THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

FOR OCTOBER, 1811.

BIOGRAPHY.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF.

MR. THOMAS RANKIN, Minifler of the Gospel.

WHE

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

(Continued from page 619.)

THEN the overwhelming power of God, in fome measure fubfided, I began to reason about my weakness, and unfitnefs in every refpect for the work of the miniftry; but how kind and gracious was the Lord, in conveying with power the following fcriptures to my mind, "No weapon that is formed against thee fhall profper, and every tongue that fhall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn: this is the heritage of the fervants of the Lord, and their righteoufnefs is of me, All the above folemn tranf faith the Lord," Ifaiah liv. 17. action between God and my foul, paffed in the morning between three o'clock and seven, when my mind fettled into a sweet and heavenly calm. Such had been my ignorance and folly, that many times I had faid in my mind, "I will never attempt to take a text, or ftand up to preach the gospel, unless God thall condefcend to make my call as clear as the apostle Paul's was." The Lord therefore in great mercy, took this method to remove all fcruples from my mind, and to make it as clear as the fun at noon day. Who would have thought, that after such an abundant revelation of the will of God concerning me, I ever should have feared that I had deceived myself, and that the whole was a delufion? But of this in its proper place. I now faw that all the past dealings of God, in the painful, as well as the pleasing experience I had gone through, was intended to prepare my foul for this important period. When I was called down to breakfast, all the family obferved the pleafing change in my countenance, but they remained ftrangers to the caufe, only I obferved, that I was delivered from my painful exercife of mind, and was now exceeding happy in the VOL. XXXIV. OCTOBER, 1811.

enjoyment

enjoyment of the love and comfortable prefence of God. Indeed, if ever I lived in the fuburbs of heaven, it was this day, and for feveral days after. On the Saturday we expected the preacher, and I could not help praying, in, the fimplicity of my heart, if what I had paffed through was from God, that fuch a one might come. It was not his regular turn, but the kind providence of heaven condefcended to my ignorance and weakness, in fending the very perfon I had prayed for. I now thought this was a token for good, and fully believed the whole I had gone through was indeed the work of the Lord. I took the first opportunity that offered, to read to him the whole of the late tranfaction between God and my foul. As foon as I had done it, he replied, "This may be of God, and it may not be of him; but nothing certain can be faid, or a proper judgment formed, till a trial is made." This was a wife and judicious manner of giving me his fentiments; but it caft a damp on my mind, and expofed me to painful reafonings. Nevertheless, matters were ordered fo, that I went with one of the local preachers, and fupplied his place on the fabbath. I had occafionally given an exhortation before, but never ventured to take a text till this day; fo that this was the first fermon I ever preached. Several of the people took me by the hand when I came down from the pulpit; but I was fo afhamed, that I could not look any of them in the face. But this was not all; I had been led to think, if I really was called of God to preach, the divine power would attend the word in a very remarkable manner, in the conviction and converfion of finners. This arofe from reading Meffrs. Wefley's and Whitefield's Journals; as alfo in hearing Mr. Whitefield myfelf. I did not know the meaning of that faying, "My time is not yet!" Indeed, I concluded I had been mistaken, and had deceived myself, and therefore I refolved to preach no more. In this refolution I returned from the place. where I had preached, to Sunderland, and was very much tempted. and diftreffed. As foon as I came home, I retired to my room, and poured out my foul before God, moft fervently befeeching him that I might not be deceived, and thereby ruin my own foul. Those who have gone through the fame fire and water, will understand what I then felt.

It was strongly suggested to my mind, "that if ever I attempted to preach any more, Satan would tear me limb from limb!" I perfevered in prayer till the fweat flowed from every pore, and till I could challenge all the powers of darkness (in the ftrength of the Lord,) to hurt a fingle hair of my head.

It was about this time that I was more deeply convinced of the neceflity of recovering the image of the bleffed God. What by my exercife of mind about preaching, and the discovery of inbred

fin, it might have been faid, "Commences now, the agonizing ftrife, previous to nature's death, and fecond life!"

my

Sometimes I thought I would preach no more; but when I refrained, I was truly miferable. Through the mercy of God, wherever I went the people received me with pleasure, and kindly folicited my return among them. But all this did not fatisfy me: as I did not fee the fruit of my labours, as I expected, I was much cast down and diftreffed. I did not then know that I had not wisdom or grace fufficient to bear any remarkable fuccefs in my preaching. I was enabled, however, to go on my way, if not at all times rejoicing, yet with a pleafing hope I fhould yet fee better days. Early in the Spring, 1761, another local preacher with myself, refolved to spend the enfuing Summer in breaking up fresh ground; a blefling attended our labours, and we were encouraged to go on in the work of the Lord. In the beginning of June, Mr. Wefley being on his return from Scotland, and as I never had seen him, I was defirous to give him the meeting before he came to Sunderland. Accordingly five or fix friends fet off from Sunderland, and being informed that Mr. Wefley was to preach at Morpeth, at one o'clock, we fet forward; but when we came to Morpeth, we found he had preached at twelve, instead of one o'clock. We put up our horfes, and haftened to the market place, where he was giving out the last hymn. We were not too late however for the divine bleffing. As foon as I came near to hear the words of the hymn, I was fo ftruck with the prefence of God, that if I had not leaned on a friend's arm, I fhould have fallen to the ground. The words of the hymn were,

"Now, even now, the Saviour stands,

"All day long he spreads his hands."

As I had read all Mr. Wefley's works, (and in particular his Journals,) I had formed a very high opinion of him, and the moment I diftinctly faw him, and heard his voice, fuch a crowd of ideas rushed upon my mind, as words cannot exprefs. The union of foul I then felt with him was indefcribable.

I had long confidered Mr. John Wesley as the father of the Methodists, under God. If Mr. Whitefield was rendered fuch a bleffing to my foul, in my firft acquaintance with God, and the things of eternity, I had fince learned, that Mr. Wefley had been a father to him and others, who afterwards had been burning and hining lights in their day and generation. I could not help faying in my mind, "And is this the man who has braved the Winter ftorm, and Summer's fun; and run to and fro, throughout Great Britain and Ireland; and has croffed the Atlantic ocean, to bring poor wretched finners to the knowledge of the Lord Jefus Chrift!" I looked at him with a degree of aftonishment, and from my very

* 4 Y 2*

foul

foul could blefs God, that he had fo highly favoured me, as to let me fee this eminent fervant of the King of kings, and Lord of lords! It was now that the foundation of that union was laid, which remained inviolate for thirty-one years, to the time he was called to his great and eternal reward! I have a thoufand times over, bleffed the God of heaven that ever I saw his face, or heard his voice; and I fhall continue to do fo while life remains, and I hope to fpend a glorious eternity with him.

As foon as the finging and prayer were concluded, I went to the friend's house where Mr. Wefley was to dine. We had the pleafure of his conversation for fome little time, and after dinner rode on to Placey, he preached there at five o'clock, and then rode on to Newcastle. Mr. Wefley's company and converfation by the way, made this one of the most pleasant rides that I ever had known. In the course of a few days, Mr. Wefley came to Sunderland, and I had the pleasure of hearing him, morning and evening, while he was there. His preaching was attended with a peculiar bleffing to my foul, in giving me a more clear conception of purity of heart, and the way to obtain it, by faith alone; but when he read fonie letters in the fociety, giving an account of the great work of God in London, and fome other places, I was fo deeply affected with a fenfe of inbred fin, that I was almoft overwhelmed by it. For feveral years I had seen, and (at feafons) deeply felt, the need of purity of heart; but now my foul was pierced with fuch keen convictions, as gave me no reft, night or day. In short, my heart was fo laid open, and fo completely diffected by the word and Spirit of God, that I was ready to caft away my confidence, feeing it so desperately wicked.

I wanted to open my mind to Mr. Wefley; but the power of temptation fhut my mouth, fo that I could neither inform him of what I intended refpecting my call to preach, nor the prefent experience of my foul. The Lord in great mercy preferved me from cafting away my fhield, and finking in the deep waters, which at times appeared ready to fwallow me up. However, I was not fuffered to fink under the preffure of this burthen. There were a few that were earnestly feeking the great falvation, (deliverance from inbred fin,) and with them I affociated. None of them appeared to me to labour under fuch deep distress, nor had fuch deep difcoveries of the evils of their heart, as I laboured under. From what I heard of their experience, I was afraid to mention the whole of my feelings, left I should stumble any of them. The Lord knew what he was preparing me for, and therefore he was pleafed to give me to drink deeper of the painful cup, that I might know how to comfort and encourage others. I was alfo at this time ftrongly tempted to preach no more, till God had purified my heart, and brought me into this glorious liberty. When I gave

way