Little Abe, or, the Bishop of Berry Brow: Being the Life of Abraham LockwoodJewell, F.
Religion
Little Abe, or, the Bishop of Berry Brow: Being the Life of Abraham Lockwood
Jewell, F.
Lockwood, Abraham, 1792-1871; Methodist Church -- Bishops -- England -- Biography
Generosity is an essential mark of the Christian character, and should
display itself in every follower of our Lord. This is the spirit which
prompted the poor of the Lord's flock to share their scanty means among
their poorer brethren, and therefore, though Abe Lockwood was never in
his life worth many shillings at one time, he was one among a multitude
of humble and generous spirits moving in the lower walks of life, who
often enjoy the pleasure of relieving the wants of sufferers around
them.
"A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN GREAT RICHES."
Among the people in his own locality no one stood in better repute than
Little Abe. If any sick person wanted spiritual direction or comfort
they would send for Little Abe. He was quite at home in the sick-room;
the sight of his bright genial face would be sure to cheer the
sufferer: and then he knew so well how to lead the penitent sinner to
the Saviour, that the gloom of many a bedside has been dispelled by his
humble ministrations in this way.
He loved this work, and gave a great amount of his spare time in
visiting the sick. He was ready to go anywhere, any time, night or
day, that he might help to sustain the soul in the last trial of faith;
and many an hour has he sat by the bedside of some dying neighbour,
talking, singing, praying, and trying to cheer him through the valley
of death.
The little Bishop was general religious factotum in his own village,
and especially among those who were in any way connected with Salem
Chapel. In baptisms and burials he was held by many in as high repute
as the regular ministers. Often it happened that he was fetched by
some troubled parent to baptize a dying child, and he would perform the
rite with as great satisfaction to the friends, in his blue smock and
clogs, as he could have done had he worn the white neckcloth, and
passed through ordination honours.
"WILT TA KNUG?" (KNEEL).
A man came one evening to Abe's house, knocked at the door, then opened
it a little way, thrust in his face and said, "Is Abe in?" It was a
most unusual thing to see that man there, for he was a wicked, drunken
character, a trouble to the neighbourhood where he lived, and often a
terror to his poor wife and children. Many a time Abe had tried to
induce him to go to the Lord's house and begin to lead a new life; but
sin had such a hold upon him that he only made light of everything
good, and, in his ignorance and hardihood, professed to disbelieve in
God and His Word.
"Is Abe in?" asked the face at the door.
"Yes, I'm here," replied the little man in question, looking up from
his Bible, and peering over the lamp on the table to see who the
speaker was, "Come in, mon; open th' door and come in."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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