THE METHODIST

NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1845.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. A. JACKSON,

BEING THE ACCOUNT WHICH WAS READ AT THE CLOSE OF HIS FUNERAL SERMON

PREACHED IN ZION CHAPEL, LONGTON, APRIL 28TH, 1844.

BY THE REV. S. WOODHOUSE.

As our late respected friend has placed upon record a history of his early life and conversion to God, it will be most interesting to give a considerable extract from that document in his own language, as nearly as possible, autobiography having charms and exciting an interest which cannot apply to the biography of a person entirely written by another. In the first case, the dead speaks; you hear, in a manner, the deceased as if living and talking to you.

"I was born," says Mr. Jackson, "in Failsworth, near Manchester, in the county of Lancashire, May 1st, 1778. I can remember the Holy Spirit's operations upon my mind as long as I can remember anything. To what age I had arrived when I first began to see the sinfulness of sin, I cannot exactly say; but I believe I was not more than six years old, if so much. As I grew in years and stature, my inward wickedness strengthened, and I was more base in my conduct towards God and my parents, and used to wish I could sin without remorse, and wonder why I must not do as I pleased without being under the control of any one; and so opposed was my heart against the authority of God and my parents, that I sometimes burned with rage. I am witness that the carnal mind is enmity against God. My mind being thus depraved, I required to have some one over me that was capable of using such severities as were necessary to keep me in subjection. Such a one was my father. His corrections were both severe and frequent, by which means he kept me restrained from many sins, into which I should otherwise have run; for which corrections I have reason to thank God. Sometimes the people in the neighbourhood reflected upon my father for his

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severity with me, and thought my conduct did not merit such sharp chastisement; but I did not think so; for I had such clear discoveries of the sinfulness of my conduct, that after a severe chastisement, I have sat down and wept, and said to myself, this is nothing in comparison of what I deserve. I am the worst child in the world; I wonder that either my parents or God will have anything to do with me.'

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"When about the age of sixteen years, (up to which period it appears he had not heard a sermon, he says,) I one Sabbath-day heard a Methodist Preacher deliver a discourse not far from the place where I then resided. This sermon was the means of increasing my spiritual light respecting the nature of sin considerably, and some very deep impressions were made upon my heart, and again I formed a determination to become religious; but bad company and my wicked heart were too strong for my self-sufficiency, and I had no idea of asking help of God, therefore I again resumed my wicked course, and in this year became more vile than I had ever been before-time. Like my wicked companions, I could blaspheme, drink, and commit many abominations, to the no small grief of my parents, and to my own shame and disgrace. How to accomplish a reformation I knew not. It seemed impossible to be done while surrounded by so many wicked companions. I therefore determined to enlist as a soldier, and leave that part of the country. Accordingly, when little more than eighteen years of age, I hired myself into the fourth regiment of the Lancashire militia; and when about nineteen years old, left my much injured father and mother to lament the absence of a son who had been a cause of almost incessant grief to them for many years. After removing from Morpeth, in Northumberland, to Tynemouth barracks, I daily grew more and more sensible of the sinfulness of sin, and yet was more and more captivated by it. While in this situation I went one Sabbath evening to hear a Methodist Preacher in North Shields chapel. I was much affected under his sermon, and also under another sermon preached in the same place the next evening, by Mr. Joseph

Benson."

From this period, (April, 1799,) his convictions grew stronger, and his distress of mind became almost insupportable. One of his comrades, who knew something of religion, and saw our brother's situation, invited him again to attend the house of God, and encouraged him to pray. Hear his own account of commencing this practice:-"How to perform this, to me, new duty, I did not know. First, it struck my mind I had better make use of a common prayer-book; but I thought that would never do, for being scarcely able to read any, I thought my attention would be so taken up with spelling the words, that it would be taken off from God, the true object of worship. So I laid aside the book, and kneeled down and prayed, saying, 'God be merciful unto me, the greatest of sinners, and teach me how to pray.' The Lord soon answered, and so enlarged my mind, that I could address him with great ease for whatever I wanted. After spending some time in prayer, I laid me down with more comfort than I had ever done before, for at least fourteen years; for though I had a deep sense of my sinfulness, I felt a very strong persuasion God would save me. For three weeks I prayed almost incessantly-read the Scriptures attentively, and abstained from every thing I knew to be evil, but did not find peace. At this I wondered; for I thought God was so kind, that if I did but seek his approbation aright, he would give me a sense thereof, and soon. I therefore con