I wished many times that the Rev. Mr. Smith, the Minifter of the parish, was dead, because he hindered our fports on the Lord's day. One Sunday finding me and feveral others at football, he pursued me near a quarter of a mile. I ran until I was just ready to fall down; but coming to a bank, over which I tumbled, I escaped his hands for that time. My confcience always troubled me for thefe fins: but having a flow of animal fpirits, and being tempted of the devil, and drawn by my companions and evil defires, I was always carried captive by them.

My mother infifted on my faying my prayers every night and morning at leaft; and fent me to be catechized by the minifter every Sunday. At fourteen years of age my parents fent me to the Bishop to be confirmed; and at fixteen they defired me to prepare to receive the bleffed facrament: for about a month before it, I retired from all vain company, prayed and read alone; whilft the Spirit of God fet home what I read to my heart. I wept much in fecret, was afhamed of my past life, and thought I would never spend my time on Sundays as I had done. When I approached the table of the Lord, it appeared fo awful to me that I was like to fall down, and as if I was going to the judgment feat of Christ. However very foon my heart was melted down like wax before the fire. These good impreffions continued about three months. For, I often thought "If I fin any more, I fhall have eat and drunk my own damnation, not difcerning the Lord's body.".

I broke off from all my companions, and retired to read on the Lord's day; fometimes into my chamber, at other times into the field; but very frequently into the church-yard, near which my father lived. I have spent, amongst the graves, two or three hours at a time, fometimes reading, and fometimes praying, until my mind feemed tranfported, in tafting the powers of the world to come. So that I verily believe, had I been acquainted with the Methodists at that time, I fhould have foon found remiffion of fins, and peace with God: but I had

not a fingle companion that feared God; all were light and trifling. Nay, I believe at that time the whole town was covered with darkness, and fat in the fhadow of death.

Having none to guide or direct me, the devil foon perfuaded me to take more liberty; and fuggefted that I had repented and reformed enough; that there was no need to be always fo precife; that there were no young people in the town did as I did; and that I might take a walk amongst them on Sundays in the afternoon without being wicked. I gave way to this fatal device of Satan, and by little and little, loft all my good defires and refolutions, and foon became weak as in times paft.

After this I became intimate with two young men that lived about a mile off, who were very often reading books that were entertaining to youth of a carnal mind; fuch as Ovid's Metamorphofes, and his Art of Love, &c. which foon had a tendency to corrupt and debauch my mind. Now religious books became taftelefs and infipid to me; my corruptions grew ftronger and ftronger, and the blessed Spirit being grieved, my propenfity to fin increafed more than ever.

I was fond of wrestling, running, leaping, football, dancing, and fuch like sports, and I gloried in them because I could excel moft in the town and parifh. At the age of twenty I was fo active that I feemed a compound of life and fire, and had fuch a flow of animal fpirits that I was never in my element, but when employed in fuch kind of sports.

About this time the Militia A&t took place; and I thought I would learn the manual exercife; and as we had no expectation of marching from home, it would be pretty employment for me at Eafter or Whitfuntide. Four persons were allotted to ferve in the Militia at the place of my nativity. One of them, a young man, was much afraid to go. I afked him what he would give me to take his place? He thought at firft I was only in jeft; but when he faw I was in earnest, he

gave all I asked, which was feven guineas. When my parents heard I was inlifted, they were almost diftracted, especially my father. I was greatly afflicted in my mind, when I faw my parents in fuch trouble on my account. At their defire, therefore, I went back to undo what I had done; but to no purpose: fo at the time appointed I was fworn in.

At the end of the year the Militia was called off to Manchefter, where we lay moft of the winter. While we lay here I was taken ill of a fever, and found myfelf horribly afraid of death; but when I recovered, my diftrefs foon wore off again. One night about nine o'clock juft as I was going to bed, I heard the drums beat to arms! We foon understood that an exprefs was come to town for our company to march imme diately to Liverpool; and that Thurot had landed at Carrickfergus, in Ireland. We were under arms immediately, marched all night, and arrived at Warrington about break of day, and at Liverpool the next evening.

My chief concern now was, for fear (if we should have an engagement) that my life and foul fhould be loft together; for I knew very well I was not prepared for death. The next fummer we were quartered at Chefler and Knutsford; and the winter following we lay at Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. This year I was often very miferable and unhappy. I well remember one day, when being exceedingly provoked by one of my comrades, I fwore at him two bitter oaths, by the name of God; (a practice I had not been guilty of.) Immediately I was, as it were, ftabbed to the heart by a fword. I was fenfible I had grievously finned against God, and stopped directly. I believe I never fwore another oath afterward.

[To be continued.]

An

An Account of the Death of Mr. WILLIAM M'CORNOCK: in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. WESLEY.

Rev. Sir,

Dominica, Aug. 12, 1789.

HOUGH I am not perfonally acquainted with you, I

THOUG

take the liberty of giving you an account of the de th of the late Mr. M'Cornock, a Miffionary fent hither last year by your order; and this liberty I take, through the refpect which I bear to his memory.

Shortly after his arrival in this Ifland, I met him about a mile from where I live, very much embarraffed with an unruly mule. I made my fervant to fix on well his faddle and bridle; after which Mr. M'Cornock mounted. I urged him to go home with me; but, as he had promifed to preach at Mr. Charrarier's, he went there directly.

Some time afterwards he came to fee me, and he exhorted the flaves here, which had great effect, for, they were greatly taken with him. His admonitions were very agreeable. He was as eafy in a houfe, as a young child. He was a fenfible and agreeable companion; and one I have reafon to regret very much. He has frequently fuffered very great infults in the town of Roffeau, when doing duty in a house he had rented for that purpofe. They were chiefly fea-faring people, and when they went away, he was undisturbed.

He was loved and liked by the better fort of people; efpecially thofe who were inclining to God. He went twice. or thrice to Prince Rupert's Ilead, about thirty miles from where I live, and generally went by water; but his last jaunt thither proved fatal to him. He bought a horfe, that he might flop with, and exhort the inhabitants on the road to Prince Rupert's Head. This was a moft fevere and fatiguing journey, especially for a gentleman not inured to the climate.

He

He caught a fevere bilious fever, and after he got to his journey's end, he continued preaching to, and exhorting the people there for about three days. Then he took to bed, and lay two days delirious, when our bleffed Lord took the dear man to himself. I rejoice for him at his happy change; but. regret for myself. I am too much affected to write as fully as my inclination dictates. I have the honour to be with great refpect, Rev. Sir,

Your fincere and very humble Servant,

JOHN CRUMP.

An Account of the Death of MATTHEW LAMPLOUGH.

A

BOUT twenty-two years ago he was convinced that he

was a loft finner, by the preaching of the Rev. Mr. J. From that time he was very zealous for God's caufe; and ufed his utmost power to get the Methodist Preachers to Garton, where he lived. Mr. Robertshaw was the first that came. At this time he was a poor fhepherd, and lived in a house which his mafter had built for him. But no fooner did he appear zealous for Jefus Chrift, and his caufe, than he threatened to turn him out of it, and faid, he would not be forry, if his houfe were burnt down, provided the Preacher and all the Methodists were burnt in it. Soon after his own dwelling houfe, in the day-time, in a moft unaccountable manner was set on fire and burned down. A gentleman (so called) threatened he would take up the next Preacher that came, and have him before a Magiftrate: but in about a month, it pleased God to call him to give an account of himself before his awful tribunal.

A cottage being to be fold for a small fum, M. Lamplough borrowed the money and bought it, got it licenced, and in spite of all opposers, encouraged the Preachers of the Gospel therein; though at that time he was very poor, having a wife

and