." God rewards the pious care of some, by giving them to see their children walking in the ways of truth from their infancy; and many a kind mother has lived to witness the seed sown in early life, though apparently choaked by the thorns of vice in riper years, spring up, and bear much fruit. And to fond parents what can be more delightful, than to be the means, in the hand of God, of adding to a mortal an immortal life; and to be had in grateful and everlasting remembrance by their offspring, as the channel of those blessings which will constitute their eternal happiness and exaltation?

Though from a child Mr. Chamberlain was acquainted with the Scriptures, and the subject of many pious feelings, yet as he advanced in life the evil propensities of his nature began to display themselves; his serious impressions wore off, and he committed the reins of self-government to the neck of youthful folly. How sad an instance does this furnish of the natural depravity of the human heart! His mind was to a considerable extent enlightened; he had religious examples constantly before him, and was warned against approaching danger; yet such was the force of inbred sin, that he was borne away by it, as by an imperceptible current.

In the year 1789, he was called to leave his father's house. His father designed him for some mechanical business; but from the state of his son's health, which at this time was still delicate, he was led to alter his plan, and to direct his attention to farming, thinking it would be a likely means of strengthening his constitution; he was therefore removed from home, and brought up in this line of life at Market-Harborough, in Leicestershire. His distress at parting with his mother was very great, and for some time after his removal, it appears that he used to embrace every opportunity of being alone, that he might think about, and pray for his parents.

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