about a fortnight's stay he returned, and now had a strong persuasion in his own mind, that God had called him to preach His Word; and that the verse to which he was directed, when he set out on his journey to Derry,― Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, &c., was the evidence of the call which God had graciously given him. He felt these words, as no man could feel them, who was not in his circumstances. That he was not mistaken, the issue has most amply proved. He was now sent by God; human authority had not yet interfered in his appointment. It is the prerogative of God to call and ordain his own ministers: it may be the prerogative of the church to appoint them where to labour; though, frequently, this also comes by an especial divine appointment.

As there was some prospect that he might soon go to England; previously to his departure, A. C. thought it his duty to wait on the Rev. Mr. Smith, the Rector of the parish, to inform him of his design to visit England, and request a certificate. He did so; and was as usual received with great kindness. On his requesting a certificate, Mr. S. said, "Write any thing you please, Adam, and I will sign it." This he declined, and said, "Any thing from you, Sir, will be sufficient:" on which Mr. S. sat down and wrote the following lines, which the Rev. Mr. Hezlet, Rector of a neighbouring parish, seeing, subscribed.

Millburn, July 29, 1782.

"The Bearer's father, John Clarke, M. A., has for several years kept school in the parish of Agherton, of which I am Rector; and during that time, both he and the Bearer, Adam Clarke, have maintained a fair and exceeding good character: and I do believe the Bearer worthy of the confidence of any person who has occasion to employ, or have any intercourse or connection with him.

WM. SMITH, Minister of Agherton.

ROBT. HEZLET, Rector of Killowen."

He had not been long returned from Derry, before a letter came from Mr. Wesley to Mr. Bredin, appointing him for England, and desiring him to bring A. Clarke with him, that he might be sent direct to Kingswood school. This brought matters to a crisis with his family:-they were all highly displeased. His father would neither see nor speak to him; his mother threatened him with God's displeasure, and said as before, "We have brought you up with much care and trouble; your brother is gone, your father cannot last always, you should stay with the family, and labour for the support of those who have so long supported you, and not go to be a fugitive and vagabond over the face of the earth. I believe you to be up

right, I know you to be godly; but remember, God has said, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. This is the first commandment with promise: and remember what the Apostle hath said; Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. Now I allow that you are unblameable in your life, but you are now going to break that solemn law, Honour thy father and thy mother, and if you do, what will avail all your other righteousness?" It would not do to reply to an aggrieved parent. All he could say was, I wish to do nothing contrary to the will of God: and in this respect I labour to keep a conscience void of offence before God and man. His poor mother was so far transported and off her guard, that she said, "If you go, you shall have a parent's curse and not her blessing."

He was thus brought into a dilemma, and had no choice but of difficulties.-He had advanced too far, to retreat safely; and to turn back he could not with a clear conscience. He had the most decided disapprobation of his parents, and with such, expressed as mentioned above, he could not think of leaving home. Prayer was his strong hold, and to this he had recourse on the present occasion. God knew the way that he took, and appeared for him. Having gone into Coleraine a few days on some business, he was greatly surprised on his return to find his mother's sentiments entirely changed. She had got the persuasion that God had required her to give up her son to his work: she instantly submitted, and had begun to use all her influence with his father, to bring him to the same mind; nor had she exerted herself in vain. Both his parents received him on his return, with a pleasing countenance: and though neither said go: yet both said, we submit. In a few days he set off to the city of Londonderry, whence he was shortly to embark for Liverpool, London, or Bristol. On his departure, he was recommended by the pious society of Coleraine, to God. He had little money, and but a scanty wardrobe; but he was carried far above the fear of want; he would not ask his parents for any help; nor would he intimate to them that he needed any. A few of his own select friends put some money in his purse, and having taken a dutiful and affectionate leave of his parents and friends, he walked to Derry, a journey of upwards of 30 miles, in a part of a day, found Mr. Bredin waiting, who had agreed for their passage in a Liverpool trader, which was expected to sail the first fair wind.

As he was young and inexperienced, for he had not seen the world, Adam was glad that he was likely to have the company and advice of his friend Mr. Bredin; but in this he was disappointed: just as they were about to sail, a letter came from Mr. Wesley, remanding Mr. Bredin's appointment.

There was no time to deliberate; the wind was fair, the vessel cleared out, and about to fall down the Lough; Adam got a loaf of bread and about a pound of cheese, went instantly aboard quite alone, and the vessel set sail, Saturday, August 17, 1782. By this solemn step he had now separated himself, from all earthly connections and prospects in his own country; and went on the authority of what he believed to be a divine command, not knowing whither he was going, nor what God intended for him.

They got safely down Lough Foyle into the Deucaledonian Sea, having run aground through the carelessness of the pilot, but got off in about an hour, without sustaining any damage. They passed between the Skerries, Raghery, and the main land; doubled Fair Head, and the next morning were off the Mull of Galloway. The tide being against them, and the wind falling, they were obliged to work into Ramsey Bay, in the Isle of Man, where they staid about six hours. When the tide made, they weighed anchor, and the next afternoon got safely into Liverpool, August 19, 1782. On this passage, and some circumstances connected with it, it may be necessary to make a few remarks.

The captain of the sloop was named Cunningham, a Scotchman; decent, orderly, and respectable in his life. With him young Clarke had frequent and serious conversation on the passage; with which Capt. C. seemed not a little pleased. The 18th was Sunday, during the whole of which they were at sea, but Adam was sick, and was obliged to keep to his bed. The captain had got Flavel's works, and spent all his spare time on the Lord's day in reading them.-The sailors were, on the whole, orderly; and though he had reproved them for swearing, they did not take it ill, and refrained from the practice during the passage: and as they saw that the captain treated his young passenger with respect, they also treated him with the same. When they took their pilot on board, off Hoylake, they were informed that there was a hot press in the river. There were two young men, one a sailor, the other a hatter, steerage passengers, who began to fear for their personal safety. The sloop entered the river, and the first object that engaged their attention was a tender, which fired a couple of guns to make the captain bring to. The sails were hauled down in a moment, and the tender lowered her boat over her side; an officer and six men entered it, and began to make for the sloop. The transaction now about to be recorded Dr. C. has often related. His own account is the following:

"As soon as Captain Cunningham perceived the tender, and was obliged to bring to, on her fire: he addressed himself to the passengers, and said, 'You had better go and hide yourselves in the most secret parts of the vessel, or wherever you can; we shall have a press-gang immediately on board; and

I cannot protect you.' The two young men already mentioned, hid themselves accordingly: I said to myself, Shall such a man as I flee? I will not. I am in the hands of the Lord; if He permit me to be sent on board a man-of-war, doubtless He has something for me to do there.' I therefore quietly sat down on a locker in the cabin; but my heart prayed to the God of heaven. By and bye the noise on deck, told me that the gang were come on board. Immediately I heard a hoarse voice of unholy authority, calling out,' All you who are below, come up on deck!' I immediately walked up the hatchway, stepped across the quarter-deck, and leaned myself against the gunwale. The officer went down himself and searched, and found the hatter; but did not find the sailor. While this officer and the captain were in conversation about the hatter, who maintained that he was apprentice to Mr.

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of Liverpool, one of the gang came up to me, and said to one of our sailors, 'Who have you got here? O, he's a — priest, I'll warrant,' said the fellow; adding, we pressed a priest yesterday, but I think we'll not take this one.' By this time the lieutenant, having ordered the poor hatter aboard of the tender's boat, came up to me, stood for some seconds eyeing me from head to foot; he then stepped forward, took me by the right hand, fingered and thumbed it to find whether I had been brought up to the sea or hard labour, then, with authoritative insolence, shook it from him with a muffled execration, 'D-you, you'll not do.' They then returned to their boat and went off with the poor hatter.

What Briton's bosom does not burn against this infringement of British liberty?. This unconstitutional attack on the liberty of a free-born subject of the Sovereign of the British Isles? While the impress service is tolerated, in vain do we boast of our Constitution. It is an attack upon its vitality, ten thousand times worse than any suspension of the Habeas Corpus act. Let Britons know that it is neither any part of our Constitution, nor any law of the land, whatever some venal lawyers have said, in order to make it constructively such. Nothing can be a reason for it, but that which justifies a levee en masse of the inhabitants of the nation. It is intolerable to hear those plead for it, who are not exposed to so great a calamity."

Having now escaped and got safely to shore, A. C. asked the captain if he could direct him to some quiet lodging, where he might be comfortable for the night, as he intended to set off next morning for Bristol. The captain said, "You shall stay at my house; sometimes my wife takes in respectable lodgers." He went with him, and was presented with several encomiums to Mrs. C., who received him affably; she was a decent, well-bred woman. In the afternoon, the captain asked him to take a walk, and see the docks and shipping. He

went, but having lately escaped from a press-gang, he was afraid of getting in their way again; and to tell the truth, imagined that every ill-looking fellow he met, was one of the party.

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On his return to Captain Cunningham's, he was introduced to a Scotch lady who was there, a private boarder; there was also a naval captain present. At tea, the conversation turned on religion. The strange captain professed to be a papist; the Scotch lady took some part in the conversation, and generally pledged her conscience to the truth of what she asserted. Adam was pained at this; for, in all other respects, she appeared to be a well-bred and very respectable gentlewoman. He watched for an opportunity after tea, when he saw her alone, said very humbly, "Madam, it is a pity that so decent and respectable a lady as you are, should ever use an improper word." "Pray," said the lady, surprised, "what, what do you mean?" "Why, madam, I have noticed you several times in conversation, use the term 'upon my conscience.' Now, madam, to you, and to every intelligent serious person, conscience must be a very sacred principle; and should never be treated lightly; and certainly should never be used in the way of an ordinary oath." "Why, sir," said she, "I cannot think there is any harm in it. I know very well-bred religious people make no scruple of using it as I do; and I am sure I cannot be persuaded that I have been doing any thing wrong." Well, madam, I do think it sinful; and I rather think when you come to reflect on it, you will think so too." Thus ended the conversation. At supper the lady said, "Mrs. Cunningham, this young man has been reproving me for saying, 'upon my conscience.' Now, I never thought that to be a sin and sure Mrs. C. you know, as well as I, many good people who make no scruple of saying it." There was some silence, and then A. C. gave his reasons why he thought it, and all such words, thus used, to be sinful. Captain C. and Mrs. C. seemed to nod consent. The strange Captain said, "Sir, as I am a Catholic, I believe that when the priest has consecrated the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, nothing of those elements remains, they are totally and substantially changed into the body, blood, life, and divinity of Jesus Christ. Have you any thing to say against that?" "O yes, sir," said Adam, "I have much to say against it;" and then began and argued largely to shew the doctrine unscriptural, and to prove it absurd. The captain then asked him what he had to say against the invocation of saints, and the worshipping of images? He gave his reasons at large against these also. Purgatory, was next produced; Auricular Confession; and the priests' power to forgive sins. All these were considered: and, if one might dare to say so, of so young, a person, they were all confuted from Scripture and