FOR MARCH, 1839. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. JOHN BROWN, BY HIS SON. *,, MR. BROWN was born at Bradford, September 23d, 1773. His father was for many years a member and Leader in the Methodist society. He trained up his only son in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He not only instructed him privately, but caused him to share in the advantages of a Sunday-school, which he taught in his own house. This school was one of the earliest institutions of the kind, and the very first ever taught in Bradford. The saving truths here impressed upon his mind tended to produce in him the same happy effects which ensued in other instances, of which one may be particularly stated. The late Rev. Isaac Clayton, of whom an interesting memoir has appeared in the Methodist Magazine, was one of the scholars; and to him, as well as to my father, the instructions communicated were rendered permanently useful. He and another, who was likewise called into the ministry, tasted, along with my father, at this humble fountain some of the first drops of that living water, which subsequently became in them a "well of water, springing up unto everlasting life." My father, previously to his eighteenth year, was remarkably regular in his habits, and obedient to his parents; but unhappily, about that time he became acquainted with a number of young men of dissipated lives, whose evil influence corrupted his morals, destroyed. his peace, and drove him from beneath parental restraint. Having left his father's house, he spent about two years in London and Warwickshire, engaged in the fruitless strife of endeavouring to silence the voice of a reproving conscience, rendered sensitive and honest by early Christian instruction, and proving, as he has often confessed with heartfelt sorrow, that "the way of transgressors is hard." At the age of twenty-three he returned to Bradford, married, became more steady, was industrious in his habits, and made a kind husband, although still a stranger to the saving power of religion. About seven years after this period my mother sought and found salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and as a consequence of Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, February, 1836, page 81. Third Series. MARCH, 1839. VOL. XVIII. this happy change, there was soon presented the pleasing sight of the young mother with her infant charge, devoutly kneeling at the family altar, reading a portion of God's holy word, imploring his blessing upon herself, her offspring, and her husband. Her prayers were heard, and very soon they were answered. That Holy Spirit, whose office it is to make the word quick and powerful, applied the truth to his heart with an energy which convinced him of his guilt, scared him with a sight of his danger, and laid him prostrate at the foot of the cross, crying, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" He immediately gave up all connexion with worldly company, fully renounced the works of darkness, and sought the Lord with all his heart. He regularly attended the Friday-night meeting conducted by the late truly Reverend John Crosse, with whom a friendship was formed, which lasted until the death of that eminent Minister of Christ. His mind appears to have revolted at first from the idea of submitting to the reproach of Christ as a member of the Methodist society; but seeing what he judged to be advantages superior to those which he could elsewhere enjoy, he overcame whatever reluctance he might have felt, and practically declared, "This people shall be my people, and their God shall be my God." He sought the Saviour by faith in his atonement, and at length, while earnestly engaged in private prayer, he was enabled to exercise a confiding and appropriating faith, and thus found for himself redemption in the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins. His evidence of the divine favour was clear, satisfactory, and lasting. By the grace of God, he maintained both his Christian privilege and character, and held fast that whereunto he had attained to the end of his life. He now conducted family prayer himself, morning and evening; which was continued till the last, closing, as the sequel of this account will show, at the family altar, the visible service of his Creator. After having met about seven years in class, his Leader died; when, at the urgent request of his classmates, he was appointed to watch over them in the Lord. He entered upon his duties as a Class-Leader with so overwhelming a sense of the importance and responsibility of the office and of his own insufficiency for the work, that it may be justly said of him, that, in this department, he served the Lord and his church with fear and trembling. According to the ability which God had given him he was ready for every good word and work. He was useful as a Prayer-Leader, as a Teacher and Superintendent in the Sunday-schools, as well as in visiting the sick, and pointing the dying to a present and almighty Saviour. He was a man of high integrity, scrupulously honest, warm in his attachments, jealous of his independence, yet still striving to embody in the whole of his behaviour to others that Christian politeness which always results from a full submission to the apostolic injunction, "Esteeming others better than ourselves." He highly prized the Sabbath, was regular in his attendance at the house of God, fervent and recollected in his devotion there, and has been heard to say, that on the Saturday night he put the world out of his hands and heart, and they troubled him not till Monday morning. He was a member of the Methodist society from principle as well as from choice: he cordially subscribed to its doctrines, conformed to its discipline, and rejoiced in its prosperity. He regularly attended Leaders' and Quarterly Meetings for more than twenty years. He therefore witnessed the practical operation of the system; yet, with a knowledge of men and things which sharpened his penetration,-with a mind left free in its exercise, having no favour to purchase, no evil to fear, with an independency of spirit which rendered him incapable of submission to what is wrong,-he took a firm and decided position in favour of constitutional Methodism. His very soul was grieved within him, while witnessing the efforts of misguided men to spread division among the people of God, and to prejudice the minds of men against that ministry, which being, as he felt it, scriptural, spiritual, and faithful, had been made to many, and was still likely to be made to many, the power of God to salvation. He was glad to seize every proper opportunity of meeting with the people of God, and arranged his worldly concerns with the determination to secure as many of those opportunities as possible. For this purpose he caused a clause to be inserted in his agreement with his employer, (whom he faithfully served forty-seven years,) allowing him to leave off work on the Monday an hour earlier than usual, that he might be able to attend the evening services of that day. The salvation of the souls of his children (eight sons) lay near his heart. He constantly carried them as a burden before the Lord, interceding for them both in public and in private. They can bear witness that, frequently, when pleading for them with God in private devotion, such have been his fervour and importunity, that his voice has become quite audible, and his petitions to a throne of grace have been distinctly heard in other parts of the house by those for whom they were offered. These prayers have come as a memorial before God; and it is hoped that in the day of the Lord Jesus, he will enjoy what was on earth one of the greatest desires of his heart, in being permitted to say, “Here am I, and the children whom thou hast given me." In 1831 my father removed to Bolton, Lancashire. While there he was seized with the angina pectoris, which soon deprived him of that manly vigour which, up to this time, he had possessed. This disease often inflicted upon him the most excruciating pain, attended with a difficulty in breathing, which rendered walking a very painful exercise. He had the best medical advice which could be procured; but his complaint was beyond the reach of human skill. He saw plainly that his days were numbered, and that ere long he must rest in the grave of his fathers. He received this intelligence with the resignation |