with glory, and honour, that he by the grace of God should tafle death for every man. The deep filence that rested on me gave way, and I broke out as in an extafy of joy, not regard. ing who might hear, "For me he lived, and for me he died." In a moment, all my burthen of pain and sorrow fled away, and all my foul was filled with peace and joy. I was all love to God and man. Truly my delight was in the Almighty, and I began to fing aloud, "O for a thousand tongues to fing, Happy would it have been for me, if I had been careful to grow in the grace of God. But I gave way to a curious fpirit, and puzzled myself with doubtful difputations. And by this means I gradually damped the grace of God, and caft the bleffing away, I had been intrufted with. Soon after this, the Methodift Preachers came to Portf mouth. I went to hear them, and the word was made profitable to me. I felt new defires, and was often much com. forted, and I once more refolved to give up my body and foul a facrifice to God. I was admitted into the Society, by Mr. James Oddy. I continued to meet with them for fome time; and many were the bleffings I thereby received. But after a time, a stumbling-block was laid in my way, and I left the Society. But it was chiefly owing to my inexperience, and want of patience. I ought to have minded one thing, whatever others did, and to have preffed on to the prize of our high calling. After After this, I went on for five years, in darknefs, mifery, and distress, yea, many times almoft in despair; yet I conftantly attended the preaching, and fometimes was permitted to stay at the meeting of the Society, but when my much-efteemed friend, Mr. Robert Roberts came into the Circuit, he was informed of me; for I believe both the Preachers and people had a regard for me. He gave me a Note of Admittance again. May I never forget this mercy! It was not long after, being at a prayer-meeting with a few friends, that I recovered the peace, and love of God. My foul was humbled in the duft: I became folidly happy in God my Saviour. I was watchful, and spent much time in prayer: the word of God was my daily companion, and it was fpirit and life to my foul. My faith was now ftrengthened: my love to God and man increased abundantly. The Lord held me by my hand, and fed me with the bread of life, He gave me to drink of the water of the river of life, and I was happy all the day long. Such was the bleffing I continually enjoyed, I lived near to God, keeping Jefus in my view, as my life, my pattern, and my all. When Mr. Francis Gilbert appointed me to take care of a Class, it was a great trial. But fo much the more did the Lord make it a bleffing to me. For while I prayed for my brethren, and laboured to help them forward in the way to the kingdom, he gave me great confolation in my own foul. And I began to feel a ftronger defire for the falvation of poor finners. I reproved, advised, and comforted, as opportunity served: being, at the fame time, particularly careful over my own behaviour. Mean time, by the defire of my friends, I fometimes read a Sermon, or fome part of the Chriftian Library. I did this, first in our own Society, and afterward in that of a neighbouring town. Sometimes alfo, I ventured to give a few words of exhortation; and the people not only bore with my weakness, but urged me to do it more frequently. Some time after, I felt a ftrong conviction, that it was my duty to preach. I did fo occasionally; and though it was with much weak. nefs, fear, and trembling, the Lord owned my feeble attempts: the people were profited, and my own foul was helped forward in the grace of God. I advifed with the Affiftant, and the other Preachers, and being encouraged by them, I went on therein, relying upon God, who giveth strength to them that have no might. But I was not long fatisfied with this. I found a ftronger and ftronger conviction, that it was my duty, to give myself wholly up to the work of God and to commence an itinerant Preacher. But I fhrunk from the thought. I wept, and prayed, and ftrove against it with all my might, till I had well nigh loft all the life and peace of God out of my foul. Yet! did not comply: it was fo contrary to the plan I had juft laid down, having (as I supposed) settled myself for life. It was my defire and defign, to live and die amongst my first religi ous acquaintance, and then to lay my bones by the side of my dear and only brother, just torn from me by the hand of death. But not being able to refift any longer, I laid the matter be fore Mr. Furz, and the other Preachers in the Circuit. They advised me to fight against God no more, but prepare myself against the next Conference. I did fo, and attended at Bristol, in August 1764. I can truly fay, I had no other end in view but the glory of God, and the good of fouls. With regard to this world, I had all I wanted, and to fpare. And I had a profpect of cafi'y gaining much more, had I remained in my business, which was fleady, and continually increasing. But this I gave up freely, nor have I repented of it, one moment fince. And if it were to do again, I believe I should do it with the fame chearfulnefs. For he is worthy of all my service, who has bought me with his precious blood. You, Sir, were pleased to appoint me to labour in the York Circuit, with Mr. Furz and Mr. Pool. It was a year of much peace and comfort: and I refolved, in the strength of Chrift, to continue spending, and being spent, in the blessed work to my life's end. It is of little use to say in what parts of England, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, I have laboured; or how many persons have been convinced of fin, or converted to God: or how many have been added to the Societies, in the Circuits wherein I have laboured. Let it fuffice, that this, and all I am, will be fully known in that great day. But I believe, I may be permitted to mention, in the fear of God, that after fixteen years labour, I do not know, that either my principles or practice, have given you, Sir, or any of my Brethren, cause to repent, for a moment, that you received me as a Fellow-Labourer in the Houfe of God. And in this I am the fame at this day, as at the firft; I ftill efteem it no fmall privilege, to act with you, as a Son in the Gospel, to be directed by you, where, when, and how to act. I blefs God, I fill daily enjoy a measure of his peace, and love. But I am afhamed, when I confider how little improvement I have made. I long to have every thing taken from me, that is not agreeable to the mind that was in Chrift. For many years I have been fully fatisfied with regard to the doctrines of the Methodists; and in them I hope to live and die. But from the time that I recovered the favour of God, I have always been averfe to difputing. I remember how much I fuffered thereby, in the beginning of my turning to God. And I believe it would be happy, if all the children of God would flrive to agree as far as poffible; and live in love as brethren, and strive to help each other in fighting the good fight of faith. This is the one defire, and I hope it will be the continual labour of, Rev. Sir, Your dutiful Son in the Gofpel, JOHN MASON. The The very remarkable Speech of Sir GERVASE ELLWIS, Lieutenant of the Tower, at the time of his death. He was executed upon Tower-Hill, the 20th day of November, 1615, for not telling King JAMES, what he had heard concerning Sir THOMAS OVERBURY's murder. I See many faces in this place, which I know right well, both Lords and Gentlemen, whom I have honoured, and fill love, with many others of feveral difpofitions. All you, being thus affembled to fee me finish my days, the number of which is fummed up: for the very minutes of my life may now be reckoned. Your expectation is to have me fay fomething to give fatisfaction to the world: and I wish to do it fo far as I can; albeit in that speech of mine I fhall but chatter like a crane. But whatsoever I deliver, I befeech you to take from a wounded bofom; for my purpose is to rip up my very heart, and to leave nothing there, which may prove any clog to my conscience. Hither am I come, to perform a work, whic. of all others, is to man most easy; and yet to flesh, the hardest; that is, to die. To hide therefore, any thing, for any worldly respect, were to leave a blot upon my own foul, which, I truft, fhall be prefented, through the mercies of my Maker, and merits of my Saviour, acceptable before God's high tribunal. And firft, I will labour to fatisfy fome, who before mine apprehenfion were well conceited of me; but fince my arraignment, as I understand, carried of me but hard opinions; for that, at the bar, I flood flifly upon mine innocency. And this they impute as a great fault, being afterward found guilty. To which I anfwer, that I did it ignorantly: nay, I was fo far from thinking myself foul in the fact, that until Dr. Felton and Dr. Whiting told me I had as much imbrued my hands in the blood |