guard me to my lodgings, and ordered them to give the people notice, that if any man offered to affault me, he would iminediately fend him to prifon. Thus ended the troublesome affair at Newark. Since then the work of God has profpered greatly. And a convenient Preaching-houfe has been built, in which numerous Congregations meet without meet without any difturbance. 29. Thus have I given you a few imperfect hints of the manner wherein our Lord has dealt with me. My whole life, particularly fince I have known fomething of the faving power of Religion, has been attended all along with manifold trials, a thousand times more than I have related: yet has the Lord been exceedingly gracious to me, the moft unworthy of all his people. If I this moment faw all the sufferings I have had for his name's fake; if they were now fpread before me, I would fay, "Lord, if thou wilt give me ftrength, I will now begin again, and thou fhalt add to them lions' dens, and fiery furnaces, and by thy grace I will go through them all." My life, though attended with many croffes, has been a life of mercies. For more than twenty years, I have rarely preached upon the controverfy between the Calvinifts and Arminians. But my judgment is fixt: I have no doubt, either of Christ's tafting death for every man, or of his being able and willing to fave to the uttermoft, all that come unto God through him. I count it one of the greatest favours, that he ftill allows me to do a little for him, and that he in any measure owns the little, which I am able to speak in his name. I beg I may be humble at his feet, all the days of my life, and may be more and more like Him whom my foul loveth, 'till at last I reign with him in glory! I am, dear Sir, Your willing, tho' unworthy October 30, 1779. Servant in the Gospel, THOMAS LEE. ERRATA. Page 32, line 22, read THOMAS, instead of Jonathan Lupton's. VOL. III. T An with his pot and brush, and laid it on plentifully. They fill furrounded me, throwing dirt and beating me, 'till I could hardly ftir. Then they offered to let me go, if I would promise never to come again. But this I could not do. Juft then a man came curfing, fwearing, and threatening, offended, it seemed, at their proceedings: at which most of them left me and difperfed. 27. I rofe up, and walked as well as I could down the Marfh, a few of the mob quietly walking with me. I found my mare in a standing water: I went in, took her and rode off. Coming to a pond, I alighted, washed myself a little, and then went on to North Searle: but it was hard work, as the night came on, and I was very wet, and exceeding cold. When I got there, I procured fome dry cloaths, and the Lord gave me a quiet night. The next day I was very fore and weak; however I fat up most of the day, and in a little time I recovered my ftrength, and had ftill more cause to trust and praise God. . 28. On July 16, was our trial at Nottingham. But the Grand Jury, fparing the Rioters all they could, would not find the Bill, for disturbing me at public worship, but only for affaulting me. They were accordingly bound over, to be tried for the Affault, at the next Affizes. Meantime an innumerable mob was collected, both within and without the Court, threatening what they would do to me. I therefore addrelled the Recorder for a guard. He immediately ordered two Conflables, to conduct me fafe to my lodging: the mob roared; but durft go no farther. So I returned home unmolefted. At the following Aflizes several of the rioters were indicted: Judges warrants were iffued out and executed. In October my Council and the Recorder agreed, (to prevent all farther trouble) what each offender fhould pay, after making fubmiffion, and promifing to offend no more, The Recorder alien gave them a very pertinent exhortation, and hearing the Wottingham mob was collected again, fent two Conflables to guard guard me to my lodgings, and ordered them to give the people notice, that if any man offered to affault me, he would iminediately fend him to prifon. Thus ended the troublefome affair at Newark. Since then the work of God has profpered greatly. And a convenient Preaching-house has been built, in which numerous Congregations meet without any difturbance. 29. Thus have I given you a few imperfect hints of the manner wherein our Lord has dealt with me. My whole life, particularly fince I have known something of the faving power of Religion, has been attended all along with manifold trials, a thousand times more than I have related: yet has the Lord been exceedingly gracious to me, the most unworthy of all his people. If I this moment faw all the fufferings I have had for his name's fake; if they were now fpread before me, I would fay, "Lord, if thou wilt give me ftrength, I will now begin again, and thou shalt add to them lions' dens, and fiery furnaces, and by thy grace I will go through them all." My life, though attended with many croffes, has been a life of mercies. For more than twenty years, I have rarely preached upon the controverfy between the Calvinifts and Arminians. But my judgment is fixt: I have no doubt, either of Christ's tafting death for every man, or of his being able and willing to fave to the uttermoft, all that come unto God through him. I count it one of the greatest favours, that he ftill allows me to do a little for him, and that he in any measure owns the little, which I am able to speak in his name. I beg I may be humble at his feet, all the days of my life, and may be more and more like Him whom my foul loveth, 'till at last I reign with him in glory! I am, dear Sir, Your willing, tho' unworthy October 30, 1779. Servant in the Gospel, THOMAS LEE! ERRATA. Page 32, line 22, read THOMAS, instead of Jonathan Lupton's. VOL. II. T An An Account of Mr. ALEXANDER MATHER: in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. JOHN WESLEY. 18. BU [Continued from page 91.] UT on Monday in the afternoon, as I was going along, I began to think, "You fancy, your fins are forgiven, but you are deceived." I had but a little time given way to these thoughts, before I was quite miferable. And when I got home, my Wife immediately afked, What is the matter with you? I faid, "Matter enough: I have deceived my own foul: I wish I had my forrow again." She strongly urged me not to reafon, but believe! To look unto Jefus, as giving himself for me. I was encouraged. I foon recovered my peace, which by the mercy, of God, I have not lost since. Soon after we both joined the Society, and met in Brother Goode's Clafs and this, among all the means of grace, was peculiarly useful to my foul, 19. About this time my elder Brother who used, the fea, after being wrecked, got his paffage to London. He was easily convinced of fin, and foon after converted to God. So being all of one heart and one mind, we rejoiced in God all the day long. But it was not long before I had ftrong impreffions upon my mind, that God had called me to preach. I mentioned this in my Band, after I had often fought God by fafting and prayer. We fet apart fome days for the fame exercises. Afterwards they advised me, to mention it to you. You said, "This is a common temptation among young men. Several have mentioned it to me. But the next thing I hear of them is, that they are married, or upon the point of it." I faid, "Sir, I am married already." You faid, “Care not for it; but feek God by fafting and prayer." I answered, This I have done. |