THE METHODIST MAGAZINE, FOR JUNE, 1817. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. THOMAS WELCH, (Continued from page 331.) Mr. W. was now laborious in preaching the word of life, frequently travelling many miles, and speaking twice or thrice on the Lord's day. He also diligently redeemed his time, and ardently panted for that knowledge and experience necessary to make a good minister of Jesus Christ;" and by reading, study, and prayer, his profiting appeared to all. 66 "November 9. I attempted preaching at the room last night, for the first time, after travelling about thirteen miles, and preaching twice. Before I began, I was but just able to bear up under the thought; but my God was with me of a truth; he gave me sweet peace und liberty: how shall I praise him as he deserves!, He gave me favour in the eyes of the people. O that it may be a means of my rendering humble acknowledgements and thankfulness to God. The success, as well as the pleasure of preaching, depends principally on God's presence, at the time of delivery. The difference between my first and last sermon yesterday is an evidence of this. Lord preserve thy servant unto eternal life. " November 24. Last night I preached at the room, but my, mind was in a measure confused all the time I was preaching, although I had used much more labour in preparing, than I did the former time. But my Lord knows how to deal with his unworthy creature. "February 2, 1789. A month of the new year hath elapsed,. and though I purposed to devote myself wholly to God this year, yet my conduct hitherto hath given no great proof of it. I have to praise my God, however, that in labouring for him yesterday, I found my strength equal to my day. He gave me sweet liberty of mind and speech, at the room in the evening. VOL. XL. JUNE, 1817. "Dec. 9. Many troubles, and many comforts; many temptations, and many deliverances, have, alternately, been my portion during the last year. And while I have had cause for mourning, from a deep consciousness of my imperfections, my soul hath exclaimed, Oh, how good, how heavenly, how precious, is the love of Christ to my soul !' 66 May 3, 1790. Though conscious of coming short of the whole image of God, and the full requirements of the gospel, yet I have felt many refreshing seasons since the above date: his wonderful condescension sinks me into the dust. 24. Being deeply conscious of the imperious command, Be ye holy, for I am holy;' and of the extent of the promise, 'He is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him,' I have this day determined on an entire surrender of my heart to God, and a more than ordinary exercise of my whole soul in subjection to his will: and for this purpose I intend to read, for some time, only what has a tendency to inflame my affections, and to engage all my powers in the Divine service. "June 28. I spent several hours in devotional reading and prayer; but felt little encouragement, through a suggestion in my mind, that I was seeking to be holy by prayer and reading, and not by Christ. Thus satan would make the means and the end go to war with each other. What God hath joined together let no one put asunder. "October 18. My business, family, and the church of God, have often presented scenes of a very trying nature, within the last three months; but they have been interspersed with much "peace and joy through believing."-We now find that a long interval of time elapsed, without his having made any entry in his diary. No express reason is assigned for this; but a multiplicity of business and domestic cares appear to have been the cause. How necessary is it for the people of God constantly to watch against the encroachments of the world, that while they are laudably diligent in business, they may continue to maintain fervour of spirit. In June 1791, our friend removed to Birmingham, where he opened a school, and met with considerable encouragement. He still continued to preach with great acceptance in a local capacity, and began to feel an ardent desire after more extensive usefulness. This led him to entertain serious thoughts of offering himself to Conference; but fearing at the same time (on account of financial matters) his family might be objected to, he opened his mind freely to his confidential friend, Mr. Reynolds, and solicited his advice. An extract from his letter on this subject is subjoined. It is dated Oct. 6, 1794. "I must tell you what has occupied my thoughts for a considerable time, and what impresses my mind with a great degree of seriousness. If my brethren in Conference would have no objection to make trial of me, as an itinerant preacher, it would meet with my fervent desires; desires which I have reason to believe are inspired by the Spirit of God. I believe I have no other end in view, than to do all the good I can while I live. This is not a transient desire, but what I may presume to say is the constant bent of my mind. I feel this inclination in my darkest and most tried states of mind, and more especially when the tide of Divine love runs high. However, the feelings of my soul are not altogether decisive in the matter: I believe there is in most cases an outward as well as an inward call; and on that ground, I wish your advice, as you are the first, next to my wife, that I have spoken to upon the subject. Having a wife and three children, I feel some reluctancy in mentioning my case to Mr. R. However, as you are better acquainted with these matters than myself, and as I shall pay some attention to your advice, I hope you will write soon, and tell me all that is necessary upon the subject." The following letter to the same friend, dated January 20, 1799, serves to shew us the state of Mr. Welch's mind at that time, and in some measure supplies the chasm found in his diary. "Birmingham, January 20, 1799. "My dear Brother, "I hope you will pardon my long silence. I mean to write more frequently, and I should have written many months sooner, had I not had some intention of going over to Nottingham at my Christmas vacation, and of spending about a week in your circuit; but I have been providentially prevented. The change and trouble consequent on moving three times in about seven years, have been each time accompanied with the loss of a measure of grace and comfort. How do the things of life weigh down the soul! Help me by your prayers to recover my loss. I am verging towards forty, and O! how small are my attainments! Were death to make its approach, I am afraid it would wear a gloomy aspect, not through a fear of missing heaven, but of coming short, very short, of some of those higher degrees of glory to which a higher degree of holiness would intitle me. O! my brother, remember an old friend, when you are besieging the throne of grace. I am far from being so holy, so happy, or so useful as I might have been. I hope, God owns your labours abundantly, and makes you a blessing to the church of God, and also to your family. "I am your very affectionate brother, "T. WELCH." He again resumes his diary, by recording the death of his wife. "Birmingham, October 25, 1801. Eleven years have elapsed since I recorded in my journals any account of the dealings of God with me. O what a multitude of trials, temptations, com * 3 E 2* forts, nay, even sins, during that period! To have had them written down might have been of use to me, but they are all recorded in the Book of God's remembrance. This day my wife left this vale of tears. She suffered much in life, and in death. Now she is happy with her three babes, gone before; and happy with her Lord. I am now left with three sons, whose spiritual welfare lies near my heart. Should they persevere in wickedness, they will bring me down with sorrow to the grave." On this occasion he wrote as follows to his friend Mr. R. "My dear Brother, "Birmingham, October 31, 1801. "Probably you will be a little surprized at the contents of this letter. I have the unexpected and melancholy information to give you, that your friend, my dear wife, is no more. She died about five o'clock on Sunday morning last, after little more than two weeks' illness. She was first taken with a pain in her bowels, which, in a short time, was followed with a pain in her head, attended with a fever. It brought on a kind of stupor, which had a considerable effect on her hearing and speech. Her sufferings were very great, especially for three days and nights. Her medical friends were very attentive, but all they could do was of no avail. In her, my dear boys have lost a careful mother; but their loss and mine is her eternal gain. May I improve the Divine visitation. Death, under afflictions like her's, seems to wear a severe aspect; it is, however, but a short struggle for eternal life. From the nature of her disorder, we had little opportunity of knowing the state of her mind, but the little we could obtain, gave us full satisfaction. "Being asked her state, she feebly said, she felt peace, and a power to cast herself into the hands of God. I asked her if Christ was precious, to which she answered Yes.' If Christ was her all? She answered, Yes, Christ is all;' and as often as I repeated the question, I obtained the same answer. In looking over her writings, I was happy to find a diary which she had kept from the 24th of August last, and continued to the time of her illness; from which it appears, that God had been preparing her for himself; and that Mr. Taylor and Mr. Haslam's preaching, had been made very useful to her. She was particularly mindful of her stated times for private prayer. Kempis and the Bible, were her favourite devotional books. In her darkest hours she never entirely lost her confidence in God. I believe that to be fully sanctified was the object of her pursuit, particularly at the time alluded to. Outward and inward trials mark a great part of her diary. "I need not ask an interest in your prayers for myself, and dear boys; for that I believe we shall have. I hope God prospers the work of your hands among the numerous societies in Sheffield, and gives you many seals to your ministry. "I remain, your's, &c. T. WELCH." Thus was he left with the momentous charge of a small family; and his character now rises in importance. As a parent, his conduct was truly exemplary, and may be safely recommended as worthy of imitation. Not only attentive to the temporal wants of his children, and to the cultivation of their minds, he was principally concerned for their spiritual welfare; and endeavoured to promote it by the most effectual means. We shall now return to his diary. "December 16. After sinking in deep humility, for several days, and earnestly desiring an entire conformity to my heavenly Pat tern, I have again much intercourse with God. The glories of a future world have been in some degree open to my view. "May 16, 1802. My three dependent boys twine round my heart, my bowels yearn over them. Surely the feelings of a mother are imparted to me. O Lord, fulfil my greatest joy; let me see thy hand upon them. I claim the promise made to Abraham; I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee.' “August 20. How deeply do my children impress my mind at times! a burden of painful care sinks down my spirits. I wish to act the tender and faithful parent. How narrow is this path! In what an important station do I stand! Their future situations, connected with religious advantages, occupies my thoughts almost night and day. But though placed in a dangerous world, and their minds susceptible of every impression, I will not forget that the mighty God can preserve them from evil. "April 28, 1803. God has given me many precious and delightful seasons for many days past, and even now the Sun of Righteousness arises upon me with healing in his wings, and a most heavenly sweetness rests upon my spirit. I feel uncommon freedom at a throne of grace. I spread my wants, my cares, my children, before God with joyful lips. My soul seems big with desire to be dissolved in love. I press and pant after the image of God. My spirit Shine upon Look upon "April 30. That which I feared is come upon me. is bowed down; O Lord, support my sinking soul. my spirit, shine upon my paths. Look upon me. my children. Let me bear the stroke of thine hand. Thy wisdom, thy goodness, shall appear. I shall yet praise thee for the light of thy countenance. A measure of hope and peace strangely upholds me amidst the conflicts of my soul. "May 15. After much anguish and distress, this is a day of rest and peace: the artless and humble expressions of God's people at the love-feast, touched with the fire of heavenly love, have |