"Here he comes! Here he comes!" I was filled with curiofity to fec his perfon, which, when I beheld, I much defpifed. The enemy of fouls fuggefted, that he was fome farmer's fon, who, not able to fupport himself, was making a penny in this manner. He paffed through the congregation into the pulpit, and having his robes on, I expected he would have begun with the Church fervice; but, to my astonishment, he began with finging a hymn, with which I was almoft enraptured; but his extemporary prayer was quite unpleasant, as I thought it favoured too much of the Diffenter. His text was, "I write unto you, little children, because your fins are forgiven you." The enemy now fuggefted that he was a Papift, as he dwelt fo much on forgiveness of fins. Although I had read this Scripture many times before, yet I never underflood that we were to know our fins forgiven on earth; fuppofing that it referred only to thofe to whom the Apoftie was then writing; especially as I had never heard this doctrine preached in the Church. However, my prejudice quickly abated, and I plainly faw I could never be faved without knowing my fins forgiven. Under this fermon God fealed the truth on my heart. At the clofe of which, however frange it may appear, a fmall ftill voice entered my heart, with these words, "This is the truth!" and inftantly I felt it in my foul. My friend observing my attention, asked me how I liked Mr. Wofley? I replied, "As long as I live I will never part from him." Under this fermon my foul was filled with a hatred for fin, and alfo with zeal for the truth. Accordingly I broke off at a ftroke all my old acquaintance in iniquity, who derided me exceedingly; one of whom said, "What! Told, are you commenced Whitfilite? as fure as ever you were born, if you follow them, you are damned!" But the heavier my perfe cutions were, the more abundantly I rejoiced. [To be continued.] A fort A Short Account of ROBERT CALVERLEY. OBERT CALVERLEY was born in Leeds, of honeft parents. His mother heard the Methodists, almost as foon as they came into the country, joined the Society, and after fome years died happy in God. When Robert was very young, fhe ufed to take him with her to hear the Word, which made deep impreffions on his mind; but being bound apprentice, and getting among wild companions, the good impreffions wore off; on which he grew wild and careless, and continued fo for many years. In the year 1763, he was much flirred up by the death of his father; but that alfo proved like the early dew which foon vanishes away. Hearing a fermon on Reprobation, he thought, "If things are fo, I may make myself cafy; for if I am to be faved, I shall, do what I will; and if I am to be loft, I fhall be loft, do what I can. On this he determined to continue in the way he was; well knowing it was impoffible to alter the unchangeable decree. While he remained in this ftate, he durft not hear the Methodifts; for their word generally fo faftened on his confcience, that it made him very uneafy. However, at last his fifter prevailed on him to hear a fermon a liule way from Leeds; when his confcience was forely wounded. But keeping his mind to himself, and not going to hear again, it foon wore off. Being out of employment in his own business (which was that of a Cloth-dreffer) he went to dig in a Quarrey; when once carrying a flone on his back, which was too heavy for him, he broke a fmall blood-veffel. This brought on a spitting of blood, which he was afflicted with at times, for many years; and which in the end brought him to his grave. Being very poorly at a certain time, he was prevailed upon to hear the Word again: when conviction fo fastened on his confcience that he saw himself a loft finner. A perfon coming to fee him, who told him he was much out of order, he anfwered, "I care little about my body; my chief concern is about my foul." foul." Soon after this, God manifefting his love to him, his guilt and fears were all removed, and he was filled with peace and joy in believing. But on difcovering his inbred corruptions, he was fo difcouraged, that he almost staggered through unbelief; but the Lord fupported him in fuch a manner as enabled him to retain his confidence. After fome time he was made a Clafs-Leader, and acted like a nurfing father to his little company. For he was not fatisfied to meet them at the ftated times; but followed them, and watched over them like one who expected to give an account. During this time he longed for the full falvation of God; and in December, 1779, he heard a fermon on, My grace is fufficient for thee: under which he faw that the grace of God was not only fufficient to juftify, but also to fanctify. From this time he looked for that blefling; and foon after that word was fealed on his heart, I will be thou clean. Having received that bleffing, he held his confidence for fome time; but fome family occurrences happening, he gave way to anger, which brought a cloud on his foul. But he was very fenfible of his fault, and fecretly confeffed it unto the Lord, who lifted upon him anew the light of his countenance. Sept. 5, 1785, being at the preaching, he expreffes in his Diary, how much the Word was bleffed to him. While he heard defcribed, the things which are freely given to us of God, he could fweetly rejoice that he had received them. As he was going to meet fome friends, he was fuddenly feized with a violent vomiting of blood, infomuch that he thought he was near his end. But all was well; for he felt fuch a fweet reit in Jefus as made pain, and death, and every thing else easy. But he never recovered this attack; for although at times he was confiderably better, he had fuch frequent returns of bleeding as brought him very low. At the fame time he had occafion to exercife all his faith, patience, and refignation. For not being able to work, he was very low in worldly circumstances; yet he observes, God raised me up friends, and fo opened their hearts, that I wanted for nothing." Indeed he was much known, and well beloved. For the change which God wrought in him was fo remarkable, from that of a fwearing, fighting, drinking man, to that of a temperate, meek follower of his Saviour; denying himfelf, and taking up his cross daily, that I do not know either faint or finner who had any thing to lay to his charge. He continued his Diary till the 10th of December. From that time, I fuppofe, he was not able to write; but he ftill expreffed much confidence in God, though in much pain: patiently bearing what the Lord had laid upon him, and exhorting his family, and all who came to see him, to cleave unto God with full purpose of heart. Thus he continued till the 7th inftant, when he entered the joy of his Lord. Leeds, Jan. 26, 1787. T. T. A Short Account of God's Dealings with MARY ROUNSEVILL, of Trewalder, in the Parish of Lanteglofs, in Cornwall. ARY ROUNSEVILL was born the second of February, MAR in the year 1700, and died the third of May laft, in the 87th year of her age. For near thirty years she was a stranger to true religion, though fhe was often convinced that she was a great finner. But about fifty years ago fhe was deeply awakened, and had a fenfe of the love of God fhed abroad in her heart; which was fome years before she heard the Methodists. When he had been five years married, her husband died, and left her a widow with three fmall children. Her distress on that occafion was very great, and made her think seriously of the vanity and fhortnefs of life. In the midst of these thoughts, the Lord fet her fins in array before her. Now her worldly grief was turned into godly forrow, and her prayer was, that God would remove her load, and give her his peace. As the had no one to direct her, the Lord who is rich in mercy had refpect to her cries; for in about a quarter of a year he fet her foul at liberty. On this fhe cried out to her father, “The Lord has pardoned my fins! The Lord has pardoned my fins! I am as fure of the love of God to me, as I am of my own exiflence, and can rejoice in the Lord continually." Being thus exceedingly happy herself, fhe wished that all might partake of the fame. Accordingly taking her Bible in her hand, fhe went to all the neighbours, and told them that God had pardoned her fins. At the fame time fhe reproved all who finned in her fight, and endeavoured to convince them of the evil of their doings by reading her Bible to them. While fhe continued thus, reading, praying, and exhorting, the Lord bleffed her endeavours to feveral. Two in particular were brought to God by her means. C. Thom, an old bedridden man, was brought to fee his loft condition. On this fhe directed him to feek the Lord by prayer, and to receive the Sacrament. Accordingly he fent for the Minister, and as foon as he had received, he cried out, "My foul is lightened! My fins are pardoned!" For fome time he continued happy in God, and at laft died rejoicing. her Mary Slugget alfo was brought to think of her latter end by .converfing with Mary Rounfevill. When the Lord gave to see her wickedness, fhe prayed day and night till she knew that the Lord had pardoned all her fins. For fome time after this, the Methodifts coming into the country, the longed to hear them. Camelford to enquire about them. Accordingly fhe went to they |