EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1805. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS TUPPEN, Predecessor of the Rev. W. Jay, AT BATH. "THE memory of the just is blessed." It is a debt we owe to eminent piety and worth, to rescue from oblivion the names of men, whose gifts and useful labours have rendered them oonspicuous in the church of God. Of this description was the subject of this brief Memoir; and, though fourteen years have elapsed since his life and labours were closed, he still lives, and will long live, in the remembrance of many serious Christians at Portsea and at Bath. Mr. Tuppen was born in the year 1742, at Brighthelmstone, in Sussex, where he was trained up by a sober, moral mother, in a strict attachment to the established church, the public ordinances of which he constantly attended on the Lord's Day, performing also some religious exercises at home: but, satisfied with the mere performance of religious duties, he remained totally ignorant of spiritual things, and destitute of any real concern for the salvation of his soul. When he arrived at the age of sixteen, the seeds. of natural corruption. sprang up with vigour, and produced those fruits of actual transgression, which are too common at that dangerous period of life, unless prevented by the restraints of Divine Providence, or the influences of divine grace, Becoming at this time his own master, more fully than before, by the removal of some of his friends to London, and associating with some very wicked companions, he was hurried on to the gratification of carnal appetites, with increasing eagerness, for about the space of two years. But the Lord, who had chosen him to be a vessel of honour, to bear his name to Gentile sinners, was pleased to send his highly favoured servant, the Rev. George Whittield, to Brighton at this period. Induced by curiosity to hear à preacher of such peculiar fame, he attended a sermon out of doors, on a Friday evening, under a tree at the back of the White Lion Inn. But so far was he from previously wishing to derive any spiritual benefit from the sermon, that, as he confessed afterwards, he could gladly have joined the rabble in stoning him, or, at least, like Saul of Tarsus, have held the clothes of those who would. Mr. Whitfield's text was, Ezek. xxxiii. 11,"Turn ye, turn ye.” Under that sermon his malice was changed into admiration; he was convinced that, tho' young in years, he was a great sinner; that he had revolted from God, and must turn again to him, or perish. This sermon, and others delivered on the same visit, became the happy means of leading him to serious and earnest enquiries about salvation. His friends, who remained near him, were alarmed, and united to oppose his religious progress; while Conscience, now awakened, so strongly charged him with sin, that he endured considerable distress. He was now fully satisfied that he could never help himself; and that, if ever he were saved, he must be an eternal debtor to free and sovereign grace. He continued in a state of mental bondage for near ten months; and though he joined himself to a little society of Christian friends, and constantly united with them in spiritual exercises, he found but transient relief from his burden, till, being from home, about ten miles distant, his mind was set at liberty, and enjoyed the peace of the gospel. In September 1761, many of his relations having settled in London, he was induced to follow them; and, for a season," communicated with the society at the Tabernacle. At that time he resided in East Cheap, and, being near the meetinghouse then occupied by Mr. Elliot, who at that period frequently preached for Mr. Whitfield, attended his ministry for several years, and frequently heard Mr. Hart there. In December 1767, on the death of a preacher, who assisted Mr. E. he was requested, both by the minister and the church, to preach among them occasionally; which he did for a year or two. He was then invited to officiate among a few serious people in a remote corner of Sussex; where he had not been long before he received an invitation from a Christian society at Portsea, to preach to them probationally for three or four months. After laving this natter before the church, and hav ing their concurrence, he paid his first visit in November 1768, and continued there till the February following, when Le received an unanimous and affectionate invitation to settle among them as their pastor. This invitation, after due deliberation and advice, he accepted *. His stated labours at Portsea commenced in March; when he was well attended. In a letter to Mr. Whitfield, written the 30th of June, 1769, he says, "I have never preached on a Lord's Day, but, on some parts of it, I have had five hundred hearers; many times double that number; and, on the week days, never less than two or three hundred; which I think some encouragement; and there is reason to believe that the Lord owns and blesses his word; and that he has many people in this place." Mr. Tuppen found some difficulty in procuring ordination; for though no minister objected to his character or sentiments, yet few of the preachers then in connection with Mr. Whit field were themselves ordained; others disapproved the design. of withdrawing from the Methodist plan of itinerating: at the same time, some of the regular Independents of that day, objected to Mr. T., as not having been regularly educated for the ministry; while others feared that the intended settlement might be injurious to the interest of some of the neighbouring churches. Several of his brethren, however, complied with his desire, and that of his people; and he was ordained to the pastoral office April 17, 1770; when the Rev. Mr. Elliott, of London; Dr. Sainuel, of Romsey; Mr. Ashburner, of Poole ; A short account of the rise and progress of this religious society, communicated by the Rev. Mr. Griffin, their present minister, will not be unacceptable. "This town commenced with the last century; for in the year 1700 there were not more than a dozen houses on the spot; and the parish of Portsea (as it is now called) exclusive of the neighbouring town of Portsmouth, did not contain 2000 inhabitants; but their number now amounts to 22,000 at least. At that time there was no other place of worship but the parish church; there are now twelve places devoted to the service of God. "About the year 1746, Mr. Cennick came to Portsea, and preached in the open air. He was followed by Messrs. Adams, Meredith, and others, in connection with Mr. Whitfield, who himself, in 1749, visited the place, and preached in the fields to very numerous congregations.— About this time several serious persons, some of whom were members of Mr. Williams's church at Gosport, and others of Mr. Norman's, at Portsmouth, formed themselves into a society, and, by a small weekly subscription, defrayed the expences of the preachers who visited them.— Their number was considerably increased, by the Divine blessing, on three visits paid them by Mr. Whitfield, and by the labours of other ministers. At length, in 1754, they erected a place of worship, 53 feet by 30, which they called "The Tabernacle;" which, however, was neither ceiled, plastered, nor floored. For about fifteen years the congregation was supplied by Messrs. Adams, Croomb, Vines, Hogg, Cornelius Winter, and others, but this mode of supply proving inconvenient and expensive, they determined on having a regular minister; and, being formed into a church, were providentially led to make choice of Mr. Tuppen." |