I blefs the Lord, I know not that my affections were, for one moment, drawn from the adorable Jefus. He fill appears, The altogether lovely. I feek his approbation, in all things, and am content, and happy beneath his enlivening fmile. I often called to mind the advices you gave me when in Yorkshire, and always found reafon to follow them. continue your kindness toward me, by telling me feel and fear concerning me. Dear Sir, all you I praife the Lord for the valuable men he has fent us this year. The Lord bleffes their labours, and gives them the hearts of the people. There is in moft places throughout this Circuit a great revival. Our congregations are greatly encreased. Upwards of thirty have joined the Society fince the Conference. Many are juftified, and fome have been enabled to give God their whole hearts. Indeed here is a glorious profpect. May the Lord go on from conquering unto conquer, till all his enemies bow before him! This, Rev. Sir, with many unfeigned defires for your prefent and eternal welfare, is the prayer of your affectionate, though unworthy Friend and Servant, LETTER E. R. CCCCXXXI. [From Alexander Forbes, to the Rev. J. Welley.] Rev. Sir, Pembroke, Nov. 8, 1775. AS my defign in writing the following lines is, that God may be glorified, I am perfuaded you will pardon the freedom I have taken. 4 I was born in the Province of Ulfer in Ireland, and at the age of feven years could read the Bible tollerably well. My parents perceiving in me an aptnefs for learning, had some thoughts of having me taught the languages; but their defigns were fruftrated by the following accident. A Cow running her her horn into my mouth, tore it in fuch a manner that the roof thereof was laid almost across my throat, and occafioned my food often to gufh out at my noftrils. Yet, bleffed be God! I was cured, and without any outward deformity. When near feventeen years of age, I enlifted in the forty fixth regiment of foot, where following the example of my licentious comrades, I plunged into all manner of fin. Thus I continued until I entered upon my twenty-first year, when lo! God convinced me of my finfulness and helpleffness, On this I fought the Lord in earneft, and foon found reft in him. I continued happy for fome time; but giving way to trifling, I loft the precious pearl. I continued in this state about fifteen months; but being bred a Calvinift, I imagined it was only a "Winter feafon," and that as I was once justified, I could never entirely make fhipwreck of my faith As I fat one day with my comrades, I observed a leaf falling from a tree; whereupon I reafoned thus: That leaf returns to earth, its original mother; fo muft my body. But where muft my foul go then? This was like thunder to me. On this I inftantly left my companions, went to my Bible and read the following words, The wicked fhall be turned into hell, with all the people that forget God. I then knew not what to do! Whatever way I looked, I faw deftruction before me. Then, in the bitterness of my foul, I cried, Lord fave or I perish! On reading my Bible again, I found the following words, Though thou haft played the return unto me faith the Lord. receive fuch a wretch as me! I will heal your backflidings and me fome comfort. I faw fuch tenderness in Jefus, as emboldened me to pray. I wrestled, groaned, and pleaded with God for an anfwer of peace; and in lefs than two days, I again found a fenfe of pardon. harlot with many lovers, yet O thought I, will the Lord Then looking farther I read, love you freely. This gave After fome time I found the ftirrings of evil paffions, which leffened my joy, and caufed me fometimes to doubt of my VOL. X. 3 A juftification. juftification. But in a fhort time the Lord difpelled these clouds, and cleared up my evidence. After this, Satan affaulted me with many fore temptations. Among other things, I was more confirmed in Calvinifm than ever. But after fome time a foldier convinced me of the inconfiftency of my doctrines: particularly of abfolute, unconditional Election and Repro bation. From this time forth I grew in grace. But the floppage in my fpeech ftill continued, infomuch that fometimes I could hardly tell my experience to my brethren. Near feven months ago, being forely burthened with inbred fin, I was often conftrained to cry out, Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? when lo! on Wednesday the 19th of April laft, juft as Mr. D. had done preaching, the Lord filled my foul with love. O how lovely was Jefus to me then! I fhouted out, Hallelujah to God and the Lamb! All praise to the Prince of peace! After praying to, and praising God, I departed with heaven in my foul. I could fay, Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and ftrength. I was as fure that my foul was cleanfed from all filthiness, as ever I was that my fins were pardoned. But what was matter of more praise, my tongue was loofed, and I could fpeak plain! And whereas I used to shake my head, and diflort my face in fpeaking, I could now converse with great eafe. My understanding was alfo much enlightened; for what was formerly hidden, was now open and plain. Since that time God has given me fome ability to preach, which I have found almost as easy to do as to read. When I communicated my mind to fome of the Preachers, they told me, the lofing of my tongue was a fign that God intended I should use it in proclaiming the finner's Friend; but for farther direction they defired me to go the All-wife God, which I did. About a month ago, I embarked for America, with a refolution of publishing the gofpel there, or wherever else God fhould caft my lot. But being by contrary winds drove into Milford. Milford-haven, and an order having come from Government for us to stay in South Wales till further orders, I now embrace the opportunity of craving your advice. And I earnestly request that you will write to me foon: for a few lines from you may be a great encouragement to me, who am willing to spend and be spent in exercifing my tongue to the glory of Him who has loofened it. It may alfo remove prejudice from weak minds, who may otherwise be offended at hearing a foldier invite finners to the gofpel feast: not confidering that God fends by whom he will fend, and that the weaker the inftrument, the greater his glory! With all due respect, I am, Rev. Sir, yours at command, A. F. He preached fometime in America with great fuccefs; but being wounded in an engagement, a few days after died gloriou fly in the full triumph of faith. HE Sun that rolls his beamy orb on high, THE Pride of the world, and glory of the sky, Illuftrious in his course, in bright array, Marches along the heavens, and scatters day, O'er earth, and o'er the main, and through the etherial way. And warms the fragrant bofom of the ground; Huge : Huge vales expand, where rivers rolled before, And leffenéd feas contract within their fhore. O Power fupreme! O high above all height! He by thy voice is taught to fall or rife; By thy command the Moon, as day-light fades, Their burning fpangles of fideral gold: Through the wide heavens fhe moves ferenely bright, |