520 fore I flood ftill, and refted myself by leaning on the hotte's neck. I then faid, "Lord, what fhall I do? Muft I die here, or must I go to the right-hand or to the left ?" It came into my mind to go to the right. I found fome comfort with the impreffion, and my ftrength was renewed. I had not walked above a quarter of an hour before I saw a fmoke arife, and gladly made towards it. It proved to be a fmall cottage, where the woman had just put fome wet ftraw on the fire, which caufed a very great fmoke. She told me I might come in, but said she had no place for my horfe, She faid there was a farm nor any thing for him to eat. house about two miles off, and gave me the best directions The could. I fet out in the ftrength of the Lord, trufting in him to bring me thither, and I do not think I went a quarter of a mile out of the direct road, though I could fee nothing but fnow. The farmer gave me and my horfe fome refreshment, and fent a guide with me to put me in the way to Shafton. If Providence had not brought me to this poor woman's house, it is likely I fhould have died on the plain, which is called Salisbury-Plain, as many did that winter. At another time as I was riding very flow step by step, in a deep hollow road, a man that was out shooting was behind the right-hand hedge, and fired his gun across the road. Some of the shot came about my horfe's ears, and fome about my face and hat: the main body paffed between my head and that of the horse. Had I been one step farther forward, it is likely I should have received the whole body in my neck or fide of my face, which must have killed me on the spot. About two or three years ago, the horse I was riding on fell with me twice, and left me on the ground fenfelefs, of which I did not get the better for fome months; and last year my horse fell with me twice, and hurt me, fo that it is not likely I fhall ever get the better of it. This year my horfe was taken very ill, and the horse that was lent me being too fmall, fell with me and threw me on my head and left me fenfelefs on the ground; ground; by which I have received fuch a hurt in my neck, fhoulders, breaft and back, that I do not think I fhall ever be quite free from it. But I am in the Lord's hand : let him do with me as feemeth him beft. O! that the remainder of my ftrength, and my few days may be all devoted to him, and fpent in his fervice! WILLIAM ASHMAN. An Account of the Death of PRUDENCE WILLIAMS. PRUDE [By Mr. F. G.] ENCE WILLIAMS was born, in the State of Dela● ware, near the sea shore, on the 18th day of December 1762. Her parents taught her to read God's holy Word, and feveral excellent books written by Divines of the Church of England. From her education, she was more moral than many of the young women in her day; nevertheless her fallen nature (as it is in all) evidently appeared, which demonstrated the neceflity of a fupernatural work of grace. Though the had, in fome fenfe, the form of godlinefs, yet fhe was defti tute of the knowledge of falvation, by the forgiveness of fin. She was educated in the religion of her father, which was to attend at Church on the Lord's-day, and fometimes to fay prayers at home, to pay his juft debts, and to live an upright life in his family, and among his neighbours. (Some are ready to fay, "God help the world, if fuch honeft men as thefe are not faved;" not confidering that our righteousness muft exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharifees.) In the month of March 1779, it pleased almighty God, of his great goodness, to fend his fervants (the Methodist Preachers) into that part of his vineyard. Her father was one of the first that received them, for which his glad heart has ever fince praised God. A glorious work then began, VOL. XIII. whilft . whilft many groaned for redemption in the blood of Chrift, and were happily brought through the pangs of the newbirth. On the 9th of April, under a fermon preached by Mr. G. from Ezek. xviii. 27, fhe was deeply, and powerfully convinced, that the bore the appellation of the wicked defcribed in the fermon, and was determined to turn to that which is lawful and right. She returned home, fobbing and fighing, as if her very heart would break, and at the next preaching joined the Society. The enemy of fouls was now in a particular manner engaged against her. He fiift frove to turn her back, by his alluring infinuations; prefenting the honours, and pleasures of the world, but all in vain. Then he endeavoured to fettle her in a falfe peace; but he was determined not to reft, till she had found a refting place in her foul for the God of Jacob. Whilft The was under deep exercife of mind, he fuddenly and powerfully fuggefted, "Ah! you are deftined to eternal mifery, and it is in vain to make any farther attempts, there is no mercy for you." O! with what power did this go home to her heart! She' mourned and wept at the feet of Chrift, day and night, and fometimes was almoft in defpair; but God, who will not fuffer the enemy to triumph, pointed her to the precious promises. She was fully perfuaded in her mind, that Jefus tafted death for every man; and was encouraged to look up, with a ftrong hope, that he would have mercy upon her. Her friends fay, that during her diftrefs, they féldom could fee a fmile on her countenance, and indeed her words, and actions, indicated to all around the fadnefs of her heart. She frequently withdrew, in the courfe of the day, to pour out her complaints to God; and much of her time was fpent in reading the holy fcriptures. She rarely miffed her Clafs; fafted once or twice in the week, was a conftant attendant on the word preached, and was frequently bathed in tears under the preaching. She laboured under her heavy burthen, till her health health was much impaired. "O! faid fhe, one, and another, on the right and left, are happily brought to know God; and I am left behind." The enemy frequently told her,: there was no mercy for her. O! how good the Lord was, who in all her diftrefs, opened the precious promises, and bore her up under all thefe grievous temptations ! She laboured under this heavy load, till the middle of September, when, one evening in the time of prayer in her father's family, fhe was enabled to lift her heart in faith to heaven, and felt what her foul panted for.... She then cried out aloud," Blefs God, O my foul, and all that is within me praise his holy name! He has turned my darkness into day, and my hell to heaven! Now I know what it is to fing the fong of the Virgin Mary: "My foul doth magnify the, Lord, and my fpirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour." I know, God for Chrift's fake hath blotted out my fins. Jefus, is the fairest among ten thousand, he is altogether lovely." She was a pattern of zeal, watchfulness, felf-denial, and taking up the cross, and bearing it after her defpifed Master. Her ancient parents often related (with tears of joy running down their cheeks) what a great comfort their daughter Prudence was to them; how ready, and obliging she always was. O! (faid the good old man one day) what reafon have I to blefs and praise the name of God, that ever I faw the face of, or heard these despised people called Methodists! I a poor finner, wrapped up in my own righteousness!, What has the Lord done for me and my family, most of whom are now able to teflify of the pardoning love of God to their fouls! Prudence was much beloved by all the Society who knew her. She had a great gift in prayer, and frequently exercifed it in public. She ufed frequently to talk to, and weep over her acquaintances, who knew not God, and her labour of love was not in vain. If any of the friends miffed their meetings (for the conftantly attended on the means of grace) the wept over, and admonished them; and they eflcemed her as a fimple, humble, teachable follower of the meek and lowly Jefus. She was not content with paft experience; but took the apostle's advice, and having put on Chrift, fo fhe walked in him; and was rarely long without the divine presence. She delighted in the company of God's people; and to fit under the found of the word, and did not return without manna. The language of her heart was, the more I hear, and read, and pray, the greater beauty do I see in re ligion; and the more my foul feeds on the love of Jesus. She loved the fervants of God, and thought their feet beautiful on the mountains. On the 22d of Auguft 1781, fhe married a pious young man, who was a member of the Society. In this, fhe did not aft, as many do who profefs godliness. 1. She was deter. mined to take the apostle's advice, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers." 2. Being convinced of the importance of fo folemn an ordinance as matrimony, fhe fpread the cause before the great Jehovah, and looked up for divine direction. 3. She did not engage in this weighty matter, without the advice and confent of her parents. The life of this young pair demonstrated to all around, that they were joined together, in the fear, and with the approbation of Jehovah; and they feemed to walk blameless (as Zachariah and Elizabeth) before him. Her love and zeal for God did not in the leaft abate, but rather increased. She was a tender, loving wife, a help meet indeed, ready to every good work, either temporal or fpiritual. She made it a point not to neglect family prayer in the absence of her husband (as he often went journeys from home) and frequently admonished those under her care. She had an earneft panting for compleat fancti. fication, and the work of God was progreffively deepened, and carried on in her foul. In the month of June 1782, (as the time of her lying-in drew near) fhe was taken exceeding poorly. It was ftrongly impreffed on her mind, that fhe would |