ing that to die would be gain; but with joyful expectation saying, "Lord Jesus, come quickly;" or by way of accommodation in the language of the text, "Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation." In performing that act of friendship, I ventured to adopt his own ideas, by endeavouring to shew that there were some characters to whom death would be an acceptable time; yea, that to those who are the children of God by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, it would be the day of salvation or deliverance. I had afterwards the pleasure of giving the right hand of fellowship to a person, to whose heart, I trust, the Holy Spirit attended the word with divine energy that solemn morning. I was then informed, that Mr. F. had left many things in MS. and the paper which contained the Introduction to the Narrative was put into my hand, to be returned to the family after the funeral, which was done accordingly; but I never saw the Narrative itself, till within these few months. Mrs. C. the only surviving daughter of Mr. F. has attended at our place of worship for the last two years; and in December 1807, she was enabled to follow the example of her parents, in making a public profession of faith in the sacred name of

Jesus, and is now a member of the church. She favoured me with the MS. which I read, with peculiar pleasure. I admired the hand of Divine Providence in his preservation, and I adored the exceeding riches of Jehovah's sove reign grace in his salvation.

In transcribing the Narrative, I have conscientiously preserved his ideas, and the style is to be considered as his own. I have taken the liberty to divide it into chapters, and at my request my valuable friend Mr. Rowles has added an Appendix. The utility and advantages of biography are generally acknowledged. I therefore entertain a pleasing hope, that while the Lives of Colonels Gardiner and Blackader, and the Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, and others, are read with advantage by persons in the higher circles of life, this account of Mr. George Foxwell, who served in the ranks of the British army, will be perused with real profit by the lower classes of society. It contains much to caution the thoughtless youth, to point out the bitter consequences of sin, particularly the evil of disobedience to godly parents. Also there is much to console and encourage the hearts of afflicted parents, to persevere in prayer

to God, for the conversion of such as have wandered from the path of virtue and rectitude. I now commit the whole into the hand of the Lord, earnestly praying that his blessing may attend the reading of it.

INTRODUCTION,

ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND.

SIR,

THE following Narrative is the production of a grateful sense of the distinguishing goodness of God manifested to me; and recorded in the first instance, to keep in remembrance those peculiar marks of divine favour, so often repeated, and so suitably adapted to my situation and circumstances. Though I cannot sufficiently speak of them to the glory of God, yet I wish to make it appear that it is the desire of my soul, like David, to tell those who fear his name, what he has done for my soul. I assure you, that although it is now long since I wrote these things, I seldom ever peruse them; but, I feel some of those emotions of soul, which I felt when I first experienced them; and happy should I be, could I live more correspondent with the obligations I am laid under to so good and gracious a God, who has done such great things

for me; but here is the source of my grief, and the principal disquietude of my mind, that I feel I cannot live in the present state, as I am convinced I ought to do; for when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Such are the effects of depraved nature, and such the prevalency of sin, that my soul is often brought into bondage thereby; and although it does not, nor cannot, destroy the foundation of my confidence, yet it frequently brings me to the footstool of mercy, crying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I have often thought it a peculiar privilege, that I could address the throne of grace under such a character with any degree of encouragement; but here lies the ground of my hope, and from hence spring my consolation and confidence in God. From the first moment my eyes were opened to see the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, and my heart opened to receive that salvation exhibited therein, for poor, lost, perishing sinners, through the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, I considered it as flowing to me from the fountain of everlasting love, through the channel of sovereign grace, and effected by the invincible power of Him, who created all things out of nothing, and by whose omnipotent arm they are upheld in