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Arminian Magazine,

For JANUARY 1796.

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A short Account of the Experience of Mr. JAMES BUCKLEY. WAS born December 20, 1770, at á place called Cowlitiah. Lane, in the parish of Crampton, Lancafhire. God, as tender parent, began to draw me by the Cords of Love, at a very early period; I can remember being under ferious impreflions at three years of age at this time I was often led to meditate upon, and inquire after God; I wondered where, and how he lived. I often rambled into the fields, and looked upon the works of the Almighty that lay within my obfervation, with amazément. I had a great defire to know how he made the grafs to grow, and the flowers to be fo variegated. My infant mind was frequently impreffed with horror when I heard hell mentioned; but was filled with great joy when I heard the pleasures and happiness of heaven defcribed. My parents were pharifees of the fricteft fect," of the Church of England; they watched over me with great exactnefs, and my convictions waxed ftronger and stronger.

At ten years of age, fome fcriptures were opened to me in fuch a manner, that I could not read them without being much affected, and fome times burfling into a flood of tears. One day while I was reading at fchool, the parable of the Houfholder who had planted a vineyard and digged a wine-prefs in it, I thought I was like one of thofe ungrateful Hufbandmen who had killed his fon by my fins; I attempted to fhut the book, but my Mafter infifted upon my proceeding: In the attempt, I dropped down as though I had been dead; I thought that I should go to hell for my wickedhefs. Sin appeared to be exceeding finful, and the fecret inquiry of my heart was, "What fhall I do to be faved ?". But I did not know what to do, nor where to go for inftruction or comfort. As the word of God and religious books augmented my mifery, I hated them with a perfect hatred, 1 ftrove to get into all kinds of irreligious company, to divert my mind from ferious impreffions; I grafped at every empty fhadow that prefented itself, but alas! was always difappointed.

Thus I continued to fin, and repent, till the year 1784, when it pleafed God to bring me among the Methodists. One of my aunts who was in connection with the fociety, came to my father's on a vifit, and had defired a preacher to call upon her. When I was acquainted with this circumftance, I went into the workshop to the fervants and told them, in a fatirical way," that a Methodist A 2

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Arminian Magazine,

For JANUARY 1796.

A short Account of the Experience of Mr. JAMES BUCKLEY,

I

WAS born December 20, 1770, at á place called Cowlitiah Lane, in the parish of Crampton, Lancashire. God, as a tender parent, began to draw me by the Cords of Love, at a very early period; I can remember being under serious impreffions at three years of age at this time I was often led to meditate upon, and inquire after God; I wondered where, and how he lived. often rambled into the fields, and looked upon the works of the Almighty that lay within my obfervation, with amazément. I had a great defire to know how he made the grafs to grow, and the flowers to be fo variegated. My infant mind was frequently impreffed with horror when I heard hell mentioned, but was filled with great joy when I heard the pleasures and happiness of heaven defcribed. My parents were pharifees of the fricteft fect," of the Church of England; they watched over me with great exactnefs, and my convictions waxed ftronger and ftronger.

At ten years of age, fome fcriptures were opened to me in fuch a manner, that I could not read them without being much affected, and some times burfling into a flood of tears. One day while I was reading at fchool, the parable of the Houfholder who had planted a vineyard and digged a wine-prefs in it, I thought I was hike one of thofe ungrateful Hufbandmen who had killed his fon by my fins; I attempted to fhut the book, but my Mafter infifted upon my proceeding: In the attempt, I dropped down as though I had been dead; I thought that I should go to hell for my wicked+ hefs. Sin appeared to be exceeding finful, and the secret inquiry of my heart was, "What fhall I do to be saved ?". But I did not know what to do, nor where to go for inftruction or comfort. As the word of God and religious books augmented my mifery, I hated them with a perfect hatred, 1 ftrove to get into all kinds of irreligious company, to divert my mind from ferious impreffions; I grafped at every empty fhadow that prefented itself, "but alas į was always difappointed.

Thus I continued to fin, and repent, till the year 1784, when it pleafed God to bring me among the Methodifts. One of my aunts who was in connection with the fociety, came to my father's on a visit, and had defired a preacher to call upon her, When I was acquainted with this circumftance, I went into the workfhop to the fervants and told them, in a fatirical way," that a Methodist A &

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parfon was to come to our houfe." This being fuch a phænomenon to me, I was determined to fee him. But as foon as I came in his presence, I was convinced that his countenance was expreffive of fomething different from other men; and it seemed as if a voice from heaven had faid, "this man has got what you want to conftitute you happy." I began to weep like a Magdalen at the feet of Jefus, faying, with Saul, "Lord, what wouldeft thou have me to do!" I took up the Bible, kiffed and bathed it with my tears, refolving to break off my fins by repentance.

I began now to pray in fecret five or fix times a day, and to attend all the means of grace. Sometimes I was drawn by love, at others impelled by fear. I faw the flaming fword of juftice fufpended over my guilty head; the Law condemned, Confcience accufed, Heaven appeared to frown, and Hell to be moved from beneath to meet me at my coming. Yet I could not help but love Jefus; yea, I thought if I was damned, I fhould love him, because he firft loved me. I was received into fociety at Oldham by Mr. William Thompfon. My clafs-leader gave me great encouragement, and often enforced the doctrine of Juftification by faith. I frequently walked into the fields to lament my fin and unbelief. When contemplating the works of God in the creation, I thought, every thing can praise God, but fuch an unworthy finner as me. heavens manifeft his glory, the vegetables difplay his boundless wisdom and goodness, and all the animated world, from the highest to the loweft order, offer up their praifes, and do the will of their almighty, all-wife Creator; but I, for whom the incarnate God has blushed in blood, cannot praife him! O! wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death ?"

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I continued thus to weep and mourn before the Lord till the latter end of the year 1786. One evening as I was going to a public prayer meeting, being in a defponding state of mind, I cried out, "What fhall I do? I know nothing, I feel nothing, I can do "nothing that is good; I am exhorted to believe, but to my apprehenfion, I can as foon pluck the fun from its center. Surely I am a mark of God's vindictive, inflexible juftice!" I had not walked many yards, before I was ftruck with the greatest amazement: All my darknefs inftantly turned into light, my grief into joy, and despair into a bleffed hope full of immortality. The whole face of nature appeared to be changed, and feemed to proclaim the greatness of redeeming Love. But I did not enjoy this delightful fenfe of the divine prefence many hours, before Satan, who feeks to devour the new born babes in Chrift, affaulted me with many temptations, and fuggefted, that I was deceived; that it was only an emotion of the animal fpirits arifing from fome phyfical caufe, or that he had transformed himself into an Angel of Light; and that I had no fcripture applied to my mind. As I was afraid of being deceived in a matter of fuch great importance, I caft away my confidence; I apprehended myself farther from the kingdom of God than before. But the Lord had compaffion upon

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