FOR APRIL, 1835. BIOGRAPHY. MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM GIBSON, Of Cheetham-Hill, near Manchester : BY THE REV. JONATHAN CROWTHER. THE following brief memoir of the late Mr. William Gibson is furnished, not so much for the gratification of his surviving widow and other near relatives, though they are worthy," as in compliance with the earnest wish of many other persons who had the privilege of an acquaintance with him, and who are now justly desirous of seeing his name and character enrolled in the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, amongst these whose memory is blessed." He was born at Lightcliffe, near Halifax, February 11th, 1787; but his parents soon afterwards removed to Manchester; and in this town, or its vicinity, he spent the remainder of his life. His father dying in the year 1800, and leaving a widow with the charge of three sons, of whom William was the eldest, it was to her a "day of trouble; " but the same hand which had inflicted the bereaving stroke was now stretched forth to bless and succour the fatherless children and widow. In her affliction she sought the Lord; and, besides continuing to attend the service of the established Church, began also to hear the preaching of the Wesleyan Methodists in Bridgewater-street chapel, then recently erected. Seeking with all her heart, she speedily obtained the favour and the peace of God," became a member of the society connected with that chapel, and some years afterwards died in the full triumph of faith. Amongst other fruits of her conversion to God, was an increased solicitude for the religious instruction of her children, with the employment of all the means which she judged likely, by the blessing of Almighty God, to lead them to a life of piety. But the subject of this memoir, although in other respects a very steady and interesting youth, exhibited no decisive indications of his being the subject of converting grace, until he was about eighteen years of age. At that time he was near the close of his apprenticeship, but still lodged under his mother's roof, and thus enjoyed more fully than otherwise he might have done, the benefit of her example, her admonitions, and her prayers. Anxious to see him usefully and religiously engaged, in the hope that, in watering others, he would be watered himself, she ventured to devise for that purpose a species of stratagem. Among her intimate friends was a person of the name of Brewer, whose husband was a Teacher in the Bridgewater-street Sunday-school. By these two friends, in conjunction VOL. XIV. Third Series. APRIL, 1835. R with Mrs. Gibson, it was arranged that her son William should, at a certain hour on an appointed day, be standing at the door, and that Mr. Brewer, on his way to school, should pass the door exactly at that time, and invite the youth to accompany him thither. The moment arrived, -the arrangement was complete; William, not knowing the plan which had been laid, was at the door; Mr. Brewer drew near, urged his invitation, and obtained consent. As they quitted the steps, Mrs. Gibson burst into tears, whilst, in answer to the prayer which then ascended from her heart, God gave his blessing with the innocent means employed to entrap him into piety and usefulness. "This," he was afterwards accustomed to say, was the turning-point of my life, and the commencement of my religious being." After having been for a few weeks connected with the Sunday-school, he became the subject of deep conviction of sin; and, whilst pouring out his heart to God in prayer, in his bed-chamber, he received, through faith in the atonement of Christ, a clear assurance of God's pardoning mercy. Having now become a member of the Wesleyan-Methodist society, he continued for some years to meet in the class of Mr. James Wood, now of Grove-House; and under his judicious instruction and fostering care, he grew and was established in the grace of God. In the year 1815 he was associated with the late Rev. John Storry in one of the new classes raised in Manchester by that zealous and successful Minister; and, in the course of a short time, having been found to possess talents peculiarly fitted for that service, he was appointed sole Leader of the class. In the year 1821 he entered into the marriage state with her who now, as his bereaved widow, mourns his loss; and about the same time removed to Cheetham-Hill. The society in that place was then comparatively small; and the new chapel, built only a few years before, was but scantily attended. But Mr. Gibson was aware that, according to the old saying, prayer and pains will do wonders;" and, in conjunction with others, he set himself with all diligence to bring about the prosperity which he desired. With this view he frequently visited the cottages of the profane and careless, for the purpose of inviting them to hear the word of God; and he had the satisfaction of perceiving that this labour was not altogether in vain, several persons having been persuaded, in compliance with his admonitions, to attend the chapel regularly, and ultimately to become members of the society. In process of time he had two large classes under his care; and it was in this department of labour that his usefulness especially appeared. Indeed, for the important office of a Class-Leader he was eminently adapted; as, in addition to other qualifications, he had a remarkably sound judgment, a copious and familiar acquaintance with holy Scripture, and a personal experience of "the things of God," which was uniformly clear, consistent, and progressive. An intelligent friend, who was accustomed to meet with him at the time when he was first appointed as a Leader, gives the following * Mr. Holland Hoole, of Pendleton. testimony :-" When I first became acquainted with Mr. Gibson, he was a member of one of Mr. Storry's newly-raised classes in Bridgewaterstreet, occasionally assisting Mr. Storry in conducting its meetings. I soon observed that he had gained highly upon Mr. Storry's esteem, and long before Mr. Storry left the Circuit, the class was entirely transferred to Mr. Gibson's care; and I continued to meet in it for several years. Mr. Gibson possessed talents of an uncommon degree of excellence for the duties of a Class-Leader. Without presuming to assert that one particular mode of class-meetings is always the best, it must be admitted that a great difference exists; and that the feeling of comfort and pleasure with which a person attends such meetings, depends very much on the manner and talents of the Leader. Under Mr. Gibson, as a Leader, I certainly enjoyed meeting in class. It was every thing that was desirable; all was pious, rational, and brief. Our meetings were lively; and, while nothing was omitted, and nothing hurried, they were concluded in good time. His own experience was always clear, and his faith fixed on a firm foundation." This testimony is abundantly supported by the testimony of others who met with him at a later period, and from whose account it would appear that, as he advanced in years and in experience, his admonitions and advices were characterised by a warmth, and prompt. ness, and fidelity, which, being tempered by a rich infusion of the charity that "hopeth all things," and "endureth all things," rendered an attendance at his class a means of grace peculiarly edifying and delightful. For, whilst he was pointedly faithful, as one who remembered that he must give account, he was also "gentle amongst " those who met with him "even as a nurse cherisheth her children," watching every opportunity to lift up the hands that hung down, and to confirm the feeble knees. During the last two years of his life, he was the subject of much personal affliction. In the course of this affliction no means were omitted which were at all likely to conduce to his recovery; and for some time in the midst of many fears, very considerable hopes were entertained of his being spared some years longer to his family and to the church of God. But God had otherwise ordained; and, after repeated alternations of suffering and relief, his case assumed an aspect which made it evident almost to certainty, that the time of his departure was at hand. Under these circumstances, however, the same grace which had enabled him to be zealously active in doing the will of God, now strengthened him to be patient in suffering. More especially towards the close of his affliction he enjoyed, apparently without any interruption, that "light," which "to the upright ariseth even in the darkness," and he was the subject of a confidence and cheerfulness which his affliction served to heighten rather than destroy. Sitting with Mrs. Gibson one Sunday evening, he lifted up his hands in a devotional manner, and then said, "I have been just thinking of the blessedness of having rest in God-hope in God! I feel my soul at rest. St. John's 'love' must carry the day. When the soul is filled Get hold of Christ; keep hold and nothing else." with this, there can be no room for sin. of Christ; trust in Him. This will do, To Mrs. Johnson, his mother-in-law, who was speaking of the goodness of God, as manifested to him, he said, "What a mercy it is that nothing can keep us from Christ! No; neither men nor devils can keep us from Jesus. Let us continue to knock at the door of mercy, to knock loudly, and to continue knocking. The word has gone forth it shall be opened." : After an unusually restless night, instead of complaining, he exclaimed, "Above the rest, this note shall swell, My Jesus hath done all things well." He then repeated the first five verses of the one hundred and third Psalm, beginning with, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name;" and ending with, "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." After another restless night, he said, "A few more rising suns at most Will land us on fair Canaan's coast." One Sabbath morning, about a month before his decease, having asked for the "Old Book," (for such was the name which, with the utmost veneration and respect, he was accustomed to apply to the Bible in which he had his daily reading,) and the person who handed it to him having observed, It has been a great comfort to you,"—" O yes,” he rejoined, "it has been my song in the wilderness. Some of the people of old thought that they had a plea against our Lord, when they said, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.' I feel obliged to them for the remark. Frequently has it done my soul good." He then added, "Sinners of old thou didst receive With comfortable words and kind." On another occasion, a friend inquiring the state of his mind, and subjoining, "Perhaps you are rather low,"—" O, no," he replied; "I am not at all low. My soul enjoys peace. I know not the why and the wherefore, but God knows; and I can commit my all into his hands. My soul is happy in his love. Sometimes the enemy comes; but I soon find him out, by examining to what his suggestions lead. Whatever does not conduct the soul to God, is sure to be from beneath."" After a violent attack of pain which lasted a considerable time, he exclaimed, "The best of all is, God is with us." And, on a similar occasion, to one who was standing by, he said, "I have just been thinking on a verse which seems to be adapted to my present circum stances:- |