102. London Memoir Of Br John Willey, a Servant of the Lord in the Brn's Church, who departed this lifse in Gracehill, October 6th 1847. Aged 66 years. Written by his children Not having been able to find any account of our dear father's life, written by himself, we can merely record some of the principal outward outward changes which he met with here, adding, the few remarks on himself and his experience, which have recurred to us in the private diaries of his congregation and in his cor(r)espondence. He was born Dec. 13th 1781 in Fulnec; his father, Michael Willey (born 1729 died aged 86, having served the the Congregation 66 years" was at that time laborer of the Congregation at Pudsey. He had one sister being and one brother, Joseph, both older than
than himself; of whom his brother was many years an active minister of several congregations, and was called home before him to his eternal rest, Aug. 11th 1841. A strong affection existed between the brothers, and some of our dear father's happiest seasons were the visits which he was occasionally though rarely able to pay to his brother and family. His early life, though chequered by the death of an affectionate mother, when he was only 6 years of age, appears to have passed very pleasantly among the youth in Fulnec. His old teacher B. Bradley, kept an unfailing place in his memory, and he spoke much and with great kindness of his well-remembered care and love. As a sign of the comparative innocences of those early years, he would mention the fact that he had never heard an oath until he had attained the age of 12 years
years. From some narratives of that time which he would occasionally call to mind, it seems as tho' his habitual good temper had early displayed itself, and rendered him a favorite amongst his teachers and companions. At the age of 14, he went, as was there customary, to learn a trade in Bedford, where he experienced great kindness from Br. Livius, of whom he long retained a grateful recollection. Here of course, he was somewhat more of the world and of its ways of sinful pleasure, and appears to have lamented the want of Godliness amongst many of the young people with whom he was associated. It was particularly whilst on a visit in London, on his way to Kingswood that he was struck with the deep depravity of human nature, and found gratitude to that Lord, to whom he had been early led, and who had so mercifully held his preserving hand
hand over him. At the same time, we doubt not, he obtained deeper views of his own sinfulness, and of his need of the salvation wrought for sinners, though the meritorious life and death of our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ. In 1802, when 21 years of age, he went to Bristol; and on his father's being appointed laborer of Kingwood congregation about that time, he was frequently with him there assisting in the school in that place. It was here he was viewed with the Congregation, and shortly after, in 1804, very permitted to partake for the first time of the Holy Communion There events seem to have made a way deep impression upon his mind, if we may judge from a remarkable experience which he has recorded as having happened in him on the morning of Palm sunday1804. If it came upon me sleeping, he
he writes, it made the same impression as though I had been awake. There came over me a great fear and trem- bling violent sweat, and a dread of being destroyed instantly. I lifted up my hand and raised my eyes, but could not rise, for the clothes were as a rock around me. There stood one whose eyes were fixed on me, with a shining light; before him an upright pillar, with which I expected to be slain, for the sense of my guilt increased my fear. I never can forget his look. He spoke - O how long have I delayed my coming; how long have I observed thy ways; I have had patience with thee; thou hast had advantages but thou hast neglected them; thy crimes are very great, thou hast been preserved through mercy hither to, but now ______ Here I prayed earnestly for mercy, that I might not Be destroyed in my sins; yet my heart was hard as the rock. I was powerfully convinced that it was Jesus who stood before me, and continued praying till
Till at last he mercifully Caused floods of tears to flow from mine eyes. Where I still in treated him to have mercy on me a wretched and guilty sinner, his countenance changed, he seemed filled with compassion, looked on me with pity, and spoke to me kindly, so that I was convinced I was heard. His last words were very impressive. "Be in earnest for your soul's salvation lest I come quickly with a woe." Where he vanished, the pillar that that seemed ready to destroy me, appeared changed into a hom(e) of salvation. I awoke to my utter astonishment, and continued long in prayer for the assistance I have daily and hourly need from a crucified Savior. Our dear father appears about this time to have been tried with a delicate state of health, sometimes suffering from new and affections, which had their bad effects upon his spirits. In May 1806 he went to Fulnec, and after midsummer the same year, he
he entered as a teacher with Mirfield school. The next year he went to Fulnec, to take charge of the Day school there, but was soon again (Sept 1808) recalled to Mirfield. The 5 years spent in the school there, he remembered with much pleasure; he remembered great affection for his pupils, and not a few of his old schools have shown that theyt recall his memory with pleasure. He spoke after of his agreeable and brotherly intercourse with Br. Pohlman, there Minister and Director of the school at Mirfield. His spare time was spent in visiting the sick in the neighborhood, and in cultivating that science which always retained such attractions for him, and in which he certainly displayed mean talent. The corespondence afterwards maintained with his relative, Sir W. Hamilton on astronomical subjects, was a source of great delight to him; and the laborious and neatly expected tables and calculations which he has left behind him, show his
His ingenuity and talent. It was in Mirfield in March 1809, that he first publicly proclaimed the Gospel,to be- come a faithful minister of which, we sincerely believe, was his highest aim. In Sept. 1812he was called to be Sgle. Brn’s Laborer in Fulnec; a part which he found more difficult than the one he had occupied in Mirfield. He lament ed the wait(weight) of the spiritual life in ma- ny members of the choir for the good of which he was appointed to labor; and cases might occur here, as elsewhere, where his meek and yielding temper would make the exercise of proper disci- pline, and faithfulness in reproving, a difficult task for him. In June 1814 he was called to Dublin, As Sgle Brn’s Laborer, and remained in that past for 3 years, during which time we know of little worth recording concerning him. In 1817 he was ordained in Grace- Hill by Br. Benade, and called to serve the Congn. at Ballinderry. August 21he was married to the Sgle .Sr.Susan Hutton,
that teacher in the ladies school at Gracehill. In Ballinderry they spent 10 useful and happy years; but also their four oldest surviving children were born; one little daughter being taken from them by the Lord in early infancy. In 1826 they removed to Cootehill, a congregation which had been for some years without a Laborer, and was in a very low condition, seeming to require all the energy which health and activity could supply. Here, as long as his health permitted him, our dear father labored cheerfully and in blessing. An account which he draw up for him- self of the various preaching places he attended in the neighborhood, and the success he met with in proclaim- ing the joyful news of saluation, tes- tifies to his activity. In the year 1833, 1 year after his arrival in Cootehill, he visited 12 out-preaching places, mostly once a fortnight, at an average distance of 4 or 5 miles, and some 12 and even 17 miles from Cootehill.
The following memorandum at the close of 1832,will share the spirit in which he labored:”When at the close of this year, I take a view of my poor, imperfect services in the vineyard of our Lord, I see much cause for the deepest humiliation, on account of my innurmerable transgressions,failings, and short-comings, and fervently pray my merciful Saviour and gracious Lord and Master, to forgive me in all things where in I have been to blame; whether it be in the omission of my duty, or in the performance of it in a wrong spirit, by hearkening at times to the secret whisper of approbation in my unhallowed breast, and forgetting to give all the honor and glory to the Lord. It is by his gracious assistance, I have been enabled to testify to my fellow-sinners, the richness of his Grace; whereas, if he had left me to myself, I should have sunk into shame and confusion .O that self
and pride might be so mortified in me, that I might even remember, that I am naught but a poor, worthless, unprofitable servant, and Christ my All! Lord keep me contrite, low and poor, Thus shall I praise thee memorie(his memory); Myself thrice blessed I can call, When I am nought, and thou my all!” In Cootehill,our dear Father’s health quickly declined, and symp- tons of those complicated diseases began to show themselves, which gradually affected almost every vi- tal part, and mostly disabled him from duty during the last six years of his life. Soon after his first serious attack, we find his experience recorded thus:”In the beginning of May 1841, I had a violent attack of influenza which lasted a long while, and caused me to notice to rest early in the after- noon. In the month of July I left Cootehill for Ballinderry in hopes that the change of air might be of
service to me ; but this not being the case, I begged my dismissal from ac- tive Service in Cootehill, for I saw my- self necessitated to notice from the work and labor of love in which my soul delighted, by the severe Affliction by with which a merciful and long-suf- ferring Saviour visited me. I humbly, bow down with submission to his bles- sed will, and can say in this trial. As I was enabled to do when lately receiving the account of my dear Bro- ther's departure: “It is the lord, let him Do what seemeth him good.” I feel too weak to participate deeply of the cup of affiliation, and my dear Saviour favors me, by permitting me to leave all my griefs with him, and he con- fonts me in such a manner that I can not say I have had an hours real dis- tress. After nearly 15 years labor amongst the little flock at Cootehill, having long shared both joy and grief with them, It is no wonder that I feel much at the thoughts of being obliged to resign
my change of them. My prayers at least on their behalf, shall be continued at the throne of grace. In looking at the fu- ture, it is still my desire, that if our Dear Lord and Master should be pleased to bless the means used for my recovery, I may yet be employed in some part or other of his vineyard, to bear still further testimony of his great love to sinners. O might I be more devoted to Him and serve Him more faithfully till the end of my days.” In the course of some months, our father thought himself sufficiently recovered to assume his labors in Cootehill, and accordingly removed thither from Bal- linderry in March 1843. The Brn. & Srs. rejoiced exceedingly on his return, wel- coming him with the sincerest to- kens of affection; and the ensuing pas- sion season proved a time of great en- joyment to this little flock and to their pastor. But in the autumn of the same year he felt his strength again failing, and in the winter he was frequently
unable to preach. In the summer of 1844, he felt in(it) ne- cessary again to leave Cootehill, to which he never returned, but took up his resi- dence with his children at Glenary, till the following year 1845. In April he returned to Gracehill, with the expecta- tion of ending his days in the midst of that Congregation. In the summer of 1846, according to the Doctor’s advice, he sought change of air, and spent upwards of 4 months and lodgings near Bally- Castle, close to the sea-shore, which he believed through the Lord’s blessing, helped to prolong his life. In the beginning of October he re- turned to Gracehill, and in the follow- ing winter endured much pain and severe suffering, with patience and resignation. To his Saviour’s will, which his faith and love taught him to regard as always conducive to his own real good. The vacations at midsummer and Christmas, when he could collect his children
around him were during these three years of trial, seasons of great plea- sure to him, and we have at such times been frequently struck with his cheerfulness and time enjoyment of life amidst all its drawbacks, and edified with the example of resigna- tion and Christian patience which he presented to us. He did not converse much on subjects of spiritual experi- ence, but his own interest in the truths of revelation, and particularly his love for and delight in our hymns was always apparent. When the spring of 1847 returned with- out any lasting improvement in his state, he could express himself as per- fectly resigned to the Lord’s will with him, though he naturally longed for ease and outward comfort, and faith- fully used every means recommend- ed. His faith meanwhile seemed purified in the fire of these afflic- tions, and his love and gratitude to the Saviour, were more ardent
than Perhaps at every former period of his life. we find the following reflections written in the summer of this year: It had been my lot to be afflicted for the last five years of my life, but I had abundant cause to bless the Lord for his meeting me in the way he has done, since nothing else would have brot me so closely to his feet. I have learnt more of the love of Jesus, in the school of affliction, than I ever knew before, and I can rejoice in Christ Jesus as my faithful helper in time of need, my good physician and nurse, and my merciful savior who for forgiveth all my iniquities. I have no confidence in any other; in him alone I place my trust, and find him always willing to help me. I delight to look to him by faith, and to think that though he is in the brightness of his glory, he permits me a poor sinful creature to behold him in His
his suffering, in his deep humiliation in the garden, died on the cross. He knows that nothing else can comfort me in the midst of my pain, and thus he structures my cup and makes me resigned and cheerful. I have passed through years of trial and suffering, I have come through great tribulation, yet I do not wish it had been less; I am sure my Savior has proportioned this chastisement to the necessities I neglected to bring me wholly to himself, that I might see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, be completely weaned from this present evil world, and live solely to his praise and glory. Blessed be his name, he has in a great measure affected his gracious purpose, and my joy no man can take from me." In another place he says: "The blessings I have enjoyed, especially during the latter part of my sufferings, have been so rich and great, that I have most sincerely thanked our precious Savior Jesus, for visiting Me
me with this very affliction, since it has opened to me more clearly the pathway to glory." After making an affecting comparison between his own distress, and the far greater and meritorious sufferings of his Saviour, he adds: "I know he loves me and I love him sincerely, but not as I ought. I can never love him here as I ought for what he has done for me." The change of residence to the shore of the lake which was made at his request in May, seemed at first to revive him, but it became gradually more and more evident, that it was not the Lord's will to lengthen his life here, but to take him soon from tribulation here below, to the pleasures for even more at his right hand. About the middle of Sept. he returned to his resting place in Grace- hill, there in patience to await the Lord's good time to call him In the visits which the laborers of the Congregation paid him in these last weeks, He
he appeared to continue in the sacred resigned and happy frame. His humiliation deepened till the last, his views of faith were cleaner, his love grew stronger. He mentioned the ways which he used to sing _ And there may I as vile as he, Wash all my sins away, but which he now called joyfully repeat _ And there have I as vile as he, washed all my sins away. He said he believed if he had seen this Gospel doctrine so clearly at the time of his early ministry as he did now, his preaching would, with the Lord's blessing, have been more effectual. His extreme weakness had after led himself and others to think the time of his departure mean at hand, and as often he had again, regained his strength, battling the skill of the physicians. On the night of Oct. 5 he was home to rest as usual, and though exceedingly weak, he was in a peaceful, happy state of mind, full of heavenly contemplation, his thought evidently resting.
resting on some object which filled him with a calm and holy joy. Whilst being settled for the night, he repeatedly said: "How much! how much to sleep in Jesus!" One of his children asking him, whether he meant the sheep or the body, he only answered with a placid smile. He'd had, no doubt, a presentiment that he was about to fall in to that sleep in Jesus, which with his believing people only the spiritual awakening to endless happiness in his presence _ His last words were: "How much to be a sheep of Jesus." After this, he slumbered quietly til towards morning, where a change apparently coming over him, his wife and the three of his children there with him, assembled around his bed to witness his gentle and happydeparture from this world of suffering, to that happier one of endless felicity and glory. They sung a verse with breaking voices, of which he appeared just conscious and soon after he gently slept away, resigning
signing his spirit without a struggle with the faithful hands of Jesus, of that Lord whom he believed in and loved, and in whose presence, we doubt not, he now enjoys the happiness and rest reserved for those whose sins are washed away in his blood, and whose spirits are clothed in the garment of his mighteaness We only add as his bereaved family, that whilst we sorrow at the loss of one beloved by all who knew him, and doubly endeared to us, we sorrow not as those that have no hope; may rather, so confident are we of his present happier state, so glad to think of his release from so much suffering, that we rejoice, and join him in praising the Lord for his past mercies to his servant, and for the communication of that happiness which he is now enjoying. May the example of our father's faith, together with the solemn experience of the days that we his secure children have spent together on this last mournful
mournful occasion, be impressed deeply upon our hearts, and through our Lord's grace be for a blessing on each of us; and may all heavenly consolation, and the hope of once rejoining our beloved father before the throne of God and of the Lamb, support his widow and our dear mother, through the remaining years of her earthly pilgrimage, that we may all join as the Lord's redeemed, with the great family of God above. Amen! Gracehill