elation, and he laboured to keep me humble in my own estimation. "You now, my dear," said he, " think you know every thing; but when you really attain superior information, you will be convinced you know nothing." This assertion appeared to me extremely paradoxical; but I have since learned to appreciate its rationality and its truth. I know not how long I proceeded in this delightful path; nothing from within, or without, interrupted my course, and I well remember, that I fancied myself on the verge of perfection. I saw, or imagined I saw, undeviating rectitude within my grasp. I was conscious of no wishes, but those which I considered the legitimate offspring of the religion I professed. I wondered what had become of my evil propensities; they were however gone, and, I believed, they would no more return : my days, my weeks rolled on, uniformly devoted to pursuits, which created for me unutterable self-complacency. On Sunday morning I arose with the sun, and like our first parent in a state of innocence, Straight towards heaven my wondering eyes I turned, And gazed awhile the ample sky."

Thus after a night of charmingly refreshing, and undisturbed repose, with spirits innocently gay, I arose, washed my face, and hands, repeating a short supplication, which my father never, on those occasions, omitted: 66 'O, Almighty God, who hath ordained this watery element for the use, and support of nature, by which I am at this time refreshed, and cleansed, O! purify my soul, by the operation of thy blessed spirit, as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life." I then retired to my closet, offering the orisons of my gladdened heart, and habited for church. I sat down to my book, until my father made his appearance, when the family being summoned, and the morning prayer ended, we breakfasted, but it was a light repast, and soon dispatched. At eight o'clock, I attended the Methodist meeting; at half past nine, I returned home, and devoted the time to reading, until after ten, when the bell summoned me to church, where the Methodists at that time attended; at church I was remarked for my devotion. From the church I returned to my closet, after which I read the Bible, responding to the interrogations of my father, relative to the sermon, by repeating it nearly verbatim. Dinner over, I again retied to my closet; from which, by my father's desire, I made my appearance, to read for him some devotional book, until the bell again commanded my attendance upon public worship; but, to my great consolation, I had not, when I returned home, as on the Sunday sketched in a former page, to spend

the residue of the day in saddening glooms; at five o'clock, the Methodist meeting again opened, to which the multitude flocked; there I saw, and there, with affectionate admiration, I was seen; there, when the terrors of the law were exhibited, I was delighted by the assurance of eternal security therefrom; and there, when the children of the Redeemer were addressed in the soothing and plausive strains of consolation, my heart throbbed with pleasure, and tears of transport copiously evinced the rapture of my souk Society meeting succeeded the close of public service; three classes of the people were denominated Methodists: The congregation, who, as outer-court worshippers, were only hearers, and seekers; members of the society, who were classed; and members of the band society, who were genuine believers. The two latter met every Sunday evening after meeting, and no individual, who was not furnished with a ticket, could gain admittance. This ticket was a badge of distinction; it gave the possessor entrance, all others were shut out, and the door was locked. No words can describe my sensations, when I obtained a seat inside the closed door; when I listened, while the preacher in a low voice addressed the children of God. The house was not unfrequently filled with the dissonant sounds of terror, and joy, issuing from the discordant voices of those, who were in the valley, or on the mount. From this society, I returned home, to unite in family devotion, repeat the fundamental points in my religion, retire to my private devotions, and then to bed. Monday morning, I arose at five o'clock, and, after the same preparation as on Sunday, attended meeting, returned to breakfast, occupied myself with the business of the day, until dinner; after dinner, and an interval passed in private devotion, to secular affairs again, until evening; then once more to the Methodist meeting, returned, attended family and private devotions, and to my chamber: often not to rest, but to my book, till midnight. Thus was my time spent, two evenings in the week excepted, which were devoted to my class, and one night in the week, when the society assembled, as on Sunday evening; but, alas! the fervour of spirit, excited on those occasions, cannot, in the nature of things, be very durable. There were individuals in my class who proved untoward, they began to be weary in well-doing; this was a source of sorrow, the first I had experienced for a long time; added to this, repeated complaints reached my ear, and not unfrequently slanderous reports-reports one against another! This tortured me; I consulted the preachers, disputes ran high, the interposition of parents became indispensable,

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and the class was broken!!

This was to me a severe trial; I had derived high satisfaction from the connexion, and from the fame, which it had bestowed upon me; I however lost no reputation, it was generally believed I had performed my duty, and that no boy, beside myself, would have kept such a set of beings together, and in such order so long.

This was a season replete with events, which possessed for me no common interest. Constantly in society, I formed many attachments, and I began to fear that the love of social enjoyments would, like Aaron's rod, swallow up my best affections. From conviction of error, I sought retirement; I loved reading more than any thing else, but I sighed for variety, and as the full soul loatheth the honey comb, I began to sicken at the constant repetition of devotional books. My father read history, and some few novels, but he took special care to secure those books from his children. We were allowed to read no books but the bible, and volumes based upon this precious depository of whatsoever things are good, and excellent. I sometimes, however, glanced my eye over my father's shoulder, and finding Tom Jones, or the history of a Foundling, in his hand, the efforts at concealment, which he evidently made, augmented my anxiety to read. I remember once to have found Clarissa Harlowe upon his table. Hervey's Meditations, and Young's Night Thoughts, were not interdicted books, and their plaintive sadness obtained an easy admission into the inmost recesses of my soul. To Milton too I gave some hours, but I could not read blank verse, nor did my father wish to encourage my attempts in this way. He saw I had too strong a passion for novelty, and he deemed it prudent to check me in the commencement of my career.

Although my devotional ecstacies were diminished, yet I was steadily attentive to my religious exercises, and I believed myself daily increasing in goods. It is true my life was as variable as the weather; sometimes on the mount, and sometimes in the valley, sometimes alive to all the fervour of devotion, and sometimes, alas! very lifeless: Now rejoicing in hope, and anon depressed by fear.

The preachers, visiting the adjacent villages, often requested my father to permit my attendance; his consent delighted me; I reaped, from those little excursions, abundant satisfaction, and the preachers. being my elders, and much acquainted with the world, I collected from their conversation much to instruct, and amuse. They were, however, young men, they collected young company, and they were excellent

singers; this was a most pleasing circumstance. My affections naturally glowing, I soon formed strong attachments, and, the CRAFT of Mr. Wesley changing his candidates with every new quarter, the farewell sermons generally dissolved the whole congregation in tears, and my bosom was often lacerated with many, and deep wounds.

An order from the Bishop now arrived, calling upon the people to prepare for confirmation, and young persons were directed to wait upon their parish minister for the requisite instruction. Although the Methodists considered themselves Episcopalians, yet they were detested by the clergy of that Church; their zeal seemed a standing satire upon them; and their indignation was proportioned to the progress made by the new sect. We, however, presented ourselves as candidates for confirmation: though young, I was pretty generally known, and it soon became evident, that I had incurred the displeasure of my minister. No question was proposed to me, but his oblique reflections were abundant; I determined, however, to address him; and one day when he was cautioning those, who were honoured by his attention, against those expectations about which the wild Enthusiasts of the day were fanatically raving, such as the extraordinary operations of the spirit, &c. &c. exhorting them to consider themselves in their baptism made members of Christ, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, I ventured to ask: Did I, sir, in my baptism, receive all these advantages? In a most ungracious manner, he replied: "Undoubtedly." Then, sir, allow me to ask, What can I want more? Of what use is confirmation? "What do you mean by asking these impertinent questions?" I ask for information, I came hither to be instructed. " No, you came here to instruct me, you want to see your patron, John Wesley, in the pulpit. You have no business here." I conceive, sir, I have business here; I am one of your parish, I was warned to attend, for the purpose of receiving instruction; and to whom should I apply, but to my minister? He deigned not to answer me, but when we again assembled, I observed: I remember, sir, when we were last here, you told us, there was no such thing as a feeling operation of the spirit of God; I request therefore to know, how we are to understand that article of our Church, which pronounces the doctrine of election full of especial comfort to all godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the workings of the spirit of the Lord ? "You have nothing to do with the articles, you do not understand them." I should suppose, sir, that every member of a Church had something to do with the articles

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of his Church; and if I do not understand them, suffer me to come to you for information. "You are an impertinent fellow, and if you thus proceed, I shall order the clerk to put you out of the Church." You may order me out yourself, sir; only tell me to go, and I will instantly depart. Not another syllable was uttered to me, upon this occasion. But upon the following Sunday, when the young people of the congregation were again to be catechised, I appeared with the rest, and our teacher uttering a severe and pointed sarcasm, I was sufficiently abashed to cover my face with my hat-when, in a very angry tone, he commanded me to depart from the Church, he would suffer no laughter there. I assured this Christian preacher, that I did not laugh, that I felt no disposition to laugh; he insisted, that I did, and with great confusion I withdrew from the altar but waiting for him in the porch of the Church, I humbly implored his pardon, while I informed him, that he had done me much wrong; that I had too sacred a veneration for the place I was in, to deport myself unbecomingly while under its roof; that I had not the smallest inclination to mirth; that the consideration of his denying the operation of the spirit upon the heart had too much disturbed, and grieved me. Well, I do still say, there is no especial operation of the spirit: I have never experienced any thing of this description." How then, suffer me to ask, could you say, when you were ordained, that you felt yourself moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of a teacher? "You know nothing of the matter, you are very impertinent." Many were standing by, who seemed pleased with the advantage I had so apparently gained, and, while thus remunerated for the insult I had received, I returned home in triumph.

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Some time after, as I was passing the street, one of my acquaintance asked me, if I knew the bishop was at that moment engaged in confirming the young people of our parish? I instantly repaired to the Church, and to my great surprise, found the information correct; my good priest had not intended I should be apprized of the business. I advanced however to the altar, and presented myself to the bishop. My priest appeared exceedingly irritated, and made a communication to the bishop, in a tone too low to be understood by me; but his Lordship replied aloud, "it is of no consequence what they are, provided they understand what they are about." From this reply I concluded the priest had accused me of Methodism. It happened, that I was the first of the circle presented round the altar, and he began as follows: