life" to me. His controversial Tracts,-his Letter to Bishop Warburton, to the Bishop of London, and to the other opponents of Methodism in its early days, were truly edifying. I saw the order as well as the beauty of religion, and was enabled, to the praise of the Lord, to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of God."

The Society became more lively and zealous; aad some of the people conceived a desire to enlarge the work. A prayer-meeting was begun in a part of the suburbs, called Dolphin's Barn,— place mentioned by Mr. Charles Wesley, with great thankfulness, as the first comfortable station for Methodism in Dublin; but after building the preaching-house in Whitefriar's Street, it was given up. The people flocked to it, and soon the place was too strait for us. They then took a deserted weaver's workshop, and fitted it up with forms and a desk. I was soon fully engaged in this labour of love also; and after trying to do good by exhortation and prayer, I was urged to preach. I did not dare to refuse, although it was, in truth, a great trial to me, as I knew so little of even the necessary art of preaching. But much warmth, with some arrangement, which I had lately learned, made up for the want of greater accuracy. My beginning was soon noised abroad, and so many came from all parts to hear, that I was almost discouraged by reason of the multitude.

I dared not, however, to go back; and the Lord encouraged me in private, and also by giving His blessing to my weak endeavours. I was strengthened also by the most pious people of the Society; and when the Preacher visited the place, he found twenty-six persons in the Society, all of whom were either convinced of sin, or happy in "the knowledge of God," as being "merciful to their unrighteousness, and remembering their sins no

more."

These various exercises, together with the writings of Mr. Wesley, began to discover to me, not only the need of watchfulness and prayer, but of a deeper work of grace. I had now got into a new world, a religious world, and began to discover the "mystery of iniquity," which has always been in the Church, even in that Church which is "called out of the world" by the word and Spirit of God. Shallow and superficial convictions; conversions not truly evangelical, and consequently not "unto God;" unfaithfulness to the Divine call; backsliding in heart;-all this surrounded me, and distressed me exceedingly. I could thus easily interpret our Lord's parables of "the sower, the wise and foolish virgins,the tares and the wheat," &c. I remembered also the sorrowful confession of those who are called to public work in the Church, "My own vineyard have I not kept." I examined myself

as in the presence of "the Author of my faith," but could not discover any worldly principle which He had not taken out of my heart; and that I had no more desire for any thing that the world, or even the Church, could offer me, than I had for hell-fire. Even in my Band, (and I knew none who were more devoted than the members of it,) I found such an entire deliverance from those temptations, by which they were still annoyed, that it surprised them. But I began to feel what my heart was capable of if I should cease one moment to live by faith. The law of God also pursued me, and, but that I was enabled to take refuge in the Saviour, would have brought me again into bondage. In all this conflict, Mr. Wesley's writings, next to the inspired, afforded me solid help and comfort. I was directed by them to "the great and precious promises by which we are partakers of the Divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world." I accordingly became diligent and earnest in seekingfull sanctification," although uncertain if I did not already possess it. I believe I truly did possess what Arvid Gradin gave to Mr. Wesley * as his definition of the πληροφορια πίςεως, the full assurance of faith," testifying that it was his own experience: "Repose in the blood of

See his Life, Vol. I. page 396.

Christ, a firm confidence in God, and persuasion of his favour; serene peace, and steadfast tranquillity of mind, with a deliverance from fleshly (unholy) desire, and from every outward and inward sin." But I remembered that God had pronounced "the heart of man to be deceitful above all things," and I therefore determined to seek the blessing, and not to rest while a doubt should remain. But I certainly raised the standard too high. My views were not entirely scriptural; and I was still very, deficient in the knowledge of divinity. I afterward found that I hoped, in several respects, to extinguish nature, as well as the rebellious principle of it,-SIN. By a course of fasting, and by every species of self-denial, I aimed at a victory over the body, which nearly effected its destruction. To this day I feel the effects of those austerities, to which also I had recourse after I had become an Itinerant Preacher. My constitution, naturally very strong, became enfeebled, and I seldom enjoyed an hour's comfortable health; yet I was strangely kept from adverting to the real cause of this discomfort, but imputed it all to weakness of faith. The Lord, however, looked on my efforts with

*Requies in sanguine Christi; firma fiducia in Deum, et persuasio de gratia divina; tranquillitas mentis summa, atque serenitas et pax, cum absentia omnis desiderii carnalis et cessatione peccatorum etiam internorum.

the eyes of his mercy. I received many blessings from him; and one day in particular, in secret prayer, He so graciously visited me, that, from that hour to this, (and it is more than fifty years,) notwithstanding unfaithfulnesses that will ever humble me before Him, I never came under the

power of unbelief. "The things not seen," of which, the Apostle says, "faith is the evidence," have been as constant and as clear to my mind, as the things which I see with my bodily eyes.

Although worldly things were a great cross and burden to me, yet I felt the duty of being diligent in business; and found satisfaction in thus mortifying what might perhaps be called by some a right feeling, from a sense of duty. My mother was much pleased at this, and urged me to enter into business for myself. I was, through great mercy, "under the law to Christ," so that I dared not to resist any advice that was agreeable to that law. I therefore signified my consent to the proposal, and a house proper for the purpose was at length found; but I had much fear lest I should prevent any gracious purpose which the Lord might have concerning me. Temporal affairs were my duty; but my mind was continually carried above them, so that they truly became a burden; yet I felt it to be the burden of my Lord and Master, and which therefore I resolved to bear, till He should fully show me his will. A house, however,