Introduction

“Real religion consists in a supreme love to God,” declared the eighteenth-century pastor Samuel Pearce, “and disinterested love to man” (140). The sentiment of this quotation isn’t original to Pearce. Jesus, summarizing the ten commandments, answered a scribe’s inquiry, saying, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk 12:30-31). The similarity of Jesus’ and Pearce’s words is unsurprising. Pearce was a friend of Christ, a subject he expounded in a sermon after the passing of his professor Caleb Evans. A friend of Christ, according to Samuel Pearce, adores Christ’s person, loves Christ’s people, and promotes Christ’s cause (71-75). These three attributes of a friend of Christ will serve as the main headings of my reflection on the impact of Pearce’s spirituality. 

The Adoration of Christ’ Person

From shortly after his conversion to his death, Samuel Pearce adored Jesus. This worked itself out in at least two ways: total dependence on Christ for salvation and a pursuit of holiness in his life. His personal and circular letters are filled with the notion that apart from Christ he and all Christians are hopeless worms, but in Christ, they are right with God. It is not our works that make us right with God. It is not our works in combination with Christ’s works that make us right with God. The act of faith does not make us right with God. It is nothing but the pure grace of God that we sinners are made right with our God. Salvation is a work of God from beginning to end. It is by faith that we receive the righteousness of Christ, but even faith is a gift of God’s sovereign pleasure (133). On this subject, I whole-heartedly agree with Samuel Pearce. I rejoice at the resurgence of the doctrines of grace among contemporary Southern Baptists. Easy-believism or decisionism, however, is pervasive in many churches. It is taught in many pulpits and Sunday School rooms. This not only leads to inflated church roles and false conversions. It, also, impedes the spirituality of genuine converts. It robs God and Christ of credit that belongs entirely to them. It forms a culture of shallow worship, manipulation, and hyper-individualism. Those in the pews in the church I serve, as is true of all churches, could use a heavy dose of grace, as Pearce believed and articulated, in their walk with Christ. 

Sovereign grace in and through Jesus Christ, in Pearce’s spirituality, doesn’t cultivate licentiousness. In fact, this is a misunderstanding, a minimizing, and an abuse of grace. God’s grace in Jesus Christ doesn’t end at justification. It ends in glorification. God saved us to be holy as He is holy. To reject the pursuit of holiness is to evidence that one has not experienced the grace of God, to begin with. I in my own experience see, as Pearce did, the absolute grace of God as motivation for holiness, not a deterrent. God’s gracious work isn’t antithetical to godly effort in the pursuit of holiness. We should entrust ourselves and others to God but work hard to abstain from evil and grow in good. Pearce, in a circular letter, demands diligence and labor in the Christian life. He says we must examine ourselves, rededicate ourselves to God’s purposes, and concern ourselves the state of those around us, especially our fellow church members (95-106). 

The Love of Christ’s People

Pearce’s spirituality is biblical and logically consistent. It should be of no surprise that Pearce expects that Christians ought to love other Christians. For if a Christian is a friend of Jesus then they should also be friends with others who Jesus has befriended. Such love for other Christians includes what is said above. We should be concerned about the spiritual well-being of other Christians, especially those we covenanted to in church membership. Pearce demonstrated this love for God’s people in his pastoral ministry, his family, and his friendships.

Pearce was a powerful preacher. He preached the Scriptures with passion and clarity. His Confession of Faith is a summary of what is taught in the Second London Confession. It is sound, and he seems to have held and taught these core truths his entire ministry. His confessionalism is an aspect of his spirituality. There is great value and impact in holding to a confession of faith. I have already ascribed to a confession of faith. I’ve let my church members and visitors know what I believe and will teach. It is loving to God’s people to share what you believe the Scriptures to teach. 

Pearce, though desiring to go on the mission field, remained at his post as pastor. He saw his pastoral post as a valuable contribution. Just months before his death he wrote to his church to inform them of his condition while away. He also reminded them of his affection and care for them. He encouraged them to stand fast in the gospel he preached to them (193-195). I, as a pastor, should love the flock that God has put under my care. I should inform them of this love. I should pray for them and proclaim the gospel to them regularly. Indeed, all who pastor in Jesus’ churches should love those whom they pastor. 

Pearce was a busy pastor and preacher, but he coupled his diligence in ministry with love for his family. The letters to his wife overflow with affection. He saw his wife as a gift and valued her companionship. I have much to learn from Pearce in this regard. I must, as he did, let my wife know how much I care about her and value her. I should know her and lead her as God has called me to. Though his children aren’t mentioned much in the letters, the instance where he discusses his daughter’s illness and potential death is moving (123). He entrusted her to God and knew that whatever happened, it would be right and good in the grand scheme of things. My daughter is two-years-old. I love her and feel a profound responsibility for her and her wellbeing. The thought of losing her hurts. However, Pearce’s attitude in the letter to his wife is a good reminder. I can care deeply about my daughter’s wellbeing and miss her. But I should always entrust her to the Almighty’s care. 

Pearce, in addition to loving his church and family, he also developed meaningful friendships with other ministers and missionaries. He delighted to see them. He was excited to read letters they wrote to him. He enjoyed writing to them. He partnered with men like William Carey and Andrew Fuller to send the gospel to the heathen in distant lands. Friendships are powerful. In our day, it is tempting to compete with other pastors, even those in our local association and denomination. Pearce and his friends demonstrate that we are, or at least should be, in this together. We should encourage each other, pray for each other, and partner with each other for the cause of Christ. 

The Promotion of Christ’s Cause

The promotion of the cause of Christ was a staple in Samuel Pearce’s spirituality. Its presence is explicit or between the lines of almost all his letters. He desired to go to India to be a part of the cause there with William Carey. He fasted and prayed about this for a length of time. His wife, Sarah, was in support of this idea. However, the missions society thought that though he was qualified, he could better serve the missionary cause by remaining in Birmingham at his church. He accepted this as the decision of God. While remaining in England, he raised support for missions, preached the gospel wherever he could, and even wrote a track for Muslim sailors (173-179). In all his letters after society’s decision, it is clear he wished he could be on the frontlines. Considering this, we ought to desire to emulate this burning desire for the cause of Christ in our spirituality, preaching, and ministry. We should want the churches we serve to care about the gospel going to the utter ends of the earth. That means preaching about it. We should know and tell our churches about our convention’s (SBC for me) history and about men like Pearce. We should lead them to pray for unreached people groups and missionaries. We should equip and encourage them to present the gospel here and abroad.  

Conclusion

“Real religion consists in a supreme love to God and disinterested love to man” (140). Samuel Pearce practiced real religion. He loved God and impartially love his fellow man. He was a friend of Christ in that he adored His person, loved His people, and promoted His cause until his death. Pearce embodied the proper balance of doctrine and devotion. He is a man and pastor that is worthy of imitation. I hope that by the time I die I will have impacted my church, family, friends, and the world for the cause and glory of Jesus in ways like him. I hope the same thing for you. 

Bibliography 

Michael A.G. Haykin, “Joy unspeakable and full of glory”: The piety of Samuel & Sarah Pearce (Kitchener, ON: Joshua Press, 2012).