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CHAPTER VIII.

His power in prayer-divine impressions--an afflicting providence remarkable answers to prayer-familiar expressions in prayer to be avoided-encounters a blacksmith—his usefulness -his meekness under persecution-singular method of selfdefence against_the_aspersions of a clergyman-Musical Festivals-Mr. Bradburn-lovefeast-perfection-seasonable remarks the doctrine of sanctification maintained in opposition to a clergyman-cheerful disposition-indiscretionate zeal in a meeting of the Society of Friends.

That which imparted real elevation of character to Samuel was, his strong faith, and his power with God in prayer and here it is, that he was seen rising out of the habiliments of the blacksmith, surrounded by the visitants, stunned with the din, and enveloped in the smoke of the smithy, like a being belonging to another world, gradually unfolding himself, or suddenly breaking upon the spectators in the true spirit of an angel of light. A few instances have been adduced of his power in prayer on his own behalf; but he still has to be viewed in the character of a successful intercessor.

He had an impression upon his mind one day, that he ought to go to the coal-pit, for what he termed " a load of sleck."* But having a tolerable stock in the smithy, he hesitated and attempted to suppress it. The impression was renewed, and-"Go, go," was reiterated, as by

* The refuse or smaller part of the coal, used in furnaces, &c.

a voice from within. "I'll pray about it," said he to himself. But "go" was still the language which he seemed to hear, while engaged upon his knees. He rose and told his wife he was going for a load of "sleck." She, as was natural, opposed him, pointing to the heap in the smithy, as a substantial reason why he should stop at home. But his argument was in his heart, and to this he attended, yoking the horse to the cart, and driving off to the pit, without any thing to support his conduct, except the naked impression specified. On reaching the spot, a person exclaimed, in a state of great trepidation, "Aye, Sammy, you are well come; such an one (mentioning the person's name) has been nearly killed, and we want you to pray with him!" The poor sufferer had just been brought up from the pit, when he arrived; and the persons around him were about to extract a piece of wood, which had fallen upon him, penetrated his shoulder, and forced its way like the spear of Abner, through the opposite side of his body. On perceiving their intentions from their conduct, Samuel said, in a hurried tone, "Do not take it out; if you do, he will die in a moment."* The spirit of prayer was the element in which he breathed; and for such employment he was always ready. He knelt by the side of the poor

* How he became possessed of this opinion, or whether he had entertained it any length of time, is difficult to state; but it is not a little singular to find, that it is in consonance with the notions and practices of some of our ancestors, who, in tournaments and ancient combats, frequently permitted the shaft of death, which had been propelled through the body, to remain there for a short time, with a view to staunch the blood to a certain extent-when the wound was deemed mortal, till the person should be enabled to express his last will in the settlement of his affairs.

man, wrestled with God for his salvation, and obtained satisfactory evidence of an answer to the petitions he presented at the throne of grace. "I now saw," says he, "for what it was that I had to go to the pit." And yet, with this result, there are persons professing the Christian name, who would denounce the impression as enthusiastic, and who would, together with the calamity, insert his being at the pit at that precise period in the chapter of accidents, which occupies, in their estimation, so large a share of the business of human life. Only preserve religion in the back ground, or abstract it entirely from the subject, and these persons will talk both seriously and poetically, of the mind being darkened, like the sunny landscape, by a sudden cloud, auguring a coming tempest; and of such impulses deserving attention, as being the hints of our guardian spirits, that danger is impending. All this is allowable in verse, and the poet is admired for the sentiment; while the heathen philosopher is permitted to descant upon it in prose: but the moment the man of God asserts the fact-from whom the others have received it, either directly or remotely, and afterwards marred, by lowering it-he must be sent through the world with the brand of an enthusiast upon his forehead.

A circumstance not less remarkable occurred at Pontefract,-a place where Samuel was highly respected, and where he deeply interested himself in the erection of a new chapel. It was agreed, in order to aid the collection at the opening, that each collector should deposit a sovereign in his box, and that the collectors should be. changed each service. Samuel entered into the

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plan with his native ardour, and promoted in various instances, its accomplishment. On recollecting the names of friends who were likely to afford aid, he immediately proceeded to their residences, and accosted them; "Why, the friends are bown to open a new chapel in Pontefract you intend to be there, don't you, and. to be a collector?" To this exordium, he appended the plan, closing it with a personal application," You approve of it, don't you?" In cases of approval, accompanied with a doubt, whether there would be an opportunity to attend, he generally relieved them, by observing, "I will tell you what you must do; you must give me a sovereign, and I will get some one to collect for you." Such was his success, by this mode of procedure, that on the day of opening, he handed over to the Treasurer nearly twenty pounds. On the morning, he took his seat previous to the commencement of the service in a pew near the pulpit. He had promised himself much enjoyment, and was just sipping of its streams, while glancing upon the collecting worshippers, when he suddenly became unaccountably discomposed. He vacated his seat, and taking up his hat, directed his steps to the gallery, where he placed himself by the side of a young lady in one of the front pews. It was instantly suggested, "Thou hast done it now,perched in the front for every body to look at thee, they will think it is nothing but pride that has led thee here." The chapel was now exceedingly crowded; and no sooner was his soliloquy ended, than the congregation was thrown into a state of the utmost confusion by an unfounded alarm respecting the safety of the

building. The young lady who sat next him, leaped on the top of the pew, and was in the act of precipitating herself into the body of the chapel, when Samuel, with a promptitude equalled only by his composure, prevented her by taking her in his arms, exhorting her at the same time to "be still," saying, "I would rather die in a Methodist Chapel than anywhere else." He now saw, as in the case of the poor collier, a reason for the feeling which induced him to leave his first seat, and occupy another of such prominence. An immortal spirit was in all probability saved in the first instance, from perdition; human life in the second, from a premature grave. The female is still living, and a member of the Wesleyan Society.

In the course of a summer of excessive drought, a few years back, when the grain suffered greatly, and many of the cattle, especially in Lincolnshire, died, Samuel was much affected. He visited Knaresborough, at which place he preached on the Lord's day. Remaining in the town and neighbourhood over the sabbath, he appeared extremely restless in the house in which he resided, during the whole of Monday. He spoke but little-was full of thought-now praying-now walking about the room-next sitting in a crouching posture-then suddenly starting up, and going to the door, turning his eyes towards heaven, as if looking for some celestial phenomenon-when he would again return-groan in spirit-and resume his seat. The family being impressed with his movements, asked him whether any thing was the matter with him, or whether he expected any person, as the occasion of his going to the door so fre

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