THE

METHODIST MAGAZINE,

For MAY, 1807,

BIOGRAPHY.

An ACCOUNT of MR. EDWARD JACKSON,

[Concluded from page 151.]

N the year 1801, Mr. Jackson was stationed at Newcastle-uponTyne. Now he had frequent opportunities of watering the feed he had formerly fown in different parts of that Circuit, of obferving, with gratitude to God, the fruits of his labours, and of watching the progrefs of grace in many fouls, towards perfection.

His next station was Hull. On going thither he began to keep a journal. But only three fheets of it have been preferved. fhort Extract from them fhall be here inferted.

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"August 28, 1802, this morning I took leave of my relations, and fet out from Collierly-Dykes for Hull, on the important er rand of preaching the everlafting gofpel. O Jefus, be thou with me, and make my journey profperous! I preached this evening at Darlington to a ferious congregation, from Pfalm lxxxix. 47, Remember how fhort my time is.' O that I may never forget that my time is fhort: and may a fenfe of this induce me to work while it is day,' for the night cometh when no man

can work.'

29, Dining at an inn, in Northallerton, I reproved one of the company for fwearing, who feemed to be ftruck. Alas! I often find a backwardnefs to reprove fin. O Lord, fet my face as flint, and grant that I may never fear the face of man. In the afternoon I rode forward, to Thirfk, where I preached in the evening, and found a measure of liberty in pointing mourners to the atoning blood.

30, This morning, bleffed be God, I found my mind stayed upon him, and a ftrong defire to spend and be fpent in his fervice. O that I may still enjoy his comfortable prefence! This day I went on to Pocklington.

Sept. 3, I preached at Garton, from 2 Cor. v. 17, with fome VOL. XXX. MAY, 1807.

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degree of freedom. O my God, help me to fhew that I am in Chrift, by walking in newness of life.

7, This day I came to Hull, and preached in the evening, from John viii. 36. Lord, bring this freedom into my foul!

8, In the morning I preached with much fear and trembling; but in the evening my foul was much at liberty. All my doubts and fears were taken away, while I addreffed a large congregation. O my God, blefs this people, and may many of them make hafte, and not delay, to keep thy commandments.

10, To-day I rode to Bishop-Wilton, and we had a comfortable meeting, while I fpoke from Pfalm xc. 14. I blefs the Lord for what I have felt of his goodness this day. O may his mercy and goodness be my portion for ever.

11, My fubject to-night was, How fhall we efcape if we neglect fo great falvation?' O my God, make this people wife unto falvation. How diligent are they now, in gathering in the fruits of the earth. Lord, help them and me to be diligent in labouring for the meat that endureth to eternal life!

12, This day I have found my foul centre in God; and have felt an earnest defire to do his will. While I fpoke this evening from Mark v. 25, I believe fome were much concerned to obtain a fpiritual cure from the great Physician of their fouls. O my God, I have fpoken in thy Name; I have teftified that thou art a prefent help in time of need. Do then appear for thyfelf: and let fome fouls obtain pardon and fanctification: and let my foul have an intereft in the Redeemer's blood. I was informed this day of the death of a young man, aged nineteen, with whom I was well acquainted, and to whom the Lord made me an inftrument of good. This gave me much concern. Alas! who would have thought that the blooming flower would have been cut down fo foon! O that I may ever remember, that in the midft of life I am in death, and that I know not how foon he may fay to me, Get thee up, and die.' Lord, perfect what is lacking in my foul and when thou comeft, may I be able to fay, Now, Lord, letteft thou thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have feen thy falvation.'

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13, I rode to Bugthorp. This was to me a trying day. I fear there are but very few here, who are truly alive to God. O God, revive thy work, and make thy meffengers a bleifing to the dull inhabitants of this place. Lord, work, and who fhall hinder?

15, To-day I preached at Pocklington, and found fome degree of life and liberty. In the evening, after preaching I met the fociety, and fo concluded this bleffed Lord's-day. Can we do better than fpend and be fpent in his fervice? It is a bleffed thing when we are where the Lord would have us to be. This brings peace and joy to the mind.

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18, Being at a very uncomfortable place, I found it needful to pray that the Lord would help me to look to him, that I may go thro' all I meet with in this pilgrimage state, with a fingle eye to please him. How little will it fignify to me, a few years hence, whether my accommodations were agreeable or the contrary! Life, how thort! Eternity, how long!

19, This day my place was Cottingham, where we are entereye O my God, let me still tained in a very different manner. thee, and spend my few days in ufefulness, that when my work is done, I may hear thee fay, 'Well done.'

21, In the afternoon I fet out for Rofs, in Holderness, where fome efforts have been used to introduce the gospel. But my mind has been rather caft down under a confideration that we labour and travel from place to place, in this neighbourhood, and fee but little good done.

22, To-day I preached at Seathorn. Bleffed be God for this meeting. Lord, when thou art with us, all is well! O my God, follow thy word with thy blefling. How much was I mistaken concerning this people. From the accounts I had heard, I judged them to be rude and carelefs. But I found them to be civil, and, to all appearance, attentive hearers. I took my leave of them, and returned to Hull thro' rain and thunder. What would hire me to proceed in this way, did I not believe that there is a God, and another world; and that he requires it of me? But, for ever bleffed be his Name, I find, after all my difficulties, peace in my -mind, and a consciousness that I am doing the Lord's will. The Lord has bleffed this journey. I expected this day would have been one of the moft difagreeable I had spent fince I came into these parts, but I think it has been one of the happieft. Praise the Lord, O my foul! and let the barren wilderness become a fruitful field. Is any thing too hard for thee?"

This is a fpecimen of his spirit and manner of living. Profound humility, ardent zeal for God, and strong compaffion for the fouls of his hearers, breathe thro' every page. By reading his Diary for one month only, we fee how he fpent the future years, which God added to his life. Not fatisfied with merely delivering the . Lord's meffage to the people, he was anxiously concerned for the fuccefs of his labours, and in his clofet, by prayer, he watered the good feed he had fown in the congregation.

In 1783, when in York, he received the afflicting intelligence of his Sifter's dangerous illness, Fraternal affection prompted him to vifit her, and teach her how to die: But a fenfe of public duty detained him in his Circuit. Her affliction was of long continuance; during which he frequently wrote, giving her advice and confolation as her ftate required. All his letters fhew that he was more concerned for her everlasting interefts, than for Bb 2

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