The Life And Ministry Of James Brown

Gospel Standard 1865:

Death. On Dec. 30th, 1864, James Brown, aged 57. He was a member of the church in Gower Street, and for nine years a deacon of the church from its formation at Eden Street. In his office as deacon he gave out the hymns at Eden Street, which he always did in a very solemn and impressive manner.

He was a man of few words, not a great talker, but a humble walker, with a tender conscience in the fear of the Lord, and was peaceable and of a meek and quiet spirit. He could not speak of a deep law work, nor of a powerful gospel deliverance; but he could speak of being brought, through grace, to feel himself a poor, helpless, lost, and ruined sinner, and of a blessed hope in the Lord’s mercy through the merits, righteousness, and precious blood of the dear Redeemer, being cut off from every other hope, help, or refuge. He always took a low place, esteeming others better than himself; but he was a real lover of God’s people and of God’s truth; and as such he endured to the end.

I knew him for about 20 years, and during the early part of that time he was living near me. I had, therefore, frequent opportunities of seeing him, and we spake often one to another, when he has told me of his hopes and fears, darkness and light, of being brought low and helped. At one time he said, after many fears that he had neither part nor lot in the matter, the Lord brought the following lines with sweet power to his soul:

“His Spirit will cherish the life he first gave; 

You never shall perish if Jesus can save.”

This encouraged him much to press forward, and enabled him to rejoice in praise the Lord for his goodness.

I saw him on Dec. 6th, when I found him very weak, but firmly resting on the finished work of the lord Jesus Christ. On the 25th he said,

“Weary of earth, myself, and sin, 

Dear Jesus, set me free;

And to thy glory take me in;

For there I long to be.”

I saw him again on the 28th; but he was not able to speak. His affliction, the softening of the brain, caused him much to sleep. He slept from the 27th until he quietly breathed his last. “Them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with  him.” 

Robert Link