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sore as I expected, for I set out to meet Mr. Wesley, and was enabled to ride forty miles that day.

I met him at Osmotherly, and heard him preach on a tomb-stone in the church-yard, to a large and serious congregation. I found his word to come with power to my soul, and was constrained to cry out, “O Lord, I will praise thee for thy goodness to me, for thou hast been with me in all my trials; thou hast brought me out of the jaws of death; and though thou didst permit men to ride over my head, and laid afflictions on my loins, yet thou hast brought me through fire and water into a wealthy place!" And indeed, in all my persecutions, my soul was kept in peace, so that I neither felt fear nor anger.

So far, Lord, I am thy witness, for thou dost give strength for the day, according to thy word, and grace to help in time of need. Oh, my dear Redeemer, how shall I praise thee as thou oughtest to be praised? Oh, let my life be a living sacrifice to thee, for it is by thee alone that I escape both temporal and eternal death!

When I had told Mr. Wesley of the treatment I had met with, he blessed God for my deliverance. However, I advised him not to go to York at that time, but to go to Leeds; and God blessed his word to many souls at Leeds that week.

Thus far I can say, "The Lord is my Helper. Oh, may I never grieve his Spirit; then will he by my guide unto death, and my portion for ever.

This is a plain Narrative of the dealings of God and man with me, from my youth to the forty-second year of my natural life.

JOHN NELSON.

A HYMN.

A HYMN.

FOR a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise!
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of thy Name.

Jesus, the Name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;

'Tis music in the sinner's ears,

'Tis life, and health, and peace.

He speaks, and list'ning to his voice,
New life the dead receive;
The mournful broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Look unto him, ye nations; own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be sav'd thro' faith alone,
Be justified by grace!

See all your sins on Jesus laid;

The Lamb of God was slain :
His soul was once an off'ring made,
For ev'ry soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature's sleep,
And Christ shall give you light;
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Ethiop white.

With me, (your Chief) ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;

Anticipate your heav'n below,

And own that Love is Heaven.

A BRIEF

OF

MR. JOHN NELSON.

ONE OF THE

FIRST PREACHERS

AMONGST THE

METHODISTS.

The preceding JOURNAL has long been estimated by thinking, pious persons, of every denomination, as a very extraordinary production, and has been read by thousands with peculiar interest and pleasure. It certainly records some very remarkable interpositions of Divine Providence in javour of the Author, which, if duly considered, will tend to inspire confidence and gratitude in the hearts of the pious ; and may be the happy means of awakening the attention of the careless to the great concerns of eternity, and induce them to seek the salvation of their souls.

The LIFE, though short, will afford the reader a still more particular account of this good man, give him a more general view of his ministerial labours after the close of the Journal, and the circumstances which attended his removal from this state of suffering and death to the regions of hap piness and eternal life.

Oct. 30th, 1807.

A BRIEF

A

BRIEF MEMOIR

OF

1

MR. JOHN NELSON.

IT is now just a century since this very extraordinary chaed since he went to his eternal rest in heaven; yet his name is still precious to many, and, it is presumed, will remain so for generations to come. His "Case," published by the Founder of Methodism many years ago, and his "Journal, written by himself," will be read with interest and pleasure by serious, pious people, as long as they shall remain extant. It is to be lamented that no particular biographical account of this good man has ever been presented to the world; and at this distance of time it is no easy matter to collect materials to form such a Memoir as will do justice to his memory, or fully gratify the reader.

Birstal, the place that gave birth to this great man, (for such he was, though but of obscure origin,) has long been famous in the annals of Methodism, and the principal reason of its celebrity has been, that John Nelson was born there; there he began his ministerial career; there his labours were owned in a most extraordinary manner; and there his remains are deposited, waiting for the resurrection of the just! It is an observation of Solomon, “The righteous is more excellent than his [unrighteous or wicked] neighbour," and "the memory of the just is blessed.” Had the subject of this memoir been a wicked man, had he lived without God in the world, his name would pro

→bably

bably have perished with him in the grave, or been branded with infamy; but being more honourable than his brethren," on account of his piety and usefulness in the world, God has given him within his house [his Church] a name 'better than of sons and daughters, even an everlasting name, that shall never be cut off."

It has been frequently remarked by sensible, pious men, and the remark is founded in fact, that those persons who are raised to honour and renown in the Church, or who are singularly owned of God in the great work of reforming and evangelizing the world, are generally affected with divine things at an early period of life. This appears to have been the case with Mr. Nelson; when he was only ten years of age his mind was awfully impressed with everlasting things. The great subjects of death and judgment, made, even at that early period, an indelible impression on his mind. Children are much sooner susceptible of divine impressions than many parents are aware of; and it would be well if those who are under such impressions, had some one to take them by the hand, to rear the tender thought, and teach the young idea how to shoot"-to God. Happy would it have been for the subject of this Memoir, if, at that tender age, he had had any one to have " guided his feet into the paths of peace" and righteousness; but, alas! this was not the case. Divine things were but little attended to, at that period, in any part of this country. "Darkness had covered the land, and gross darkness the people. It was a day of gloominess and thick darkness." -a darkness like that of Egypt, which was felt. Few of the stated ministers of righteousness themselves knew the way to the kingdom, and consequently could not teach it to others; and as they erred in their doctrines, and too many of them in their practice, the people also “erred through their lies and their lightness." That this was a general case, with a very few exceptions, must be admitted by every unprejudiced person, who has any knowledge of

those times.

*the

The distress of Mr. Nelson became very great; remembrance of his sins was grievous unto him, and the N

burden

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