some other reason now unknown, induced his father at that time not to encourage his intention; but the intensity of his desire was too strong to be restrained. A little before the appointed time he left his father's house unperceived, and without suitable preparation, and directed his steps towards the place of meeting. His father followed some time after, not knowing that Thomas was already on his way. When he came up to him, he found him supporting himself against a wall, having so far expended his strength as to be unable to proceed any further without assistance. So deeply was the parent's heart affected with the unconquerable anxiety and resolution of his child, that his objections immediately gave way; he could no longer resist, but taking him in his arms, he bore him for the first time to a means of grace in which he ever after delighted, and which he regarded as being calculated in no ordinary degree to promote the increase and growth of piety in the people of God. Shortly after this the family removed to Burnley, and here Thomas became a regular and consistent member of the church of Christ. Having obtained the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, he began to publish the glad tidings of that salvation to others. He was at this time emphatically a juvenile preacher, for about the time that he attained the age of fourteen years, he entered upon the important work of calling sinners to repentance, and exhorting them to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. His first sermon is said to have been preached in a house at Sandygate. He preached his trial sermon in a house at Burnley Wood, the Rev. Wm. Leach, superintendent of the circuit, being present. Mr. Leach is reported to have remarked some time after, "I listened to him until I forgot that he was a boy." When it was known that he had to preach, the places of worship were usually crowded, and on his making his appearance, and commencing the service, his congregations became deeply interested. When engaged to preach near home in the house of a friend, he was sometimes accompanied by a sister who was five years older than himself, and who had seven years previously become truly pious and devoted to God. On these occasions he requested her to pray at the conclusion of the sermon, which she did in a way highly calculated to draw down on the assembly the Divine influence, and deepen the impression produced by the sermon. They met in the same class a mile distant from their home, and our brother must have derived great benefit from her society, for of her it has been said, that she was a gem in morals and religion. She died in peace at the age of 23 years, leaving to all of her age and sex who had any acquaintance with her, an example of modesty and prudence. Being urged by official and influential members of the church to allow her death to be improved, she gave a reluctant consent, and named for the text, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." In the evening of the day on which her sorrowing relatives consigned her remains to the silent grave, they repaired to the sanctuary to listen to an admonitory address founded upon the above text, which was delivered by the Rev. John Stamp. Her removal was a family loss, but it was most severely felt by her mother, to whom she had become by her assiduity and dutiful behaviour at once an assistant, a confidant, a councillor, and a bosom friend. Being the eldest child she largely shared with her mother the care and labour requisite for securing the comfort of the family. By the time that our brother had attained the age of fifteen, his fame had spread abroad, and many applications were made to him to preach in the neighbouring circuits, to some of which his father allowed him to respond, In this delicate matter Mr. Leach took a lively interest, and displayed an almost paternal solicitude, lest our young brother should receive some spiritual, mental, or physical injury from such calls. The affectionate father and the judicious superintendent occasionally consulted how best to manage this important business. About this time he went to preach school sermons at Mellor, near Blackburn, and was received into the house of Mr. Banning. Mr. and Mrs. B. took a lively interest in the youthful preacher, and having a son in the profession of schoolmaster, proposed that he should dwell in their house, and take lessons from their son in those branches of learning in which they deemed it needful for him to improve. Mrs. B. made it her business to cultivate his mind, and on his return home he spoke in grateful terms of the kindness of that lady. From thence he went to Haughton Tower, to live with a brother of Mr. Banning, whose son also kept a school, so that by the kindness of the brothers and their sons he had six month's education and support, free of expense to his parents. Some time after he took a journey into Yorkshire, intending to spend a week or two with an acquaintance of his father's, who had sent him a pressing invitation. While there he became acquainted with Mr. John Greaves, a wealthy farmer, who induced him to prolong his stay in those parts, take up his abode with him, and preach the Gospel in the towns and villages around. While our brother was with Mr. Greaves, the Rev. Thomas Simmonite, of the Ripon Circuit, fell sick, and Thomas was prevailed upon to supply his pulpits. In this sphere he laboured for nine weeks until the Conference, when he returned to the house of his friend who still strove to retain him in those parts. Very soon after this Mr. Todd, of the Tanfield Circuit, was laid by from affliction, and Thomas was induced to supply his place, which he did to the end of the year. Mr. Todd's illness continuing, the circuit determined to invite him to remain with them another year, on condition that Thomas also would consent to remain with them and do his work, to which he agreed. But it was too laborious for a boy of sixteen or seventeen to preach on the Sabbath and during every evening in the week, with about three exceptions in a month, spend the forenoon in study, the afternoon in travelling on horseback through a thinly populated district, and then mount the pulpit. His labours in this circuit were uncommonly successful, but they were too great for his constitution. Ultimately he returned home with his form wasted, his strength greatly reduced, and his nervous system in a state of derangement somewhat alarming, and it was a long time before this last symptom was fully removed. In Tanfield, Burnley, and elsewhere, attempts were made to induce him to give himself entirely to the work of the ministry, as an itinerant preacher in the Wesleyan connexion. His mind was so evidently one of extraordinary powers, his piety so deep and unaffected, and his labours as a preacher had been attended with so much success, that it was rightly judged God had designed him to be separated to the work of the ministry, and become a messenger of mercy to a fallen and guilty world. Latterly, however, and even prior to his return home, he had been the subject of distressing temptations. He feared he had missed his way. His mind was clouded and his spirits distressed. He entertained doubts as to the genuineness of his religion, and the Divine origin of his call to the ministry, and for some time could not be brought to concur with his friends, who wished him to give himself entirely to the work of the Lord. At length he consented to attend a district meeting at Manchester, for the purpose of being examined as to his qualifications for the work. This, however, gave him intense anxiety. On the morning of the day on which he was to attend, he rose long before the usual time. His younger sister perceiving this, and knowing his state of anxiety, rose too and followed him down stairs. She did not know what to do or say to calm his agitated spirit. He paced the room in deep and intense thought, then turning to his desk prepared to write, at the same time enquiring for his younger brother, (now no more) intending to send a note to the superintendent of the circuit, recalling his consent to attend the district meeting. On this his sister called her mother, who coming down, and seeing her son's state of mind, and learning his intention, said to him, "Tommy! Tommy! what art thou going to do ?" The superintendent called early, and Thomas consented to accompany him, not so much expecting to enter the itinerancy, as to put an end to the importunity of friends, and the officers of the church to which he belonged. At the following Conference he was appointed to the Ashton Circuit, with the Rev. John Thompson. The writer well remembers accompanying Thomas about eight miles on the way, and the sorrowful parting that then took place. He remained in Ashton only a short time. The prevailing thought of his mind was, "I am so unprofitable," so ill qualified for the great work in which I am engaged that I cannot remain. Ultimately he yielded to these discouraging views, resigned his office, and returned home, very much to the regret of a large circle of friends, whose confidence he had gained, and who had indulged exalted expectations as to his future usefulness. He now resumed his former occupation, was an inmate in his father's house, and his spirits gradually but slowly acquired a little buoyancy, and perhaps at no period did he hold forth the word of life with greater energy. About this time he married, quitted his former employment, and opened a school at Heywood, in the Rochdale Circuit. On his first appearance in the pulpit at that place, he manifested something of his usual depression, but such was the high intellectual and scriptural character of his sermon, as to induce amongst the most intelligent of his audience expressions of regret at his not having remained in the itinerancy; and an opinion also, that if he had so remained he would have had very few superiors Here he resided a number of years, to the no small comfort of many who listened to his word and enjoyed the benefit of his society, and here he acquired a high reputation for rectitude of conduct and moral worth. At length he relinquished his profession of schoolmaster, and having obtained a respectable and highly responsible situation in Manchester, he took up his residence in that town; he continued however to labour as a local preacher in the Manchester and neighbouring circuits, with great acceptability and usefulness. In the years 1834 and 1835 the Wesleyan Connexion became extensively agitated by certain proceedings on the part of the Conference, to which it is not necessary here more particularly to refer. Our brother did not make himself very prominent in the struggle. He had read ecclesiastical history, and endeavoured to understand the privileges and obligations of every member of the Christian church. He carefully observed the proceedings of the Conference, comparing them with what he understood to be the constitution of Methodism as established in 1795 and 1797, and he deeply sympathized with the thousands of the people who remonstrated against these proceedings. When at length they were constrained to separate themselves from that body, and form the Wesleyan Methodist Association, he regarded it as his duty to make whatever sacrifices were necessary for the maintenance of principle, and employ his talents and influence in promoting the success of a cause which had obtained the hearty concurrence and approval of his deliberate judgment. Shortly after the commencement of the Association, he became one of its itinerant preachers, and laboured successively in the Edinburgh, Leeds, Darlington, and Liverpool Circuits. In each of these circuits he was very much beloved. His simple and affectionate manners endeared him both to old and young; whilst his unaffected piety, and the masculine strength of his understanding, commanded the respect and confidence, not only of the societies amongst whom he laboured, but, in many instances, of intelligent persons of other religious denominations. There was such a steady uniformity in his piety, so deep a reverence for the Word of God, with which he was remarkably intimate; such clear and enlightened views of the economy of grace; and these were accompanied with so much of the meekness of humility; that the understandings and the hearts of his friends did cheerful homage to the excellences of a character which invariably appeared to the greatest advantage, as it became the object of a closer investigation. While he laboured in Edinburgh, his father died rather suddenly, after a short illness. The scattered members of the family were summoned to attend his funeral, but Thomas was not there. The day after the funeral, however, his widowed mother received by post a letter, explaining the circumstances which had made it impossible for him to be present, and addressing to her such consolations as her condition called for. In that letter is the following statement, "When I received the letter containing the tidings of my father's removal hence, I was meditating with satisfaction on John vi. 40. And this is the will of him who sent me, that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.'' This letter was read as the family was about to separate, and it had a salutary influence upon their minds. 66 In 1838, Mr. Townend was stationed in Leeds; and an influential and intelligent member of the church says, that "his reception was with that affectionate kindness which may be said to be characteristic of the Leeds' Society towards their ministers, and he soon found himself at home." Through the whole period of his labours in Leeds, there is reason to believe that Mr. Townend was happy in his work in the circuit, and with his colleagues. The apostle's exhortation to "follow peace with all men," appeared to be the law of his nature, and in his intercourse with the people and in the various meetings for the transactions of the business of the church, he was emphatically a man of peace." "As a minister of Christ, our departed brother was well instructed in the manifold mysteries of godliness, and had studied to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly divining the Word of Truth.' To him the Gospel of the grace of God was evidently not a sealed book, for he had dug deep into the mine of Divine truth; its glories unfolded themselves to his vision, and his sermons were rich and invaluable expositions of truth. It is within the recollection of many members of the congregation assembling in Lady Lane chapel, how his discourses exhibited increasing depth and clearness of comprehension of the glorious doctrines of the cross. They were far from presenting a monotonous repetition of the same views of truth; in them, truth appeared in its rich and varied excellence, and was rendered impressive, inviting, and attractive. A period of three years was evidently much too short to afford our late esteemed minister sufficient opportunity of teaching those things new and old, the knowledge of which he had acquired, by long and deep study of God's holy Word. This was the more apparent, as the last year of his labours in Leeds produced by far the most valuable of his sermons." Mr. Townend's ministry was more especially calculated to build up the church of Christ, and to establish believers on their most holy faith. It would have argued an indolence of mind, and a want of ordinary attention to "the word spoken," on the part of religious professors, to have sat under his ministry without becoming wiser and better, without knowing more of the mind and will of God, and thus becoming better fitted to serve him. The members of a church, favoured though for a comparatively short period, with so enlightened and faithful a ministry, incur responsibilities of no ordinary character, as will be seen in the day of accounts. But it must not be supposed that his sermons were addressed principally to one class of hearers. There was in them a portion of meat for every one in due season, and many a stout hearted sinner has been made to tremble whilst listening to his faithful applications of the solemn truths of the Gospel, and the awful denunciations of God against the impenitent. There was a fearlessness and a fidelity in his annunciation of Divine truth, and frequently an energy and zeal in enforcing the claims of the Gospel upon his hearers, which rendered the rejection of them difficult and awfully dangerous. Mr. Townend's qualifications as a biblical scholar and student of divinity, eminently fitted him to assist others in their preparations for the ministry. Whilst resident in this circuit, he rendered very important service to a number of young men who were then preparing for the pulpit. A greater number who are locally employed as preachers, owe much to him for the mental improvement and theological instructions which they acquired under his tuition. On leaving Leeds, our brother was appointed to the Darlington Circuit. While he was there, an event occurred which involved the whole family in deep distress. His youngest sister lost her husband, and was left in a state of great physical weakness, with four children dependent upon her, two of whom were of a tender age. Her husband's last hours were a season of deep anxiety about his wife and children. Mr. T. Townend was summoned to attend his funeral, but not being able to do so, addressed to his afflicted sister, who had long cherished for him a tender affection, the following letter. Darlington, May 17, 1843. "MY DEAR SISTER-I deeply sympathize with you in your present heavy affliction. God has taken away your partner, but he offers himself to become your husband. He has taken away the father of your children, but he says that he himself will be their Father. My dear Sister, can you not trust in God? can you not cast yourself on his infinite mercy in Christ Jesus your Saviour and Redeemer ? 'He is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent.' Say with David, 'When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.' Then will you be able to say, 'It is good for me that I have been afflicted, for before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have learned to keep thy law.' I am sorry that the distance from this place will prevent my getting to the funeral, but my prayers and sympathies will be with you, and if I can but persuade you to cast all your care on God and to lay hold on his mercy, all shall be well. We have also been called upon to pass through the water the last few days. Samuel, my youngest boy, has been at the point of death. Yesterday his life was trembling in the balance, and we knew not on which side the scale would turn. This morning, however, there is a change for the better. The physician whom we called in has displayed great skill; but that is nothing without the blessing of God. My dear Sister, you must get Elisha immediately to write me all particulars, I shall want to know what are your circumstances, prospects, names and ages of your children, your own state of health, &c. I pray that God may be your refuge and strength, 'a very present help in trouble.' You are the child of many prayers; you are the witness of the dying instructions of your parents, and your sister Ann, and brother Benjamin, who are now before the throne of God and of the Lamb 'Where gushing tears are wiped away, And now your dear husband has gone also; well, we too shall soon follow. Let us prepare for the coming of our Lord. 'For blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching.' O how utterly vain are all things when compared with an interest in Christ. His blood cleanseth from all sin, and he casts out none who come to him. "I am, my dear sister, yours most truly, (To be concluded in our next.) 66 T. TOWNEND." |