fession: why then should it be the subject of blame, only in the profession of religion? Can any man be too zealous in the promotion of the vital interests of godliness? This is impossible. On such a theme 't is impious to be calm: YOUNG. The publication of this work has been retarded on various accounts, and the Christian world have consequently felt greatly disappointed. My own avocations are so numerous that I could not have dertaken to prepare this memoir for the press without availing myself of the assistance of some literary friend; and I here return my sincere thanks to Mr. Nichols, whose talents are well known to the world, for his kind assistance and advice in various parts of the work. It was a subject of regret to me, that when I contemplated the early completion of the memoir by the continuance of his aid, I was suddenly deprived of it, at the close of last December, by his removal to London. And now, if this humble attempt to do justice to the character and labors of this eminently faithful minister of the Gospel, shall excite an earnest wish in his junior brethren to imitate his conduct, or an increased desire in the people for the attainment of that holiness of heart and life which he inculcated and exemplified;-in short, if this volume be made a blessing to any who peruse it, my object in the publication will be gained, and to God alone shall all the glory be ascribed. Queen-Square Academy, Leeds, JAMES SIGSTON. ADVERTISEMENT. THE success which has attended the sale of the first edition of this memoir, and the very favorable reception given to it by the religious public, are circumstances which have afforded me real pleasure, and not the less on account of the emolument which will thus accrue to Mrs. Bramwell. In the absence of all pretensions to literary fame from the execution of the work, my labor having been little more than that of compilation, arrangement, and correction, it is yet most gratifying to find that the perusal of it has been attended with much spiritual benefit, both to saints and sinners. This is the result for which I was most anxious, and I thank God that it has been granted to me. The supercilious manner in which certain portions of the memoir have been viewed by a few profane persons has been no serious abatement to this grateful feeling. For, as the preceding preface will show, I had calculated that so long as "the carnal mind is enmity against God," it cannot receive "the things of the Spirit," however clearly revealed, or accurately expressed. To such persons these subjects "are foolishness; they cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Leeds, October 4, 1820. J. S. MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM BRAMWELL. CHAPTER I. Mr. Bramwell's birth, parentage, and education-His father's excellent instructions-Anecdote-The moral qualities of his youth-Early indisposition-His antipathy to settling in Liverpool-He is bound apprentice to a currier. MR. WILLIAM BRAMWELL, the subject of this memoir, was born in February, in the year 1759, at Elswick, a village nearly ten miles from Preston, in the parish of Saint Michael, Lancashire. His parents, George and Elizabeth Bramwell, had a family of eleven children, of whom William was the tenth. Mrs. Hargreave, of Westgate Hill, near Birstal, and Mrs. Jones, of Liverpool, are now the only surviving members of this once large and flourishing family. The others have accomplished their warfare, and are gathered to their fathers. When we contemplate the disappearance of whole families, with many of whom the best affections of our hearts have long been associated, may we not join in the exclamation of the man of God,-" Your fathers,—where are they? And the prophets,—do they live for ever ?" Mr. Bramwell's parents were warmly attached to the Established Church; and according to the light which they possessed, educated their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. But their religious views were exceedingly circumscribed. Nor were they singular in this respect; for spiritual darkness at that period nearly enveloped this Christian land. The Gospel light introduced at the time of the Reformation had dwindled away into obscurity, and "blind leaders of the blind" were too frequently the only guides of the people. Mr. Bramwell's native village, and several other towns in Lancashire, were among the most benighted parts of England. The Roman Catholics then composed, and still form, a considerable part of the population of that county. The members of other denominations therefore assumed not a little consequence from being styled PROTESTANTS. Without possessing greater spiritual light than their popish neighbors, they considered this name as the test of religion, and the passport to sanctity. A chapel of ease, called Cop Chapel, was the place of worship frequented by Mr. Bramwell's parents. Though it was situated about a mile from their house, yet, whatever might be the state of the weather, they were scrupulously exact in attending the service of the Church, with all their family, every Sabbath. It was |