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conclude, that embracing this system of religion, was a probable way of depriv ing myself of this prospect of preferment. Had I not, therefore, as the result of my diligent inquiries, been assuredly convinced, that it was my indispensible duty to embrace, and preach them, and that, by so doing alone, I could ensure to myself the favor of a better friend, than any here below; I should have been destitute of common sense to have had any thing to do with them. And yet being aware all along, how unfavorable, according to human probability, it would prove to my worldly interests, at length I have deliberately embraced them.

4. Nor was my regard to my character a trifling security against such a change of sentiment. I was ambitiously and excessively fond of that honor, which cometh from man; and considered the desire of praise, as allowable, nay laudible. By this motive was 1 urged on to a very diligent prosecution of my studies, even beyond what my natural inclination led me to; and my whole conduct was influenced by, my whole

conversation tinctured with, this vainglorious aim. On the other hand, with approbation and selfcomplacency, I had been accustomed to hear the most contemptuous and opprobrious epithets, lib. erally added to the names of those persons, to whom I have now joined myself; and all along, as I verged nearer and nearer to Methodism, I was painfully sensible, that I was drawing upon myself the same mortifying distinctions. I have been a vain-glorious candidate for human applause; but I renounce such pretensions, and willingly submit to be considered by the world, under the mor. tifying character of a silly, half-witted, crackbrained enthusiast. These epithets, I am sensible, are now bestowed upon me, behind my back, and very often to my face. I bless God, this doth not move me, but I can heartily thank him, that I am counted worthy to suffer shame for his sake. But when I saw this trial approaching, it appeared very formida ble; and I can truly affirm, that nothing but the fullest conviction, that the cause, in which I was embarking, was the cause of God; nothing, but not daring to act

contrary to the plain dictates of my conscience, could have influenced me to make this sacrifice of my character, and bring myself under so much contempt and scorn.

But 5. To reason with our despisers, upon their own principles, upon supposition, that I am now fallen into enthu siasm, mistake, and strong delusion, I certainly was, when I first set out in this inquiry, a very unlikely person so to do. My leading resolve was to search for the truth diligently, and to embrace it, wherever I found it, whatever it might cost. No sooner had Ibegun this inquiry,than I was called upon to give proof of the sincerity of this resolution; and from a principle of conscience, though a mistaken one, I renounced my only prospect of preferment; and it would be unreasonable to question my sincerity, after it had been thus evidenced, Since that time I have also deliberately sacrificed my character, and hazarded the loss of all my former friends. Giving these proofs of my integrity, I set off in dependance on those plain promises, which I have men

tioned; I have sought for this desired knowledge of the truth mainly in reading the holy Scriptures, and by prayer for the promised teaching of the Holy Ghost, after that manner, which hath been related; and am now led to conclusions diametrically opposite, to what I expected. Now lay all these things together, and attentively consider them, and then let your own consciences determine, how far it is probable, that a person, in this manner seeking for the truth, should be given over to a strong delusion to believe a pernicious lie. "Would any of you, that is a father, if his son asked bread, give him a stone, or if he asked a fish, give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Can any man suppose, that after such repeated and continued pleadings of the express promises of the Lord to this effect, in earnest prayer, according to his appointment, I should be likely to be delivered up to the teaching of the father of lies Can any one

make this conclusion without insinuating, that God hath broken his promises, which is shocking to think of? In short, you may make a jest of these things, you may throw by the book without giving any attention to an argument of this kind; or you may say, what you can never prove, that it is all a contrived story; or you may argue, that these promises, though contained in the Bible, are not to be depended on by us; which is to give up the Scriptures to be scoffed at by infidels and atheists, and to render them useless to the humble, anxious inquirer after truth and salvation; but by no other means I am assured, can you account for this single circumstance, without allowing, that the substance of those doctrines, that I have now embraced, is indeed contained in the word of God; that they comprise the truth, as it is in Jesus, and are not corrupted with any such delusion, as can hazard the salvation of my soul, or the souls of those, who by my ministry receive them. On this supposition all difficulties vanish. The Lord hath given me a sincere desire to know the saving doctrine of the

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