Ful/3/133

Memoir of the W. Br. James Boothroyd, who departed in Rastrick, on Sunday 4 Dec 1835

I was born on the 6th Sep 1773. My father was a teacher of Music, & as soon as I was able, he expected me to assist him in that line, & especially by leading the boys in Singing at the Chapel, which we attended. Almost im mediately after his death, I sold my bass (vio lincello) & all the Music which I possessed, because I had reason to think, that Music had often led my father to public houses. I now left the place of worship, which I had attended with him, & went regularly to a Dissenting Chapel, & though it was really laughable I thought myself a very good man. After some time the Minister of the place joined with another person in the purchase of the lease of a farm. But as he could not have it all himself, he divided his share of it into smaller lots & sold me one of them. In settling the money part of the transaction, I thought he cheated me, & I discontinued attending on his ministry. Now I thought, though I had last the idea of my goodness, & went to no place of worship, I am however a more honest man than the Minister. In a little time I became a Member of a Reading Society formed in Rastrick. In our Library we had Tom. Pains’, Volneys & other Infidel Works, which I read, & I soon became a bold Deist.

I endeavoured to persuade others to come over to my views; but I hope I did not succeed. I now fell ill & was in imminent danger. My neighbour Chas. Thornton heard of it & came to see me. I used to laugh at this good man for his religion, & on seeing him pass our house on his way to the Brethrens Chapel at Wyke, I often said to myself, “Well if I went to a place of worship, I would go to one nearer home.” Chas. began to talk to me; but I replied I believe the danger is now over & laughed at him. Turning away from me with a manner that bespoke deep regret, he observed James, it is however well to be prepared” & left me The Holy Spirit applied that simple word to my heart, & I could do nothing but think of it. On my recovery, as soon as I was able, though under the immediate observation of my deistical companions, & my head was still bound up, I accompanied Charles to Lower Wyke Chapel, & the Gospel truths which I heard there deeply affected me. I was timid & too bashful to apply for connections with the Brethrens Church; but Doctor Oakly then the Minister, one Sunday after the service, came to me into the gallery, & said “I have observed, that you have attended here regularly for some time, & have often been much affected I suppose year would like to join us, step into the house with me.” He took me

into the parlour, & observing me quite overcome he excused himself & left me for a little time. I now gave vent to my tears & recovered. On his return I could converse with him & soon obtained all my privileges in the Congregation. My wife gained & obtained hers at the same time. For, though on my becoming a believer; I do not believe that she experienced a similar change; yet she did not oppose my attending our Chapel, but soon came along with me, & the means of grace were much blessed to her also. It was about this time that I moved to a farm in Bradly lane, where I resided twenty one years. I was very well off when I went to it; but farming reduced me to poverty. From thence I came hither to Rastrick, & the Lord has indeed for these nine years been very, very merciful to me. About a twelve month before I came hither, I lost a son who died in prison, where he was confined for poaching. I mo returned over his trans-gressions, but on his corpse being brought home, I would have the lid of the coffin lifted up & his countenance appeared so sweet & with such a smile, that I said to myself “this cannot he the corpse of one in misery.” Being quite alone, I knelt down by the side of the coffin & prayed

to the Lord, that if he had taken his soul to himself he would give me a token of it, & to let that token be, the falling of some rain about the time of his interment, It was in that a very hot & dry summer, which we had & yet on his remains being taken out of the hearse & all the way to the church there fell tho there had appeared no previous indication of a rain, a most gentle & refreshing genial shower, & I felt assured that the Lord had thus answered my prayer & that my son was safe in heaven with him. About two years since my late wife departed, & I had every satisfaction regarding her spiritual state. She gave a good testimony of her faith & hope before her disease, & I feel assured, that both she & our son are in heavenly glory. It is nearly two years since I was first affected with the disease, with which I have ever since been troubled, & which seems likely to be the means of my going home. When I was able to came to the Chapel, I was regular in my attendance & O I have felt it often good to be there I love the congn & pray far the Brn. & Srs. I with I had told my Brn more of my experience, it might have done them good.

Since I have been confined by this illness, about a twelve month ago I made my deep experience, it appeared to me that the Lord had forsaken me Oh! I was distressed. No one knows what these feelings are, but such as have had them. Better indeed is it to feel forsaken of the Lord I prayed fervently to him to let me see in what I had grieved him. His Holy Spirit shewed me that I had offended him in a money-affair. It was a book-debt upon which I had promised to pay interest but a friend advised me not to pay it. I had had an acquittance & was therefore in the eyes of men clear. But the Holy Ghost shewed me that I was guilty in the business, & I said “I will pay it, if I part with every thing to do so.” My sons, on my men tioning it to them, quite coincided with me, & I have paid a good part of it, & have the means of liquidating the remainder. As soon as I had determined to pay it, I felt such peace & satisfaction as I cannot describe & I continue to enjoy the peace of my Saviour He has assured me of my pardon & I rejoice in the experience of his favours. The more I think of his dealings with me, the more I must say he has had great mercy upon me, who was once a bold Deist. Some time after I became a believer, I met a man in Huddersfield, who addressed me, & asked what I now thought of the

subjects of religion I did not know him, but he said, that he had some time before in a public house in that town heard me hold an argument against them. “I was then” said he “in doubt about them but since that time I have been convinced of their truth, & have heard that you are a believer now.” We rejoiced together in our mutual faith & strengthened each other in the Lord. Though my children, except one, do not go with me to Lower Wyke, I rejoice to say that they feel pleased to join in prayer, either when any one comes to visit me, or when we appear before the Lord at the family altar. Before the decease of my dear wife, I did not pray with my family, I was too timid, but since her departure, I have ventured & have found that the Lord hears very simple prayers. He knows, hears, & answers what comes from the heart, & that alone is prayer, such as pleases him. I think I shall not be here many days longer, & I know that the Lord will take me to himself. I long to go to him & I have nothing now upon my mind to make me uneasy. He is truly precious to me, & I shall live with him in glory. Thus far our late Brother dictated on the 26 of March 1836.

Having in one of his visits in conversation with the brother to whom he dictated the above during one of his visits spoken of this freedom from temp tation, at their next intercourse he said “When I told you the other day that I did not now feel temptation I fear I went too far: for since you were here, many things have perplexed my mind, & I have felt sorry that I said I was not tempted now. But I believe the Lord has heard my prayer & given me his pardon & his peace.” In addition to his distressing & painful disease, he was when visited on April 15th dreadfully afflicted with hiccoughs & observed in a low whisper “I have had these the time almost un interruptedly for six days; but the Lord enables me to bear them without re pining, He does all things well & will with the trial make a way to es cape.” In after visits about this time his remarks were all of a grate ful nature & though still much dis tressed by his hiccoughs, he testified that the Lord had done much for him & that he had great reason to praise him. Once in particular he seemed almost exhausted with this disturbing affection, & said “I pray the Lord it forgive me & cleanse me from all my since & end this distressing complaint; But he does all things well”

His patience was quite exem plary & persevering, & his whole behaviour under his severe bod ily trials through the lengthen ed period of his enduring them, was truly edifying. On Nov. 7th he said “I am very weak & I suffer a good deal; but my Saviour does not leave me. He is still precious I have everything I can want.” Being told he was much inquired after in the Congregation, he replied, “I am glad that I have the esteem of my Brn. I used to enjoy every much among them, & I pray the Lord to bless them all. I am waiting his time & shall rejoice to go to him.” Nov. 16th he remarked; on the a visit paid him by a brother who in which he had expressed the hope that our late brother shwould find the Lord kind & gracious of the end. “I replied” said he “I have not a doubt of it.” After a very significant pause, he added doubt! doubt! I do not doubt it at all He will keep me to the end

I suffer much at present but the Lord will support & comfort me. He is mine & I am his Joined with him in a new communion And his latter passion is The foundation of this union. He appeared on the 24th to be at the point of departure & barely whispered “I am favoured with the same enjoyments as yet the Lord is still good to me.” And just when on the 30th he appeared so excruciated with pain, as to be unable to speak, he said I am not penitent enough.” Supposing that by this he estimated he had not as clear & satisfactory a views of his intent in Christ as the was wont to enjoy, his visiter asked him, if he still felt the Lord near & precious? With an emphasis, of which he was thought to be alltogether incapable, he replied, “O Yes, I do” He moaned much but still signified his resignation to the Lords will

From this time he said but little except in his delirium which was from much pain in his head. In there he often called upon God the Lord, proving that even when he was not fully conscious of his state, the bent of his mind was the inclination of his heart were towards his God & Saviour. On the 2nd Dec. he became insensible & lay this state till the 4th. About noon this day his enlarged spirit went to join the blessed above, & praise him whom he loved while here & whom he now beholds in glory His age was 63 1/4 years.