London Memoir Of Br John Willey, a Servant of the Lord in the Brn’s Church,
who departed this life 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 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 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
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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
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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 ap-pears 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 de-
pravity 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
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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 Savior Jesus 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 partakefor 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 Sunday 1804. If it came upon me sleeping,
he
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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 mer-
cy hither to, but now ______ Here I pray- ed 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
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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
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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 they 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 Mir field. His spare time
was spent in visiting the sick in the neighbor- hood, 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
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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. 1812 he 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 21 he was married to the Sgle . Sr. Susan Hutton,
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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.
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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
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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 vital 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
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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
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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 asume 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
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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
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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
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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 confi- dence in any
other; in him alone I place my trust, and find him al- ways 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
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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
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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
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he appeared to continue in the sacred resigned and happy frame. His humil- iation
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 re- peat _ 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 weak- ness had after led himself and others to think the
time of his departure mean at hand, and as often he had again, re- gained his strength,
battling the skill of the physicians. On the night of Oct. 5 he was home to rest as usual,
and though exceed- ingly weak, he was in a peaceful, happy state of mind, full of
heavenly contemplation, his thought evidently resting.
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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 of 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 peo- ple 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 morn- ing, 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
happy departure from this world of suffering, to that happier one of end- less felicity
and glory. They sung a verse with breaking voices, of which he appeared just conscious
and soon after he gently slept away, re- signing
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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 re- served for those whose sins are washed away in his blood, and whose spirits
are clothed in the garment of his mighte- aness 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 hap- pier 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
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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 mo- ther, 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
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