Glimpses of Christian History Presents Pastwords #122: God the Guardian of the Poor and the Bank of Faith by William Huntington ©2007

THE WORLD'S JUDGMENT OF HUNTINGTON

William Huntington (1745-1813) coal heaver & preacher, changed his name to Hunington to avoid detection after he seduced a young girl and then abandoned her and his child upon the child's birth, he then formed a connection with Mary Short, with whom he had 13 children; he was later converted, joined the Calvinistic Methodists for a time, begain preaching on his own, built himself at chapel in London which burned to the ground "Huntington, however, easily raised 10,000, with which he built a larger chapel...taking care to have the freehold vested in himself...For the rest of his life Huntington derived a handsome income from his pew-rents and publications, had a villa at Cricklewood, and kept a carriage...Mary Short died in Huntington lifetime. Her death was hastened by gin and chagrin induced by a scandalous intimacy which Huntington formed about 1803 with an evangelical lady, Elizabeth, relict of Sir James Sanderson, bart...Huntington married this lady on 15 Aug. 1808."--Dict. Nat'l Biog. Huntington has variously been called a bigamist, self-appointed voice of God, con-artist, etc.

"I found God's promises to be the Christian's bank note; and a living faith will always draw on the divine Banker; yea, and the spirit of prayer, and a deep sense of want, will give an heir of promise a filial boldness at the inexhaustible bank of heaven."

HIS OWN TESTIMONY

I believe God never intended me to be a preacher to the rich, because he has ever kept me dependent on his providence. Had I been rich, I might have been tempted to trust in uncertain riches; and I know well that "where the treasure is, there will the heart be also." It must be a hard task to preach against covetousness while the heart is trading at the stocks. I fear this is the case with some who are called ministers; but sin always brings its own punishment with it-such can have no communion with God, nor peace of conscience; for it is sin that separateth between God and the soul; and the love of money is the root of all evil. Nor have I any reason to believe that God ever intended me for a preacher to please Pharisees, because he hath for many years given me an humbling sight, and a deep sense of my own wretched depravity; so that I dare not place any confidence in the flesh, nor even in the fruits of faith; knowing that a man can merit nothing, allowing that he were able to keep the law perfectly-"When ye have done all these things, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done no more than was our duty to do." But I come infinitely short of doing all, therefore can never boast of doing a part. By nature we are all fond of a specious form of religion; and God permitted me to use a dry form for many years; but he never regarded any of those prayers put up by me, nor removed the guilt of my sin, in answer to them; therefore, to use an English proverb, "I shall never speak well of that bridge, because it never bore me safe over the stream."

God permitted me for many years to try what a form of devotion would do for me; but, like the poor woman in the gospel, I got worse instead of better; therefore was obliged to lay it by, and let the words of my mouth be the meditations of my heart. In this way the Holy Ghost helped my infirmities; therefore I must preach up spiritual prayer; and, as Christ answered the spirit's call, I must preach Jesus as the eternal God that hears and answers prayer. This is a part of the ministry which I have received of the Lord; and I hope, through grace, to take heed to it, and fulfil it.

I believe God intended that I should preach faith; because he has kept me dependent by faith on himself both for spiritual and temporal supplies. And I am persuaded that he intended me for a minister to the ignorant and to the poor. To the ignorant, because he sent me to preach, and gave me many seals to my ministry, before I could read a chapter in the Bible with propriety-to the poor, because he sent me without a penny in my pocket; therefore, as a minister to the poor, I hope to magnify mine office.

The vanity of worldly wisdom-the excellency of divine knowledge-the uncertainty of worldly riches-the preciousness of faith's wealth-the blessed religion of Jesus, and the insufficiency of human inventions-all these seem committed to my trust. And I know that it becomes a steward to be found faithful, and not to waste his master's goods.

What farther convinces me of my being appointed by God for a preacher to the poor is this-that the many seals of my ministry consist chiefly of the poor, both in town and country; so that I can adopt with propriety the language of the apostle, and say, "You see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence." 1 Cor. i. 27,28.

I only wish that I were as free from every sin as I am from the carnal fear of man; I believe I should then shortly preach up sinless perfection. If we preachers get proud, worldly, and lifeless, we generally fall into disesteem with the most lively Christians: and, if the presence of God doth not keep up our reputation among these righteous ones, we generally begin to undermine the reputation of those who cleave closer to God than ourselves; and endeavor to establish a character upon the ruins of other men's reputation; and, while we are carrying on this business, God sets others to undermine ours. "As ye mete, so shall it be measured to you again." This is God's balance. And the wise man's appeal to conscience is, "Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear they servant curse thee; for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others." Eccles. vii. 21.

If Elijah was on earth, I believe he would be loaded with as many reproaches of uncharitableness as I have been. But why should I wonder at this, when Christ himself was accused by the doctors of old of preaching and working under the influence of a bad spirit! They said that he cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of devils. I would caution these infallible gentlemen, however, not to be too hasty in ascribing a work which God owns and blesses to the dictates of an evil spirit, "lest haply they be found even to fight against God," the Holy Ghost. I much question if they are very well acquainted with that blessed Spirit's tuition; for, if they were, they would not talk at that rate. Natural affections are often mistaken for the operations of the spirit of God; but Christ sharply rebuked Peter for savoring the things of men more than the things of God. And I know that all the affections of nature are contra-distinguished from the influences or fruits of the spirit, by one who is an infallible judge. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Thou must be born again." The new man must come forth, and the old man must be crucified throughout.

I own that natural affections are some of the best rags of fallen nature; but, as they are natural, they must not be mistaken for, nor coupled with, the Holy Ghost. "All mortality shall be swallowed up of life," when he who only hath immortality shall appear. Therefore make not that your celestial covering which is to be no more than your grave clothes. All these cloths and napkins must be wrap together by themselves when Christ mystical shall awake and sing; for we hope to be delivered from the whole body of sin and death; because it is under this we groan, being burdened. Some, indeed, have no brighter views of heaven than Mahomet in his Alcoran. "I speak this to their shame;" for some professors are ready to repeat the old inquiry," How are the dead raised up?" and with what crop of natural affections do they come? To whom I answer: The old, the natural grain, must entirely die, that the new and spiritual harvest may take place. "The seed which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain."

My first pamphlet being condemned as nonsense, and the second as the product of a bad spirit, so this will possibly be condemned as savoring too much of self: more especially as I treat only of the kind providence's which occurred in the course of my own experience. However, I hope to rest satisfied till the great day arrives, when God will make manifest the secrets of the heart, and show whom he approves and disapproves; and then it will be seen that neither universal charity nor natural affections shall be found among the redeemed of God; for it will not be said that natural affection shall be all, but that God shall be all in all.

I choose that my doctrine and reputation should stand and fall together. It shall never be the coal-heaver and company. All that I preach or write, that is divine, God himself taught me; for I never learned it of man, nor did I bring any of it into the world with me: therefore it is not my own, except the errors; for I have nothing, nor am nothing, by nature, but sin: of course I think it my duty to be faithful in delivering what I have received to the benefit of others; and to be laborious, watchful, and faithful, over those whom God hath committed to my care.

Is my reader a poor christian?--Take it patiently. God maketh the poor as well as the rich. Envy not the rich. Riches are often seen to be a cankerworm at the root of a good man's comfort, a snare in his life, and an iron pillar at the back of his pride. Agur prayed to be fed with food convenient for him; and you may pray for the same; and what God gives you an answer to your prayers you will be thankful for. That state is surely best which keep you dependent on God and thankful to him; and so you shall find it in the end. Go on, poor christian, trusting in the providence of God. God promised a preceding blessing on the Israelites who were to keep the year of jubilee; and, though they were neither to plough, sow, nor reap, on this year of release, yet they had the promise of old store for food for the following year. Lev. xxv. 20,21. God's blessing on the sixth year was to produce food for three years. And shall not God provide for Israelites indeed, who are released by the Gospel trumpet from spiritual bondage, and made free by the Holy Ghost! Surely such shall eat of the old store; yea, in a two-fold sense-for every scribe instructed in the kingdom is like an old householder who bringeth things out of his treasures new and old; and all this to feed the Israelites, indeed, in whom there is no guile.

In Egypt we find that God's blessing on the seven years of plenty was sufficient to serve Egypt, and numbers more, through the seven years of famine which followed. Surely these wonders of the Lord of hosts shall never be blotted out of the Bible by a few independent gentlemen, though preachers; nor shall Zion's blessings be chased from the poor of her family by a few worldly professors, who "trust in uncertain riches," and sneer at the daily provision that God makes for the poor of his household. Reader, trust thou in the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort, for every supply. Independent Adam, and the independent prodigal, came both to bankruptcy and beggary; therefore trade thou with the stock of God, and thou shalt never fail.

Use no unlawful means either to avoid having, or the care of, a numerous family. This is the root of God-dishonoring and damning unbelief; and the effect if Onanism; which God views as an act of infidelity, and distrust cast on his providence, an injury done to a fruitful womb, and the sin of murder committed on unsinning innocence, which he hath twice visited with immediate death in the very action. Gen. xxxviii. 7-10.

I have been acquainted with several professors of considerable property; but, as God liveth, after a strict observation of their conduct, I never envied their happiness, nor wished to exchange situations; for I found some, who were warmly attached to the form of prayer, and to the walls of the established church, would give a thousand pounds to support the forms and walls of the Church of England, before they would give five shilling to support those who enforced the Spirit's work on the souls of men. And others who were filled with head notions from commentators rather than the grace of God in their hearts, expected every preacher that partook of their liberality to say as they did, and offer both conscience and affections (which are due to God only) to their purse; which compliance being denied, has caused great offence, and the honest servants of Christ have received many wounds both in their reputation and labors; which have made the cross of poverty the more heavy, stirred up the corruption's of the honest suffering saint to be more rebellious against God, and made his mind recoil with indignation against the aspiring rival of Christ.

To be short, among all the rich professors that I have known, upon a proper reflection, I have found that they expended the greatest part of the bounties of Providence in support of their own humors, their bigotry, their prejudice, and their own personal honor; being most liberal where their liberality was received by those of dignity, and where it was to appear in print.

Such as these have their reward as they proceed, but can have no reward of their Father which is in heaven. I believe it will appear in the great day, that the greatest part of the liberality of rich professors has been expended more in their own cause than in the support of the spiritual reign of the Son of God. This has been made evident by the bigotry and the purse of wealth; whom, notwithstanding, God hath cast down, in defiance of all their sanction, patronage, and liberality.

I am much deceived if the purse of worldly professors is not a snare in our days to many a servant of Christ. The liberal purse, and the besetting sin of the 'squire, has muzzled the mouth of many a poor laborer in the vineyard; while the preacher had died in the ministry, the flock in their souls, and the formidable 'squire who appeared as a column, was ripened for damnation, under a muzzled gospel preacher. For my part I have never yet seen anything in a rich professor that could in the least draw me to envy his happiness; but, contrarywise, to pity him, as being a trap to others and an ensnared person himself. The common industrious persons are, in general, the happy recipients of grace, and such are the chief supporters of the gospel; and such I have found my friends rather than my traps.

SOME PROVIDENTIAL EVENTS

Carnal reason always traces every thing from God to second causes, and there leaves them floating upon uncertainties; but faith traces them up to their first cause, and fixes them there; by which means God's hand is known, and himself glorified. I believe this battle between the plumed warriors was proclaimed by the Lord; for, if a sparrow falls not to the ground without God's leave, (as the scripture declare) I can hardly think a partridge does.

The third day arrived, and I was still in the same case as before. As I went to my work I saw a bird's nest in one of the shrubs; which, upon examination, I found to be the nest of a large bird, with four young ones in it, just ready to fly. It was with much reluctance I stormed and plundered the little simple citadel-but necessity hath no law; therefore I was forced to rob the poor dam of her young, and leave her mourning and lamenting, while my young one lived upon her's. However, I found it was no sin in God's sight. "If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young ones or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young; but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee, that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong the days." Deut. xxii. 6,7.

These birds served for that day very well; but the next day found me still unprovided as before, and brought forth fresh work for faith and prayer. However, the morrow still took thought for the things of itself; for, when I came to take the sythe in my hand to mow the short grass, I looked into the pond, and there I saw three very large carp lying on the water, apparently sick. When my master came to me I told him of it. He went and looked, and said they were dead; and told me I might have them, if I would, for they were not in season. However, they came in due season to me. And I found, morning after morning, there lay two or three of these fish at a time, dead, just as I wanted them; till I believe there was not one live fish remaining, six inches long, in that pond, which was near three hundred feet in length.

I could not help weeping and admiring the unmerited goodness of my God in setting the birds of the air to war-sending the sunbeams with such a hostile force as to slay the inhabitants of the floods-suffering the eel to sleep till the hand of the necessitous had entangled him-and directing my eyes to the little lodgement of birds, when all other supplies seemed to be cut off. It so operated on my mind, that I cannot describe the humility, compunction, love, joy, and peace, which I felt. O, the goodness of God to the children of men! I evidently saw that, both in providence and grace, God is the same to us as he was to the saints in days of old, and that they had no preeminence over us in the covenant of grace at all; but that Jesus Christ was the same yesterday that he is to-day, and will be the same for ever. Let not these providences beget a notion in the weak of the flock of any partiality in God to me in particular; knowing that "God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation those that fear him and work righteousness are accepted of him."

I found that my pay would hardly support my family with comfort; and it came into my mind that I could mend shoes, if I tried. I accordingly sent my dame to Kingston to buy me some materials for this business; upon which I began, and became a decent proficient in a very little time. This helped me so much, that I got all my things out of pawn, and kept myself entirely out of debt. But it happened one night that my dame complained to me that she had nothing for the child but barley cake. I told her I had a job of cobbling to do, and would sit up that night to finish it, that in the morning the work might be carried home, when peradventure she might get her money. So we sat up and worked together till between eleven and twelve o'clock; when I heard a person call at my window. I went down, and found several men on horseback, (to appearance they were smugglers,) who inquired their way to Malden Mills. I went a little way to show them, for which one of them gave me a shilling. On receiving it my very hair moved upon my head, at the reflection of the daily providences of God. I mention this, because God says that the gold and the silver are his; that it is he only who maketh poor and maketh rich; and that it is he who bringeth low and lifteth up. These things so endeared God to me, that I often called him my bank, my banker, and my blessed overseer; and earnestly begged that he would condescend to be my tutor, my master, and my provider, and never leave me in the hands of mortals, either for tuition, protection, or for temporal supplies. I no longer envied the rich in the world; for, if they are gracious, they only see one side of God's face, having an independent stock in hand; and, if graceless, they are of all flesh the most miserable. I clearly perceived that the most eminent saints in the Bible were brought into low circumstances; as Jacob, David, Moses, Joseph, Job, and Jeremiah, and all the apostles; in order that the hand of Providence might be watched.

When harvest came on, my dame informed me that she should go to gleaning, in order to pick up some wheat to make bread with. So we generally arose about three o'clock in the morning; and I gleaned with her till six, and then went to my work; but she continued till eight o'clock; then went home with her corn, ate her breakfast, got the child up from bed, (which all this time had been left alone,) and then she went off for the day. At this time I had begun to preach at Ewell Marsh, which made no small stir that way: therefore the farmers drove my dame out of the fields, and the gleaners came about her like a shoal of small birds attending the funeral of a dead hawk, swearing that parsons' wives should not glean there. "What," said they, "wives of the clergy go a gleaning!" I own it is not a good sign, nor a good sight, to see Levites gleaning; but, if the blind guides steal the offerings of God, which should feed the Levites, the Levites then must work or starve.

I found God's promises to be the christian's bank note; and a living faith will always draw on the divine Banker; yea, and the spirit of prayer, and a deep sense of want, will give an heir of promise a filial boldness at the inexhaustible bank of heaven.

Indeed the providence of God is a great mystery; nor could I unriddle it, even while I was daily exercised with it. During my residence at Ewell I have often begun the week with eighteen or twenty pence, sometimes with two shillings, and sometimes with half a crown; and we have lived through the whole week upon that only, without contracting any debt. And I found it impossible at the week's end, upon the best reflection I could make, to tell how we had been supported through the week. At other times I have found that my craving appetite had lost its keenness, insomuch that I have been able to work hard for two days together without any food at all. And sometimes God has indulged me with such heavenly views of a glorified state, and entertained my mind with such sweet contemplations on futurity, that my dinner hour has passed away unnoticed; nor have I once had a thought about it till four or five o'clock, or near the time of leaving my labor. But these blessed acts of God's providential regard are nothing new; for he took away the appetite of Moses and Elijah for forty days together; and he is the same God still. Nor is his bountiful hand at all shortened, though the faith of the necessitous has so often stretched it out. "I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and an afflicted people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord." Zeph. iii. 12.

Some time after this I was brought into another strait, by receiving a letter that required me to give up one of my little flocks, which happened to be at that time my chief support. This plot was laid by a person who made a god of his wealth, and therefore found fault with my sermons, conceiving them leveled at him. And indeed the allegation was certainly well founded; for, if a man has got the world in his heart, the preacher is sure of hitting him, if he should only draw a bow at a venture. For, if the love of money be the root of all evil, it is impossible to wield the sword of the Spirit without cutting either root or branch.

This treatment drove me to London. When I left my own home on the Lord's day morning, my whole stock of money amounted to no more than two pence; of which I took one half, and left my dame the other. One half penny of this I paid at Hampton Court bridge; and soon after a poor man asked alms of me, to whom I gave the other half penny. Then I besought the Lord not to send any other person to ask alms of me, until his bountiful hand had supplied my own wants. However, this trial also worked together for my good; for it was the means of bringing me to preach constantly in London; and many who had heard me to preach at Margaret Street Chapel. Several friends also sent for me to their houses. One gave me a guinea, and others half a guinea, till I had enough to discharge the debt I owed.

But, as the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of Christ, we must not expect to be long without trials. Providence soon frowned on me again, and I got behind hand as usual. This happened, too, at a time when my wife was lying in, destitute of those necessaries of life which are needful at such times. The nurse came and told her there was no tea in the house. My wife replied, "Set the kettle on, if there is not." The nurse (whose name was Ann Webb, a daughter of mine in the faith, and the first soul that God called by me,) said, "You have no tea, nor can you get any." My wife replied, "Set on the kettle." She did so; and before it boiled, a woman (with whom at that time we had no acquaintance,) came to the door, and told the nurse that she brought some tea as a present to my wife. Thus God, who showed Moses a stick to sweeten the waters of Marah, sent a little tea to bitter the water in my dame's kettle. Soon after my dame got over her lying-in, tidings were brought to us that a gospel minister was coming down to Kingston to preach an evening lecture, and to break bread to the congregation. I had a great desire to go to the table, and also to have my child baptized at the same time; but, as I never could go from the Lord's table without offering my mite, and at this time had no money in my pocket, I could not go. However, I begged of God to send me a little money some way or other for this purpose; which I verily believed he would. So I waited till within half an hour of the time to go, and then began to think I should be disappointed; but, just as unbelief set me to murmuring and complaining, I heard a man ride up to my door as I was in my study at the back part of the house; and when he rode away again I called to my wife to get ready to go. "Get ready!" said she, "why you know we have no money!" "Poh!poh!" said I, "God has sent the money!" And true enough it was that God had sent it; for all the business the man had with us was to give us some money! Surely it was God that sent him, and none else; for, if the hairs of our heads are all numbered, we have reason to believe that our wants are; and if God keeps our hairs from falling to the ground, he certainly supplies our wants too. Thus the good God and Savior, who made a fish produce money for an earthly tribute, sent the man with three shillings as an offering to God, and of his own we offered to him. 1 Chron. xxix.14.

GOD THE GUARDIAN OF THE POOR

At this time I had many doors opened to me for preaching the gospel, very wide apart. I preached at Margaret street, in London; at Richmond, at Ditton, at Cobham, at Wooking, at Worpleson, and at Farnham, in Surrey. This I found too much for my strength. However, I continued for a considerable time, till at last I was generally laid up sick about once a month. I found I had great need of a horse; but feared I should not be able to keep it, if I had one. However, it happened that I had a very severe week's work to do; I was to go Wooking and preach on the Lord's day morning, to Worplesdon in the afternoon, and from thence to Farnham in the evening; to preach at Peterworth, in Sussex, on the Monday, at Horsham on the Tuesday, at Margaret street chapel on the Wednesday, and at Ditton on the Thursday evening; but before I could reach Ditton on the Wednesday I was so far spent, that I thought I must have lain down on the road; yet with much difficulty I reached home; and then I had to go to London. Finding myself wholly unable to perform all his labor, I went to prayer, and besought God to give me more strength, less work, or a horse. I used my prayers as gunners use their swivels; turning them every way as the various cases required. I then hired a horse to ride to town; and, when I came there, went to put him up at Mr. Jackson's livery-stables, near the chapel, in Margaret street; but the ostler told me they had not room to take him in. I asked if his master was in the yard. He said, yes. I desired to see him; and he told me he could not take the horse in. I was then going out of the yard, when he stepped after me, and asked if I was the person that preached at Margaret street chapel. I told him I was. He burst into tears, saying he would send one of his own horses out and take mine in; and informed me of his coming one night to hear me out of curiosity, because he had been informed that I had been a coal-heaver. He then told me that, under the first sermon, God showed him the insufficiency of his own wretched righteousness-the carnality and hypocrisy of his religion-the true state of his soul-and the necessity of the spirit and grace of Christ Jesus the Lord to change his heart if ever he was saved; and blessed God for sending me there. This was good news to me. He also said that some of my friends had been gathering money to buy me a horse, and that he gave something towards him. Directly after I found the horse was bought and paid for; and one person gave me a guinea to buy a bridle, another gave me two whips, a third gave me some things necessary for the stable, another trusted me for a saddle-and here was a full answer to my prayer. So I mounted my horse and rode home; and he turned out as good an animal as ever was rode. I believe this horse was the gift of God, because he tells me in his word that all the beasts of the forest are his, and so are the cattle on a thousand hills. I have often thought that, if my horse could have spoken, he would have had more to say than Balaam's ass; as he might have said, "I am an answer to my master's prayers-I live by my master's faith, travel with mysteries, and suffer persecution, but I do not know for what:" for many a stone has been thrown at him.

On my road home, while meditating on the manifold blessings I had received from God, both in a way of grace and providence, how unworthy I was of them, and how unthankful I had been for them, I told God that I had more work for my faith now then heretofore; for the horse would cost half as much to keep him as my whole family. In answer to which this scripture came to my mind with power and comfort, "Dwell in the land and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed.: This was a bank note put into the hand of my faith; which, when I got poor, I pleaded before God; and he answered it. So that I lived and cleared my way just as well when I had my horse to keep as I did before; for I could not then get any thing either to eat, drink, wear, or use, without begging it of God. Sometimes I found much murmuring in my heart against being held in so tight a rein; for which I was sure to suffer afterwards. So I found, by daily experience, that I could not add one cubit to God's stature, no, not even in the least thing; therefore it was in vain for me to take thought for the rest.

Having now had my horse for some time, and riding a great deal every week, I soon wore my breeches out, as they were not fit to ride in. I hope the reader will excuse my mentioning the word breeches, which I should have avoided, had not this passage of scripture obtruded into my mind, just as I had resolved in my own thoughts not to mention this kind providence of God. "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs shall they reach. And they shall be upon Aaron and upon his sons when they come into the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever unto him and his seed after him." Exod. xxviii.42,43. By which, and three other, (namely, Ezek. xliv. 18; Lev. vi. 10; and Lev. xvi. 4,) I saw that it was no crime to mention the word breeches, nor the way in which God sent them to me: Aaron and his sons being clothed entirely by Providence; and as God himself condescended to give orders what they should be made of, and how they should be cut. And I believe the same God ordered mine, as I trust it will appear in the following history.

The scripture tells us to call no man master, for one is our master, even Christ. I therefore told my most bountiful and ever-adored Master what I wanted; and he, who stripped Adam and Eve of their fig-leafed aprons, and made coats of skin and clothed them; and who clothes the grass of the field, which to-day is and to-morrow is cast into the oven; must clothe us, or we shall soon go naked; and so Israel found it, when God took away his wool and his flax, which he gave to cover their nakedness, and which they prepared for Baal; for which iniquity was their skirts discovered, and their heels made bare. Jer. xiiii.22.

I often made very free in my prayers with my invaluable Master for this favor; but he still kept me so amazingly poor that I could not get them at any rate. At last I was determined to go to a friend of mine at Kingston, who is of that branch of business, to bespeak a pair; and to get him to trust me until my Master sent me money to pay him. I was that day going to London, fully determined to bespeak them as I rode through the town. However, when I passed the shop, I forgot it; but when I came to London I called on Mr. Croucher, a shoemaker in Shepherd's Market, who told me a parcel was left there for me, but what it was he knew not. I opened it, and behold there was a pair of leather breeches with a note in them! the substance of which was, to the best of my remembrance, as follows:

"Sir, "I have sent you a pair of breeches, and hope they will fit. I beg your acceptance of them; and, if they want any alteration, leave in a note what the alteration is, and I will call in a few days and alter them. I.S."

I tried them on, and they fitted as well as if I had been measured for them-at which I was amazed, having never been measured by any leather breeches make in London.

As I was one frosty night going to Richmond to preach, when there was much snow on the ground, I met a poor cripple in a very deplorable condition. He solicited alms of me, and I refused him, because I had but one shilling in all the world, and did not choose to part with that; however, I found myself greatly distressed because I did not give it to him, he appeared in such a miserable condition. I thought, perhaps, in such a severe night as that was, he might perish for want of the necessaries of life. When I came to Richmond I told a friend of it, and said I thought him to be in a dreadful situation, because I was so much distressed about refusing to relieve him; declaring that if I met him again, I would give it to him, if I never had another shilling of my own. The next night, as I was going to preach at a village adjacent, I met the same poor object, and had got the same shilling in my pocket, and no more. The poor creature passed me, but asked nothing of me; however, I turned back and gave him the shilling. The poor man received it with great joy and thankfulness, and told me a deal of his sufferings, which fully convinced me he was in great want; and this blessed passage of scripture came to my mind: "He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." Prov. xix. 17. I went that night and delivered my discourse, and when I had done a woman took me aside into a room, and put three half-crown pieces into my hand, saying, "I was commanded to give you that." I asked her "By whom?" She replied, "By a gentleman; but you are not to know his name." Thus I received my shilling again, with very considerable interest; and thus also the fulfillment of the word took place. "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth to penury." Prov. xi.24.

One providence I had almost forgot. We were at that time very badly off for beds and bedding; my children were no better provided than the Savior when he laid in a manger, for they slept upon bags of hay; but prayer at a long run brought in these things also. Some of my most intimate acquaintances knew how I was tried in this respect, though I never made it known to any body who was capable of helping me out of my trouble. But one night, after I had done preaching at Richmond, a person invited me home to his house, and showed me a large bundle tied up, saying it was for me. I asked who the donor was; he replied, "You are not to know that." I carried it home, when lo, it proved to be bedding, and the very thing I stood so much in need of! Thus the blessed Savior fulfils his gracious promise which he made to his servants, "Whatsoever ye ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John xiv. 13,14.

Some time after this I took gospel courage, and asked my Master to give me a new bed; and importuned his ever-blessed and most excellent Majesty until I got it. Perceiving that the Lord approved of a bold, though not of a presumptuous beggar, agreeable to his word, "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace." I boldly asked him the favor, and persevered in it, until I was one day informed by a friend that four of five pious people were coming on such a day from London to visit me. Then my faith told me I should soon have the bed. Accordingly they came, and we had some comfortable conversation together. Towards evening they departed, giving me four guineas. O! what christian in his right mind would murmur and complain at his poverty, when, with a watchful eye, he sees such liberal supplies poured forth from the inexhaustible stores of Providence! Thus God, who provided a comfortable lodging for Elisha the prophet, provided me "a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick." 2 Kings, iv. 10.

I was determined to keep this money for a bed; and therefore went to a good man in London, and bespoke one; which he very soon sent me, with a rug also, and a pair of very good blankets. Soon after I called to pay him for it; when he told me to pay his clerk, who gave me a receipt for the same; but afterwards the gentlemen went a little way with me, and at his departure gave me all the money back again. How sweet are temporal mercies, when received by those who are under the influence of grace! When they are seen to come from a covenant God and Father, in answer to the simple prayer of faith! Surely he that " will observe these things, even he shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Psalm cvii.43. The promises of god pleaded in humble prayer, and promised mercies received in answer thereto, always come so as to make a divine impression, being sweetened with love to us; for every such mercy is "sanctified by the word of God and prayer." But to the unbelieving and prayerless there is nothing clean, though there be ever so much stock in hand. "A little that a righteous man hath, is better than the treasures of many wicked." Psalm xxxvi. 16