THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1816.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MR. GEORGE SHADFORD.

(Concluded from page 570.)

Mr. SHADFORD's mother was convinced of sin, by means of over-hearing him and an old man conversing in private on the subject of their Christian experience. She had been strictly moral, had feared God, and conscientiously endeavoured to serve him, according to the degree of knowledge she possessed. But, notwithstanding her former regularity of conduct, when she was thoroughly awakened, her distress of mind so affected her body, upon several occasions, that she was like a person convulsed. After some time, under a sermon preached by Mr. Samuel Meggitt, God set her soul at liberty, shed his love abroad in her heart, and enabled her to "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

When he

About this time, Mr. S. visited his sister, near Epworth, in order to inform her what God had done for his soul. began to converse on the subject of inward religion, she imagined he was beside himself; but at length she listened to him with seriousness and attention. After he had returned home, she began to revolve in her mind what he had said to her; and thought, "How can my brother have any view to deceive me? What interest can he have in so doing? Certainly, my state is worse than I imagine; he sees my state, and I do not. Besides, he seems to be another man, for he does not look, or speak, or act as he used to do." So powerfully did the amazing change which she observed in her brother, together with the pious instructions which he gave her, operate upon her mind, that she could not rest till she came to her father's house, from whence she returned home under a strong conviction that she was a guilty, miserable sinner.

VOL. XXXIX. SEPTEMBER, 1816.

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Encouraged, from a thorough persuasion that God had begun a good work in his sister, Mr. S. visited her shortly after; and took her with him to hear Mr. Meggitt preach. The sermon pleased her much. A love-feast was held after preaching, and as she desired to attend it, she was, at the request of Mr. S. admitted. As the people were singing a hymn on Christ's coming to judgment, she looked up and saw all the people singing with visible joy in their countenances. She thought, "If Christ was to come to judgment now, I shall go to hell, and they will all go to heaven." Instantly she sunk down, as if dying, and lay some time before she was able to walk home. She continued praying and waiting upon God for about a fortnight; when, one day going to the well to fetch water, she found the God of Jacob oper to her thirsty soul a living fountain of divine consolation; and hence, as she returned from the well, her soul magnified the Lord, and her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour. "So merciful (saith Mr. S.) was the Lord to my family, that four of them were brought to God in less than a year. My mother lived at happy witness of the love and favour of God three years, and died in peace. My father lived upwards of four years happy in God his Saviour, and used to say, Now I am a little child turned of four years old.' Meaning (although near sixty-five,) that he had never lived to any good purpose, or the glory of God before. About half a year before his death, the Lord so circumcised his heart, as to enable him to love God with all his powers, and rejoice in the happy assurance that the blood of Christ had cleansed him from all unrighteousness.

When his father was taken ill of his last sickness, Mr. S. was preaching in Yorkshire. When he came near home, a friend told him that his father lay dying. As soon as the good old man saw him, he was much affected; for he greatly longed to see him before he died. He said, "Son, I am glad to see thee; but I am going to leave thee; I am going to God; I am going to heaven." Mr. S. said, "Father, are you sure of it?" "Yes, (said he,) I am sure of it. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Upward of four years ago, the Lord pardoned all my sins; and half a year ago he gave me that perfect love that casts out all fear. At present, I feel a heaven within me. Surely this heaven below must lead to heaven above." "When (saith Mr. S.) I saw he was departing, I kneeled down by him, and with fervent prayer commended his soul to God; and I praise his holy name that he died in the full assurance of faith.”

Mr. Shadford's sister lived a faithful witness of the love of Jesus sixteen years. She was remarkable for her strength of faith and fervency in prayer. She had eight or nine children; had nothing of this world's goods to leave them; but she left them a good example, and sent up many prayers to heaven for

them. She used to say, "Brother, I believe all my children will be saved." When he seemed to doubt it, she answered, "But I pray in faith; and whatsoever we ask in prayer believing we shall receive." Her eldest daughter died before her a little, aged twenty-one, in the triumph of faith. "And (saith Mr. S.) it is remarkable, since her death, her children, as they grew up, one after another, are convinced of sin, brought to God, and join the Society."

Mr. Shadford mentions, with great affection and respect, a relation of his, who, during the course of twenty years, continued to pray for his conversion. He says that she enjoyed the love of God above fifty years; and that she died full of days, and full of grace, at the very advanced age of ninety-five years.

Like most others who, from religious principles, engage in the work of the ministry, Mr., S. had, about the beginning of his public labours, many doubts of his call to preach the gospel. He had no doubt with respect to its being his duty to do good in the contracted sphere in which he had acted for some time; but the idea of the important work of going forth publicly to call sinners to repentance, caused him to fear and tremble. After a great struggle in his mind, he resolved at last to make the trial. The first place he went to from home, was called Wildsworth, where, at that time, it is supposed, there was not an individual savingly acquainted with God. On Saturday night, he continued three or four hours in fervent prayer, that the Lord might point out his way. On Sunday morning he set out alone to the little village, where, as soon as he arrived, he gave notice of his errand, and quickly he had a house full of people to hear him. In the first prayer he was favoured with much divine assistance; and while he was engaged in it, some present began to weep. Under the preaching several were cut to the heart; and the Lord blessed his word to many. From Wildsworth he went, the same day, to East Ferry, where he preached in the street; and such was the enlargement of heart which he experienced, on both those occasions, that he returned home perfectly satisfied that God had called him to the work of the ministry.

But this satisfaction was shortly after succeeded by great discouragement, which arose from a sight and sense of his weakness and ignorance. He reasoned with himself and the grand adversary, until he was ready to conclude that God required impossibilties. He concluded that they were very happy, who were called to do no more than act in a private capacity, and were not burdened with the care of the souls of others. "I gave way (saith he,) to this kind of reasoning for a month; till at times I made myself almost as miserable as a demon. Then the Lord laid his chastening rod upon me, and afflicted me for a season; and -shewed me the worth of poor souls perishing in the broad way * 4 M 2*

to destruction." After this, he was so encouraged, that he was willing to go to any part of the world, to which God might open his way. About this time, a more than ordinary degree of divine power accompanied his ministry; and, to use his own words, God's "word was like the flaming sword which turned every way, to every heart; for, sinners fell and trembled before it, and were convinced and converted to God." The condescension of God to him excited his astonishment. As soon as his labours were blessed to the awakening of some sinners, in any place, he formed a Society, which he took the first opportunity of putting under the care of the travelling preachers.

But by loud and long preaching, (two faults which ministers ought carefully to avoid,) and by walking more than his strength could bear, together with his praying and reading many times. all night, he was soon so worn down as to appear in a swift decline. In the course of some time, he fell into a severe fever, which continued seven weeks; a complaint from which he had little hopes of recovery. In this affliction he was graciously and powerfully supported; so that he was so far from desiring to remain on earth, that he desired to depart, and to be with Christ. In the midst of this affliction, after some divine impressions had been made upon his mind, one day he opened his Bible on these words, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the work of the Lord." He then believed that he should recover. From this time he began to be restored to his wonted health and vigour.

Having preached occasionally for part of two years in the Epworth Circuit, and been a great blessing to many, he was, at the Bristol Conference, in the year 1768, appointed to labour in the west of Cornwall. "This (saith he,) was a good year to me. I often wondered how the people could bear with my weakness; but the Lord owned his poor servant, and gave me to see the fruit of my labours. I was one day in great danger of losing my life the first time I crossed Hale; but two men, at a distance, suddenly called aloud, bidding me stop and come back. Had I gone a few yards further, myself and horse must have been inevitably swallowed up in a quicksand. I felt thankful, and went on admiring the watchful providence of God, my gracious and almighty Deliverer.”

Mr. S. laboured, the following year, in Kent, where he was exercised with various trials; but in the midst of them all he was powerfully supported, and had the great happiness of seeing seve ral sinners brought to a saving acquaintance with God. In 1770, he was sent to Norwich, and appointed to be what was then termed the Assistant, but since the death of Mr. Wesley, the Superintendant. On account of the mean opinion which he formed of his piety and talents, his appointment to that important office greatly exercised his mind. During his stay at Nor