concerning the flate of his foul. I had not faid much before I obferved the tears fall from his eyes. He told me, he believed he had the hardeft heart of any man alive. I was very glad to hear this, and told him it was a bleffing that he felt it to be fo. On asking him if I should go to prayer, he did not feem willing; but I told him I should not be long, and fo * prayed and went away. Going again the Monday following, and finding him putting off repentance, in hopes of being better in health, I endeavoured to fhew him Satan's device. in this; and perfuaded him to seek the Lord now. Accordingly he began from that time to feek in good earnest. The next night I went to fee him again, and found that God had given him a broken heart. I then went to prayer with him, and left him for the prefent. The next morning I found he was not fatisfied with what he had received, but wanted an entire change of heart. On Wednesday morning 28, his wife found peace to her foul, and is now very happy in the Lord. Seeing her fifter ftand by, I told her, we must not leave her behind. On this fhe began to weep. I then encouraged her to believe. She cried out, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! The next day Dean fending for me, I went, and found him in the pangs of the new-birth. Indeed he feized my hand in an agony of diftrefs. I went to prayer, and he prayed with me for sometime. I then stopped, and let him pray by himself. When he gave over I began again, and in lefs than half an hour his foul was fet at liberty. When I went home, he fent for a man from his work to tell him what God had done for his foul. Thus he continued all that, and the two following days, exhorting all to repent and feek that change of heart which God had given him. He also fent for the Curate to give him the facrament; but the Curate thought he was not fenfible for he told him what a bleffed change he had found. The Curate faid, it was a good thing; but yet would not give him the facrament until he was more composed. I then perfuaded my brother to go to fee him. I believe it had a quite quite contrary effect on his mind; for he wept much when he was with him: and ever fince, when he has talked about him, the tears fland in his eyes. Laft night his joy was fomewhat abated; but his peace was ftill the fame and he faid, if it was the will of God, he would rather depart with Chrift; but yet was quite refigned to God's will. his wife and fifter, they grow happier and happier daily. be to God for this great work! and be As to Glory H. B. LETTER CCCXCVII. [From Mrs. C. M. to the Rev. J. Welley.] Rev. Sir, May 12, 1773. Feel That faith and love which overcometh the world, and that peace which paffeth all underflanding. I find that Jefus has the ruling power in my breaft, and that he has fubdued all things under him, and governs every paffion. The flame of divine love, in general confumes all before it. I am alfo paffive in the hand of God, and willing to be disposed of as feemeth him good. I find fuch zeal for his caufe, and fuch love to fouls, as makes me love, pity, weep and pray for them. In fhort, I find a heaven upon earth! And yet I find I come fhort in all things; and therefore am funk into nothing before Him, who has thought fit to call fuch a worm as me, to be a partaker of the heavenly inheritance! As you feem defirous Sir, to have a more particular account of the Lord's dealings with me from the beginning, I fhall give you a fhort fketch of the fame. In May, 1770, the Lord fhewed me that I was a finner by nature and practice; and that if I did not repent, I fhould perish for ever. I then attended the preaching conftantly, and On this I asked Mr. Then thought I, if and in a fhort time joined the Society. From that time, till the 28th of June, my convictions increased. Being then in the deepeft diftrefs, I retired, full of fhame and confufion. I thought to pray; but could not. I then ran to a book, called, The Golden Key that opens hidden treafure; and found a chapter fuitable to my ftate. Presently after, I found the burden of fin fall off, and was enabled to cry out with Thomas, My Lord and my God! But I had not the abiding witness of his Spirit, till three weeks after, when the Lord fhined on my foul and left me without a doubt. In a very little time he fhewed me that I was prone to backflide from him, and that the remains of fin and unbelief was the cause thereof, But how to get rid of them I knew not. S. who told me, it was the gift of God. this is the cafe, I will give God no reft until he gives it to me. One morning, about the latter end of September, I went to the Lord, and pleaded the death and fufferings of his Son, and also my right to the bleflings purchased by him. I had not been long before him, till my foul was transported as if it was going to leave the body. On this I cried out, Lord, what art thou about to do with me! Juft then the following words came with power to my mind, Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of falvation! Then was my foul fet at full liberty, and difengaged from every needless care and inordinate defire. At the fame time I found it quite eafy to do all that my heavenly Father required of me and I had no doubt of my being fealed to the day of eternal redemption. In this confidence and full liberty of heart I fill continue to this day. But as I am ftill weak and ignorant, I fand in need of every affiftance; and therefore, dear Sir, I muft beg (with your advice) an intereft in your prayers; which will be gratefully acknowledged by Your Friend and Servant, C. M. POETRY, POE TR Y. A THOUGHT on LIFE and DEATH. HE Cares of mortal life how vain! TH How empty every joy! While grief, and wearinefs, and pain But that nobler life on high, When now and then a heavenly ray Thofe happy realms of joy and peace, No darkness there fhall cloud my eyes, But ever active vigor rife To feed the vital flame. But ah! a dreary vale between, Fear fpreads, to hide the distant scene, O for the eye of faith divine! To pierce beyond the grave; To fee that Friend and call him mine, Whofe arm is ftrong to fave! That 344 That Friend who left his throne above, Who met the tyrant's dart; And (O amazing power of love!) Here fix my foul-for life is here; The horrors of the tomb. To SIL V I A. COM [By Mifs Steele.] OME, Friendship, with thy fweetly-pleasing power, Shed thy kind influence o'er the gloomy hour, And footh her every anxious care to reft. Tell her, that Providence, immenfely kind, Oft, when imaginary woes oppress, A dark cloud rifes, and we fhrink with fear; And shed rich comforts on the coming year. The ways of Providence, how kind! how wife! O may my Silvia raife her wishes high! With warm devotion may her bofom glow! And thankful own the gifts enjoyed below. |