THIS good man was born at Blackburn, in Lancashire, in February, 1643. He had a very pious mother who taught him early, and prayed that he would be the Lord’s. Her labours were not in vain. From a child he knew the power of the Word and was wise unto salvation. He very early had delight in religious exercises and was given to much prayer. One effect of his early piety was a remarkably happy one. His mother one day asked him to pray at family worship. His father, who was a very irreligious man, on hearing the manner in which he prayed was pierced in his heart, with such a conviction that issued in his conversion to God, and he became an eminent christian in the neighbourhood.
Having been educated in the different branches of learning, John Bailey entered upon the work of the ministry at Chester when twenty-two years of age. His faithfulness to Christ was soon put to the trial by hard imprisonment. He could not conform to the inventions of men in the service of God. He afterwards made his escape to Ireland. It is said that “his labours were so frequent and fervent” while there that his health was injured, and he never really recovered. The sphere of his labours was about Limerick, the hot-bed of Roman Catholicism to-day. Here, it is said, “he reaped the fruit of his labours in a very plentiful harvest” for fourteen years. While in Ireland, the Duke of Ormond, then Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and a relation of his own, attended upon his ministry. This gentleman offered Mr Bailey, if he would conform, to procure “him the office of chaplain, together with a Deanery, and a Bishopric upon the first vacancy.” He refused the offer. Like Moses, by grace he refused to be overcome by the temptation. Here again he was cast into prison. When before the judges he addressed them in this manner: “If I had been drinking, gaming, carousing at a tavern with company, my Lords, I presume that would not have procured my being thus treated as an offender. Must praying to God and preaching Christ, with a company of Christians, who are as peaceable, inoffensive and serviceable to his Majesty and the Government as any of his subjects—must this be considered a greater crime?” The recorder answered: “We will have you to know it is a greater crime.”
While he was imprisoned his people divided themselves into seven parties and one party visited him each day, when he prayed and preached to them, by which means he once in a week served them all. When we compare our liberties to such conditions as these for pastor and people we should be ashamed of the little use we make of our liberties. But this measure of prison liberties did not continue long with John Bailey and his flock, for he was soon prohibited from having his people to see him. Prayer was made for him and applications presented to the authorities for his release, but the only conditions on which he could get free was that he would leave the country. In the meantime, that very person who had been the chief instrument of his persecution was thrown into prison on other accounts “where he cried out with horror of the wrongs he had done to this good man, and died distracted.”
But New England, a country which became the retreat of the persecuted non-conformists, afforded shelter for Mr Bailey. Here he laboured for about fourteen years, “in the work which he loved above all things in the world.” A good number of the people to whom he ministered in Ireland followed him to New England. During his last illness, which lasted about three months, he took great pleasure in reading the 53rd chapter of Isaiah concerning the sorrows of the Saviour. “When his flock would visit him he would always say to them in parting, “I charge you, that I find you all safe at last.” When some of them were weeping about him he rebuked them, saying: “Away with your idols; away with your idols.””
For some time on his death-bed his soul was harassed with discouragements but his common expression was: “The Master has done all things well.” But relief came and he had the joy of his salvation restored. Shortly before his end he wrote in his diary: “I was affected with what I read of Mr Shewel, of Coventry, who died in the pulpit. Lord, let me not die meanly; but in dying bring much glory to Thee.” This prayer was answered. We will quote the words of his biographer: “Just as he was going to expire, he seemed as if he had some extraordinary apprehensions of the glory in which our Lord is enthroned above. He strove to speak to his virtuous consort, and at length he exclaimed, ‘Oh, what shall I say? He is altogether lovely.’ And to another relative: ‘Oh! all our praises of him here are poor low things!’ He then added, ‘His glorious angels are come for me.’ Upon which he closed his eyes about three o’clock on the Lord’s Day afternoon and never opened them any more.'”
Mr. Bailey was a very pious man. He was remarkable for his watchfulness over his words and actions, and had a very tender conscience. He wrote in his diary on one occasion: “O that I may not be of the number of them that live without love; speak without feeling; and act without life!” Another time he wrote: “O to get three things: patience under calamities of life; impatience under the moral infirmities of life; and earnest longings for the next life.” When some kind presents were given to him he wrote: “I have my wages quickly: O that God may not put me off with a reward here!” He wrote at another time: “If I could but exchange outward comforts for inward graces, ’tis well enough. O for a heart to glorify God in the fire!”