Sunday evening, while on his return from Elswick, where he had been to visit his parents, their great kindness to him was suddenly and forcibly brought to his recollection. At the same time he began to reflect with the greatest shame and confusion on his numerous acts of disobedience and ingratitude to them. Though he had been a most dutiful child, yet he was so overpowered at the view of the offences which his memory recalled, that he fell down on his knees in the lane, and there cried aloud to God to have mercy upon him, and to pardon his trangressions. As soon as he arrived at his master's house, in Preston, he retired to his room, and rolled himself on the floor in an agony, like a person distracted. These troubles of mind continued for some time, both night and day, without intermission. He was deeply humbled at the sight of his conduct, and could not be satisfied till he took the earliest opportunity of returning to Elswick, to confess his offences in the presence of his father, and crave his forgiveness. His father, who considered him one of the most dutiful of sons, was surprised and astonished at the power of these convictions, which he could not comprehend. "Dear!" said he, "what hast thou done to lay these heavy charges against thyself? Thou hast not murdered any body." At the same time he told William that so far from being undutiful and ungrateful, he had done nothing which required a parent's forgiveness. With this consoling assurance he returned to Preston greatly relieved in spirit, and formed a strong resolution to change the course of his life. His repentance towards God continued deep and sincere: and he sought every occasion of manifesting it, by frequent acts of fasting, mortification, and prayer. He also attended the service of the parish church, with the most scrupulous regularity; and showed his genuine zeal for the honour of God, and his hatred to sin, by reproving the latter at all seasons, and in every company.

But while he was the subject of these divine operations, he stood alone, and had no pious friend to whom

he could disclose his feelings, or with whom he could take sweet counsel respecting his soul. Of all the professors of Christianity in the neighbourhood the Papists. were the strictest; and, to a youthful mind, they appeared to evince some due regard to the external forms of religion. Though he had been sufficiently well instructed to dislike the principles and general practices of that church, yet the austerities, penances, and privations, to which its members occasionally subjected themselves, to him seemed highly reasonable; and at that period he had no doubt of such sacrifices being acceptable to God. Labouring under the greatest concern for the salvation of his soul, he adopted several modes of mortifying the flesh, of the most ascetic and severe descripion, different in some external respects from those of the Roman Catholics, but the same in principle. To remind him of his sins, (on account of which he thought he was not sufficiently humbled,).he frequently cut off the skin and flesh from the ends of his fingers, and would not for some time suffer the selfinflicted wounds to heal. About midnight he often arose and stole down into the kitchen, while the members of his master's family were asleep; then sprinkling a corner of the floor with some of the roughest sand he could find, and uncovering his knees, he knelt down, and in that painful posture spent many hours of the night in fervent supplications for the pardon of his sins. When the apprentices were allowed a day of relaxation, instead of employing it as they did, (in carnal pleasures and worldly amusements,) he retired to an obscure part of a wood near Preston, and, having climbed up a favourite tree, he usually remained there till evening, confessing his sins aloud in the presence of his heavenly Father, and earnestly imploring forgiveness.

Whilst in this disconsolate state of mind, he sometimes wandered from Preston, after the labours of the day; and, walking as far as his father's house in Elswick, [a distance of ten miles,] he has slowly returned the same night, without partaking of the least refresh

ment, or informing any of his father's family that an individual so wretched as himself was near their abode. After this solitary walk of twenty miles, he was ready to commence his labour, the next morning, with the earliest of his master's workmen.

His constitution was naturally robust. But had his flesh been brass and his sinews iron, the austerities in which he voluntarily persisted for many months would have ruined his health. Strong as he was, he at last found his frame unequal to the inward conflict which was itself sufficiently severe without the infliction of penitential bodily torture. His friends perceived that his countenance became pale, and that his strength was quickly declining. Being concerned for his welfare, they applied for advice to two physicians, who, unable satisfactorily to account for the emaciated state of his body, called the undefined and hidden cause of his unhappiness a nervous complaint.”

But God, who is rich in mercy, shortly afterwards effected for him a great deliverance. He had prepared himself with much prayer and self examination for worthily partaking of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and while in the act of receiving the sacred elements from the hand of the Rev. Mr. Wilson, (a pious clergyman at Preston,) under whose ministry he had greatly profited, he obtained a clear sense of pardon. All his bodily ailments soon forsook him, and his "spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour." Darkness and gloom, guilt and condemnation, were at once removed in a manner incomprehensible to him, and utterly beyond all that he had ever been taught to expect. or desire. The height of his joy was equalled only by the previous depth of his sorrow. He testified in every way his unfeigned gratitude to Him who had made him glad with the light of his countenance. Influenced by this principle, he tried even to purchase the obedience of others to the commands of his loving Saviour. To this purpose he applied all the money allowed him by his parents. If any young people swore in his presence, he affectionately reproved them, and, if they still per

sisted, he endeavoured to buy them off from such profane practices, by giving them a sum of money. By this method he induced many to promise that they would no longer be guilty of their customary language of oaths and imprecations. In the same spirit, he often followed depraved individuals into public houses, and dissuaded them from a continuance in their ungodly course of life. He suffered neither rich nor poor, young nor old, to escape reproof, when he perceived any thing in their spirit or conduct that was culpable. In behalf of his divine Master, who had mercifully "called him out of darkness into marvellous light," he had always a word in season.

Yet at this critical period, his Christianity was of a solitary kind. He walked alone in the ways of God. None of his friends appeared to be in earnest for the same blessings as those which he enjoyed. To secure therefore his continuance in the paths of righteousness, and to strengthen his newly formed gracious habits and holy resolutions, he knew of no method equal to that of associating himself with the church singers. He thought that no body of men upon earth approached in their spirit and employment, so nearly to the occupation of "the spirits of just men made perfect," as these cheerful choristers. To join with them in celebrating the high praises of God, appeared to him (artless as he then was,) an object fraught with good, and most gratifying to his pious feelings. He entered heartily into this plan, and was constant in his attendance in the singers' pew. But there were other places more frequented by these rustic musicians than the church. To perfect themselves in their various parts, they considered it needful for the whole fraternity regularly to assemble at a rendezvous; and that most commonly was a large room in an alehouse. Bygradually imbibing the spirit and habits of his new associates, Mr. Bramwell almost imperceptibly lost the comfort and happiness which he had so recently experienced. These persons were unfit companions for

one, like him, exercised unto godliness; levity an mirth being their particular delight when they wer not immediately engaged in the service of the churc His religious feelings became dull and languid; and this uncomfortable frame of mind he passed near three months.

About this period, one of his friends proposed lend him the works of the Rev. John Wesley. H accepted the offer; but he soon afterwards returne them unread, declaring that he durst on no accour peruse them, as he was fearful of their corruptin effects, and of the tendency which they would have t destroy his religion.

Mr. Roger Crane, who was then a member of th Methodist society in Preston, had heard that M Bramwell was so much in earnest for the salvation o his soul as to be almost "beside himself." In conse quence of this he took some pains to be introduced t him. He soon became acquainted with him, and gained his confidence; and this, after an interchange of many visits, was ripened into a strong and mutua attachment. Such an intimacy was peculiarly pleasing to Mr. Bramwell, and he perfectly acquiesced in all the religious views and statements of his more experienced companion. Christian experience and religious enjoy ment were not then novel subjects. He had felt them and therefore knew their meaning and importance At length Mr. Crane concluded, that it was his duty to invite his friend to hear a Methodist preacher, and assured him that he would find the truths which he loved, explained in a clearer and more scriptural manner, and with greater comfort to his own mind, than by his favourite clergyman. But though strongly and often solicited, he always declined the invitation; and as a full explanation of his resolution and the motives which influenced him, he told Mr. C. that his father had exacted a promise from him, not to attend the preaching of the Methodists, and had warned all his family against any connexion with such a despicable community. He considered them an infatuated and