one end of the hall, and the poor woman at the other, and faid, "I fit here to do every one juftice." He then ordered each of them to call the dog, which, when they did, the dog forfook the Lady, and went to the poor woman. When Sir Thomas faw this, he defired his Lady to be contented; for the dog was none of hers. PATIENCE of REPROOF. AUGUSTUS CESAR fitting in judgment, Macanas was prefent; and perceiving that he was about to condemn feveral perfons, endeavoured to get up to him; but being hindered by the crowd, he wrote in a Schedule, Surge, carnefax; "Rife, hang-man;" and threw the note into Cafar's lap. Cafar immediately arofe, and came down without condemning any perfon to death: and fo far was he from taking this reprehenfion ill, that he was much troubled he had given fuch caufe for it. ON NE of the fervants of Prince Henry (fon to Henry the Fourth) was arraigned at the King's-Bench for felony. The Prince being informed of it, came haftily to the bar. where his fervant flood, and commanded him to be fet at liberty; but the Chief Juftice, (who at that time was William Gafcoign) exhorted the Prince to behave according to the laws of the kingdom. The Prince enflamed at this, endeavoured to take away the prifoner. On this the Judge commanded the Prince, upon his allegiance, to leave the prifoner, and to depart the place. The Prince in a fury, coming up to the place of Judgment, the people thought he would have flain the Judge. But the Judge fitting ftill, with an undaunted countenance, faid, "Sir, remember yourself. I am here in the place of the King, King, your Sovereign Lord and Father, to whom you owe double allegiance: and therefore in his name I charge you to defift from your unlawful enterprize. And for your contempt and difobedience, go you to the prifon of the King's Bench, whereunto commit you, until the pleafure of the King be known. The Prince, amazed at thefe words, laid afide his fword, and doing reverence to the Court, went to the King's Bench as he was commanded. When the King heard of it, he bleffed God who had given him a Judge, that feared not to adminifter justice; and alfo a fon, who could patiently suffer and fhew his obedience thereunto. REPROOF well given, and taken. PHILIP, King of Macedon, having taken a confiderable yours, number of prifoners, went to fee them fold. As he fat in his chair, his clothes were turned up higher than was decent; when one of the prifoners cried out unto him, My Lord, fuffer me not to be fold; for I am a friend of and was fo to your father. Pray, faid Philip, whence grew this great friendship betwixt us? Sir, faid the prisoner, I would gladly give you an account of it in your ear. Philip commanding him to be brought unto him, he whispered in his ear, Sir, I pray you let down your mantle a little before; for you dif cover that which it is proper to hide. Hereupon Philip spake aloud to his Officers, "Let this man go; for in truth he is one of our good friends, though I knew it not before, or else had forgotten it." Accordingly the man was fet at liberty in that hour. How forcible are right words, in the ears of a wife man! For though the occafion may be fmall, a word fitly Spoken is often productive of great good. 3 K VOL. IX. LETTERS. I LETTER S. LETTER CCCC. [From Mifs B. C. to the Rev. J. Wesley.] Rev. Sir, Knowle, Oct. 13, 1773 Find it is no small thing, fteadily to pursue the One Thing Needful to have our eye conftantly fixt on him who is Invifible. Neither can it be, unless the mind is deeply atten tive thereto. I have reafon to magnify the Lord who hath turned the whole bent of my mind to himself, the true centre of all good. He docs, indeed, actuate all my powers. I feel a deep consciousness of my own poverty and helplessness. Oh, what a pleafing fenfation is this! Jefus is my All in all! Even while I feel I am the vileft of the vile; a mere complex of nothingnefs and vanity. By adverting to Glory be to him! The importance of your laft Sermon dwells much on my mind. Let him that most affuredly ftandeth, take heed left he fall! I know it is a momentary falvation. this I have a teftimony that I please God. he is a refuge from the form, and a fhadow from the heat. While I reft the whole weight of my foul on him, I am faved from fear of evil. In general my mind is deeply led into eternity. But more fo, for fome days paft. In taking a vicw of thofe that are eternally separated from God, I feem to hear their bitter wailings, till my foul is in an agony! What end this may anfwer, I cannot now fee; but hope I fhall make a right ufe of it. Agreeable to your defire, I have met the young women twice, with much fear and trembling: and the Lord, who gives frength to them who have no might, was powerfully prefent. The The first time dear S. C. came, the expected a blessing, and would not rife from her knees till the Lord fpoke peace to her foul and glory be to him, he hath turned her captivity into fongs of deliverance! Laft Sunday P. G. was fet at liberty; but he was firft fhook as over the mouth of hell. I never faw any one in deeper diftrefs. Menday evening another perfon was brought into the liberty of the fons of God. Tuesday evening we had a most folemn time at the Band: dear K. N. came like one that had loft all hope. I attempted to pray for her, but my mouth was flopped. So facred was the place, no one could utter a word. The filent language of our hearts was, Speak Lord, for thy fervants hear! Before we parted, The found peace beyond all our expectations. She now waits for the witness of the Spirit, that he is his. O that her example may fir up thofe who are old and carelefs! that they too, may be in earnest for falvation. I have many fears left I fhould not be faithful to my little charge, which in another fenfe is not little. Let me beg an interest in your prayers, which will be deemed a great favour, by your Friend and Daughter, LETTER CCCCI. B. C. [From Mrs. M. S. to the Rev. J. Wefley.] Rev. Sir, AT Worcefler, Nov. 28, 1773 T prefent I am in a poor ftate of health; but I hope I am quite willing to fuffer my heavenly Father's will. I find nothing fo defirable as to live to God, and feel my foul approved of by him. I praife him that he helps me to make fome little progrefs in the divine life. I find my fellowfhip with the Father and the Son increafes, and I long to drink deeper and deeper ftill into his fulness. 3 K 2 I cannot I cannot express how great my defires are, for the full enjoyment of God! But why I do not attain what I fo greatly defire, I cannot tell. But this I know, I want to glorify God with my body and my fpirit which are his: I want to eat and drink, and do all I do to his glory: I want to love and serve him here as angels do above. That the happy hour may foon arrive, I beg an interest in your prayers, which will greatly oblige your unworthy Friend and Servant, M. S. POE TR Y. COMMUNION with GOD in Affliction. [By Mr. John Murlin.] N mercy, gracious Lord, thou doft chastife IN Thy froward children, when they go aftray; O Father, let me never more defpife Thy rod, nor wander from the narrow way! Shew forth in me thy love's almighty power: To teach the world the leffons of thy grace. To love and ferve thee with an upright heart? |