Flint on the Piety of Francis

Flint says that Francis's views of religion,

... together with the tenderest sympathy for man, prompted him to those exertions he constantly made for God. The value of the souls of men made such an impression upon his mind, that he could never be at ease in idleness. He was always "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." If at home in his family, he would ever be employed, one way or other, in exemplifying and promoting religion. And those who were blessed with the closest connexion with this excellent man, so as to have formed a part of his household, cannot recollect his spending an hour in social conversation, without introducing religious subjects. And as though his greatest happiness consisted in such discourse, they could not but notice what a pleasing lustre would brighten up his countenance, as soon as the social intercourse was turned into a holy channel. And what indicated still more fully the vigorous exercise of grace in his soul, was his stated topic of conversation. He was uniformly aiming at the glory of God, in the subjection of the whole heart to his dominion. And whenever the more subordinate concerns of religion had been insisted on for a season, he would be anxious to recur to those of still higher importance. In his visits to his people, (which were as frequent as their wide dispersion round the country would admit), however short a time he stayed, the great end of the gospel was always briefly explained. He literally tarried in each house till he had sketched a portrait of a good man, into which be would always introduce features well designed to correct those counterfeit traits, which he knew deformed the religion of too many professors.

Flint goes on to say that Francis adopted a method, which he probably took the hint for from Cotton Mather, of proposing questions to himself every morning of the week, to assist him in the best method of doing good in all his connections.

Lord's Day morning. - What can I do more for God, in the promotion of religion, in the church over which I am pastor?

Monday. - What can I do for my family, as a husband, a father, or a master?

Tuesday. - What good can I do for my relations abroad?

Wednesday. - What good can I do in the societies of which I am a member?

Thursday. - What good shall I do for the churches of Christ at large?

Friday. - What special subjects of affliction, and objects of pity, may I take under my particular care? and what shall I do for them?

Saturday. - What more have I to do for the interest of God in my own heart and life?

Flint on Francis's Final Days

J Ryland

Flint felt that Francis's final years were among his most fruitful. The church continued to grow and he had the joy of baptising his daughters. A third enlargement of the building was necessary and Francis threw himself into the fund raising necessary. At the same time is enthusiasm was sometimes dampened by the thought that he might not live to see the work completed, which proved to be the case. A day was appointed for the opening and Dr John Ryland invited but he was called away to the funeral of Samuel Pearce. In the end Francis fell ill and grew worse and worse so that when Ryland did come to Horsley it was to preach at Francis's funeral. Remarkably, Francis was able to preach three times on his final Sabbath on earth.

In a letter written in 1796 Francis writes

Alas! how few professors are there who seem in every respect ornamental, and what we would wish them to be. One has this, and another has that glaring imperfection. One is too forward, and another too slothful. One is too loquacious, and another too reserved. One is too indifferent about doctrine and discipline, another is too rigid and censorious. One is vain, volatile and fickle, another is morose, sour and headstrong. One is generous with his money, but dishonorable in his walk; another strict in his morals, but unfeeling and penurious. One has a great gift, but little grace, while another has much grace, but no abilities. Alas! why do not all professors strive to cultivate every Christian virtue, and live to excel in all things which are praiseworthy? Why not all lay their whole selves out, for the honour of religion, and the glory of God? What value can they find in life, but under this impression and pursuit? To me, life with all its enjoyments, detached from religion and usefulness, is a poor, low, insipid thing. O to live, indeed the Christian's Life! What self-denial, what constant watchfulness, what faith and hope and love, what patience and resignation and what heavenly mindedness should I daily exercise!

Flint declares that Francis was an orthodox preacher who was not cool towards

... the leading sentiments of Scripture, whenever he considered the minds of his auditors as needing to be refreshed by the evidences of such facts. But though in many instances, he might have been censured by individuals, as introducing in each discourse too large a portion of practical religion, yet he persevered in urging the necessity of inward sanctity and an upright conversation. In his public prayers, a holy fervor, like a powerful pulse indicated the influence of the divine Spirit, renewing the life of God in his own soul, and seemed as if it could hardly fail of rousing the affections of the most languid believer. In all his sermons he would insist on the nature of vital faith, as productive, not only of transient emotions of the passions but of uniformity of character, and devotedness to the service of God.

More from Flint on Francis

Thomas Halyburton

Flint felt that as Francis came nearer to the grave, the more warmly he wrote. In a letter on experimental religion he wrote

I find it to be the nature of the life of God in the soul to aim at the destruction and the death of sin; nor will its desires be fully satisfied with any thing short of heaven itself, Blessed be God I know what it is to thirst for himself, not for speculative knowledge, nor merely for assurance, nor for a speedy entrance into glory; but for the Holy Spirit to rule, to reign, to dwell in my heart so as to have my thoughts, judgement, will, desires, designs, tempers and dispositions under his direction and influence that I may know what God would have me know, be what God would have me be, do what God would have me do, suffer what God would have me suffer, and enjoy what God would have me enjoy. But alas! notwithstanding my breathings and groanings for an inward Redemption, I am yet a wretched captive groaning in my chains for perfect liberty: The cares and pleasures of life, my corporeal senses and a body of death, keep my soul in a painful bondage, so that I never live a day of or seldom perform a duty to my entire satisfaction and I now need the blood of Christ to atone for my sin, and the Holy Spirit to fan my heart, as much as ever. O when shall my polluted soul unite with the spirits of the just made perfect and shine as bright as a glorious Angel.

In a letter to a friend, dated November 6, 1798, he thus writes,

Your last favour fanned the feeble spark of love I feel to the infinitely glorious and gracious Redeemer, to whom I owe and freely give my all. Having Christ, I have more than the whole material Creation. I want to love him unspeakably more than I ever did as yet; first, for the sake of his own excellencies, and then for his love and goodness towards me. O that every sacrifice I offer offer were consumed with the fire of ardent love to Jesus. Reading, praying, studying and preaching are to me very cold exercises, if not warmed with the love of Christ. This, this is the quintessence of holiness, of happiness, of heaven. While many professors desire to know that Christ loves them, may it ever be my desire to know that I love him, by feeling his love mortifying in me the love of self, animating my whole soul to serve him, and, if called by his providence, to suffer even death for his sake.

Referring' to his laborious exertions in 1798, when he visited many of the churches in Wiltshire and preached an average of 6 to 7 times a week, he has this observation

Never have I been called to engage in more public services than in the past year, and yet. I cannot but exclaim, My Barrenness, my barrenness when I read the life of a Halyburton, an Eliot, a Brainerd, how am I ashamed and confounded! What langour, formality, and contractedness of heart do I often experience, in private and in public! The flesh is ready to cry out Spare thyself. When shall the branches and roots of sinful self love be consumed by the fire of the love of Christ. I want nothing so much as the spirit and love of the blessedness. I want large gifts and abilities, but I far more desire a burning zeal for God to make my present endowments turn to greater advantage; I have but a few more years if any to serve Christ and his Church on earth, being now in my 65th year. O pray for me that I may be faithful, diligent and successful unto death.