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LETTER S.

LETTER

CCCXCIV.

[From Mr. Samuel Wells, to the Rev. J. Wesley.]

Rev. Sir,

Newnham, March 19, 1773.

Think it my duty again to inform you of the increase of the work of God among us.

Of the twenty-two I joined here, two months ago, ten have continued to meet; four now are joined, and fix have been juftified. Tuesday 23, S. C. of Shelborne told me fhe had received a fenfe of pardon at the Clafs meeting. Wednesday 24, H. R. of Eaftbury inforined ine that fhe had received the bleffing of pure love. Her mother believes that she enjoys the fame and M. B. is perfuaded that God hath forgiven her sins.

Thursday 25, I preached at Slade-End, near Wallingford, from 1 Theff. v. 16-18. As foon as I had concluded, W. S. and W. C. informed me that they were fully perfuaded, God had purified their hearts: and when I met the Class the Sunday following, both their wives declared that they had re-. ceived the fame bleffing.

Saturday, Feb. 27, when Brother B. was at Wallingford laft, God restored E. P. a poor backslider. When I was here about a month ago, I obferved a grave looking woman in the congregation. I was preaching from the ftory of our Lord's converfing with the woman who was a finner. I was informed afterwards, the had been kept by a married man, whofe wife broke her heart on that account. When Henry Robins preached here, fhe heard him, and was much affected. From that time fhe attended conftantly, and a great change was vifible in her. Yesterday she was at preaching again, and wept much under the word. Nevertheless he has not yet received remiffion of fins; however fhe has joined the Society, and feems much in earnest.

Tuesday, March 2. This morning after breakfasting at a friend's, the power of God was remarkably present, and one

N. R.

N. R. who lately joined the Society, received a sense of pardon. We preach at a lone house on a common; but have large congregations. Brother Furz left fifteen in Society there. We have now thirty-three, and eight of them juftified fince the last Conference but one.

Wednesday, 10, E. H. at Weedon, put into my hands the following account. "January 14, 1773, I hope I fhall always remember that bleffed morning when the Lord took poffeffion of my heart. He fo ftrengthened my faith that I could fay with St. Stephen, I faw the heavens opened, and Jefus ftanding at the right hand of God, interceding for me. I heard my dear Redeemer fay, Daughter be of good cheer, thy fins are forgiven thee, go in peace and fin no more. O what a happy morning was that to me, when Jefus filled my heart with love. my tongue with praife, and fent me home rejoicing!

O that the Lord may increase my faith more and more, and fill my heart with his love! May he deaden my affections to all things here below, fo that I may count all things but dung and drofs fo I may win Chrift! I blefs my dear Redeemer for all the opportunities of learning I have enjoyed; but moft of all for that of hearing the defpifed, but happy people called Methodists! May I be one indeed!"

I went to fee Mary Bolton, who was lying on her death-bed. She was juftified about twelvemonths ago. She appears to enjoy the full affurance of faith. Her hope is full of immortality. She at times praifes God aloud on her bed, crying, Glory be to God! The neighbours who hear her, fancy her delirious. Her pain, forrow and fear feem all over. She fometimes appears abfent from the body, and is grieved when fke is interrupted in her heavenly employment. She lay once for four hours in this way, till one awoke her, from her extatic delight.

I am, Rev. Sir,

Your Son in the Gospel,

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LETTER

CCCXCV.

[From Miss A. B. to the Rev. J. Wesley.]

Rev. Sir,

Witney, April 16, 1773.

WITH pleafure I fuatch this opportunity of acquainting

you with the Lord's dealings towards me. Through a multiplicity of engagements my foul has been preserved in peace. I find Jefus a place to hide me in, and can rejoice in the manifeftation of his favour from day to day. Yet I have been much tried and tempted: the enemy would have me diffatisfied with my present situation; as many of my trials arife from the conduct of those who fear not God. But, hitherto Satan has not availed himfelf. I am fatisfied with my heavenly Father's will.

Last week was our Quarterly-Meeting, which occafioned many friends to vifit us; and glory be to God! it was a time of love. O God, how great is our privilege beyond many others! I fee more than ever how our Love-feafts, Claffes and Bands are adapted to increafe our union with God and each other.

My foul is often ravifhed with delight, to find my defires all centre in him, who alone can fatisfy them. He gives me a deep fense of the work he hath wrought in me, which confirms me in his ways. I find fuch an agreement between his word and my own experience as gives me great fatisfaction, and caufes me to wonder and adore. I find myself at some lofs, how to exprefs what I feel and know of God, and of his kingdom within me; but this I can fay, I feel God is love, and I know alfo the truth of the Apofile's words, The kingdom of God is righteoufnefs, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Glory be to him! I rejoice in hope of an entrance into his everlasting kingdom.

With regard to inordinate affections, the enemy often reprefents fomething pleafing to my mind, when in company

with perfons peculiarly devoted to God. Here Satan endeavours to ferve himself, by unfitting me to converse with such as profitably as I might. For although my foul will not admit the temptation to delight in the pleafing idea; yet I fometimes find I am not fo deeply engaged with God, nor fo fully recollected when such are prefent. I want to get fuch an afcendency over these weaknesses, that I may feel nothing but a perfect ferenity of mind; at all times to converse with profit. This, Rev. Sir, I hope to be affifted in obtaining, by your advice and prayer; which will greatly oblige your Friend and Servant,

A. B.

POE TR Y.

Written in MAY: after a feafonable Shower of Rain.

WOW changed the face of nature shows!

HOW

How gay the rural scene!

A fairer bloom the flowers difclofe;

The meads a liveliér green.

While beauty clothes the fertile vale,
And bloffoms on the spray,

And fragrance breathes in every gale,
How fweet the vernal day!

And hark! the featheréd warblers fing!
'Tis nature's cheerful voice;

Soft mufic hails the lovely fpring,
And woods and fields rejoice.

How kind the influence of the skies!

These showers with bleffings fraught,
Bid verdure, beauty, fragrance rife,

And fix the roving thought.

O let

1

O let my wondering heart confefs,
With gratitude and love,

The bounteous hand that deigns to blefs
The garden, field, and grove.

That bounteous hand my thoughts adore,

Beyond expreffion kind,

Hath fweeter, nobler gifts in flore
To blefs the craving mind.

That hand, in this hard heart of mine,
Can make each virtue live;

And kindly fhowers of grace divine
Life, beauty, fragrance give.

O God of nature, God of grace!
Thy heavenly gifts impart;
And bid fweet meditation trace
Spring blooming in my heart.

Infpired to praife I then fhall join
Glad nature's cheerful fong:
And love, and gratitude divine
Attune my joyful tongue.

D

Written at OCRICULUM in ITALY.

EEP in a defart, folitary, wild,

Pathlefs of human foot, with brakes perplext;

Among recumbent, mouldered, here remains
Of once a city, populous, and proud!
Long I reclined, and with laborious hand
Figured in picture, of the folemn fcene
The gloomy image; ftudious to excel,
Of fame ambitious. When, at purple eve
Her fhade extending o'er the nodding towers,
As long fatigue oppreffèd the drowfied sense,
Up-role before the eye, or awful flood,
To inward vifion, in the mental fight,

The

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