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In this narrative I shall set forth all the circumstances of God's providence, which he hath brought to my remembrance. May his kind providence shine to his own honour, and to the comfort of his poor flock, who are obliged to trust in him or starve. O blessed object, worthy of all trust!

I doubt, reader, we shall give a second offence for chatting so long together by way of dedication. Cavillers will be ready to say that we are like children in the market-place calling to their fellows, therefore we had better part than give any offence to them.

you.

Good morning to you, Mr. Parson; God bless

I thank thee, Christian: but beseech thee not to put any titles or compliments upon me; give them to those who can make a meal of them. Coal-heaving is hard work, and coal-heavers require better food than compliments.

Reader, fare thee well.

Thine to serve in the bowels of Christ,

W. H.

GOD

THE GUARDIAN OF THE POOR,

AND

THE BANK OF FAITH.

WHEN I was about seven years of age I heard a person say that God took notice of children's sins. The wonderful workings of my mind upon these words I shall not at present descant on; neither shall I mention the many trials I underwent at the bar of my own conscience while the impression dwelt on my mind. I also remember to have once heard a person say that all things were possible with God; which words I secretly treasured up and pondered in my heart; and as I had great desire at that time to live in the capacity of an errand-boy with a certain gentleman in the place, being very poorly brought up, and knowing much the want of the common necessaries of life, it came into my mind that, if all things were possible with God, it was also possible for him to send me to live as a servant-boy with 'Squire Cooke; though at the same time he had a boy who I believed was well approved of. Notwithstanding this last circumstance I privately asked God, in an extempore way,

to give me that boy's place; and made many promises how good I would be if he granted me this request. For many days I privately begged of God this favour, which nobody knew but God and myself, till now I relate it. I believe I went on in this way of praying, sometimes under a hedge, or on my bed, for a week or two; and I thought, if God granted me this favour, I should know whether all things were possible with him or not. Having prayed for many days, and finding no likelihood of an answer, I readily concluded that there was no God; and therefore I had no cause to be so afraid of sinning, nor had I any occasion to pray to him any more. Accordingly I left off praying for some time, and then began again, till at last I left off entirely. Some few days after this there came a man to my father's house, and said, William, 'Squire Cooke wants a boy; why don't you go after the place?' I said, 'John Dungy lives there.' He answered, No; he is turned away.' I asked for what. He replied, Old Master Coly, the oyster-man, went there a few days ago to carry some oysters; and, while the old man was gone with a measure of them into the house, the boy robbed the pads, as they hung on the horse while he was tied up at the gate; and the mistress, seeing him, discharged him for it.'

The compunction which I felt, the thoughts that I had, the various workings of my mind, the promises I made, and the petitions I put up, as I went after the place, I choose to conceal; for I

think they would hardly be credited, considering I was no more at this time than eight years old. However, to my astonishment, I got the place, and the bargain was struck at twenty shillings per annum. For many days and weeks an uncommon impression about the power of God lay fresh on my mind. But soon after this a sudden temptation brought me to believe that there was no God; that, if there was, he took no notice of such creatures as we are, or of any of our affairs; and that it was by chance I got the place: wherefore I imagined that I had no occasion to pray, or to pay the vows which I had made. This temptation made a sufficient breach for me to creep out at, and proved an awful inlet to vice and vanity, which for some months I gave way to. Soon after this I offended my master, was discharged from my servitude, and went home as deeply stung with guilt for my folly as I had been before lifted up at the sight of God's mercy.

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After this period I had sharp work in my conscience for some years, at certain times, but was still pursued with deistical principles, that God took no notice of our proceedings; till at last it appeared rather fixed in my mind, and insensibility and stupor naturally followed. Now it was that I got wholly out of all fear of God, or thoughts of futurity, and very soon learned to dance; which is just as serviceable a net to ruin souls as devils could invent, or frail mortals drop into. However, God put a stop to this by laying a fit of sickness

on my tabernacle, which I had never before experienced. I laboured hard, rather than submit to go to bed; and made a shift to keep about my business as long as I was able to move a limb: but at last I was forced to yield. Then my conscience began to do her office, and the wrath of God to alarm me; so that I was fully convinced God took notice of my conduct in this life, and would reckon with me for it in the next. I lay in this state of mind until I had an earnest of damnation in my heart : and I had not a single doubt of my portion in everlasting burnings, if I died in that state. God brought me so nigh the end of all flesh that the rattles of death stopped my breath twice. I tried to fly from death, and got out of the bed to run away, but could not; for I fell on the floor, and there lay till my fellow-servants found me, and put me into bed again by force. Soon after I heard one of the maids say, Poor William will die.' Yea,' said the other, 'Doctor Wilson has given him over.' They knew not that I heard them. I tried again to fly from death, but found I could not. So I began to whisper a prayer to God, which conscience would not allow me to do before. As I began to pray I gathered strength, and in less than a month was out of doors. I quitted my servitude, went home to my parents till my recovery, and never danced any more from that hour to this. Soon after I got well I was informed that one 'Squire Pool, of Charren in Kent, wanted a servant. I went after the place, and took courage to ask of

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