Cana in Galilee. In about half an hour afterwards my dear wife and I retired, and joined in prayer; after which we read over upon our knees, the form of a covenant with God, which I had prepared for the occasion. We signed and sealed it in the presence of the Lord, considering ourselves as his property, and resolved to devote ourselves afresh to his service in our new relation. This left a sweet savour of piety upon our minds, and I hope will be religiously observed by us all the days of our life. The remaining part of the evening was spent in a religious and profitable way. "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. May the future part of our lives be wholly employed in showing forth his praises! Blessed be God for finding me a help-meet, one who, I believe, will be a true yoke-fellow. I feel myself bound to praise him also, for bringing me into so close a connexion with a family every way so excellent, both in a temporal and spiritual view. O may I make him just returns! 'My remnant of days I spend in his praise, Who died the whole world to redeem ; Be they many or few, My days are his due, And they all are devoted to him."" The covenant referred to in the preceding account was preserved with great care, and was renewed on various occasions, of which memoranda were made in the margin. The original document is still in the possession of the biographer, and is regarded as not the least valuable part of his inheritance. CHAPTER IV. FROM HIS MARRIAGE TO THE TIME OF HIS REMOVAL FROM THE LEEDS CIRCUIT. 1792-1794. We have now followed my father through the successive stages of childhood and youth up to manhood; we have contemplated the change wrought in his character and conduct by renewing grace, his entrance upon the work of the ministry, his full recognition as a member of the Conference after the usual period of probation, and his subsequent entrance upon the holy estate of matrimony. A new and important relation was now established, involving new duties, exposing to new temptations, attended with new trials, and affording additional opportunities for the developement of character and the testing of his principles. It is edifying to mark the strength of religious principle, and the sufficiency of Divine grace, in his faithful discharge of these new duties, in his cheerful endurance of the trials incident to the marriage state, and in his steady progression in knowledge, piety, and usefulness, through the blessing of God upon the new kind of discipline to which he was now subjected. He had earnestly sought Divine direction in the important step he had just taken, and his expectation had not been disappointed. He was led by the good providence of God to a happy union with one of a most congenial mind. My mother was the second daughter of Mr. Marmaduke Pawson, of Thorner, near Leeds, a respectable farmer, and a highly acceptable and useful local preacher for above thirty years he was the only brother of the Rev. John Pawson. Though above three years younger than my father, she had been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth a few months before him. She was awakened under the powerful ministry of the late Rev. Joseph Benson, in the year 1780, when only ten years age; and in the following February at a watch-night held at Thorner by the same eminent minister, while her father was at prayer, she was enabled to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with her heart unto righteousness. of From this early age to the close of life she continued a consistent and exemplary member of society; and though during a period of twenty-one years there were some variations in her religious experience, yet her main object was to glorify God, nor could she be satisfied without conscious intercourse with him. Modest, affectionate, and sympathising, she had a heart formed for friendship. A good natural understanding, improved by extensive reading, a sound and discriminating judgment, together with deep, genuine, and growing piety, rendered her a most agreeable and improving companion, and a suitable help-meet for one who had been called by the great Head of the church to the work of the Christian ministry. We have seen the devotional spirit in which on their wedding-day they entered upon their new relation, solemnly binding themselves in covenant to God. Their progress in life was answerable to this auspicious and exemplary beginning. They met in band daily when at home together, and spent some time in religious converse and united prayer. Thus their conjugal union was cemented by Christian love, and they were daily helpers of each other's prayers and faith. 66 After spending a few days at Thorner and in the neighbourhood, my father returned with his bride to Halifax, where he remained until the Conference. "Here," he says, we enjoyed many advantages, and much comfort in each other and in the society of our friends. We lived in the house with our affectionate uncle and aunt Pawson. Their kindness in every possible way we shall, never forget. We learned from them some valuable lessons, and hope their pious example will be of use to us while we live. All the friends were kind and obliging, and every thing wore an agreeable aspect. But, which was best of all, God, even our own God, blessed us with his presence. this time I frequently thought our circumstances bore some resemblance to those of mariners who sail on a fine, clear day for some distant clime. They expect storms, and difficulties, and dangers. O Lord, prepare us for whatever may happen!" At The following extracts from his journal will enable the reader to contemplate him in the new circumstances in which he was now placed as a married man :— "Tues. May 8th.-After breakfast and prayer this morning we left Thorner, not without painful feelings. After a pleasant ride, we got safe to Halifax to dinner, where we were made kindly welcome by our uncle and aunt Pawson, and my dear friend Reece, who was come to see us. I had many serious as well as pleasing thoughts to-day; particularly one thing; namely, I have taken away my dear wife from her father's house, a situation in many respects very agreeable. She has forsaken father and mother, brother and sisters, and has set out with me, who a little while ago was a stranger, on an itinerant life. How shall I be able to make her suitable returns? May it ever be my study, next to that of pleasing God, to promote her temporal and spiritual comfort and prosperity. Indeed, if it be not, I shall be worthy of stripes. O Lord, enable me to love my wife, even as Christ loved the church! 66 May 19th. Since I wrote last, my dear wife and I have enjoyed many refreshing seasons in social prayer. I have been favoured with unusual nearness to God at many times, and have been peculiarly assisted in preaching. From what I have experienced since I was married, I am confirmed in the opinion of the late Rev. Charles Wesley, that when any that fear God marry and acknowledge him in their marriage, they receive a larger degree of grace. I bless God I have found it so. "June 2d. This forenoon my dear wife and I spent a profitable hour in secret: we conversed upon spiritual things, and the state of our minds; we read a portion of God's holy word, and we also read over the covenant with God, which we jointly entered into, the morning we were married. We then both prayed. And truly the Lord did bless us. We felt the o'erwhelming power of saving grace. Our God has often blessed us before while we have been mutually praying for his blessing; but never so much as now. It has left a blessed tincture of Divine love in my mind. I feel sweetly abstracted from every thing outward, and wholly lost and swallowed up in my God. It is true, I have a growing affection for my dear partner; yet this does not lessen, but increase my love to God. I received her at first as the gift of a gracious Providence; and the more I know of her, the more am I convinced that she is a most invaluable gift. O may I never be unthankful! May I never 'idolize the creature!' But may 'earth be a scale to heaven,' and 'all I taste be God!' “This evening my uncle Pawson and I met together to spend an hour in conversation and prayer. While he was speaking of the great privilege of being in favour with the great God of heaven, Divine light burst in upon my mind, and I had such views as I seldom have had of the safety and happiness of those who have the Lord for their God, attended with earnest longings to be wholly devoted to him. "Mon. 4th.-I spent several hours in company with good Mr. Hopper, who has been a preacher of the gospel about fifty years, and Mr. Pawson. I was greatly edified in hearing them speak of that work of God which was at first little as a human hand, but, having spread and grown, now covers all the land. I could not but feel much veneration for these aged servants of my Master, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. They have laboured, and we have entered into their labours. They were called to suffer much for their Master; and they seem to have had 'A soul inured to pain, To hardships, griefs, and loss, The consecrated cross.' Now, we who succeed them have little to suffer: the scandal of the cross is in a great measure done away. We have, in general, comfortable accommodations, and every thing our heart could wish. Lord, preserve us from lukewarmness, effeminacy, and self-indulgence! "Wed. 6th.-Most of the day spent in reading, meditation, and prayer, in which I was much assisted and blessed. I was particularly affected with one thing while meditating on the afflictions of mankind universally; namely, that most people imagine, when they are about changing their situations or circumstances in life, they shall have no crosses, no disappointments; but every thing will answer their wishes. How foolish! because contrary, not only to scripture, but to the experience of all men. This is a state of trial and discipline. I expect a great variety of trials, and I have no objection to them; they are necessary. I would only beg of God to give me such trials and afflictions in kind and in degree, as will be most conducive to his glory and my good; and, at the same time, to give me strength and comfort according to my day. It seems to me, that none of the occurrences of life, however disagreeable, need deprive me of that peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost, which I have for some time experienced: nay, they cannot, so long as I continue to stay my mind upon my God and Saviour. "Thurs. 21st. My dear wife and I spent a considerable time this morning in reading an account of the eminent piety of the late Rev. Mr. Fletcher. While engaged in this exercise, we found a flame of holy desire enkindled in our hearts after that degree of piety which he attained and practised. We were encouraged by such considerations as these; namely, We are not required to seek holiness in our own strength. He was by nature a fallen, depraved creature, like ourselves. He came to Christ as a poor sinner, and obtained pardon and holiness as free gifts. We have the same compassionate Jesus to come unto; the same promises for our encouragement. We then fell down before our gracious God and Saviour. He poured upon us the spirit of grace and supplication. While I was at prayer, what sweet meltings did I feel: what confidence in God: what holy familiarity: what a lively expectation of obtaining and enjoying the perfect liberty of the children of God. Afterwards, we had the sacrament of the Lord's supper in our family. While engaged in that holy ordinance, I felt much nearness to God in Christ. It was a blessed season indeed. The enemy was exceedingly busy, endeavouring to divert my mind from close attention to the Divine presence, but did not succeed. I was convinced that my discouragement in the work of God has been owing princi |