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Thanks for parcels of clothing by Messrs. Scorey, Whitchurch; Cotton, Hackney; Herbert, Coleford; Holland, Oldham; Dr. Gray, London; Evans, Scarborough; W. G. Lewis, Cheltenham; Mrs. Jennings and friends, Bury St. Edmunds; Ladies' Committee, Birmingham, by Miss Morgan; friends at Hanley; ladies at Plymouth; Mr. Fisher, Milton, near Blisworth.

Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, EDWARD SMITH, Esq., 60, Old Broad Street; Rev. J. ANGUS, and by the Secretary, Mr. FRED. TRESTRAIL, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street, London: and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom.

J. HADDON, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.

THE

BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1847.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. JAMES HARGREAVES.

BY THE REV. PHILIP J. SAFFERY.

the parish church, though three miles distant from his home; but after his ninth year for a considerable time he had no serious impressions. Few were the helps, and many were the obstacles, to his improvement in the knowledge of "things that pertain unto life and godliness." His education was

perfect, and frequently interrupted; yet he made considerable progress in elementary learning, and was So

THE REV. James Hargreaves was born on the 13th of November, 1768, at a small farm house called Dean Head, two miles from Bacup, in the forest of Rossendale, Lancashire. When he was about two years and a half old, his mother died. Before he was three years of age, in consequence of his father's marrying again, he was placed under not wholly neglected, but it was imthe care of a paternal uncle. Although often disquieted by unbidden and unwelcome thoughts of another world, his childhood and youth were vanity.much superior in his attainments to Receiving no religious instruction from his guardians, and placed at an early age in situations in which he was exposed to the contagious influence of the most pernicious examples, it is surprising that his convictions of sin and apprehensions of the future should have been sufficiently strong to impose any restraint on his conduct, or compel him to pay any attention to the means of grace. When very young he had a great desire to be made fit for heaven, and often went to

VOL, X.-FOURTH SERIES.

other children at that period, that an opulent gentleman in the neighbourhood talked of sending him to a university to prepare him for being a clergyman of the established church. This purpose was never realized, but it awakened in him ambition, stimulated his natural thirst for knowledge, and gave a decided character to all his future habits, and tastes, and feelings. Familiar with the Prayer Book, and able to read well, he would sometimes, instead of attending the church, convene a number

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of his playfellows in a cart-shed, and
read prayers, and preach to them. He
was not then seven years of age. His
ability as a reader was not unfrequently
exercised. One Lord's day evening he
was requested to read a chapter in the
bible in a neighbour's house. When he
had finished, the master of the family
observed, "How well it will be for this
boy if he should ever have a concern
for the salvation of his soul and read
the bible for himself." This made an
impression on him which remained
through life, and, to use his own lan-
guage, was of "
'more worth" to him
than an ingot of gold." Before he
attained his eighteenth year he had
considerable knowledge of the bible,
and acquired a strong predilection for
polemical divinity in consequence of
hearing a dispute on the doctrine of
election. Amused and interested by it
he read the bible for himself, but at
that time with no higher object than
to excel as a disputant. However un-
worthy the motive by which he was
prompted, and however much to be
deprecated the controversial spirit which
he now cherished, good was brought
out of evil. He became better ac-
quainted with scriptural truth, and was
enabled to discover more readily the
weakness and strength of antagonist
systems. This was of no small advan-
tage to him through life, though, per-
haps, it gave to his sermons and
writings too much of the severity of
argument and too little of the warmth
and feeling of his generous and loving

heart.

In 1788 a chapel of ease to the parish church was erected in Bacup, of which the Rev. Joseph Ogden became the minister. Mr. Hargreaves, with five other young men between whom and himself a close friendship existed, engaged a pew and attended regularly on the ministry of that excellent and zealous servant of Jesus Christ. Con

science was again awakened, convictions of sin were renewed, and many an inward and fearful struggle demonstrated the truth of the apostle's testimony,— "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

On the 6th of October, 1791, he was married to the mourning widow who survives him. The first years of his married life were spent in diligent labour as a weaver. Having a conscientious regard for the precept, "Owe no man anything, but to love one another," he rose up early, and sat up late, and ate the bread of carefulness, that he might "provide things honest in the sight of all men." Religion now became paramount. Divine impressions were strengthened. Former connexions were unrelentingly broken off. Spiritual sympathies were made the only bonds of friendship, and the mind and the heart were often engaged with God. Ignorance was yet mixed with his religious exercises, but they were characterized by deep and sincere feeling. If there was not "the ear," there was, at least, "the blade," the first promise of that " full corn in the ear" which was afterwards seen in such richness and maturity. At this period, at least twenty times a day he retired and knelt down to give expression to his desires in sighs, and ejaculations, and broken sentences. No opportunity when alone was neglected. Family prayer was observed, and none of the public ordinances of religion were overlooked. He grew in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Mr. Ogden, although a clergyman of the established church, adopted for the Christian part of his congregation the Wesleyan class system. In 1792, Mr. Hargreaves was made a class leader. His pastor soon formed a favourable opinion of his talents as a teacher of others, and

urged him to preach. After repeated | been strongly prejudiced against Calvinrefusals and many most painful conflicts ism; but the system of truth, so called, with himself, he preached his first ser- after months of anxious inquiry and mon in November, 1792, from Ps. cxix. earnest prayer, and in opposition to 94, "I am thine; save me, for I have the remonstrances of his pastor, he sought thy precepts." fully and cordially embraced.

So oppressed and overwhelmed was he with a sense of his own insufficiency and unfitness for the work of the ministry, that when he had finished his discourse he descended from the pulpit and hastily departed from the house in which his friends were assembled, leaving them to conclude the meeting as they pleased; nor were they able, for some time, to persuade him to preach again.

While to Mr. Ogden Mr. Hargreaves attributed the highest motives, he doubted to the end of his life the wisdom of his pastor's call, and with a modesty more fresh and beautiful than I ever saw in one of his age and standing, in my last conversation with him he wondered what could prompt its being given to one so unpolished and uninformed as himself. Those who were privileged to listen to his ministry will not participate in that surprise, although they may possibly concur in another judgment he has pronounced, that it would have been more wise in Mr. Ogden to have given him suitable instruction before he encouraged him to preach. When the reluctance of Mr. Hargreaves to speak in public had been overcome, he was frequently called on to engage in this exercise. He was, therefore, laid under imperative obligation to study his bible and to "compare spiritual things with spiritual." Imperceptibly to himself at first, his views began to change. He gradually adopted opinions from the bible inconsistent with the principles of Arminianism, to which he had been warmly attached. Soon, however, he began to perceive the tendency of his sentiments. He became alarmed, for in early life he had

At this time some serious clergymen, deploring the great want of evangelical ministers in the church of England, formed a society at Elland in Yorkshire, to supply funds for the support of young men, having an aptitude to learn and to teach, till they could "qualify to receive holy orders." To this society Mr. Ogden belonged. He proposed Mr. Hargreaves as a suitable candidate for its patronage, and secured the promise of the votes of some of its most influential members on the day of nomination. Although then a churchman, there were parts of the service of the church, especially those portions of it which relate to the baptism of infants, and to the burial of the dead, which Mr. Hargreaves did not heartily approve. He trembled at the thought of a dishonest administration of the rites of the church, and he mentioned his scruples to Mr. Ogden. These, but much more his difference with his pastor on doctrinal points, led to the abandonment of the idea of his becoming a clergyman, and ultimately to his separation from that religious body with which, through Mr. Ogden, he had been so long and so closely united. To his pastor his renunciation of Arminianism was a far more insuperable barrier to his entrance into the church than his objection to baptize infants, although to himself this was an impediment he could never have surmounted. In reply to his scruples respecting the baptism of infants, Mr. Ogden said, "You know that I avoid baptizing children at the church as often as I can.”

"At times," says Mr. Hargreaves, when recording this part of his religious history, "I felt elated at the thought of

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