dreffing on Sundays; others fay, that the first is the fact, and that he hinted at it in his shop-bills, in order that the public may know where to find a tradefman that had a very tender confcience.

I was one day called aside and a hand-bill was given me; and thinking it to be a quack doctor's bill for a certain difeafe, I expreffed my surprise at its being given to me in fuch a particular manner; but on reading it I found it contained a particular account of the wonderful converfion of a John Biggs, when he was twenty-one years of age. Mr. Biggs fays, that ever fince that time he has had communion with God his Father every 'bour. He publishes this bill (he fays) for the glory of God; but that the public might have an opportunity of dealing with this wonderful faint and perfectly holy man, he put his addrefs in capitals, John Biggs, No. 98, Strand. I keep this bill as a curiofity.

I am, dear Friend, yours.

LETTER

LETTER XXVI.

"Good morrow to thee: How doft do?

** I only just call'd in, to fhew

"My love, upon this blessed day,
"As I by chance came by this way.

BUTLER'S Pofth. Works,

Let not your weak unknowing hand
"Prefume God's bolts to throw,
"And deal damnation round the land,
"On each you judge his foe,"

DEAR FRIEND,

I

Had no fooner left Mr. Wefley's fociety, and begun to talk a little more like a rational being, but I found that I had incurred the hatred of fome, the pity of others, the envy of many, and the dif pleasure of all Mr. Wefley's-old women! So that for a long time I was conftantly teased with their impertinent nonfenfe. I believe that never was a poor devil fo plagued,

"Superftition is dreadful in her wrath,
"Her dire Anathema's against you dart."

66

he

Some as they paffed by my door in their way to the Foundery would only make a ftop and lift up their hands, turn up the whites of their eyes, thake their heads, groan, and pass on. Many would call in and take me afide, and after making rueful faces, addrefs me with, Oh, Brother Lackington! I am very forry to find that you who began in the Spirit are now like to end in the flesh. Pray brother, do remember Lot's wife." Another would interrupt me in my bufinefs, to tell me, that that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is unfit for the kingdom." Another had just called as he was passing by, to caution me against the bewitching fnares of profperity. Others again called to know if I was as happy then as I was when I conftantly fought the Lord with my brethren, in prayer meeting, in clafs, in band, &c. When I affured them that I was more happy, they in a very folemn manner affured me, that I was under a very great delufion of the devil; and when I by chance happened to laugh

laugh at their enthusiastic rant, some have run out of my fhop, declaring that they were afraid to stay under the fame roof with me, left the house fhould fall on their heads. Sometimes I have been accofted in fuch an alarming manner as though the house was on fire, with "Oh! brother! brother! you are faft afleep! and the flames of hell are taking hold of you 100

A certain preacher affured me, in the prefence of feveral gentlemen, that the devil would foon tofs me about in the flames of hell with a pitchfork. This fame eloquent mild preacher ufed occafionally to strip to his fhirt to dodge the devil.

Mr. E. a gentleman of my acquaintance, going through fome alley, one Sunday, hearing a very uncommon noife, was led by curiofity to the houfe from whence it proceeded, and there he faw elevated above an affembly of old women, &c. this taylor, ftript in his shirt, with his wig off, and the collar of his shirt unbuttoned, fweating, foaming

at the mouth, and bellowing like a baited bull. In the above manner it feems he would often amuse himself and his congregation for near two hours,

"Curfing from his fweating tub,

"The cavaliers of Belzebub."

BUTLER'S Pofth. Works.

Some of the Tabernacle faints affured me, that I never had one grain of faving grace, and that when I thought myself a child of God, I was only deluded by the devil, who being now quite fure of me, did not think it worth his while to deceive me any longer. Others advised me to take care of finning against light and knowledge, and piously hoped that it was not quite too late; that I had not (they hoped) committed the unpardonable fin against the Holy Ghoft. Others again, who happened to be in a better humour, often told me that they fhould fee me brought back to the true fheepfold, as they really hoped I had once been in a state of

grace, and if so, that I always was in grace,

in