Samuel Bradburn, the Methodist Demosthenes [pp. 321-326]

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SAMUEL BRADBURN, faith and praise that ever found utterance fromi
THE METHODIST DEMOSTHENES. human lips. Benson and Clarke, pure in life
and convincing in speech, gave a new impulse
i HE chief characteristic of that remarkable to Bible study and exposition by their Corn religious movement of which John Wesley mentaries, which are yet standard works. The
was the acknowlecldged leader, will be found brief record of Bramwell's life of fervent piety
in the manifestation of a spiritual life so rare and untiring labors will never cease to be acand well defined that we need to go backward cepted as the best type of modern evangelism,
to the apostolic days to find its precedent. and has been an heir-loom of Methodism for
This will always be its unfading crown. But half a century. Bradburn's impassioned, soulthis new spiritual life was a wonderful quickener moving eloquence, like Whitefield's, is now a
of the. intellectual powers of the men who were tradition, except to a small remnant of veterans
made partakers of it. Genius wakened at its of over fourscore years, who testify with the
inspiring touch; and men who could not com- men and women of his day to its extraordinary
piehend the secret of its inspiration, nor enter power.
into sympathy with its aims, were entranced Bradburn's sermons, with a few exceptions,
withl the music of its songs, devout and martial were not printed. Those collected after his
by turns, by the subtilty of its arguments, its death nmake a smiall book of three hundred
varied and far-reaching eloquence, and its cour- pages. But later works, biographical and hisage and devotion. torical, issued by Methodist writers, contain
Not only were the leaders, the Wesleys, frequent references to his oratorical powers,
\Whlitefield, and Fletcher, conspicuous for the vindicating his claim to the title bestowed upon
highest attributes of genius; the men who were him by his admirers, "The Methodist Demosconverted under their preaching, and in a meas- thlenes." Shortly after his death a talented
ure molded by their training and example, were daughlter published a small volume of memoirs,
as remarkable in their place as the leaders. "consisting principally of a narrative of his
Benson, Clarke, Olivers, Bramnwell, and Brad- early life, written by himself; and extracts from
burn are cherished names that, except for this his Journal, which hlie kept upward of forty
revival which moved their souls and incited years." Dr. Stevens, in his admirable History
their dormant genius, and gave them opportu- of Methlodism, sketches his life with evident
nity for development, would never have been admiration, calling him "The Patrick Henry
heard of beyond their native towns. But how of Methodism." Within the present year a
precious is the memory of these men, and how more extended account of his life and character
enviable an immortality they have obtained has been given to the English public by a wellthrough faith and their zeal to win the souls of known enterprising Methodist publisher of
their fellow-men! Olivers' memory, genius, London.* We intend a brief rdsum6 of his
and faith are embalmed in that triumphant life and character in this article.
lyric, "The God of Abraham praise," which
the En*lish-speaking Christian Church has ac The Life of Samuel Bradburn, the Methodist Demosthe the English-speaking Christian Church has ac- nes. By Thlomas W. Blanshard. London: Elliot Stock, 62
cepted as one of the worthiest expressions of Paternoster Row. 1871.
VoL. XXXI.-21I*