wards informed he was sent on that day to London; but, fearing he should return too late, rode furiously in his way home, that he might save his oath, and execute his promise. But, ere he arrived within the shout of their camp, his horse threw him; he was conveyed to a public house, where he lay in his blood many days. Thus his horse, as well as Balaam's ass, wisely fought for Israel, though their riders were mad enough to fight against them.

Surely God will take his own part against those who intend evil against Him; "they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them," Psalm xxi. 11, 12.

This divination against Israel not having the desired effect, a council was held among the parish officers, who ordered a dinner at a public house; and, their consultation being ended, they came to the following resolution, viz. that a bench of magistrates should be informed of my having intruded myself into their parish without having gained any legal settlement; and that, if possible, a summons should be immediately procured, after the justices were informed that a fellow who came in there to sojourn only would now needs be a judge, Gen.

xix. 9.

First, a complaint was laid against my dame's fruitful womb, which generally brought forth once

a year. Said they, 'He has a large family.' But surely this was no great crime, seeing we are commanded to increase and multiply. After this my poverty was exclaimed against; which none experienced the bad effects of, except myself, as I always took care to pay my debts; and, if poverty and honesty be coupled together, they surely savour more of virtue than of vice; this, therefore, could be no great sin, because God maketh poor and maketh rich, it is He that bringeth low, and lifteth up. up. My occupation was next laid in the balance, and was found to be no more than the laborious calling of coal-heaving, at ten shillings per week. "A poor man, that oppresseth the poor, is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food." And, lastly, the greatest crime of all was, that I, with such a family, so poor, so ignorant a person, and only an intruder into their parish, should presume to be a preacher; yea, preach too against the church, the parson, and all the parish! This charge, indeed, was true; and none could help it, if they preached God's Word. A summons was accordingly sent; and much general joy appeared at the thoughts of removing this enemy of the church. They then went and informed a neighbour of mine what feats they had performed, which doubtless deserved all praise, as it was done in defence of the church. This neighbour secretly sent for me, informing me of their proceedings against me; and, as he was a collector of the King's taxes, he received the tax from me,

and gave me a receipt, in order to settle me there as a parishioner. When the day arrived I obeyed the summons; and, as my poverty had been represented in a deplorable light, I took care to appear as well dressed as possible. A certain gentleman, who feared God, attended to supply me with money, if any was wanting. Two attornies at law, likewise, came from London, to afford me any assistance that I might require. These two gentlemen demanded of the magistrates my legal right to the parish of Thames-Ditton; first, as a licensed minister; and, secondly, as having paid the King's taxes; which the bench granted. A gentleman took me into a carriage, and carried me home; while my enemies were branded with shame, God's visible blast appearing so plain on the measures of this wise Sanhedrim. At my return I gathered my flock together, and delivered a discourse from this text, " They said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there," Lam. iv. 15. But God says the bounds of our habitation are fixed: and so we found it; for another poor man, whom they supposed to be an enemy also to their church, was likewise summoned before the bench, who came home a parishioner as well as myself: so they could neither remove the ringleader, nor the second in command. When we had finished our devotions we parted in peace and happiness, saying as Israel did of old, Many a time have they afflicted us from our youth up, but they have not prevailed against us, Psalm cxxix. 1, 2; nor is it

likely they ever will, while God has a single soul to call by his grace. "I will work," says God," and who shall let it?" This world is a stage for action, a scaffold for work, and a place of graves for rest; and, when the human race shall have acted their several parts, the building of Mercy will be complete; and, when the dead have had their appointed repose, Time shall strike his last number, and that shall bring on the midnight cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" Then this stage shall come down, the scaffold shall be struck, and all that sleep in their graves shall awake, "some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt," Dan. xii. 2. Then shall appear the Sun of righteousness, whose glorious beams shall bring on the blessed morning of eternal day, in which the upright shall surely have dominion, Psalm xlix. 14.

We made several attempts to bring these offenders to justice; but all our endeavours proved in vain; for Satan is not divided against himself; if he was, how should his kingdom stand? Mat. xii. 26.

Our disappointment in this respect gave fresh encouragement to our enemies; they crying out in triumph, There is no law for them;' and that they might do just what they pleased. Accordingly, two men came one night, one of whom was a Roman catholic. They swore at me in a most awful manner, even in the meeting. One of them

soon after fell out of a boat into the Thames; but, through the tender mercy of our God, his life was saved: and, not many days after, the other fell overboard also; whose escape was so narrow, that there was scarcely a step between him and death. This awfully alarmed his conscience, and his visage proclaimed the terrors of his mind; his very joints were loosed, and his knees smote together. These circumstances struck them so forcibly, that, as they were one day at dinner, they remarked what an unlucky place Ditton was, as nothing but misfortunes had befallen them ever since they came thither. Fortune, Luck, and Chance, are the Trinity of fools; had they been wise men, they would have looked higher.

The Lord's displeasure was visibly seen in another judgment, which appeared among the ringers, who frequently rang the church bells, either to drown my voice, or to summon their fellow companions in mischief to disturb me and those who attended on my ministry. One Sunday evening, in particular, they had been ringing; and, after the peal was over they went to wrestling; in which cruel game, on God's sacred day, one received a fall and broke his leg, and now is gone "to the house appointed for all living."

Another poor hardened youth had got himself entangled in a bell rope, and tossed in such a manner as obliged him to apply to an hospital in London, from whence he returned, but still re