Lives of Early Methodist Preachers

Page 233

\VILLIAM ASHMAN

217

and that he prays in public, and that you pray also." I was as much afraid as if I had stolen something, and trembled greatly; but, recovering myself a little, I said, '' Yes, sir ; and do you not pray with us every morning?" He said, "Yes, I do ; but how can you pray ? " I said, "When I kneel down, I speak what God puts into my mind." He said, "\Vhat ! are you inspired then ? " I replied, " I do not know what you mean; I know that I love God, and that God loves me. I love to read the Bible and other good books." He said, "What good books have you ?" I said, " Some of Mr Wesley's." On his desiring to see one of them, I lent it, which he read, and when he came to these words, " He that is born of God sinneth not," he smiled, and said to his wife, " you see, my dear, what an error ! " She replied, "Error, my dear ! I think St John makes use of the same words in his Epistle." She took the Bible, and found it so. Sometimes four or five of us boys met together in the corner of some field to sing and pray, and sometimes in a stable, barn, or hay-loft. In this state I continued till I was fourteen years old, and then went into a family that were professed Methodists, to learn the stocking business. When I was twenty-one, being then married, I began to seek the Lord. My wife willingly joined me, and we set out for the kingdom of


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