"I enlisted January 17, 1794, in the 52nd Light Infantry. At that time I was about twenty years old. I was away twenty-two years and six months: during that time I was engaged in nearly thirty battles and skirmishes. I got wounded in the leg in the battle of Waterloo. I was convinced of my sins when about twelve years of age. When driving the French out of Spain, I put up a prayer to God, while engaged very warm, that if it was His will, He would defend me in the day of battle, and preserve me from being disabled, as I had two boys to labour for. The Lord answered my prayer word for word. I thought at the time I was a chosen vessel. I had not much concern about my soul before I enlisted. When young I had no instructor. I was like a wild colt in a forest. Although convinced I was a sinner when young, my convictions wore away. When I was in action I had no fear. When going into battle, sometimes my pals would say, 'Thou wilt catch it now, Bill.' 1 told them I should not, but that I should go home and die in my bed: I had that confidence. Not many in our regiment feared God; it was out of date then. After I came home, I began to feel more concerned about my soul, although for a time I acted very foolishly. I had a good partner; she earned ten or eleven shillings a week. I joined the Church at the Dursley Tabernacle, when the Rev. Mr. Neaton first came there (about forty years ago.) Before I joined this Church, the power of sin worked upon me mightily. I could see I was going the downward road. I was always partial to reading. While under convictions of sin, I took more to reading the Bible than any other book. When I went to bed, I was afraid to go to sleep, lest I should awake up in hell. Some nights it was not quite so bad. My convictions lasted more than two years. One day I was in great distress, and much cast down. I was brought to look to Christ as the Saviour of sinners. I felt, like Paul, that I could glory in the cross-not the wood. I then found relief, but not satisfaction. Near five or six weeks, after as I was standing in the yard by the old house, my convictions came so powerfully upon me that I was afraid to step, lest the ground should open and swallow me up in hell. That was a queer state to be in. I felt as though I was nailed to the ground. At last I crept in

doors, but did not know what to do. My convictions became heavier towards the last. I could not sleep. One night, after having a bit of a doze, this passage came to my mind, Come unto me, all ye that labour,' &c. It came very powerfully, and was repeated several times. I kept crying out, Come unto me.' I tried to think of other passages, but could not. At this time I had not the notion to come in the right way, although the Spirit of God was leading me. About a fortnight after this text came powerfully to my mind. I was at a meeting. I longed to be in the house of God. When the services were ended on a Sunday, I did vex that there would be no more services till Wednesday evening. While hearing the Rev. G. Neaton preaching from the thirteenth chapter of Jeremiah, and the last clause of the last verse, Wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?' I was brought into the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love. I could not help singing for joy. What a day that I had my heart and soul full. When the words, When shall it once be?' were spoken, I cried, 'Now-now-now!' I was so light. What a glorious time that was. I had such a view of Christ's power to save. I had tight work to pacify myself. After service, I walked home with my wife. She told me not to walk so fast. I told her that I was so light, I could not help it. A short time after this, I said to my wife, I am going to establish a new concern in my house; I am going, by God's help, to establish a family altar.' I did so; and, by the Lord's help, continued it; and I often felt great liberty in speaking to my children upon the word of God."

was!

He was naturally, before as well as after his conversion, of a cheerful temper, and not addicted to swearing. After his discharge from the army, he received his pension every quarter, at which times his practice was to spend a week, and sometimes a fortnight, in drinking; but he would always return home early, and, as his son remarked, "in a good quill"-i e., a good temper. After his call by grace, this conduct was a grief to him. On one of his drinking bouts, he had a dream which was repeated threa nights following. It was to the effect that if he gave up drink. ing his soul would be saved. This occurred a short time before

"I enlisted January 17, 1794, in the 52nd Light Infantry. At that time I was about twenty years old. I was away twenty-two years and six months: during that time I was engaged in nearly thirty battles and skirmishes. I got wounded in the leg in the battle of Waterloo. I was convinced of my sins when about twelve years of age. When driving the French out of Spain, I put up a prayer to God, while engaged very warm, that if it was His will, He would defend me in the day of battle, and preserve me from being disabled, as I had two boys to labour for. The Lord answered my prayer word for word. I thought at the time I was a chosen vessel. I had not much concern about my soul before I enlisted. When young I had no instructor. I was like a wild colt in a forest. Although convinced I was a sinner when young, my convictions wore away. When I was in action I had no fear. When going into battle, sometimes my pals would say, Thou wilt catch it now, Bill.' 1 told them I should not, but that I should go home and die in my bed: I had that confidence. Not many in our regiment feared God; it was out of date then. After I came home, I began to feel more concerned about my soul, although for a time I acted very foolishly. I had a good partner; she earned ten or eleven shillings a week. I joined the Church at the Dursley Tabernacle, when the Rev. Mr. Neaton first came there (about forty years ago.) Before I joined this Church, the power of sin worked upon me mightily. I could see I was going the downward road. I was always partial to reading. While under convictions of sin, I took more to reading the Bible than any other book. When I went to bed, I was afraid to go to sleep, lest I should awake up in hell. Some nights it was not quite so bad. My convictions lasted more than two years. day I was in great distress, and much cast down. I was brought to look to Christ as the Saviour of sinners. I felt, like Paul, that I could glory in the cross-not the wood. I then found relief, but not satisfaction. Near five or six weeks, after as I was standing in the yard by the old house, my convictions came so powerfully upon me that I was afraid to step, lest the ground should open and swallow me up in hell. That was a queer state to be in. I felt as though I was nailed to the ground. At last I crept in

One

doors, but did not know what to do. My convictions became heavier towards the last. I could not sleep. One night, after having a bit of a doze, this passage came to my mind, Come unto me, all ye that labour,' &c. It came very powerfully, and was repeated several times. I kept crying out,Come unto me.' I tried to think of other passages, but could not. At this time I had not the notion to come in the right way, although the Spirit of God was leading me. About a fortnight after this text came powerfully to my mind. I was at a meeting. I longed to be in the house of God. When the services were ended on a Sunday, I did vex that there would be no more services till Wednesday evening. While hearing the Rev. G. Neaton preaching from the thirteenth chapter of Jeremiah, and the last clause of the last verse, Wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?' I was brought into the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love. I could not help singing for joy. What a day that was! I had my heart and soul full. When the words, 'When shall it once be?' were spoken, I cried, 'Now-now-now!' I was so light. What a glorious time that was. I had such a view of Christ's power to save. I had tight work to pacify myself. After service, I walked home with my wife. She told me not to walk so fast. I told her that I was so light, I could not help it. A short time after this, I said to my wife, I am going to establish a new concern in my house; I am going, by God's help, to establish a family altar.' I did so; and, by the Lord's help, continued it; and I often felt great liberty in speaking to my children upon the word of God."

He was naturally, before as well as after his conversion, of a cheerful temper, and not addicted to swearing. After his discharge from the army, he received his pension every quarter, at which times his practice was to spend a week, and sometimes a fortnight, in drinking; but he would always return home early, and, as his son remarked, "in a good quill"-i e., a good temper. After his call by grace, this conduct was a grief to him. On one of his drinking bouts, he had a dream which was repeated thres nights following. It was to the effect that if he gave up drinking his soul would be saved. This occurred a short time before

The

"I enlisted January 17, 1794, in the 52nd Light Infantry. At that time I was about twenty years old. I was away twenty-two years and six months: during that time I was engaged in nearly thirty battles and skirmishes. I got wounded in the leg in the battle of Waterloo. I was convinced of my sins when about twelve years of age. When driving the French out of Spain, I put up a prayer to God, while engaged very warm, that if it was His will, He would defend me in the day of battle, and preserve me from being disabled, as I had two boys to labour for. Lord answered my prayer word for word. I thought at the time I was a chosen vessel. I had not much concern about my soul before I enlisted. When young I had no instructor. I was like a wild colt in a forest. Although convinced I was a sinner when young, my convictions wore away. When I was in action I had no fear. When going into battle, sometimes my pals would say, 'Thou wilt catch it now, Bill.' 1 told them I should not, but that I should go home and die in my bed: I had that confidence. Not many in our regiment feared God; it was out of date then. After I came home, I began to feel more concerned about my soul, although for a time I acted very foolishly. I had a good partner; she earned ten or eleven shillings a week. I joined the Church at the Dursley Tabernacle, when the Rev. Mr. Neaton first came there (about forty years ago.) Before I joined this Church, the power of sin worked upon me mightily. I could see I was going the downward road. I was always partial to reading. While under convictions of sin, I took more to reading the Bible than any other book. When I went to bed, I was afraid to go to sleep, lest I should awake up in hell. Some nights it was not quite so bad. My convictions lasted more than two years. One day I was in great distress, and much cast down. I was brought to look to Christ as the Saviour of sinners. I felt, like Paul, that I could glory in the cross-not the wood. I then found relief, but not satisfaction. Near five or six weeks, after as I was standing in the yard by the old house, my convictions came so powerfully upon me that I was afraid to step, lest the ground should open and swallow me up in hell. That was a queer state to be in. I felt as though I was nailed to the ground. At last I crept in