Rev. John Ryland died, at Bristol, England, on the 25th of May last. The Rev. John Ryland , D. D. LL. D. President of the Bristol College, and Senior Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society, in the 73d year of his age. During the last 57 years of his life he had sustained the character of a faithful minister of the gospel, and was the honoured instrument of leading many souls from the devious ways of errour into the paths of righteousness and peace. For 31 years he was President of the College at Bristol, and in that highly important station he advanced the interests of Religion and Literature, by his steady Christian deportment, by the energies of his uncommon intellect, and by the variety and depth of his erudition. He ever watched over the youth committed to his care by the churches, as one that must give an account to the Head of the Church. At the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society in England, nearly 33 years ago, he was one of the distinguished men who made the earliest efforts to originate it, and to equip the first missionaries who sailed for India, — Dr. John Thomas and Mr. William Carey; and he continued to be, until the time of his death, the zealous, and indefatigable, and faithful friend and servant of the missionary cause. On the death of Dr. Fuller, the first Secretary of the Society, in 1815, Dr. Ryland was called to discharge the arduous and responsible duties of Secretary. In consideration of his many other important charges, together with his declining health, the Society a few years ago associated with him, as an Assistant, the Rev. J. Dyer, of London. It has rarely fallen to the lot of any man to labour for a longer time, or with greater usefulness, in the gospel vineyard, than was the privilege of the honoured subject of this notice. In the course of his protracted and various labours, it is believed that he ever endeavoured to exercise "the patience of the saints," and to "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." The address at his grave was made by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and the funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Hall.========== The American Baptist magazine, Volume 5, October, 1825, p. 317. - Formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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