Hymn How quick my days have passed away

710 in the book

How quick my days have passed away,

How soon al­as, they’re gone!

Life’s gay­est scenes de­cline in haste,

Just like the set­ting sun.

Always in mo­tion, ne’er at rest,

My min­utes on­ward roll;

Swift to pur­sue their des­tined course,

And soon will reach the goal.

Eternal pains or end­less joys

Stand wait­ing at the door;

The mo­ments past or those to come,

Are not with­in my pow­er.

God of my strength and of my hope,

In whom I live and move,

Help me by Thine in­struct­ive grace

The pre­sent to im­prove.

And if through this re­volv­ing year,

Thou shouldst my life pro­long,

Oh may Thy wis­dom guide my steps,

Thy praise em­ploy my tongue.

Richard Brandon Beddome

The Edinburgh University alumni site (see here) states that Beddome's sixth child Richard Brandon Beddome (b 1769) began studying medicine in Edinburgh in 1792, 18 years after his older brother, Benjamin, who died in 1778.

Beddome's oldest son borrows a book

It is of limited interest, but we know that on Thursday, June 6, 1776, Beddome's son Benjamn borrowed Gilchrist on Sea Voyages, which he was free to keep for a fortnight, having paid a five shilling deposit. This was from the Edinburgh University Library. Beddome Junior had begun studying medicine in the university the year before. Scotsman Ebenezer Gilchrist (1707-1774) published The use of sea voyages in medicine in London in 1756, the second edition coming out with a supplement the next year. The Edinburgh copy was borrowed 49 times between 1769 and 1789. Gilchrist was one of the first doctors to recommend sea travel for the good of a person's health. One of Gilchrist's earliest writings was on typhus, the disease Benjamin Junior died from at the beginning of 1778. See here.

Speaking on Beddome in Borehamwood Recently

It was good to be speaking once again at Borehamwood a short while ago, giving their annual historical lecture, on Benjamin Beddome. They provided a very nice brochure from which we sang some Beddome hymns and this year there was also a little booklet, attractively produced, covering his life story and adding a sermon and some hymns. My wife and I enjoyed the lovely tea afterwards. Great afternoon.

Astonished and distressed

1 Astonished and distressed,
I turn my eyes within;
My heart with loads of guilt oppressed
The source of every sin.

2 What crowds of evil thoughts,
What vile affections there!
Envy and pride, deceit and guile,
Distrust and slavish fear.

3 Almighty King of saints!
These tyrant lusts subdue;
Drive the old serpent from his seat,
And all my powers renew.

4 This done,–my cheerful voice
Shall loud hosannas raise;
My heart shall glow with gratitude,
My lips be filled with praise.

The above hymn by Beddome is referred to in a new biographical work on Spurgeon by Tom Nettles (The child is Father of the Man p 129). Nettles states that in our own hymn book Spurgeon included a section headed "Holy anxiety". It goes from 636-644. It includes hymns by Cowper, Doddridge, Watts, etc, and this gem from Beddome (644) headed The evil heart. See here. There appear to be 14 hymns in the book by Beddome.

James Newton 1732-1790

If Beddome is rather forgotten, he certainly has some even more forgotten contemporaries. James Newton would be an example. Born in Che­nies, Buck­ing­ham­shire, in 1732, we know nothing of his upbringing. A Baptist church did not exist there until 1760. Newton may well have attended a Baptist church in Reasing or elsewhere. When he was 17 he moved to London, where he joined the Bap­tist church in Maze Pond led by Benjamin Wall­in (1711-1782). Presumably, Newton had been converted in his youth and was from a godly home. He was also a bright fellow and the church in Maze Pond soon recognised his abilities and assigned him to studies under Thomas Llewelyn LlD (c 1720-1783), a Welshman who ran an academy in London 1746-1770. Having completed his studies, in 1758, he be­came as­sist­ant min­is­ter to John Tom­mas (1724-1800), pas­tor of the Bap­tist church in Pith­ay, Bris­tol, and, in 1770, class­ic­al tu­tor at the Bap­tist col­lege in Bris­tol alongside Caleb Evans (1712-1781). One of Newton's students, John Rippon (1751-1836), wrote of Newton's fitnes for his academic task. "With the Latin and Greek classics, with the Christian Hebrew scriptures, the Misnah, Talmuds, and other Jewish writings, he was intimately acquainted." He remarks how former students "perfectly recollect with what humility, prudence and affection he entered on his office among us and with what patience and assiduity he sustained it." Newton held both po­si­tions un­til his death in 1790, in Bristol. He appears to have been a bachelor and it is possible that he lived with the Cottle family. Robert Cottle (c 1730-1800) was the father of the printer and publisher Joseph Cottle (1770-1853) publisher of Wordsworth. Clearly a popular and friendly fellow, Newton was especially close to the minister James Dore (1764-1825) who pastored Maze Pond from 1784. Newton preached the annual sermon at the Bristol Education Society in 1776, which was published. Ten years before he had published a pamphlet defending Caleb Ecans and orthodox teaching on the Trinity. Newton is the author of the hymn "Proclaim, says Christ, my wondrous grace".

Medical References in Sermons 23

This is from Volume 6, Sermon 3 on Proverbs 28:13

But let it be remembered, that excuses for sin necessarily imply the love of sin, which is actually inconsistent with the love of God. The wound is not less dangerous because it is covered over or the disease less fatal because it is concealed. Neither is the evil of sin lessened, but aggravated, by the pains taken to extenuate it; for these are only so many proofs of impenitence and unbelief and have a disposition to pass persevere in an evil course.

Lower Slaughter

Lower Slaughter

I notice that the new book on Beddome features Lower Slaughter rather than Bourton-on-the-Water. This is where Beddome lived throught most of the 1740s before his marriage near the end of 1749 and the move to Bourton.

Medical References in Sermons 22

This one is in Volume 6 Sermon 19 on Psam 38:5

David felt the danger of his disease, as well as the loathsomeness attending it. Wounds are generally dangerous, especially where they become malignant through neglect; and such also are mortified corruptions, when they have long been suffered to prevail. Nothing endangers the soul like sin, indeed nothing but sin. A continually running sore, like a consumptive habit of body, gradually impairs the strength of the whole frame, till at length we sink into the arms of death. Sin is called the plague of the heart, to denote that it is as dreadful and as fatal as the disease with which it is compared. Where it is repented of and subdued it shall not destroy the soul; nevertheless it will destroy its comforts ...

References to other writers in Sermons 6

In Volume 6 of his published sermons (Short Discourses Vol 6) Beddome makes reference to these sources

6:1 1 Corinthians 16:13

Henry Newcombe (1627-1695)

An eminently pious minister once said that were it not for his hope in the grace and righteousness of Christ the thoughts of death would drive him distracted.

Ignatius

When the flesh of Ignatius began to be torn by the wild beasts, Now, says he, with a kind of holy exultation, now I begin to be a Christian.

Edward Young (1681-1765)

Night Thoughts

to trifle, is to live:

And is it then a trifle, too, to die?

John Milton (1606-1674)

Paradise Lost

Oh when will Death This mouldering old partition wall throw down
Give beings one in nature, one abode
Oh Death divine that givest us to the skies.

Edward Young (1681-1765)

Night Thoughts

The man immortal, rationally brave,
Dares rush on death - because he cannot die.

6:4 Revelation 2:4

John Chrysostom (d 407)

It is said of the Christians at Antioch that they so valued Chrysostom their excellent pastor that if driven to the alternative they would rather choose to be deprived of the light of the Sun than his ministrations.

6:6 Romans 5:8
Archbishop Ussher (1581-1656)

A word of Christ before we part was the usual saying of pious archbishop Usher to his friends when they had been conversing about the various branches of human literature in which he was so eminently versed.

Edward Young (1681-1765)

Night Thoughts

Behold the picture of earth's happiest man:

"He calls his wish, it comes; he sends it back,
And says he call'd another; that arrives,
Meets the same welcome; yet he still calls on;
Till One calls him, who varies not his call,
But holds him fast in chains of darkness bound,

...

To man the bleeding cross has promised all
The bleeding cross has sworn eternal grace.
Who gave his life, what grace shall he deny?

6:8 Romans 1:6

Westmnster Shorter Catechism

Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.