wrong, he commonly felt a restraining influence, and thought he saw a large thumb placed over him; which, he conceived to be the thumb of satan. He would thereupon lift up his little heart to God, and pray that satan might not be suffered to keep him under his thumb. This fact he has not noticed in his journal, but he made it known to his mother. Probably the notice of it here, may be considered by those who are but superficially acquainted with true Christian experience, as a shade of that enthusiasm which is too frequently attributed to men who desire to acknowledge the ways of God in his smaller as well as his larger designs. Mr. Prestage's general deportment in childhood, afforded much satisfaction and pleasure to his parents. His temper was mild, and his obedience, and affection to them, unremitting. He appeared at that age much impressed with the force of truth, as they never knew him to have been guilty of false speaking. When at the age of fifteen, he was graciously visited by those Divine impressions which led him to forsake sin, and flee for refuge to the cross of Christ. He had, about this period, neglected his usual regular attendance at the ordinances of Divine worship; but, upon the gentle reproofs and kind solicitations of a friend, he gave heed to those religious duties. Happily, in the performance of them he discovered the light that shines upon the path to heaven; and found that peace which only religion gives. He thus, in the commencement of his journal, refers to this season: "January, 1814. It is now about two years and a half since I began to break off my sins by repentance, and my iniquities, by turning unto God. By the kind persuasions of a friend, formerly a companion in wickedness, I was prevailed upon to attend more regularly at Southwark chapel; where, through. the light of Divine grace, I began gradually to discover the deformity of sin, and the beauty of religion. I began to see my lost condition, and was induced to flee to Jesus, as the only refuge from the wrath to come. I never was subject to those painful convictions and distressing fears which many have experienced. Love was the instrument which my almighty Saviour used in drawing me to himself. I joined the Methodist society in September, 1811; for which I have reason to be thankful. Though numerous have been my exercises, and frequent and powerful my temptations, yet, glory be to God, hitherto he hath helped me. I lament that I have not sooner begun to minute my experience, as I am conscious it is a useful exercise, and tends very much to assist in the duty of self-examination. By the help of God, I intend to observe it as regularly as possible for the future. Do thou, O most gracious God, deign to assist me, and grant me thy blessing in this and every thing else that I put my hand unto, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen!" Mr. Prestage was a member of Mr. Allen's class, in Southwark:-in which he continued from the time of his admittance in September, 1811, until he became an itinerant preacher in November, 1817. During the whole of this period he appeared to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, being constant in his attendance on every mean of grace, and highly exemplary in his deportment. Indeed so punctual was he in attending the class-meeting, that in the foregoing period of six years, his leader does not remember that he was absent once, except at a time when he was in the country. Mr. Prestage followed the trade of a plasterer, (the occupation of his father) and although distinguished for sobriety and attention to business, was frequently in want of work, particularly in the winter season. This circumstance occasionally cast a gloom over his mind, a mind naturally very tender, and susceptible of feelings unknown to men of vulgar sense. His sensations at these discouraging periods were rendered still more poignant by the anxiety he felt to provide things honest in the sight of all men, and he dreaded to contract debt as he would a fever, lest he should dishonour the profession of his Christian faith. Still, in the midst of these temporal difficulties, he found support and consolation in making his wants known by prayer and supplica tion to "the Giver of every good and perfect gift." He learned wisdom by the things he suffered, and found, that "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart." Having been made a partaker of the grace of God, he became desirous of communicating to others the pleasing tidings of that joyful hope which he had obtained through believing; and accordingly he soon joined the goodly company of his brethren who conducted the publick prayer-meetings held by the Methodists, in the vicinity of Southwark chapel. In this work of mercy he improved his gift in prayer, and had his spark of zeal fanned into a flame. Experiencing the disadvantages of not having had a protracted scholastic training, he applied himself sedulously in acquiring a grammatical knowledge of his vernacular tongue, in conjunction with that scriptural and experimental knowledge requisite to make men wise unto salvation, that he might be thereby better qualified to exhort his fellow-men to turn from the paths of iniquity to serve the living and true God. To this end also he improved every leisure moment, he sought solitude and society, gathering knowledge from books and conversation;-he laboured in private and in publick to qualify himself for a more extensive sphere of usefulness, and his profiting appeared unto all men. While he thus humbly and earnestly pressed forward and grew into the spirit of holiness, + "Spreading and rising like a tree of life,”— he writes in his journal as follows: "January 4, 1814. This day I have been tolerably tranquil, not having been beset with any violent temptation. I have read the Magazine for the month, and some of Mr. Benson's letters to Dr. Tatham; but remember comparatively little. I see the necessity of taking Dr. Watts's advice;-read little, and think much.' I spent about half an hour this evening with a friend, in application to Logic, and gained some little information. Do thou, O Lord, sanctify whatever knowledge I derive, whether natural or spiritual. I am at present walking in darkness, as it respects temporal things, but thanks be to God, I feel encouraged to trust in him. O Lord, do thou enable me to hope to the end, and quietly wait the issue of these things,-knowing that the trial of my faith is more precious than gold which perisheth, and that tribulation increaseth the grace of patience. Do thou, O Lord, therefore, help me to constantly and willingly trust thee where I cannot trace thee. Amen. "Saturday, Jan. 8. I feel a degree of gratitude at this time, excited by a sense of my obligations to the Giver of all good. Surely, O Lord, thou art the bountiful Donor of all I enjoy. I have nevertheless been somewhat heavy in my mind to-day, when reflecting upon the present state of my circumstances. O Lord, help me to pass through things temporal with an eye to those - which are spiritual and eternal. I went to the penitent-meeting to-night, and heard the word with gladness. Mr. Smith exhorted from these words, Ye are of the light and of the day.' I saw clearly it was both my privilege and duty to walk in the light as God is in the light; and to enjoy the light of his countenance shining upon my soul. O Lord, grant that I may no more walk in darkness, but always have the light of life. Amen. "Monday, January 10. I have to-day gone on tolerably easy; but upon examination, I feel that I have not made progress according to my ability and opportunity. My providential sun is still eclipsed by a dark cloud of unexplored events. Do thou help me, O Lord, still to stay my mind upon thee, and to look more to thee, and not so much to the difficulties through which I have to pass. I went to Lambeth chapel to-night, and heard Mr. Barber from Philippians i. 21, 'For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.' O Lord Jesus, help me to make it the sole business of my life to live for and to thee. I felt peculiarly exercised under the sermon by a wandering mind. May I be saved from this in future, through Jesus Christ my Lord! Amen. "Wednesday, January 12. On examining myself, I find cause for gratitude and humiliation,-for gratitude, that I am still spared, while numbers have been summoned into eternity in an unprepared state,-for humility, that my lengthened-out life has been spent to so little purpose. Lord, stir me up to watch and pray, that when thou comest, I may be found without spot and blameless, meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. I spent an hour or two this evening in searching the Holy Scriptures, and felt my mind enlarged. I attended my band meeting, when only brother came. My mind was comforted in the means. Surely, O Lord, the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places, as it respects my opportunities of attending the means of grace. Grant, O Lord, that I may not only go from means to means, but from strength to strength, till I appear before God in Zion; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. "Saturday, Jan. 15. This day I have felt a degree of spiritual life. I was in the morning excited to the duty of heavenly meditation by reading Mr. Baxter on that point. I have employed the principal part of the day in sermonizing and transcribing. I attended the penitent-meeting at City-Road, when Mr. Moore exhorted. He dwelt particularly on the state of the natural man, which he compared to a dream, or a state of sleep; and illustrated that passage in the 13th chapter of Romans, "It is high time to awake out of sleep." Upon the whole, I have cause to be thankful that this day has been afforded to me. think I have made some little progress. Lord, help me to press towards the mark, for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This day one of my brothers went to his place. O Lord give him thy blessing, and grant him thy salvation, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. I “Sunday, Jan. 16. I again desire to examine my own heart, and see how matters stand between God and my soul. This morning I slept over my usual time, but attended the morning meeting, and was edified. I went to the school breakfast-meeting, where my mind was peculiarly exercised, but I was prevented from openly sinning. I attended my appointment at school, and accompanied the children to chapel, where I heard Mr. Gaulter. I went to school in the afternoon, and again in the evening to Southwark chapel. After the evening service I hastened to my appointment at a prayer-meeting in the Mint. This day I have enjoyed much communion with God, and, glory be to his name, my desire is now towards him. Lord, help me to live nearer to thee, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. "Monday, Jan. 17. And now another day is gone, I'll sing my Maker's praise.' Though I have been encompassed with dangers, both seen and unseen, yet thou, O Lord, hast preserved me. To thee I desire to ascribe the glory of my preservation. I have met with some trials this day, my brother having left his place. How mysterious are thy ways, O Lord God. I have been at my father's house to-night, and remained later than usual, it being my mother's birth-day. She has not yet begun to live spiritually. O Lord, awaken her by that voice which wakes the dead, and let her live for ever. Now, Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit, praying that, whether living or dying I may be thine, through Jesus Christ my Lord. "Tuesday, Jan. 18. The fore part of this day I was much engaged in the things of this world, but found my mind stayed upon God. I have not made any conscious progress in Divine things, but, glory be to God, I trust I am not declining. At this moment I feel my heart going out after God. "Come in, thou heavenly Guest, come in, nor ever hence remove." O let all the troubles through which thou callest me to pass but tend to unite me closer to thee. "Closer and closer let me cleave To thy belov'd embrace! Expect thy fulness to receive, I attended class-meeting this evening, and found my soul in some measure refreshed. I felt the force of this remark, "When we go to worship God, we do not go to meet a certain number of men, but to meet God!" Lord, help me to meet thee now, and may I feel thee present and precious, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. "Wednesday, Jan. 19. This day I have gone forth in peace, and returned in safety. The good hand of God has been upon me, through which I have been kept from evil: not unto me, not unto me, O Lord, but unto thy name be all the praise. I employed the fore part of the day partly in sermonizing. I spent the afternoon with a friend, and then went to the quarterly meeting of the Sunday School Union, held at the New Chapel, CityRoad, Mr. Marriott in the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer, and after some information of a pleasing and profitable nature had been communicated, the following question was opened for remarks: "What are the most likely means whereby Sunday Schools may obtain and retain the attendance of the children of the poor." It was observed that, "perseverance in inviting, and affection in treating, are most likely to succeed." The question for next quarter is," How may Sunday School teachers be most useful to the parents of the children." I felt satisfied and profited by the meeting, and I desire to bless the Lord for the mercies of the day. Do thou, O Lord, still preserve me, and keep me safe to the end, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen." Mr. Prestage was at this time, and had been several weeks, seeking employment, but found none. Though destitute of the means of providing for his temporal wants, he was not regardless of his spiritual and eternal interests. After walking abroad, and making inquiries for work in the proper channels, he spent the remainder of each day in private, studying the Holy Scriptures, |