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discouraged at home, he hid his Bible out of the house; and embraced every opportunity of consulting it, as the guide of his youth. As the family increased, he became proportionably neglected; and, as soon as his age would admit, was placed out to a maritime employment. This was a habit of life, not very favourable to religious improvement; but that God who "sitteth King upon the floods," "can," as Mr. Whitefield said of him and capt. Scott, "bring a shark from the ocean, and a lion from the forest," and "form them for himself to show forth his praise." The vessel he was in, being taken by the enemy, he was carried to a foreign prison where he suffered extremely. On his return, in 1746, a date rendered memorable in the British annals by the total suppression of the Scotch rebellion, he was led by curiosity to view the royal and rebel armies. Here he was impressed, and sent on board a king's ship, stationed on that coast, to co-operate with the land forces. After some time he made his escape, and, travelling to Sunderland, bound himself în articles of apprenticeship to a captain of a coasting vessel, belonging to Robin Hood's Bay, near Whitby, Yorkshire It does not appear that his morals were injured by the vicissitudes he had already witnessed; nor was it till after this period, that he gave evident signs of conversion to God. He was, however, eager to obtain useful learning; and during the winter months, when the vessels were laid up, he regularly attended at school, to acquire a scientific knowledge of his profession. At school, he contracted an intimacy with Master Moorsom, the brother of Mrs. Joss. This circumstance brought him to the house of his new acquaintance, where he met with maternal kindness, in the mother of his young companion. This woman was an eminent saint; and what is very uncommon, was brought to a knowledge of God, and all the Calvinistic doctrines, without ever conversing with an individual Christian, or hearing a sermon, or reading any book but the Bible. Evangelical preaching was unknown in that town and neighbourhood; and not a creature could she find, with whom to communicate upon the dealings of God with her soul. At length, a poor woman who lived some. miles distant, and who brought cakes to sell, happened to drop a word concerning God. This led into a protracted discourse; when to her unspeakable pleasure, she found a

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great coincidence, both in their experience, and views of the Scriptures. Their spirits became immediately united; and, as often as they met, their time was improved by religious conversation. It was in one of these interviews, when the house was clear, except of Mr. Joss, who affected to be asleep, that they entered largely into the manner of their conversion-spoke freely of the singularity of their experience and of the aweful blindness of all around them. To his ears they brought strange things he listened with a rivetted attention-he felt; and as he felt, his nature was all rebellion against the truth-till that grace, which can subdue millions to its sway, constrained him to yield. His subsequent conversation with Mrs. Moorsom, together with other enquiries, served to deepen his convictions, and prepare him for a clearer display of the gracious Gospel. Soon after, the vessel putting into Lynn, in Norfolk, he hastened to a bookseller, and enquired if he ever heard of any books, written upon experience." The Pilgrim's Progress,"

Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ," "Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners," "The Holy War," and "the Believer's Golden Chain," were put in his hands; all of which, together with the "Whole Duty of Man," he purchased. The former, not well understanding them, he presented to his kind matron, which proved a refreshing feast to her soul; and the latter he reserved for himlelf thinking, by a strict adherence to its directions, to recommend himself to the favour of God. Alas! this was "beating against the air." At length, finding he could make no head, and all hopes, that he should be saved by his own works, now failing, he committed himself to the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, and was willing to be saved by his righteousness.

By a concatination of singular Providences, the Gospel was brought to Robin Hood's Bay. Many people heard it with attention; and some believed to the saving of their souls. Mr. Wesley, on hearing of this circumstance, went in person, and soon established a society in the town. Mr. Joss had, previous to this, begun to pray and exhort; and was greatly encouraged by Mr. Wesley, to proceed. He now joined this newly formed society, and, though not an Arminian in sentiment, was ever after admitted to the pulpits belonging to that people.

He was now about eighteen years of age, and became exceedingly

ceedingly zealous. He carried the savour of his Master's name on board; where some heard, and others mocked. Waxing strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, he sought every occasion to teach and preach in the several harbours where his vessel lay. His first public sermon was delivered at Boston, in Lincolnshire; where God was with him of a truth. Though his captain did not favour his religious principles, yet he had acquired so good a knowledge of his profession, and conducted himself with such propriety, that on the day his articles of apprenticeship expired, he was appointed first mate of the ship.

Having formed a most tender regard for Miss Moorsom, and having a flattering prospect of succeeding in life, he was married to her on Christinas Day, 1755, after a mutual and intimate attachment of ten years. By Mrs. Joss he had eleven children.

By endeavouring to disseminate the knowledge of the Gospel, in the ports where his vessel anchored, he subjected himself to considerable odium, and in some places he was cruelly persecuted. At Shields, though first mate, and reputed captain of the ship, a plan was formed to impress him, which scheme, the regulating officer executed, as soon as Mr. Joss came to an anchor, under circumstances of great barbarity. He was immediately brought through the town amidst shoutings, and triumph, as if a signal victory had been obtained over some invading enemy. His persecutors having sported with him for some time, he was sent on board a tender, where he lay a close prisoner seven weeks amidst filth and horrid blasphemies; and, having but twenty minutes in forty-eight hours on deck, he was nearly suffocated with heat. They even denied him the use of paper, or the visits of his friends. The afflictions of his mind now became extreme, and he was tempted to throw away his Bible-deny the Lord who bought him, and to speak no more in his name. So Jeremiah was once tried; but that Lord who knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, was not unmindful of his suffering servant, and at last appeared to his joy. In the extremity of his distress, the following Scripture, exceedingly adapted to his condition, was applied with peculiar energy. Jeremiah xv. 19, 20, 21. "Therefore thus saith the Lord, if thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile,

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thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return to thee; but return not thou to them. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee, and deliver thee, saith the Lord. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." This was as cold water to a thirsty soul. He began to sing his songs of deliverance; and the Lord turned his captivity; for of near three hundred who were sent to the Nore, to be distributed in the ships of war, he was the only person whom they left behind, and him, they shortly after released. Mr. Joss, when released, returned to his company, and, relating what God had done for him, exhorted them to cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart.

Shortly after this event, he was appointed to the com mand of a ship, and immediately set up regular worship. As often as the weather would permit, he preached regu larly to his crew; and before he left the seas, he had, out of eighteen men, five who could publicly pray and exhort,

In so novel a regulation on board of a ship, he required no small degree of prudence and address. He judged, if his designs were disclosed to the whole crew at once, he should encrease his difficulties. He therefore resolved to begin with the officers individually, and having been as sured of their compliance, the subordinates were more easily gained. After some time, one of the sailors acquainted him, that he must leave the ship, adding, "I should be glad to serve you, but I cannnt stay, for you will pray me to death." Some years after he was settled in the ministry, he was walking in the street of a port town, where he saw the same person entertaining a number of children with tricks. On espying Mr. Joss, the poor fellow ran up to him, saying, "God bless you, sir, you were the best master I ever had, and I could have sailed with you round the world; but you prayed me to death *." With this address he followed him through the street, which, collecting a crowd of people, put Mr. Joss not a

Mr. Joss had once engaged a footman in his service. On telling bin, that morning and evening prayers were observed in the family, he hoped that would not be any objection to him; he replied, No, sir, but I hope you will consider it in my wages."

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little to the blush. But he was not always to be occupied in great waters. His Master had designed him to fill a station on the land, and took measures to prepare him for it, by providences not very agreeable to flesh and blood.

He now became a joint proprietor of a ship, and looked forward to a period when he should realize a genteel fortune for his growing family. But fortunes dependent upon the caprice of wind or weather, and especially when they' stand in the way of ministerial duty, are a precarious tenure. While he commanded the ships of other proprietors, he never experienced the least disaster; but when he became a joint owner, he witnessed nothing else. In his fourth voyage to London, the vessel was lost at the Nore, and he and his crew were with difficulty saved. He then went down to Berwick, to superintend the building of one considerably larger. During his residence at this port, he' preached to crowds with great acceptance and success. When the ship was finished and laden, the poor people began to regret the prospects of his departure. The wind was fair, and the next tide he intended to sail. In their simplicity, they told him they would pray to God to change the wind. Whether this was the case, we cannot say; but the next morning it became foul, and, to their great pleasure, detained him anong them five weeks longer than he intended. After he had sailed, a gentleman of Berwick, unknown to Mr. Joss, wrote to an acquaintance of Mr. Whitefield in London, saying, what a wonderful preacher they had been favoured with for nine months. He mentioned when he supposed the vessel would be in the river. Her name was the Hartley Trader; but the other coasting crews, called her the Pulpit. Mr. Whitefield, who had seen the above letter, and had heard that the ship had come to her moorings, published, without the knowledge of Mr. Joss, that a captain would preach on Saturday evening. Being found on board, he was apprized of the circumstance, and refused to comply; but the messenger resolved not to go on shore till he consented. The services of this, and the ensuing evening, were so gratifying to Mr. Whitefield, that he iminediately requested him to leave the sea, and labour in the Tabernacle connection. To these solicitations he turned a deaf ear; and nothing short of a speaking Providence would ever have prevailed. This was his first voyage, and in it he lost his main anchor. On his next

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