them. To store their infant minds with the best principles, at the same time that they were instructed in useful learning, Mr. Bramwell knew was the only proper way of qualifying them for filling any station to which they might be called.

He had read Mr. Wesley's advice concerning the duty of parents toward their children, and resolved to act accordingly. He therefore determined to break their wills at an early period, and not suffer them to cry aloud in his presence after they were ten months old. Although this may seem strange and unaccountable to those parents who criminally indulge their children, yet it is a fact which ought to be generally known, that Mr. Bramwell's children, when in health, were never permitted to cry aloud in his presence after they had attained to that age. "He ruled well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." It must, however, be granted, that this would require a degree of apparent severity, which, if sanctioned in theory by parents in general, would probably never need to be adopted in practice. The propriety of Mr. Wesley's assertion on this particular has often been questioned, and some have said, that had he been a parent himself, he would have been better informed. But, with Mr. Bramwell, this method was not problematical he tried the experiment, and most salutary were the effects which it produced. His children feel to this day that they have the greatest reason to praise God for being favored in early life with the affectionate attentions of such a

parent. The intense love which he entertained for all of them is evinced in various parts of the correspondence subjoined to this memoir.

At the conference of the year 1789, Mr. Bramwell was appointed to the Colne circuit, in Lancashire. He travelled there two years, and the Lord blessed his labors during the whole of that time in an eminent manner. He resided at Southfield, about two miles distant from Colne. This circuit was large in extent;` and he was frequently thirty miles from home. Mrs. B. was now called to endure all those privations to which the wives of the preachers were subjected, in the commencement of Methodism. She had left her friends, and her home at Preston, to reside among strangers; and instead of enjoying the society of her husband, which might have compensated for other inconveniences, so unremitting were his exertions, and so fervent his zeal in promoting the interests of religion and the conversion of sinners, that he was never at home excepting one night in the course of every six weeks.

In this circuit he was obliged to have recourse to his private property, and that of Mrs. B., for the means of subsistence, and for the indulgence of that benevolence, which according to his power, was boundless.

But amidst all the outward difficulties with which he had to contend, "the pleasure of the Lord still prospered in his hand." "He went on his way rejoicing;" while by reading, meditation, and prayer, he continued sedulously to

re

qualify himself for the important charge with which he had been entrusted. By this judicious course, he "studied to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." His "profiting soon appeared unto all men." They perceived that "the hand of the Lord was with him." And while he improved in gifts and graces, the people of his care " joiced in the light which was thus transmitted." Among those in the Colne circuit who received their first religious impressions under his ministry, many will be found to be "his crown of rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming." And what feeling in this mortal state can be conceived more exquisite in anticipation than that of a beloved pastor presenting the redeemed of his flock before the throne of Jehovah, with, " Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me!

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Bramwell's removal to the Dewsbury circuitState of religion in that town and neighborhood-He gives himself to prayer-The work of God begins to prosper-Ann Cutler is rendered useful in the revivalGreat numbers converted-A remarkable dreamCauses of his great popularity-Mr. Wesley's rules for a helper.

AT the conference in 1791 Mr. Bramwell was stationed for Dewsbury. Before that period, some very unpleasant disputes had existed

among the society in that place; in consequence of which a Mr. Atlay was called by the trustees to be their minister, and the chapel was then lost to the Methodist connection.

On Mr. Bramwell's arrival he soon found that religious animosities and foolish bicker ings had nearly destroyed the religion of both parties. To a minister of Christ whose only desire is to see Zion in properity, such a state of things would be peculiarly afflictive, and perhaps few could have felt it more keenly than Mr. Bramwell. He mourned in private before the Lord; and from the commencement of his ministry among that people he resolved to enter into no disputes. His object was to win souls to Christ with him the possession of chapels was a thing of little importance. Adverting to the state of the society, he on one occasion writes as follows: "I could not find a person who experienced sanctification, and but few who were clear in pardon. The societies in some places increased, but active religion scarcely appeared!"

Having witnessed the powerful effects of prayer in other places, he now began to supplicate the God of all grace. He exhorted the people to join him in this important duty; and, to afford them more frequent opportunities of doing this, he instituted prayer meetings at five o'clock in the morning. The blessed effects of these earnest intercessions were soon apparent. At a band meeting, in November, 1792, four persons entered into the glorious liberty

of sanctification; one of whom, Mr. Joseph Drake, an itinerant preacher, who died in the year 1815, testified to the last of this great salvation. It has often been remarked, that when this doctrine is clearly and fully preached, and when a work of grace thus deepens in a society, there is generally a considerable increase of new converts: such was the case in the Dewsbury circuit.

About the same period, Ann Cutler was led to visit Dewsbury. It was her constant practice to rise between three and four o'clock in the morning and wrestle with God for a revival, while Mr. Bramwell was engaged in the same exercise at that early hour in another apartment. It was almost impossible for any one to take repose by sleep, or be unrefreshed in spirit, while near two such zealous persons, who often relieved the burden of their souls by praying aloud. At length the Lord was graciously pleased to manifest his saving power among the people. Mr. Bramwell remarks, "As I was praying in my room, I received an answer from God in a particular way, and had the revival discovered to me in its manner and effects. I had no more doubt. All my grief was gone; I could say, 'The Lord will come; I know he will come, and that suddenly.'

He then says, "Nothing appeared very particular till, under Nanny Cutler's prayer, one person received a clean heart. We were confident that the Lord would do the same for others.