CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Birth—Parentage—Education—Conversion to God—Usefulness as a Sunday-School Teacher, Exhorter, and Member of his own Family— Becomes a Local Preacher—Plan for the spiritual Edification of his Sisters—Turns his Attention exclusively to the Ministry—Ad mission to the Baptist Academy—Increasing Desires after personal and family Piety—Continued Zeal for the Salvation of Sinners— Recommended to travel by the Bristol .Quarterly and District Meet ings—Devotes Himself to the Missionary Work—Prevented by his Friends from going Abroad—Remarkable Instance of Depravity in three profligate Youths—Leaves the Baptist Acadcmy Page 1
CHAPTER II.
Becomes a Tutor—Preserves his Longings after the Enjoyment of God, and the Work of the Ministry—Labours for the Conversion of a younger Brother,and for the Comfort of a desponding Sister—In subordination towards Him in the School—Consolation for an afflicted Sister—Commencement of his tedious Illness—Leaves the Academy at Chew-Magna—Disappointment in reference to the Mi nistry—First Visit to Gloucester—Journal—Strivings of Himself and Friends after purity of Heart—Remarkable Conversion of a Scep tic, and subsequent Prosperity of the Cause of God—Visit into Wor cestershire—Remarks on Friendship—Character of an undecided
XII CONTENT1
-CHAPTEIl III.
Continuation of his Journal—Remarks on the Union of the People of God—Curious Experiment in Agriculture—History of Robert Bern-man, Esq.—Remarks on Celibacy—Singular instance of Filial Affec tion—Dialogue on the difference between Sin and Satan—Consola tion for a guilty and polluted Soul—A prosperous Sabbath—Advan tages of Religious Correspondence—Reflections on the Death of an Infant—Arguments against Anxiety respecting the Future—Return to
Bristol—Increasing ill-health Page 57
CHAPTER IV.
Providential Escape from the effects of Fire—Revival of Health— Remarks on Spiritual Conversation—The Penitent described and en couraged—Visit to Chew-Magaa—Affecting Case of Distress—Reflec tions on Eternity—Second Visit to Gloucester—Reflections in a Stage-Coach—Observations on Evil-speaking and Calumny—Import ant Advice to a younger Brother—Remarks on Marriage . . 85
CHAPTER V.
Opens his Academy at Longford—His Marriage—Advice to a Brother in the Ministry—Prosperity in Business—Death of his Wife—Dis solution of his Academy—Distress of his Mind—Difficulties of his Situation—Commences a Day-School at Gloucester—Publication of his Wife's Memorials—New Discoveries of Sin in the Heart . 119
CHAPTER VI.
Remarks on Preaching—Consoles Iiis afflicted Mother—Her peaceful Death—Comforts his widowed Father—Leaves Gloucester—Review of afflictive Dispensations—Remarks on Friendship—Opens a Day-School at Bristol—The Maxims and Spirit of the World frequently the Cause of Spiritual Declension—On the Trials of the Ministry— On the Employments of the Blessed—On the fatal Errors of
CONTKNTS. XIII
CHAPTER VII.
Again involved in deep and complicated Afflictions—Triumphant Death of a Sister—Remarkable Opening of Divine Providence—Family Afflictions—Memorable Instances of disinterested Generosity—Fur ther Brightenings of his providential Path—Resignation under a new Disappointment—Glory of the Missionary Work—Scenes in Mon mouthshire—Advice to a young Sister—Critique on a poetical pass age—Memory's Twilight Bowers, a Poem . . Page 185
CHAPTER VIII.
Summoned to London by the Missionary Committee—Reflections on the Scenes of the Metropolis—Passes his Examination—Bids adieu to his Friends—Ordination as a Missionary—Hopeful Circumstances of a Backslider—Comfortable Reflections in the anticipation of his Work—Commencement of his Voyage ... 223
CHAPTER IX.
Missionary Journal—Reflections on Sight of Land—Gracious Answer to Prayer—Providential Deliverance—Arrival at Gibraltar—Parti cular Description of his tedious Voyage—Remarkable Answers to
Prayer 245
CHAPTER X.
Description of Gibraltar—And of the Wesleyan Society and Congrega tion—Prospects among the Spaniards—Persecution of two British Officers for Conscience' sake—Promising Commencement of a Spi ritual Work among the Spanish Catholics—Study of the Spanish Language—Providential Deliverance from imminent Danger—Effects of a Change of Climate—Low State of real Religion in Gibraltar— Loss of the Vessel in which he took his Voyage . . . 264
XIV CONTKNTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Removal of Mr. Dixon from the Rock—Painfullness of Solitude in the Ministry—Plan for the Continuation of Family-Prayer—Attack of Cholera-Morbus through improper Abstinence—Pastoral Visits— Alarming Appearances of Yellow-Fever—Arrival of Mr. Pratten to take Charge of the English Work—Dreadful and disastrous Tempest —Attack, by the Spanish Soldiery, upon the Wreck of a Colombian Privateer—Daring conduct of some British Officers and Sailors— Affecting Narrative, and awful Death, of an emigrant Spanish Co lonel—Commencement of Public Labours in the Spanish Language —Infidelity among the Higher Orders of Spaniards—Prosperity in the English Mission—Conversion of a Spanish Woman—Prosperity among the Spaniards—Dreadful state of Spain—Infamous Case of Injustice and Bribery—Effrontery of a Highway-Robber — Impu dence of a Thief—Awful Assassination of a Murderer—Introduc tion of Spanish Prayer-Meetings—Affecting Conversation of a re spectable Spanish Emigrant—Illustration of Romans viii. 28, &c.
Page 280
CHAPTER XII.
Consequences of over-Study—Popish Sermon on the Merits of the Vir gin Mary—Voyage to Algeçiras, in Spain—Barefaced Smuggling— Indifference of Revenue Officers—Dangerous Situation in attempting to Land—Want of Accommodations in Algeçiras—Disgusting In stances of Popish Superstition—Curious Account of a Popish Mission —Popish Sermons—Popular Enmity against the Friars—Ramble to a Spanish Cottage—Popish Processions—Hostility of the Soldiers to the existing Government—Litany of the Saints—Narrow Escapes from the Populace —Pride of the Popish Priesthood—State of Morals in Algeçiras—Manœuvre of a Friar—Affecting Statement of the Reli gious Condition of Gibraltar—Approbation of enlightened Spaniards of the Common Prayer-Book—Occupation of a Week—Hopeful Cir cumstances of a few Spaniards—Discouragements connected with the Mission—Death of Mrs. Pratten—Conversations with a Sentinel, a Genoese, and some young Jews—Evils of Popish Mysticism—Affect ing Case of a young Spaniard—Hopeful Death of a Spanish Gentle man—and of & Penitent Prodigal—First Spanish Watch-Night . 320
CONTENTS. XV
CHAPTER XIII.
Review of the past Year—Renewing Covenant with God—Doubt fulness of a Death-Bed Repentance—Left alone again in the Work— Climate of Gibraltar—Encouragements in the Spanish Work—Pro mising Conversion of a Spaniard and his Wife—Report of the Gibral tar Auxiliary Missionary Society—First celebration of the Lord's Supper in the Spanish Language—Contemplates a Second Marriage— Mixed Character of Success among the Spaniards—Mischief of Hyper-Calvinism—Grossly inconsistent Conduct of a Spaniard—His con sequent and awful Apostacy—Reward of Virtuous Decision—Promis ing Case of a Spanish Gentleman and Lady—Interesting Letters from an enlightened Spanish Priest and his Friend . . Page 355
CHAPTER XIV.
Discussions among the Soldiers on Experimental Piety—Journey from Almería to Granada—Unexpected Meeting with an old Friend of his Father—Interview with a Spanish Prior—Reflections on the pernicious Influence of Popery—Description of the Country—Man ners and Customs of the Inhabitants—Ludicrous Effects of Bigotry upon a Fat Spaniard—Candour in Reference to Ministerial Defi ciencies—Offer of the Education of the Officers' Sons—Medical Cer tificate of Health—Affecting History of an unfortunate Spanish Emi grant, with a Letter to his Son—Letter of Condolence on the Death
of Mrs. Dixon 384
CHAPTER XV.
Admission into full Connexion by the Conference—Commencement and Awful Ravages of the Yellow-Fever, at Gibraltar—Final Letters— Accepta the Office of Acting-Chaplain to the Forces—Numerous Calls to visit the Sick, and bury the Dead—Death and Character 415
