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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Piety connected with secular employment.-Parentage. - Lord
Irvine. Sir Rowland Winn.-Luke Dawson.-Mrs. Daw-
son.-Sir Thomas Gascoigne.-Confidential servant.—Wil-
liam's brothers and sisters.-His birth-strong affection-
early developement of imitative powers.--Kippax.-Rev.
Miles Atkinson. Rev. William Richardson.-Domestic
training. William's first serious impressions.-Religious
Books.-Health.-The Village Schoolmaster.- Rev. W.
Hodgson. Mr. Ephraim Sanderson. -Subject of these
Memoirs finishes his Education at Aberford.-Rev. Thomas
Dikes. His usefulness.-Distress on account of sin.-A
Dream.-John Batty.-Samuel Settle.-Doctrine of Assu-
rance. Importance of an early religious bias.-William's
state of mind and character, as given by his pastor.-The
Rev. John Graham.-Advantage of falling into good hands.
--Depression of spirit.-Insignificant means of relief.-
External objects.-The poor Negro.-Death of William's
father.-Christian Liberty.-Letter of Counsel from the
Rev. T. Dikes
1
CHAPTER II.
Commences a Diary.-Essays.-Letter from the Rev. T.
Dikes.-Select religious Meetings.-Labours of the Rev. J.
Graham.-Rev. T. Galland.-W. Dawson begins to ex-
hort.-Attends the religious Services of the Wesleyans.-
Hears the Rev. Samuel Bradburn.-Monarchy.—Prays in
public.-Early Compositions.
The fall of Man.
So-
journers. The Scriptures.-The Apocalypse.-Reading.—
Books. Attempts to court the Muse.-Rev. R. Hemington.
-W. Dawson becomes more public in his character.-
"Grime Cabin."-Renewal of Covenant.-The Rev. Joseph
Benson.-S. Settle sent to Magdalen College, Cambridge.
-Reserve.-Sincerity.
CHAPTER III.
Letter from Mr. Settle.-Mr. Kilham and his party.-York
Assizes.-A religious Diary.-Extracts from it.-W. Daw-
son formally takes a text.-Besetment.-William Smith.-
Kindness to the Widow.-Reproof.-Pressed to enter into
Holy Orders.-The ELLAND SOCIETY.-The Latin Lan-
guage. Difficulties and Cares of Business.-The Rev. J.
Graham's testimony in favour of Wm. Dawson.-Slender
Remuneration.-Despondency.-Letter from Mr. Settle.. 51
CHAPTER IV.
Renewed Dedication.-Rev. J. Benson.-Mr. W. E. Miller.
-A noisy Prayer-Meeting.-Letters from Mr. Settle.-Pro-
gress in Learning.-The Rev. J. Atkinson.-Evening Lec-
tures.-Liberality.-Further intimations of Holy Orders.
-Reading and Studies.- Portrait of a worldly-minded
Farmer.-Inward conflicts.-Messrs. Myles, Pawson, Brad-
burn, Mather, Griffith, and Dr. Coke.-Out-door Preach-
ing.-State of Sinners.-Extended usefulness.—Early Ser-
mons.- -Extracts from them.-Preaches more generally and
publicly. Colton.-Service by lanthern light in the open
air.-Mrs. Dean.-Openness to conviction.-Loud preaching. 80
CHAPTER V.
Voluntary and involuntary evil.-Letter from Mr. Settle.-
College trials.-Bias towards Methodism.-Miss Barritt.-
Lovefeasts.-Messrs. Mather and Blagborne. - Pride.-
Balancings.- Fear.-Enthusiasm.-Reading.-Lay-help in
the Establishment not encouraged.-Samuel Hick.-Severity.
-Labours.-Extracts from the Diary.-Usefulness.-Pub
lic Addresses.-Sin. Assurance. - Death. -Sinners in
danger. Sceptics.-Growing Piety.-Painful Exercises.-
Local Militias.-State of the Country.-Prudence.-Morn-
ing Communings.-Scrupulosity of Conscience.-Stands
Sponsor. Thoughts on Marriage.-Feeling manifested by
external signs.--Letters from Messrs. Graham and Settle.
-Freedom of mind.-Trials often heighten coming joys.
-Visit to the Rev. J. Graham, York.-Genius of Method-
ism. Further references to the Elland Society. - Prayer.
-The turning point.-Rev. Miles Atkinson.-Peculiar
situation of W. Dawson.-Decides against Holy Orders.-
Rev. J. Graham.-Rev. S. Settle.-Rev. Joseph Benson.-
Rev. T. Dikes.-Religious state of W. Dawson...
CHAPTER VI.
Wesley's Life.-Reconciliation necessary for a Minister of the
Gospel.-People generally moulded by the ministry.-In-
creasing faith.-Little faith.-Jeremy Taylor.—Extracts
from the Diary.-Bohler's advice to Wesley.-Faith to be
preached.-Faith in its simplicity.-Examples of it.-
Friendship.-Covenant.-Messrs. Graham and Settle.-Ad-
vantage of different Christian communities.-Authors and
reading. Sentiments of Dr. Johnson and Sir P. Sidney on
knowledge." Visitation of the sick."-Industry.-Messrs.
Settle and Wade.-Mr. Suter.-W. Dawson supplies the
place of the Vicar of Thorparch.-Personal piety and pub-
lic usefulness.-Self-abasement.-A hoary-headed enquirer
after truth. Watch-nights. Tries Class-Meeting. -
Preaches in the coal-mine.-Dress.-Useless and unseason-
able conversation.-Omissions of duty.-Death of the Rec-
tor of the parish.-Public business, and rules to be observed
in transacting it.-Hard bargains, and love of our neigh-
bour.-Inferior usage. Contentment. Presentiment.-
Visit of an uncle to Barnbow.-Sermon to young people.-
Habit. Providential deliverance.-Aptitude for improving
occasions and events
-
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157
CHAPTER VII.
The old year.-Time.-The eighteenth century.-Opinions
of Johnson and Clarendon.--Disinterested toil.-Useful-
ness. Samuel Hick.-Class-meeting.-Thomas Stoner.-
Blessedness of Christian communion.-Social literary ad-
vantages. Reading and religious discourse.--Providential
choice of lot.-Wit, true and false.-Study.-Reproof.—
HOME religion.-Domestic changes.-Escape from death.
-Murder.-Local preachers.-Pulpit preparation.-Over
exertion.-Progress in piety.-Sinners disturbed in their
pleasures by rousing sermons.-Increasing labour.-Pity
to the poor.-Becomes an accredited Local-Preacher.—
Wesley, Whitfield, and Cennick's sermons. Richard
Burdsall.-Enlarged sphere of labour.-Affliction and its
fruit.-Meets the Local- Preachers, and attends the Quarter-
Meeting. Preaches in Leeds.-Rev. S. Bradburn.-Rev.
W. Bramwell.-Sinkings and swellings of heart.-Watch-
fulness
186
CHAPTER VIII.
Activity.-Proposed for the itinerant work.-Enlarged sphere
of action.-Cotton Mather's "Directions."-Desirous of a
chapel at Barwick.-Severe mental exercises.-Doubts.-
Mr. Barber.-A. Mather's Life.-Bunyan's "Grace A bound-
ing."--Indiscreet praise.-Pride and humility.-Sensibility.
-Perplexity.-Appointed by Conference to a circuit.-De-
clines travelling.-Dissimulation and sincerity met by the
providence of God.-Mr. Bramwell. - Visitations from
above.-Paradoxical character of Christian experience to
the world.-Expense in dress.-Prosperity of the work of
God.-W. E. Miller.-High rents.- Feasts.-Secrets.-
Unpleasant forebodings.-Natal anniversary.-Death of
William's grandmother.-Ground bought at Barwick, and
a chapel in the course of erection. Mr. Bramwell leaves
the circuit.-Reflections upon it..
216
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CHAPTER IX.
Opening of a chapel at Barwick.-Collecting Book.-" Benny
Swift." The Rev. Thomas Taylor and John Grant.-Occa-
sional Sermons.-Visit to Hull.-Rev. Joseph Bradford.-
Character. Characteristic distinctions. Dr. Bates's
Works.-S. Popplewell, Esq.-Afflictive dispensation of
Providence. Friendship. - Rev. Miles Atkinson, as a
preacher.-Increasing popularity.-Biographer's first inter-
view with Mr. Dawson.-Rev. Andrew Fuller.-First public
Missionary Meeting among the Wesleyans at Leeds.-
Extract from Mr. Dawson's Speech on the occasion.-Com-
parative view of the Wesleyan Missions.-The partial and
indirect influence of Mr. Dawson's occasional play of fancy
upon speakers and hearers
CHAPTER X.
Conscience, a singular Incident.-Tenderness in preaching.
—The Shepherd personified.—Indirect self-praise.—Revi-
valists. Mistakes in conversion corrected.-Early gift in
Prayer among young Converts.- Establishment of Mis-
sionary Societies at York and Wakefield.-Extracts from
Speeches.-Mr. Edward Wade's death.-Selby Missionary
Meeting. Timidity.-Characteristic remarks.-Conversa-
tional Meetings among the Local- Preachers.-A spiritual
Ministry.-Deputation from a distance.-Death of the Prin-
cess Charlotte.-Visit to the North.-A Dream.-Quarrels
from trifling causes.- -Fault-finders.-Prejudice.-Chester
and Liverpool meetings.-Dr. Adam Clarke.—Propriety of
bringing acquired knowledge to bear on the cause of Truth.
-Death of the Rev. William Bramwell.-The Backslider.
-Tract Distribution.-Addresses to Children.-Objec-
tions. The Eternal Sonship.-Authors
CHAPTER XI.
Stage Coach Dialogues.-Retort.-Incognito.-Lord Milton.-
A Touching Tale.-Waterloo Conversations.-Matrimony.
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