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Some Account of Mr. WILLIAM FERGUSON: aged 47.

1.

MY

Y Father and Mother lived at Kelfo, in Scotland, where they had five children. But when my mother was big of the fixth, fhe could not be delivered, the child being dead within her. In a desperate case a desperate method was ufed; incifion was made, and the child taken out of her fide. And yet, by the bleffing of God fhe furvived, and recovered her health and ftrength. But the Physician affured her, if she had another child, it could not be born, but she must infallibly die. However fhe was with child again: as the time of her delivery approached, expecting nothing but death, fhe cried to God day and night. But to the amazement of all, she was delivered with more ease, than she had ever been of any child before.

2. I was the child then born, on the 25th of March, 1735. I was brought up a Prefbyterian, and had very early impreffions on my foul. When I was about fix years old, I used to wonder, I could not weep under fermous, as others did. I left off play, and going into the fields, used to think of God, of the devil; of heaven and hell. I thought God loved me, and was willing to bring me to heaven. But I thought if the devil should get me to hell, I fhall never get out. Yet I thought, Christ suffered for my fins; and thereby made a full atonement for them. But although I knew these great truths, yet my heart was unchanged: and I conftantly went on in the follies of childhood, according to the devices of my own heart.

3. When I was ten years old, my parents removed to Eyesmouth, eight miles North of Berwick: here I grew thoughtful again, and began to pray much, wherein I found fo great pleasure, that I perfuaded four boys I was acquainted

with, to go with me, morning and evening, into a fecret place in a timber-yard, between two ftacks of deals, where we prayed one after the other. This we conftantly did for two months: but a young gentleman lodged just by, whose window looked into the yard: obferving us to go thither conftantly, he wanted to know the reafon. And meeting me one day alone, after giving me many good words, he asked me, Why we met together between the ftacks? I told him, but begged him, not to tell any one: which he faithfully promised. But notwithstanding he went immediately and told the children themselves, and their parents, and the people of the town: many of whom cried out, "That it was blafphemy for such young children to pretend to pray." The children were foon laughed out of their religion, and never refted till they made me like themselves: nay till they taught me to get drunk, which we did in that very place were we used to pray together.

4. Two years after, my parents removed to Holy land, nine miles South of Berwick. The people of this place were moftly Smugglers, and the children remarkably wicked. Of these I foon learnt to curfe and fwear, and to glory in my fhame. I learned to tell lies for sport, to play at cards, to dance, to work the greatest part of the Sabbath-Day: and to make a mock at all religious people, faying, they where all hypocrites. And in this deplorable condition I remained, till I was near twenty years old.

5. During this time I was twice in great danger of being drowned, going to Holy Island in very dark nights. It was also a flowing tide: I had loft my way and the fea came in fast upon me. But both times I was brought fafe to land. I was ferious for a while after. But I then got into laughing, trifling company; and my seriousness foon wore off. Another time being with a gang of Smugglers, a King's Officer clapt a piftol to my breast, and swore bitterly, if I lifted a hand, he would

would fhoot me through the heart. The thought of inftant death fhocked me much. But this too I ftifled by drinking and dancing.

6. So I continued faft afleep in the devil's arms, till one day as I was working in the fhop with my father, my mind ran upon a match of drinking and dancing in which I was engaged to join in the evening. Suddenly I heard a voice as from heaven saying, "What if thou shouldeft drop down dead in the midst of the dance! Wouldeft thou go to heaven?" I faid, "No: I am not fit for heaven." Immediately I felt, I had paft fentence upon myfelf; and that if I went not to heaven, hell was my portion; light broke in: I was filled with horror: I faw myself hanging over the mouth of hell, by the brittle thread of life!

7. My father looked me in the face, and asked, "What is the matter?" But I made no answer. He faid, certainly fomething is the matter. For you are sometimes red as fcarlet, and in a moment white as chalk. But still I spoke not one word: ́my mouth was stopt: I was guilty before God. Yet I was thankful that I was alive, and thought, "O that God would let me live one day longer! In how different a manner would I fpend my time! Surely not in the ways of fin." Soon after I fat down to dinner; but I could not swallow a morfel. My mother obferving this, was very angry at my father, thinking I was grieved at fomething he had faid. But finding that was not the case, she was quite ftruck, and turning to me said, My dear, why do not you eat your dinner?" I made no answer. Indeed I could not, for my heart was fit to break.

8. In the evening my company came in, to carry me to the dancing. To their great surprise, they found me reading the Bible. They afked my father and mother, "Are not you willing he fhould go with us?" They faid, "Yes; but we think, he is not well." They faid, "Come, we fhall foon cure him. Lay hold. We will carry him." : "Do fays another, and I will carry his fiddle." I looked at them and

faid very mildly, "If you'do carry me, I fhall be of no use to you. For a dance I will not dance this night; and a tune I will not play." They ftared and left me.

9. When our family went to reft, I durft not go to bed, for fear I fhould awake in hell. not. I stayed for fome time,

I tried to pray but could with my heart as heard as a

ftone. At laft I fell upon my knees; and with a flood of tears cried out, 66 Lord, be merciful to me; for I am a great finner." I found my mind a little eased, and went to bed and flept comfortably. But in the morning my trouble was as When I went out about my business, many great as ever. mocked me for my gravity: others faid, "It is great pity, fo fine a young man should lose the use of his reafon." But what grieved me more, was to fee all the people, as I had been myself, faft afleep in the devil's arms.

10. On Sunday morning I rofe early, and the tide being out, walked to Lonwick on the main land, and went to a Prefbyterian meeting. The Minifter's text was, I will arife and go to my Father, It was a word spoke in feason. I thought he looked at me all the time. The people did indeed look at me; many of them knowing me well, and therefore wondering, how I came there! When I came home, my mother begged me with tears, to reveal what was upon my mind. She faid, "What is it you have done? Have you murdered any body ?" I faid, No, mother; I have murdered no body; but I have almoft murdered my poor foul."

11. As foon as the inhabitants of the island found, that I would not drink, fwear, or work on the Lord's-Day, they were violently angry, fo that I could hardly walk the ftreet, for the mob setting upon me. And my father and mother infifted on my working at my bufinefs on the Lord's Day. But I told them, "No: never more; I will fooner have the flesh torne off my bones." My prayer now was, to get out of this ungodly place: and a fortnight after, my parents confented: fo I left them, not knowing whither I was going,

but

but defigning to follow my father's trade, provided I could find any Mafter, who would not require me to work on the Lord's-Day.

12. When I came to Newcastle upon Tyne, as I was going down Pilgrim-street, I faw abundance of people going along, who feemed remarkably ferious. I asked a man, "Pray, who are all thefe ?" He anfwered, Thefe are all Wesleyites; they are coming from the preaching. This was the first time I faw or heard of them. The next day I went on to Sunderland, where I found out my father's brother, and enquired, If he knew any Barber, who did not work on a Sunday? "Yes, faid he, there is Tommy Parker." So to him I went without delay.

13. To my great furprise, the failors that came into our fhop, did not curse or swear at all. But feveral of them took my Master by the hand, and faid, "How do you do, Brother?" I asked, "Pray, Sir, are all these your Brothers?" He faid, "We are all Brethren in Chrift." When Sunday came, I got one to fhew me to the Preaching-house, where I saw my Master in the pulpit! His text was, He fhall bring forth the top fone with fhouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it. I then told him the distress of my mind. He advised me to go to London, telling me, I fhould there have all the means of grace, in the greatest abundance. I went to London, where my coufin Thomas Fryer foon got me into a fhop: and not long after, on my telling him I wanted to meet in a Class, carried me to the Tabernacle. I went into the Veftry and told two Gentlemen I found there, "I should be glad to meet in a Clafs, that I may fpeak my experience, and tell of the work of God which I have found upon my heart." One of them faid, "What Class fhall we put him into ?" The other anfwered, "Indeed I cannot tell. Mr. Wesley's Classes are far more ftriftly looked after than ours." If you please then, faid I, I will go and meet in one of his Claffes. He looked

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