Memoir of the life and ministry of William Bramwell, lately an itinerant Methodist preacher; with extracts from his interesting and extensive correspondence

Front matter

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LIFE AND MINISTRY

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 2 (13)

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 Grospel 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 their earnest wish that their children should be observant of every moral obligation, and attentive to all the duties of life. Beyond this, their ideas of pure religion had never extended. In love with the form of godliness, they were destitute of its power. They did not perceive the necessity of constant Divine influence and of spiritual regeneration. A rigid adherence to the ceremonies of the Church was the highest standard of their piety ; and none of their children could be guilty of a more grievous offence against them than that of absenting themselves from the Church service, or resorting to the meeting-house of some other denomination. Mr. Bramwell's father was particularly reserved toward his children. On this account they were prevented from making him their confidant, and could approach him with no other feeling than that of awe or dread.

It was, however, a great benefit to Mr. Bramwell, that he was blessed with parents whose knowledge and practice so nearly coincided. We are at this day in the habit of looking back with pity and compassion on the ignorance of those elder times, and of expressing our thankfulness for the superior illumination of these our glorious days. And in this we act aright, if the retrospect incline us to improve our privileges. But with our uncommon advantages, would there be any misapplication of Scripture, if this passage were repeated to us, — "Woe unto thee, Chorazin ! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes !"

From his parents, whose religions attainments, it is seen, were very limited, Mr. Brain well imbibed the most profound veneration for the Lord's day. And, indeed, what man ever attained to any eminence in piety, who was not very scrupulous in his regard to the Sabbath ? As an instance of his extreme tenderness of conscience in this respect, it may be stated that, during his apprenticeship, he was much attached to botanical pursuits, and kept a number of curious plants and shrubs in the window of his lodging-room. Although some of them, from their delicacy, required particular care and attention, yet if he had neglected to water them on the Saturday evening, and found them drooping in consequence on the Sunday, he would not, by watering them, commit an act which he considered a breach of the observance of that sacred day, but postponed it until the following morning.

Proper attention to the Sabbath must always lead in its train a corresponding love for the word of God, and regular habits of perusing it. In Mr. Gr. Bramwell's family, this was a part of the required duties of that holy day. All the children had their portion of reading assigned them, and were taught to regard the sacred volume as a revelation of mercy from Heaven.

How salutary has an early knowledge of the Scriptures often proved ! The holy principles which they inculcate frequently remain latent in the youthful breast until they are elicited by providential circumstances. Then it is that their peculiar importance and gracious effects are very perceptible. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the word of God has been silently "preparing the way of the Lord;" and when once the heart has been inflamed by a spark of grace, the subjects of this Divine change have themselves been amazed at the readiness with which they could bring out of the treasure-house of their memory, things new and old.

We may see the effect which this early acquaintance with Scripture truth produced in the mind of the Rev. John Newton, the friend of the poet Cowper. The portions of God's word which he had read when but four years of age, were brought to his recollection above twenty years afterward, at the time of his short captivity on the coast of Africa. He wondered at the great harvest which had been almost unconsciously husbanded; and when he was not possessed of a Bible to which he could have recourse, and which, with the perverse feelings which he then evinced, he would have been unwilling to peruse, his unassisted memory furnished him with supplies in abundance. At forty years of age, by a wonderful train of circumstances, he became a minister in the Established Church, and during a space of nearly half a century, edified the age in which he lived, and left materials in his writings for instructing future generations. To a similar early initiation in scriptural knowledge, we may attribute the same effects in Mr. William Bramwell. It was owing 2* to this cause that he became a good textuary, and with the utmost ease acquired the habit of referring to the Scriptures for the proof and illustration of the doctrines Avhich he preached.

By his parents Mr. Bramwell was also instructed in a strict regard to truth t And this was not inculcated by precept or exhortation alone, but happily recommended by practice. His father, like the great Epaminondas, never told a lie, even in jest. Of whatever importance the affair might .be in which George Bramwell' s name was mentioned, if it were known that he had sanctioned any thing by his affirmation, his neighbors considered his word to be decisive, and required no further proof of the authenticity of the matter. For the same humble imitation of the God of truth, his son William was equally distinguished. Even in his unconverted state, this was a virtue which he constantly practiced, and from the observation of which he never receded. On no occasion could he be enticed or intimidated to betray its interests or disobey its dictates; and, in certain instances, in which a person of less firmness would have wavered, fearless of consequences, he asserted the truth with the boldness of a lion. Unimpeachable veracity is so rare among mankind, that the wicked themselves display a kind of supernatural respect for the manly character in which it is found. It is, indeed, a legible trace of the Deity, which commands universal admiration, and on which the most sublime virtues have a firm foundation. All these instructions forwarded the operations of Divine grace in his mind. At the early age of seven years, while he was yet under the roof of his father, he was favored with the awakening visits of God's Holy Spirit : he had powerful convictions of sin, and deeply felt the necessity of a change in his heart and affections. These religious feelings never left him, till he experienced the great blessing of a sound conversion.

In his childhood Mr. Bramwell was much afflicted with the ague and other disorders. He had the small-pox when he was six years of age ; and such was the excruciating bodily anguish which he felt when this disease had reached its crisis, that, in a paroxysm of pain, he ran out of the house, threw himself into a pond, and was completely immersed in the water. . But He who "guards the sacred heirs of heaven," had his own gracious purposes to answer by him, and suffered no further evil consequences to ensue from this involuntary act, than some large boils or blisters which arose on his skin, by which Nature endeavored to cast off her surfeit. These did not cause great irritation or pain, but were very troublesome ; and while they remained he was ordered to be confined to his room. Much of his time was then spent in singing psalms in bed. At length all the bad effects of his indisposition left him ; and he gradually recovered his former health and vigor.

Singing was, indeed, always a delightful exercise to Mr. Bramwell. Nature had given him a fine, mellow voice, well adapted to sacred music ; until his subsequent excessive labor and exertions in the ministerial offiee had robbed it of its sweetness.

From his infancy he had been well instructed in church psalmody, his vocal powers having early rendered him a favorite among the singers at Cop Chapel. When a child he had a place assigned him in the singers' pew, where a stool was set to elevate him, that his voice might be heard by the whole congregation.

He received such an education as the means of instruction in the village of Elswick could afford. Knowledge had not in those days given itself that elastic bound which it has since done. The qualifications which were then considered necessary for young persons in the middle ranks of society were not numerous, and few persons could enjoy even the whole of these advantages. In the course of this narrative, it will be perceived how sedulously he applied himself to remedy the defects which he had experienced in his education, and what great success crowned his endeavors.

The early part of his youth was spent at home. His father, who was a farmer, and possessed of a small landed property, employed him for some time in agricultural affairs ; but when he had nearly attained the age of sixteen years, he was sent to Liverpool to reside with his eldest brother, John, who was a merchant of great respectability in that town. It was intended that William should have been brought up to that profession ; but after a short time his disinclination to that calling was so manifest, that his parents desired him to return home; and he was not backward in adopting their advice. His chief ground of dissatisfaction was, that the situation militated against his religious pursuits. His reason informed him, that the seductive dissipation of a gay seaport, and the opportunities which he would there have of indulging himself in its pleasures, were circumstances ill suited to promote the higher objects that he had in view. As he was at this period very ignorant of vital godliness, he did not perceive how great a disparagement it was to the grace of God, to distrust its sufficiency in preserving him faithful and incorrupt in an honest calling, however numerous and great his temptations might prove. Yet, to the close of his life, he was accustomed to speak of his residence in Liverpool with horror and disgust ; and always thanked God that he had been providentially called to escape from the snares and pollutions with which it abounded. He frequently declared it to be his settled belief, that had he remained much longer in Liverpool, he would have been ruined for ever. It is remarkable that only a few weeks before he died, when he was recalling this circumstance to memory in company with Mrs. Bramwell, he expressed his gratitude to God for delivering him from these temptations.

Soon after he had left Liverpool, he engaged himself, with the approbation of his parents, as an apprentice to Mr. Brandreth, a currier in Preston. He had not been long in this new occupation, before he had a severe attack of disease in his chest and stomach. The complaint

•with which, he was afflicted assumed for some time the appearance of a deep consumption ; but by the blessing of God on the means which were used to remove this indisposition, he gradually recovered.

His situation was now very comfortable. Mr. Brandreth, though not himself a religious man, placed the greatest confidence in his apprentice, and highly valued him for his unimpeachable honesty and integrity — qualities of far greater importance in trade than the narrow-minded slaves of sin are willing to allow. An instance of the sterling excellence of these virtues occurred soon after he went into his master's employ. The person who acted as salesman, and retailed goods to the customers, was in the habit of giving a more glowing description of his articles than plain truth would warrant. When those persons hesitated to receive his testimony, he generally appealed for a corroboration to any of the apprentices that were present. The first time William Bramwell was applied to in this manner he instantly replied, " No, sir. The quality of that leather is not so good as you have represented it I" As several persons in the trade were present when he gave this answer, they conceived the highest opinion of his veracity and uprightness. This anecdote was soon circulated; in consequence of which, his virtue was honored, and his character became established with all those by whom he was known. His master might have been displeased by this marked preference shown to one who was yet quite a stripling; but he soon experienced the advantage of this mode of transacting business, by the great increase of customers that it brought ; " for the Lord blessed his master's house for William's sake, and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house/' He had also discovered several malpractices among his fellowapprentices, and, without hesitation or fear of the evil which the delinquents might practice against him, acquainted his master with the knavery. This procured Mr. Brandreth's respect and goodwill, and he was fully convinced that such an apprentice was invaluable ; and that every act of his would be performed with a particular view to his master's interest.

Although Mr. Bramwell was thus esteemed by his master, it was rather as a faithful and valuable servant, in whom he could repose entire confidence, than as a person cultivating with all his heart the fear of God. Mr. Brandreth, so far from being religious, was entirely ignorant of the nature and power of genuine Christianity. The punctilious fear of offending the Supreme Being, the zealous earnestness in prayer, and preparation for eternity, which he beheld in Mr. Bramwell, he ascribed to the enthusiasm of an overheated mind. It was this ignorance which induced him to say, " William Bramwell is mad in these things; yet, as a servant, he is inestimable." To this also must be imputed the degree of persecution which Mr. B. suffered for religion. The ardor and zeal of his mind in perusing the oracles of Divine truth, could not escape the observation of any one who knew him. He prosecuted this study to a very late hour in the night, when he had retired to his chamber. To render these pursuits impossible, he was allowed no candles in the evening. When he was deprived of this resource, he still persevered in the attainment of Divine knowledge; and when the family was retired to rest, laying himself down on the hearth, as near the fireplace as possible, by the remnant of the fire he read as long as the cinders afforded any light. Mr. Bramwell has been often heard to relate this circumstance as one of the greatest privations he ever endured, and to urge others to make -a right use of those privileges which were in this instance denied to him.

Yet opposition in all its forms was rendered very helpful to his improvement; as it caused him to be more solicitous in devoting every moment of leisure during the day to the perusal of the sacred records and other books of instruction. He seized with avidity every opportunity of increasing his knowledge of Divine things ; and this earnestness soon turned to good account.

Chapter II

Mr. 'Bramwell's convictions — His alarming distress of mind — His acts of austerity and mortification — The anguish of his spirit injures his health — He receives the sacrament for the first time — In that ordinance he obtains a sense of God's pardoning love — His great zeal for the honor of God — He associates with the Church 6ingers, and loses much of the consolation which he had felt — He becomes acquainted with a man of piety — After many conflicts, he goes to hear the Methodists, and joins the society.

The salutary effects of the instruction and example of Mr. Bramwell's parents have been already noticed. During his apprenticeship, his previous convictions were increased in an extraordinary manner. One Sunday evening, while on his return from Elswick, where he had been to visit his parents, their great kindness to him was suddenly and forcibly brought to his recollection. At the same time he began to reflect with the greatest shame and confusion on his numerous acts of disobedience and ingratitude to them. Though he had been a most dutiful child, yet he was so overpowered at the view of the offences which his memory recalled, that he fell down on his knees in the lane, and there cried aloud to God to have mercy upon him, and to pardon his transgressions. As soon as he arrived at his master's house, in Preston, he retired to his room, and rolled himself on the floor in an agony, like a person distracted. These troubles of mind continued for some time, both night and 3 day, without intermission. He was deeply humbled at the sight of his conduct, and could not be satisfied till he took the earliest opportunity of returning to Elswick, to confess his offences in the presence of his father, and crave his forgiveness. His father, who considered him one of the most dutiful of sons, was surprised and astonished at the power of these convictions, which he could not comprehend. "Dear!" said he, " what hast thou done to lay these heavy charges against thyself? Thou hast not murdered anybody." At the same time he told William, that so far from being undutiful and ungrateful, he had done nothing which required a parent's forgiveness. With this consoling assurance he returned to Preston greatly relieved in spirit, and formed a strong resolution to change the course of his life. His repentance toward God continued deep and sincere ; and he sought every occasion of manifesting it, by frequent acts of fasting, mortification, and prayer. He also attended the service of the parish church, with the most scrupulous regularity ; and showed his genuine zeal for the honor of God, and his hatred to sin, by reproving the latter at all seasons, and in every company.

But while he was the subject of these Divine operations, he stood alone, and had no pious friend to whom he could disclose his feelings, or with whom he could take sweet counsel respecting his soul. Of all the professors of Christianity in the neighborhood, the Papists were the strictest; and, to a youthful mind, they appeared to evince some due regard to the external forms of religion. Though he had been sufficiently well instructed to dislike the principles and general practices of that Church, yet the austerities, penances, and privations to which its members occasionally subjected themselves, to him seemed highly reasonable; and at that period he had no doubt of such sacrifices being acceptable to God. Laboring under the greatest concern for the salvation of his soul, he adopted several modes of mortifying the flesh, of the most ascetic and severe description, different in some external respects from those of the Roman Catholics, but the same in principle. To remind him of his sins, on account of which he thought he was not sufficiently humbled, he frequently cut off the skin and flesh from the ends of his fingers, and would not for some time suffer the self-inflicted wounds to heal. About midnight he often arose and stole down into the kitchen, while the members of his master's family were asleep; then sprinkling a corner of the floor with some of the roughest sand he could find, and uncovering his knees, he knelt down, and in that painful posture spent many hours of the night in fervent supplications for the pardon of his sins. When the apprentices were allowed a day of relaxation, instead of employing it as they did, in carnal pleasures and worldly amusements, he retired to an obscure part of a wood near Preston, and, having climbed up a favorite tree, he usually remained there till evening, confessing his sins aloud in the presence of his Heavenly Father, and earnestly imploring forgiveness.

While in this disconsolate state of mind, he sometimes wandered from Preston, after the labors of the day; and, walking as far as his father's house in Elswick, a distance of ten miles, he has slowly returned the same night, without partaking of the least refreshment, or informing any of his father's family that an individual so wretched as himself was near their abode. After this solitary walk of twenty miles, he was ready to commence his labor, the next morning, with the earliest of his master's workmen.

His constitution was naturally robust. But had his flesh been brass and his sinews iron, the austerities in which he voluntarily persisted for many months would have ruined his health. Strong as he was, he at last found his frame unequal to the inward conflict which was itself sufficiently severe without the infliction of penitential bodily torture. His friends perceived that his countenance became pale, and that his strength was quickly declining. Being concerned for his welfare, they applied for advice to two physicians, who, unable satisfactorily to account for the emaciated state of his body, called the undefined and hidden cause of his unhappiness, "a nervous complaint."

But God, who is rich in mercy, shortly afterward effected for him a great deliverance. He had prepared himself with much prayer and self-examination for worthily partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and while in the act of receiving the sacred elements from the hand of the Bev. Mr. Wilson, a pious clergyman at

Preston, under whose ministry he had greatly profited, he obtaiued a clear sense of pardon. All his bodily ailments soon forsook him, and his " spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour/' Darkness and gloom, guilt and condemnation, were at once removed in a manner incomprehensible to him, .and utterly beyond all that he had ever been taught to expect or desire. The height of his joy was equalled only by the previous depth of his sorrow. He testified in every way his unfeigned gratitude to Him who had made him glad with the light of his countenance. Influenced by this principle, he tried even to purchase the obedience of others to the commands of his loving Saviour. To this purpose he applied all the money allowed him by his parents. If any young people swore in his presence, he affectionately reproved them, and, if they still persisted, he endeavored to buy them off from such profane practices, by giving them a sum of money. By this method he induced many to promise that they would no longer be guilty of their customary language of oaths and imprecations. In the same spirit, he often followed depraved individuals into public-houses, and dissuaded them from a continuance in their ungodly course of life. He suffered neither rich nor poor, young nor old, to escape reproof, when he perceived any thing in their spirit or conduct that was culpable. In behalf of his Divine Master, who had mercifully "called him out of darkness into marvellous light/' he had always a word in season.

Yet at this critical period, his Christianity was of a solitary kind. He walked alone in the ways of God. None of his friends appeared to be in earnest for the same blessings as those which he enjoyed. To secure, therefore, his continuance in the paths of righteousness, and to strengthen his newly formed gracious habits and holy reso-. lutions, he knew of no method equal to that of associating himself with the church singers. He thought that no body of men upon earth approached in their spirit and employment so nearly to the occupation of "the spirits of just men made perfect," as these cheerful choristers. To join with them in celebrating the high praises of God, appeared to him, artless as he then was, an object fraught with good, and most gratifying to his pious feelings. He entered heartily into this plan, and was constant in his attendance in the singers' pew. But there were other places more frequented by these rustic musicians than the church. To perfect themselves in their various parte, they considered it needful for the whole fraternity regularly to assemble at a rendezvous j and that most commonly was a large room in an alehouse. By gradually imbibing the spirits and habits of his new associates, Mr. Bramwell almost imperceptibly lost the comfort and happiness which he had so recently experienced. These persons were unfit companions for one, like him, exercised unto godliness ; levity and mirth being their particular delight when they were not immediately engaged in the service of the Church.

His religious feelings became dull and languid; and in this uncomfortable frame of mind he passed nearly three months.

About this period, one of his friends proposed to lend him the works of the Rev. John Wesley. He accepted the offer; but he soon afterward returned them unread, declaring that he durst on no account peruse them, as he was fearful of their corrupting effects, and of the tendency which they would have to destroy his religion.

Mr. Roger Crane, who was then a member of the Methodist society in Preston, had heard that Mr. Bramwell was so much in earnest for the salvation of his soul as to be almost " beside himself/' In consequence of this, he took some pains to be introduced to him. He soon became acquainted with him, and gained his confidence; and this, after an interchange of many visits, was ripened into a strong and mutual attachment. Such an intimacy was peculiarly pleasing to Mr. Bramwell, and he perfectly acquiesced in all the religious views and statements of his more experienced companion. Christian experience and religious enjoyment were not then novel subjects. He had felt them, and therefore knew their meaning and importance. At length Mr. Crane concluded that it was his duty to invite his friend to hear a Methodist preacher, and assured him that he would find the truths which he loved explained in a clearer and more scriptural manner, and with greater comfort to his own mind, than by his favorite clergyman. But though strongly and often solicited, he always declined the invitation;

and, as a full explanation of his resolution and the motives which influenced him, he told Mr. Crane that his father had exacted a promise from him not to attend the preaching of the Methodists, and had warned all his family against any connection with such a despicable community. He considered them an infatuated and deceiving body of people, like wolves in sheep's clothing.

This continued refusal caused a great shyness between the two young men. Their interviews became less frequent : friendship had no longer its former attraction, and in the end their intimacy entirely ceased. They kept apart from each other nearly six months, and, in the interim, Mr. Bramwell became more lax in his principles, and less scrupulous in his conduct. The alluring habits and maxims of the world, which he had hitherto firmly and successfully resisted, seemed almost insensibly to steal upon him. He drooped in spirit, and lost all sensible comfort. He was in this unhappy frame when a conversation that took place between him and Robert Looker, one of his master's workmen, induced him to attend for the first time the preaching of the Methodists. Robert relates the circumstance in the following simple manner :

"I have now been forty years acquainted with Mr. Bramwell. He and I wrought together in the same shop nearly six years. I never knew his equal for strict morality. His parents were rigidly attached to the Established Church. "When he received his first religious impressions, he became very zealous. I heard him reprove sin in all places, and the commission of it vexed his righteous soul from day to day. At that time he had neither heard a Methodist preacher nor attended any of their meetings. He was prejudiced against them, but yet not so much as his parents were. Their antipathy was deep and inveterate.