You will, I believe, receive a greater fulness; and I think you are very near a more intimate union with God. But, keep your evidence clear for sanctification:-Wrestle with God for this;-and when clear, be on stretch for all the fulness. This will be the means of holding fast all that you receive. I want you to live near to God, and in all the sweet mind of Christ. If you give yourself to the Lord every day, in sweet covenant, and lie always in his hands, He, I know, will make all outward things plain to you. But when we exercise in the least our own will, we are never safe, but liable to every error, and to many evils. You shall see great things even in your life; only be faithful in every little act for God. He will make you ruler over many things. "Several families have turned to God in Sheffield lately; some of them are of the most respectable class. I wonder at the Lord's goodness. The work is still going on.-May God, who hath made you and me of the same mind and disposition, give his great blessing to Dewsbury this year! Now may the God of peace, who gives peace to his church, give us all peace and love! May the blessed work go on in every place, till this nation is overspread with the glory of God! Oh, pray, pray! and the Lord will answer. "I am, with much respect, In the preceding part of this memoir, the reader will have perceived how deeply Mr. Bramwell was concerned for the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom. If souls were saved, it occupied little of his conćern to know who were the instruments employed by the Almighty. However feeble the means might be, he was anxious that all the glory might redound to the Giver of all good. With these views, he greatly rejoiced to hear of the usefulness of Miss Mary Barrett, a pious female of Colne, who had begun to exhort in public, and had been rendered a great blessing. Many eminent divines have entertained discord opinions respecting female preaching. Mr. Bramy thought that, in the accomplishment of the great w of human redemption, the Almighty had a sóvere right to make his own election of instruments. question the validity of any one's call whose labo were clearly sanctioned by the broad seal of Heav appeared, in his eyes, a most unwarrantable act of sumption. It is well known that female preachers are not pe liar to Methodism. They have been recognised as credited teachers by the Quakers from the beginni It is probable, that, on this subject, Mr. Bramwe sentiments were much in unison with those of the spectable society of Friends. He regarded Joel's 1 phecy as containing an obvious reference to the gos dispensation. In this view it was quoted by the apo Peter on the day of pentecost: "And it shall come pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my S rit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters s prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, a your old men shall dream dreams: And on my serva and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those d of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." A few won of great piety were accustomed at an early period the history of Methodism, publicly to warn sinners flee from the wrath to come. They took up this cr because they considered it a duty; and in bearing a timony for Christ, they were sometimes called to su persecution. Their previous attainments and exp ence, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, quali them for this weighty undertaking; and their pious ex tions were greatly blessed in the Lord. Among th ancient female worthies, was the late Miss Bosanqu (afterwards Mrs. Fletcher,) who frequently engaged this interesting employment. Some persons had pressed a degree of surprise at her continuing oo sionally to address a congregations It was her des to "abstain from all appearance of evil," and to do thing by which a weak brother might be offended. S therefore wrote to that "great man in Israel," the Rev. John Wesley, stated her case, and received from him the following reply: To Miss Bosanquet. "Londonderry, June 13, 1771. "MY DEAR SISTER,-I think the strength of the cause rests there,-in your having an extraordinary call. So I am persuaded, has every one of our lay preachers otherwise I could not countenance their preaching at all. It is plain to me that the whole work of God termed METHODISM, is an extraordinary dispensation of his providence. Therefore I do not wonder if several things occur therein, which do not fall under ordinary rules of discipline. St. Paul's ordinary rule of discipline was, I permit not a woman to speak in the congregation;' yet, in extraordinary cases, he made a few exceptions; at Corinth in particular. "I am, my dear sister, "Your affectionate brother, Similar to these were Mr. Bramwell's views. He considered that Miss Barrett had "an extraordinary call," and to him she appeared to be divinely qualified for the work. She had received a good education and possessed great strength of understanding; she was distinguished for the depth of her piety and the fervency of her zeal, and her labours in public were very successful. He therefore gave her every encouragement to proceed in the path in which, by the blessing of God, she had been rendered useful in her own confined neighbourhood, and thought her called by Divine providence to move in a more extensive circle. Many persons, in different parts of the kingdom, will have reason to bless God that they were favoured with the privilege of hearing from her lips the joyful sound of the gospel. With the subjoined letter to her we will close this chapter. LETTER VI. To Miss Barrett. "Sheffield, Saturday. "MY DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,-I live in much peace and love; but for a season am not able to declare it. I have seen his arm made bare lately; but was forced to stop. I thank the Lord, he is with you. May a greater power rest upon you and upon the people! Your work is great; and the Lord can work with you. "I had a blessed time with Mr. Blagborne. He wanted much to see you. God is with him. I hope you will pray for us more and more. Sister Rhodes is come; but she wants lifting up. "I should hold a love feast at Mansfield next Monday. Is it possible that you can go in my place? I beg that you will return me an answer by the bearer. It is about twelve miles from Chesterfield. I shall not rest, unless I can have a proper supply. I beg you will give my love to all friends. I long to see them. "I am yours, &c, "WM. BRAMWELL.” CHAPTER IX. Mr. Bramwell's removal to the Nottingham circuit-Unsettled state of the society in that place-Great exertions to procure a place of worship-Remarkable answers to prayer-Letters Anecdotes-His conduct as a Superintendent. NOTTINGHAM was the next scene of Mr. Bramwell's labours. The conference of 1798 appointed him to that circuit. A great number of our members had joined the new connexion; and those who remained were in a very unsettled state As Mr. Bramwell was much esteemed, it was thought that his labours might prove peculiarly beneficial, and tend to heal the wounds which the church had received. The trustees of our large chapel in Nottingham had given it up to Mr. Kilham. Our preachers, therefore, were obliged to officiate in private houses and barns, or such other places as they could procure for the purpose. This was very embarrassing, and caused many painful feelings to the preachers; but to Mr. Bramwell, who was leav ing a circuit where all was harmony and love, these things must have been peculiarly distressing. He entered, however, upon his new station with a fixed resolution not to engage in any controversy respecting the division, but to do every thing in his power to build up the broken walls of Zion, and to bring souls to Christ. The following letter, written soon after his entrance into the circuit, will show what were the leading objects of his attention. LETTER VII. To Miss Barrett. 66 Nottingham, September 22, 1798. "MY DEAR SISTER IN THE LORD,-I was sorry to hear of your sudden call. I hope your mind is kept composed. God hath given; he will take away when it pleaseth him. Our fathers and our mothers are His./ Oh for submission to his blessed will in all things! This shows how uncertain we are in this world. "I pray more; and will still cry, 'Lord make us meet for thy glory! Every moment may we live to him, and him alone! I am giving myself to continual prayer. What will be the answer, I cannot tell; but shall wait to see his glory in the blessed Jesus. He is our all, and must bring all we need. "I found things flat in Nottingham. Building chapels are hard times. Almost in every country place I have seen the Lord work; and I do hope to see greater things than these. "We all expect you immediately when you are set free. The Lord bring you soon, that you may cast |