and the Church you profess to belong to, says, "Before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, no good works can be done." So, if the Church speaks right, you must be inspired by the Spirit of Christ, to enable you to bring forth good fruit, or you must be the fuel of hell. And how dare you pray to have your thoughts cleansed by the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, if you do not believe there is any such thing to be attained in this world? Oh, do not mock God any more, by asking for things with your mouths, when you do not believe in your hearts he will grant them!" But one said, "I have been with a very learned Clergyman of a neighbouring Church, and he told me there was no such thing to be attained in this life." I answered, "I think you have mistaken him, for I was at that Church last Sunday, and heard him declare all I have said to you." He said, "I was there, and heard no such thing mentioned." I replied, "No! did you not hear him affirm, "That God had given power and commandment to his ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution of their sins?' And he farther declared, That God pardoneth and absolveth all those that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his gospel.' Therefore it is plain, you never did repent, or unfeignedly believe his gospel, if God has not pardoned and absolved you from your sins. Else both he and all that are in priests' orders in England, are false witnesses before God and man. And how many times have you besought God to give you true repentance; and to forgive you all your sins, negligences, and ignorances, and to endue you with the grace of his Holy Spirit, that you might amend your ways according to his holy word? And now you say there is no such thing! though you may remember Mr. R. said, Let us beseech God to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our lives may be pure and holy.""

By these discourses, many were pricked to the heart, and durst not offer the sacrifice of fools any more; but prayed in good earnest for God to pardon their sins, and to answer them in the joy of their hearts.

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When

When any said they were of the Church of Scotland; I asked them, if they did not know their sins forgiven? They told me, that they did not; nay, farther, they thought it presumption for any one to pretend to know it, or to expect such high attainments as I spoke of; and they told me I was a Papist, or I would not talk as I did. I answered, “ I know not what you think of me; but I think, you neither know, what a Papist or Presbyterian is; for your own mouths declare that you are no members of the Church of Scotland. That Church disowns you; for none are allowed members thereof, but those that are effectually called. And they that are effectually called, do in this life partake of Justification, Adoption, and Sanctification. And the same Church saith, That Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins. Adoption is an act of God's free grace, by which we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of God's sons; and Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the inner man, after the whole image of God; and all that are so effectually called, do enjoy an assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost.-And, I pray you, what have I said more? By your talking, you are the sons of Rome, and enemies to the true Protestant religion. Let me beg you to go home, and read the Assembly's Catechism, and come and talk with me again after you have read it." Several of them did so, and came with tears in their eyes; and are now witnesses, that God has power on earth to forgive sins.

I found it always in my mind not to let any depart that came to dispute with me, till we had prayed together. The first that was brought to experience the redeeming love of Christ, was my own brother, and, in a few days, six of my neighbours.

My wife also was thoroughly convinced that she must experience the same work of grace, or perish. During the time of her convictions she was seized with a pleurisy, and her case was thought to be very dangerous: then I besought the Lord for her with fasting and prayer. The next

day

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day she was worse, and the distress of her soul increased the disorder of her body, so that she seemed as if she could not subsist long. That night my house was filled with ple, and none of them offered to dispute with me. I read several portions of Scripture to them, some out of the Old, some out of the New Testament, and compared one with another, and prayed with them. As I was in prayer, my wife being in the parlour, and within hearing, fainted, and was as if she had just sunk into the gulf of God's judgments: immediately she thought she felt the Lord Jesus catch her as she was falling, and lay his hand on her side, where the disorder was, and bade her be of good comfort; telling her, Thy sins are forgiven. When I came to the bed-side, she was just come to herself, and said, " My dear, the Lord hath healed me both in body and soul! I will get up and praise his holy name;" which she accordingly did. From that hour her fever ceased, and her heart was filled with peace and love.

Now God had raised up eight witnesses to himself in this place and the enemies began to report, that I had forgiven such and such their sins; which made many come and talk with me.

One night I went to Adwalton, to hear Mr. Ingham preach. As soon as I got into the house, he called me into the parlour, and desired the company that was with him to go out, for he had something to say to me. When they went out, he rose up, barred the door, then sat down by me, and asked me, How my wife did? When I had told him, he said, "Do you know your own heart, think you ?" I answered, "Not rightly: but I know Jesus Christ; and he knows and hath taken possession of it; and though it be deceitful, yet he can subdue it to himself; and I trust he will." He said, "Have you not deceived yourself with thinking that your sins are forgiven, and that you are in a state of grace? I was three years seeking before I found him." I replied, 66 Suppose you

were, do you confine God to be three years in converting every soul, because you were so long? God is as able to convert a soul in three days now, as he was to convert St.

Paul

t

Paul 1700 years ago." I then began to tell him what I had seen at London under Mr. Wesley's preaching. He said, he pitied poor Mr. Wesley; for he was ignorant of his own state; and he spoke as if he believed Mr. Wesley to be an unconverted man; at which words my corrupt nature began to stir. But it came to my mind, "The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God;" and I lifted up my heart to the Lord, and my mind was calm in a moment. He said, "You ought not to tell people, that they may know their sins forgiven: for the world cannot bear it; and if such a thing was preached, it would raise persecution." I replied, "Let them quake that fear. By the grace of God I love every man, but fear no man : and I will tell all I can, that there is such a prize to run for. If I hide it, mischief will come upon me. There is a famine in the land; and I see myself in the case of the lepers that were at the gate of Samaria, who found provi sion in the enemy's camp; and when they had eat and drank, and loaded themselves, said, We do not well; for this is a day of glad tidings, let us go and make it known to the king's household.' When I found God's wrath removed for the sake of his dear Son, I saw provision enough for my poor fainting soul, and for all the world, if they would come for it.

"I believe it is a sin not to declare to the children of men what God has done for my soul, that they may seek for the same mercy."

He told me, I had nothing to do with the Old Testament, or to make comparisons from any thing that was in it. I answered, "I have as much to do with it as with the New Testament." He replied, "I would not have you speak any more to the people, till you are better acquainted with your own heart." I told him, I would not in his societies, unless I was desired; but what I did in my own house, or in any other person's that requested me, he had no business with. I added, " I do not belong to you: and though I have heard you several times, it is no benefit to me; for I have experienced more of the grace of God than ever I heard you preach of yet, or any one since I left London.

Soon

Soon after Mr. Ingham came out, and began to preach; when I was greatly surprised, for what he had forbidden me to do, he did directly: he told them that night, they must know their sins forgiven in this world, or go to hell, if all the devils in hell could pull them in.

I still went on at my own house as before, every night; and in about three weeks my eight were increased to seven

teen.

As I was explaining Rom. vii. my mother fell into deep convictions, and cried, "I am a lost sinner." I went to prayer with her; and she neither ate pleasant bread, nor took natural rest, till she found redemption through the blood of Christ. Then she came to me with tears of joy, and said, "Thank God on my behalf, for he hath dealt bountifully with me. When thou wast a lad, I had more trouble with thee than any other child; but God has more than rewarded me for all my trouble, in that he has raised thee up to shew me the way of salvation."

She lived about six months after, and then died in the triumph of faith. She was the first ripe fruit that God gave me of labour.

my

Soon after, another of my brothers, my aunt, and two cousins, were converted; though still I did not attempt to preach, but read some part of the scripture, then exhorted them to observe what they had heard; and so ended with prayer. And God wrought in wonderful manner: for six or seven were converted in a week, for several weeks together. All this time I had not one to converse with, except such as wanted to turn me out of the narrow path; neither had I any correspondence with Mr. Wesley; but still I was as one set to labour in a field alone.

After some time, Peter Bohler came into Yorkshire, and laboured while Mr. Ingham went to London. I heard him, and he pleased we well; for at that time he spake to the purpose. When he had done, I went and took him by the hand, and thanked him for his wholesome exhortation. He asked me my name? I told him. He saluted me, and said, " My brother, I am glad to see you; for I have just now been talking with some, that told me they were converted