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THE

WESLEYAN-METHODIST MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1848.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THOMAS TAYLOR, ESQ.,

OF BOLTON:

BY THE REV. GEORGE MARSDEN.

THE following account of the late Mr. Taylor is chiefly copied from his own papers. That beautiful passage, "The memory of the just is blessed," as it has been accomplished in multitudes of the people of God, is likewise accomplished in him; and I feel that I am only fulfilling a public duty in furnishing this record of one who was esteemed. and loved by the society of which he was a member, and whose uprightness of character procured him the respect of his fellow-townsmen. I shall do little more than affix a few additional observations to the statements made by himself.

"I was born at Oldham, near Manchester, on the 11th of September, 1771. My parents were poor; and my mother died when I was rather more than three years of age. I was the youngest but one of six children; and these circumstances caused my education to be almost entirely neglected. I very well remember that the Lord often caused his Spirit to strive with me in early life; but not knowing the nature of my own feelings, I resisted, and indeed quenched them. When I was about eleven or twelve years of age, I was particularly addicted to Sabbath-breaking. I frequently went from morning till evening in pursuit of birds'-nests; but I often felt uneasy, and frequently had dreadful apprehensions of a coming judgment. When I was fourteen or fifteen years of age, I went one Monday night with some companions to a prayer-meeting, having no other motive than to disturb the congregation; but it pleased the Lord seriously to impress my mind. I went home immediately, in order that I might have an opportunity to pray in secret. I went to bed before the rest of the family, and there I poured out my complaint before God, and showed him my trouble; and I resolved at that time to lead a different course of life. But, alas! my resolutions were like the morning cloud and the early dew; they very soon vanished away: for having no one to watch over me for good, and it being the time for Manchester races, I was again led aside by my evil companions, and accompanied them to the race-ground, where almost every kind of wickedness was committed. During nearly three years from that time, I followed the

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sinful maxims and amusements of the world, and was especially fond of playing at cards.

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"I had an elder brother, who was married, and settled at Bolton. He wished me to go and live with him there. Accordingly, having obtained my father's consent, I came to Bolton in March, 1789; and as I had now no companions in sin, and my brother attended the Methodist chapel and Sunday-school, I accompanied him to both. was fond of singing. I therefore joined the choir. In this way, I was brought under the ministry of the word, and by degrees came to see myself a sinner, and to feel the necessity of being changed by the grace of God. While in this state, I have sometimes thought this too great a fondness for singing was an hinderance to me. However, I began to meet in class; and on the 20th of May following 1789, good old Mr. Hopper gave me a note on trial; and from that time, I met regularly, though I continued mourning for sin until the June but one following, 1790. I also began to meet in band with four young men. On the 13th of June, which was the Sabbath, I was in great distress at my band-meeting. I continued so all that night; and on the Monday, June 14th, 1790, whilst I was busy at my work in the afternoon, the Lord in a moment delivered my soul from guilt and condemnation, and filled me with peace and joy. I arose quite amazed at his goodness, went into my closet, and prayed that if the work was real, he would fully satisfy me; and the more I prayed, the more satisfied I was. I was very much afraid of being deceived; for previously to this time, I had often experienced foretastes of this happiness, but they had not been lasting.

"I particularly remember, that after I had one night been at a prayer-meeting, where my mind had been much affected, I went into the fields with the resolution not to return until I had obtained my heart's desire. I continued to wrestle with God in prayer upwards of an hour, although the night was dark and wet; and whilst I was in this situation, a sudden temptation seized me. I thought I was surrounded by evil spirits; I gave way to fear, ceased praying, and returned home. But I had now obtained the blessing I desired, and which I had long sought; and having obtained it, I felt very wishful that my father, my brothers and sisters, should receive the same. That afternoon, whilst at tea, I toid my father and step-mother what the Lord had done for my soul. They were quite astonished; and it is impossible to tell what I felt of the goodness of God while I was speaking to them on the subject. I should have said that I was at that time living at my father's house, having left my brother when I had resided with him about six months, and had returned to Oldham.

"The desire I felt for the salvation of my relations, caused me, with my father's permission, to pray with the family, though I was then only about nineteen years of age. I also obtained his consent

that a prayer-meeting might be held in the house on Sunday evenings. But this gave great offence to many of his friends. He was a singer at the parish church, and his associates were strongly opposed to Methodism. One individual carried his enmity so far, as to enter the

house, kneel down, and invoke a heavy curse upon my father, for allowing the meeting to be held. He was intoxicated at the time, or surely he would not have acted so wickedly! During the remainder of my residence at my father's, I enjoyed much of the divine presence. I spent my leisure moments during the day, in my closet, in reading, prayer, and meditation; and my evenings, in hearing the word of God, attending the class and prayer-meetings, and visiting the sick. My Bible was my delight. Between two and three years I attended a prayer-meeting, which was held in the chapel, at five o'clock every morning. I do not recollect being absent once during that time. Whilst I remained unmarried, I regularly collected together a number of boys and girls from the neighbourhood at noon-tide, and taught them reading and the Church Catechism, giving them, likewise, some instruction in the principles of Christianity, and always concluding with prayer.

"In the beginning of the year 1792, thinking of marriage, I prayed earnestly for guidance and direction; and I have good reason to believe that my prayer was answered. On the 15th of May, in that year, I was married to her who is now my beloved partner. The venerable Wesleyan Minister, the Rev. Mr. Hanby, together with his wife, took tea with us, and besought the divine blessing on our union.

"A few weeks after our marriage, we took a house; and trade being good, our circumstances for several months were very comfortable, and we were enabled to purchase many useful articles of household furniture; but, in the beginning of 1793, war having broken out with France, the communication between the two countries was suspended, and, consequently, trade became much depressed, and I was thrown out of work. On the 22d of March, this year, my wife was delivered of her first child. She was brought very low, so that it was three months before she recovered. What we suffered this year could not be easily described. I travelled scores of miles in search of work, so that my feet were so blistered that I could scarcely bear to set one foot down before another. I have already mentioned that I had an elder brother living at Bolton, with whom I had formerly resided. He encouraged me to go there again, and to take my family with me; which I did, in March, 1794. After this, affairs were somewhat more comfortable with us, though we were not without trials. In 1796, I was appointed a Class-Leader by Mr. Rhodes, who intrusted me with the class which had been under the care of Mr. Peter Haslam, who this year entered the ministry. I found this to lie with great weight upon my mind. Mr. Kilham was at that time agitating the society; and I knew that I was not the choice of some of the members of the class, who were favourable to him. The year following the division took place; and those who agreed with Mr. Kilham left us; but the number we lost was more than made up in a very short time. Several of the Leaders seceded, and I had another small class intrusted to me, in Little Bolton, which I met for about ten years. I then divided the two classes into three. That in Little Bolton was confided to the care of my worthy friend, Mr. Thomas Greenhalgh. The remaining

two I still retained. At various times, it was impressed upon my mind, that I should speak in public; but being conscious of my own ignorance and weakness, I did not name it to any person, until some of my friends spoke to me on the subject. Some time after, I was requested by one of our Local brethren to accompany him on the following Sunday to a country place which was then on the Preachers' Plan; telling me, at the same time, that I might be guided by my feelings as to whether I made the attempt or not. Upon our arrival, to satisfy my friend, I did make the attempt, but was very much discouraged. This was in August, 1798; and it was not until November, 1799, that I could be prevailed upon again to address a congregation. I then had more liberty. From that time, I continued the same course, and was admitted on the Plan the quarter but one following.

"I have felt it to be an important undertaking; and sometimes my mind has been cast down; at other times I have been very much blessed, while dispensing the word of life. I hope I have not altogether laboured in vain. I desire to be more useful, and to be more devoted to God. I have now been a member of the society twenty-seven years and upwards; and though I have not wickedly departed from my God, so as to bring any reproach upon his cause, still I am sensible of much weakness and infirmity, and of many imperfections. I still see it to be both my duty and interest to wait upon God as I have opportunity, in all the means of grace, whether public or private ; and I can truly say, that I never once wilfully or carelessly absented myself from my class since I joined the society."

Thus far Mr. Taylor had written in July, 1816. He did not resume his pen for the same purpose for some years. The following statements, however, have been found among his papers :—

"July 27th, 1832.—It is now rather more than sixteen years since writing the above. During that time, my trials and difficulties have been varied, and my mercies innumerable. I see much cause for humiliation before God; yet his fatherly care over me calls for unbounded thankfulness. I find my religious principles still unshaken. I have no other foundation for my hope but the blood of the everlasting covenant; and I can still claim God as my reconciled Father, through Christ. May I drink deeper into the spirit of holiness!

"August 31st.-Since writing last, I have had painful exercises of mind, and powerful temptations; but I believe they have driven me nearer to God. I want a more copious baptism of the Spirit. I feel a longing desire for the salvation of all my children; and for this I daily pray. My experience may be thus expressed :—

"March 5th, 1833.

to me.

'I the chief of sinners am,

But Jesus died for me.'

The last month has been a very trying one My wife has had a serious illness, and was not expected to recover. This caused me great sorrow; yet I hope I have been enabled to bear it as a Christian. I am thankful that she is now likely to recover. I trust we shall be enabled to spend the residue of our days to the glory of God.

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