cises of mind, and by the deepening of the work of grace in his own heart. The abundant baptism of the Holy Ghost he had received, at once fitted him for more extensive usefulness, and prepared him to bear the honour God thus put upon him without detriment to his own spiritual interests. For such is the infirmity of human nature, and with such consummate skill and address are the wiles of Satan adapted to the character and circumstances of the servants of God, that even ministerial success is not unattended with danger; and instances have not been wanting, in which those who have been made eminently useful to others, have themselves become exalted above measure."

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It was probably a fear of this evil, combined with other considerations, which led him to hail with gratitude and joy the prospect of comparative obscurity in the Otley Circuit, in which he was likely to be stationed.

In this, however, he was disappointed. Just before the Conference closed, Mr. Lancelot Harrison, whose wife had been dangerously ill, requested to be removed from the Colne Circuit, to which he had been re-appointed, and expressed a wish to go to Otley. A simple change was therefore made between him and my father. Mr. Harrison was sent to Otley; and my father, with Richard Seed and John Atkins, to Colne; my father, though the youngest of the three, being appointed "Assistant."

There were certain family reasons which rendered the tidings of this unexpected change by no means agreeable, but he cheerfully submitted to the arrangements of Divine providence, and made the following record on the occasion:

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Sat. Aug. 9.—I have received a letter to-day which informs me that I am appointed for Colne Circuit. I feel power to say, the will of the Lord be done. But I fear it will be exceedingly trying to my dear wife at present. She is near her confinement; and the roads are bad and mountainous, so that I fear there will be a difficulty in getting her to Colne without injury. However, the Lord is our God, and it is his work in which we are engaged. May the Lord give strength according to the day. I trust he will."

CHAPTER VI.

FROM HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE COLNE CIRCUIT, TO THE CONFERENCE OF 1796.

HAVING taken leave of their beloved friends in the Leeds Circuit, my father and mother with their little John Pawson set out by chaise for Colne. The distance was only about thirty miles; but the country is mountainous, and the roads in those days were bad. My mother was but a poor traveller at the best of times, and was then peculiarly unfitted for such a journey. My father, who was a most tender husband, had many fears for her; but He to whom he made known his requests, gave her strength according to her day, and they reached Colne in safety in the evening. There a new trial awaited them, which is thus recorded:

“Frid. Aug. 15, 1794.-When we reached Keighley, we were informed that the small pox was very prevalent in Colne, and that Mr. Harrison had left a child in the preacher's house dangerously ill in that disorder. These tidings deeply affected us. I thought my dearest partner could scarcely have borne it. We had with us our dear John, about seventeen months old, and in a habit of body very unfit for the small pox. However, we committed him to the Lord, and left him at a friend's house in Keighley, till we should determine what to do. This was our comfort-there is a God, and a Providence. How true it is, 'In the world we must have tribulation.'”

There was a striking contrast between the circuit they had left and that to which they were come. In Leeds they had every outward comfort; the congregations were large, and the societies in a lively and prosperous state: in their new circuit, they were called to the sacrifice of many temporal comforts, the congregations at Colne and some other places were small, and religion was but at a low ebb. My mother sententiously remarks in her diary: "We have removed from Leeds to Colne-from Go

shen to the wilderness." The circuit was very extensive, being about fifty miles in length, the country mountainous, the roads bad, and in many of the places the accommodations poor. Lancaster had been separated from it at the Conference, but the single preachers in the two circuits still changed once a quarter. The altered circumstances in which my father was now placed, present his character to view under a new aspect. The same all-sufficient grace which, amidst scenes of great outward comfort and of extraordinary ministerial success, had preserved him from undue elation, now raised him above that discouragement and depression which his present circumstances were calculated to produce. He dwelt rather on the bright than on the darker side of things, and received the disagreeables of his lot, as the appointments of infinite wisdom and love for his good. Encouraged by past displays of divine power, "he went forth bearing precious seed," and though he sometimes "sowed in tears," yet he encouraged himself in the Lord, and cultivated the animating hope, that he should come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

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In the evening of the day on which he arrived, he preached at Colne. The public announcement that one of the new ministers would preach, brought some to the chapel who did not usually attend; still, the congregation consisted of about thirty persons only!! He remarks:- "It looked strange in a chapel that will contain fifteen hundred persons; however, I found a degree of freedom, while I explained and endeavoured to improve Isaiah xxvi. 3,-O God, revive thy work in the midst of the years."

Perhaps the history of this period cannot be better detailed than in his own words; in which he recordschiefly with a view to his own use,—his labours and successes, his trials and comforts, the leading events of his personal history, and the variations of his religious experience, with occasional references to passing events in the Connexion, which at this time was greatly agitated with disputes about the Sacraments, and various matters of ecclesiastical polity.

"Wed. 20.—I have been out two days in the northern part of the circuit. I find the people few in number, and not lively. At one place, they are not willing to put

themselves a little out of the way to provide the preachers' lodging. For the sake of a number of poor people in the neighbourhood, I have promised them a sermon once a fortnight at noon. I called at another place today, which is in the plan once a fortnight; but they cannot receive us more than once a month. At this place, (Rimmington) I am received very kindly by a pious widow and her son. While wandering in the hills, and with difficulty finding my way to the places, at great distance from my dear wife, who is near her confinement, and my dear little boy, who is just beginning of the small pox, I have frequently found a gloom beginning to overspread my mind; but have been enabled to cast my burden upon the Lord, and he has sustained me. I feel the vast importance of my new station and office near eleven hundred souls are committed to my care. Important charge. Who is sufficient for these things? O my God, give me much heavenly wisdom, much zeal for thy glory, much love to precious souls, much success in my poor labours, and above all, much communion with thyself.

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"Sat. 23.-The congregation at Colne last night was double the number it was the week before. The power of the Lord seemed to rest on all present, and my own soul was exceedingly refreshed. I feel the good effects of it still. My heart pants after the living God.

Sun. 24.-Set out early this morning from Colne to Burnley. Preached three times at Burnley with considerable freedom and warmth; and, I hope, with profit to the people. It is a populous little market town. The chapel is large and elegant; but few of the town's people will attend preaching. My congregations,-being a stranger,- —were nearly double the usual number. But still the chapel was not one-third filled. Felt strong, ardent desires all that day that God would revive his work in the midst of the years. After preaching in the evening, several of our friends prayed, and the power of the Lord was felt by many.

"Sat. 30, Todmorden.-Hitherto hath the Lord helped me. This has been a week of many mercies and of some trials. My dear wife has been very much indisposed, and my dear little boy is in the small pox. I felt much in leaving home for nine days in such circum

stances; but it is the Lord's work in which I am engaged; and as this part of the circuit has been much neglected during the time of Conference, it would be wrong to neglect the places. I therefore leave my little afflicted family in the hands of my God. O Lord, support and comfort my dearest partner, and bring the lad safely through. O let him live before thee.

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I found my heart drawn this evening into an unusually solemn frame, while walking out and meditating on divine things. This rocky, mountainous country is very favourable to solemn contemplation. My mind was much affected with contemplating the poet's words :

'Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.'

On this eternal, unchangeable Being may all my hopes and all my affections fix and remain.

"Sept. 1.-My soul was exceedingly drawn out in desires after God this morning. My mind was impressed as it never was before with this truth,-popularity, and even usefulness will be no advantage to me, unless my heart be right with God. O Lord, make me holy. Let me be whatever else thou pleasest, only let me be wholly consecrated to thee.

"Mon. Sept. 15, Paddiham.—The last fortnight has been a time of great trial, and yet a season of great good to me. My dear child has been so very much afflicted in the small pox, that for several days his life was despaired of. But the Lord had mercy on us, lest we should have sorrow upon sorrow. My dearest partner has been greatly fatigued with too much work, loss of sleep, &c. and I have been obliged to be almost constantly from home or neglect my circuit. But the Lord has supported and comforted me and my dear wife. My soul has been kept in peace; but my studies have been interrupted by frequent long rides to see my dear little family, which I thought my duty. Now, blessed be God, the bitterness of death is past. My dear John is recovering, and will, I hope, soon be as healthy as ever. O Lord, we will lend him unto thee all his days. Accept our offering, and make him thine for ever.

"Blessed be the Lord, my soul tends towards Him as