Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

presented innumerable obstacles, which they were unable to surmount. It
was then concluded that he should become a schoolmaster; but for this he
had no inclination. He was at last sent to Mr. Francis Bennett, a linen
merchant, of Colerain, a kinsman of his parents, who had proposed to
take him on advantageous terms.
It should here be mentioned that the subject of this memoir, in his
boyhood, had two very narrow escapes from sudden death: the one was
a severe fall from a horse, when a sack of grain, which he had been
unable to balance on the animal, came down with all its force upon him;
and, his back happening to come in contact with a pointed stone, he was
taken up apparently dead. In about four-and-twenty hours he was
conveyed home, and in a short time completely restored. His second
escape was from being drowned; he having imprudently, in riding for the
purpose of washing his father's mare in an armlet of the sea, taken her out
of her depth, till they were carried beyond the breakers into the swell,
where they were both swamped in a moment. But that God whom "waves
obey," and who designed him for matters of great and high importance,
caused one wave after another to perform for him the genial service of
rolling him to the shore before the vital spark was quite extinct.
The love of God was no sooner shed abroad in his heart, than he felt
a yearning pity, a burning charity, for his friends and fellow creatures. He
not only induced his parents to have family worship, on the morning and
evening of every day in the week, as well as on the Sabbath, which they
had been accustomed to have; but he also consented, though it was a
heavy cross, regularly to officiate himself. He, however, had his reward:
all his relatives became hearers of the Methodists, and most of them
members of society. He then began to exhort his neighbours to turn to
God. On the Sabbath he went regularly, in all weathers, a distance of
more than six miles to meet a class, which assembled so early that, in the
winter, he had to set out two hours before day. When he had met his
class, he proceeded to the nearest village, and entering the first open door,
said, "Peace he to this house!" If consent was given, he called in the
neighbours, prayed, and gave a short exhortation. This done, he went to