and four fmall children, a fmall houfe and but two mean beds in it. But he made the best accommodation he could; and the faithful fervants of God, who fought not their own ease, but the good of fouls, put up with it. Many now cried out, "The Methodists will ruin him." But when they found the reverfe, they changed their note, and faid the Preachers brought him money. He was poor enough indeed; yet for many years. he maintained the Gofpel there at his own expence.

About seven years after he had fought the Lord, his foul was fet at liberty. And feeling the love of God, he was bleffed with a peculiar fpirit of humble love, which he exercifed, in encouraging others to come to Jefus, and continually exhorting thofe he met, to believe in the Lord. All fpeak well of him in the Circuit, efpecially in his own Society, wherein he has been an inftrument of peace and love for many years.

One, who was at his house and converfing with him about the grace of God in the heart, afked, If he had yet been freed from every finful temper and inclination, fo as to feel nothing but the love of God? He faid he could not underfland how that could be; but being told it was the plain promife of the Gospel, and the whole defign of God in justify ing a foul to make it holy; and after hearing a fermon or twa on the fubject, he was delighted with the thoughts of it.

During his laft illness he was full of happiness, and exhorted those who vifited him to believe in Jefus, faying, he was going to leave them, and telling how good he found the Lord to him; that he felt nothing but love in his heart; and gave glory and praife to God! A friend in taking leave, told him, he thought he fhould fee him no more in this world he faid, "It may be fo; but O how does the love of God burn in my heart! Whenever I begin to talk about Jefus, my heart is all on fire!" It was his general faying, as he grew weaker in body, that the love of God was fpringing up, and

flowing

flowing in his heart like a river.

And to his laft moment

he said his heart was quite free from every temptation.

"Not a thought did arife

To darken the skies,

Or hide for one moment the Lord from his eyes.”

Many vifited him during his fickness, (it being a Confumption, which lafted fome months) and as he lived, so he died, exhorting and perfuading them to believe and love the Lord Jefus Chrift. He died March 31, 1789.

An Account of the Death of Mr. D

[Written by one who was often with him during his laft illness]

HE death of Mr. D-(an Apothecary) who died at C

THE

in the beginning of April 1789, was remarkable. He had lived a very wicked life; was young and full of fpirits, and was easily drawn into evil; yet he had a wonderful turn for making money, and, in many respects, he had great abilities. He had married an elderly woman; but they dif agreed, so that he ran into one excefs after another, though he knew he was wrong, feeking happiness where it could not be found. He had very clear ideas of the plan of falvation; yet, (as he often confessed) had no resolution, or ftrength to refift any temptation.

About four years ago he was dangerously ill; and greatly diftreffed in mind by reason of his fins which ftared him in the face; he then made many good refolutions, but broke them as foon as his health returned.

Some time before his death he had a quarrel with another Apothecary, who cut off part of his nofe. This involved him VOL. XIII

C

in

in a law-fuit. Shortly after, his cellar was robbed. Thefe things did not stop his career; though he faw the evil of his ways. He faid to me after he had been robbed, "If I had laid up my treasure in heaven, I should not have been robbed of it."

A fet of evil-minded and defigning companions kept close to him, pretending friendship for him, whilst they only studied their own ends. He gave himself up intirely to gambling, and drinking fpirituous liquors. This he did to banish vexatious thoughts; and was encouraged therein by his wicked companions. All these things together brought on a putrid fever, of which he died in eight days. He was ill two or three days before I faw him. When I went to him, he faid to me, "I'm taken fhort." The diforder was violent, and his pain great; and, indeed, it is hard to conceive what he must have fuffered between the pain of his body, and the feeling fense he had of his ftate. He knew from the beginning that he would die of that disorder. When I fpoke something to him of feeking the Lord, he replied, "I can do nothing now." When I bade him pray, he faid he could not pray, nor dare he look the Almighty in the face, seeing he was fuch a finner; and used many other expreffions to the fame purport. He continued in this way for two days. He saw his ftate clearly; yet could not pray. Once, whilft I was speaking to him, he got out, with fome difficulty, thefe words, "Lord have mercy upon me!"

At another time, when I was reasoning in my mind, and unwilling to give him up; I opened the Bible, and happened on the parable of the loft sheep in the 18th of Matthew: by which I was encouraged on his behalf; and the next time I faw him, found an amazing change in him. He had been fpeaking much to his wife about his wickedness and manner of life; and, while the bell was ringing for Church, (it being the fabbath) faid, I fhall never fee another fabbath: many a one have I spent in idlenefs!" He faid to me in a most ear.

neft

19

neft manner, "I fee I must go." I asked him if he was willing? He replied, " Whether willing or not, I must go; but, if I had an affurance of my peace being made with God, I would rather die than live: I would rather know this, than to have the house full of gold." I told him he might get it without money, for it was freely beftowed on all those, who faw and felt their need of it, and encouraged him to feek it earneftly. "But, faid he, where is the faith? I want to know it now." I stayed with him all that night, when he could scarcely cease talking of these things. His temporal affairs lay heavy on his mind, being in an unfettled way, and his money lent and scattered through the country.. At a time when I was ftriving to point him to Chrift; looking at me, whilft his eyes feemed to sparkle with pleasure, he faid with uncommon earneftness, “I think I will believe in Jefus." And from that time he had a hope that God would not fend him to hell. All his hope was in Chrift, for he knew, and faid he was the worst of finners; and that many had been hanged who were not fo bad as he. "I fee, faid he, every tranfaction of my life fince I was fix years old; but I have laid them all before the throne: I don't know what God will pleafe to do with me; but I have an Advocate pleading for me." He feemed pretty well assured he should gain his fuit. He de-' fired me to pray that his reafon might continue till morning," that he might settle his affairs; but he faid he fhould not die for two days longer. His wife often brought me out of the room, fearing this talk would hurt him. I readily complied with her defire, knowing that God, who had given him these defires, did not want means to bless him, and that he would furely answer them in his own time.

When day-light appeared, he praised God for the light. His looks were wonderfully chearful, and he feemed to have a pleasing sensation on his mind, which feemed to me to be a degree of faith in Him who is the light of the world, though he did not fay fo. Once he wished he had two or three of thofe

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thofe ridiculous people, (meaning the Methodists.) I faid they could do him little good, and that one word of prayer from himself were better than any thing they could do for him, He replied, "Would they not help to ftrengthen me in some degree?" But he refted fatisfied.

Few were willing to go near him, the fever was fo dangerous; however, I fent word to my brother, who came to him that evening and prayed with him. He begged of the Phyfician who attended him, to ftrive to prolong his life a day or two till his temporal affairs were fettled. The night before he died, he grew very ill; his pain exceeded any thing imaginable; yet all this time he cried mightily to God to have mercy upon him. For hours together his cry was, "Jefus have mercy upon me! O do not take me away till I am prepared to dwell among the blessed! O give me a place among the blessed!" Many fuch expreffions he used, and continued so till morning. I asked him if he could believe that God was able and willing to fave him? He faid he could, but wanted a fuller manifeftation. Next day he fettled his temporal affairs, which when done, he began again to call aloud for mercy, fo that he could be plainly heard in the freet, by his companions in fin, though they would not now come near him. His cries were fufficient to melt the moft infenfible heart. I truft fome will remember that folemn scene. When I enquired now respecting his confidence? he replied several times "in Jefus." The fear of death was now gone; yet he was not fatisfied till filled with love; and it was not long till he was fully fet at liberty. He then faid, "I know that my Redeemer is mine, and I am his. I think I fee him looking down upon me with pleasure."

It was very remarkable, that about this time his pain was all removed in an inftant. He turned to me and faid, "I am quite well; I shall not die; but, (added he) let me die or live, I know I fhall ftand at the right-hand of God." He had every appearance of being quite well, except his breathing

fhort;