THE

Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine,

FOR FEBRUARY, 1826.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN SUGDEN SMITH: BY THE REV. JONATHAN EDMONDSON, A. M.

Ir is a pleasing task to trace the steps of a good man through this world of sin and sorrow; and, especially, to witness his final triumph over all his enemies in the hour of death. The temper and conduct of such a man, in the varied walks of life, discover the hallowing influence of the Holy Spirit on his heart; the changing situations and circumstances in which he is placed, in his progress to the holy hill of Zion, point out that ever-watchful Providence which directs his paths; and his peaceful end is an encouragement to all who are fighting under the banner of Emmanuel. The subject of this memoir was not signalized, in the discharge of his public duties, by the shout of popular applause; but his labours were crowned with considerable success; and his death was that of a Christian fully prepared for a blissful immortality.

Mr. John Sugden Smith, was the eldest son of Robert and Ann Smith, and was born at Braithwaite, near Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in September, 1760. There his father occupied a small farm, and reared a large family, in a way which did him credit; and his mother, who was truly pious, and a pattern of industry and neatness, used every means in her power to plant the principles of Christianity in his heart, and in the hearts of all her children. Her maternal care, excellent advice, and pious example, were never forgotten by Mr. Smith, He loved and honoured her while she lived; her memory was dear to numbered with the dead; and when he was placed stances, he observed to his colleague in the ministry, my mother in the kingdom of glory."

him after she was in dying circum"I shall soon meet

The temper of Mr. Smith, in early life, was remarkably serious, sedate, and regular. He never ran into those excesses of folly which mark the conduct of many young people; and he frequently declared, in riper years, that he could not recollect the time when the fear of God was not, in some measure, before his eyes. In his boyish days, he used means to reform his companions from a gross profanation of the Sabbath. The following instance is worth recording. It was a common practice, in that VOL. V. Third Series. FEBRUARY, 1826.

G

neighbourhood, for boys to go out into the fields on the Lord's Day to play at foot-ball. Viewing that practice as a great evil, he resolved, if possible, to put a stop to it. To accomplish his purpose, he called several of them together, expostulated with them on the impropriety of their conduct, urged them to renounce it for ever, and advised them to attend some place of worship on the sacred day. But he allowed them, by way of compromise, to indulge themselves in that rude sport on a Saturday, and had no objection to join them himself on that day; for he then thought, that the evil of the practice consisted entirely in a profanation of the Sabbath. This was his first attempt to reform the manners of others; and it succeeded beyond his expectation. With regard to himself, he was obedient to his parents, diligent in business, and circumspect in his outward behaviour. In the eyes of those who knew him best, he appeared to be an excellent youth, and worthy of imitation. Some of his friends, who were unacquainted with vital religion, thought him quite good enough; and, probably, he thought so himself; as nothing is more common among persons of a moral conduct, but who have not been ruly converted to God, than self-confidence, and self-applause.

In the year 1780, Mr. Smith became a constant hearer of the Word, at the old Methodist chapel in Keighley; and his mind being gradually enlightened, he was fully awakened to a sense of his awful state by nature. The light of the Gospel discovered to him many important and humbling truths: particularly, that he was "shapen in iniquity;" that he was "very far gone from original righteousness;" that he had provoked the anger of God by personal crimes; and that no regularity of outward conduct, or any attention to the mere forms of religion, could restore him either to the favour or the image of God. Deeply convinced of sin, and terrified with fears of future punishment, he humbled himself before the Lord, and earnestly sought salvation by Jesus Christ. That self-righteousness in which he had gloried, now appeared to him as "filthy rags," and his prayer was that of the publican in the temple: "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

In this state of mind, he joined the Methodist Society; and, being placed under the care of a pious Class-Leader, Mr. John Horsfall, of Holme-House, he was well instructed in " things pertaining to the kingdom of God." After he had joined the Society, he still continued to seek the Lord with his whole heart, by earnest prayer and supplication; and, at length, his prayers were heard and answered. His sins were pardoned; his heart was renewed in righteousness; the Holy Spirit bore witness with his spirit, that he was a child of God; and "he went on his way rejoicing." The evidence of his acceptance with God was so clear and strong, that he never doubted its reality from that time to the day of his death. Some persons, who are unacquainted with Christian experience, view this as rank enthusiasm; but they are as ignorant of

experimental religion, as a blind man is of colours, or as a deaf man of sounds. He who lives by the faith of the Son of God, has an internal evidence that Christianity is true; and, while this is the case, the subtle arguments of Infidels and nominal Christians, weigh no more with him than the "small dust of the balance:" nor can he, by the artful suggestions of unbelievers, be quibbled out of his assurance of the divine approbation.

Having obtained peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and being truly happy in the enjoyment of "pure and undefiled religion," he endeavoured to make himself useful, in every possible way; and was a fine example of that piety and moral conduct which he recommended to others. He took an active part in public prayer-meetings, and earnestly exhorted his friends and neighbours to flee from the wrath to come. He was then employed in the service of Mr. John Greenwood, a respectable Class-Leader in the Methodist Society at Keighley. His work was delivered at Mr. Greenwood's once a week; and as I then lived with the family, his Christian behaviour fell under my own observation. I had no religion myself, but was particularly pleased with his seriousness, and orderly deportment, both when he was engaged in business and when he was in the house of God. His appearance in the chapel was striking and impressive. He was generally in his seat at the commencement of the service, was deeply attentive to the word, and had every appearance of a devout worshipper. Such appearances are calculated to produce surprising effects on the hearts of young people; and I can safely affirm, that after the lapse of more than forty years, I have not lost the good impressions which were made on my mind, by my worthy friend.

After having been a private member of the Methodist Society about two years, Mr. Smith was "inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost" to preach the Gospel to a lost and perishing world. For some time he resisted the call of God, under a deep conviction of his unfitness for the work; but after many struggles with his feelings, the following passage being deeply impressed on his mind, "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin," he ventured, in humble dependance on divine aid, to preach from it, at a small cottage in the parish of Keighley. The friends who heard him were well pleased, and encouraged him to go on in the good work. He was soon received as a regular Local Preacher, and was well approved in the country places to which he was planned, by Mr. Wesley's Assistant in the Circuit. He preached, occasionally, in the chapel at Keighley. I recolleet hearing him there, on a Lord's Day evening, when he was very young in the work. His text was, Isai. i. 2: « My people do not consider." The congregation was large and respectable, and he was heard with great attention; but he felt the awfulness of his situation,