and was in partnership with several others, and much on the gaining side; insomuch that we built ourselves up in an opinion of our property being very considerable, and took it for granted that we were rich and increased with goods, and had need of nothing, Rev. iii. 17. Being established in this vain opinion of our immense wealth, we never took stock, to see what we were worth; but took it for granted that our gains were great; this led us wholly to neglect our books; the day-book, postbook, and ledger, were entirely laid aside, neither balanced nor settled; therefore every thing went to wreck; for, if business be not minded by the tradesman, business will not mind him. However, we thought that all was well; and, being greedy of gain, we extended our trade, and manufactured all kinds of stuffs for wearing apparel, as well as for bedding, and made a deal of linsey-woolsey also; and, in order to recommend it, I wore a suit of it myself.

It happened one night that I had been out very late about business; and, coming home and going to bed very late and very weary, I was remarkably restless in my sleep, and towards the morning I had a dream; and, by the many different scenes that were exhibited on the thresholds of fancy, I took the whole vision to be a prelude to some future troubles. But just before I awoke I had a most wonderful view of a glorious person, mounted on a white horse; he was clothed with a scarlet vesture, and many armies followed him upon white horses,

clothed in fine linen, white and clean, Rev. xix 11-14. I thought the linsey-woolsey garment that I wore looked so filthy, when compared to theirs which I saw, that I loathed myself in my own sight, and was determined to get my own clothes scoured, or else to get a new suit made up. However, I awoke, and behold it was a dream! yet it hung heavy upon my mind, and I lived in daily expectation of its being fulfilled by some troubles, I told my partners at dinner time of my dream, and of my thoughts of future trouble, &c. but they laughed it off: however, I had often been a fatal dreamer about less matters, and I appeared no less in this for it happened one day, as I was returning from the workshop to my house, that a man stepped up to me, and asked me where I bought that coat that was then on my back? I told him that I bought it not, but that it was my own manufacture. He desired to see the loom, which I shewed him: he immediately turned round and caught me fast by the collar, and told me that I was his prisoner, and that he seized me in the king's name. I sternly replied, What have I done?' He answered, You have violated the laws of the King of kings, by which you have forfeited your life, confiscated your goods, and all that you have.' I stood trembling, and said, 'Pray, sir, shew me your commission, and the law that I have violated; for surely in profound ignorance have I done this!' He replied, My name is Moses, the king's servant; and one said to be faithful in the king's service; you will find

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6

Oh, sir, if that

my name affixed to all your laws.' be your name, I have no doubt of your commission; but do shew me the statute that I have violated, and take my partners as well as myself; for there are many of us in copartnership. The trade, sir, is not all my own!' He replied that my name stood first on the bills, there was nothing of Co. affixed to it. 6 Besides,' said he, I have an especial warrant from the King to apprehend and bring you before him; I shall therefore immediately take you into custody, until the appointed time for hearing.'

I earnestly importuned to see the act that I had broken, and at length prevailed; for he pulled a roll of vellum out of his bosom, and read it with an audible voice: hear ye the unalterable statute of the Great King, published in the middle age, entitled, A repetition of sundry laws, and an act to prevent mingling: "Ye shall keep my statutes: thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a divers kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed; neither shall a garment mingled with linen and woollen come upon thee," Levit. xix. 19. And again, "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, of woollen and linen together," Deut. xxii. 11. I felt the dreadful horrors of guilt spring up, and began to make request for my life; but he sternly replied, "The law is not made to give life to transgressors.' I begged of him to intercede for me; but he told me my request was vain, and bid mę put no trust in him; for Truth had said, "There

is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust." He immediately cast me into prison, and, before he left me, took a little book out of his pocket and read the following clause: "And, when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten thousand talents; but, forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made," Matt. xviii. 24, 25. He ordered the prison to be kept with all safety, and departed, leaving me in the most forlorn condition, and in the most dismal place that ever poor mortal was found in; there I continued for five months. I had one night a dream during my confinement, of a man's coming to see me, whose name was Good Hope, a neighbour of mine; but one that I had ever detested as a singular man, who shunned all company, found fault with every body, and was social with none. indeed my dream came to pass; for the very next day he called upon me. I was not very glad to see him, for I never had entertained a good opinion of him, but contrariwise. However, he asked me how I came there, and I honestly told him. He seemed to smile, as if he was glad to find me there; which did not at all surprise me, as he was ever deemed a man of a very uncharitable spirit. I told him for my part I found nothing to smile at, nor was his smile at all seasonable to my present feelings. He said he did not smile at my present misery, but in the expectation of my future de

And

liverance. I replied, 'I have heard enough of the law to know that there can be no deliverance for me, my debt is such as all that I have in the world will never pay.' He said he had been in the same prison, that his debts had been as great as mine, and he was cleared by an act of grace; he told me the whole of his own imprisonment and deliverance; and explained the laws to me, and the office of Moses, in a most wonderful manner; he told me what court to appeal to, and what throne to aim at in my appeal. He advised me what advocate to call upon, what counsellor to trust in, and the privileges granted to prisoners in various ancient acts, which he quoted. He told me of the Intercessor who was allowed to intercede for imprisoned debtors, and of a Surety that had cleared thousands, and that had even cleared him.

These were seasonable instructions indeed; my very soul dissolved at the thoughts of a surety; the very name was like an ointment poured forth. But I replied, I do not know where or how to come at this wonderful friend.' He answered, Believe what I have told you, and thy faith will find her way to him, and he will make his way to her;" and added, 'Don't you long for a deliverance?" I said, 'Yes.' ' And should you not be glad to see it brought about?' I replied, 'Glad indeed.' Then,' said he, believe, and thou shalt find thy faith to be the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen,' Heb. xi. 1. He then mentioned several characters that had been