my lost undone condition through sin. But having none to take any notice of me, or give me any advice, I closed in with the persuasions of my sinful companions, and became a proficient in wickedness. I persisted in a course of sin for many years; but the Lord continued to convince me of my danger, and I saw that if I died in that state, hell must be my portion for ever. When I was about eighteen years of age, I clearly saw the love of God, in the gift of his Son for the redemption of the world. This drew me to love him for a time. I became, of course, strict and regular in my conduct. I left my vicious companions, read a great many books, and was often found in prayer. But having no one to whom I could open my mind, and the Methodists being at that time greatly despised by my relations and neighbours, I kept at a distance from them, although I was convinced they were the only people within the circle of my acquaintance that worshipped God in spirit and in truth."

Here the narrative breaks off, and whether he wrote any thing more on this subject or not, his brother cannot say; but he thinks a short account of his conversion was added, which is now lost. To this chasm, Sister Watson adverts, in a letter to me, where she says, I feel heartily sorry that I can add but little respecting my dear husband's conversion. I know, from what I have heard him say, that when he was convinced of his lost, undone state, he waded through deep waters. After pass ing some time in very great distress, and wrestling mightily with God in prayer for the pardon of his sins, the Lord was pleased to speak peace to his soul. But the particulars I cannot recollect. I believe he joined the Methodists soon after he was so deeply convinced of sin; and in about three years from the time of his conversion commenced Itinerant Preacher. Some time after he began to travel, he was greatly exercised respecting his call to preach the gospel. Dreading the thought of running on this important errand without being sent, he made it matter of earnest prayer, that it God had called him to preach, he would remove his painful doubts on the subject. A powerful applica tion of some suitable Scriptures, which he considered an answer to prayer, in a great measure relieved him from this distressing anxiety; and led him to conclude that he was in the way of Providence. In addition to this, God was pleased to give him seals to his ministry, which strengthened his hands, and encouraged him to labour on in his Master's vineyard. You will see in his journal the state of his mind at different periods, from November 9, 1800, to Angust 28, 1809; which was the day we arrived at Shrewsbury."

The journal thus referred to by Mrs. Watson, is now before me; and contains several hundred pages. It was written just as the circumstances related in it occurred: evidently, not with a

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view to publication, but to promote self-acquaintance, advancement in piety, and mental improvement. Our brother undoubtedly designed it chiefly as a record of his own experience, and various exercises, both as a Christian and a preacher; which proves that a concern for the salvation of his own soul, and that of others, was habitually predominant: at the same time, his numerous observations on persons, places, and things, indicate a mind given to reflection, and capable of judicious discrimination, a heart enlarged by benevolence, and inflamed with zeal, and a soul firmly sustained by conscious rectitude.

To prevent prolixity, I shall insert only a few extracts from this journal, in the order of their occurrence; by which the real character of our esteemed brother may be accurately discovered: for, being uniformly above disguise, his words, both in speaking and writing, were the true pictures of his thoughts.

On his giving himself up entirely to'the work of the ministry, his first appointment, in 1799, was to the Malton Circuit. But his journal not commencing till the following year, no account of himself, while in this Circuit, is recorded." But, from the affectionate manner in which he afterwards occasionally speaks of his Malton friends, it appears that he met with much kindness, and laboured with much satisfaction among them. At the Conference, in 1800, he was appointed for Scarborough. On Nov. 9, this year, his journal begins; when he says, "This day has been a day of rest to my soul. I preached at Thornton, and found great liberty in speaking on the coming of the Bridegroom, to celebrate the heavenly marriage. I trust the seed did not all die in the ground. While urging the necessity of being ready, many tears were shed; and, after preaching, two persons met for the first time in class.

"Nov. 11. This day I have been visiting a young woman, who is just on the confines of eternity. She has been some years in our society, but, like too many, she has loitered by the way. However, she now appears in good earnest for the salvation of her soul; and I trust the Lord will reveal his saving power to her, before he takes her out of this world. Omy soul! do thou learn wisdom by such sights; and press on in the ways of God, for all the mind which was in Christ.

"Brunton, Dec. 8. I preached this evening to about twenty people, and found great deadness of soul. But some of the bearers felt the presence of the Lord, and declared, in the classmeeting afterwards, that it had been a precious season to then. From this, I am convinced that I am not a proper judge of my own preaching. T

"Jan. 1, 1801. When I look back, and review the many mercies that the Lord has conferred upon me in the course of * X 2 *

the last year, I feel dejected, because I have brought so little glory to his name. But I feel a desire to go forward in the ways

of God. O Lord, make me a more fruitful branch.

"Feb. 5. For a few days I have held prayer-meetings after preaching. I feel a desire to adopt any means that are likely to be useful to my fellow creatures. O Lord! teach me heavenly wisdom! Lay sinners near my heart! Help me to labour hard to win souls!

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Wintringham, Feb. 22. I preached here both at noon and night. Within a fortnight, the Lord has brought above twelve persons, at this place, from under the power of darkness, and translated them into the kingdom of his dear Son. After preaching this evening, we held a prayer-meeting, which lasted about two hours. The young converts all prayed with great earnestness and simplicity. Sometimes, especially when any prayed for the conversion of sinners, there was such a confused noise, that I could not distinctly hear what was said. Standing a little above them, all the time, I had the advantage of seeing all their actions, and hearing many of their expressions: some of which were neither rational nor scriptural. But I believe the work is of God; and though it does not fall in with my ideas, yet, God forbid that I should fight against him. Let the Lord work his own way, and convert sinners, and he shall have all the glory, both now and for ever." The writer, by these remarks, does not mean to intimate, that God employs error and absurdity to effect his gracious purposes; but only that evident effects of a divine agency, appeared in this work, though it was alloyed by a considerable portion of human infirmity. This will fully appear from his subsequent observations on the same subject.

"Wintringham, March 1. I preached here at noon, when, as I began to pray, my voice was lost in the cries of the people; so that I was several times interrupted, and scarcely able to proceed. After I began my discourse, some cried, "Lord, help him to preach;" and others made the house ring with their loud Amens. After a little pause, they grew more still, I then pro eeeded, and found great liberty. Many were melted into tears, After preaching, I met the society, and enforced the necessity of practical religion. At night, I preached here again. After preaching, we had a prayer-mecting, which lasted two hours. Soon, one began to cry for mercy, and, joined by those around her, continued in prayer, till the Lord set her soul at liberty; when she arose, and declared that her soul was filled with peace and joy. In this meeting also, a man, who, but a few days before, had, by profane mimickry, turned the language of devo, tion into ridicule, was now brought to the Lord, Deeply impressed with a sense of his obligations, he kneeled down before the congregation, and praised God, that he had put it into the

hearts of the people to pray for him; declared that the Lord had heard their prayers for him; and prayed that the same mercy he had found might be shewed to others."

From the frequent mention of this revival at Wintringham, during the following months, it appears that considerable good was done; and that the work was attended with some extravagancies, which could not be sanctioned either by reason or piety. But our brother, in recording those occurrences, manifests both a faithful concern, and a good capacity, to separate the precious from the vile.

May 24, he writes thus: "I preached at Wintringham, noon and night. Some of the people are getting into an error, by making use of cant expressions, such as, Lord, turn the devil out,' &c. which they use almost upon all occasions. Others of the young members are negligent in their worldly business; whereby they give their enemies cause to speak reproachfully. I have endeavoured to warn them of their danger, that they may be upon their guard.”

Thus, while the souls of his flock were softened by the gracious influences of heaven, he laboured by diligent instructions, practical exhortations, and timely cautions, to form them according to the doctrine of truth, which is after godliness. He seemed well aware, that a genuine work of God, might, from various causes, be attended by improper expressions; but these he lamented as blemishes, and discountenanced as evils; still employing sacred truth, and this alone, to promote the interests of his Master's kingdom.

At the Conference, in 1801, he was removed to the Horncastle Circuit; and in Lincolnshire it appears he laboured under various successive afflictions, which must have greatly weakened his constitution. On October 10, being at Raithby, he thus writes; "I spent this day at this place. I had a very sudden fit of sickness, but am now recovered. How highly does it behove me to be ready for death. Lord, make me more watchful than ever I have been.

"Wainfleet, 29. For a few days past, I have been rather poorly. I feel the seeds of mortality sown in my body. Lord, prepare me for my approaching dissolution. This night I felt great weakness while speaking; but I feel my mind calmnly stayed on God.

"Retsby, Nov. 5. This morning, about three o'clock, I awoke, in a very poor state of health; being greatly pained by a sore throat. This set me upon self examination, to see how matters stood between God and my soul. I find, on inquiry, I have not made that progress in the divine life that I ought to bave made. But, blessed be God, I feel a fixed determination to be the Lord's without reserve. Lord! take my body, soul, and spirit, and sanctify them to thyself.

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"Horncastle, Jan. 1, 1802. When I consider the many mercies God has conferred on me in the course of the last year, and the little progress I have made in the divine life, and the little glory I have brought to the Lord, I am ashamed and humbled as in the dust at his feet. I sincerely pray God to for give me all my past sins; and am determined, by the assistance of his grace, to give myself more fully into his hands, that he may mould and fashion me after his own image.

Hagsthorpe, Feb. 20. This evening we had a large congres gation, and while I was praying before sermon, the power of God was felt in a wonderful manner. I was quite overpowered with the love of God. I thought I should not be able to preach to the people. What am I, that the Lord should deal with me after this manner? O that I could worthily praise him for all his mercies!

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"Lusby, May 6. This day I was taken with the ague, so that when I stood up to preach, I was hardly able to finish my discourse. At night I was very restless: O that the Lord may cause these afflictions to work together for my good!

"Raithby Hall, May 27. I came hither last Friday in a poor state of health; and have not since been able to preach. But, by taking an emetic, and after that two ounces of bark in a bottle of Port wine, through the blessing of God, I am much better at present. While in the furnace, I have sat in close examination on myself, and am sensible I have been an unprofitable servant. I am humbled at the feet of Jesus; and have nothing to confide in, but the mercy of God. But I would not part with that confidence I feel, for all the world. While I have been here, Mr. and Mrs. Brackenbury have paid me great attention, and been as tender over me as if I had been their own son. May God reward them for all their labour of love.”

This is not the only place in our brother's journal, in which the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Brackenbury is so gratefully mentioned. Towards the latter end of June, during a longer, and more severe affliction, he again found a comfortable asylum under their hospitable roof, and proved that their love, for his Master's sake, was in deed and in truth. I am fully persuaded, that, to the feelings of characters so evidently kind, not from ostentation, but piety, a minute publication of their beneficence, to the world, would be utterly repugnant; yet I could not prevail on myself wholly to suppress the record of these benevolent labours, which neither God nor his servants can forget.

At the Conference, in 1802, a change of air being advised, Brother Watson was appointed for Penzance; where he arrived in safety, August 24, praising God for journeying mercies. In this Circuit, his health appears to have been, in a good measure, restored; so that his labours during the year, were scarcely at