LETTER XXI.

“So I prophesied, as he commanded me, and the breath came into them.”

To —

I had heard and read much about the spread of the gospel in towns and villages, as well as in foreign climes, and magazines abounding with this information; but, in my travels, I cannot say I found it true. It may be the case, where I have not been. It is true, indeed, I found preaching and professing; but duty, faith, moral harangues, and Baxterian sentiments, were the greatest part of the preaching I could find. Both wise and foolish virgins all appeared to me to be asleep, except now and then a missionary meeting, when there did appear a little shaking amongst the dry bones; and dry enough they are; simple-hearted souls, resting on the piety and goodnessof their preachers, though their souls were starving for food; and others resting on their lees, never having been emptied from vessel to vessel; a wonderful outcry against Antinomianism, although one professor in thirty thousand can not tell what this frightful thing can be. This sad state of professors not a little affected my heart, and feeling the importance of truth, I desired to go forth to this host of Midian, and the army of the Moabites, as the Lord spake by the prophet, 2Kings, iii. “And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones, and so they did, only in her Kir-haraseth left they the stones thereof, but the slingers went about it, and smote it.” An alarm should be sounded in the streets of Zion. We are at present in the Sardian state of the church. When thousands have a name to live, but they are dead, and many of the Lord’s spiritual people are sunk in a deep sleep, surely it is high time to awake out of sleep, to arise from such deadly preaching; and professing. It is time to seek the Lord, until he come and rain righteousness upon you. I bless God for many visits in the country, notwithstanding all opposition, and the plans satan laid in every direction for my overthrow. A few years ago I was invited to a small village called Horsell, near Woking: here I preached several times, in a small hovel, which was the only place they had; and soon afterwards they built a chapel and founded a church, and are blest with the puregospel. At the same time I visited Woking and Chertsey, and found some blessed souls who were truly spiritual; and some who were the fruits Mr. Huntington’s ministry, and had been well brought up under the pastoral care of the truly excellent Mr. Merrit. Shortly afterwards, I was taken by a gentleman into Essex, and preached at C—. After the morning service I was invited to preach in the afternoon, it being a charity sermon for the school in that place. This a little affected me, when the children stood upon the forms, remembering when I was in like circumstances, while I pleaded their cause. Being intreated, I preached again in the evening; although I found,afterwards, it was a little out of order: this I did not know at the time, as the minister had to preach elsewhere—but it gave offence to him, which I was very sorry for; as the managers had unanimously invited me, I concluded it was mutual, and acted accordingly. I continued to preach, every evening, in the same place, except one, and the Word was blest to many; but much trouble arose in consequence of it, and many disputes about myself and my doctrine: but the Lord gave testimony to the Word of his grace, and those who were spiritual rejoiced for the consolation. I was again invited, but when I went down I was of course denied the use of the chapel. Guards were set to protect the place, lest the vast body of hearers should resolutely determine to enter; and had they been of that mind, they might easily have done it, as I was then informed that the holy menwho employed them, made themall* * * * *, but I had no notion of hostility. A gentleman opened his house for me, which was soon crowded. I advised them to obtain a barn, or any large place, rather than act in an unchristian-like manner, which was done immediately. I opened it on the Lord’s-day, and preached in it three times to a very large assembly. I continued there that week, and shortly after visited it again; the last day of which I laid the foundation of a new chapel, on St. John’s-green, and preached in the evening onGen.xxviii. 22—“And this stone, which I have now set, shall be God’s house; and of all that I receive I will give the tenth unto thee.” The people were exceedingly zealous and liberal. The place went up rapidly; but before its completion some disputes occurred amongst those who were engaged in it, which arose from spite on the part of some; and, to vex the other party, an objection was made to my coming down to open the chapel. A great deal of unpleasantry ensued, as a consequence, which was produced by an artful character, and attended with much grief. Both in town and country the plot took well, and another went to open it, who was less credit to them, in the issue, than I was. I had a most anxious desire to see the chapel, and to preach in it once, which was accomplished. A lady who had invited my daughter to spend a few weeks at her house in the town, requested I would come to see her; and, upon my arrival, many friends came to visit me. I exhorted in the parlour, and the next day was pressed by the friends to preach in thechapel. I accordingly solicited the use of the pulpit, for the evening, which was granted. The passage I was enabled to speak from, was—“He careth for you.” I felt extremely affected with a variety of ideas which crowded on my mind; the happy seasons I had experienced among them, the troubles they had been called to meet with on my account, and the thoughts, the solemn thoughts, that I should never see them more in this lower world, deeply impressed my heart. The next day I left the town, and earnestly prayed for them. My poor petitions were granted; the Lord has raised up a very faithful and deeply-taught preacher among them; a church is formed on the mixed Baptist plan, and God is with them. Many are very dear to my heart, and their kindness will never be forgotten by me,—nor the Lord neither, particularly the Messrs. A. H. L. and many more.

Some time after this I went to Lincoln, and to several places in Lincolnshire, where the Word was received; and I have heard from many what God had done by the preaching of the Word, through my feeble means. Many other places in the country the Lord has sent me to; also to Deptford, Greenwich, and some places near London.

The Lord will bless his own truth to his own people, by his own servants, and giving testimony to the word of his grace by the man, is a proof the man is a sent servant of God; as, on the contrary, the Lord says of some—“They ran, but I sent them not: therefore, they shall not profit this people atall”—where the Word is blest to precious souls it is an evidence of their being truly sent of God. “By their fruits ye shall know them; fruits of their ministry. Do men gather grapes off thorns, or figs off thistles?”—Even so every tree is known by its fruit; and this is a sure evidence to the people. So saith the Scripture,Ezek.xxiv.—“That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, and cause thee to hear it with thine ears, and thou shalt be a sign unto them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Yours, J. C.

“Each cherub of Jesus who preaches the Word,Shews the path-way that leadeth to life;The sixty that handle the spiritual sword,Attends both the Lamb and his wife.”[106]

“And the rains descended, and the floods came, and beat upon that house, and it fell not.”

To —

From the building of the chapel, for the first two years, all went on smoothly, all was prosperous and peaceable; we had set sail in the ship Adramytum, and the South wind blew softly; and having obtained this, we sailed too close by Crete. This soft wind and easy sailing is not very advantageous tospiritual mariners. Ease, popularity, and prosperity, will never do long for the believer or the Christian minister. Prayer, meditation, and temptation, or trouble, makes a good preacher; and where the former is neglected, or but slightly attended to, the Lord has always trouble in store to arouse him again.

The pilgrim’s seldom long at ease;When on fright’s gone another doth him seize.

Hence the following declaration—“If thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know in what hour I will come upon thee.” This is an address to the angel, the minister, and the church of Sardis. And I really think the description of that church exactly answered to our situation, as a church: I am sorry to odd, like most of the churches in the present day. This is too plain to be denied. Our summer’s day was soon clouded, an awful storm was foreboded by many, which at last fell upon us all: for, not long after, sailing by Crete, there arose a mighty wind, called Euroclydon; and when the ship was caught, and could not bear up to the wind, we let her drive, and running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat, and being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, and neither sun nor moon, nor stars, appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay out us, all hope of deliverance being taken away, we cast fair anchor out of the stern, and wished for the day; but falling into a place wheretwo seas met, they ran the ship aground, a part which was broken with the violence of the waves, but some other parts remained immoveable; yet, in God’s time we escaped to land; for, in the midst of the storm, some of as, in the confidence of faith, said, “We shall yet praise Him;” and though deep called unto deep, yet we knew the Lord would command his loving kindness in the day time: and even in that night his song was at times with us, and our prayer, unto the God of our lives; yet the sea wrought, and was tempestuous, till the Lord High Admiral of the Seas awoke and rebuked the winds and waves, and then there was a calm, for which we can never be too thankful. O for a heart to praise him who reigns over all his and our foes! In the year 1816 I began a course of lectures on Paul’s voyage, which required a great deal of attention, and a little more ingenuity than I ever possessed. Soon after this, alas! we were brought experimentally to understand the subject; and though we all rejoiced in the explanation and mystical sense, as it was explained, yet, neither myself nor the congregation much liked the experimental part. It is very easy to preach and hear of storms, but when we really feel them, we are ready to exclaim, “I pray thee have me excused.” Nature ever did, and ever will, rebel against the cross. Although faith sees it needful, for a season, to be under temptations, no trial can come by chance, nor does affliction spring from the ground, but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards; afflictions are of Divine appointment, not to make anatonement for sin, nor to eradicate sin from the body, but they are as useful as medicines to the body, and though painful, yetafterwardsthey yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them which are exercised thereby, no matter who the instruments are, nor what they are called, nor what end they have in view. What God aims at is to teach us wisdom; to try our faith, and that we may try him and find him faithful; to wean us from this present evil world; to let us know what is in our hearts; to display his power, love, wisdom, and faithfulness; and, at last, to break down this earthly tabernacle, and bring the souls of his redeemed to their eternal inheritance. And this is well. Surely every Christian must say

I know in all that has befel,My Jesus has done all things well.

I am sometimes grieved that the Lord’s tried people are so much prone to look at second causes, and rebel against or resent the instruments which afflict them; it is a mercy to be enabled to forgive, freely, fully, and sincerely, those who, frombad motives, attempt to injure us; for this conduct we have the very best of examples. O for grace to imitate them. I do believe that neither priest nor Levite, neither professor or profane, had any other motives in opposing me for so many years, but what have arisen from ignorance, envy, and hatred to truth. I speak now of those who have been so longendeavouring to injure me in the estimation of the public.[110]I speak not of the excellent laws of the country. God forbid. I have always, in public and in private, spoken well of them; and if I transgressed any one law, I have as much right to suffer the penalty of that law as any other man, and more so—but I am now speaking of those gentlemen of the cloth who have endeavoured to degrade me, both in doctrine and conduct: blessed be God they have failed. “Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me, saith the Lord.” I consider all that these have done has beenspite, and I prove it thus. How many erroneous preachers, and abominable in their conduct, have appeared since I came first into the same neighbourhood? Why not oppose them also? Why not watch their conduct—belabour them in the pulpit—make them the subject matter of preaching (for want of better matter)—search out their real or supposed faults—call committees on the subject—expend large sums of money—publish, print, circulate—run from county to county—employ the vilest vassals to carry on their nefarious conspiracies—I say, why not others become the subjects of their spleen? And even some amongst themselves, great advocates for what they choose to call practical godliness, who have been drenched in sensuality, some of whom have been exposed to the public—why not use them as they have me? I only appeal to every thinking mind, whether their cruelty could arise from any thing butspite. It cannot arise from my doctrine itself, but their wilful ignorance of it, perversionof it, or hatred to it. What is my doctrine, but—

That every believer being delivered from the law, as a covenant of works, and having the love of God shed abroad in his heart, loves every law of God, with all hisrenewed heart, his mind, and strength.

If this is the doctrine I preach, and I preach no other, can it be justly condemned as being against the law? Surely not. And as I have stated this as a solemn truth, that I preach no other doctrine, I only ask the reader, once more, must not my religious enemies be most awful liars, who have borne such false witness against me, upon this subject? As to the general term used—the moral law a rule of life—I do not choose to use the term, and why? Because no man in this world can make common sense of it; it is a common hacknied phrase in the mouth of every pharisaic professor, but the words will not bear an investigation. I only ask an explanation of the term. Why should I make use of words I do not understand? From my enemies I demand an explanation of it. I have read volumes of the controversy on both sides, but no onehas, for no one can, explain the term. I know a certain Baptist preacher, who compels all his newly-received members to declare, they believe the moral law is a rule of life for believers; and, poor things, they are obligated in their weakness, to acknowledge this, which neither themselves nor preacher can understand. How can it be a rule for a Baptist? Do the ten commandmentssay any thing about Baptism; about the Lord’s Supper; about singing of psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs; or godly conversation, or forgiveness of others; or any of their church rules? Not a word. How, then, can it be a rule for a Baptist, who is bound to attend to the rules of his own society, or even of my principal adversary; does it command him to read orchauntprayers? Has it prescribed gowns or bands, or singers, or organs? Does the moral law teach him to belie, ridicule, and use his utmost to injure his neighbour, or run to consult counsellors, to know how he can get rid of Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate; or once to be zealous for truth, and now to wink at error? I think not. I leave this to his conscience. I demand, if the moral law is a rule of life, why transgress the fourth commandment, by labour and rest on the first day of the week, instead of the seventh? If a rule, why do they not keep it? I am only objecting to the term; but, beloved, abide then in Christ and his Word; and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them.

“And set up false witnesses, which said, this man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.”

In my last to you I have only objected to the mere obsolete and unmeaning phrase—the moral law a believer’s rule of life. I beg you to bear in mind, I do not say it is not a rule, but I maintain it is an insufficientrule of conduct for a believer under the gospel dispensation. If it had been a sufficient rule, why all the laws of Christ given as set forth in the preceptive parts of the New Testament? The doctrine of the gospel are the rules of our faith, and the precepts delivered to the churches, the rules of our conduct: this is a truth which cannot be overthrown—for asserting the above, it is surprising the enmity of the advocates of the law of Moses, as they call themselves, manifest against those who differ from them; yea, they would persecute them to bonds and to death. This is evident in the life of the late truly experimental, devout, and faithful Mr. W. Huntington, a man truly devoted to God; nor could his vigilant enemies find a single fault in his moral deportment, although they tried for it all his days; those serpents were disappointed of their food in this particular; God blessed and kept him—owned his message to thousands; and, while the Lord has a church upon earth, most of his writings will be of signal service to God’s own family; yet he was made the butt of spite and malice, ridicule, and contempt; nor could the rage of an empty professor be ever so excited, than to hear of persons attending his ministry; workmen and servants discharged from their situations by great professors; wives, husbands, neighbours, and relations, persecuting each other on this account; pastors cutting off members without mercy, when they had been starved under their ministry, and went in search of food under the ministry of that man of God. Preachers, when sadlyoff for a subject, had only to introduce the frightful Antinomian, and this filled up the time. A very rev. gentleman loaded him with every ill-natured and low-life name he could; like Esau of old, whose conduct is strongly reprobated in the book ofObadiah, to which I must refer you. This elder brother fled from town to town, place to place, and house to house, to oppose, traduce, misrepresent, and vilify the Lord’s servant; but, as Mr. H. was a brother in Christ, in the faith of the gospel, and the love of the Spirit, sad must be the state of that man who manifests such hatred? See the epistles ofJohn, then draw an inference. What a mercy for us, who are dubbed Antinomians, that the civil sword is not in the hands of these Balaams;[114]you may partly judge how they would serve such asses as we are. It is a good remark I have met with—the name Antinomian, we view as a kind of scare-bird, which the devil hangs up in the pulpits of hypocrites, on purpose to keep the Lord’s doves from flying to their windows; and it has happened to this figure, as it often does to an image set up in a cherry-tree, it will frighten the birds for a while, but when the little creatures come to discover the cheat, you will see them sit upon the head of it. But why all this opposition? Take it in Mr. H.’s own words, in his “Essay on Divine Law,” p. 275.

“The good man who has distinguished himself as my godfather, and who has palmed the name ofAntinomian upon me, and upon all that are in connection with me, and who has, without intermission, slandered and loaded we with reproach for five and twenty years, is an evangelist of the first magnitude; though I never spoke to him but once in my life. He is most exceeding zealous for the law of Moses, and of its being the only rule of life for believers. My not holding this assertion has filled him with all this holy indignation against me; that, although he often forgets his text, and sometimes loses himself, even in the pulpit, yet he never forgets nor loses sight of the filthy Antinomian; and he is so violent for his own holiness and sanctification, that he would be glad to send me to the devil, in defence of it. And I doubt not but the Lord has set him at this work to ripen him, as was the case when he bid Shimei curse David, that God might curse him. And I am as fully persuaded as David was, ‘That the Lord will requite me good for his cursing.’ 2Sam.xvi. 12. He has called me a spiritual monkey, a spiritual blackguard; confessing that, if he was to see the devil flying away with me, he could not find in his heart to cry, ‘stop thief!’ believing the devil had only got his own property. And he has publicly confessed there are three creatures in this world that his pious soul hates; namely, the devil, Dr. Priestley, and Huntington; but that he hates Huntington the worst of the three. Part of this is true, and part false. It is true that he hates Huntington; but the other two have received no damage by him in any thing. And I may say of my godfather as the prophet says of Jacob’s brother, that, ‘He did pursuehis brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever.’—Amos, i. 2. My reader may believe me when I say, that I esteem his indignation and his reproach a greater treasure to me than either his affections or his prayers; for we are to be hated of all men, and especially of all such men, for Christ’s name sake.—Matt.x. 22. And this is so far from offending me, that I am pleased with it, and make myself merry at the reports of his zeal, which hath almost eaten him up; and he may go on, for his whole warfare is in defence of his own honour; and the more the Lord enlarges me, the more he is enlarged also.”

Again, p. 296—

“I wish these gentlemen would lay by the old thread-bare text, which is of their own forging, and give us a few practical discourses upon the law, shewing us how to love God, and love to the neighbours fulfils it; for, ‘On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’—Matt.xxii. 40. And again; ‘Therefore all things, whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.’ This last text would try my pious godfather to the quick; for, although he is so very fond of calling others blackguards, yet he cannot bear it himself. If others were to pursue him for twenty-five years, as he has chased me, and work him out of every pulpit, loading him with charges of error, loose living, deceiving sinners, &c. &c. all of which, and in a language equal to that of Billingsgate, his pious soul has thought fit to heap upon me; I say, were othersto treat him so, he would weep like a child, fawn like a cat, and run to every counsellor in London to plead his cause, and appeal to the world in behalf of his innocency and the respectability of his family. Preachers that have nothing to stand upon but the testimony of hypocrites, and the applause of fools, can bear but little of this sort of scandal; for their sandy foundation soon gives way, and, not being able to face either God or conscience in the closet, they are sure to go down; and, ‘Woe to him that is alone when he falleth.’ However, if these laws of retaliation are not put into practice by my pious godfather aforesaid, I have no doubt but the Law giver will put them in full force himself, according to his own promise; ‘For with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye meet it shall be measured to you again.’—Matt.vii. 2. He has not only loaded me with reproach and scandal himself; but being a man noted for wisdom, experience, and soundness of doctrine, he is much looked up to, and therefore others have been emboldened to join him in the same work.”

All this opposition to that late man of God was undeserved; nor should I have introduced the subject, but only to shew how far the rage of man may go in his false zeal for the law[117]in these professing times. As it respects myself, I would to God I had been like Mr. H. in almost every branch of myconduct; it would have saved me many a painful and distressing hour. However, it is evident the hand of God brought me into this neighbourhood, and has kept me many years amidst so many storms; my enemies themselves being judges. Our music and dancing has indeed offended our elder brethren,Lukexv. who boast they never transgressed the commandment at any time; yet their pride of heart is not a little mortified in beholding the hand of God towards me. God declared to the pharisaic Jews—“By a foolish nation will I anger you.” This is the case now; what I have erred in at any time is matter of the deepest grief to my heart, and I will most readily confess it before God, and if there were any necessity for it, I would to the church of God, in this little work; but there is no occasion for that, as every believer feels the sin of hisownheart to be a plague and a sore—yet prudence dictates to himnot to acknowledge it. Nevertheless I have no authority to confess or acknowledge what I never did—what I never was guilty of.Reader,would you? With all the faults with which the believer is guilty, as a sinner in Adam, he never does, he never can sin, that grace may abound. He cannot sin as a believer; when he sins at all, it is not upon the free-grace principles of the gospel. God forbid; these teach him to denyallungodliness, but to his grief he carries about with him a body of sin; and the scriptures declare there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. In many things, said the holyJames, we all offend, and the venerable,aged, and holyJohn, says the same—“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” If the saints of old were free from sin and sinning, what can all their confessions, groans, tears, and sighs mean? And if my opponents, who have represented me so bad so many years, are themselves quite innocent, quite holy, or pure—how can they daily read the church service, in her general confession, litany, collects, communion service, and, indeed, throughout the whole. I say not this to encourage sin—to charge me with this, is to charge the whole Word of God with it. Foolish worldlings, who can be no judges of what either constitutes or characterises a Christian, vainly suppose that to be a Christian is in every respect to be a spotless person: and surely this is the wish of a Christian; this is the desire of his heart—but who upon earth ever attained it—none but the Divine Saviour. The Lord grant us increasing conformity to his own image. Amen. I have sometimes reflected upon the various enemies I have had, and am surrounded with now, who are every day waiting, watching, and longing for my halting, as inJeremiah, xx. 10th verse.—“For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side.—Report, say they, and we shall report it; all my enemies watched for my halting, saying, peradventure, he will be enticed, and we will prevail against him.” But who are they? Perhapssomepious, mistaken, good-meaning people, to whom I have been misrepresented—someenvious, pharisaic preachers and professors, who in heart hate the truth, as it is inJesus, and long for an opportunity to degrade it, by the bad conduct of some who profess it.Some, hypocrites, who are secretly living in diabolical sins; these are anxious to catch hold of some fault, on purpose to harden their own hearts in sin, and ripen themselves for hell.—Some, worldlings, either to furnish themselves with matter for ridicule against religion—or to gain something by it, as many have gained many pounds by coming forth to curse Israel. But enough of this. A little more than four years rolled away, while the enemy took breath. We were so quiet, that my name did not, for a long time, occur in the daily papers; yea, they had forgotten me in the “Sunday News.” I was as a dead man, almost out of mind: but this did not last long. As God had new mercies in store for me, so he had also new trials and new deliverances.

Yours, J. C.

Of his deliverance I will boast,Till all who are distrest,From my example comfort take,And charm their griefs to rest.

“He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? The morning cometh, and also the night.”

To —

I think there are very few serious troubles befal us, but God is pleased to give us some intimation oftheir approach; so I have frequently found it, either by uncommon joys or remarkable impressions, and very often by dreams, and these repeatedly. I know this last idea will expose me again to the contempt of heedless characters; but it is written—“God speaketh once, yea twice, though man perceiveth it not.” However, many have found it too true. God spoke so to Joseph, to the butler, and baker, in prison; to Pharaoh, and to many others of old, and I am fully persuaded he speaks to us. Not that dreams have any thing to do with salvation business; although I am fully persuaded that the Lord has often first imprest many of his people with awful dreams, which have led them to a serious concern about their souls; and no doubt given them warning of approaching troubles: so I found it. I dreamed, one night, that a vast number of young scorpions, or small serpents, were crawling about the floor of the chapel; this at first alarmed me, but by my feet I crushed all but two, which fled to the very seat which was occupied by ******* and another. These I could not destroy, which left a painful sensation on my mind. When I awoke, I knew, at least I judged, some calamity was approaching; nor was I deceived. A gentlewoman soon after called upon me—she appeared very dejected; I enquired the cause, when she informed me she was sure some direful trial would shortly befal me. I asked why she thought so? Only from the repetition of her dream—which was, that she saw a cat, while I was in the pulpit, clasp me round the neck, and saluteme; but, as she departed, she tore my neck and throat in so awful a manner that all were frightened who saw it. I told her it was but a dream; but she said she was sure it was of God, as the sad event proved. Shortly after this, I was invited to sleep at a friend’s house, which I did; but the second night, being indisposed, and having to meet the committee after service, the hour being late, I was advised and pressed not to go there; yet I knew I was expected, and being entreated, I complied. On my road a most unaccountable sensation seized me, and, as though a hand touched me, a voice, at the same time, seemed to say, “Do not go to-night.” I made an apology to the party I was with, by saying I would see them to the door, and then return home; but nothing would avail. O that I had followed the impressions. Shortly after this night, I heard a strange rumour, which produced a great deal of uneasiness. Evil reports were circulating; but, as if some strange infatuation had seized me, I took little notice of it, yet I thought it strange. These words came to me: “Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.” Yet I was conscious I had done nothing worthy of death or of bonds, so that I was still inflexible. Many gossips, through the rumour, continually plagued the party, which did me infinite injury. Several gentlemen from the chapel waited on him, to whom he read a deposition, which containednothing criminal in my conduct; and, having gained this satisfaction, the matter rested where it was for nine or ten weeks. The gloomy month of November arrived, which brought my old adversary to town; and soon after a friend called on me, and gave me the painful information that he had seen the above party, with my accuser, at the Public Hall, and being informed it was concerning me, he thought it right to apprize me of it.

This was the severest blow I ever felt in my life. I immediately procured counsel; and, without being seat for, appeared. The statement was made, an assault was declared, bail was put in, and it was bound over to quarter sessions. This was soon spread. Now a shower of papers, placards, and pamphlets came pouring over me; the congregation thrown into trouble; my family in the deepest distress of mind, and my feelings racked beyond description—while thousands rejoiced in the day of our calamity. But it is written—“He that is glad at calamity shall smart for it.” Mark this. I must remind you also of the lamentation of the church.—1Lament.21: “They have heard that I sigh, all mine enemies have heard of my trouble, they are glad that thou hast done it; thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.” How did the Phillistines now rejoice, supposing that the ark was taken, but the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment. Great troubles were in the church, and “for the division of Reuben there were great searchings of heart,” but those who were at ease in Zion were notgrieved for the afflictions of Joseph.”—Amos, vii. Many paltry scribblers issued forth their rubbish like insects from the mud of Nile; and I was the song of the drunkards.

But I cannot here forget the goodness of God, who helped me in the day of trouble. I constantly preached and administered the ordinances. The Lord kept all peaceable without and within; thousands looked on and wondered, as they do to this day. To add to my calamity, I entrusted my affairs to a very injudicious old lawyer, who, to answer his sordid purposes, advised me to carry this cause to a higher court: this was only adding affliction to my bonds. I knew but little about courts of law, so that I was led, hoodwinked, into this business.

One year and three months rolled away in this trouble. During this time I wrote a letter to a friend, who carried it to my opposers, and although couched in the most friendly terms respecting themselves, yet they had the cruelty to bring forth that letter to my hurt, another day. This was devilish, indeed: the learned judge mistaking the religious sense of the letter, supposed that I meant it as a contempt of the just laws of the country—God forbid. No, no; it was a private letter to a friend, in which I meant, that any injury done to a child of God, maliciously,[124]would one day be resented. But this was not treating the laws of the country withcontempt. I ever maintained, that if the holiest Christian upon earth has violated the laws of his land, he has a just right to endure the penalty.—Never, surely, did a poor creature suffer so much in mind, with any outward calamity, as I did. And what for? Some cried one thing, some another. About this time I changed my situation: many advised me to leave the country; and, as I was placed in circumstances, I could have paid my bail, and lived comfortably in another land. But why should I flee? In this circumstance I asked advice of the Lord, who graciously answered me—“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” On God’s Word I relied, and found him faithful.

Yours, J. C.

“Their adversaries said, we offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord.”—Jer.l. 7.

To —

No doubt the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. If so, we hardly know how to blame the apostle Paul in his conduct, as recorded inActs, xxv.—When brought before Festus, he appealed to a higher court—“I appeal unto Cæsar;” then said Festus, “Hast thou appealed unto Cæsar? to Cæsar thou shalt go.” Here the apostle had two years’ imprisonment, and at last suffered martyrdom; although, in the lower court, he might have been set at liberty.

It is the privilege of Englishmen that they may carry their causes to higher courts; although it was not attend with much good to me, it was granted and the best of counsel retained. While this was pending many and great were the anxieties of thousands respecting my future destiny; nor could I be happy. This procrastination of the trial, and sentence of decision, was in much mercy, as the mind was borne down with trouble, company was a burden, and I longed to retire from observation and all society. This prepared my mind, gradually, for the event; but it was a suitable season for observation. I watched the motions of many, and while upon the watch-tower, these words came into my mind—“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed:” and so it was. While many of the Lord’s people were deeply affected, every sensible and pious character felt exceedingly for the afflicted church, and daily prayed for us, especially some ministers of respectability: while the meaner sort of preachers not only rejoiced, but used their exertions to injure me, some of whom I formerly had it in my power to punish, but I never did; I fully, freely forgave them. From March to July I resided a little way from town, and passed as pleasant a time as circumstances would permit; only my old plague of a lawyer was continually hunting me for money, under some pretence or another. I beg leave here to advise all persons labouring under any sore calamity, to employ a respectable attorney at once, it will be less expence at the end; and generally the most safe way.

Every thing was against me, the floods lifted up their voice, the floods lifted up their waves; and, if the Lord had not supported my mind, at times, I must have been quite overwhelmed.

Assize time came, and now all was bustle; had an emperor been going to be tried for his life, surely there could not have been much more confusion, disputes, meetings, opinions, hopes, fears, and griefs, sincerity and hypocrisy; but I, partly knowing the mind of God, was prepared for the event. The committee who had met and consulted so many times before against me, and whose names, or rather characters, were old Uzzah, Hananiah, Coriah, Jannes, and Jambres, Phygelles, Hermogenes, Hymenius, and Alexander the coppersmith; Demetrius the silversmith; Sceva, Sanballat, and Tobiah, Geshem, and Doeg the Edomite; Shethar, Boznai, Rabshakeh, Nergal, Shrezar, Samgar, Nebo, Rab Saris, and Rab Mag,[127]and Haman; a noble company truly! assembled in a certain street, at the Dung Gate,Nehemiah, iii. 14; or rather the religious manufactory. These rulers of Babylon, being men of power, might, and influence, now exerted themselves, and although some are so miserable as to grudge themselves and families the common necessaries of life, yet they freely parted from their money on this veryimportantoccasion. I have heard, and believe, they used their personal influence with *****, and others,others the most respectable amongst them, wrote to the learned Artaxerxes, as in days of old—seeEzra, iv. 6 to 16; mark—the persons who wrote the letter, thy servants on this side theriver Thames—verse 11. On Friday I delivered my address to the people, fromPsalmcxxx. 1. Saturday, during the trial, I shut up myself from all society, and gave myself up to the will of God; and, by prayer and supplication, sought his supporting hand. The trial ended as was generally supposed it would. How could it be otherwise? The lie that was told—the mistake of the design of the letter—the country at large could not avoid prejudice, as the nation was inundated with a strong tide of pamphlets and newspapers, for weeks together; my witnesses were nothing—onehad forgot, and theothercould not remember;[128]my old lawyer had not prepared half the defence to offer to counsel, although he had been so well paid for it; the trial closed, and I lost the day: and, how great was the joy of thousands that I had never injured; but they all had an end to answer. The grief of my best wishers was great, and surely we all felt the blow most keenly. This gave full scope for opposition,—now, once more, the tide of scribbling rose, the sound of horns rushing through every street, Sunday-morning papers were eagerly embraced, posts running to and fro, hundreds running to stages with papers for country friends; but, amidst all, I felt the supporting presence of God, which, Iam confident, my triumphant foes did not, nor his approbation neither. My public labours were now nearly laid aside. I met the congregation in private, and delivered many addresses to them. I resided at this time a little way from town, and here the few that knew me treated me with civility: but, one evening, we were thrown into confusion by a vast mob assembling before the house, with rough music, an infamous placard, and a frightful figure, intended as an effigy of me; a large fire was soon kindled, and it was burnt before the door. After a few shouts were raised, they departed. Application was made to a magistrate for redress, but in vain. Some, for less crimes, would have taken away the licence of the house they met at; but I say no more. This was attended with some good to me. It opened another door in providence, in which I was enabled to see my friends. The above circumstance hurt my mind a little; but, in answer to prayer, these words came into my mind—“Fear not, no man shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I am with thee.”

As to burning my effigy, I found they had done that to some good men, whose shoe latchets I am not worthy to loose. Mr. Huntington relates, in his “Naked Bow of God,” page 280—“However, our adversaries meeting with more encouragement than us, we were attended home by them, with their hats adorned with ribbons; and, on their arrival, the whole parish appeared in triumph: the bells were immediately rung, and my little cottage was beset on all sides. My effigy then was made and burnt, a blasphemous harangue delivered, as a funeralsermon, over this figure of straw and rags, and abominable impudence was sung in imitation of a funeral anthem. Upon this one and all cried out, they were for the High Church; and, indeed, none could properly doubt of that, who saw the height of their wickedness; for, had they been Turks, or Pagans, they would have been ashamed of such conduct.”

I acknowledge this treatment was for preaching the gospel; and I beg leave also to remark, that had I not preached the gospel, there would never have been so much opposition to me. But some of my holy adversaries in the religious world justify such unscriptural means; and, in order to put a gloss on their cruelty, will tell you it is done for the lord’s honor.

The excellent laws of the country have a just right to punish offenders; but it is our mercy the sword is not in the hands of certain reverends, or else woe be to those whom their reverences choose to denominate Antinomians. Such priests and levites not only pass by a poor man that has fallen amongst thieves, but they cruelly cast heavy stones at him, and employ others to do the same. I beg leave here to present you with an account of the same persecuting spirit that actuated a mob at Richmond, in the year 1774. Take the circumstance as related in the “Gospel Magazine,” page 214, vol. I.—

“Monday evening last, a most numerous mob assembled, each with a bludgeon in his hand, and Mr. B— at their head, to the no small terror of our friends, some of whom B— abused very much,and even declared he would shortly hang their very persons up before their own doors. They went in procession through the town, with one C—, in heavy fetters, whom they named rev. R. H. They proceeded to a mock trial of him for defrauding a linen-draper of £200. After they had condemned him to be hanged on the Wednesday following, they ordered him to be chained down, &c. They went to several houses, where they had beer and money given them. I believe they did not go to the honorable magistrate’s house, nor will I dare to say that his clerk gave them any money, yet he has been very busy in those affairs at times. On Wednesday evening they assembled again, with the culprit in the cart, in the exact posture of an actual criminal going to be hanged; a book in his left hand, his eyes lifted up to heaven, and saying a blasphemous prayer as he went along. They proceeded to the meeting-house, opposite to which a gallows was erected in the morning, where, after singing a hymn, and offering up a blasphemous prayer, the culprit was turned off, with the rope about his arms, though some will have it that the effigy only was hung up, yet I think I can believe my eyes beyond what they say. They swore that if any of the Methodists came there they would have their blood. We hope that some effectual methods will be taken against them; for I do assure you, Sir, till something be done, we are not safe in our beds; our houses are often attacked in the night, and we are not safe as we go to business, in open day, by reason of large stones being thrown at us, aswe walk the streets. I believe, if we were rebels, or had betrayed our country we should be more valued here than we are now; and that only because we would meet to worship our God, honour our king, pray for him and his, and wish peace and prosperity to our country, &c.”

But God meant that unto good; for, a little while after, in the same magazine, we read, page 311—

“Sunday last, the young man who was desperately wounded, in protecting some of the audience from the insults of the rabble, at Richmond, publicly renounced the errors of the Church of Rome, at the Methodist meeting-house in that town, and embraced the Protestant Faith, as held by the Established Church of England.”

What a mercy to be protected in our civil and religious privileges! God be praised for a Protestant king and parliament, and for the excellent laws of our land. Amen and amen,

Yours, J. C.

“And thou shalt go even to Babylon, and there shalt thou be delivered.”—Micah, iii. 9 to close.

To —

The painful business was now to be brought to a final issue. I judged, before-hand, how it would terminate—as these words followed me wherever I went—“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came to him.”The decision was appointed for the 6th of November; but, in consequence of the death of the much-lamented Princess Charlotte, it was postponed. A more gloomy month, I think, I never knew, especially the 18th when the solemn church bells minutely tolled for that amiable character’s funeral.

On Sunday morning, the 23rd, I preached my farewell sermon, onMicah, vii.—“Rejoice not against me, Oh, mine enemy; though I fall, I shall rise; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light unto me.” I bade an affectionate farewell to my friends, nor did I prove a false prophet, as thousands have witnessed. Samson’s locks have grown again, and John the Baptist has risen from the dead.

The next day, in God’s strength, I went to Westminster-hall, and received my sentence. I had provided many things to address the court with, and could have put in fifteen affidavits, but I was advised by counsel not to speak a word, but quietly submit to the sentence, which I did; and, as soon as it was passed, my heart was at liberty, which it had not experienced for one year and three months before.—Newspapers and scribblers have asserted, it was pronounced to the great joy of the court, and gave great satisfaction;—but, if a rude rabble can be called a court, I am mistaken. And, alas! what is noisy breath! the applause of such mortals! when only about three weeks after, the same rabble had the daring impudence to hiss the very judge, on the same spot, in the matter of Hone! As in days ofold, when the public cried “Hosanna!” one day, and in four days more, “Crucify him, crucify him!” So much for public applause or resentment.

In some cases we may truly say—

Careless, myself, a dying man,Of dying man’s esteem;Happy, O God, if thou approve,Though all the world condemn.

I arrived safe at Achor Vale, and glad enough I was to rest from the long strife. I was delivered from the noise of the archers, the sounding of the mountains, and the horns of rams blown by goats, the braying of asses, and the grumbling of bears.

A variety of select portions of scripture, which had been applied to me some time before, came seasonably into my mind, and I found the Lord faithful to his word.

The idea of a prison had often struck me with horror; but I have always found, through many changes, we want a mind to our situation—as we shall never get a situation fully to our minds till we get to heaven. When I arrived, every fear respecting my treatment was banished; gloomy as it had appeared, all was to the contrary. I was received with the greatest civility by the unhappy company I met with there. A young man who had been an officer’s servant, proffered his services to wait on me, and rendered me very comfortable. The kind governor gave me one of the best rooms, and permitted me to have every convenience for sleeping I could desire, and all the books I chose to send for.—This alleviated my mind; and, altogether, at times I was nearly distracted with grief, the Lord held me up, kept me in my senses, and blest me in my soul.

I cannot help here remarking, that, many months previous to this, I had dreamed of the very room I was put into, with the kind attention of my wife, who had not long been dead at the time I had the dream, and which was, I believe, two years before the trouble took place. But this was allotted to another, who was very kind and attentive on that painful occasion. A variety of most distressing thoughts, at times, overwhelmed me. A separation from the house of God, the perplexities of the church, the hypocrisy of some of the preachers, the grief of my family, the loss of liberty, the company around me, the joy of my foes, and fearing the truth should suffer by my supposed and reported faults, with the length of time appointed me—these things, it was natural to suppose, must have created the most poignant distress. The many months before me seemed so many years; but this led me to reflect on an eternity of joy or woe, the final doom of the righteous and the wicked.Eternity!Eternity!—a pleasing and dreadful thought. This brought to my mind the solemn description of eternity, us written by the excellent Ralph Erskine, in his “Description of the Misery of the Wicked.” “Gospel Sonnets,” p. 62.—

“Ah I must I live in torturing despair,As many years as atoms in the air;When these are spent, as many thousands more,As grains of sand which crowd the ebbing shore;When these are done, as many yet behind,As leaves of forest, shaken with the wind;When these are done, as many to ensue,As stems of grass on hills and dales that grew;When these run out, as many on the march,As starry lamps that gild the spangled arch;When these expire, as many millions more,As moments in the million, past before;When all these doleful years are spent in pain,And multiplied by myriads again?—’Tis numbers drown the thought. Could I suppose,That then my wretched years were at a close,This would afford some ease; but, ah! I shiver,To think upon the dreadful sound—for ever.”

But, as interested in the love of God, pardoned by the great atonement, and justified by the meritorious obedience of the adorable God-man Mediator; called out of darkness, and divinely influenced and kept by the power of God, the holy making Spirit, we shall enjoy a long, a blest eternity of joy, at the right hand of God. The thought is delightful. What will the joy be?—Hold out faith and patience.

Yours, truly, J. C.

“Like these good figs, will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for their good.”

To —

The eventful history of the church of Israel is very striking and important.Loved,chosen in Egypt,delivered, brought into a desert wilderness; yet maintained miraculously, screened, preserved, brought through the Jordan of trouble into the promised land; enemies falling before them; privileged with the symbols of the Divine presence, and kept by Divine power.

How very important is the language of Moses on this subject. He found him in a desert land, and in a waste howling wilderness; he led him about; he instructed him; he kept him as the apple of his eye; but, alas! what a rebellious, unbelieving, perverse, fretful, and ungrateful people, prone to idolatry, negligent, and disobedient: such, alas! am I.

Reader, what say you of your own heart? Is it not too much your case? After all that God hath done for you, have you not cause, as well as me, to take shame and confusion of face to yourself? On this account God resented the idolatry of that people. Invaded by the Assyrians, and at last led away captive to Babylon. This last was an awful blow to them: yet they were commanded to submit to the stroke; and those who did not, were to perish in some awful way, which they did, as related in the prophecy ofJeremiah. But those that escaped the sword were ordered to go and submit to God’s sentence, by bowing to the king of Babylon’s yoke. The Lord promised to be a little sanctuary to them, even in their captivity; and hence, although they suffered such privations, the Lord was with them; supported, kept, preserved, and blest themthere. Surely I discover the analogy; I have been dealt within a similar way. I mention it to my own shame and the glory of Divine goodness, which I have experienced all my days; and especially in my captivity. Although my troubles were small, considering my situation, yet my mind was very frequently racked with my affairs without. Some only came to visit me out of mere curiosity; others to mortify my feelings; quite forgetting the Divine prohibition—“Oppress not the poor, nor the afflicted in the gate.”

Some of the preachers who occupied the pulpit were very treacherous; and one poor creature had the daring impudence to declare the Lord had often told him, that I should never return to preach in that pulpit again—but it is evident he was a lying prophet, as I have preached in that pulpit and place above 1200 times in less than four years since. We had many such prophets and prophetesses, but, as they ran without being sent, they soon ran themselves out of breath.

Fearing I should die, I set my house in the best order I could. To those of whom I was obliged to borrow money in trouble, I sent or willed an equivalent, which eased my mind, and gave them satisfaction. My family was also disposed of; my eldest daughter was with her mother-in-law, assisting her, and receiving education and domestic improvement. My youngest was in the care of the very dear and kind friends, who had brought her up free of expence to me; which is friendship indeed—the most pure and disinterested, perhaps, to be found in this lower world. My eldest son was at boarding-school,comfortably maintained; and my dear afflicted boy, well known to you, and beloved by all that knew him was principally in the care of our old and faithful servant, at home.

I remember reading of good Mr. Bunyan, while in prison; how his poor mind was at times troubled about his family, especially his dear blind daughter; but the Lord supported them all, till his deliverance. Thus the Lord dealt kindly with me, in this instance, although I shed thousands of tears about them.

Some severe trials came on me shortly after my incarceration in this valley of Achor. The recognizances had not been withdrawn from the court; and, as I was paying the debt of the law, no acquaintance of mine knew any thing about such an affair—and as my solicitor, I should suppose, must have known the rules of the Court of King’s Bench, I was grieved he did not attend to this essential point, as I gave him ten pounds, only two days before my confinement, to settle all matters in the court, which he neglected to do; the consequence was, the gentlemen who were bail for me, were troubled for the money: this really hurt my feelings worse than all the troubles I had met with—but an able attorney made application to the court, and settled it with very little expence. I judge it expedient that I should mention this, to give information to any that may fall into like circumstances; for I really knew no more of law than the servant of the prophet knew of botany, when he gathered his lap full of wild gourds, and had nearly poisoned the whole school.2Kings, iv. 39. Soon after this, another trouble arose amongst the congregation, about the place of worship; and here were many contentions. My sincere friends, fearing some persons were laying plans to get it out of my hands, and, for want of understanding each other, a great deal of warmth was manifested on both sides. These things being daily brought to me, exceedingly troubled my spirit; but, after praying, these words came with power to my soul—“They shall not build, and another inhabit.” And, as the subject was much on my mind in the day, it was not to be wondered at that it should affect me in the night; as I one night dreamed of a chariot, which I had often dreamt of before—as it passed by me, I saw, on the back of it, in very large letters, “Immanuel! God with us!” When I awoke, I felt a holy confidence all would be well upon that business, and so if proved the night before, but I knew it not till next day at noon. What a mercy to be enabled to call on the Lord in every time of trouble, and to watch his good hand. But I was no sooner released from this anxiety, than a fresh trouble arose. A gentleman who had been, till this time, almost a stranger to myself and the church, was raised up of God, in this hour of need, to look after my outward affairs, and this he did freely and kindly; he was truly assiduous, nor did he spare any pains, time, trouble, or money to do me good; and, though God had been pleased to remove others, on whom I depended, he mercifully raised up one to act as a friend, whom I hardly knew. Like Nicodemus,who could not, or dare not, scarcely own the Saviour in his life, yet paid him honours at his death.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.” This old, but just adage, reminds me of what school-boys are taught—

“Tell me, ye knowing and discerning few,Where I may find the friend that’s firm and true;Who dare stand by me, when in deep distress,And then his love and friendship most express.”

This friend, in the height of his praise-worthy conduct, was very shamefully imposed upon by an artful villain, who professed to have great influence with the higher powers—and by this means he, at different times, obtained a large sum of money of him, under the specious pretext of obtaining my liberation. This was carried on for some months, till Mr. D. began to suspect there was some villainy in it; and, upon enquiry at the Secretary of State’s Office, found it as he feared. The base character was apprehended, and justly imprisoned for it. This was another severe blow to me, taking all the circumstances into the account; yet the pleasing hopes of liberty wore away many tedious months, till patience received strength.

I was, at times, amazed at the health of body the Lord favoured me with; but the winter came on, at first, very severe, though it did not last long.—This was to me very dreadful; it was the gloomy month of November. Another trial came. A person, in real kindness, at my request, brought me a very small portion of liquor, on one of those days inwhich we may truly say we have pleasure—foggy, cold, damp, and miserable. I knew, indeed, it was contrary to the laws of the place, but urgent necessity compelled me to send for it. This being discovered, my poor friend was brought into trouble, and a heavy fine was levied. You may be sure this made a fresh stir in the public papers, with many additions, though not one true statement of the fact was made; but that passed away like a cloud. That which most distressed me was the solemn and awful times of execution; but those, however, were very few, two of which I have given an account of in the 1st volume of “The Voice of Faith.”

Yours, J. C.

“And the king said unto Zadok, carry back the ark of God into the city. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew we both it and his habitation.”

To —

It is a truth, easily proved, that every believer has more mercies to be thankful for, than he has either sins to regret, or troubles to bear: it is of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. This I call to mind, therefore I have hope. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. That same faithful God which preserved Israel in Egypt, Moses in Midian, David in Gath, the three worthies in the furnace, Daniel in the den, the disciples in Jerusalem,and the church in Babylon, preserved me in this place. I cannot look back upon my many mercies but with gratitude. But where will the growing numbers end? This subject would fill a vast volume; but, in brief, I mention only a few:—the attention and kindness of the governor and officers; and, although every returning Sabbath afflicted my mind severely, the very sound of the church-going bells, brought a thousand pangs to my heart: yet I was relieved by hearing the real gospel preached nearly every Sunday, once a day, by the excellent chaplain, the rev. Mr. Mann. Oh, that every college was as much blessed with such preaching. This was no small mercy. All within the walls were submissive and attentive to me. I had an opportunity of conversing with many on the best of subjects, and was well furnished with ability to alleviate many a distressed mind, and to relieve some hundreds in their temporal calamities; for it is to little purpose talking about religion to worldlings, without acts of benevolence.

Numerous friends daily visited me, and never failed me, during the long period of seven hundred and thirty days. My health was re-established, and I had much time for reading, prayer, self-examination, and study. Here I received many tokens of love from the Lord, bearing witness, with my spirit, that I was interested in his love. Here I wrote a vast many letters to the church and to my friends. I wrote also my “Farewell Sermon;” “Antinomianism Refuted;” “The Voice of Faith,” 2 vols.;“A Treatise on part of the Book of Proverbs,” the greatest part of my own Memoirs, and other subjects, which I hope, one day, to publish.

The dear friends who came to see me, I constantly bore in mind, and thanked them in a few gingling rhymes, as I am destitute of a talent for writing poetry: I hope they will forgive me inserting their names; nor need they fear persecution on this account, because so many individuals are to be found bearing the same name.

I employed as much time as circumstances would admit, in reading to the prisoners the Scriptures, which I at times endeavoured to explain, particularly on Sundays. I read part of the church service, and other good books, especially some tracts by Mr. Smith, of Penzance—his “Bob and James,”—there being many sailors present. In this act I copied the example of Dr. Primrose, in the Vicar of Wakefield, although I had a little better place, company, behaviour, and attention. I must insert a quotation from it. The old gentleman says, after some conversation with his family—

“I left them, and descended to the common prison, where I found the prisoners very merry, expecting my arrival; and each prepared with some gaol trick to play upon the doctor. Thus, as I was going to begin, one turned my wig awry, as if by accident, and then asked my pardon. A second, who stood at a distance, had a knack of spitting through his teeth, which fell in showers upon my book; a third would cry ‘amen,’ in such an affectedtone, as gave the others great delight. A fourth had slily picked my pocket of my spectacles: but there was one whose tricks gave more universal pleasure than all the rest; for, observing the manner in which I had disposed my books on the table before me, he very dexterously displaced one of them, and put an obscene jest-book of his own in the place. However, I took no notice of all that this mischievous group of little beings could do, but went on, perfectly sensible that what was ridiculous in my attempt would excite mirth only the first or second time, while what was serious would be permanent. My design succeeded; and, in less than six days, some were penitent, and all attentive.”

Thus my time rolled away, and appeared, as our lives do in the retrospect, but as a tale that is told every moment, and every circumstance being told out in eternity for us.

The period arrived for me to quit my solitary mansion, and make my appearance again in public. This was dreaded by me, on some accounts, but, by others, much desired. Every thing was well arranged, and the morning came; a part of my family and a few friends came to meet me; every thing around appeared at first very strange. When I arrived at my house, I bent my knees in thanksgiving to that gracious God who had restored me.

In the evening I preached to nearly one thousand hearers, who were very quiet, attentive, and gratified. All united, with one heart and voice, in singing

“Crown him Lord of all.”

I preached on, “But God meant it unto good.” The sermon was afterwards printed. I commenced my regular labours the Sunday following, where without cessation, I have continued them six times a week. Curiosity has, doubtless, drawn forth the attention of thousands, since then, to hear and see the strange being: many have heard to profit, and are satisfied. Some said, he is a good man; others, he is a devil. I say he is both, and I can prove it. Some say, he is a guilty man; others, that he is innocent—but I say he is both, and the reader will say the same, if he knows his own heart, and his acceptance in Christ.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things; but, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.

Yours, J. C.

Back to Index Next