Long life and peace : memorials of Mrs. Elizabeth Shaw, for eighty-seven years a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist Church

Front matter

MEMORIALS

OF

MRS. ELIZABETH SHAW.

Chapter I. "little Betsey."

These manuscripts ! what shall we do with them? On the oldest Time has already made its mark. The first pages were written by a godly maiden some eighty years ago; the last by a saintly matron when her long life was well-nigh ended. They were not meant for the public eye. Believing that a journal would prove helpful to her in her Christian course, she wrote one. She had no other end in view ; and doubtless that end was answered. But is there not in these closely-written volumes much that is calculated to interest and

B benefit all who are travellers in the road she trod ? We think there is. And it is hoped that every one who gives this little book a perusal will, before closing it, think so too.

In small, neat handwriting, and with her accustomed felicity of expression, Mrs. Shaw has penned a Sketch of her early life.

Above a hundred years ago, on the 19th of April, 1773, — before John Wesley's evangelistic tours were ended, or Charles Wesley's muse was silenced, or John Fletcher's " Checks " were completed, or Dr. Coke had declared himself a Methodist ; before the thirtieth Conference had met, or a stone of City Road Chapel had been laid ; before the battle of Bunker's Hill had been fought, or Wellington or Bonaparte had attained his fourth year — Elizabeth Flamank was born. Her native place was St. Austell, in Cornwall ; " a neat little town, on the side of a fruitful hill." Mr. Wesley often visited it; and whenever he, or any of his " helpers," were in that neighbourhood, they found a hearty welcome in her father's house.

"LITTLE BETSEY."

"My parents," Mrs. Shaw writes, "were members of the Methodist Society, and also regular attendants at the Established Church. It was their endeavour to instil religious principles into my mind from infancy; and their attempts were not fruitless, for when very young, before I was five years old, I remember to have felt a wish to die, and go to heaven with my mother, if God should take her hence. I delighted much in the company and conversation of pious persons, and was pleased when my mother would allow me to accompany her to her band-meeting, which was held in an upper room in our house."

When between nine and ten years of age, it was Elizabeth's honour — for such she considered it — to travel with Mr. Wesley in his chaise, while he visited some of the Societies in West Cornwall. Long, long afterwards, when old age had come, she was pleased to entertain visitors by referring to this journey, and relating how the venerable minister and the little girl had played " bo-peep " as they rode on together. She was thought too young to attend the service

b 2 at G-wermap Pit when Mr. Wesley preached to the thousands who flocked to hear. " He left the next morning," Mrs. Shaw writes, " and proceeded to Mr. Wood's, at Port Isaac, taking me with him in his carriage."

In 1783 Elizabeth was sent to a school at Penzance. Here an incident occurred which — though some might regard it as trivial — made a deep impression on her mind and was looked back upon in after-years with much regret. To screen a school-fellow, who had acted dishonestly, she told an untruth. Happy for her that conscience at once troubled her and gave her to see the greatness of the sin she had committed ! "Alas ! " she says, " how was I robbed of my peace! and what sad depravity did I discover ! Surely parents and teachers should be careful, unless well assured of their possessing good principles, never to suffer the innocent, unwary and inexperienced to mingle with those whose education has been loose and unheeded ! "

In her diary she gratefully mentions three escapes from drowning while yet a girl : — on one occasion at Penzance, when search-

"LITTLE BETSEY."

ing among the rocks for different kinds of sea- weed; again when crossing the Hayle sands ; and yet again when riding through the water at high tide, near Par, a small seaport about four miles from St. Austell. After a brief residence at Penzance, Elizabeth returned home. " In the year 1784," she writes, " the Conference appointed Messrs. F. Wrigley, W. Church, and A. Clarke to travel in the East Cornwall Circuit, and such a revival took place in St. Austell at that time as has not been equalled since. Though very young, I was deeply affected, and as I saw many around me brought from darkness to light and enabled to rejoice in a sin-pardoning God, I longed to experience the same blessing. I wished to be happy ; and, though I had no clear perception of the plan of salvation, I sought the Lord in prayer, and delighted in the means of grace ; and on Monday, the 3rd of January, 1785, I received a note of admission into the Methodist Society from Mr. Adam Clarke."

This small, time-tarnished scrap of paper was put into my hand by its owner — who, it need not be said, highly valued it — not long before her decease. It has written on it these words : —

" St. Austle Society.

Admitted on tryal, Eliza. Flamank, Jan. 3, 1785.

Adam Clarke."

The young evangelist by whom this note was given found in the East Cornwall Circuit — extending over a large tract of country, and comprehending more than forty preaching-places — much to hearten on the one hand, much to dishearten on the other. He had to spend a great part of his time in the saddle, the roads were not of the best, and " the accommodations were in most places very indifferent." But what more than compensated for these discomforts was the success with which God favoured him and his colleagues. He saw crowded congregations, a great eagerness to hear the Word, and a revival in almost every part of the Circuit.

" In St. Austell the heavenly flame broke out in an extraordinary manner,

''LITTLE BETSEY."

and great numbers were gathered into the fold of Christ, among whom was Mr. Samuel Drew, a young man then terminating his apprenticeship to a shoemaker, and afterwards distinguished as one of the first metaphysicians of the age." In a letter to a friend at Trowbridge, Mr. Clarke wrote : — " Among the children there is a most blessed movement. Numbers of them, being made sensible of their need of Christ, have set their feet in the paths of the Lord, and are running with steady pace to their heavenly Father's kingdom ; and are, contrary to the nature of things, turned fathers to the aged. At St. Austell the Lord has lately laid to His hand, and there is such a revival now in it as I have never seen in any place before. Our chapel, though the largest in the Circuit, is so filled that the people are obliged to stand on the seats to make room. Last Sunday night I preached there, and was forced to enter at the window to get to the pulpit."

It is no wonder that in the midst of these blessed scenes and influences Elizabeth was led to seek the Lord, and desire union with

His people. Of the many gathered into the Church during that time of gracious visitation, every one has ere this fallen asleep.

Notwithstanding the scoffs and sneers of former companions, encouraged by a loving, pious step-mother, the youthful disciple held on her way, and continued to meet in Class, under the leadership of a good old Methodist, Mr. Thomas Halls, father-in-law of Mr. Samuel Drew, until February, 1786, when she left home for Miss Bishop's school at Keynsham, near Bristol. " Here," she writes, " the strictest discipline was enforced, the school was well regulated, and great order was preserved. Our morals were guarded, and religious instruction was frequently given, both by Miss Bishop, who carefully watched over us, and by the preachers, who came regularly according to plan. The affectionate admonitions and exhortations of that eminently pious man, Mr. J. Valton, made deep impressions on the minds of most of the young ladies, and on mine in particular. It was during my stay at Keynsham that I had the honour and privilege of hearing Mrs. Fletcher give

"LITTLE BETSEY."

an exhortation in the chapel to the young people. "When on a visit to Bristol, Mr. Wesley being in the city, my father sent me to knock at the door of his room over the old chapel in Broadmead.* He opened it and exclaimed, i What ! my little Betsey ! how came you here ? ' This is one proof of his extraordinary memory in recollecting persons and names. , I was then a hundred and fifty miles from home, and had not seen him for perhaps a year and a half."

At the Conference held in Bristol in 1786 " little Betsey " was led by Mr. Wesley into the Conference Chapel, that she might see the preachers assembled there ; and, if her memory were not at fault, it was during the same visit to the city that she dined with John and Charles Wesley at Mr. Crosse's, in Wine Street, occupying a seat next to Charles.

At Miss Bishop's school Elizabeth made satisfactory progress in her studies ; and her general deportment was all that could be desired. Her school-fellows confided in her

* Now used as a place of worship by the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.

word, paid deference to her judgment, and treated her with kindness and respect; while by her diligence and attention to duty she won the approbation of her teachers.

In a letter to her granddaughter, Miss Solomon, now the wife of the Rev. James W. Eacott, she makes pleasing reference to her school days : — " When I was about your age at school," wrote Mrs. Shaw in 1852, " my lessons were numerous, and sometimes difficult, particularly my French lessons. I felt conscious that all was known to my Heavenly Father, and that He could help me to understand and get through them. To Him I made known my daily request, and often have I been astonished at my success, and grateful for the aid vouchsafed. I do not remember ever to have been punished or reproved as my fellow pupils sometimes were. Pray much, sincerely, importunately ; and use all diligence, remembering that faith and works must be united. That beautiful passage often occurs to my mind, ' Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,' Colossians iii. 16; and also good old Mr.

Entwisle's favourite motto, (Proverbs iii. 6,) ' In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' "

On Elizabeth's return home her besetment, she tells us, was love of dress. Not that she wore anything gay, " such as bows of ribbon on her bonnet : " her father would not allow that ; and, moreover, eighty years ago the extravagant fashions of the present day would not have been considered in good taste. But she made it her study to get clothes of the finest and best materials, and to look " genteel " in a plain dress. This temptation proved , a snare to her until, as the result of the affectionate counsels of a pious friend, Miss M. Paynter, of Redruth, and the ministry of Dr. Coke, she determined to "lay aside" the besetting sin, and to serve the Lord more faithfully and zealously than she had previously done. While, however, the fear of God was before her eyes, the love of God was not as yet shed abroad in her heart : she was still

" A stranger to the Gospel hope, The sense of sin forgiven ; "

and not until the 19th of May, 1793, did she obtain a clear sense of her acceptance with God.

The narrative, as given by herself, is this : — " The Rev. Francis Truscott called at my father's, and dined with us. Having an opportunity of speaking to him alone, I told him freely the state of my mind. He kindly encouraged me to hope, and to believe that God would accept the sacrifice that Jesus Christ had made of Himself for me ; adding, ' Now, even this moment, if you will but cast your soul on the mercy of God through Christ, I am sure you will obtain a sense of His pardoning love. Yes, my soul for thine, but He will bless thee.' And, glory be ascribed to my kind, longsuffering God ! I was enabled to lay hold on the Saviour, and to feel pardon and acceptance through Him."

Elizabeth could now " rejoice in the Lord ;" and so great was her love to Him that she gladly denied herself of part of the time usually devoted to sleep, that she might read, and meditate, and pray. Law's " Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," a book much admired by Dr. Johnson, and from which the Wesleys derived benefit, became her companion; and the character of Miranda appeared to her so attractive that there was danger of her becoming ascetical in her views and practices. Happily, God's blessing on the conversation of pious friends prevented this evil.

Chapter II. The Christian Maiden

In the possession of new-found joy and peace, it was Elizabeth's immediate desire and resolve to do something for her Lord. Saved herself, she sought the salvation of others. She did 'not hesitate to speak to friends and neighbours about the things which belonged to their peace. She read the Scriptures to the poor in their own homes ; and} in other ways, as opportunities were presented to her, she strove to be useful.

When the Rev. Joseph Benson visited Cornwall, in 1795, and with such power and success preached the Word to the tens of thousands who were eager to hear him, Elizabeth could not remain at home. How many times she heard the celebrated preacher I cannot say, but the services of the memorable twenty-first of June were never forgotten by her. When on that midsummer Sabbath afternoon Mr. Benson addressed the crowd before the market-house at Redruth, on " Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting," (Daniel v. 27,) she was there. And again in the evening, when he preached at Gwennap Pit to about twenty thousand persons, on the Last Judgment, taking as his text, " I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, etc.," (Rev. xx. 12,) she was there ; and the impression made by these services was not effaced, even when fourscore years and more had passed away.

A letter, written to a relative before the year closed, sets forth the state of her mind, as well as the avidity with which she seized every opportunity of working for God at this early period of her Christian life. The following extracts, though somewhat lengthy, are too excellent to be omitted. " St. Austell,

" 24th December, 1795.

" My dear Aunt, —

" I have many times thought of writing you, but hitherto one thing or another has prevented Though ' absent in

body/ I cannot help feeling for you in your distress. However, this is certain, that 1 every gift of God is good,' not even afflictions and sufferings excepted. For though it be oftentimes the case that the dispensations of Divine Providence appear to us, poor, blind mortals, dark and mysterious, yet the Word of God cannot fail : ' All things work together for good to them that love God.' The cup is mixed by His unerring Hand Who deals tenderly with His children, and i will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able,' and will certainly ' with the temptation also make a way to escape.' A beautiful remark of a pious man was this: 'The greatest blessing which the Almighty can bestow on us is affliction, and grace to bear it.' I believe it is the means of drawing us more closely to our merciful High Priest, and of giving us to feel that without His support we can do nothing.

"It is good to be taught wisdom and humble love while sitting at the foot of the Cross. There we may find the sweetest food. I have often thought lately that the Lord has begun to ' purge His floor ' — to separate the chaff from the wheat. 0 that we may not faint in the day of trial, knowing that ' he that endureth to the end shall be saved ' ! May He ride on till all are subdued, till He gains a glorious Church, without spot, and unblamable before Him

in love Can we not say that He is

indeed the only Fountain of all good, of life, love, peace and truth, a never-failing Friend ? "Why then should we shrink from suffering ; from that which has a tendency to conform us unto Him ' in the likeness of His death ' ? 0 that we may be partakers of ' His resurrection ' ! May the Lord enable you to mount above the storms, and make you to ' sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus ' ! Set no dependence on man. Trust not in an arm of flesh, which is liable to error and change ; but ' trust in the Lord for ever,' for in Him is ' everlasting strength.' Whatever you lose, you may find more than all in Him. Suffer not men nor devils to hinder you from ' pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ

c

Jesus.' Kemember God is the same. Endeavour to look beyond this vale of sorrows to the heavenly Canaan where all tears are wiped away; for the promise is that ' to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life ' shall be the reward. For my own part, I want to feel more of the quickening influences of Divine love, to die daily to self and sin, and to be more diligent in wisdom's ways. I have great reason to be thankful both for past and present mercies : above all for Jesus Christ, and the least hope of being admitted at the last to be with Him, and to see Him as He is. That each of us may so run as to obtain is the sincere desire of

" Your affectionate Niece,

"E. Flamank."

The nineteenth century has undoubtedly been a period of unparalleled development and progress. What marvellous changes — social, commercial, political, religious — have been brought about since the foregoing letter was written ! To mention

THE CHRISTIAN MAlDEtf. 19

nothing else, the application of steam to purposes of locomotion now enables travellers to get over as much ground in a day as would have required at least a week when the century began.

Notes of a journey taken in 1796 indicate a marked contrast to the present rapid, comfortable, and comparatively safe mode of travelling. No gas in the towns, no telegraph wires by the roadside, no liveried postmen with their heavy burdens of correspondence and parcels, no large factories, no railways, no puffing, hurrying fire-horse, were then to be seen. She writes : —

u July V&ih. — Set off with my sister for Trowbridge.

" July 2\st. — Reached Bristol.

" July 25th.— Bath. Heard Mr. Collins at King Street.

" July 26th.— Went to Trowbridge. Met in Mrs. Pond's Class.

" July 28th.— Bradford.

" July 29th. — Returned to Bristol, c 2

" August 2nd. — Miss Ritchie and Miss Johnson's conversation excellent.* Prayer-meeting at eleven o'clock at Mrs. Pine's. In the afternoon Miss Ritchie read a letter from Lady Maxwell, expressive of deep self-abasement and close fellowship with God. Such lettings into Deity ! Such views of heaven !

" August 4th. — Breakfasted with Miss Ritchie at Miss Johnson's. A treat indeed !

" August hth. — Left Bristol for Wellington. When within a mile of this place the coach overturned. All, except myself, hurt or much frightened. My mind calm and peaceful. Thankful for preserving mercy.

" August 8th. — Exeter.

" August 9th. — Plymouth.

" August 11th. — Home."

* " Betsy Kitchie, Miss Johnson, and M. Clarke are women after my own heart."

John Wesley to Adam Clarke.

" I am persuaded you will yourself profit as much, if not more, by the conversation of a few in Bristol, Mr. Valton and Miss Johnson in particular, as by that of any persons in Great Britain."

John Wesley to B. C. Brackenbury.

What cause for joy would it be if all our Methodist young people of the present day were as eager to attend the means of grace, social as well as public, as the above entry shows Elizabeth to have been !

In looking over her diary I find the difficulty to be that of selection. The extracts must of necessity be few, and where there is so much of an interesting nature it is not easy to decide what those few shall be. The following, written prior to her marriage, will be read with pleasure : —

" October 2nd, 1796. — I desire to praise the Lord from my soul for the past week. 1 He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.' Last Monday I felt my soul quickened, and a heavy burden removed from my mind. The Lord doeth all things well.

" Tuesday. — Went to Polmear to hear preaching. Found it good to be there ; and felt much love to the precious souls who likewise came to hear.

" Wednesday. — Spent some time in profitable conversation with my dear father, and in the evening found great liberty in recommending the service of my blessed Master to a lady of Bristol, whom I had never seen before. If it should prove useful to her, to God be all the glory !

" Friday and yesterday. — Dropped a fewwords to some poor sinners who yet remain in ignorance respecting their souls' salvation amid ' this blaze of Gospel day.' Lord, teach them to escape for their lives to Thee ere it prove too late !

" May 21st, 1797. — I awoke this morning with these words : —

' My soul, and all its powers, Thine, wholly Thine, shall be ;

All, all my happy hours I consecrate to Thee.'

Amen, Lord Jesus ! Strengthen me to perform the covenant ; forgive my wanderings from Thee, and keep me near Thy side.

" September 21th. — This morning I felt strong desires for the recovery of a backslider, and had liberty in praying for her. In the forenoon I was called into the shop to settle an account with her ; and I gladly embraced the opportunity of speaking to her of the danger of living without God. She then told me that she felt the Spirit striving with her, and that she had been particularly affected under a sermon which she had lately heard.

" October 3rd. — Quarterly Meeting. A blessed day. The power and presence of the Highest overshadowed the preachers and leaders in the afternoon ; and in the evening at the Lovefeast we were not less favoured. God spoke peace to two troubled hearts, and many present had cause to rejoice in His salvation. After some time the house was filled with strong crying, etc. ; some praying, others singing, and others speaking of the goodness of God to their souls. The noise rather discomposed my mind ; for though I durst not condemn, yet I find the most profitable seasons are when there is a silent breathing after God, and a ' sacred awe which dares not move.' Lord Jesus, shed Thy love abroad in every heart !

" October 12th. — This afternoon visited several poor families, and found a present reward. In one house felt it good to hear a poor old Zionward traveller, (who had tasted of the good word of God, and walked in the narrow path, through storms and difficulties, upwards of forty yearSj) tell of the goodness of God to her soul. She wept, and could not express what she then experienced of

Sis mercy and love She entertained

the preachers at her own house for twentyseven years, and is thankful for the many opportunities she had of their advice, instruction, and prayers. She is now near eighty-two, just arrived at the desired haven, with a goodly prospect of the better country, and no doubt of landing safe.

" October 11th.— Mr. B. and I called to see John and Nanny Bray, at Penforder, two old travellers, Who are got almost to their journey's end, and have a blessed prospect in view. I went up stairs to see the bed which the preachers sleep in, and found it, as I had been told, decorated with evergreen curtains. The ivy had crept through the wall or window, and was curiously entwined about the bed.

" November lAth. — Visited many objects of distress. Several in the workhouse confined to their beds, breathing out their wretched existence without hope of a better, either in this world or in that which is to come. In one room found a blind man sitting by his poor afflicted wife, who is a cripple, confined to her bed, in a deplorable condition. Even those who are in tolerable health, and feel any concern for their immortal souls, are surrounded by others whose oaths and curses render their situation extremely uncomfortable. I felt great liberty in speaking to those whom I saw there. From thence I went to see a poor woman, who after her confinement had caught cold. Here was a scene of deep poverty. She had not a bit of straw to lie on ; and, being on the ground-floor, the room was damp. She had formerly felt desires to serve God, but never heartily sought Him ; and now she feels anguish of spirit from a sense of His displeasure and her ingratitude. 0 what trouble do some undergo ! Lord, give me a thankful and obedient heart for all Thy multiplied blessings continually bestowed upon me, and teach me to be a faithful and wise steward.

" December 12th. — Mr. Hore, of Dock, purser of the ' Venerable,' who was on board during the late engagement, gave us a particular account of the action ; * and said he never saw the interposition of Providence so wonderfully displayed in his life before. Had they lost only ten minutes in the beginning they would have done nothing. . . . According to my views of Christianity, war and bloodshed, with all their dire train of calamities, are as contrary to the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as light is opposed to darkness. It is truly painful that so many thousands should be hurried into eternity, the greater part of whom, I believe I may justly fear, are unprepared to meet the Judge. 0 ye princes and rulers of the people, what account will ye be able to give in the last great day ?

" December 21st. — Mr. Hodgson preached last night from Job xxiii. 3 — 6, and towards the end of the sermon a man stood up and said : * Glory be to God ; I know it, I feel it ; I feel the truth of it now in my heart ! '

* Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch fleet off Camperdown, on the Coast of Holland, October 11th, 1797.

This encourages us to hope for a greater revival of vital religion. I look forward to next Tuesday (the day of the Quarterly Meeting) with pleasing expectation of an outpouring of the Spirit on the people, who are, I hear, alive to God. Who can tell the ' wondrous power of faithful prayer,' when many are agreed in their petitions to the God of all grace? Last night, as I was sitting at work, I felt such a sense of the love of God to my soul as I seldom experience : my heart melted as wax before the fire, and truly God was all in all.

"December 11th. — Yesterday was our Quarterly Meeting, and a most remarkable time we had. At the Lovefeast, I felt my mind stayed upon God, and my prayer was that He would manifest Himself as a mighty Saviour. After a few persons had spoken, Mr. B. desired the gardener Stephens to pray, and before he concluded many cried aloud for mercy. When the noise began I felt my spirit agitated, and my heart hardened, but soon I was enabled to look to Jesus, and, glory be to Him ! I found Him strong to deliver. From that time nothing outward disturbed me. It seemed as though I was surrounded with God. One young woman who sat near me groaned, being burthened. I desired one of the preachers to come and pray with her. He did so, and several others joined in supplication in her behalf. I desired her to look to Jesus as a present Saviour, to cast her soul on His atoning blood, etc. I believe I did not rise from my knees for more than two hours. My soul travailed in birth with her till Christ was formed in her heart. I saw so much of the willingness of God to save, that I thought