"For thus says the Lord...'Seek
Me and Live'." (Amos 5:4)
The life of William Bramwell is a vivid picture of one who followed hard after God and as
a result truly lived. With the motivation of a fervent love and a haunting view of
eternity, William Bramwell sought the face of Jesus with all his heart. "Mr.
Bramwell's love for God was always increasing. The beauties of holiness inflamed his soul
with an intense desire to be like God and in all things to glorify Him."
It is in a letter written by Mr. Bramwell in 1807 that we get a glimpse of the driving
passions that motivated his life and ministry. He writes, "Pray, O pray, my brother!
never, never quit your hold of the fullness of God; for time is nearly over, and if this
fullness be lost it will be lost forever. I am astonished that we do not pray more, yea,
that we do not live every moment as on the brink of the eternal world, and in the blessed
expectation of that glorious country."
Again he writes, "I grieve that my love is no stronger, and that I am no more like
Him. I wonder at His glory, and sink before Him with shame. How is it that the soul being
of such value, and God so great, eternity so near and yet we are so little moved?"
William Bramwell sought to redeem every moment for the kingdom of God. Therefore he gave
himself to prayer and intercession literally day and night. "He would spend two,
three, four, five and sometimes six hours in prayer and reflection. He often entered his
room at nine o'clock in the morning and did not leave till three in the afternoon."
Like all who enjoy such intense seasons of prayer, Mr. Bramwell exchanged his cares for
the cares and sorrows of Jesus Christ. The weight of a lost world and a struggling Church
time and again brought him to his knees in travailing prayer. "The Holy Spirit
awakened in his heart a deep sympathy for perishing souls. He saw multitudes around him in
the broad way to destruction, and longed to snatch them as brands from the fire."
"He wept over the impenitent and labored to convince the gainsayers. He brought the
terrors of the Law and the mild persuasives of the Gospel to bear upon the hearts of his
hearers and thus urged them to flee from the wrath to come."
Year after year Mr. Bramwell's ministry of prayer and preaching produced lasting results.
Churches were revived, the sick were healed and sinners were saved to the uttermost. Mr.
Bramwell's success, without question was the fruit of his ever growing hunger for more of
Jesus. By faith he reaped the rewards of his earnest and constant seeking.
Are we as believers truly hungry for more of Jesus, or are we merely claiming the revival
blessings of God, while never meeting the covenant conditions of a seeking heart?
Proverbs 2:3-5 reminds us to cry out and lift up our voice for the riches of
Christ. To seek the ways of God like silver and hidden treasure, and THEN we will be
rewarded with the fear and knowledge of God. If we are serious about seeing a real and
lasting move of the Holy Spirit, we must follow Mr. Bramwell's example and commit the BEST
of our time and energy to seeking the face of Jesus in prayer.
References Used:
The Memoirs of William Bramwell by Thomas Harris
The History of Methodism by Abel Stevens
From: A Revival Source Center