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order to justify so far as we can, the ways of God to He was always too much prone to follow his own judgment: in the choice of his new and unprofitable business he certainly went contrary to his best friends' advice; a calling which none that loved him approved of, and (to use his own words which he lately uttered when in trouble) had he more consulted the will of God in it, he should never have come to what he was.' This teaches us, that christians should always be careful never to act contrary to the light which God gives either to them or to their brethren. 'In the midst of counsellors there is safety.' We should first, diligently wait on Godnext, advise with all those with whom we are acquainted who are taught of God: if we do these things we shall never fail.

A few more words on the death of this our beloved brother. It was not the embarrassment of his worldly affairs, altogether, that produced the mental affliction which terminated his life. The painful state of the society to which he belonged preyed much on his spirits and he often adverted to it with deepest concern. Let this also be buried for ever in the grave with him. Suffice it to say, that sometime before the said mental affliction, he frequently expressed himself as apprehensive that death was near, he also thought that greater calamities awaited him. But,' said he, 'tell my friends that, whatever painful outward circumstances I may die in, my soul will be safe, you need not fear, said he, 'I shall be happy! He had been a member of the Methodist society thirty-seven years.

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'I heard a voice from heaven saying 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.' Amen.

[N.B.-Under this service there was a man awakened and afterwards truly converted.]

CHAPTER IX.

TRACT SOCIETY FORMED, DEATHS OF PIOUS MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, AND OTHER INFORMATION.

THE following new, seasonable, and most-important movement in spiritual matters at the Common, helped us much, and performed wonders; surely, we said, it must have all proceeded from the Lord. At its joyful appearance we could almost or quite adopt the language of our blessed Lord, "I beheld Satan like lightning fall from heaven." Through its valuable workings, the whole moral complexion of the place speedily assumed a more lovely aspect, all our opposition and persecution at once ceased: our services at the chapel were quickening, peaceable, and well attended; and truly it seemed that the Lord had indeed "bruised Satan under our feet." Never shall I forget my feelings of holy joy, admiration, and love, at the obtaining this great, glorious, and signal victory. With what humble, deep, and devout emphasis did I again say "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name.' The long-continued struggle, we said, is at an end, our captivity is turned; we have got Satan under our feet, and woe be to us if we do not keep him there. "All honor, power, praise, majesty, and dominion, be unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen."

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DIARY. "November 13th, 1823, I began a Tract Society at the Common; for a long time my mind has been impressed with the propriety of doing this. It meets with acceptance. Our steady, long-tried, friend and helper, Elizabeth Brown, though deprived of her

natural eyesight, undertakes (with the assistance of a little girl to lead her) to distribute them throughout the place from house to house. The moral state of Warminster Common is certainly greatly improved: The people attend public worship better, and there is good reason to conclude that the wilderness where Satan so long hath dwelt and reigned, will yet blossom as the rose. This place has been for so many ages proverbial for its great wickedness, unquestionably for this reason; there never were any powerful, persevering exertions made to recover it. It is true there has been preaching there, and good preaching too, but it has been often intermitted, and the place, to say the best, has been carelessly cultivated. This would not do where Satan so reigned and where he had sown so many tares, for by the time that some of them were removed others took root, and the ground gained was soon lost again. Of late there has been more preaching, more visiting from house to house; upwards of a thousand bibles and testaments have been distributed there: Sunday-schools have been established; and now a Tract Society is formed. The whole of this has been done humbly and heartily, and God Almighty of His great mercy has added His essential blessing; thanks for ever be to His Most Holy Name. The mode which is adopted, namely, the changing them weekly, doing it lovingly and without ostentation, keeps alive their attention, furnishes variety; and furthermore, it gives the distributor, who is well qualified for it, an opportunity of often speaking a word in season.' Now I would ask why were not the bibles and tracts distributed before? why were not more powerful exertions made here as to preaching, &c., twenty, thirty, yea fifty years ago? The answer is plain,-Because the people in Warminster who had it in their power, had no heart to it. Their language was, generally, Am I my brother's keeper?' They had means in abundance, had they chosen to use them. Every man did not do his duty; every religious society did not do its duty; every

gospel minister did not do his duty: both collectively and individually, they cried a little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the hands to sleep.' All and each of them saw lions in the way,' and doubtless guilty enough they are, and were, and ever will be; while so many souls were perishing for lack of knowledge.

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During the tract circulation, we proved to demonstration, again and again, that there was a laudable disposition among the poor to be taught in any way. And a well-selected tract-subject, suited to their capacities, and not too long, appeared to us to have greater effect than the indifferent reading of a chapter in the bible. The tract-subjects are recent, various, and entertaining, and if the parents are careless and neglect them, the children will read them with avidity. Moreover, it is a safe, simple, and yet powerful preacher and though it may contain the very quintessence of methodism, people will read it at home, who will never put their heads into a dissenting chapel. So, I say, we found it generally. By these means you also undermine the strongholds of sin and satan, silently and unawares, always the best way, by far, of doing it. And whoever is the distributor will find ample reward in his work. The expense attending tract circulation, is comparatively small,-twenty shillings will purchase a thousand. The expense of only one useless feast, or other needless indulgence, would supply enough for an ordinary district, for a year. Thus immense spiritual seed would be easily sown, which would tell greatly in our spiritual accounts, and insure in due time a blessed harvest. We also found that our exertions in this way, soon provoked other religious denominations to a corresponding laudable zeal and activity."

DIARY. 66 By the death of the father the care of the widow and fatherless children wholly devolved on One circumstance of great importance occurred at this time which I will relate. The youngest of the boys (I think he was about eight years of age)

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had caught a bad cold, which produced violent toothache with swelling on one side of his face: the mother, in order to soothe it as much as possible, injudiciously allowed the boy to sit in her lap with his head reclining in one position so long, that the muscular power of the opposite side of his neck totally lost all action; the consequence was that, the poor boy's head fell close down on the shoulder, and there it remained till it became fixed, the opposite shoulder at the same time mounting unnaturally high, which, together, produced such deformity of person as was truly frightful. What was to be done in this sad case no one could tell, no medical man would undertake it a physician's advice was taken who pronounced it incurable. There was now no known earthly remedy. My heart was albut overwhelmed with grief: from being one of the loveliest boys ever seen, he was now become one of the most deformed and disgusting; and I all but despairingly asked the mournful question, what was to be done as to his future prospects in life? I said in my heart that I would rather he should die than live. It was well known also in this case, that every day his head would become more fixed, and so be more distant from even a possibility of a cure. I say, all human help and hope having for ever vanished, all I could do now was to mourn bitterly in spirit for him before the Lord. My sorrow was most extreme. In this state one evening, while quite alone, an impression was forcibly made on my mind that I was to go immediately to his residence, and by physical force pull up his head. At first I shrank from the fearful thought, as well I might; but the idea still pressed itself upon my mind and urged me to go forward. Still I hesitated, and carried it to the Lord in humble fervent prayer. voice seemed again to say, 'Go and do it and the Lord will help you.' As I well knew my shepherd's voice, which never yet had deceived me, in faith, and without further delay, I hastened to the house: I made no apology for abruptness; I stated my special

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