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mortified life; remembering, "He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."

The prejudices of education are strong, especially in those persons who have been brought up rather in high life. The being removed from a parent's habitation, seemed very awful. I looked on myself as being liable to a deep reproach, and trembled at the thought. But I remembered that word, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me."

My maid being now come, and having lighted a fire in the other room, and borrowed a few things of the family, she begged me to come into it, as the night was very cold. And now my captivity seemed turning every moment. That thought, I am brought out from the world; I have nothing to do but to be holy, both in body and spirit, filled me with consolation. Thankfulness overflowed my heart; and such a spirit of peace and content poured into my soul, that all about me seemed a little heaven.

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Some bread, with rank salt butter, and water to drink, made me so comfortable a meal, that I could truly say, I cat my meat with gladness and singleness of heart. As the bed was not put up, I laid that night almost on the ground, and the windows having no shutters, and it being a bright moonlight night, the sweet solemnity thereof well agreed with the tranquillity of my spirit. I had now daily more and more cause for praise. I was acquainted with many of the excellent of the earth, and my delight was in them. Yet was I not without my cross, for every time I went to see my dear parents, what I felt when, towards night, I rose up to go away, cannot well be imagined. Not that I wished to abide there; but there was something in bidding farewell to those under whose roof I had always lived, as used to affect me much, though I saw the wise and gracious hand of God in all; and that He had by this means set me free for his own service. From my heart I thanked Him as the gracious author, and them as the profitable instruments of doing me so great a good. My mother

was frequently giving me little things; and every renewed mark of kindness made the wound to bleed afresh.

There was in the years sixty-one and sixty-two, a very great revival among the societies, both in London, and many other places; and an earnest desire was stirred up in many hearts, after full salvation. Prayer was made without ceasing by the faithful, "That the glory of God might go forth as brightness; and his salvation as a lamp that burneth." These prayers were answered in a very powerful manner. The spirit was poured out on some in such a degree as can hardly be conceived, but by those who felt the divine influence. Not only Mr. Wesley, and Mr. Maxfield, were in an uncommon manner blest in their preaching; but many simple persons, both men and women, were lively harbingers of the approaching Pentecost, and cried aloud, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! The mighty power of God was seen on every side! Christ was held out as a complete Saviour; and represented to the eye of faith, as crying out on this festal day, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink; he that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." These rivers did, indeed, flow from heart to heart. The gift of victorious faith was given to many, not only for themselves but others. A clear light shone on these truths, "They that are in Christ are new creatures, old things are passed away, and all things become The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.' The whole soul, with every faculty, shall be so brought into subjection to Christ, as to feel, I live not, but Christ liveth in me!

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Some portion of this river seemed now to reach me also. The means of grace were as marrow to my soul; and often these words were applied, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. But I could not believe so as to give up my whole heart to the Lord. I knew him mine, but other things had yet life in me, though not dominion over me. I was now assured the

blessing of sanctification, (or, in other words, an heart entirely renewed,) could not be received but by simple ✓ and naked faith :* and my soul groaned out its desire in these words,

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"That mighty faith on me bestow,

Which cannot ask in vain;

Which bolds, and will not let thee go
Till I my suit obtain.'

One day as a few of us were praying together at broI ther Gilford's, we were so drawn out that we were, think, four hours engaged, when I really thought we had not been above one; and this was frequently the case with us. Another day as I was at a meeting for prayer at a friend's house, when we had continued some time, I seemed as if I had lost all. Deep discouragement seized my spirit; but I wrestled on, and was as in an agony to love God with all my heart. Brother Gilford was praying for me, when in a moment I felt a calmness overspread my spirit, and by faith I laid hold on Jesus as my full Saviour. I said in my heart, Thy will be done! Thy will be done! and in that I felt my rest. In the same moment Brother Gilford changed prayer into praise, telling the Lord, He had heard and answered; He had set me at liberty, and now he would praise him. This surprised me, as I had not given the least sign, by either word or motion, of what I had felt within. He concluded his prayer with that act of praise. He asked me how I felt myself? I answered, I could not fully tell, but that I found that the love of the will of God had brought an unspeakable peace into my soul; but that I did not feel joy; only a rest in that thought, the Lord reigneth, and His will shall be done. As I was walking home, I found the pre

*By simple faith, I mean, taking God at his word without reasoning; and by naked faith, I mean, stripped of every other dependence, but on Christ alone.

sence of the Lord to be with me. He seemed to say, Round thee and beneath thee are spread the everlasting arms. I felt they were so, and my faith seemed to gather strength continually.

Yet for some days I was much exercised with temptation, and continually accused, that I had thought, said, or done, something amiss.* But after a little time I found a more solid rest; and sensibly felt my will and affections were fixed on God, and most powerfully was I penetrated with these words:

"Their daily delight shall be in his name,

'They shall, as their right, His righteousness claim.
His righteousness wearing, and cleans'd by his blood,
Bold shall they appear in the presence of God!"

One night I awaked with much of the presence of God, when those words were powerfully applied, Thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. That promise also dwelt on my mind-In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be thy strength.

I believe what I felt at this season was a low degree of pure love; or what we call a clean heart. But though it was in a small degree, yet did it evidence itself by a mighty change. I had many temptations, and not much joy. Yet did I never feel any thing contrary to love; and in the temptations with which I was attacked, I felt a great difference. Satan never attempted to draw my affections, neither to move me to anger, for there I could have answered him, Thou hast nothing in me;† but I was followed with such a sense of sorrow as I cannot express. The fear of living to fall from grace, and sin against God, tore me at intervals, for some minutes, as one on a rack, Then a turn of the eye by faith on Jesus, would make my enemies flee. Another cause of sorrow was-something,

* A strong mark of the reality of the work. Ed.

His strength lay in applying the law to a conscience so tender. Ed

As I ob

I am at a loss to describe, but it seemed most exquisite feelings were opened in my soul, such as I never knew before. If I saw, or heard of the consequences of sin, I was ready to die! For instance-If in the street, I saw a child ill used, or slighted by the person who seemed to have the care of it, or a poor person sweating under an uncommonly heavy burden; or if I saw a horse, or a dog, oppressed or wounded, it was more than I could bear. I seemed to groan and travail in birth, as it were, for the whole creation. Yet notwithstanding all these painful feelings, I had a solid peace. I always felt I committed my all to Jesus, and I lived on his faithfulness. served before, anger seemed in my soul to know its place no more. Neither did I find an attachment to any creature, or thing, but such as reflected from the will of God. Such a sense of purity dwelt on my soul, as I can hardly describe. I often felt the power of those words, Unto the pure all things are pure. I sometimes thought, I should not care if my breast was as a window, and if every thought was without a covering to man, as it was to God. A little degree of heavenly wisdom, was also let down into my heart. Being fixed on a solid rock, I was not so easily shaken; and those words were powerfully applied, "Thou shalt not be afraid for any evil tidings, for thy heart standeth fast, believing in the Lord." But above all, I felt such a simplicity, such a hanging on the Lord Jesus, that self seemed annihilated, and Jesus was my all. The nothing into which I felt myself sunk, and the great salvation I seemed to possess in Jesus, were such as I cannot explain. I used often to say, it appears to me that unbelief cannot find a place in my soul to set its foot upon. And indeed it could not; for slavish fear seemed quite cast out. I could say, "I live not, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God." I was truly nothing, and all my salvation came through faith in the Son of God. He was my soul's delight; and I felt if I could have.

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