the more I strove I found that I sank deeper and deeper, it was this that drove me to the sanctuary, hoping to hear tell of One who was strong and mighty to save. From infancy I had sat beneath the preaching of the gospel, but the service was only a weariness to me. Now things were changed; I hailed the dawn of the sabbath, and my heart was gladdened at the prospect of going up to the house of the Lord, though never a sabbath evening closed upon me, but I retired to rest weeping on account of a deeper sense I had of my sinfulness.

they excited the deepest interest, pro- | endeavoured to extricate myself, but duced convictions for which I shall have to bless God through eternity. "In the spring of the following year, I became much more seriously inclined. About this time, also, my parents received a letter from my elder brother, then resident in Staffordshire, stating the change which he had undergone, and the choice he had been enabled to make of the good part. On reading this letter, my mind was filled with mingled emotions of pleasure and pain: -I rejoiced to think my brother was in pursuit of a better country, and aspired to higher joys;-I mourned while I dwelt on the thought that I was travelling a road the very opposite. This led me to ponder more carefully the character and prospects of my elder brother and sister. I loved them most affectionately, and rejoiced to believe that they were the followers of the Lamb, and consequently secure and happy for life or death; but when I thought of the separation from them which I must suffer in the great day of judgment, I was overwhelmed with distress. I now retired to my closet with more frequency, and to the throne of grace with greater earnestness. I made many and solemn resolutions, but, as they were made in my own strength, they were too soon forgotten. not yet brought to hate sin, for I loved many of its enjoyments; so that while I desired to escape hell, I was not disposed to abandon altogether the way which led thither. Still I gave myself up to retirement and reflection, perused my bible with increasing interest, and prayed for divine illumination. I also attended the ministry of the word with a desire to be instructed and directed; I was no longer a careless but an anxious hearer. I listened as one earnestly "In this state of mind I embraced concerned to receive benefit, and to be every opportunity of repairing to the rescued from the miry clay in which I mercy-seat:-Where else could a guilty, seemed to be set so fast. Long had I perishing sinner resort?

I was

"In the course of my reading, I was led to peruse Watts on the 'Joys and Sorrows of the World to come;' and never shall I forget the overwhelming impression it produced on my mind. I had before seen I was in danger, but was not conscious of one half of my peril. I knew I was a sinner, but never till then did I feel the evil of violating God's holy law. I had previously thought on my condition and sighed, but now I trembled. Formerly I had thought it would be cruel in God to doom me to perdition, I now saw that he would be just in inflicting on me his heaviest judgments; that salvation was entirely unmerited on my part, and that if ever enjoyed by me it must be wholly of free, rich, and sovereign grace. In my perplexity I had prayed for light and help; I now cried, 'Save, Lord, or I perish.' I had before excused my weakness and imperfections, but now I hated myself on account of my great wickedness. I no longer needed the aid of resolves in order to abstain from my prior courses and companions; the recollection of the former made my tears to flow profusely, the sight of the latter made me tremble.

It was my

1

When "peace and joy in believing" had become his happy lot, he addicted himself to rising soon after day-break, taking with him a book or two for selfimprovement and meditation, while enjoying the fresh breeze of morning. Most generally he bent his steps toward a wood, belonging to a nobleman who lived in the neighbourhood. Soon after commencing these rambles, he was one morning quietly advancing in a winding path, when he found himself suddenly confronted with one of the gamekeepers, who, springing from behind some trees, and supposing the wanderer to be in quest of game, presented a gun at his breast, at the same time telling him he was a dead man if he did not stand still and surrender. He was startled a little, but soon recovering himself said that his only object in coming there was to enjoy privacy with his book. The keeper not being quite satisfied first demanded his address, and then a sight of his books. He immediately took a small bible out of his coat pocket. The keeper appeared surprised; and after having entered into conversation with him, told him to consider himself safe at all times on any part of the property.

last, my only resource, and I felt that I countenance, and was often constrained was praying to One alike able and will- to say, both of the closet and the ing to save. It was here that the sanctuary, 'Lord, it is good to be gracious sayings of Christ were applied here!" " with power to my heart,- Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.' It was not, however, so much the words which interested me, as the endearing manner in which He represented the conduct of God. 'If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or, if he shall ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or, if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ! Luke xi. The preciousness of this scripture to me at this period was indescribable; it cherished in me hope of forgiveness, and gave encouragement to persevere in seeking an interest in the blessings resulting from Christ's death. The bible became more dear to me, I viewed it as my choicest treasure, and derived from it the richest consolations. I also read Doddridge's 'Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,' and Baxter's 'Saints' Rest;' books which proved invaluable to me in confirming my hope, correcting my errors, and establishing my heart in the ways of religion. Some time in the year 1816, I was presented with a copy of the Memoirs of Mrs. Newell-a volume which I read with the most intense interest, as it made me acquainted not only with the hopes but also the joys of religion. It prompted me to seek the highest attainments of evangelical holiness, it incited me to more frequent and fervent devotion; so that the pleasures I now realized in communion with the adorable Saviour would, I felt, more than recompense a life of toil, of sacrifice, and of suffering, in his service. I walked in the light of his

He went in a different direction the next three or four mornings, but determining afterwards to resume his favourite walk he met the nobleman's servant at the same point, who, accosting him respectfully, begged of him, if it were not asking too much, to read a chapter out of his bible, and explain it to him, adding, that he had waited there two hours each morning since the first meeting, greatly fearing he should never see him there again. The request was gladly complied with. The youthful Christian,

now unexpectedly led by circumstances and ingenuously confess her fault.

to assume the character of an instructor, became much interested in the man, and frequently resorted to the spot, where he was sure to find him anxiously awaiting his arrival. These interviews were not in vain.

In the course of next summer, Mr. Burchell's younger sister was on a visit at his employer's. One Sunday, after the services of the day were ended, she accompanied Miss Brinkworth in a walk round the sheet of . water adjoining the factory. Almost before they were aware, lured on by the calm loveliness of the evening and the sylvan beauty of the scenery, they had extended their wanderings into a part of the adjoining wood, when their attention was arrested by the music of voices blending in a song of praise. Following in the direction whence the sound proceeded, they at length came to a small but neat cottage, and, on listening, recognized the words of a hymn. They retired, without interrupting the solemn exercises of family devotion; and when they mentioned the circumstance next morning to Mr. Burchell, his countenance beamed with pleasure as he rejoined, "It was the keeper's family you heard singing, and he is my first convert !"

But, if the first, he was not to be the only one from the same locality. At this time, a juvenile member of the family was unhappily the subject of an impetuous and ungovernable temper; and on this account a great trial to her mother. Mr. Burchell had often gently reproved her, but hitherto with little effect. One day she had been distressingly violent. After dinner he followed her and his sister into the garden, and, having conducted them into a bower, he addressed her most seriously and affectionately, and then knelt down and offered prayer on her behalt. On retiring, he urged her to go to her mother

She

was relentless. He then said, ' H—, I must leave you now; but remember those words of the inspired writer," He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." From that time he ceased his reproofs. Several years after, his sister again visited that neighbourhood; and, in an interview with Miss Brinkworth, the latter referred with deep emotion to the incident above recorded, and said, 'Those last words of your brother have rung in my ears ever since, day and night; and I shall have to thank him through eternity for his fidelity and kindness, for they have been the means of bringing me to see my awful state as a sinner, and, in my conversion, of preparing me to soothe my dear mother during her last two years of affliction and sorrow.' When Mr. Burchell visited his home in 1833, his sister mentioned the circumstance to him. He was just come off from one of his missionary tours through his native county. 'Ah!' said he, 'poor H- is now dead! It was not my happiness to see her while I was out; but I heard that she died triumphantly happy. She was one I often prayed for. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall be found after many days." This I have frequently proved to be true.'

This devotedness to his highest interests, however, did not divert him from a course of activity in the discharge of his secular duties. He was at this time a noble specimen of the Christian as described by the apostle Paul,-'Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' Having become familiar with the mechanical processes of his vocation, and apt in the discharge of his general obligations, his conduct was so far appreciated by Mr. Brinkworth, that, by way of encouragement and reward, he kindly

gave him leave occasionally to procure | boat, and feeling that if he did not a little wool for himself, and to make it succeed in this instance he would fail up into cloth on his own account. In in the object for which he had come so the same spirit, his father made him a much out of a direct course, he resolvpresent of his first supply of the raw ed to make every effort to induce her material. Little, however, did any one little crew to return to shore and take of the party anticipate the adventure him in. He accordingly took off his which this would originate, and the coat and waved it in the air, and soon important results which would follow. had the satisfaction of observing that they had brought the boat up, and seemed to be debating whether or not they should comply with his wishes. In about ten minutes they put back, but as they approached, it struck him that he had never before seen five such desperate looking fellows. After some objection on their part they told him to get in. He had not done so long, however, before he found that he was in most undesirable company. Several of the men whispered to each other a good deal, and now and then he caught a word, the import of which made him feel uneasy and anxious. At length he perceived they were steering in an opposite direction. On his referring to this fact, one of them, a brawny Irishman, exclaimed, 'Och, my jewel! and do you think you are going to lave us so soon, now that we have nabbed you at last? Do you see, jewel? (pointing his finger to the water on which they were floating) you shall go and see the bottom of Davy Jones's locker, before you go to land again.' They all now set up a shout in confirmation of their murderous design, and as though to urge each other on to the deed.

The first piece of cloth Mr. Burchell could call his own, he disposed of to a house in Bristol. About a week afterwards he was in the company of a friend, who, in ignorance of the transaction, happened to say that a certain party (mentioning the self-same house) was reported as likely to fail. On hearing this he sought and obtained permission to be absent from home on the following day. It was the summer season. The splendours of noon had long since passed, and were softening down into the chastened radiance of evening. It occurred to him, that if he could start that night he should gain considerable time, and arrive in Bristol (nearly thirty miles distant) some hours before the coach, which did not leave until the morning. His determination was at once taken. Between eight and nine o'clock he commenced his journey, and continued to walk on briskly until it was quite dark, when he turned into an inn on the roadside. Here he rested until daybreak. The worthy host advised him, on departure, to strike across the country and make for the Severn, where he would be sure to find a boat, which would take him down in good time. He did so; and on nearing the river, which lay stretched out in noble amplitude before him, saw a boat push off from land. He hailed the men in her, but they seemed in haste to be gone; he then called more loudly to them, but they pressed on the more vigorously, and were soon out of hearing. On looking about he saw another party of smugglers. Again and again

Somewhat alarmed, their threatened and helpless victim asked, who they thought he was? At this they laughed, and said, 'Do you take us for fools?' From their horrid oaths and avowed intentions he perceived that they took him for a spy in the preventive service; and he could now see, by some kegs of spirit which had been covered up in the bottom of the boat, that they were a