“Well do I remember the day on which I became decided.  It was on a Sabbath evening:  I had been hearing a very faithful and powerful sermon from the Rev. Mr. G——­, on the responsibility of individual Christians, and the duty of all to be employed for God.  I saw my duty, and felt that I was grieving the Spirit by the course I was pursuing.  I determined that I would open my mind to a friend with whom I was spending the evening.  I did so; and the counsel I received was, ’Parley with temptation no longer; but to-morrow go to Mr. G., and open your mind to him,’ ’I cannot do that,’ said I.  ‘Then write to your leader,’ answered my friend.  This was just the advice I wanted; and I determined, by the help of God, to act upon it.

“Monday evening, at the close of business, I retired to my room; and after earnest prayer, commenced a letter to my leader.  It was nearly finished:  but on reading it over I was not pleased with its composition, and tearing it in pieces, commenced another.  The agony of my mind was now at its height:  my head seemed ready to burst; my brain was bewildered, and I was in a state bordering on distraction!  While I write I seem almost to pass through this agony again.  I finished a second letter!  What I said in it I no more know than a child:  I feared to read it over, lest I should be displeased with and destroy it, as I did the former.  I at once sealed it up, and thrust it out of sight.  I then threw myself on the bed, where I lay for a considerable time, till the exquisite excitement of the struggle being over, I retired to rest, thankful to God for the victory I had gained.  In the morning my first work was to send the letter to my leader:  after which I had another struggle with the powers of darkness.  ‘You cannot retract now,’ whispered the enemy.  ’You have done it; and now where are your sermons to come from?  You know you have only two in the world:  suppose you should make a failure in your first attempt, what a fool you would look like! how you would get laughed at!’ But the step was taken, and I rejoiced to feel that I had done my duty:  a load which had long been too heavy for me was removed, and I felt altogether a new man.

“I fear I have been tiresome; but I will now soon conclude.  I was proposed at the local preachers’ meeting, accepted, preached several times before the brethren, with some degree of acceptance; and after remaining about four months in Y——­, from the period referred to, my health being re-established, I again removed to the metropolis, where my name was regularly inserted on the plan.  Having passed my examination in the usual way, I was received into full connection as a local preacher.  I need not tell you that I am now fully occupied in this blessed work; that my happiest hours are those spent in it; that, were it the will of God, I am willing to live and die in the work.”

Thomas is now a local preacher in one of the London circuits; and although by his occupation he is necessarily prevented from much study, being in business, as unfortunately most young men are, from early in the morning till late at night, he is, nevertheless, an acceptable, and, it is hoped, a useful preacher.