These things we have believed upon the teftimony of God: the Creator of all things vifible and invifible: by this teftimony we already know the things that now exift, though not yet feen, as well as those that will exift in their season, until this vifible world will pafs away, and the fon of man shall come in his glory. 18. Upon the whole, what thanks ought we to render to God, who has vouchfafed this evidence of things unseen, to the poor inhabitants of earth, who otherwise must have remained in utter darkness concerning them? How invaluable a gift, is even this imperfect light, to the benighted fons of men? What a relief is it to the defects of our fenfes, and confequently of our understanding? Which can give us no information of any thing, but what is firft prefented by the fenfes. But hereby a new set of fenfes (fo to speak) is opened in our fouls and by this means, "The things unknown to feeble sense, Faith lends its realizing light; The clouds difperfe, the shadows fly; And God is feen by mortal eye!" London, Jan. 17, 1791. N. B. This is the last Sermon which Mr. Wesley wrote. If is very remarkable that the preceding Sermon inferted in our Magazine for May and June, had been about fifteen months in the hand of the Corrector of the Prefs, who had laid it by without any defign, except that it was not dated, as all the reft were, and inferted feveral others, though later written. Then he inferted it, the first part of which was printed before Mr. Wesley's last illness, and the latter part was printing on the very day when his remains lay in the Chapel, previous to its interment. Whoever looks back to that part of it inferted in the Magazine for June, will be ftruck when he confiders the above circumftances, and fees how it is connected with the Sermon now inferted; and all this without any defign, either of the writer or any other perfon, An An Account of Mr. WILLIAM BLACK. [Written by Himself.] [Concluded from page 356.] 'RIDAY 27th. I fet fail for Halifax, and arrived there the FRID next day. After preaching two or three fermons here, I fet off for Windfor, on the first of July, and arrived the same night. Here I tarried until the 10th, and had some comfortable times; but a difference between two of our friends has done much hurt. On the 11th I arrived at Cumberland again, where I laboured until the 20th, and then vifited my dear children at Pedicodiach-River. These are a fimple, loving people indeed, happy in God. I preached ten or eleven times amongst them; and found many divine confolations, and great refreshments of foul; and then returned to Cumberland. Having rode two or three times round the Circuit, I returned to Windfor, Horton, &c. &c. where I tarried until the 23d of September. On the 28th, I arrived at Cumberland in a small schooner, and vifited all the places round. We had fome comfortable times; but found a general declension; at Tantramar in particular. Once it was filled with peace and love, praise and prayer; but alas, the glory is departed. Our meetings were now flat and dull, and many who began well, are like to end in the flesh. Speculative or practical Antinomianifm hath bewitched them. O Lord, lay to thine hand, for men have made void thy law! October 20th. I fet off for the island of St. John's, at the invitation of Mr. B. Chappel, where I arrived on the 224, and tarried about a fortnight. I preached feveral times at Charlotte-Town, and at St. Peter's; but alas! the people in general appeared ftupid, and fenfelefs as flones, altogether ignorant ignorant of the nature of true religion, and of that faith which worketh by love. On my return from the island, I was exceeding ill; but through grace not afraid to die. It was my earneft prayer to God, that if my usefulness was done, I might then finish my courfe, and go to him whom my foul loved. Bleffed be God, death hath long since loft his fting and terror. Many times the very thoughts of dying filled my heart with joy; particularly once, when a party of Indians had rose at Merimafhee, and taken many of the inhabitants prisoners; and it was reported they were on their way to deftroy all the friends of government at Cumberland. At the news of this, my heart leaped, yea danced within me for joy; to think that I had a manfion in heaven, a houfe above their reach, even the bofom of my Redeemer, "That palace of angels and God:” I did not fear those who could only kill the body. After being three days on our paffage, and most of the time with little to eat, we arrived at the Bay-vert. The next day I rode on to Cumberland, and took my Circuit for the winter. For fome time before this, I had had thoughts of marriage. At fift I rejected it as a temptation. I had not the leaft fcruple but it was lawful for a Minister to marry; but I feared left I fhould do my own will, not the will of God. I prayed again and again, that the Lord would fhew me his will, and would rather die than offend him; and having advised with my friends, and they approving of my design, I was on the 17th of February 1784, married to Mary Gay, of Cumberland. We both devoted ourfelves to the Lord and his fervice; and, bleffed be God, I have no reason to repent of it to this day. As foon as the Spring opened, I fet off for the lower Towns; and after preaching feveral times at Windfor, &c. I went to Halifax. Having ftaid here fome time, and met the Claffes, one of Blacks, and the other of Whites, I then went with eight of our friends, in a boat to Burch-Town; where I preached preached to about two hundred black people. It is truly won derful, to fee what a work God hath been carrying on amongst these poor Negroes. Upwards of fixty profefs to have found the pearl of great price, within seven or eight months: and what is farther remarkable, the chief inftrument, whom God hath employed in this work, is a poor Negro, who can neither fee, walk, nor ftand. He is ufually carried to the place of worship, where he fits and fpeaks; or kneels and prays with the people. April 23. I met nine of the Black Claffes, (five more remained unmet, for want of time) and many of them are deeply experienced in the ways of God. There are about one hundred and eight Blacks and Whites in Society at Shelburne and BurchTown. April the 26th, I fet fail for Liverpool, and arrived the next evening. On hearing that I was come, the friends flocked to see me we had a comfortable evening, and could heartily praise God, that he had brought us together again. On the following days, whilft I preached, many were bathed in tears, and some were fo filled with a sense of the glory of God, that they faid, their mortal bodies could hardly ftand under it. O my God, what kindness is this to mortals! O how did they rejoice and tell of his goodnefs! Bleffed be God, that ever I was made a partaker of thefe immortal hopes! O what an infinite fulness is laid up in Jefus! My God! only give me to enjoy thy facred fmile; a conftant sense of thine ap probation and love, and I defire no more: "Honours, wealth, or pleasures mean, I neither have, nor want." May 2. I preached twice, and we had several meetings for prayer and exhortation. The people were much engaged, fo that we had scarce time or inclination to eat. O what a bleffed day was this! Many trembled, wept, and cried for mercy. O that none may ever turn again as a dog to the vomit! Monday 3, we had another wonderful meeting. One VOL. XIV. 3 E woman, woman, whofe harp had been on the willows for fome time, and her foul in captivity, was filled with unspeakable joy. O how did the praise the Lord for her happy deliverance! This was a glorious time to me! Bleffed Lord! Let me only tafte thy love, and be employed in thy fervice, and it fufficeth me. Once indeed I wished that I had never been born, and thought it my greatest mifery to have a foul: now I blefs thee for my being, and glory that I am capable of loving thee. Wednesday 5. I fet fail for Halifax, where having arrived early on Saturday, I fet off for Windfor on foot, and travelled forty miles that day; but the skin was so bliftered under my feet, that with difficulty I reached Carles's. The next morning I reached Windfor, and preached twice and after visiting Annapolis, Cornwallis, and Horton, I returned to Cumberland on the 26th of May. I laboured here until September 15, when, after an affecting patting, I fet off to vifit the States, intending to get fome help from our brethren there, as I alone could not take care of all the Societies. On my way to Baltimore, I called at Bolton, where I preached twice; from thence I went by the way of Rhode Island, to New-York; where I arrived, O&tober 20th, and preached a few times. I was much exercifed here about my temporal circumftances. Satan painted in lively colours, my diftance from home, my money almoft gone, my being amongst entire #trangers, &c. I could not fully refift this. It followed me even to the pulpit; but there God delivered me, and removed the heavinefs from my mind. The firft words I opened upon in my Bible, were these. "O ye of little faith, why will ye doubt? Look at the billies," &c. My heart was filled with joy, and I walked in the ftrength of this promife, not doubting but God would provide. From New-York I went to Long-Iland, and on the 29th, preached at Black-Stump, the day following at New-Town, and on Tuesday attended the execution of two men that were hung at Jamaica. At the Sheriff's defire, I prayed with, and recommended |