John Harle Baptist Missionary Calcutta Obituary 1822

Page 354, The Bengal Obituary

The Bengal Obituary; or, a Record to Perpetuate the Memory of Departed Worth: Being a Compilation of Tablets and Monumental Inscriptions from Various Parts of the Bengal and Agra Presidencies. To which is added Biographical Sketches and Memoirs of such as have pre-eminently distinguished themselves in the History of British India, since the formation of the European Settlement to the present time  by Holmes and Co. London: W. Thacker and Co., 1851.

American Missionary Register.

Vol. VI]                      February, 1825.                  [No. 2.

Biography.

pp. 33-34

Obituary and Character of Mr. John Harle,

Baptist missionary, who died at Calcutta, Aug. 12, 1822.

[From the London Missionary Register.]

The following view of the character and death of Mr. Harle has been given by his associates:--

Br. Harle was born and brought up in the county of Northumberland.  He possessed a remarkably strong constitution; and, from his youth to the sickness which terminated his life, scarcely knew what it was to feel pain or disease: as to strength of body, therefore, he bid much fairer for usefulness among the natives, than any of us whom he has left behind.

Added to strength of body, he possessed vigour of mind.  He had acquired such a knowledge of the natives, of their modes of thinking on religious subjects, and of their language, as qualified him, in an eminent degree, to hold forth among them the Word of Life.

Personal religion he possessed in no inconsiderable degree.  After he was brought to the knowledge of the truth, which took place in 1813, (in India,) those powers, which had previously been devoted to sin, became proportionably active in the pursuit of better things.  His neighbours, and all who knew him, marked the change.

Having now formed something like a correct estimate of the value of his own soul, it was not long before he began to feel for the eternal salvation of others,; particularly for the Heathen, whom he daily saw degraded and miserable.  In 1816, he commenced his Missionary Labours; and from that period to the time of his death, maintained a conduct that was irreproachable both in the Church and in the World.

The graces which shone most resplendently in his character, were Humility, Devotion, and Zeal.

On all occasions, he expressed how little he thought of his own gifts and graces: he seemed thoroughly to have learned that hard lesson, taught by the Apostle—Let each esteem others better than himself.

At our Prayer-Meetings for several months previous to his death, a remarkable strain of devotion was apparent to all in his supplications.  He had a correct and extensive knowledge of the Divine Word.  The Scriptures, which he daily read, he exemplified in his daily conduct; and wherever he was seen, whether in his family, among his friends, or among the Heathen, all who knew him could say, “There is a man of God.”

His zeal was particularly manifested on behalf of the Heathen; he went and dwelt in the midst of them for several years, in a small cottage, that he might acquire their language more accurately, and be thus better capacitated to do good to their souls; and, when he had acquired this useful knowledge, he did not hide it in a napkin.  His addresses to the natives were peculiarly animated and impressive.  His zeal, however, did not lead him to be angry or passionate; when the baser sort contradicted and oppressed, he did not return railing for railing; but contrariwise, blessing.  He use frequently to observe, that the sword of the Spirit, when whetted with the oil of love, would cut much better; and, in this part of his conduct, he remarkably exemplified the advice of the Apostle to Timothy : 2 Timothy 2: 25.

He was ill for a considerable time: and, throughout the whole, manifested much heavenly-mindedness and resignation to the will of God.  At one time, we had great hopes of his restoration to health; he was fast recovering from the first attack of the fever, and was so well as to come and join with us in celebrating the love of our dying Saviour; and little did we then think that, before the return of another of these happy seasons, he would be sitting down at our Father’s board above.  However, it appears, from the exertion which he made that evening, that he suffered a relapse, and after that several others; so that by degrees his strength became exhausted, and his frame emaciated, till at length he fell asleep in Jesus.  The last words which he was heard to utter were—“All is well!  All is well!” And end so peaceful and so tranquil cannot but remind us of the declaration of the royal prophet—Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright! for the end of that man is peace.