At this period also, he began himself to pray in secret four times a day. And the God of all grace, who prepared his heart to pray, soon gave the answer to his prayer: not indeed as he expected: not in joy or peace, but by bringing upon him very strong and painful convictions of his own guilt, and helplessness, and misery: by discovering to him what he did not suspect before, that his heart was deceitful and desperately wicked; and what was more afflicting still, that all his duties and labours could not procure him pardon, or gain him a title to eternal life. In this trouble he continued more than three years, not acquainting any one with the distress he suffered; till one day (in 1742) being in the utmost agony of mind, there was clearly represented to him, Jesus Christ pleading for him with God the Father, and gaining a free pardon for him. In that moment all his fears vanished away, and he was filled with joy unspeakable. “I was now, says he, "willing to renounce myself, and to embrace Christ for my all in all. O what light and comfort did I enjoy in my own soul, and what a taste of the pardoning love of God!"

All this time he was an entire stranger to the people called Methodists, whom afterwards he thought it his duty to countenance, and to labour with them in his neighbourhood. He was an entire stranger also to all their writings; till he came to Haworth, May 26, of the same year. And the good effects of his preaching soon became visible. Many of his flock were brought into deep concern for salvation, and were, in a little time after, filled with peace and joy through believing. And, as in ancient times, the whole congregation have been often seen in tears, on account of their provocations against God, and under a sense of his goodness in yet sparing them.

His lively manner of representing the truths of God could not fail of being much talked of, and bringing many hundreds out of curiosity to Haworth Church: who received so much benefit by what they heard, that when the novelty was long over, the Church continued to be full of people, many of whom came from far, and this for twenty years together.

Mr. Grimshaw was now too happy himself in the knowledge of Christ, to rest satisfied, without taking every method, he thought likely to spread the knowledge of his God and Saviour. And as the very indigent constantly make their want of better clothes to appear in, an excuse for not coming to Church in the day time, he contrived, for them chiefly, a lecture on Sunday evenings, though he had preached twice in the day before. God was pleased to give great success to these attempts, which animated him still more to spend and be spent for Christ. So the next year he began a method, which was continued by him for ever after; of preaching in each of the four hamlets he had under his care, three times every month. By this means the old and infirm, who could not attend the Church, had the truth of God brought to their houses; and many, who were so profane as to make the distance from the house of God a reason for scarcely ever coming to it, were allured to hear. By this time, the great labour with which he instructed his own people; the holiness of his conversation, and the benefit, which very many from the neighbouring par

ishes had obtained by attending his ministry, concurred to bring upon him many earnest intreaties to come to their houses, who lived in neighbouring parishes, and expound the word of God to souls as ignorant as they had been themselves. This request he did not dare to refuse so that while he provided abundantly for his own flock, he annually found opportunity of preaching nearly three hundred times, to congregations in other parts. And for a course of fifteen years, or upwards, he used to preach every week, fifteen, twenty, and sometimes thirty times, besides visiting the sick, and other occasional duties of his function. It is not easy to ascribe such unwearied diligence, chiefly among the poor, to any motive but the real one. He thought he would never keep silence, while he could speak to the honour of that God, who had done so much for his soul. And while he saw sinners perishing for lack of knowledge, and no one breaking to them the bread of life, he was constrained, notwithstanding the reluctance he felt within, to give up his name to still greater reproach, as well as all his time and strength, to the work of the ministry.

During this intense application to what was the delight of his heart, God was exceedingly favourable to him. In sixteen years he was only once suspended from his labour by sickness, though he dared all weathers, upon the bleak mountains, and used his body with less compassion, than a merciful man would use his beast. His soul at various times enjoyed large manifestations of God's love; and he drank deep into his spirit. His cup ran over, and at some seasons, his faith was so strong, and his hope so abundant, that higher degrees of spiritual delight would have overpowered his mortal frame.

In this manner Mr. Grimshaw employed all his powers and talents even to his last illness. And his labours were not in vain in the Lord. He saw an effectual change take place in many of his flock; and a restraint from the commission of sin brought upon the parish in general. He saw the name of Jesus exalted, and many souls happy in the knowledge of him, and walking as became the Gospel. Happy he was himself, in being kept by the power of God, unblamable in his conversation. Happy in being beloved in several of the last years of his life, by every one of his parish; who, whether they would be persuaded by him to forsake the evil of their ways, or not, had no doubt that Mr. Grimshaw was their cordial friend. Hence, at his departure, a general concern was visible through his parish. Hence his body was interred with what is more ennobling than all the pomp of a royal funeral: for he was followed to the grave by a great multitude, with affectionate sighs, and many tears; who cannot still hear his much-loved name, without weeping for the guide of their souls, to whom each of them was as dear as children to their father. His behaviour, throughout his last sickness, was of a piece with the last twenty years of his life; from the very first attack of his fever, he welcomed its approach. His intimate knowledge of Christ, abolished all the reluctance nature feels to a dissolution, and triumphing in him, who is the resurrection and the life, he departed April 7, in the 55th year of his age, and the 21st of eminent usefulness.

It may not be unacceptable to subjoin here one of his plain, rough letters, to the Society in London:

"My dear Brethren,

Haworth Jan. 9, 1760. from God our Father, and four sorts of people, that -It is well with those, of

"Grace, mercy, and peace be to you, from our Lord Jesus.It is well with you have had, or now have, to do with. you in Christ, who are gone to God.- -It is well with those, of you in Christ, who are not gone to God.It is well with those, who earnestly long to be in Christ, that they may be in God. It is well for those, who neither desire to be in Cnrist, nor go to God. And it is only bad with such, who, being out of Christ, are gone to the devil. -These it is best to let alone, and say no more about them.

"But to be sure, it is well with the other four.-It is well with those of you, who, being in Christ are gone to God.-You ministers and members of Christ, have no more doubt, or pain about them.They are now, and for ever, out of the reach of the world, flesh, and devil. They are gone, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. They are sweetly reposed in Abraham's bosom. They dwell in his presence, who hath redeemed them, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.-They are waiting the joyful morning of the resurrection, when their vile bodies shall be made like unto his glorious body, shall be re-united to their souls, shall receive the joyful sentence, and inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.

"It is well also with those of you, who are in Christ, though not gone to God.-You live next door to them.-Heaven is begun with you too. The kingdom of God is within you. You feel it.This is a kingdom of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.--I. is begun in grace and shall terminate in glory.-Yea, it is Christ within you the hope of glory.-Christ the rock, the foundation, laid in your hearts.-Hope in the middle, and glory at the top. Christ, hope, glory; Christ, hope, glory.-You are washed in the blood of the Lamb, justified, sanctified; and shall shortly be glorified.-Yea, your lives are already hid with Christ in God.-You have your conversation already in heaven.--Already you sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.-What heavenly sentences are these!-What can come nearer paradise?-Blessed be the Lord, O ye happy souls, and let all that is within you bless his holy name.-Sing unto the Lord, so long as you live, and praise your God, while you have your being. -And how long will that be? Through the endless ages of a glorious eternity.

"O my dear brothers and sisters, this is my hope, and this is my purpose. But to whom and to what are we indebted for all this, and infinitely more than all the tongues and hearts of men or angels can tell or conceive?—To our Redeemer only, and to his merits.-Christ within us is Jesus to us. We were poor, lost, helpless sinners, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and children of wrath.-But Jesus lived, and Jesus died, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to the enjoyment of it.

VOL. 3.-I

"And what does all this require at our hands? Why, infinitely more than we can render him to all eternity.However, let us praise and glorify God in the best manner, and with the best member that we have.-Let us do it constantly, cordially, cheerfully, so long as we live; and then no doubt we shall do it in heaven for ever.

66

Keep close, I beseech you, to every means of grace. Strive to walk in all the ordinances and commandments of God blameless, giving all diligence to make your calling and election sure: add to your faith virtue to virtue knowledge; to knowledge temperance; to temperance patience; to patience godliness; to godliness brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness charity.-For if these things, says St. Peter, be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus you will give the best token of your thankfulness to him, for what he hath done for your souls; and you shall not long hence in heaven, sing his praise with your happy brethren, gone thither before you.

"It is well likewise with all those of you, who do truly desire to be in Christ, that you may go to God.-Surely he owns you.Your desires are from him: you shall enjoy his favour. By and by you shall have peace with him through our Lord Jesus Christ.-Go forth by the footsteps of the flock: and feed ye by the shepherd's tents. Be constant in every means of grace. He will be found of them that diligently seek him.-Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.--Though your sins be ever so many, ever so monstrous, all shall be forgiven.-He will have mercy upon you, and will abundantly pardon. For where sin hath abounded, grace doth much more abound. He who hath begun this good work in you will accomplish it to your eternal good, and his eternal glory.— Therefore doubt not, fear not. A broken and a contrite heart, God will not despise. The deeper is your sorrow, the nearer is your joy. Your extremity is God's opportunity. It is usually darkest before day-break. You shall shortly find pardon, peace, and plenteous redemption, and at last rejoice in the common and glorious salvation of his saints.

"And lastly; it is well for you, who neither truly desire to be in Christ, nor to go to God-For it is well for you that you are out of hell. It is well your day of grace is not utterly past.-Behold, now is your accepted time: Behold, now is the day of your salvation! O that you may employ the remainder of it in working out your salvation with fear and trembling. Now is faith to be had, saving faith. Now you may be washed from all your sins in the Redeemer's blood, justified, sanctified, and prepared for heaven.-Take, I beseech you, the time while the time is.-You have now the means of grace to use;―the ordinances of God to enjoy ;-his word to read and hear; his ministers to instruct you, and his members to converse with.-You know not what a day may bring forth.-You may die suddenly. As death leaves you, judgment will find you.—And if you die as you are, out of Christ, void of true faith, unregenerate, unsanctified, snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest, God will

rain upon you, Ps. xi. 6, as your eternal, intolerable portion to

drink.

"Suffer me therefore thus far, one and all of you. God's glory and your everlasting welfare is all I aim at.-What I look for in return from you, is, I confess much more than I deserve, your prayers. Pray for me and I will pray for you, who am,

"Your affectionate brother,

"W. GRIMSHAW."

Friday 9, (being Good-Friday) I had almost lost my voice by a cold. However, I spoke as I could, till before twelve, (it being a watch-night) I could speak nearly as well as ever. On Easter-day we had uncommon congregations, as indeed we have had all the week. And I observed a more stayed and solid behaviour in most, than is usual in this kingdom. Monday and Tuesday I was employed in visiting the Classes: and I was much comforted among them: there was such a hunger and thirst in all who had tasted of the grace of God, after a full renewal in his image. Sunday 18, As often as I have been here, I never saw the house thoroughly filled before. And the multitude did not come together in vain. I think, many will remember this day.

Monday 19, I left Dublin. And I could look back with satisfaction on the days I had spent therein. I had reason to believe, that God had been at work in a very uncommon manner. Many of those who once contradicted and blasphemed, were now convinced of the truth as it is in Jesus. Many who had long revolted from God, had returned to him with full purpose of heart. Several mourners had found peace with God, and some believe, he has saved them from all sin. Many more are all on fire for this salvation: and a spirit of love runs through the whole people.

I came in the evening to Newry, where I found a far different face of things. Offences had broken the Society in pieces, only two and thirty being left of nearly a hundred: but God has a few names left here also. Let these stand firm, and God will maintain his own cause. Wednesday 21, I rode to Carrickfergus. The violent rain kept away the delicate and curious hearers. For the sake of these I delayed the morning preaching until a quarter before nine. But it was too early still for a great part of the town, who could not possibly rise before. ten. I added a few members to the Society, and left them in peace and love.

Where to preach in Belfast, I did not know. It was too wet to preach abroad. And a dancing-master was busily employed in the upper part of the market-house; till at twelve, the sovereign drove him out, by holding his court there. While he was above, I began below, to a very serious and attentive audience. But they were all poor: the rich of Belfast cared for none of these things. After dinner we rode to New-Town, and found another poor, shattered Society, reduced from fifty to eighteen members, and most of those cold enough. In the evening I preached to a large congregation in the market-house, on I will heal their backsliding. God fulfilled his word. Many were healed, and many more deeply wounded. I had