heart, fo that he then received a deep and clear conviction of her finful and miferable ftate by nature and practice, together with a fixt refolution to feek and ferve God, let the consequence be as it might. She immediately joined the fociety, though oppofed and perfecuted by most of her friends, but by none fo violently as her father. He was inveterate against the Methodists in general, but his daughter in particular; and this is not to be wondered at, feeing one of the leading principles taught by the Romish-Priefts, is, "That there is no Salvation out of their Church." However one day Thomas was prevailed upon to go and hear another preacher, who preached in the neighbourhood. And he, who met perfecuting Saul on his way to Damafcus, met him in mercy, while hearing the word, and fully convinced him of his fallen ftate. A fenfe of his fin and danger overcame his prejudice against he truth, fo fully, that he inftantly determined to feek for the pardon of his fins through faith in Chrift. When the Lord graciously made this discovery to him, he also gave him to see the need he flood in of advice and inftruction from those who feared God. He applied for admiffion into the fociety, which was granted with the greatest pleasure : In confequence of which, he was foon made to drink of that cup he had formerly mingled for others. His neighbours oppofed him warmly, and ftrove to diffuade him from his folly, as they called it; afferting, that it was a great difgrace for a man to change his religion when he was old. As this argument had no weight with him, his friends attacked him with much zeal and bitterness, particularly the parish priest, who feared, not only the lofs of one, but that many might follow his example, in turning from iniquity and applying to Chrift alone for falvation, which would tend to fet afide the ufe of holy oil, holy water, maffes for the dead, &c. and thereby greatly endanger his craft. The prieft vowed that if Thomas would not quit this ftart-up-way, and continue as formerly, he would excommunicate him in this world from the only church in which there is Salvation, and perhaps injure him more than he imagined, in the other world. But the menaces of the priest were difregarded; and as Thomas felt the wrath of God abiding upon him, and faw clearly his helpleffnefs, the cry of his heart was, Lord, fave, or I perish!" 66 He used all the Means of Grace with great care and diligence, feeking reft, but could find none; "He eat his meat in bitterness, and mingled his drink with his tears" Having travelled for about four months through darkness, grief and mifery, he retired one day to an uninhabited houfe, at fome diftance, that he might not be interrupted in pouring out his heart before the Lord. In this fituation his anguifh became fo great, that his cries could be heard at a confiderable diftance. His fon, hearing his cries, haftened to his relief: but when he came near the place, he prefendy underfood the cause of his father's diftrefs; (the Lord having revealed VOL. XIX. Sept. 1796. bis his love in this young man's heart a few days before :) He kneeled down on the outfide of the houfe, that he might pray for his father, without interrupting him. After fome time the old man came out; joy appeared in his countenance, and he said unto his son, "I went in plead with God for mercy; and while at prayer I saw myfelf without God, and in my fins. I thought Hell was moved from beneath to meet me, and that the enemy was coming to carry me away, which was the cause of the great cry I made unto the Lord. At which time, all of a fudden, fatan disappeared, the fear of Hell was removed, light fhone from heaven into my dark foul, and I received peace and joy, through believing in Jefus." The Sun of Righteoufnefs did then truly arife upon his foul; the change was inftantaneous and great; he was at once happily delivered from the guilt and power of fin, and from the influence and deception of Satan and his agents. Divine Grace was fo abundantly beftowed upon him that the combined forces of earth and hell never could thake his confidence, though he was frequently tempted and tried by both his neighbours and relations, who ftrove to perfuade him, that it was all madnefs and enthufiafm: The prieft in particular was indefatigable in this bad work. It is greatly to be lamented, that men, who call themselves the minifters of Chrift, and affirm that they, and they alone, are capable of teaching the right way to heaven, fhould nevertheless be found in the fcorner's chair, treating with derifion and contempt the work of conversion, and diffuading men from hoping and seeking the attainment thereof. In thefe conflicts, Thomas faithfully withstood his opponents, and teftified, that if they did not repent and believe in Jefus Chrift to the falvation of their fouls, they would inevitably be loft. In this spirit of ftedfastness and humility, zeal and dili. gence, he continued walking in all the ordinances of God, through various oppofitions, for near twenty-three years. He ufed to fay, I am fome times up, and fome times down," meaning thereby, that he was fome times happy, and at other times lefs fo. But ftill he acted like one who confidered himself only as a ftranger and pilgrim in the carth, leaving the things that were behind, he preffed forward towards the mark of the prize of his high calling in Chrift Jefus the Lord. 66 During the courfe of laft winter, it pleafed God to fuffer him to be afflicted with a cough and difficulty of breathing, but under this difpenfation he was perfectly refigned; nothing being of any confequence to him, but the poffeffing the whole image of God. His diforder increased and feemed to baffle every medical applica tion. Some fhort time before he entered into reft, as his fon ftood by, he looked up, and faid, "O! Tommy, how happy are we, that ever the Lord fent us the Methodist Preachers to fhew us the feripture way of falvation." Adding with tears, "If I had not heard the Gofpel, I fhould have perished in my fins for ever." His diforder increased daily; and on the Tuefday preceding his death, he 1 he was fpeechlefs for fome time; but after a little he recovered, and faid, "O precious, precious Chrift." Being raised up in bed, and appearing as if he wanted fomething, one afked, "What do you want?" He replied, "I want a fermon on, "So run, that ye may obtain." I have feen them all running, and I want a fermon preached on these words when I am gone to reft." [A few years before this, he dreamt, that he faw all the world fet out to run for fome great prize, and awoke with these words on his mind, "So run, that ye may obtain."] He then earneftly and affectionately exhorted all around him to make their calling and election fure; repeating many fcriptures, fuch as, "The water that I fhall give you, fhall be in you a well of water fpringing up to everlasting life. He that was rich, for your fakes became poor, that ye thro' his poverty might be rich." &c: Adding, My Jefus to know, And feel his blood flow, It is life everlasting, it is Heaven below; I felt it apply'd, And joyfully cried, Me, me, Thou haft lov'd, and for me thou haft died." At all opportunities he affectionately exhorted every one who came to fee him, to secure an intereft in Chrift. His brethren of the fociety he warmly intreated to live near God, and attend conftantly on the means of Grace, at the fame time to look through all to Jefus, the Author of the Means: adding, "If you do not, you will be the most miferable of all people." Towards his latter end, when the pain increased, he fhewed no appearance of fretfulness; but at intervals, would with great compofedness fay, "O for an heart to praife my God, An heart from fin fet free! "An heart that always feels thy blood, So freely fpilt for me!" "The Lord is my portion, of whom fhall I be afraid? The Blood of Jefus cleanseth from all fin: God is Love. O for more love!" Some time after, his fon obferving him to grow weaker, faid, "Father, I believe you are much worfe." He anfwered, "Yes, the thread is now become very weak." After being filent awhile, he faid with a loud voice, "Farewell, Farewell; meet me in Glory!" and about fun-rifing on Good Friday, 1793, he entered into the purchafed poffeffion, the inheritance among the faints in light. This awful change he underwent without any appearance of pain, juft as if falling afleep. I preached a fermon on the text which the dying faint requested. Such a folemn awe refted on the congregation as I have feldom feen, and I believe they all, at that time, at least, determined to run, so that they might obtain the pearl of great price. Thus we fee, notwithftanding deep ignorance, the prejudice of education, the power and influence of falfe teachers, together with the oppofition of an ignorant and ungodly world, that Thomas Croffon continued to live and die a witness of the free grace of God, and the power of Chrift to fave to the uttermoft. Lisburn, May 15th, 1793. JOHN KERR. SURE WRITTEN IN SICKNESS. URELY, O Lord! I now can say, My pain and fickness I receive No charge the Adversary brings No drag upon my chariot wheels, My foul would burft its prifon-bars, A monument of fov'reign grace, Nor caft one ling'ring look behind ;- EVENING MEDITATION ON THE CRUCIFIXION. IMITATION OF AN OLD SPIRITUAL WRITER. M Y Lord, my Saviour died, For guilty finners fake: The tokens of his love Oft keep mine eyes awake. I cannot chufe but mourn, That He fhould fuffer fo ; And yet it is the fource Whence all my comforts flow. I cannot chufe but mourn, Whose fins made Him to bleed; And yet, fuch facrifice My foul from death hath freed. 'Twas not the treacherous Jews That did my Lord betray; It was my heinous fins, More treacherous far than they. 'Twas not the foldier's fpear That pierc'd my Saviour's fide; 'Twas my ingratitude, My unbelief, my pride. These were the bloody thorns That did his temples wound, And can I chufe but mourn, When fkies and rocks did rend, |