Our late Sister Rachel Brook was born April 28th 1744 at Birstal.
Her parents, who loved the Lord, directed her from her earliest years to the friend of children and took her, when a child to the Chapel at Gumersal, where she attended the children’s meetings, and used to be delighted to hear of our Saviour’s love, and when coming home she would some time kneel down in a corner and pray to him to bless her and form her to his mind.
But when she grew older she found that tender childlike love to our Saviour growing cold. She wished to enjoy the world, and its vain pleasures, but always felt a monitor within, warning her from going the broad road, which leads to destruction; she spent some time in great
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trouble of mind, not willing to follow the Lord, and full of fear to be last eternally; during this period, which was in her 16th year, she had a very remarkable dream: It was to her as if she saw our Saviour on the cross, in the most lovely attitude, saying to her, “all my sufferings, wounds and bruises were for thee, to save and redeem thy sinful soul.” This made a deep impression on her mind, and she turned in earnest prayer to the Lord, that he would pardon her sins and transgressions and renew a right spirit within her, and once when walking in a field by herself, with tears and prayer lifting up her hands to him, she got an assurance that her guilt should be done away, and that he would prove her good shepherd
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who seeks that which was lost with unwearied faithfulness. This has followed all her life and often through grace been renewed. She now felt a desire to be closer united with the Brethren’s Congregation and to enjoy the privileges of the same. October 4th 1760 she moved into the Sisters House here in Fulneck. May 11, 1761 she was received into the Brethren’s Congregation and May 8th the following year partook for the first time of the holy communion. She often spoke with great pleasure of the time of her first coming, how happy she was in communion with our Saviour, and how comfortable the Sisters were together in the so-called spinning days, and how they delighted midst great poverty in singing the praises of the Lord. She was soon employed in serving as an overseer
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with the Girls, and afterwards with Sisters. In 1790 she was accepted an acoluth, and for 18 years she held the Office of House Servant. She showed much faithfulness in what was committed to her, and looked upon it as a favour, which made her office a pleasant duty to her. The last few years, she was not able to do as formerly but enjoying the love of the Sisters they were willing to lend her a helping hand whenever required, particularly those Sisters in her room showed her much love and attention. Though nothing very striking seemed to distinguish her course, we are sure that she lived in communion with our Saviour, and with childlike confidence and humble faith looked to him for help and support in every time of need.
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October 4th, 1810 she called to mind that it was 50 years since she moved into this house, she expressed herself that she could not sufficiently thank our Saviour, for all his love and care, his long-suffering and forbearance, and for all his mercy towards her, and looked back with gratitude and amazement how he had proved her true friends in all her spiritual and temporal concerns, that she had lacked nothing; and she renewed her covenant to cleave to him, to trust his shepherd care, till hope and faith shall cease, and love prevail alone.
Hitherto she had enjoyed an uninterrupted good state of health, but now she began to feel the infirmities
of age, and for these last 3 years, she was not able to attend
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the meetings as she used to do, which was a great trial to her. She was however able to go about in the house, though at last with great difficulty, till the 6th of this month, when she had to be confined to the sickroom, her weakness increased rapidly. Though she did not think that her departure was so near, she felt resigned to our Saviour’s will, saying: “my times are in his hands I can say do nothing but pray to him to receive me, a poor and worthless sinner, in mercy, and I am sure he will.” – On the 13th she called to mind the blessings she had often enjoyed on that great memorial day, and particularly what she had felt the first time, when she celebrated it 55 years ago, during the singing of that verse:
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O Church, how many hast thou yet who do not love the Saviour? Who do not think his burden light nor his sweet yoke a favour! O ye, who don’t stand well with him, do the long for redemption? now, now, is for you the right time come all without exception.” She spent the following days mostly in a slumber, and when she awoke between, she only complained of great weakness. She often folded her hands, as being engaged in prayers, when the lips no more could say. And on the 16th it pleased the Lord to call her to himself in a gentle and happy manner, aged 71 6 1/2 months. Among the saints in light; behold our Sister seated: her faith now lost in sight, her happiness completed:
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With cheerful voice she joins the blessed company, ascribing to God’s grace her heavenly destiny. At home, she rests in peace with her beloved Saviour, all her afflictions cease, each tear wiped off forever: her longing gratified, she views her Bridegroom, friend: who graciously supplied, each need unto the end.