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MEMORIALS

OF

THE REV. JOHN H. BUMBY.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE AND MINISTERIAL CALL.

As Mr. Wesley was proceeding on one of his northern journeys, in the year 1751, he halted awhile at Osmotherley, in.the north of Yorkshire; and there, after his usual manner, bore a testimony for his Divine Master. Among the hearers were William Hewgill and a few other simple-minded and godly persons, who had walked nearly twelve miles from the village of Hawnby, for the purpose of enjoying the privilege of hearing the Gospel from the lips of the venerated evangelist. To their new-born souls the word came with refreshment and power; and on their obtaining an interview with Mr. Wesley, after the service, they induced him to give them a promise of visiting their village. He fulfilled this promise in the ensuing year. A Society had already been formed with his approbation, the members of which were walking in consistent holiness of life, though some of them, by the persecuting bigotry of the landlord, had been dispossessed of their habitations, and made in other ways to suffer shame and loss on account of their religious profession. This little band, however, maintained their meek fidelity, giving no just cause of offence; and the devotedness and zeal of Mrs. William Hewgill, in particular, were rewarded by the conver

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sion of her daughter Mary, which took place when she was in her twentieth year.

It was one of those clear and strongly-marked conversions which were so frequently realised among the early Methodists. The Spirit's work was well defined; and the great change issued in the formation of a remarkably pure, elevated, and energetic character in this excellent young woman. In the year 1800 she lost her mother, her father having died when she was a child: in 1803, she became united in marriage to Mr. John Bumby, of Thirsk; and, removing to that town, she entered upon her new sphere and relation only to exemplify in a more influential manner that piety which had been tested by sorrow, and cherished by several years of a retired walk with God.

One of her children was John Hewgill Bumby, our well-remembered and departed friend, born November 17th, 1808. Gifted with a clear and discriminating understanding, and with attainments in knowledge which, in those days, were above the common lot, Mrs. Bumby brought great strength and firmness of principle, as well as depth of tenderness, to the training of her children; especially of this boy, who, from his childhood, was conscious of a strong attraction towards her. He was fond of reading; and this propensity she cherished, so far as it was consistent with his health and welfare: she gave it a right direction, and sought, above all, to lead him to a true knowledge of himself and of Christ; following every special effort by solemn and believing intercession, and taking hold on the baptismal covenant of God. It was under the influence and teaching of this parent, that the youth began to have serious thoughts respecting the evil of his own carnal nature, and the misery resulting from the want of a conscious salvation from the guilt and dominion of sin. As the Wesleyan Ministers in their journeys frequently abode a day or more in the house of his parents, and he had the opportunity of hearing the conversation, and joining

in the prayers, of these devout and laborious servants of Christ, his impressions of the importance and loveliness of vital religion were greatly deepened by these

means.

Religious thoughtfulness, likewise, seemed to call forth a peculiar power of thought on all subjects which were presented to his mind; and thus his inquiries respecting the objects of nature, the facts of history, and the theme of his daily reading, were often more close and searching than could be readily answered. He was as susceptible of impressions from the beauty or grandeur of natural scenery, as he was liable to fits of musing on those matters of deep concern which were stirring his boyish heart to its very centre; and he was in consequence frequently known, in these abstract moments, to fall from his pony, while riding through some of the most interesting districts of the north of Yorkshire in company with his father. One of the Ministers who visited at his father's house, had been employed on foreign stations; and John listened with the deepest interest to his details, both of the scenes which he had passed through, and the progress of the Gospel by his instrumentality.

In the year 1823, the Rev. John Sedgwick was appointed to the Superintendent's charge of the Thirsk Circuit; and it was in this year, and under the ministry of this laborious servant of Christ, that John found conscious peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. His deep concern and penitential distress had for some time previously been increasing; and now, laying hold on the sinner's only Hope,especially in a most solemn and anxious hour, when the Holy Spirit, with more than wonted light and power, revealed Christ to him as a present Saviour,-exercising "faith in His blood," he obtained the long-desired pardon, and entered into pacific covenant with his reconciled God and Father. He has left no special record of the exercises of his mind at this period, nor of the process by which his sorrow was turned into

joy; but by his friends the change could not be either unnoticed or mistaken. Instead of guilt, he had now a peaceful conscience; instead of labouring in an impotent struggle against sin, he was conscious of a new and loving obedience, through the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him; and, instead of the fear of wrath, the hope of heaven. Still, it would be unreasonable to expect, that, at this time, in his fifteenth year, a thoroughly harmonised character could be formed, or even a course of unbroken spirituality. The foundation was

laid for the work of sanctification; but that work had henceforth to be carried on. There were occasionally outbreaks of natural impetuosity, when an impulsive cause was present; acts of imprudence, resulting from the too prompt dictation of an easily excited temperament; over-strong expressions of love or hate, in reference to different objects, from the same cause; and instances of practical playfulness, in friendly and retired circles, which were often carried too far; to put down or destroy which, not merely a spiritual conversion, but a physical miracle, would be required. It was his merciful lot that he had a buoyant and healthful youth; but he was of that highly delicate organization, which is so generally connected with mental tenderness and power commingled, that a seed of sorrow was likely to exist in this source, the fruit of which would be a sufficient sedative against natural extravagancies; whilst, most of all, the work of regeneration in his heart was so strong and clear, and his desire for communion with God so intense, that it was not likely he would rest without attaining to all inward and outward holiness. To what extent his closet was his confessional, is only known to God. Those who have passed through the hazardous period of the teens, conscious of undefined and undeveloped power, without seeing any sphere for it, and surrounded by all the temptations of youth, are best able to approach this subject. Bitter tears for sins of

omission, for inward sins, and guilty yieldings in various forms to the tempter, cast us then in faith upon the compassion of Him whose blood is the propitiation for our sins, as well as for the sins of the ungodly world. At the same time, let it be clearly understood, that John never departed from the Guide of his youth, forsook the covenant of his God, nor in the least degree dishonoured the profession which he made. He was known as the honest, frank, warm-hearted Methodist youth; and although the profane might scoff and jeer, none could point at him as either insincere or blameworthy. His very earnestness commanded respect. Within two years after his conversion, during which time his spiritual life was growing more intense and principled, he became deeply affected with the danger and misery of unconverted sinners; and began to cherish corresponding desires to save them. In the more retired walks of Christian usefulness, he had already taken a part; but now his love of the holy Scriptures, and his delight in meditating on them, became so apparent, as well as the fluent and impassioned utterance to his friends of his thoughts as to the truths which they revealed, that they could not but think, with several others, that a higher course awaited him. There were many facilities in a large rural Circuit for exercising the gifts of a pious and zealous youth. Numerous villages, especially where the Gospel was not preached in the parish churches, needed the regular administration of evangelical truth; and the number of lay-Preachers who assisted the Ministers to supply them was not too great; and, therefore, under proper sanction, our young friend was urged to go to one of these places, and take the service. He went with fear and trembling, borne along by what he believed to be an all-commanding authority. His spiritual father and friend, Mr. Sedgwick, then in the third year of his pastorship of the Circuit, was present. John preached from John iii. 16: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten

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