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THE

WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1847.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN HUGHES:

BY THE REV. ROBERT JACKSON.

EVERY attentive reader of Christian biography must have observed the substantial agreement that exists between the experience of one Christian and another; and although the circumstances of their conversion, and subsequent growth in grace, are almost endlessly varied,yet all begin with a heartfelt sense of the guilt of sin, and a personal trust in Christ, by which the burden is removed, and the soul is filled with peace and joy. The Christian life having been thus implanted in the heart, and being cherished by watchfulness and prayer, will produce its legitimate results in abstinence from the practice of all sin, and a conscientious discharge of holy duty. That the reader may become better acquainted with the nature and fruits of this, is the important end of religious biography, and that which the writer of this account has proposed to himself in preparing it for publication.*

Mr. John Hughes was one of a large family. He was born at Brecon, May 18th, 1776. His father was Mr. William Hughes, who carried on a respectable business in that town for nearly fifty years. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of John and Gwenllian Thomas, of Lanyceven, near Brecon. They had likewise a son, John, who became Vicar of Caerleon, Monmouthshire. Mr. Hughes, sen., was twice married. By his first wife he had three children, and by his second twelve, six of whom died in their infancy. John was the third son of this second family. From his childhood his disposition was lively and sociable, and he was regarded as an intelligent boy. When eleven years old, he was sent to the Grammar-School at Brecon, then under the care of the Rev. David Griffiths, who had been Master of the College-School, as it is called, about twenty-five years. The late Dr. Coke, and several other persons of literary distinction, received their education in the same place, and from the same master. the care of his venerable preceptor, who gave him every encouragement, and treated him with great affection, he made considerable

Under

The compiler of this Memoir deems it right to record his obligations to the Rev. J. W. Rees, Rector of Cascob, to whom the manuscript has been submitted, for his valuable additions and corrections. Mr. Rees was well acquainted with the literary history of Mr. Hughes, and was many years his personal friend.

VOL. III.-FOURTH SERIES.

progress in classical learning; being well acquainted with the Greek Testament in the fifteenth year of his age.

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In the latter end of 1789, he became deeply affected by the consideration of the solemn realities of eternity. This was occasioned by a visit of Dr. Coke to his native town. The Doctor preached on "divine illumination," and subsequently delivered one of his favourite discourses from," Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." "This subject," says Mr. Hughes, was very interesting to me. gratified my taste for history. I intensely wished to be able to pursue the chain of argument in reference to the origin of nations. I thought, also, that there must be something extraordinary in the heart of the Preacher to induce him to cross the ocean for the benefit of the poor negro slaves; but little did I think of the intimate friendship I should afterwards enjoy with that estimable man." Previously to this time he had been strongly inclined to idle and hurtful amusements, especially cards; but an indelible impression was now made upon him, which subdued all those inclinations. His more thoughtful demeanour attracted the notice of his friends. His convictions of personal guilt and sin were deepened by the perusal of Fletcher's" Address to Earnest Seekers of Salvation." The Holy Spirit presented to his mind such views of his sinfulness, that for several months, although at times he was in some degree comforted, he was overwhelmed by the most doleful apprehensions. Many a night"-I use his own words "the anguish of my mind was such that sleep forsook me; awful fears, and the most gloomy reflections, continually occupied me." Indeed, his mental distress appears to have seriously affected his health. His friends formed no adequate conception either of the nature or intensity of the feelings which troubled him. No one directed him to that only remedy which could meet his case,-the great atoning sacrifice. He says, "The Lord gave me to see that he himself was the cause of my grief, and that it would not be removed until I knew his pardoning love. My father at length began to perceive the cause of my sorrow, and sought to comfort me; but, although he was a member of the Methodist society, he had not himself experienced the forgiveness of sins, which I was seeking after, like one groping in the dark. Many wearisome days did I pass in this state of wretchedness and unbelief. Sometimes I seemed to be given over to a rooted melancholy. Being so young, my gloomy appearance made me a laughing-stock to some of my companions at school; while others pitied me, and wondered why I was so much changed from my former self. Eternity occupied my thoughts; and I sometimes retired into the fields and woods, where I wept for hours together. My nights were often sleepless, and I would leave my bed to pray that I might be saved from the wrath to come."

Justice requires that we should here raise a humble monument to the memory of a lame schoolmaster, generally called "lame John," whose piety was acknowledged by all. With him young John Hughes contracted a close intimacy, spent much time in his company, and received considerable spiritual aid from his conversations. This good man's heart was filled with the spirit of praise and prayer; and when his scholars had been dismissed, his friends, if they called to see him, mostly found him engaged in the devotional exercises in which he delighted. He had learned, in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content;" for he

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was enabled to maintain that sacred fellowship with God, which made him happy in the midst of poverty. Young Hughes opened his mind freely to this poor man, and often from him obtained much encouragement. More than once" lame John" cheered him with the assurance that there was some gracious purpose to be answered by those heavy mental trials, through which his heavenly Father was permitting him to pass. "You may hereafter," the good man observed, "be the better able to comfort others whom you may find oppressed in a similar manner." He added, "The Lord will come, and drive away these dark clouds."

From his conversations with this good man, and from reading Dr. Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul," John Hughes saw clearly the difference between a renewed and an unrenewed state; but how the transition from death unto life was to be effected, he saw not with equal clearness. Like Bunyan's "Pilgrim," he had long felt the "great burden;" but, as yet, he did not perceive the simple way of obtaining relief by faith in Christ. Anxious to improve every opportunity of hearing the word of God, he attended both Lady Huntingdon's and the Wesleyan chapels. Some good Calvinists told him that "he must not be cast down, but wait the Lord's time." This increased his perplexity, so that he was as though in "the slough of despond," and could not see "the stepping-stones to get out. He wanted to be directed to the cross in the exercise of simple faith.

"

But the day of deliverance was at hand. He says, "At length, when I had no immediate expectation of release from my bondage, the new and living way was opened to my view." In the year 1790, he heard the Rev. John M'Kersey preach, who was then stationed in the Pembroke Circuit. His text was John iv. 10: "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." The Preacher displayed the fulness of divine mercy, and the overflowing streams of redeeming love; and while he was thus setting forth the treasures of the Saviour's grace as free for all, the word came with power; all doubts and fears were removed in an instant; and from the fulness of his soul he could say,

"My God is reconciled,

His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear :

With confidence I now draw nigh,

And, Father, Abba, Father, cry."

His youthful heart was filled with love to his gracious Saviour and to all mankind. For some days he rejoiced with a joy unspeakable and full of glory, and afterwards possessed a calm and settled peace with God. The following Sabbath he was invited to a lovefeast, where, to the edification and surprise of many, he ventured to tell what God had done for him. He became, also, a member of the Wesleyan society, in communion with which he spent his life, and at length peacefully expired.

The Conference being held that year at Bristol, Mr. Wesley, in the course of his journey through South Wales, came to Brecon in August

and preached in the Town-Hall and in Watton chapel, on the state of the church at Ephesus, and our Lord's lamentation over Jerusalem. These services appear to have produced a deep and very salutary impression upon the mind of this young convert. He observes, "I well remember Mr. Wesley going down from the Hall to the chapel, and meeting the little society, with whom were several of the constant hearers. He stayed at the door, and kindly shook hands with us all. I was the only young person presented to him.' Some months afterwards, the mournful intelligence of Mr. Wesley's death was communicated by Mr. Cricket at one of the weekly prayer-meetings. "That good man wept like a child, and said, 'The Lord hath taken away our shepherd: what now shall we do?' The funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Fish, who afterwards went to Jamaica as a Missionary. The service was attended by many respectable gentlemen of the town; for Mr. Wesley was always highly esteemed in Brecon."

Mr. Hughes continued to cultivate his classical learning, and to improve his opportunities of doing good. He attended the means of grace, and sought to benefit the sick and the careless by visiting them, reading to them the word of God, and praying with them. His attention was also seriously directed to the works of Mr. Fletcher, of Madeley. The perusal of the Life of that excellent man, and the anecdotes of him which he heard during his visits to Trevecca, prepared him for a careful perusal of his writings; and he gathered from shem a plentiful harvest of mental and moral improvement. My belief," he observes, " of the doctrines there defended, was never afterwards shaken; my knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus, was enlarged; and I was excited to greater diligence in pursuing my way to the kingdom of God."

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His

During the summer of 1792, he had many anxious thoughts as to the future. He had been at the College-school five years, and could read with facility the principal works of the classical writers. friends, having now proof of his capacity for learning, wished him to decide on advancing still farther, and to direct his attention to the established Church. His father thought he could procure his admission into St. Paul's school, London; and his uncle could introduce him to the head of his college at Oxford. To all this, however, Mr. Hughes objected; and when they spoke to him about entering into business, he felt the same repugnance. He believed that he was called to the ministry of the word; and, though the Church of England had some attractions, yet he felt that his conscience would not allow him to leave a pious community, of the truth of whose doctrines he was firmly persuaded, for the sake of temporal emolument. It was next proposed that he should go to reside for some time with his relation, the Rev. J. Thomas. In the summer of 1793, being little more than seventeen years old, he took leave of the old College-school, his venerable Master, and his early Methodist companions, fully aware that he should have to pass through many conflicts, while modestly, but firmly, maintaining his own judgment, and preserving his conscience unstained, and his peace of mind undisturbed. His own remark, in reference to this period, is, "It was hard work to oppose the whole family, who were so anxious to promote my worldly interests."

Mr. Hughes was fully aware of the abilities of his clerical relation, with whom he had become a resident. Mr. Thomas had now been

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