CHAPTER I.

_Of his entire application to preaching the gospel._

IT being now, no longer matter of doubt, what the will of God was concerning him; trial having been made, and the fruit answering to the design, he resolved to defer no longer, stirring up the gift of God which was in him. Setting aside therefore every other concern, and employment, he devoted himself entirely to the work of which he believed God had assigned him. He set out with a resolution to give himself up wholly to the dictates of the _Holy Ghost_, and to be ready to go what way soever the voice of heaven should call him. And that his understanding might not be dissipated, and scattered upon divers objects, and so have less force to enter deep into the things of God, he began his work with applying himself altogether to the study of the holy scriptures, and to prayer. And the proficiency which by those means he made daily, in _the wisdom that is from above_, quickly appeared. He truly laboured in the word, and faithfully and fervently enforced the divine truths he learned there from. His soul became strangely enlarged in labours of love for the salvation of his neighbour; while he imparted to them abundantly what God had so richly, and so freely bestowed upon him.

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ were in general exceeding precious to him; and from his first acquaintance with them, his whole delight and his counsellors. The whole of his following conduct to his death, seemed influenced by those words of Christ (applicable to all real Christians) _Ye are the salt of the earth. Ye are the light of the world. A city set upon an hill cannot be hid: neither do men_ (much less God) _light a candle, to put it under a bushel_, that is, hide it; _but on a candlestick_, that it may give light to all about it.

And now, the divine providence concurring with his convictions and inclination, made his way clear, to put into execution what he had been so long deliberating upon. Conferring therefore no longer with flesh and blood, and resolving to deny himself, and take up his cross to follow Jesus, he bid farewel to his kindred, and to his acquaintance in general. Choosing the Lord for his sole portion, he literally left all, and went out into the wide world, entirely unanxious about what he should eat, or what he should drink, or wherewithal he should be cloathed, being fully persuaded, that an entire reliance on God was all things. He went to spend his life in beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God. Thus,

“By Christ himself ordain’d and sent, An herald of redeeming grace, Eager to the highways he went, And fill’d the land with Jesu’s praise!”

This was about the latter end of _August 1750_, when going from the place of his nativity to _Limerick_, he had daily opportunity of publishing those glad tidings, which he first heard in that city, and which became the power of God to his salvation. At first, he commonly expounded the scriptures every morning: and after a little while, both evening and morning, with much earnestness exhorted and besought multitudes, who attended his discourses, to _seek the_ Lord _while he may be found_.

And it pleased God immediately to bear testimony to _the word of his grace_ by him. Several persons who heard him, and who, till then, had been careless and utterly unconcerned about the matter, became seriously concerned for their salvation; while in the mean time others, who had been deeply distressed with the guilt of sin, felt his word, the power of God unto salvation.

He was about this time called to bear reproach for his work’s sake. The minds of some persons became evil affected towards him. The interests of _the God of this world_, had already suffered loss by his zeal, and unwearied diligence, and they were in danger of suffering yet more. _Satan_ therefore by every means endeavoured to prevent the fruit of his labours.

His unpolished youth; his roughness both of address and dialect, owing partly to natural temper, partly to having been brought up much in the country, and partly to his having been formerly of the church of _Rome_¹; but more than all, his being a native of that neighbourhood, gave some persons occasion for being deeply offended at him, who expressed it by their unkind, and uncivil treatment towards him. This I had from some of the persons themselves, a considerable time after, who mentioned it to their own reproach, that he, whom then they so loved and honoured was nevertheless, once the object of their scorn.

¹ There is in some parts of _Ireland_ a very remarkable difference between the _dialect_ of the _Protestants_, and _Romanists_, even of the same county or parish. What is called the _brogue_, in its excess is a sort of _Shibboleth_ for the latter; and among the younger sort of Protestants especially, a term of reproach. I remember it was a very common objection to him, when he preached first in the town of my nativity.

But as he sought not his own things, neither strove to please man, having in view only the glory of God, and the good of souls, this did not in the least damp his fervour, or retard his progress. As he saw daily the fruit of his labours, so he was not to be hindered, or discouraged by any treatment of himself; rather he rejoiced in _contempt_ for his master’s sake.

He had _put his hand to the plough_ (_Luke ix. 62._) and having counted the cost, settled it in his heart not to look back. He waxed still stronger, and grew every day more mighty in the scriptures, and in conformity to our Lord, as well as more instrumental in bringing others acquainted with _the only true_ God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

There are many instances of the good effects of these his first labours. It plainly appeared that the word of God in his mouth was attended with the power of the Holy Ghost. It was not an uncommon case, for persons to be so penetrated by his fervent discourses, as to resolve not to leave the place, till they should find rest in their souls, and the instances were not a few, to whom the God of love condescended even in this particular by sending then _the Spirit of adoption into their hearts_, testifying _Thy sins are forgiven_; and enabling them _to cry Abba Father_.

His time was now wholly taken up in searching, expounding, and enforcing the scriptures, which he did both in public and in private; and prayer, visiting the sick, and whatsoever other particular employments occasional, or stated, had any relation to his one purpose of spending, and being spent in the service of his master. And having been thus employed at _Limerick_ for some time, it was judged expedient, that he should go and preach the gospel in other places also.