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soul, with every faculty, shall be so brought into subjection to Christ, as to feel, I live not, but Christ liveth in me!

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, a heart entirely renewed) could not be received but by simple, naked faith ;* and my soul groaned out its desire in these words :"That mighty faith on me bestow, Which cannot ask in vain ;

Which holds, and will not let thee go,
Till I my suit obtain."

One day, as a few of us were praying together at brother Gilford's, we were so drawn out, that we were, I 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 he had continued some time, I seemed as if I had lost all. Deep discouragement seized my spirit; but I wrestled on, and was 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

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

home, I found the presence 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 cleansed by his blood,
Bold shall they appear in the presence of God!"

One night I awaked with much of the presence of God,
when these 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
saved; in quietness and confidence shall be thy strength.

ye be

The

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 dif ference. 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. 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 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 uncom. * A strong mark of the reality of the work.-ED.

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

monly heavy burden; or if I saw a horse, or a dog, op. pressed 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. As I observed 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. 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 been saved any other way, I would not have accepted it. O how often was that word in my mouth and heart!

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All this time the Lord kept me, as to outward things, like an infant in its mother's arms. I put in practice my first resolution, and had no other thought but of devoting my

*Who can deny this great salvation without denying the truth and power of God? But O! how few seek it!-ED.

self to God in a single life: only I remember I sometimes thought, were I to be married to Mr. Fletcher,* would he not be rather a help, than a hinderance to my soul? But it was only a thought, and had arisen from what some friends said to me on the subject.

As I desired to be the Lord's, and to spend all I had to his glory, I sometimes carried this desire too far, and did not allow myself quite what was needful. My exercises were greater than I had been used to, and I was seized with a complaint in my bowels. I thought if I had some spice boiled in water, and port wine with it, it would help me, but I was unwilling to get it. However my heavenly Father took care for that. He knows what we have need of before we ask; for at that very time a relation called, and brought me a quantity of spice as a present; and the very next day my father called in his chariot, and brought me a hamper of port wine, neither of them knowing any thing of my wants! I therefore received it as immediately from the Lord. And I could give a variety of instances of the same nature. It seemed I could hardly think of a thing, but it was brought to me. O how true is that promise, "What is given up for God, shall be restored manifold in this present life." Before the Lord made me to wander from my father's house, a particular person used to upbraid me with that reflection, "You will soon find the difference between your father's house and such poking holes as you will live in. There you will not have one inch but the common street: whereas you have been used to large and fine gardens, in which you much delighted. And how tired you will be of such trash as you provide, instead of the plentiful provision of his table. Before you have lived so for six months, I will engage you will wish yourself back again, and your religion out of the way."

But was it so? O Lord, thou knowest! "Thou didst feed me as with the finest wheat flour, and with water out of the stony rock didst thou satisfy me." All I could want, all I could desire, was bountifully supplied. When I have sometimes been reflecting on my situation, inward and outward, I have remembered that word, The meek shall

* At that time Mr. Wesley's assistant in London.

inherit the earth. Glory be to thee, O Lord, thou hast meekened my spirit, and thou makest me to possess all things. Often I have said, in amazement, What can I fear? I have no desire : the will of God swallows up all! My Jesus and my all! my Jesus and my all for ever!

PART THE SECOND.

HER REMOVAL TO LAYTONSTONE.

I EXPERIENCED daily more and more of the tender care of the Almighty; and often felt these words with

"No fondest parent's anxious breast

Yearns like thy God's to make thee blest."

power:

Every want was supplied before I could ask it; nay, many times before I was conscious of the want. My maid was but dull and ignorant, though a good girl; and I knew little more of the world than she did, having been used to so different a way of life. My health, and many concerns, needed a care I did not know how to take. But if at any time such an idea would offer to my mind, I checked it in a moment with that thought,-I have the Gospel: I have freedom to serve God: I have spiritual blessings. What more can I need? And truly I rather saw than felt my wants. Nevertheless, now and then I have said, Would not a steady faithful friend be a great advantage to me? One who could lead me into a deeper acquaintance with God? But I sought it not all my cares on him were cast, and in his will I found my resting place, and in quietness and confidence was my strength. At this juncture I received a letter from Mrs. Ryan, informing me she was coming up to London. She had left Bristol Room some time before, her health not permitting her to continue in that place. She informed me she was settled in a lodging, but she saw it her duty to come up to London a few months for my sake; "for I reap (said she) of your substance, and so do many ; but the Lord shows me that at present you suffer for the

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