CONTENTS. His mother-His remembrances of her-Her death-Sent Visits relations in Kent-Falls in love-Remains till the Jamaica vessel had sailed-Sails to Venice-Remark- Page Voyage to Madeira-Hardness of heart-Restraining pro- Abject privations-A new master-Cruelties of his wife- Goes to live with another master-A favourable change- A message from home-Embarks for England- Charleston-Conformity to the world-Return to London Employment at Liverpool-Providential Deliverance-Is admitted to orders-Presented to the curacy of Olney Page MR NEWTON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. CHAPTER I. His mother-His remembrances of her-Her death-Sent to a boarding-school-Goes occasionally to sea-Providences-Sins -Reforms-Relapses-Proposal to send him to Jamaica. THE tender mercies of God towards me were manifest in the first moment of my life;—I was born as it were in his house, and dedicated to him in my infancy. My mother (as I have heard from many) was a pious experienced Christian; she was a dissenter, in communion with the late Dr Jennings. I was her only child, and as she was of a weak constitution and a retired temper, almost her whole employment was the care of my education. I have some faint remembrance of her care and instructions. At a time when I could not be more than three years of age, she herself taught me English, and with so much success (as I had something of a forward turn), that when I was four years old I could read with propriety in any common book that offered. She stored my memory, which was then very retentive, with many valuable pieces, chapters, and A portions of Scripture, catechisms, hymns, and poems. My temper, at that time, seemed quite suitable to her wishes: I had little inclination to the noisy sports of children, but was best pleased when in her company, and always as willing to learn as she was to teach me. How far the best education may fall short of reaching the heart, will strongly appear in the sequel of my history: yet, I think, for the encouragement of pious parents to go on in the good way of doing their part faithfully to form their children's minds, I may properly propose myself as an instance. Though in process of time, I sinned away all the advantages of these early impressions, yet they were for a great while a restraint upon me; they returned again and again, and it was very long before I could wholly shake them off; and when the Lord at length opened my eyes, I found a great benefit from the recollection of them. Further, my dear mother, besides the pains she took with me, often commended me with many prayers and tears to God; and I doubt not but I reap the fruits of these prayers to this hour. My mother observed my early progress with peculiar pleasure, and intended from the first to bring me up with a view to the ministry, if the Lord should so incline my heart. In my sixth year I began to learn Latin; but, before I had time to know much about it, the intended plan of my education was broke short. The Lord's designs were far beyond the views of an earthly parent; he was pleased to reserve me for an unusual proof of his patience, providence, and grace, and therefore overruled the purpose of my friends, by depriving me of this excellent parent, when I was something under seven years old. I was born the 24th |