Under a sermon by Mr. R., addressed specially to the young, the subject of our sketch was powerfully wrought upon by the Holy Spirit, and awakened to a right sense of his danger as a sinner.  But he strove to banish these convictions, and soon again became careless and indifferent to the great concerns of his soul’s salvation.

About this period Thomas’s father, anxious that he should become decided for God, told him he would send Mr. R. to visit him.  But so averse was Thomas from seeing him, that he declared should Mr. R. walk in at one door, he would walk out at the other.  However, Mr. R. called; and Thomas did not, and could not, put his threat into execution.  Mr. R. urged upon him the danger of a course of sin,—­the necessity and advantages of seeking God in youth,—­and begged him to join his class, which met at seven o’clock on Sabbath mornings.  Thomas promised to go; but when the morning came he broke his promise, and remained at home.  In the succeeding week Mr. R. again called.  Thomas again promised; and on the following Sabbath met in class for the first time.  In about a month after joining the society, he was enabled to exercise faith in Christ, and obtained a clear evidence of his acceptance with God:  this took place on a Sabbath evening, in company with one of his religious friends; while they were pouring out their souls at the throne of grace, light from heaven beamed upon his soul,—­he was enabled to believe.

Connected with Thomas’s joining the people of God, there is an incident not unworthy of mention here.  A short time previously he had, with his elder brother James, paid a visit to their father’s house.  During that visit, the subject of union with God’s people was strongly urged upon both of them by their parents.  They had each been the subjects of the Holy Spirit’s striving for some time, and were fully awakened to their danger and duty.  While walking through one of the shady lanes situated between their home and the chapel, and conversing on the subject of religion, and the necessity of devoting themselves to God, Thomas said, if James would join the society he would.  No immediate result followed; but about a fortnight before Thomas’s connection with the Church, James had joined the Wesleyans, and had written to his father informing him of Thomas’s promise.  It was in consequence of this, that Mr. R. was requested to call on him; the result of which, through the blessing of God, was, as the reader has seen, his becoming connected with the Church.

Thomas had joined himself to God’s people but a short time, when he determined, by the advice and invitation of his friends, to become a Sabbath-school teacher.  His experience and success in this sphere of labor will be best described in his own words:  “Soon after my union with the Wesleyans, I became a teacher in the Sunday-school, which, at that time, was not very prosperous.  Here, as teacher of one of the junior classes, I strove to do my duty to God