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

Preface

I was intimately acquainted with the late holy and highly respected William Bramwell. In the course of the following narrative, it will appear that I had long been honoured with his friendship and correspondence, and that his death occurred only a few minutes after he had left my house. From these and other circumstances, I was induced, at the earnest solicitations of his friends, to undertake the preparation of this Memoir of his Life and Ministry. It is a source of lamentation to me, that I have not been able to present an account of my much esteemed friend, more worthy of his excellences and of the notice of the religious public.

Many causes have conspired to hinder the completion of a good memoir. — When Mr. Bramwell was in the Hull circuit, he destroyed his valuable diary, the contents of which would unquestionably have furnished a rich entertainment to every Chris* tian. With the motives which induced him to commit those excellent manuscripts to the flames, I am not perfectly acquainted. I have been informed by a friend, who conversed with him on the subject that he said many of the particulars were of so extraordinary a nature, that he thought that they would almost be considered as enthusiastic and visionary ; but I have reason to believe, that he saw the impropriety of this act, several years before his death. Some of Mr. BramwelPs friends had promised to contribute a few papers in illustration of this Account of his Life ; but in several instances these promises have been unfulfilled, either through forgetfulness, negligence, or the paramount demands

4 PREFACE.

of other engagements. A great disparity of style will be perceptible in different parts of the memoir ; as it will be seen that the same excellences are treated by different writers, chiefly in their own words. But by candid readers this diversity will not be regarded as any disparagement to the work ; they will rather be pleased to find, in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word established respecting the virtues of Mr. BramwelL All the accounts, however varied in style, unite in correctly representing his love to God, "his yearning pity for mankind," and his intense desire for their salvation. These powerful motives were in constant exercise on hfe mind, and incited him to the performance of labours innumerable. It is probable that there have been but few Christian ministers since the days of the apostles, who have made greater exertions to bring to the fold of Christ the fallen sons of men, and whose labours have been more signally owned by the great Head of the Church.

But though the destruction of his journal, the unfulfilled promises of several friends, and the difference of style, have rendered this Memoir an irregular kind of composition ; yet I trust that every humble follower of our Lord Jesus Christ will be edified and instructed by the living traits of holiness which it exhibits. Some of the anecdotes may, in the view of cool and calculating characters, seem to savour too much of enthusiasm. But this cannot be charged on Mr. Bramwell as a fault ; for he has left behind him no written account of any of these transactions, and was seldom known to speak of them, even in the presence of those who had the happiness of enjoying his most intimate friendship. Yet it is not attempted to be denied, that his was the noble enthusiasm of exerting all his powers to give effect to the gracious purposes of God among the perishing sons of Adam.

PREFACE. O

Without a goodly portion of this noble feeling, no man ever yet excelled in any profession : Why then should it be the subject of blame, only in the profession of religion 1 Can any man be too zealous in the promotion of the vital interests of godliness ? This is impossible.

On such a theme His impious to be calm : Passion is reason ; transport, temper here.

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 undertaken 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 labours 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 oi 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.

James Sigston.

Queen-Square Academy, Leeds, April 21st, 1820.

ADVERTISEMENT*

The success which has attended the sale of the iirst edition of this Memoir, and the very favourable 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 labour 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" J. S.

Leeds, October 4, 1820.

MEMOIR

OF

alR. WILL.IAM 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. Har> greave, 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 t — do they live for everl"

Mr. BramwelFs 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 13 were too frequently the b MEMOIR OF

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 neighbours, 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 towards his children. On this account, they were prevented from* making him their confident, and could approach him with no other feeling than that of awe or dread.

It was, however, a great benefit to Mr. Br am well, 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 vvith our uncommon advantages, would there be any misapplication of Scripture, if this passage were repeated to us? — ll Wo unto thee, Chorazin ! Wo unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done hi Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes !"

From his parents, whose religious attainments, it is seen, were very limited, Mr. Bramwell 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. G. BramwelPs 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 afterwards, 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 ofcircumstances, 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 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 which he preached.

By his parents Mr. Bramwell was also instructed in a strict regard to truth. 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 BramwelFs name was mentioned, if it were known that he had sanctioned any thing by his affirmation, his neighbours considered his word to be decisive, and required no farther proof of the authenticity of that 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 practised, 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 man* kind, 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 favoured 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 ;C guards the sacred heirs of heaven," had his own gracious purposes to answer by him, and suffered no farther evil consequences to ensue from this involuntary act, than some large boils or blisters which arose on his skin, by which for some time nature endeavoured 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

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of his indisposition left him ; and he gradually recovered his former health and vigour.

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 labour and exertions in the ministerial office 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 favourite 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 endeavours.

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 rs

MR. \V. BRAMWELL. 13

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 i4 MEMOIR OF

glowing description of his articles than plain imtk 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 !" 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 honoured, 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 malepractices among his fellow apprentices, and, without hesitation or fear of the evil which the delinquents might practise against him, acquainted his master with the knavery. This procured Mr. Brandreth's respect and good will, 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, <( Wm. 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 ardour 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 resourse 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 binders aftonjpd 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. Bramweii'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 honour of God—He associates with the church singers, 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. BramwelPs parents, have been already noticed. During his apprenticeship, his previous convictions sere 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 memoty 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 trangressions. 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 an^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 any body." At the same time he told William that so far from being undutiful and ungrateful, he had done nothing which required a parent's for* giveness. 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 towards 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 honour 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 operaions, he stood alone, and had no pious friend to whom

MR. W. BRAxlIWELL. IT

lie could disclose his feelings, or with whom he could take sweet counsel respecting his soul. Of all the professors of Christianity in the neighbourhood 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. Labouring under the greatest concern for the salvation of his soul, he adopted several modes of mortifying the flesh, of the most ascetic and severe descripion, 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 selfinflicted 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 favourite tree, he usually remained there till evening, confessing his sins aloud in the presence of his heavenly Father, and earnestly imploring forgiveness.

Whilst in this disconsolate state of mind, he sometimes wandered from Preston, after the labours of the day ; and, walking as far as hie father's house in Elswick, [a distance often miles,] he has slowly returned the same night, without partaking of the least refresh- 2*

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ment, 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 labour, 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."