place without a light, and scarcely without company, lest Satan should seize me as his prey and hurry me quick to hell. When I went to bed I would clasp my arm round my brother for protection, and refused to let go my hold, lest Satan should drag me out of bed; for I believed my brother to be better than myself, and not so much in danger of the black prince of darkness, and was therefore determined to stick to him, so that if he did seize me he could not take me without taking my brother also. My fears and agitation ran very high, and yet I dreaded confessing my guilt; first, because of the disgrace it would bring upon me; and, second, because I knew my father was very severe in chastising; and on these accounts I bore my misery rather than confess my sin and beg pardon.

"At length I resolved to bear my burden no longer; I would go and open my mind and confess my guilt to my father, and implore his pardon. I did so, by first requesting that he would not flog me, but promise me pardon on condition of my confession. My father was doubtless glad to see signs of penitence in his son, although he as yet knew not the crime. He saw that the end of correction was answered by the internal conviction of my mind and the sorrow of my heart, and therefore acceded to my proposition. I then told him of the whole affair, and how sorry I was for having been led astray. But he, like a wise father, told me that I must not be content with his pardon, but must confess my sin to God, and pray to him for his forgiveness and mercy, and for his grace to preserve me for the future. I did so. I did so frequently, and my mind became happy and contented. I had reason to believe that God heard me; although an infant, he did not turn away my prayer from before his face.

"But I had not yet done with sin. My gracious feelings soon evaporated; and being associated with wicked boys, I soon delighted in joining them in wicked practices. I now

When about ten years of

Chas

became fond of singing songs. age, there was great preparation for the fifth of November, fireworks, &c. In this I was again led away with the wicked. I got some of the workmen of the mill to make me a homely pistol unknown to my father and brother; and I took some powder out of a barrel that had been purchased for blasting rocks, to make squibs, &c.; and, in several instances we tried our hands, till my brother in firing a train of powder burnt his face and eye-brows, so that he was quite disfigured. When we came home, mother and father were anxious to know the cause. Then our pockets must be searched, and all our fraud and boyish trickery were discovered. tisements by my father were severely threatened, lectures given by my mother; and at length, at the entreaty of mother, and promised amendment by ourselves, the chastisement was given up. But the lectures were not lost on me. I felt deeply convinced of my sinfulness. I told my sorrow to my mother. She prayed for me, and I prayed for myself again and again: and I believe that through the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ I then obtained a clear sense of the pardon of my sins. I became a new creature. My conduct, conversation, and desires were new. I would go to class and join society. I was diligent at the prayer meetings, and even then engaged in prayer before the people. I began to visit the sick and to pray with them. My old companions taunted me, laughed at me, mocked me, and in every way sought to provoke me; but I maintained my integrity, and met all with meekness. My faith was sometimes in great danger, but the Lord kept me. I now became a teacher of the alphabet class in the sabbath school."

This blessed state of mind, however, was not long retained. His goodness like the morning cloud and the early dew, soon passed away. At the age of twelve, he was sent to a Boarding School at Chapel Chorlton, near Newcastle in Staffordshire. Being now no longer under the immediate

guidance and restraint of his parents, nor favoured with the means of grace as enjoyed by Methodists, and moreover subject to ridicule and persecution from his juvenile associates in the school, he gradually fell away. For a time he resisted the evil influences around him, but ere long intimidations on the one hand and allurements on the other proved too powerful for his religious principles, and by degrees he neglected closet prayer, drank into the volatile and worldly spirit of his school-fellows, and fell from God. Had he in these new and trying circumstances kept close to God in private devotion he would have found Divine grace sufficient for him, but failing in this duty he became a prey to the adversary and was in danger of final apostacy. But it was a serious mistake on the part of his parents to send him to this seminary. The teacher it seems was a stranger to experimental religion, the church where he attended was destitute of an Evangelical Ministry, and no Methodist means were within two miles distant. No place could be more unfavourable to the spiritual interests of their child, and this untoward step, as the sequel will show, was the occasion of his casting off the fear of God, and of his plunging into such habits as would, if persevered in, have entailed personal degradation and misery, and brought down the grey hairs of his parents with sorrow to the grave. The continuation of the narrative speaks a solemn lesson to parents, on the importance of choosing for their children a seminary where piety itself forms one element of education.

I was not the same person when I returned from school. I had lost my relish for religion, and my peace with God. At first I determined to lead a new life, and at my father's request went to class; but my determinations were made in my own strength and were soon broken. Still I kept up the form of religion for some time. But gradually my depravity grew stronger and stronger, and my public conduct was such that I wished to throw off all profession. But my

father would not allow me to do so. I reasoned with him and told him how unfit I was to meet in class. But he insisted upon it, and threatened to turn me out of the family if I did not comply. I now stole in after singing and prayer and when asked the state of my mind, I faithfully stated that I had no wish to be religious; that I did not want to come there, and I could not tell why, when such was the state of my mind, I should be forced.' I now desired to be an infidel - got hold of what infidel works I could to furnish me with arguments; and as the preachers, both local and itinerant, always came to our house, I was sure, if the occasion served, to propose some puzzling question. And often have I teazed, I am sorry for it, some of the weaker brethren in this way. But when I met with those who could meet my objections, I would back out by saying, 'I could say more but I will not pursue the argument.' conduct was now growing worse and worse every week, and my hostility to worship became such that I refused to kneel either in the house of God or at family prayer. I used to crouch down to deceive my father, and never would I allow my knees to touch the floor."

My

We can scarcely conceive a state of juvenile apostasy more decided and awful than this. We tremble to reflect upon the consequences which were suspended upon his continuance in such a state; and here we would reiterate the admonitory truth,—they would have been chargeable in a great degree upon the event of his being sent to a seminary so totally inimical to his spiritual interests; and the only apology we can admit is the supposition that his parents were not fully aware of its character.

The narrative continues In this way I went on, till a Mr. Alexander Strachan came to labour in the circuit; at which time a revival of religion broke out, and many were added to the church. When I saw persons struck down by the power of the Spirit, and others beginning to pray for

D

mercy, I felt disposed to laugh and ridicule. Mr. S. saw my smiling contempt, and reproved me, but without effect. At length the Spirit of God began to move on my heart. Serious thoughts took possession of my breast. The tear started in my eye, one knee was bent to the floor, then the other. Then the prayer for mercy was presented. This was soon observed, and Mr. S. came to speak to me, and others to pray. The following evening I went to a class meeting; after which the members engaged in prayer with and for me, and one or two others, for some time. At length the weight of the burden was gone, but the evidence of pardon was not imparted. However, from this time, I went on steadily and zealously. The evidence of pardon was not long withheld; but the exact time, at this distant date, I cannot distinctly recollect. I now became zealous and active in the Church; took a part in prayer meetings, fellowship meetings, &c.; distributed tracts, gave exhortations at prayer meetings; and became an active teacher and visitor in the Sunday school.

"About this period I professed to receive the blessing of entire sanctification; and I am now inclined to think that I did, though I afterwards reasoned it away and rejected the doctrine of instantaneous sanctification; and even preached against it, the reflection of which now is cause of deep regret.

"I now began to have thoughts about preaching, and portions of scripture were applied to my mind that seemed to intimate that it was the Divine will I should be so engaged. Mr. Strachan once challenged me on the subject. I gave him an evasive answer, for which he reproved me, and afterwards gave me advice as to my piety, studies, and labours, and urged me to be faithful to God and his grace. I now felt disposed to make a trial; but, for what reason I know not, my father opposed me, and checked all such desires as far as he could. At length, when about seventeen