and confpicuously engaged, and as I have ventured to question the fincerity of his profeffions, it is proper that I should ftate my reafons for fo doing. First then of converfion: in the methodiftical fenfe of the word, for in the true fenfe, I apprehend to be neither more or lefs, than forfaking vice and practising virtue; but, however, the methodistical fenfe imports quite a different thing, and it is in that fenfe we fhall view it. I have made it an invariable obfervation, that Mr. Wesley, although he was often in the company-of fenfible men, who were capable of forming an .opinion, and prefumed to judge for themselves by the light of nature, the evidence of the fenfes, and the aid of reafon and philofophy; but of fuch, ⚫he never attempted the converfion. In his own family and amongst his relations, he never attempted, or if he did attempt, he never fuc'ceeded except now and then with a female, in whom he found a heart fufceptible of any impreffion he pleased to give. It is remarkable, that even the children of Mr. C. W. were never converted because they, and most of his relations, poffeffed fenfe enough to discover hypocrify, and honesty enough to reject the advantage they might have derived from affuming it. But what is ftill more extraordinary, is, that out of fo many hundred, who have been 'educated at King fwood, in the most rigid difcipline of methodism, hardly any have embraced their tenets, or become members

members of the fociety. The reason is pretty obvious, they were taught too much to imbibe the ridiculous prejudices the founder wished to be instilled into their minds: philofophy and methodifm are utterly incompatible. When the human mind is formed by the study of philofophy, it expands itself to the contemplation of things.

"It is true indeed, the work was fometimes attended with power among the children at Kingf wood. Converfions were frequent; but never durable. I myself was converted fome ten or a dozen times; but unluckily, my class leader was detected in having stolen a pair of filver buckles. This was a dreadful stroke to the work, and a glorious triumph to the wicked one. The whole fabric of faith, grace, and all its concomitant vices, as bypocrify, &c. &c. experienced a total overthrow! The serious boys, as they are called by way eminence, fell into the utmost contempt, and ever after, the leader of a class was ftiled Captain of the Gang: a convert and a thief, were synoni

mous terms.

of

"A general converfion among the boys, was once effected, by the late excellent Mr. Fletcher: one poor boy only excepted, who unfortunately refifted the influence of the Holy Spirit; for which he was feverely flogged, which did not fail of the defired effect, and impreffed proper notions

of

of religion on his mind. Unhappily these operations of the Spirit, though violent, were but of fhort duration.

"As the converfion of men and women is a more serious concern than that of children, I will describe one, to which I was an eye witness among the poor Colliers at Kingfwood. One of those presumptuous and impious fanatical wretches, who affume the character of minifters of God, and take upon them in his moft holy name, to denounce his curfes and vengeance against those who are far lefs guilty than themfelves a fellow of this defcription, of the name of Sanderson, preaching to a congregation of ignorant, but harmless people; this fellow took upon himself, in the name of God, to condemn them all to eternal damnation, painting their deplorable ftate in the most dreadful colours: fome of his hearers were foon evidently affected by this discourse, which he took care to improve, and taking the advantage of the kindling fpark, addreffed himself more particularly to them, whom he foon "made roar for the difquietude of their fouls." The whole congregation were quickly affected in the like manner, one and all exclaimed, "What fhall I do to be faved? Oh! I'm damned! I'm damned! I'm damned to all eternity! What fhall I do? Oh! Oh! Oh!" Our performer obferving to what a state

he

he had reduced his audience, redoubled his threats of divine wrath and vengeance, and with a voice terrible as thunder, demanded, "Is there any backfliders in the prefence of God?" A dead and folemn paufe enfued-till he exclaimed, "Here is an old grey-headed finner :" at the fame time striking with his hand violently on the bald pate of an honeft old man who fat under the defk; the poor man gave a deep groan; whether from conviction, or from the pain of the blow, I know not, for it was far from being gentle. The farce was not yet concluded: when they were ftrongly convulfed with thefe convictions, he fell down upon his knees, and with the greatest fervency, accompanied with abundance of tears, he intreated the Lord in mighty prayer, to have compaffion on the poor defponding finners whom he had brought to a proper fenfe of their danger : the prayer continued about ten minutes, accompanied by the fighs and groans of the converted and alarmed finners, in concert making a moft divine harmony: when fuddenly starting up, he pretended to have received a gracious anfwer to his prayer, and with a joyful and fmiling countenance, pointing towards the window, exclaimed: Behold the Lamb! Where! Where! Where !

was the cry of every contrite and returning finner. (and they were all of that defcription) There! (continued the preacher, extending his arms towards the window where he pretended first to

have efpied the Lamb.) In Heaven! In Colo! making interceffion for your fins! And I have his authority to proclaim unto you-" your fins are forgiven-depart in peace."-O, my dearest brethren, how sweet is the found of thofe extatic words. "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the fins of the world!" But could you but feel the peculiar energy, the divine force, the rapturous and cheering import of the original, your mouths would be filled with praise, and your hearts with divine joy, holy exultation, and unfpeakable gratitude. -Only mark the found of the words, even that will convey an expreffible , pleasure to your fouls, "Hecca Hangus Dei! Ki dollit pekkaltus Monday!" The school-boys (who were feated in a pew detached from the congregation on account of their prophane and contemptuous behaviour during fervice) immediately burst into a loud laugh, on one of the congregation faying, "O the bleffed man! We fhall 'fee him again on MONDAY."

1

In fome pages following we have an ac-. count of the methodist preacher's first converting his benefactor's daughter, and then debauching her; alfo of a preacher at Beverly, in Yorkshire, that collected fifteen pounds for a poor man in great diftress, and