unto sin ;" and thou art alive unto God from this hour! O begin, begin to reckon now! Fear not,-believe believe, believe! And continue to believe every moment; so shalt thou continue free. For it is retained, as it is received, by faith alone. And whosoever thou art that perseveringly believest, it will be as a fire in thy bosom, and constrain thee to confess with thy mouth, thy Lord and King Jesus! And, in spreading the sacred flame of love, thou shalt still be saved to the uttermost.'

"He also dwelt largely on those words, 'where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' He asked How did sin abound? Has it not overspread your whole soul? Were not all your passions, tempers, propensities, and affections, inordinate and evil? Did not pride, anger, self will, and unbelief, all reign in you? And when the Spirit of God strove with you, did you not repel all his convictions, and put him far from you? Well, my brethren, "Ye were then the servants of sin, and were free from righteousness: but now, being free from sin, ye become servants to God;" and holiness shall overspread your whole soul; so that all your tempers and passions shall be henceforth regulated and governed by Him who now sitteth upon the throne of your heart, making all things new! They shall therefore be all holy. And as you once resisted the Holy Spirit, so now you shall have power as easily to resist all the subtle frauds or fierce attacks of Satan. Yea, his suggestions to evil shall be like a ball thrown against a wall of brass ! It shall rebound back again; and you shall know what that meaneth-"The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me.” '

"He then, with lifted hands, cried, 'Who will thus be saved? Who will believe the report? You are only in an improper sense called believers who reject this. Who is a believer? One that believes a few things which his God hath spoken? Nay, but one who believes all that ever proceeded out of his mouth!Here then is the word of the Lord, "As sin abounded, grace shall much more abound!" As no good thing

was in you by nature, so now no evil thing shall remain! Do you believe this? Or, are you a half believer, only?-Come, Jesus is offered to thee as a perfect Saviour; take him and he will make thee a perfect saint! O ye half believers, will you still plead for the murderers of your Lord? Which of these will you hide as a serpent in your bosom? Shall it be anger, pride, self will, or accursed unbelief? O be no longer befooled! "bring these enemies to thy Lord, and let him slay them."

"Some days after this, being in Mr. Fletcher's company, he took me by the hand, and said,—' Glory be to God for you, my sister!-still bear a noble testimony for your Lord. Do you repent your confession of his salvation?' I answered, Blessed be God I do not. At going away, he again took me by my hand, saying, with eyes and heart lifted up,- Bless her, heavenly Power!' It seemed as if an instant answer was given, and a beam of glory let down!-I was filled with deep humility and love. Yea my whole soul overflowed with unutterable sweetness."

CHAPTER IV.

Mr. Bramwell is called to supply the place of an itinerant preacher in Liverpool-He is recalled at the earnest request of his Preston friends-He commences business on his own account-Is again solicited by Dr. Coke to become an itinerant preacher-After some consideration, he embraces the offer, and begins to travel in the Kent circuit-His manner of life, and ardent desire for the conversion of sinners-He is again brought into doubt respecting his call to the ministry Preaches at the place where seven men were executedA remarkable dream.

MR. BRAMWELL was much blessed in his labours as a local preacher; and it was soon the unanimous sentiment of the church, that he was calculated for a much more extended sphere of usefulness. Indeed, for four years after he was free from his apprenticeship, he had himself felt a powerful persuasion that he was

called by the great Head of the church to the exercise of the ministry. On this account he had purposely abstained from engaging in any secular employment for his own benefit, although he had an opportunity of doing it to great advantage. During the whole of this period he had been occupied in introducing the doctrines and the discipline of the Methodists into many of the uncivilized districts around Preston, in a manner the most zealous and disinterested, his exertions being made entirely at his own charge. Such was the general impression which he had of his designation to serve God in the gospel of his Son. But with him, (as with many other eminent heralds of Christ,) this impression was subject to some fluctuating doubts; and it occasionally became the groand work of Satan's buffeting and temptation. Yet it still retained its firm hold on his mind, and impelled him to continue his services in that best of causes, to which he considered himself devoted.

He

About that time some new places had been added to the Liverpool circuit. It therefore became requisite to have an additional preacher. Mr. Bramwell, having been recommended by the superintendent, was appointed by Mr. Wesley to go there and officiate as an itinerant preacher till the following conference. immediately complied; but he had not been long employed in this capacity before a strong representation was made by his friends at Preston, to induce Mr. Wesley to recall him, as the work of God in that town was then increasing, and Mr. Bramwell's labours were particularly required for its furtherance. To this request Mr. Wesley acceded, and Mr. Bramwell accordingly returned to Preston, to the great joy of those who had known him and felt the power of his preaching. By this arrangement, his parents, who had almost given him up as a desperate seceder from their principles, were exceedingly gratified, and fondly hoped to regain their former influence over him.

He now thought his lot determined, and himself providentially settled for life in Preston. He therefore

commenced the business to which he had served an apprenticeship. But the Lord had prepared for him a far more important station, in which he had designed him to act a most conspicuous part. Not many months after he had taken a shop and house, Dr. Coke wrote to him several times, and earnestly requested him to give up his business, become an itinerant preacher, and travel in the Kent circuit. Against the Doctor's arguments very powerful obstacles presented themselves : Mr. Bramwell was comfortably settled in business; his worldly prospects were peculiarly inviting, and he had formed an honourable and intimate connexion with a pious young lady, a native of Preston, who had been converted under his preaching at an early period of his ministrations. He was surrounded by his family connexions. His father and mother had shown themselves less bigoted in religious matters, and had evinced something resembling an esteem for Methodism. In fine, every thing concurred to invite him to sit down, acquire a fortune, and enjoy himself among his friends.

This was a most important crisis in his life; and his feelings on the occasion may be more easily conceived than expressed. He earnestly sought direction from. Heaven, and consulted his Christian friends. At length, believing that he was called of God to devote himself entirely to the work of the ministry, he no longer conferred with flesh and blood, but immediately settled his temporal affairs, purchased a horse and a pair of saddle bags, and rode to the Kent circuit, in the winter of 1785, a distance of about three hundred miles.

When Mr. Bramwell reached Canterbury, he found the society in a very languid state, a division having taken place some time previous to his arrival. But his entrance into the circuit, with that man of God, Mr. Shadford, was the means of such a revival as had not been witnessed for many years. Mr. Bramwell adopted, from Mr. Shadford, a plan of more extensive usefulness and devotedness to God; and though he afterwards studied the lives of eminent ministers, (and particularly that of Mr. T. Walsh,) yet he never ceased to remem

ber and imitate his venerable colleague. The people regarded Mr. Bramwell as a messenger of God, and expressed an earnest wish, that those preachers who should afterwards labour among them, might always manifest the same zeal, love, and disinterestedness in the sacred cause.

His genuine piety and affectionate concern for the welfare of souls, and for the prosperity of the work of God, were evinced in the whole of his deportment among the people, and he was so truly consistent, that he never appeared to lose sight of his character as a Christian minister. Into whatever company he went, he seemed to carry with him a consciousness of the Divine presence, which influenced the whole of his conduct. His visits were generally short, and he had such a happy method of improving the present moment, that levity and trifling could never appear in his presence. Frequently when at prayer, so powerfully did he wrestle with God that the room seemed filled with the Divine glory, in a manner the most extraordinary; which made some persons ready to imagine, that the very boards shook under them.

As there were many young persons added to the society in that circuit, he saw it necessary to guard them against the temptations to which young people are exposed; and to give greater effect to his exhortations, he addressed the different sexes separately. One Sunday evening he would request the women in the society to stop, and not one of the other sex to be present. The following sabbath he would meet all the men, and them only. This method had a good effect it prevented the appearance of partiality, and gave him an opportunity of using much plainness of speech, and a greater degree of faithfulness. His instructions could not fail to be well received, because they were given with affection; while the correctness of his own deportment rendered him unimpeachable.

The prayer meetings were generally held in private houses; and as he knew the spiritual condition of certain persons present, when the meetings were over, he