CHAPTER III.

FROM HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE ARMY TO HIS MARRIAGE.

BEING now comfortably settled with his mother, and favored with what he had, for some time, desired to enjoy, the retirement of private life, in a quiet village, Mr. Blakely felt anxious to place himself under the ministry of the gospel, and to unite himself to the people of God. It has been stated, in the early part of this volume, that his parents were accustomed to attend the worship of the established church, and required their children to accompany them. But as he left home when quite a boy, and after his entrance into the army had neglected even the forms of religion, when he was brought to the knowledge of the truth, he had no prepossessions in favor of any particular mode of worship. During his short continuance in Ireland, after his conversion, he attended chiefly the religious meetings of the methodists, there being a congregation of that body of christians in the town in which his regiment was quartered. He saw enough of dissenters, at this period, to be struck with the plainness, simplicity, and spirituality of their worship—and with the large share of vital godliness which prevails among them. Their

constitution and mode of church government also, as far as he had any knowledge of them, appeared to him to be more congenial with the New Testament, than a national ecclesiastical establishment. On taking up his residence, therefore, in the country, he resolved to find out some body of dissenters, with whom he could comfortably and profitably associate. Being a stranger in the neighbourhood of his new residence, he visited the city of Norwich, which was about fifteen miles distant, as the most likely place to meet with the information he wanted. He had learnt something from his friend the minister, in whose company he had crossed the Irish channel, on his way home, of the independents; and on arriving in Norwich, he enquired, on the sabbath morning, for an independent chapel. He was directed to that ancient house of prayer, the Old Meeting-house. Here he heard the late venerable Joseph Kinghorn, who was, at that time, occupying the pulpit of the Old Meeting, part of the sabbath, whilst his own chapel was rebuilt. Pleased with the discourse he heard, he next morning called upon Mr. Kinghorn; and in the course of conversation intimated his desire to unite in church fellowship with the independents. To his great surprize, the venerable man, whom he had heard preach with so much delight on the previous sabbath, and whom he took to be the stated minister of the place, informed him that he was himself a baptist minister. Mr. Kinghorn, however, kindly gave him all the in

formation he needed, respecting the dissenters in the county, and particularly in the neighbourhood of his own residence. He returned, therefore, to Knapton, determined to attend the ministry of the gospel at the independent chapel, at North Walsham, as the nearest to his home. He soon introduced himself to the minister, the Rev. James Browne, who kindly received him, and between whom and himself the warmest attachment existed, from this period to the day of his death. Mr. Browne's ministry both interested and profited him. Some of his discourses, delivered at this period, made such an impression upon Mr. Blakely's mind, that he mentioned them on his death bed, more than seven and twenty years afterwards, as not having then lost the savor of them. He embraced the earliest opportunity of offering himself to the people at North Walsham, as a candidate for church fellowship. His letter of application for admission into the church is characterized by that humility, and modesty, and fervent piety, which distinguished him through life, and is worthy of being preserved in this place. It was addressed to Mr. Browne, who has kindly allowed the writer permission to make use of it, and is as follows:

"DEAR SIR,

According to your request, I will endeavour to give you a short and faithful statement of the gracious dealings of the Lord with my soul.

In the spring of 1810, my eyes were first opened to perceive somewhat of the sinfulness of my life; but I was perfectly ignorant of the inherent depravity of my nature. I then began to read the word of God, with some degree of attention, and what moral and religious books I chanced to meet with. This was attended with a partial reformation of my conduct. Swearing and some other gross vices, to which I had been much addicted, I was enabled, in some measure, to abandon; but I was utterly ignorant of the way of salvation. It pleased the Lord to visit me with a severe stroke of sickness soon after I joined my regiment, at Kinsale, in Ireland, in August; (I had been at home on leave of absence, on account of the death of my father,) and being brought, as it were, to the verge of death, the false refuge of lies, which had deceived my soul, was swept away. I then saw that I was a poor, lost, perishing sinner. pleased the Lord soon to restore me again, and I sought him more earnestly than ever; yet still in ignorance of the blessed gospel. The regiment was removed to Mallow, and I followed it thither, as soon as I was able to travel. In this town there was a methodist chapel, which I attended several times; and an officer joined us there, who had been brought to a knowledge of the truth, while on sick leave at home. His conversation and advice proved very edifying to me. After a short time, the Lord again laid his chastening hand upon me, by confining me to my room by

It

sickness. Soon after this attack, the Lord Jesus Christ was revealed to me, as an all-sufficient Sa viour. I then saw, that though I was a hell-deserving sinner, yet that the grace of God abounds over the greatest unworthiness and guilt of men. The spirit of adoption was sent into my heart, which made me cry unto God, as a merciful and gracious Father. My joy for two or three days was exceedingly great. I could think of nothing but the mercy of God, displayed in the person of a crucified Saviour, to guilty man. I now began truly to abhor and detest myself, for my past iniquities and was amazed beyond measure at the forbearance of the Almighty to such an open, daring rebel, as I had been. With what delight and avidity did I now read the sacred volume; lamenting that I had so long remained ignorant of its sacred contents. I remained several months in a very debilitated state, and suffered many severe trials: but the Lord brought me through them all. Truly can I say, that it has been good for me that I have been afflicted. I am constrained to adore the riches of that free, unmerited grace, which has thus been extended to me, the chief of sinners.

Having been induced to make enquiry into the state of the church of England, in whose communion I was brought up, I do most plainly perceive that many of her rites and ceremonies are totally repugnant to the purity and simplicity of the gospel: therefore, on a deep and mature consideration, I feel myself bound, in duty, to separate from