The trials of Mr. S. at this period, are thus alluded to by the Rev. H. Venn, in a letter to Mr. Riland. "Jan. 23, 1783. "Cambridge is going to be in a fermentMr. Simeon's ministry is likely to be blessed. We may indeed say, 'a great door is opened!' for several gownsmen hear him. What follows is as true, and there are many adversaries.' He comes over to advise with me upon every occasion. But the Wonderful Counsellor' is with him. I advised him to visit a poor felon in the gaol, whose case was put into the papers as accessory in a murder. He answered, 'Oh, I have been with him several times, and have good hopes he will go from the gallows to glory.' Mr. Simeon's father, who used to delight in him, is all gall and bitterness. I should not wonder if he were to disinherit him. The Lord will be his portion if it be so; and he would be rich nevertheless. Such storms we have weathered-for what remains may we be ready, and at last be guided into the haven where we would be." This trial however at home was not of long continuance; for Mr. S. writes to the Rev. J. Venn: 'May 19, 1783. 66 "You will no doubt join with me in giving thanks to God, who, when we acknowledge Him in all our ways, has promised to direct our paths, and to make all things work together for our good. He has been pleased to reconcile my dear father to me entirely, and we are now on the same. friendly terms as ever. Did ever any trust in Him and was confounded? But I cannot stop to make observations, having a great deal of news to communicate, and not a minute to spare. My eldest bro ther is going to be married to Miss Cornwall, (Mr. Thornton's partner's daughter), and I shall go up to town for the purpose of tying the indissoluble knot. My father is now in London, looking out for a house for them. O that Jesus were at the wedding, with what joy should I go then!" Before Mr. Simeon accepted the invitation to be present at the marriage, as usual he consulted Mr. Venn on the subject. Mr. V. was aware of the breach occasioned by his religion with his relatives, and he thought that this might be a favourable opportunity for bringing them together again; for Mr. S. had been much beloved by his family. Yet he feared on the other hand, that it might induce something like a compromise from Mr. S., or be otherwise injurious to those sacred principles which he had imbibed. Very fervent, therefore, were the prayers of this aged servant of God on behalf of his young friend just entering on the ministry. His cautions to him were most earnest and faithful that he might not be drawn aside by any worldly attractions, or by the yearnings of family affection. How were these prayers more than answered by the Chief Shepherd of the flock, who was watching over the young minister! The day after his arrival in town he met the Rev. Mr. Abdy, who requested him to take his occasional duty at Horsleydown, to enable him to stay another week with his friends in the country. Mr. Simeon glady consented; and on the very day of the marriage, when a large and splendid party had assembled to celebrate the event, notice was sent him that there would be a funeral at Mr. Abdy's church. Mr. S. was in the churchyard punctually at the hour fixed; but was kept some time waiting for the funeral, "when God was pleased in a very signal manner to make use of him for the preservation of a poor woman from suicide;" and he had reason also to "trust for the salvation of her soul.". The narrative which follows. was written by Mr. S. soon after the occurrence. "It was in July 1783, I was waiting in Horsleydown church-yard for a corpse, which I was engaged to bury, and for my amusement was reading the epitaphs upon the tomb-stones. Having read very many which would have been as suitable for Jews or heathens, as for the persons concerning whom they were written, I at last came to one that characterized a Christian: "When from the dust of death I rise, Struck with the sentiment conveyed in the two last lines, I looked around to see if there were any one to whom God might render it the means of spiritual instruction; at a little distance I saw a young woman reading an epitaph, and called her to me, and addressed her nearly in these words, You are reading epitaphs, mistress; read that; when you can say the same from your heart, you will be happy indeed; but till then, you will enjoy no real happiness in this world or the next.' She read them without any apparent emotion; and then told me that a churchyard was a very proper place for her, for that she was much distressed. On my enquiring into the causes of her distress, she told me, that she had an aged mother and two children, that she had ruined her health in labouring for them, and was now unable to support them: I immediately turned to some passages in my Bible, such as 'Seek ye first L. S. E the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all (needful) things shall be added unto you;' and endeavoured to turn her eyes to Him who gives rest to heavy laden souls. After having conversed with her about a quarter of an hour, the corpse arrived, and at my request she gave me her address. The next evening, about seven o'clock, I went to see her, and found the aged mother very ill of an asthma, the two little babes lying in bed, and the young woman sitting very disconsolate. Though I was no stranger to scenes of distress, at this sight I was overcome in a very unusual manner: I told them that I was unable to say anything which might administer comfort, and desired that they would join me in applying to the Father of mercies and God of all consolation. We fell upon our knees, and in a moment were bathed in tears; I could scarce utter my words through heaviness of heart, and the abundance of tears which flowed down my cheeks; and to almost every petition that I offered, Amen, Amen, Amen,-God grant it may, Amen, Amen,' was the language both of their hearts and lips. I was too much affected to be able to converse with them; I therefore referred them to two or three passages of Scripture, and left them. The next evening, about the same time, I visited them again, and, as before, we wrestled in prayer with strong cries and floods of tears; nor was I any better able to converse with them than before, so deplorable did their situation appear, and to such a degree were all our hearts overwhelmed with sorrow. As before, I left a few Scriptures for their consideration, that they might plead them in prayer with our promise-keeping God; and returned the third evening about the same hour; then I began with some conversation, and afterwards went to prayer, but though we were earnest, our whole souls were not drawn out as on the two preceding evenings. When we had risen from prayer, I sat down to talk with them, and after I had spoken a little time, the young woman addressed me to this effect, and as nearly as I can recollect, in these words: 'Now, Sir, I will tell you what the Lord has done for me; when you called me in the church-yard, (which was nearly two miles off her house) I had been there five hours; I went to my sister, who lives close by, to tell her my distress, but she, instead of assisting me at all, or even pitying my situation, sent me away with reproaches; I thought God had utterly forsaken me, and left me and my children to starve, and that it did not signify what became of me; I found my misery insupportable, and therefore was determined to put an end to it; and at the instant you spoke to me, I was going to drown myself: thus I should in one moment have left my aged mother and my little helpless children without a friend in the world, and have plunged my own soul into irretrievable ruin. And now, Sir, instead of despairing of bread to eat, I am enabled to see that God, who is the Father of the fatherless, and the Husband of the widow, is my friend, that Christ Jesus has washed me from all my sins in the fountain of his own blood, and that it is my privilege to be careful for nothing; and, blessed be God, I am enabled to cast all my care on Him who careth for me. I have hitherto laboured on the Lord's day to support my family; and I now see how little I can do without the blessing of God: henceforward, by grace, I will never work again on the Sabbath, but devote it entirely to the service of God, the con |