The Life And Ministry Of John Halliwell

Gospel Standard 1867:

Death. On October 1st, 1866, at Accrington, Lancashire, John Halliwell, in the 59th year of his age.

The subject of this memoir was well known in the churches of Lancashire and Yorkshire, as an occasional supply, when his health would permit him to go out; and even after he was afflicted he was often at his post. He was born at Rosendale, Lancashire, and his father being a member under the late John Pilling, of Goodshaw Chapel, he was brought up to attend at the above place; but while in a state of nature he was often found, as he frequently told us, wandering in the fields on a Lord’s day with other bad companions, without God and without hope in the world. In this state he went on, more or less, till he was about 30 years of age, when, by divine providence, he was brought under the ministry of Mr. Ashworth, at Lumb Chapel, Rosendale; and on one occasion he heard him preach a funeral sermon. The minister was on the law, and showed that sin was a transgression of God’s holy law, and, amongst other things, said, “a man might live a fool, but he could not die a fool.” These things, John often said, sank like lead into his soul. He found himself condemned, and really felt that he was a guilty sinner. What to do, or where to find rest, he could not tell; but he began, as he then thought, to lead a new life, and attended the ministry of Mr. Ashworth. Sometimes he got a little relief under the word, but in general he was in bondage of soul; sometimes hoping, at other times fearing he had no part or lot in the matter; and it appears that he was baptized and joined that church. At last he fell in with the “Gospel Standard” about the year 1844, and by reading the “Experience of the Lord’s Living Family,” and other pieces, he was brought into gospel liberty, and was led by faith to cast himself for time and eternity upon a crucified Redeemer; and thus, as he often said, his Bible and the “Standard” were his constant companions.

Soon after this, he began to speak a little in the name of the Lord, that is, after the death of Mr. Ashworth; but his word was not received by the people, and they began to keep their distance from him. He thus found it was no place for him; and having heard Mr. Kershaw preach in the neighbourhood, he soon followed him to Rochdale. He found that this was the place for him. His heart and soul were joined to this people. By hearing their spiritual conversation, and sitting under the word, he was fed and strengthened; and he thus grew in grace and in the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and was enabled to come before that church and declare what the Lord had done for his soul, and was received into fellowship with them. This was in 1846, and he continued a member of that church till his death. After he was received amongst them, Mr. Kershaw said to the church he understood that he was a parson; therefore it was unanimously agreed that he should stand up before them, and he was enabled to speak in the name of the Lord; and they gave him authority to go out wherever a door was opened for him in the churches. He was considered by many as an acceptable supply.

During this time he had a large family, and was much pressed down with poverty and afflictions, and an evil heart of unbelief at times, which made him groan and sigh; and, like Asaph of old, ready to complain; but still, through grace given him, he was enabled to hold on his way. He resided many years at Bacup. During the cotton famine, he was very hard put to it; all the family being without work for a long time, and he being sorely afflicted with a rheumatic complaint, and totally unable to work, he was brought very low indeed; but before the panic was over, he was enabled to remove with all his family to Accrington, where he got on a little better, and by the good hand of God, and a little help from his friends, he was so far provided for, that he wanted for nothing that was needful for him; and he often expressed his gratitude to the Giver of every good gift, for the blessings he received, both temporal and spiritual, although he felt himself to be a poor helpless sinner, totally unworthy of the favour he received from the good hand of a covenant-keeping God. He often lamented the hardness of his heart, and the depravity of his natural mind; but would still declare that it was by the grace of God that he was what he was.

For the last 18 months he was almost confined by affliction to his house, and the latter part to his bed. His conversation was always savoury and much to the point. He was always pleased when he had some of the Lord’s family about him, and telling of the loving-kindness of God to his soul; and sometimes, when the prayer-meeting was held at his house, he was enabled to read a chapter, and speak from it in a sweet, experimental manner, and often to the comfort and edification of the Lord’s living children. He often recommended an experimental ministry, and said the Lord owned and blessed that sort of preaching in an abundant manner; and that so far as he had been enabled to preach in this way, he had no regret, only that it had been in a very feeble manner, as compared to some of the Lord’s ministers, whom he had owned and blessed in gathering in the outcasts of Israel and strengthening those that are in the way to Zion.

He often lamented that he had not those bright and glorious manifestations that some have had, but he said all fear of death was quite taken away, and he could say with the apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

He said to one of his friends, at one time, a little before his departure, “I feel something like a ship ready freighted, and quite ready for sailing, whenever the captain shall give the word of command;” and about a week before his death, the following passage of the word was brought with much sweetness to his mind: “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God; believe also in me,” &c. &c.; and it remained with him to the end. On the day previous to his departure, being the Lord’s day, many of the friends went to see him, and as each came in he beckoned them to come forward, and in a very weak voice told one of the friends to tell them all that the above portion was yet sweet to his taste; but while they were still with him, the enemy of souls seemed to attack him, and he said, “He is after some more rods.” One of his friends said, “For what purpose, John ?” He answered, “To beat me out of the covenant; but there never was a rod made that is able to beat me out of that covenant which is ordered in all things and sure.”

On the night before his death, one of the friends asked him if the things he had preached to others would do to die by. He answered, “Yes; and if I was in health, I should be glad to preach the same things again.” During the night he was thirsty, and one of his sons, when giving him something to wet his lips, said, “You will be very soon at the fountain;” to which, under a deep sense of his unworthiness, he answered, “It is too much.” He spoke little after that, but gradually became weaker. His mind was quite composed, and all that saw him could truly say, “Mark the upright; for the end of that man is peace.”

In the early part of the morning he lay quite still. His lips often moved, but his sons and daughters that were about him could not hear his voice; and at half-past 7, on the morning of October 1st, he breathed his last, without a struggle or a groan. The following lines, a little altered, were composed by him about twelve months previous to his decease:

“Great God, to thee I bow to thee; 

A sinner chief I feel to be;

I claim no worth or worthiness, 

But all my sin and guilt confess.

“The love, the blood, and righteousness 

Of God my Saviour, there I rest.

Built upon this foundation sure,

My debt’s discharged, my soul’s secure.

“Ye much-loved saints, adieu, adieu! 

Until our Jesus calls for you; 

Enraptured then, with heavenly bliss, 

We’ll shout the triumphs of free grace.”

Accrington, Dec. 19th, 1866

R. H.