OF THE REV. JOSEPH BENSON, ABRIDGED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. BY A FRIEND OF SABBATH SCHOOLS. NEW-YORK, PUBLISHED BY J. EMORY AND B. WAUGH, For the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the Conference Office, 14 Crosby-street. J. Collord, Printer. OF THE REV. JOSEPH BENSON. CHAPTER I. Birth and family--Early religious impressionsConfirmation-Education-Studies intensely-Teaches school-Convinced of sin-Interviews with Joshua Watson-His account of his awakening and conversion. JOSEPH BENSON was born at Melmerby, in the county of Cumberland, England, on the 25th of January, 1748. His father was a farmer in easy circumstances, and of good chaHe designed Joseph for the ministry in the Church of England. racter. Joseph was serious and thoughtful in very early life. By the operations of the Divine. Spirit upon his heart, he was convinced of the vanity of the world, the evil of sin, and the necessity of a holy life. When not more than seven years of age, he frequently retired for secret prayer; and after meditating on heaven and hell while in the fields, he often knelt down and prayed for grace, that he might escape the misery of hell, and obtain the happiness of heaven. There was one occasion in particular which he often afterward recollected, when he pleaded with great earnestness, and with many tears, using the words of Jacob," If God will be with me, and keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on-then shall the Lord be my God." WQR 19 FEB 36 When he arrived at a proper age he w confirmed according to the usage of the Established Church, and took upon himself the vows made by his sponsors at his baptism. He accustomed himself on his return from public worship to write as much of the sermon as he could remember, hoping thereby to promote his spiritual interests. But with all his attention to religious duties and services, he had at this time neither clear nor correct views of the Law nor the Gospel; he did not properly know either God or himself. Joseph acquired the rudiments of education at a village school, and was afterward placed under the tuition of Mr. Dean, a Presbyterian minister in the town in which his father resided. From his childhood he had manifested a very strong attachment to his books, and preferred the study of them to the amusements in which his school-mates engaged. While with Mr. Dean he was very studious; and, not satisfied with classical learning, he improved the advantages which he enjoyed in obtaining some knowledge of divinity, and for this purpose he seized every opportunity of reading the books which he found on that subject in his tutor's library. He was so diligent in the pursuit of useful knowledge, that he suffered no time to pass unoccupied. On his return home after he had finished the daily exercises of the school, he employed the remainder of the evening in useful reading. His mother endeavoured to dissuade him from so close an application to study, but he had such a sense of the value of time, and was so eager to obtain knowledge, that her influence was used in vain. Joseph continued under Mr. Dean's tuition till he was nearly sixteen years of age, when he became the teacher of a school in a neighbouring town. He continued in this situation about one year. While thus employed, and near the close of his sixteenth year, he was deeply convinced that notwithstanding the regularity of his outward conduct, he must experience a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness, in order to present happiness and future salvation. He had frequently visited his cousin Joshua Watson, who about this time, by the preaching of the Gospel, was awakened to a sense of his guilt and danger. He now visited his relative, and observed such a change in his conversation and behaviour as greatly excited his astonishment. Instead of entertaining him, as he formerly had done, by conversing on worldly subjects, Mr. Watson almost immediately began to speak of things of a religious nature. He soon requested Joseph's company up stairs the request was complied with, when he said, "Now kneel down ;" and after he had prayed with great earnestness, he said, "Now Joseph, you must pray." As might be expected, Joseph was much agitated by the circumstances in which he was placed, but nevertheless he endeavoured to pray in the best man |