GAWTHORP, THOMAS, 191. N. NAYLER, JAMES, his powerful preaching, 17. PLAINNESS, remarks on, 42. PEMBERTON, PHINEAS, his son Israel, and his PRAYER, 298, 304. R. GRATTON, JOHN, Journal of, 290; early visitation of H. HOLME, BENJAMIN, death of, 126. HOLY SPIRIT, the rule, 320, 394. J. S. SHACKLETON, ABRAHAM, 262. SCOTT, SAMUEL, Diary of, 360; Babylon with- Jolley, Elizabeth, afterwards Bludwick, 278. the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures, 394; early JUSTIFICATION, 380, 429. K. KENDAL, JOHN, 132, L. LEADBEATER, PETER, 109. LOGAN, WILLIAM, 154. LANCASTER, LYDIA, 169. LIGHTFOOT, Susanna, 232. LETTSOM, J. C., 270. M. influence of grace, 403; description of his infir- SCOTT, JOHN, Memoirs of, 388. T. THOMPSON, GILBERT, Account of, 88. THOMPSON, GILBERT, JR., 260. · U. LIGHT OF CHRIST, treatise concerning it, 341. UPSHER, THOMAS, Memoir, 479. W. WILSON, JAMES, Narrative of the preaching of MINISTRY, remarks on it, 14; free gospel min- J. Nayler, convinces him, 17; letter of S. F. to MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, AND LABOURS IN THE GOSPEL, OF JAMES GOUGH, LATE OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, DECEASED. COMPILED FROM HIS ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS, BY HIS BROTHER JOHN GOUGH. PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. THAT biography which describes the lives of such as have steadily directed their course through this world to a better, in piety toward God and goodness of heart and life among men, seems, in an especial manner, to claim our serious and attentive perusal. Some of these good men, from a view of being helpful and serviceable to mankind, when they shall be no more in this state of mutability, have left behind them lively monuments of their experience of the work of sanctification and saving grace in them; reciting not only the occurrences of their lives, but the motives of their actions, and the effect of those occurrences on the state of their minds; unfolding the gradual operation of the grace of God, for their redemption from evil, and showing forth the fruits of the spirit, out of a good conversation. Herein leaving, as it were, the prints of their footsteps to lasting felicity, for their survivors to trace the path to the like glorious inheritance. Of this kind of biography, we have had several tracts published in our Society; and having perused them with much satisfaction and advantage, and been thereby animated to an ardent desire of treading the same path to blessedness, I am induced the more readily to forward the publication of the following sheets, and to recommend them to the solid attention of my friends, particularly to the youth of this generation. Reading and study, as well as every other occupation of our lives, are most properly and profitably employed in the pursuit and acquisition of those virtuous dispositions, whereby we may please our Maker, VOL. IX.-No. 1. fill up our stations in life with propriety, and be good examples in our generation. It is a matter of importance to all, but especially to this age, to be very careful and well-directed in the choice of the books they read, as well as the company they familiarly associate with; that they be such as may make profitable impressions upon them: these silent companions of the closet, communicate a good or evil influence, according to the subjects they treat of, and the manner in which they are treated, and have a secret, but powerful effect upon the tender mind; and the apostle's observation, that, "evil communications corrupt good manners," is, in my opinion, applicable to corrupting books, as well as to corrupting companions. From the clear sense they had of the pernicious tendency of such compositions, our friends, both in a private and collective capacity, have been frequently concerned to recommend a care in parents and guardians, to prevent and caution youth and others, to restrain their inclination to read "such books as tend to leaven the mind into vanity, profaneness and infidelity,"* under which description are comprised, "plays, novels and romances, and all those which have a tendency to lead the mind from piety, and to oppose or reject the divine authority of the holy Scriptures." This licentious age, which has produced an inundation of fictitious compositions, romances and novels in abundance, presents an occasion to revive the caution to our young friends, to beware of touching the unclean thing, lest their minds be imperceptibly defiled thereby. * See yearly meeting's Epistle, 1723, 1762, &c. 1 Such writings being adapted to the depraved taste of an indolent and luxurious generation, afford no profitable instruction or real improvement in morals, in understanding, or in the temper of the mind; and the time employed therein, is in general mispent, or spent to a bad purpose. "There is but little need to drive away that by foolish divertisements, which flies away so swiftly of itself; and when once gone is never to be recalled. Plays, balls, treats, romances, music, love-sonnets, and the like, will be a very invalid plea, for any other purpose than their condemnation, who are taken and delighted therewith, at the revelation of the righteous judgment of God." William Penn's No Cross No Crown, chap. 15, sec. 7. None, I believe, are better or wiser, for the hours they pass in perusing such productions. The greater part, being the invention of corrupt minds, have a very corrupting influence. And those which appear most plausible, are too generally formed to fill the head with romantic ideas and airy imaginations; to flatter our pride, infuse a taste for sensual pleasures, nourish our propensity to worldly grandeur, and the desire of great possessions, and to bring the mind into a dissipated state; operating in a direction opposite to the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, and teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts; and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. For these reasons I am induced to cast in my mite to this concern, of the Society I am connected with in religious fellowship, for the preservation of their members from these hurtful pursuits; desiring they may receive the word of exhortation to refrain from unprofitable or prejudicial compositions, as well as to peruse with seriousness, such as tend to impress the mind with religious considerations, and influence it to the practice of piety and virtue. I have reason to believe it was a practice with the author of the ensuing pages, to take frequent reviews of his life, keeping an account thereof, in order to take a more minute retrospection, and to form a more precise judgment how he was prepared and preparing for the final account; a profitable, rational, and religious exercise, which it might be advantageous for all to employ themselves in, every day of their lives. At three different periods he commenced a review of the whole, I imagine, with a more extensive view; but had proceeded only a little way in the last, when he was removed from this life. I have traced the last as far as it was carried forward, and the second to the end; and from that period, having collected what authentic memorials I could, have in a supplement, continued the narration to the end of his life. I have also annexed an epistle to friends in Ireland, which I found amongst the papers from whence the following memoirs are compiled, which seems designed for publication, and in which there are many observations well worthy the attention of those to whom it is addressed, and of others into whose hands it may fall. A Testimony, from the Men's Meeting of Dublin, concerning James Gough, deceased. It having pleased divine providence, to remove from us by death our worthy friend James Gough, we feel our minds impressed to give forth the following testimony concerning him. By authentic accounts we find he was born at Kendal in Westmoreland, in the year 1712. And, in his young years, was made sensible of an inward monitor to reprove his propensity to evil, and convince him of the error of his ways, which made, at times, profitable impressions on his mind for a season. But, through the instability of youth, these impressions proved not deep enough to be lasting, till about the twenty-first year of his age, when he removed from the north of England to Bristol. It pleased divine Goodness to favour him with a fresh and prevailing visitation of his love, whereby he was made willing to give up, in self-denial and circumspection of life, to yield obedience to his requirings, who in his fatherly loving kindness had thus visited his soul; and by the gradual operation of the divine power therein, he experienced a growth in the work of sanctification, and was thereby formed into a vessel prepared for the Master's use. About the year 1738, he removed from Bristol, and settled in Cork, and soon after he came forth in a public testimony to the virtue and efficacy of that truth, which himself had experienced the beneficial effects of; and growing in his gift, he became an able minister of the gospel, and an instrument of service in the church. His first journey, in the work of the ministry, was in the year 1740, to the counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Lancashire, and part of Yorkshire. His next to Leinster province; and in the summer of 1743, he visited the meetings of Friends through the principality of Wales, and many parts of England; in the course of which visit, he attended the yearly meeting of Wales, with those of Bristol and London. Soon after his return he thought it his duty to remove into Leinster province, and fixed his residence in Mountme month, 1781. John Bancroft, lick, where his service became extensive, being ing held in Dublin, the tenth of the fourth in the centre of a large body of Friends. He almost constantly attended our province, quarterly and national meetings, where he was of ten drawn forth in the pure streams of gospel love, to the refreshment, and edification of Friends. In the year 1774, he settled in this city, where he was well received, and well beloved, his innocent life and conversation adorning his gospel labours amongst us, being filled with love to mankind in general, and in particular to the flock and family with whom. he was joined in religious fellowship. He followed his occupation of schoolmaster for sometime in this city, but, in his advanced years, not being sufficiently able to bear the fatigue and confinement attendant on that employment, and being desirous to be more at liberty for the exercise of his gift, he gave it up; and for the last three years of his being a member of this meeting, travelled much abroad in the different quarters of this nation, visiting the meetings, and in many places, the families of Friends, to stir up the pure mind by way of remembrance, and to provoke to love and good works. Being on a religious visit to Friends in the province of Munster, and having proceeded to the city of Cork, where he was engaged in a visit to the families of Friends, and had with much diligence nearly finished the same, it pleased the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, in whose hands our lives are, there to put a period to his labours, and to remove him from works to rewards. Being seized with indisposition, and following the service before him too closely, as was apprehended, it increased upon him to such a degree as brought on his dissolution, and he quietly departed this life, at the house of our friend Joseph Garratt, in said city, where he was affectionately and tenderly attended and taken care of during his illness, we believe in peace with the Lord, and much regretted by Friends here and elsewhere, amongst whom his zealous labours will be much missed. We desire that the removal of faithful labourers, may be so laid to heart by their survivors, as that they may be incited to copy their examples, tread the same steps to blessedness, and thereby be qualified to fill their vacant places with propriety. "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." Benjamin Glorney, Thomas Bewley, INTRODUCTION. For my own future benefit, and for theirs too into whose hands it may fall, I am induced to commit to writing the following review of my days, now in the sixty-sixth year of my Since we are launched on the ocean of age. life, our principal care ought to be to steer our course through it to the port of rest and unmixed felicity, though it be through hardship and self-denial; since, if we fail of this at last, it is then too late to amend it. Could all the pleasures and advantages of this life, be attained and enjoyed perfect and unmixed to its close, they would be no compensation for the loss of happiness in a future and immortal state. But those pleasures and advantages never can be so enjoyed by any one, unless his passions and inclinations are subject to the government of God, who alone ought to govern his creatures, and who discovers his will to the humble attentive mind. The temporary enjoyers of the good things of this life, may show an appearance of pleasure to ignorant spectators, while they seem to float, without interruption, in the midst of gratifications and amusements; yet a secret worm is often felt by them, gnawing at the root of their exaltation and grandeur. It is the universal regard of Omnipotence, which rebukes them for letting loose the reins of their lusts or eager inclinations, designing thereby their timely reformation for their everlasting good. He often opposes the ambitious and proud in their career with the unwelcome discovery, that they are engaged in other pursuits than those that heaven designed for them; not applying their precious time and talents to the great and good purpose for which they were given. Sometimes He displays the beauties and benefits of rectitude, deserted by them; and sometimes the horror and sad consequence Signed in and on behalf of our Men's meet-of persisting in the neglect or violation of du He departed this life the 6th of the tenth month, 1780, and was buried in the buryingground belonging to Friends of said city, the 9th of the same. Aged sixty-seven, a minister forty-one years. ty thus discovered, on the one hand, and counteracted by them on the other. Hence too generally, disliking the check to present ease and pleasure, such as are intrusted with the means of doing good, and helping others on their way, turn their attention from this omnipresent monitor, this faithful bosom friend, they fly to tempting vanities, to soothing deceptions, to amusing recreations; they bear their heads aloft among the envying multitudes, and seek to drown his salutary admonitions in splendor, noise, intemperance and dissipation. Many such I have known, who are now gone to their long homes, whom in my younger years I envied. I have been so foolish as to transfer my envy from them, after they disappeared, to their vain and short-lived successors; many of whom are also gone, and so will it be with the rest ere long. And then what follows to those that have left their heaven behind them; who assuming to themselves the direction that was due to God, have refused to reverence and obey his laws? Ah, then the enviers and the envied, like the blind led by the blind, fall into one abyss. Unfit for the regions of pure love to God and each other, of perfect peace, of joy unspeakable and full of glory, they are debarred from admission into them. Associated with rebellious spirits, their bitterness, envy, resentment, eager desires ungratified, unceasing vexation and anguish descend with them, in an unbodied state. But in order to attain this desirable state, we must make a total surrender of ourselves to the divine will revealed to us, in daily selfdenial and fidelity; persevering therein to the end of our days, ardent in desire to do good, and to be conformed to the mind of our Creator. The less we look unnecessarily into the world, or covet its honours, favours, friendship and greatness, and the more we look to God with a single eye, and covet his honour, favour, friendship and riches, the more shall we experience a growth in the very root, and in all the branches of the divine life, that we may be as a chaste spouse to Christ in every desire and aim, in every motion of the mind, and its companion the body too. Surely he ever merits it from us, even he who has graciously visited, and from day to day invited, and called us out of the spirit and ways of the world, to join himself, in order to partake with him and his, of pure peace and joy in the present life, and infinitely in a future state. His call is "come out from among them, and be ye separate; touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father to you," &c. By this call were our honourable predecessors in the beginning, separated from the spirit and ways of the world, and incited to refuse touching the unclean thing or whatever sprang from an impure source, what persecution soever that refusal might cost them; knowing that he whom they obeyed and in whom they trusted, would carry them through all opposition, which they experienced to their unspeak A sensual earthly mind is too much vitiated to relish the pure joys, or to suit the society of the spirits of the just made perfect. Good-able joy, to be fulfilled, and many of them ness is painful to the wicked, being so contrary to the depravity of their nature. Heaven would be no heaven to them. testified it to the world, both living and dying. Those happy men and women, through their faithful labours with the divine blessing upon them, left the Lord's vineyard well fenced and clean, having gathered out the stones thereof, and abounding with the excellent fruits of the holy Spirit of Christ. After this, degeneracy stole in, a revolting to the world, imbibing its spirit, resuming its customs, language and manners; which has since widely spread and overflowed like a deluge, broken down the fence, and introduced an unhappy change in the state of our society. A change of heart is necessary to be experienced by every man, from a state of nature to a state of grace; from earthly and sensual dispositions and affections, to holy and heavenly, in order to be fitted for the fruition of, as well as the admission into, the kingdom of heaven. It is then the greatest wisdom, while time and opportunity are afforded, to use all diligence to attain that state of mind in which we may be prepared, when all the transitory delights, amusements and desirable objects of this world fail, to be received into everlasting habitations. Our hearts ought to be filled with thankfulness to God, who in his universal love to mankind, hath provided for them a physician, able and willing to heal all nations, to create clean hearts, and renew right spirits Having premised these brief observations, in all who submit to him and follow his di- I now proceed to the narrative of my own rections. life. Yet there is no change in God or his laws. O then, that we may speedily return back to him and them, and to that state from whence we have fallen, else great it is to be feared, will be our condemnation. |