may be thought of use to survivors, I beg it may be well winnowed by some skilful husbandman, and well screened; for I know that there is in it a deal of darnel, which might offend the taste of some weak, minds, though it could not hurt them, if rightly administered. The whole should be received as a brief sketch of my experience, from my infant state of Christianity, to my manhood in Christ.

My poor Memoirs, Diary, &c. I dedicate to God, who enabled me to write them.

March, 1784.

H. T.

As the above was found among the MSS. of the deceased, I have inserted it in the state in which it came to hand, as furnishing no unfavorable portrait of the mind of its author.

R. H.

MEMOIRS

OF THE LATE

REV. HENRY TANNER,

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.

[It appears, by a memorandum found with his papers, that Mr. Tanner began to compile these Memoirs in the fiftieth year (as he styles it) of his natural life, and the twenty-fourth year of his spiritual, December 1, 1768.] ·

I was born in the parish of St. Sidwells, in the city of Exeter, upon the 8th day of March, 1718. My parents were of middle station in life, and of honest character. They gave me an education suited to the line of life they intended me for, which was that of a tradesman.

My Great Creator was pleased to give me soft affections, although I had a carnal heart, and a corrupt nature, which I knew nothing of. I loved to be with religious people even from

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my youth. The first impression I can remem ber to have received which accused my conscience, was between eight and nine years of age, when it pleased God to lay me down in a fever and ague: then, under the fearful apprehension of death, a panic seized my heart. I cried, I knew not for what. The terrors of death alarmed me; for I thought if I died, I should certainly go to hell. My poor mother, though a very moral woman, knew nothing of the one thing needful. She comforted me all she could, and directed me according to the best of her power. It pleased the Lord to restore me, and the resolutions I had formed in my mind, of amendment of life, and the promises I had made to God in case he did restore me to health, to serve him, bore heavy upon my mind, so that I set up an immediate reform. But alas! all my resolutions soon vanished with returning health, and I returned to the former pursuit of vanity and sin.

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Here the Reader may clearly see, in my instance, the word of God verified; that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. Oh! if the Lord did not keep us, even in our childhood, we should run like the swine in the Gos pel, down the steep hill of sin and folly, into the ocean of endless torment,

Arrived at my eleventh year, I was now ripening in sin as I advanced in years; and my parents, about this time, removing their residence towards the Quay, I soon acquired acquaintance with some seafaring boys, whose habits of swearing and blaspheming God's name, were very awful: but through prevent ́ing grace I was happily preserved from those

courses.

It happened, that an uncle of mine, who was a merchant, had a ship going to Oporto. My inclination strongly led me to go with him a voyage; and after much importunity, my parents, though reluctantly, consented. My mother particularly feared to let me go, because I had, when a child, narrowly escaped being drowned in the river Exe; and, as I was an only child, all their parental affection centered in me.

In the Bay of Biscay I had a renewed instance of God's overruling providence, in preserving me from drowning; and on my return, when we arrived at Liverpool, I had another proof of the same mercy: for in both in stances I fell overboard, and was in imminent danger. These were striking marks of divine interposition; though at that time I was too young and unconscious to make the obser

vation. The Psalmist comments upon such events beautifully, when he saith, Whoso is wise, and will observe these things; even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.

After my return home, and about the age when boys are put out as apprentices, I was placed with a master, to learn the art of a carpenter. My dear tender mother observing that large towns afforded larger opportunities for corruption than in smaller societies, thought to keep me from the influence of bad examples by putting me into the country. Accordingly I was apprenticed at a little village called Newton St. Agnes, about four miles from Exeter. But I soon discovered, that neither places nor persons were exempt from corruption. So just is that decision of the Apostle: All have sinned, and come short of God's glory.

When my servitude expired, and I had for a little space worked in the business of another, I set up for myself; and here I found, in consequence of the restraint I had been under when a servant, being removed, and being my own master, the corruptions of nature, hitherto in some degree stifled, now breaking out with greater violence. Strong convictions followed