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I arrived at the blessed spot (a very Bethel to my soul) about ten minutes before Mr. Whitfield came. I got near to the table on which he was to stand; and instead of knocking him off, would have knocked any man down, if he had dared to molest him.

. When he arrived---had given out an hymn, and offered up a prayer for a blessing on his labours, in which he prayed as it he would engage heaven on his side, and pull down showers of grace upon the people; I thought I beheld heaven in his very looks. My heart was melted at once. His subject was of Jesus's mercy to Jerusalem sinners, from Luke xxiv, last sentence of 47th verse, Beginning at Jerusalem.

From these words, God the Spirit led him to shew the atrocious sin of crucifying the Lord of glory: secondly, he noticed the instruments who perpetrated this dreadful deed (from whence sprung such infinite good) which were the Jews and Roman soldiers: then came the never-to-be-forgotten moment, as it con'cerned me. I stood at his left hand. He was not at this time looking towards me: but had just been observing; "I suppose," says he, "that you are reflecting in your minds on the cruelty of those inhuman butchers, who em

brued their hands in innocent blood." When on a sudden, turning himself towards me, as if designed; (and I do believe, from my heart, the Lord designed it for me,) he looked me full in the face, and cried out: Sinner! thou art the man that crucified the Son of God."

Then, and never before, I felt the word of God, quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. I knew not whether to stand or fall. My sins seemed all to stare me in my face. I was at once convicted. My heart bursting, mine eyes gushing forth floods of tears. I dreaded the instant wrath of God, and expected that it would instantly fall upon

me.

None but those, who have waded through the deep waters of a convinced conscience, can form any idea of the horror I endured. It was happy for me, that dear Mr. Whitfield, in the prosecution of his sermon, followed up his observations on the Jerusalem sinners, with the merciful designs of the Lord Jesus. Having thundered out the terrors of the law, he proceeded to bring before us the allurements of the gospel. And never, surely, were the rich promises, invitations, and calls of the word of God, more sweetly delivered. His heart seemed to be so enlarged, his soul so melted,

his voice, and hands extended, inviting the vilest sinners to come, and accept of a full, free, and complete pardon, in the blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Come," says he, "to Jesus, come just as you

Come thou Jerusalem sinner. Jesus bids

me call, and invite thee to come. He saith himself, all that do come, he will in no wise cast out. Here is grace to pardon you; a fountain to cleanse you: a righteousness to cloath you; a full, finished, complete salvation for you in his blood. Come, sinner: come, come, come, my master bids you come. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation. Hark! how he calls you."

It is impossible to describe what my feelings were, and with what different sensations I returned home. Sometimes I was led to think it impossible that any pardon could be for me: neither could I reconcile it with the view I now had of an holy God, and his holy laws. At other times, a glimpse of hope would arise, that as those Jerusalem sinners were pardoned, so might I. There was efficacy enough in Jesus's blood, to cleanse from all sin. Thus, for a considerable time, was I variously agitated and exercised. Neither, till after many an attendance on the means of

grace, was my soul brought into the happy liberty wherewith the Lord makes his people free.

Oh! ye precious, exercised souls, that war this holy warfare! what a wonder-working God have you to deal with! how infinitely gra cious, how infinitely tender are his dealings with his people! After that the Lord hath brought you on and brought you out, how sweetly manifested to your experience is that scripture: Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it. Truly it is said, Thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net thou laidest affliction upon our loins, Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads: we went through fire and through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

From this time a new train of thoughts took place in my mind, and a variety of different exercises followed. As the Lord was pleased to bring me to the knowledge of himself, and to enjoy sweet communion with him, I at once thought that, like Israel at the Red Sea, being delivered from spiritual Egypt, and mine ene mies, like the Egyptians, floating as dead car● cases before me, I had nothing to do more but to walk towards heaven in a continued sun

shine. My first stage towards Elim, was indeed very pleasant; for I found more than twelve wells of spiritual water: I mean, nothing arose for many a week to discompose me. But the Lord was only strengthening me, by these gracious early manifestations, for the after-stages of darkness and distress. He led me, blessed be his holy name, as he did Israel; not immediately through the Philistines' land, although that was near, lest seeing war, discouragement should arise. But he led me by the way of the wilderness; and there I found, like them, a land of drought, and trial, and fiery flying serpents, and scorpions.

My wife, with whom I had lived two or three years, in love and union, while both were in a carnal state, as my good God and Saviour turned my face, Zionward, ran with greater haste down the broad road which leads to destruction: and from her, and the sad train of evils connected with her conduct, was opened such a series of affliction, as tended to embitter all my days; though, through Divine grace sanctifying the affliction, tended at the same time to bring my soul nearer to my God. I pray the Lord to make the remembrance of this always precious to me, and may the good hand of my God make this part of my expe

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