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THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

FOR OCTOBER, 1821.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR of the late MR. THOMAS BROCAS, of Shrewsbury. (Continued from page 651.)

"August 10, 1812. I have this day been admitted by oath into the office of a Director of the United Parishes; an honour which I did not expect. When I look back about fifty-six years, and remember the hole of the pit whence I was digged, my heart overflows with gratitude. O that I could but love my LORD! Nothing grieves me, but that I do not love Him with all my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. My dear Son, who wilt perhaps read this when the writer is in his grave, Remember to love the GoD of thy Father. Never forget his kindness to me. Call upon him in trouble: trust in him, and he will not forsake thee. Praise him, until we shall join again to serve him without sin for ever.

"Sept. 29. My business leading me to Warrington, I spent two days and nights very agreeably with a pious Calvinist, and his good, zealous wife, Mr. and Mrs. E. As I had for several years longed to hear MR. BRADBURN, I went to Liverpool on the Saturday, and spent the Sunday and Monday there. I found MR. BRADBURN a wise, zealous, aged divine. O what a sermon I heard him preach in the morning at seven o'clock, in the Pitt-street chapel, on these words of the Psalmist, "I am thine, save me!" At half past ten o'clock I heard him again, at the Brunswick chapel. Here the Liturgy of the Church of England was well read by MR. BRADBURN, and the congregational singing accompanied by an organ. All was to me solemn and delightful worship; and I could not forbear to call the place, "Zion, the perfection of beauty." How did my load fall off, and how was my heart broken, while the good old man preached from these words of Malachi, "But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings." In MR. BRADBURN I see the propriety of old men continuing to study and to labour in private; as I was lately VOL. XLIV. OCTOBER, 1821. * 4 N *

told, how early he rises every morning to his studies. This keeps the fire of piety burning in his own soul, and renders him greatly and deservedly esteemed, let him preach where he may. I spent part of the following day with MR. BRADBURN, who would have no denial, but insisted that I should preach for him in the evening at Brunswick chapel. I did so, with much reluctance, but with considerable freedom.

"Feb. 11, 1813. To-morrow, if God will, I am going into Staffordshire, to settle my last year's accounts. GoD still provides for me: O that he would pardon my sins, heal my backslidings, purify my soul, deliver me from temptation, accept a heart that fain would love him, and approve of my latter days' service! LORD, thou knowest me altogether: my secret thoughts are not hidden from thee. Preserve me on my journey, prosper me in my undertakings, bless my dear wife and children, keep them in thy way, and finally, for CHRIST's sake, receive us all

to heaven!"

The following passage in MR. BROCAS's journal contains the first intimation of the disorder which at length carried him to his grave an ossification of the heart: "October 25, 1813, I am tolerably recovered from my slow fever, brought on in London by putting on some damp linen, but I feel that it has left something like an asthmatical affection. When I walk fast, my breath is instantly gone, and I feel a pain in my breast. I am, however, on the whole, tolerably well. I want to devote my life, my health, my talents, my all to GoD: and if I might choose my lot, I would only write, and preach, and pray, to the end of my life."

After some observations on the downfall of a family, through the wickedness of two sons, MR. BROCAS makes the following remark, which deserves the most serious attention: "June 20, 1814, I have seldom known a resolute, moral man, whose sons were profligate and scarcely have I known a mild, gentle father, without firmness, who brought up his own sons, but he brought them up to their ruin, and in several instances to his own.”

"August 21. The religious services of this day have, to my soul, been a feast of fat things. Our old friend, MR. VALENTINE WARD, called upon me on his way to Scotland, and spent the Sabbath with us. He preached twice: first, on, 'He that believeth on the SON OF GOD hath the witness in himself;" and afterwards, on,Which things the angels desire to look into.' O what sermons! what vast congregations! what solemn worship! No self-sufficiency was apparent: we had no noisy, frothy preaching; but all present seemed to feel what the following lines are designed to express:

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"Saturday, Dec. 9th, 1815. This morning departed to a better world, MRS. FLETCHER, widow of the late truly eminent and REV. JOHN FLETCHER, late Vicar of Madeley. She continued her residence in the Parsonage-house, (at which she died,) mother in Israel indeed. She received Christians of all denominations, to whom her instructions and admonitions were very profitable. A greater, or a better woman, I believe, has not lived since the death of MRS. WESLEY, the late REV. JOHN WESLEY'S mother.

"Jan. 31st, 1816. My only occasion of sorrow this day is, that I am so unlike GOD. I see that human nature does not like to have resolutions passed against itself. By the strength of the Almighty I have passed an act against myself this day. My heart must be fixed. O what is JESUS to me, unless he cleanse my heart from all iniquity. Was ever any besetting sin broken off, and overcome, without hearty resolution?

"Feb. 11th, Sunday evening. I have been very unwell for several days, and this morning looked at the short journey of five miles, and the small services to be performed, with fear, and even with dread. But after a blessed Sacrament in the morning, no one offering himself as my substitute, notwithstanding the snow and severe frost, I went, and soon sang, and prayed, and preached away all my sorrows and fears. I spoke from these words: And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven thee,' Luke vii. 48: O what did I feel of the Saviour's love! of his love to sinners-to the chief of sinners,-of his redeeming love to me! I am actually come home better than I went: better both in body and mind. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!

"March 24th. I have this day heard two discourses which, to me, were very unprofitable. These dry, and merely moralizing sermons move none, and will convert and edify none. How an awakened sinner can satisfy himself with talking for three quarters of an hour about scarcely any thing but men, religious, or irreligious, I cannot tell: and yet I think this constitutes one half of the preaching of the present day. This imperfect exercise of the Christian ministry does not display the amazing Attributes of God, it does not shew how the Scriptures are fulfilled in and by JESUS CHRIST, it does not shew how sin is removed, and the Divine law magnified; it does not exhibit JESUS CHRIST in the essential glories of his Godhead, in his gracious assumption of Human Nature, in his spotless and active Life, his sacrificial Death, his Resurrection, Ascension, Intercession, Kingdom, his Willingness and Ability to Save:-It is not calculated to warm the heart, to inspire the mind with hope, to inflame it with holy love, and rouse men to evangelical labours and exer* 4 N2 *

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tions. O LORD, in pity to a ruined world, put a stop to this mode of preaching, and teach those who are addicted to it to preach better, to preach JESUS CHRIST and him crucified.

"April 21st. I have been at Fortune-Heath, a pleasant ride, and there preached with tolerable freedom. But O! how did my conscience say, 'Thou that preachest to others, preachest thou not to thyself?

"April 13th, 1817. I was this afternoon at Fortune-Heath, where I had an excellent congregation, and considerable seriousness of spirit. I preached from Matt. xxiv. 44, Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the SON OF MAN cometh.' I was forcibly struck while mentioning the apostasy of SAUL, of DAVID, of SOLOMON, of JEROBOAM, each of whom appears, while young, to have been prudent, and industrious, and I think also truly pious: but in their subsequent state of exaltation, what was their conduct? See the character of JEROBOAM, in the early part of his life, 1 Kings xi., how God revealed himself to him; and so of the others. Yet we have no proof that any of them were finally saved, excepting DAVID. We may indulge a favourable hope concerning SAUL and SOLOMON; but this is the utmost of what the Holy Scriptures will warrant. The evil spirit returned to them, he found their hearts swept and garnished, he seemed to bring with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and the last state of these unhappy men was worse than the first. O ye aged professors of religion! what are your present state and character? What is the present temper of my own heart? Am I as child-like before GOD, and do I, day by day, come as humbly, as earnestly, as believingly to the throne of grace, as I did forty years ago? Do I by faith look on Him whom I have pierced, and mourn, as I did at the commencement of my religious course? That text of Scripture seemed to condemn me: To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.'

"July 7th. As the disorder in my breast continues rapidly to increase, I spoke to Dr. D. on the subject this morning. After walking with me some distance, he said, 'I see into the nature of your complaint: it has nothing to do with the asthma. It is of a very serious kind, and will prove very obstinate.' He directed me not to eat any thing that is hard of digestion, and to take only a little at once; and then added, I cannot flatter you, MR. BROCAS-I cannot flatter you: I wish I could; but your's is an alarming disorder, though it is the most favourable case I have ever seen.' Thus my destiny is read: but my life is still in the hand of GoD; and I cannot forbear to think, that in bringing this disorder upon me, he deals with my soul in great mercy. He now teaches me to number my days,' in a

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way that I did not expect. This affliction has been a means of embittering sin to me. O for true repentance and pardon, before I go hence to be no more seen! O that I might be cleansed from all unrighteousness! Whither, O whither shall I flec, but unto thee, my gracious GOD? Cast me not off, O LORD: remember not my iniquities against me; but blot out all my sins for JESUS CHRIST's sake.

July 13th. Early this morning I thought that I was going to appear before God. Never before had I such a serious attack of my disorder; and being from home at the house of a friend, I was much alarmed. My breath seemed to be stopped: but after a few moments I recovered myself. O the mercy of God in thus calling me away from earth. I never before felt such deadness. to the world, as I have done the last week. Gop has kindly spared me to rear my family, and to make known to the world those truths which I have learned from the Bible, in opposition to the peculiar doctrines of Calvinism. My only prayer under this affliction is, not that it should be removed; for of that there is no hope; but that my sins may be pardoned, and that I may put on CHRIST: let this work be done, and I would rather die than live to dishonour him."

While MR. BROCAS felt himself to be a dying man, he rejoiced as a believer in Him who has the "keys of death and hell," and who has declared himself to be the "Resurrection and the Life." During the progress of his fatal disorder, it was obvious to all his associates and friends, that his immortal spirit was in a course of rapid preparation for the celestial regions. His conscience became more tender, his affections were gradually drawn from worldly objects, sin was more abhorred, holiness appeared to be increasingly desirable, and his whole spirit and manner became more heavenly and child-like. He proceeds:

** March 26th, 1818. For the last month I have been confined to my room by a most severe attack of the rheumatism; and the pain I have endured is indescribable. I am now, through Divine mercy, so far recovered as to be able to stand up to write. During my intervals of freedom from pain, I have read most of the Apostolical Epistles, with interest and pleasure. I never saw more clearly, I never felt more keenly, that nothing unclean can enter into the kingdom of God. I see as distinctly as if it were written with a sun-beam, that nothing will avail but a new creature -purity of body, mind, and spirit. I never saw more clearly, that the life of happiness is the life of holiness, a life of devotion to the LORD JESUS, and of union with him. Through all this illness, I have been affected with the providential goodness of GOD to me. I am not in an infirmary, I am not in a gaol, I am not without friends; I have every accommodation, am in my own house, with my own dear child, a child that loves me. These

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