Rev Daniel Isaac, Wesleyan minister

Daniel Isaac a prominent Methodist minister, commonly designated as the Wesleyan “Polemic Divine,” was born at Caythorpe, in the county of Lincoln, England, July 7, 1778. He was early devoted to books, and, on his conversion in his nineteenth year, he at once determined to devote his life to the work of the Christian ministry. In 1800 he joined the Conference on probation, supplying at this time a vacancy on Grimsby Circuit. He soon rose to great distinction among his brethren in the ministry, and was appointed to some of the most prominent charges at the command of his denomination. May 20, 1832, while in Manchester preaching in behalf of the Sunday-school work, he was seized with paralysis, from the effects of which he never recovered. At the session of the next Conference he was present, and believed himself sufficiently recovered to re-enter upon active work, and was appointed to York Circuit, an old and favourite circuit, to which he was now sent for the third time. But he began to fail fast, and died in the midst of his work, March 21, 1834. Speaking of the abilities of Daniel Isaac, the Rev. Samuel Dunn says: “He was an independent thinker, acute reasoner, formidable opponent, dexterous polemic, sound theologian, striking, instructive, extemporaneous preacher, perspicuous writer, generous benefactor, faithful friend, and amiable Christian. His intellect was original, subtle, analogical, penetrating, clear, strong. His manner was deliberate, grave, conversational, pointed, humorous, sarcastic, ironical.“ The sagacious Henry Moore remarked: ‘Daniel Isaac, like Paul; reasoned with his hearers out of the Scriptures; and he kept in them, never went out of them, and never reasoned himself out of them.’ If at any time he drew a smile from his hearers, he would maintain the utmost gravity. He displayed great power in grappling with the conscience, and in bringing to light the hidden things of darkness.