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stated that electricity was his dernier resort, in case this failed he was certain that he should die. He had taken the advice of the best physicians. Three applications of strong sparks precisely to the affected part, perfectly cured him. Some time afterwards Mrs. A., called, and respectfully thanked me for being the instrument of restoring her husband to her from the gates of death. The doctor afterwards informed me that he happened to be in company with a consultation of [ye know the men] to whom he communicated the particulars of this amazing cure. "It was not electricity that cured you," said they, "but it was a charm!"

121. Aged thirty.-Violent chill taken in child-bed, which at length fixed in her knee and confined her to her bed and room for eighteen months: it was very obstinate. Twenty applications perfectly cured; sparks and shocks.

122. Aged fifteen.-Glandular swelling in the neck the size of a man's fist, which had long resisted all medical applications, it increased in size daily. Sparks for a fortnight; perfectly cured. In all glandular obstructions electricity performs wonders.

Several more important cases of female obstruction with great debility, all cured.

123. Aged forty-six.-Tumour in his leg, which had confined him to his bed, and rendered him unable to walk for a length of time. Very stubborn, but perseverance at length conquered it -Sparks chiefly.

124. Aged forty.-An excrescence on the ball of the eye the size of a hazel nut; had been accumulating for four years-hard and black; said to be a cancer. No medical practitioner would undertake it. In this case I hesitated much, but the importunities of this poor woman, the mother of a family, at length moved me to run the risk. Sparks direct to the centre of it; in four days it broke and discharged freely-obliged to lie in bed for a week. In three weeks she called to thank me for the cure. Observe, the excrescence was wholly removed, but the sight was not recovered.

125. Aged ten.-Ring-worm, which covered the whole head; very distressing. Every help from medicine had been tried in vain-this disease is always very difficult of cure. A profusion of sparks almost every day for three weeks; perfectly cured.

126. Aged forty.-Gravel for a considerable time. Shocks through the loins and at the feet, four applications; perfectly cured. I have known gravel pains removed the instant the fluid was applied.

127. Aged forty-two.-Violent pain between his shoulders, extending to both sides, could not without great difficulty use his arms, had long resisted all medicine. Six applications, sparks; perfectly cured.

CHAPTER XXII.

ANNIVERSARY MEETINGS; FUNERAL SERMONS; TEA-MEETINGS; ABATING OF NUISANCES; AND OTHER INFORMATION.

"JANUARY 1st, 1848. Anniversary six o'clock morning prayer-meeting; a good attendance considering how much sickness there is prevailing. The influenza is now dreadfully avenging the quarrel of His awful truth, especially in London. The chastisement in this town is, as yet, comparatively light. Eleven persons engaged in prayer, and great was our rejoicing in the Lord. Twenty years ago this morning, the first service (a prayer-meeting) was held in the chapel, since that period more than six hundred deaths have taken place at Warminster Common. The last year's registration shews, deaths in the whole parish a hundred and seventy-three, thirty-nine of which were of the Common. I have never been absent from this highly-interesting prayer-meeting from its commencement. I have also up to this time preached at the Common from texts, or expounded the lessons, four thousand one hundred and fifty-five times, besides assisting at nearly all the prayer-meetings, classmeetings, tea-meetings, baptismal and sacramental services, &c. Other ministers have preached a hundred and thirty-five sermons in our chapel, in the said twenty years."

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January 2nd, 1848, (Sunday). Funeral sermon for my departed friend, Benjamin Steedman, who died 27th December last, aged eighty-five years, (REV. xiv. 13.) His grandfather was among the first

Methodists in Warminster: he had preaching in his house about ninety-one years ago, at Rehobath, Warminster Common. When a boy, our departed friend attended the Methodist preaching. He was a witness of, and a sharer in, all the bitter persecution of the poor Methodists in this town, in and about 1773. He afterwards helped to fit up the preachingroom in Pound-street, where, for fourteen years, the services were kept up, and where the usual reproach was shared. He heard the Rev. Mr. Wesley preach his last sermon at Frome, (I think it was when King George the Third was at Longleat) and was acquainted with all the old preachers that then visited this town. But the most interesting part to me, which I would thankfully record of him is, he was the first person who invited me to hear the Methodist preaching: at his house I also received numerous christian helps and encouragements in my early spiritual course, which I then so much needed. So that whatever religious benefit I may have personally derived from hearing the gospel among that people, as well as all that has emanated from my exertions at Warminster Common since, may be justly traced to this source; showing how much good may be done by an individual whose heart is right with God, and who is always watching for opportunities of advancing His glory. During his long life he maintained a consistency of character worthy of his profession, and was always respected. For several years he had been the subject of great bodily weakness, but his soul's concerns were still fully regarded, and his religious peace and joy unabated; and nothing more animated his spirits than making allusions to his early religious attachments, and to the reproach which he and his christian friends then gladly shared for the blessed cause of Christ. As his end drew near his confidence became stronger. I have no doubt or fear,' said he, 'I All is right. I am waiting for the appointed time, I long to depart and to be with Christ; I have long loved Him, and He has loved me.' The day before

his death he said I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do.' A friend said, 'Then you have no doubt of your acceptance?' He replied, 'None at all! His last words were 'All is right, all is well!'

There was a crowded congregation. And how marvellous the occurrence that I should preach his funeral sermon, nearly forty-seven years after the period when he first invited me to hear the gospel. There was a holy unction, and almost a deathlike silence throughout the service; and when we sang the last and most appropriate hymn,

'Come let us join our friends above

Who have obtained the prize,'

we had as much of heaven as, it seemed, we could possibly bear."

"January 5th, 1818. Adults' tea-meeting at the chapel-very refreshing. Four hours blessed spiritual intercourse made us very unwilling to part. Observe it was not a social, but a spiritual meeting as it always is with us-we want no other."

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January 16th, 1848. Funeral sermon for Ruth Carr, widow, aged seventy-two. About twelve years ago she first heard the gospel at our chapel-powerful convictions seized her conscience, and she did not rest till she found peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: she retained her evidence clear to the last. For fourteen months she was confined to her bed by affliction. At the approach of death a friend asked her if her Saviour was still precious; with great fervency, she replied 'yes!' This was her last expression. All her spiritual good she got at our chapel, and she was a steady and useful member of the society."

"March 12th, 1848, (Sunday). This evening our dear friend, James Cornish, a native of the Common, preached in our chapel for the first time. After a long absence he is come to visit us. This truly, is a gift of God to us. He is altogether ours-years ago I had a presentiment that he certainly would, at some future day, be thus employed. There was a crowded

congregation, and he got through the service well. Warminster Common may well rejoice and lift up its head at being so honoured. It looks very probable that he will rise to eminence in the ministry, if his life and health should be spared. All power, praise, might, majesty, and dominion, be Thine, O Lord, for ever and ever and only Thine."

"March 16th, 1848. Children's tea-meeting-the weather unfavourable, but we never had a better time. Three hundred and four tickets were issued. The usual services were kept up with great spirit; five hours' attendance did not at all weary us, and such was our joy in the Lord, that we could scarcely conceive how even heaven itself, could possibly exceed it. At parting, some of the dear children mournfully asked, 'Why cannot we have these meetings oftener? We never know what happiness is, but when we are here." "

LETTER ON THE LOVE OF GOD,

By J. Norris, M.A., Rector of Bemerton, near Sarum, 1695.

"Happy is that man that can thus order and regulate this leading passion of his nature, that can thus love the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, and mind. How to be envied is that man who can thus disengage his affections from the creature, who can thus recollect, fix, and settle his whole love upon God!

If it be a solitude 'tis such an one as that of Moses upon the holy mount, when he withdrew from the people, to enjoy the converse of God: As that of our Saviour, when he tells his disciples that they should all desert and leave him alone, and yet that he was not alone, because his father was with him. Happy solitude! when the creature retires from us, and leaves us to the more full and free enjoyment of God, and thrice happy is he that enjoys this Divine retreat ; that can force the creature to withdraw; that can

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