mains a cripple. Thus God" striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others," Job xxxiv. 26

But what shall I say? An ignorant mind, an impenitent heart, and a seared conscience, are a coat of mail put on by the devil; and to be left to live and die in it is an awful judgment from God. Our Saviour calls it Satan's armour wherein he trusteth. When the Lord taketh away that, the spoil is said to be divided; that is, as I conceive, the devil takes the armour, and the Saviour both the body and soul.

Without either fee or reward, I preached among the inhabitants of Thames-Ditton during six years successively, and seldom went a day to prayer dry-eyed before God during the whole time. But God answered my prayers into my own bosom, and them to the confusion of their faces. How dreadful, then, must the state of that people be, when the hearts of those who fear God are hardened against them, the mouth of prayer stopped for them, and God declares that his Spirit shall no more strive with them! It is well for such if the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah do not fare better in the general judgment than they, Luke

x. 12.

The person, whom I mentioned at the beginning of this treatise as officiating priest, and who performed the mock funeral solemnity when my effigy was burnt, soon after found the terrors of a

guilty conscience, and declared that the infernal fiends pursued him wherever he went. At one time he leaped into a pond; but was got out with safety: afterwards he attempted to throw himself from a window; but was happily prevented. In short, his intellects were much impaired for a considerable time; but since that he is a little recovered. However, to this day he labours under many afflictions; and I hope in the Lord that he hath seen his error. I am informed that, when he was asked by some of his companions why he did not deride and abuse us as he used to do, his answer was, Let them alone, they are wiser than we.'

Oh! it is awful to wage war against Christ, who is the Lord of Hosts, mighty in battle. He is perpetually mounted on his white horse, and carries a bent bow against his adversaries, as well as a crown for his friends. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquering and to conquer." God grant that the poor man may find grace in his sight, as He has delivered him from pouring contempt on his word and commandment, and receive an answer to that petition which is often put up in hypocrisy, namely, Forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and turn their hearts.'

Notwithstanding that the Almighty had displayed his judgments in so conspicuous a manner

upon them, yet they most awfully persisted in persecuting us; insomuch that some, who formerly encouraged them in their wickedness secretly, have been ashamed when in the morning they have beheld our shattered meeting, and the road covered with bricks, stones, and old tin ware; which last article was used by this rebellious band of rough musicians in order to drown my voice, and confuse me in my preaching. One night, when I was discoursing from this solemn passage, "The resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment," Heb. vi. 2; a person who stood at the door to mock, make a riot, and disturb the congregation, uttered this awful expression when I concluded, 'D—n the fellow, all that he has said is lies!' and went his way. But not many days after, as he was riding in a single-horse chaise, being much intoxicated with liquor, and driving furiously, he overthrew his carriage against some pieces of timber, one of which his head pitched upon, and broke his jaw-bone. He received a wound quite through his cheek, and had one of his ears almost beat off. When he got up he said, 'O God! why am I so drunk?' In consequence of this he was confined to his bed many days; and after being a little recovered, and his persecuting spirit being somewhat checked, whenever he met me or my wife, he always addressed us civilly.

Here God seemed to single out the offending members: the mouth that had cursed and the ear

that had heard were distinctly punished, which gave me some room to hope that he saw his error. However, the wounds which he had received in this fall proved incurable; his cheek in particular baffled the efforts of the most skilful, laid him on a sick bed again, and finally in his grave. I shall forbear mentioning his name, nor shall I descend to any particulars relative to his death; choosing rather to suppress them, as his widow, who lives in London, often attends my ministry, and is, as I am informed, a woman who truly fears God.

This violent persecution, which continued so many years, was partly owing to a woman that formed an infamous and unlawful connexion with a certain gentleman in the commission of the peace, who resided at some distance from Ditton. This hireling lady complained to him about my preaching the Gospel, it being so offensive to her; and indeed it was no wonder, when her unhallowed calling was so offensive to the Gospel of Christ, No sooner was this grievous complaint made than attended to: for there came a man to me, just as I was going into the pulpit, accompanied with a number of others, to aid and assist him, if need required, who desired me to produce my license, and likewise the license of the meeting; informing me at the same time that he was authorized to make inquisition. After much threatening, I ascended the pulpit, and preached from these words; "And now, Lord, behold their threaten

ings: and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the Name of thy Holy Child Jesus," Acts iv. 29, 30.

The next time that I preached the person abovementioned came again, and desired to know my authority for preaching. I accordingly shewed him my license. But the man of the house, where the meeting was held, refused to shew the license for the meeting: this caused much disturbance, and a great many threats. Notwithstanding this, I went up and preached from the following text: "Did we not straitly command you that you should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine; and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us?" Acts v. 28.

These troublesome people came a third time, making the same kind of riot as before; upon which I preached from this text: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

At length we evidently saw one part of the church service, which is offered up by our persecutors, answered and fulfilled in our behalf, namely, that those evils, which the craft and subtilty of the devil or man, working against us, were brought to nought, and by the providence of God's great goodness they were dispersed; that we his servants, being hurt by no persecutions, may ever