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and seeking by faith and prayer that knowledge which cometh down from the fountain of light and life;-or, he was an attendant on some means of publick instruction in Divine things, waiting for the blessing of the Lord in his sanctuary. Hereby he became rich in the stores of grace, and increased in the merchandize of heaven. Though deprived of the opportunity of laying up for himself treasure on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, he had the inestimable privilege of reserving for himself treasure in heaven, where thieves cannot break through and steal.

Without the assistance of his parents he would have felt the pressure of outward circumstances more severely; but their paternal roof was an asylum for him. However, it was not satisfying to him to partake of their bounty, though it afforded him relief, and was freely given in pure parental affection; he would rather have assisted them. Many, disobedient, ungrateful, and vicious, having by idleness and extravagance brought themselves to want a morsel of bread, would lounge upon their industrious parents, and consider it no crime to impoverish them by squandering away the fruit of their labour in continued acts of prodigality and vice. Not so the amiable and interesting subject of this memoir. It would have afforded him unspeakable pleasure and delight to have strengthened the exertions, and promoted the comfort of his parents, had he been blessed with the means. Having now no prospect of getting work, the frost proving injurious to his trade, and being so severe as to block up the Thames, he determined to leave London, hoping to find employment in the country; but, after much prayer and reflection, and after having made arrangements to go, he unexpectedly obtained a situation in town. To this, particular reference will be found in the following portions of his journal:

"Saturday, Jan. 22. This day has gone into eternity without being duly improved. I do not feel sensible that I have increased in meetness for the kingdom of heaven; but I feel comforted under the consideration that God sometimes carries on his work unobserved by mortal sense. I have been considerably agitated in my mind this afternoon, through the idea that I shall be under the necessity of leaving London. O Lord, do thou assist me willingly to follow the leadings of thy providence; and may I not swerve in the least measure from the way in which thou wouldst have me walk. I went this evening to the City-Road Chapel, and heard Mr. Moore exhort. He dwelt particularly on Divine Providence, and illustrated the dealings of God with Joseph. The subject was very suitable, and I trust was not lost upon me. I have seen the good hand of the Lord in a providential point of view this day. O Lord, keep me humble, make me thankful, and enable me to shew forth thy praise, not

only with my lips, but in my life and conversation, by giving myself up to thy service, and by walking before thee in righte ousness and holiness all my days, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

"Sunday, Jan. 23. This morning I overslept my time, but felt composed at the morning meeting; though the idea that I should soon be called to forego these privileges threw a damp upon my spirits. I attended the school as usual, and then went to Lambeth Chapel, where I heard Mr. Sutcliffe. He expounded the first lesson for the day, the 55th chapter of Isaiah. I felt edified by the discourse, but did not feel my mind at perfect peace. I attended the school again in the afternoon. In the evening I went to Southwark Chapel, and heard Mr. Wigfield on John v. 47. The word was, in some measure, attended with power to my soul. I went afterwards to my prayer-meeting appointment, in Belvidere-row, and found the means profitable. In taking a retrospective view of the day, I feel I have great reason to be thankful for the mercies received. I felt the force of a remark in the sermon to-night, namely, that "if those characters who sit frequently under the word, and enjoy liberally the means of grace, did not improve, it was reasonable to expect God would in judgment deprive them of those privileges." Lord, I must confess I have been very negligent, but do not thou remove my candlestick out of its place, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.,

Monday, Jan. 24. This day I have gone forth in peace and returned in safety, but my peace has been disturbed by anxious cares. Faith has not been in lively exercise. I fear I live too much by frames and feelings. Grant, O Lord, that the life which I henceforth live may be by the faith of Jesus Christ. I consented this afternoon by letter to leave London. May the Lord cause all things to work together for my good. I attended Southwark Chapel this evening, and heard Mr. Moore, from 1 Cor. vi. 11, and I felt the word to be quick and powerful. I trust that I have this day made some advancement in religion. Lord, help me to go forward with greater avidity, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

"Tuesday, Jan. 25. This day my mind has been divided between the mount and multitude. My heart has felt as though it had been set upon two objects-when I have thought of leaving London my mind has been the subject of sharp and unpleasant sensations; and when I have thought of stopping, it has appeared like my running contrary to Providence. O Lord, do thou protect me by thy right hand, and counsel me by thy Spirit. Do thou direct all my ways, and mark out all my paths, and may I find thy grace sufficient for me. I attended my class-meeting this VOL. XLIV. MARCH, 1821. *U*

evening, and found the means profitable. O what shall I do when I am deprived of the means of grace, seeing I make so little progress now I enjoy them so plentifully. O my God, be thou better to me than all my fears, and enable me to continue faithful unto death, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

"Wednesday, Jan. 26. I began this day in the fear of the Lord, as usual, and felt liberty whilst supplicating his throne. I have felt my mind more tranquil to-day than it has been since Saturday; but still have to lament that I look too much at the things which are seen. O Lord, help me to look more to thee. I have been this day employed partly in walking and partly in writing. I attended Southwark Chapel this evening: after the service I went to my band-meeting, where my spirit was refreshed, though my comfort was in some measure diminished by the idea of my being about to be deprived of the company of those in whom my soul taketh pleasure. Even so, Lord, as it seemeth good in thy sight -do thou help me to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Amen and amen.

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Thursday, Jan. 27. I do not feel conscious of having this day deviated from the path of rectitude. But ah! who knows how often he offendeth; cleanse thou me from secret faults.' I have been tolerably free from temptation, (a few seasons excepted.) I this afternoon read Mr. Benson's remarks on Dr. Priestley's System of Materialism, and I saw clearly the error into which the doctor ran; also, the danger of questioning the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, (which was the origin of his imbibing those delusive opinions which he held.) I felt confirmed in that great and glorious truth---the immortality of the soul. I this evening attended the reading-meeting, where it was my turn to read: the meeting was very comfortable. I am sensible of a want of the life of God in my soul. I do not feel that I am growing in grace. O Lord, do thou help me to rise higher, and press forward with greater avidity towards the mark of the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Amen.

"Friday, Jan. 28. Goodness and mercy still follow me, though the things of the world are (at least in appearance) against me. It is the desire of my heart not only to do, but also to suffer the will of my God. Do thou give me grace, O Lord, so to do. Help me still to stay my soul upon thee, to trust in thy word, and not despair, though all the things of the world are against me. I have been engaged some part of this day in sermonizing, and some part in reading, though I have to lament a

* The reading-meeting consisted of five or six serious young men, who met together every Thursday evening, for improvement in useful knowledge, particularly rhetoric. They read alternately on the subject in contemplation, and one acted as moderator but each was at liberty to notice any apparent irregularity in placing the accent and emphasis, or in modulating the voice, &c. when reading.

considerable degree of supineness in not improving my time. O Lord, grant that the time past may more than suffice wherein I have been negligent, and help me in future to catch the golden moments as they fly. I this evening attended the prayer-meeting in the vestry of Southwark Chapel, and was in some measure refreshed. At present I experience peace. Do thou, O my Saviour, who art emphatically styled the Prince of Peace, increase in my soul this glorious fruit of grace, that my peace 'may flow as a river.' Amen.

"Monday, Jan. 31. Unto the mighty debt of favours granted me hath the Lord added the mercies of this day. I have to-day had employment for the first time this year. I regret that I have not felt my mind sufficiently fixed upon God. I am too prone to loquacity, and through unwatchfulness I brought my mind into condemnation. O Lord, keep thou the door of my lips, and the issues of my heart, that I offend not either in thought, word, or deed.

"Tuesday, Feb. 1. This day the good hand of the Lord hath been upon me, and he hath supplied all my wants. Through mercy I have been preserved from outward sin, consequently from its condemning power; but I have not had my soul sufficiently alive to God. I do not feel that I grow much in grace, or increase much in resemblance to him who is the centre and source of good. O my God, remove the hinderances, and help me to grow up into Christ my living head in all things. I attended my class-meeting to-night, and found it good to be there. Lord, assist me in divesting myself of preconceived prejudices, and satisfy me early with thy loving-kindness, that I may not faint by the way, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Wednesday, Feb. 2. This day I trust I have spent in the fear of God, though I have sometimes to lament that my religion is principally negative. I suffer sin upon my fellow-creatures without informing them of the awful consequences thereof; neither is there a sufficiency of God in my conversation,-nay, nor in my thoughts. O Lord, give me to feel thee more in my heart; and may I glorify thee more in my life. I attended Southwark Chapel this evening and heard Mr. Myles. After the sermon the publick bands met, which were very thinly attended. I lastly went to my private band-meeting, where we continued in prayer, and the Lord condescended to bless the means. O Lord, grant that the grace received in the means may keep me when out of them, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.

"Sunday, Feb. 7. This morning I arose in time, and attended

* This assertion was not applicable to Mr. Prestage's general conduct, however correctly it may have been introduced here. He was by no means loquacious; his conversation was usually well-timed, and marked with much propriety of thought and expression.

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the morning meeting. The members held a prayer-meeting; after which I went to the Sunday School. It being my turn to act as visitor, I exhorted the children from Eccles. xii. 1, without premeditation, and felt considerable liberty whilst speaking to them. I went to school again in the afternoon, after which I drank tea with my parents. In the evening I heard Mr. Benson preach at Southwark, from these words, "The fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to depart from evil that is understanding." He was elaborate and impressive on the subject, and shewed very clearly that religion was man's highest wisdom. O Lord, give me this wisdom-this Divine science, to experimently know thee, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. After having heard Mr. Benson I went to my prayer-meeting appointment at Wickham-Place, where the Lord was graciously present in the power of his Spirit. Continue to be so, O Lord, through Jesus Christ. Amen."

In the foregoing extracts, the morning meeting has been frequently mentioned. It may not be improper to state here, in illustration of Mr. Prestage's progress in knowledge, as also by way of hint to those young men in the large circuit towns, who are directing their steps to the office of the Christian ministry, that the formation of the morning meeting was an humble attempt to supply, in some measure, the lack of academical instruction. It was such a meeting as Dr. Cotton Mather so forcibly recommends in his excellent work called the Student and Preacher; with this difference, that the sodality of students to which he refers should enter into many branches of study, while the only objects of the morning meeting were biblical illustrations, and the improvement of pulpit talents. The members of the morning meeting, in number five or six, were persons who occasionally exhorted at the publick prayer-meetings, and who were anxious to improve their knowledge of the Scriptgres, and their gift in extempore speaking, believing that God had called them as humble instruments to proclaim his great salvation. The meeting was held every Sunday morning, from six to eight o'clock. It commenced with singing and prayer, after which the member whose turn it was, spoke from a passage of Scripture. When he had concluded, the moderator, who, with the others, generally made minutes of the discourse, would inquire, “What observations have you to offer on our brother's sermon? 1st. Respecting his introduction; 2dly, the discussion; 3dly, the application. Was there any thing improper in his arrangement? Were there any expressions which required certain qualifications? Where there any improper doctrinal views? Any grammatical errors?" &c. To which they individually replied in a spirit of moderation and love; and any incorrectness that might have been observed was not referred to in a dictatorial manner, but the

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