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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

MAY, 1810.

A SHORT ACCOUNT

OF

THE LATE REV. J. BROWNRIGG,

CURATE OF ALDERSHOT, NEAR FARNHAM.

We are indebted for the following brief, but interesting Memorial of a worthy Young Clergyman, to a small anonymous Pamphlet, drawn up by his intimate friend, and printed at Reading *.

THE REV. J. Brownrigg, after having taken his degree at Queen's College, Cambridge, was ordained on Trinity-Sunday, 1806, by the late Bishop of London, to the curacy of Minster, in the Isle of Sheppey. His ministry, though short, was laborious, and blessed to the souls of many individuals. Frequent removals, for the change of air, and relapses of his disorder, marked the chequered scene of his ministerial course. At length, on the 21st of October, 1808, he arrived at Aldershot, near Farnham, to take charge of the curacy; from which time, till the period of his dissolution, his health appeared visibly to decline, his sufferings being little less all the winter than during eight weeks of actual confinement to his bed, when he endured excruciating pain.

Deeply impressed with the responsibility of his situation, and earnestly longing for the salvation of his people, he ventured to preach to a far later period than a proper regard for his health would have dictated. The last Sabbath on which he officiated, presented a most affecting scene. In opposition to all Mrs. Brownrigg's entreaties, he literally crawled to church; where a large congregation was assembled, which had been greatly encreased since his residence among them. Feeling himself unable to ascend the pulpit, he remained in the reading - desk. The text he selected was from Isa. lii. 3: Thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought;

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and ye shall be redeemed without money:'-from whence he took occasion pathetically to describe the miserable state of man by nature; how every one had sold himself,' and parted with his title to Heaven to the basest masters, Satan, Sin, the World; and that absolutely for nought,'- for the poor, perishing, unsatisfying, pleasures of Time and Sense! Then, turning to the more pleasing part of the text, he expatiated in the most lively terms on the riches of redeeming grace, so free, so suitable, so complete.

In the course of his address, his languor and illness were lost in the apparent ease and energy with which he delivered himself; whilst the sad pre-sentiment, that their minister, for the last time, was now addressing them, carried home his word with an irresistible force to the hearts of his congregation. At length, after he had been enabled to give the most awful warnings, solemn exhortations, and earnest entreaties, his feelings entirely overpowered him, and he burst into tears. Nor were his hearers much less affected. A painful attention was manifest in every countenance; many mingled their tears with his, and not a few were heard even in sobs. In short, a more solemn season could scarcely be conceived. After the sermon was ended, and the people leaving the church, not a whisper was heard; for each heart was too full to take the usual notice of each other.

Fully expecting that his present illness would prove fatal, he requested that his funeral-sermon might be preached from Psalm xxvi. 8, Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth; from which words his rector afterwards delivered a very suitable and impressive discourse.

During the latter part of his illness, being informed of the arrival of some pious friends, he requested to be raised up in his bed, that he might declare unto them the goodness of God to his soul. Fearing that it might be too much for his debilitated state, they at first begged him to forbear the exertion; but he instantly replied, Yes, yes, I must say a few words to you, for my heart is full!' Then they raised him up; when he began in a mild pathetic tone, scarcely able to overcome his feelings: Surely, goodness and mercy have followed me all my days; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever! He then spoke much of the gracious dealings of God with him, adored the whole of his heavenly Father's conduct towards him, although he had been a child of affliction and trial: and, with much energy, expressed a complete confidence in the truths of the gospel. The Lord,' said he, • deals with me in a way of peculiar tenderness: he knows my frame, how weak it is; and that it would be greatly shaken by a succession of rapturous eajoyments, or great exercises of confict: therefore, in compassion, he gives me to see and exper

ence such gentle, yet rich displays of his love, that while I am lost in the heavenly meditation, it sooths my heart, and produces that desirable calm which alone my body would support in this very weak state.' Observing their concern for him, he looked earnestly at them, and said, I only want to weep this once over the mercy of my God;, and then I will indulge myself no more, for I know it shakes my weak frame. I hope,' continued he, I have loved to declare the truth in the great congregation; and could have wished, had it been the will of God, to have died in the pulpit, especially the last time I preached, for I felt I should preach no more, and then it might have been by my death the Lord would have roused some to think of the importance of their latter end.' He then related to us the circumstance of Dr.Conyers, of Deptford, dying thus; and how glad he should have been to have made the same end. 'But,' said he, 'such is the hardness of the human heart, that unless God had worked by his Spirit in the hearts of men, all would have been in vain! Many, at Deptford, after the scene with Dr. C, were impressed for the moment; but, upon the concerns and pleasures of this world being presented to them, they returned to their own evil ways; and so it might have been with my people. Therefore, notwithstanding that I wished that thus it might be, the Lord has wrought resignation in my soul, so as to make me content to die in this bed, thereby causing me to give up my will to his; although niy desire to live has been great, that I might continue to speak as an ambassador from God to perishing sinners, I am willing,' said he, and ready to depart. "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness!" I am an unworthy servant of Jesus Christ; but he has loved me, and made me feel him' a very precious Saviour! Oh, the mysterious love of Christ! -his love is free and unchangeable indeed !'-Here he spoke much of the preciousness of Christ, and so rejoiced in his glorious salvation, as to render it too affecting to stay in the room! His friends were about to leave him, when he said, Stay; I will not detain you much longer; only let me sum up all in the words of the apostle: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am -- When. he came to the expression chief, it was some time before he could utter it for his feelings. At length he pronounced the impressive word which he so deeply felt; then exclaimed, But the Lord is iny Shepherd! I shall not, I do not want! When I pass through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff, they comfort ine!'

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To one of his friends he said, a few days afterwards,' Come and see me smile; for I am made so happy by such a gentle,

though sweet outpouring of the love of God, that I know -you will rejoice with me! His mind remained in calm resignation to the prospect of death: still saying his only desire for life was to be useful in the church of Christ below, and labour for those precious souls who, not knowing the value, were unmindful of their own. He expressed himself very much interested for the inhabitants of his village, and all his hearers; and when any spoke to him of their earnest enquiries after him, it affected him much; and seemed to revive a hope that some of them had heard with attention his dying sermon.

It will be needful for the experienced Christian, who knows what the inward warfare is, to be informed, that this devoted servant of Christ had his conflicts of soul. One whole day God saw fit to try him; and the enemy of souls came in like a flood, and caused him to go mourning, from the fear that he never had a deep heart-felt repentance, a contrité spirit, a mind changed and renewed by the Spirit of God! He that day thought, from the great alteration in his state of body, that death was fast approaching: he appeared to search deeply into the state of his soul, determined not to be deceived in any one point: he prayed aloud most fervently for genuine contrition and brokenness of heart, on account of sin, with a strong and saving estimation of the preciousness of Christ. He spent the whole day in these exercises,― Satan indeed harrassing him much by his artful suggestions; but at length he, through the blood of the Lainb, conquered him and his fears; and his Saviour manifested himself to his soul in all the glory of his great salvation. He then sent for his friends to come and receive his dying testimony and farewell. As they had left him when in a gloomy state of mind, they expected to meet him in the same; but how was their joy excited, when, instead of fears of his Saviour's love being extended to him, all his expressions were, Oh, that I should ever doubt his love! Oh, that I should not have relied constantly on his unchanging word! Jesus is indeed precious,— I find hin so! He then exhorted each individually, - earnestly begging them to see that they had an experimental feeling of the preciousness of Christ; and then took an affectional and composed leave of each, committing, and giving up his dear child to God, with a blessing, saying, 'Farewell, my little child. May the faith that was in thy grandmother dwell also in thee! Thou little knowest thou art now parting with a father, who would have been glad to have lived for thy sake; but the Lord sces fit it should be thus. One of his earnest exhortations was, to keep the Sabbath, in living close to God; and by no means to profane that holy day of the Lord with worldly thoughts, much less worldly occupations.

After this, he requested to be removed into the next room, pre

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