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tions of God were not small with me; and made me large amends for all the pains I suffered. After the Lord had raised me up from my sick bed, it pleased him to try me with poverty. We were brought so low as to have neither food to eat, nor raiment to put on. This was our case while I served a severe master, for very small wages; who, nevertheless, was continually blaming me, and threatening to turn me off.

At length the Lord put it into the heart of my dear wife to advise me to try what I could do in Holland. I left England in the latter end of August. After a passage of ten days, I landed at Amsterdam; from whence I went to the Hague. It was at first very distressing to me that I did not understand the language. But the Lord moved the minds of the people, wherever I was, to help me all they could. He raised me up real friends, who sent me from town to town, and recommended me from one to another even to the first persons of the land. And after having disposed of my goods, I was brought home again in safety, after an absence of six months and three days.

I now thought my work abroad was done, and that I might spend the rest of my life in my own country. But, to my surprise, I received abundance of letters, earnestly pressing me to come back. Believing it was the call of God, on the 11th of April, 1778, I embarked at Helvoetsluys, and crossed over to the Hague, where my friends, with the utmost kindness, introduced me to the chief of the country, the prince of Orange in particular. He asked me many questions concerning both my country and religion. I answered him with all simplicity, and he appeared well satisfied. Soon after I was made burgher of the town. From thence I went to Leyden, Delf, Rotterdam, Dort, Hærlem, Amsterdam, Utrecht, and most of the other cities in the United Provinces. In my jour. neys I met with many persons whom I believed to be the true children of God. But it was a grievous cross that we could speak only a very few words to each other. Having done my business, I returned by Helvoetsluys to Harwich, and so to London.

On April 15, 1779, I embarked again for Holland, and went through the same places I did last year. And now

I could converse a little in the Dutch language. The first children of God that I found were in the city of Hærlem. They came to my shop, and told me the goods were pretty but I must take care not to set my heart upon them. I told them my heart was in heaven, and that these pretty things were under my feet. One of them then invited me to his house, where I found a company assembled together. They received me with the utmost courtesy, and asked what religion I was of. I answered, "Of that described in the 13th of 1st Corinthians, from the fourth to the seventh verse.' Having read the words, they said, "This is our religion too: we receive you as a brother." They recommended me as such to all their acquaintance, so that I was kindly received wherever I came. And I found just the same liberty of spirit with these as with my brethren in England. From this time I found, all over the country, persons that knew and loved the Gospel and after spending six months comfortably among them, I cheerfully returned to my family.

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I went again the next spring, and was received with the same kindness as before. And having more of the language, I found out more and more of the children of God. I rejoiced to find among these some of the rich and great, who appeared to be as humble as the least of them.They were glad to hear that there was a people in England that loved and served God. And some of them had a great desire to settle a correspondence with their English brethren which was soon after effected, and has continued ever since, to the no small comfort of both.

When I entered upon this trade I had many discouragements. Most of my acquaintance either mocked or pitied me, saying I was the most improper person in the world to be concerned in such a business. And, besides, I had no money. I had, indeed, very little. But I believed God would bless that little. And he sent me help in time of need, so that money came just when it was wanted. One time I was shipping off a chest of goods, but had not money to pay the duty. I told my wife, "God will provide." Presently a gentleman I never saw before knocked at the door, and when he came in, he told me he wanted a parcel of goods, and would pay part of the mo

ney then.

He did

so;

and it was as much as I wanted

to pay the duty on my chest.

It is now about fourteen years since I began, according to my ability, to call sinners to repentance. And I bless God, though I have had many discouragements, I am not I have not laboured in vain. God has given

yet weary. me to see a little fruit of my labours. Blessed be his name, he has washed me from my sins; and I know he is able to keep me from falling, and to enable me to grow in grace, till he receives me into his glory.

MR. JOHN VALTON.

W. F.

TO THE REV. JOHN WESLEY.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I have long resisted your im portunate desire that I would give you a short account of my experience; being desirous to conceal my insignificant life till I was no longer interested in the honour or dishonour that cometh of man. But your last letter on the subject, and the Rev. Mr. Fletcher's opinion on the same, have satisfied me that I owe it to God and his Church." I shall therefore humbly submit an extract thereof to the perusal of candid people, while I implore the benediction of my God.

I was born in the year 1740. My parents were natives of Franche Comte, near Switzerland, and members of the Church of Rome. They came to England a year or two before I was born; so that I was providentially born and brought up in England. I was (with a brother and sister) made a member of that Church, and remained so during the early part of my life. I can well remember that serious impressions were very early made upon my mind; but I had no one to guide me. When I was about nine years of age, I was sent to France for education. I was there boarded at a priest's, who was a schoolmaster. At this school I remained many months, imbibing the baneful

notions of idolatry and superstition. But as the priest half starved me, I never let my mother rest till she removed me back to London. Soon after I returned I was sent to a Latin school in Yorkshire, and was boarded at a clergyman's, who was master of the school. Having had but little knowledge of Popery, I readily attended the Church of England, during the seven years that I was there. But as nothing was ever said to me about religion, I remained in utter darkness, and I lived without God in the world. While I was here I once met with Mr. Hervey's Meditations. I was very powerfully affected, and resolved to amend my life. For several days I was careful not to offend my God; but the impression was soon effaced.

At seventeen years of age I returned to London, and after spending a year or two at an academy, was soon after, through the interest of a nobleman, got into a public office under the government. I was appointed a clerk at Portsmouth, where God was pleased to restrain me in a wonderful manner, amid innumerable temptations.— After I had been in office near three years, I was appointed to attend the army in Portugal, last war, as a clerk of the stores, &c. I found in myself a fear, when I went to sea, lest the ship should be lost, and my poor soul perish. I had the same fear of being killed in an engagement, when I landed, and of my soul becoming a prey to the worm that never dies. While I was at Lisbon I frequently visited their churches, saw their idolatry and superstition, and rejoiced that I had escaped the mother of harlots.

Soon after I returned to England I met with a sore trial, which made we think of and seek after God. But being among my gay companions, this, and some temptations that were now thrown in my way, quite overturned my resolution, and I became as vain and sinful as ever. However, I purposed that if God should please to remove me where I was unknown, I would then give myself up to him. The desire of the unrighteous was granted; for the merciful God was pleased to make way for my removal in two or three months. I was then sent to the king's magazines at P―t, where I was an entire stranger. In this place there was a gentlewoman whose husband was in the

king's service. She had been a member of the Methodist society for some years, and was the only one in that neighbourhood. She invited me to her house one day, and spoke something on serious subjects. I threw in my mite, which made an impression on her mind in my fa. vour. She now frequently invited me to her house, and led me out of the paths of error and misery to the fountain of life and love. She put several books into my hands which were made very useful to me. In a few weeks painful convictions began to fasten upon my mind, and I sincerely strove to forsake all sin, and make a sacrifice of my accustomed amusements. Fear prompted me to pray-sometimes with, and sometimes without a book. Her conversation roused me and I began in good earnest to seek after God. But, being in danger of resting on my form of godliness, she, with some difficulty, beat me out of all my retreats, and convinced me that nothing would avail without faith, and that salvation was the free, unmerited gift of God through the redemption that is in Jesus. The books that I read bore the same testimony, which at length threw me into self-despair. Prayer became a burden, and I knew not what to do. At length I resolved to write to you, sir, and in an anonymous letter unbosomed my heart, and sought your advice. Your let. ter I beg leave here to transcribe for the benefit of such as may be in the like state with me :—

"London, January 31, 1764. "DEAR BROTHER,-It it is certainly right, with all possible care, to abstain from the outward occasions of evil : but this profits only a little the inward change is the one thing needful for you. You must be born again, or you will never gain a uniform and lasting liberty. Your whole soul is diseased, or rather dead, dead to God, dead in sin. Awake then and arise from the dead; and Christ shall give thee light. To seek for a particular deliverance from one sin only, is mere lost labour. If it could be attained it would be little worth; for another would arise in its place but indeed it cannot before there is a general deliverance from the guilt and power of all sin. This is the thing which you want, and which you should be continually seeking for. You want to be justified freely from all things, through the redemption which is in Jesus. It

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