Christ. Now my view in relating how I was (undefignedly indeed) involved in embarraffed circumstances, is for a caution to unexperienced young perfons, to be very confiderate and careful, in their expences, that they be neither lavished on things needlefs or fuperflous, nor in things other wife convenient and lawful, in a measure difproportionate to their ability to fupport clearly out of their own, with honour, reputation and a good confcience; for in this circumstance things lawful in themselves are not lawful or expedient for them, that fo the profeffion of truth may not fuffer reproach by their mifcarriage, as it hath done by that of too many others, to the great regret of the honeft and right minded of our religious fociety,

Furthermore, the narrative of thefe difficulties and anxieties, that attended my first setting out in the married state, feems to me to convey this inftructive intelligence to all fingle young per fons, who have not good patrimonies, or are not yet well fettled in fome business, proper to maintain a family, that if they would do well in the world, they should not be hafty in this weighty affair; but confider wifely before they proceed to ward it. While single they have only themselves to care for, and if they keep their hearts staid upon

the Lord which is far easier for them to do than when weighed down under a load of care and encumbrances, and come up faithfully in the way of their duty, they will be happy. And by all means let them beware of entering into this moft interefting engagement, which is for life, on which the happiness or unhappiness of this life very principally depends, and by which that of the next may be very materially promoted or retarded, till they fee that in the due season the Lord opens their way, and conducts them in it. Then the marriage will be honourable, the married will be like minded, ftanding in the counfel of best wisdom, will be truly helpmeets to each other both in their temporal and spiritual concerns; joining together with united and prepared hearts in religious and family duties, and strengthening each others hands for every good word and work; minding the inspeaking word, more than the attention or opinions, the approbation or cenfures of the world. Such if they have but little of earthly treasure are happily married. But on any other terms, whether married or unmarried, people are not in a good way. And it is infinitely better to be married to Christ, than to be married ever fo grandly in the world out of the divine counsel and covenant.

H

As I had a religious defire in my choice, and that I might be rightly directed therein, I had reafon on the whole (notwithstanding these outward discouragements aforementioned) to hope that I was fo, for my wife was the child of good parents, from whom fhe had received a religious education, of orderly conversation, innocent and well inclined, and we were in a good degree favoured together of the Lord, the being free to give me up to every service I thought it my duty to engage in. Upon my first visit to her, the sense of truth and the folid edifying converfation of her worthy parents deeply fixed the beft impreffions on my spirit, fo that in my return home to Cork (twenty comput ed miles) my thankful heart was like a cup filled, the tears of divine joy overflowed, and ran down my cheeks the greatest part of the way. In this thankful frame I reached Cork, and my friends there, who generally had a love for me, were pleased to see me, and to hear such account as I had to give. But then this good went off, and the instability of nature fucceeded in a great degree, though ftill mixed with a reverent view to the better part.

(1739.) About four months after our marriage. being at a meeting at Youghal, my heart was bowed in reverent fear, and filled with the sweet influence of God's univerfal love, it then appeared to

be my duty, in the clearness of that light and ftrength of that love, to call to, and invite those present to come to Christ, and yield grateful obedience to his laws. I had been for feveral years before, fully perfuaded that this would be required of me as a duty, and had defired never to dare to ven ture upon it till it fhould be fo required.

Upon this duty being clearly presented to me in this meeting, difcouragements and obftacles poured into my mind in abundance, fuch as that if I should deliver the words imprest, I should then be expofed to much speculation, and become the immediate fubject of converfation among fuch as love to catch and propagate matter of amusement; that perhaps the like duty might never be required of me again, and in that case I should be likely to be remarked, and talked of for many years, as one who had begun and not gone on. Inftances occurred of fuch as had preached amongst us for a time, and had either dropped it and fallen away, or had on one account or another, incurred a pub❤ lic and general diflike or disgrace, and that therefore it might be fafer and better for me to reft quiet with good wishes for the people, and to exhort in a more private way, as I might have opportunity, and a fresh concern in my mind. These grounds

of hefitation detained me till a friend kneeled down to conclude the meeting in prayer.

I then faw clearly that if the meeting fhould break up without my uttering the exhortation, which was fixed with fo much weight upon my mind, I should unavoidably incur the ftings of conscious guilt, and the crime of disobedience.

Therefore not attending to the friend's public prayer, my mind was earnestly and clofely exercised in mental fupplication to the Almighty, that he would abilitate me to be faithful. I had a hard struggle and conflict on this occafion: but at length the power of divine faith prevailed, to the shutting out and putting to filence all manner of discourag ing apprehenfions. And when the prayer was ended I durft not fit down, fearing I should not have power to rise again in time; but turning about to the meeting, and seeing fome of the people staring me in the face fuch was my weakness, that I raised my hat, and holding it before my face, I spoke the words which had lain with weight on my mind, and fat down. A flood of divine joy poured into my heart, and filled it all the day: I went in this frame of mind into feveral friends' families, and my heart being still melted with divine love, the tears of joy and thankfulness flowed down my cheeks,