to his house. I made no resistance, but went, and several of our people with us; and we sang a hymn, and prayed together, and so parted.

Next morning, several people came to see me before we went from Adwalton. Here I was kept ten hours before the warrant came into his house: when the constable came, he said, "If he had been there, he would have prevented what Gibson had done.”

Between eight and nine I went to Birstal, to my house, and after I had changed my clothes, we set out for Halifax. When I was brought before the commissioners, they smiled one at another, as soon as they saw me. They bid the door-keepers not to let any man come in: but Mr. Thomas Brooks had got in with me; and they said, "That is one of his converts." Then they called Joseph Gibson, and asked, "How many men have you brought?" He said, "One." "Well, and what have you against him?" "Why, gentlemen," said he, " I have nothing to say against him, but he preaches to the people, and some of our townsmen don't like so much preaching." They broke out in laughter, and one of them swore, I was fit to go for a soldier, for there I might have preaching enough. I said to him, "Sir, you ought not to swear." Well, said they to me, you have no licence to preach, and you shall go for a soldier." I answered, "Sir, I have surely as much right to preach, as you have to swear." He said to the captain, "Captain, is he fit for you?" "Yes," he answered: "Then take him away."

But I said, " Here are several of my honest neigh bours: you ought to give me the liberty of another man, and hear what they say of me, whether I am such a one as the warrant mentions, or no." They answered, "Here is your minister, (one of the commissioners,) and he has told us of your character, and we will hear no more." So I found I was condemned before the commissioners saw

me.

Then Mr. Brooks laid the petitions before them, sent me by neighbouring gentlemen, which testified I had done

b

no

no evil, but had behaved myself well in my neighbourhood, and had always maintained my family very well: and then desired them to set me at liberty. And Mr. Brooks said, "Gentlemen, you see he is not such a man as is mentioned in the warrant. But they bade him hold his peace, and said, "You are one of his pupils, and ought to go with him." He answered, Why do you not send me then? for have as much right to send me as him.

you

Then our minister spoke, and said, Young Brooks lives with a woman of the worst character in our town. When I heard him speak against his neighbours such notorious falsehoods as these, I thought it would be to no purpose for Mr. Brooks to say any more; so I desired him to be silent. Then they read the papers sent on my behalf, and one of the company asked, if he must put them on the file? but the answer to him by several was, No; for if they be called for, they will make against us.

Or

"So, (said 1,) gentlemen, I see there is neither law nor justice for a man that is called a Methodist, but all is law ful that is done against me. I pray God forgive you, for you know not what you do." They answered, "Surely your minister must be a better judge of better judge of you than any other man, and he has told us enough of you and your preaching." "Well, (said 1,) Mr. C, what do you know of me that is evil? Whom have I defrauded? where have I contracted a debt that I cannot pay?" He said, “You have no visible way of getting your living." I answered, "I am as able to get my living with my hands, as any man of my trade in England is, and you know it; and have I not been at work yesterday, and all the week before?" But they bade the captain take me away; so he came and said, "We will take you off preaching soon."? I answered, "You must first ask my Master's leave." But he said, "We will make you give over." I replied, "It is out of your power." Then he thrust me into a corner of the room, and said, "You shall have company presently."

Afterwards, several were brought to the commissioners, and three condemned to go with me, and four or five ac

quitted.

quitted. But all had their neighbours to speak for them, except me for what need was there of any other witness? Glory be to God on high! He kept my soul all this time in perfect peace; and I could say to him, from my heart-→→→→

Whilst thou, O my God, art nigh,
My soul disdains to fear;
Sin and Satan I defy,

Still impotently near.

Earth and hell their wars may wage;
Calm I mark their vain design,
Smile to see them idly rage

Against a child of thine.

Then the captain read the articles to us that were con demned, and said, "You hear your doom is death, if you disobey us." I answered, "I do not fear the man that can kill me, any more than I do him who can cut down a dogstandard. For I know my life is hid with Christ in God; and he will judge between you and me one day; but I be seech him not to lay this sin to your charge." And to Mr. C, I said, "Sir, I pray God forgive you, for you have given me such a character, as not one in England will that knows me."

I was greatly surprised to see men sit on the judgment seat, and drink and swear as they did; and a man that had a commission from God to reprove all that do such things, could hear and see, and yet never speak in God's cause. It made me cry out to the Lord, "Take the matter into thy hand, O God; for righteousness is fallen in the streets, and iniquity bears rule." But I could not hear them swear, but must speak to them, although they mocked at my reproof. '.

Then we were guarded to Halifax; but the keeper would not let us come into his jail. We were then taken to the officer's quarters, and kept till six at night; where John Rhodes and Thomas Charlesworth, of Little Gommersal, came to see me, and cared for my soul, as if they had been my mother's sons. Oh my God, remember

them

them for good, and give them and their houses, and all that wish well to our Sion, to rejoice in the gladness of thy people!

At six we set out for Bradford, and many of the inhabitants of Halifax prayed for me, and wept to see me in the hands of unrighteous and cruel men. But I said,

"Fear not, God hath his way in the whirlwind, and he will plead my cause: only pray for me, that my faith fail

not.'

When we were about half way between Halifax and Bradford, one of the soldiers said to me, "Sir, I am sorry for you; for the captain is ordered by the commissioners to put you in the dungeon: but I will speak to him, and if he will let me have the care of you, you shall lie with me; for the dungeon is as loathsome a place as ever I saw.” I thanked him for his offer. But when we got to Bradford, we were drawn up in the street where the cross stood, and the captain went and fetched the people of the dungeon, and said, "Take this man, and put him into the dungeon; and take this other along with you." (A poor harmless man, all the clothes upon whose back were not worth one shilling. Neither did they lay any thing to his charge, when he was ordered for a soldier.)

But when we came to the dungeon door, the soldier who spoke to me by the way, went to the captain, and said, "Sir, if you will give me charge over Mr. Nelson, my life for his, he shall be forth-coming in the morning." But the captain threatened to break his head, if he spoke about me any more.

The captain came to us before I went down, and I asked him, "Sir, what have I done, that I must go to the dungeon? If you are afraid of me, that I should run away, set a guard over me in a room, and I will pay them. He answered, "My order is to put you in the dungeon." So I see my Lord's words are fulfilled, "The servant is not above his Master." For those who were accused of thieving, and great evils which they had done in the neighbourhood, must eat and drink, and lie on feather beds; but I only desired

desired a little water, and it was refused me by the captain, although I had nothing all day, except a little tea in the morning. But my Master never sends his servants a warfare at their own charge. He gives strength according to our day. For, when I came into the dungeon, that stunk worse than a hog-sty or little-house, by reason of the blood and filth, which sink from the butchers who kill over it, my soul was so filled with the love of God, that it was a paradise to me.

Then could I cry out, Oh the glorious liberty of the sons of God! And I fell down upon my knees, and gave God thanks, that he counted me worthy to be put in a dungeon for the truth's sake; and prayed that my enemies might be saved from the wrath to come, I think, with as much desire as I could feel for my own mother's children. I wished they were as happy in their own houses as I was in the dungeon.

About ten, several of the people came to the dungeon. door, and brought me some candles, and put me some meat and water in through the hole of the door. When I had eat and drank, I gave God thanks; and we sang hymns almost the whole night, they without, and I within.

The same night a man that lives at Bradford came to the dungeon, and though he was an enemy to the Methodists, when he smelt the ill savour of the place, he said, "Humanity moves me;" he went away directly, and about eleven came again, and said, "I will assure you I am not in your way of thinking; but for all that, I have been with your captain, and offered ten pounds bail for you, and myself as prisoner, if he would let you lie in a bed; but all in vain, for I can get nothing of him but bad words. If the justice were in town, I would have gone to him, and would soon have fetched you out: but since it is as it is, I pray God plead your cause." Oh, my God, let not him that would give a cup of cold water to thy servants, lose his reward; but do thou bless him, and bless thy people: and I beseech thee to have mercy on our enemies, and let nöt thy heavy judgments fall upon them; but be thou glorified in their conversion, not in their destruction!

The