fo doing, he heaps coals of fire, of melting love, upon his head. And many waters cannot quench this love: neither can even the floods of ingratitude drown it.

II. 1. We are, Secondly, to enquire, What these things are, which is commonly fuppofed will fupply the place of Love. And the first of thefe is Eloquence: a faculty of talking well, particularly on religious fubjects. Men are ge nerally inclined to think well of one that talks well. If he speaks properly and fluently of God, and the things of God, who can donbt of his being in God's favour? And it is very natural for him, to think well of himself, to have as favourable an opinion of himself as others have.

2. But men of reflection are not satisfied with this: they are not content with a flood of words. They prefer thinking before talking, and judge, one that knows much is far preferable to one that talks much. And it is certain knowledge is an excellent gift of God; particularly knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, in which are contained all the depths of Divine knowledge and wifdom. Hence it is generally thought that a man of much knowledge, knowledge of fcripture in particular must not only be in the favour of God, but likewise enjoy a high degree of it.

3. But men of deeper reflection are apt to fay, "I lay no ftrefs upon any other knowledge, but the knowledge of God by faith. Faith is the only knowledge, which in the fight of God is of great price. We are faved by faith; by faith alone : this is the one thing needful. He that believeth, and he alone, fhall be faved everlastingly." There is much truth in this it is unqueftionably true, that we are faved by faith: confequently, That he that believeth fhall be faved, and he that believeth not, fhall be damned.

4. But fome men will fay, with the Apostle James, Shew me thy faith without thy works, (if thou canft; but indeed it is impoffible) and I will fhew thee my faith by my works. And

many

many are hereby induced to think, that good works, works of piety and mercy, are of far more confequence than faith itfelf, and will fupply the want of every other qualification for heaven. Indeed this feems to be the general fentiment, not only of the members of the Church of Rome, but of Proteftants alfo; not of the giddy and thoughtless, but the ferious members of our own Church.

5. And this cannot be denied, our Lord himself hath faid, Ye shall know them by their fruits: by their works ye know them that believe, and them that believe not. But yet it may be doubted, whether there is not a furer proof of the fincerity of our faith, than even our works: that is, our willingly fuffering for righteousness fake: efpecially, if after fuffering reproach, and pain, and loss of friends and fubftance, a man gives up life itself, yea, by a shameful and painful death, by giving is body to be burned, rather than he would give up faith and a good cenfcience, by neglecting his known duty.

6. It is proper to observe here, First, What a beautiful gradation there is, each rifing above the other, in the enumeration of thofe feveral things, which fome or other of thofe that are called Chriftians, and are ufually accounted fo, really believe, will fupply the abscence of Love. St. Paul begins at the lowest point; talking well, and advances ftep by ftep, every one rifing higher than the preceding, till he comes to the highest of all. A ftep above Eloquence is Knowledge: Faith is a step above this. Good-works are a step above that Faith. And even above this, is Suffering for Righteoufnefs fake. Nothing is higher than this but Chriftian Love: the Love of our Neigbour flowing from the Love of God.

7. It may be proper to obferve, Secondly, That whatever pales for Religion in any part of the Chriftian world, (whether it be a part of Religion, or no part at all, but either Folly, Superftition or Wickedness) may with very little difficulty be reduced to one or other of thefe heads. Every

thing which is fuppofed to be Religion, either by Proteftants or Roman.fts, and is not, is contained under one or another of thefe five particulars. Make trial, as often as you please, with any thing that is called Religion, but improperly fo called, and you will find the rule to hold without any exception.

[To be concluded in our next.]

An Account of Mr. WILLIAM M'CORNOCK, in a Letter to the Rev. John Wesley.

Rev. Sir,

ACCORDING to your requeft, I have fent you the fol

lowing account of my progrefs through this howling wilderness. I confefs it is with much shame and confufion of face that I do it; confidering what a poor return I have made to him, whole goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life.

I was born in the year 1746. My father perceiving I had a tolerable genius for learning, purposed to have me qualified for the Church. To that end he put me to learn Latin; but my Mafter refigning the school, I defifted from making any farther progrefs in that branch of learning. And as I had an averfion to ferioufnefs, my chief turn was, to travel abroad, to fee foreign countries, and to become rich in the world. But finding an unwillingness in my father that I fhould go abroad, it deterred me in fome measure; yet I could not content myself with living at home, as I feared it would be burthenfome to him if I lived an idle life with him. I therefore opened a school about feven miles from Donegal: but my father hearing fome difagreeable accounts of me, caufed me to leave that place.

Sometime

Sometime after, I had been furveying land, about twentyfour miles from my father's houfe, when I met with a Gentleman, who had two fons whom he intended to inftruct in the Mathematics, who prevailed on me to ftay with him. for a time, to instruct them. Accordingly I continued with him about a year and a half. For the first half year I scarce ever went to bed fober. I alfo found frequent temptations to other fins which I had not yet fallen into, which caused me often to retire, and pour out my foul to God for mercy: but this conviction did not continue long; for drinking, and evil company, foon destroyed it.

In April, 1767, I went to Lord Sudley's, near Ballyna, in order to get his intereft for a Commiffion in the Revenue, which he promised me; but requested that I would continue. with him to inftruct his brother in the Mathematics, till an opportunity offered of getting a Commiffion for me. But as I did not like to ftay there, I went from thence to Dublin. Having continued a few weeks there, and spent what money I had, I met a Merchant from my own country, who defrayed. my expences back to my father's house.

The Spring following I went with an intent to put Lord Sudley in mind of his promife; but he had fet off for France. I then returned back, and in my way called to see a Gentleman who lived between Sligo and Ballyna. He had four fons and a daughter who lived at home with him, who expreffed a defire that I fhould ftay with them for fome time. So I continued there half a year. But the young men being so extremely wicked, I did not chufe to follow their example, I therefore left them, and returned home in November, 1768. As I intended to go to England, and from thence to the Weft-Indies, I fet off in the fpring following, with a Cousin of mine, who was bound for England. But not letting my father know my defign, I pretended to go only about twenty miles off to an Aftronomer, who had ftationed himself at a place called Glenlee, to make his obfervations on the planets. VOL. VIII.

C

My

My father confented to this, as he knew I had a defire to improve myself in mathematical ftudies; but after I was gone, thinking I intended to go farther, he followed me, and found me on the road to Newry. On this I returned back with him; but my Coufin went for England. Soon after I went to Ballynamallard, and taught Book-keeping for about a quarter of a year; and then returned home. The next year I went to Killeghtee, about eight miles from Donegal, and kept a mathematical fchool for about three. quarters of a year. I then returned home again, and amufed myself for fome time with making ftatues; which were very entertaining to myfelf and others. I had made fome that would cause a perfon, at a few yards diftance, to think they were alive. Some I made of cement and wood; others of lead. I made their eyes of glass, which appeared very natural, and for hair on the eye-lids I had fome filver wire.

While in the midst of thefe employments, I was forely afflicted with a Fever, and vowed to God to lead a new life, if he would fpare me; but when I was recovered, I became more wicked than ever.

In April, 1772, I again had a vehement thirst for travelling. I therefore fet out to take another tour through Ireland, with a determination to commit wickednefs with a high hand; for I thought I had been too quiet and fober. I alfo thought that if I did not take pleasure in my youth, I never fhould. Therefore I fet off for Ballyshannon; but when I got there, I thought I was too near my father's house. I therefore refolved to go to Sligo: but when I had travelled about two miles, it began to rain, while the wind blew full in my face. I then refolved to return to Ballyshannon. When I got there, I met with a man who was going to Infkillen the next day; I went with him, and took a liking to him, and proposed to become a partner with him in lofs and gain, while we remained in that town. He pretended to understand painting and gilding. But he was an extraordinary

finner.