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pacification. This Committee was chosen by ballot. Every preacher in full connexion gave in nine papers, with a name on each. The ballots were received, and Messrs. Mather and Pawson were desired to retire, and count the votes. When they returned, they gave in the following names, as the first upon the list:-Joseph Bradford, (the President,) John Pawson, Alexander Mather, Thomas Coke, William Thompson, Samuel Bradburn, Joseph Benson, Henry Moore, and Adam Clarke. The preachers were all astonished at the choice, and saw that it was of God; for they were as equally divided as it was possible for them to be:-Dr. Coke, J. Pawson, S. Bradburn, H. Moore, and A. Clarke, being in favour of the Societies having the Sacraments from their own preachers; the other four being opposed to it. The Committee met six evenings successively, and sat each evening about three hours and a-half. A conciliatory spirit prevailed; mutual concessions were made, and the plan was completed, and laid before the Conference; who, after making a slight alteration, gave it their unanimous approbation. It was then presented to the meeting of Trustees, who proposed a few additions: these were acceded to by the Conference; when the whole plan, entitled "Articles of Agreement for General Pacification," was agreed to by all the preachers, and a large majority of the trustees; and a lasting peace was established.

On the 31st. of July my father writes:-"We are still going on well. I never was at a Conference since Mr. Wesley's death, or before, in which such an excellent spirit was manifested."

On the 4th of August, he says, in a letter to my mother::

"I am sorry you have heard of the mobs in this place. I knew it would distress you. But you need not be uneasy all is peace and quietness, and has been so for several days. If it were otherwise, there would be no danger of the preachers being abused. There is, perhaps, no town in the kingdom where the Methodists are so much in favour with the populace as in Manchester. The extraordinary beneficence of our people is universally known. It is not long since they gave away £200 at once. When the last collection was made by the

gentlemen of the town for the relief of the poor, our people were employed to visit and relieve them. I verily believe we are the most safe of any body. Besides, we are in the right hand of our Lord! and none can pluck us thence. Till our work is done, we are immortal. Fear not. The business of Conference goes on charmingly. It is slow indeed, but sure. The most

critical points have been discussed with candour and good temper. All things work together for good.' The late agitation of our whole Connexion will be over-ruled for the advantage of the church of God."

Mr. E. was re-appointed to the Colne Circuit, with the Rev. Messrs. Jonathan Edmondson and Charles Gloyne as his fellow-labourers. Mr. Gloyne, being single, lived in my father's house, which was adjoining the chapel. The other preacher's house being a very unsuitable one, my father took a better for Mr. Edmondson on his own responsibility, and begged as much money as enabled him to furnish it in the homely style of those olden times. He and Mr. Edmondson had been previously acquainted for some years, but now a more intimate friendship commenced, which continued without interruption to the close of life. The spirit in which he resumed his work, the peace and harmony subsisting between him and his esteemed colleagues, and the blessing which crowned their united labours, will appear from the following extracts from his diary.

"Wed. Aug. 26. Stock-in-Craven.-I am once more settled in my circuit. It is now near five weeks since I set off for Conference. I was much comforted and filled with gratitude in discovering so excellent a spirit among the preachers; and after the Conference, in visiting my dear relations at Thorner. But my mind became dissipated, through want of retirement, and a regular method of spending my time. I am now resolving to begin this new year with renewed zeal for God and devotion to his service. My heart vehemently thirsts for him.

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Sat. Sept. 19.-Glory be to God, this has been the best week I ever knew. My gracious Lord has blessed me abundantly, every way :-in my own soul, in my labours, and in my family. My dear brother and fellowlabourer, C. Gloyne, is all alive to God: he and I have had gracious, melting seasons in united prayer. My dear

wife and I also have been greatly blessed in that exercise. This evening we had the Lord's Supper in our family. While we were commemorating the dying love of our Saviour, God was remarkably present: we had near access to him in prayer: our souls were blended into one by divine love. Glory be to God for his peculiar presence in our happy little family.

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Tues. 22.-A day to be remembered with gratitude for ever. Being so hoarse that I could scarcely speak, I was obliged to get my place supplied this evening. About seven o'clock my dear wife and I retired to pray. While we were engaged in that holy exercise, the Lord manifested himself to me in a very remarkable manner. I felt the overwhelming power of saving grace. My whole heart was deluged with the love of God; and he took full possession of my soul. At first, my dear wife was in an agony of soul; but the Lord appeared, and banished all her complaints. She can now rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. May the Lord make us faithful to his grace. Amen.

"Wed. 23. This morning favoured with the peculiar presence of God in family prayer. I prayed twice, and my dear wife once. Our servant was greatly distressed for a sense of God's love. I desired her to retire, and pray in secret: she did so. After some time, my wife went to prayer again with her, and it pleased the Lord to make known his salvation to her. We enjoy a Bethel in our own house. Oh! how kind and gracious the Lord is to us. Glory be to God.

“Frid. Oct. 2.—I have been taken up most of this forenoon in attempting to make up a family difference at N. Alas! the old man, who is gone into eternity, was at a world of pains to scrape together that which is the occasion of strife and contention to his children and children's children. May the Lord save me from a worldly spirit.

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"While I am writing, a solemn sense of God's presence rests upon my heart. In the corner of this long, thatched garret where I now sit, I have often renewed my engagements to be His alone who died for me. my Lord, here I am; do with me, and in me, and by me, what seemeth good in thy sight; only, make me holy.

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Sat. Oct. 3.-I perceive that there is danger of my grieving the Holy Spirit by an inordinate desire to be at home. I have now been absent from my peaceful habitation, affectionate wife, and dear babes, about seven days, and I long to see them. But I am engaged in my Lord's work, and it must not be neglected. It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Lord, make me faithful unto death.

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"Mon. 5.-Our Quarterly Meeting at Heptonstall. Mr. Edmondson and I rode together from Colne to that place. We conversed freely by the way on the things of God, in which my mind was greatly refreshed. temporal business was soon finished in peace; and we had the Lord's presence with us in the Lovefeast and Watch-night. I preached, and Brothers Edmondson, Gloyne, and others exercised in prayer, &c. I trust some good was done. I received much good myself. Blessed be God.

It was about this time that the following letter was written by my father to his highly esteemed and beloved friend, the Rev. Robert Lomas, who was then labouring in the Huddersfield Circuit. A copy of the letter was preserved among my father's papers.

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'MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,

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Colne, Dec. 1795.

"I FEEL a strong desire that we may do one another all the good we can. Perhaps a more frequent correspondence would contribute to that desirable end. * *

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My heart, so far as I am acquainted with it, is now wholly given to God and his cause; at least, this is the prevailing temper of my mind. Yet not I, but the grace of God that is in me.'

"The pleasing intelligence your letter to Mr. Gloyne conveyed of a revival of religion at Birmingham, made our hearts glad. I have promised to read it in the congregation to-morrow evening. I hope it will be useful. Were the preachers frequently to write circumstantial accounts of any remarkable outpourings of the Holy Spirit in their respective circuits, and transmit them to their brethren in the ministry, it might be of great utility, and a means of promoting genuine religion in

other places. Do favour me with any accounts you may receive from Sheffield, Birmingham, &c. When God makes bare his holy arm, and brings poor sinners to himself, surely we should sing aloud of his mercy, and publish his doings.

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This wilderness begins to smile. Many have lately been brought to Christ. We hear almost daily of the conversion of sinners. In the neighbourhood of Colne, seventeen, at least, have experienced the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins,' since Conference. Some months ago, my dear wife began to meet a number of girls, which has been made very useful already, and promises much more. We have a meeting for the lads also. O my dear brother, let us labour to do good to the rising generation. I am persuaded, great things may be done, through God's blessing, in this way.

"Have you seen Alex. Kilham's pamphlet? What do you think of it? If you will write your thoughts upon it and send them me, I will send you mine. This may not be unprofitable. If not, I will propose two queries. 1. What may we do to acquire a better acquaintance with the sacred writings? 2. How may we qualify ourselves, by divine help, for the most extensive usefulness in the Methodist Connexion? When we have investigated these queries, several other things which I have in my head and heart, shall be brought forward.

"I am, yours affectionately,

"J. E. “P.S.—I never so clearly saw the necessity there is of us young men improving ourselves, as now. Frequent conversations on our peculiar doctrines, experience, &c. would be very useful. But as our local situations will not admit of this, should we not avail ourselves of pen, ink, and paper? This would be no loss of time: quite the reverse. A reciprocal communication of ideas would increase the stock of each individual. Thoughts would not stagnate, having a free circulation. Our views of things would be enlarged. An interchange of intellectual riches would endear us to each other; the bonds of our Christian union would become stronger every day; our hearts more inflamed with love and holy zeal; and great good would thus accrue to our Connexion and to the world. Lord, help me!

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