religious subjects, and from morning till night, nearly every day, all this while, my thoughts incessantly have been employed in meditation upon the great truths of the gospel. Every difficulty and objection, (and difficulties and objections both from my own meditations, and in the course of my reading, continually crowded upon my mind ;) sent me to the word of God, and increased my care and attention in examining and weighing every text of Scripture, respecting the point in question, before I exchanged my old opinion for a new one.

Thus I may truly say, I have sought in the word of God, (that field in which alone this precious treasure lies hid;) for wisdom, for the saving knowledge of divine things, as for silver, and searched for her, as for hidden treasures. And though I am sensible, compared with many, with whom I have personal acquaintance, and still more, whose works I read, my knowledge of the Scriptures is superficial, the knowledge of a child, of a mere novice in the school of Christ; yet, I trust that, as far as relates to the leading truths of the gospel, according to the promise, I am brought to understand the fear of the Lord, and have found the knowledge of God. And permit me, beloved reader, to put thee in remembrance, that until thou hast with some good measure of this diligence, studied the whole word of God, thou runnest very great hazards in passing judgment upon the men and doctrines; be cautious in what thou doest; let these men quite alone, until thou hast imitated the conduct of the noble Bereans; and hast thoroughly, and with unbiassed mind, examined and meditated upon the whole word of God, to see whether the things they believe, and teach be so or no. Lest otherwise it should come to pass, (as probably it will,) that in opposing and condemning them, thou shouldst be found to fight against God. And O! that the Lord would hear and grant my request, and by his Holy Spirit powerfully incline the hearts of all who read these sheets, according to their leisure, station in life, obligations, and opportunities, thus attentively to read their bibles; not as the word of man, but as the word of God himself, speaking from heaven, and unto them, and concerning the everlasting interest of their precious, and immortal souls. Be the adviser what he will, despised, and deserving to be despised for a Methodist, the advice is undoubtedly good advice I shall have no occasion to repent having thus given you, at the solemn hour of death and

the awful day of judgment; advice, which, at those approaching seasons, none of you will repent having followed; though it should divert you from more amusing, and at this day more reputable studies, or engross that time, that you have been accustomed to devote to more pleasurable and fashionable employments; but which neglected, will be an additional sting in every conscience, through all the countless ages of eternity.

And O! that they to whom the chief Shepherd hath committed the care of precious souls, and at whose hands he will assuredly require every one that perishes through their default, would take in good part this expression of the very affectionate desire of my soul both in behalf of them, and their flocks, in dropping these hints concerning their peculiar obligations, to devote much of their time to the attentive, unbiased study of the word of God, that infinitely best, but often least studied of all book's! What avails it that the ministers of the everlasting gospel should be learned classical scholars, profound philosophers, metaphysicians, and mathematicians, expert logicians, or adorned with the knowledge of the politer sciences; if they are unacquainted, or but superficially acquainted with the sacred Scriptures? These other branches of literature may amuse and entertain them, may procure them preferment, reputation, respect and favour; but it is the knowledge of the Bible, which alone can enable them in such a manner to attend to themselves, and to their doctrine, and shall issue in the everlasting salvation of their own souls, and the souls committed to their care. Far be it from me to presume to lay down my opinions as the standard of doctrine, or a rule for the faith, and preaching of my brethren in this sacred ministry. But the more obscure I am, the less objection there can reasonably be against my just hinting to them; that if any one should find this subject manifest itself to his conscience, and make him sensible, that verily he hath been faulty in this matter, and hath been attending to other employments, and studying other books more than the word of God; then possibly he may be mistaken in his sentiments concerning the doctrine of the gospel, and being mistaken himself, may be misleading others, to the endangering of their immortal souls; for he cannot be certain, but that, should he employ some years in this single study (which its importance well deserves,) he may find the bible a very different book than he expected.

V. I would observe the influence which prayer appears to have had in effecting this change.

I am aware that the world, though called Christian, is · come to such a pass, that the very mention of this subject in many companies is accounted ill manners, or even received with ridicule; and that being known to live a life of prayer and communion with God, is alone sufficient to denominate any person a Methodist. However, it is scarce needful to say, how full the word of God is of precepts, instruction, exhortations, invitations, promises and examples to this effect; he never reads his Bible, who knows not this; nor can any man, under any pretence, make a jest of this great duty and privilege of a believer, without pouring contempt upon the holy Scriptures, and insulting the brightest characters therein proposed to us as examples, not excepting the Lord Jesus himself. Let men therefore under the profession of Christianity, be as irreligious and profane as they please; I shall not be ashamed to speak upon so unfashionable a topic; for if the word of God be true, he never knew any thing as he ought to know, never believed, never repented, never performed one duty aright in his life, who hath not sought all his wisdom, knowledge, faith, repentance, and sufficiency for obedience, from God, by fervent, instant, and persevering prayer. Time was, even since I had souls committed to my care, that I lived in the neglect of this duty, and so without God in the world; but since, through his forbearance and mercy, I have been in earnest about the salvation of my own soul and their's, I have not been left to do so. However, it is not my intent to speak any further on this subject, than relates to the matter on hand.

The word of God promises the Holy Spirit to them that ask him; he is the Spirit of truth, leads into all truth, teaches all things, and searches and reveals the deep things of God. The leading promise to the church is, (Isaiah liv. 13.) "That all her children shall be taught of the Lord." (John vi. 44, 45.) Referring thereto, Christ hath declared, that none can come unto him, except he be drawn of the Father, and taught of God. And St. Paul adds, (1 Cor. ii. 14.) "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them; because they are spiritually discerned." The natural man is explained in Jude, by not having the Spirit, which is evidently the Apostle's meaning in this

passage; for in the preceding verse he declares, that he preached the gospel, not "in words, which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." On these grounds I concluded that man's natural understanding could not spiritually, or profitably receive the knowledge of revealed mysteries, unless it be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I learned also, that our eyes may be blinded by Satan, the god and Prince of this world; and our understandings closed, and a veil upon our hearts, when we read the word of God, in which case the letter of the Scriptures, without the Spirit, only killeth. Hence the need of our understandings being opened, to understand the Scriptures; (for want of which the plainest discourses of our Lord, to his Disciples concerning his sufferings, death and resurrection, were hid from them and they understood them not ;) and of the veil being taken from our hearts; for want of which the Jews in reading the Old Testament cannot understand the plainest declarations of Moses, and the Prophets, concerning their promised Saviour. I was taught also that true wisdom was the gift of God, and to be asked of him, by every one, who would be wise unto salvation; that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and that those who receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, are given over to a strong delusion to believe a lie; that they might all be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thes. v. 10. 12.)

On these grounds, and depending upon the promise, and invitations so plentifully interspersed through the Scriptures; when I began to inquire after the truth, I began also to cry unto the Lord for his guidance therein; and as my mind became more and more engaged, and my difficulties, in extricating myself from the labyrinths of controversy increased, I became more and more earnest, and constant, and particular in making my request known unto God. My constant prayer to the Lord was, to be delivered from pride, and prejudice, blindness of heart, contempt of the truth, obstinacy, enthusiasm, ignorance, and error. That the Lord would give me wisdom and knowledge, guide me to the truth as it is in Jesus, open my understanding, take away the veil from my heart, and make known unto me the way of salvation, which is revealed to sinners in his holy word. Thus waiting upon the Lord, according to his own appointment, depending upon, and pleading his promises from day

to day, I was led from one thing to another, until my view of religious truth was totally changed. This I most firmly believe to have been by the promised teaching of the Spirit of truth, powerfully enlightening my mind, opening the Scriptures, and, by dispelling the clouds of error and prejudices, enabling me to receive the truth therein contained.

But though I am not ashamed of declaring my desire of living a life of prayer, and communion with God; yet I have no intention in speaking thus publicly on such a subject, but to advance his glory, and forward the salvation of souls. As in his presence I declare, that I have prayed over many of the most interesting passages of Scripture, chapter by chapter, and often verse by verse, with the most anxious apprehensions of rejecting, or mistaking the truth, or embracing falsehood; and with the most earnest desire of knowing what that doctrine was, which Jesus and his apostles taught. In the sight of God I am sensible I have abundant cause to be humbled, and ashamed of my frequent remissness in, and the continual defilements of my prayers; but as surely as I believe his promise to the faithful, as surely as I believe him to be a God that heareth prayer; so surely do I believe that flesh and blood hath not revealed to me the doctrines I now preach, but God himself by his Holy Spirit.

Reader, whoever thou art, if thy conscience testify, that thou hast hitherto lived in the neglect of this important duty, or in the formal, lifeless, and unmeaning performance of it with thy lips, whilst thy heart hath been disengaged and thy thoughts allowedly wandering to the ends of the earth; if thou hast not been accustomed by fervent prayer to seek wisdom from God by his teaching Spirit; if thou knowest not what it is to exercise faith upon the promises pointed out to thee, nor to plead them in prayer to a promise keeping God; if all thy knowledge of divine things hath been acquired by leaning to thy own understanding if in reading the Scriptures thou hast looked more to learned critics, commentators, and expositors, than to the illuminating Spirit of God sought in humble prayer, to open thy understanding, to take the veil from thine heart, and to give thee that wisdom, which is from above; then be as sure as the word of God is true, and we are concerned in it, that thou art in the wrong, the light that is in thee is darkness, and thou knoweth nothing yet as thou oughtest to know. May the Lord effectually incline thine heart to take a contrary course, and