6. During his ftay here, one who came from thofe parts, to Mexico, was faying, there was a man at Guafteca, who was fufpected to be a heretic, because he used no beads, nor gave any of thofe marks by which good chriftians are wont to be known. I asked, whether he spoke well on the matters of faith? And if his life was unblameable? He faid, "As to his faith, there is no fault to be found: he has all the bible off by heart; and his manners are unreproveable; he is almost always alone; he spends much time in the church; and no one can learn who were his parents, what is his country, nor hear him fpeak about any thing in this world." I replied mildly, "I am forry, that in this he refembled Eli, who feeing Hannah move her lips only in prayer, concluded the was drunk." I added, "Why fhould you fo haftily conclude, that fuch a perfon as this is a heretic, one fo knowing in the Scripture, fo holy in his carriage, who spends his life in converfing with God?" He was so moved by what I spoke, that he thought no more of the defign he had of putting him in the Inquifition.

Till this time I had never heard of Gregory Lopez, nor very relation, did I know what was his name. But from this I conceived fuch an efteem for him, as nothing could ever

An Account of the LIFE of Mr. THOMAS TAYLOR: in a Letter to the Rev. Mr. J. WESLEY.

Honoured and dear Sir,

TH

HE profit which I have found in reading the lives of experienced Chriftians, makes me the readier comply with your request, of selecting a few Memoirs of my own unworthy Life; hoping it may be of as great ufe to fome fimple fouls, as things of a like nature have been to me.

I am

I am aware how hard it is for any one to write his own hiftory; as there are many things, which would have a far better grace, were they to come from another hand; which, nevertheless, are needful to be related. Again, there are feveral things which one would wish to be buried in oblivion; and, yet, an ingenuous mind cannot pass them over. As this is really my cafe, it made me the more reluctant in publishing my own folly.

I am, honoured and dear Sir,

Your very affectionate Son in the Gospel,

Nov. 1, 1779.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

I was born, Nov. 11, 1738, in the parish of Rothwell, near Leeds, in Yorkshire. I was the youngest of eight children, feven of whom were fons, and the eldest a daughter; so that I was a feventh fon. My father had something handsome to begin the world with; but proving unfortunate in business, he brought his family into a low condition; especially the younger part, which fell particularly on me who was the youngest of all by fix years. I have heard much spoke in praise of my mother; but fhe died before I was a year old, which I apprehend was no fmall lofs to me. I can but just remember my father, fo that I was bereaved of both father and mother, before I was fix years of age. I then fell into the hands of a step-mother for fome time, who took care of me, as if I had been her own child. I had, pretty early, fomething of a turn for learning. My father and mother being Prefbyterians, I got the Alfembly's Catechifm off by heart, when I was but four years old, and faid it to the Minifter. I had fome vifits from the divine Spirit very early; but having no one to encourage me they wore off. My natural temper was active, wild, and very mifchievous; and I was fo known an offender in little unlucky pranks, that I have often fuffered, though not guilty: for when the real delinquent could not be found out, the faddle

was

was laid upon my back. Being of a turbulent, daring caft, I often, when very little, ran myfelf into great dangers by climbing up into high trees, and by many other things of a like kind. When I was between five and fix years of age, as I was walking by the river Colder, and trying how near the edge I could go, the ground gave way, and I fell in where it was very deep. My father, and fome other men were at a little distance, and heard my cries as I fell in. They ran to me and foon got me out, and found I was not much worse. I often rambled away, even at that age, so that no body knew where I was; and, being frequently pinched with hunger, I fometimes ftole fruit. Indeed I often rambled fo far that I knew not where I was; and fometimes I had played fome unlucky pranks and was afraid to return home. One day, being in my wandering humour, I got to a large farm-house, and being fauntering about, a large, fierce bull-dog ran at me, feized me, got me down, and tore my clothes; but how I was delivered I know not, for I do not remember any one near. Being feven years of age, I contracted the abominable habit of curfing and fwearing, which never left me till I was brought to know myself. Being of a paffionate temper, (Oh, could I write it in tears of blood!) I frequently blafphemed in a moft dreadful manner; nor did I ftick at lying: yet, young as I was, I was not without checks from God, and had I been under the care of any that knew how to manage me, it might have prevented many years of horrid impiety.

When between nine and ten years of age, my elder brother took me; defigning I fhould be brought up to his business, viz. a Clothier. Nothing could have been more deteftable to me. Ι abhorred the name of a Clothier: yea, I heartily despised both him and his trade. This being the case, I was not very studious to please him, which brought, what I thought, hard ufage upon me, and after fome time, I determined to decamp. But VOL. III.

Y y

the

the query was, Whither fhould I go? This I knew not; for tho' I had feveral relations in good circumftances, yet I knew I should meet with cold reception from any of them, when they knew I had run away from my brother. Nevertheless, being determined not to ftay, my refolution was to go fomewhere. One morning, having done fomething amifs, rather by accident, than defign, I expected to meet with correction; and to avoid it, fet out fafting, about the middle of November. It was a hard froft, and I was in poor habit, having on the worft clothes I had. I wandered all that day, not knowing, (nor indeed much caring) what would become of me. I was very hungry, and forely pinched with cold. I picked the heps from the hedges, and about eight o'clock at night came to another brother's houfe, eight or nine miles from where I fet out in the morning. When I came there, though I was cold and hungry, I durft not for fome time go in; as I was not in the dress of a vifiter. However, at laft I ventured in, and my reception was far more agreeable than I expected; the next day I was treated civilly, fo that I begun to hope I was to ftay there. But, alas! on the third day, I was escorted back to my former quarters, though much against my inclination. Nevertheless, I determined to make my-efcape again the firft opportunity; which in a fortnight after I effected. I remembered, my nurfe ufed to fhew great fondnefs for me, I therefore fet out and marched thither, about nine or ten miles off, in the fame garb in which I had fled before. Though I was received tolerably well, yet my drefs fhewed me to be a runaway; fo that they were at a lofs how to treat me. This was not far from that brother's houfe where I fled before, to whom I now paid another vifit; but here I was treated roughly, and in a few days was, by main force, conducted back to the place from whence I came. Yet, I was determined not to ftay there. But I thought, I fhould fucceed better, if I could decamp in a better drefs; therefore I confidered how to get fome of my better clothes. I got a quantity of them together, and

refolved

refolved to march by night, feeing there was no probability of doing it by day. This was a daring attempt for a boy of ten years old. But the clothes were found before night, and the caufe fufpected, for which I underwent a fevere beating. This was one of the worst methods which could have been taken; for it confirmed my refolution not to flay. I then thought the likelieft way to effect my efcape would be to go on a Sunday, when trimmed up on my beft fafhion. This I therefore refolved upon, and accordingly I put on two shirts that I might have a change; but unfortunately it was dif covered as foon as I came down stairs, fo that I was ordered to ftrip, and underwent again a fevere difcipline. I was now a pretty close prifoner, and especially on Sundays. However, one Sunday, being equipt in my beft, I waited all day for the opportunity, but could not get my hat: finding that to be the cafe, I fet out bare-headed and ran for life; determining, that night to go to my nurfe's, and then to ramble where I fhould not be known. I got thither, and was vaftly pleafed with myfelf, thinking, now I fhould gain my utmoft defire; but while I fat by the fire, who fhould come riding to the door but my brother, who had taken horfe and pursued me, and though it was now night, yet fome people had taken notice while it was day-light, of a strange boy going in great hafte without a hat: by this means he eafily guest where I was gone. Well, back again I was brought; but with as fixed a refolution as ever that I would not ftay. Being now almost a close prifoner, I was kept in mean habit; but that was nothing to me. A day or two after Christmas-day, I made my final escape. And now I entered upon a scene of diftrefs indeed! What I endured from hunger and cold, no one knows but myself. My cafe was fingular: I had relations living in affluence, on the right hand and on the left, while I should have been glad of the fragments which their fervants, yea, perhaps, their dogs defpifed. That winter was particularly fevere, and it was just the depth thereof. My friends thought to ftarve me back