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The Life of the Rev. John Braithwaite, Wesleyan Methodist Preacher; Compiled From His Letters
The Life of the Rev John Braithwaite Wesleyan Methodist Preacher Compiled From His Letters Author:Robert Dickinson General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1825 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: " Being about thirteen years of age, my father thought proper to place me in a merchant's counting-house, where I continued near tvo years to very little purpose. From thence I was taken to a large ironmonger's shop, as well to serve the customers, as to act in the capacity of a clerk. About this time, I visited the Methodist chapel as a casual hearer. I had sometimes attended it when very young, but more with an intention to disturb the congregation and behave rudely, than to pay any attention to what was spoken. But my parents having taken seats, in order to be accommodated on Sunday evenings when they chose to go, I went sometimes to oblige them, and some times to gratify my own curiosity; or perhaps to spend an hour when I had missed my companions. Although, from my infancy, it had been my desire to be happy, and serve God aright; and notwithstanding I used to reflect upon Death and Judgment, Heaven and Hell; yet, except a few slight and momentary checks of conscience, I was a stranger to conviction. But after I had begun to hear the Methodists, (even before I had the most distant thoughts of being connected with them,) my fears were alarmed. Indeed I seldom, if ever, omitted repeating the prayers which my father had taught me when a boy; but, after I was apprized of my danger in consequence of sin, the most horrible dread fell upon me; yea even when on my kness and at prayer, I have been dreadfully afraid, lest the earth should open and swallow me up. " I had not been a year with my new master before my uncle, the Rev. John Braithwaite, ofEllel, near Lancaster, wrote to my father, requesting him ...« less